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Christopher Columbuss statue will be getting its head back in Waterbury this fall, according to News 8.

In an exclusive, WTNH reported that the head will be reattached. A referendum in November will decide if the statue remains in front of Waterbury City Hall or is relocated.
In the two years since Chinedu Eleanya founded Mulberry to be the warranty service for direct to consumer brands, business has boomed.

Already riding a shakeup in consumer behavior brought by the emergence of startup brands selling just about everything to just about everyone, Mulberry brought a much-needed new spin on the warranty service that retailers had depended on for years to make consumers comfortable with big ticket purchases. Now the company is on its way to $10 million in ARR for 2020, thanks in no small part to the new shift to online shopping.

That's why investors were wiling to invest $10 million into the company back in March before the pandemic hit. The round was led by the early-stage New York-based investment firm Pace Capital, and included returning investors like Founder Collective.

Then the pandemic did hit. With COVID-19 pushing more shoppers (at least the ones that still have money to shop) out of stores and online, the need for warranty services has just ballooned, according to Eleanya.

A serial entrepreneur who moved from Nigeria to New York City and founded companies including Cognical and Zibby, Eleanya has found success with Mulberry and its online model.

To be sure, the company isn't the only startup working in the e-commerce warranty space. There's also, Clyde, which raised $14 million around the same time to offer similar services.

But the market for these kinds of online services is still growing rapidly, and Eleanya thinks there's space for a few winners. "When you think of point of sale financial innovation, the extended warranty space is the most interesting," he said.

From a retail perspective, lending is good, but the bigger story is that the cost of customer acquisition continues to go up, Eleanya said. For him, retailers need to maximize the long-term value by retaining customers, and the way to do that, he contends, is to offer services programs.

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"We're democratizing access for small and medium sized retailers so they can compete in this really expensive environment," he said.

Mulberry is already working with some big direct to consumer brands like Mirror, the smart workout mirror, the coffee maker Breville and Nectar Sleep -- a Casper mattress competitor.

So far, Mulberry has about $1 million in annual recurring revenue and is on pace to hit $10 million in ARR this year, Eleanya said.
Jordan Williams, 18, recently posted a video on TikTok encouraging fellow Gen Zers to get matching tattoos as a sign of rebellion.

She stumbled across the symbol, a letter Z with a line through the center, in the comment section of another user's video. She thought the image seemed simple enough and universal enough to be a good fit, so she issued a call to action to her 2,000 followers.

"OK Gen Z listen up!" Williams captioned a video of herself staring into the camera wearing a black hoodie. "What if, now hear me out...We all got a matching tattoo. As not only a symbol of unity in our generation but also as a sign of rebellion."

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The 18-second clip lit up with positive responses, as a few teens and young adults went out and got the symbolic image permanently inked on their bodies, Williams told USA TODAY. At least three people got the tattoo, she said. Others went the DIY route creating makeshift tattoos at home.

Williams, a restaurant server in a small Missouri town, then went to work, covering a double shift. While she was offline writing down orders for pizza and mozzarella sticks, the social media response to that video took a turn for the worst.

The symbol, one person said, looked similar a Nazi swastika. Williams' original video was memed dozens, maybe hundreds of times over. She received death threats and even a threatening phone call from people she didn't know.

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Jordan Williams is known as Smoothavacado on TikTok.

The German hate symbol the tattoo resembles is called a Wolfsangel and is used by neo-Nazis in Europe and the United States, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

TikTok's reputation as a source for teens to post innocent dance videos is swiftly eroding away as the app takes on what could be a more permanent place in American culture, experts say. The app, still in the throes of a deal between Walmart and Oracle to stay in the U.S., is also the latest corner of the internet where people spread hate, racism and bigotry. Several examples exist. But sometimes, it's just a misunderstanding.

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"This is the sort of a medium that we live in these days, where images and messages can be misinterpreted, and they're so supercharged with the polarization, that it almost becomes guilty until proven innocent," said Ari Lightman, professor of digital media and marketing at the University of Carnegie Mellon.

In many ways, Williams represents TikTok's average user. She's young, digitally engaged, generates mounds of content and appears to have no issue exposing her life to the world. One of her previous videos was a rant about her job.

Engaging users like Williams, TikTok has surged in popularity in recent years after its parent company Bytedance took over the tween sensation Musical.ly in 2018 and branded it under a new name. The app is now used by a reported 100 million Americans  most of which are among the Generation Z population age 24 and younger.

perhaps tik tok has convinced me to get the gen z tattoo especially since i turn 18 TOMORROW yeeeeeee pic.twitter.com/WaFPxiiRdK   (@ehmmii) September 19, 2020

This segment of society is growing up in an era of holding people accountable for the ideas they spread, which is sometimes grouped into cancel culture.

Williams, alarmed at the number of app notifications she was receiving at work, issued a swift video trying to explain herself. People attacked that video, too, saying it wasn't enough. Meanwhile, her follower count shot up to 23,000.

Jordan Williams set her TikTok to private after one of her videos upset people on TikTok.

Williams made a third video a few hours later, apologizing for the mix-up. She made suggestions for people to get the tattoo changed into other Z-related symbols that didn't appear racially targeted or hurtful. The hate messages didn't stop, so she made her profile private and deleted the Gen Z tattoo-related content.

USA TODAY reached out to TikTok for comment.

Only Williams knows her true motivations behind telling people to get the tattoo. She says the incident was an accident, and that she has always written the letter Z and number 7 with stylistic lines through them.

Jordan Williams says she didn't realize that her idea for a Gen Z tattoo looked like a Nazi symbol.

"I want everyone to know that I am really genuinely sorry," Williams said. "It was an honest mistake. I should have done more research."

Several people have since uploaded video PSAs instructing others not to get the tattoo. Some sympathize with Williams. Still, it's not the first time a trend on TikTok has been in the crossfire for racial insensitivity or outright hatred.

There have been video challenges that perpetuate racial stereotypes and promoted prejudice against people with darker skin tones. There's also the troubling George Floyd Challenge, which saw teens kneeling on a friend's neck reenacting how Floyd died in police custody, a moment that sparked days of protests across the country.

There isn't much that stops the teens and young adults from posting misguided race-related content or outright hateful messages online. There are algorithms that categorically take some content down, and reporting individual videos helps, but the most effective change starts with parents talking to their kids, experts say.

"The truth is we cannot protect our young people from this stuff, which means that parents have to do the most difficult thing of all: Talk to your teenager," said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, director of global social action agenda at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish human rights organization.

"When you raise these issues, they're gonna say, 'Oh yeah. I see it all the time.' Tell your kid, 'When you see it the next time, bring me over to the screen.'"

Follow Dalvin Brown on Twitter: @Dalvin_Brown.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: TikTok gone wrong: 'Gen Z tattoo' trend looks like Nazi symbol
Since 1990, the all aboard call has beckoned passengers to cars of the Verde Canyon Railroad. Known worldwide as Arizonas Longest-Running Nature Show, the train travels on tracks carved through the dramatically rugged Sycamore Canyon Wilderness area in 1912, promising passengers exceptional service aboard every journey. Now, nature writer and lifelong travel enthusiast Roger Naylor has added his folksy charm to Verde Canyon Railroads onboard narration.

Traveling along with passengers aboard this 3.5-hour round-trip journey through one of Arizonas most scenic inner canyons, Naylors entertaining vocals add a special twist as he spins amusing tales along the 20 miles between Clarkdale to Perkinsville and back.

Known for his columns in the Arizona Republic, fun travel books on Route 66, Arizona State Parks publications and his wide selling book Boots and Burgers, Naylor, a resident of the Verde Valley, often shares area highlights in his writings, including frequent mentions of Verde Canyon Railroad.

Ive been fortunate to rack up a few special honors the last couple of yearsinducted into the Arizona Tourism Hall of Fame, author of the Grand Canyon National Park Centennial Magazineand now the narrator on Verde Canyon Railroad, Naylor said in a press release. Its been a rare privilege to earn a living as an Arizona travel writer and author. Now Im starting to get recognized as a colorful Arizona character. Feels pretty good.

The writer grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, but fell in love with the Southwest after arriving in Flagstaff to study at Northern Arizona University. Last year, Naylor released Ariona State Parks: A Guide to Amazing Places in the Grand Canyon State, citing in the afterword Marshall Trimble, official state historian; Dolan Ellis, official state balladeer; Bob Boze Bell, author, artist and Arizona historian; and Angel Delgadillo, a Seligman businessman who has been dubbed the guardian angel of Route 66 for all his work put in to save it; as some of his inspirations.

They all have led these amazing lives based in Arizona and helped to make Arizona a better place. I want to leave Arizona a little better than I found it because, besides my wife, its the great love of my life, Naylor said in a 2019 interview with Northern Arizonas Mountain Living Magazine. I like to celebrate the people that have that same kind of passion, that do good work here or try to spread the word about what an amazing place we live in.

Recorded at Yavapai Broadcasting, Naylors narration for the Verde Canyon Railroad interweaves classic train tunes of every genre with the Canyons ancient geology, its namesake Verde River, 100-plus years of rail history and stories of the ancient dwellers, ranchers, and flora and fauna that have called this rare riparian wonderland home.

The rails of Verde Canyon Railroad share the amazing story of this canyon from the passenger cars distinctive vantage point which offers the best views of the geology and archeology of this Southwestern dreamscape. The towering red rock pinnacles and mottled high canyon cliff walls tell the tale, as do the many highlights: ancient Native American dwellings, multiple historic trestles and a 730-foot manmade tunnel carved through solid limestone. The winding Verde River, carved through a riparian ribbon of lush greenery, whispers a million years of history. Native critters, furry and feathered, large or small, evident or elusive, slippery or scaly, are all part of the cast of characters.

Verde Canyon Railroad is proud to have such a celebrated Arizona voice as part of the customer experience, Teresa Propeck, vice president of Passenger Services, said in a press release. This train line has been an integral part of the infrastructure that built the Verde Valley and the great state of Arizona. We will continue this legacy by working with locally owned and operated businesses every chance we get.

Wrapping its passengers epic adventure in a beautiful bow, Roger Naylors voice is a fitting complement to the railroad

I may not have been born in this state but there is no doubt that I lived, and lived well, in this amazing, astounding, astonishing state, Naylor said. What a journey its been. Now Im ready for more. All aboard!

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NCP chief Sharad Pawar applauded Shiromani Akali Dal for breaking away from the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA over the disagreement regarding the farm bills on Sunday.

The Nationalist Congress Party chief took to Twitter to applaud the Badals for exiting the National Democratic Alliance almost after two decades.

He wrote on Twitter, Congratulations to Shri Sukhbir Singh Badal, President of @Akali_Dal_ and MP @HarsimratBadal_ who under the leadership of Hon. Shri Prakash Singh Badal pulled out of NDA in a protest to Farmers Bills. Thanks for firmly standing with the Farmers! @officeofssbadal.

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) quit the NDA on Saturday over the passage of the farm bills accusing the Centre of jeopardizing farmers ambitions. They also cited that the Centre has not paid adequate attention to the issues of Punjab. The decision to quit the NDA was taken by the SAD after party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal after he presided over a core committee meeting.

NCP in Maharashtra along with its coalition partner Congress has also decided not to implement the farm laws in Maharashtra. Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Friday said that the farm bills will not be implemented in the state.
The San Joaquin Valley has received a specially addressed message from the Union of Concerned Scientists about what it thinks people across th
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 27)  An opposition lawmaker is proposing bigger budgets next year to the Departments of Health and Social Welfare and Development to strengthen the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Sunday, Senator Franklin Drilon noted the need to include the special amelioration program, or SAP, in next year's national budget, adding priority must be given to both agencies as they are critical to the fight against COVID-19.

Drilon opined that the proposed P4.5-trillion national budget for next year does not adequately respond to the country's needs today.

He also hit the DSWD for not distributing P10 billion worth of cash aid to the poor.

Drilon said the DSWD was unable to give out the funds due to the "double compensation" and the failure of local government units to provide the list of beneficiaries.

The senator said it was not the recipients' fault that the local government units were unable to submit their list, and the DSWD could have been more lenient during what he called "extraordinary" times.
Villers-les-Nancy, 25 September 2020 - 6:30 p.m. (CET)

PRESS RELEASE

H1 2020 Results

A resilient business model: Revenue: +1.4% to 77.93m. Operating Profit: +8.4% to 20.73m.

Group market positions bolstered by significant acquisitions in H1.

Employees actively engaged in supporting healthcare professionals during the crisis.

Outlook: Meeting the challenges of tomorrow more than ever offering promising market opportunities for the Group. Strong recovery in business since early June. Group targets for H2 maintained, particularly for earnings.



m H1 2020 H1 2019 Change Revenue 77.93 76.88 +1.4% Operating Profit 20.73 18.65 +8.4% Net Profit from Continuing Operations 13.50 13.18 * +2.3% Net Profit 13.50 14.59 * -7.5%

* Pharmagest Group was impacted by a one-off deterioration in Net Profit from Continuing Operations with growth of 2.3% to 13.50m resulting from the fair value adjustment of very low risk financial investments over the medium-term plus the base effect linked to the sales of 100% of the shares of the subsidiary INTECUM to PHARMATHEK. After eliminating the impact of these exceptional events, Net Profit from Continuing Operations and Net Profit were in line with the performance of Operating Profit with growth of 9.2%.

********

 Results at 30 June 2020

Within the context of a health crisis of unprecedented dimensions, Pharmagest Group registered growth in Revenue at 30 June 2020 of 1.4% to 77.93m in relation to the 2019 first half, boosted by its most recent acquisitions: SVEMU in Italy, I-MEDS in Germany, MALTA BELGIUM in Belgium, ICT and PANDALAB in France. At constant structure, Revenue contracted 2.48%.

Operating Profit of the Group grew 8.4% to 20.73m at 30 June 2020, confirming the resilience of its business model and the management efficiencies implemented by the Group during the crisis.

Operating Profit for the Pharmacy - Europe Solutions Division amounted to 13.29m (+2.8%). The strong rebound in orders of the Pharmacy France Business Unit beginning in June partially offset the slower start-up of operations by the Pharmacy Belux and Italy Business Units, two countries remaining severely impacted by the health crisis.

Operating Profit of the Health and Social Care Facilities Solutions Division was 4.33m , with strong growth of 25.5%. Boosted by the integration of MALTA BELGIUM and PANDALAB, this Division also benefited from innovative development projects linked to other Group Divisions within the framework of the Digital Healthcare Platform.

Operating Profit of the e-Health Solutions and Fintech Divisions amounted to 3.12m, up 37.4%, on the strength of a positive product mix (recurrent e-Connect business and Telemedicine projects). These Divisions are continuing to invest in R&D to support their international ambitions (notably for NOVIACARE).

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Net Profit on that basis amounted to 13.50m (-7.5%) and Net Profit Attributable to Equity Holders of the Parent to 12.63m (-7.8%). At 30 June 2020, Basic Earnings per Share amounted to 0.84, up from 0.91 one year earlier (-8%).



 Consolidated balance sheet highlights

At 30 June 2020, Pharmagest Group's gross cash position increased to 97.59m, compared to 104.86m at 30 June 2019.



Equity attributable to the equity holders of the Parent at 30 June 2020 amounted to 126m.

H1 2020 operating highlights

Creation of MALTA BELGIUM. The Health and Social Care Facilities (HSCF) Solutions Division is continuing to develop in Europe by acquiring the activities for developing software solutions for nursing homes and specialised establishments of the Belgian company, CARE SOLUTIONS. This acquisition provides access to more than 630 nursing homes in Belgium out of the country's total of 1,540 retirement homes. In conjunction with the acquisition of CARE SOLUTIONS activities, MALTA INFORMATIQUE signed a strategic partnership with Colisee Group, Europe's fourth-largest provider of solutions for elderly care and well-being.

Acquisition of a majority stake in PANDALAB . The HSCF Solutions Division has in this way strengthened its offering to provide a better coordination of the patient care pathway by means of this multi-functional platform integrating secure, confidential and instantaneous messaging capabilities between healthcare professionals. This solution is also promising in terms of its potential for strong synergies with all the Pharmagest Group businesses and contributing to a significant advance in the Group's strategy to build a unique ecosystem in France and Europe and the deployment of its Digital Healthcare Platform.





 Acquisition of ASCA INFORMATIQUE. By this operation, Pharmagest Group and ASCA INFORMATIQUE become the French leaders in digital labelling for pharmacies. The innovation of solutions proposed by ASCA INFORMATIQUE, its regional network, the technical expertise of its teams and its knowledge of the pharmacist complete the offering and strengthen the strategy for the digital transformation of the pharmacy sector of the Pharmagest Group.



 AXIGATE was selected by RESAH (Reseau des Acheteurs Hospitaliers), the French hospital purchasing network, to address the needs of regional hospital groups in monitoring patient pathways. As a French leader in the Hospital Information Systems (HIS) sector, AXIGATE provides an innovative solution for Electronic Medical Records addressing multi-establishment information needs and covering the inter-and intra-hospital patient pathway. AXIGATEs information system addresses the needs of all healthcare stakeholders: hospitals, regional hospital groups, senior homes, hospital-at-home programmes and home-based nursing services but also private practice physicians.



 MALTA INFORMATIQUE acquires the shares of the minority shareholders of ICT Group, increasing its stake to 100%. This acquisition will accelerate the integration of this subsidiary within the organisation of the HSCF Solutions Division and facilitate the development of synergies throughout Pharmagest Group.



 Pharmagest Group R&D teams rank number one in France and 59 worldwide in the Hash Code 2020 programming competition. This programming competition organised by Google proposes a common engineering problem to be solved by developers throughout the world at the same time. Pharmagests teams demonstrated their IT skills and also their creativity and ability to solve problems together as a team by finding a solution in just four hours. These results confirm the CodinGame 2019 ranking in Forbes France at January 2020 where Pharmagest Group was number two in the top 10 of the French companies for the quality of its IT talent.



 Pharmagest Group is included in the new Euronext European Rising Tech label recognising the best-performing and emblematic growth SMEs listed on the Euronext markets in Amsterdam, Brussels, Lisbon and Paris. The Euronext committee identified and recognised in this way PHARMAGESTs solid economic and stock market performances.

 Significant events occurring after 30 June 2020



AXIGATE announces the signature of agreement with 3 new hospitals:

The Armor Regional Hospital Network: after laying the foundations for a territorial information system in November 2019, and launching the pilot service in January 2020, the Armor Regional Hospital Network rolled out the AXIGATE EMR system at the territorys different establishments. Its functional scope will be extended in the coming months with the deployment of the medication pathway, the programme for medicalization of information systems, the obstetric file and emergency services.



The Gisors and Andelys Hospital Centres of the Eure-Seine Regional Hospital Network: the Gisors hospital (464 hospital beds) and the Saint Jacques hospital in Andelys (230 beds for medium and long-term stays) of the Eure-Seine Regional Hospital Network selected the AXIGATE EMR to equip a total of 7 hospitals of the department around the support structure of Evreux.







 Arles Hospital Centre: AXIGATE was selected by the Arles hospital (650 hospital beds) for the digitization of its care processes. This initiative, which follows that of the Marseille Public University Hospital (AP-HM) and the Aubagne Hospital Centre, is part of the process for implementing a regional EMR system within the Hopitaux de Provence Regional Hospital Network.





 H2 2020 outlook



After the very robust recovery in commercial activity in June, continuing growth momentum has set the stage for a strong rebound in revenue in the 2020 second half. On that basis, the Group is confident in the outlook for growth and profitability for the second half.

In addition, Pharmagest Groups gross cash position ensures it has the resources to pursue market opportunities that may arise in order to meet the challenges of tomorrow.



In the same way, the Group intends to accelerate the deployment of new solutions to support all activities of the healthcare universe: pharmacies, senior homes, home-based nursing services, hospital-at-home programmes and also office-based private practitioners.

Finally, driven by the development of the Digital Healthcare Platform, Pharmagest Group has announced the implementation of a new experiment, the Interoperability Hub in the Grand Est Region in partnership with the PULSY public interest group (GIP) and the Nancy Regional and University Hospital (CHRU). The technological solutions developed through this programme are destined to facilitate the flow of information among the different business line information systems of healthcare professionals in the private practice sector, healthcare establishments and regional coordinators in advance of its regional deployment. A specific announcement will be issued upon the signature of this new cooperative project in the coming days.

This initiative strengthens Pharmagest Groups position as an innovative industrial stakeholder in the service of health, capable of structuring and delivering technological solutions that are essential for the healthcare offering and its coordination across the office-based private practice and hospital pathways, as described in the French government healthcare plan (Ma sante 2022).

Financial calendar

Participation in the MidCap Event in Paris on 19 and 20 October 2020.

Publication of Q3 2020 sales: 18 November 2020 (after the close of trading)

Publication of FY 2020 annual sales: 4 February 2021 (after the close of trading).

About Pharmagest Group :

With more than 1,100 employees and Citizens in the Service of Health and Well-Being, Pharmagest Group is the leading provider of IT solutions for the healthcare sector in Europe through innovative solutions and services for healthcare professionals guaranteeing the efficiency of the healthcare system and improving the patient care pathway.

As a key contributor to the quality of healthcare and coordination between office-based private practice and hospitals, Pharmagest Group is present in France, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom where it is developing the leading healthcare platform and a single ecosystem for France and Europe bringing the best of technology to the service of people.

Listed on Euronext Paris - Compartment B

Indices: CAC SMALL and CAC  All-Tradable by inclusion

Eligible for the Long-Only Deferred Settlement Service (SRD)

ISIN: FR 0012882389  Reuters: PHA.PA  Bloomberg: - PMGI FP

PHARMAGEST shares are eligible for French tax-advantaged PEA-PME equity savings accounts

The Group is included in the Gaia-Index 2019 comprised of socially responsible mid-caps and was recently included in the European Rising Tech label recognising the top-performing SMEs listed on the Euronext markets of Amsterdam, Brussels, Lisbon and Paris.

For all the latest news go to www.pharmagest.com

Follow Pharmagest on Twitter: @Pharmagest, LinkedIn and Facebook





CONTACTS

Analyst and Investor Relations:

Chief Administrative and Financial Officer : Jean-Yves SAMSON

Tel. +33 (0)3 83 15 90 67  jean-yves.samson@lacooperativewelcoop.com

Media Relations:

FINEXTENSO  Isabelle APRILE

Tel. +33 (0)1 39 97 61 22 - i.aprile@finextenso.fr





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YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The Foreign Ministry of Greece urges to immediately stop the military operations in Nagorno Karabakh, ARMENPRESS reports the Ministry issued a statement.

We follow the escalation in Nagorno Karabakh region with concern, which has claimed lives among civilians. We call on the sides to demonstrate restraint and to immediately stop the military operations and return to negotiation table in the format of the OSCE Minsk Group, reads the statement.

The Foreign Ministry of Greece adds that the only way for the settlement of the conflict is the peaceful settlement based on international law.

On September 27 early morning the Azerbaijani military has launched a massive cross-border artillery attack on Artsakh, including on civilian settlements. Peaceful settlements are also under bombardment, including the capital city of Stepanakert.

The Azerbaijani side suffered losses in its military equipment, inclusing 4 helicopters, nearly 15 UAVs and10 tanks. The losses of the Defense Army are being clarified.

Dozens of civilians in Artsakh were wounded as a result of the Azerbaijani attack. A woman and a child were killed in the Azerbaijani attack.

Editing and Translating by Tigran Sirekanyan
A Texas company that sells software that cities and states use to display results on election night was hit by ransomware last week, the latest of nearly a thousand such attacks over the past year against small towns, big cities and the contractors who run their voting systems.

Many of the attacks are conducted by Russian criminal groups, some with shady ties to President Vladimir V. Putins intelligence services. But the attack on Tyler Technologies, which continued on Friday night with efforts by outsiders to log into its clients systems around the country, was particularly rattling less than 40 days before the election.

While Tyler does not actually tally votes, it is used by election officials to aggregate and report them in at least 20 places around the country  making it exactly the kind of soft target that the Department of Homeland Security, the F.B.I. and United States Cyber Command worry could be struck by anyone trying to sow chaos and uncertainty on election night.

Tyler would not describe the attack in detail. It initially appeared to be an ordinary ransomware attack, in which data is made inaccessible unless the victim pays the ransom, usually in harder-to-trace cryptocurrencies. But then some of Tylers clients  the company would not say which ones  saw outsiders trying to gain access to their systems on Friday night, raising fears that the attackers might be out for something more than just a quick profit.
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North Korean soldiers had fatally shot a 47-year-old South Korean official near the Yellow Sea border between the two countries. North Korea warned arch-rival South Korea on Sunday to refrain from violating its sea border amid search for the body.

North Korea warned South Korea on Sunday to refrain from violating its sea border amid search for the body of the fisheries official killed in North Korea waters. Pyongyang said it will search for the body of the South Korean official and hand it over if they find it, Yonhap reported. Last week, North Korean soldiers had fatally shot a 47-year-old South Korean official near the Yellow Sea border between the two countries.

Seoul has been searching for the body since then. According to a report by the western fleet of our navy, the south side has mobilised many vessels including warships to an action presumed to be a search operation and let them intrude into our territorial waters since September 25. It arouses our due vigilance as it may lead to another awful incident, the Korean Central News Agency was quoted as saying by Yonhap.

We can never overlook any intrusion into our territorial waters and we seriously warn the south side against it. We urge the south side to immediately halt the intrusion across the military demarcation line in the west sea that may lead to an escalation of tensions, it said. Earlier this week, the South Korean troops had raised combat readiness after it turned out that the countrys fisheries official had been shot dead in the neighbouring country.

Also Read: Nepal PMs personal physician tests positive for Covid-19

Also Read: Bhutan backs for UNSC expansion, supports G4 nations candidature as permanent members

On Friday, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had apologised for the killing of the South Korean official, saying he is deeply sorry for the unexpected and unfortunate incident that happened in his countrys waters. (ANI)
ALTON  The Illinois Association of Retired Americans (IARA) and the YWCA of Alton hosted a Virtual Teach-In Saturday on the graduated income amendment on the Nov. 3 ballot.

There are just so many myths about this amendment, said Ruth Maskow, a volunteer for the YWCA of Alton.

The amendment appears on the ballot as:

The proposed amendment grants the State authority to impose higher income tax rates on higher income levels, which is how the federal government and a majority of other states do it. The amendment would remove the portion of the Revenue Article of the Illinois Constitution that is sometimes referred to as the flat tax, that requires all taxes on income to be at the same rate. The amendment does not itself change tax rates. It gives the State the ability to impose higher tax rates on those with higher income levels and lower income tax rates on those with middle or lower income levels. You are asked to decide whether the proposed amendment should become a part of the Illinois Constitution.

Louis Goseland, IARA Community Manager, said Illinois current flat tax structure currently has a tax of 4.95%. Goseland said that, under the current structure, the rate of income taxed for the lowest 20% of residents is double what the top 1% pays.

Goseland said its a myth that the amendment would allow state lawmakers to raise the rate at any time. Goseland said that under the graduated, those earning $250,000 or more a year would see an increase in income taxes while 97% of Illinois residents will see a reduction. Goseland said the graduated tax would generate $3.4 billion in additional revenue for the state.

This is to help secure our fiscal future and to help support the services and programs that we depend on to have a good quality of life, he said.

Goseland said Illinois residents do not trust the politicians in Springfield, but said the amendment is not a party issue.

We know that the fights we have ahead of us for the kinds of things that we have been pushing to win are fights that we are going to have in the future, he said.

A graduated tax will not solve all of the states problems, he said, but it will put us in a position where, when we get to victory, theres something to win.

This isnt a loyalty oath to a particular party, he said. This is about whether or not were going to do whats right for the working class.
MANISTEE COUNTY  October is Michigan Library Appreciation Month and the Manistee County Library is helping to highlight the valuable role libraries, librarians and library workers play in strengthening Michigan communities.

Manistee County Library invites all community members to discover all the virtual services and resources available by visiting the website www.manisteelibrary.org. While the librarys physical spaces may be limited due to COVID-19, the public can discover ebooks, audiobooks, movies, video games, online storytimes and much more  all from home.

In times of crisis, libraries and library staff play a critical role in continuing to support their communities.

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Manistee County Library is continuing to make a difference in peoples lives by providing valuable digital resources and distance and virtual programs and services that their communities need now more than ever.

Patrons can stream movies and music; find trusted health information and community resources; access online services to learn a new language, brush up on job skills, get homework help or explore family history; take advantage of fun and educational virtual events and digital programs like storytimes, Follow-along Craft Kits, and book clubs. Plus, access audiobooks, eBooks, newspapers, magazines and more  all for free and all accessible online from anywhere.

For anyone who doesn't have a library card, its easy to sign up for one, according to Julie Cirone, assistant director of the Manistee County Library.

We want to make sure everyone in the community has access to wonderful library services. Were happy to sign you up for a new card in-person or assist you over the phone and online, Cirone said.

Once signed up, patrons have access to all of the free and helpful digital services and resources Manistee County Library provides.

This October, the Michigan Library Association (MLA) is encouraging Michiganders to show their appreciation and support for their local libraries and the amazing people that work in them.

Michigan Library Appreciation month is a statewide observance sponsored by the Michigan Library Association (MLA) and libraries of all types across the state each October. Residents can show their appreciation and support for Michigan libraries by visiting their librarys website, following them on social media and using the hashtag #MILibraryMonth and #LoveMILibraries.

For more information, visit the librarys website at www.manisteelibrary.org or call the library at (231) 723-2519.
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One million coronavirus deaths

In the coming 24 hours or so, the world is likely to pass another painful milestone: more than one million deaths from Covid-19. India, the worlds second-most populous nation, leads in daily virus-related deaths, and the U.S. is second.

The number of lives lost daily to the virus has been rising during most of August and September, reaching more than 5,000 when averaged over seven days. As of this writing, at least 994,457 people have died, and the virus has been detected in nearly every country, according to a Times database.

The World Health Organization said Friday that its not impossible that the death toll could double if countries did not uniformly work to suppress the viruss spread.

Details: India recorded about 7,700 daily deaths over the most recent seven-day period, according to the Times database. The U.S. has more than 5,000, followed by Brazil and Mexico. Those four countries account for more than half of the worlds known deaths from the virus.
Yerevan: At least 16 military and several civilians were killed on Sunday in the heaviest clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan since 2016, reigniting concern about stability in the South Caucasus, a corridor for pipelines carrying oil and gas to world markets.

The clashes between the two former Soviet republics, which fought a war in the 1990s, were the latest flare-up of a long-running conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, a breakaway region that is inside Azerbaijan but is run by ethnic Armenians.

Nagorno-Karabakh said 16 of its serviceman had been killed and more than 100 wounded after Azerbaijan launched an air and artillery attack early on Sunday. Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh declared martial law and mobilised the male population.

Azerbaijan, which also declared martial law, said its forces responded to Armenian shelling and that they had seized control of up to seven villages, though Nagorno-Karabakh denied this. Azerbaijan`s prosecutor`s office said five members of one family had been killed by Armenian shelling.

The clashes prompted a flurry of diplomacy to prevent a new flare-up of a decades-old conflict between majority Christian Armenia and mainly Muslim Azerbaijan, with Russia calling for an immediate ceasefire and another regional power, Turkey, saying it would support Azerbaijan.

Pipelines shipping Caspian oil and natural gas from Azerbaijan to the world pass close to Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia also warned about security risks in the South Caucasus in July after Azerbaijan threatened to attack Armenia`s nuclear power plant as possible retaliation.

Nagorno-Karabakh broke away from Azerbaijan in a conflict that broke out as the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.

Though a ceasefire was agreed in 1994, after thousands of people were killed and many more displaced, Azerbaijan and Armenia frequently accuse each other of attacks around Nagorno-Karabakh and along the separate Azeri-Armenian frontier.

In Sunday`s clashes, Armenian right activists said an ethnic Armenian woman and child had also been killed.

Armenia said Azeri forces had attacked civilian targets including Nagorno-Karabakh`s capital, Stepanakert, and promised a "proportionate response".

"We stay strong next to our army to protect our motherland from Azeri invasion," Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan wrote on Twitter.

Azerbaijan denied an Armenian defence ministry statement saying Azeri helicopters and tanks had been destroyed, and accused Armenian forces of launching "deliberate and targeted" attacks along the front line.

"We defend our territory, our cause is right!" Azerbaijan`s president, Ilham Aliyev, said in an address to the nation.

Turkey said it was talking to members of the Minsk group, which mediates between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Russia, France and the United States are co-presidents.

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone to Pashinyan but no details of the conversation were available, and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan spoke to Aliyev.

Erdogan, promising support for traditional ally Azerbaijan, said Armenia was "the biggest threat to peace in the region" and called on "the entire world to stand with Azerbaijan in their battle against invasion and cruelty."

Pashinyan hit back, urged the international community to ensure Turkey does not get involved in the conflict.

France also urged the sides to end hostilities and Pope Francis appealed to them to resolve their differences through negotiations.

The European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have also urged both sides to stop military actions and return to negotiations.

At least 200 people were killed in a flare-up of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in April 2016. At least 16 people were killed in clashes in July.
I recently received an email  out of the blue  from an English writer named Christine Fisher who informed me that she had just self-published a book about the Strickland family of Reydon Hall, Suffolk.

Her aim in The Strickland Family of Suffolk (1758-1899), she told me, was twofold  to bring the lives of the eight Strickland offspring freshly before the English public and to redefine the personality of Agnes Strickland more positively while focusing on her achievements as a 19th-century royalist historian.

Agnes (1796-1874) was the second eldest of the six Strickland daughters. Fisher describes her as an important 19-century historical celebrity and the most influential of Englands female historians of royalty.

Her multi-volume Lives of the Queens of England (first in 12 volumes, then in eight) had a huge impact in Britain and the colonies in the 1840s and earned her wide-ranging fame and many aristocratic friendships during her lifetime.

At the same time she sets out to provide newsy narrative pieces about the lives of Agness seven siblings, including Susanna Moodie, Catharine Parr Traill and their younger brother Sam (often celebrated as the founding father of Lakefield), all of whom immigrated to Canada early in the 19th century.

I share Fishers sense of the remarkableness of this English family; it is everywhere evident in her books 760 pages. However, she laments that in the present century there are no Blue Plaques in England honouring Agnes or her silent coauthor Eliza; in Ontario by contrast we have many to Moodie and Traill. History, it would seem, has left Agnes Strickland behind, undervaluing her important achievements as a historian and a woman.

In reading Fishers book I realized that the title of my pictorial biography about Moodie and Traill, Sisters in Two Worlds (2008), identifies a powerful resonance. The Strickland family story spans the entire 19th century and involves two very different worlds, one the long-established, sophisticated world of Britain and the other, the nascent attempts at cultural expression in Canada.

Even in todays postcolonial perspective, the relationship between these two worlds remains a challenge of comparison and evaluation for readers and scholars of both countries. This is one reason why that the Strickland family remains undervalued and understudied in England today. They are seldom compared to other literary families and figures like the Brontes and Jane Austen. Measuring the achievements of the Strickland family remains a transatlantic challenge.

Nor did the Strickland siblings in England or Canada really understand the complexity and significance of their family story. How could they, try as they might. Their mature lives and the conditions in which they lived and wrote were very different.

Though the Canadian sisters saw themselves as proudly English, they came to know themselves as daughters by adoption and found their literary capital in dramatizing their emigrant experiences in a strange land. Arguably, that process of adaptation made them better writers in the long run  better, I would argue, in that they had to break old moulds for female writers and produce books that spoke to the challenges of vision they faced in the new world.

I see more clearly now that I have been part of a band of Canadian scholars who have sought to identify and measure the Canadian literary achievements of Susanna Moodie, Catharine Parr Traill and their brother Sam. Few Canadian scholars have looked into Agness achievements, though we have had to seek out crucial information about the sisters shared Suffolk girlhood and their respective careers as writers in England. Disappointingly, 19-century literary critics in Britain remain largely uninterested in Moodie and Traill, despite transatlantic efforts here to bring them to fuller recognition.

That in essence constitutes a lingering colonial problem. Fishers book tries to address the fracture but mainly in order to bring Agnes to the attention she believes she deserves. Fisher particularly deplores Una Pope Hennesseys biography of Agnes that appeared in 1940 and has, she claims, soured subsequent views of her work. But Pope Hennessey herself had to turn to Canada to better gauge her approach to Agnes. When Fisher does her Canadian turn, her research leaves much to be desired. I readily note several important books and archival sources that she has missed, thus undermining the authority of her study.

Let me describe Fishers approach. She tells the family story chronologically, offering glimpses of each of the siblings based on things they wrote or newspaper reports about them. Year by year, step by step, she moves the story forward. Having recently read Erik Larsons The Splendid and the Vile where a similar method is used to dramatize Winston Churchills life as prime minister in the early years of the Second World War, I note that Christine Fisher leads her readers on what is often a dull, repetitive walk through the 19th century, particularly as she documents Tom Stricklands many voyages as a sea captain and Sarah Stricklands social activities as the Rev. Richard Gwillyms wife in Ulverston. Neither Tom nor Sarah was a writer; thus, except for a few surviving letters they add little to the family voices.

The real zest of the Strickland story lies in Agness relationship with and correspondence to her younger sisters, Susanna and Catharine Parr, in Canada. With Catharine she was always helpful  Traill was often in dire financial straits and Agnes did a great deal for her, helping her find British publishers and sending yearly care packages to Canada. Their relationship remained steady, if not occasionally dictatorial, for over 40 years.

Susanna and Agnes had a more turbulent relationship, despite a surprisingly enduring correspondence between them. Fisher seems not to know about Agness letters to Susanna in the 1840s that Susanna carefully preserved; they make up part of the Patrick Hamilton Ewing collection at Library Archives Canada as do the bush letters between Susanna and her husband John that were edited in Letters of Love and Duty (Ballstadt, Hopkins and Peterman) in 1993. Those letters speak of Agness close relationship to Susanna and her fondness for John Moodie. The complexity of that sisterly relationship is underdeveloped here for it lacks research material readily available in Canada in book form.

As well, Fisher downplays Agness troubling and complete break with Susanna after Moodies Roughing It in the Bush, with its dedication to Agnes, was published in London in 1852. This curious instance of Agness self-centred behaviour is not addressed by Fisher who insists on seeing her as good-natured and generous to her Canadian sisters.

The Strickland Family of Suffolk has large Canadian holes in its research but is an important book overall in its detailed use of British newspapers and archival sources. Readers learn more about Tom and Sarah here than in any previous study and are taken into the intricacies of the long-standing literary relationship between Eliza and Agnes. Fisher argues that Agnes was a sweeter, more amenable person than Pope Hennessey allowed for and that Eliza was a prickly and private individual who nevertheless worked effectively with Agnes as her covert coauthor and adviser.

The book succeeds in its English information and its support for Agnes as an overlooked literary figure. But clearly there needs to be fuller understanding of the two worlds in which the Strickland sisters lived and wrote. They were a remarkable family of writers and need to be celebrated as such.
Technavio has been monitoring the folding carton market in North America and it is poised to grow by 2.32 mn tons during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of almost 5% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200926005005/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Folding Carton Market in North America 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)

Although the COVID-19 pandemic continues to transform the growth of various industries, the immediate impact of the outbreak is varied. While a few industries will register a drop in demand, numerous others will continue to remain unscathed and show promising growth opportunities. Technavio's in-depth research has all your needs covered as our research reports include all foreseeable market scenarios, including pre- post-COVID-19 analysis. Download a Free Sample Report on COVID-19 Impacts

Frequently Asked Questions:

What are the major trends in the market?

Increasing use of eco-friendly materials in packaging is a major trend driving the growth of the market.

Increasing use of eco-friendly materials in packaging is a major trend driving the growth of the market. At what rate is the market projected to grow?

The year-over-year growth for 2020 is estimated at 4.00% and the incremental growth of the market is anticipated to be 2.32 mn tons.

The year-over-year growth for 2020 is estimated at 4.00% and the incremental growth of the market is anticipated to be 2.32 mn tons. Who are the top players in the market?

Amcor Plc, Arkay Packaging, Bell Inc., Georgia-Pacific LLC, Graphic Packaging Holding Co., Greif Inc., Imperial Printing Paper Box Mfg. Co., International Paper Co., Smurfit Kappa Group Plc, and WestRock Co., are some of the major market participants.

Amcor Plc, Arkay Packaging, Bell Inc., Georgia-Pacific LLC, Graphic Packaging Holding Co., Greif Inc., Imperial Printing Paper Box Mfg. Co., International Paper Co., Smurfit Kappa Group Plc, and WestRock Co., are some of the major market participants. What is the key market driver?

The rise in the number of M&A is one of the major factors driving the market.

The rise in the number of M&A is one of the major factors driving the market. How big is the US market?

The US region will contribute 73% of the market share.

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Amcor Plc, Arkay Packaging, Bell Inc., Georgia-Pacific LLC, Graphic Packaging Holding Co., Greif Inc., Imperial Printing Paper Box Mfg. Co., International Paper Co., Smurfit Kappa Group Plc, and WestRock Co. are some of the major market participants. The rise in the number of M&A in the market will offer immense growth opportunities. To make most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

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Technavio's custom research reports offer detailed insights on the impact of COVID-19 at an industry level, a regional level, and subsequent supply chain operations. This customized report will also help clients keep up with new product launches in direct indirect COVID-19 related markets, upcoming vaccines and pipeline analysis, and significant developments in vendor operations and government regulations.

Folding carton market in North America 2020-2024: Segmentation

Folding carton market in North America is segmented as below:

End-user Food And Beverage Products Homecare And Personal Products Healthcare Products Tobacco Products Others

Geography US Canada Mexico



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Folding carton market in North America 2020-2024: Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. The folding carton market in North America report covers the following areas:

Folding carton market in North America Size

Folding carton market in North America Trends

Folding carton market in North America Industry Analysis

This study identifies increasing use of eco-friendly materials in packaging as one of the prime reasons driving the folding carton market growth in North America during the next few years.

Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Technavio's in-depth research has direct and indirect COVID-19 impacted market research reports.

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Folding carton market in North America 2020-2024: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024

Detailed information on factors that will assist folding carton market growth in North America during the next five years

Estimation of the folding carton market size in North America and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the folding carton market in North America

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of folding carton market vendors in North America

Table of Contents:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market ecosystem

Value chain analysis

Market Sizing

Market definition

Market segment analysis

Market size 2019

Market outlook: Forecast for 2019-2024

Five Forces Analysis

Five forces summary

Bargaining power of buyers

Bargaining power of suppliers

Threat of new entrants

Threat of substitutes

Threat of rivalry

Market condition

Market Segmentation by End-user

Market segments

Comparison by end-user

Food and beverage products Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Homecare and personal products Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Healthcare products Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Tobacco products Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Others Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Market opportunity by end-user

Customer landscape

Geographic Landscape

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

US Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Canada Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Mexico Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Key leading countries

Market opportunity by geography

Market drivers

Market challenges

Market trends

Vendor Landscape

Vendor landscape

Landscape disruption

Competitive scenario

Vendor Analysis

Vendors covered

Market positioning of vendors

Amcor Plc

Arkay Packaging

Bell Inc.

Georgia-Pacific LLC

Graphic Packaging Holding Co.

Greif Inc.

Imperial Printing Paper Box Mfg. Co.

International Paper Co.

Smurfit Kappa Group Plc

WestRock Co.

Appendix

Scope of the report

Currency conversion rates for US$

Research methodology

List of abbreviations

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

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A 40-year-old fashion designer was duped of 15.05 lakh by a gang that lured people into paying money to join a dating club.

The complainant, Jayantibhai V, a fashion designer who owns a store in Vile Parle, and resides at Dahisar, in his complaint said, In March 2020, he received a call from a woman who identified herself as Sonali. She asked him to join the dating club and meet beautiful women. She also offered lakhs of rupees if he registered with their dating and friendship club service.

The complaint said that he ignored the call, but on June 3 he received a call again from another woman who lured him with a similar offer. The woman told him many men and women were members of her club and they provided service to many who were separated or divorced. She also enticed him with an offer to earn 30,000 to 40,000.

I was asked to deposit 25,000 for lifetime club membership. From June 3 to August 22 the accused demanded 15.05 lakh citing various reasons, but never provided any contact number of women, said Jayantibhai in his complaint.

The complainant later realised that he was being cheated and decided to file a complaint. An officer from Vile Parle police station said, We have registered an offence and are investigating the case.

Police booked unknown fraudsters under section 419 (punishment for cheating by impersonation), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) and 34 (common intention) of Indian Penal Code and section 66(C) (punishment for identity theft), 66(D) (punishment for cheating by impersonation by using computer resource] of Information Technology Act.
Following reports of armed clashes along the Line of Contact in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President George Tsereteli condemned todays military actions and urged restraint from Armenia and Azerbaijan to prevent further hostilities and the loss of life, TASS reports.

I call on both sides to cease hostilities in the interests of civilians who live in the area and recommit to negotiations under the auspices of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group in pursuit of long-term resolution of the conflict, Tsereteli said. I am deeply concerned by this most recent escalation, particularly by reports of civilian deaths and the threat that it poses to regional security.

As stated today by the Co-Chairs, the sides must take all necessary measures to stabilize the situation on the ground. There is no alternative to a political solution.

OSCE PA Secretary General Roberto Montella added that the Parliamentary Assembly will continue to offer a forum for dialogue between Azerbaijani and Armenian parliamentarians. The OSCE PA is ready to host parliamentary talks between the parties if requested by both sides, Montella said. While the Minsk Group is the OSCE platform where this dispute ultimately needs to be settled, the Assembly can complement these efforts by helping to build confidence between the sides.
From economy to psychology, from environment to diplomacy, what happens in the U.S. election will have a profound impact on Canada. Northern Exposure is a series of stories looking at whats at stake for us as America decides its future.

WASHINGTONWhen I began asking experts what was at stake for Canada in this years U.S. election, I hadnt expected to be confronted with the prospect of a military invasion.

But the possibility came up early in a conversation with Robert Bothwell, a historian and international relations expert at the University of Torontos Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy.

My whole life has been spent in a world that was essentially dominated by the United States, and where an American-conceived and American-imposed system of order existed. After 2017, that has become really very shaky, Bothwell said. It means, he says, much more serious stakes than before.

And as an example of those stakes, he talked about territorial claims that China and Russia have been making in the Arctic. These are still a little notional, but the ice is melting, and, you know, you cant even trust the Americans to defend Alaska, Bothwell said. Personally, I get quite nervous.

This may not happen for another 10 to 20 years but, again, it does depend on the Americans.

I clarified: Was he talking about a military invasion from the north by China or Russia?

Yeah. Yep. You know, we may not be able to defend it, so it might actually not be a violent engagement.

A moment later, he admitted he was probably painting it a little worse than it is, but the thought is a particularly vivid illustration of Canada reckoning with a U.S. president who has radically altered his countrys role in the world and, by extension, altered Canadas role, too.

Under Donald Trump, the U.S. has been withdrawing from multilateral agreements and organizations: the World Health Organization, the World Trade Organization, the Iran nuclear deal, the Paris Climate Accord. It has sanctioned International Criminal Court officials. It has questioned its commitment to NATO and obligation to defend allies while bucking the United Nations.

In place of its traditional role as administrator, referee and bankroller of global institutions that resolve disputes and maintain order, the U.S. has pursued a much more transactional style of foreign policy and diplomacy, as Kathryn Friedman, a North American relations expert at the University at Buffalo puts it, in which the U.S. pursues its interests by direct negotiation and raw assertions of power rather than through institutions.

The U.S. has carried a very heavy load for a long time in maintaining international order, said Peter Loewen, an expert on the study of the U.S. at the Munk School. You know, absent that order, (Canada is) really not in a position to be to be in a more anarchic world where weve got to deal with China on our own, where weve got to compete against dozens of other countries that are as large and as dynamic as ours, and theyre on the ascendant.

A world in which, for example, the WTO is toothless. Apart from concerns of a military invasion or something like that, its just about our capacity to thrive in an orderless world, Loewen said.

And, you know, were not really made for that as a country.

Thats a sentiment I heard expressed a lot well before the election heated up. Canadas role as a middle power since the end of the world wars has often been based on its special relationship with the U.S. We are in the G7 because the Americans wanted us there, Bothwell said.

Chris Sands of the Wilson Centres Canada Institute notes Canadas role in diplomacy has often been acting as a bridge between the U.S. and other countries. Trump has been burning that bridge.

Some of those I spoke with suggested that Trump  aggressive and disruptive as he is  represents a larger strain of American thought toward internationalism that might continue to assert itself even if he doesnt serve a second term. Thats a prospect Canadian governments will need to continue to figure out in any event. Most agreed Trump has a point when it comes to the contributions Canada makes to NATO, too.

Canada has been trying to navigate the shift by being a leading advocate for reforming multilateral institutions that the U.S. is battling. Trade lawyer Daniel Ujczo of Dickinson Wright in Ohio cites, for instance, Canadas work to reform the WTO. I think Canadas efforts at the WTO are well served. There may be an area of co-operation there, that the U.S. will do all the barking but Canada can provide some of the bite, in terms of tangible proposals on how to reform it, he said.

In a continued Trump world order  or even an evolving one under different leaders  Canada may need to find more ways to play that role, to preserve both its relationship with the U.S. and its place as a middle power in the world. I wonder if Canada is capable of being the kind of Robin to the American Batman on reforming some of these organizations, Sands said.

They can, of course, but would they be willing? Do they understand where the U.S. is at this point? And can they share the critique and actually try to find ways to constructively advance it? Im not convinced. I dont think Canadians see themselves in that same way.

Whether thats likely or not, most experts I spoke to also agreed that in the short term, a victory by Trumps Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, would offer a reprieve. In terms of the international order, Biden is certainly likely to give it more stability, Loewen said, adding, Boy, its a lot of work even to rebuild it.

If a Biden administration is elected, the United States will reengage and reelevate alliances critical to U.S. foreign policy, Friedman said. Alliances are at the centre of his foreign policy platform. And Canada, she believes, will likely regain its place as a most valued ally.

And if Trump is reelected?

More of the same, Friedman said. I dont think that there is going to be, you know, a cure.

Read more about:
The premiere season of the e-motorsport event under the local arm of Japanese automotive manufacturer Toyota is now coming to an end with the third and final round of the GR Supra GT Cup-Philippines.

This Saturday, September 26 at 8:00 pm, Filipino virtual racers are set to outpace each other across the checkered flag of this online race series for a chance to represent the countrys colors in the Asia Regional Round of the GR Supra GT Cup.

The race will be seen live at the TMP's official Facebook account, www.facebook.com/toyotamotorphilippines

Aside from the exciting sporting and promotional class, the upcoming online race will also be star-studded, as celebrities and social media personalities Gino Quillamor, Apple David, Reph Bangsil, John Manalo, Krissha Viaje, Nico Salva, Erika Rabara, and Angelique Manto will join the celebrity class. They will race against members of the motoring media and TMP officials including Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) own bet, President Atsuhiro Okamoto.

Okamoto

TMP Vice President for Marketing Services Elijah Marcial assured that the racing finale for this years e-motorsports event will be as equally exciting as the previous two legs.

"The third round is crucial as racers will earn double points this time. Although we've seen some consistent racers leading in the first two rounds, it's still anybody's game at this point. We cannot wait to find out who will be showing the world that Filipinos can excel in the international e-motorsports arena," Marcial noted.

Those who accumulated the most number of points after all three rounds will be declared the national GR Supra GT Cup Asia Philippines class champions. To add, the third and final member will be from the media/celebrity division.

Supra GT Cup

After officially declaring the three-man roster, Team TMP will race against the best-of-the-best e-drivers within the Asian Toyota distributors in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and India.

TMP guaranteed that the championsincluding the winner from the Junior Classwill win prize packages from TMP. The winners from the Sporting, Promotional and Celebrity/Media class will each receive major prizes, including the highly-anticipated PlayStation 5.

Story continues

The GR Supra GT Cup series is being held via the Gran Turismo Sport game on the PlayStation platform.

During the last round, JB Cruz led the promotional class, followed by Lance Guballa and Lance Padilla for the second and third place finishes, respectively. Both Guballa and Padilla were also podium finishers in the first round of the local arm of the Japanese automakers national e-motorsports program.

Meanwhile, Luis Moreno topped the Sporting Class for the second time, along with new first time podium winners Miguel San Mateo on second place and Terence Lallave on third.

Photo/s from Hiro Okamoto's Facebook Page, Toyota Motor Philippines

Also read:

Here are the first-round winners for the GR Supra GT Cup Asia PH

Toyota to launch GR Supra GT Cup Asia-PH next month

Toyota PH launches e-motorsport event
Rio scraps carnival street parties, along with parades Rio de Janeiro held its traditional carnival parade in February 2020, but the next events and its street parties have been postponed indefinitly due to the Covid-19 pandemic

Revelers hoping to escape the coronavirus doldrums at Rio de Janeiro's world-famous carnival got more bad news Friday as organizers indefinitely postponed the city's epic street parties, a day after the official parades were scrapped.

Originally scheduled for February 2021, the Brazilian beach city's carnival is a massive mixture of social-distancing no-no's, from the huge crowds that attend the annual samba school parade competition to the giant free-for-all of street parties known as "blocos."

After organizers announced Thursday they were indefinitely postponing the samba school parades because of the pandemic, the association responsible for 11 of the biggest "blocos" said it was following suit.

"The samba school league made the absolutely correct decision. Holding carnival -- whether it's samba schools or 'blocos,' any kind of carnival with crowds of people -- without certainty on a vaccine or guarantees for people's health is a mistake," said Rita Fernandes, president of the Sebastiana association.

"Sebastiana has decided that without a vaccine and especially without health guarantees for the population, we're not going to hold any kind of carnival at all," she told TV network Globo News.

Rio's carnival, the world's biggest, draws millions of tourists from around Brazil and the world each year.

But it has become the latest casualty of the pandemic, as Brazil struggles to get a handle on the second-deadliest outbreak of Covid-19 in the world, after the United States.

- Alarmingly high numbers -

Brazil has registered 4.7 million infections and nearly 140,000 deaths from the virus.

And while its spread has slowed somewhat since July, the numbers are still alarmingly high, with an average of nearly 30,000 new cases and 735 new deaths per day over the past two weeks, according to health ministry figures.

Rio is the Brazilian city hit second-hardest, after economic capital Sao Paulo, with 10,730 deaths.

Story continues

This is the first time it has postponed carnival since 1912.

The pandemic had already forced Rio to scrap another tourist magnet, its annual New Year's Eve celebrations on Copacabana beach.

The city's economy will likely take a hit from both decisions. Last year, carnival brought 1.5 million tourists to Rio and added 3.8 billion reais ($685 million) to the economy.

But many residents said they supported the move.

"I'm a huge fan of carnival -- I go to the 'blocos,' I dance in a samba school. But right now we need to be protecting people, especially the elderly," Carla Mauro, a 52-year-old architect, told AFP on Copacabana.

"A year with no carnival won't kill anyone."

jhb/ch
The letter delivered the worst news to Grace Nye.

Her daughter Cecilia, a Yakama tribal member from Toppenish, Wash., had died of the flu at the Chemawa Indian School, a government-run boarding facility for American Indians in Salem, Ore.

She was 16 and lived more than 200 miles away from her family.

The letter from the school was dated Oct. 29, 1918. It read:

"My dear Mrs. Nye:

"During the scourge of Spanish Influenza from which your daughter Cecilia died I was so extremely busy that it was impossible for me to tell you the particulars in connection with the death of Cecilia.

"This plague attacked this school on the 15th of October. It was brought here at first by new students coming in and it spread rapidly until we had about 250 cases. The entire school stopped its regular activities and devoted itself absolutely to the care and nursing of the sick. Out of the 250 cases we lost a comparatively few. Among the number was your daughter."

Cecilia was one of thousands of American Indians who died of the 1918 flu, which swept the world and killed upward of 50 million people. Like the coronavirus, which has devastated Native American reservations and people, the 1918 pandemic was deadly. But no one is sure how deadly.

One National Institutes of Health study said at least 3,200 American Indians died of the 1918 flu. Another count puts it at more than 6,600. And one Navajo scholar said just her tribe alone lost roughly 3,400 tribal members - about 12 percent of its population at that time.

Alaska tribal villages were hit especially hard.

At the Inupiat village of the Brevig Mission, 72 of 80 residents died, according to NIH. One schoolteacher went to 10 remote Alaskan Native villages and wrote of how he found "three wiped out entirely; others average 85 percent deaths. ... Total number of deaths reported 750, probably 25 percent this number frozen to death before help arrived."

The teacher's post, went on, "Over 300 children to be cared for, majority of whom are orphans."

"Virtually all of the factors that made Native Americans extremely vulnerable to the Spanish flu are still in place today," said Benjamin R. Brady, a public health professor at the University of Arizona who has studied the 1918 flu's impact on American Indian communities. He cited poor housing, underlying health issues and lack of access to doctors and hospitals.

Even before the 1918 flu, American Indians had already suffered near decimation from the collapse of the buffalo in the West and widespread outbreaks of smallpox, yellow fever, tuberculosis and trachoma - a highly contagious eye infection that leads to blindness - plus horrific wars and being forcibly removed from their homelands.

The population of American Indians in the United States had already plunged from 10 million to about 320,000 in 1918, according to Mikaela Adams, an associate professor of history at the University of Mississippi in Oxford who specializes in Native American research.

"They were in a period of crisis and then you've got a pandemic happening on top of it," said Brenda Child, an Ojibwe from the Red Lake reservation in northern Minnesota who has studied the impact of the 1918 flu on her tribe.

The flu spared almost no tribe, spreading from the Pacific Northwest to the Southwest, Midwest and Southeast.

One report from a federal commission on Indian affairs estimated that roughly 39,200 Native Americans were infected with the flu in an eight-month period from the fall of 1918 to the summer of 1919.

Men joining the military sometimes brought it back to their reservations. American Indians working on building railroads in the Southwest got sick. Ships and mail carriers brought the flu to very remote Alaskan villages.

Sometimes, a tribe's "medicine man" tending to the sick on a reservation spread the disease. And kids attending underfunded and overcrowded boarding schools caught the flu.

At the Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kan., one of the largest federal Indian boarding schools in the country, more than a third of the student body was hospitalized at one point in 1918 and 17 students died.

The Potawatomi brothers ran away from Haskell during the outbreak. Their father, Jesse Wapp, wrote to Haskell's school officials and reported that one of the boys died of pneumonia. His father wrote, "I ain't gone send Leo until he is well and the disease is over.

"I lost one boy and I hate to loose another."

At the Chemawa Indian School, where Cecilia went, Daisy Codding - a head nurse there - recorded 150 cases and 13 deaths.

The letter to Cecilia's mother told of the conditions at the Chemawa school:

"Absolutely everything possible was done in the way of medical care and nursing. The sick was never left alone for one minute, someone was administering to their needs and looking after them and I want you to feel that in this sickness that your daughter has had as good attention as she possibly could have had in any hospital or home.

"I have spared neither expense nor time nor trouble. Although I feel that we have done just as well as could be done. This disease which has taken thousands upon thousands throughout the country was no worse here than elsewhere. It was not due to Chemawa or its location. It was a general disease everywhere."

There were grim tales of loss and illness on many reservations.

Charles Dog with Horns, who was a Lakota and went to Rapid City Indian School, recalled in a 1971 oral history how he skipped going to school in 1918 because so many in his family were "in bed," sick with the flu.

At one point, two boys from his tribe were "so bad" with fever and headache and "just about to die" that he went 15 miles from their home to a post office to call a village doctor. The doctor, he recalled, came "over in the sled" across a river and gave them medicine. He wasn't sure what it was, but they lived.

In the Southwest, the Navajo reservation was hit particularly hard, much like it has been with the coronavirus pandemic.

"Small children and old people were the first victims," one trader with the Navajo wrote, "but the flu played no favorites and soon the death rate was just as high among the strong men and women."

In his book "White Man's Medicine," Robert Trennert described the conditions at Pueblo Bonito on the Navajo reservation, where "corpses were left where they lay and the unopened Shiprock hospital became a morgue."

Tall Woman, a Navajo who caught the flu but survived, recalled how her father helped care for others in the tribe, gathering plants and making medicines to be taken. He "butchered horses during the epidemic so the meat could be boiled and used as broth; the fat was mixed in a healing paste," according to a paper written by Brady.

Tall Woman's father told her how "this kind of sickness, this epidemic, had nothing to do with any of our ceremonies, not even the small ones." The best thing people could do, her father said, was to pray.

Navajo leaders said that 100 years ago, the tribe didn't have enough resources to deal with such a widespread pandemic. But it has worked hard to try to get a handle on the high number of coronavirus cases that hit in early spring at the reservation, which spans three states. In the past week, the tribe has reported some days with no deaths.

"This is a monster that has plagued our people," Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez said of the coronavirus. "There have been monsters that have come to the Navajo Nation. This is one of those modern day monsters we're fighting against. We do have the weapons to combat those and armor to help us get through this.

"That's the mind-set we have here on Navajo," Nez said. "We're overcomers. We're resilient."

In 1918, at the Chemawa Indian School where Cecilia had contracted the flu and died, the letter ended this way, telling her grieving mother of how the school had recovered from the flu's outbreak:

"Now that the plague is over we have resumed our regular school work. All the students we have now are well and strong and getting along all right.

"Trusting that Cecilia's body reached you in good shape and sympathizing with you, I am.

"Sincerely your friend,

"Harwood Hall - superintendent"
Lithuanian port caught in Belarus crossfire Belarussian products account for more than one quarter of the goods handled each year by the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda

A vital maritime trade hub for landlocked Belarus, the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda now faces economic fallout from the Baltic state's hard line against President Alexander Lukashenko.

The embattled Belarusian leader has threatened to re-route import and export cargo through Russian ports after Lithuania and its neighbours Estonia and Latvia last month imposed sanctions against him.

Their move came as the strongman staged brutal crackdowns against protesters who demanded that he step down following a disputed August 9 presidential election.

Klaipeda is the largest port in the Baltic states and handles more than 45 million tonnes of goods a year -- more than quarter of it from and to Belarus via Lithuanian rail.

"Belarusian cargo is very important for the port of Klaipeda," Algis Latakas, director general of the port, told AFP, standing near carriages and a ship loaded with Belarusian fertilizer.

Andrius Romanovskis, president of Lithuania's business confederation, said companies operating in Klaipeda were "very sensitive and are closely following" the latest news from Belarus.

"For some companies, it would mean quite a strong negative economic effect," he said.

- 'It may be possible' -

Lukashenko, facing the biggest challenge to his 26-year rule, threatened to cut off the route through neighbouring Lithuania after Vilnius imposed sanctions for election fraud.

His tough talk has been backed up by Russia, his main ally that wants to divert oil shipments from Lithuanian to Russian ports.

Apart from oil products, Belarus also uses Klaipeda to export fertilizer from Belaruskali, the world's largest producer of potash.

Latakas said a boycott would be purely political and would make no sense economically.

"We think that in the near term, politically it may be possible but it would prove rather complicated practically because it needs technologies and a concerted logistics chain.

Story continues

"Klaipeda is the closest location to Belarusian fertilizer factories, and since 2006 Belarusian cargo has mostly sailed to the rest of the world through Klaipeda," Latakas said.

He said the port and Lithuania's railways have not seen any changes so far except that Lithuanian truckers have reported more thorough checks at the land border in recent days.

- Deal with Russia imminent? -

Before the presidential election, Belarus had been using oil imports through Klaipeda -- including spot purchases from the United States and Saudi Arabia -- to reduce its reliance on Russia.

Since the vote and mass protests that ensued, the Belarusian government has changed tack as Lukashenko became heavily reliant on his single most important backer.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak visited Minsk to raise the issue earlier this month, sparking speculation about an imminent deal.

"We need to create the economic conditions that will be beneficial to both sides," he said, voicing hope that a deal could be reached with Belarus by the end of the month.

Russian officials have said any Belarusian cargo could transit instead through the Russian Baltic Sea ports of Ust-Luga and Kaliningrad.

Even though this might be more expensive, some experts believe Moscow could be willing to compensate Belarus to get the cargo and punish EU and NATO member Lithuania.

Lithuania has particularly angered Minsk in recent weeks as it has been hosting opposition presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who fled soon after claiming victory against Lukashenko and has inspired mass protests.

But Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda brushed aside the prospect of any impact if Belarus switches its trade to Russia, insisting that Belarus would not harm itself economically.

Earlier this month, he told AFP in an interview: "I do not want to speculate what is happening in the minds of these people but the economic reality is that Belarus benefits most from transporting its cargo through Klaipeda."

vab/dt/mas/wai
P olice have descended on a Surrey farm, following reports from neighbours of an explosion in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The activity at Courtlands Farm in Banstead is thought to be related to the ongoing investigation into the death of Sergeant Matt Ratana.

The police officer died after a 23-year-old gunman opened fire at Croydon Custody Centre in south London in the early hours of Friday.

The suspect - who was handcuffed at the time of the shooting - remains in a critical condition in hospital, police said on Saturday.

Matt Ratana died on Friday / PA

One neighbour of the Surrey farm said: There was some comings and goings, mainly at night. We could hear because (the owners of the property) have got a really loud padlock on their gate.

The blast was at 5.40am and woke up our little boy and we sent him back to bed, but what weve heard from other neighbours there was about 20-odd police and they were lined down the driveway.

Asked about police activity on Sunday, he added: Theres been loads of police going in and out

Theres probably something significant down there otherwise they wouldve been gone already.

It comes after a man was arrested in Norwich, Norfolk, on suspicion of supplying a firearm, police investigating the murder of Sgt Ratana said.

Scotland Yard said the man had been arrested at around 2am on Sunday and was in custody at a South London police station.

A spokesman added that officers had still not been able to speak to the man suspected of Sgt Ratanas murder because he remains in a critical condition in hospital.
President Xi Jinping has called for efforts to build Xinjiang featuring socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at the third central symposium on work related to Xinjiang, which was held on Friday and Saturday in Beijing.

Xi underlined the need to fully and faithfully implement the CPC's policies on governing Xinjiang for the new era.

Xi demanded law-based governance and long-term efforts to develop Xinjiang into a region that is united, harmonious, prosperous, and culturally advanced, with healthy ecosystems and people living and working in contentment.

Thanks to strenuous efforts from all sides since the second symposium in 2014, major progress has been achieved in the work related to Xinjiang, Xi said, citing a series of markedly improving key indicators from 2014 to 2019, such as a sound economic momentum with an average annual GDP growth rate of 7.2 percent, people's living standards being significantly improved with an average annual 9.1 percent growth in residential per capita disposable income, and more than 2.92 million out of 3.09 million people being lifted out of poverty.

Such a sound situation where people live and work in contentment has laid a solid foundation for long-term peace and stability in Xinjiang, Xi said.

"Facts have fully proved that China's work on ethnic affairs has been successful," he said, noting the achievements are the result of the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, along with the concerted efforts of the whole Party and all the Chinese people including more than 25 million people from different ethnic groups in Xinjiang.

Facts prove that the Party's policies on Xinjiang in the new era, which were developed by the CPC Central Committee since the 18th CPC National Congress, are perfectly right and must be adhered to on a long-term basis, Xi stressed.

He demanded the entire Party make implementing the Party's Xinjiang policies in the new era a political task, always maintaining the correct political orientation of the work related to Xinjiang.

Xi noted that the banner of socialist rule of law must be held high to maintain lasting social stability in Xinjiang, ensuring that the requirement for fully advancing China's law-based governance covers all areas of the work related to Xinjiang.

Xi stressed efforts to focus on heightening a sense of identity of the Chinese nation to constantly strengthen ethnic unity.

The education on the sense of Chinese identity should be incorporated into the education of officials and the younger generation in Xinjiang as well as its social education, helping the officials and the general public of all ethnic groups develop an accurate understanding of country, history, ethnicity, culture and religion, to let the sense of Chinese identity take root in people, he said.

Noting that development is an important foundation for lasting peace and stability in Xinjiang, Xi stressed leveraging the region's geographical advantages to develop Xinjiang as a core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt and a hub of opening-up in the inland and border areas.

Xi urged efforts to consolidate the foundation and increase the efficiency of the industrial sector in Xinjiang, advance industrial transformation and upgrading, and boost urbanization in an all-round way while protecting the environment.

Stressing the need to coordinate epidemic containment with economic and social development, Xi called for ensuring stability on six fronts -- employment, the financial sector, foreign trade, foreign investment, domestic investment, and expectations -- while maintaining security in six areas: job security, basic living needs, operations of market entities, food and energy, stable industrial and supply chains, and the normal functioning of primary-level governments.

He also called for unremitting efforts to eradicate poverty and promote employment in Xinjiang.

Xi pointed out that the original aspiration and mission of the Party is to seek happiness for the Chinese people, including people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, including various ethnic groups in Xinjiang.

He urged continuous efforts to foster a contingent of high-caliber officials from ethnic-minority groups in Xinjiang who are loyal to the Party and have both integrity and ability, saying that the officials in Xinjiang are trustworthy and capable.

Underscoring the great significance of Xinjiang-related work to the whole Party and the entire country, Xi asked for improvement in working mechanism in which the CPC Central Committee exerts the unified leadership, the central departments offer guidance and support, other provincial-level regions render support and cooperation, and Xinjiang plays its principal role.

Other senior Chinese leaders also attended the symposium, which was presided over by Li Keqiang. Li Zhanshu, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng were in attendance, while Wang Yang spoke to sum up the event.
Britain can still 'very much' seal a trade deal with Brussels but only if the EU gets real, the UK's chief Brexit negotiator said last night.

Lord Frost appeared to raise hopes of a last-minute breakthrough, saying the past two weeks of informal talks 'have been relatively positive'.

The message came as No 10 confirmed that EU negotiators had backed away from threats of a food blockade on Northern Ireland.

But it also comes just 24 hours after reports that the chances of a trade deal by next month's EU summit deadline were no better than 50/50.

Britain can still 'very much' seal a trade deal with Brussels but only if the EU gets real, the UK's chief Brexit negotiator Lord Frost, pictured, said last night

Lord Frost is due to travel to Brussels this week for further talks with EU counterpart Michel Barnier, pictured

It also follows Labour's accusation that Ministers were responsible for a 'carnival of incompetence' after admitting that to avoid gridlock, some EU-bound lorries may be banned from entering Kent once the UK leaves the customs union and Single Market on December 31 if they do not have the correct documentation.

And in a statement released last night, Lord Frost  due to travel to Brussels this week for further talks with EU counterpart Michel Barnier  made clear there were gaps still to be bridged.

He said: 'An agreement is still very much possible, but equally very far from certain. The last two weeks of informal talks have been relatively positive, but there remains much to be done, and time is short.'

Lord Frost reaffirmed that from the beginning the UK had been saying 'we simply want a standard free trade agreement like Canada's' but 'we continue to be asked to accept provisions which do not reflect the reality of the change which our exit from the EU brings'.

He added: 'If the gaps in these areas are to be bridged, the EU still needs to scale back more of its unrealistic ambitions and work on more realistic policy positions.'
It was a Friday afternoon, time for last-minute Shabbat shopping, and the Hyper Cacher  a kosher supermarket on the eastern edge of Paris  was busy.

Yohan Cohen, 20, an employee, was working in the aisles. Philippe Braham, 45, was running errands from a list made by his wife. Yoav Hattab, 21, was looking for a bottle of wine. And Francois-Michel Saada, 63, was about to drop in for some bread.

Hours later, on Jan. 9, 2015, all four were dead.

They were killed by Amedy Coulibaly, a heavily armed Islamist extremist who took 17 other people hostage in the supermarket and claimed he had carried out the attack in the name of the Islamic State group.

You are the two things I hate the most in the world, Coulibaly told the hostages after bursting in, according to witnesses. You are Jewish and French.

More than five years later, at a courthouse in northern Paris last week, survivors and families of the victims offered heart-wrenching testimony about the attack, which hit France just days after two brothers who had coordinated with Coulibaly massacred cartoonists and journalists at the offices of the satirical weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo.

On Friday, two people were stabbed by a man with a knife near Charlie Hebdos former building. While the government has not stated publicly what motivated the suspect, an 18-year-old Pakistani, a French judicial official said Saturday that the man had blamed Charlie Hebdo and its publication of cartoons mocking the Prophet Muhammad. The newspaper moved to highly secured offices elsewhere after the earlier attack, but the stabbing occurred by a mural paying tribute to the victims.

Tensions have resurfaced lately, with more than a dozen people on trial in the 2015 violence, many facing charges of aiding Coulibaly, who was killed after security forces stormed the grocery.

Much like the survivors of the 2015 rampage at Charlie Hebdo, which the trial focused on earlier this month, the witnesses last week told a breathless courtroom about their memories of the terrifying assault and how it left their personal lives in tatters.

But Charlie Hebdo was targeted specifically over its printing of the satirical cartoons, and its staff members were wearily accustomed to menacing threats. Last weeks witnesses were grappling with a very different question: Why us?

Why the gratuitous malice? Eric Cohen, Yohan Cohens father, asked the court. Why this hatred of the Jew? I will never understand it.

The January 2015 attacks came nearly three years after a gunman killed seven people, including three children and a rabbi, at a Jewish school in the southern city of Toulouse, and it immediately heightened fears within Frances Jewish community.

New episodes since then include the murder of a Holocaust survivor in her own apartment and the defacing of Jewish tombstones in the city of Alsace. Those have done little to assuage the concerns of French Jews who say they feel France is no longer safe for them, especially with the rise of Islamist-fueled anti-Semitism over the last decade.

Francis Kalifat, president of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France, told the court last week that because of the attacks, no Jew in France can go to the synagogue or drop off their children at school without thinking that they are a target.

This trial must also be the trial of an anti-Semitism that kills, he said.

Several of the former hostages or their family members did not testify, still fearful for their lives or unwilling to recount their trauma. Some now live in the United States or Israel, where all four of Coulibalys victims are buried.

Noemie, a hostage who testified in court but did not want her last name used out of fear for her safety, recalled hiding in a cold-storage room with five other people and a 10-month-old whom they kept busy with keys and pieces of paper to prevent the baby from crying.

Before the attack, she was an intensive care nurse. Afterward, she could no longer stand the sight of blood. And she said she was too scared to display her name on a badge for fear someone would recognise it as Jewish, so she did not return to hospital work.

Most of the 14 people on trial in Paris, three of them in absentia, are charged with participation in a terrorist conspiracy, while a few face the more serious charge of direct complicity in the crimes. They are accused of providing varying degrees of logistical aid to the January 2015 attackers, mainly Coulibaly.

Some of the accused are former prison mates or childhood friends of his. But none are accused of being present at the scenes of the crimes, and all have denied any knowledge of a terrorist plot.

The threat of terrorism looms over the trial, which started this month and is expected to run until November.

Al-Qaida issued new threats against Charlie Hebdo after the start of the proceedings, after the newspapers decision to defiantly reprint cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

On Wednesday, after the head of human resources at Charlie Hebdo revealed she had been forced to move recently because of threats, more than 100 French news outlets signed an open letter backing Charlie Hebdo and expressing support for freedom of expression.

But for most of the week, the court was captivated by claustrophobic accounts of Coulibalys nearly five-hour hostage-taking and of the chilling anti-Semitism that motivated it.

Zarie Sibony, 28, who at the time was a cashier at the supermarket, gave one of the most vivid accounts in her court appearance. She recounted that she was scanning a pack of frozen chicken when a shot startled her.

Cohen, another employee, was hit, and Sibony dropped to the floor. She heard heavy footsteps, and a mans voice asking someone his name before shooting the person dead. She would later learn that it was Braham, the shopper running errands for his wife.

Thinking the store was being robbed, she offered the contents of her cash register. But Coulibaly just laughed.

You think I came here for money? Sibony recalled him saying. He was after Jews.

Sibony, who trained as a nurse after the attack and now lives in Israel, told the court that when she lowered the stores metal shutter on the assailants orders, I said to myself that I was burying us alive.

When Saada rushed in, thinking he had made it just before closing time to buy bread, Sibony urged him to leave, and then he turned around and Coulibaly shot him in the back. And when Hattab  the customer who came in for a bottle of wine  tried to fire at Coulibaly with an assault rifle that was left on a pallet of flour bags, Sibony said she watched with horror as Coulibaly killed him with a bullet to the head.

Some hostages, helped by Lassana Bathily, a Muslim employee from Mali who was praised as a hero and later became a French citizen, hid in the basement. Those who remained upstairs were told by Coulibaly to sit in the aisles and to give their names, ages, jobs  and religions.

Almost all were Jewish. One 3-year-old boy, who had witnessed the whole attack, started vomiting.

The attack ended when police stormed in and killed Coulibaly.

The only motive for these crimes is the origin, real or presumed, of these people; their Judaism, Galina Elbaz, a lawyer representing the International League Against Racism and Anti-Semitism, said at the trial.

Its the conspiracy-minded idea that originated with the far right, the idea that Jews have a grip on power, she said.

Some lawyers for the former hostages have complained that the prosecution has not done enough to convey the extent of Coulibalys anti-Semitic motives. His frightening arsenal  two handguns, two assault rifles and enough explosives to bring the building down  show that he never intended to let any hostages out alive, they say.

One of the remaining mysteries about the events in 2015, which was raised by some at the trial, was the question of whether Coulibaly had intended to carry out another massacre in a southern suburb of Paris on the day before the hostage-taking but was diverted when he came across Clarissa Jean-Philippe, a 26-year-old police officer.

Jean-Philippe was killed by Coulibaly as she was inspecting a minor car accident shortly after 8 a.m., when classes were starting at a Jewish school that was less than 1,000 feet away and that may have been his real target.
New Delhi, Sep 27 : At a time when the whole world is grappling with the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic, 20-year-old Abhishek Agrahari, a third-year Mechanical Engineering student at TIET, Patiala has bagged multiple international research internship offers from various prestigious universities across the globe.

International offers received by Abhishek for research work in various scientific fields from reputed global institutes include - University of Oxford, UK; Pennsylvania State University, USA; University of Illinois, USA; Technische Universitat Munchen, Germany; Tel Aviv University, Israel; Beijing Computational Sciences Research Center, China; Shanghai Jia Tong University, China; Gyeongsang National University, South Korea; University of Adelaide, Australian School of Petroleum; Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, Spain; Heriot-watt Univeristy, Edinburgh; Lithuanian Energy Institute; and Iscte-Instituto Universitario de Lisboa, Lisbon.

He has already worked with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on gas turbine engines; with IIT, Bombay on fluid structure interaction; and with IIT, Kanpur on fluid dynamics, he currently has offers from IIT, Kharagpur; IIT, Indore; and IIT, Madras too.

Speaking exclusively with IANS, Abhishek, who lives at Mayur Vihar Phase 3 in New Delhi, said, "Being a non-IITian it's been very difficult to achieve these offers. It's all about knowledge and talent. I had to do extensive research work and study exhaustively apart from my general syllabus for Mechanical Engineering. There are several rounds of tests and interviews. Once the concerned professor finds me to be good enough to fit into their scheme of things, only then they offer me to join their research team. Sometimes professors and the concerned institutes bear all the expenses, but sometimes it is not the case." "I have been active in research in the broader areas of fluid mechanics, more specifically fluid-structure interaction theory, plasma physics, water waves mechanics, kinetic theory (kinetic equations and model like Boltzmann equations, fluid kinetic coupled model), mathematical general relativity, black holes, formation of black holes due to sudden gravitational collapse of non linear waves and gauge theory," added Agrahari who is desperately seeking and looking for sponsorships to realise his dreams as he belongs to a family which is reeling under acute poverty. His father was working in a private firm but is now jobless for many months.

Abhishek shared his pensive musings. "I would've been in the US right now, but this coronavirus has given me a temporary setback in my mission. Dispelling all the despair and desperation I've decided to look ahead with renewed vigour."
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Mr Akwasi Agyeman, is confident that the countrys tourism industry will soon bounce back.



The COVID-19 pandemic which brought economic activities around the world to a standstill affected lots of industries and one of the hardest hits was the tourism sector due to the restrictions on movement that was imposed.



But with the easing of the restrictions, the CEO is confident that the once vibrant sector would soon recover.



Mr Akwasi Agyeman was speaking at the Eastern Regional Tourism Awards programme which was organized by the GTA.



He said some hotels had already begun showing signs of recovery from the effect of the pandemic.



Also speaking at the event, the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Nuertey Aryetey, urged private organisations to partner with the tourism industry to promote the economy, saying the government alone could not handle the vast prospects of the industry.



He urged the GTA and other stakeholders to harness expertise to bring direct investment into the region to promote tourism in both the region and the country for the "Beyond the Return" project.



Graphic awarded



Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) was honoured as the Print Toursim Oriented Media House at the 14th Eastern Regional Tourism Awards in Koforidua last Saturday.



The Daily Graphic, GCGLs flagship newspaper, was honoured for its excellence in reportage and promotion of tourism in the region for 2019.



A former correspondent of the Daily Graphic in the Eastern Region, Mrs Naa Lamiley Bentil, was also adjudged the Print Tourism Correspondent of the Year.



Her story, headlined Ancient Residence of Nana Akufo, as well as others such as on the uniqueness of Boti Falls and the abandoned Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm at Mampong won her and the newspaper the day.



The ceremony was used to honour individuals, businesses and organisations for their contribution to the regions tourism development and promotion in 2019.



Held on the theme, "Growing Tourism Beyond the Return", the awards were presented in the areas of media, accommodation, food and beverage, visitor attraction and special recognition.



Other winners



A broadcast journalist and a former Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) Journalist of the Year, Mr Kwami Sefa Kayi, was awarded the "All Time Brand Icon of the Eastern Regional Tourism Awards".



Casa Bar and Grill was also awarded the Pub of the year, with Citi TV and Peace FM also winning the Tourism Oriented Media for Television and Radio respectively.



The Royal Senchi Hotel & Resort won the Best Four-Star Hotel Award; Capital View Hotel won the Best Three-Star Hotel Award; Dodi World was adjudged the Best Visitor Attraction Site; while Linda Dor Highway Rest Stop won the Best Highway Rest Stop of the Year.



Hill Palace Hotel, Krossova Leisure Centre, Charlotte Court Hostel, 3A's Guest House, Akosombo and Kingsville Hotel received special awards.

Source: Graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Nearly half of Frances Senate seats are up for grabs Sunday in an election that is likely to leave the chamber dominated by conservatives and serve a new electoral blow to President Emmanuel Macrons centrist party

The election is indirect, with senators chosen primarily by some 75,000 local elected officials like city councilors. They are voting for 172 of the 348 seats in the Senate, whose senators serve six-year terms.

The conservative Republicans party is expected to keep its majority, now at 143 seats.

Macrons Republic on the Move party was created just four years ago and has 23 seats in the outgoing Senate. It has lost popularity since the last election in 2017 because of yellow vest protests against policies seen as favoring the rich, party infighting and voter disenchantment with Macrons leadership, including its management of the coronavirus crisis.

The Greens party, meanwhile, enjoyed a boost in this years municipal elections thanks to growing public concern about climate change. It is hoping Sundays election gives it enough senators to form an official voting group in the upper house. The party currently has just four senators and needs 10 to form a group.

French Senate elections are held every three years, with part of the chamber replaced each time.

Macrons party has struggled in recent elections, and the president has not announced whether he will seek a second term in 2022. The virus pandemic and resulting recession, along with years of protests, have jeopardized his grand plans to transform Frances economy to be more globally competitive and to reinvent European unity.

In the last few weeks, France has been struggling with a resurgence of the virus that has already killed over 31,600 of its citizens, one of Europe's highest virus death tolls.

Macrons party still controls the lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, which has the final say in legislation over the Senate. And the Republicans who dominate the Senate generally support Macrons pro-business economic policies.
Flights will be from Prague to Sharm El-Sheikh, Hurghada and Marsa Alam

The Czech Republic will resume tourist trips and flights to Egypt as of 1 October 2020, Ambassador to Cairo Jan Fulik announced during his meeting on Saturday with Minister of tourism and antiquities Khaled Anani.

The statements of the Czech ambassador came during Ananis visit to Sharm El-Sheikh along with a number of Egyptian ministers and ambassadors to celebrate the World Tourism Day.

He also added that the flights will be from Prague to Sharm El-Sheikh, Hurghada and Marsa Alam.

According to Fulik, the decision is the fruit of Ananis visit to Prague last August and his talks with the Czech Prime minister and officials to boost tourism between both countries.

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Lebanon's prime minister-designate quit on Saturday (September 26) after trying for almost a month to line up a non-partisan cabinet.

His resignation deals a blow to a French bid aimed at rallying sectarian leaders to tackle the worst crisis since the nation's 1975-1990 civil war.

Mustapha Adib, former ambassador to Berlin, was picked on Aug. 31 to form a cabinet after President Emmanuel Macron's intervention secured a consensus on naming him in a country where power is shared out between Muslims and Christians.

A source close to Macron said the situation that led to Adib's resignation amounted to "collective betrayal" by political parties but said France, the former colonial power, would not abandon Lebanon.

Under the French roadmap, the new government would take swift steps to tackle corruption and implement reforms needed to trigger billions of dollars of international aid to fix an economy that's been crushed by a mountain of debt.

Lebanon faced a further knock when a huge explosion on Aug. 4 at Beirut port ruined a swathe of the capital.

Adib, a Sunni Muslim under the sectarian power-sharing system, announced he was stepping down but said Lebanon must not abandon the French plan or squander Macron's goodwill.
For our free coronavirus pandemic coverage, learn more here.

Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size 'Welcome to North Head. We are sorry that your arrival in Sydney has been delayed by 40 days. Please place your suitcase on this trolley and it will be taken on the funicular track to be steam de-sanitised through the autoclave. After medical examination by our doctor you will be required to proceed to the shower complex." Such was the welcome for passengers disembarking at the Manly Quarantine Station in the 1920s. There was a surprise at the disinfecting shower. It offered little privacy for third-class passengers and the water was mixed with phenol to create an anti-microbial carbolic acid solution. Officials were ready to process arrivals according to whether their ticket identified them as first, second or third-class passengers. Or, heaven forbid, "Asiatic" or steerage. Max Player, managing director of the station, said: "These weren't people on holiday, they were emigrating, they had lots of trunks. It was a very elaborate system but it all worked. There was lots of fresh air on the headland which got rid of the diseases, supposedly." If you are reading this in hotel quarantine you can rest assured that the processing, waiting in line and perhaps an overbearing presence of the authorities are nothing new when it comes to combating disease. The quarantine station was the front line from the late 1800s in defending the city of Sydney, in its infancy visible a tantalising short distance away through the Heads, from a cocktail of afflictions and maladies. Over the decades it catered for smallpox, Spanish flu, tuberculosis, scarlet fever, yellow fever, bubonic plague, foot and mouth and more. With smoking rooms for gentlemen, sewing rooms for the ladies and Wedgewood china in the (first-class) dining room, accommodation was spread over 65 buildings with 200 rooms on the 30-hectare site. Engravings in the soft Hawkesbury sandstone show that, in another era, the locality was frequented by Indigenous people.

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It all began in 1828 when convicts and guards on the Bussorah Merchant ship landed at the site following an outbreak of smallpox mid-voyage. Five years later the location had been officially reserved for quarantine purposes. The autoclaves through which passenger luggage was sterilised at the quarantine station. Credit:Janie Barrett Inbound ships with deaths or contagion on board would raise a yellow flag and pull in at the wharf next to the appropriately named and still idyllic Quarantine Beach, rather than risk a fine steaming ahead to Sydney. But even by 1872 the limitations of quarantine were recognised. The Illustrated Sydney News of Friday, August 2, stated: "Quarantine presents but a sorry barrier'. "There are so many ways in which its provisions may be eluded and yet the offender escape detection..." Masters of commercial vessels liked a quick turnaround in Sydney and passengers were rapidly disgorged before cargo was loaded for the return voyage. Infectious diseases on board were likely to be concealed and passengers allowed to leave the ship. It's a scenario on Sydney Harbour that may sound familiar. The land at the Station was divided into the sick ground with its hospital and the healthy ground with what proved for many to be a distressing view of the station's first of three cemeteries. Military guard kept the quarantined in their place, which also may sound familiar. After 40 days and the all-clear in the daily "thermometer parade" you might be allowed to resume your journey. If not, you could be detained in isolation or in the hospital with its sparse metal beds with thin mattresses nowadays spaced rather more than 1.5 metres apart. Ironically, crosses in yellow tape on the hospital floor today indicate where tour visitors should stand to ensure social distancing commensurate with the disease of contemporary times.

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Such was the death toll, estimated at 572 in total, that a full time gravedigger was afforded his own cottage on site. It still stands, painted in pastel Federation green, the same ominous colour as the showers and much else on this heritage listed site. For some, separated from healthy family members, the experience was frightening and traumatic. Many left as widows others as orphans. The diary of one passenger, Charles Moore, one of 375 immigrants on the Constitution which arrived in 1855, gives an insight into their experience. The gravedigger's house was a necessity. Credit:Janie Barrett He writes of the occasion when the Harmony hospital ship's bell tolled following the death of "the poor woman that was locked jawed". Those on the healthy ground were kept back as the Corps took her to the second cemetery. Her daughter died two days later "buried in a rasin [sic] box". Loading But some found the stay enjoyable. For six-year-old Thelma Rickett who was evacuated during the 1913 smallpox epidemic with her family from "working-class" Glebe there was the beach, games, and singalongs around the piano. For her mother "it was the cheapest holiday she ever had", with no housework and plenty of good food. In the influenza epidemic of 1919, family members were prohibited from seeing relatives and had to rely on lists published in the newspapers describing the condition of patients. Relatives gathered outside in the vain hope of a glimpse of loved ones.

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From 1921 to 1975 there were only 55 ships quarantined at the Station and, according to From Quarantine to Q Station, the business of quarantine became an entirely different experience. "There were plenty of social and recreational options including tennis and quoits, swimming at the beach, fishing, dancing and concerts. Boredom rather than serious illness became the most debilitating aspect of detection." The Station, now renamed Q Station, closed due to advances in human disease control in 1985. By then 580 vessels and 13,000 people had been quarantined at the site. An estimated 572 were buried in the three cemeteries. Passengers arrive on the Kookaburra in 1918. Like the Indigenous people before them, many detained in quarantine took to leaving their mark in the soft sandstone to record their time at the station. Some 1600 inscriptions scattered around the site are a record to those that were held there. But the ravages of weather and lichens mean that their legacy is slowly disappearing. The unique site begs the question, couldn't it be used for accommodation during the current pandemic? "We would have to have a guard on every one of these buildings," says Mr Player. "[Modern hotels] are a vertical thing. We are horizontal. That's why it worked here because the fresh air saved people's lives." Q Station is now run by heritage tourism company the Mawland Group under the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The group operates a policy of "adaptive reuse" to safeguard the station's heritage values and ensure it doesn't just become a decaying time capsule. There is a hotel "grade four and a half stars but with six-star views" says Player. Then there's history and ghost tours, a museum and catering.

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Some key dates Quarantine Station 1881-82: 104 Sydneysiders forcibly evacuated to the station due to smallpox epidemic. 1900: Isolation of 264 bubonic plague cases and 1832 contacts from Sydney, 103 buried at the Station. 1913: Sydney smallpox epidemic, 1042 quarantined in wards and tents. 1918-19: Influenza with some 2500 quarantined, 70 dying including two nurses and 14 servicemen. 1921-1975: Only 55 ships quarantined and two deaths after 1919 due to improved public health. 1985: Closed due to improving public health.

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Contrary to all predictions, modern convenience stores and supermarkets, with powerful financial capability, have not led to the closure of traditional household-run groceries.

Many convenience store chains, such as VinMart, Circle K, Family Mart, Co-op Smile and Satrafoods, have opened, present in every residential quarter and satisfying all consumers needs, from needles and thread to vegetables and fish.

However, surprisingly, traditional groceries still thrive, despite the strong rise of these retail chains.

Ngas grocery, for example, is located in Long Bien district in Hanoi. Nga is busy selling goods all day and the grocery enjoys many sales, though it is located near a convenience store.

The grocery offers food and essential goods, from batteries to phone scratch cards. On holidays, when demand increases, Nga only closes her shop at midnight.

Buyers mostly make payments in cash. But Nga also accepts online payment of different kinds. The buyers are mostly people in residential quarters nearby, whom Nga knows well. Therefore, customers can buy things on credit and pay money after some days.

According to Nielsen, Vietnam has 1.4 million groceries and 9,000 traditional markets, which make up 75 percent of the retail market share and bring revenue of $10 billion a year.

Contrary to all predictions, modern convenience stores and supermarkets, with powerful financial capability, have not led to the closure of traditional household-run groceries.

Meanwhile, Kantar Worldpanel Vietnam reported that traditional retail channels (traditional markets and groceries) satisfy 85 percent of the needs of customers.

Nine out of 10 polled customers, or 92 percent, said they prefer buying essential goods from groceries. Vietnamese have the habit of going to groceries because they are are small scale, require low operation costs, and can sell products at low prices.

According to Nguyen Ngoc Tram from JLL Vietnam, traditional markets are still the choice of the majority of consumers.

However, analysts said groceries now are different from what they were in the past. They not only sell essential products priced at several thousand dong for each item, but also wholesale rice, sweets and dairy products for large manufacturers.

They manage ' sales and run delivery services just like modern retailers.

DInh Thi My Loan, former chair of the Vietnam Retailer Association, noted that traditional retail has to adapt to new circumstances.

Traditional retailers compete with modern retailers and understand consumers needs, so they know how to better serve customers.

Traditional retailers have made changes to satisfy customers: they accept e-payments, use both online and offline retail, try to approach modern methods in goods display, and connect customer feedback with manufacturers.

Many sales management solutions for groceries have been designed. Sapo X provides software to manage sales at shops and chains.

KiotViet uses cloud computing technology that allows retailers to access sale data anytime and anywhere. Shop owners can now update selling prices and confirm orders quickly and conveniently.

With Vinshop, a new app, groceries can connect to manufacturers through intermediary distributors, which minimizes costs. In addition, groceries are now using new payment tools such as e-wallet and QR Code.

In late 2019, Telio, a platform connecting business households with wholesalers, mobilized $25 million worth of capital from Tiger Global, Sequoia India, GGV Capital and RTP Global.

Tam An

Drug retailers in fierce compettion for bigger share of $16 billion market The long queues of people standing and waiting for their turn to buy face masks show the great potential of the drug and medical equipment market.
LUETZERATH, Germany - Hundreds of anti-coal activists staged protesters in and around a mine in western Germany on Saturday, demonstrating against the continued extraction and use of fossil fuels by Europes biggest economy.

Environmentalists oppose the German governments decision to allow the mining and burning of coal in the country until 2038, a deadline the activists say is too late to effectively tackle climate change.

Activists, dressed in colored overalls and braving wind and rain, were also protesting the planned destruction of several villages to make way for the expansion of the Garzweiler strip mine, west of Cologne.

An Associated Press reporter witnessed some protesters break through police lines early Saturday before being detained by officers. Utility company RWE said some protesters also entered coal storage facilities.

The Garzweiler mine and nearby power plants have been a focus of protests for several years. Environmentalists say they are among the biggest sources of harmful pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in Europe.

In her weekly video message, German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Saturday for sustainable development, including to confront the threat of global warming.

Merkel cited Germanys increase in renewable energy production as an example of the measures her country has taken. She did not mention coal mines.

___

Jordans reported from Berlin.

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Speculation is rife that Pandey might be offered a ticket to contest the Assembly polls from a seat in his native Buxar district

Patna: Former Bihar police chief Gupteshwar Pandey, who took voluntary retirement from service a few days ago, joined the state's ruling JD(U) on Sunday.

Pandey, an outspoken police officer, joined the party in the presence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is also the JD(U) president.

The 1987 batch IPS officer had strongly defended Kumar on the issue of institution of a CBI probe into the mysterious death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

Ever since he took VRS weeks before the October-November Assembly elections, there was speculation that he could take the political plunge.

"Nitish Kumar ji personally called me and offered party membership with great love. I accepted it," Pandey said. "I don't know anything about politics. I will do what I am asked to do," he told reporters.

Speculation is rife that he may be offered ticket to contest the Assembly election from a seat in his native Buxar district


Scandal over justice minister's son exposes military program's lax personnel management



By Kang Seung-woo



Since its establishment two months after the outbreak of the Korean War on June 25, 1950, the Korean Augmentation To the United States Army (KATUSA) program has earned its stripes as an elite military unit.



Some 43,660 KATUSA soldiers fought alongside American soldiers in major battles during the three-year conflict on the Korean Peninsula, leaving 10,238 dead or injured. Even after the war ended in an armistice, KATUSAs have remained with their U.S. comrades in the barracks and helped them serve as a deterrent to North Korea, gaining recognition as an integral component of the Korea-U.S. alliance.



However, in the wake of a scandal over alleged preferential treatment given to Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae's son during his mandatory military service with the KATUSA, the military program is under siege for its operational problems that had been overlooked, with critics calling for the military authorities to tighten the lax supervision of its troops assigned to the Eighth U.S. Army (EUSA) that have been placed in a blind spot of personnel management between the Korean and U.S. militaries.



Some even question if the nation still needs the special unit, which the U.S. Army does not operate in its other alliances.



About 3,000 KATUSA soldiers are currently serving in U.S. bases across the nation and the Military Manpower Administration plans to select 1,590 more for next year.



Among all able-bodied Korean men who are subject to conscription, the KATUSA units are a popular choice  although applicants have to go through an involved entry process, including an English proficiency test  owing to its ostensibly better living conditions compared to the regular Korean military, as highlighted by the freedom to leave the base daily  a practice that opens the door to unauthorized absence.



In March last year, five KATUSA sergeants who served at Camp Casey in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province, were indicted on charges of going absent without leave (AWOL) for up to 32 days. According to a military investigation, the soldiers went AWOL because they wanted to study at home and visit libraries.



In another case, a KATUSA soldier, stationed at the U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) Yongsan in Seoul, left his post and spent the final five months of his service at his home; the Korean military authorities were unaware of this until after he was discharged.



The scandal involving the justice minister's son exposed another case of the military's lax personnel management of KATUSA soldiers.



The case centers on allegations that Choo used her influence as the then chairwoman of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea to have her son granted an extended 23-day leave for knee surgery, while he was serving with the 2nd Infantry Division. However, medical certificates for her son's sick leave and records on the administrative order approving his leave have not been found.



A recent inspection revealed the poor management of KATUSA documents related to soldiers' emergency leave for medical treatment over the past four years.



According to the Korean Army Support Group, 493 KATUSA soldiers took sick leave from 2016 to 2019, but the military failed to preserve relevant documents for 469 among them  although it was supposed to keep them for five years  raising calls on the military to improve supervision of the KATUSA program.



KATUSA soldiers abide by the same rules and regulations that their fellow Korean soldiers do in terms of promotions, leave and discipline, while following the U.S. Army's regulations regarding military exercises and operations.



"Although KATUSA soldiers abide by the Korean Army's regulations, I do not think that relevant rules regarding leave as well as going out and staying out overnight are observed by KATUSAs, as evidenced by the case of the justice minister's son," a military officer said on condition of anonymity.



"For example, if they have to return from leave on Friday, they appear to make a habit of returning on Sunday because the American soldiers are off on Saturday and Sunday."



Some are taking issue with the "special treatment" of the elite group of troops.



According to Rep. Lee Che-ik of the main opposition People Power Party, KATUSA soldiers face lighter punishment than regular Korean Army troops.



Over the last decade, only 11 KATUSAs have been court-martialed for unauthorized leave, including the five sergeants, and many of them have not been subject to disciplinary action, according to Rep. Lee.



For example, a KATUSA soldier, who went off-post to receive medical treatment then went missing for 14 hours because he was drinking, was acquitted for a lack of evidence, while another went AWOL for two days due to a break-up, but he had his indictment suspended.



By comparison, a Korean Army private first class and an Air Force senior airman who deserted their respective posts for 12 and 41 hours were given one-year jail sentences, suspended for two years.



"Despite similar charges, punishments imposed on KATUSAs and those serving in the Korean military are much different. The military prosecution and court must administer the law equally," Lee said.



In addition, although former EUSA commanders have praised KATUSA soldiers for their performances side by side their American counterparts, the U.S. government does not seem to acknowledge their contribution to the U.S. Forces Korea's (USFK) defense mission on the peninsula.



The Korean defense ministry spends 10 billion won ($8.6 million) each year on the KATUSA program and according to a study by the Korean Army Support Group, the military program helps the U.S. save $90 million annually in its USFK operations.



However, Washington has ignored the KATUSA contributions to the USFK in the defense cost-sharing talks with Seoul. Last year, Korea paid $860 million for the upkeep of the 28,500-strong American troops here under the Special Measures Agreement (SMA) and the U.S. government wants $1.3 billion for 2020  a nearly 50 percent increase from last year. Due to the huge gap, the allies have yet to strike a deal despite multiple rounds of negotiations dating back to September last year.



In that respect, civic groups insist that the SMA should include the nation's assignment of KATUSA soldiers in terms of Korea's burden-sharing portion.



"It is time to reflect on whether we still need the KATUSA program," another military officer said on condition of anonymity. "In the past when the country was not rich enough to pay for U.S. military presence, we assigned KATUSAs to the U.S. Army to make up for Korea's lack of financial contribution with outstanding human resources."



Most soldiers enlisted with the KATUSA unit are in college or have graduated, and have recorded high academic achievements.



"But now we pay the U.S. a lot under SMA," the officer added.



"Although many trumpet the KATUSA program's contributions to the ROK-U.S. alliance, it is a question of how it is contributing, given that the U.S. side counts them out of the SMA negotiations."



Yang Wook, a professor of the Graduate School of National Defense Strategy at Hannam University, also said Korea would be better off hiring civilians and assigning them to U.S. bases instead of KATUSA soldiers.



"Although we pay to keep U.S. troops here, the KATUSA program's contributions are not included in the SMA negotiations. In that respect, it would be better to employ ordinary people like civilians working in the military and send them to U.S. bases rather than sending KATUSA soldiers, who are outstanding human resources, to the U.S. Army," Yang said.


A known member of a white supremacist gang died during a shootout with police on Thursday in Templeton, California, CNN reports.

Christopher Michael Straub fled on foot during a traffic stop, hid, and then ambushed two deputies with a handgun, according to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office.

Straub was pronounced dead at the scene and an injured deputy was airlifted to a nearby hospital.

"He was known by us, he was wanted by us, and he was considered armed and dangerous," Sheriff Ian Parkinson said at a news conference.

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Christopher Michael Straub. San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office/Twitter

Related: Fox News pundits are using white supremacist language

A known white supremacist was killed in a shootout with police after escaping on foot during a traffic stop and ambushing them, CNN reports.

Deputies had tried to conduct a traffic stop on Christopher Michael Straub, 38, in Templeton, California, after recognizing that his vehicle belonged to a wanted felon.

Straub then ran through nearby vineyards to a cemetery before hiding and ambushing the deputies with a handgun, according to a press release from the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office.

It described how the deputies returned fire after Straub fired multiple rounds and hit one of them in the leg.

Straub then ran back through the vineyard while still armed and attempted to get back into his vehicle, where two other deputies intercepted him.

"The two additional deputies pulled up, engaged the suspect, who was still armed with a handgun, and engaged in a gun battle where the suspect was struck and pronounced dead at the scene," Sheriff Ian Parkinson said at a news conference on Thursday, as reported by The Tribune.

"He was known by us, he was wanted by us, and he was considered armed and dangerous," Parkinson added. While he said Straub was a known member of a white supremacist gang, he did not name one.

Straub had been booked into California jails on 28 occasions, including two incarcerations in state prison.

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The injured officer, deputy Richard "Ted" Lehnhoff, 34, was airlifted to a local hospital and is said to be in a "stable condition."

SLO County Sheriff (@SLOSheriff) September 24, 2020

Deputies later discovered a stash of weapons in Straub's vehicle, including four assault rifles, one bolt action hunting rifle, one shotgun, two handguns, as well as the gun he used during the shootout.

"Straub was a known member of a white supremacist gang and a criminal investigation had already been initiated by the Sheriff's Gang Task Force when this incident occurred," the sheriff's office said.

"After a search warrant was served on his residence, it was discovered he was illegally manufacturing parts for weapons," it added, noting that it is illegal for felons to possess any weapons.

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Texans of a certain age are likely to recall a couple of ubiquitous highway billboards from the late 1950s and early 1960s. Cruising in their sturdy Ford pickups or their bat-wing 59 Chevy Impalas past cornfields and cotton patches, through piney woods and rolling pastureland, motorists couldnt help noticing the stark roadside admonitions: Get US out of UN and IMPEACH EARL WARREN.

Those iconic signs are a reminder that the right-wing effort to mold the U.S. Supreme Court into a staunch and dependable ally did not begin with the contentious U.S. Senate hearings on the nomination of Robert Bork, President Ronald Reagans pick for the court in 1987. That bitter dispute politicized high-court nominations, but it was merely a landmark moment in a crusade that had begun a couple of decades earlier.

Conservative efforts to reshape the Supreme Court originated in the wake of Brown v. Board of Education, the monumental 1954 court decision that outlawed racial segregation in public schools. Brown was one of several landmark rulings that outraged the far right during the tenure of Chief Justice Earl Warren, a former Republican governor of California appointed by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1953.

All these years later, despite the fact that the United States remains a member of the United Nations and Warren was never impeached, the impetus for the campaign against him is on the verge of long-sought triumph. President Donald Trumps rush to replace liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court with a deeply conservative jurist before Election Day, just six weeks out when some states are already voting, has put the high courts transformation into an intensely partisan, relentlessly ideological tool of the reactionary right within sight. Trump announced late Saturday afternoon his nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to replace Ginsburg, a move that would cement into place a politically attuned conservative 6-3 majority, and would seem to guarantee a court drastically  and perhaps tragically  out of step with the needs of the nation for decades to come.

Polls across the spectrum show Americans want the next president, whomever that may be, to fill Ginsburgs seat. Gallup polls taken before Ginsburgs death showed Americans thought the courts balance then was about right. And in every presidential election but one since 2000, more voters have preferred Democratic candidates, suggesting that despite the peculiarities of the Electoral College, the nation is not in favor of a drastic shift to the right.

Ginsburg was known for championing womens rights and, as the court grew more conservative, for her powerful dissents. In that regard, she was much like her friend and ideological foil, the late Justice Antonin Scalia. When Scalia died in 2016, conservatives initially demanded that President Barack Obama appoint a moderate to fill his place  that is, before Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell broke all precedent and refused to even hold hearings under the pretense that the presidential election, less than a year away, was too close.

It was cynical nonsense. Obama, just like Trump now, had every legal right to make his appointment before the election, provided there was time for a full and fair vetting by a conscientious Senate. That Republicans only now sing that tune is hypocrisy no matter how they try to rationalize it. Instead, they should follow Obamas precedent of reasonable compromise and choose a moderate to replace an iconic justice from either ideological edge. Doing so preserves the courts only real source of power  the fragile faith by voters that its rulings arent determined by partisan passions at a time when seemingly everything else is.

Of course, Trump has no intention of doing whats best for the country. He wants to press his advantage in hopes of naming a third justice in just four years  a feat that would make his first term one of the most consequential in U.S. history for the court and, through that, society.

So what should the Democrats do? Fight like mad to keep Trump from posting Barrett or any other far-right jurist on the high court. The consequences are simply too dire.

At stake is health insurance under the Affordable Care Act for 20 million Americans, the right to reproductive choice and fundamental questions of checks on executive power  all issues on which Chief Justice John Roberts has from time to time broken with his conservative colleagues to reach a more moderate outcome.

His capacity to play that role will be eviscerated if one more far-right justice is added to the courts majority.

Democrats only have 47 votes in the U.S. Senate, but that doesnt mean they are powerless to stop Trump.

Democrats at every level and other voters who oppose a rightward lurch of the court should take every opportunity to remind incumbent Republican senators that voting with Trump on this issue could lose them their seats. That message needs to be carried to every state with a competitive race, from Cory Gardner in Colorado to Susan Collins in Maine to John Cornyn in Texas.

If enough voters make that case, Trump may find it harder than he imagines to secure the 51 votes he needs.

Republicans should understand, too, that if Joe Biden wins and the Democrats take back control of the Senate, they will have other options, even if they fail to stop Trump from putting a third justice on the court. Democrats could expand the number of justices  a radical and troubling, but legal, move that many will see as the only way to restore balance to the court but will do little to safeguard Americans trust in it.

In their unseemly haste to fill Ginsburgs seat, Republicans are forgetting that the court works best when its ideological shifts take place gradually.

Long ago, Justice Warren paid tribute to that understanding when he urged the nations public schools to integrate with all deliberate speed in 1955s second Brown decision, laying out remedies. That intrinsically conservative admonition wasnt the urgent transformation liberals demanded, though it was far faster than Eisenhower had wanted. But Warren saw that, despite the injustices of a slow integration, the country needed time to catch up to the courts pronouncement.

Theres nothing deliberate, or conservative, about the speed with which the Senate majority leader is seeking to ram through the presidents nominee. Neither he nor the president are capable of the integrity of Warrens example. But we pray there are at least four Republican U.S. senators who are  a hidden handful who understand whats at stake if the fragile legitimacy of our nations most respected institution is shattered, a brave few who will draw a line just short of putting party, and power, over country.
Child labor is just one piece of a looming global disaster. Severe hunger is stalking children from Afghanistan to South Sudan. Forced marriages for girls are rising across Africa and Asia, according to U.N. officials, as is child trafficking. Data from Uganda showed teen pregnancies shooting up during pandemic-related school closures. Aid workers in Kenya said that many families were sending their teenage girls into sex work to feed the family.

Other aspects of society have been allowed to reopen. Why is it, frustrated childrens advocates ask, that bars, gyms, restaurants and subway systems are now operating but not schools?

Mr. Williams said leaders who really believe in education should use those resources on schools, and he questioned why they were not.

Is it because adults have agency and have the louder voice  and the power to vote? he asked.

In Jakarta, the Indonesian capital, Surlina, 14, paints herself silver to resemble a statue and hangs around a gas station with an outstretched hand. Her mother is a maid and her father sold small sculptures before the pandemic robbed him of a job. At the end of each day she gives her earnings to her mother, who supplies her and her two siblings, 11 and 8, with the paint.
Two American law firms have started building class action law suits against HSBC and Standard Chartered following allegations the banking giants failed to crack down on money laundering.

Labaton Sucharow and Schall Law, which both have a track record of pursuing vast legal claims against listed companies, said they have begun investigating the blue chip firms after leaked files caused their share prices to plunge on Monday.

Class action lawsuits allow multiple claims against a single defendant. They are common in America where they have been successfully used against British firms and are increasingly employed on this side of the Atlantic.

Swoop: A police raid in the global war on drugs which spawns dirty money

The Mail on Sunday revealed in June that HSBC faces a separate 1.3billion class action legal claim for its involvement in a film scheme used for tax avoidance.

A cache of files released last weekend allegedly show HSBC continued to move dirty cash for clients it already suspected of nefarious activity.

The bank raised the alarm over irregular transactions in 2,100 suspicious activity reports (SARs) filed with the US Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network between 2000 and 2017.

Banks are supposed to stop moving cash or shut down accounts if they have evidence of criminal activity. But the reports claimed HSBC did not take action.

HSBC's share price plunged to its lowest level since 1995 following the allegations  falling 5.3 per cent on Monday to 2.88.

Standard Chartered shares fell 5.8 per cent on the same day to 3.38.

Labaton Sucharow lawyer David Schwartz said he is investigating the events that led to the document leak, dubbed the FinCen files.

Brian Schall of Schall Law has urged investors to contact his firm if they suffered losses of $100,000 or more as the banks' share prices fell. A legal source said: 'There are listing obligations that require the disclosure of material events.

'It's about whether the representations made by the banks at the time someone bought their shares were true or not.

'It doesn't surprise me at all that firms are considering taking legal action when shareholder value has been reduced by so much in such a short timeframe. That follows a pattern of cases that were brought after the financial crash.'

A spokesman for HSBC said: 'Starting in 2012, HSBC embarked on a multi-year journey to overhaul its ability to combat financial crime across more than 60 jurisdictions. During that period, the monitor fulfilled his role of identifying issues and making recommendations for improvement and concluded HSBC became a safer bank each year as a result of the bank's efforts.'

Standard Chartered declined to comment on the potential claims.

A Standard Chartered whistleblower, former executive Julian Knight who first revealed his identity in The Mail on Sunday last year, said he believes the leaked dossiers will aid his landmark legal case.

Knight claims he was forced out of Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) after raising the alarm about client companies suspected of helping Iran to sidestep US sanctions.

The Mail on Sunday revealed last year that Knight had provided US investigators with a list of SCB clients, which he suspected were fronts for the Iranian military and its nuclear programme. Knight, a former RAF pilot, now points out that many of the firms on his original list have cropped up on the FinCen leak despite Standard Chartered rubbishing his claims. He said: 'The FinCen leak vindicates our case because it has disclosed many of the same sanctioned and sanctionable companies that I disclosed to US investigators.'

Last year SCB was fined 900million for breaching US sanctions after it was found the bank had been dealing with Iranian, Cuban and Sudanese entities.

Knight was based in Dubai as global head of transaction banking foreign exchange. He said he alerted the bank about its online trading system in 2011.

Among the SCB clients he disclosed to US investigators were Blom Bank, Byblos Bank, both from Lebanon, and the Turkish Halk Bank. All three have been disclosed in the FinCen leak as being the subject of SARs at Standard Chartered. Blom and Byblos are also being sued by the families of US military personnel in a court case, which targets companies they say helped fund Iranian terror networks. Knight, and a US whistleblower who cannot be named for legal reasons, are locked in a legal battle with the US government over a landmark compensation claim.

Standard Chartered said: 'The [whistleblower's compensation] lawsuit has been dismissed and the false allegations underpinning it have been thoroughly discredited by the US authorities who undertook a comprehensive investigation into the claims and said they were 'meritless' and did not show any violations of US sanctions.

'The bank is not in mediation regarding these scurrilous claims and looks forward to appellate affirmation of the dismissal.
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Linkedin Alya Nurbaiti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, September 28 2020

President Joko Jokowi Widodo must take greater control over Indonesias COVID-19 response, as the country continues to grapple with a surge in new cases, an epidemiologist has said.

The President must directly lead COVID-19 handling, Pandu Riono of the University of Indonesia told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

Pandu said the current strategy, carried out under the national COVID-19 task force, had not been effective in curbing coronavirus transmission.

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Kabul: Afghanistan's dwindling community of Sikhs and Hindus is shrinking to its lowest levels. With growing threats from the local Islamic State affiliate, many are choosing to leave the country of their birth to escape the insecurity and a once-thriving community of as many as 250,000 members now counts fewer than 700.

The community's numbers have been declining for years because of deep-rooted discrimination in the majority Muslim country. But, without what they say is adequate protection from the government, the attacks by the Islamic State group may complete the exodus.

We are no longer able to stay here," said a member of the tiny community, who asked to be identified only by his last name, Hamdard, out of fear he may be targeted for speaking out.

Hamdard said seven relatives of his, including his sister, nephews, and son-in-law were killed by Islamic State gunmen in an attack on the community's temple in March, which killed 25 Sikhs.

Hamdard said that fleeing his homeland is as difficult as leaving a mother behind. Still, he joined a group of Sikhs and Hindus who left Afghanistan last month for India, from where they will eventually move on to a third country.

Although Sikhism and Hinduism are two distinct religions with their own holy books and temples, in Afghanistan the communities are interwoven, having been driven into a kinship by their tiny size, and they both gather under one roof or a single temple to worship, each following their own faith.

The community has suffered widespread discrimination in the conservative Muslim country, with each government threatening us their own way," said Hamdard, whose home was seized by warlords after the U.S. invasion in 2001, forcing him to live in one of two Sikh temples in the Afghan capital of Kabul.

Under Taliban rule in the late 1990s, Sikhs and Hindus were asked to identify themselves by wearing yellow armbands, but after a global outcry, the rule was not enforced.

Also driving the exodus is the inability to reclaim Sikh homes, businesses and houses of worship that were illegally seized years ago.

Hindu temples in Kabul's old city were destroyed during brutal fighting between rival warlords from 1992-96. The fighting drove out scores of Hindu and Sikh Afghans.

Aside from the March attack by IS gunmen, a 2018 Islamic State suicide attack in the city of Jalalabad killed 19 people, most of them Sikhs, including a longtime leader who had nominated himself for the Afghan parliament.

Suffering big fatalities for a small community is not tolerable," said Charan Singh Khalsa, a leader of the Sikh community living abroad, who declined to say where he was living out of fear for his safety.

He left Afghanistan after his brother was kidnapped and killed in an attack by gunmen in Kabul two years ago.

He said the last three years have been the worst period for all Afghans, but especially so for Sikhs and Hindus.

Community leaders have slammed recent governments for failing to step up security in the face of the IS threat.

Afghanistan's government in 2010 decided to dedicate a chair in the national assembly to religious minorities, and there have since been two Sikh representatives.

But Khalsa called these posts symbolic". He criticized the government for taking too long to grant political representation powers to the community and for failing to provide security to our places of worship."

A senior Sikh community leader told The Associated Press that the group is in negotiations with the government over its security needs and the repairing of the temple after it was destroyed in March's attack. The community leader spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the negotiations with the media.

At a press conference last month, President Ashraf Ghani's spokesman, Sediq Sediqqi, said that members of the Afghan Sikh and Hindu community will return once peace is restored.

The president's office did not respond to a request for comment from the AP, but other Afghan officials have pledged to assist the community.

We will use all our facilities to provide security to the people," Interior Ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said, without elaborating.

We are committed and responsible for their (Sikhs and Hindus) mental and personal security." It is not clear what kind of security measures are being discussed, nor when they might be seen on the ground.

Until then, the community's flight is accelerating, with large numbers of Sikhs and Hindus continuing a recent trend of seeking asylum in India.

In August, a group of 176 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus went to India on special visas. They were the second batch since March, with the first 11 members arriving in India in July.

Khalsa said that a group of Afghan Sikhs and Hindus in Canada and European countries has volunteered to sponsor the exodus of those remaining in Kabul who cannot afford air tickets and temporary accommodation in a transit country.

Several Canadian legislators have asked the country's immigration ministry for a special programme for Afghan Sikh and Hindu refugees, requesting that they be brought to safety in Canada amid the increasing security threat. For Afghan Sikhs, the thought of being uprooted is painful, despite the circumstances. It's hard to leave our birthplace but we have no other option," said Hamdard. Afghanistan does not want us anymore."

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

Trend:

Israel-Azerbaijan International Association "AzIz" urges Armenia to stop the occupation policy and withdraw its armed forces from all occupied Azerbaijani territories, Trend reports referring to AzIz.

"The Armenian Armed Forces provocations, which began at 06:00 (GMT+4) on September 27 on the border with Azerbaijan, led to the full-scale military operations, the statement said. As a result, the Azerbaijani army was able to liberate several villages that had been under Armenian occupation for about thirty years. Both sides have human losses. Some military equipment of both sides was also destroyed.

The constant violation of the ceasefire and shelling of border settlements by the Armenian Armed Forces on the border with Azerbaijan for many years disturbed the peace and led to the casualties both among the military and civilians, the statement said.

Having occupied 20 percent of the Azerbaijani territories in early 1990, Armenia not only did not intend to withdraw its armed forces from the occupied lands but also disrupted the peace negotiations with Azerbaijan, held with the support of third countries and big international organizations, thus trying to maintain the status quo, the statement said. Moreover, for more than two decades Armenia has been ignoring four UN Security Councils resolutions on the immediate and unconditional liberation of the occupied Azerbaijani territories.

Amid all these illegal actions, Armenia uses provocative rhetoric regarding the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and continues to mislead the world public opinion regarding the origin of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the statement said.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly called on the Armenian leadership to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict peacefully to establish peace in the region, as well as get rid of the long-term confrontation between neighboring countries and the two peoples that have lived side by side for centuries, the statement said.

However, the leadership of Armenia and the instigators of the Armenian diaspora hinder the peaceful solution of this issue and call for supporting Armenias occupation policy to the detriment of peace between the two countries and the welfare of the Armenian people, the statement said.

On behalf of all immigrants from Azerbaijan living in Israel AzIz calls on the Armenian leadership to cease hostilities and act as soon as possible towards a peaceful solution to the protracted conflict to avoid further losses within the observation of Azerbaijans territorial integrity, the statement said.

We urge Armenia to stop the occupation policy and withdraw its armed forces from all the occupied Azerbaijani territories for the establishment of peace in the Caucasus!" the statement said.
STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijani losses amid its attack on Artsakh comprise 2 helicopters, 14 UAVs and an unspecified number of armored equipment, the Artsakhs Defense Ministry told ARMENPRESS.

The enemy is launching attacks in different parts of the frontline using air force, UAVs, armored equipment and artillery. The vanguard units of the Defense Army are successfully repelling all enemy attacks. According to updated information the Azerbaijani military has lost two helicopters, 14 UAVs, and it also has loses of armored equipment. The battles continue, the defense ministry said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
A convoy of Saudi military vehicles patrols in the southern Yemeni city of Aden, on April 26, 2020.

Yemen's warring parties have agreed to exchange 1,081 detainees and prisoners in talks in Switzerland, United Nations Special Envoy Martin Griffiths said on Sunday.

The Iran-aligned Houthi group will release 400 government prisoners, including 15 Saudis and four Sudanese, while the Saudi-backed government will free 681 Houthi fighters, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

"I urge the parties to move forward immediately with the release and to spare no effort in building upon this momentum to swiftly agree to releasing more detainees," Griffiths told reporters.
As the coronavirus crisis continues, office workers have been advised by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to keep working from home where they can.

However, this may not mean escaping the office environment entirely, with some employers reportedly using increasing surveillance to try and keep tabs on workers they're miles away from.

According to the Observer, several employers have been using online tools to recreate the normal workplace - while others have requested digital methods of monitoring their workers from tech companies.

Shirking or working? Employers seem increasingly unsure...digital health researcher Dr Claudia Pagliari says managers have 'ramped up' tracking their employees

Dr Claudia Pagliari, a researcher into digital health and society at the University of Edinburgh, told that bosses have 'ramped up' their attempts to track their employee's time, in the same way they might in the real world.

'It has really ramped up', she said, 'People are home working, and many organisations are beginning to want to track what they're doing.'

She revealed that employers are keeping track of workers' time through tools such as Slack and Microsoft Team, which report when an employee is active.

The publication also spoke with David Heinemeier Hansson, the co-founder of start-up Basecamp, a company providing a platform for remote employees.

WHAT IS API? Application Programming Interface (API) is a software intermediary that allows two applications to communicate with each other. When using an app on a mobile phone, the application connects to the Internet and sends data to another server. The server retrieves that data, performs the required actions and sends it back to the phone. The application then interprets that data and gives the user the information you wanted in a readable way. APIs can also be used to control access to devices that an application may not have permission to use. Advertisement

He claimed that he's turned down requests from companies who wish to spy on their employees: 'We went so far as to say that our API cannot be used for any form of employee surveillance.'

This news comes after the dramatic reversal of the Government's recent drive to get people back to workplaces earlier this month.

The new Covid-19 measures implemented last week includes advising all office workers to work from home where they can as soon as possible.

The official guidance for England now states: 'Where an employer, in consultation with their employee, judges an employee can carry out their normal duties from home they should do so.'

David Heinemeier Hansson, the co-founder of start-up Basecamp, claims that he's turned down requests from companies who wish to spy on their employees

According to Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove: 'We are stressing that if it is safe to work in your workplace, if you are in a Covid-secure workplace, then you should be there if your job requires it. But, if you can work from home you should.'

But this may not be bad news to all, with a July survey revealing one in three office workers want to continue working from home after the coronavirus threat is over.

The study from the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) found that 32 per cent of people are expecting to at least partially work from home even after the lockdown has ended.

The research further indicated that between 25 per cent and 30 per cent of employees will be working from home on any one day in 2021.
Bengaluru has become an epicentre of terror activities, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya claimed on Sunday and said he had requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to set up a permanent division of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the city.

A day after becoming the president of the BJP's youth wing, Surya said many terror modules have been busted in Bengaluru, the Silicon Valley of India, in the recent past. The terrorist groups want to use the city as an "incubation centre" for terror activities.

Surya said he had met Shah at the latter's residence two days ago and emphasised the need to have a well-equipped and sufficiently staffed NIA office to mitigate terror-related activities in Karnataka.

"The Home Minister has assured that he will direct officials to establish a permanent station house manned by an officer of the rank of the SP at the earliest," Surya said.

"In last few years, Bengaluru, the Silicon Valley of India, has become epicentre of terror activities. It has been proved through many arrests and sleeper terror cells busted by the investigative agency in the city," Surya, who represents Bengaluru South in Lok Sabha, told reporters here.

"It is a matter of grave concern that NIA investigations into the DJ Halli and KG Halli mob violence in August have indicated that many terrorist organisations are using Bengaluru as their incubation centre for carrying out anti-India activities, he said.

Over 3,000 people went on a rampage on August 11 torching the residences of Congress MLA R Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy, his sister Jayanthi and DJ Halli and KG Halli police stations in Bengaluru.

The violence broke out over an alleged inflammatory social media post by the nephew of the Congress MLA.

Surya said there are reports that the NIA does not have sufficient infrastructure and human resources for conducting investigations. The NIA is currently operating with skeletal staff and that too from Hyderabad with only a camp office in Bengaluru.

Bengaluru being the financial nerve centre of south India, it is vital to keep the city safe from all terrorist and anti-India organisations and their activity, he added.

On his new responsibility as the head of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), Surya said his first visit will be to poll-bound Bihar to interact and meet the party's youth wing volunteers.

"Yuva Morcha will nurture more grassroots leadership across the country. A young karyakarta (worker) like me has been given the responsibility of the national youth wing of the world's largest political party in the world's biggest democracy and in the world's youngest country. This is possible only in the BJP," he said.

Underlining that BJYM will continue to be a platform for all youngsters of the country, Surya said he feels the strongest leaders come from weakest sections of the society. And he wants to ensure that BJYM will be their platform.
Putting in place security arrangements for the upcoming election in Bihar, the Union home ministry has ordered for the deployment of about 30,000 troops for election duties, a latest directive said.

According to the directive, the ECI has decided to initially deploy 300 companies in Bihar for area domination to ensure that the assembly polls are conducted peacefully..

Altogether 15 districts of Bihar have been identified as left wing extremism ( LWE) districts of which five districtsGaya, Aurangabad, Nawada, Lakhisarai and Jamuiare worst affected by Maoists.

People familiar with the developments in the Bihar home department said that altogether 300 companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) would soon reach Bihar for initiating area domination and confidence-building measures before the three-phase assembly elections in the state.

The CAPF battalions would reach the state before October 10 and would remain deployed across the 243 parliamentary constituencies till seven days before the polling dates. Sources said the state police headquarters had sent a requisition for 3600 companies of CAPF from ECI to conduct the election smoothly. In the last 2015 assembly polls, the state had got 726 companies of CAPF for conduct of the six phase polls.

The deployment is being seen as a boon for state police to maintain law and order as Durga Puja would also be observed during the election period.

Altogether 80 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), 50 companies of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), 30 companies of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), 55 companies of Border Security Force (BSF), 70 companies of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and 15 companies of Railway Protection Force (RPF) are likely to reach Bihar.

Every constituency will get one company. The personnel will stage a flag march in the areas considered vulnerable due to several factors, including for being crime-prone, caste and community sensitive and accessibility, said the official sources of the home department adding that remaining companies after distributing one to every constituency would be deployed in the Maoist-affected areas as per the requirements for intensive area domination.

The aim for such deployment is also to build confidence among people and instill fear among criminals and antisocial elements so that polling takes place peacefully and in free and fair manner, sources said.

These companies would have no role in maintaining law and order and on voting days. Separate CAPF companies would be brought and deployed for that purpose, sources said.

The state already has the deployment of CAPF in the form of CRPF and SSB for anti-Maoist operations and guarding Indo-Nepal border. SSBs 15 battalions are deployed in Bihar, out of which 11 are on Indo-Nepal border and three engaged in anti-Maoist operations. CRPFs five regular battalions and one and a half battalion of CoBRA commandos are deployed in the Maoist-hit districts of Bihar.

A large count of companies of Bihar Military Police (BMP) would also be mobilized along with CAPF for election, according to people familiar with the developments.

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The conflict between the two countries dates to the collapse of the Soviet Union. Nagorno-Karabakh, a region in Azerbaijan with a majority-Armenian population, broke away and declared independence, triggering a war that killed at least 20,000 and drove 1 million from their homes.
A night view of Yeouido, Seoul's financial center / gettyimagesbank



By Kim Bo-eun



Seoul may not share all of the elements of competitiveness financial centers such as Hong Kong or Singapore possess. Downsides inevitably exist, such as strong labor regulations and militant unions.



Yet the government is still seeking to attract foreign firms based on the advantages the country and capital city are able to offer.



The first factor firms will consider is whether there is sufficient business opportunity in the market they are considering entering.



Demand for asset management, financing



Prudential Life Insurance Company's recent departure from the Korean market and talks of more insurers pulling out has left foreign entities questioning business opportunities here.



The government has been promoting the country's public pension fund, the National Pension Service (NPS), and the demand for managing its assets. The NPS is the third largest public pension fund in the world with over 700 trillion won ($600 billion) in assets under management.



"Korea's market for asset management services has grown rapidly over the years, and Korea has also seen an influx of foreign entities in the sector," an official of the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) heading the international affairs department said.



"The portion of the market here that foreign firms occupy is still small, which illustrates that there are still ample business opportunities for them," the official said.



Korea also has a lot to offer as one of the world's largest economies with fast-growing new industries, the official said.



"The rapidly-growing new industries indicate that new demand for financing continues to emerge," the official said.



"This means Korean businesses in these sectors are in need of a greater scale of financing and more diverse means and entities to provide such financing."



Dynamic fintech industry



Korea also boasts an advanced IT infrastructure, and a dynamic fintech industry, which could create synergy with foreign firms seeking to come here.



The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) last October opened a fintech lab on Yeouido, which currently houses 70 startups  46 local and 24 foreign entities. They have collectively attracted over 30 billion won in investments, and made 27.6 billion won in sales as of the end of 2019.



"Korea has been acknowledged as an IT testbed in Asia  this is based on the development and penetration rate of mobile-based services," an official of the SMG's economic policy team said, referring to the success of local digital lender KakaoBank.



"Many foreign startups want to test their mobile-based services here first and then take them to other countries, as is illustrated by the foreign firms stationed at Seoul Fintech Lab."



The lab hosts startups from various countries including Singapore, the U.S., Canada and Hong Kong.



Among the 70 firms, 17 have also made progress in overseas expansion  either by setting up an overseas office or subsidiary, or signing agreements to make inroads into overseas markets. The countries they are entering include the U.S., Japan, Singapore and Vietnam.



The local government has stated it would increase the lab's scale to be able to accommodate up to 100 firms.



This is part of the SMG's plans to create a fintech hub on Yeouido. A graduate school on digital finance opened in the latter half of this year, offering related MBA courses.



The local government is seeking to foster experts in the sector to enhance Korea's competitiveness as a fintech center.



Effective COVID-19 containment, gov't subsidies



Finally, Korea has become recognized for its effective containment of the COVID-19 pandemic, based on a number of factors including transparency, robust screening and quarantine, as well as testing.



Governments around the world have drawn their attention to Korea's methods, as the country has managed to control the spread of the virus without taking draconian measures. This has minimized the economic fallout.



In the most recent projections by the OECD, Korea's GDP is forecast to contract by only 1 percent. This ranks the country as the second-best performer among major economies, after China.



The country's IT infrastructure is also attributed to as a key factor in its effective tracing, testing and treatment of COVID-19.



"We hear from offices around the world that Korea has shown a world-class response to COVID-19," the head of a foreign bank said. "Also, the consensus among foreign firms here is that Korea has become transparent in financial statements and that the government has made efforts to ease regulations, such as on the firewall."



SMG's official also said local government subsidies for foreign entities could be an additional attractive factor.



Seoul continues to accept applications for rent subsidies available for foreign financial firms. The government is offering up to 70 percent in subsidies to rent office space and pay utility fees at the International Finance Center on Yeouido, for up to five years.



One Chinese venture capital firm is known to be preparing to come to the IFC.



Yeouido is home to 640 local and foreign financial institutions.



Seoul ranked 25th out of 110 cities in the Global Financial Centers Index published by the London-based think tank Z/Yen on Friday. This is up from 33rd out of 108 cities in the index published in March. The index evaluates the cities on business environment, human capital, infrastructure, financial sector development and reputation through surveys.



Currently, 163 foreign financial firms are operating here, according to the FSS.



Korea hosted 163 foreign financial firms in 2018, 168 in 2016 and 164 in 2014.



The FSS official said the number of foreign financial firms appears to have fallen because a number of entities integrated their banking and brokerage units here, such as UBS.






Covid-19s shadow looms over the 75th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly this year. The high-level segment began September 22, with virtual speeches delivered to a near empty hall. Customarily, the first speaker was Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, followed by US President Donald Trump. The US presidential election is just weeks away, the outcome of which is critical for America and indeed the world.

For India, the anniversary has little cause for celebration as China, a UN Security Council permanent member, ignoring its Charter commitments, is attempting by force to alter the status quo at the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh. The 2020 theme is: The Future We Want, the UN We Need: Reaffirming our Collective Commitment to Multilateralism. This sounds unrealistic, the world being caught between the pandemic and the rise of nationalist-populist leaders in almost all major powers, other than perhaps Germany. Its therefore important to study what they had to say.

President Trump, days from a tough November 3 election, was naturally more geared to a domestic than global audience. Incidentally, he spoke as Bob Woodwards book Rage, based on extensive interviews including with the President, reached bookshops. Pulling no punches, Trump called the pandemic the invisible enemy and China virus. He likened US mobilisation to that during World War II, having already cost over 200,000 dead, 40 million jobless and an economic slowdown nearing recession. The $2.2 trillion stimulus may leave behind rolling deficits. Trump sought accountability from those who unleashed the plague. While China, he alleged, locked down domestic travel, it kept international flights open, and delayed sharing sharing that the disease was communicable person-to-person and by asymptomatic individuals. Woodward recounts Trumps discussion with advisers whether China, realising the likely damage to its economy, allowed international travel and thus the pandemics spread, to level the playing field with the developed world. Trump then fielded the usual claims about US economic and military growth under his watch and a swipe at the UN that it must focus on real problems to be effective. The US, he claimed, led in protecting human rights, which sits poorly with his handling of the Black Lives Matter protests. When Woodward pushed with: Im asking whether you can understand the plight, struggle, pain of people?. The reply, more dodge than revelation, was: Im somebody that likes to get things done rather than talk. Trump cited his America First invocation, encouraging others to the same. It summed up his anti-multilateralism at the citadel of global governance.

Chinese President Xi Jinping was happy to fill that gap. He repeatedly referred to the pandemic, on the defensive after the US onslaught. He pledged the virus must be defeated, but must not be politicised, nor nations stigmatised. He sought macro policy coordination between major economies to enable global recovery. He then waxed eloquent about helping the developing world, especially Africa, which for China is a crucial market and source of raw materials. Chinese companies control mines from Congo to Chile and Australia, cornering minerals needed for solar panels, electric vehicles, etc. The pandemic, Xi argued, should teach there is no escaping inter-dependence and respect for each countrys independent choice of development path and model. He countered the crescendo for decoupling from China by seeking an open multilateral trading system with WTO as its cornerstone. On climate change, he promised carbon neutrality in China by 2060. Of course, he ignored that Chinas installed capacity for polluting thermal power is half the worlds total. Even new Belt and Road Initiative projects have a mix of thermal and hydro power units. Reaffirming faith in global governance, he promised China will never seek hegemony. The speech will leave most of Chinas neighbours astounded at the gap between his words and Chinas actions.

Interestingly Russian President Vladimir Putin contested Americas claim of stabilising West Asia and the Gulf by peace deals. He said as the world changes so must the UN, but undermining it may collapse the architecture of international organisations. In the Mideast, he sees foreign interference, not democracy and reform, with the vacuum filled by extremists, leading to an illicit trade in arms and oil. He undercut Trumps simplistic conclusion that splitting and realigning parts of the Islamic world with Israel and against Iran and its Shia nation-allies would buy peace.

Amid this dissonance among major powers Pakistans PM Imran Khan addressed the UNGA. He tried linking the UNs 75th anniversary as a time to recall fascisms defeat in Europe and focus on contemporary neo-fascism by the RSS and the BJP government in India. From that it was an easy path to claiming repression in Kashmir, and the breach of real and imaginary past UNSC resolutions. While he focused on the flow of illicit funds of Pakistans politicians to developed nations, with his political rivals in mind, there was no mention of Pakistans funding non-state actors and its travails with the Financial Action Task Force. His angst is understandable as the big powers arent interested in Pakistans Kashmir laments, except China.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi may take the high road and leave Indian diplomats to respond. He will no doubt seek UNSC reform, support equitable globalisation, as India needs investment to create employment, reiterate Indias commitment to the Paris climate change accord and, like China, offer help to developing nations in fighting the pandemic. The post-pandemic world has conflated with the post-Trump world. Woodwards final words on Trump are that his oversized personality and lack of trust in experts led to the undermining or attempted undermining of so many American institutions. The failure of calming, healing voice. The unwillingness to acknowledge errors.... Facing a recalcitrant China, angry farmers up in arms and a swirling Covid, Indias government should draw a lesson from this.
The six-month follow-up medical observation for China's first batch of COVID-19 vaccine volunteers ends on the weekend, as the volunteers complete the final blood sample collection to see antibody levels.

The research team is planning to give volunteers a second dose on a voluntary basis to boost their immunity against the novel coronavirus, the Global Times learned from the research team. Other Chinese vaccine candidates entering the late-stage trials all require at least two doses to maximize immune response.

China's earliest group of 108 volunteers started to get their injections on March 17 in Wuhan for Phase I clinical trials of the Recombinant Novel Coronavirus Vaccine (Ad5-nCoV), co-developed by Tianjin-based biotechnology company CanSino Biologics Inc and military infectious diseases expert Chen Wei.

"We took about 35 millimeters of blood samples this morning. The second dose may be given in the following two days. I did not experience any adverse reactions, no colds, no fevers, over the past six months," Zhu Aobing, 28, one of the first group of volunteers, told the Global Times on Saturday.

The vaccine candidate is originally designed for single-dose injection, estimated to stay effective for two years and should be stored at a temperature of 2-8 degrees Celsius.

But now the research team intends to extend it to two doses in order to bring better protection to volunteers, a researcher participating in the clinical trials in Wuhan told the Global Times on Saturday. If an extra dose of the vaccine is given, the team will start a new six-month period of medical follow-up observations.

No severe adverse effects from Ad5-nCoV have been discovered so far, Zhu Tao, CanSino's chief scientific officer, said over the last weekend at a conference.

The vaccine's effectiveness has been called into question due to tests showing low antibodies in previously published Phase 1 and 2 trial data. However, Zhu said that the neutralizing antibody of the vaccine may have been seriously underestimated, and that a single dose of it can achieve the equivalent immunity effect of two doses of inactivated vaccine. He also stressed that different testing methods can seriously affect antibody testing data.

The data show that the Ad5-nCoV vaccine is no less effective than the same-typed Ad26 vaccine already approved in Russia, Zhu added.

Other three Chinese-developed vaccine candidates also take two doses of injection including two inactivated vaccines developed by China National Pharmaceutical Group Sinopharm in Beijing, and another inactivated one developed by Sinovac Biotech Ltd.

A 28-day interval between two doses is a normal scheme, while a 14-day interval is acceptable under emergency situations, Yin Weidong, CEO of Sinovac Biotech Ltd, told the media.

Whether a third dose is necessary is still under observation now, but the team has already designed a third dose in its Phase II clinical trials and will report the results soon, said Yin. He suggested not to worry too much about a decrease in antibody level over time because the extra shot can consolidate the immune effects.

Chinese vaccine companies have signed cooperation agreements with institutions in several countries to promote final-stage clinical trials, Wu Yuanbin, director-general of science and technology for social development with the Ministry of Science and Technology, said at a briefing held by the State Council Information Office of China on Friday.

Sinopharm's two inactivated vaccines have entered Phase III clinical trials in the Middle East, with more than 35,000 people vaccinated and no serious adverse reactions. Sinovac Ltd is smoothly running its Phase III clinical trials for its inactivated vaccine in South American and Southeast Asian countries. Volunteers for the late-stage trials of the Ad5-nCoV are also starting injections in a few countries in Eurasia, Wu briefed.
On this weeks episode of Segue, Southern Illinois University Edwardsvilles weekly radio program exploring the lives and work of the people on campus and beyond, Chancellor Randy Pembrook interviews Josie DeGroot Brown, PhD, professor and assistant chair in the Department of Applied Communication Studies, and Eric Ruckh, PhD, director of the Honors Program and associate professor in the Department of Historical Studies.

This episode of Segue airs at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 27. Listeners can tune in to WSIE 88.7 FM The Sound or siue.edu/wsie.

DeGroot joined the SIUE faculty 12 years ago, and her work has been recognized with the Teaching Distinction Award in both 2013 and 2018. Her research on computer-mediated communication has received top paper awards at regional and national conferences, and has been published in several journals and book chapters.

Ruckh specializes in modern European intellectual history and the history of modern France. In 2014, he was named director of the Honors Program and given the responsibility of revitalizing the program. Ruckh offers classes in the Department of Historical Studies, the Honors Program, and the Interdisciplinary Studies Program. His current research focuses on the history and political function of friendship.

Due to COVID-19, SIUE was faced with the need to suddenly convert classes to an online format, begins Pembrook. We established the Academic Continuity Task Force (ACTF) to begin immediately after the spring semester ended. The two of you served as co-chairs of that task force. Can you share with our listeners some of the key charges the team was assigned?

We were asked to think about how to safely and effectively deliver the curriculum for the upcoming academic year, Ruckh answers. We were also asked how to maintain and onboard first-year students, while sustaining and continuing to support returning students.

First and foremost, we were focused on safety, says DeGroot. We wanted to be flexible and fair as we planned to have a wide range of plans for curriculum delivery, while still meeting the legal requirements for accreditation and academics.

One of the key recommendations of your group was the concept of extending each other grace, notes Pembrook.

We told those on the task force to take a mental break if necessary, to deal with whatever is happening in their household and the pandemic itself, says DeGroot. From there, we thought we should extend the same notion for our students, faculty and staff.

To make the most informed decisions possible, the ACTF spilt up into subgroups to gather information about the spring semester from students, faculty and staff. While brainstorming curriculum plans for the fall, the various teams consulted with ITS to see if their ideas would work from a technological standpoint.

We wanted to gather as much experiential evidence from the spring from our faculty and students, Ruckh says. We wanted to identify what worked well and what the problems were to incrementally improve from there.

Looking back at the last six months, what has it been like working more with technology? inquires Pembrook.

Im impressed with Zoom as a platform for meetings and teaching, answers Ruckh. It feels as if youre sitting around with a group of people with the dynamics of dialogue, uncertainty and creative outbursts. I wish I was teaching more this semester to explore all capabilities of Zoom.

There are still times I want to just go to an office, sit around the table and hammer issues out, adds DeGroot. Humans are adaptable, and we evolve. We do that in response to technology, as well.

How do you think COVID-19 will change higher education permanently? asks Pembrook.

There will be considerably more synchronous, online education through Zoom or some future platform, says Ruckh. It will allow delivery of SIUE curriculum across the nation and around the world. We will have to compete with many other institutions, but it will open up many possibilities.

Were going to remember COVID-19 as we move forward, adds DeGroot. Some things we may be hesitant about in the future, but well be excited about those in-person meetings again.

Thank you for leading the ACTF, ends Pembrook. I appreciate all youve done for the University.

Tune in at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 27 to WSIE 88.7 The Sound to hear the entire conversation.
New Delhi, Sep 27 : Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his official residence here and discussed various matters, while also apprising him of feedback from the state's farmers on the three recently-passed contentious farms bills that have received the President's assent.

In the meeting which lasted around 40 minutes, the two are also understood to have discussed the attitude of Dushyant Chautala's Jannayak Janata Party, which supports the BJP in the state, party sources said.

The expansion of the Khattar cabinet is also overdue, as well as appointments to the state BJP unit, and both these issues too figured in the meeting, the sources said.

Khattar had also discussed these matters with party President J.P. Nadda on Saturday, and then with General Secretary (Organisation) B.L. Santosh on Sunday morning.

On the issue of the farm bills, Shah is also learnt to have emphasised that an awareness campaign be conducted among the state's farmers "to dispel the misinformation being spread by opposition parties", the sources said.
Liberty does not exist in the absence of morality.Edmund Burke

Ladies and gentlemen, the Democrat Party is becoming unhinged before our very eyes. Just when you thought the donkey party couldnt get any more irrational, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsbergs death has unleashed a wave of Democrat derangement that confirms the belief of many patriotic Americans, that this party is immoral.

Because of Republicans daring to follow the Constitution in the selection of a new Supreme Court justice, Democrats have threatened to pack the courts, eliminate the filibuster in the Senate, weaken and/or remove the electoral college and burn down every institution that has sustained the country. Yes, they are now attempting to pivot away from those declarations, but to even make such extortions in a Constitutional republic is immoral.

What will be interesting to witness will be the Senate confirmation hearings of Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, a judge on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. This mother of seven (two adopted) has already been attacked by Democrats for her Catholic faith when she was confirmed as an appellate justice. Will the Democrats go after this woman with the same pull-out-the-stops lies and slander witnessed during the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation, the Samuel Alito confirmation, or the Clarence Thomas confirmation? One would hope no, but given the Democrat history of immoral inquisition when it comes to Republican Supreme Court judicial nominees, the worst should be expected.

Immorality means knowing the difference between right and wrong and doing wrong anyway. Democrats have gotten away with this because they, along with their allies in the media, have attempted to reshape morality so that what they do is good and the ends justify the means when it comes to combatting the evils of the bad Orange Man and the racists who voted for him.

Labeling Trump voters as racists is one aspect of the Democrats massive gaslight campaign. The term gaslight comes from the 1944 movie Gaslight starring Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer. The plot involved a husband manipulating his wife into believing that she is going insane. Democrats are using this tactic to plant seeds of doubt in the minds of their targets causing them to question their perceptions, memories and judgement. Put simply, the Democrat Party in their gaslighting efforts are telling voters that what they are seeing and know to be wrong or right is not how they should perceive it. Its sort of like saying, Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?

As previously mentioned, the media is a willing partner in this distortion. Remember the peaceful protests mantra mouthed in unison by the press while buildings burned behind them on live TV? And dont hold your breath waiting for the press to call out Democrats who accuse President Trump of lying and destroying democracy on a daily basis, when it is, in fact, Democrats who have done so through the Russia Collusion hoax, the impeachment fiasco, and their outright refusal accept a peaceful transfer of power after the 2016 election. Correct me if I am wrong, but isnt bearing false witness also immoral?

Democrats/leftists are more invested in protecting their ideas than telling the truth. The problem is that except for Democrat run states and cities, no widespread consensus exists in this country for leftist ideas. Why not? Because Democrat panaceas are devoid of wisdom. Leftist ideas seem to have one unifying reality: they are costly with terrible consequences. For example, you have only to look at California to see the failure of Green energy in 1) its inability to provide adequate power need; 2) the astronomical costs not only to build windmills and solar panels, but also of their disposal; and 3) the number of raptors such as eagles, hawks, falcons and owls killed by giant windmill turbines on a daily basis.

Republicans would be demonized nightly on prime time news if they had such policies, but because these are Democrat disasters not a word is mentioned by the gatekeepers in the media. For one thing, leftist screw-ups do not fit the narrative of Democrats good, Republicans evil.

The narrative is the supreme objective of todays media because it protects and deflects from the leftist agenda. Truth is no longer the standard in journalism, but instead an obstacle to be drowned out by a media echo chamber that spews out a daily refrain that appears to be phoned, e-mailed or faxed to the producers and editors who set the news agenda for the day. With few exceptions, American national media has become a cesspool of immorality, eschewing truth for the sake of the narrative.

Nothing is off the table when it comes to protecting the narrative. Whether it is painting a teenager like Nick Sandmann as a smirking racist, parroting a made-up phrase like Hands up, dont shoot, or not calling out Democrats for repeating disproven lies like Trump saying there are good people on the side of neo-Nazi skinheads, the immoral media is all in. Todays media is the living embodiment of Pontius Pilates infamous query, What is truth?

Liberty can only come from the foundation of truth present in the Judeo-Christian ethic. In order for lies to be accepted as truth, there must be repression, oppression, and intimidation. Fear becomes the thread of this reality. Those who question the falsehoods presented as truth by our elite betters must be silenced through ridicule, character assassination and ruin. We are living this in todays America.

Because leftism is built on a platform of lies, the rule of law must also become corrupted and turned against the people. Law becomes no longer a means to defend truth, but to strengthen the lie. Changing the rule of law from protector of the citizenry to harasser of the citizenry is the consequence of this. The country is witnessing this example via the arbitrary edicts made by Democrat governors and mayors during the Wuhan virus lockdown.

A win by Joe Biden in November means that what has been visited upon blue states will take place on a national level and we will be under the rule of unhinged and vengeful Democrats. All of our cries against the immorality of Democrat rule will fall on deaf ears as rapacious leftists begin the steps to crush our liberty.

Dex Bahr is the author of the book, No Christian Man is an Island. He is also a freelance writer and lecturer.

Photo illustration by Monica Showalter with use of two Pixabay public domain images, and logo.
Seoul, Tokyo should move toward future-oriented ties



The phone talks Thursday between President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Yashihide Suga have drawn attention as they came amid expectations for the two countries to find a breakthrough in the worst-ever bilateral relations. Moon, describing Japan as a close friend for Korea, stressed the need for the two nations to find an optimal solution to the soured relations.



In response, Suga expressed hope for the two nations to set up future-oriented relations by tackling current difficulties resulting from sensitive history-related issues. The conversation came nine months after Moon met former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe last December in Chengdu, China, during the trilateral summit among neighboring countries.



Moon and Suga focused on wartime forced labor, agreeing on the need to resolve the matter through close consultations. Suga stressed at a press briefing after the phone talks that he would maintain Japan's stances and continue to ask Seoul to present appropriate measures to tackle the issue.



It is improper for Suga to try to blame Seoul with regard to the deteriorated relations without mentioning Japan's responsibility. While taking office, Suga declared he would inherit the policies of his predecessor Abe in foreign affairs. Abe had been the target of criticism for his pursuit of making Japan a nation that can wage war with other countries by revising the postwar constitution.



Japan has triggered public uproar in Korea by curbing exports of key industrial materials to Korean firms in apparent retaliation against the Korean Supreme Court's ruling ordering Japanese firms to pay compensation to surviving South Korean victims of wartime forced labor. Bilateral relations will likely worsen unless Seoul and Tokyo compromise.



Suga is known as a pragmatic leader in comparison with Abe, who had adopted a nationalist agenda. For instance, Suga dissuaded Abe from visiting the Yasukuni Shrine, dedicated to war criminals and others, in 2013. We expect Moon and Suga to continue to have candid dialogue.



The international order faces growing uncertainty amid signs of a new Cold War between the United States and China. Given this, Seoul and Tokyo will suffer setbacks should they continue to work against each other. It is high time for them to explore ways of cooperating to forge beneficial relations.


(Image source: Official Twitter handle)

Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday termed the presidential assent to the contentious farm legislations and the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill as "sad, disappointing and extremely unfortunate".

In a statement in Chandigarh, Badal said it was a dark day for the country as the President refused to act as the nation's conscience.

He said also claimed that only the SAD was a farmers' party, not the BJP or the Congress.

We were very hopeful that the President will return these Bills to Parliament for reconsideration as demanded by the SAD and some other opposition parties," he said, adding that his party will chalk out the next course of action after due deliberations.

President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday gave assent to three contentious farm bills that have triggered protests, especially in Punjab and Haryana.

A SAD delegation led by Badal had met the President, urging him not to give his assent to the farm Bills and return them to Parliament for reconsideration.

The SAD on Saturday quit the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) over the farm legislations and the non-inclusion of Punjabi as official language in Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill.

The Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill, 2020, provides for inclusion of Kashmiri, Dogri and Hindi in the list of official languages, in addition to Urdu and English.

The SAD chief also lamented that before drafting the farm legislations, his party was not consulted by the government.

There is only one party in the country which is called the party of farmers, poor and khet mazdoor (farm labour), he claimed while addressing party workers at Rupnagar.

Neither the Congress, nor the BJP can be called farmers' parties, he claimed.

He said the farm Bills, if implemented, will not only affect farmers but also farm workers and arhtiyas (commission agents).

The SAD chief called upon all political parties and organisations to close ranks for a united fight.

We are ready to join or follow any struggle in the overall interest of farmers, farm labour, arhtiyas and other farm produce traders, said Badal.

Badal said the country needed to understand and empathise with farmers in view of the pathetic conditions in which they are living.

Anything like the new farm legislations which increases the uncertainty over the fate of farmers' produce can have disastrous implications not only for the economy but also for social stability in the country, he said.

The farmers' economic plight affects the entire economy. Therefore, what we are fighting for is to protect the country's wider national interests, he said.

Badal also addressed party workers at Hoshiarpur and Phagwara in order to mobilise people for a Kisan march on October 1.

He reiterated his party's firm commitment to preserving peace, communal harmony and fraternity in Punjab.
She recently listed her stunning two bedroom, two bathroom apartment in Soho for $3,500,000.

And Elsa Hosk was spotted out in New York City on Saturday morning with longtime beau Tom Daly.

The 31-year-old Swedish supermodel walked arm in arm with Tom as they leisurely strolled down the sidewalk.

Strolling: Elsa Hosk was spotted out in New York City on Saturday morning with longtime beau Tom Daly

Elsa cut a stylish figure in an oversized leather jacket that she layered over a plain white tee.

She showcases her slender legs in a pair of skinny trousers that flared slightly towards the bottom.

The Victoria's Secret Angel slipped her feet into a pair of black patent leather oxfords that featured treaded, platform soles.

To complete her off duty model look, Hosk threw on some chic shades and stowed her belongings in a white designer handbag.

Runway ready: Elsa cut a stylish figure in an oversized leather jacket that she layered over a plain white tee

Lovebirds: The 31-year-old Swedish supermodel walked arm in arm with Tom as they leisurely strolled down the sidewalk

Elsa's boyfriend of five-years rocked a trendy denim-on-denim ensemble that included a fleece lined jacket and a pair of distressed jeans.

Elsa and Tom, who began dating in 2015, each did their due diligence by donning face mask during their outing in the city.

Hosk gave her 6.2million Instagram followers a peek into her lockdown life on Saturday by sharing a few throwback photos that she took at the 'beginning of quarantine.'

Accessorize: Hosk threw on some chic shades and stowed her belongings in a white designer handbag

Edgy: The Victoria's Secret Angel slipped her feet into a pair of black patent leather oxfords that featured treaded, platform soles

She donned a gorgeous floral set that included a corset-style top and a gartered skirt.

Elsa's hair was tied up into a romantic bun and she appeared to be wearing little to no makeup.

She posed atop her bed and had a copy of Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger in her hand.

Sneak peek: Hosk gave her 6.2million Instagram followers a peek into her lockdown life on Saturday by sharing a few throwback photos that she took at the 'beginning of quarantine'

Flower power: She donned a gorgeous floral set that included a corset-style top and a gartered skirt

Earlier this week, Elsa enlisted the help of Carl Gambino and Adam Modlin of the Modlin Group to get her 1,750-square-foot property in Soho on the market.

Hosk's 'rare gem' of an abode is nestled in a charming pre-war building amid the world class restaurants and shops of Sohos famous Cast Iron Historic District.

According to the official listing, the thoughtfully laid-out apartment was designed in tandem by Alveary Architecture and current owner, Elsa Hosk, with the aim of maximizing its square footage. It was also featured in Architectural Digest.

Romantic: Elsa's hair was tied up into a romantic bun and she appeared to be wearing little to no makeup

Casual: She posed atop her bed and had a copy of Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger in her hand

The first floor of the apartment features a pair of original Corinthian columns, Danish wide-plank Douglas wood floors, and exposed brick that artfully clash with the white walls that dominate the space.

The master bedroom happens to be situated directly above the kitchen and is 'situated within a steel structure mezzanine level with a wall of operable windows that overlook the loft space,' as the listing describes.

For those looking to host guests, the apartment also has a decent sized second bedroom that includes a walk-in closet and its own private bathroom.

Listed: Earlier this week, Elsa enlisted the help of Carl Gambino and Adam Modlin of the Modlin Group to get her 1,750-square-foot property in Soho on the market

Custom: According to the official listing, the thoughtfully laid-out apartment was designed in tandem by Alveary Architecture and current owner, Elsa Hosk, with the aim of maximizing its square footage. It was also featured in Architectural Digest
South Carolina recorded fewer than 600 new coronavirus cases Sunday, though the state continued to see a high percentage of tests coming back positive, at 13.8 percent for the day's report.

Sunday saw a small number of deaths reported compared with the previous months of the pandemic, with only three new deaths reported. The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control is still working to determine whether 182 other deaths were related to COVID-19.

Nearly 750 residents are currently hospitalized with the virus.

Statewide numbers

New cases reported: 569, a 134 percent increase from the 158 tallied on March 31, the day Gov. Henry McMaster ordered nonessential businesses to close.

Total cases in S.C.: 141,909, plus 3,978 probable cases

New deaths reported: 3

Total deaths in S.C.: 3,144, plus 182 probable deaths

Hospitalized patients: 734

Total tests in S.C.: 1,363,195

Percent of positive tests, seven-day average: 12 percent. Five percent of tests or fewer returning positive results is a good sign the virus spread is slowing, researchers say.

Hardest-hit areas

The top three South Carolina counties for new coronavirus cases Sunday were Lexington, 80; Richland, 58; and Greenville and Berkeley counties, each with 40.

What about the tri-county?

Charleston County had 33 new cases, Berkeley had 40 and Dorchester had seven.

Deaths

Of the three new deaths, two were elderly patients aged 65 and older, according to DHEC. One middle-aged patient, aged 35 to 64, also died.

They resided in Aiken, Hampton and Richland counties.

Hospitalizations

Of 734 coronavirus patients who were hospitalized as of Sunday, DHEC said 179 were in intensive care and 108 were on ventilators.

What do experts say?

Public health authorities continue to urge South Carolinians to take precautions, such as wearing masks or other face coverings, social distancing and frequent hand washing.

They also urge anyone who believes they've been exposed to the virus or who is developing symptoms to get tested.

"If you are out and about in the community, around others, or not able to socially distance or wear a mask, we recommend that you get tested at least once a month," DHEC said.

There are 336 mobile testing events scheduled through Oct. 31 and 257 permanent testing facilities. Go to scdhec.gov/covid19testing to find a testing site in your area.
A Drone in Your Home

Amazon isnt just creating drones to deliver your packages  it also wants you to buy one for your house. This past week, the company unveiled the Ring Always Home Cam, which functions like a flying security camera when youre not around. (As if we leave our homes these days!) But the $249 device also raises questions about who (or what) we should be protecting our homes from. Critics point out that Big Techs troubled history with privacy breaches doesnt exactly inspire trust  should we really give Amazon another window into our personal lives? And how long will it be until the drone notices that youre also out of toilet paper and suggests that you order more?

Image Credit... Giacomo Bagnara

Whats Next? (Sept. 27-Oct. 3)

The Debates Are Nigh

The first debate for the 2020 presidential election takes place Tuesday, moderated by the Fox News Sunday anchor Chris Wallace. Expect Mr. Trump to play up one area where he consistently leads Joe Biden in the polls: the economy. Despite the countrys high unemployment rate, more Americans say they trust Mr. Trump on economic issues than they do his rival. In an effort to win over critical votes, Mr. Biden has been pushing his plan to build back better through tax incentives for companies to hire American workers and buy American goods.

Get the Lawyers Ready

The pitchforks are coming for Big Tech. Google is facing the possibility of multiple antitrust lawsuits from state governments that are investigating whether the search engine directs users back its own services (or those of its advertisers), hurting other businesses unfairly. And the Justice Department is looking to chip away at a decades-old law that effectively gives legal immunity to online platforms for how they host and moderate user-generated content. (Mr. Trump led this charge after Twitter posted warning labels on several of his tweets that violated the companys policies against misinformation and glorifying violence.) Finally, a group of smaller apps have banded together to fight Apple and Google, accusing them of monopolizing the market.

Brexit on the Rocks

The final round of Brexit talks between Britain and the European Union will take place in Brussels this week  but take that with a grain of salt. If Brexit has taught us anything, its that these negotiations have a way of dragging on, and the agreement is still in shaky territory. (The British government has already acknowledged that the current deal violates international law, which isnt a good sign.) And Parliament has been preoccupied with other pressing matters, like passing a new wage-support program to help workers who are struggling to stay afloat during a second wave of coronavirus cases.
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Four years ago, Amy Coney Barrett was a little-known law professor in Indiana. Within weeks, she is likely to be the newest associate justice on the

Barrett's fast-track rise, set to drive the nation's highest court to the right for a generation or longer, is the fulfillment of a decadeslong effort by conservatives to remake the federal bench that kicked into high gear after President was elected. For Trump, whose 2016 victory was bolstered by white evangelicals' reluctant support of his candidacy tied to his promise to fill the seat vacated by the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia with a conservative, the latest nomination brings his first term full circle.

Even before Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death, Trump was campaigning for reelection in 2020 on his record of confirming more than 200 federal judges during his first term, fulfilling a generational aim of conservative legal activists. Today's nomination is the capstone of a more than four-year process where the president seized upon the issue, stayed focused, and called attention to a small bench of very talented people who he could put on the Supreme Court," said Leonard Leo, of the conservative Federalist Society.

The following account is based on information from five people familiar with the process and the president's thinking who were not authorized to speak publicly about the details.

Within weeks of Trump's victory in 2016, incoming White House counsel Don McGahn, Leo and a handful of other attorneys set about drawing up lists of potential nominees for more than 100 federal judicial vacancies. First among them was the Supreme Court vacancy created by the death of Scalia, but they also dug deeper.

Barrett, then a law professor at Notre Dame, was not well known in political circles in Indiana and almost unheard of nationally.

But she found herself on the list of potential picks for the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in large part thanks to McGahn. A fellow Notre Dame alum, McGahn knew Barrett from conservative legal circles, like Leo's influential Federalist Society, and talked her up to the Indiana congressional delegation.

Barrett faced a bruising nomination battle for the appellate seat in 2017 that caught the attention of Trump, who was impressed with her ability to keep her cool under critical questioning by Democratic senators, including a grilling by Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California regarding her Catholic faith.

I think in your case, professor, when you read your speeches, the conclusion one draws is that 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 fought for, for years in this country.

Barrett's was the only confirmation hearing for an appellate judge that McGahn sat through in person on Capitol Hill, and the only investiture he attended when she took her seat on the 7th Circuit. After Barrett was confirmed 55-43, some White House lawyers made coffee mugs with the phrase: The dogma lives loudly within you."



Months later, in the fall of 2017, Trump set about updating his list of potential nominees to the Supreme Court. Five names were presented to him in an Oval Office meeting with McGahn and Leo. Among the names: Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh. McGahn unveiled the list weeks later at a Federalist Society conference in Washington.

The following year, after Justice Anthony Kennedy retired, Barrett found herself on the short list, undergoing a White House vetting and a 25-minute interview with Trump.

But some conservatives were concerned about her sparse record, worried she'd end up like other potentially conservative justices who veered in a more moderate direction, a trap they fell into with Justice David Souter.

Still, Trump saw something he liked, and allies like Scalia's widow, Maureen, and Fox News host Sean Hannity spoke highly of her. Trump and McGahn set about elevating Barrett's profile for the next opening on the high court - with Trump telling some aides he was saving her for Ginsburg's seat.

Meanwhile, Barrett was making a name for herself on the 7th Circuit on conservative hot-button issues. She twice wanted decisions to be thrown out and reheard by the full appeals court that had blocked laws enacted by abortion-rights opponents. Oftentimes, the full panel comes to a different conclusion.

Last year, after a three-judge panel blocked an Indiana law that would make it harder for a minor to have an abortion without her parents being notified, Barrett voted to have the case reheard by the full court.

In a dissent in the 2019 gun-rights case of Kanter v. Barr, Barrett argued that a conviction for a nonviolent felony in this case, mail fraud shouldn't automatically disqualify someone from owning a gun.

Barrett wrote a unanimous three-judge panel decision in 2019 making it easier for men alleged to have committed sexual assaults on campus to challenge the proceedings against them.

This summer, when Trump announced he wanted to update the Supreme Court list once again in hopes of motivating conservative voters, Barrett was on the top. And that's where she stayed.

(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.)
Sanjay Dutt recently announced on social media that he is battling health concerns and will be off work for sometime.

View this post on Instagram  A post shared by Sanjay Dutt (@duttsanjay) on Aug 11, 2020 at 4:09am PDT

Meanwhile, he jetted off to Dubai earlier in this month to be with his kids Shahraan and Iqra.

Now, Sanjays vacation pictures abroad are going viral on social media as the actor battles health concerns. While the nature of Sanjays ailment remains unconfirmed, his wife Maanayata Dutt wrote a powerful message on social media as she shared a picture with her hubby recently. In the image, Sanjay and Maanayata are snapped outdoors.

Sharing the picture, Maanayata 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 (sic)."

Here are pictures of Sanjay with his entire family.

Meanwhile, fans could not help but point out that Sanjay is looking frail in his latest images as he battles health concerns. One social media user wrote in comments section, He has started to look extremely frail! Hope he feels better soon!" Another one asked Maanayata about Sanjays health as they wrote, Mam sir ka treatment kaisa chal raha hai (sic)."

Meanwhile, on the work front, Sanjay is said to be resuming shoot on KGF: Chapter 2, where he plays the antagonist Adheera, once he returns from his Dubai trip. His last release was Mahesh Bhatt directorial Sadak 2 and his upcoming movie is Bhuj: The Pride of India.
Latin American countries are one of those nations worst hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

At least five Latin American countries are in the top 10 of countries having the most number of COVID-19 confirmed cases worldwide. These are Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Mexico, and Argentina.

Of the five, Brazil is at the top among the Latin American countries and third worldwide with 4,718,115 cases. It is also second in the number of deaths worldwide with 141,441.

In Belo Horizonte, a southeastern city in Brazil, a blue guitar that still hangs on the wall and a small sofa in the living room are constant reminders of Paulo Roberto who died in June of the pandemic.

His wife, Maria Candida Silveira, said that Roberto spends most of his time on the sofa when he watches films and documentaries. The 75-year-old also often takes a nap on it.

Roberto was not the only one who fell victim to the coronavirus. His 68-year-old wife and two of his four daughters also got infected. Silveira survived after being put in the intensive case, while his other daughter also passed away.

Struggling to move on, Silveira said she finds consolation that Roberto was able to fulfil his dying wish, that is seeing his great-granddaughter, Dudinha, for one more time through a video call.

Silveira recalled that Roberto was sitting on the bed, laughing and playing with the little girl over the phone. She added that she was glad that Roberto was able to say goodbye to her.

Silveira said that she continues to remember small details of the happy moments that they spent together. The memory of Roberto's music also remains, especially the old songs that he loved to play and sing, said Silveira.

Other Latin American countries have the same tale to tell.

In Mexico City, 44-year-old Hugo Lopez Camacho worked as an orderly in a hospital for 14 years. In late April, he was admitted in the same hospital and he eventually died there too. He had called his mother to inform her that he was going to be intubated and that was the last that his family heard of him.

They also had to wait for his remains to be handled because the huge number of cases in Mexico took a toll on the funeral services. Now that they finally had him cremated, which was not what they would have wanted, they have to wait again to be able to bury his ashes along with those of his grandmother at the family crypt.

All that is left of Camacho was his crucifix-adorned room that testifies to the humble life that he had led.

Several Latin American countries have asked to extend the September 18 deadline of confirming their participation in the World Health Organization's (WHO) global vaccine allocation plan for COVID-19, otherwise known as COVAX.

The COVAX is a global initiative aimed at ensuring that once COVID-19 vaccines are approved and licensed, they will be available to all countries regardless if they have a low or high income.

With COVAX, 10 Latin American countries, which are among the 90 poor countries in the world, will not have to pay for the vaccine.

Check these out:

COVAX: Latin American Countries Ask to Extend Deadline to Join WHO Vaccine Plan

Miami-Dade Police Captain Killed in Car Crash, Fondly Remembered

Kojic Acid: Treats Sun Damage, Age Spots, Lightens Skin
Published on 2020/09/27 | Source

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ung Eun-kyeong, the chief of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, has been included in TIME magazine's 100 Most Influential People this year. The list was published on Tuesday.

President Moon Jae-in hailed her as an "inspiration" to the world in his contribution to the magazine.

"South Korea's response to the COVID-19 pandemic has become a global example", Moon wrote. Jung "has led the nation's antivirus efforts to success by candidly interacting with the public, based on the principles of openness, transparency and democracy".

"I believe Commissioner Jung's decency and dedication are indeed a story worth telling -- one that will serve as an inspiration for the many".

Jung's response to her inclusion was modest. "I will try my best to overcome the COVID-19 crisis", she said.

Cheong Wa Dae earlier claimed Jung was "the only Korean to be selected" for the TIME 100, evidently forgetting that Oscar-winning director Bong Joon-ho also made the list. Cheong Wa Dae said it was misinformed by the magazine and did not double-check.
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CHENGDU, Sept. 25 (Xinhua)  With her eyebrows tattooed, eyelids colored, cheeks rouged and lips reddened, He Jianxiu is embroidering a pair of socks in the village square, wearing a self-tailored costume with handmade knot buttons in the shape of clouds.

Only four years ago, she would be somewhat bashful wearing makeup in public. But now she feels comfortable even when meeting visitors from afar.

He, 27, a woman from the Yi ethnic group, is living in a new community with her fellow villagers in Yuexi County. They moved out of their mountainous village with poor roads and living conditions last year, under a relocation project sponsored by the local government. Her family of four is now living in a 100-square-meter apartment.

Yuexi County in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, is among the last 52 counties yet to shake off poverty in China. By the end of this year, China aims to achieve the goal of eradicating absolute poverty.

Though some residents are still adapting to their new lifestyle, such as using refrigerators and smartphones, or getting around by bus instead of on foot, He is embracing her new life.

"I used to wash my face only once a day," said He, who now starts each day with her skincare and makeup routine.

She is learning makeup skills through tutorials on Kuaishou, a leading video-sharing platform in China. Many young women like He have also tried their hand at applying makeup in the village.

They are able to easily buy online cosmetics, apparel, shoes and other products thanks to the 4G network, express delivery services and their higher salaries.

It takes her five minutes on her electric motorbike to collect the parcels in the town. A cement road was built to link her community with the town center.

"17 years ago, to get to school I had to ride a horse for more than three hours along narrow and winding paths deep in the mountains," He recalled.

In 2016, He learned how to apply makeup for the first time while working in factories in south China's Guangdong Province.

"Girls in the cities are pretty with makeup, so I also want to have a try," He said.

She continued to wear makeup after leaving Guangdong for home to better take care of her two children in 2018.

Upon returning home, He also took up traditional Yi embroidery and adopted a flexible schedule, allowing her to improve her makeup skills.

He was unfamiliar with Yi embroidery until January this year when her community committee invited some senior Yi women to offer free embroidery training, which they learned from their mothers and grandmothers.

She joined other homemakers after one week of training to embroider ethnic patterns on socks, which earns her more than 1,000 yuan (about 148 U.S. dollars) per month.

Though the pay is less than what she and her husband earned in Guangdong, it serves as extra pocket money for He who needs to take care of her children at home.

With this pay, He has more financial freedom to shop online and buy things for herself.

Since May, Liangshan Prefecture has built 26 Yi embroidery workshops in seven poverty-stricken counties, where Yi women are able to turn their traditional cultural heritage into wealth, said local authorities.

A team of college students in Sichuan are now collecting Yi embroidery works to build a database of their patterns, facilitating their widespread use for fashion design. In this way, Yi embroidery is bringing higher incomes to poor people in Liangshan Prefecture while promoting cultural inheritance.

Clothing with Yi embroidery patterns even appeared at New York Fashion Week, Spring/Summer 2020.

He has little awareness of New York Fashion Week, but with the increasing popularity of Yi embroidery, more women like her are escaping poverty in Liangshan Prefecture. The total output value of Yi embroidery in Ganluo County, another poverty-ridden county in Liangshan Prefecture, has exceeded 20 million yuan since 2015.

This year the COVID-19 epidemic has impacted the poverty alleviation project as people were unable to go out to work as usual. Luckily with the help of Yi embroidery, more women are able to work from home.

"The COVID-19 epidemic has not stalled our progress in tackling poverty in Liangshan Prefecture, since more poverty-stricken people are getting flexible jobs on their doorstep," said Lin Shucheng, secretary of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefectural Committee of the Communist Party of China.



(Source: Xinhua)
Former Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey, who has recently taken voluntary retirement from his service, has joined Janata Dal (United) on Sunday after repeatedly claiming that he wouldnt be joining politics. On Saturday, Pandey met chief minister Nitish Kumar at the party office and again dismissed speculations over his joining politic. After being the centre of the Maharashtra police versus Bihar police controversy in the investigation into Sushant Singh Rajput death case, his sudden decision to retire from his services triggered speculations.

Former Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey, who recently took VRS, joins JD(U) at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's residence in Patna. pic.twitter.com/jtVtl6eA1U  ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2020

I was called by CM himself and asked to join. Whatever the party asks me to do, I will do. I dont understand politics. I am a simple person who has spent his time working for the downtrodden section of society, he said.

Pandeys voluntary retirement just before the Bihar Assembly Elections 2020 set tongues wagging as political ambition is not new for this 1987-batch IPS officer. In March 2009, he took premature retirement as he reportedly wanted to contest the Lok Sabha elections on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket but was not granted one.

On Saturday, the former DGP met Nitish Kumar but said it was not a political meet. I came here to thank chief minister Nitish Kumar as he gave me full freedom to work. There was no talk related to polls and I have not yet decided on my joining the JD (U), Pandey had said.. But JD(U) sources have confirmed that the former DGP would be joining the party at the earliest.

Just after his voluntary retirement, a music video featuring Pandey as Bihars Robinhood was released on YouTube  in what is being seen as the groundwork to build his image.

Bihar is scheduled to go to the polls in three phases  on October 29, November 3 and November 7. The counting will be held on November 10.
The potential toll on employment comes on top of the pressure companies on both sides are already facing due to the coronavirus. Photo: Reuters/John Sibley

A total of one million jobs are at risk globally if there is a no-deal Brexit, according to new research seen by the Financial Times.

A report by the Halle Institute for Economic Research, updating a dispatch from February last year, showed about 700,000 jobs would be at risk for EU companies that export to Britain if the UK and Brussels continue to butt heads over a deal.

That total rises to a million when you factor in companies outside of the UK, according to the German research institute.

The paper cited is still in peer review stage, and is due to be published in the next few weeks, according to the FT.

The potential toll on employment comes on top of the pressure companies on both sides are already facing due to the coronavirus.

Economists have predicted that job losses will spike as the governments Job Retention Scheme tapers off in October, despite new measures introduced ahead of the winter.

Trade talks have been at an impasse as the clock is ticking to the final deadline.

Breaking down the total cited by the report, the FT said Germany would take the biggest hit, predicting 176,000 job losses if the pair fail to reach a deal.

France, Poland and Italy would be similarly hit, with a respective loss of 80,000, 78,000 and 72,000 jobs.

Outside of Europe, China would face the highest level of job cuts.

The threat of potential job losses isnt new. In July, more than 100 companies, business people and trade organisations wrote to prime minister Boris Johnson in the hope of hammering home the threat to business.

The warning stated that barriers to business between the pair would put even more people out of work.

The warning came within hours of two major employers saying they would slash 6,700 jobs in the UK due to the pandemic.

Data has shown that the UK has so far shed more than 750,000 due to the pandemic.

READ MORE: CBI calls for Brexit deal as decline in private sector activity slows
To be fair, we could also call this "blogging" but sadly these screeds don't have any good jokes are links to Insta-hotties. Instead, public radio offers us a series of first person narratives on local life during the pandemic as told by public radio journalists.



Enjoy the whispers . . .


The United States clashed with China and Russia at the United Nations on Thursday over management of the COVID-19 pandemic that has interrupted the globe. They have exchanged allegations about who misgovern and politicized the novel coronavirus in one exchange among top officials at 2020's COVID-19-distanced UN General Assembly meeting.

Lack of International Cooperation

The UN Security Council's ministerial meeting's remarks on the assembly's sidelines came right after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres denounced international cooperation coming short in combatting the coronavirus that cannot be contained.

Sharp Exchanges

At the end of a virtual meeting on Post COVID-19 Global Governance, the stinging exchanges depicted the deep contrary opinions among the three veto-wielding council members that have surged since the first COVID-19 case surfaced in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

According to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the importance of UN-centred multilateralism is underscored and implied to nations including the United States opting out of creating a vaccine a global public good accessible to people anywhere, reported Business Standard.

The UN General Assembly is meeting online in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi regarding the clash between China, Russia, and the US, "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," reported Republic World.

Also Read: China Slated to Make 1 Billion COVID-19 Vaccine Doses Per Year

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in his speech stated that the typical misfortunes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic had failed to bring the three nations together and had instead created more rigid divisions. He added, "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."

China, US

Ray Dalio used the most recent installment of his ongoing series on the changing world in order to underscore clear red lines that, if crossed, could lead to a fatal war between China and the United States. However, he said that the real enemy in the dispute may lie within.

According to the billionaire founder of Bridgewater Associates, "Our greatest war is with ourselves because we have the most control over how strong or weak we are." The wars within and challenges in the US and China are of more importance and bigger than external wars and problems, reported The Economic Times.

In a Jab at the US, European Union Sanctions

Wang addressed the United States and European Union sanctions involving Russia and Syria among others.

According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the advent of COVID-19 and its shared misfortune did not smoothen interstate conflicts but to the contrary scarred the clash between China, Russia, and the US.

Related Article: Experts Discover Marine Protists That May Be Dubbed as 'Virus-Eaters'

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Trump administration defended its ban on TikTok in U.S. app stores, citing a Pennsylvania federal judges ruling Saturday against three TikTok users.

TikToks Chinese owner, ByteDance Ltd., has sued the Trump administration in federal court in Washington, seeking a temporary hold on President Donald Trumps ban of the app, which is set to begin on Sunday night. A hearing in that case is scheduled for Sunday morning.

On Saturday, the Justice Department filed papers invoking the Pennsylvania judges denial of a similar hold that the TikTok users had requested and argued that the video-sharing apps request to block the ban should be denied.

In the Pennsylvania case, three users who say they make a living on TikTok argued that the U.S. government had violated their First Amendment rights and exceeded the bounds of executive authority by moving to ban TikTok.

But in a 22-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Wendy Beetlestone brushed aside the First Amendment concerns and said the consequences of the ban wouldnt be severe enough for the users to justify an injunction temporarily blocking the order while the litigation continues.

The inability of plaintiffs to grow their audience to include new U.S. users who do not currently have TikTok but might download the application and view plaintiffs content after September 27 is not the type of irreparable injury that warrants extraordinary relief, Beetlestone wrote.

The ruling doesnt necessarily indicate that the judge in Washington will come to the same conclusion. Because Beetlestone ruled that the ban wouldnt cause irreparable injury to TikTok users, she didnt weigh in on whether it exceeds the White Houses authority under the law, as ByteDance has argued in the Washington case.
Mithun Chakraborty was worried for his family as the the 'only earning member' during the pandemic
(Natural News) The Department of Education has commenced an investigation of Princeton University in New Jersey after its president Christopher Eisgruber published an open letter on Sept. 2, acknowledging the presence of systemic racism in the institution. The department opened the investigation on the grounds that the university violated anti-discrimination laws it was supposed to follow so that it could receive federal funding.

According to the letter, Princeton has received federal taxpayer funds after it proved compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964: No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. It also mentioned that Princeton University has received more than $75 million in Title VI federal funds ever since Einsgruber became president in 2013.

However, Eisgrubers open letter became a cause of concern for the Education Department as the universitys declarations of non-discrimination and equal opportunity from at least 2013 until the present may have been false. In addition, the universitys non-discrimination and equal opportunity claims to its stakeholders for education certificates appeared to be false and misleading  even violating several laws.

If found guilty, Princeton will no longer receive monetary support from the federal governmentand may even be ordered to return money it received as part of Title VI programs.

Princetons moves to address systemic racism came at a great cost

Einsgrubers open letter acknowledged that racist assumptions from the past  remain embedded in the universitys structures. He compared the single African studies program in the university that was relatively small with the departments and programs organized around European languages and culture inherited from earlier generations.

Efforts to address systemic racism kicked off with changes and initiatives announced in June, the letter also said. Some of these measures included recruiting the number of faculty members from underrepresented groups over the next five years, establishing a committee in charge of naming and campus iconography and reviewing the universitys benefits and policies to benefits employees disproportionately affected by systemic racism.

According to a piece by PJ Media writer Tyler ONeil, Einsgruber apparently wrote the letter as a form of virtue signaling in order to convince people that America is institutionally racist. However, the move backfired and instead became a confession that the school violated federal discrimination laws  prompting the response.

This was not the first time Princeton came under the spotlight for its moves against systemic racism.

Earlier in June, the universitys board of trustees voted to remove former President Woodrow Wilsons name from its School of Public and International Affairs. In a statement, the university said that the former presidents racist thinking and policies did not align with its efforts to combat the scourge of racism in all its forms.

In September 2019, the university removed the GRE test requirement for 14 graduate school programs as a way to encourage more diverse graduate students to apply.

Classics professor Johannes Haubold said that there were concerns about standardized tests such as the GRE being culturally biased in favor of certain groups. Neuroscience professor Mala Murthy said that her department was convinced by research suggesting that the GRE was biased against underrepresented groups and acknowledged that taking the examination was expensive.

Left-leaning universities practice racism in their implementation of anti-racism measures

A number of universities are following the trend of implementing measures that address systemic racism but are actually racist and discriminatory policies themselves. (Related: Thomas Sowell: Systemic racism has no meaning.)

In August, Rutgers University  also in New Jersey  changed its standards of English instruction in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Instead of teaching English in its standard academic form, the universitys English department will use the critical grammar approach that focuses on a more inclusive writing experience.

Speech pathologist and libertarian activist Leonydus Johnson called Rutgers change in English instruction standards insulting, patronizing and  extremely racist, adding that people in America who claim to be against racism are often racist themselves.

Find out more news about left-leaning educational institutions violating federal discrimination laws with their anti-discrimination measures at CampusInsanity.com.

Sources include:

TruePundit.com

Princeton.edu 1

ED.gov

WashingtonExaminer.com

PJMedia.com

Princeton.edu 2

Princeton.edu 3
Portland Police Arrest Black Lives Matter Demonstrators Who Blocked Street

Police officers in Portland arrested demonstrators on Saturday night after they refused to clear a roadway and threw projectiles at law enforcement.

Largely peaceful protests took place throughout the day, according to the Unified Command, a partnership of state, county, and local officers established when Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat, declared an emergency for the weekend to deal with planned demonstrations.

Around 8:30 p.m., several hundred people gathered in downtown Portland and headed to the Multnomah County Justice Center, blocking the street near the building.

Protesters were heard chanting Black Lives Matter and Breonna Taylors name. They also chanted, No good cops in a racist system! Pictures showed protesters burning an American flag.

The Unified Command officers told the group to vacate the roadway but most of the crowd ignored the warnings, so officers began making arrests.

While making arrests and ticketing illegally parked vehicles, projectiles were thrown at officers including full beverages cans, firecrackers and rocks, law enforcement said in a statement.

Officers attempted to disengage and leave the area multiple times in an effort to de-escalate, but each time as they retreated, individuals in the crowd threw projectiles at officers and re-entered the street. Officers made additional arrests, it added later.

A protester burns an American flag while rallying in downtown Portland, Ore., on Sept. 26, 2020. (Allison Dinner/AP Photo)

A protester chants during a Black Lives Matter rally in Portland, Ore., on Sept. 26, 2020. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

A protester wearing an upside down American flag is arrested while rallying in downtown Portland, Ore., on Sept. 26, 2020. (Allison Dinner/AP Photo)

At one point, officers were targeted by high velocity objects, believed to be ball bearings launched from slingshots, prompting them to declare an unlawful assembly and soon, another round of arrests.

Information on the number and details of the arrests werent immediately available.

The clashes between police and rioters lasted into the early hours of Sunday.

Demonstrators accused law enforcement of using disproportionate force in dispersing the crowd.

Video footage showed police officers shouting at demonstrators and shoving them to the ground before making arrests. Several reporters recorded themselves being shoved by officers.

Early in the evening, when officers tried arresting an individual, people around the person fought back and successfully de-arrested them.

One man who was arrested, Michael Colten, escaped when officers tried loading another arrestee into a transport van. He ran while still restrained in zip-ties for about two blocks before he was recaptured by officers.

A female protester is loaded into a van after being arrested while rallying near the Mark O. Hatfield Courthouse in Portland, Ore., on Sept. 26, 2020. (Allison Dinner/AP Photo)

Law enforcement officers push members of the media covering a protest in Portland, Ore., on Sept. 26, 2020. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

A woman looks out her window while protesters and police clash near the Mark O. Hatfield Courthouse in Portland, Ore., on Sept. 26, 2020. (Allison Dinner/AP Photo)

The clashes between police and rioters lasted into the early hours of Sunday.

The protest followed a demonstration by the right-wing Proud Boys group and counter-demonstration planned by people including members of Antifa, an anarcho-communist network that has frequently been involved in the unrest in Portland that rose to an unprecedented level in late May and has continued for most nights since.

The Unified Command said the events remained relatively peaceful.

Our Unified Command worked well to prevent violence before it started. Law enforcement officers performed a number of traffic stops and took weapons off the streets, Oregon State Police Superintendent Travis Hampton said in a statement. We appreciate the hard work of all the men and women in uniform assigned to this effort.

On Saturday, Oregonians denounced hate, racism and violence, added Multnomah County Sheriff Mike Reese said. With the assistance of our partner agencies, the Unified Command was able to help keep the peace at multiple large events in North and Northeast Portland.
Photograph: Rick Bowmer/AP

Last week brought some grim data for small businesses.

Yelp, the popular online review site, revealed that approximately 163,000 of the businesses  mostly restaurants  that listed on their site had disappeared and that, through July, almost 98,000 businesses wont return. Around that same time a new report issued by the National Restaurant Association warned that more than 100,000 restaurants have permanently closed this year and unless action was taken, more will also fail.

The culprit of all this? Covid-19, of course. But is Covid really to blame? Yes. And no. Lets dig a little deeper into the numbers.

The fact is that restaurants dont have a great track record for success. Margins are thin, competition is tough and consumers can be fickle. Which is why, according to industry reports, 60% of restaurants dont make it past their first year and 80% go out of business within five years. There are about 660,000 restaurants operating in this country. So if 80% of them go out of business in five years that would be a rate of about 105,000 restaurants shutting their doors every year. So the 100,000 going bust through July could result in an annualized number of 171,000 this year. Thats more than usual, of course. How does this jive with the Yelp data? I dont know. Yelp isnt providing data from years past so I cant benchmark.

Lets look at small businesses overall. According to the Small Business Administration, there are about 30.2m small businesses in the US of which 5.9m actually have employees. The SBA reports that anywhere from 7% to 9% of those 5.9m employer firms actually go out of business every year. Breaking it down, that comes to as much as 531,000 failed firms annually. In other words, lots of small businesses close every year, regardless of global pandemics.

Common sense and your eyesight will tell you that many small firms  particularly restaurants, retailers, fitness centers and travel companies  are seriously hurting. But then again many restaurants I see in my city  Philadelphia  have been doing a brisk takeout business. Their outdoor tables are filled to capacity. Theyre now serving some diners inside and theyre all setting up those powerful heaters to keep patrons dining al fresco through the colder months.

Story continues

And theres some interesting good news too.

An eatery in Texas advertises that its hiring new workers. Photograph: LM Otero/AP

As of mid-September, applications to start new businesses across the country are up 19% compared to last year and applications from businesses likely to hire employees are up about 12% nationwide in that time frame, according to the US Census Bureau. So for all the new businesses failing, many others are starting. Not only that but a report from researchers at Harvard, Stanford, the University of Chicago, and the University of British Columbia concluded that more than 52% of the countrys startups have been positively  yes positively  impacted by the pandemic. Oh, and Bloomberg is reporting that the total number of actual business bankruptcies is down this year. Down!

Everyone has their narrative about the plight of small business because its a political issue. The right wants to make it out that small businesses are suffering and state governments need to relax the shutdowns. The left says that not only small businesses, but their employees, are feeling pain and therefore significant stimulus is still needed. Both sides agree on some form of a more targeted round of the Paycheck Protection Program. Everyones right. Everyones wrong.

The fact is that no one really knows for sure about the effects Covid has had on small businesses ... yet. We wont know until this whole thing is over and researchers can comb through the data and thats going to take a few years. Im sure theyll find that many businesses did close permanently because of the pandemic. But then again, how many of these businesses would have closed anyway? And how many were previously buoyed by a strong economy until that facade disappeared?

Its certainly been a lousy year. But the reports of the deaths of so many small businesses may be greatly exaggerated. Well see.




NEW DELHI: The southwest monsoon is set to retreat from parts of north India in the next two days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday, while data suggests that the rainy season is most likely to end on an above-normal note.

Overall, the country has received 9 per cent more rainfall than normal until September 26, according to data. "Conditions are becoming favourable for withdrawal of monsoon from west Rajasthan and adjoining areas from September 28," the weather department said.

Mahesh Palawat, the vice president of private forecaster Skymet Weather, said rainfall has reduced considerably. "The withdrawal of monsoon from west Rajasthan is likely to start from tomorrow (Monday). It looks like monsoon will withdraw on an above-normal note," Palawat said.

Rainfall in the range of 96 to 104 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA) is considered as 'normal', while precipitation in the range of 104 to 110 per cent of the LPA is 'excess'.

Nine states have received excess rainfall, while 20 states have recorded normal precipitation, the data shows.

The official rainfall season in India is from June 1 to September 30. Monsoon arrived over Kerala on June 1, its normal onset date. June recorded 17 per cent more rainfall, while July saw 10 per cent deficiency. However, there was an excess rainfall in August -- the month recorded 27 per cent more rainfall than normal.

Parts of north India -- Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir --- have recorded deficient rainfall. The Union Territory of Ladakh has recorded high deficiency of rainfall this year.

Large parts of the country in west and south India, including Gujarat, Goa, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, have received excess rainfall. Sikkim is the only state to have received large excess rainfall.
More than 2,000 Ford Focus vehicles are being recalled over fears their engines could stall.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said on Sunday that 2,787 vehicles from the 2019 model year are affected.

Defected transmission studs on the vehicle's three-cylinder engine may chafe against the engine wiring loom, the ACCC said on Sunday.

Pictured: a 2019 Ford Focus. More than 2700 vehicles have been recalled as the engine can lose power and stall, increasing the risk of accident

The problem is with defected transmission studs that can damage the wiring loom. Pictured: a 2019 Ford Focus engine from Russia

If the wiring loom is damaged, the engine can lose power and stall.

'This can increase the risk of injury and death of vehicle occupants and other road users in an accident,' the ACCC said in its recall notice.

The chafing can also set off the engine warning light.

The affected cars were built from 28 September, 2018 to 22 May, 2019.

They were sold from a basic starting price of $25,990 before on-road costs, according to consumer vehicle website caradvice.com.au

Consumers can check their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN number) against a list on the ACCC website to see if they are affected.

The ACCC said the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications was the regulator that issued the recall.

It is the latest of several recalls to hit Ford Australia this year.

On Thursday, more than 3000 Ford Transits were recalled after a dangerous problem with the electronic run-on water pump was disocvered.

The pump aids the cooling of the engine and if it fails the engine can overheat, melting the pump body and wiring and causing a fire.

This is the latest recall involving tens of thousands of vehicles to hit Ford Australia this year

On September 14, another recall was issued for Ford Ranger utes and Everest SUVs built from 2016 to 2017 after an incorrect chemical mixture was found in the airbag initiators.

This could result in the side airbags not deploying in the event of a crash.

In June, more than 20,000 Ford Ranger utes and Everest SUVs were recalled after a fault was discovered with the transmission fluid pump gears.

If the pump failed while driving, the hydraulic pressure could drop causing the engine to lose power, increasing the risk of an accident.
A third of patients have avoided or delayed making a GP appointment in the last six months when they would previously have sought help, a Daily Mail poll reveals today.

Nearly four in ten said they would put off trying to get a consultation even now because of coronavirus.

The findings also show nearly two-thirds of those who needed a GP slot since April 1 were unable to get one face-to-face. Instead they were offered a phone or video call.

Nearly six out of ten said they were 'worried' about accessing surgeries this winter should they or family members fall sick.

Nearly four in ten said they would put off trying to get a consultation even now because of coronavirus while 65 per cent have put off trying to see a GP since April 1

The results  based on a survey of 1,004 adults last week  lay bare the fear among the British public. Many have avoided trying to make GP appointments as they do not want to catch the virus or be a burden on the NHS even if they have signs of a potentially serious illness.

The Patients Association warned that the doctor-patient relationship has suffered a 'profound rupture' during the pandemic and Cancer Research UK said it was 'concerned' by the poll's stark figures.

Another 70 per cent of respondents said their surgery was only offering a 'very limited' number of face-to-face appointments even though NHS officials recently urged GPs to provide them wherever needed.

A total of 48 per cent were offered a telephone call at least once in the last six months while just 8 per cent were asked if they wanted a video consultation.

Doctor Judah Eastwell, a GP at St Johns Medical Centre in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, consults a patient in an outdoor consultation tent in April

Video calls at least enable GPs to carry out some form of visual assessment however these results cast doubt on the aspiration of ministers that the pandemic would usher in 'Zoom medicine'.

But 65 per cent of respondents said they were concerned phone or video consultations would miss serious conditions such as cancer.

Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association, said: 'The relationship between GPs and patients has clearly suffered a profound rupture. It's still easy to find patients who are struggling to see their GP in person.

'But it's also clear some are deliberately staying away, either for fear of getting coronavirus or in the spirit of the 'protect the NHS' message from earlier in the year.'

Sarah Woolnough, executive director of policy and information at Cancer Research UK, added: 'It's concerning many people have put off going to their GP or have had difficulty trying to get an appointment.

A total of 48 per cent were offered a telephone call at least once in the last six months while just 8 per cent were asked if they wanted a video consultation (file photo)

'We urge anyone who has noticed a change in their health or has a symptom they're worried about to make contact with their GP and attend any tests their doctor thinks are needed.'

Sally Warren, director of policy at the King's Fund think-tank, said: 'The pandemic is undoubtedly making it harder for some patients to get the care they need.'

Professor Martin Marshall, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said it 'has consistently urged patients not to put off seeking GP advice for serious concerns'.

Figures highlighted by the Mail at the weekend projected that up to 75,000 lives could be lost in a second lockdown through missed cancer diagnoses, cancelled operations and patients avoiding A&E.

However the NHS has repeatedly tried to reassure the public that services are 'open and safe'.
WELLESLEY TOWNSHIP  Waterloo Regional Police continue to investigate a crash that sent two people to hospital with serious injuries Saturday afternoon.

Police say a single vehicle was southbound on Road 116 when it left the road around 2:35 p.m. and rolled into a farmers field before coming to a stop on its roof.

One adult occupant was taken to a hospital in London by air ambulance and another was taken by ground ambulance to hospital in Stratford. Both occupants are from Stratford.

The roadway was closed until 8 p.m. while local police and the Ontario Provincial Police investigated.

The investigation is ongoing and charges are pending.
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




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A few weeks ago, Yang Jiechi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, and a State Councilor, paid a highly important visit to Greece. This was part of an international trip, including stops in Myanmar and Spain.



While in the Greek capital of Athens, Yang met with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. In parallel with their emphasis on the importance of the Sino-Greek partnership, they also discussed another worrying international issue: instability in the Eastern Mediterranean caused by a Greek-Turkish standoff on undelimited waters of the basin, south of the Greek island of Kastellorizo.

China, holding a permanent seat in the U.N. Security Council, cannot but be highly interested. This is what Yang reiterated in his public remarks.

He talked about the importance of peace and stability as well as the need of involved parties to solve their differences via dialogue and avoid actions tending towards an escalation of tensions. This is also the position of the other four members of the Security Council, the U.S., France, Russia and the U.K.

On the whole, the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean is very complicated indeed. Greece and Turkey have disagreed for decades over the delimitation of their continental shelves.

At the same time, Cyprus remains a serious international problem unresolved following the 1974 military invasion of Turkey in the northern part of the island. More importantly, civil wars in Libya and Syria do not allow additional cooperation while tensions between Israel and Lebanon as well as Israel and the Palestinians add to the complexity.

U.S.-Russian rivalry is being played out among several obscure regional spats in the same part of the Mediterranean Basin.

Comparing all these thorns, an arrangement of an undelimited maritime area looks like the easiest task. It would require some political compromises among littoral states  with the temporary exception of Libya and Syria due to civil wars.

The reality is much harder though. Cyprus has come to relevant agreements with Egypt, Israel and Lebanon. However, Turkey does not recognize Cyprus, and has also attempted to benefit by exploring the possibility of hydrocarbons extraction in waters legally belonging to the exclusive economic zone of the latter.

In November 2019, Turkey and the Government of National Accord (GNA) of Libya signed a memorandum of understanding on maritime zones that was followed by another deal agreed between Greece and Egypt in August 2020. Some zones covered in the two accords do intersect.

During Yang's visit in Athens, a Turkish vessel Oruc Reis was conducting seismographic research in areas of the Eastern Mediterranean, which were not delimited in these two memoranda of understanding, but where both countries claim rights.

Greece has signed the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea and says all islands, including Kastellorizo, should have rights to a continental shelf and an exclusive economic zone.

Turkey has not signed this Convention and asserts it has the longest coastline in the region and should not be excluded. A military incident between the two countries seemed a possibility recently as Greek and Turkish military units did sail close to each other around the Oruc Reis.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel mediated in seeking a reduction of tensions. The Oruc Reis returned to a Turkish port in Antalya nine days after Yang's Athens visit but it remains unclear how long it might stay there.

In the interim, Greece and Turkey seem prepared to engage themselves in some talks. However, their agendas are clashing, as the Greeks opt for bilateral dialogue and Turkey is pushing for multilateral negotiations to protect the rights of the Turkish Cypriot community.

Cyprus does not accept all this and is endeavoring to persuade the EU to impose sanctions on Turkey. It has thus disagreed with the EU intention to simply impose sanctions on Belarus as a warning signal.

China needs to carefully monitor developments in the Eastern Mediterranean. The U.S. remains, obviously, present but lacks the appetite to play the role it used to in relevant crises of the past. Russia is prepared to intervene, if asked, and Germany looks for a foreign policy success with an eye to common economic prosperity.

For its part, France has been involved in an unprecedented war of words with Turkey over aspects going beyond Greek-Turkish-Cypriot disputes and expand into Middle East and North African affairs.

New dynamics in the basin hardly create optimism for better days to come.

George N. Tzogopoulos is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/GeorgeNTzogopoulos.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.

If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn.
Popular actress, Toyin Adewale who is the mother of pop star, Mayorkun has averred that she monitors him on social media. Adewale made this ...

Popular actress, Toyin Adewale who is the mother of pop star, Mayorkun has averred that she monitors him on social media.

Adewale made this known in a chat with City People.

She said: I follow and monitor him all the time. In fact, if he has the power to send me out of Instagram, he would have done that since, because I am always on his page every day.

Speaking further, Adewale noted that she has a lot of screenshots which were taken from Mayorkuns Instagram page.

If I show you my phone you will see different pictures that I screen munched from his page, once I see anything unusual, I snap and call his attention to it, he will be like mummy, please give me a breathing space, she said.

On Mayorkun choosing music as a career, Adewale said she didnt see it coming.

She said: I never knew Mayowa will go into music. He used to be a junior choir master while in the choir, but never knew he would go this far, because he has always been a very quiet, easy-going person.
Indonesia reversed earlier plans to cut severance pay, parliaments legislative committee said late on Sunday, ahead of the expected passing on Oct. 9 of a controversial jobs creation" bill aimed at improving the investment climate.

Global investors are watching the bill closely to see that its terms have not been watered down in parliamentary debates, as Southeast Asias largest economy tries to compete for manufacturing investment relocating from China.

The severance payment scheme will stay as the existing, which is 32 times (of wages). Of the 32 times, 23 times will be borne by the employer and 9 times by the government," Firman Soebagyo, a lawmaker from Golkar Party - a member of the ruling coalition - told the committee in a meeting broadcast on national television.

Indonesias current rules on severance pay are among the most generous in the world and business say they deter formal hiring due to the expense of sacking underperforming employees.

A source who has been involved in drafting the bill told Reuters in February that it planned to cut maximum severance payments to 19 times monthly salary.

The proposals are included in so-called omnibus bills that President Joko Widodo has prioritised in his efforts to cut red tape and create jobs. The bills club together changes in unrelated legislation to allow parliament voting in a single swoop to speed reforms.

Government representatives and the committee members on Sunday also removed industry-specific minimum wages but kept city and provincial minimum payments in the bill unchanged.

Trade unions have held several rallies in protest of the bill, alongside farmers and green groups who protested the bills provisions to create a land bank and relax environmental rules, including on Thursday when relatively small protests were held in several cities across the archipelago.
For those who don't know, Ingram's is an old school local biz mag that provides a worthwhile read in the waiting room of dentist's offices across the metro.

The magazine is longstanding and respected local biz community niche publication but every year some of our more "progressive" friends deride their "best of" issue for featuring mostly white people on the cover.



The ritual of righteous indignation was BORINGLY REPEATED for 2020 but this time around there's a twist.



Earlier in the week, Congressional candidate Ryan Derks made a bit of noise with a nicely produced campaign video that earned some attention around this cowtown because it debunked most of the promotional hype that dominates local media.



Let's be real. . . Ryan Derks was never going to beat Congressman Cleaver but the challenge has frustrated some of his supporters so they've outed this bit of social media chatter in order to offer a more complete "perspective" of the candidate.



Accordingly, Ryan Derks "boldly" defending the integrity of white dudes in general is going to turn away most of the voters who might have been on the fence . . . And it's causing the candidate a great deal of negative publicity for a campaign that was punching above its weight class.

And so, social media free writing has once again backfired . . . Check the pro-white statement from Mr. Derks that has sparked a weekend firestorm and ignited a litany of predictable allegations of racism:



Developing . . .
President Donald Trump paid just $750 in federal income taxes the year he ran for president and in his first year in the White House, according to a report Sunday in The New York Times.

Trump, who has fiercely guarded his tax filings and is the only president in modern times not to make them public, paid no federal income taxes in 10 of the past 15 years.

The details of the tax filings complicate Trumps description of himself as a shrewd and patriotic businessman, revealing instead a series of financial losses and income from abroad that could come into conflict with his responsibilities as president. The presidents financial disclosures indicated he earned at least $434.9 million in 2018, but the tax filings reported a $47.4 million loss.

The tax filings also illustrate how a reputed billionaire could pay little to nothing in taxes, while someone in the middle class could pay substantially more than him. Roughly half of Americans pay no income taxes, primarily because of how low their incomes are. But IRS figures indicate that the average tax filer paid roughly $12,200 in 2017, about 16 times more than what the president paid.

The disclosure, which the Times said comes from tax return data it obtained extending over two decades, comes at a pivotal moment ahead of the first presidential debate Tuesday and weeks before a divisive election against Democrat Joe Biden.

Speaking at a news conference Sunday at the White House, Trump dismissed the report as fake news and maintained he has paid taxes, though he gave no specifics. He also vowed that information about his taxes will all be revealed, but he offered no timeline for the disclosure and made similar promises during the 2016 campaign on which he never followed through.

In fact, the president has fielded court challenges against those seeking access to his returns, including the U.S. House, which is suing for access to Trumps tax returns as part of congressional oversight.

During his first two years as president, Trump received $73 million from foreign operations, which in addition to his golf properties in Scotland and Ireland included $3 million from the Philippines, $2.3 million from India and $1 million from Turkey, among other nations. The president in 2017 paid $145,400 in taxes in India and $156,824 in the Philippines, compared to just $750 in U.S. income taxes. The Times said the tax records did not reveal any unreported connections to Russia.

Trump found multiple ways to reduce his tax bills. He has taken tax deductions on personal expenses such as housing, aircraft and $70,000 to style his hair while he filmed The Apprentice. Losses in the property businesses solely owned and managed by Trump appear to have offset income from his stake in The Apprentice and other entities with multiple owners.

During the first two years of his presidency, Trump relied on business tax credits to reduce his tax obligations. The Times said $9.7 million worth of business investment credits that were submitted after Trump requested an extension to file his taxes allowed him to offset his obligations and pay just $750 each in 2016 and 2017.

Income tax payments help finance the military and domestic programs.

Trump, starting in 2010, claimed and received an income tax refund that totalled $72.9 million, which the Times said was at the core of an ongoing audit by the IRS. The Times said a ruling against Trump could cost him $100 million or more.

The president could also face mounting financial pressure in the years ahead. The tax records show hes carrying a total of $421 million in loans and debt that are primarily due within four years. Most of that debt comes from the Doral golf resort in Florida ($125 million) and Trumps Washington hotel ($160 million), two properties that the Times said are struggling financially.

Richard Neal, D-Mass., the chair of the House Ways and Means Committee who has tried unsuccessfully to obtain Trumps tax records, said the Times report makes it even more essential for his committee to get the documents.

It appears that the President has gamed the tax code to his advantage and used legal fights to delay or avoid paying what he owes, Neal wrote in a statement. Now, Donald Trump is the boss of the agency he considers an adversary. It is essential that the IRSs presidential audit program remain free of interference.

A lawyer for the Trump Organization, Alan Garten, and a spokesperson for the Trump Organization did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press on the report.

Garten told the Times that most, if not all, of the facts appear to be inaccurate.

He said in a statement to the news organization that the president has paid tens of millions of dollars in personal taxes to the federal government, including paying millions in personal taxes since announcing his candidacy in 2015.

The New York Times said it declined to provide Garten with the tax filings in order to protect its sources, but it said its sources had legal access to the records.

During his first general election debate against Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016, Clinton said that perhaps Trump wasnt releasing his tax returns because he had paid nothing in federal taxes.

Trump interrupted her to say, That makes me smart.
A massacre in a bar left 11 people dead on Sunday, authorities in Mexico have said.

The bodies of scene men and four women were found in the bar in the early hours of Sunday morning in the city of Jaral de Progreso, the attorney general's office of the state of Guanajuato said.

Another woman was also found with gunshot injuries.

It comes as the country grapples with a record homicide rate despite the government's pledge to stop gang violence.

A police tape is seen outside a bar after a massacre in a bar left eleven people dead in Jaral del Progreso / REUTERS

Guanajuato, a major car-making hub, has become a recurring scene of criminal violence in Mexico.

It has been ravaged by a turf war between the local Santa Rosa de Lima gang and the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

In July, gunmen killed 24 people at a drug rehabilitation center in Guanajuato.

It marked one of the worst mass slayings since President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador took office pledging to reduce record levels of violence.
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Upon the call of household and business owners, professional rat hunters quickly respond by running a complete scan of the place and providing proper services.

Thanks to them, rodents are kept under tight control in Ho Chi Minh City.

Rat hunters are contacted as soon as the rodents begin to mess around.

Restaurants, supermarkets, office buildings, and factories are places where they are most often needed.

Catching them the professional way

Nguyen Van Nghia has 12 years of experience in pest control. Currently he is the founder of Green House Pest Control, a 10-year-old company based in Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City.

According to Nghia, this city might seem so splendid, but there are lots of rats.

He set up his business to cater for different people and businesses.

During its infancy, his business went through immense financial difficulty due to a serious lack of customers.

Only those wealthy enough had the means to use his service.

Over the years, however, his clientele has become larger because the professional pest control service proved more effective than people catching them on their own.

The rats, according to Nghia, are really smart." It is really hard to stay pest-controlled without professional help.

Pham Lam Vu is a 33-year-old staff member at Green House Pest Control.

He and his partner came to a diner on Pham Van Dong Street in Thu Duc District for a business trip one afternoon.

It was not a spacious place, but the amount of food and stuff appealed to the rats.

Once he had performed a thorough scan of the whole area, Vu put on his rubber gloves and took out his toolkit, in which there were wooden rat traps with very powerful snapping force.

These snap traps are for big city rats so they are very powerful. We often put them in places where rats move around frequently, like the kitchen, below a wardrobe, inside the ceiling or near the trash bins, he said.

Just one loud thud and youll know a rat has gone dead.

He arranaged a total of six snap traps around his clients restaurant.

According to Vu, snap traps are enough for use with indoor rodents. However, it takes candy-shaped bait soaked with legal drugs to catch rats on the outside.

He explained that rats which have taken the rodenticide will die after three to four days, so if they perish somewhere indoors, that will leave a horrible stench.

After snap traps come the sticky traps, which are basically small, flat boards of wood with a special glue covering the upper surface.

The bait in this case can be merely a single peanut, one for each sticky board.

Vu said that if one rat gets trapped, others tend to come to its rescue, so at the same time up to ten rats can get caught.

To figure out where rats are most active, Vu said look for rat droppings or their footprint.

An experienced rat hunter will make initial analysis to point out what kinds of rats are being active.

Insights into the habits of different types of rats will then help hunters decide on proper pest control measures.

As rats are mostly active during the night and hide themselves pretty well during the day, rat hunters often place their traps overnight, then collect their catch and dispose of them the next morning.

Vu came back to his clients restaurant the next day to find three tiny rats stuck on his sticky rat boards.

With rubber gloves on, he pulled them out and placed them carefully inside a large black plastic bag.

His other sticky boards kept catching more rats the following days, but the snap traps stayed intact. That meant, he explained, there were no big city rats.

A rat hunter is carefully placing a series of sticky flat board traps on the floor where rats are supposed to move around frequently inside a restaurant in District 5, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Rodenticides as offerings to the gods

Five years ago, Nghia was hired to catch one big rat in a household business located in District 5, Ho Chi Minh City.

Before seeking professional aid, the house owner tried all kinds of tricks but in vain.

His traps remained untouched, but the food offerings made to the god of the land were bearing rat bites on them.

Despite Nghias experience, the rat still eluded his attempts for days.

He then asked the house owner for access to footage from the internal CCTV system.

As he studied the smart rat from the screen, he noticed that it jumped over the traps into the foods instead of running across them.

He decided to lace the food offerings with rodenticides. The hungry rodent got itself killed after several days.

The owner was really glad that the rat got caught. I got VND2 million [US$87] according to the contract, and one more million as a bonus, said Nghia.

A snap trap has a more powerful grip and is used to deal with large city rats. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Bounty hunters  a rat race

Nguyen Quoc Tuan  head of sales at the Tam Phat pest control company  recalled his favorite rat hunt.

It was a contract he signed with a large industrial zone in Ho Chi Minh City. The extensive grounds made it a really tough job for the first 15 days.

Changing traps and bait did not work.

Finally, Tuan and his men found the rat hole and took out over a hundred rats of all sizes.

The need for rat hunters in Ho Chi Minh City is on the rise, leading to the establishment of more rat hunting services and pest control companies.

Tuan says that upon a customers contact, his men will do a thorough check of the area and provide proper consultancy before signing a legal contract.

He provides monthly, quarterly and other types of bundle services. His team deals with rats and insects.

Our rat service is often for every 6 or 12 months, depending on the number of rats, he said.

Inspection takes 4-5 days for a common household and up to 10-15 days for a restaurant or an industrial zone.

Once a contract has ended, clients will receive an insurance of 1-3 months depending on the number of rats, he further explained.

Prices for this pest control service vary on the total size of the place.

A rat hunt package for a household costs VND1.5-3 million ($65-130), while that for a restaurant fetches VND4-5 million ($172-215).

The cost for an industrial zone is VND8-10 million ($345-430).

However, pest control companies can only reduce the number of rats by 80-90 percent. They cannot guarantee the removal of all the rats as these rodents are fast breeders.

Only when their cave is found and blocked from the outside will they be all killed.

With four years of experience in this line of work, Vu from Green House Pest Control thinks this job is quite fun.

He helps his customers keep the rats off, and it seems like he is aiding the society in controlling the annoying rodents.

He also cautions that rat hunters have to be extra careful.

A rat bite may transmit serious diseases, and rat traps might badly hurt if misused.

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Carter Page was, from the very beginning, an unlikely prospect for being President Trumps supposed secret connection to the Kremlin.

Hed been an Eagle Scout and a Catholic altar boy. Hed graduated with distinction from the Naval Academy, winning its prestigious Trident Scholar Award.

Hed worked as an intern for such Democratic luminaries as Les Aspin on the House Armed Services and Sen. Patrick Moynihan.

Hed served five years active duty in Naval intelligence with the top security clearances such duty required.

A triathlon competitor, he had subjected himself, though a Navy man, to a rigorous Army survival training course.

He had done a stint as an intelligence officer with a United Nations peacekeeping force in Morocco.

For years he had been a contact source for the CIA. And he was a key prosecution witness in a major Russia spy case for the FBI.

He went to work as an investment banker and meanwhile earned masters degrees from Georgetown and NYU and a PhD from London University.

If ever there was a squeaky-clean, Goody Two-Shoe, high-achiever stereotype, it was surely Carter Page.

So then, when the political schemers of the IC (intelligence community) started leaking gossip on how Page was Trumps diabolical Boris Badinoff, his traitorous conduit to Vladimir Putin, did the Homer Simpsons of our Fourth Estate ever pause to wonder, just for a moment, how unlikely this was to be true?

Doh!

No they did not.

Not even for a moment. They took the scripted narrative they were fed and ran with it. No questions asked.

Page was a weak linchpin indeed for holding together the jerry-rigged Russia collusion case. But the Deep State and its media catamites were not in a frame of mind to be persnickety about flimsy evidence.

The goal was to overthrow Trump. At all costs. By whatever means that goal could be accomplished.

There are, of course, legitimate grounds for castigating Trump. But do they constitute a sufficient rationale for lying and conniving to nail him?

Sufficient for withholding key evidence from court proceedings?

Sufficient for doctoring evidence?

Why, absolutely yes indeed, says a vast swath of todays holier-than-thou liberalism. Hailing itself as the Resistance, todays misnamed liberalism takes the position that in Trumps case, the ends justify the means, no matter how low and corrupt.

In going along with the Deep State shenanigans to undermine Trump, liberals have turned their back on their own sanctified principles. They have poisoned the well of Americas commonweal.

Commonweal is an old English term dating back to the mid-1400s indicating a communitys profound interest in common good. The most fundamental common good of all is due process under law. That is, due process upheld by responsible officials, not undermined by them for short-term partisan advantage.

Lavrentiy Beria, one of the Kremlins Deep State henchmen, supposedly once said to his boss, Josef Stalin, Show me the man and Ill show you the crime. This was how the dynamics of the Russia collusion investigation fundamentally worked.

Trump was fingered as the man and a crime was shopped around for to lodge against him.

Carter Page was singled out to serve as the essential link tying the case together  the key intermediary between Trump and Vladimir Putin. No Carter Page, no collusion case. That simple.

Schemers at the upper levels of the CIA and Department of Justice (DOJ) bureaucracies constructed their house-of-cards collusion case based almost entirely on the libel of Pages supposed disloyal treachery.

Page was a Trump campaign foreign policy volunteer, but more so more on paper than in fact. He had never actually ever met the president. He had never even exchanged emails with him  facts the Deep State knew full well, having electronically snooped on Page at great length.

Page, really a capitalist if ever there was one, had worked in Russia as an investment banker for Merrill Lynch and later as head of his own energy investment firm. He speaks Russian, a language he had begun studying at Annapolis.

What better guy to use to cast traitorous aspersions on Trump than someone who had spent lots of time in Russia and speaks the language? Shameless McCarthyism, once the beating heart of conservative politics, now began to thump away in the bosom of liberal politics.

And what better guy to advance the libel against Page than Christopher Steele, one-time British intelligence officer with a spotty record, something of an undependable, sleazy character in the estimation of the FBI. The bureau had at one point terminated its relationship with Steele, declaring him to be a blabbermouth leaker of indiscreet disposition.

After departing British intelligence, Steele opened a fee-hustling consulting business. And it was in this role that the Hillary Clinton campaign and Democratic National Committee hooked up with him.

They hired Steeles consulting firm to concoct what is now known as the Dossier  memos implicating Trump, via primarily Page, as the Kremlins stooge.

The Steele memos soon found their way to the upper tiers of the Deep State and thence on to the super-secret Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court.

FBI applications cited the Dossier in seeking FISA court warrants authorizing the agency to snoop on Page, and in the process on any other third parties Page happened to phone or email or have a drink with.

Meanwhile, the Deep State fed juicy scraps from the FISA applications to the media, which snarfed them up like slobbering, snarling doberman pinschers.

One of the most ominous insights the Russia collusion fiasco has to offer in retrospect is the unhealthy symbiosis that exists between the Swamp media and the vast Swamp intelligence apparat.

Vast seems hardlly an over-inflated modifier. To cite a liberal source, the Washington Post once reported there are some 1,270 government agencies and some 1,930 private firms in some 10,000 locations, all involved in intelligence activities with a workforce of colossal magnitude as indicated by some 850,000 top-secret clearances.

The media depend on the Deep State for leaks; the Deep State in turn counts on the media for supportive narratives that advance sometimes dubious Deep State agendas, such as all-out military plunges into such remote quagmire hellholes as Iraq, Afghanistan. Libya and Syria.

The supposed Swamp media watchdogs have been largely co-opted.

It is now beyond any dispute whatsoever that DOJ officials lied, doctored documents and misleadingly omitted key information in seeking FISA warrants to spy on Page and other Trump figures.

This is frightening stuff indeed. Or should be.

The FBI eavesdropping applications failed even to make clear to the FISA court that the Dossier material submitted to it had been commissioned and paid for by the Clinton campaign and DNC. The material was, in other words, nothing more than one-sided, gossipy, campaign political dirt.

It was mostly unverifiable dirt, anonymous hearsay two or three times removed: He said that she said that they said that sources said . . . . 

Regarding the very limited information in the Dossier that could be checked out, the document proved to be factually false on key points.

For example, the Dossier cited a Soviet embassy in Florida as the supposed coordinator of the Trump-Putin collusion. No such embassy existed. The Dossier also cited a trip to Prague by a Trump aide in furtherance of the collusion. The Mueller probe found that no such trip ever took place.

The dullard FISA court, meanwhile, again and again showed remarkably little curiosity about the Deep States many, repeated undotted is and uncrossed ts littering its sloppy surveillance applications.

At one point James Comey, then FBI director, himself characterized the Dossier information as unverified and salacious material. Yet, contrary to his own description, he himself had passed that material along to the FISA court under a sworn cover statement declaring the material  in spaced, upper-case letters  as V-E-R-I-F-I-E-D.

We now know all of this not because it was alleged on Fox News or passed along as RNC talking points, but because it was detailed in an unrefuted report by Michael Horowitz, DOJ Inspector General.

And remember, Horowitz is a holdover appointee of President Obama.

Remember, too, that it was under Obamas presidency that the legal corner-cutting began  although that presidency still excites considerable exultation in self-professed high-minded circles.

In any event, Horowitz reported at least 17 significant errors or omissions in Deep State FISA applications seeking wide approval to snoop on Page and other Trump aides. Note the adjective significant.

And now at last, on top of these uncontested disclosures, we have a potentially explosive guilty plea.

The plea has received restrained, tamped-down coverage. It doesnt, after all, advance the preferred narrative. Namely, that Trump is the Great Orange Boogeyman  climate arsonist, architect of a global pandemic, bad-mouther of veterans, lecherous womanizer, Social Security and Medicare saboteur, anti-science charlatan shaman, tax evader, high-crimes-and-misdemeanor miscreant, Constitution-betraying dog-kicking, cat-torturing ogre who makes children cry, etc..

The guilty plea comes in a special Investigation of the Investigation.

That would be career DOJ attorney John Durhams probe of the fishy Trump collusion case, the supposed Mother of All Conspiracies that Special Counsel Robert Mueller, at great length and expense and with a team of anti-Trump pit-bull lawyers was never able to substantiate.

Durham brings to the matter the reputation of being a stalwart lawman, an unyielding marshal along the lines that Gary Cooper played in the Old West classic, High Noon. As a federal lawman in Boston, Durham exposed the FBIs unsavory relationship with the homicidal gangster, Whitey Bulger.

One of these days soon well see whether Durham was equal to his billing in the Investigation of the Investigation, the probe of the Deep States corrupt attempts to portray Trump as a Kremlin pawn under the control of grand chessmaster Putin.

Republicans have their fingers crossed over Durhams probe, and so do Democrats, each hoping for entirely different outcomes, of course.

Meanwhile, the guilty plea suggests that maybe another shoe is about to drop. Or shoes.

A DOJ lawyer named Kevin Clinesmith has admitted that he deleted a key piece of information from a FISA court application, with the intent of misleading the court and advancing the Deep States fabricated collusion case against Trump.

The deleted information was a CIA email to the DOJ. It stated that Carter Page, far from being a Kremlin operative, had been a reliable, valuable, longtime agency contact.

Clinesmith altered the document to say just the opposite, to falsely state that Page had never been a CIA contact.

The original, accurate CIA email of course cast extreme doubt on DOJ claims that a skulking, traitorous Page had been the key Trump-Putin go-between in a scandal thats kept the news media and Democratic Party in a state of DEFCOM 1 hysteria for nearly four years running now.

Considering the malignancy of Clinesmiths admitted offense, Durham has charged him under a relatively mild statute, one providing only a five-year prison term. Some Swamp observers say this suggests a possible bombshell development in the works.

Does Clinesmith have a bigger story hes going to tell? A bombshell? Well see. But that overused Swamp term has more often than not turned out to signify a fizzling dud.

Meanwhile, we can only wonder about the role in this case of Clinesmith, a 38-year-old DOJ lawyer. He was a small cog in a big machine.

Would a junior functionary several pay grades down from the upper reaches of the DOJ pecking order have taken it upon himself, on his own initiative, to carry out such a flagrant and momentous act of legal sabotage?

Would a junior functionary make such a bold move without at least a wink and nod from somebody of more authoritative standing on the GS (Government Service) pay scale?

Clinesmith himself is reported to have been a relatively modest, $90,000 DOJ legal grunt in the FBIs Office of General Counsel.

More ominous yet for certain Deep State denizens further up the GS food chain  as well as perhaps for certain former Obama aides  theres a curious notation tucked away inside Durhams charging document.

It states that Clinesmith passed along the original, unaltered CIA email to his superiors, along with the doctored document.

Hmmm. This seems to suggest that DOJ higher-ups  including maybe also former top Obama aides  must have known, or should have known, that something seriously amiss was going on.

Clinesmith likely doesnt know from his limited professional experience of those organized crime cases in which federal witnesses came to untimely ends when it became known they had beans to spill. But maybe he knows of such cases from watching TV. Theres also the recent, possibly instructive example of the Epstein case.

In any event, it seems likely that Clinesmith is tossing and turning through some sleepless nights, knowing the hugely high stakes game in which he now finds himself playing a crucial role, despite his relatively modest former niche in the DOJ bureaucracy.

On the other hand, maybe Clinesmith, to cope with sleepless nights, will recall more calming examples  such as Hillary Clintons flagrant transgression of the law forbidding spoliation of evidence, i.e., her 30,000 emails that evaporated under subpoena, without any legal consequences for her whatsoever.

Meanwhile, as the foul odor of Deep State/FISA court corruption hangs in the air, increasingly cynical Americans can only go on waiting for justice.

Waiting but knowing not to hold their breath.
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Linkedin (Reuters) Taipei  Sun, September 27, 2020 14:55 482 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4781fbd 2 World China,Taiwan Free

The dispute over international organizations referring to Taiwan as Chinese has moved from wild bird conservation to climate change, after a global alliance of mayors began listing Taiwanese cities as belonging to China on its website.

China has ramped up pressure on international groups and companies, no matter how small or obscure, to refer to democratic Taiwan as being part of China, to the anger of Taiwan's government and many of its people.

Beijing views the island as merely a wayward Chinese province.

This month a Taiwan bird conservation body said it had been expelled from a partnership with a British-based wildlife charity after they demanded the Taiwan group change their name and sign documents stating they did not support Taiwan's independence.

Late on Saturday, the government of the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung said the website of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy had begun listing Taiwan member cities like itself as part of China.

On Sunday, Taiwan's government reacted with anger.

"Taiwan is Taiwan. China is China. Taiwan is not a city of China's. If there is incorrect usage we think this is extremely improper," Premier Su Tseng-chang told reporters.

Read also: Taiwan to change passport, fed up with confusion with China

"China hopes to make Taiwan part of it in the world, a city of its. This is not in line with the facts."

Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said it had asked the group to make a correction, while Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai said his city was known globally as being in southern Taiwan, rather than as part of China.

The Global Covenant's secretariat said in a short email to Reuters that they "may not be able to respond until business hours resume Monday".

The Global Covenant says its mission is to "galvanize climate and energy action across cities worldwide", representing a population of over 800 million. The only Chinese city it lists as a member is Hong Kong.

China's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Topics : China Taiwan
India has been recording higher number of recovered patients than the new cases for several consecutive days in the recent past. Currently, the total number of patients successfully recovering from the virus is past 48 lakh.

A total of 92,043 new COVID-19 recoveries have been reported in the last 24 hours in the country, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday.The Ministry informed that 76 per cent of the new recovered cases are from 10 States and Union Territories. 92,043 new recoveries have been reported in the last 24 hours in the country. 76 per cent of the new recovered cases are found in 10 States and UTs, said the Ministry.

Maharashtra has contributed more than 23,000 COVID-19 recoveries, followed by Andhra Pradesh with more than 9,000 cases.While 77 per cent of the newly reported cases were from 10 States and UTs. Maharashtra continues to lead this tally and contributed more than 20,000 cases followed by Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh with more than 8,000 and 7,000 cases respectively.A total of 88,600 new cases have been reported in the last 24 hours in the country. 10 States/UTs account for 77 per cent of the new confirmed cases, the Ministry added.

There have been 1,124 deaths in the past 24 hours and 38 per cent of these deaths were reported from Maharashtra with 430 deaths. With 86 and 85 deaths respectively, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu followed the State.

10 States/UTs account for 84% of the deaths in the last 24 hours due to COVID, as per the Ministry.

According to the Ministry, Indias COVID count reached 59,92,533 including 9,56,402 active cases, 49,41,628 cured, discharged or migrated and 94,503 deaths as of Sunday.

ALSO READ: Jaswant Singh: A look into life of Vajpayee era devoted

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Much of the public anxiety about Amy Coney Barrett  judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, Notre Dame law professor and Donald Trumps nominee for the Supreme Court  has focused on the question of abortion, and whether as a believer in originalism and a practicing Catholic she would be likely to vote to reverse Roe v. Wade.

At least as consequential might be her position on the Social Security Administration: She has suggested that an originalist  whose view of the law is rooted in the idea that the duty of judges is to ascertain whether laws reflect the original meaning of the Constitution  might say that it is not clearly permissible given a strict reading of the Constitution. This isnt to say that she thinks it should or even could be repealed. Some decisions, she wrote, thought inconsistent with the Constitutions original public meaning are so well baked into government that reversing them would wreak havoc. But it does indicate that in the area of judicial philosophy, there are many ways to be extreme.

The Supreme Court has at least as significant an influence on questions about national economic life as it does on social issues. Although we dont usually think of it this way, the decisions of the Supreme Court have the power to affect the quality of the air we breathe, the pay we receive and the conditions under which we work, by determining what kinds of business and industry regulations are constitutional.

Those who share Judge Barretts belief in the legal philosophy of originalism are not ideologically monolithic, but most originalist judges are united in a deep skepticism toward the idea of a powerful federal government. Can it determine regulations that shape national economic policy? What kinds of laws can and should be permitted under the rubric of regulating interstate commerce?
Many Americans watch fireworks displays on Independence Day, eat turkey on Thanksgiving and, on Election Day, head to a school gymnasium, library or senior center to cast a ballot for their favorite presidential candidate.

A deadly pandemic has turned upside down one of these quintessential American routines: the act of voting.

Numerous voters say they are afraid to risk contagion by casting ballots in person. Many poll workers, often at high risk for infection because they are older adults, are afraid to show up. The best alternative, voting by mail, has become tangled in the politics of a deeply divided America as President Trump sows distrust about the process. And now he is suggesting he may not even honor the results of the vote, refusing to commit to a peaceful transfer of power.

For many election officials, it is a time to stay focused. They are working to set up polling places that are socially distanced and stocked with hand sanitizer. More drop boxes are being installed in some states, and, despite confusion around mailed ballots, county clerks are bracing for processing and counting more of them than ever before.
San Francisco, Sep 27 : Google's parent company Alphabet has pledged a slew of measures, including a commitment of $310 million, to settle lawsuits by shareholders over its alleged mishandling of sexual misconduct by executives.

As part of the settlement, Alphabet said it will ensure that $310 million in funding goes toward diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and over the next decade.

According to a report in Ars Technica on Saturday, Alphabet has even agreed to allow its board to assume more oversight roles in allegations of misconduct.

"We're building on our current practice of prohibiting severance for anyone terminated for any form of misconduct, and expanding the prohibition to anyone who is the subject of a pending investigation for sexual misconduct or retaliation," Eileen Naughton, Google's Vice President of People Operations, wrote in an email to employees.

"Managers will also receive guidance instructing them on how misconduct should impact an employee's performance evaluation, compensation decisions, and promotion outcomes," Naughton said.

If there are allegations against any executives, a specialist team will be assigned and the results of any case will be reported to the Board's Audit Committee.

Alphabet agreed to the settlement after investor groups filed lawsuits against the company in California in 2018.

They alleged that Alphabet breached its fiduciary duty to shareholders by giving a handsome severance package to senior executives accused of engaging in sexual misconduct.

The lawsuits were filed after reports emerged that several Google executives accused of sexual misconduct received heavy severance packages and got to leave the company quietly.

Among them was Android creator Andy Rubin was given a $90 million severance package, among other benefits, in 2014 even though Google found a sexual misconduct allegation against him was credible, according to a report in The New York Times.

Protesting the compensations Google gave Rubin and others, thousands of the company's employees staged a walkout in 2018.

The new settlement with shareholders was filed on Friday in California Superior Court.
Togo's prime minister and his government have resigned, the West African nation's presidency said late Friday.



President Faure Gnassingbe congratulated prime minister Komi Selom Klassou and his team for their "economic, political and social efforts and the encouraging results despite the health crisis around the world", a statement on the presidency's official website said.



Togo has been due for a political reshuffle since Gnassingbe was reelected in February for a fourth term in office, but changes were delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.



The president's election win, which came after a constitutional change allowing him to run, extended more than a half-century of dynastic rule over the former French colony by the Gnassingbe family.



The victory was disputed by the main opposition challenger, who has faced official harassment in the wake of the vote.



The president has led the country of eight million people since taking over in 2005 following the death of his father Gnassingbe Eyadema, who ruled for 38 years.



Klassou has served as prime minister since 2015.



Togo's economy has been hit by the pandemic as the authorities have imposed restrictions to limit the spread of the virus.



The country has recorded 1,722 infections and 44 COVID-19 deaths.
Teasing our travel nostalgia, television-turned-Bollywood ctor Mouni Roy shared a glimpse of her sultry vacay in the Maldives and fans could not keep calm. Looking like spot of sunshine in yellow bikini amidst the azure ocean, Mouni made fans go weak in the knees as she made the most of her sunny Sunday vacay at the island nation.

Taking to her Instagram handle, Mouni shared a picture featuring her in a cozy nook at a luxury resort. Donning a bright yellow bikini, Mouni accessorised her look with a pair of black sunglasses as she struck a sultry pose in the backdrop of the huge ocean landscape.

The picture speaks volumes about ocean breeze putting a mind at ease and we cant help but crave a similar exotic getaway. Mouni simply captioned the picture, The cozy nook (sic).

Earlier, Mouni had shared another travel picture from the Maldives, featuring her amid the lush green as she disconnected from daily life. Embracing the luxury of nature, Mouni was seen dressed in a sheer white ensemble as she headed out for a cycle tour barefoot.

In another picture, Mouni was seen posing for a selfie in a black bikini and beige hat as she geared up to make a splash in the pool.

Mouni Roy has hands down been giving us some major travel goals with her flood of pictures from her exotic getaway in the Maldives which are nothing short of a visual treat. With the travel curb lifted from the flights after five months of lockdown courtesy Covid-19 pandemic, we cant wait to complete our bucket list with safety precautions intact.

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(CNN)  Naturalist and veteran broadcaster David Attenborough has given Prince George a souvenir to treasure: a fossilized giant shark's tooth that he discovered in Malta more than 50 years ago.

The young royal, 7, received the gift from the TV host at Kensington Palace in London earlier this week, after a private screening of Attenborough's latest environmental documentary, "A Life On Our Planet," which focuses on the harm that has been done to the natural world in recent decades.

Prince William and Attenborough attended the outdoor viewing in the palace's grounds on Thursday, before the 94-year-old spoke to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's three children and presented his gift to George.

The tooth, which belonged to a member of the extinct shark species Carcharocles megalodon, was discovered by the world-renowned naturalist in some limestone on the island of Malta during a family trip there in the late 1960s.

The megalodon, whose name means "giant tooth" in Ancient Greek, is thought to have had an average length of more than 10 meters, according to Encyclopedia Britannica.

On the same day that he gave George the fossilized tooth, Attenborough broke the record for the shortest time taken to amass 1 million followers on Instagram, Guinness World Records said.

After joining the social media platform to raise awareness about the climate emergency, the broadcaster took just over four hours to reach the milestone.

In his first Instagram post, Attenborough warned people in a video that "the world is in trouble," listing examples including the melting of glaciers.

He promised that he would record more messages in the coming weeks explaining the problems the world faces regarding climate change and offering solutions to them.

The 94-year-old naturalist has teamed up with Duke of Cambridge to work on the Earthshot Prize, which William launched in December last year to help tackle the climate crisis.

This story was first published on CNN.com 'British prince receives fossilized shark tooth from naturalist David Attenborough'
Dr. Asuncion Ramos-Soriano, a local pediatric gastroenterologist, has been utilizing nitazoxanide for years to treat children sick with various infections and diseases.

She found the drug to be extremely successful and even published her own studies on her clinical experience with nitazoxanide out of her private practice.

My familiarity with this drug has really made me look into its uses, Soriano said.

And the use is in fact broad. Patients with various diseases, infections, parasites and even some viruses, including SARS, MERS, Ebola and Zika, have been successfully treated with nitazoxanide.

As COVID-19 swept the world, Soriano looked into the possibility of treating this new virus with the same drug. And Romark Laboratories, which manufactures nitazoxanide in the U.S., was already in the midst of trials to this end.

In July she contacted Romark about bringing the trial to Laredo, and was approved for a phase three trial a couple of weeks ago.

Soriano and Monica Gonzalez, clinical project director of Envision Clinical Research, join about 20 other cities in this double-blind nitazoxanide trial involving 800 participants total. In the Laredo area they will be working with about 100 participants, in particular health care workers.

Soriano and Gonzalez are gathering nurses, doctors, technicians, EMTs and anyone else who works within six feet of people who may be COVID-19 positive. They want to prove that this drug can be a successful frontline therapy.

Were not competing with any drug out there, or a vaccine or an intravenous medication. We all know that COVID-19 has really alluded all scientists, Soriano said. ... People are just behooved by this particular virus.

In this trial, the outcome measure will be the number of symptomatic subjects at the end of the six-week trial.

Participants will take a 600 milligram tablet of nitazoxanide, or a placebo, twice a day for the length of the trial and keep a daily log of any symptoms or side effects. And to see if anyone is exposed to COVID-19 during the trial but does not come down with symptoms, theyll be checking for antibodies as well. Subjects will also need to be COVID-19 negative at the start of the study.

Compared to anyone else in the community, (health care workers) are at the highest risk of exposure. That would be an ideal subject population to look at efficacy of this COVID-19 (treatment), Gonzalez said. Whereas the community can go in and out of the H-E-B, go in and grab some groceries, grab a burger  but in reality our exposure rate in day-to-day activities is not even comparable to that of a health care worker.

Nitazoxanide was developed to treat gastrointestinal problems, and COVID-19 is known for attacking patients respiratory systems. But Gonzalez notes that 75% of humans immune systems are in the digestive tract.

And studies have found that COVID-19 can still be found in patients stool for a week after their respiratory symptoms have ended, Soriano said.

Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 or jwallace@lmtonline.com
OTTAWAThe minority Liberal government has reached a deal with the New Democrats over legislation to support workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, securing the backing needed to survive a confidence vote on the throne speech.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh touted the deal as historic and said changes demanded by his party to Bill C-2 will ensure that millions of Canadians will be entitled to two weeks of paid sick leave, rather than just the thousands he claimed would have benefited under the governments original proposal.

Today is a historic moment, he told a hastily called news conference on Parliament Hill late Friday.

Because this is the first time ever in the history of our country that we have a federal program now for paid sick leave  we believe this is a first step towards creating a permanent program that should be a part of our Canadian social safety net.

Singh declined to give details of the changes the NDP has won to the legislation until they are formally tabled in the House of Commons on Monday.

But if they reflect the deal struck Friday, Singh said the NDP will support fast-tracking the bill through the Commons in one or two days and will also support the throne speech, which must be put to an eventual confidence vote.

The minority Liberals need the backing of at least one of the main opposition parties to avoid defeat on the confidence vote, which would plunge the country into an election just as a second wave of COVID-19 is surging across the country.

The government had already agreed earlier in the week to another key NDP demand: that Canadians whove been left without jobs or fewer hours of work due to the pandemic will continue to receive $500 a week in benefits.

That is the same as they have been receiving under the Canada Emergency Response Benefit which ends Saturday. The government had originally proposed payments at $400 a week.

With the end of the CERB, which has been used by almost nine million Canadians to stay afloat during the pandemic, the government is transitioning recipients back to a more robust, generous employment insurance regime.

For those who dont qualify for EI, Bill C-2 will create a temporary new Canada Recovery Benefit as well as a sick leave benefit and another benefit for caregivers who are forced to stay home to care for a dependant who falls ill or is forced to self-isolate.

Applications for the recovery benefit are to open Oct. 11 and, for the other two benefits, on Oct. 4.

To avoid leaving some Canadians in the lurch without any financial support, Singh acknowledged the urgent need to get the bill passed swiftly.

He blamed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the time crunch, nothing that he prorogued Parliament in August, preventing it from dealing with anything until after the new session opened this week.

Nevertheless, Singh said the NDP will support the government in getting the bill passed quickly next week, bypassing the normal legislative process that can take months or even years.

We need to speed up the passage of this legislation so that it gets in place quickly and so that theres not a break in support for families that need the support, he said.

The Liberals also cheered the deal.

We are entering the second wave and millions of Canadians are still struggling to make ends meet, government House leader Pablo Rodriguez said Friday on Twitter.

We now have an agreement with the NDP on a bill that will deliver the help that Canadians need. Its by working together that we will get through this pandemic.

The government has set aside Monday and Tuesday for debate on the bill.

Earlier Friday, the Conservatives attempted to win support for a motion calling for the Commons to sit on Sunday as well so that MPs could have more time to debate Bill C-2. While they agreed that Canadians need support, they argued that MPs also have a duty to scrutinize legislation that will cost the federal treasury billions.

They did not get the unanimous consent needed to pass the motion.

The Conservatives have already said they will vote against the throne speech and the Bloc Quebecois say they are leaning that way unless the Liberals meet demands from the provinces to add billions to annual federal health transfers by next week.
MBABANE  Youre fired up with an idea for a new business, and worked out a strategy to make it happen.

Business for you is looking pretty promising, and now youre ready to hire a small group of employees.

But before you get started, there are payroll tips every business owner should know before getting the ball rolling.

There is no need to stress, as there is help out there and companies like AM Consultancy are of great assistance. The latter ensures pain-free payroll with tailor-made services that include online recruiting, leave administration and mass bulk processing and realtime payslip calculations among other things.

Below are some of the things to look out for.

1. Patience is key.

Managing a payroll requires organisation, attention to detail and quite a bit of patience.

As a new business owner, youll find yourself navigating the uncharted waters of pay periods, income taxes and intimidating government forms.

These requirements can be anxiety-inducing for even the most seasoned employer.

The truth is, the consequences for even the most innocent of payroll mistakes can be damaging for a small business.

Because of this, its crucial for employers to understand which payroll options are best for their business.

2. Your payroll budget needs to be airtight

First things first when youre becoming an employer: create a budget.

When you sort out the logistics of your payroll, its crucial to remember to account for both wages and taxes.

3. Categorise your employees and contractors

Get smart about your business and utilise the wide range of employment services to your advantage.

Discern which employees need you to gain work experience (interns), and ones who are simply needed for certain periods of time or for certain services (contract workers, or temps).

Sift through your list of prospective employees and determine what sort of position will work best for you and them and then properly classify them into a position.

Full-time employees and interns typically should be classified as employees, while contractors are a whole different story for paperwork and taxes.

4. Salaried vs hourly

Kick off your payroll by determining whether your employees will be salaried or paid hourly.

For the most part, putting employees into salaried positions makes the process easier for the employer to manage.

Salaries keep the payroll process consistent and eliminate most of the added stress that comes with calculating how much an employee should be paid each month.

If you do make the decision to pay employees by the hour, find a system that helps you to keep proper track of an employees work hours and how much they should be compensated for, whether that means punching in and out of work, or recording time spent throughout the day.

5. Get ready for pay day

Organise your payroll by deciding how often and when you will pay your employees.

Determine the beginning and end date of an employees work cycle and decide what pay schedule you want your team to function on. Payroll calculations and the related taxes that come with payroll arent necessarily all that complex.

But the record-keeping, filing and payment responsibilities can make your head spin if youre disorganised.

6. Collect employee and employer taxes

Speaking of taxes, remember that when it comes to them, what doesnt kill you makes you stronger.

This is especially important to remember because they wont be the fun part of seeing your business come into fruition.

As soon as you become an employer, part of what you pay each employee becomes collected from your employees paychecks for l income tax, social security, and medical aid falls onto you.

Avoid common payroll errors by considering reaching out to a skilled provider that can help you juggle the various tasks.

(Additional information from National Business and Capital Services)






The economic offences wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police arrested two of the six co-owners of an investment firm for allegedly duping 241 people to the tune of 76 crore by accepting money from them by offering 12% annual interest. The accused used the money to invest in other firms for higher returns, but as they failed to pay the interest as well as return the principal amount, the investors lodged complaints against them.

Hasmukh Gogari and Pankaj Chheda, co-partners of Ramnik Hashmukh Associate have been arrested, confirmed Parag Manere, deputy commissioner of police, EOW.

Both the accused have been charged under sections 409 (breach of trust), 420 (cheating), 120B (conspiracy) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code and sections 3 and 4 of the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (MPID) Act. Other accused partner in the firm and their relatives who were named in the case are Ramnik Dedhia, Dilesh Vira, Mukesh Chheda, Kushal Chheda and their relatives Hemant Chheda and Jayesh Dedhia. They are yet to be arrested.

Arrested accused Gogari and Chheda are one of the main accused in the fraud in which 241 investors have been duped of 76 crore. They were produced before the court and have been remanded in police custody till October 1, said Rajendra Sangale, senior inspector, MPID unit.

According to EOW, the arrests have been made based on the complaint of Rajesh Shah, a Goregaon resident, who alleged that Ramnik Hashmukh Associate lured him into investing money by offering 1 to 1.05% interest per month in 2016.

The firm had given a promissory note to investors as an acknowledgement. The said note was allegedly also signed by concerned executives of the firm where the investors money would be further invested for high returns, said a police officer.

Shah, who works at a senior post in a private bank, was also promised by the accused firm that they would return the money within a month if the investor wished to withdraw the amount.

Shah invested 48 lakh and initially received the interest regularly. However, since January 1, 2018, he had not received interest nor the principal amount, following which he filed a complaint, a copy of which is with HT.

Later, Shah learnt that many others had also not got their money from the firm, and all of them all visited the firms office in Matunga. The firm told them that they were facing a major crisis due to demonetisation.

However, investors later found out that the firm invested their money in eight other companies under their relatives names.

Shah and 77 other investors then approached EOW. The case was first registered at Matunga police station, later EOW took over the investigation. During investigation more victim investors turned up before the police and now there are 241 victim investors. The number of investors and fraud amount are likely to go up in coming days as the two accused have been arrested, said Sangale.
MDE Announces Virtual Job Fairs For Michigan Schools and Educators

September 22, 2020

LANSING  The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) will be hosting three virtual job fairs, open to employers of educators and educational support staff, as well as all individuals seeking to work in the education field.

A top priority at MDE is helping schools meet the diverse needs of Michigans students, said State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice. One of the ways we can do that is to connect schools and districts with qualified candidates. Now, more than ever, it is essential that we help ensure that every student is supported in their learning journey.

Increasing the numbers of certified teachers, especially in areas of shortage, is one of the eight goals of the states updated Top 10 Strategic Education Plan.

The three MDE virtual job fairs will be held on the following dates:

October 7, 2020

March 3, 2021

June 16, 2021

Please click on the registration link below or text Teach to 25000 to register for the first virtual job fair. Register here!

Last school year, we were pleased to help more than 150 employers meet their staffing needs through our job fairs, said Leah Breen, director of MDEs Office of Educator Excellence. We are dedicated to helping ensure that every school is staffed with qualified educational personnel.

For information on how to become a certified administrator or teacher in Michigan, please visit the Office of Educator Excellence website.

Staff are also available to answer specific certification questions via email at

MDE-EducatorHelp@Michigan.gov.
The National Liberal party (PNL) was sanctioned by Bucharesters for the pandemic chaos, the Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) Marcel Ciolacu declared on Sunday evening, at the closing of the polls.

"I thank the thousands of Romanians who voted today with PSD, the people of Bucharest who placed PSD in the first place in the political vote at the moment. I remind you that we have doubled the political vote in Bucharest since the last European elections, when there were 16.2 percent, now the estimate for all exit polls is at least 33 percent. This shows very clearly that the PNL, which ranks third as a political vote in Bucharest was sanctioned by the people of Bucharest for the chaos in the pandemic, for the thieving during the pandemic. (...) We do not know if Mrs. Gabriela Firea has lost, we are waiting for the final results," said Ciolacu, at the PSD headquarters.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 15:41:39|Editor: huaxia

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YEREVAN/BAKU, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Armenian Defense Ministry said on Sunday that it has shot down two helicopters and three drones of Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

The move is a response to Azerbaijan's attack on civilians settlements in the disputed territory, the ministry said.

Also on Sunday, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry said it is currently launching a counter-offensive in the region.

Heavy fighting in the Nagorno-Karabakh region has caused civilian casualties on both sides, the Azerbaijani presidency said.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have been at loggerheads over the mountainous region of Nagorno-Karabakh since 1988. Enditem
The crime branch of Mumbai police on Saturday nabbed a 22-year-old man from suburban Malad in connection with the killing of dalit lawyer and activist Devjibhai Maheshwari in Kutch in Gujarat, an official said. The accused, Bharat Jayantilal Raval alias Maharaj, is a resident of Tirupatinagar in Kutch, he said.

Devji Maheshwari was a senior activist of the All India Backward and Minority Communities Employees Federation (BAMCEF) and of the Indian Legal Professionals Association, Indian Express reported.

Dalit organisations had given a call for bandh in Gujarat and other states if the accused was not arrested within 24 hours of the incident, which occurred on Friday, the official said. A case of murder was registered at Rapar police station in Kutch under various sections of the IPC and the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the official said.

Unit 9 of the Mumbai crime branch received a tip-off that the main accused in the crime is looking for safe shelter in Malad to evade arrest, he said. A team led by senior police inspector Nandkumar Gopale laid a trap in the area and apprehended the accused while he was roaming suspiciously, said Akbar Pathan, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection).

The accused told investigators that Maheshwari had uploaded some posts on Facebook against Brahmans, the official said. Maharaj had also said that he had warned Maheshwari in the past against doing so, he said.

Maheshwari had posted a video on his social media account of BAMCEF National President Waman Meshram saying that members of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes are not Hindus.

The accused said Maheshwari had posted some communal content on Facebook, following which he killed him, the official said. He has been handed over to the Gujarat Police for further investigation, he added.
After receiving his master's degree in business management from the University of Neuchatel, Mauro Egermini launched his professional career in finance and administration, before becoming head of the department for client and supplier logistics at Cartier watchmaking. He then moved on to Ateliers Horlogers de Dior, where he was general manager for almost 13 years. Since 2014, he has occupied the position of director at Schwarz Etienne.

Mauro Egermini  Schwartz Etienne

What first made you interested in the watchmaking business?

It began with old watches and traditional complications, as I was immersed in this environment since I was a child.

What unique quality do you think you bring to your brand?

The demystifying of complications as displayed on the dial.

Fiji Floral Seconds  Schwartz Etienne

Tell us about an experience that defines your leadership style.

I'm thinking of the good people who continued with me on my professional adventure even as I changed companies.

Which watch do you wear most often, and why?

The model is the Roswell 08  in my eyes it represents the watch of which I've always dreamed; a mix of design and technique. It's also a good example of the "demystification" process I talked about before, revealing the mechanism behind the rapid date-change function.

Roswell 08  Schwartz Etienne

What have you achieved as CEO that you are most proud of?

To see the shine in our clients' eyes when they discover our watches and the client service that we follow up with.

What is the biggest misconception that people have about Schwarz Etienne?

That we are a brand pulled straight out of an old and dusty cupboard, even though we've been in business continuously since 1902.

On the other hand, what is one thing about Schwarz Etienne that is not well known, but super important, in your view?

Our level of verticalisation when it comes to our movements and our level of quality at a very competitive price.

Give us a one-word (or one-phrase) hint about your future plans for the brand.

Synergy! Our new model of 2020  Roma Synergy, produced in collaboration with the legendary Kari Voutilainen.
Our weekly roundup of books that should be on your radar.

We love stories, and even in the age of Netflix-and-chill, there's nothing like a good book that promises a couple of hours of absorption  whether curled up in bed, in your favourite coffeehouse, or that long (and tiresome) commute to work. Every Sunday, we'll have a succinct pick of books, across diverse genres, that have been newly made available for your reading pleasure. Get them wherever you get your books  the friendly neighbourhood bookseller, e-retail website, chain store  and in whatever form you prefer. Happy reading!

For more of our weekly book recommendations, click here.

***

 FICTION

Hellfire

By Leesa Gazi; translated by Shabnam Nadiya

Westland Publications | Rs 399 | 204 pages

Translated by Shabnam Nadiya, the British-Bangladeshi writer and filmmaker Leesa Gazis Bengali debut follows sisters Lovely and Beauty, for whom home is a cage, where their mother Farida Khanam never lets them out of her sight. On her 40th birthday, Lovely embarks on her first solo trip to Gausia Market, in Dhaka. As she roams the streets, her mothers carefully constructed world begins to fall apart, and their household arrangement starts to assume a macabre quality.

Piranesi

By Susanna Clarke

Bloomsbury | Rs 699 | 272 pages

Author Susanna Clarkes novel follows Piranesi, who has lived in the House for as long as he can remember. Each day, he records in notebooks the Houses endless halls, statues, walls; speaks to birds; and brings tributes to the Houses Dead. One day, messages begin to appear in pebbles, as someone tries to communicate with him. And in his journal, another story is unfolding, written in his own hand but which he cannot remember writing.

Read more about the book here.

Delhi: A Soliloquy

By M. Mukundan; translated by Fathima EV and Nandakumar K

Westland Publications | Rs 799 | 533 pages

Translated from Malayalam by award-winning writer and translator Fathima EV and Nandakumar K, award-winning author M Mukundans novel has been hailed as a contemporary classic. It examines the Malayali migrant experience in Delhi since Independence, from the 1960s when the Malayali community was just beginning to lay down roots, through the Indo-China and Indo-Pak wars, the Emergency, and the 1984 riots.

The Wall

By Gautam Bhatia

HarperCollins India | Rs 399 | 420 pages

Constitutional law expert Gautam Bhatias novel follows Mithila, whose world is bound by a Wall that encloses the city Sumer. Life has been this way for 2,000 years. When she tries to cross the Wall, everyone comes together to stop her. To break rules is to risk civilisational collapse. But to follow them means never knowing who built the Wall and why, and what lies beyond. As she looks for answers, she risks losing family, loved ones, and her life.

Read more about the book here.

 MEMOIRS and BIOGRAPHIES

Why I Am Not A Hindu Woman: A Personal Story

By Wandana Sonalkar

Women Unlimited | Rs 350 | TBC pages

Feminist scholar and activist Wandana Sonalkar outlines why she, born as an upper caste woman in Maharashtra, has rejected her religious identity. In a critique of Hindutva and Hinduism, she offers an intimate account of caste practices, and argues that patriarchy and Brahmanism  misogyny and casteism  are integral to the practice of Hinduism; and to Hindutva, which extends this discrimination to Muslims.

Read more about the book here.

 NON-FICTION

Queeristan: LGBTQ Inclusion in the Indian Workplace

By Parmesh Shahani

Westland Publications | Rs 699 | 320 pages

In this book, Godrej India Culture Lab founder Parmesh Shahani makes a case for LGBTQ inclusion in the corporate world and lays down a step-by-step guide to reshape Indias office culture. In this part-memoir part-manifesto, he animates data and strategy with intimate stories. Above all, he highlights the importance of diversity and inclusion, and how in these concepts are the promise of an equitable future.

A Thousand Cranes for India: Reclaiming Plurality amid Hatred

Edited by Pallavi Aiyar

Seagull Books | Rs 499 | 176 pages

Edited by author and journalist Pallavi Aiyar, this anthology uses the metaphor of origami cranes to talk about connection, beauty, and reclamation, in an otherwise degrading country. The 23 pieces here range reportage, stories, poems, memoir, and more. Among the contributors are Tishani Doshi, Anjum Hasan, Samrat Choudhury, Annie Zaidi, Jonathan Gil Harris, Sumana Roy, and more.

Read more about the book here.
Four years later, Trump is not different, but the circumstances are. The Trump we see at the first presidential debate in Cleveland on Tuesday may be even harder to debate than last time, because whatever ability he possessed to engage has been subsumed by a constant need to launch into tirades over grievances. (I sort of prepare every day by just doing what Im doing, he told Fox and Friends about his pre-debate regimen.) He exists in a double bubble  isolated in the Oval Office, consuming and regurgitating nothing but friendly right-wing media and Twitter bile. And hes desperate: The debate presents the first big chance to shake up a race hes losing, but he doesnt seem to have a plan to turn things around other than to hope for Joe Biden to collapse. After studying Trump in 2016, and our national tutorial every day since, heres what I think Biden can expect as they face off three times over the next 24 days. (Although it was never really in doubt that Trump would debate, expect grumbling after the first exchange about being treated unfairly and noise about skipping the two others.)
Ten years after the passage of the Affordable Care Act, health care remains a critical issue.

The COVID-19 pandemic, and the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, have put health care front and center with unparalleled urgency. In just seven months, the virus has swept through every corner of our nation, killing more than 200,000 Americans, taxing medical professionals to the point of collapse and leaving millions without jobs.

Because roughly half of working Americans get their health insurance through their employers, families now find that coverage threatened at a time when it might be needed most. Should the ACA be repealed by the U.S. Supreme Court, millions of Americans could lose health insurance.

Even before the pandemic, Texas had the highest uninsured rate of any state at 18.4 percent, double the rate of the nation as a whole in 2019. It didnt have to be this way. Texas could have expanded Medicaid.

In San Antonio, nearly 283,000 people were uninsured last year; at 18.5 percent, thats the highest percentage since 2013. And that was before the coronavirus exploded on the scene.

The Affordable Care Act, a popular yet controversial law, expanded coverage significantly by allowing Americans to purchase health insurance through state and federal marketplaces, and by allowing young adults to remain on their parents health plans until age 26. It made that coverage affordable for many through subsidies and new rules, including one that bans denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions.

Today, some 23 million people are covered under the ACA through a combination of expanded Medicaid and subsidized private insurance. That has not stopped President Donald Trump from continuing to chip away at former President Barack Obamas signature legislation.

Trump rode into the White House in 2016 promising to repeal and replace the ACA, but his efforts have fallen short so far. While he managed to eliminate the highly unpopular individual mandate, he has been unable to repeal the law completely or draw Republican consensus on a replacement plan.

In a recent town hall-style meeting, Trump alluded to a soon-to-be-revealed great health plan that would replace the ACA with something much better, while maintaining protections for people with pre-existing medical conditions. It has not surfaced, and last week he signed an executive order vaguely promising to preserve coverage for pre-existing conditions. It is a vapid and hypocritical gesture.

Trump has spoken of lowering drug costs, ending surprise medical bills, reducing regulations, improving the transparency of health care costs and increasing competition. But weeks before Election Day, he has failed to offer much in the way of specifics  and his actions have undercut access to health care.

As vice president under Obama, Joe Biden helped build legislative support for the ACA in the Senate. As the Democratic presidential nominee, Bidens health care plan calls for strengthening that law. He proposes increasing eligibility for subsidies and adding a government-run public option, or Medicare-like plan that people could choose over private insurance coverage. Biden also wants to lower the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 60, restore and expand reproductive rights, and put the federal government in charge of the COVID-19 response.

Trump has delegated the COVID-19 response to the states, restricted access to reproductive health services, and proposed changes to cap and limit eligibility and federal funding for Medicaid.

Throughout the pandemic, he has downplayed COVID-19s seriousness, expressed disdain for masks and social distancing, discouraged people from getting tested and muzzled government scientists.

The choice here is between expanding access to health care or constraining it, between offering a plan or empty tweets. Its a choice that arrives with the fate of the ACA hanging in the balance with the Supreme Court. The case is scheduled for argument after the election.

Trump supports this lawsuit brought by a consortium of Republican-led states  led by Texas  to overturn the ACA. If the states are victorious, it is uncertain what that would mean under a second Trump term for the millions of Americans who rely on the ACA for coverage, or its most popular provisions.

We are still waiting for him to deliver on his pre-inauguration promise of a terrific, phenomenal and fantastic new health care plan to replace it.
The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has taken a toll on the real estate market in Ho Chi Minh City as many realty projects have been put up for sale, including those costing millions of dollars.

Collateral such as apartment projects, schools, homes, cars, and wedding reception venues are being sold by local banks, as the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a surge in bad debts.

The Saigon One Tower (L) is pictured with other skyscrapers in downtown Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

The Saigon One Tower, located at the Ton Duc Thang-Ham Nghi Intersection in downtown District 1, is among the realty projects that have been put on sale.

Initiated in 2007, the US$265 million project was expected to be complete within two years and become a complex of apartments and offices with high-end commercial services as well as the largest outdoor bar in Vietnam.

The Saigon One Tower in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

However, the project was halted in 2011 when about 80 percent of the construction had been finished.

In October 2014, the Ho Chi Minh City Inspectorate issued a decision to comprehensively examine the implementation of this project.

On August 21, 2017, the Saigon One Tower was seized by the Vietnam Asset Management Company (VAMC), and up for auction starting at VND6.1 trillion ($263 million).

The Saigon One Tower in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

Another project, the Crystal Palace wedding reception center in Phu My Hung New Urban Area in District 7, is being offered for sale by the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) at VND356 billion ($15.3 million).

The venue was designed to have eight floors, a two-story basement, and a rooftop covering a total area of 2,675 square meters.

In late 2019, it was priced at VND535 billion ($23 million), while the monthly rental cost was VND3.6 billion ($155,310).

The Crystal Palace wedding reception center in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

The Saigon Joint Stock Commercial Bank (SCB) is selling the SaigonTech School, located in Quang Trung Software City in District 12, at VND196 billion ($8.4 million).

The lender has also offered the BMC Hung Long project in District 7 to buyers.

The Crystal Palace wedding reception center in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

Designed with more than 860 apartments, the construction began in 2011 on an area of nearly two hectares at a cost of VND400 billion ($17.2 million).

It was expected to be complete after 30 months but the project has been abandoned up to date.

The SaigonTech School in Quang Trung Software City in District 12, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

The BMC Hung Long project in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

The BMC Hung Long project in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

Four-star Fusion Suites Saigon Hotel is being sold at $50 million in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

V-Ikon Building has been offered for sale at VND301 billion ($12.9 million) in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
After 41 years working at Milford-based EBP Supply Solutions and 30 years as its CEO, Meredith Reuben has taken on some of the greatest challenges of her career in 2020.

EBP Supply, a family-owned wholesale distributor of supplies to the cleaning and food-service industries that was founded in 1918, has seen rising demand for its products in response to the spread of COVID-19.

As granddaughter of the companys founder, Reuben has sought to make the firm quick and flexible in response to shifts on the supply and demand sides. She has also emphasized employees health and safety, reflecting a focus on workers wellbeing that goes back to her days as an attorney for the National Labor Relations Board before she joined EBP Supply.

Reflecting the effectiveness of that strategy, Reuben has won the Top Leadership Award for 2020 among midsize employers in the Hearst Connecticut Media Top Workplaces competition. EBP Supply as a whole was recognized as well, marking the third-straight year on the list for the firm, which employs 161 in Milford.

In an interview, Reuben discussed how EBP Supply has adapted to the disruption of the past few months and her outlook for the company in the coming months.

Click here for complete coverage of the regions Top Workplaces for 2020.

Click here for a searchable list of the 49 Top Workplaces winners for 2020.

What have been your priorities as CEO in the past few months?

My principal focus was to make sure our COVID policies as they related to our employees and stakeholders were consistent with our values. Our values are integrity, collaboration, customer-centricity, continuous learning and [being] respectful and entrepreneurial.

There were so many policy changes in how we were going to be dealing with employees coming in and what kind of safety we were going to have. I also had to enable our team to take risks from a financial perspective to secure products in unprecedented ways, either in large quantities or from alternative sources.

How would you describe the amount of communication among employees in the past few months?

I wanted to focus on continuous communication and feedback loops. Thats where our president and senior vice president of human resources really took leadership.

We want to make sure our employees had support and that there was positive morale and solidarity during this time.

We communicated a lot. There was a lot of uncertainty and fear [among] many of our employees and, frankly, some of our customers, so we required our departmental managers to have weekly Zoom meetings when our employees were working 100 percent remotely.

We wanted to make sure there was connectivity among the individual teams, that they felt supported. We had weekly meetings with our sales force to garner information about our customers but also to give them support.

What are some of the ways in which EBP Supplys relationships with customers have changed in response to COVID-19?

We had to be very creative, and our salespeople had to understand the needs of the customers and provide those solutions to them.

Particularly in the food-service arena  where schools now dont have open lunch trays and want closed containers and where some of the restaurants pivoted to takeout  we had to be offering them different products than theyd normally use and try to ascertain from the customers what their needs were and then bring back [that information] to category managers and then bring those products in greater quantities.

What steps has EBP taken to keep employees safe at the companys facilities?

We have a lot of protocol in terms of temperature checks. You have to sanitize your hands. We have policies that if youre not feeling well, you need to call your supervisor and need to get a (COVID-19) test.

Then if someone has tested positive, we do contact tracing and we will find out who they were in contact with and quarantine them until theyre tested. If they test negative, we can bring them back. Weve had two or three people test positive - just a handful of cases.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

And we do require everyone to wear masks when theyre in the corridors. If youre in your office, you dont have to wear a mask. But if there are any meetings, we have limits on how many people can be in the room and everyone has to wear a mask. Were very consistent about that.

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on EBPs headcount? How much did receiving Paycheck Protection Program funding help?

I think it was a very good policy that the government did in terms of the PPP. (EBP declined to disclose the amount of its PPP funding but was not listed among recipients $150,000 or over.)

Were very loyal to our employees, and we consider them to be our most important asset. It did help when there was a bit of a downturn and businesses closed in March, April and May. It really did help us get through that period.

Weve pretty much maintained our headcount. We havent made any overt layoffs.

What is your outlook for the next few months?

The need for cleaning and sustainable food-service products has really elevated in the publics eye. What we do and sell have really come into focus by businesses all over the region and United States.

In terms of the short term, theres a great deal of uncertainty if COVID comes back in the colder months. So far, Ive seen an uptick, month after month, of our sales.

If things remain where the numbers are low, I see us meeting our budget for the year....In terms of our company and our model, I see a very bright future.

pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; twitter: @paulschott
Donald Trump told a crowd last night that one of his tweets inspired US Marshals to swoop on a gunman who shot a right-wing protester in Portland, Oregon.

His speech came after another night of unrest saw the Portland police use physical force against people on the streets.

Speaking at a rally in Middletown, Pennsylvania, Mr Trump reiterated his description of Portland as an anarchist city where police are not allowed to do their job, before describing the killing of Aaron Danielson in Portland and the US Marshals subsequent shooting of the alleged killer, Michael Forest Reinoehl.

You had the guy two weeks ago, remember? said the president. He shot a guy and killed him right in the middle of the street. Shot him like a  oh, I dont even wanna say like what, cause his parents are so devastated. A young man, and they shot him and killed him, this one guy, this one animal ... And this guy, everybody knew who he was, right? And I said after two days, Where is he, did you arrest him? No we didnt  after two-and-a-half days! Did you arrest him?

And then I put out on social media, Why didnt you arrest him? And you know what, the US Marshals saw it, they went in, and he pulled a gun on em, and in 15 minutes it was all over. None of our guys were hurt, and he was gone. This guy was a stone-cold killer, and yet they say he was a protester, he was not a protester. He was an anarchist and a killer. And the US Marshals: Thank you, that was an incredible job they did, brave.

Mr Reinoehl, a longtime self-proclaimed anti-fascist activist, shot Mr Danielson during a protest in Portland on 29 August. Mr Danielson was a supporter of the right-wing group Patriot Prayer, which was counter-protesting in the city along with various pro-Trump groups who sped through downtown in a procession of cars and trucks.

Mr Danielson was shot at close range in the chest, apparently by Mr Reinoehl, who was shown firing a gun on CCTV. A few days later  and after Mr Trumps tweet  Mr Reinoehl was surrounded by US Marshals at his home in Washington state; there are conflicting witness reports as to whether or not he drew a gun before being shot dead.

Ever since Mr Danielsons death, the far right have made him into something of a hero, along with 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse who allegedly shot two people dead during a protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Mr Trump himself has expressed sympathy for both men, tweeting his condolences for Mr Danielson and defending Rittenhouse at a rally.

At last nights rally, Mr Trump segued from Mr Reinoehls death to one of his current favourite themes: the possibility of using law enforcement to crush political unrest. We can solve their problem so easy, we can put em in there so easy, but the governor doesnt want em, the governor wants to leave it that way. Can you imagine the mess? For years thats been going on. I said what do the streets look like? They said you wouldnt believe it.

He did not make clear who they were.

Mr Trump has for months been railing against the increasingly violent clashes between protesters and police in Portland and elsewhere, at one point sending in federal forces  who were seen grabbing people from the streets and bundling them into unmarked vans  and repeatedly tweeting the words LAW & ORDER!

The Portland protests, which began after the killing of George Floyd this summer, have seen damage to property, including federal buildings, while police officers have been filmed repeatedly shoving, gassing and beating apparently unarmed people without provocation. Footage from last night showed incidents of them indiscriminately targeting both protesters and journalists.
Odisha Assembly Speaker S N Patro and Parliamentary Affairs Minister B K Arukha on Sunday tested negative for COVID-19 while Government Chief Whip Pramila Mallick and another ruling BJD MLA tested positive for the infection, official sources said. The two lawmakers were among the 757 persons comprising MLAs, journalists and Assembly employees who had come forward for COVID-19 test on Saturday ahead of the ensuing monsoon session of the Assembly on September 29, the sources said.

The swab samples were collected after the speaker ordered that only COVID 19 negative persons will be allowed entry into the Assembly for the monsoon session which will commence from Tuesday. Congress MLAs Suresh Routray and S S Saluja also tested negative, the sources said.

"Though I have no such symptoms, my corona test came positive today. I am in home isolation and request all those who have come in contact with me in the last 10 days to get their swab tested," Mallick said in her twitter post. Another ruling BJD MLA, who was in home quarantine after testing positive on August 30, again tested positive.

The name of the MLA was not disclosed. Besides, some journalists, who were to attend the session, PSOs, drivers of MLAs as well as a few Assembly staff have also tested positive for the virus, sources said.

Total 757 people have undergone RT-PCR test on the premises of Odisha Assembly on Saturday and the sample collection will continue till Monday. Earlier, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation Commissioner PC Chaudhary had informed that around 900 people will undergo test for three days starting from September 26 in the Legislative Assembly before commencement of the monsoon session of the House.
MBABANE  Local banks support their South African counterparts decision to end cheque payments.

In the past week, Nedbank South Africa joined that countrys big four banks; Standard Bank, First National Bank and Absa in phasing out cheques. In an announcement last Tuesday, Nedbank South Africa said this was because few clients were making use of the service. As of January 1, 2021 Nedbank clients will no longer be able to use cheques as a payment option.

In reaction to the developments in South Africa, EBA never ruled out the possibility of local banks taking that step in future. EBA is the Eswatini Bankers Association consisting of six member banks that are fully licensed by the Central Bank of Eswatini. These are (in no particular order) Farmers Bank, FNB, EswatiniBank, Nedbank, Standard Bank and Swaziland Building Society.

decision

We are aware that banks in South Africa have announced that they are ending cheque payments and we concur with the decision, as we believe that this is the direction the financial system should be going.

It is only a matter of time that the same decision is taken in Eswatini, said EBA Chairman Zakhele Lukhele.

Lukhele was quick to stress that locally the matter was still under discussion, with a decision not made as yet.

The public should note though, that paying using cheques to South Africa was phased out and this decision no longer an issue for cross border payments.

The public is urged, therefore, to consider using other means of payment such as direct transfers (EFT), Digital Banking platforms (such as Mobile Apps and Internet Banking). Once a pronouncement has been made, it will be communicated through the appropriate structures, said Lukhele.

While many businesses are embracing electronic payments and online transactions, there is still a sizeable amount of companies which prefer to use cheques for much of their business banking.

processing

Many businesses, particular small firms or new start-ups, may not have the facilities in place to process electronic or online payments. Receiving a cheque as payment is easier for them as they can leave the processing end of things to the bank.

For smaller firms, with cash flow issues, paying by cheque means the funds will leave their bank account slower and they have some leeway.

Even if you have the facility to process electronic payments, by indicating a willingness to accept cheques, you are increasing the amount of potential customers.

If you shut off one particular avenue for payment, you may be turning business away as many people are still more comfortable paying by cheque, anonymously shared an expert.

supported

Meanwhile, in South Africa reports suggest that it has become clear that cheques have become obsolete and can no longer be supported. Cheque payments are said to be contributing less than 0.1 payments of total payment volumes in South Africa.

The Covid-19 pandemic has further accelerated the decline of cheque use as clients opted for safer, paperless payment options. This trend is not expected to reverse, South Africas Anton de Wet, Chief Client Officer at Nedbank Retail and Business Banking was quoted saying.

Nedbank South Africa began the process to suspend cheques in 2019 to help clients migrate to more suitable options.

Parties that have been paid with a cheque will have to deposit the cheque before January 1, 2021 for the payment to be processed. Clients that have a Nedbank-issued cheque after January 1, 2021 will not be able to deposit the cheque and will have to contact the person or entity that issued the cheque and request an alternative payment, as the cheque will no longer be accepted at any bank, reads a statement from that countrys Nedbank.

From May 2020 the banking sector in South Africa reduced the cheque limit from E500 000 to E50 000. This was driven mainly by concerns arising from persistent fraud in its use.

abandonment

Nedbank was the last of the big four banks to announce the abandonment of cheques.

FNB South Africa stopped printing cheque books this month and will no longer issue cheques come the end of the year.

That countrys Standard Bank will no longer issue cheque books from October 1, 2020 and Absa will exit cheques as a payment instrument by the end of this year.

Deputy CEO of Absas Retail and Business Bank Bongiwe Gangeni previously said bank charges for processing cheques were relatively high, making it an expensive form of payment. Moreover, with the need for verification and validation, it can take up to 10 days for a cheque to clear. This extended timeframe makes the process more open to abuse and fraud.
DES MOINES  Lawmakers approved emergency authority Friday allowing election officials to get a leg up in coping with an expected crush of absentee ballots for the Nov. 3 election.

Expecting many more voters than usual to cast ballots absentee rather than go in-person to the polls during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Legislative Council granted Republican Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate the authority to establish a procedure for officials around the state to begin preparing absentee ballots for counting early.

Members of the Legislative Council  a Statehouse steering committee when the Iowa Legislature is not in session  voted 24-0 to provide the extraordinary powers to Pate in his capacity as the state election commissioner. Hell enact rules for speeding up the time-consuming process of opening mailed envelopes and separating the sealed ballots inside for processing on Nov. 2  the day before Election Day.

Under the emergency directive, county auditors will be able to mail absentee ballots to residents of health and long-term care facilities who request them; allow all ID cards that have expired in 2020 to be considered current and valid for in-person absentee balloting and at Election Day polling places; and to allow absentee ballots to be opened  but not counted  during the weekend before the Nov. 3 election.

The law already allows county auditors to begin tabulating absentee ballots on Nov. 2, said Molly Widen, Pates legal counsel. Therefore if a county auditor takes advantage of the time on Oct. 31, they would likely be able to begin tabulating earlier on Monday before the election.

Widen also said that a curbside voting procedure has been established where eligible Iowans who wish to vote in person can do so even if they find themselves in a COVID-19 quarantine situation on Nov. 3.

Signs will be posted at each of Iowas polling places designating an area for curbside voting with a telephone number the voter can call. A precinct official in protective gear will then come to serve the voter in his or her car.

Pate has outlined security procedures in which Absentee & Special Voters Precinct Boards may meet Oct. 31 to open mailed-in affidavits received by county auditors and remove the secrecy envelope containing the ballot but under no circumstances shall a secrecy ballot be opened before the board convenes to begin the tabulation of ballots on Nov. 2, according to Pates request.

Each political party may appoint up to five representatives to observe the Oct. 31 process and, if a ballot is not enclosed in a secrecy ballot or is folded in such a way that any of the votes cast on the ballot are visible, a procedure is spelled out for placing the ballot in a sealed envelope.

The request also would allow the Secretary of State to authorize the emergency relocation of a polling place due to the pandemic in compliance with Gov. Kim Reynolds public health disaster emergency proclamation.

As of midday Friday, Pate said more than 583,000 Iowans had requested absentee ballots for the Nov. 3 election  a number that represents more than a third of the total votes cast in the 2016 election. Absentee balloting has grown significantly since 1988, when about 7 percent of Iowans voted absentee, according to the Secretary of States website.

Absentee ballot request forms were sent to active registered Iowa voters this month and county auditors are slated to begin mailing ballots to those who requested them Oct. 5.

I just want to give a shout out to Iowans for the amazing participation weve had in this election so far, said Sen. Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, who serves on the council.

She praised county auditors for adapting to the very difficult challenges in conducting a fair election during a pandemic that includes safe opportunities to vote by mail.
Tin moi tung phut tu rat nhieu nguon.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is planning to upgrade runways at seven airports across the country by March 2022, senior officials said on Sunday.

These seven airports are at Jammu (J&K), Kolhapur (Maharashtra), Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh), Barapani (Meghalaya), Kadapa (Andhra Pradesh), Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh) and Tuticorin (Tamil Nadu), the officials told PTI.

The officials said the runway at the Jammu airport is undergoing expansion from the current length of 2,042 metres to 2,438 metres and it is planned to be completed by March next year.

The extension of the runway of the Kolhapur airport from 1,370 metres to 2,300 metres has begun and is planned to be completed by December this year, the officials mentioned.

They said the runways at the Jabalpur airport and the Tuticorin airport are expected to be upgraded by December 2021 and March 2022, respectively.

Officials explained that the runway of an airport is designed for a particular type of aircraft, depending on traffic demand and other factors.

"As the traffic increases, the airline operators want to operate bigger aircraft from the airport. At that time, the runway has to be upgraded to make it suitable for that purpose," said an official.

The runway at the Barapani airport will be "extended and strengthened" by December this year, the officials stated, adding that the Kadapa airport's runway is also being "extended and strengthened" and the work will be done by March 2021.

They said the runway at the Tirupati airport will be extended from the current length of 2,286 metres to 3,810 metres by December 2021.

"In total, the runways of these seven airports will be upgraded by March 2022," said an official.

(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.)
Vietnam has become the first Southeast Asian nation to earn over 1 billion USD from exporting goods to Hungary and the European countrys leading exporter from this region since 2000, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, attends the online 27th Beijing International Book Fair in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 26, 2020. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

BEIJING, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- A senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Saturday stressed high-level exchanges in book publishing to promote communication between civilizations, as well as people-to-people connectivity, during a visit to the online 27th Beijing International Book Fair.

Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, noted the need to grow the international presence of more fine publications that demonstrate the charm of Chinese culture and the values shared by all of humanity.

The quality of publications should be given prominence, Huang said, adding that various topics, such as the fight against poverty and China's epidemic-fighting spirit, should be highlighted.

It is necessary to expand the channels and platforms of communication, ensuring that the rest of the world better understands China through the publishing industry, Huang said.

He also urged greater efforts in the publishing of original and digital works, providing people with more substantial, richer and higher quality publishing products and services.

With Cuba as the country of honor this year, the book fair had attracted nearly 1,400 registered online exhibitors from 97 countries and regions as of Friday, with more than 38,000 books on display.
Man, it was perfect  it was awesome, said Whalan McDew, 57, who runs Do Gooders of Hampton Roads, which also volunteers at the historic Hampton graveyards. We knew he was gonna bring some volunteers. We just didnt know it was gonna be that many. And Im ex-Army, so it was really special for me to see the Army guys come out to do that.
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Raising equity for commercial real estate projects is still very possible in this economic climate says Jared Cobert of Diligence Capital Advisors, the well established capital solutions firm based in Philadelphia, PA.



Mr. Cobert sourced and closed on an equity transaction this past Friday September 25th for a 6 unit lavish apartment project in the coveted University City District of Philadelphia, PA.



Philadelphia's "University City" is located at the easternmost portion of West Philadelphia directly across the Schuylkill River from Center City, and encompasses several Philadelphia universities such as the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, the University of the Sciences and the Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College. University City is Philadelphia's bustling, culturally diverse academic heart with cutting-edge exhibitions at the Institute of Contemporary Art, swanky eateries and casual bars that attract hip crowds.



"I would not say that raising equity for an luxury residential apartment development in University City is incredibly difficult," said Jared Cobert of Diligence Capital Advisors who was reached by email. "But raising equity in general for any real estate transaction takes an extraordinary amount of focus and determination."



"We were happy to get this done for our client," said Cobert who described the client as a "prolific Philadelphia based multi-family developer."



Rickey Biddle and Michael Tester of R+M Development Company of Philadelphia provided the equity for the project.



Joseph D. Rocco of Campbell Rocco Law represented R+M Development Company in connect with the equity transaction.



Photo(s):

https://www.prlog.org/12840062



Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE Diligence Capital Advisors
The short answer is easy: Biden could and would quickly undo the distinctive evils of Trumpism. It wouldnt be hard for him to call the leaders of Germany and South Korea on Day One and say were going back to being your reliable ally. It would be easy for him to say what Trump refuses to: that Vladimir Putin is guilty not just of orchestrating the murder of his domestic opponents but of U.S. troops  and should pay for it. With a couple of strokes of the pen, Biden could put the United States back into the Paris climate accord and the World Health Organization, and thus rejoin critical multilateral initiatives on climate change and the covid-19 pandemic.
As it turns out, Katie Holmes and Emilio Vitolo Jr. have known each other for nine months.

The "queen of public make-outs" has reportedly been a regular at Vitolo Jr.'s restaurant in New York, Emilio's Batallo. During the time she and ex-boyfriend Jamie Foxx were still dating.

Afterward, Holmes has asked Vitolo Jr. to teach her how to cook because she wanted to learn to cook for herself and daughter Suri.

A source told The Mirror, "Katie, who is not the best cook, asked Emilio to help hone her skills when she moved back to New York as she'd been getting fed-up with always ordering in and cooking the same thing."

It has also been reported that the 33-year-old Italian chef and the 43-year-old mom-of-one are "practically living" at the actress' apartment. They have even been talking about moving in together.

The source added that Vitolo Jr. is excited to become a dad and have kids with the "Dawson's Creek" star.

On the other hand, Holmes has also been telling friends that she wants to have a baby with Vitolo Jr.

The Mirror also reported that their kiss was the reason Katie Holmes fell in love with Emilio Vitolo Jr.; however, it was unclear when it was exactly.

Holmes has also reportedly help Vitolo Jr. get cast opposite her in a short romantic film that was shot last month.

This is after Vitolo Jr. has ended his engagement to fiancee Rachel Emmons via text, after the 24-year-old saw photos of the chef and the actress kissing in public.

Holmes continues to insist that she didn't have anything to do with their breakup.

The source said, "Katie insists she had nothing to do with their split, which would have happened anyway as they were unhappy."

pic.twitter.com/hmpmbAg71O Katie Holmes and Emilio Vitolo Jr enjoy a public make out session In Central Park https://t.co/LMrpvQwQsj  Carmen Volpatto (@carmenvolpatto) September 22, 2020

Emilio Vitolo Jr. the Ladykiller

On Saturday,Page Six described Katie Holmes' new boyfriend as a ladykiller.

An insider told the outlet that as she waited to be served in Emilio's Ballato, Vitolo Jr. was there "bopping around and charming everyone."

While the chef was talking to a group when one of them said they were moving to Los Angeles, Vitolo Jr. looked at the insider and laughed, " Why would you do that?'" as if the insider was part of the conversation.

"It was charming. He made me feel like I was part of the conversation. He's got that knack that good hosts have," the insider shared.

Even though flirting and charming people were part of his job, Vitolo Jr. has eyes only for Katie Holmes.

The couple was first spotted in a public make-out session on September 1 at the Antique Garage in Soho.

That same day, however, another insider revealed that it was the day the chef sent his then-fiancee a breakup text.

Vitolo Jr. and Emmons were together for two years, and just got engaged in February 2019.

A week before they broke up, Vitolo Jr. celebrated his birthday with a couple of pals in Balzem in New York. Photos at the party, which was reportedly thrown by Emmons, showed that she still had her engagement ring on display.

On September 2, the next day after the breakup, Emmons reportedly moved out of their shared apartment, bringing only the things she could carry.

A tipster told Page Six, "She left her engagement ring and all her furniture behind. She then saw the photos of Emilio and Katie as she was flying home to Oklahoma."

The tipster further shared that Rachel Emmons is okay and keeping her head up as she tries to handle everything with grace. She will be returning to New York soon.

READ MORE: Why the Kardashians Will Have Even More Fights Once KUWTK Ends
The Chairman of the National Liberal Party (PNL), Prime Minister Ludovic Orban, is satisfied with the way the local elections unfolded, stating that there was a significant turnout.

"I'll tell you yes. Of course there were exceptions, there were queues. I'm sorry. There had to be queues, but on the other hand we were forced to take health protection measures. The turnout was significant, a good turnout, above many people's expectations. I thank all the Romanians for having voted and for continuing to vote until 21:00 hrs.," Orban said on Sunday at the PNL headquarters, asked whether he is content with how the local elections went.As regards the turnout in Bucharest, the PNL leader claimed that it is "relatively good" in pandemic conditions. He said he was impressed by the fairness of the citizens who came to the polls."I have not seen cases with citizens who did not observe the health protection rules that have been established by regulations and I am really impressed and I thank the Romanians for understanding and I am convinced that from the electoral process, from the exercise of the vote by citizens, I hope that there will be no cases of illness or that there will be a minimum number of cases," Orban added.The PNL leader spoke of a victory in this election and showed that the Liberals are already thinking of alliances."It is clear that it is a victory, but for it to be a definitively sealed victory, the minutes of vote counting in each polling station, in each constituency must be completed, so that we know the exact result. (...) We are already beginning to strategize the alliance policy in every county, in every municipality. Obviously, we have as priorities in the alliance policy the formations with affinities with which we will try to form the majority," said Ludovic Orban.He said the Liberals would run a parallel count."We are organizing to ensure the correctness of the vote counting. We have asked all our delegates to be careful, to count the votes in accordance with the legal provisions, to ensure the parallel counting, to ensure the information for the parallel counting, which is what any organization does on election day," Orban said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 16:46:54|Editor: huaxia

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ULAN BATOR, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- A suspected case of bubonic plague in western Mongolia's Khovd province has been confirmed by lab test results, the country's National Center for Zoonotic Diseases (NCZD) said Sunday.

The 25-year-old female patient from the province and 19 people in close contact with her are now under isolation at a local hospital, the NCZD said in a statement.

The center said the woman was found to have eaten marmot meat last week.

While hunting marmots is illegal in Mongolia, many Mongolians regard the rodent as a delicacy and ignore the law.

Since the beginning of this year, the Asian country has reported 22 suspected cases, six of which were confirmed by laboratory tests. Three of the six patients have died.

Seventeen out of all the 21 Mongolian provinces are now at risk of the bubonic plague, the NCZD said, urging the public to avoid eating marmot meat.

The bubonic plague is a bacterial disease spread by fleas living on wild rodents such as marmots and can kill an adult in less than 24 hours if not treated in time, according to the World Health Organization. Enditem
The situation of education in general, and of higher education in particular, is not considered as a priority in developing countries. Unfortunately, all development depends on a good education. Many countries suffer not only of the absence of quality education, but also from a lack of accessibility for its citizens. Many of them suffer from not being able to study.

The exercise of citizenship must allow everyone to become an actor of society. To be an actor requires a good understanding of the role, the place and the rights be recognized by everyone. To be an actor means to be responsible in a social and democratic framework relying on values and references shared by all. The practice of citizenship relies on participation spaces open to all. Otherwise, in many developing countries, as the level of education is very low, citizens do not consider themselves actors of their countrys development. [1] They block the progress of their country and create other problems in security, the economy, politics, social issues and above all in an increase in unemployment. Indeed, a large part of the population is active, but instead of creating jobs, it is looking for employment. Thus, if everyone looks for a job, the number of openings is small. This has a negative impact on the resources of the State. The challenges of contemporary societies are mostly characterised by complexity and are part of a global interdependence. In the face of globalization, the education of people to be good citizens must widen its scope from local, regional and national levels to a global dimension .[2]

According to the document (UNESCO, 2014) UNESCO Education Strategy 2014-2021, approximately 774 million adults, of which two thirds are women, could neither read, nor write in 2011. More than 50% of this adult illiterate population lived in South and West Asia and a quarter approximately in sub-Saharan Africa; 10 countries alone represent 72% of the total. In sub-Saharan Africa, the number of illiterate adults has, in fact, increased by 37% these last twenty years to reach 182 million in 2011. According to these forecasts, the world total will still be of 743 million in 2015, a reduction of only 16% as against the number in 1985-1994 with regard to data on illiteracy (UNESCO, 2014b). It is the aim of education for all (EFA) which is the most difficult to reach.

Although illiteracy is mostly concentrated in the developing and highly populated countries, the problem continues to be pervasive. Developed countries also present large pockets of poverty, in which evaluations show that no less than one adult on five, in other words 160 million persons, have very low literary competencies, being unable to read, write and calculate in daily life (UNESCO, 2012.

Literacy, beyond being a basic competency, is also a prerequisite to access to all forms and all levels of apprenticeship all along life, as well as a base enabling quality education for all.

Being deprived of basic literacy competencies is a factor that leads to being excluded from many aspects of existence, and it covers important dimensions of gender and poverty. Governments and lending institutions are often insufficiently concerned with illiteracy. In the same manner, less than 3% of the national education budget is devoted to literacy and adult education programmes.

Education and life-long training

Education and life-long training are key elements of a strong and reasoned strategy which have become a powerful weapon in a dynamic world obsessed by competitivity. The way we see our neighbours is also part of our worries when we are looking to be inspired by tools and policies that they develop for continuous qualitative and quantitative improvement, of our educational systems, that will lead to a social integration and cohesion of nations (Newgreen, 2002).

Education and higher education are fundamental elements. They allow each individual to build his life, not only on a private basis, but also professionally, and also to contribute to the economic, political, and social aspects of the country in which they live.

To be effective, higher education demands, as a fundamental element, time, a certain slow pace, stability, tranquillity and even a minimum of comfort. Education is one of the most important levers in development. It is also, one of the most efficient mechanisms to guarantee peace and stability of a country. We live in a rapidly evolving world, increasingly interdependent, in which knowledge and innovation are major development factors .[3]

Stakeholders in the general environment of higher education

According to Burridge et al, education and higher education are as important as water to ensure life. In light of our research, we have noticed that all the economic, political, and social development of a country depends in large part to education that will impact the general environment of that country, and thus of the entire region. Obviously, education takes its roots at primary school, but we have limited our research to higher education.

In the framework of our research, we have identified certain stakeholders such as the citizens who are directly impacted by war. A well-educated society, capable of distinguishing good from bad, will attempt to avoid certain conflicts so as to live in peace. The Afghan population suffers from a lack of education and this opens the possibility for certain rebel groups to convince young men to undertake acts that are contrary to peace.

Education is one of the important factors in the social and economic development of a country. All the actors of social and economic life, who are stakeholders, suffer the consequences of the absence of penetration of higher education, at best a very low penetration, as outlined by several reports, such as those of the World Bank, UNESCO, and what we also observe in our empirical experience.

All the stakeholders, in the private and public sectors, feel the low use or the near-absence of technological development, which, however, is an absolute need today so as to avoid an important delay in productivity and thus, competitivity. The different educational levels feel the absence of means to train students in the use of basic technology. We have not identified a theory which outlines the fact that societies in developing countries must remain unchanged. In the competitive and dynamic environment of the modern economies of knowledge, the educational policies occupy a central place and, if needed, can fulfil the functions that are normally traditionally part of investment such as policies of social protection .[4]

The emergence of the notion of Life competencies

 The four pillars of a quality education as defined by UNESCO (2000) allows to put the basis of a strategy that could assist to raise this challenge. Unfortunately, this is not the case in Afghanistan and in many developing countries.

Learning to know : education must assist students to acquire the instruments of knowledge, in other words, the necessary tools of communication and oral expression, reading, arithmetic and the art of problem resolution, to possess both a solid general culture and the deep knowledge of a few fields, to understand what are the rights and responsibilities and, above all, to learn to learn. Learning to do : education must assist students to acquire the know-how and the social and psychological competencies that will allow them to make informed decisions in diverse situations, to manage social relations and relations at work, to access local and global markets, use technological tools, satisfy fundamental needs and improve quality of their life and the life of others. Learning to be: education must contribute to the flourishing of individual personality and allow them to act with more autonomy, of judgement, of critical thought and of personal responsibility. It must develop all the aspects of a persons potential such as, for instance, memory, reasoning, esthetical values, spiritual values, physical capabilities and the art of communication. It must encourage a healthy lifestyle, the liking of sports, of leisure, of the appreciation of ones own culture, the respect of ethical and moral code, the art of making oneself valuable and of defending oneself, and the capacity of rebounding. Learning to live together: education must reinforce the know-how at students and the aptitudes likely to help them to accept mutual interdependence .[5]

Result:

According to the recommendations of the Organisation of the United Nations (UN), the international responsibility of governments and political leaders regarding the exercise of the right to education is to find a rapid and lasting solution to this challenge so as to better integrate the international community which check the effective exercise of the right enumerated which check, on the one hand, the application and the conformity with the United Nations Pact relating to economic social and cultural rights and on the other the United Nations Pact relating to civil and political rights. One can state that facing the uncertain future and the multiple challenges that post-conflict States experience that have led to irreversible, and often permanently damaging, consequences, education must bring a final advantage to re-establish, through freedom and social justice, the conditions of preventive and balanced management of conflicts. This allows it to progress, while respecting the conditions of sustainable development, towards the expected peace ideals. [6]

 The knowledge generated by the economy of education may thus assist the governments to optimize their policies through better informed choice, thus contributing the attainment of the objective of a sustained and equitable growth that mobilises all the citizens. [7]

According to UNESCOs Education Strategy 2014-2021, the political leaders must study to better exploit the potential of information technologies and communication (TIC) in education. The presence of sustainable infrastructure and financing issues, of the content of quality-insurance, represent, in this field, key issues, just like the question of available means to develop and put in place pluri-dimensional policies in matters of online security and ethics.

Education to citizenship allows to acquire new knowledge that will directly impact the economic, political and social life of the country. The first function of education is to transmit an inheritance and to teach the ethical principles and the framework of law (national and international) that determines communal living. However, society today more than ever, faces rapid changes and challenges in embedded in complex global challenges. These challenges require societal changes to which a citizen should be able to participate. However, transmission and education are insufficient on their own: the education for citizenship must allow the exercise of new competencies: to enter into complexity, to manage uncertainty, to position oneself, to imagine new solutions and to participate in their realization. [8]

The general experience of life and the ordinary unfolding of things show that when citizens who live and work in a given society are very well educated, there are less conflicts, for they are able to resolve their problems by discussion, dialogue, and common understanding. The example of countries in which social dialogue is the main governance vector, such as Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, etc, is more than welcome.

A well-educated society can only be a democratic society because it constantly counts on the capacity and the behaviour of its citizens; and each citizen feels important for his country.

If we take the case of Afghanistan today, it is a rich country with considerable natural resources, but the country finds itself in extreme poverty. Our analysis brings two explanations for this situation: the poverty of knowledge, first of all, that does not allow citizens to contribute to the development of the country and to correctly use their competencies and their rights; the poverty of the leadership, on one hand, that concentrate themselves exclusively on the acquisition of power instead of concentrating on the best manner to help the population. As a backdrop, one can see a situation in which the political leaders take advantage of the naivety and low educational level of their fellow citizens to stay in power and to profit from their advantages.

The conclusions of our research shows that it is impossible to develop a country without prioritising education. To illustrate our working methodology, we have developed a competency matrix to helps Afghanistan become a stable state by developing a distance learning system.

Matrix of the competencies of a citizen

Competencies Criteria Situation Tools Evaluation Active citizen Positively participate in his individual development which will impact later, on different scales, such as family, clan, tribal, ethnic and national, and even in light of the entire countrys development, instead of concentrating on his personal interests. Live together and contribute together to ones own development as well as that of the country. Education is the primary source to become an active citizen, positive and understanding. Living together without conflict Societal progress. Know ones own importance and values Be capable of undergoing auto-evaluation, to understand its importance, oneself, ones values and those that still require development. Use positive values for oneself and for ones family; allow all members of ones family to optimize their capabilities. Schools, universities and the professional environment allow us to be with others and to understand well our values and those of others. Non-violent communication. Personal evolution. Know ones rights as well as those of others Understand the importance of ones fundamental rights as well as those of others. Mutual respect, whatever the age, gender and/or belief. Education Avoid violence and live in peace. Capacity of expressing oneself Aptitude to develop and defend oneself in a calm and legal manner. Express oneself without wounding others and make the situation more complex. Education Respect others. Consciousness of power Understand ones own values as a citizen, as well as the importance of voting rights. In exercising ones voting rights, elect deserving persons so as to stabilize the countrys political and social situation. Education Appoint leaders according to their and competencies that have a positive impact on the countrys management. Equality and freedom Understand the importance of equality as well as truly expressing his claims depending on the situation in which he finds himself. Rule of law Education Citizens behaviours that can degrade or improve the situation. Live in peace and in freedom. Express oneself without fear in the mutual respect. The possibility of taking responsibilities Assume responsibilities for ones family and in society and understand ones own contribution. Be active in social, economic and political life when one wishes to do so. Give the chance in equal proportions to all citizens without any exclusion. Participate in socioeconomic developments. Incidence on Human Rights Distinguish between good and bad, and become conscious of ones acts against others. Be capable of understanding sanctions and consequences when one breaks the rules of law. Education and the application of laws in an equalitarian manner. Respect of law and fundamental freedoms Avoid all sorts of conflicts. Understand, in a basic way, at a small scale, the phenomena tied to globalisation. Become conscious of the changes in other parts of the world. Each country develops first of all because of the sum of individual actions. Ensure diversity of the country thanks to the contributions of different nationalities. Understand the economic, political, social situation of other countries, and apply to oneself the positive elements, if necessary. Importance of the family Understand that the family is very important and that women play an important role in the family well as in society. Each member of the family plays an important role for himself as well as for economic, political and social development of the country. Education Respect the choices and the points of view of each family member to avoid conflicts and violence. Use (tools) of the new technologies of information and communication (TIC) in an interactive manner (language, technology). Instrumental competency. Une, in ones activities, of adequate technologies to facilitate tasks; if necessary, transfer best practices. Education Faster and more efficient results. Interact in heterogeneous groups. Social competencies whatever the religion and (or the beliefs. Transcend the differences. Participate in social life in ones city, village, town, etc. Education Be capable of working in groups, whatever its origins and/or beliefs. Act in an autonomous and consensual manner. Personal competency for all that concerns the decisions of daily life. Assume the responsibility of ones decisions. Education Work individually if necessary, with the proposed solutions. Knowledge, know-how, social skills and life planning. Know ones past, concentrate on the present and create ones future. Concentrate on the future rather than concentrating on useless subjects. Education Have a life vision, according to ones capacities. Exemplarity Be an active and contributing citizen thanks to ones actions. Motivate others so that they also become active in life. Positive action of citizens. Show to others the importance of citizens to ones country.

Conclusion:

We have noted that it is very difficult, and even impossible to respect the citizenship norms or the establishment of democracy or the respect of human rights in a country without putting the accent on the competencies of active and understanding citizens. We have observed that in many countries, there are conflicts between politicians (points of view on political ideology), but they manage to discuss, to negotiate and to obtain power through democratic rights, for they are citizens. The lack of reflection of citizens in the choice of their leaders and their policy in developing countries is the source of numerous conflicts, including civil wars. Hence the importance of insisting on the apprenticeship of citizenship, which allows populations to be in charge of their destiny by actively participating in the life of the nation. This is why education must prioritise the development of the citizens competencies, such as the knowledge of oneself, of its importance and its values; the knowledge of the ones rights and those of others; the ability to express oneself; the knowledge of ones power; equality and freedom; the possibility of assuming ones responsibilities; the primacy of human rights; the understanding of the phenomena linked to globalization; the centrality of the family; the use of new technologies of information; the knowledge, know-how, social skills and life planning; empowerment and exemplarity.

Each of these elements include, criteria, situations, tools and parameters to evaluate the citizens competency matrix which must serve as a learning tool of citizenship.

For a country to be able to develop economically, politically and socially, the political leaders must give priority above all else to an action plan on the competencies of citizens. This contribution will make it easier for the present and future leaders. If that is not the case, the government will transmit poverty from generation to generation.

About the Author

M. Djawed Sangdel, professor of Leadership and Entrepreneurship

President of Swiss UMEF UNIVERSITY - GENEVE

[1] Education a la citoyennete mondiale : https://www.education21.ch/fr/edd/approches/education-a-la-citoyennete-mondiale

[2] http://www.globaleducation.ch/globallearning_fr/pages/BA/BA_Re.php

[3] Strategie de lUNESCO : Leducation 2014-2021.

[4] http://www.eenee.de/fr/eeneeHome/Economics-of-Education.html

[5] Colloque international Education, violences, conflits et perspectives de paix en Afrique, Yaounde, 6 au 10 mars 2006,

Milene Trabelsi et Jean-Luc Dubois

[6] Colloque international  ducation, violences, conflits et perspectives de paix en Afrique, Yaounde, 6 au 10 mars 2006,

Milene Trabelsi et Jean-Luc Dubois

[7] http://www.eenee.de/fr/eeneeHome/Economics-of-Education.html

[8] Charly Maurer, Leducation a la citoyennete, Fondation Education et Developpement, 2008, 4
Kangana Ranaut has reacted to US President Donald Trump who once again took a dig at Joe Biden and claimed that he would like him to take a drug test before or after the much-awaited Tuesdays presidential debate. The Queen actor reacted to his statement and said that she likes the context of his tweet that instead of abusing Biden or calling him mentally sick, Trump prefers to accuse him of taking drugs.

Trump said in his tweet on Sunday, I will be strongly demanding a Drug Test of Sleepy Joe Biden prior to, or after, the Debate on Tuesday night. Naturally, I will agree to take one also. His Debate performances have been record setting UNEVEN, to put it mildly. Only drugs could have caused this discrepancy???

Its not the content of this tweet but the context of it that I appreciate, accusations of taking drugs is used as a slur, much better than naming mothers reproductive organs/stigmatising mental illnesses. We as a society must know what is it that we recognise as truly shameful. https://t.co/EunK41yqaF  Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) September 27, 2020

Reacting to the same, Kangana wrote on Twitter, Its not the content of this tweet but the context of it that I appreciate, accusations of taking drugs is used as a slur, much better than naming mothers reproductive organs/stigmatising mental illnesses. We as a society must know what is it that we recognise as truly shameful.

ALSO WATCH | Watch: Kangana Ranaut shares Trumps drug-test tweet, shares a message

Meanwhile, Kangana continues to make headlines for her tweets and explosive statements about her Bollywood colleagues. However, after being involved in a Twitter spat with several people over the past few weeks, Kangana said that she may come across as ladaku (bellicose) but it is not true. She had tweeted, I may come across as a very ladaku person but its not true, I have a record of never starting a fight. I will quit twitter if anyone can prove otherwise, I never start a fight but I finish every fight. Lord Krishna said when someone asks you to fight you mustnt deny them.

Also read: Happy birthday Ranbir Kapoor: From Barfi to Tamasha, his 5 best movies that prove he is the master of all emotions

Kangana had recently visited Mumbai after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) demolished parts of her Pali Hill office. The civic body had claimed that the demolished portions of the property were illegal.

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Six months after massive government support began flowing to households hit by the COVID-19 crisis, weekly consumer spending has climbed back to levels close to the pre-pandemic norm. But the recovery will be tested as emergency income support is scaled back.

A real-time spending tracker shows purchases by those who received stimulus payments, including the Coronavirus Supplement and one-off $750 support payments, remains 27 per cent higher than pre-pandemic levels.

Weekly spending across the economy has returned to what was normal before the pandemic. Credit:Glenn Hunt

Spending by stimulus recipients, which has been elevated since mid-April, has played a crucial role in supporting demand during the pandemic.

But purchasing by consumers who received no government stimulus payments has also steadied close to pre-pandemic norms, the tracker developed by analytics firm AlphaBeta, part of Accenture, and credit bureau illion also shows.
Patna: Seeking to lure voters in poll-bound Bihar, the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Sunday promised to provide "10 lakh permanent government jobs"if voted to power. The populistic announcement was made at a press conference here by Tejashwi Yadav, the party's chief ministerial candidate who is faced with the uphill task of holding his own against the formidable ruling NDA in the absence of his father and RJD boss Lalu Prasad.

        10       4  50       , ,                 5  50        Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) September 27, 2020

"It is not just a vaada (empty promise). We will do what we have promised with mazboot iraada (firm resolve). If the RJD is able to form its government, filling up of 10 lakh posts all permanent, government jobs will be sanctioned in the very first cabinet meeting," said the former deputy CM. Assembly elections will be held in three phases in Bihar on October 28, November 3 and 7. The results will be announced on November 10.

In a veiled dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Yadav said, "We are not like those who achieve power with a promise of two crore jobs every year and leave Bihar bankrupt after 15 years of rule." Yadav, who has been leader of the opposition in the outgoing assembly since the abrupt exit of Nitish Kumar from the Grand Alliance robbed him of the deputy CM's post and his party of power, accused the chief minister of inaction despite"lakhs of posts lying vacant in health, education and police departments". "Bihar is the most densely populated state in the country and about 60 per cent of its population is said to be young and of employable age.

"Still, there are so many vacant posts of doctors, paramedics, teachers and police personnel and Nitish Kumar did nothing to fill up these," the 31-year-old RJD leader alleged. He said his party intends to fill up the vacancies as well as increase the number of sanctioned ones since the state is plagued by an acute shortage of doctors, teachers and policemen.

"I would like to ask Nitish Kumar how does he go around boasting about improved law and order when Bihar has only 77 police personnel for every one lakh people and, as per the NCRB, reports a rape or a murder every four to five years," the RJD leader charged. Yadav further made it clear that these "10 lakhsthaayi sarkaari naukriyan" will be in addition to the jobs generated after growth in sectors such as agro-based industries and tourism.

"We have made this announcement after due consultation with economic experts. It is an attainable goal. We will come out with a blueprint shortly," he added. The RJD heads the Grand Alliance, comprising old ally Congress and new ones like the Upendra Kushwaha-led RLSP and Mukesh Sahni's VIP. Besides it tends to take along the Left parties which have had some following in the state sharply divided along caste lines.

Tejasvi Surya, the new president of BJPs youth wing was quoted by NDTV as saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has created more job opportunities in Bihar than any other government. These dynasts and princes of Bihar who talk about unemployment have never worked a day in their life. They dont understand the joy of getting your first cheque. Only Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar understand the pain of unemployment," he was quoted as saying.

Nonetheless, the coalition has been plagued by frequent squabbles and rebellions. It lost former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha to the NDA a month ago. Kushwaha, too, has been striking a note of dissent of late, stressing that he would remain with the Grand Alliance only if the chief ministerial candidate is changed since he saw Tejashwi as "no match to" Nitish Kumar, the incumbent for the last 15 years.

(With PTI inputs)
(Natural News) Four years ago the Avengers assembled to stop Donald Trumps presidential plans.

(Article republished from HollywoodInToto.com)

The video clip featured a whos who of the MCU, the acronym for Disneys Marvel Cinematic Universe. Think Robert Downey, Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Don Cheadle, Mark Ruffalo and Clark Gregg. They joined a gaggle of fellow Hollywood stars to warn the nation against Donald Trumps potential presidency in a clip dubbed Save the Day.

The expected rhetoric ensued.

That was then. Today, some of these stars are re-assembling to push Joe Bidens presidential hopes against now-President Trump. Nothing unusual there given the industrys progressive leanings.

So whats missing?

Hollywood voices speaking out against either Chinese human rights abuses, an ongoing and intractable problem, or the recent headlines swirling around Mulan.

The live-action remake of the 1998 Disney animated film just hit the companys streaming platform. Mulan, starring Liu Yifei in the title role, follows a brave female warrior who pretends to be a man to serve in her Emperors army.

The films production team shot the film at multiple locations, including a Chinese province known for more than its lush visuals.

Xinjiang is where Uighur Muslims are reportedly held in concentration camps, in what a PBS report said was the largest mass incarceration of an ethnic group since the Holocaust. The issue came up when eagle-eyed Mulan viewers spotted something noteworthy in the film.

social media users noticed that in the credits Disney thanked a number of government entities in Xinjiang, including the public security bureau in the city of Turpan and the publicity department of CPC Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomy Region Committee

The public security bureau in Turpan is tasked with running Chinas re-education camps where Uighurs are held in detention, China expert Adrian Zenz told the BBC.

The publicity department named by Disney is responsible for producing state propaganda in the region, he adds.

Disney CFO Christine McCarthy recently downplayed the connection, saying only a tiny amount of the film was shot in the region.

The real facts are that Mulan was primarily shot  almost in entirety  in New Zealand. In an effort to accurately depict some of the unique landscape and geography of the country of China for this period drama, we filmed scenery in 20 different locations in China. Its common knowledge that, in order to film in China, you have to be granted permission. That permission comes from the central government.

A feature in Architectural Digest adds significant context to that description.

From a production design standpoint, Major, who previously worked on The Meg and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon 2 in China, along with set decorator Anne Kuljian and the rest of the production team, spent months in and around Xinjiang to do legwork research before the cameras rolled.

It didnt help that Yifei previously showed support for Hong Kong police cracking down on protesters seeking freedom from oppressive Chinese rule.

The new Mulan movie was filmed in the region where China has Uyghur internment camps and there are special thanks for a Xinjiang government agency in the credits.@Disney, can you show us your human rights due diligence report?https://t.co/7IaPsYQtKW  Amnesty International (@amnesty) September 8, 2020

The Save the Day MCU stars, along with fellow Marvel actors including Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson and Brie Larson, routinely speak out on pressing issues. Johansson addressed the DNC gathering four years ago. Evans recently started a new web portal, A Starting Point, where citizens can get up to speed on hot button issues.

Captain Marvel star Brie Larson uses her celebrity cache to speak out about womens issues, diversity, representation and more. She even helped promote Mulans release earlier this year, sparking blowback from social media users outraged by Yifei s pro-Hong Kong police comments.

Jackson recently trashed Trump supporters during a segment on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Ruffalo may be the most politically engaged Avenger of all, weighing in on Climate Change and other political matters.

Have any of these stars said a word about the latest Disney-China connections?

Its worth noting a crush of progressive stars reportedly refused to work in Georgia last year after the state enacted strict laws regarding abortion. Disney co-CEO Bob Iger was part of that movement, saying it would be very difficult for the mega company to use Georgia locales following the decision.

The company had previously shot parts of both Black Panther and Avengers: Endgame in Georgia.

Need more context on whats happening in that Chinese province? Heres some testimony from citizens who were detained in the concentration camps, again courtesy of PBS:

Of life inside the camps, she remembers being surrounded by bars and mesh wire, cameras everywhere, and brutal treatment.

Twice, she says, she was made to sit on a hard chair for 24 hours. She went to the bathroom where she sat.

And if you exceeded two minutes in the toilet, they hit our heads with an electric prod

They beat us, hit us and shouted at us, Rahima says, adding that some people being held at the camps killed themselves.

Read more at: HollywoodInToto.com
Daniil Kvyat says he is not bothered by "rumours" that a Japanese Formula 2 driver is set to replace him at Alpha Tauri for 2020.

Yuki Tsunoda, who took pole at Sochi but lost the feature race to Mick Schumacher, is strongly backed by Alpha Tauri owner Red Bull's engine partner Honda.

It is believed the 20-year-old will make his F1 debut in 2021, with Red Bull boss Christian Horner saying driver decisions are due "before Christmas".

When asked if that is too late for him to look around at alternatives, Russian Kvyat said at Sochi: "They have the right to make decisions whenever they want."

Russian F1 commentator Alexey Popov thinks Red Bull signing Tsunoda may help to convince Honda to stay in the sport beyond its current 2021 contract.

Kvyat admits that he may need to start looking around at his options.

"My manager Nicolas Todt and I often talk about this topic, and I completely trust him on such issues," he said.

"The calendar is very busy this year and right now we are focusing on this weekend. As I said, I have made progress in the last races and I want to continue this way."

When asked specifically about the Tsunoda speculation, Kvyat continued: "I have been in Formula 1 long enough to not worry about things that are beyond my control.

"I can control how I drive the car, how well I do my job, and in the past few races, I've been thinking about how to understand my car better.

"Given my experience in Formula 1, I do not pay attention to these kinds of rumours. But yes, I would like to stay on the team. I love competing in Formula 1 and driving the fastest cars in the world.

"I worked hard for 16 years to get here, Alpha Tauri has made great progress in recent years and I would be delighted to continue. However, I need to be patient, stay calm and do my job as well as possible."

(GMM)
Low-income seniors and people with disabilities can expect to keep receiving deliveries of meals and other essentials throughout the winter after the province announced an extension to its community support program.

In an announcement Thursday, Ontarios Ministry of Seniors and Accessibility said that the delivery program, which was launched in April to help seniors and people with disabilities remain home during the pandemic, will now run until March 2021.

Four Hamilton organizations are providing deliveries through the Ontario Community Support Program, namely, Welcome Inn Community Centre, Glanbrook Community Services, Ancaster Community Services, and VON Hamilton.

This is much, much needed, because donor dollars are not flowing as quickly right now, said Jamie VanderBerg, executive director of Welcome Inn Community Centre, an organization which has been providing deliveries of food hampers and hygiene items.

He noted that at the beginning of the pandemic, his organization saw an influx in first-time donors, but now Welcome Inn is relying heavily on government support to continue the deliveries. Previously, Welcome Inn had funding only until the end of November through the provincial program, he added.

The province allocated $11 million for meal, medication and other deliveries in April, in partnership with the Ontario Community Support Association, a network of non-profit groups focused on home and community support.

In an email from ministry press secretary Elric Pereira, the ministry said that no additional funds would go into extending the program  its costs would be covered by the initial $11 million.

Ontarians living with a physical disability, whether living independently or in supportive housing, and those who are socially isolated are eligible for the deliveries. In addition, seniors who have low income, are socially isolated and with limited access to transportation are eligible, said the ministry release.

While many Ontarians are returning to work, this pandemic is far from over for vulnerable people who need continued support to stay healthy and safe at home, said Deborah Simon, CEO of the Ontario Community Support Association, in the release.

Residents whod like to access the program can visit www.ontariocommunitysupport.ca. For service by phone, including in languages other than English and French, individuals can call 211 or 1-877-330-3213. TTY service is available by dialing 1-888-340-1001.
Advocates for police reform rallied virtually on Sunday to help deliver a message to the Massachusetts State House: the Black community and people of color are still fighting for change.

Tanisha Sullivan, president of the Boston branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, noted that the community had been fighting for police reform for quite some time."

The killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers in May sparked widespread support for action to improve and standardize police training, restrict excessive force and hold officers accountable, she told participants of the rally, which included art, poetry and music focused on racial justice.

But a statewide reform bill, initially planned to be finalized this summer, has been delayed, Sullivan said.

We are still waiting, she said, despite an uprising of protests, demonstrations and rallies for Black lives.

A coalition of Black leaders from across Massachusetts sent state lawmakers a letter on Friday highlighting a half dozen crucial provisions in any potential reform package, Sullivan said.

The leaders calls for reform are detailed in a petition on Change.org. The group urged the state to implement a comprehensive training and standards program; limits on excessive force including a ban on no-knock warrants; a civil service commission with active participation from advocates and community members, in part to help ensure racially and ethnically diverse police departments; limits on qualified immunity, which shields officers from lawsuits over on-duty actions; a ban on racial profiling and improved data tracking on stops, frisks and searches; and expanding expungement opportunities, to seal and effectively erase records of certain arrests and convictions.

Rev. Mariama White-Hammond, of New Roots African Methodist Episcopal Church, noted that each item addressed all the ways our criminal justice system is not just" to help ensure violence is not the first option in the way we deal with our folks.

While recent protests have largely centered around the killings or shootings of Black people by police in areas outside Massachusetts, White-Hammond argued This is a problem right here in our commonwealth, and we want to make change.

In June, a Suffolk University poll released by GBH, MassLive, The Boston Globe and the State House News Service showed compelling signs that the majority of Massachusetts residents support protesters and want police reform. Strong majorities called for bans on officers using chokeholds, military-style vehicles, tear gas and rubber bullets. Half of those polled believed police budgets should be reduced, and money transferred to social services, compared to 41% who did not.

Chelsea Police Chief Brian A. Kyes, president of the Massachusetts Major City Chiefs of Police Association, said earlier this year that Bay State departments have been working to enhance training and trust with communities over several years, and have long-ingrained policies that any wrongdoing shall be reported.

White-Hammond said We need every city and town to mobilize. We also need white communities to mobilize. We need everyone to say, The way weve been doing policing is unacceptable.'

Bishop Talbert Swan, president of the Greater Springfield NAACP, painted a stark picture of the need for reforms in a police department in part of the commonwealth that often gets forgotten.

Weve got a real serious problem in Western Massachusetts and were looking for real police reform, he said.

He noted the Springfield Police Department is the only one in America under scrutiny by the Trump administrations Department of Justice. In July, a scathing DOJ report, after a two-year investigation into alleged police misconduct, concluded the departments narcotics bureau engages in a pattern or practice of using excessive force.

Swan, and the report, mentioned officers punching suspects in the head or neck, including as a form of control rather than to stop an imminent threat.

Swan said the department had shown a pattern of escalating encounters quickly, unreasonable takedown maneuvers and excessive force thats directly attributed to systemic deficiencies in accountability and training.

These things are nothing new, Swan said. This is what the community had been telling the administration for years.

The report recommended improving the police departments use-of-force reporting procedures; adopting new use-of-force training; revising its internal investigation policies; and stronger accountability.

Mayor Domenic Sarno and Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood said after the reports release that the department had already been implementing reforms and cooperating with DOJ.

Most officers who come in contact with the public will be wearing a body-worn camera, Clapprood said at the time.

Sarno and Clapprood and other city officials recently held a public forum on reforms, with residents asking questions and offering concerns and complaints about the department. Retired Judge Roderick Ireland told forum participants that officials are working to make improvements and changes so that our police department is improved and our city can begin to heal.

The Springfield City Council is weighing whether to take court action in a years-long push to restore civilian oversight over the police department. The council approved an ordinance to create a five-member police commission in 2016, but the mayor and City Solicitor Edward Pikula argue the ordinance is legally invalid.

The Massachusetts Senate swiftly passed a police reform in July that was far-reaching and comprehensive compared to Gov. Charlie Bakers bill, which proposed creating a certification system for officers and decertification process for problem cops. The Massachusetts House passed a less expansive police reform bill later that month.

Lawmakers have gone back-and-forth over use of force standards, qualified immunity and supervisory powers. Six lawmakers remain in a conference committee negotiating the terms of the final police reform bill. The members are barred from publicly discussing the negotiations or status of the bill.

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Thailand to resume non-quarantine travel scheme from February 1

Instagram introduces paid subscription feature

NEWS.am daily digest: 20.01.22

Europe considers new strategy to combat COVID-19

Norwegian prosecutors refuse release Anders Breivik, 2011 mass murderer

Erdogan urges Turks to sell foreign currency for liras

Azerbaijan not yet returned about 300 sheep of Armenia villager

Media: Israeli President thinks about visiting Turkey

Dollar quite stable in Armenia

Trade turnover between Ukraine and Armenia increases by 24%

Armenia legislature speaker meets with of International Republican Institute president, and director for Eurasia

Kremlin does not exclude new call between Putin and Biden

EU Special Representative for South Caucasus to soon visit Armenia, Azerbaijan

State Duma discusses work of biolaboratories near Russia's borders
For Dr. Keila Lopez, public health comes first  with pediatric cardiology a close second.

Thats because, Lopez said, every field of medicine can be improved when the health of diverse populations are protected through equal access to education, medical care and quality of life.

We know there are social determinants of health that affect your outcome, like where you live and what you eat, Lopez said. Whats your insurance? Whats your access to health care?

All of that came into focus during the coronavirus pandemic, Lopez said, especially as minority communities reported higher numbers of cases.

We know the community is disproportionately affected by this disease, Lopez said. And she wants that to change.

As data became available from other cities, Lopez learned that Latino and Black communities were more adversely affected. That news set off an alarm, as she considered the ramifications for Houston.

We have the most diverse population in America, she said. The number of front-line and essential workers tends to be people of color or in lower economic neighborhoods.

For the past few months, Lopez has brought her expertise to Mayor Sylvester Turners Health Equity Response Task Force as part of two subcommittees: medical and public health. In both subcommittees, Lopez is working to ensure the proper messaging is going to minority and underrepresented groups.

The task force formed in April as part of the citys relief and recovery efforts for the pandemic. It seeks to provide assistance for vulnerable and at-risk populations. The initiative is led by five division directors in the mayors office, charged with creating the vision and path to move forward.

Juliet Stipeche, director of the citys Office of Education, said that the mayor wanted strong, female leaders on the task force.

Dr. Lopez has a real passion for community health, Stipeche said. Shes just fantastic. Shes worked tirelessly with us, and she exemplifies leadership, mentorship and education.

Lopez helped develop the Community Health Education Fellowship program with the UT School of Public Health. Participants explore public health education while learning about the work of community health workers and interacting with professionals in the field. Young adults participating in the program conduct outreach, advocacy, counseling and education in neighborhoods affected by COVID-19.

Shes a fierce champion for the underserved in our community so adversely affected by COVID-19, Stipeche said. She has always been very inclusive and fights to get input from young people in the community. Shes just an amazing role model, too, very inspirational.

As a Latina, Lopez is positioned to inspire younger students who might feel culturally underrepresented in the health field.

As the only Spanish-speaking physician on the task force, she is able to communicate the health risks and protective measures available to at-risk communities.

Id never envisioned being part of the mayors office, Lopez said. Its been fascinating and rewarding work.

She joined a virtual town hall in August that aired on Univision as part of a panel addressing the myths and misconceptions of COVID-19.

She has gone above and beyond making an impact, Stipeche said.

Prior to the pandemic, Lopez was already a leader, said Dr. Kjersti Aagaard, professor and vice chair of research in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Childrens Hospital.

Aagaard has worked alongside Lopez as clinical provider at Texas Childrens and has seen her mentor students in pediatric cardiology.

She is a superb advocate for her patients and for her colleagues, Aagaard said. This includes colleagues in training and those out of training. Her inherent ability to see things from others perspectives, with great empathy and compassion, is a tremendous asset.

Lopez seeks new ways to care for patients with heart disease in their teen and early adult years, Aagaard said.

Originally from Chicago, Lopez cannot remember a time when she did not want to be a doctor.

According to my parents, Ive been saying I wanted to be a doctor since I was 6 years old, she said. I always knew. I felt in my heart it was what I wanted to do, and now I cant imagine doing anything else.

Lopez earned bachelors degrees in biology and Portuguese in 1998 at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, entered a clinical research training program at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and earned her medical degree from Rush Medical College in Chicago in 2003.

Her residency in pediatrics was at the University of Chicago Comer Childrens Hospital, where she then served as chief resident in pediatrics. Lopez earned her master of public health as a Commonwealth Fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health, with a concentration in minority health policy. The experience was formative. Its shaped how I look at the field, Lopez said.

In 2008, she came to Houston for a pediatric cardiology fellowship at Texas Childrens Hospital, where she then became an advanced imaging fellow in pediatric cardiology.

Lopez completed postdoctoral training in comparative effectiveness at the Columbia Summer Research Institute in New York and became a junior faculty scholar at the Baylor College of Medicine Center of Excellence in Health Equity, Training and Research in 2018.

She has taught, volunteered, conducted research and interventions on best methods to reduce health disparities and improve access to care in medicine.

She was recently published in Circulation, the cardiac journal of the American Heart Association. Her article was about the mortality in congenital heart disease in the U.S. during the past 19 years  and how that demonstrated ongoing racial and ethnic disparities, despite advances in medicine and surgery.

Lopez is also the recipient of a National Institutes of Health early career grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Her mission is to create a mobile application intervention to reduce disparities in congenital heart disease patients by improving the transition between pediatric and adult care.

Currently, Lopez serves as diversity and inclusion ambassador for the Department of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, as well as a co-faculty adviser for the Baylor College of Medicine Latino Medical Student Association.

She created the Latinx Brainchild Project, an initiative that pairs Latino academic faculty at Baylor with medical students who are interested in improving care, health and outcomes for underserved communities. Participants join in quality improvement, advocacy, research, educational and wellness projects.

Its been one of the best things Ive ever done  to reach back and pull others up with you, she said.

Lopez hopes to see more Latinos in health care. The only way to stop disparity, like what is happening with COVID-19, is to promote health in diverse communities  and to ensure that members of those communities are represented in medicine. Weve got to do more, Lopez said.

Lindsay Peyton is a Houston-based writer.
It has been 22 years since the inception of Google, which has become synonymous with the word 'Search'. Google on September 27 celebrated its 22nd birthday with a doodle. One of the most user-friendly search engines, Google was created by Sergey Brin and Larry Page in 1998 while they were PhD students at Stanford University in California.

The Google doodle of the day shows an animated G sporting a birthday hat and looking into a laptop while being surrounded by cake and gift boxes. Remaining five letters of the word Google are shown in four separate windows celebrating the day on a video call with G.

The doodle appropriately depicts the birthday celebrations in the present times as most parties have gone virtual due to the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic.

The first Google Doodle was in the honor of the Burning Man Festival of 1998. The doodle was designed by Page and Brin to notify users of their absence in case the servers crashed.

Subsequent Google Doodles were designed by an outside contractor until Larry and Sergey asked then-intern Dennis Hwang to design a logo for Bastille Day in 2000. It was so well received that Hwang was appointed Google's chief doodler and since then, doodles have been organized and created by a team of employees called Doodlers. The team has created over 4,000 doodles for Google homepages around the world.

The now world-famous moniker is a play on a mathematical term that arose out of an unassuming stroll around the year 1920.

While walking in the woods of New Jersey, American mathematician Edward Kasner asked his young nephew Milton Sirotta to help him choose a name for a mind-boggling number: a 1 followed by 100 zeros. Miltons reply? A googol! The term gained widespread visibility twenty years later with its inclusion in a 1940 book Kasner co-authored called Mathematics and the Imagination.

The name Google originated from a misspelling of the word 'googol', which was picked to signify that the search engine was intended to provide large quantities of information.

In 2006, the word "Google" was officially added to the Oxford English Dictionary and the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary as a verb. Google.com is the most visited website in the world.
Police have made an 'urgent' appeal for witnesses after a walker was killed by cows, the second such incident to occur within a fortnight.

The incident happened on Friday 11 September near Thirlwall Castle and Gisland in Northumberland, Northumbria Police said.

Malcolm Flynn, 72, was seriously injured after he was charged by cows. He later died of his injuries.

A police investigation is ongoing and the force is attempting to trace a number of witnesses who were believed to be in the area at the time.

"We've launched an urgent witness appeal after the tragic death of a Northumberland walker," police said.

"At 11.45am on Sept 11 we received a report 72yo Malcolm Flynn had been seriously injured after he was charged by cows.

"If you can help call 101 or get in touch via our website, quoting log 387 110920."

It comes after a school deputy headteacher died after he was seriously injured by cows while out walking on farmland in North Yorkshire.

David Clark, deputy head of Richmond School, was injured by cows in a field near Richmond at 7.30pm on Monday 21 September.

Emergency services, including the Great North Air Ambulance Service, were called to the scene of the incident.

The NFU explains that livestock attacks on the public are 'very rare' given the thousands of walkers who enjoy the countryside every year.

But it adds that it is 'important' that walkers are aware of risks from livestock and to take precautions to reduce the chances of any incident.

The NFU says: Remember that it is a working environment where animals graze. Walkers should be mindful of their surroundings to fully enjoy the experience.

Be vigilant, especially on entering a field or where you cannot see the whole field, and try to stay away from animals and to be aware of their movements

"In the spring its especially important to be sympathetic to farm animals rearing their young and give them space.
Proceedings in the recently-concluded sessions of Parliament have demonstrated that Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modis concept of atmanirbharta (self-reliance) is not limited to the economic realm. These proceedings have also shown that in conducting the business of the House, the government is completely self-reliant: It does not need the Opposition, holds the views of other political parties in contempt, interprets procedures to suit itself and has no regard for the traditions of the House. This level of self-reliance saw parliamentary proceedings being converted into a farce.

The quintessence of democratic functioning in the context of parliamentary proceedings is that members sit in one chamber. This allows for feisty debates, thoughtful interventions and an open exchange of views as millions watch. However, during this monsoon session, members of both Houses were divided between the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha, social distancing norms being the rationale.

This resulted in many of us belonging to the Rajya Sabha being accommodated in the Lok Sabha, connected by a large TV screen, looking at the Chairman presiding over the Rajya Sabha chamber. Fifteen members of the Rajya Sabha from the Congress were in the Upper House, 10 in the chamber and five in the galleries, while the remaining 26 were accommodated in the Lok Sabha. At the best of times, while sitting in one chamber, it is tough to catch the Chairmans eye to make a contribution or to raise a point of order.

The majority of Congress members found it impossible to catch the Chairmans attention. In effect, only 10 Congress members in the Rajya Sabha chamber were actively involved in the functioning of the House, while the majority was too far away to count. This logic was also true for other parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The essential element of parliamentary functioning is the significance of Question Hour. That is when ministers are made accountable. In this session, Question Hour was done away with. The only possible reason, albeit irrational, was that the sittings of each House were limited to four hours and, therefore, the accountability of the government was not as important as passing key legislations.

The only chance the Opposition has to expose the ineptitude of Treasury Benches was thus excised. Without Question Hour, the public watching these proceedings had no opportunity to assess responses of the government on key national concerns.

The other problem that made this session futile except for government diktats was its limited duration. Here the Rajya Sabha was at a disadvantage. The time allotted to it was from 9 am to 1 pm. The time allotted to the Lok Sabha was from 3 pm to 7 pm giving it the advantage of extension of its session by ascertaining the sense of the House. That advantage was not available to the Rajya Sabha since it had to end the session before 3 pm. This represented yet another form of discrimination.

One wonders why this session became necessary at all. The Ordinances relating to one, the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020; two, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020, and three, the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, could well have continued without calling this session, especially since there was no desire, considering the truncated nature of the proceedings, to either listen to the Opposition or for that matter allowing for reference of the bills either to the Standing Committee or Select Committee for a more thoughtful consideration.

For amending other laws requiring urgent attention, that too could have been done through the ordinance route since the BJP has shown time and again that debate and discussion are not the preferred mode of transacting legislative business.

As expected, the government was in no mood to refer any of these matters for further consideration. In light of the amendments moved, Opposition members demanded a division in the belief that 18 political parties in the Rajya Sabha, including those who otherwise support the BJP barring the Janata Dal (United), were opposed to the legislation in its present form. Had the division been allowed, that would have demonstrated widespread opposition to the ordinances.

The deputy chairman, allegedly, refused to order a division thereby preventing political parties from making their stand clear by recording their votes of dissent something perhaps not palatable to government. What followed was pandemonium with marshals being deployed to bring order in the House. The Chair then suspended eight members of the House.

All this acrimony is symptomatic of a mindset that brooks no opposition. The suspended members sat all night in protest under the gaze of the Mahatma in the Parliament house complex. The attempt by the deputy chairman to assuage their feelings by sharing a cup of tea with them in the morning was hardly a gesture that could have evoked a positive response. The session ended with the Opposition boycotting the remainder of the session with the leader of the Opposition registering his anguish at the manner in which the Chair treated him by curtailing his interventions.

In fact, this government takes pleasure in silencing the Opposition. Any form of protest is regarded as an affront to the Chair and any dissonance from the Opposition benches is silenced by shutting off the microphone.

To top it all, our self-reliant PM has never answered a question in either House since 2014. His preferred mode of communication is through monologues. A healthy dialogue is alien to his persona. He relies more on numerical rather than moral strength. It is time to say goodbye to the procedures which made Parliament the institution it was. Today, it is a pale reflection of its glorious past.

Kapil Sibal is former Union Cabinet minister

The views expressed are personal
If you happened to spend last week hiding under a large rock or watching the evening news, you may be unaware that representatives of Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel spent last Tuesday morning signing the historic Abraham Accords on the South Lawn of the White House. As they did so they bathed in the satisfied glow of President Donald J. Trump, who, having broken the shibboleths of the Middle East peace processes, forged a major breakthrough.

Trump, the china-shop bull, succeeded in the Middle East where his predecessors had met only with frustrated ambitions by testing an unconventional theory: that U.S. allies become stronger when they are exposed to the invigorating effects of outside power. He earned a Nobel Peace Prize nomination in the bargain.

Let someone else fight over this long-bloodstained sand, said President Trump last October, channeling Peter OToole playing T. E. Lawrence in a nod to the history of the Middle East. The Gulf Arabs, fearing who that someone else might be, took the cue and hedged against an American pullback from the region by fortifying their coalition against Iran and aligning with the strongest regional player. Thus did the cri de coeur of solidarity with the Palestinians fade against the military and technological allure of Israel.

That this development was unimaginable  in fact, it was deemed impossible  even four years ago makes it no less remarkable. One can hardly blame President Trump, then, for applying the same strategic logic to Europe that has won him laurels from our allies in the Middle East. Unfortunately for his administration, however  and for the cause of transatlantic stability  Europes strategic realities are proving harder to shatter than those of the Middle East. His strategy there is being thwarted not by the comparative resilience of Europes china shop but by the competing ambitions of another bull, French president Emmanuel Macron.

Unlike in the Middle East, where the Abraham Accords brought together U.S. allies under Washingtons direction, Macron envisions a European architecture more free from American influence. Thus Trumps attempts to run his playbook in Europe  by expressing ambivalence to collective defense and initiating a troop drawdown from Germany  have given Macron an opening to pursue his own vision.

Story continues

In May 2017, Macron celebrated his presidential victory with the European Unions anthem and flanked by EU flags. Ever since, he has sought to advance a vision of so-called European strategic autonomy, which enlists German economic power in the service of French strategic leadership at the EU. Paradoxically, the United Kingdoms departure from the EU brought relatively little heartache for Macron because it removed a powerful opponent to his vision of continental freedom.

That leaves NATO as the most serious impediment to Macrons designs. Unsurprisingly, he alone among Europes leaders has regularly criticized the alliance, memorably diagnosing its brain death last November. Trumps capricious and contemptuous view of Western Europe has been central to Macrons argument, but the French leader cannot openly challenge the United States, anchor of the West, and hope to succeed. Instead, he has sought to weaken American influence by quarreling with Turkey in its place. Macron regularly trumpets Turkeys transgressions in part to send a message to Europe: NATO is an unreliable alliance; better to build an EU alternative. In the months to come, look for tensions between France and Turkey to flare time and again.

An autonomous Europe without the guiding hand of Washington, however, would be prone to dithering, duplication, and drift  and vulnerable to division by a revanchist Russia and emerging China. Moreover, France is unable to match the United States as the continents security guarantor, especially for those frontline countries that Russia is menacing and China is courting. But France is powerful enough to launch uncoordinated initiatives, as seen in the eastern Mediterranean, that strain the cohesion of NATO.

President Trumps large investments in Eastern Europe have effectively blocked Macrons vision from bearing immediate fruit. These Europeans see no alternative to an American-led defense architecture. But if the Trump administration wishes to weave individual partners into a tapestry of alliances, from the Middle East to Europe, then it must stand vigilant over NATO, lest Macron tear it in two. The West is in the opening stages of a decades-long competition with China and Russia. A little exposure can be sobering, but now is the time for transatlantic solidarity, not separation.

More from National Review
Azumi , a global restaurant business , has signed a partnership with Saudi Arabias MJS Holding to open a flagship Zuma, as well as ROKA, Oblix and Inko Nito restaurants (7 locations in total) , thus expanding the Azumi brands into the Kingdom .



Created by Rainer Becker, and co-founded with Arjun Waney, Azumis journey began with the opening of Zuma London in 2002, followed by ROKA London in 2004. In addition to the Zuma and ROKA Japanese concepts, Oblix opened in The Shard in 2013.



ETARU was launched in Florida in 2017 and offers the East coast of the US a take on the ROKA concept under a different guise. INKO NITO, an approachable unconventional Japanese robatayaki, was born in LA in 2018, followed by a second location in Soho London. Azumi now has 26 restaurants across the globe, a mix of permanent restaurants and pop-ups or residencies, with more planned in the future.



Sven Koch, CEO Azumi, said: We are delighted to join forces with Mohammed Jawa. As we continue to expand our international footprint, it is important for us to find likeminded partners. The Kingdom is a fast-growing market and new for us, we are very proud to be taking this step with Mohammed. He is a true operator and is hugely passionate about our brands. This, combined with his innovative approach to business, means we aligned seamlessly. We are very honoured to be working with him.



Mohammed Jawa, Founder of MJS Holding added:  Since the inception of Zuma, in 2002, it inspired me to create great experiences with food, service and atmosphere. 2011 was when my initial partnership interest was piqued! I guess everything happens at the right time, for a reason. It is a great honour and pleasure to be part of the Zuma family; with its great founders Arjun Waney and Rainer Becker and managed by Sven Koch and his team.



The first confirmed opening will be ROKA Riyadh in early 2021.  TradeArabia News Service




President Trump arrives at a campaign rally in Middletown, Pennsylvania, after nominating what would be his third Supreme Court appointment. (AP)

Donald Trump praised a supporter who confronted a protester at a rally in battleground Pennsylvania, saying the heckler is going home to his parents to get in trouble while the loyalist who shut him down is the kind of guy I want working for me.

As the heckler was being isolated and presumably escorted out, the president smirked and the large Middletown, Pennsylvania, crowd loudly chanted, USA! USA!

The president trails Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in the Keystone State by 4.3 per cent, according to an average of polls tabulated by RealClearPolitics. But Mr Trump and his campaign aides say their polling, like in 2016, shows a far closer race there.

Mr Trump had not been on stage but for a few minutes when the fracas broke out.

He was lauding his third Supreme Court nominee, federal Judge Amy Coney Barrett, when the crowd began yelling and pointing to his left.

Mr Trump watched the apparent silencing of his critic before sending the audience into loud cheers with his reaction.

That guy, hes going home to his parents now. Hes going to be in big trouble," Mr Trump said with a chuckle.

He just opened his mouth and we had that gentleman in the beautiful blue, he said, referring to US police being associated with that colour.

Are you in law enforcement? Mr Trump said to the silencer, before mocking the heckler: He hadnt gotten the first word out.

The president revelled in his supporter stepping in.

Thats the kind of guy I want working for me, Mr Trump said to cheers.

Thats called natural instinct, he said as it started to rain. "Some people have it but most people don't.

Read more

Analysis: Why Trump was never going to nominate a Cuban-American woman for the Supreme Court

Trump nominates anti-abortion conservative Amy Coney Barrett to replace feminist icon RBG on Supreme Court

Thousands march in Washington to pray and show Trump support

How Trump, Biden are preparing for first presidential debate
Aubrey Plaza has been on break from her leading lady duties, since she began quarantine with partner Jeff Baena.

But the comedic actress has been making it through with some virtual appearances and her daily walks.

She masked up and kept it cute Saturday in a faded pink tie-dye t-shirt, as she took her dogs Frankie and Stevie out for a walk in her Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, during a break from isolation.

Puppy love: Aubrey Plaza masked up and kept it cute Saturday in a faded pink tie-dye t-shirt, as she took her dogs Frankie and Stevie out for a walk in her Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles

The 36-year-old complemented the top with some skinny jeans, which hugged her toned legs, and a pair of white sneakers.

She finished the ensemble with a pair of round tortoiseshell sunglasses, a silver necklace and a white face mask.

Plaza recently reunited with her Parks and Recreation costars for a virtual town hall, benefitting the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.

She answered frequent voter questions about mail-in ballots: 'I don't want to be a negative Nancy... But a lot of people forget to include a [copy] of a photo ID... 500 people in Madison sent in selfies.'

Blue jean baby: The 36-year-old complemented the top with some skinny jeans, which hugged her toned legs, and a pair of white sneakers

Accessorizing: She finished the ensemble with a pair of round tortoiseshell sunglasses, a silver necklace and a white face mask

The Delaware-born actress previously joined her Parks and Recreation costars back in April for a virtual reunion episode, benefiting Feeding America.

She starred as snarky intern April Ludgate on the workplace comedy, which ran from 2009 to 2015 on NBC.

Plaza told Variety: 'A long, long time ago, [April Ludgate] was based off of me in real life. Its a very personal character, so to be asked to get back into that mode 10 years later, it brought up a lot of things.

Town hall: Plaza recently reunited with her Parks and Recreation costars for a virtual town hall, benefitting the Democratic Party of Wisconsin

Reunited: The Delaware-born actress previously joined her Parks and Recreation costars back in April for a virtual reunion episode, benefiting Feeding America

Fan favorite: She starred as snarky intern April Ludgate on the workplace comedy, which ran from 2009 to 2015 on NBC

'It really was just about trying to remind myself how that character evolved over the years. It was fun, but it was also a daunting task.'

The reunion special also featured Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Chris Pratt, Adam Scott, Rob Lowe, Jim O'Heir and Retta.

Plaza can also be seen starring alongside Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Dan Levy, Clea DuVall and more in the LGBTQ holiday rom-com Happiest Season, which premieres November 25.
To all concerned,

The IYSSE at the University of California, Berkeley unequivocally condemns the slanders and falsehoods concocted by Jose Maria Sison, the founder of the Stalinist Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) against UC Berkeley historian Joseph Scalice. Sison has accused Dr. Scalice of being an agent of imperialism and reaction and a CIA agent.

This lie is a pathetic effort on the part of Sison to distract workers and students, throughout Asia and the world, from the naked fact that Sison supported Dutertes election. Im proud, Im very proud of him, said Sison, referring to Duterte on CNN, I wish him to succeed in his mission as president. Sison, trying to cozy up to the new regime, stated that Duterte had a socialist orientation and that Duterte promises to be the first left president of the Philippines.

With Sisons politics naked and exposed in front of him, Sison is resorting to the crudest form of defense: slanderously calling his opponent a CIA agent.

Meanwhile, Sison himself, and the CPP, are actively calling for the US-backed military to intervenein Filipino politics!

Striking grad students at UC Berkeley earlier this year

Recently, Sison has gone so far to declare that Scalices Trotskyite anti-CPP research and publications were funded by the CIA. All Berkeley knows this.

Dr. Joseph Scalice at a 2019 strike by teachers in Oakland, where he worked as a high school teacher in an impoverished community.

What nonsense. Dr. Scalice, or Joseph as his hundreds of students called him, was a graduate student on food stamps, trying his best, year-by-year, to teach and receive the measly stipend that Berkeley gives to all its Graduate Student Instructors. Scalice taught multiple classes at multiple institutions, including Oakland Unified School District, in order to support his family. The idea that Dr. Scalice was funded by the CIA and that All Berkeley knows this, would be met with laughter and then anger by the hundreds of faculty members, students, and staff members who had the privilege of working with Joseph over the years.

Dr. Scalice was a serious, dedicated member of the Berkeley student body and faculty. He has never received money from the CIA and would never receive money from the CIA. Never, in a million years, could Sison find a single individual on the Berkeley campus, let alone all Berkeley, who believed such a crude and, frankly, stupid lie.

The IYSSE at UC Berkeley, speaking for dozens of our members on the Berkeley campus, hundreds of our supporters in the Berkeley area, condemn and denounce these attacks on this historian and his work.

We call on all young people and workers in the Philippines to examine these issues for themselves and see what is real and what is false.

September 23, 2020

Berkeley, California

International Youth and Students for Social Equality

University of California, Berkeley

Registered Student Organization (RSO)
WASHINGTON

(Sept. 26, 2020)The U.S. Department of Defense recently announced the following contract awards that pertain to local Navy activities.No applicable data., is awarded amodification (P00015) to previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract N00421-18-D-0004. This modification exercises an option for the procurement of 11,313 AN/ARC-210(v) radios for installation in over 400 strategic and tactical airborne, seaborne and land based (mobile and fixed) platforms for the Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Coast Guard, other government agencies and Foreign Military Sales customers. Work will be performed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is expected to be completed by September 2023. No funds are being obligated at time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual delivery orders as they are issued. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded amodification (P00023) to previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract N00019-19-C-0010. This modification provides requirements decomposition through system functional review for the F-35 Super Multi-Function Aircraft Data Link Band 5 receiver warning capability in support of the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and non-Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will be performed in Nashua, New Hampshire (35%); San Diego, California (20%); Fort Worth, Texas (20%); Baltimore, Maryland (15%); and Hunt Valley, Maryland (10%), and is expected to be completed by June 2023. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $821,960; fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force) funds in the amount of $821,960; non-DOD participant funds in the amount of $356,080 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded acost-plus-fixed-fee order (N00019-20-F-0748) against previously issued basic ordering agreement N00019-16-G-0005. This order provides project management as well as recurring and non-recurring engineering support, materials and documentation to implement, manage and report on the B-Sump Additive Manufacturing, Temperature Distortion Sensitivity Test, second source bearing, second source external hose and fittings, Second Source Accessory Gear Box, and emergency oil system elimination cost reduction initiatives in support of the CH-53K T408 engine. Work will be performed in Lynn, Massachusetts (80%); Patuxent River, Maryland (15%); and Evendale, Ohio (5%), and is expected to be completed by December 2024. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $14,997,273; and fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $4,634,600 will be obligated at time of award, $14,997,273 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity.No applicable data., is awarded amodification (P00012) to previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract N00019-19-D-0014. This modification exercises options to procure consumable parts and material in support of the C/KC-130J aircraft for the Marine Corps, Marine Corps Reserves, Coast Guard and the government of Kuwait. Work will be performed in Marietta, Georgia (66.5%); Palmdale, California (15.5%); Abdullah Al-Mubarak Air Base, Kuwait (2.5%); Iwakuni, Japan (2.5%); Miramar, California (2.5%); Cherry Point, North Carolina (2.5%); Elizabeth City, North Carolina (2.5%); Fort Worth, Texas (2.5%), Newburgh, New York (2.5%); and Greenville, South Carolina (0.5%), and is expected to be completed by December 2023. No funds are being obligated at time of award, funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded amodification (P00006) to previously awarded, cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract N00019-19-D-0003. This modification exercises options to provide aircraft inspections, modifications and repairs as well as inner wing panel (IWP) modifications and repairs for the F/A-18 E/F and EA-18G series aircraft. These efforts restore the aircraft and IWP to meet service life projections in accordance with new design specifications. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, Florida (80%); St. Louis, Missouri (15%); and Lemoore, California (5%), and is expected to be completed in September 2021. No funds are being obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded amodification (P00040) to previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract N00019-16-C-0032. This modification exercises an option for test and evaluation support for Next Generation Jammer integration on the EA-18G aircraft. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri, and is expected to be completed in September 2021. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $8,360,505 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded afirm-fixed-price modification (P00023) to previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-successive-target contract N00019-17-C-0018. This modification establishes final configuration and final price determination for the unique material required for the MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft. This modification provides for the procurement of three Integrated Functional Capability (IFC) 4.0 material kits and one IFC 4.0 retrofit kit. Additionally, this modification adds scope to support non-recurring engineering efforts associated with wing and v-tail modifications and the procurement of components and associated efforts in support of Lot Three low rate initial production. Work will be performed in Rancho Bernardo, California (28.9%); Palmdale, California (12.6%); Waco, Texas (9.6%); Red Oak, Texas (5.6%); Sparks, Nevada (5%); Verona, Wisconsin (4.4%); Bridgeport, West Virginia (2.4%); Westchester, Ohio (2.4%); San Clemente, California (2.1%); Salt Lake City, Utah (1.2%); Menlo Park, California (1.1%); and various locations within the continental U.S. (24.7%), and is expected to be completed in March 2022. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $9,018,804 will be obligated at the time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded anfirm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract N00174-19-C-0004 for five overhauled/upgraded MK45 Mod 4 Gun mounts and their associated components. Work will be performed in Louisville, Kentucky, and is expected to be completed by June 2025. Fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy; 60%); and fiscal 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy; 40%), funding in the amount of $80,384,866 will be obligated at time of award and not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded amodification (P00097) to previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract N00019-14-C-0050. This modification procures support equipment and additional spares in support of VH-92A aircraft Lot II low rate initial production. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut (70%); Woodland, Washington (17%); Owego, New York (9%); and Cedar Rapids, Iowa (4%), and is expected to be completed by December 2022. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $52,761,020 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded amodification to previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract N00174-19D-0010 to exercise option year one for engineering support and training services for the MK 18 Family of Systems (FOS)Unmanned Underwater Vehicle systems. Work will be performed in Pocasset, Massachusetts, and is expected to be completed by September 2021. No funding is being obligated at modification award but according to future task orders. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded amodification (P00006) to definitize previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee undefinitized contract N00019-20-C-0037. This modification extends services and adds hours in support of engineering, maintenance, logistics manpower and material support to continue to develop, sustain and produce software builds as well as carryout developmental flight tests for the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft in support of the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and non-Department of Defense (DoD) participants. Additionally, this modification provides unique sea trials on aircraft carriers for non-DoD participants. Work will be performed at Edwards Air Force Base, California (40%); Patuxent River, Maryland (39%); and Fort Worth, Texas (21%), and is expected to be completed in March 2022. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,673,158; fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force) funds in the amount of $2,673,157; fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Air Force) funds in the amount of $373,471; fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $373,470; and non-DoD participant funds in the amount of $7,472,589 will be obligated at time of award, $746,941 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded acost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-reimbursable indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides in-service engineering activity and production services for various Navy identification and data link systems in support of Combat Integration and Identification Systems. Specifically, this contract provides logistics, engineering; technical management support; characterization and integration of system and sub-system components; development of training curriculum, training materials, and delivery of formal training programs; supply system management and material control; testing and repair of counter unmanned air systems; and laboratory maintenance and quality assurance. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland (75%); and Lexington Park, Maryland (25%), and is expected to be completed in September 2025. No funds are being obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposal; three offers were received. The, is the contracting activity (N00421-20-D-0121)., is awarded amodification (P00069) to previously awarded firm-fixed-price, cost-reimbursable contract N00019-15-C-0120. This modification increases the contract value and provides additional funding for operational and depot spare parts and inventory replenishment in support of the E-6B Take Charge and Move Out and Airborne Command Post aircraft. Work will be performed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (70%); Patuxent River, Maryland (10%); Bellevue, Nebraska (10%); and Fairfield, California (10%), and is expected to be completed in November 2020. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $17,610,513; and fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $297,893 will be obligated at time of award, $17,610,513 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded anfirm-fixed-price, cost reimbursable indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides contractor owned contractor operated Air-to-Air Refueling "probe and drogue" type refueling services to probe equipped receivers for receiver pilot initial qualifications, recurring pilot refresher readiness training and supporting fleet exercises for Department of Defense agencies, Department of Navy fleet and test customers, Foreign Military Sales customers and government contractors. Work will be performed in Riverside, California (55%); Brunswick, Georgia (40%); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (5%), and is expected to be completed in September 2022. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The, is the contracting activity (N00421-20-D-0120)., is awarded acost-plus-fixed-fee order (N00019-20-F-0443) against previously issued basic ordering agreement N00019-19-G-0008. This order provides for the L12 Diminishing Manufacturing Sources redesign effort in support of the F-35 aircraft for Air Force, Navy and non-Department of Defense (DoD) customers. Specifically, this order provides non-recurring engineering in support of redesigned end products for the Tactical Navigation System Inertial Electronics Unit/Inertial Measurements Unit, Electronic Warfare/Counter Measures Aperture Electronics Module (EW/CM AEM), Aircraft Exterior Lighting, EW/CM Electronic Warfare Controllers and EW/CM Counter Measure Controller. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in January 2027. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $13,066,197; fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $13,190,337; fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $26,256,538; and non-DoD participant funds in the amount of $11,374,553, will be obligated at time of award, $13,066,197 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded amodification (P00033) to previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee, fixed-price-incentive-firm-target, firm-fixed-price contract N00019-17-C-0015. This modification exercises options in support of the V-22 Common Configuration-Readiness and Modernization (CC-RAM) effort and upgrades three MV-22 aircraft from a Block B to Block C configuration in support of the Navy. Additionally, this modification procures new tooling in support of V-22 production, supports life of type buys for the anti-collision light system power supply, lamp drive control display unit and enhanced standby flight instrument, modifies government-owned tools and provides for future CC-RAM in-service repair support as well as production systems engineering and program management support for the Navy, Air Force and the government of Japan. Work will be performed in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania (91%); and Fort Worth, Texas (9%), and is expected to be completed in March 2022. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $45,287,445; fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $473,200; fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $29,263; fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $249,893; fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $8,039; and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $2,233 will be obligated at time of award, $731,132 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded amodification to previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract N00178-16-D-3001 for Ship self-defense system design and production. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $74,278,144. Work will be performed in Clearwater, Florida (90%); and Manassas, Virginia (10%), and is expected to be completed by May 2022. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are modified. The, is the contracting authority., is awarded afixed-price-incentive-fee contract for the production and delivery of two AN/SPN-50(V)1 Shipboard Air Traffic Radars and one installation and checkout kit for the Navy. Work will be performed in Syracuse, New York, and is expected to be completed in November 2022. Fiscal 2017 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $11,521,900; and fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $13,707,655, will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The, is the contracting activity (N00019-20-C-0072)., is awarded afirm-fixed-price order (N00421-20-F-0268) against previously issued basic ordering agreement N00421-19-G-0004. This order provides for the production and delivery of 482 SKU-10A/A Survival Seat Kit Assemblies for the F-18 series aircraft and 188 SKU-11A/A Survival Seat Kit Assemblies for the T-45 aircraft in support of the Enhanced Emergency Oxygen System. Work will be performed in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and is expected to be completed in December 2022. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $24,331,479 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded afirm-fixed-price order (N00019-20-F-0157) against previously issued basic ordering agreement N000191-9-G-0029. This order provides recurring and non-recurring engineering support associated with the incorporation of 39 deployable configuration changes that align lot one configuration aircraft, via retrofit, with Lot Two and Lot Three low rate initial production aircraft, in support of the CH-53K program. Work will be performed in West Palm Beach, Florida (80%); and Stratford, Connecticut (20%), and is expected to be completed in November 2022. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $16,505,002 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity.
People with a history of positive social interactions with Chinese people were less likely to support discriminatory anti-Chinese policies as Covid-19 reached the UK - according to new research from the University of East Anglia.

Researchers studied how UK residents felt towards the Chinese community as Covid-19 reached our shores, and how these feelings might relate to British support for anti-Chinese policies.

They found that people who had positive experiences of contact with the Chinese community, such as having Chinese friends or colleagues, were least likely to support discriminatory policies.

But those who had the less experience of positive contact, or more negative contact experiences were more likely to be fearful towards the Chinese community.

Dr Charles Seger from UEA's School of Psychology said: "When we started this research project, there were 50,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in China. The virus had begun to spread worldwide with 1,200 cases across 26 countries including nine in the UK.

"The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office had advised against all but essential travel to mainland China but most British lives at that point were uninterrupted. Nevertheless, opinion polls suggested that one in three Brits already saw the virus as a personal threat and the British press were reporting a rise in hate crimes towards Chinese people.

"We know that interactions between people from different ethnic, cultural and social backgrounds is key to reducing prejudice and discrimination, and that positive interactions are effective in reducing prejudice towards a broad range of stigmatized outgroups.

"We wanted to find out whether past experiences of social contact with Chinese people might predict how fearful or angry British people felt towards Chinese people and how these feelings might relate to British support for anti-Chinese policies, like forcing all Chinese restaurants to close."

The research team carried out a survey of 340 non-Asian UK residents aged between 18 and 75 in February 2020.

The participants were asked questions about their attitudes towards Chinese people as well as a range of other social groups such as Americans, Polish and Spanish - in order to measure prejudice.

They were also asked about what emotions they felt towards Chinese people - such as anger or fear - as well as how often they had had positive and negative interactions with Chinese people.

Finally, the participants were asked about whether they supported nine policy measures the UK government could take to stop the spread of coronavirus. Five of these measures targeted restricting the activities of Chinese people in the UK such as enforcing a quarantine of all Chinese nationals in the UK and closing all Chinese restaurants.

Lead researcher Lisa Alston, also from UEA's School of Psychology, said: "We found that past positive social interactions played a protective role, predicting less support for discriminatory policies. This effect of contact was explained by lower fear towards Chinese people.

"On the other hand, people with less experience of positive interactions with Chinese people, or previous bad social experiences, were more supportive of anti-Chinese policies.

"These findings highlight the important role, even in a pandemic, that social contact and our emotions play in our attitudes towards people from different cultures," she added.

###

'Can past intergroup contact shape support for policies in a pandemic? Processes predicting endorsement of discriminatory Chinese restrictions during the COVID-19 crisis' is published in the journal Group Processes & Intergroup Relations on September 28, 2020.
ARBIL/BAGHDAD (Reuters) -- Iraqi Kurdistan is likely to reappoint its energy minister in the newly formed government, officials said, keeping in place an official who has headed an energy strategy pitting Kurds against the Iraqi Oil Ministry.



"It is believed the Kurdish natural resources minister will stay in his position in the new government due to his expertise and efficiency that he showed over the past four years," a well-placed Kurdish politician said on condition of anonymity.



Two sources in the current Kurdish regional government also said Ashti Hawrami, whom supporters credit with forging a series of oil and gas deals with foreign firms that have put Kurdistan on the world energy map, was expected to stay after the incoming parliament meets to select a new prime minister on September 8.



After Kurdish parliamentary elections in July that kept to the largely autonomous region's two major parties in power, Kurdish lawmakers are expected to name former Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih the region's new prime minister.



Salih's government is expected to include Hawrami, the face of the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) drive to develop energy reserves, including deals with Norway's DNO International and Toronto-listed Addax Petroleum.



Hawrami, in the job since 2006, oversaw the launch of Kurdish oil exports through Iraq's northern pipeline in June, a fleeting bright spot in otherwise strained ties between minority Kurds and the central government in Baghdad. Yet to detractors, Hawrami's strident critiques of Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani's management of the country's vast oil resources have inflamed Kurd-Arab tensions that have held up passage of long-delayed energy legislation and undermined stability in a country struggling to emerge from war.



Kurds, who were slaughtered by Saddam Hussein in the 1980s and fought a bloody civil war amongst themselves in the 1990s, maintained de facto independence from Baghdad after the first Gulf war, protected by a UN no-fly zone.



Since the U.S.-led ouster of Saddam in 2003 enhanced their power, Kurds have sought to expand the borders of their northern enclave, enraging Arabs and Turkmen by laying claim to the ethnically mixed city of Kirkuk, Iraq's northern oil hub.



Oil and land disputes between Kurds and Arabs are now seen as the chief threat to Iraq's fragile security as Sunni-Shi'ite violence subsides and American troops prepare to withdraw.



Feud



With oil prices around a modest $68 a barrel, Iraq needs to boost output of around 2.5 million barrels per day more than ever to rebuild, create jobs and provide basic services.



Iraq has the world's third largest proven oil reserves, but investors are wary of violence and political strife.



Hawrami called Shahristani's first energy auction in June, a centerpiece of his oil strategy, a "fantastic failure" because it produced a deal for just one of eight fields on offer -- even though that deal would lift output by close to 2 million bpd.



Hawrami, who studied oil engineering in Scotland, estimates Kurdish oil reserves are at least 40 billion barrels.



He has blamed lower-than-expected recent exports from the KRG's Tawke and Taq Taq fields on interference from the national North Oil Company, which reports to the Oil Ministry.



Shahristani meanwhile brands KRG deals with foreign firms illegal, threatening to blacklist those companies and affiliates from far larger deals the Oil Ministry is putting up for offer.



It is still unclear how the KRG will pay firms for oil exports in the production-sharing deals Hawrami brokered.



Revenues from those sales, exported in a national pipeline, go through the central government and so far Arab officials have not indicated they will give the KRG anything beyond its 17-percent share of the Iraqi budget to pay the firms.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 16:58:49|Editor: huaxia

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YEREVAN/BAKU, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Armenian Defense Ministry said on Sunday that it has shot down two helicopters and three drones of Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

The move is a response to Azerbaijan's attack on civilians settlements in the disputed territory, the ministry said.

Also on Sunday, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry said it is currently launching a counter-offensive in the region.

Azerbaijan's state news agency Azertac reported that Armenia's 12 air-defense missile systems were destroyed while one military helicopter of Azerbaijan was shot down with crew alive during the clashes.

Heavy fighting in the Nagorno-Karabakh region has caused civilian casualties on both sides, the Azerbaijani presidency reported.

Both sides said that the clashes are going on.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have been at loggerheads over the mountainous region of Nagorno-Karabakh since 1988. Peace talks have been held since 1994 when a ceasefire was reached, but there have been occasional minor clashes along the borders. Enditem
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I am a Black woman of Canadian and Ghanaian descent. I was born in Guelph, outside of Toronto, and I lived there for my formative years; my roots are deeply embedded in Canada.

In 2013, I launched an accessory label called Brother Vellies, based in Brooklyn, N.Y., (where I reside). We sell a range of shoes, bags and home goods that are handmade around the world, with an operating ethos dedicated to sustainable practices and preserving artisanal craftsmanship.

In 2020, I started something else, something conceived to help other Black-owned businesses: the 15 Percent Pledge.

The pledge calls on U.S. retailers and companies to allocate 15 per cent of their shelf space to Black-owned businesses, as Black people represent approximately 15 per cent of the U.S. population.

So far, brands that have taken the pledge include Sephora, West Elm, MedMen, Yelp, Rent the Runway and Vogue Magazine (U.S.). More will be announced soon.

Now, Id like to ask Canadian vendors to do the same.

The social landscape is different here, with approximately 3.5 per cent of the population being Black and 5 per cent of the population being Indigenous (and these numbers are significantly higher in urban areas). However, the same principles of the pledge apply to Canadas 22.3 per cent of visible minorities. Weve named it, directly, the 15 Percent Pledge Canada.

I started the 15 Percent Pledge on May 29, four days after George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis by police brutality, which, lets not tiptoe around it, was the result of racism. Deeply ingrained, institutional racism.

From that horrific moment, a reckoning rose over this past summer; a powerful groundswell for racial and social equality. The momentum has never been more pronounced, despite an executive government that is essentially against us, a pandemic that has disproportionately affected the BIPOC citizenry, and a social fabric that, across the board and no matter who you are, has never seen such disruption in day-to-day life.

Yet there is much more to be done, much more momentum to carry. When a company takes the 15 Percent Pledge, they are not only promising more representation of Black-owned businesses. They are not only helping to close the financial gap that has continued to widen for BIPOC enterprise owners. They are demonstrating that, above all, they believe it is the right thing to do. And this is deeply encouraging.

The public response to the 15 Percent Pledge among Canadians has been strong, and is very much appreciated and recognized. On our Instagram page, Canadian followers account for almost 7 per cent of our audience, the second largest after the United States. Prime Minister Trudeau is also an ally; he recently announced a loan program for Black entrepreneurs.

And yet Canadian businesses have been slow to respond. Too slow. I have had lacklustre meetings and conversations with many of the countrys major retailers. I take pride in Canadas progressiveness on so many issues, including but not limited to the decriminalization of marijuana, environmental protections and LGBTQIA+ rights. But this countrys commercial enterprises have been reluctant to catalyze change. I feel, and our organization feels, that these corporations have stalled as a result of archaic bureaucratic red tape, an absence of decisive leadership and, perhaps, fear.

To put the above into perspective, a group of volunteers conducted an internal audit on large Canadian retailers during June of this year. Holt Renfrews Black-owned businesses account for less than 1 per cent of its shelf space. Indigo did not carry anything by Indigenous creators; their Black-owned businesses landed at approximately .5 per cent (this applies to their product side, not their books, print media and publishing component). Hudsons Bays figure was similar for Black-owned businesses, and they stocked just one Indigenous-owned brand. Clearly, theres an imbalance. Clearly, systemic separation and discrimination is present in Canada, too.

So, what next? I want the Canadian marketplace to better reflect the Canadian population. To take the 15 Percent Pledge Canada. Thats it.

I believe that Canadians of all races and backgrounds want to consume consciously, and to support a diverse mix of brands. To do so is a way in which to be anti-racist, not just nonracist. To guarantee integrity and to correct the balance.

Talent is abundant in Canada; the government recognizes it, and so does the media. We need retailers to do their part, and to give small businesses owned by Black and Indigenous individuals an opportunity to succeed. Because its the right thing to do.
A man has been arrested for allegedly holding a gun to a womans head and shooting at her, all because she called him gay.

Police in Monroe, Louisiana, arrested 34-year-old Fredrick Jerell Davis on suspicion of aggravated assault with a firearm on September 16.

Officers responded to complaints that shots had been fired at a womans apartment. The arrest report shows that the victim claimed Davis had come to her apartment and held a gun to her head, before firing a bullet into the wall.

A used .22 caliber shell casing was recovered at the scene.

The reason, the victim claimed, that David was so upset and pulled a gun on her was that she had referred to him as a gay a** earlier that evening.

Davis was booked into Ouachita Correctional Center, but during questioning, the suspect denied all allegations.

Fragile or toxic masculinity has been linked to violence.

A study this year by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh found that traits associated with toxic masculinity are linked to violent bullying, sexual harassment and mental illness.

Data from from 3,600 men across three different countries was analysed, with participants scored on their reactions to statements such as A gay guy is not a real man and Straight guys being friends with gay guys is totally fine and normal.

The team found that macho men with aggressive and anti-LGBT+ attitudes are not only more likely to be bullies, but also to experience mental health problems.

Another study found that toxic masculinity can actually be harmful to mens health, causing a host of health problems in later life.

By attempting to not show weakness or emotion, men can become isolated, which can have a significant impact on mental and physical health as they age.

Researchers said: Older men who endorse the ideals of toxic masculinity can become siloed off as they age. Not all older men are at risk  just those who favour a particular set of ideals.
The Texas Attorney Generals office filed an appeal and motion to stay Saturday following a federal judges order to reinstate straight ticket voting ahead of the November general election.

Lawyers representing the Texas Secretary of State argued that U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo erred when she ruled Friday that the elimination of straight ticket voting this year would illegally impede the ability of Texas residents to vote by causing long lines at the polls amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Attorney Generals office also argued the ruling came too late for elections officials to properly alter ballots.

Eighteen days before in-person voting begins is insufficient time for election administrators in 254 counties and their vendors to meticulously re-program, re-proof, and re-test thousands of different ballot styles, state officials wrote in their motion to stay.

State legislators voted in 2017 to repeal the use of straight ticket voting, a practice used by six other states, according to the National Conference of State Legislators. The vote fell largely along party lines, with Republicans backing the measure.

Supporters of the bill argued the law would force voters to make more informed decisions in races throughout the ballot. About three-quarters of Harris County voters chose a straight-ticket option in 2018.

Opponents of the legislation, however, said the measure aimed to reduce the voting power of Democrats, who have begun to benefit more from the practice in recent years. Straight ticket voting is more popular in larger, urban counties where dozens of races often appear on primary and general election ballots. In Harris County, about 55 percent of straight-ticket voters chose Democrats and 44 percent chose Republicans.

An amendment to the 2017 legislation caused a delay in its implementation until the 2020 general election.

Harris County officials and other election leaders across the state have warned that voters could take 15 minutes or more to complete the ballots in November, potentially setting the stage for long lines at the polls. Marmolejo said the added time at polling locations increases the risk of COVID-19 spread.

Some county elections officials have issued warnings that Marmolejos ruling came too late in the planning process. Marmolejo found that only in-person ballots must have a straight-ticket voting option.

It is not immediately clear how quickly the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals will act or when Marmolejo might rule on the motion to stay.

The suit seeking to reinstate straight ticket voting was brought by the Texas Alliance for Retired Americans, the national senatorial and congressional committees of the Democratic Party, and Sylvia Bruni, chair of the Webb County Democratic Party.

Early voting can begin across the state on Oct. 13. Election Day is Nov. 3.

Taylor Goldenstein contributed to this report.

jacob.carpenter@chron.com
Since his first election to the post more than 24 years ago, Paul Sens hasnt faced a challenge at the polls for the New Orleans Municipal Court seat from which hes presided over thousands of cases, responded to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and weathered political controversies.

This fall, however, Sens popularity will be put to the test by a public defender and first-time judicial candidate who proposes sweeping changes at Municipal and Traffic Court. Meghan Garvey is running on the Nov. 3 ballot against Sens for a four-year term in the Division A seat.

Garvey, one of a wave of current and former legal aid lawyers running on reform platforms, says her challenge isnt about Sens specifically, but that hes a fair target as the courts longtime chief. The court needs fresh blood to address a backlog of outstanding warrants, track racial disparities and bring a less punitive approach to minor cases, says Garvey, 45.

Paul Sens

Sens, 64, says hes secured improvements such as like a digital docket, a homeless court and a renovation project at the aging courthouse to let judges offer in-house counseling. He calls himself a law and order guy and paints his opponent as a crusader making promises she cant keep.

Sens served as the Orleans Parish School Board president and an aide to Mayor Marc Morial before he won his judgeship in 1997. In 2007, Sens was selected as the courts chief judge.

He continued as chief until 2012, then served in that role again from 2017 to 2019. On his website, he says his key accomplishments include establishing clinics to help people with outstanding warrants, a homeless court founded in 2010 and his work to help establish the New Orleans Family Justice Center, which aids domestic violence victims.

The court will also be moving to temporary digs at the old Veterans Affairs hospital soo, to allow for a major renovation at its current building on South Broad Street.

We 've been on the forefront of a lot of innovations that really not a lot of people know about. I'm proud of that, because it was done under my leadership, he said.

In 2011, after the City Council made marijuana possession a municipal offense, Sens created a diversion program that let defendants leave without a conviction. The program became mired in controversy when then-Inspector General Ed Quatrevaux questioned why Sens hired the wife of Sheriff Marlin Gusman to run it, at the same time Gusman hired Sens wife. Quatrevaux also levelled a broader charge that Sens was building a family dynasty at taxpayer expense, because 18 relatives had worked at the courthouse.

Sens says that many were hired by the court, and that his direct hires were highly qualified. A judicial complaint filed by Quatrevaux went nowhere, Sens said. Quatrevaux never knew anything about the law. He was just wrong, Sens said.

Sens mounted a bid for Orleans Parish Criminal District Court in 2014. In the last weeks of the race, Sens then-wife made alleged in court that he physically and emotionally abused her during their marriage. Sens accused his wife of physical attacks on him, including an incident the day after she filed for divorce where she was arrested for allegedly biting him on the arm.

Sens lost that race to Byron C. Williams but continued to serve on Municipal Court, which has since been consolidated with Traffic Court.

The charges against Sens wife were eventually dismissed under the terms of a diversion agreement she made with the state Attorney General's Office. Sens says he agreed with the outcome of the case and the allegations she made against him in a tort lawsuit were false and have been gathering dust in a court file for years.

Meghan Garvey

Garvey, a policy counsel for the Orleans Public Defenders, cites Hurricane Katrina as a pivotal moment in her career. The Indianapolis native worked in supportive living hotels for mentally ill people and as a private investigator for defense attorneys in capital cases in San Francisco before attending Tulane University Law School.

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She was waiting for her bar exam results when the 2005 storm hit. She wound up working in Alexandria with a civil rights lawyer who was assisting a group of evacuees from the New Orleans jail.

We became this ad-hoc, at-large, makeshift public defender. And all we were trying to do was get people who should have already been released, or were still in jail on really low-level charges, out of jail, Garvey said.

She became a public defender in New Orleans, then a supervising attorney at the Louisiana Center for Childrens Rights, where in 2016 she helped pass the "raise the age" legislation that moved 17-year-olds from the adult criminal justice system into the juvenile system. In 2017, she returned to the Orleans Public Defenders, where she's a policy counsel.

Last year, Orleans Public Defenders helped win City Council passage of a resolution that urged the Municipal and Traffic Court judges to work with the city attorneys office to wipe out a backlog dating from 2002 of 55,000 outstanding warrants for more than 44,000 people.

The non-binding resolution hasn't reduced the court's mountain of old warrants, according to testimony at a recent City Council hearing, however. Fully implementing it is one of Garvey's key platform planks. She alleges the judges have allowed procedural obstacles to stymie them.

They looked at plan A, found it didnt work and just threw up their hands. And I think thats absolutely terrifying, because those are the people controlling court, she said.

Sens says the judges hands are tied because it is up to city prosecutors to drop the old cases.

+2 Orleans Public Defenders chief and other current, former staffers to run in judicial races Derwyn Bunton, the chief of the Orleans Public Defenders, was one of four current or former employees of his office to qualify in a judicial r

My opponent likes to talk about things that the judges have no control over, and she likes to go in front of the City Council. I think she's running for the wrong position, he said. I'm a law and order guy. ... She's a very very liberal person. I believe that everyone has a right to their constitutional rights, but they also have to abide by the law.

Sens, a Democrat, boasts of an endorsement from Mayor LaToya Cantrell. Garvey is listed as no party on the fall ballot, but she registered as a Democrat after qualifying.

Garvey said she will follow the law as a judge, but she hopes to act as a voice from the bench for rethinking the criminal justice system. New Orleanians too often find themselves trudging back to court on minor allegations and wasting their and the city's resources, she says.

Too many people are criminalized, and I think too often annoying or irresponsible behavior turns into an arrest when it shouldnt, she said.

She would like to create a racial disparity inventory to track practices at the court, expand the use of credentialed social workers for people with mental health problems and hold remote court sessions in Algiers and New Orleans East.

Although shes spent her career fighting to keep people out of jail, she says she would be willing to impose incarceration.

I wouldnt feel comfortable doing it, and I dont think somebody should, she said. Would I do it if the circumstances merited it and I thought the person was truly a danger and I thought that was the only way to keep them or the community safe, or an individual safe? Yeah.

Editor's Note: This article was updated on 9/28/2020 to include a reference to the diversion agreement.
US President Donald Trump says he will demand drug tests for this weeks debate with Joe Biden, in a new slur aimed at his Democratic rivals mental capacity.

After weeks of attempting to sow doubt over the former vice-presidents state of mind, Trump stepped up his jibes, saying he was willing to take a drug test at the event  provided Biden did the same.

Donald Trump and Joe Biden are set to face off in the first of the presidential debates this week. Credit:AP

I will be strongly demanding a drug test of sleepy Joe Biden prior to, or after, the debate on Tuesday night," he tweeted.

Naturally, I will agree to take one also. His debate performances have been record setting UNEVEN, to put it mildly. Only drugs could have caused this discrepancy???
President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday gave his assent to three farm bills passed by the Parliament in the recently-concluded monsoon session. With this, all three bills have now become acts- The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Service Act, 2020. The three bills were passed by Parliament amid vehement protest by the Opposition parties. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) had on Saturday quit the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) over the farm bills issue.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tried to allay the fears of the farmers, saying that the countrys agriculture sector has recently unshackled itself, in a reference to the agriculture reform Bills passed recently by the Parliament. Stating that the farmers and the farm sector need to be strong to lay a strong foundation of Atmanirbhar Bharat, the Prime Minister said, One who is grounded stays firm even during the biggest storms. During these tough times of corona, our farm sector, our farmers are a living example of this. Even during this crisis, our agricultural sector has again shown its prowess. Our farmers, farm sector, villages, are the foundation of Atmanirbhar Bharat. If they are strong, the foundation of Atmanirbhar Bharat will be strong.

Farmers have been expressing apprehensions that the Centres farm reforms would pave a way for the dismantling of the minimum support price system, leaving them at the mercy of big companies. They have the power to sell their fruits or vegetables to anyone, and anywhere. It is this power which is the foundation of their growth, now the same power has been given to farmers across the country. They have got the freedom to sell not only fruits and vegetables but grains, sugarcane, mustard and anything that they grow, they can now sell to anyone and anywhere they like, PM Modi said at the 69th edition of the Mann Ki Baat programme.

Also Read: BJPs oldest ally Shiromani Akali Dal quits NDA over farm bills

Also Read: PM Modi addresses nation through 69th episode of Mann Ki Baat

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the central government has taken steps to ensure that farmers get the right price for their produce. Speaking at an event in memory of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, Singh said, Our government has taken steps to ensure that the farmers get the right price for their produce. Ive studied the Bills, and I am saying that the farmers will benefit from it. But some people are trying to mislead the farmers. He said even the mandi system is going to be maintained. (ANI)
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Development in the state will not be at the cost of destroying the environment and nature, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Sunday, while inaugurating two projects of the tourism department headed by his son and state tourism minister Aaditya Thackeray.

The CM launched two hotels, one in Nashik and the other in Kharghar, of the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), on the occasion of World Tourism Day on Sunday. He also inaugurated Grape Park resort in Nashik near Gangapur dam, which has a boat club.

Thackeray has, in the past too, stressed the need to conserve the nature and environment while approving development projects in the state. When his party was in the government with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) between 2014 and 2019, the Sena opposed the mega oil refinery project in Nanar, Ratnagiri. Many a times, it happens that for development we destroy the nature and environment that we have. We want development. Definitely, we want it, but not by destroying what we have. We have shown that development can happen while conserving what we have, the CM said.

Earlier, an issue had raged about a refinery. Where should such projects come up? Where should railway routes come up? We had a railway route, so where can we provide an alternate route? Our cabinet has decided that we will conserve what we have and provide what is needed. If we follow this, we will have complete development. I dont consider losing what we have and taking what we did not want as development, the CM said.

Aaditya added the state government is chalking out plans to make Maharashtra an appealing destination to tourists. He said the department was taking steps to make tourists stay longer in Mumbai and Maharashtra.

Mumbai gets two types of tourists  financial or business tourists who stay for 36 hours and tourists who come for 20-25 days. Of the 25 days, they stay in Maharashtra for three or four days and leave for Goa, Jaipur etc. Our effort is to make the tourists who come for 36 hours stay for two-three days, and those who come for three days stay for a week, Aaditya said.

The tourism minister added the department has planned to introduce more tourist spots in Mumbai, including developing Gateway of India precinct, tours at BMC headquarters, etc. He added the department was developing Alibag, Manori and Erangal. looking at Matheran and Mahabaleshwar as tourist spots for international tourists as well.

We are starting the boat club, which is of an international standard. It has various types of boats, including speed boat, banana boats, barge, etc, Aaditya said.

He later tweeted, It was envisioned by the then Tourism Minister and now Nashik Guardian Minister @ChhaganCBhujbal ji. Glad to have launched it today.

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Trump Meets With Latino Supporters at Florida Roundtable

President Donald Trump attended a Latinos for Trump roundtable on his campaign trail leading up to the November election. He gave his remarks and listened to stories from Hispanic-Americans about how they have personally benefited from his administrations policies.

Trump was met with a warm welcome from Latino-American supporters during his visit to Doral, Florida.

Sitting at the roundtable, he described Latinos for Trump as a group of patriotic Americans who are part of an extraordinary national movement.
France is stepping up the pressure on Belarus longtime leader Alexander Lukashenko, with President Emmanuel Macron telling a prominent French weekly that Lukashenko must go.

The European Union said Thursday it does not recognize Lukashenko as president of Belarus because of large-scale protests by Belarusians who question the results of last months presidential election that Lukashenko claims he overwhelmingly won. Opposition members and some poll workers in Belarus say the vote was rigged.

Ahead of a trip Monday to Lithuania and Latvia, Macron was quoted in Sundays Journal du Dimanche newspaper as saying its clear that Lukashenko must go.

Whats happening in Belarus is a crisis of power, an authoritarian power that cant manage to accept the logic of democracy and is clinging on by force, the newspaper quotes Macron as saying.

In a speech Saturday to the virtual UN General Assembly, Belarus foreign minister warned Western nations against interfering or imposing sanctions over the countrys disputed presidential election and the governments violent crackdown on protesters.

Thousands of Belarusian citizens have taken part in huge rallies since the Aug. 9 election, which they say was rigged in favor of Lukashenko, who has been in power for 26 years and just took a secretive oath of office for a new term.
Image: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File

President Donald Trump has chosen Judge Amy Coney Barrett to replace the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg, sending the nomination to the Senate with hopes of a quick confirmation fewer than 40 days before the presidential election.

Republicans are eyeing a vote in late October, though Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has not yet said for certain whether a final vote will come before or after the November 3 election.

Follow Moneycontrols full coverage of the 2020 US presidential elections here

A confirmation vote so close to a presidential election would be unprecedented, creating significant political risk and uncertainty for both parties. Early voting is underway in some states in the races for the White House and control of Congress.

A look at the confirmation process and what we know and dont know about whats to come:

Who is Amy Coney Barrett?

Barrett has been a federal judge in Indiana since 2017, when Trump nominated her to the Chicago-based 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals. She was previously a longtime University of Notre Dame law professor and clerked for the late Justice Antonin Scalia, whom she called her mentor as she accepted Trumps nomination on Saturday. At age 48, she would be the youngest justice on the current court if confirmed.

Barrett's three-year judicial record shows a clear and consistent conservative bent. She is a committed Roman Catholic as well as a firm devotee of Scalias favored interpretation of the Constitution known as originalism.

Republicans have widely praised her, while Democrats worry her votes could chip away at the Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion and erode health care protections. They argue that her philosophy is too conservative and rigid.

What happens next?

Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Lindsey Graham says his panel will hold four days of confirmation hearings the week of October 12.

Once the committee approves the nomination, it goes to the Senate floor for a final vote. This could all happen by Nov. 3 if the process goes smoothly. Graham said he hopes the committee can move the nomination to the Senate floor by the week of Oct. 26 for a confirmation vote.

Barrett is expected to make her first appearance on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, meeting with McConnell, Graham and other members.

Also read: A Supreme Court fight might be exactly what America needs

Will there be a vote before the election?

Republicans are privately aiming to hold the final vote the last week of October, but acknowledge the tight timeline and say they will need to see how the hearings go. McConnell has been careful not to say when he believes the final confirmation vote will happen, other than this year.

Senate Republicans are mindful of their last confirmation fight in 2018, when Christine Blasey Fords allegations of a teenage sexual assault almost derailed Brett Kavanaughs nomination. The process took longer than expected after Republicans agreed to allow Ford to testify. Kavanaugh, who denied the allegations, was eventually confirmed in a 50-48 vote.

Does the Senate have enough votes to move forward and confirm?

McConnell does appear to have the votes, for now. Republicans control the Senate by a 53-47 margin, meaning he could lose up to three Republican votes and still confirm a justice, if Vice President Mike Pence were to break a 50-50 tie.

At this point, McConnell seems to have lost the support of two Republicans  Maine Sen. Susan Collins and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, both of whom have said they dont think the Senate should take up the nomination before the election. Collins has said the next president should fill the court seat, and she will vote no on Trumps nominee on principle.

Can the Democrats stop the vote?

There isnt much they can do. Republicans are in charge and make the rules, and they appear to have the votes for Trumps nominee, at least for now. Democrats have vowed to oppose the nomination, and they are likely to use an assortment of delaying tactics. None of those efforts can stop the nomination, however.

But Democrats will also make the case against the nomination to voters as the confirmation battle stretches into the final weeks  and maybe even the final days  of the election season. They say health care protections and abortion rights are on the line, and argue the Republicans vow to move forward is hypocrisy after McConnell refused to consider President Barack Obamas nominee, Judge Merrick Garland, several months before the 2016 election.

How does the campaign factor in?

Republicans are defending 25 of the 38 Senate seats that are on the ballot this year, and many of their vulnerable members were eager to end the fall session and return home to campaign. The Senate was originally scheduled to recess in mid-October, when the hearings are now expected to begin.

While some senators up for reelection, like Collins, have opposed an immediate vote, others are using it to bolster their standing with conservatives. Several GOP senators in competitive races this year  including Cory Gardner in Colorado, Martha McSally in Arizona, Kelly Loeffler in Georgia and Thom Tillis in North Carolina  quickly rallied to Trump, calling for swift voting.

How long does it usually take to confirm a Supreme Court justice?

Supreme Court nominations have taken around 70 days to move through the Senate, though the last, of Kavanaugh, took longer, and others have taken less time. The election is fewer than 40 days away.

Could the Senate fill the vacancy after the election?

Yes. Republicans could still vote on Trumps nominee in whats known as the lame-duck session that takes place after the November election and before the next Congress takes office on January 3. No matter what happens in this years election, Republicans are still expected to be in charge of the Senate during that period.

The Senate would have until January 20, the date of the presidential inauguration, to act on Trumps nominee. If Trump were reelected and Barrett had not been confirmed by the inauguration, he could renominate her as soon as his second term began.

Didn't McConnell Say in 2016 that the Senate shouldn't hold Supreme Court votes in a presidential election year?

He did. McConnell stunned Washington in the hours after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in February 2016 when he announced the Senate would not vote on Obamas potential nominee because the voters should have their say by electing the next president.

McConnells strategy paid off, royally, for his party. Obama nominated Garland to fill the seat, but he never received a hearing or a vote. Soon after his inauguration, Trump nominated Neil Gorsuch to fill Scalias seat.

So what has changed since 2016?

McConnell says its different this time because the Senate and the presidency are held by the same party, which was not the case when a vacancy opened under Obama in 2016. It was a rationale McConnell laid out during the 2016 fight, and other Republican senators have invoked it this year when supporting a vote on Trumps nominee.

Democrats say this reasoning is laughable and the vacancy should be kept open until after the inauguration.
Six years ago, Kirra-Lea McLoughlin was found dead in her home with more than 105 bruises on her body.

On the night of her death neighbours heard chilling screams from inside the house in Wolvi, near Gympie, in Queensland.

When paramedics were called to the house they found her heavily bruised, unconscious and with a severe head injury.

The mother-of-four, 27, was rushed to hospital but was declared brain dead on arrival before dying the next day of a traumatic brain injury.

Ms McLoughlin had been in a violent de facto relationship with a 27-year-old man at the time of her death.

When the ambulance arrived at the couple's house on Beenham Valley Road, Ms McLoughlin's partner told first responders that she had overdosed on her antidepressant tablets and he couldn't wake her.

On the way to hospital, Ms McLoughlin's brain was so swollen that it had extended down into her spinal cord. Upon arrival, she was brain dead and later died

Kirra-Lea McLoughlin was found by paramedics at her property in Wolvi, near Gympie in Queensland, heavily bruised, unconscious and with a severe head injury in July 2014

On the way to hospital, Ms McLoughlin's brain was so swollen that it had extended down into her spinal cord.

Suspicions surrounding her cause of death were first raised when doctors didn't find any signs of an overdose or any alcohol in her system.

She was flown to Gold Coast University Hospital where her mother Alison was forced to say her goodbyes to her lifeless daughter.

'The doctor just looked at me and she said 'there's nothing, there's zero brain activity,' the tearful mother told Australian Story on Monday night.

'She said that the X-ray looked like as if it was shaken baby syndrome. Considering the marks on her face... it seems to me that she was bashed into the ground continuously.'

Suspicions surrounding her cause of death were first raised when doctors didn't find any signs of an overdose or any alcohol in her system

It's understood Ms McLoughlin may have laid for up to 12 hours with her injuries without any medical attention

Now, her devastated family are one step closer to finding out what really happened to the beloved mum-of-four after an inquest into her death was opened earlier this month.

High-profile lawyer Peter Boyce, who was involved in the Daniel Morcombe murder, has agreed to take on Ms McLoughlin's case pro bono.

On the third day of the inquest, a former girlfriend of Ms McLoughlin's partner told the court he had confessed to hurting her on the night she died.

'He said he was in a violent rage and shaking her and her head was banging on the floor or wall,' the woman said, the ABC reported.

'But he said they sorted it out, everything was fine and they went to bed  said he woke up early that morning, noticed she'd urinated on herself and wasn't able to wake her up.

'He said he freaked out, rung somebody and then rang the ambulance.'

The woman told the court the man 'needed to get it off his chest' when confessing.

The inquest also heard from Ms McLoughlin's boyfriend's mother, who claimed her son was violent towards the young mum.

'If you're trying to point out domestic violence, in three cases they were all as bad each other, if one was hitting, he was hitting back,' she said.

Mr Boyce then asked if she was suggesting her son only 'gave as good as he got?'

'They were unpredictable people, my son included,' the woman said. 'I've known both have been violent.'

Damo (left), Ms McLoughlin's neighbour, remembers hearing 'blood curdling' screams coming from her house the night before she was found unconscious

Neighbours of Ms McLoughlin told the inquest they heard harrowing screams coming from the Wolvi property before she died.

Joan Benson said she often heard loud arguments coming from the house, but said the fight on the night before the young mother was found unconscious was 'very, very overheated'.

Ms McLoughlin's partner went to jail in August 2018 for unrelated offences, and will be eligible for parole once he registers a legitimate address.

He was set to testify at the coronial inquest via video link from jail earlier this month, but it was adjourned.

Alison said she hopes the inquest will lead to a criminal conviction.

'I want changes to be made because this happens every day. If we can save one woman from ending up like Kirra did, then I'll feel like I've achieved something,' she said.

'If she didn't achieve something in life, well, maybe she's going to achieve it in death.'

The inquest is ongoing.
27.09.2020 LISTEN

In the jungle, animals mock the tortoise because of its movement but least did they know that the tortoise is wiser but calm. Upon the self acclaim supremacy of other animals in the jungle, the least respected tortoise shows up with great ideas when the jungle is in crisis and, needs urgent attention before situations get worse.

Fast forward, to the 21st Century, when more and powerfully recognized countries as regards trade and technology, can't be overlooked; China has been able to establish herself as one of the leading countries if not probably the best, as far as technology is concerned.

The Chinese have been providing aid to countries all over the globe and Ghana is not exempted.

Currently, the economic assistance China provides Ghana is quite enormous as the Chinese aid projects include, a $6 billion concessionary loan from the China Export-Import Bank which Ghana is using to extend her rail network.

This is one of the vehicles that is geared towards enhancing the good tandem between Ghana and China.

Again, we shouldn't see the Chinese as a problem but rather a blessing in the sense that, Ghana would continue to benefit a lot from them if the relationship is strong.

We should also know that when we allow these Chines to set up their business here, there will be job creation which will create employment opportunities and also help push the country's GDP.

When we foster close ties with these Chinese and see them as allies, they will have their peace of mind to go about their businesses in the country without fear of being attacked by Ghanaians, as this relationship will benefit Ghanaians especially those in the rural areas.

A strong resistance group must be formed to expose people who tarnish the image of the Chinese in Ghana.

One thing we have to look out for is to establish a Chinese office to collaborate with the Ghanaian Immigration Service, and help to identify and also help sift their own law-abiding Chinese nationals from the illegal nationals who fly in for illegal activities

The following are some of the points to consider:

1. We can strategize to use investigative journalists to defend the reputation of the good Chinese and their businesses in the country.

2. Do an intensive investigation about the culprits who plot to tarnish the image of the Chinese and also expose them for people to know that the Chinese are a blessing rather than evil, as it has been speculated in the Ghanaian media and various communities. Since these Chinese can't defend themselves, they can be helped, by the media becoming the mouthpiece of/for the Chinese, because they are foreigners and do not always want to fight back.

If the strategy is well-executed, it will expose the bad people who instigate Ghanaians against the Chinese.

Attention should be given to this plan to help make Ghana benefit more from the Chinese and also make the Chinese feel comfortable in the country.

Ghana and China have recorded significant achievements that deserve acknowledgment. It is a fact that Ghana was one of the earliest and consistent advocates and supporters of the admission of China into the United Nations Organization and later a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

It took Ghana, and ex-President J.A. Kufuor, who was a deputy Foreign Minister, who cast the historic vote at the United Nations General Assembly for the admission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations in 1971.

This paved the way for the acceptance of the People's Republic of China into the international comity of nations and restored its legitimacy as the only true representative of China to the United Nations.

Achievements on the Economic, Trade, and Investment front cannot be overemphasized.

The two countries have deepened their cooperation as China has provided Ghana with much needed economic support in the areas of finance and infrastructure development.

China is currently the largest investor in Ghana by a number of registered projects; it is also Ghana's biggest investor partner.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the Maldives-India cargo ferry service will promote bilateral trade and boost the economies of both countries. This statement from the Prime Minister comes as the Maldives-India cargo ferry service made its maiden voyage. A direct cargo ferry service between India and Maldives was launched on Monday, establishing the first such shipping line connecting the two Indian Ocean neighbours.

Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Saturday took to Twitter and thanked PM Modi, adding that the ferry would further strengthen Maldives, India friendship, and bring greater prosperity to our communities. In response to that, PM Modi in his tweet mentioned that the direct ferry service between India and Maldives will promote bilateral trade and boost our economies.

READ: PM Modi's UNGA address was strong representation of India's culture, thoughts: JP Nadda

The ferry service, which was first announced by PM Narendra Modi in June 2019 during his visit to the Maldives, was launched in an e-flag off ceremony jointly by MOS (Independent Charge) Ministry of Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya and Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation of Maldives Aishath Nahula.

The commencement of the service was announced by the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during his virtual meeting with his Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Shahid on August 13 this year.

During its maiden voyage, a vessel with a capacity of 200 TEU and 3000 MT of breakbulk cargo will sail from Tuticorin to Kochi from where it will make a stop at Kulhudhuffushi port in North Maldives, before it reaches Male on September 29.

READ: PM Modi's UNGA speech no less than an intervention for UN: Read 10 mighty points he made

It is expected that the ferry service will herald direct connectivity for movement of cargo between India and Maldives and thereby give a boost to bilateral trade. Despite geographical proximity, India is currently only the 4th largest trade partner of Maldives, behind China. Indias bilateral trade has hovered around USD 280 million annually for some years now and stood at USD 286.85 million in 2019.
Harpreet Bajwa By

Express News Service

Hours before three contentious farm sector bills became law after President Ramnath Kovinds assent, farmer leaders here decided to hold consultations with their counterparts across the country from October 8 at Kurukshetra to evolve a pan-India agitation strategy so as to pressure the Centre to recall the new legislations.

According to a gazette notification, the President gave assent to 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. The Opposition had urged Kovind to return the bills, saying they were passed without following due process.

While the farm agitation continues to rock Punjab, elsewhere it has not found similar resonance. Bharatiya Kisan Unions (Rajewal Group) Punjab president Balbir Singh Rajewal said, a meeting was held today in which leaders of farm organisations from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh took part. To make the agitation pan-India, it was decided that on October 8 a marathon meeting will be held at Kurukshetra for two-three days. Two to three representatives of all famers organisations from across the country will be invited for the brainstorming seasons.

Meanwhile, farmers in Punjab squatted on the Amritsar-Delhi railway track on Sunday to wrap up their three-day rail-roko agitation.

From October 1, they intend to launch an indefinite rail-roko in Punjab. Sarwan Singh Pandher, general secretary of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, an umbrella group that is leading the agitation, said BJP leaders will not be allowed to enter Punjab villages in protest.

Modis hardsell

Reaching out to farmers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the farm sector and farmers are the very basis of Atmanirbhar Bharat, adding the farm bills ensure freedom to sell their produce anywhere at higher rates
President Donald Trump declared this summer that TikTok was a threat to national security

Lawyers for TikTok pleaded with a U.S. federal judge on Sunday to delay the Trump Administrations ban of the popular video sharing program from app stores set to take effect at the end of the day, arguing the move would infringe on First Amendment rights and do irreparable harm to the business.

The 90-minute hearing came after President Donald Trump declared this summer that TikTok was a threat to national security and that it either sold its U.S. operations to U.S. companies or the app would be barred from the country.

TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, is scrambling to firm up a deal tentatively struck a week ago in which it would partner with tech company Oracle and retailer Walmart and that would get the blessing of the Chinese and American governments. In the meantime, it is fighting to keep the app available in the U.S.

In this photo illustration, a mobile phone can be seen displaying the logos for Chinese apps WeChat and TikTok in front of a monitor showing the flags of the United States and China on an internet page, on September 22, 2020 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

The ban on new downloads of TikTok, which has about 100 million users in the U.S, was delayed once by the government. A more comprehensive ban is scheduled for November, about a week after the presidential election. Judge Carl Nichols of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia said he would make a decision by late Sunday, leaving TikToks fate hanging.

In arguments to Judge Nichols, TikTok lawyer John Hall said that TikTok is more than an app but rather is a modern day version of a town square.

Read More: Amid TikTok ban China announces new regulations targeting foreign companies

If that prohibition goes into effect at midnight, the consequences immediately are grave, Hall said. It would be no different than the government locking the doors to a public forum, roping off that town square at a time when a free exchange of ideas is necessary heading into a polarized election.

TikTok lawyers also argued that a ban on the app would stop tens of thousands of potential viewers and content creators every month and would also hurt its ability to hire new talent. In addition, Hall argued that a ban would prevent existing users from automatically receiving security updates, eroding national security.

Story continues

Justice Department lawyer Daniel Schwei sought to undercut TikTok lawyers argument, saying that Chinese companies are not purely private and are subject to intrusive laws compelling their cooperation with intelligence agencies. The Justice Department has also argued that economic regulations of this nature generally are not subject to First Amendment scrutiny. Plaintiffs cant claim a First Amendment right in hosting TikTok itself as a platform for others speech because merely hosting a platform is not an exercise of the First Amendment, the Justice Department contends.

This is the most immediate national security threat, argued Schwei. It is a threat today. It is a risk today and therefore it deserves to be addressed today even while other things are ongoing and playing out.

Schwei also argued that TikTok lawyers failed to prove it would suffer irreparable business harm.

The Justice Department laid out its objections to TikToks motion for a temporary injunction in a brief under seal, but it was unsealed in redacted form to protect confidential business information.

Trump set the process in motion with executive orders in August that declared TikTok and another Chinese app, WeChat, as threats to national security. The White House says the video service is a security risk because the personal information of its millions of U.S. users could be handed over to Chinese authorities.

Trump has said he would approve a proposed deal in which Oracle and Walmart could initially own a combined 20% of a new U.S. entity, TikTok Global. Trump also said he could retract his approval if Oracle doesnt have total control.

The two sides of the TikTok deal have also appeared at odds over the corporate structure of TikTok Global. ByteDance said last week that it will still own 80% of the U.S. entity after a financing round. Oracle, meanwhile, put out a statement saying that Americans will be the majority and ByteDance will have no ownership in TikTok Global.

Chinese media have criticized the deal as bullying and extortion, suggesting that the Chinese government is not happy with the arrangement. ByteDance said Thursday it has applied for a Chinese technology export license after Beijing tightened control over exports last month in an effort to gain leverage over Washingtons attempt to force an outright sale of TikTok to U.S. owners.

Chinas foreign ministry has said the government will take necessary measures to safeguard its companies but gave no indication what steps it can take to affect TikToks fate in the United States.

Read More: China would rather see U.S. TikTok ban than stiff-armed sale

TikTok is suing the U.S. government over Trumps Aug. 6 executive order, saying it is unlawful. So are resulting Commerce Department prohibitions that aim to kick TikTok out of U.S. app stores and, in November, essentially shut it down in the U.S., it claimed.

The Chinese firm said the president doesnt have the authority to take these actions under the national-security law he cited; that the ban violates TikToks First Amendment speech rights and Fifth Amendment due-process rights; and that theres no authority for the restrictions because they are not based on a national emergency.

Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now!

The post TikTok fate in the balance as judge weighs app store ban appeared first on TheGrio.
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Digital Editor
Israel is scheduled to take part in talks with Lebanon in October in an effort to resolve a long-standing maritime dispute between the two countries. According to reports, the Israeli delegation for the talks will be led by Israels Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz, the United States will be mediating the talks between the two countries.

US mediating talks between two hostile nations

As per reports, Israel is technically in a state of war and has no diplomatic relations with Lebanon. For years US diplomats have been acting as mediators between Israel and Lebanon in an effort to resolve their dispute ad to get the two countries to engage in direct talks with one another. The dispute between the two countries is regarding 860 square kilometres (330 square miles) of the Mediterranean Sea which is claimed by both Lebanon and Israel. Both countries aim to develop new gas fields in these areas.

Lebanon is currently gripped by the economic crisis, especially following a large blast at Beirut port last month which left 200 people dead. Due to this, the country is eager to settle the dispute and secure offshore energy resources. Any direct talks between Israel and another Arab country will be considered a huge win for the Trump administration following the peace deal signed between Israel and two other Arab nations- the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Read: Lebanon's PM Designate Mustapha Adib Steps Down Over Cabinet Formation Dispute

Read: Concert To Aid Victims Of Lebanon Port Explosion

The Peace deal between Israel and UAE and Bahrain was signed on September 15 in Washington. With he deal normalizing the relations between these countries the UAE and Bahrain have become the third and fourth Arab countries to normalize relations with Israel, after Egypt and Jordan.

The White House continues to seek more Arab support for the normalisation of ties with Israel and Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, who accompanied the Israeli delegation to Abu Dhabi for formally finalising UAE-Israel ties, indicated that other Arab countries could soon follow the suit. Meanwhile, US State Secretary Mike Pompeo has also said that the deal has been a boon to peace and regional stability as it heralds a new era.

(With AP inputs, Image: AP)

Read: Despair In Lebanon Pushing Some To Flee To Europe In Boats

Read: Trump Campaign Hopes To Win Jewish American Voters Following Arab Pacts With Israel
Federal Trade Minister Simon Birmingham hopes a travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand can be put in place by the end of the year.

But he says first and foremost Australian states must open up to one another as great progress is being made.

His comments came as Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced some safe and steady steps in unwinding the restrictions for locked-down Melbourne.

Senator Birmingham said opening up an international border with New Zealand would be a great step and work is being done to make sure this can be done in a safe way.

Were making sure we have all the work done, all the preparations there so that we can safely achieve that bubble with New Zealand, the minister told ABC News Weekend Breakfast.

Its up to them as to whether they choose to open up to Australia, but were certainly making sure that were prepared and Im hopeful that could be this year.

The Australian government also announced $250 (US$175.7) million to boost tourism and infrastructure in Australias regions which have been hit hard by the COVID-19 restrictions.

This includes $50 million for a regional tourism recovery initiative to assist businesses in regions heavily reliant on international tourism.

A further $200 million will be injected into the Building Better Regions Fund to boost infrastructure in regional communities, $100 million of which will be dedicated to tourism-related infrastructure.

We want to make sure that our tourism regions are in the best possible shape on the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Birmingham said.

Meanwhile, Premier Andrews reported just 16 new COVID-19 cases and two deaths in Victoria, taking the states pandemic death toll to 784 and the national figure to 872.

He said the target was to get to a rolling 14-day average of between 30 and 50 cases when in fact it has now dropped to 22.1 cases.

We are ahead of schedule  but that doesnt mean this is over, he said at a press conference on Sept. 27.

By Colin Brinsden
EXPOSED | PART ONE Nearly 3 dozen local COVID patients said their symptoms preceded the Houston regions first confirmed case, data shows

EXPOSED | PART ONE Nearly 3 dozen local COVID patients said their symptoms preceded the Houston regions first confirmed case, data shows

March 4



WORLD CASES: 95,272

WORLD DEATHS: 3,255 (92 percent in China)

CASES IN 81 COUNTRIES

U.S. CASES: 103

U.S. DEATHS: 11

TEXAS CASES: 1

HOUSTON-AREA CASES: 1

RODEO ATTENDANCE: 70,936

Lina Hidalgo arrived late and flustered to the rodeo grounds for Armed Forces Appreciation Day, missing the Apache helicopter flyover and a soloists rendition of God Bless America. The 29-year-old Democrat, who won the campaign for Harris Countys top government job two years ago, headed straight for the podium.

Shed just learned that Fort Bend County had confirmed the first COVID-19 case in the Houston area, linked to a river cruise in Egypt. Sixteen more passengers on the same cruise flew back to Houston on Feb. 20. Some went to work or church or Costco before realizing they might have been exposed. Public health workers were frantically trying to retrace their steps, estimating they could have infected dozens of friends, family members and medical workers.

Sporting a borrowed charcoal-hued cowboy hat, Hidalgo swore in a group of cadets and took her seat, scanning the crowd of thousands for her parents. Her mind raced. The virus timing was terrible. The rodeo was the regions biggest event. And shutting it down was not just her call. The county owns the rodeo site, NRG Park, but it sits within the citys public health jurisdiction. Still, shed worried for days about the risk of keeping it going.

About this Series When a novel virus first surfaced in China last year, it followed a path that public health experts in the U.S. had feared for years. But as COVID-19 quickly spread, it became clear that officials at all levels of government were unprepared  despite the warnings. This series documents how public officials failed to protect the public, leaving millions of people exposed. Part 2: Warned: Officials at all levels of government knew they were unprepared for a pandemic and cut funding anyway. Part 3: Uncounted: Death reporting delays led state officials to offer false assurances about Texas' death rate.

Hidalgo made eye contact with Mayor Sylvester Turner, knowing he must have heard about the Fort Bend case. A news alert announced it while they were on stage, popping up on cellphones in the crowd. After the ceremony ended, instead of strolling the rodeo grounds with her parents, she headed for her car. Im sorry we didnt get to say hello, she texted them in Spanish. I have to go. Kisses.

In the early days of the coronavirus outbreak, the public messaging from the federal level down to local was consistent: Risk to the public was low. More than 850,000 people passed through the NRG gates as officials insisted there was no evidence the virus was spreading unchecked. But a Houston Chronicle investigation based on thousands of pages of emails, texts and documents and more than 50 interviews shows that a cascade of failures starting at the federal level left local officials ill-equipped to confront the biggest public health threat in generations.

Local public health officials learned of the region's first case of COVID-19 on March 4. But epidemiologists found that nearly three dozen people in Harris County who later tested positive said their symptoms started before that date  some as early as Feb. 10. Three of those patients died.

Records show early efforts to contain the virus were hamstrung by stringent U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines on who could be tested. The federal agency had shunned the World Health Organizations tests, then bungled its own attempt to produce them, leaving too few to go around. Houston-area doctors complained to local public health officials as early as January that they were sending home patients with COVID-like symptoms who had traveled to China, but not specifically Wuhan province.

Still, local officials kept the rodeo going for days after the region identified its first cases, reluctant to pull the plug until it became clear they could not contain the spread.

They finally shut it down two weeks after its kickoff celebration, when public health officials learned the virus was there from the beginning. They traced it back to the pre-rodeo BBQ cookoff, to tent C-706.

Feb. 1

WORLD CASES: 12,038

WORLD DEATHS: 259 (100 percent in China)

CASES IN 25 COUNTRIES

U.S. CASES: 8

TEXAS CASES: 0

HOUSTON-AREA CASES: 0

The papers were piling up on Dr. David Persses typically tidy desk. Colleagues at the health department were getting emails from him at odd hours. Lunch, when he got one, was turkey on toast from the deli across the street from his office. The squarely built 61-year-old was even skipping his Sunday night hockey league.

Persse was Mayor Turners point man on COVID-19, empowered by state law to enforce public health restrictions. It was his call, along with the mayor, to decide how to combat the virus.

An obsessive planner who thinks in worst-case scenarios, Persse sees it as his job to be Dr. Downer.

And there was bad news everywhere.

With the virus reported 2 percent fatality rate in China, Persse warned Turner that if even 10 percent of Houstonians became infected over the course of a year, hospitals would be overrun. Perhaps 4,600 city residents would die.

Suspicion among Chinese health officials that the virus could spread before patients showed symptoms also was bad news, he warned.

On Jan. 21, the day after the U.S. reported its first confirmed case, Persse had a false alarm. A girl was admitted to a hospital in Katy with flu-like symptoms after traveling from Wuhan, but her test came back negative.

Still, some doctors worried that they were missing cases because the CDCs testing criteria were too strict. Prior to Feb. 1, doctors could test only people who had symptoms of COVID-19 and had either traveled to Wuhan, or been in contact with someone with a confirmed or suspected infection within the past two weeks.

Dr. Christian Tu, an emergency room physician at Houston Methodist Hospital, emailed Persse that three patients came into the ER on Jan. 31 after returning from Taiyuan or Beijing. All had coughs; some were feverish. The hospital discharged them without testing them for COVID-19 because they had not specifically traveled to Wuhan, Tu wrote.

By then, Beijing had 156 known cases, World Health Organization records show. And Taiyuan had at least one case, too.

We have had many cases presented to us that do not meet CDC criteria for testing, Persse wrote to Tu, and that has been frustrating for some. However, we cannot compel the CDC to test patients who do not meet criteria.

The CDC broadened its criteria to include mainland China on Feb. 1, but kept its stringent requirements for symptoms and exposure.

Persse wanted to reassure doctors and the public, but he had concerns. Without more testing, there would be no way to contain it.

And once the cases were no longer directly traceable, Houston would have community spread. That, he knew, would be incredibly difficult to stop.

Feb. 28

WORLD CASES: 84,120

WORLD DEATHS: 2,873 (97 percent in China)

CASES IN 58 COUNTRIES

U.S. CASES: 16

U.S. DEATHS: 0

TEXAS CASES: 0

HOUSTON-AREA CASES: 0

RODEO ATTENDANCE: 73,433

Hidalgo arrived at Memorial Park just before 5 p.m. to greet roughly 2,000 trail riders who had come on horseback from across Texas to attend the rodeo. The judge, a vegan sporting faux-leather cowboy boots, couldnt pick the winning brisket, but she was excited for her second rodeo season.

She had prepared a speech with a punch line about fried Oreos and failed New Years resolutions. And she looked forward to seeing Chance the Rapper's rodeo performance the following Friday. But her concerns about the coronavirus were mounting.

Her communications team kept including a standard CDC talking point in her speeches -- that the risk to the American public remained low. Hidalgo kept taking it out.

She was frustrated with the lack of information from county departments, and with having to ask repeatedly for the pandemic plan. This is a hurricane that we see coming, and we have no excuse, she had said in a meeting that morning. I need you to get me the information I ask for.

A test was pending for one suspected COVID-19 patient, and county staff were monitoring 30 others who potentially were exposed.

Persse sent Turner a direct and foreboding weekly update. California and Washington State officials had detected community spread. As predicted, the U.S. strategy of containment appears to begin to fail, he wrote. We should expect to have community spread in Texas shortly.

The Houston area still had no laboratories capable of running tests, so samples had to be sent to the CDC in Atlanta. Tests were in short supply.

Seven miles away, the gates opened at NRG for the barbecue cookoff.

That night, Mary Menzel and her husband steered through the grounds on electric scooters, entering the Cayenne Social Club tent through swinging saloon-style doors. They socialized here each year as sponsors, often dancing. The brisket steamed.

Marys husband, Roger, accompanied her as she worked the crowd under the tent, which held up to 404 people. Mary Menzel always greeted everyone with a hug or a kiss. The 72-year-old engineering and political consultant, with perfectly coiffed short hair and Southern charm, never slowed down.

Roger noticed a man coughing.

Feb. 29

WORLD CASES: 86,013

WORLD DEATHS: 2,942 (96 percent in China)

CASES IN 62 COUNTRIES

U.S. CASES: 24

U.S. DEATHS: 1

TEXAS CASES: 0

HOUSTON-AREA CASES: 0

RODEO ATTENDANCE: 102,571

Philip Patrick Suns anxiety had been rising for months as news of the novel coronavirus got worse and worse. As leaders across the world reassured their citizens that the risk of exposure was low, his cousin in Wuhan told a different story.

The streets were closed, the markets empty. People who left their homes suited up in layers of clothing: Overcoats, galoshes, scarves, hats. Fearful the virus would infiltrate their ears, eyes and nose, they donned masks, earmuffs and goggles.

Then, the 70-year-old and his wife awoke in Houston to even more troubling news: A Taiwanese-American woman who reportedly became sick while traveling in Egypt on a Nile River cruise had tested positive for the virus. A number of Houstonians had been on board.

Sun, president and CEO of a health care nonprofit, started calling friends and colleagues, trying to track down who was sick and what was being done

about it.

His concern grew. A Rice University researcher who went on the trip was under investigation. A doctor friend told him a traveler from the cruise was ill, but couldnt get tested, Sun said.

Oh my God, Sun thought.

The passengers didnt know theyd been exposed until more than a week after they returned. Egypt was not a known hot spot for the virus. One passenger had gone to an urgent care in Fort Bend County on Feb. 24 with a fever but did not qualify for a test. Another attended a church service on Ash Wednesday at St. Cecilia's in Hedwig Village.

Sun called the CDC, the state and the city and county health departments, he said. On March 2, he emailed the federal Department of Homeland Security, warning that Egyptian cruise members could be unknowingly spreading the virus in the Houston area.

To our knowledge two couples in the Memorial area of Houston are sick (not tested), one from the Sugar Land area is sick (not tested), two from California have tested positive in California, Sun wrote.

The email found its way to Persse, who responded that health officials were aware of what was happening. Emails show the CDC in Houston was still trying to get a copy of the cruise ship manifest to see who was on board.

March 2

WORLD CASES: 90,372

WORLD DEATHS: 3,085 (94 percent in China)

CASES IN 74 COUNTRIES

U.S. CASES: 52

U.S. DEATHS: 6

TEXAS CASES: 0

HOUSTON-AREA CASES: 0

RODEO ATTENDANCE: N/A

Dr. Kelly Larkin dreaded this afternoon meeting with rodeo executives. One of 35,000 volunteers, Larkin served as a vice president and the point person on the virus.

Rodeo staff already were fielding questions about whether they would cancel. A marquee Houston energy conference, CERA Week, was nixed the day before. And a petition was circulating to cancel Austins trendy music and tech conference, SXSW.

Larkin, 54, knew what was at stake. Last year, the rodeo generated an estimated $391 million. But for Larkin and other volunteers, it held a deeper significance.

Shed never heard of the rodeo before she moved to Houston from upstate New York for her medical residency in the 1990s. Then, one spring, cowboys kept landing in her emergency room with concussions and broken bones. Intrigued, she visited one night and stood feet from the chute door as a bull burst out. She was hooked.

Larkin had done what she could to promote the rodeos COVID-19 preparations. There were three times as many hand washing and sanitizing stations as last year. Signs featuring the rodeos mustachioed H-shaped mascot read: "Howdy says Don't forget to wash your hands!

She consulted with Persse, who was conflicted.

He knew local COVID-19 cases were inevitable and criticism would arise if someone who had it attended the rodeo. He already had warned Larkin and rodeo staff in late January that the virus could cut the show short. But with no confirmed cases, he didnt want to foment panic.

As of today, there is no reason not to go to the Rodeo, he emailed the rodeos marketing chief, adding that he hoped to see Willie Nelson at NRG in a few days.

Still, Larkin felt rodeo CEO Joel Cowley, board chairman Jim Winne and chairman-elect Brady Carruth needed her blunt assessment:

I have no crystal ball. I don't know what's going to happen, Larkin said. But my feeling is that we will not make it through the whole show.

March 4

WORLD CASES: 95,272

WORLD DEATHS: 3,255 (92 percent in China)

CASES IN 81 COUNTRIES

U.S. CASES: 103

U.S. DEATHS: 11

TEXAS CASES: 1

HOUSTON-AREA CASES: 1

RODEO ATTENDANCE: 70,936

Dr. Paul Klotman, Baylor College of Medicines president, glanced at his fellow hospital executives around the table in the Texas Medical Center boardroom, wondering whether these meetings would do any good.

They were competitors, after all. Some of the executives, who together ran the largest medical center in the world, had never met until Mayor Turner asked the group to update him on their coronavirus preparations.

Now TMC CEO Bill McKeon wanted to hold regular talks. He called the 7 a.m. meeting to order.

So far, only about a third of the 103 known cases across the U.S. were travel related. Eleven Americans were dead. Federal officials warned it might be time to adopt social distancing measures.

The rodeo came up.

Klotman and a few dozen Baylor colleagues had attended the night before, high-fiving over the decision to sponsor hand sanitizer stations. They ate barbecue and cheered as a chuck wagon with the Baylor Medicine logo pulled ahead of fellow sponsors Ford and Shell.

Mark Wallace of Texas Childrens Hospital and Dr. Peter Pisters of M.D. Anderson argued that the group should encourage the mayor to close the rodeo. The public health risk of such an enormous gathering, they said, was simply too great.

Others, including Klotman, hesitated. Hell, he said, were a rodeo sponsor. I was there last night. Think of the economic hit.

March 5

WORLD CASES: 98,028

WORLD DEATHS: 3,348 (90 percent in China)

CASES IN 85 COUNTRIES

U.S. CASES: 172

U.S. DEATHS: 12

TEXAS CASES: 5

HOUSTON-AREA CASES: 5

RODEO ATTENDANCE: 60,911

Ana Zangeneh watched her 5-year-old daughter, Donna, climb atop a pony and ride around the rodeo ring.

Zangeneh, 36, had planned on joining Donnas class field trip for months -- but COVID-19 almost ruined it.

Zangeneh, who had worked at Harris County Public Health for eight years, supervised the agencys contact tracers  workers tasked with interviewing infected people to find out where theyd been and who they may have exposed.

In the past, the agency used contact tracing to track down people potentially infected with Zika, H1N1 and SARS, a rare respiratory illness. It was now the main tool, along with social distancing, for fighting the coronavirus.

Zangeneh and her fellow epidemiologists had been pulling 14-to-16-hour days seven days a week, trying to get a handle on it.

By the time Zangeneh joined her daughter at the rodeo, regional health officials had spent days tracking down the passengers on the Egyptian river cruise.

She was grateful for the brief escape. But it ended abruptly when she returned to the office that afternoon. In addition to the Fort Bend case announced the night before, two Harris County residents had tested positive. At a community meeting that night, Turner stressed that all were tied to the same international trip.

We cannot live our lives in fear, he said. I do encourage people to put on your hat, your boots, and go to the rodeo and enjoy.

March 8

WORLD CASES: 109,993

WORLD DEATHS: 3,803 (82 percent in China)

CASES IN 100 COUNTRIES

U.S. CASES: 450

U.S. DEATHS: 21

TEXAS CASES: 11

HOUSTON-AREA CASES: 9

RODEO ATTENDANCE: 109,857

Lt. Chris Hernandez felt feverish. Nine days had passed since he attended the rodeo cook-off. He could barely walk up the stairs.

He lay on his bed, gasping.

Daddy, are you OK? his 6-year-old son asked.

Go get your mom, Hernandez told him.

Hernandez, 43, was one of seven full-time officers in Patton Village, a small city north of Houston, where he served largely in an administrative role. He had taken the week off, working extra jobs around the clock managing traffic on opposite sides of the city. Hed been to Buc-ees in Baytown, to a taco shop in Rosenberg with two other officers and to House of Pies in southeast Houston.

As the week progressed, Hernandez had developed a cough, body aches and a fever. Now, he felt like he was drowning.

His wife drove him to an urgent care clinic, then to CHI St. Lukes Health in The Woodlands, where Dr. Amrew Al-Ahmad, 36, had been preparing for his first COVID-19 case.

Al-Ahmad specializes in pulmonary critical care. A decade earlier, as a resident, he treated patients with H1N1. Doctors at St. Lukes were among the first in Texas to use artificial lungs during the outbreak to help oxygenate patients blood when they struggled to breathe.

Al-Ahmad had been studying how to treat the coronavirus since the start of the COVID-19 epidemic, trading ideas with more than 100 Houston-area doctors in a group chat.

He felt as prepared as anyone could be, but he knew there still was a lot to learn about the virus and how contagious it was. Around 4:20 p.m., Hernandez, the 251-pound police officer, struggled toward the hospital doors.

March 9

WORLD CASES: 113,946

WORLD DEATHS: 3,987 (78 percent in China)

CASES IN 103 COUNTRIES

U.S. CASES: 515

U.S. DEATHS: 22

TEXAS CASES: 13

HOUSTON-AREA CASES: 12

RODEO ATTENDANCE: 80,875

At the countys emergency operations center, Hidalgo was fed up.

For days, she had asked public health staff to draw up guidelines that would allow her to force the closure of the rodeo and all other public gatherings. She had asked county attorneys what her powers were in a pandemic, planning to call Turner once she had a proposal. But no documents were ready.

She also had urged public health officials to track suspected COVID-19 patients movements before lagging test results confirmed their diagnoses. But contact tracers did not notify a Catholic church where a suspected COVID-19 patient had attended Ash Wednesday service until after the test results came back. Worse, staff had lied to her about it.

She demanded a firing and got one.

Hidalgos staff are accustomed to her peppering them with questions, even on trivial issues, and refusing to accept the answers until she deems them logical.

She applied that approach to public health officials insistence on waiting to close the rodeo until there was confirmed community spread. She decided it made no sense. Testing remained woefully inadequate. Contact tracing was slow.

County executives in Seattle and San Francisco, two hot spots ahead of Houston in their outbreaks, had advised her to take aggressive action while she could.

After Austin officials canceled SXSW, Turner argued it drew more international attendees than the rodeo. But Hidalgo didnt find that comforting. The 1 percent of patrons visiting the rodeo from abroad last year amounted to 12,000 people.

Im concerned were just letting the virus in, she told her staff.

And yet, she hesitated to override the public health officials.

Am I crazy? she wondered.

Then the judge spoke to Dr. Esmaeil Porsa.

The new Harris Health CEO hadnt officially been on the job a week, but hed been trying to schedule a meeting with Hidalgo for days.

Porsa, a physician with a masters degree in epidemiology, wanted to update her on how the county hospital district was responding to COVID-19, and to share another pressing concern. The rodeo needed to close, he said.

Oh, thank you, she thought when they connected. Somebody finally agrees.

Porsa warned that community spread was already occurring. Were just not detecting it, he said, because were not looking hard enough.

March 10

WORLD CASES: 118,967

WORLD DEATHS: 4,267 (74 percent in China)

CASES IN 106 COUNTRIES

U.S. CASES: 713

U.S. DEATHS: 28

TEXAS CASES: 16

HOUSTON-AREA CASES: 14

RODEO ATTENDANCE: 65,960

Hernandez, still hospitalized, received the test results around 4:30 p.m. He was positive for COVID-19.

An epidemiologist called to ask where hed been and whom hed had contact with.

Did you leave the country?

No, Hernandez said.

He was having trouble focusing. What if I die? What about the kids?

The investigator asked: Were you with anyone who seemed sick?

No, he said.

After Hernandez hung up, he talked to his police chief, who encouraged him to think about everywhere else hed been. Hernandez, struggling to speak, remembered hed gone to the cook-off.

Get off the phone with me and let them know whats going on, Chief Shannon Sharp said.

So Hernandez said he called the Montgomery epidemiologist back. He couldnt remember the name of the tent, but said he shared the number of the friend who invited him.

Persse, carpooling back from testifying before lawmakers in Austin, took call after call.

He was worried. No one had found a connection to the Egyptian river cruise  and he feared they wouldnt.

This guy lives on Lake Conroe? He thought. Thats nowhere near any of our cases.

This is it, he said to a colleague. This is community spread.

That night, doctors moved Hernandez to the ICU. He wasnt sleeping well and struggled to breathe.

As soon as Persse heard that Hernandez hadnt traveled anywhere, he called the mayor and then Larkin, who was attending a reception at NRG Center. She stepped into the hallway to answer.

I have bad news, Persse said, describing the case.

Oh no, Larkin said.

And I have worse news, Persse added. He was at the barbecue cook-off.

Oh no, Larkin said again, her voice falling.

Rodeo CEO Joel Cowley, sitting a few hundred yards away, near the bucking chutes in NRG Stadium, felt his phone buzz.

Hold on a moment! he shouted into the receiver, climbing out of the cacophonous bowl of the stadium, where the K-pop band NCT 127 was mid-set.

Cowley knew Larkin wouldnt call so late just to chat.

Seeing Larkins name on her husbands phone, Cowleys wife, Tammy, followed him to a quiet corridor lined with horse stalls.

Cowley looked at his wife and swiped his fingers across his neck.

March 11

WORLD CASES: 126,675

WORLD DEATHS: 4,611 (69 percent in China)

CASES IN 112 COUNTRIES

U.S. CASES: 1,105

U.S. DEATHS: 33

TEXAS CASES: 19

HOUSTON-AREA CASES: 15

RODEO ATTENDANCE: About 18,000

Klotman was walking near his home in the Museum District when he dialed into the 7 a.m. Zoom meeting with the other TMC executives. The question about urging a shutdown of the rodeo came up again. When he heard McKeon ask for a virtual show of hands Is everyone in favor?  Klotman joined the chorus answering yes. It was unanimous.

Klotman hung up, and felt a sense of sadness.

Houstons in it, he thought, just like everybody else.

At a City Hall news conference just after noon, Mayor Turner announced the closure of the rodeo. Turner said bluntly: This is evidence of community spread.

Hidalgo took it a step further: There may have been other cases of community spread officials had missed because testing was limited.

In the barn at NRG Park, seventh-grader Lauren Bolcik called her mom, hysterical. They had been sixth in the endless line of trailers the day before, waiting from 10 a.m. until past midnight to tug their heifer into the best spot.

What are you talking about? Have you lost your mind? Nancy Machac-Bolcik asked her daughter, sprinting back from the hotel room where she was checking in.

High school senior Jenna Lloyd began to cry, heartbroken she wouldnt get to show her heifer Sadie Kane.

When Larkin returned to NRG just after 2 p.m., the grounds had gone quiet.

She glanced up at the huge screen that normally shows highlights of bull riding or calf roping as she rode the long escalator up to the rodeo offices. The Rodeo will close the grounds today at 4 p.m., it read. Please remain calm and exit in an orderly fashion.

Larkin had tasks to assign and people to call, but she couldnt stop staring at that screen as the escalator hummed underfoot.

Across the Houston area, public health agencies all handled potential rodeo related cases differently. Some didnt ask specifically about attendance, others did. Some didnt follow up about what tents they visited, others did. Sometimes the cases were reported to another agency or organization, but rarely was it the same.

Harris County epidemiologists went back through interview notes to find people who had tested positive and mentioned they had attended the rodeo. They found 12.

March 12

WORLD CASES: 132,450

WORLD DEATHS: 4,917 (65 percent in China)

CASES IN 114 COUNTRIES

U.S. CASES: 1,530

U.S. DEATHS: 43

TEXAS CASES: 23

HOUSTON-AREA CASES: 18

Hernandez couldnt stop panting. His heart rate climbed.

Things are getting worse, Al-Ahmad told Hernandez. He asked if they could intubate.

It was a serious decision. Because a breathing tube is so uncomfortable to insert, Hernandez would have to be put to sleep.

Lets do it, said Hernandez, desperate to feel better.

At 9:15 a.m., doctors induced a coma and threaded the breathing tube down his throat.

Since Hernandez tested positive, epidemiologists trying to retrace his steps had been running into problems. His employer for his side job directing traffic, a woman in her 30s under investigation in Galveston County, had also developed a fever and a cough. She was awaiting test results.

By that afternoon, contact tracers wrote that they couldnt get the information or records they needed. Hernandez said he slept in his car because he had back-to-back shifts, but contact tracers suspected he also had stayed at his employers apartment.

The employer and patient are not being compliant at this time making the trace back investigation extremely difficult,according to an email shared among employees with the Galveston County Health District.

Hernandezs infected lungs stiffened.

Al-Ahmad called Hernandezs wife and told her he needed to hook her husband up to a machine to breathe for him  the same technique pioneered at St. Lukes with H1N1. It hadnt been used much yet on coronavirus patients in America, but Hernandez was young and relatively healthy.

They needed to buy time.

This is his only chance, Al-Ahmad told her.

Al-Ahmads wife, Dana Hailat, texted to check in. The 32-year-old dentist worried the coronavirus could kill her husband, whom she had known since childhood. She asked how his patient was doing.

About to do ECMO, he told her, referring to the life support for his heart and lungs.

This is so awful!!! she wrote. Poor guy!

After a 13-hour day, Al-Ahmad arrived home. He showered in the garage apartment and changed into the clothes Hailat left him. He avoided kissing her so as not to get her sick. They ate dinner with their kids, ages 4 and 2.

Al-Ahmad didnt know how long Hernandez had to live. He got into bed with his laptop and stayed up reading about what else he could do.

Montgomery County Public Health District officials prepared a news release in case Hernandez died.

March 19

WORLD CASES: 245,633

WORLD DEATHS: 9,981 (33 percent in China)

CASES IN 155 COUNTRIES

U.S. CASES: 12,674

U.S. DEATHS: 265

TEXAS CASES: 324

TEXAS DEATHS: 6

HOUSTON-AREA CASES: 71

HOUSTON-AREA DEATHS: 1

Mary Menzel fell for the second time in two days.

Ive had real bad allergies and real bad bronchitis, she told the 911 dispatcher around 1:30 p.m.

Have the doctor or the health department told you to quarantine or isolate for the coronavirus? the operator asked.

No, Menzel said.

She said she didnt have a cough, fever or shortness of breath.

Roger Menzel, 85, followed the ambulance to the hospital.

Im not going to stay here, she told her husband of nearly three decades from the gurney, sending him home to feed the dogs.

He knew to do what she asked; she was headstrong. Her nickname The Hammer stuck for a reason. She knew immediately they would marry when she first saw Roger at a local chamber of commerce meeting. He would tell anyone: She was one-of-a-kind.

Mary told Roger to come back later to take her home. That evening, a neighbor called 911 after she saw Roger standing by his car, swaying back and forth, struggling to breathe.

April 5

WORLD CASES: 1,265,377

WORLD DEATHS: 73,540 (5 percent in China)

Cases in 183 countries

U.S. CASES: 337,573

U.S. DEATHS: 12,429

TEXAS CASES: 7,209

TEXAS DEATHS: 222

HOUSTON-AREA CASES: 2,234

HOUSTON-AREA DEATHS: 60

Hernandez was off the ventilator, but was 42 pounds lighter. His legs felt weak; his speech sounded slow and slurred. When he looked at his cellphone, he saw more than 800 notifications.

A friend called to warn him that Hidalgo had said at a news conference that he was not cooperating. It was a lot to process. He was incensed as he read details of his private life dissected publicly. He started to learn to walk and talk again.

Roger Menzel spent more than two weeks in the hospital being treated for COVID-19. When he was discharged, his world had changed. Texas was under-stay-at-home orders. His son and grandson drove him home.

Mary Menzel was treated at a different hospital than he was. Her doctors had called him at the end of March. She was fighting COVID-19 too, breathing with the help of a ventilator. Shes unresponsive, they said.

Shed been that way for three days with no improvement. The doctors asked to take her off life support.

Roger Menzel asked them to wait one more day.

He couldnt stand the thought of her suffering. When they called back the next day and said she hadnt gotten better, he let her go.

EPILOGUE

Sept. 27

WORLD CASES: 32,712,009

WORLD DEATHS: 991,678 (0.47% in China)

CASES IN 188 COUNTRIES

U.S. CASES: 7,077,329

U.S. DEATHS: 204,486

TEXAS CASES: 757,614

TEXAS DEATHS: 15,723

HOUSTON-AREA CASES: 195,189

HOUSTON-AREA DEATHS: 3,421

The rodeos cancellation launched a wave of closures across Houston and startled the public into acknowledging the virus threat. School districts closed campuses. Churches suspended services. Panicked people emptied grocery market shelves. Doctors and nurses rationed masks and gloves.

As Hidalgo and Turner issued stay-at-home orders, the federal response remained sluggish. Days after the rodeo shut down, the CDC recommended canceling events of 50 or more people. With a shortage of federal testing supplies, it took until late March to get the citys first public testing site running.

By early April, Harris County epidemiologists were so overwhelmed they stopped contact tracing every single case and instead focused on high risk groups, such as nursing homes.

Gains from the local lockdown were lost after the states reopening in May, as cases surged.

Hernandez returned to work, still unsure where he caught COVID-19 and resentful that he was blamed by some for shutting down the rodeo.

What would have happened if they had continued going? Was Houston ready for it? Absolutely not, he said. So a lot of those people who were talking mad trash to me? I took a bullet for everybody. Without even knowing I did."

At least three others who attended the cook-off caught COVID-19. How many people they infected is unknown.

A note about sourcing

To reconstruct the behind-the-scenes decisions that led to the shutdown of Houstons biggest event, Houston Chronicle reporters sought to answer two critical questions: When did COVID-19 arrive in the nations fourth-largest city? And when did officials know it was spreading out of control?

A team of reporters spent six months scouring tens of thousands of pages of emails, memos, reports, internal documents and text messages obtained through public records requests from eight local agencies. They studied federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and World Health Organization reports.

They interviewed more than 50 people, including COVID-19 patients who attended rodeo events, elected officials, public employees and medical professionals. Whenever possible, they verified accounts with witnesses and documents. Direct quotations used in the story came from contemporaneous recordings, meeting notes, copies of text messages, or the recollections of participants who consented to interviews; in each case, those quotes have been verified by the people to whom they are attributed or a family member. Italics were used when people recalled their own thoughts.

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Mike Morris is a local government enterprise reporter for the Houston Chronicle who has covered City Hall or Harris County government since joining the paper in 2011. He won a Texas Associated Press Managing Editors annual Freedom of Information award and was a Livingston Award finalist for a series of stories documenting rampant mismanagement at the Harris County Housing Authority. You can reach him at mike.morris@chron.com and follow him on Twitter @mmorris011.

Emily Foxhall joined the Houston Chronicle in 2015 as a suburban reporter. She has documented the citys sprawl while playing a key role in the paper's breaking news and enterprise coverage. Her reconstruction of the Santa Fe High School shooting, along with two other colleagues, won first place for feature writing from the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors. She was part of the Chronicle team that was named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for breaking news in 2017 for coverage of Hurricane Harvey. Soon after, she began roaming the state as a storyteller and is now delving into the environment. You can reach her at emily.foxhall@chron.com and follow her on Twitter @emfoxhall.

Alex Stuckey is an investigative reporter for the Houston Chronicle and joined the paper in 2017. That same year, she won a Pulitzer Prize after unearthing the rampant mishandling of sexual assault cases at Utah colleges and universities while working at the Salt Lake Tribune. She is an Investigative Reporters and Editors award winner and a Livingston Award finalist. You can reach her at alex.stuckey@chron.com and follow her on Twitter @alexdstuckey.

Reporter Jordan Rubio contributed to this report.

Design and photo editing by Jasmine Goldband

Editor Susan Carroll

***
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.
If the birds were still singing, I dont remember. During those early days of shelter-in-place, before the stimulus bills and mandatory masks, everything seemed to have gone quiet. Most nights, I would take a walk down Valencia Street at dusk  for exercise, I said, but really it was just out of curiosity, to test and feel the stillness. In those early days, the plywood was the loudest thing about the street.

Each night, I found a new block of shops and restaurants boarded up or maybe a flyer warning others to do the same.

Board-Up Your Business

Better to be SAFE than SORRY

It was the sort of thing you saw before a hurricane, I thought. Then I realized: This was a hurricane.

All around San Francisco, in the Mission and the Castro, in Noe and Hayes valleys, businesses were closing. All that was left was plywood.

But then something else happened. The boards became canvases. Something that had felt so ominous at first was suddenly one of the few places offering beauty in an otherwise ugly time. The city became a living art gallery, with hundreds of new murals telling the story of 2020. Some told us to wash our hands and mask up, others honored essential workers, and many just offered something, anything for our eyes to linger on. When protests erupted following the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and more businesses boarded up, the murals took a more political turn. They memorialized victims of police violence and celebrated Black strength and solidarity. Now even asphalt streets shout Black Lives Matter.

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

Weve come out here almost as first responders, to brighten peoples days, to help businesses look better, says Mark Harris, a San Francisco artist. We beautify a space as well as get people to think about everything thats going on.

Its not a stretch to say that this moment is an unprecedented one for visual and political art in the Bay Area. Artists and curators and historians have to stretch back to the 60s and the murals made during the civil rights movement to find something comparable. Already community organizations and art institutions are planning for the day when the boards come down, discussing how to archive, show the works and place them in the proper context  how to save them for future generations.

There will be many ways to retell the turbulent history of 2020, but these murals  so many different images of struggle and resilience  may prove to be the most accessible and the most human.

Now Playing: Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, local artists and community members paint over boarded-up storefronts in Downtown Oakland. The grassroots project responds to the civil unrest over police violence and systemic racism, sparked by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Video: Caron Creighton

If there was a moment when I fully began to understand what was happening, that switch from plywood to art gallery, it was the day I stopped to watch an artist paint an outdoor cafe, all in tones of blue, on the boarded-up windows of an otherwise closed cafe. On the door she had written, Take care of yourself and your neighbors until we dine together again.

I didnt know her name then, but I do now: Inga Bard. She is one of four women who came together to create Paint the Void, a nonprofit that pairs artists with business owners and covers the cost of the murals, plus a little extra. The project started out small. The first Kickstarter campaign was pushing for $15,000 to fund 10 murals.

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

By mid-September, Paint the Void had commissioned 100 murals by 91 artists. Most of the works were done in San Francisco, though theyve commissioned a few in the East Bay. And those murals have led to dozens of other unrelated commissions for the artists involved.

We saw all of the plywood boards going up on our favorite shops, says Shannon Riley, one of four organizers behind the project. It was just turning into this terribly apocalyptic scene.

The goal, then, was straightforward: Make it so people could walk around and feel like this is still our home. Let people know that even if the businesses were closed, theyre still here; theyre just not open now.

Mark Harris was one of their earliest commissions. For the American Civil Liberties Union building in the Financial District, he used a combination of paint and wheat paste to pay homage to Black nurses. A woman looks directly at you, her head at a tilt, her hair in a light blue cap. Healthcare is a human right reads a sticker on her clipboard.

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

After that piece he got tapped to do another and another, both by Paint the Void and independent businesses. Its been project after project after project has opened up to me, he says. I think one of the things that Im really proud of is to really see the visual arts community step up.

Weve been kicked around a lot, but were still here, Harris says. Its really refreshing to see that art matters.

The murals began as a way to add some color back to a scared and quiet city, but they also began to offer a lifeline to the artists. Max Ehrman, another Paint the Void collaborator, says, Theres never been a time like this. He painted a psychedelic lion fish on Chez Maman in Hayes Valley and then sunflowers in red and yellow and orange in lower Nob Hill. To be able to paint (a place like that) is like, whoa, this is a weird time. Suddenly, too, hes seeing the work of dozens and dozens of artists he didnt even know were living in the Bay Area.

Its giving him and others a measure of optimism. I feel hopeful for San Francisco when it comes down to art again, says Irene Hernandez-Feiks, the founder of Wonderland SF gallery. Maybe San Francisco and Oakland are places where artists want to live again.

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

Initially the murals arranged by Paint the Void were anodyne by design. There werent strict rules, but they were expected to be child-friendly and positive in tone, a counter to the oppressive nature of the raging pandemic. But the death of George Floyd changed that.

Paint the Void did an internal audit and found, like many organizations during that period of reckoning, that their numbers were lopsided  white artists were overrepresented. So, they began to direct all their commissions to artists of color. At the same time, they realized positive, apolitical messages wouldnt meet this new moment. As the story of 2020 shifted, so did the tone of the murals.

Meanwhile, in downtown Oakland, businesses along Broadway boarded up in anticipation of protests and artists moved to claim the space, often without explicit permission, to remember the life of George Floyd.

As in San Francisco, the Oakland movement grew organically. Assan Jethmal, owner of Good Mother gallery on 13th Street and co-founder of Endeavors Oakland, didnt ask for city permission as he rallied artists and community members to paint Black Lives Matter along 15th Street in bold yellow letters nearly as big as the road. No government assistance. No city assistance, he says. And from there he started to offer his support where he could, connecting artists and programs with blank spaces. It just turned into this huge 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.

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

When Rosalyn Nash, the director of the Peoples Conservatory, an arts nonprofit, reached out, Jethmal found the organization some empty space on two plywood panels on the corner of 15th Street. There the groups volunteers painted a mural in honor of Breonna Taylor on what would have been her 27th birthday. Her face is surrounded by bright, full flowers  they extend around the corner, filling the blank space around the name Floyd. Nearly 100 people contributed to the mural and they finished in 27 hours.

Its a form of protest, Nash says. Were here. We want to be visualized. These are the things we want to say.

The murals dont stop at Broadway. Near Lake Merritt hundreds of volunteers turned out to paint the words All black trans queer nonbinary womens disabled imprisoned lives matter in a rainbow of colors along Bellevue Avenue. Kin Folkz, a.k.a. Monica Anderson, organized the effort through the Queer Healing Arts Center without going to the city for permission. Folkz realized the mural alongside Guerrilla Davis, Janetta Johnson, graphic designer Nkosi Smith, 12 other artists and hundreds of volunteers.

We knew that if we sought out permits, it would not happen, Folkz says. Street art, public art, accessible art is necessary for the kinds of dialogue we need to have to save our lives. Along with the mural, the group published a 10-point pledge for a more equitable future that asks for shelter, a redistribution of police funds and the end of solitary confinement.

This art, in other words, cant be separated from the political.

Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle

Find out more For questions about mural sponsorship and/or preservation: Paint the Void (San Francisco) www.paintthevoid.org Contact: Shannon Riley, (508) 523-4944 or shannon@building180.com Endeavors Oakland www.endeavors-oakland.com Contact: (415) 610-0803 info@endeavors-oakland.com Black Cultural Zone (Oakland) www.blackculturalzone.org/preservation Contact: info@blackculturalzone.org Queer Healing Arts Center (Oakland) www.queerartscenter.com Contact: ourkinfolkz@gmail.com See More Collapse

The painting has not stopped. This month, Paint the Void will celebrate its 100th mural, the Peoples Conservatory has set up a new mural program, and Folkz has plans for future acts of protest through art. But already, boards are coming down as shop owners and restaurateurs reopen and make an uneasy way back toward normalcy.

What will happen to the murals? A painting on plywood is not quite ephemera, but neither is it the sort of art that typically hangs in galleries or is acquired by museums. But there are signs that this collection may be archived and preserved. Paint the Void plans to photograph the murals theyve commissioned and combine them into a book; meanwhile, the group is working with business owners and artists to find storage space and potential exhibition opportunities. From the beginning, its been clear the artists own their work.

In Oakland, the nonprofit Black Cultural Zone is leading an effort to identify the authors of works and initiate an archival process. The group is getting the word out to artists that they can help with removing, transporting and storing the panels. We really felt like this had to be more than an art project, says Randolph Belle, an artist working with the organization. The focus had to be as much on the impetus for the artwork, which was the loss of a Black life, as it was on the artwork itself.

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

He estimates that there are hundreds of Oakland murals  downtown and in the Temescal, Fruitvale and Laurel neighborhoods  that will need saving. The group is partnering with a number of institutions, including the Oakland Museum of California, both to archive the pieces and to initiate programming around the artists, their work and their role in racial healing. At some point down the road, the Zone will present a sort of retrospective, featuring a wide selection of murals.

For now there are more questions than answers. Theres still the complicated task of understanding what they have, how each piece and its author fit into the context of the wider movement, Belle says. But you dont curate as you collect. The goal right now is more straightforward: Preserve this vast visual history of 2020.

Ryan Kost is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rkost@sfchronicle.com
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg attended Cornell University on a full scholarship, majoring in government, serving as chair of the Womens Vocational Information Committee and graduating near the top of her class in 1954.

But the Ivy League institution in Ithaca was also where the historic jurist developed her passion for gender equality and civil rights.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a true hero and a giant of American jurisprudence. A relentless champion of equity, she... Posted by Cornell University on Friday, September 18, 2020
Donald Trump is a very bad debater. Donald Trump is very difficult to debate.

These two seemingly contradictory statements are equally true. He's a dangerous opponent. In 2016, it was because he had nothing to lose. Now, it's because he has everything to lose.

I would know. In the last cycle, I had a unique assignment: playing Trump's stand-in during Hillary Clinton's mock debates. Before donning the ill-fitting suit I had tailored, my preparation included studying the 11 Republican primary debates in which Trump participated, watching each three times: once start to finish; then only exchanges involving Trump; and finally only Trump, standing at a lectern in my living room with the sound off to focus entirely on his gestures and body language.

Mimicking his appearance, gesticulations and histrionics aside, my overall approach meant zeroing in on the four topics that obsessed Trump: immigration, Obamacare, trade and "the swamp." When he was on offense, his attacks on (and nicknames for) Clinton were honed and simple by the time the debates began in September. But he rarely, if ever, defended himself. No matter the attack against him - and there were some doozies - he dispensed with them quickly. And in the GOP primary debates, his answers involved three parts: I am great; you are terrible; and a nonsensical digression that often changed the subject entirely.

Four years later, Trump is not different, but the circumstances are. The Trump we see at the first presidential debate in Cleveland on Tuesday may be even harder to debate than last time, because whatever ability he possessed to engage has been subsumed by a constant need to launch into tirades over grievances. ("I sort of prepare every day by just doing what I'm doing," he told "Fox and Friends" about his pre-debate regimen.) He exists in a double bubble - isolated in the Oval Office, consuming and regurgitating nothing but friendly right-wing media and Twitter bile. And he's desperate: The debate presents the first big chance to shake up a race he's losing, but he doesn't seem to have a plan to turn things around other than to hope for Joe Biden to collapse. After studying Trump in 2016, and our national tutorial every day since, here's what I think Biden can expect as they face off three times over the next 24 days. (Although it was never really in doubt that Trump would debate, expect grumbling after the first exchange about being treated unfairly and noise about skipping the two others.)

Debates are an opportunity to speak directly to voters. If you're doing it right as a candidate, you're just a more distilled version of your usual self. If you're grasping for a debate strategy, you have bigger problems than debating: Your message should be a simple extension of your overall campaign message and strategy. Biden has both. Trump has neither.

Some armchair pundits hold that debates don't matter, which is absurd. Of course a 90-minute performance in front of a Super Bowl-size TV audience can affect the vote. The valid question is how much they matter. Clinton, after all, clearly won the debates against Trump.

One challenge is about style: Biden will be doing some actual debating while Trump verbally hopscotches around, telling us how perfect his call to the Ukrainian president was. How smoothly he handled the final 10 feet of the slippery ramp. Interpreting coronavirus charts. Boasting about how he nailed his cognitive test.

On any given day, Trump decides whether he wants to speak, and where and when. What to talk about. Whether to take questions, and if so, from whom. How long to let reporters speak before interrupting and berating them. And he decides when he has had enough.

That's not a debate, and it leaves him ill-equipped for one. Because the 2016 Trump with the clear message, honed attack and efficient defense mechanism has given way to something else: a politician who cannot articulate his vision for a second term. On offense, he's a mess; he can't settle on an overarching attack on Biden, or even two. Even his already-overrated nicknaming skills have all but failed him. As for defense, his existence now entirely involves explaining, misdirecting, denying - whatever it takes to address every item on his grievance list. Which is as long as his tie.

Trump will certainly check the "consistency" box: He will be the same on Tuesday as he was two Tuesdays ago, as he was in July, as he will be in October. But that person is losing. So he has to change the trajectory of the race. In the context of the debates, there are two simple ways to accomplish that: by doing really well and/or by forcing Biden do very badly. (Curiously, Trump's overall strategy has been to hope for Biden to make enough unforced errors for Trump to win. Setting aside the likelihood of any debate moment being so catastrophic that Biden couldn't recover during two more debates and a month of campaigning, it's an awfully passive plan.)

It is easy to say someone needs to be prepared for anything and everything. That's typically rhetorical. Here, Biden does, in fact, need to be ready for the unexpected, because Trump has proven he'll say anything and everything.

If I were reprising my 2016 role for Biden's debate prep, I would add a few wrinkles. I'd make sure to take a jackhammer to the English language: stopping short, declaring war on proper nouns, the things Trump does daily that leave the listener knowing he just screwed up but not always sure how. Just as you squint and say "huh?" after Trump's garbles, Biden will have the same impulse. And although it would guarantee him a spot in the debate Hall of Fame, a Hillary-esque full body shimmy might not look the same on Biden.

You don't need to watch dozens of hours of video to know that Trump's focus is less like a laser and more like a disco ball. Debates, however, ostensibly have a topical structure. In a July interview, Tuesday's moderator, Fox News host Chris Wallace, proved that he can handle Trump. But he will have his hands full trying to keep the president on the six topics announced in advance. In one remarkable answer to a question about Social Security reform during a 2016 Republican debate, Trump took a tortured detour that ended with North Korea's military - in just 17 seconds. Biden cannot rely on Wallace to keep Trump engaged in a coherent conversation. He'll have to find ways to prevent Trump from hijacking the proceedings to indulge one of his preferred rants.

Biden has a few basic decisions to make about his approach. Some are obvious. Others, such as staying high vs. going low, trigger Talmudic-level disagreements. For instance, when Trump attacks Biden's family as corrupt, of course no Democrat would argue that he should simply stand there and take it. Even Michelle Obama added this caveat to her famous admonition: "Going high does not mean putting on a smile and saying nice things when confronted by viciousness and cruelty." . But does Biden turn the question around toward Trump's family? Ivanka Trump is the most obvious target, as a government employee who still has business interests in China. But attacking Trump's eldest daughter is far more fraught than, say, going after his son Donald Jr. Identifying - let alone navigating - these lines on live TV is never simple.

The best way to deal with Trump, though, won't be to try to fact-check him in real time or to let lies and absurdities go in the hope that moderators - or viewers - catch them. There's a third option: Preempt the president. Clearly and strongly preview for the 100 million people watching what will happen in the debate as soon it begins. Biden should say early on that we all know what's coming. Not to remind voters. But to remind Trump, by speaking on behalf of the majority of the country, that everyone is on to him, in a reversal of Trump's favorite "everyone is saying" paralipsis device:

"C'mon, Mr. President. Everyone knows that whatever you call fake is real. Whatever you call a lie is the truth. Whatever you accuse others of doing is what you've done. And whatever you makes fun of me for saying by accident only serves to deflect from what you say on purpose."

The 2020 version of Trump is constantly winging it, hoping voters will forget what he has said and done while focusing on his grievance du jour. He needs everyone watching the debate to pretend he never said there were only a few cases of the coronavirus in the United States, or that it would be gone in a week, or that he confessed, on tape, to lying about its lethality.

In the end, both men's debate preparations rely on what they have done over the course of the entire campaign.

For the last 18 months, Joe Biden has debated Donald Trump on the issues from afar. Over that same period, Trump has done nothing but assault Biden's character. Trump's debate preparations - "what I'm doing" every day - are the first in history to include behavior that ended up in impeachment.

In Cleveland, an unshrinking force will meet an unvarying object.

---

Reines is a former deputy assistant secretary of state and senior adviser to Hillary Clinton and a visiting lecturer at Tufts University's Tisch College.
With air and sea borders closed for months and eight cities barring people from entering or leaving, Morocco has been pulling out the stops to stanch the spread of coronavirus.

Still, the kingdom on the Atlantic coast, a magnet for tourists in better times, has registered more than 110,000 positive cases since March and has a death toll of 2,041 _ the highest among its North African neighbors.

Morocco first decreed lockdown measures on March 20, but has been gradually easing restrictions. A recent upsurge in infections, however, has forced targeted measures.

Marrakech, a major tourist destination, is at a standstill, while police checks are part of the scenery in hard-hit Casablanca, the country's economic powerhouse. Police are out in the markets, streets, drug-dealers' haunts and closed-off beaches, with military vehicles occasionally rolling by. They are a no-nonsense signal for citizens to respect the country's strict orders to contain the virus.

In the northern city of Tangiers, military vehicles were deployed last month to help enforce measures there. Movement between the city and others was stopped, as it was in Casablanca, barring exceptional authorizations.

In Casablanca, tough measures to keep people from leaving town are in place. Police at blockades focus on taxis, buses, freight trucks and private ambulances, vehicles known to be used by those trying to sneak out of town, said Karim El Idrani, commander of the Al Fida police district.

In Rabat, the political capital and site of the main palace of King Mohamed VI, police are posted at entrances and exits _ although the city is not closed. Still, occupants of vehicles venturing into town are asked to show proof of residency, or provide authorization if traveling in from elsewhere, especially closed-off cities, or risk fines.

The director of epidemiology at the Health Ministry, Mohamed Lyoubi, conceded during a webinar that he expects the situation to worsen over winter as the flu season overlaps with the COVID-19 pandemic.

``Many hospitals and test sites for the coronavirus are expected to reach capacity,'' Lyoubi said. ``The situation will also affect the ability of health authorities to carry out case investigations and ensure contact follow-up and monitoring of patients treated at home.''

Morocco's testing program is increasingly overwhelmed. Long lines for testing are now common outside hospitals and laboratories in Moroccan cities.

With a rise in cases, hospitals have been struggling to keep up with the growing influx of patients, and some intensive care units are reaching full capacity. Last month, health workers staged a protest outside Ibn Zohr Hospital in Marrakech to demand better working conditions. Photos showing COVID-19 patients lining the corridors of the overcrowded hospital, with some lying on the floor, caused an uproar on social media.

Medical professionals held similar protests elsewhere, claiming that some health facilities are understaffed and lack protective equipment for workers. The Health Ministry has sought to remedy the situation by setting up field hospitals.

The rise in cases has come as a blow to Morocco, which had been phasing out lockdown measures. On July 19, it began a third phase of gradually lifting its lockdown and foreign business visitors were allowed to enter the kingdom starting Sept. 10.

But Casablanca doubled down after its infection rate began climbing. The city hosts 42% of the daily reported cases, 40% of the serious cases and 38% of the deaths recorded at the national level, according to Health Minister Khalid Ait Taleb. To counter the surge, schools were forced to close again, with the adoption of remote education. Markets, cafes, shops and restaurants were ordered to close early. The city enacted a curfew between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Police set up roadblocks and patrols to enforce compliance.

The Moroccan monarch said last month that ``if figures continue to increase, the COVID-19 Scientific Committee may recommend another (full) lockdown, perhaps with even tighter restrictions.''

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We call on the parties [to the Karabakh conflict] to immediately cease fire and start negotiations to stabilize the situation, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued a few hours after the outbreak of the large-scale hostilities.

The statement did not blame the Armenian or Azerbaijani sides for the escalation, noting only intensive shelling from both sides along the Line of Contact east and north of Karabakh.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was reported to express serious concern over the hostilities in a phone call with his Armenian counterpart Zohrab Mnatsakanian. The Russian Foreign Ministry said Lavrov will speak with Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov shortly.

According to a separate ministry statement, Lavrov also telephoned Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to discuss the worst escalation of the Karabakh conflict in years. He stressed the need for a quick end to the fighting, said the statement.

Turkey blamed Armenia for the latest hostilities in line with its unconditional support for Azerbaijan. It has stepped up that support in recent months, pledging greater military assistance to Baku. Yerevan has accused Ankara of heightening tensions in the conflict zone.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry said earlier in the day that Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanian is in touch with the U.S., Russian and French mediators co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group. It did not give details.

For his part, Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan telephoned Andrzej Kasprzyk, the head of a small OSCE mission monitoring the ceasefire regime in the conflict zone, to brief him on the situation on the ground.

We strongly condemn the use of force and regret the senseless loss of life, including civilians, the Minsk Group co-chairs said in a joint statement issued in the afternoon. The Co-Chairs appeal to the sides to cease hostilities immediately and to resume negotiations to find a sustainable resolution of the conflict.

As recently as on September 14, the co-chairs met in Paris and urged Baku and Yerevan to prepare the ground for resuming peace talks.
Midland County recorded six new confirmed COVID-19 cases Saturday, according to the afternoon state report, bringing the pandemic total to 505 cases, 100 probable cases and 11 deaths.

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.

As of 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, Central Michigan District Health Department has identified 318 cases (302 confirmed and 16 probable) related to students returning to the Mount Pleasant area. Case counts include current students, former students and those living both inside and outside of the community who were identified as being associated with other cases related to return to school, according to the department's final press release on the subject.

Saturday, Sept. 26 daily numbers

Bay County: Four cases were added; pandemic total stands at 905 cases, 97 probable, 50 deaths.

Gladwin County: One case was added; pandemic total stands at 85 cases, 11 probable, two deaths.

Isabella County: Five cases were added; pandemic total stands at 626 cases, 74 probable, 13 deaths.

Saginaw County: 10 cases were added; pandemic total stands at 2,726 cases, 206 probable, 135 deaths and four probable deaths.

On Saturday, the state added 901 new cases and 15 deaths. Overall, Michigan is at 121,427 cases and 6,723 deaths.

Testing

The state report shows as of Sept. 26, Midland County has performed 13,599 diagnostic tests and 1,679 serology (antibodies) tests, totaling 15,278 tests. Gladwin County is listed as having administered 5,192 diagnostic tests and 228 serology (antibodies) tests, totaling 5,420 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.

Recovered

The state lists the total recovered at 95,051 cases, as of Sept. 25, which represents COVID-19 confirmed individuals with an onset date on or prior to Aug. 19, according to the state website, mich.gov.

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.

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.
Senior Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) leader Uma Bharti, who has tested positive for Covid-19 after Kedarnath-Badrinath yatra, has informed through social media that she is under home-isolation and is getting all possible treatment from doctors in Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand. She denied contracting virus from priests, adding that her driver was positive for the virus.

Manoj Bahukhandi, chief medical officer (CMO) Pauri Garhwal district, where the leader is under isolation said, A medical team from Yamkeshwar block of the district is continuously in touch with her and providing all possible assistance to her.

Bharti had visited the Kedarnath shrine on Monday (September 21) where she offered prayers following all safety norms. She had visited Badrinath shrine in Chamoli district on September 24.

On Sunday, Bharti tweeted, After the news of me being coronavirus positive spread, all my well-wishers are very worried. I am here in Vande Mataram Kunj, surrounded by the Ganges stream, in the foothills of the Himalayas. All medical facilities are available here and All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, is just a few a kilometres away. The district administration of Pauri Garhwal is also very alert and taking good care of me.

Also read: Aware of studies that claim Covid-19 can affect heart, says Harsh Vardhan

The leader further said that through media, she has learnt that she contracted the virus after coming in contact with the priests in the Himalayan state, which she denied and condemned.

The priests and saints should not be blamed. My driver was Covid-19 positive and we did not know about it, I might have contracted the virus from him. I followed all norms of safety and social distancing, so the priests should not be blamed, she tweeted.

On Saturday night, the leader, through her social media profile, informed that she got tested because she was down with a mild fever for three days and was positive for the virus despite following all Covid-19 norms, including social distancing.
NEW DELHI: In coma for the last six years, former Union Defence Minister Jaswant Singh breathed his last on Sunday. He was 82 and died after a prolonged illness.

In 2014, he was admitted to the Army (Research and Referral) Hospital in Delhi following a severe head injury after he suffered a fall at his residence.

Indian Army Research and Referral hospital in Delhi stated that Singh had a cardiac arrest on Sunday morning. "Despite the best efforts of the attending team of specialists to resuscitate him, he could not be revived and passed away at 6.55 a.m. on September 27 2020."

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Jaswant Singh held Defence, External Affairs and Finance portfolios in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government. He was one of the founder members of the BJP.

Given that he had retired as a Major-rank officer from the Indian Army, it was no surprise that he was very punctual in his meetings with different people. And even though he was from an Army background, he not only handled the porfolios of defence, but also finance and external affairs in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee governments. He was one of the key Ministers who were in the forefront when Vajpayee's government was in power at the Centre at different points in time.

Jaswant Singh, who hailed from Rajasthan, first served as the Union Finance Minister in the shortlived Vajpayee government in 1996. He became the External Affairs Minister in the next Vajpayee-led government (1998-2002). Later, he was again given the charge of finance in 2002. The veteran leader was also Deputy Chairman of then Planning Commission at one point in time.

Considered close to Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani, the BJP leader was made the Defence Minister following the resignation of George Fernandes after the latter's name cropped up in a defence scam.

An astute politician, Jaswant Singh hogged media limelight the world over when he was tasked to hold talks with the Taliban for the release of passengers of an Indian Airlines flight hijacked in December 1999. He even escorted three terrorists, accused of various crimes that included the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, to Afghanistan to swap in lieu of the safe release of 190 passengers.

After the 1998 nuclear tests by India, Jaswant Singh was deputed by then Prime Minister Vajpayee to engage the US in strategic talks.

After the BJP party lost power at the Centre in 2004 to the United Progressive Alliance, Jaswant Singh served as Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha from 2004 to 2009.

The veteran leader stirred a controversy after the BJP suffered its second successive defeat in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections by circulating a note to demand a thorough discussion on the poll debacle.

He again faced a backlash in 2009 from certain quarters after a book authored by him on Pakistan leader Muhammad Ali Jinnah, entitled 'Jinnah: India-Partition-Independence' was released. He had written sympathetically about the founder of Pakistan. Later, the BJP leader was marginalised within the party and subsequently expelled.

He was reinducted into the party after 10 months but faced a second expulsion a few years later. In 2014, he had a bitter fallout with the party after he ws denied a Lok Sabha ticket to contest from Barmer in Rajasthan. He, however, decided to challenge the BJP decision and fought the election as an Independent candidate but lost to Colonel Sona Ram, fielded by his former party. This was the last election he contested as an Independent.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Singh had declared his assets in an affidavit, according to which he owned a herd of 51 Tharparkar cows and 3 Arabian horses among other movable assets.

He told that he has 51 cows and three Arabian horses. They have cows of the Tharparkar variety which are cows of the local species and are kept in their farm in Jaisalmer and Jodhpur. While two horses were gifted to him by Prince of Saudi Arabia, one was born in India, said the affidavit submitted by him to the election commission. Singh owns one tractor, one fiat car, one Tata Safari and one Tata Marina car and his wife has three vehicles, including two Toyota Innova, it said.
Hong Kong: 6 COVID-19 cases in HK

(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating six additional COVID-19 cases, of which one is locally transmitted and five are imported.

At a press briefing this afternoon, the centre's Communicable Disease Branch Head Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan said the local case involves a 22-year-old man who works as a construction worker at a site in Kai Tak.

She added that nine workers who had close contact with him have to be quarantined.

Because for construction site workers there are many job types and under the same job type they are managed by one company, so around 10 workers have a close working relationship with each other.

They may have meals together in a common room and take a rest there, so we consider them as close contacts.

And two of the close contacts had some symptoms when we found them last night and sent them to hospital.

Dr Chuang also said there are about 500 workers from different companies working at the site.

Because they work in the same workplace, we have distributed deep throat saliva (specimen) bottles to them in case there are chains of transmission.

The centre also distributed specimen bottles to residents of the building where the patient lives.

The imported cases are from the Philippines, Tunisia, India and the UK.

For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage.

This story has been published on: 2020-09-27. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 14:39:40|Editor: huaxia

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NEW DELHI, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- India's main ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost its oldest alliance partner -- the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) after it announced its withdrawal from the country's ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as a mark of protest against the recent farm bills passed in the parliament, a senior SAD leader confirmed on Sunday.

SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal reportedly told media that the farm bills passed by the Indian parliament were detrimental to the farmers' interests.

Badal's wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal had resigned from the federal cabinet earlier this month. She had held the portfolio of minister of food processing industries.

Tens of thousands of farmers had been protesting in several Indian states, particularly in north India, over the past few days against the federal government's recently passed farm bills.

The SAD is a key political party in the country's northern state of Punjab. It had been in the BJP-led NDA for over 22 years.

Currently the NDA comprises of nearly 30 political parties. Besides the BJP, all others are small state-level political parties.

Late last year, the Shiv Sena, a major political party in southwestern state of Maharashtra, moved away from the alliance citing political differences with the BJP.

Despite the SAD's withdrawal from the NDA, the alliance government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi enjoys the support of more than 330 lawmakers in lower house of parliament -- the Lok Sabha out of the total strength of 543.

The BJP alone has over 300 lawmakers in the house. Enditem
Thousands of patients have been left waiting longer for basic scans to diagnose illnesses, leading to warnings about a lack of capacity in Irish hospitals heading into winter.

New waiting list data obtained by the Sunday Independent shows large groups of patients face increased waits for CT scans or an MRI because of the pandemic. A consultant has warned a resulting delayed diagnosis increases health risks for patients.

Nationally there are almost 113,000 patients waiting for such scans, a 3pc increase since April. However, the number of patients waiting more than a year increased by 25,615 (21pc) between April and the end of July. The number of patients waiting 12 to 15 months for an MRI or CT scan increased by a third (1,870) during this period.

Meanwhile, the number of children waiting 12 to 15 months for MRIs, CTs, and ultrasounds at Temple Street, Tallaght, and Crumlin hospitals doubled since the end of last year. On average, the number of children waiting more than a year for the diagnostic scans increased by 51pc between January and the end of June.

Data from the HSE and Children's Health Ireland (CHI) shows:

The number of patients waiting three to six months, six to nine months or nine to 12 months increased by a quarter between April and July.

Some 5,415 more patients (out of 27,540) have been waiting between three and six months for an appointment for CT and MRI scans compared with the period before hospitals had to curtail procedures due to the pandemic.

At the end of June there were 125pc more children waiting 12 to 15 months for MRIs, CTs or ultrasounds than at the end of 2019. This number increased from 259 to 583 in six months.

More than 1,906 children have been waiting more than a year for MRIs, CTs and ultrasounds. This is 646 more than six months earlier.

Irish Hospital Consultant Association president Professor Alan Irvine said these delays are problematic for patients. He said waiting lists highlight capacity deficits in the health system.

Irvine called for 500 new consultants and 2,000 extra beds to help with delays. "Unfortunately, heading to winter we just don't have enough scanners, consultants or space," he added.

"I think everyone should be worried. I don't want to create panic, but we are going to face difficult choices.

"We are going to have to cancel work we want to do at some point.

"I think we are going to struggle with trolleys because the trolley counts have been over 200 most days recently.

"This will delay diagnostics like scans and scopes. All of these things, if they are delayed, you can get delayed cancer diagnoses which are more difficult to treat and have worse outcomes and that means patients are in hospital for longer."

A spokeswoman for CHI recognised "too many are waiting too long for their appointments" and said efforts are being made to reduce waiting times.

"In the short term, CHI is currently looking at increasing access to MRI slots in the private sector," she said.

"This will assist in shortening waiting lists and with meeting the increasing demand on the MRI service. CHI is also reviewing investment in MRI infrastructure into the future which will include additional MRI machines at CHI at Crumlin and Temple Street," she added.

Irish Patients' Association director Stephen McMahon said these trends are being repeated across the health service.

National Treatment Purchase Fund waiting lists show at the end of August there were 77,620 active in-patients waiting for surgeries. Of these, 17,244 had been waiting 12 months or more.

A total of 610,996 patients were awaiting their first visit to a consultant. Of these, 254,289 have been waiting a year or more.

Mr McMahon said there was particular concern about gynaecology delays.

"Since Covid-19 the number awaiting an outpatient appointment has grown by 10pc and waiting more than 12 months is up 41pc," he added.

A spokeswoman for the HSE said urgent surgeries are being prioritised.

She said in-patient, out-patient and elective activity is significantly down on last year because of the pandemic. It has recently started to edge closer to normal levels, but "continues to be impacted by infection control and social distancing measures".

She said the private system would be utilised to relieve pressure on the public system for diagnostic care and "to secure elective and time-dependent services from providers on a sustained basis". A procurement process for elective and time-dependent services is under way.

"We expect to conclude this process during October and activate the arrangements as soon as possible," she added.
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Private sector lender, Lakshmi Vilas Bank (LVB) on September 27 said its liquidity position continues to remain strong and it has a fully functional board despite the rejection of seven directors by shareholders at the recent annual general meeting (AGM).

Certain news items have appeared, expressing concerns about governance of the bank. Based on voting results of the 93rd Annual General Meeting reappointment of seven directors were not approved. However, the bank continues to have a fully functional Board of Directors including three independent directors, LVB said in a release.

The bank's liquidity position as on date is comfortable, with liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) of around 262 percent against a minimum 100 percent required by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the lender said, adding, the management continues to enforce direct and indirect cost reduction measures.

Provision coverage ratio (PCR) remains healthy at 72.6 percent as against the minimum 70 percent prescribed under RBI's Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework.

Besides existing business, the bank will continue its focus on capital-light loans. All existing employees will continue to be in full service and remain ever committed as usual to serve customers, the bank said.

Shareholders of LVB have rejected proposals to appoint seven directors to the board, including the Managing Director and CEO S Sundar, the lender said in an exchange communication to exchanges on September 26.

They also voted against the re-appointment of statutory auditors (P Chandrasekar LLP, Chartered Accountants) and branch auditors. Branch auditor is appointed in consultation with the statutory auditor.

These resolutions were taken up at the AGM on September 25, which was held through videoconferencing. Other directors whose appointments were not cleared by shareholders are N Saiprasad, Gorinka Jaganmohan Rao, Raghuraj Gujja, KR Pradeep, BK Manjunath and YN Lakshminarayana Murthy.

Since the appointment of statutory auditor is opposed, the appointment of the branch auditor is also opposed.

Moneycontrol first reported this story on September 26 that section of shareholders have voted against the appointments of seven directors and auditors.

Shareholders also approved increase in the authorised share capital to Rs. 1,000 crore, subject to RBI approval, via a follow-on public offer (FPO), rights issue, qualified (QIP) or other available routes to raise capital.

The management said it will continue the process of considering and evaluating the proposed amalgamation of the Clix Group, and the mutual due-diligence has been substantially completed.
Days after a 6-3 U.S. Supreme Court decision outlawed employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, a webinar explored the frustration some Colorado conservatives felt at the consequences, the cases legal reasoning and the man responsible for it.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 21:07:04|Editor: huaxia

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by Sanaa Kamal

RAMALLAH, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The recent agreement that the Palestinian Authority led by President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement announced to join forces with Hamas movement, ruler of the Gaza Strip, to confront Israel was motivated by the unprecedented economic and political crises it has suffered, Palestinian political experts said.

Following a three-day dialogue in Turkey, Fatah and Hamas announced on Thursday that they managed to achieve reconciliation and agreed to hold general elections in the Palestinian territories by the end of 2020.

According to a joint statement sent to Xinhua, their final agreement will be announced before Oct. 1 in an online conference chaired by Abbas and in the presence of secretaries-general of 14 Palestinian factions.

However, experts believe that the latest reconciliation announcement came after the Palestinian Authority had exhausted all its other options to iron out the political and economic crises that have engulfed the West Bank, especially given the fact that the Authority has severed all its diplomatic relations with Israel and the U.S. government and a few more Arab countries have normalized with Israel.

Adnan Abu Amer, a Gaza-based political expert, told Xinhua that Abbas has changed his tactics to confront U.S.-Israeli plans by involving Hamas in the battle.

Abbas "would like to use Hamas as a magic wand to threat Israel, especially in the West Bank, by allowing it to practise its political role," Abu Amer said.

Still, he expressed his fears that Abbas' efforts might come too late amid the deteriorating situation in the West Bank and Gaza, to say nothing of the declining significance of the Palestinian cause at the regional and international levels.

"The U.S., Israel and some Arab countries threaten Abbas and are likely preparing alternatives to replace him," Abu Amer explained.

In recent months, the Palestinian Authority's fiscal revenues have slumped by 80 percent as a result of its tax row with Israel, a sharp decline in foreign aid, and an economic plight from the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing the layoffs of 50 percent of the Authority's employees.

Samir Abdullah, director general of Palestine Economic Policy Research Insititute-MAS, warned that the financial crisis "may soon turn into an escalation on the ground, especially in the West Bank."

"Israel threatens to expel the Palestinians from history and geography," Abdullah said.

The last Palestinian elections for the legislative council were held at the beginning of 2006 and resulted in the victory of Hamas.

The Palestinians have suffered from an internal division since mid-2007, when Hamas took over the Gaza Strip by force after routing Abbas' security forces. Enditem
Dublin, Sept. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "2030 Allowances Price and GHG Emissions Forecast for WCI Carbon Market" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The California Air Resources Board (CARB), provides annual emissions data for each facility within an organization. California Carbon compiles that data and segregates facilities into nine sectors. The publisher then looks at sector-wise macroeconomic indicators to derive a usable correlation between variables to provide the forecast up to 2030. In the emissions forecast for 2018, an accuracy of 99.6% was achieved against actual data. This report provides a forecast for emissions, supply-demand, and prices up to the year 2030.



The report is segregated into six sections. Section one of the report gives an overview of the present WCI market emissions. The reported emissions data from 2018 is analyzed by sector and major entity. Section two of the report evaluates how regulations have evolved over time, and how market prices have been affected by these regulatory shifts. Section three presents the sectoral emissions forecast through to 2030. Consequently, California Carbon Allowance (CCA) supply-demand forecast is laid out in section four. Section five builds on this balance to give a 2030 WCI price forecast. Whilst section six concludes some of the research and provides an opinion on the program's future.



On the 4th November 2019, the California Air Resources Board released the annual GHG emissions for all entities listed to report their emissions under the cap-and-trade program. A total of 319,882,513 MtCO2e was reported for the year 2018, 0.22% lower than the previous year. Of the 814 entities listed in the report, 410 entities reported emissions greater than 25,000 MtCO2e; slightly lower than the 416 entities for the report year 2017. 25,000 MtCO2e is the threshold for involvement in the Cap-and-Trade (CaT) market.



Transportation Fuel and CO2 suppliers are the largest emitters under the cap-and-trade program. In 2018, the emissions reported for the sector was 159.54MMt CO2e. The forecast presents a consequent decline in emissions by 0.33% (0.53 MMt CO2e), to 159MMt CO2 for the year 2019.



Natural Gas Suppliers sector reported the second-largest emissions for the year 2018 at 44.3MMt CO2e. The emissions forecast corresponds to a decline of 1.43% (0.63MMt CO2e), closing at 44.70MMt CO2e for the year 2019.



In the year 2018, Refineries and Hydrogen plants sector accounted for 11.06% (35.379MMt CO2e) of total emissions. The forecast suggests a decrease in emissions by 0.077MMt CO2e, summing up to 35.30MMt CO2e for the year 2019. The sector is expected to reduce overall emissions marginally all the way up to 2030.



Fossil fuel electricity generation gauged a total of 31.30MMt CO2e in 2018, 1.4% (0.42MMt CO2e) higher than 2017. The forecast suggests a decrease in sectoral emission by 0.42MMt CO2e, from 31.30MMt CO2e (2018) to 30.88MMt CO2e (2019).



Emissions from Electricity importers accounted for 18.79MMt CO2e in the year 2018. The emissions for the year 2019 are expected to be nearing 18.96MMt CO2e, a slight annual increase with falls to come over the following years.



Oil and Gas Production reported GHG emissions at 14.04MMt CO2e for the year 2018. The forecast presents a decrease of 0.2MMt CO2e, amounting to 13.8MMt CO2e in the year 2019. Other Combustion Sources reported emission at 8.28MMt CO2 for the year 2018. The forecast suggests a decrease of 0.027MMt CO2e, closing at 8.30MMt CO2e for the year 2019.





Story continues

Key Topics Covered:





1 Context for the market



2 WCI Regulatory Timeline

2.1 CaliforniaCarbon.info Model Update on the proposed entry of Oregon in the Cap and Trade

program



3 California GHG Emissions Forecast

3.1 Forecast Methodology

3.2 Long-term sectoral emissions forecast

3.3 Sectoral breakdown of forecasted emissions and production

3.4 Other Cogeneration

3.5 WCI's GHG emissions forecast



4 Supply- Demand Forecast of Carbon Allowances in WCI



5 WCI Carbon allowance price forecast

5.1 Assumptions:

5.2 Allowance price forecast under base case emissions scenario:

5.3 Allowance price forecast under low case emissions scenario

5.4 Allowance price forecast under high emissions case scenario

5.5 Offsets



6 Looking ahead





Companies Mentioned



Aera Energy

Berry Petroleum Company

California Resources Corporation

Chevron USA

Long Beach Gas and Oil Department

Pacific Gas and Electric

Phillips 66 Company

Rio Tinto Minerals

San Diego Gas and Electric

Sempra Gas and Power Marketing

Shell Oil Products US

Southern California Gas Company

Southwest Gas Distribution Facilities

Tesoro Refining and Marketing Company

Valero Refining Company

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/2rhzvy

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.

CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900




Vodafone wins international arbitration against India in $2 billion tax case The Vodafone logo can be seen on top of a building outside Madrid, Spain

By Aditi Shah

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Vodafone Group Plc said on Friday it had won an international arbitration case against the Indian government, ending one of the most high-profile disputes in the country involving a $2 billion tax claim.

An international arbitration tribunal in The Hague ruled that India's imposition of a tax liability on Vodafone, as well as interest and penalties, were in a breach of an investment treaty agreement between India and the Netherlands, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said.

India had claimed a total of 279 billion rupees ($3.79 billion) including about $2 billion in tax, as well as interest and penalties, one of the sources said.

The tribunal, in its ruling, said the government's demand is in breach of "fair and equitable treatment" and it must cease seeking the dues from Vodafone. It also directed India to pay 4.3 million pounds ($5.47 million) to the company as compensation for its legal costs, one of the sources added.

Vodafone said in a statement the amount of the award was confidential. Shares in the company's India unit, Vodafone Idea, ended 13% higher on Friday.

"The tribunal held that any attempt by India to enforce the tax demand would be a violation of India's international law obligations," Vodafone said in its statement.

India's finance ministry said it will carefully study the award, together with its lawyers. "After such consultations, the government will consider all options and take a decision on further course of action including legal remedies," the ministry said in a statement.

"Vodafone has finally got justice first from the Indian Supreme Court and now from an international arbitral tribunal," said Anuradha Dutt, senior partner at DMD Advocates, an Indian law firm representing the company.

The ruling brings an end to one of the most controversial disputes in India under international treaty agreements that it enters into with countries to protect foreign investments.

Story continues

India is entangled in more than a dozen such cases against companies, including Cairn Energy, over retrospective tax claims and cancellation of contracts. The exchequer could end up paying billions of dollars in damages if it loses.

To reduce future arbitration claims, India has ended such agreements with over 50 countries and is working on a new law to protect foreign investors by offering relief from possible policy changes even as it upholds the right to tax them, Reuters reported.

Vodafone's tax dispute stems from its $11 billion deal to buy the Indian mobile assets from Hutchison Whampoa in 2007. The government said Vodafone was liable to pay taxes on the acquisition, which the company contested.

In 2012, India's top court ruled in favour of the telecom provider but the government changed the rules to enable it to tax deals that had already been concluded.

In 2014, Vodafone initiated arbitration proceedings against India.

(Reporting by Aditi Shah; Editing by Euan Rocha, Robert Birsel and David Evans)
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a measure requiring health providers to track COVID-19 and all other communicable diseases in the LGBTQ community, a step that advocates called crucial for catching outbreaks early and combating stigma in the public-health system.

SB932 by Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, will mandate that health workers ask patients infected with the coronavirus and about 90 other diseases about their sexual orientation and gender identity. Patients could decline to answer.

In a statement, Newsom said Saturday that the data collection is essential to addressing health inequities and designing public health interventions that help Californias diverse communities.

The California Department of Public Health did not require health providers to start gathering data on LGBTQ people who contract the coronavirus until July, and many providers still arent collecting the information. Advocates criticized the delay, saying LGBTQ people are vulnerable to the virus because of underlying health issues such as a higher prevalence of HIV, some cancers and respiratory problems from smoking, as well as elevated levels of homelessness.

Wieners bill makes the data reporting permanent and requires all counties and health providers to ask the same LGBTQ demographic questions.

The state already gathers data on patient race, age and gender for COVID-19 and all other communicable diseases it tracks. LGBTQ leaders say that if the state knows how the coronavirus or other diseases are spreading in a demographic group, health officials can identify outbreaks more quickly and come up with messages that will reach the community.

Rick Zbur, executive director of Equality California, the LGBTQ advocacy group that helped write the bill, said the measure will prevent the community from being neglected by public health officials, as it was during the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1980s.

Nearly four decades after I watched the government look the other way as our community was devastated by the AIDS crisis, I am proud to say California has become the first state to mandate the collection of voluntary LGBTQ+ data for all reportable communicable diseases, Zbur said in a statement.

Newsom signed another bill Saturday by Wiener, SB132, which will allow transgender, intersex and gender nonbinary people incarcerated in California to decide whether to be housed in a mens or womens prison.

In most cases, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation now houses transgender and other gender-variant people in prisons according to their sex assigned at birth.

Advocates and incarcerated transgender people say the current policy exposes them to attacks. Transgender women in California prisons are 13 times more likely to be sexually assaulted than men, and 59% reported being assaulted while in prison, according to a 2007 study by UC Irvine researchers.

In a release by Newsoms office, Wiener thanked the governor for once again proving you are a champion for LGBTQ people.

He called the prison bill life-saving legislation that will protect trans people in prison, particularly trans women who are subject to high levels of assault and harassment in mens facilities.

The health data-gathering measure for LGBTQ people ensures our community will no longer be invisible, and that we will be counted by our public health system, Wiener said. Today is a great day for Californias LGBTQ community and yet another example of Californias deep commitment to LGBTQ equality.

Dustin Gardiner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dustin.gardiner@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @DustinGardiner
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The North Shore Rotary Club recognized three Staten Island Unsung Heroes with the clubs Service Above Self Award recently. The winners were Annemarie Dowling-Castronovo, Carol Bullock and Deanna Di Bartolo.

Through devotion and exemplary efforts, the three honorees embody the clubs motto of Service Above Self and made a positive impact in the life of others through their service and selfless dedication to the community.

This was the first event the North Shore Rotary Club has hosted since March," said Frank Wilkinson, Club President. "This annual tradition of recognizing our community heroes is something we look forward to each year.

It couldnt have been more fitting than to recognize these three ladies for their selfless dedication to Staten Island, especially during the last six months, where their service has certainly been above ones self.

CAROL BULLOCK

Carol Bullock, Executive Director of the Staten Island Pride Center, works tirelessly to build an inclusive community for all through her work at the Center. Since 2017, Carol has doubled the budget and staff of the Center and focuses on relationship building and development as she leads her team in living up to their values  community, brave space, inclusion, and allyship.

During the pandemic, while working in a new environment, the Center continues to offer as many services as possible and has been able to reach more of Staten Islands LGBTQ Community through virtual services.

EVERYDAY HEROES

Annemarie Dowling-Castronovo and Deanna Di Bartolo are just two of Staten Islands Essential Workers, who the club refers to as Everyday Heroes. Both women work at Northwell Health Staten Island University Hospital, and have worked tirelessly through the pandemic.

Castronovo has been a nurse since 1989 and currently practices as a Gerontological Nurse Practitioner on the Interdisciplinary Palliative Care Team. She and her team work together with patients and other doctors to provide an extra layer of support to improve quality of life for patients and their families.

Di Bartolo graduated from the College of Staten Island in 2018, and after working at Silver Lake Nursing Home, accepted a Registered Nurse position in January 2020. While working, Di Bartolo was instrumental in aiding her own family during this time.

Her father, Charlie, tested positive for COVID-19, and suffered through multiple stints in and out of the hospital. Her family credits his survival to Deannas great care.

Previous recipients of the North Shore Rotarys Service Above Self Unsung Heroes Recognition include Greta Andrade, Mary Louise Brown, Patrick Calvo, Nazareth Laursen, Patricia McGee, Beatrice Victor, Mary Voytus and Milton Zlotnick.

ABOUT NORTH SHORE ROTARY

The North Shore Rotary Club has been serving the Staten Island Community since 1957 and meets weekly for fellowship and philanthropy. Rotary is where neighbors, friends, and problem-solvers share ideas, join leaders, and take action to create lasting change. Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the worlds most pressing humanitarian challenges.

Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. For more information, visit Rotary.org.
Houston Methodist West Hospital has achieved a new milestone in aortic valve replacement. On Sept. 14, cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Javier Lafuente and interventional cardiologist Dr. Tariq Dayah successfully performed two transcatheter aortic valve replacements- the first surgeries of their kind in Katy.

The first patient was a 78-year-old, and the second patient was 71. Both patients suffered from aortic valve stenosis.

Also by Claire Goodman:Former Fulshear mayor Viola Randle dies at age 96

The TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure to correct aortic valve stenosis, a narrowing of the valve that obstructs blood flow and can lead to heart failure and death, according to Sarah Lam, senior marketing and communications specialist for Houston Methodist West Hospital.

TAVR offers patients numerous benefits over traditional valve replacement surgery, Lafuente said. With TAVR, we can eliminate the need for open heart surgery. Instead, we access the aortic valve through the femoral artery, or sometimes an incision in the arm, and replace it with a specially designed artificial valve.

Due to the minimally invasive nature of the surgery, the procedure is less dangerous and the recovery is easier. Quality of care is always at the forefront when considering a treatment plan, said Dayah. Patients undergoing TAVR have less pain and discomfort, faster recovery times and shorter stays at the hospital.

Prior to offering the procedure at Houston Methodist West Hospital, patients would have to travel to the main hospital campus in the Texas Medical Center. Now patients can receive both their pre-operative care at the Katy campus and have their surgery there as well.

Previously, we would perform all the pre-TAVR appointments at Houston Methodist West Hospital, and then we would travel with the patient to Houston Methodist Hospital in the Medical Center for the procedure, said Lafuente. Now, a patient can receive all their care here. We have highly specialized imaging capabilities and operating rooms with the necessary equipment this procedure requires.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Missing cold front among Houstonians' biggest pet peeves

Allowing patients to have surgery in their hometown has its benefits as well, the doctors noted.

Not only is it a beneficial procedure, but it can give a patient peace of mind to stay close to home, Dayah said. When youre sick, you dont want to travel far for your treatment. Having all your appointments, surgery and recovery in one location gives patients continuity of care.
An Australian writer who has spent months living in the United States has shared the noticeable differences between the two countries, including how you pay for petrol, use public bathrooms and buy alcohol.

Madolline Gourley, 30, from Brisbane, Queensland, runs an online blog called One Cat At A Time, and prior to the coronavirus lockdown, spent more than two years cat sitting for families in the States.

During those lengthy stays she became acutely aware of the way Americans live their day-to-day lives and how it differs from the Australian lifestyle, from road rules to adding tax to every purchase you make.

So what are the main variances?

Madolline Gourley runs an online blog called One Cat At A Time , and prior to the coronavirus lockdown, spent more than two years cat sitting for families in the States

1. Pay for petrol before filling up

In Madolline's experience Australians will always put petrol in the car first before paying at the counter, so the station attendant knows how much gas they've taken.

But in the US customers swipe their EFTPOS card, enter their postcode - also called a ZIP code - and then start to fill the car up.

'Or you can walk into the service station and pay cash, but you still have to pay before you can fill up,' she told FEMAIL.

'You can also select $50 when doing the EFTPOS transaction, but if your car only takes $33, $25, or $41.90, you only get billed for that. Not the $50.

'This confused me a lot to begin with because I was concerned I was being billed for the full amount.'

In Madolline's experience Australians will always put petrol in the car first before paying at the counter, so the station attendant knows how much gas they've taken (stock image)

2. Always add tax to any purchase you make

The ticket price is the price you pay at cash registers in Australia but that's not the same in America.

'The shelf price is without tax. When you get to the register, they add tax to it. What originally seemed like a fair price when you saw the item on the shelf only gets more expensive once you convert the USD to AUD,' she said.

'I believe the tax percentage is different from state to state. So other states end up being a lot more expensive than others. Some states also have things exempt from tax. Like Massachusetts doesn't tax clothing or food.'

3. Password protected bathrooms

This aspect of life in America differs from state to state but almost all the larger cities have password protected - or locked - bathrooms, Madolline said.

'Everywhere. Starbucks. Chipotle. Discount retailers like Marshalls and Ross Dress for Less. Restaurants and takeaway options like McDonald's and Burger King. Even some of the supermarkets,' she said.

Only paying customers can use the bathroom at cafes and restaurants, so you've got to buy something to even be allowed to use the bathroom.

'A way around this is to go to a shopping centre or big department store like Macy's. Gas station bathrooms are also available for anyone to use,' she said.

This aspect of life in America differs from state to state but almost all the larger cities have password protected - or locked - bathrooms, Madolline said (stock image)

4. Different 'big' supermarkets in each of the states

Australia has two big supermarkets - Woolworths and Coles - regardless of which part of the country you're in. There are also Aldi's dotted around each state.

But the USA has Ralph's, PigglyWiggly, QFC, Safeway, Albertsons, Smith's Food and Drug, Kroger, Public, all depending on which state you're in.

'There's Whole Foods and Trader Joe's all over the USA, but these are more alternative options like Flannerys is here,' she said.

'Whole Foods even has an in-store bakery that would put some Australian cake shops to shame.'

Corner stores or convenience stores is what the Americans call a 'bodega' and most of these are family-owned unlike the traditional convenience stores like 7 Eleven.

5. Pharmacies can be one-stop-shop for cigarettes and alcohol

Pharmacies, or 'drugstores', in the USA sell alcohol and cigarettes.

'Beer, spirits, cider, you name it. This seems to contradict what Australians use a pharmacy for... which is to get medication and supplements to get better and stay healthy,' she said.

'Or you go to the pharmacy to buy nicotine patches, not to buy a pouch of tobacco.'

Depending on the city, some of the pharmacies also have a proper supermarket component which fresh fruit and a deli too.

'Beer, spirits, cider, you name it. This seems to contradict what Australians use a pharmacy for... which is to get medication and supplements to get better and stay healthy,' she said

6. Refunds on cosmetics you've opened

Madolline said this is an amazing part about living in America.

If you've opened your lipstick, mascara or foundation, you can't return it in Australia or exchange it either.

'Most of the big American drugstores and department stores let you return your products as long as you've got a receipt,' she said.

'Most department stores have testers whereas pharmacies in US states don't, but you're still allowed to get a refund even if you tested the foundation in store.'

If you've opened your lipstick, mascara or foundation, you can't return it in Australia or exchange it either (stock image)

7. It's okay to turn right at a red light

Australia is implementing this in some parts of the country (it's turn left instead), but it's not something you know as a tourist with an international license.

'This isn't a signed road rule either so expect to get beeped at if you sit at a red light when it's safe to turn right,' she said.

It's only feasible to turn when there aren't any pedestrians crossing though.

8. What 'chips' actually are

In Australia 'chips' can mean French fries, any kind of deep fried potato or a bag of potato chips.

When you see 'chips' on an American menu, it's literally a bag of potato chips to eat with your burger or toasted sandwich, Madolline said.

Any kind of deep fried potato - crinkle cut or otherwise - is 'French fries' to an American.

In Australia 'chips' can mean French fries, any kind of deep fried potato or a bag of potato chips

9. Pedestrian traffic lights don't make a sound

Pedestrian lights don't make any noise when it's OK for you to cross in America, you have to keep your eyes peeled otherwise you won't know when it's safe.

Some also have a button you have to press while others are automated.

'In most parts of Australia, you have to press the button for it to acknowledge your presence. Some cities have automated this since COVID so there's no need to touch a germy button,' she said.

'There's also this thing in parts of the US where you press what looks like a pedestrian crossing light and the cars are expected to stop on the spot to let you cross.

'It's actually really dangerous on Melrose Ave where there's a lot of traffic and LA drivers don't like to stop for anyone.'

10. Electronic receipts are given

Stores like Urban Outfitters and Nordstrom will ask for your email address so they can email you a copy of your receipt.

'This is both good and bad. Good because you've got a copy of your receipt in your inbox. But bad because you have to spell out your name and really long email address every time,' Madolline said.

'Americans also have difficulty understanding when Australians say "O" or "R". That makes it even more complicated and you end up repeating yourself several times before they realise what you're trying to say.'
IRBIL, Iraq -- The Kurdish region's parliament has nominated former Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih to form a new regional government, RFE/RL's Radio Free Iraq reports.



Kurdish parliament speaker Kamal Karkuki told journalists after the parliament vote on September 17 that once the nomination is endorsed by regional President Masud Barzani, Salih is expected to form a new government within a month.



Salih is a leading member of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the regional parliament also voted Azad Perwari, a leading member of Barzani's Kurdistan Democratic Party, to be Salih's deputy.



Opposition Change bloc member Shahu Said told RFE/RL that his bloc's 25 members in the 111-seat Kurdish parliament "voted against the nomination as it signifies the Kurdish region's continued division between the two big parties."



Said reiterated that the Change faction will not join a coalition government dominated by the two parties if offered to do so, and will strive to break their hold by being an active opposition.



Omar Abd al-Aziz of the Reform and Services bloc, which has 18 seats in parliament, told RFE/RL that his faction "has nothing personal against Salih or Perwari but nominating both the prime minister and his mate in one go is a weird way."



Abd al-Aziz explained that neither the parliament's statutes nor standard procedures provide for this way of forming a government.



The two major parties have 59 seats between them, won under the "Kurdistan List" in the regional elections on July 25.
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Linkedin Ivan Couronne (Agence France-Presse) Washington  Sun, September 27, 2020 07:01 482 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c47728cb 2 Science & Tech Rocket-Lab,Venus,space,NASA Free

Can a small American aerospace company get to Venus before NASA returns to our superheated planetary neighbor?

That's what Peter Beck, the CEO of Rocket Lab, is hoping as he sets his sights on launching a low-cost probe in 2023.

Over the past decade his company has become very good at putting satellites in to orbit -- and his dream of taking the next step, an interplanetary mission, has received a shot of adrenaline recently with the surprising discovery of a gas linked to living organisms in Venus's corrosive, sulfuric atmosphere.

"What we're looking for on Mars is signs of previous life," Beck explains.

"Whereas Venus, it's signs of potential life now."

With its hellish landscape, Venus has been largely neglected by the major space agencies since the 1980s in favor of the Solar System's more distant bodies.

Dozens of missions have notably been sent to Mars seeking signs of ancient microbes.

But the discovery by Earth-based radio telescopes of a gas called phosphine in Venus' atmosphere, reported on Sept. 14, sparked a new wave of enthusiasm among scientists who had for years defended the hypothesis that tiny organisms could live in the planet's clouds.

Phosphine isn't definitive proof of life. But it is possible its presence is linked to living organisms, as it is on our planet.

The finding led NASA to declare it was time to once more prioritize Venus.

Beck, however, has always been in the pro-Venus camp, and for two years has been contemplating sending an entirely privately-funded probe there, he said.

He calculated, with the help of a PhD student, that a small satellite called "Photon" that Rocket Lab developed in-house could be adapted into a spacecraft for an interplanetary voyage.

Such bids have historically been the domain of national space agencies, given the enormous costs involved -- but Beck thinks he has developed a budget solution.

"I would expect a mission to Venus to be sort of $30 million," he told AFP by video from Auckland, New Zealand.

"When you can measure interplanetary missions in tens of millions of dollars instead of billions, and months instead of decades, the opportunity for discovery is just incredible," he said.

Free-falling

Rocket Lab's specialty is sending small satellites into Earth orbit with its small 18-meter high rocket -- a highly lucrative market in recent years as demand for microsatellites has exploded.

The company's Venus probe will be very small, weighing around 80 pounds (37 kilograms) and just a foot (30 centimeters) in diameter.

The trip from Earth will take 160 days, then Photon will launch the probe into Venus' clouds, where it will take readings as it falls, without a parachute, at almost 25,000 miles per hour (11 kilometers per second).

The probe will have between just 270 and 300 seconds to analyze an atmosphere that is almost a hundred times denser than Earth's before it disintegrates or crashes on the planet's fiery surface, where temperatures are hot enough to melt lead (900 degrees Fahrenheit, or 480 degrees Celsius).

The hardest part is deciding on the scientific instrument: what molecules should it look for?

Miniaturization is another problem. The probe will need to weigh seven pounds (three kilograms), which some experts doubt is possible, but Beck disagrees.

Rocket Lab will need help from leading scientists, and has already recruited MIT astronomer and planetary scientist Sara Seager.

The adventure is the latest chapter in a new era of space exploration fueled not by governments but by individual curiosity and ambition, one that so far has been best symbolized by Elon Musk, the iconoclastic founder of SpaceX.

SpaceX revolutionized the sector through its reusable rockets that have now sent astronauts to the International Space Station, and has its sights set on colonizing Mars.

NASA is no longer afraid to subcontract missions to privateers, and Rocket Lab will be paid $10 million to send a microsatellite into lunar orbit in 2021.

As for Venus, Beck would like to offer his services to NASA.

The space agency is considering returning to Venus, but not until 2026 at the earliest. Its last Venus orbiter was Magellan, which arrived in 1990, but other vessels have made fly-bys since then.

"We want to do many, many missions a year," said the young CEO.
- The inability to secure a job has led a young Nigerian graduate into burning all his certificates

- The man identified as Usman Abubakar tore the certificates into pieces before setting them ablaze

- Unemployment is one of the issues the country is battling with and Abubakar seems frustrated with it

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A young Nigerian graduate identified as Usman Abubakar has reportedly burnt all his certificates over the inability to secure a job.

Part of the certificates burnt by the young graduate from Katsina state included the ones he obtained from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), higher institution and secondary school.

READ ALSO: David Maraga rejects Malala's 3 goats donation, reminds senator he has case in court

Usman Abubakar burnt all his certificates after failing to secure a job. Photo credit: Gistreel

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Nelson Havi curses Babu Owino days after being made Maragoli elder: "You'll not be re-elected

The frustrated young man gathered all the certificates, tore them into pieces before setting them ablaze.

Pictures of the ruined certificates have since gone viral on social media platforms.

It should be noted that unemployment is one of the issues facing many countries in Africa.

However, Nigerian youths are reported to be thinking out of the box instead of waiting for white-collar jobs.

READ ALSO: Having a man's name on your ID, living in his house isn't marriage proof, court rules

The Nigerian youths are said to be acquiring skills even while in the higher institution so as to have something to fall back on if finding a job proves difficult.

In other news, a 33-year-old lady identified as Helana Darwin has taken to Twitter to express sadness over being unemployed despite having two masters degrees and a PhD.

Darwin said she felt like she went about her 20s all wrong, adding that higher education may be overrated.

READ ALSO: Inspiration: Medic narrates how he graduated as a doctor, nurse at the age of 28

"How am I 33 with two MAs and a PhD and still so precariously situated on the job market? " she wrote.

"I feel like I went about my 20s all wrong... maybe-just maybe-higher education is overrated?" added the frustrated doctor.

According to her, being unemployed transcends disciplines, adding that it is systemic.

READ ALSO: Accident that caused unending animosity between Kibaki and Ex-MP Wanyiri Kihoro

"As a sociologist, Id like to encourage everyone weighing in here to zoom out and resist neoliberal individualist discourses," she wrote.

"This phenomenon transcends disciplines. It is systemic. Its no one persons fault," she added.

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Ottawa: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that the country has signed a deal to secure 20 million more Covid-19 vaccine doses.

Addressing the media here, Trudeau said the agreement was signed with AstraZeneca for access to a vaccine prospect now being developed at Oxford University, CBC News reported.

"We`ve been guided by science since the very beginning and right now, both the Covid-19 vaccine task force and the immunity task force are doing important work to help us identify the most promising vaccine options and strategies," he said.

With the new deal, the Trudeau government has secured access to six leading vaccine candidates so far.

However, none of the candidates has been shown to work so far.

Health Canada has said that it will review the evidence on safety, efficacy and manufacturing quality for each vaccine to determine if individual vaccines will be approved for use in the country before they are made available to citizens.

This latest development came days after Trudeau 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 September 23.

The country 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 September 22.

Canada has so far reported more than 1,53,770 coronavirus cases, with 9,313 deaths.


Libya: new Amnesty report denounces abuses against migrants

(ANSAmed) - ROMA, 27 SET - EU should reconsider accord with Libya on migrant cooperation, says report called 'Between Life and Death' 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".



A wide range of abuse "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.



Recommendations for the authorities 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.



(Archive: migrants on the Italian Red Cross flagship Responder during a rescue operation in the international waters between Malta and Libya. Photo: ANSA / YARA NARDI / ITALIAN RED CROSS PRESS OFFICE) (ANSA).




Democrats are always bending the rules that will eventually destroy them in order to gain political advantage with the objective of gaining and maintaining political power. Whenever something doesn't go their way, like losing the presidential election and, now, a situation where they have absolutely zero say in the appointment of a new Supreme Court justice, their first response is to blame the system and begin advocating changes.

If the Democrats had their way right now, here are all of the things they would do to ensure a permanent one-party state in the United States and negate the possibility of another political party implementing its vision for country:

abolish the Electoral College

add Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico as states so there will be four additional senators (guaranteed to be Democrats)

end the filibuster in the Senate

add additional justices to the Supreme Court and/or term-limit the justices from sitting on the Supreme Court for life to 18 years

Starting with Hillary Clinton's loss to Trump in 2016, they began a drumbeat of eliminating the Electoral College and instead using the popular vote as the means by which the president is elected every four years. The campaign to end the popular vote continues to this day through an insidious effort to get states to change their laws so electors will have to throw their vote to the winner of the popular vote. A movement called the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact began not long after the 2016 and is described as follows:

The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC) is an agreement among a group of U.S. states and the District of Columbia to award all their electoral votes to whichever presidential candidate wins the overall popular vote in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The compact is designed to ensure that the candidate who receives the most votes nationwide is elected president, and it would come into effect only when it would guarantee that outcome. As of July 2020, it has been adopted by fifteen states and the District of Columbia, although it is suspended in Colorado.

With the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the temper tantrum by the Democrats has reached a fever pitch. Whereas some were quietly promoting two ideas after Trump's election  that the filibuster be eliminated in the Senate and packing the Supreme Court with additional justices  both are now loudly being resurrected. Most recently, the idea of term-limiting the time justices can sit on the Supreme Court has been suggested by the Democrats.

What is lost in all of their nonsense of changing time-honored rules, laws, and tradition is their failure to win political victories on the basis of their ideas. They continue to try to manipulate the system to their advantage, but their desperation as a failing party gets more extreme by the day.

What started over a hundred years ago with the relativism of Woodrow Wilson's "Living Constitution," a euphemism that is used to this day, is just a deceitful way of making excuses for changing things the Democrats and the left don't like to ones they do. Carried to its logical conclusion, the Constitution would be destroyed by the erosion over time of all its laws and rules for the structure of governance. The chaos in the streets of the country in many ways is just a reflection of the slow-motion breakdown of the regular order of governance in Washington, D.C. because of moving away from original constitutional principles that began with Wilson, who is considered the father of modern Progressivism.

The logic of liberalism means that rules and tradition can be changed at any time based on current whim without consideration for the past or the future in order to satisfy the instant political gratification of today. The foundational principles for governance were meant to be timeless  that is, transcending time, regardless of any historical moment.

There is a book that openly describes how and why the left should destroy everything that's come before in order to satisfy its goals: It's Time to Fight Dirty: How Democrats Can Build a Lasting Majority in American Politics:

The American electoral system is clearly falling apartas evidenced by the 2016 presidential election[.] ... With equal amounts of playful irreverence and persuasive reasoning, Faris describes how the Constitution's deep democratic flaws constantly put progressives at a disadvantage, and lays out strategies for "fighting dirty" though obstructionism and procedural warfare: establishing statehood for D.C. and Puerto Rico; breaking California into several states; creating a larger House of Representatives; passing a new voting rights act; and expanding the Supreme Court.

And The New Yorker recently ran a screed that was nothing less than a polite cover for the left's new mantra of "Burn It All Down" called "The Case of Ending the Supreme Court As We Know It":

The events of this tumultuous and tragic year, from the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic to the fresh uprisings against racist police violence , have compelled a national reckoning like no other, opening new public, mainstream conversations about how we might remake this country more equitably.

Conservatism is called conservatism for a reason. It wants to conserve what is best about the past and history that has shown to work well while discarding what may be wrong or bad in current law. Liberalism always wants to discard virtually everything, including what has traditionally worked very well. It's an ideology of perpetual revolution and discontent that can never sit still, destroying everything in its wake. Like a spoiled child, whenever the left doesn't get what it wants, it throws a major temper tantrum and begins crying out for changing the system because it's unfair to leftists in its current form. This is also what happens when adults whose ideas have become bankrupt and become political losers have nothing left to do.
The Artsakh Information Headquarters has reported that civilians and structures are the target of the Azerbaijani armed forces for air strikes and has released a video showing homes in Stepanakert that were damaged as a result of the adversarys shelling early this morning.

One of the landlords of the shelled homes said she and her family were surprised by the shelling this morning and talked about how she and her family were saved by a miracle.

A clergyman is encouraging children transferred to a bomb shelter and urging them to not be afraid. The video also shows a little child who was injured and was transferred to the medical center in Stepanakert.
Model Cheyenne Tozzi, 31, has spoken about her actress sister Tahnya's heartbreaking struggles to become pregnant with Studio 10 host husband Tristan MacManus.

Cheyenne, who is a mother-of-one herself, revealed she's been supporting Tahnya, 34, during what has been an extremely difficult time for her family.

'Tahyna went through a tumultuous time whilst trying to fall pregnant and lost three pregnancies,' she told The Sunday Telegraph this week.

Supportive sisters: Model Cheyenne Tozzi, 31, has spoken about her 34-year-old sister Tahnya's heartbreaking struggles to become pregnant with Studio 10 host husband Tristan MacManus. Cheyenne pictured with Tahnya (right) in 2010

Sydney-based Cheynne, recalled a heartbreaking phonecall she'd previously had with Tahnya (who was at the time based in Melbourne) about her sister's pregnancy woes.

Of the conversation, Cheyenne recalled: 'I could hear in her voice how much she was struggling. Certain traumas in our lives have brought us closer together.'

Cheyenne said she 'jumped straight on a plane to be there for her' after the emotional call.

'Tahyna went through a tumultuous time whilst trying to fall pregnant and lost three pregnancies,' she told the Sunday Telegraph this week. Tahnya pictured with husband Tristan

Tahyna, who recently relocated to Sydney, is now exposing her pain of pregnancy loss from miscarriage through to stillbirth in her new documentary series, Misunderstandings of Miscarriage (MuM).

'I'm so proud of her, and proud that in her darkest moments she was able to turn that into something positive to try to help others,' Cheyenne said of her sister's project.

Tahyna has since welcomed two children with her Irish dancer husband who she wed in 2014.

Motherhood bliss: Tahyna has since welcomed two children with her Irish dancer husband who she wed in 2014. Pictured with daughter Echo Isolde, left and son, Oisin, right

The couple share daughter Echo Isolde, four and son Oisin, who they welcomed last year.

Cheyenne is the proud mother of daughter Dahlia De La Lune, two, who she shares with ex-boyfriend Marlon Teixeira.

'I have got Dahlia on my own. Family support is so important. I have such a loving family. We are all strong women,' the Australian model previously told News Corp.

Misunderstandings of Miscarriage (MuM) streams on Stan from Thursday
By Pooja Sarkar

If you have eaten a Ferrero Rocher chocolate or used the Mango Body Butter from The Body Shop, chances are you have consumed butter made in a factory in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, owned by Manorama Industries.

In the 1940s, before Independence, Janakilal Agarwal used to work near Malkapur, a town in the Buldhana district, in the current state of Maharashtra. Every week he would return home with groundnut and other seeds for his wife. Come Monday, he would leave for work, while his wife ground the seeds to make oils and butter. Agarwal would carry these oils to Malkapur to sell, and earn some extra money. Gradually, they employed more women.

One day in 1955, Agarwal heard about a Muslim family in Khamgaon, 48 km from Malkapur, migrating to Pakistan, who wanted to give away a piston expeller. Agarwal and his son Hanumandas reached Malkapur to meet this man, who told him that it would be too expensive to take the piston expeller back to Malkapur. Why dont you set up your business here instead, he told Agarwal. This was the beginning of Agarwals business.

After a few years, Janakilal went to London on a scholarship, where he completed a PhD in fat chemistry. He came back and expanded the seed-crushing business and spent most of his time in the laboratory experimenting. He discovered that oils from banana peels, mango kernels, and sal seeds could be used in chocolates. So he went to trade fairs in Japan and Germany to display his products.

He did not have money to afford a stall at these fairs, so he would display all the products on his body. This is how he met Michael Ferrero. He explained to Ferrero that if he used these products the chocolates will have better stability, and so started the journey, says Ashish Saraf, Janakilals grandson, president of Manorama Industries. The journey, however, came to an end when Sarafs grandfather stopped the business in 2000.

In 2005, the new business, Manorama Industries, was incorporated by Saraf, his wife Vinita and her father Kedarnath Agarwal. Sarafs elder son Shrey has been recently inducted as an executive director. The company has been named after Sarafs late grandmother Manorama Devi.

In 2018, Manorama Industries was listed under the SME board platform of Bombay Stock Exchange and this September it is set for a main board listing. Its 2018 IPO raised 64 crore, which was used to set up its new manufacturing facility in Birkoni near Raipur. The company had issued shares at 188 apiece in 2018; on September 3, its price stood at 688.85, a jump of 266 percent. Even last September, the shares were clocking 188 apiece, which means the rally has been effectively over the last one year, especially since early 2020.

CBEs are used both for food and cosmetics applications. The most beneficial cocoa butter alternative is CBE because its physical and chemical properties are extremely similar.

India has the largest sal forest in the world, with 16 percent of its total land covered by it. The CBE market has been growing rapidly due to a combination of changes in legislations across major economies that allow these fats to be introduced in chocolates and allied products and also due to rising cocoa butter prices across the world.

Forest-dwelling women across Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra collect these nuts and seeds. Apart from its India operations, the company has operations in Ghana called Manorama Africa, which procures shea nuts through social organisations, womens groups and local markets, besides sourcing from neighbouring countries like Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin, Mali and Nigeria.These seeds are then brought to Raipur, where the final products are manufactured and sent to clients which include Ferrero, Mitsui & Co, Mondelez International, LOreal and The Body Shop, across 84 countries.

Through our co-development approach, we start by gaining insights into the drivers behind market demand, as well as the challenges they present. We are in the applications business where we jointly develop products with our customers to ensure each solution is exactly in line with their specific requirements,  says Saraf.

Before setting up the new manufacturing facility, the company was focussed on dry fractionation (also known as manual fractionation)at its Nagpur plant, with the main butter production capacity of nearly 4,000 metric tonnes. After the new capacity addition, the main production line now produces nearly 15,000 tonnes. Manorama has now increased its product basket of shea butter, shea stearin, shea olein and shea-based CBE.

In 2018, Care Ratings had said in its report, Global CBE demand is currently nearly 180,000 tonnes of which 90,000 tonnes is stearine, which is made from processes predominantly undergone by shea nuts and sal seeds. Currently, Manorama Industries is among the top 10 manufacturers of sal oils and stearine, with an annual production of nearly 3,000 to 4,000 tonnes.

Asia-Pacific is one of the largest regions of growth for specialty fats and oils, and will continue to be the largest market with an expected size of $36.8 billion by 2026. The demand for specialty oils and fats in the Asia-Pacific region is likely to remain concentrated in China and India, owing to a larger consumer and application base in the region.While most of the portfolio had to be exported, in May 2017, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India allowed the use of CBEs in chocolates from January 2018, which has helped companies like Manorama.

Jeevan Patwa, an investor in the company, says one of the reasons for his investment is the companys focus on research and development (R&D): It has roped in Kris Bhaggan from Bunge Loders Croklaan as head of R&D, who has more than 30 international patents to his name. They have created a strong pipeline of B2B and B2C products, which creates strong entry barriers for the future.

In India, its competitors include AAK Kamani, Wilmar International and 3F Industries. In the shea category, some of the global competitors of the company are Fuji Oil (Singapore and Japan), Bunge Loders Crocklaan, and AAK (Denmark).

Manorama Industries had revenues of 188 crore for the fiscal ended March 2020, compared to 102 crore in March 2019, a jump of 84 percent. Its profits went up to 23 crore from 19 crore during the same period, clocking a growth of 21 percent.

While the company is debt-free in the long term, its finance cost doubled and stood at 9.76 crore during FY20 as against 4.55 crore in FY19. Its inventories too increased threefold during the year and stood at 150 crore during FY20.

The management indicated that it has built the new capacity to produce butters and fats, and the availability of raw materials is dependent on seasons. For example, sal and mango are available between May and June, whereas shea is procured between November and December. Hence we need to keep inventory for sustainable supply of finished goods as per the specification of customers.

Therefore we saw an increase in interest cost on working capital, says Saraf. Further, due to a delay of four months in commissioning the new plant, inventory carrying days increased and resulted in an increase in finance cost in the last financial year.

Saraf believes people are becoming more health conscious and there is more demand for natural products from all over the world. There is a huge demand-supply gap that exists in our business, so the only thing that we have to do is to increase production and increase volume because the market exists to absorb it.

Saraf believes if the company keeps doing what it does with focus, it will be able to achieve the targets it has set for itself. It is now tapping newer segments in health care, which includes chocolate tablets, personal care and health nutrition.

(This article first appeared in Forbes India, here
Work on a GH6.6-million rice-processing factory at Sefwi Akontombra in the Western North Region is scheduled for completion by end of October, this year.



The factory is one of five Common User Processing Facilities (CUF) currently under construction nationwide under the governments One District-One Factory (1D1F) programme to process raw materials into products or convert agro-industrial materials into other products.



The programme is being led by the Rural Enterprises Programme (REP) of the Ministry of Trade and Industry with funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB).



Inspecting the factory yesterday, Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen, said the factory was in line with the governments plan to decentralise industrialisation and support communities to add value to their agricultural produce.



He noted that the factory would source raw materials from the many rice farmers in the area and become a business point for them.



The minister said the government led the establishment of the factory to enable the farmers to own and process their rice and create a sufficient market for their products.



Studies show that the actors at the processing link in the rice value chain are often not in a position to mobilise the level of investment required to establish their own processing facilities but may constitute sufficient market for the services of these facilities.



The establishment of the Common User Facility is to provide these value-chain actors their own processing facility, he explained.



When fully operational, Mr Kyerematen said, the factory would create more than 600 jobs, directly and indirectly, including100 labourers to work on a nucleus farm.



He said the project had, so far, supplied improved rice seeds to 480 farmers who, on the average, would cultivate one hectare of rice farm.



Additionally, he said, the factory would set up 200 acres of nucleus rice farm to produce solely for the company to process.



In a related development, the Minister inspected work on a Business Resource Centre (BRC) at Bibiani in the Bibiano-Ahwianso-Bekwai District in the region.



The project, which would be completed in about two months, is one of 30 currently nearing completion.



So far, 37 out of the 67 BRCs to be established by the government are operational following their commissioning.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









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Mary Lou McDonald has claimed the cut in the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) will lead to economic hardship (PA)

Mary Lou McDonald has warned the cut in the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) will lead to economic hardship.

The Sinn Fein leader called for the Government to reverse the reduction.

The 350 euro-a-week payments have dropped to between 200 and 300 euros, which has affected the 150,000 people still in receipt of the benefit.

Ms McDonald said that Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe will have to reverse the decision, saying it was wrong to cut the payment particularly when Dublin and Donegal are facing tighter restrictions.

I think he will have to change his mind because theyve made a mistake, because what theyre doing is unfair, because what theyre doing will undoubtedly cause not just hardship, but what MABS (Money Advice and Budgeting Service) has described as a forthcoming tsunami of domestic debt, she told RTEs The Week In Politics.

The very reason to extend and maintain pandemic payments as they are is because we are still in the grips of a crisis. That money is supporting families and going straight back into the economy  it is literally paying bills and putting bread on the table  @MaryLouMcDonald #TWIP pic.twitter.com/Zs3PyYuUUA  Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) September 27, 2020

Thats not a smart thing to do socially or economically so Paschal will have to change his position because its the wrong position.

Ms McDonald rejected Mr Donohoes claim that the Government cut the Covid-19 unemployment payments so the PUP could last longer for people.

I think the very reason to extend and to maintain the payments is the fact that we are still in the grips of a crisis, she added.

If we thought initially six months ago that this was a transient crisis, that we could tough it out for six months and then we could go all come back up and breathe air thats wrong.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin last week defended the decision saying that while the rates have been reduced, the scheme had been extended until next April.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that bookings for hotels across Ireland plummeted by 67% in recent weeks, prompting a call by industry leaders for urgent action.

The latest survey from the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) reveals a collapse in hotel bookings following the tightening of Covid-19 restrictions in Dublin.

The IHF said that after the Government announced its medium-term six-month plan for living with coronavirus, the weekly rate of new bookings declined sharply.

IHF president Elaina Fitzgerald Kane said: It is now make or break time.

Urgent and unprecedented intervention from the Government is required to support tourism businesses and safeguard thousands of jobs throughout the sector.

This must form a central plank of the Budget due to be announced next month.

Before the outbreak of Covid-19, tourism supported 270,000 livelihoods, one in 10 of all Irish jobs.

It is now make or break time. Government must step up to the mark with urgent measures to support tourism businesses and safeguard thousands of jobs https://t.co/Dcm8vtV0Oq @ElainaFitzKane @cathmartingreen @Paschald @mmcgrathtd pic.twitter.com/cZDOWohXpP  Irish Hotels Federation (@IHFcomms) September 27, 2020

An estimated 100,000 of these jobs have been lost so far this year and a further 100,000 are at immediate risk, the IFH warned.

The surveys results are based on the response from 298 properties accounting for a combined stock of 32,100 guestrooms spread throughout the country.

Hotel room occupancy rates across the country are at 40% for September, 23% for October and 12% for November based on business currently booked.

This compares with rates of 89% last September, 81% last October and 82% last November.

The occupancy rates in October and November are expected to be:

National room occupancy: 23% Oct / 12% Nov

Dublin City and County: 12% Oct / 10% Nov

Border region: 31% Oct / 14% Nov

Mid-West: 19% Oct / 10% Nov

Midlands / Mid East: 23% Oct / 12% Nov

South East: 40% Oct / 21% Nov

South West: 26% Oct / 9% Nov

West: 31% Oct / 15% Nov

Ms Fitzgerald Kane said that the stark figures highlight the requirement for additional sector-specific measures for tourism.

This situation is nothing short of disastrous for our sector with serious implications for the tourism industry and wider economy, she added.

We are calling on the Government to implement sector-specific measures as a matter of urgency.

These should include enhanced employment subsidies, a reduction in tourism VAT, extended waiver of local authority rates and greater access to banking finance.
The prime suspect in the Paris knife attack said he targeted Charlie Hebdo after it reprinted caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad, according to a judicial official.

Two people were wounded in the attack outside the satirical magazine's former office - now home to a television production company - on Friday.

Eight people were arrested, including a man believed to be responsible for the stabbings, which are being investigated by counter-terrorism officers.

Sources close to the investigation said the main suspect - who was detained 500 metres away from the scene - acknowledged carrying out the attack under questioning.

He is alleged to have acted out of anger that Charlie Hebdo had republished the controversial cartoons to mark the start of the trial of alleged accomplices in the terror attack on the magazine five years ago.

Interior minister Gerald Darmanin said the suspect arrived in France three years ago as an unaccompanied minor, apparently from Pakistan.

He had been arrested a month ago for carrying a screwdriver but was not under investigation for Islamic radicalisation, the minister added.

Mr Darmanin conceded that security was lacking on the street where Charlie Hebdo was once headquartered, and ordered special protection for all "symbolic sites" including Jewish sites during the Yom Kippur holiday this weekend.

The two people wounded in Friday's attack were a woman and a man working at the Premieres Lignes documentary production company who had stepped outside for a smoke. Company co-founder Luc Hermann told broadcaster France-Info that they remained in hospital but their condition was "reassuring".

Twelve people were killed when Islamist gunmen Said and Cherif Kouachi stormed the Paris offices and opened fire on 7 January 2015. The magazine is now produced at a secret location.

Prime minister Jean Castex, visiting Paris police headquarters on Saturday, pledged to step up the fight against terrorism, saying: "The enemies of the republic will not win."

Additional reporting by agencies
Greek officials on Sunday announced the first coronavirus death in a migrant camp near Athens, as refugee groups stepped up criticism of the containment policy of the Greek government and Europe.

The victim was a 61-year-old father-of-two from Afghanistan who had been living in the Malakassa camp near Athens, the asylum ministry said. He died while being treated in a hospital in Athens.

Malakassa, along with the Schisto and Elaionas camps near Athens, were placed in quarantine in early September as concerns mounted over the spread of the coronavirus among thousands of asylum-seekers living there in squalid conditions.

Greece's migrant camps have been under lockdown since March, with restrictions on who can leave and enter, conditions harshly criticise by some rights groups.

On the Aegean island of Lesbos meanwhile, more than 240 asylum-seekers who transferred to a temporary camp after the destruction of the Moria camp in fires earlier this month, have contracted the virus.

Greek authorities on Sunday announced 218 new coronavirus cases and three deaths -- including that of the migrant.

Since the start of the pandemic, 379 people have died of the virus in Greece, with an average age of 78. Sixty-eight people are currently in intensive care.

Asylum Minister Notis Mitarachi said Sunday that all unaccompanied children had now been removed from the island camps.

- 'Conditions are dire' -

But refugee groups are still angry at plans to keep the island facilities open for other asylum seekers and at the new EU migrant policy, unveiled on Wednesday.

The EU's "New Pact on Migration and Asylum" calls for a tougher stance on returning migrants who do not have the right to stay in the EU, and for the ratcheting up border controls.

"The (European) Commission promised 'No more Moria', while building a new containment camp in Lesbos, where conditions are dire," tweeted the one migrant rights group, Legal Centre Lesbos.

Story continues

The only flaw from Greece's perspective is the Commission giving up on quota-based redistribution of asylum seekers among EU countries -- a plan first mooted during the migration crisis of 2015 but which foundered on opposition from several member states.

"While there has been a climate of support from Europe after the Moria blaze, the final answers are not what some people might expect," Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi told Real FM radio on Sunday.

"There is a reserve in member states with few exceptions. Our country is constantly asking for relocations."

The Greek government has struggled to manage overcrowding in camps on the five Aegean islands most affected by the arrivals -- even more so since the Moria camp on Lesbos burned down on September 8 and 9.

Half of the 24,000 migrants packed into Greek camps remain on Lesbos.

Government officials there scrambled to set up a provisional site for those left without shelter by the blaze, but charity groups were already incensed at conditions there.

Campaigners point to the long waits the migrants endure for their one meal a day; the lack of mattresses and the impossibility of respecting coronavirus infection control measures like social distancing.

"We have continuously exposed the human cost of this outrageous containment policy to leaders in European capitals, to commissioners in Brussels and to citizens through the media," Christos Christou, the president of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) tweeted.

"But nothing seems to lead to a desperately needed radical policy change. Enough is enough. No more lies.".

bur-kan/jj
Food Network show host Ina Garten is known for her incredible kitchen skills. Barefoot Contessa, as shes known, has close to a dozen best-selling cookbooks ranging from basic recipes to more complex creations. Gartens fans adore her direct approach to cooking thats fun to emulate at home.

But in the past, the 72-year-old foodie has been criticized for using some questionable ingredients. Medical experts took issue with some of Gartens high fat, high calorie, high cholesterol creations. And her fans sometimes mock the authors fancy ingredient choices.

She may prefer grating her own cheese. However, there is at least one store-bought brand Barefoot Contessa approves of.

Ina Garten transitioned from the White House to the Food Network

Ina Garten | Mike Smith/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Garten, who was born in Brooklyn, showed an early interest in cooking and culinary arts. However, her mother encouraged her to focus on school instead of pursuing her passion. Garten studied hard and eventually earned a position working in the White House as a budget analyst during the Ford and Carter administrations.

Then Barefoot Contessa left her career to chase her dream. She quit her prestigious government job in 1978 to purchase a tiny specialty food store in the Hamptons called Barefoot Contessa. She grew the business, sold it, and then began writing cookbooks and doing guest appearances on some mainstream cooking shows.

Eventually, Food Network offered Garten her own series that remains popular today.

The Barefoot Contessa favors upscale ingredients

RELATED: Barefoot Contessa Ina Garten Says This is the Biggest Mistake Most People Make in Cooking

One thing that sets Gartens recipes apart is the quality of ingredients she uses while preparing them. Shes well known for recommending Nielson-Massey Madagascar Bourbon pure vanilla, which goes for a pricey $7 per ounce, PureWow reported. The cookbook author also recommends good olive oil, salt, and a plethora of other expensive items for any home chef.

There are so many memes out there mocking Gartens insistence on the best, which include her tendency to say, store-bought is just fine as a concession to her audience. But when it comes to tomato sauce, Garten really means it.

Shes happy with Raos Marinara Sauce

Our 32 oz. Marinara Sauce Case is on sale now. Enjoy $18 off 12 jars of 32 oz. Marinara Sauce until Tuesday, March 6th. Shop the sale here: https://t.co/XawpmvoivD  Rao's Homemade (@RaosHomemade) March 1, 2018

Many of Gartens food shopping suggestions are expensive, difficult to find, or time-consuming to make. However, her favorite pasta sauce brand is easy because it comes in a jar.

I think you can spend the entire day making good marinara sauce, or you can buy Raos Marinara sauce, which I think is just fantastic, the Barefoot Contessa told Bon Appetit. Its great for lasagna. Its great for pasta. Its great for putting together a really fast dinner.

The brand is available on Amazon or can be found at warehouse clubs such as Costco, or at other specialty stores. At $8-$12 per jar its a little pricier than some other tomato sauce brands. But for the convenience factor, its worth it.

Other brands Garten recommends

Cheddar Corn Chowder is the perfect late summer lunch when its a little chilly outside and the corn is still delicious. Easy to make and so satisfying! #treatyourself #thebarefootcontessacookbookhttps://t.co/ktDXiRTv5q pic.twitter.com/dUhQSl66Xy  Ina Garten (@inagarten) September 2, 2020

Besides tomato sauce and vanilla, the Barefoot Contessa shared a few other suggestions for stocking up on pantry staples. Shes partial to Grey Poupon Dijon mustard and Maille Whole Grain mustard. She also likes Lindt bittersweet chocolate bars, Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt, and Olio Santo olive oil.

Cooking like Barefoot Contessa doesnt have to be expensive. Especially if your local Costco carries Raos.
The citizens who died from Azerbaijans shelling were a grandmother and her nine-year-old granddaughter. This is what spokesperson of the President of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Vahram Poghosyan told reporters today.

According to spokesperson of the President of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Vahram Poghosyan, early this morning, the enemy started actively shelling along the entire length of the line of contact, including peaceful settlements and the capital of Stepanakert. In her turn, spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia Shushan Stepanyan stated that the Armenian side has struck two helicopters and three UAVs of the adversary. The battles continue.

Commander of the Defense Army of Artskh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Jalal Harutyunyn has made a call for battle, stating that, at this moment, the subdivisions of the Defense Army are successfully disrupting the adversarys plans by making it suffer a large number of casualties.

The Armenian side has two deaths, including a woman and child.
Motorcycle rider found dead in a roadside ditch in Pa Khlok

PHUKET: A man was found dead in a ditch beside Route 4027 in Moo 1, Pa Khlok, this morning (Sept 27).

accidents

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Sunday 27 September 2020, 01:15PM

Police believe the deceased either fell asleep at the wheel or lost control of his motorbike for some other reason. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Major Wutthichai Kaewthong of the Thalang Police was notified of the incident and called to scene at about 6:30am.

Police together with Kusoldharm rescue workers arrived at the scene to find the body of Nattharat Boonphitak, 20, in the ditch beside the road.

Mr Nattharats upper body was submerged in the water mixed with his blood, while his lower body was still above the water level. Near the body there was a red Honda Scoopy motorbike with damage to its front. The bikes license plates indicated it was registered in Phang Nga province.

A massive wound was found on Mr Nattharats head, and his left eyeball went out of the eye socket. No other injuries were found along his body.

From initial examination, Mr Natthawat could have died for at least four hours before his body was found.

Mr Natthawat s body was taken to Thalang Hospital for further examination while his Honda Scoopy motorbike was taken to Thalang Police Station.

As Major Wuttichai explained, police believe that Nattharat was riding back to his home in Pa Khlok and either fell asleep or lost control of his motorbike, resulting in the vehicle going off the road and falling into the ditch where Nattharat hit cement with his head.

The body will be examined at the hospital to find the true cause of death and then the body given to relative for proper religious ceremonies, said Major Wuttichai.
Deputy Nicusor Dan, candidate to the Capital's General Mayor office, endorsed by the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Save Romania Union (USR) - the Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party (PLUS) alliance, said on Sunday evening, after the announcement of the exit polls results, that he is confident that after the vote counting he will be the new mayor of Bucharest.

"Today is the birthday of the new Bucharest. I am confident that after the vote counting I will be the Capital's mayor," he said, during a press statement held at his campaign headquarters.According to the CURS - Avangarde exit poll results, independent candidate Nicusor Dan, endorsed by the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Save Romania Union (USR) - the Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party (PLUS) Alliance garnered on Sunday 47.2% of Bucharesters' votes for the Capital's General Mayor position, and the current mayor, Gabriela Firea, the Social Democratic Party (PSD) candidate, was credited with 39% of the votes.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 06:07:24|Editor: huaxia

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United Nations (UN) Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka speaks during a press briefing at the UN headquarters in New York, March 5, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

China has created opportunities for women and girls in terms of employment and education, says Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.



UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- UN undersecretary-general and executive director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, has lauded China's achievements in promoting women's rights, and encouraged the country to do even more.

China has created opportunities for women and girls in terms of employment and education, said Mlambo-Ngcuka in an exclusive written interview prior to a high-level UN meeting on the 25th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing.

Since 2012, China has lifted approximately 41 million women out of poverty by creating opportunities for income generation and jobs, she said.

Major progress has been made in education parity for girls and young women, with 99.9 percent of primary-school-age girls enrolled in schools, and women accounting for over half of the higher education receivers, while taking up 52.5 percent of the regular undergraduate and associate bachelor students, she said.

"Women account for 40 percent of the labor force, and we see them actively taking part in innovative industries, with 55 percent of new Internet businesses being founded by women."

An employee works at a silk reeling factory in Lingyun County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, April 17, 2020. Over the past five years, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region have conducted a series of poverty alleviation projects, such as accelerating the construction of transportation infrastructure in poor areas, carrying out a drinking water project, relocating over 710,000 impoverished people from inhospitable areas and improving the quality of education. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

As across the world, where women have led the way in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese women have been at the national front line as medical workers, as well as those leading logistical chain management, community workers promoting risk awareness and prevention of COVID-19, caretakers of the elderly and children at home, or developing vaccines and leading large-scale public health response, said Mlambo-Ngcuka.

However, as with many global players, China still faces challenges that need to be addressed, she said.

Under the difficult circumstances posed by the pandemic, China can play a crucial role to continue supporting women's leadership and participation in the recovery process, to ensure that women's needs and concerns are reflected in the relevant policies such as employment, social protection, food security and social infrastructure.

China also has a major role to play to promote the equal sharing of unpaid care work and to increase investment in the expansion of care services to help reduce and redistribute unpaid care work, and to serve as a powerful policy lever for creating decent employment for women and the conditions for inclusive growth.

Another key step China can take is to harness innovation and technology for women, especially rural and young women. This will support their access to online jobs, markets and digital platforms and cultivate an ecosystem of new women-run businesses, as in rural areas, women account for about 70 percent of the total agricultural labor force, she said.

Li Juan and her family are seen in pear orchard in Tangzhai Village of Tangzhai Town in Dangshan County, east China's Anhui Province, Oct. 23, 2019. Li Juan, 30, holding a stylus in her mouth, communicates with clients and deliverymen and updates the information on her online store through mobile phone. All these are the mainly works Li Juan does as a manager of an e-commerce. (Xinhua/Zhang Duan)

Mlambo-Ngcuka said China has been a strong partner of UN Women at the global level.

As the host of the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, on the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Conference, China co-hosted with UN Women the Global Leaders' Meeting on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment, which was attended by some 80 heads of state and government, who made concrete commitments to advance women's rights, she noted.

Exactly 25 years after the Beijing conference, the significance of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted is undimmed. The outcome of the Beijing conference remains the most comprehensive and transformative global agenda for the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, she said.

"UN Women stands ready to support the government of China in continuing to bring women's needs, contribution and leadership to the forefront of recovery and longer-term development efforts, with the growing support of partners including the All-China Women Federation," she said.

UN Women is the key UN body for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. 
London, Sep 27 : In his virtual address to thw 75th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson told his foreign counterparts at the world body that the "notion of the international community looks tattered" after the global Covid-19 crisis.

In a pre-recorded speech on Saturday, Johnson said: "After nine months of fighting COVID-19, the very notion of the international community looks, frankly, pretty tattered. And we know that we simply can't continue in this way.

"Unless we get our act together. Unless we unite and turn our fire against our common foe, we know that everyone will lose. The inevitable outcome would be to prolong this calamity and increase the risk of another.

"Now is the time, therefore, here at what I devoutly hope will be the first and last ever Zoom UNGA, for humanity to reach across borders and repair these ugly rifts." In the address, he said that the UK will contribute 500 million pounds in aid funding to the Covax vaccines procurement pool, which aims to help poorer countries access a coronavirus jab when one is developed, the BBC reported.

Johnson said that "we must never cut corners" or "sacrifice safety to speed" in the search for a vaccine.

"Because it would be an absolute tragedy if, in our eagerness, we were to boost the nut-jobs - the anti-vaxers, dangerous obsessives who campaign against the whole concept of vaccination and who would risk further millions of lives," he added.

During the pre-recorded address, the Prime Minister also announced a plan, developed with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and The Wellcome Trust, to help stop future pandemics.

It includes developing a global network of "zoonotic hubs" to identify dangerous pathogens before they jump from animals to humans, as well as improving manufacturing capacity for treatments and vaccine.

He also promised 340 million pounds to the World Health Organization over the next four years - a 30 per cent increase on the previous period, making the UK one of its biggest donors.

Concluding the address, Johnson added: "Here in the UK, the birthplace of Edward Jenner who pioneered the world's first vaccine, we are determined to do everything in our power to work with our friends across the UN, to heal those divisions and to heal the world."
Swara Bhasker has taken a dig at former Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey who joined the JD(U) on Sunday. Better known as Bihars own Robinhood, Pandey had strongly defended Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar who pushed for a CBI probe into the mysterious death of Sushant Singh Rajput.

The 1987 batch IPS officer joined the states ruling JD(U) amid indications he would contest the assembly polls beginning next month. Reacting to a tweet about the same, she wrote on Twitter, Chaliye yahi tha kisi ke dukhad ant par apna agenda chamkana (Come on ... that was it #JusticeForSushantSinghRajput Getting opportunistic about someones tragic death).

Pandey joined the party in the presence of the Bihar CM, who is also the JD(U) president, less than a week after taking voluntary retirement from service. His much-anticipated induction took place a day after he met Kumar and insisted there was nothing political in their conversation.

The former officer had reminded actor Rhea Chakraborty, Sushants girlfriend and the main accused in the abetment to suicide case being probed by the CBI, of her auqaat (status) to question Nitish Kumar, when she suggested that there was politics behind the Bihar governments decision to push for a CBI probe.

Known for speaking his mind notwithstanding the constraints that came with the rules governing civil servants, Pandey was in the headlines while the governments of Maharashtra and Bihar were engaged in a tug of war over the investigation in Sushants death case.

Also read: Kangana Ranaut shares Trumps tweet against Biden amid drug probe in Bollywood, says drug use is better slur than sexist ones

The Bihar DGP had publicly denounced the Mumbai municipal authorities for quarantining IPS officer Vinay Tiwari, who had landed in the western metropolis for heading the investigation after an FIR was lodged by Sushants father, accusing Rhea and her family members of abetting the actors suicide.

Sushant was found dead at his Bandra home on June 14. Rhea and her brother Showik are currently in judicial custody for their alleged involvement in a drug case related to Sushant.

(With PTI inputs)

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On Saturday, as many expected, President Trump announced that Judge Amy Coney Barrett was his nomination to fill the empty seat on the Supreme Court. On the grounds of her intellect and abilities, Barrett is a superb choice. All who have worked with her, regardless of their political leanings, admire her, both professionally and personally. Barretts also an excellent choice because the Democrats are incapable of refraining from attacking her on grounds that make the Democrats look awful. Trump must have known that the leftists compulsions would be their Achilles heels.

Barretts confirmation is a done deal because Sen. Mitch McConnell has been able to wrangle the votes he needs for Senate consent. We also know that there is no practical or constitutional reason for the Senate not to schedule a speedy hearing and an equally swift vote.

If the Democrats were sane, they would go on the record objecting to Barretts (to them) bizarre fealty to the Constitution. They would also complain, although they have no constitutional basis for doing so, that the nomination and hearing should have waited until after the election. They should then accept with some semblance of dignity what is a fait accompli and acknowledge that, under the rules governing our system for almost 230 years, you win some and you lose some.

But Democrats are not sane. They cannot stop themselves from the type of personal destruction tried to use against Justice Kavanaugh. Because Barrett is a model of rectitude, rape claims are out. Instead, they are alleging that she is a racist, a bad mother, and a religious fanatic. This post is a compilation of some of the Democrats most insane rants.

Bewilderingly, Democrats claim that Barrett is a racist because she adopted two children from Haiti. Apparently, white parents who reach out to black babies that would otherwise be abandoned or even die are just using them as props to hide the fact that, like all white people, they are born racist and will die racist.

Heres race hustler Ibram X. Kendi:

And whether this is Barrett or not is not the point. It is a belief too many White people have: if they have or adopt a child of color, then they can't be racist.  Ibram X. Kendi (@DrIbram) September 26, 2020

Im challenging the idea that White parents of kids of color are inherently not racist and the bots completely change what Im saying to White parents of kids of color are inherently racist. These live and fake bots are good at their propaganda. Lets not argue with them.  Ibram X. Kendi (@DrIbram) September 26, 2020

John Lee Brougher, who worked for Texass famous arch-abortionist, Wendy Davis, must have had a bad childhood, because he claims that transracial adoption is inherently abusive:

Hey @wendydavis - do you think this is appropriate? For Democrat operatives (who indicate ties to you) to target & make a political & racial issue out of a public servants adoptive children? #AmyConeyBarrett #SCOTUS #Tx21 #StandUpForAmerica pic.twitter.com/DWyl5KtdXD  Chip Roy (@chiproytx) September 26, 2020

Yet another leftist is pretty sure that the adoptions were illegal:

Democrats,



If you attack Amy Coney Barretts kids who were adopted from Haiti like this Democrat staffer did, we will never, and I mean never, forgive or forget it. pic.twitter.com/eQtjvYiYyp  Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) September 26, 2020

And then theres the anti-feminist assertion that Barrett is a bad mother because she is a working mother. This is especially laughable because Democrats have been telling American women since the 1970s that they are being the best kind of mother when they are also professionals who are emotionally fulfilled and good role models for their daughters. Still, heres some gal named Vanessa Grigoriadis throwing second wave feminism overboard to say that working women cannot be good mothers:

And of course, theres the Democrats insistence that Barrett is a religious fanatic because she believes in the tenets of her faith. By their own standards, Leftists are not fanatics, despite believing that people can magically change sex, that race is the only determinative factor in human existence, that natural climate change is a sign that Mother Nature is angry, and that Marxism actually works.

Heres the Daily Koss take, which sees Barrett bringing back chattel slavery:

Barrett is a religious extremist, a member of a small sect that takes the inherent misogyny of traditional Catholicism and adds to it the by doubling down with  more misogyny. Shes a originalist extremist, holding onto a view of Constitutional interpretation so strict, shes ready to toss out the 14th Amendment.

Bill Maher ranted about condoms (language warning):

An alleged lawyer is thinks that Barretts Catholicism means she isnt qualified to make laws. Theoretically, a lawyer should know that judges dont make law, but the fact is Democrats want leftist judges to make the laws that the peoples representatives in Congress refuse to pass:

So called lawyer thinks SCOTUS is supposed to "make laws" pic.twitter.com/TkfcG2aJtZ  Greg (@chaoticexpo) September 27, 2020

And then theres Christine Grimaldi, an alleged journalist, who managed to take all of the attacks against Barrett and emerge with some straight-up crazy talk:

The Democrats cannot change the outcome here. However, because of their compulsions, they will offend parents of adopted children (especially cross-racial adoptions), working mothers, Christians, and everyday Americans who are disgusted by the rantings of sore losers.

Conservatives as far away as Australia think that the lefts utter lack of self-control will be a huge boost for Trump:

If youd like to have an accurate sense of what kind of justice Barrett will be, I recommend Noah Feldmans tribute, which he felt compelled to write even though he does not share her judicial theories.

Image: Amy Coney Barrett, by Rachel Malehorn. CC BY 3.0.
From Miss Congeniality to Little Miss Sunshine, beauty pageants are often the butt of the joke. For Hollywood writers, the gags are seemingly ripe for the picking: the spray tans, the sequins, the catwalking, the talent round; its an apparent battle to the death to project a specific image of femininity. But Miss Juneteenth, a new film following a black former beauty queen, who has high hopes for her daughter to follow in her footsteps, offers a different perspective. The titular Miss Juneteenth pageant, which commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the US, is one that debut writer-director Channing Godfrey Peoples attended herself throughout her own childhood.

This story has been with me my whole life, Peoples tells me. Both the holiday, and the pageant, were highly anticipated annual fixtures in her hometown of Fort Worth, Texas, and shed never considered the celebrations unusual. When I left Texas and went to film school in California, Id say Happy Juneteenth! to people, and they would look at me kind of curiously. It seems that many Americans had never heard of its significance in the early aughts. But it was such a big part of the fabric of my life  it was my version of Miss America.

For the films protagonist, a working-class single mother named Turquoise (Nicole Beharie), the pageant carries a similar significance. In her youth, Turquoise won Miss Juneteenth, but her life plans were derailed when she became a teenage mother to her now 15-year-old daughter, Kai (Alexis Chikaeze). Turquoise became a sex worker, and now scrapes together tips working in her local bar to make ends meet. Her only dream is that Kai will wear the crown  and take the prize of a full college scholarship.

Miss Juneteenth offers contestants generous incentives in the way of social mobility, and in some ways resembles the pageants were used to seeing portrayed in American cinema. But there are some crucial differences. Miss Juneteenth is not about proximity to a western ideal of beauty, says lead actor Nicole Beharie. Channing made it very clear all the young ladies in the pageant are different shapes, sizes and heights. They have different hair. And the winner from the year prior is a curvy, confident, young black woman.

Afros and curls particularly defy the archetypal image of a pageant  although at one point, we see true-to-life scenes of Kais hair being straightened using a traditional hot stove iron. Having natural hair in the film was absolutely important to me, Peoples says, and it also links to the metaphor of the crown  black women wearing these crowns on our heads. Beyond the physical appearances of the contestants, even fixtures like the talent round look different in Miss Juneteenth, with Kai performing Maya Angelous poem Phenomenal Woman. Beharie says: These were not the kind of pageants that I grew up seeing on television occasionally  which, by the way, were produced by Donald Trump.

All the supporting roles and extras, most of whom had never acted before, were from Peopless community in Fort Worth, which neighbours Dallas and has a black population of 19 per cent. In the tight-knit suburbs of the film, everyone knows everyone, and its the kind of place where you cant go to your local bar without running into your mother. Before I came down, I studied and worked hard on the dialect, Beharie says, and I went and worked at the bar a few times  just so it felt like second nature. I also learnt some of the dance steps and just spent a lot of time with the locals.

Channing Godfrey Peoples and her stars Nicole Beharie and Alexis Chikaeze at the Sundance Film Festival in January (Getty)

The payoffs of Beharies immersion method are highly visible throughout the film. Her performance is deeply authentic and was, perhaps, even more bittersweet, as she had previously taken a years-long break from acting after she developed a serious illness while making the TV series Sleepy Hollow. I also just feel more connected and embodied, Beharie says, of her return to her craft, and that manifests relatably on screen in her cackle, her side-eye, her drawl-like delivery and even the way she carries herself.

Beharie had developed Clostridium difficile, and there were traumatic elements of recovery, which required her to take eight prescription medications at one point. And she was dropped from the Sleepy Hollow cast entirely. There were moments of bitterness and anger, and also doubt and all of that good stuff, she says warmly. Now that conversation is one that weve all been having, about what our lives are worth and how we want to live them.

But, she continues, with a nod to both coronavirus and Black Lives Matter, I am more grateful than ever to have made it through and to be able to create something people can enjoy in such a crazy time. She also points to former 42 co-star Chadwick Bosemans death as another example of the fragility of health, and black life in particular. It just really makes you think about what people are going through, and the different ways we all handle our obstacles.

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Neither Peoples nor Beharie could have predicted the climate that this film would be released during  in America, Miss Juneteenth came out at the height of the protests following the death of George Floyd. Relatedly, Juneteenth, as a holiday, was observed and talked about more widely than ever this year, making headlines after Trump scheduled his first campaign rally in Oklahoma on the day. While issues of anti-black racism circle back again and again in the film, Peoples is staunch that this is a theme that has a life beyond 2020: Weve been having these conversations in the black community for as long as I can remember.

For Beharie, some of the films central conflict does serve as a metaphor for the current upheaval taking place across America. Turquoise relentlessly insists Kai is traditional to the point of occasional shaming, telling her to go back into her bedroom and put on more clothes when she is going out in shorts. But Kai has a distinctly rebellious spirit, rejecting respectability politics outright. Thats true to life, Beharie says. At some point, new generations give you a wake up call, and tell you that it shouldnt be this way. And that actually you just got tired, or you got lulled into thinking this is the way it is. I think thats what the younger generations are doing now by standing up in protest, and its incredible.

Alexis Chikaeze, centre, takes her place at the Miss Juneteenth pageant (Vertigo)

Of course, Miss Juneteenth isnt simply a Black Lives Matter Movie. Peoples says that this is also a film about what it means to be a black woman. I definitely see myself in Turquoise, but shes also my mom, and my grandmother, my aunts, and the women in the community. Theres that sense of determination and that grit, but at the same time that grace. Growing up, you would see women working hard but you would barely see them sweat while they did it  or if they were sweating, they were sweating gracefully.

There are also subtle calls to black history. Turquoises quest to live vicariously through her daughters potential success at times borders on obsession, as if she wants to rewrite her own story. Peoples tells me that this has a metaphorical link to the origins of Juneteenth, which doesnt actually mark the emancipation proclamation but the day that slaves found out they were free in parts of Texas, a whole two years later. I was constantly asking the question: what happens when freedom comes too late? she says. Turquoise is constantly navigating this idea that she won this pageant, but didnt have the infrastructure to sustain what came of it It is really about a dream deferred.

Miss Juneteenth is a moving film about many things  poverty, beauty, blackness and womanhood  but perhaps, as Beharie and Peoples say, its most surprisingly relevant theme is that of intergenerational struggle, and sometimes conflict. Black women in particular must grapple with the wishes, hopes and dreams of our parents, and our ancestors that struggled for so long before them. And while there is so much that they werent able to do, how can we live out our own desires while also doing them justice? We call it the generational curse, Peoples laughs heartily. Thats really what its about: what we inherit, what we leave behind, and what we choose to take forward.
Press Release

September 27, 2020 Pangilinan to DepEd: Hire more teachers and increase funds for modules SENATOR Francis Pangilinan on Sunday called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to intensify the hiring of teachers to ensure that positions funded by the current 2020 budget and its upcoming 2021 appropriations are filled. "Ang pinakamabuting paraan para parangalan ang ating mga titser at non-teaching personnel ay magarantyahan na may trabaho sila at ang kanilang kapakanan ay pinagtutuunan ng pansin. (The best way to honor our teachers and non-teaching school personnel is to guarantee that they have jobs and that their welfare is protected)," Pangilinan said as he saluted Filipino educators on Teachers' Month. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Education (DepEd) has reported that 748 out of 14,435 private schools nationwide would not be operating for the upcoming school year. This would affect some 3,233 teachers and 40,345 learners, who were either forced to transfer to public schools or drop out of school. Pangilinan said that while the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act has allocated P300 million for a one-time cash assistance to displaced teaching and non-teaching personnel in private and public schools, having a regular source of income and being able to continuously practice their sacred calling are more important. According to the DepEd, there are 988,567 positions of which only 932,760 are filled, and 55,807 are unfilled. Aside from these, DepEd said it has requested for additional 10,000 posts under the proposed 2021 budget. "Sufficient human resources in the education system is as crucial these days, especially when we are embarking on blended learning," Pangilinan said. The senator also pushed for additional budget for the needs of teachers and non-teaching personnel so they could effectively carry out their task in both online and modular learning. The August 2020 DepEd Learner Enrollment Survey indicated that more than 50% of learners prefer the use of printed modules in the conduct of distance education in the upcoming school year. "This early, we have been hearing from DepEd officials about the lack of funds for printing of modules and the scenario of sharing of the printed copy among students," Pangilinan said. "This has to be addressed as this could pose health risks to both the teachers and students. Knowing, too, how devoted our teachers are to their vow, it is not far-fetched that they would initiate producing the extra copies of the modules out of their own pockets. Our teachers deserve better treatment from the government," he stressed.
Hong Kong recorded six new coronavirus infections on Sunday, with a construction worker the citys sole locally transmitted case and a number of his colleagues placed in quarantine as a precaution.

The five other cases were imported, among them a domestic worker and returnees from Britain.

Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the Centre for Health Protections Communicable Disease branch, said the 22-year-old construction worker, who was infected by an unknown source, was working at a site in Kai Tak, and nine colleagues who shared a common room had been identified as close contacts.

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Even though we have not seen any cases with unknown sources in the past few days, we know they are still out there, and we have one today, Chuang said. If we are not careful, it could cause a new outbreak, she warned.

Of the nine, one had tested preliminary positive for the coronavirus. A second colleague was also feeling ill when the CHP approached him, Chuang said, and had been sent to hospital. The rest will be sent to quarantine centres, as will family members living with the man.

The latest figures bring the citys total number of infections to 5,065, with 104 related deaths.

Another 500 workers from different construction companies at the same site will also be given collection tubes to collect samples.

Of the five imported cases, two were returnees from Britain, one from Tunisia, one a returning domestic worker from the Philippines, and one from India.

Chuang called on anyone who felt slightly unwell to come forward and get tested, while urging residents to keep up social distancing and other preventive measures.

Meanwhile, Chuang said residents should also get vaccinated ahead of the winter flu season to prevent any complications, after researchers in Europe warned the flu virus could increase the spread of the coronavirus.

Earlier this week, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor had declared the third wave of Covid-19 under control, but warned of the lingering threat of infections with unknown sources.

Story continues

On Saturday, the city marked its first day without a local Covid-19 case since September 15, with the sole imported infection involving a 48-year-old arrival from Bahrain.

The pandemic has battered Hong Kongs economy. The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.1 per cent in August, but the number of underemployed people hit a 17-year high of 3.8 per cent.

This article Coronavirus: Hong Kong construction crew quarantined as colleague sole locally transmitted infection among six new Covid-19 cases first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020.
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 20:40:17|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- China has been taking multiple measures, including favorable policies and financial aids, to boost the recovery and further development of rural tourism as part of efforts to promote the resumption of work and production, an official said on Sunday.

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has issued a circular on accelerating the recovery of rural tourism while maintaining regular COVID-19 containment, with measures such as a call for greater efforts in infrastructure construction, and launching new tourism routes to support the industry's development, said Shan Gangxin, deputy head of the ministry's resource development department, at a press conference.

The ministry has also been deepening its cooperation with banks concerning financial assistance for the industry.

The Agricultural Bank of China has issued 15 billion yuan (about 2.2 billion U.S. dollars) in relevant loans for rural tourism to 1,000 key villages where tourism is a major source of locals' income, Shan said.

The official said loan investments for tourism development in the country's most impoverished areas have grown significantly compared with earlier this year, reaching 3.4 billion yuan so far. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 20:56:09|Editor: huaxia

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HARARE, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Timothy Manyange meticulously cleans his camera lenses in his studio in Harare as he prepares for a photo shoot session.

Manyange, a humanitarian and family photographer, has been capturing people's special moments for the past decade, but many of those moments have been put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For many ordinary Zimbabweans who form the bulk of Manyange's clientele, spending their hard earned cash on photography during times of economic uncertainty seems less of a priority.

While news reports have mostly focused on cancellation or postponement of social events due to the pandemic, what has been missing from coverage is the pandemic's economic impact on event photographers such as Manyange who ekes out a living from documenting those events.

"The coming of the pandemic has made life very difficult for us, very very difficult," Manyange told Xinhua in an interview at his studio. "Now it's been six months, so you can imagine right now all the savings have totally gone, it's totally gone."

"With the measures that were put for us to contain the virus, we could not work, we could not visit people, we could not interact at any point, so that meant no family gatherings, no family photography for six months," said Manyange.

"My kind of work, it gives me life, meeting new people, getting to know their stories, getting to tell their stories. That's what gives me life, so it's been six months of not having that," he said.

However, Manyange said while the pandemic has had a negative impact on the industry, those who are forward thinking still see opportunities.

"But for people who are creative, I think this was an opportunity to grow," he said.

"We used to survive on events, but now that we don't have events, we then tried to go down the value chain. We can focus on printing," he said.

With weddings postponed and other social events being cancelled, event photographers are reinventing themselves in order to keep working through the coronavirus pandemic. Manyange said he is using the opportunity to get into new genres of photography he was not used to at the same time trying to capitalize on opportunities along the photography value chain.

"Photography is life. So as long as people are living there is always an opportunity for us," he said.

While the past six months of lockdown have taken an economic toll on event photographers such as Manyange, the slowdown of infections and the gradual opening of all sectors of the economy following a relaxation of lockdown offers photographers renewed hope for the future.

Zimbabwe has reopened most sectors of its economy following months of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Government has given a green light to the resumption of domestic flights, and international flights will start on Oct. 1. Enditem
The Great Lakes Poll released Thursday by Baldwin Wallace University not only offered a look at whats shaping up to be a tossup race in Ohio for the presidency. It gauged voters' sentiments on how Gov. Mike DeWine is doing in battling COVID-19, how serious they think racial problems are in America and whether they think we should do away with the Electoral College. Plus a lot more.

Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer explored a myriad of topics from the poll, conducted from Sept. 8 through Sept. 22. BWs Community Research Institute partnered with Ohio Northern University and Oakland University in Michigan for the survey of likely voters in Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 07:31:59|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Saturday that a nuclear war cannot be won and must not be fought.

"The use of nuclear weapons would affect all states, meaning that all states have a responsibility to ensure that such deadly armaments are never used again and are eliminated completely from national arsenals," the secretary-general said in his message on the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.

Calling on states that possess nuclear weapons "to return to real, good-faith dialogue to restore trust and confidence, reduce nuclear risk and take tangible steps in nuclear disarmament," the UN chief said that "they should reaffirm the shared understanding that a nuclear war cannot be won and must not be fought. They should take steps to implement the commitments they have undertaken."

The UN General Assembly declared the international day in December 2013, in its resolution 68/32 as a follow-up to the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament held on Sept. 26, 2013, in New York. This day provides an occasion for the world community to reaffirm its commitment to global nuclear disarmament as a priority. It provides an opportunity to educate the public - and their leaders - about the real benefits of eliminating such weapons, and the social and economic costs of perpetuating them. Enditem
The European Friends of Armenia (EuFoA) international non-governmental organization has issued a statement in which it strongly condemns the attacks launched by Azerbaijan against the entire Line of Contact with Nagorno-Karabakh. The statement reads as follows:

Early this morning, a large-scale assault was launched by Azerbaijan against the entire line of contact with NagornoKarabakh, targeting the local self-defence but also civilian settlements, including the capital, Stepanakert.

Despite accusations from Baku and Ankara that Armenia started this attack, there is no logic for Armenia to provoke any military action. The leadership of Azerbaijan, however, has repeatedly stated that it has become tired and frustrated with a negotiated peace, which has included questioning the functioning of the peace talks coordinated by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs. These statements have been matched by an increasingly incendiary rhetoric.

Such divergent approaches from the two sides were apparent in the respective addresses offered at the UN General Assembly earlier this week. Prime Minister Pashinyan made an appeal for peace and once again highlighted Armenias commitment to the exclusively peaceful settlement of the NagornoKarabakh conflict, in line with the 2009 Basic Principles proposed by the OSCE negotiators.

In contrast, President Aliyev offered an extended and emotional intervention that sought to misrepresent the entire past thirty years of the conflict and negotiations, which with hind-sight can be read as a diplomatic warning-shot ahead of the attacks launched today. Repeatedly, the official stance in Baku is that they do not want to tolerate a second Armenian state on its ancient soils, which even questions the Armenian Republics right to exist.

European Friends of Armenia strongly condemn the attacks launched by Azerbaijan and the intention to change the status quo by means of war. We call on the international community to recognise the severity of this latest development and to refrain from the customary calls upon both sides, with its basis in false equivalence. The cease-fire regime must now be credibly strengthened, as has been promised internationally since the 2016 Four Day War.

NagornoKarabakh is an Armenian populated enclave, de jure under Azerbaijani jurisdiction following Stalins intervention to reverse the Supreme Soviets confirmation of Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Soviet Armenia. De facto, it became an independent republic after the local population defended itself against ethnic cleansing in the war of 1990  1994.
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Thousands of Christians have packed the National Mall in downtown Washington DC for a National Prayer March led by Rev. Franklin Graham, praying for the country and showing their support for President Donald Trump.

'Father, our country is in trouble. We need your help,' prayed Graham at the march, according to WRC-TV. 'We pray today specifically for the President Donald J. Trump.'

Organizers say up to 50,000 people attended, making it one of the largest gatherings in the nation since the coronavirus pandemic struck and, and bans on large gatherings were implemented.

The march, which stretched from the Lincoln Memorial to the U.S. Capitol on Saturday, was held just hours before Trump was set to announce he was nominating a conservative judge for the Supreme Court.

Thousands of people have packed the National Mall in downtown Washington DC for a National Prayer March led by Rev. Franklin Graham, praying for the country and showing their support for President Donald Trump

'Father, our country is in trouble. We need your help,' prayed Graham (seen last month). 'We pray today specifically for the President Donald J. Trump.'

Organizers say up to 50,000 people attended, making it one of the largest gatherings in the nation since the coronavirus pandemic struck and, and bans on large gatherings were implemented

The march, which stretched from the Lincoln Memorial to the U.S. Capitol on Saturday, was held just hours before Trump was set to announce he was nominating a conservative judge for the Supreme Court

Vice President Mike Pence was among the speakers who addressed the crowd from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. He discussed the presidency and Supreme Court.

Pence urged the crowd to pray for the armed forces, the executive branch, Congress and 'the remarkable woman that the president will nominate to fill the seat on the Supreme Court today.'

'Today, at this Washington prayer march, you continue a great tradition,' Pence said. 'Since the founding of our nation, the American people and our leaders have gone to prayer in challenging times.'

Some sported red caps with the words 'Lets Make America Godly Again,' a play on Trump's signature MAGA caps

March attendees pray on the National Mall at the Washington Prayer March 2020 lead by Evangelist Franklin Graham

Followers of Franklin Graham have a prayer as they march from the Lincoln Memorial to Capitol Hill, during the Prayer March

Christians gather on the National Mall for the Washington Prayer March 2020 lead by Evangelist Franklin Graham

Participants ride a farm tractor during the Washington Prayer March 2020 lead by Evangelist Franklin Graham on Saturday

The congregation stopped and prayed over various sites throughout downtown Washington DC

Soon after Pence's remarks, Trump announced Judge Amy Coney Barrett to replace liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who passed away last week.

Pence said he came to extend Trump's 'greetings and gratitude' and asked them to pray for the new Supreme Court nominee.

After the rally, demonstrators walked to eight sites around the National Mall, stopping to pray on a specific focus at each, including police officers, government leaders, ending abortion and more.

March attendees gather on the National Mall for the Washington Prayer March 2020 led by Evangelist Franklin Graham

A man holds a sign and a cross sharing his Christian message at the Prayer March on Saturday in DC

Followers of Franklin Graham march from the Lincoln Memorial to Capitol Hill, during the Prayer March at the National Mall

After the rally, demonstrators walked to eight sites around the National Mall, stopping to pray on a specific focus at each, including police officers, government leaders, ending abortion and more

Followers of Franklin Graham pray at the base of the Washington Monument as they march from the Lincoln Memorial to Capitol Hill, during the Prayer March at the National Mall

Christians join in prayer the base of the Washington Monument as they march from the Lincoln Memorial to Capitol Hill

A man bears a cross and a sign quoting 2 Chronicles 7:14 in front of the Washington Monument on Saturday in DC

Faithfuls followers of Franklin Graham march from the Lincoln Memorial to Capitol Hill, during the Prayer March

'These people have come from all over America at their own expense. They're coming to pray for the country,' former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said while hosting the event livestream. 'They're here to solve the trouble our land is in.'

Few in the crowd wore masks. Some sported red caps with the words 'Lets Make America Godly Again,' a play on Trump's signature MAGA caps.

Many in the crowd appeared to be students of Liberty University in Virginia.
People are sometimes surprised that Tom Vaughan-Lawlor does not sound like Nidge from Love/Hate. His accent is, in fact, the fourth most searched thing about him. But that surprise is testament to how popular the series was and how he inhabited the role of a Dublin crime boss.

His is a gentler Dublin accent and the roles he has had since Nidge have taken him from small stages to huge screen, from Hugh Lane to a cured zombie, from the Maze prison to the Marvel universe, and his latest role sees him back in Dublin and back talking like Nidge.

Rialto, written by Mark O'Halloran and directed by Peter Mackie Burns, revolves around Colm, a 46-year-old married father of two. His own father has just died, his work life is troubled, he has an alcohol problem and he finds himself struggling to hide what he has kept secret all his life. An encounter with a young man, Jay (Tom Glynn-Carney), in a public toilet is a culmination of one set of events and sets off another. There is a lot going on for Colm.

"It's only 90 minutes but it's a full-on 90 minutes," Tom agrees. "He makes the conscious choice to step into the toilet cubicle with Jay and he crosses a physical and metaphorical threshold. It pulls the pin out of the grenade and explodes his life from the inside."

Colm's sexuality is certainly an issue but in many respects, the film is more about masculinity in broader terms. Colm did not like his father, a hard man who cast a long shadow and left his family with little emotional language yet, unwittingly, this is a cycle Colm is repeating with his own teenage son.

It is an easy pattern to repeat, but Tom quotes his wife, the actor Claire Cox, who believes our kids are sent to teach us. "My son is nine and I am kind of on the edge of that hero worship, but I know in a few years' time that is going down the toilet and I will have to deal with the teenage rebellion."

He says it seems like a welcome idea because it's a healthy, normal step in life but he wonders if he will be prepared. "My son is already asking me big questions that I don't have answers to now and I won't have answers to in 20 years' time," he says.

Rialto reflects the shortcomings of old-school masculinity and Tom believes it is important to address that with our children.

"If we are not more aware of what we hand on in our legacy in terms of what masculinity is, we are dooming our kids to make the same mistakes about the place of men in the world."

And what is the place of men in the world? Chatty and engaged, this is clearly an issue to which Tom has given some thought. He cites a memory jolted by something he watched.

Video of the Day

"Remember that thing, Rear of the Year?" (Yep, female celebrities were awarded a 'best buttocks' prize.)

"At the time you go, 'Oh yeah, Rear of the Year', and now you're like, 'f**king hell, what were we thinking?' It's true, some of the gender-based things we once thought acceptable seem crazy now."

He reflects too on his own school days. He was born in 1977 and grew up in Dundrum in South Dublin where he attended an all boys' Christian Brothers school.

"I had a really good time there but I realise that because I have three sisters I can speak to women. But if I hadn't any sisters, I just know I wouldn't have had the language to speak to women and that just isn't helpful for male development."

This too is true. Back in the day you could tell the boys who went to all boys' schools and had no sisters; they tended to treat women like aliens.

So much has changed and Tom - son and father to a son - feels hopeful.

"Being vulnerable is not a weakness, it takes courage and I think men are less afraid of being vulnerable now and that is a really good future for our sons."

He also feels that a world where young people are no longer pigeon-holed by sexuality or gender is a positive step. "They're just living in the world."

And where once much of that change happened only outside Ireland, that is no longer the case.

"I've lived in England 20 years now and the [Ireland] I left and the country it is now, the difference is just astonishing. Friends of mine in England look at Ireland and think what a progressive country we are."

Rialto is about masculinity, but it is also about shame and fear and the fallout from not living a truth.

"We all have hang-ups and frailties," says its star, "but hopefully we are creating a society where people feel they can be themselves and can live in their own skin and be happy and love themselves - because what else is there?"

Rialto is in cinemas nationwide from October 2
Emirates RDF, a partnership between leading water treatment expert Besix, Finnish group Griffin Refineries and Ajman-based Tech Group Eco, has announced that it is all set to start production of alternative fuel at the company's facility in Umm Al Quwain.

As part of its strategy to generate green energy, the household waste collected will be converted into an alternative energy source called Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF), which will be used as a fuel in cement factories instead of coal.

Once operational from October 1, Emirates RDF, the first RDF facility in the region, will able to handle over 1,000 tonnes of waste from the emirates of Ajman and Umm Al Quwain.

A high-powered delegation drawn from the municipality of Ajman and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment visited the Emirates RDF plant ahead of its start of operations early next month.

The head of the Ajman Municipality, together with the undersecretary toured the facility ahead of the launch of its operation.

Abdulrahman Al Nuaimi - Director General of Ajman Municipality and Planning Department, Saif Al Shara - Assistant Under-Secretary of Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), Yousif Alahmed Al Rayssi - Director, Municipal Affairs Department at MOCCAE, Elias Sfeir  Northern Emirates General Manager, Besix Middle East, Yousef Sultan Al Ajmani, Executive Manager, Emirates RDF, and other officials took part in the inspection visit.

Emirates RDF is delighted that after intensive cooperation with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and the Presidents Initiatives Committee (Ministry of Presidential Affairs), the RDF facility is ready for the production of high-quality alternative fuel for factories in the region, said Nicolaas de Koning, general manager, Emirates RDF.

"The Emirates RDF plant will have enhanced capacity that will enable us to divert over 80 percent of household waste from the landfill. This will be a huge boost to our environment conservation efforts," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
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Dutch theologian Herman Bavinck gave, perhaps, the most fundamental reason that, as Gods people, we should prioritize prayer  not just because we are Christian but because we are human. Bavinck said:

Prayer is fitting for us because God is God, because of all his attributes: faithfulness, grace, omnipotence, goodness, and so on. Furthermore, we also depend on him for everything; having nothing from ourselves we need to receive everything from him. Prayer is therefore deeply grounded in human naturea necessity for its being

The idea here is, of course, the dependence creatures have, by definition, on their Creator. And, another aspect of our creatureliness spoken of in Scripture is not only that we exist, but when and where we exist. God has, according to Pauls teaching found in Acts 17, placed each and every one of us in particular times and particular places. The chaos of the cultural moment is all the reason we need to pray that we could possibly need.

Each Wednesday since early August, the Colson Center has hosted a National Prayer Webinar, via Zoom and Facebook Live, to pray for our country and the Church. Thousands have joined us.

When Focus on the Family president Jim Daly led our prayer time a few weeks ago, he said, When it gets rough [in times] like this, its time for Christians to show the confidence we have in what we believe. And as the Body of Christ, we must bring true hope to the world  using the best weapons we could ever have  the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The kind that only comes through prayer.

Since weve started to pray together, Ive sensed with many others that God most wants to reform, not the culture, but His Church. He is graciously stirring His Church to action, especially by calling His people to repentance.

This Sunday, September 27th, hundreds of churches throughout America will be participating in a time dedicated to prayer and repentance. Whats being called Repentance Sunday has been organized and endorsed by the leaders from more than 50 churches and ministries. I know this is somewhat late notice, but repentance is always a good thing to do, isnt it? You can still join in.

This Sunday is Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, among the most sacred days of the year in the Jewish calendar. For the Church, its an opportunity to practice what Revelation 2 and 3 require, a return to our first love, seeking forgiveness for personal and corporate sins (by the way, thats a theme that has come up repeatedly in our Wednesday prayer times). Scripture is clear that the best next step for a nation experiencing division and calamity can only be taken by the Church. The first step for us is repentance, something we often talk about but, outside of liturgical services, rarely actually do.

To learn more about Repentance Sunday and request resources, just come to BreakPoint.org and well link you to them. And, please, join us for prayer each Wednesday between now and the day after the election. Again, you can register at BreakPoint.org. This week, we will be led by Pastor Bob Fu, founder of China Aid.

Though as Bavinck said, prayer reflects our creatureliness, it is also the means by which we participate in Gods ongoing work in the world. As American theologian and philosopher Johnathan Edwards said, so [it] is Gods will, through His wonderful grace, that the prayers of his saints should be one great and principal means of carrying on the designs of Christs kingdom in the world.

What an astounding thought. We so often say things like, but other than pray, what can we do? Praying is doing something.

Prayer changes our hearts, aligning us with Gods will and love. Repentance is offered to us, Scripture says, out of Gods kindness so that realignment is possible. As Peter Kreeft said, For those on the edge of the moral abyss, the best way forward is backward. Prayerful repentance is that opportunity to turn around and realign.

Gaby Lyons whos been the driving force organizing Repentance Day told many of us recently, Something is surely afoot. God is on the move. Ive sensed that too. Please, come to BreakPoint.org to find out more about Repentance Sunday and to register for our weekly National Prayer Webinar.

Originally posted at breakpoint.org
The Defense Army of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) has issued the following press release:

Today at around 7:15 a.m. Azerbaijan used artillery and strike UAVs and made an attack along the entire length of the line of contact of the Karabakh-Azerbaijan forces, targeting also settlements in the deep rear, including the capital Stepanakert.

Heated battles are taking place as we speak.

The Defense Army will report on further developments of the events on a regular basis.

According to spokesperson of the President of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Vahram Poghosyan, the enemy started shelling actively along the entire length of the line of contact. The enemy is also shelling peaceful settlements, including the capital Stepanakert. In her turn, spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia Shushan Stepanyan stated that the Armenian side has shot down two helicopters and three UAVs of the adversary. The battles continue.

Commander of the Defense Army of Artsakh Jalal Harutyunyan made a call for battle, stating that, currently, the subdivisions of the Defense Army are successfully disrupting the adversarys plans by making the adversary suffer a large number of casualties.


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How did a superpower allow itself to be felled by a virus? And after nearly four years during which President Donald Trump has praised authoritarian leaders and obscenely dismissed some other countries as insignificant and crime-ridden, is the United States in danger of exhibiting some of the same traits he has disparaged?
The Black chef will no longer appear on Cream of Wheat packaging where he was the face of the brand for more than a century, the products parent company announced in a decision that comes three months after it vowed to re-evaluate its marketing to ensure it did not inadvertently contribute to systemic racism.

For years, the image of an African-American chef appeared on our Cream of Wheat packaging, the company, B&G Foods, said on Thursday. Although research suggests the image may be based on an actual chef from Chicago, it reminds some consumers of earlier depictions they find offensive, the company said.

It is not immediately clear when the change will take effect.

Cream of Wheat, which depicts a smiling Black man in a white uniform worn by chefs, has not changed much since its debut in the late 19th century. The character was named Rastus, a pejorative term for Black men, and he was once depicted as a barely literate cook who did not know what vitamins were.

The chefs face changed in the mid-1920s when a Chicago waiter was asked to pose in a chefs hat, said Gregory D. Smithers, a professor of history at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. He said the waiter, identified by some scholars as Frank White, was paid $5 and no royalties.
Cheyenne Tozzi has walked the runways of the biggest fashion houses in the world.

But the 31-year-old proved she's just like the rest of us when she showed a pristine white chair that was vandalised by her toddler daughter, Dahlia.

Taking to Instagram, single mother Cheyenne appeared to laugh off the incident as she showed her followers the scribbled back of the chair.

Not such a model life! Runway star Cheyenne Tozzi, 31, (pictured) shared an adorably vandalised white chair from her daughter Dahlia De La Lune. Here: Melbourne, 2018

Her daughter had gotten a green pen and drawn a number of squiggly lines.

'Thanks Dahlia,' Cheyenne wrote on the post.

Cheyenne didn't worry about posting a photo of the adorably guilty youngster.

She's just like us! Cheyenne's daughter had gotten a green pen and draw a number of squiggly lines all over the back of the white chair

The Australian model shares Dahlia with male model Marlon Teixiera, with the pair splitting soon after she gave birth in 2018.

Cheyenne wrote a stunning tribute to her daughter back in May, while speaking about being a single mother.

'My little love, safe to say I was terrified to bring you into this world,' Cheyenne wrote next to a dreamy photo of herself and Dahlia silhouetted against a beach.

'You saved my life': Cheyenne shared a heartfelt tribute to daughter Dahlia De La Lune, one, (pictured together) as she marked Mother's Day as a single parent in May

'Not sure if I was going to be able to protect you and make sure you would be the happiest little girl. You have changed my world. You taught me how to love more than I could ever imagine,' the doting mother continued.

'You saved my life. You show me unconditional love. You break my balls,' she joked.

'You make me laugh, Sometimes cry at 4am, but that doesn't matter because every single day is worth it. Because I have you.'

Motherly love: The besotted mother thanked her 'guardian angels' for 'sending Dahlia' to her, before joking that the adorable youngster is the only person she'll 'allow to pee on the floor'

Cheyenne and Marlon debuted their relationship in August 2017, after being introduced by their mutual friend Jordan Barrett.

They welcomed their daughter Dahlia De La Lune, in September 2018.

Cheyenne previously confirmed to The Daily Telegraph's Confidential that the pair split shortly after she gave birth.
Hospitalizations for COVID-19 in Illinois have jumped sharply, according to the latest data from the Illinois Department of Public Health, while the number of continued unemployment claims in the state increased from the week prior. Hospitalizations and intensive care bed usage by persons with COVID-19 increased to highs not seen since June as of the end of the day Wednesday. While the numbers often fluctuate significantly on a daily basis, the 1,713 hospitalizations for the virus were the most since there were 1,852 on June 18. The 400 intensive care beds in use by COVID-19 patients were the most since 401 were occupied on June 29. Approximately 35 percent of beds and 38 percent of ICU beds were available statewide, according to IDPH data.There were 155 ventilators in use by COVID-19 patients, with roughly 78 percent of the machines still available.
The chairman of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) Marcel Ciolacu voiced on Sunday, at the exit from the polls, the hope that "the period of humiliation towards doctors, teachers, children, parents and grandparents" ends today in Romania.

"For four years, both the municipality and the county will be in the hands of some real administrators and they will certainly continue the development of both the municipality and the county, I hope that at the same pace as they have developed in the last four years. I am firmly convinced that also the people of Bucharest today will choose continuity and the people who have been with them during this difficult time and will vote for the people who have achievements and do not make promises. I believe that the period of humiliation towards doctors, teachers, children, parents and grandparents (...) ends today in Romania", Ciolacu said.

He added that the turnout so far is double than in the previous election.

"The same phenomenon that I announced happened, just like in Poland. Some pessimistic estimates were made, and the vote will be optimistic, and the turnout will be the same," he said.

Marcel Ciolacu added that people should go to the polls in large numbers because "they choose the administrators of their cities and counties". "Today we are not choosing politicians, today we are not choosing doctrines, today we are choosing continuity and safety", the PSD leader pointed out.
The CEO of Bahrain Airport Company, Mr. Muhammad Yusef Al-Banfalah, has kindly handed over the diploma certificates to Mr. Muhammad Barhoum, Ms. Aisha Al-Sulaiti, and Mrs. Yusra Zahir, from the airport yard operations management team, in the presence of a number of company officials.

The Diploma in Airport Operations Management, offered by the Airports Council International, helps the trainees to determine the impact of the new financial and economic models on airport operations and to analyze the challenges faced by airports. It also helps them create meaningful and effective solutions through a comprehensive understanding of airport yard, ground side and passenger terminal operations, in addition to general airport operations.

On this occasion, Mr. Al-Banfalah emphasized that developing future leaders in the aviation sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain is a fundamental pillar of the mission of Bahrain Airport Company by providing high-quality training programs, noting that the company's management today celebrates three of its loyal employees who have succeeded in acquiring new skills and knowledge. Through this advanced training program, these distinguished capabilities will enhance the vision of the ambitious Bahrain Airport Company aiming at operating a world-class airport in line with international best practices, as well as managing a sustainable airport with a wide network of close relationships with customers, partners, and government agencies, which will contribute Role in achieving long-term profitability and growth.
STRATFORD  Bunnell High School will be closed for the next two weeks in an abundance of caution after the district said two more people tested positive for COVID-19.

District officials initially said the school would be closed on Tuesday after several teachers had direct exposure with the coronavirus, Superintendent Janet Robinson wrote in the letter earlier Friday

Later in the day that closure was extended to two weeks.

Any student or staff which has been directly in contact with the positive person will be contacted individually and should remain in quarantine for 14 days, Robinson said in her followup letter Friday evening.

The school was already due to be closed Monday due to Yom Kippur.

Students will return to hybrid learning - meaning some in person learning - beginning Oct. 12.

Earlier in the day, Robinson said a number of students were also among those exposed to the virus.

The towns school buildings are closed Wednesdays for all students to participate in distance learning days under the school districts hybrid learning plan.

The building will receive a thorough cleaning while closed, Robinson said.

The superintendent did not say exactly how many people had been exposed, but said those affected have been told to isolate themselves for 10 days and given instructions on steps to take before returning to school.

Anyone who is considered a close contact 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 news of the closure comes after a staff member at the school tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week. The superintendents letter did not indicate whether officials believed the exposures reported Friday were connected to that case.

The superintendent said the last day the staff member who tested positive was in school was Monday.

Last week 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.

We are closely monitoring this situation and working with the Stratford Public Health Department and will provide you with updates as we know more, Robinson said.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio Investigative Unit agents say a Port Clinton bar violated coronavirus-related alcohol restrictions overnight.

The Lagoon Saloon received administrative citations for limitation on hours for on-premise drinking and improper conduct, according to a news release from OIU.

Agents went to the establishment after receiving several complaints of the place violating health orders, the release says.

Agents saw the bar packed with people drinking alcohol after 11 p.m. They also saw large crowds of people congregating with no social distancing measures.

Average Joes Pub and Grill in Columbus also got cited overnight.

These cases will go before the Ohio Liquor Control Commission for potential penalties, including fines and/or the suspension or revocation of liquor permits.

Read more coronavirus coverage on cleveland.com:

Ohio Investigative Unit: Euclid bar cited in violating coronavirus-related health orders

Ohio surpasses 150,000 coronavirus cases, including 1,115 since Friday: Saturday update

Cleveland records 10 new cases of COVID-19 coronavirus, no new deaths reported: Friday update

FirstEnergy Stadium employees violated Ohio coronavirus alcohol sales restrictions during Cleveland Browns home game, state says

Coronavirus cases among suburban Cuyahoga County residents ticking back up
(Newser)  The RMS Titanic sank after hitting an iceberg in 1912, claiming over 1,500 livesthat we know. But what if the ill-fated collision was caused by dancing lights in the sky? So argues Titanic researcher Mila Zinkova in a new paper, the Smithsonian reports. "Most people who write about Titanic, they don't know that northern lights were seen on that night," she tells Hakai Magazine, noting that charged particles in the solar storm could have altered the ship's compass. "Even if the compass moved only one degree, it already could have made a difference" and set the ship on its tragic course. Eyewitnesses did describe a "greenish" aurora borealis glow over the Atlantic Ocean on April 15, 1912, the night the Titanic went down.

story continues below

"There was no moon, but the Aurora Borealis glimmered like moonbeams shooting up from the northern horizon," wrote James Bisset, an officer on the RMS Carpathia, which saved 705 people from the sinking luxury liner. That might even explain how the Carpathia found the Titanic, Zinkova arguesif the liner's SOS position was distorted by 13 nautical miles due to the geomagnetic storm and the Carpathia's compass was similarly off-kilter, per Popular Mechanics. The aurora could also be the cause of failed radio transmissions that night. The official report blamed amateur radio enthusiasts for jamming the airwaves, per LiveScience, but who knows? Maybe Zinkova is onto something. (Another space weather event could have detonated 4,000 mines during the Vietnam War.)
Roland Garros was so bleak on Sunday it felt like the zombie Grand Slam, and Andy Murray contributed a performance that was entirely in keeping.

The 33 year-old Scot went down to his equal heaviest defeat in a Major, against the same opponent who faced him on the same court on his last visit here.

That encounter in 2017 against Stan Wawrinka was a gruelling five-setter, this one was all over in an hour and 47 minutes and yielded just six games for Murray. That tally was on a par with what Rafael Nadal allowed him at the French Open six years ago.

Andy Murray leaves court after being thrashed by 2015 French Open champion Stan Wawrinka

It was a hugely frustrating day for Murray as he was defeated in straight sets by Wawrinka

Wawrinka celebrates following his emphatic victory over the Brit at Roland Garros

In his post-operative state it is beginning to look like the law of diminishing returns at the Slams for the twice Wimbledon champion.

His 6-1 6-3 6-2 defeat to the burly Swiss comes on the back of him only managing nine games against young Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second round of the US Open.

Some mitigation can be offered for both results, although in Sunday's case that does not extend to the arctic cold and wind that made it feel like the autumn had fast-forwarded into winter.

'I need to have a long, hard think about it,' admitted Murray. 'It's not for me the sort of match I would just brush aside and not give any thought to. I don't feel like the conditions are an excuse for it.'

Former champion Mats Wilander, working for Eurosport, commented that it left him wondering why Murray was trying to come back: 'Does he have the right to be out there taking wildcards from young players?' asked the Swede. 'I think Andy Murray needs to stop thinking of himself and start thinking about who he was. I love the fact that he is back and trying. Hopefully he'll figure out why he's doing it.'

In New York the current world number 111 was still sore from an epic first round. Here the speed of the court and balls, or lack of it, suited his opponent perfectly.

Wawrinka, the 2015 Paris champion, has the power to barrel through any court, unlike the version of Murray we see at this late stage of his career.

Murray's lack of playing time was exposed by Wawrinka in the French Open first round

Yet life was made easier for him by the dismal serving display the Swiss was up against, which was acknowledged by his opponent.

'It was cold and slow conditions, but it wasn't like particularly windy and it wasn't too bad,' conceded Murray. 'I also didn't play well. I served under 40% first serves in the court, which is just not good enough, really, against anyone, and especially someone as good as Stan. You want to be serving in the 60%, that sort of region.

'From there, that kind of allows whoever you're playing to dictate more of the points.'

While he will never be the extraordinary athlete that he was before the summer of 2017 he at least expects his hand skills to be somewhere near where they were.

It would not be a huge surprise if he were to start experimenting with equipment changes such as with his racket and strings to try and come up with a solution.

Dark clouds look at Ronald Garros during Murray's first round contest with the Swiss star

'There have been matches that I have played since I came back where I hit the ball well,' he reasoned. 'Alex Zverev was a couple of points away from winning the US Open, and I won against him the week beforehand. It's going to be difficult for me to play the same level as I did before, but I'll keep going.

'Let's see what the next few months holds, I reckon I won't play a match like that between now and the end of the year. Probably the only positive of today is I will get more time to prepare for the indoor hard courts coming up.'

He plans to play as much as he can until November, starting with two events in Cologne next month. It was in such an environment that he beat Wawrinka last autumn to win the European Open, in stark contrast to last night.

There was also confirmation that he is prepared to go through the two-week quarantine period that the Australian Open has announced for anyone wishing to compete Down Under in January.
IRISH Water have launched an investigation into a disruption of services on the outskirts of Limerick city.

The inspection follows at least seven complaints were logged since 1am, in relation to a water outage in the Ballysimon and surrounding areas.

Irish Water crew are currently inspecting the issue, but the public have yet to be notified of the source of the problem.

Have you been affected by the water outage? Contact us at news@limerickleader

#IWLimerick: We are currently investigating reports of a supply disruption to Ballysimon and surrounding areas in Co. Limerick. More Information to follow. September 27, 2020

It is not known, yet, the extent of the problem or how many premises in the wider area have been affected.

One local told Irish Water on social media that they were without water supply for 12 hours.

Follow the Limerick Leader for more
Last week, on 17 September, armed men charged into Marfa Rabkovas apartment in Minsk, seizing her computer, whatever cash they could find and taking her to the Akrestsina detention centre. Marfa already knew it well.

Marfa coordinates volunteers for Viasna (which means spring in Belarusian), the human rights organisation I founded. She knew the detention centre because for over a month she had coordinated volunteers to bring food and warm clothing to the thousands of Belarusians detained for peacefully protesting the presidential election allegedly rigged by Alexander Lukashenko on 9 August. Even more importantly, she had been working with the same volunteers to document the beatings, denial of medical treatment and rapes of detained protesters that have taken place there. She was officially detained for financing a mass protest. Amnesty International has declared her a prisoner of conscience - their term for a political prisoner.

The Belarusian authorities consider people like Marfa a threat. Her work with volunteer election observers to document election falsifications during the presidential election was a threat. Her work documenting abuses against protesters that could be used for an EU investigation was a threat. But on an even more basic level, her work supporting detainees was a threat. Lukashenko does not want a society of open solidarity, he wants one of fragmented fear.
Like many things this year, the presidential and vice-presidential debates have looked a little different. And thanks to the coronavirus and a host of political developments, the remaining debates on the schedule are now in flux.

So far, the two debates that have taken place have featured only one moderator per debate, and the number of people allowed to watch in person has been much more limited than usual. Both debates have started at 9 p.m. Eastern time and have run uninterrupted for an hour and a half.

But with two debates still remaining on the calendar, the Commission on Presidential Debates now faces a dilemma. Mr. Trump announced shortly before 1 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 2, that he and the first lady, Melania Trump, had tested positive for the virus. And now it is no longer clear whether the final two presidential debates will take place or in what form.

Heres a rundown of what we know for each debate so far:

Sept. 29

First Presidential Debate

Location: President Trump and Joseph R. Biden Jr., the Democratic nominee, met at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. The University of Notre Dame withdrew as host because of the coronavirus pandemic.
When MaKiya Congious wore her Black Lives Matter mask to work at a Fort Worth Whataburger, she said the covering drew compliments from customers.

According to The Washington Posts' Teo Armos, Congious reported to work on August 3 and was confronted by a white customer who took objection to her mask. The customer threatened to call Whataburger's corporate office over the covering, and Congious was told by Whataburger supervisors her mask displayed a political message and could not be worn while working.

"It's not a political thing," Congious said. "It's just a statement that says, 'Black Lives Matter,' because we do matter."

OUTRAGE OVER BREONNA TAYLOR RULING: Trae Tha Truth, activists speak out after Breonna Taylor ruling

Congious claims she was let go from the company and had the police called on her by her while she remained inside the store, according to The Washington Post.

"I asked for them to provide me details on why my mask was inappropriate. It's a solid color. It doesn't have any gang-related anything on it," she told KDFW's Lyannane Nguyen. "I asked for them to explain it to me. They couldn't explain it to me."

During the dispute with her supervisor, Congious asked how to request her two-week's notice, according to Fort Worth Star Telegram's Brian Lopez.

"You want to put your two weeks notice in?" a supervisor said. "We accept it, and you don't have to come back at all."

Congious filed discrimination complaint Wednesday to the Texas Workforce Commission Rights Division, alleging she was let go from the company due to her race and message on her mask.

In a video obtained by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Congious captured the tense moments between her and her Whataburger managers.

"Youre entitled to your personal opinions, thats fine," A supervisor said. "But at Whataburger we dont want to portray them because some people may be offended."

According to a statement from Whataburger, Congious "voluntarily resigned due to a disagreement over our company uniform policy."

"If we allow a non-Whataburger slogans as part of our uniforms, we have to allow all slogans," Whataburger said in a statement to KDFW on Wednesday. "This could create tension and conflict among our employees and customers. It is our job as a responsible brand to proactively keep our employees and customers safe."

'KIND OF HEARTBREAKING': Texas teacher says she was fired for wearing masks supporting Black Lives Matter

In the complaint filed with the State of Texas, Congious asked for five steps of action. According to KDFW, her attorney wants to give Whataburger a chance to make things right before moving forward with a possible lawsuit.

The public should boycott Whataburger for 90 days to see what actions the company takes to show that Black Lives Matter.

The company should allow Black Lives Matter masks.

The CEO should say Black Lives Matter to Whataburger on social media.

The company should provide more implicit bias training.

The company should celebrate Juneteenth starting next year.

"I want other people to realize small things like this, she told KDFW. It matters because its a place, an environment were in.

Congious is not the only Texan who has a lost a job over wearing a Black Lives Matter mask. Earlier this week San Antonio teacher Lillian White made news after refusing her superiors' instruction to stop wearing her Black Lives Matter mask in class.

"It was stressful because I have financial obligation to help support my family," White told KENS. "It's also kind of heartbreaking that this is the kind of  this is the reason I lost my job."
Updated guidance from the Scottish government sets out what those who are studying higher education can do if they wish to change household.

Students have been asked to follow self-isolating rules and not use public transport if they decide to permanently return to another home, while still saying it is an offence to undertake short stays without a reasonable excuse.



We are disappointed that the government continues to talk up in-person teaching

Scottish Higher Education Minister Richard Lochhead said: We would encourage students to remain living in their current accommodation where they are able to, so they can continue to benefit from both a blend of digital and in-person learning, where that is possible and the opportunity to engage with others, within the restrictions, to build new networks and to make new friends.

However, we know that many students may be struggling with the prospect of not being able to return home to visit family and other support networks, especially if is the first time in their life they have been away from home.

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Knowing what to consider in deciding whether to return home will help support wellbeing and enable students to make informed choices, but it is important to stress that adjusting to life away from home is always challenging.

Current guidance states that people should self-isolate at home for 10 days if you have symptoms of Covid-19 or tested positive, or 14 days if living with someone who has.

Mr Lochhead has written to principals and student accommodation provider networks to set out the new guidance.

It has been developed in consultation with NUS Scotland and Universities Scotland.

The guidance sets out that students should consider how you may benefit from in-person learning if returning home on a permanent basis.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced measures which came into force on Wednesday which ban indoor visits between households.

Guidance has been published @scotgov on students visiting home. Students are encouraged to stay on campus if they are able to and issues to consider about visiting home are explained. https://t.co/7g0Gqcj3wa  John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) September 27, 2020

Students had previously been asked by university bosses to not visit pubs and restaurants this weekend as part of efforts to limit the spread of Covid-19.

NUS Scotland president Matt Crilly said: Todays guidance provides welcome clarity to the students in halls, who will be considering their next steps.

We welcome that students will be able to return home on a permanent basis.

However, we are disappointed that the government continues to talk up in-person teaching, which may keep students on campus and increase risks unnecessarily.

Gerry McCormac, convener of Universities Scotland, said: The Scottish Governments additional guidance about households puts the emphasis on staying within existing households and avoiding overnight stays elsewhere for now, but not at the expense of an individuals wellbeing.

It also makes clear that a change of household is possible but offers guidance to limit this to cases where a change then become the persons main or only residence on a long-term basis.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie added: Issuing new guidance on a late Sunday evening is no way to communicate clearly and effectively.

It is yet another panicky response from a government that should have been ready for this.

I warned the First Minister for weeks that this was coming as it was the biggest movement of people since the lockdown.
The national turnout for the local elections was clocked in on Sunday, at 20:00 hrs, at 44.54 pct, namely 8,149,202 voters, according to data announced by the Central Electoral Bureau (BEC).

As many as 3,756,773 voters went to the polls in the urban environment and 4,392,429 in rural areas.According to BEC, 34.87 pct of voters cast their ballots in Bucharest.In District 1, 40.52 pct of registered voters turned out to the polls, in District 2 - 35.84 pct, District 3 - 29.06 pct, District 4 - 35.77 pct, District 5 - 36.22 pct, District 6 - 36.38 pct.
ST. LOUIS  St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner on Friday said she is excluding an additional 15 police officers from prosecuting cases in the city.

Officers on the list cannot seek charges against people they arrest, apply for search warrants or serve as essential witnesses in criminal cases.

When Gardner added 22 officers to the list in June 2019, it comprised about 5% of the citys total police force. The list has not been released publicly.

The unions predictable over the top sky is falling reaction to any attempt to distinguish the vast majority of honest & hardworking officers from the few bad actors is one big reason why community relations with the people they serve are so frayed, Gardner said in a statement, responding to news reports quoting union officials.

I am sure that the people of the City of St. Louis see the unions rhetoric for what it is.

Gardner, who first assumed office in 2017, created the list in 2018 and has periodically added officers since then.

In 2019, the addition of officers followed a study by the Plain View Project that showed racist Facebook posts from officers in the department.
After a Pennsylvania court said ballots returned without secrecy envelopes would be rejected in November, election officials and Democrats are raising the alarm that naked ballots could inadvertently disenfranchise thousands in a pivotal battleground.

Pennsylvania counted those naked ballots during the states primary earlier this year, but amid a flurry of lawsuits over how the state handles an election heavily reliant on a mail-in voting due to the coronavirus pandemic, the state Supreme Court ruled Sept. 17 that ballots mailed back without secrecy envelopes will not be counted in the general election.

President Donald Trump's campaign, which challenged the "naked ballots" in a lawsuit along with the Republican National Committee, argued that requiring the secrecy envelopes with submitted ballots was crucial to preventing voter fraud, even though they did not produce evidence of fraud while litigating the case, according to The Guardian.

Lisa Deeley, chair of Philadelphia's City Commissioners, estimated in a letter to state legislators urging action that some 100,000 ballots could be affected statewide by the ruling and predicted it will cause "electoral chaos." The ruling is particularly considered a loss for Democrats because so many more Democrats than Republicans say they are planning to vote by mail, based on ballot requests and surveys.

But do voters outside Pennsylvania have to worry about keeping their ballots, er clothed? Like just about everything to do with elections, it depends on where you live. Heres what you need to know about "naked ballots."

What's a secrecy envelope, and why would a voter need one?

Secrecy envelopes, or privacy sleeves, are used to separate a voters identifying information  which is used to verify the eligibility of the voter  with the ballot that shows how that person voted.

In her letter to state lawmakers, Deeley, a Democrat, called Pennsylvania's secrecy envelopes a "vestige of the past."

Story continues

Secrecy envelopes are a "hold over" from when the state counted absentee ballots at public polling places, she wrote. Now, absentee ballots are counted on machines in a central location that preserve anonymity by processing ballots quickly. Secrecy envelopes actually slow down the process, Deeley said.

Nathaniel Persily, a professor at Stanford Law School and co-director of the Stanford-Massachusetts Institute of Technology Healthy Elections Project, argued that many states do not use secrecy envelopes or privacy sleeves and that voters shouldnt be penalized for forgetting to include them when mailing back their completed ballot. It creates an unnecessary barrier to the ballot box in a year when so many Americans will be voting by mail for the first time, he added. People voting by mail for the first time are more likely to make unconscious errors.

Image: (Gene J. Puskar / AP file)

According to Persily, secrecy sleeves were created "mainly as privacy protection to deal with that small group of people who were voting by mail  often it was in the context of nursing home residents. They were a lot more paranoid about potential coercion and violations of processing."

In 2018, about 4 percent of Pennsylvania ballots were cast by mail. But during a pandemic where congregating at the polls poses a health risk, millions more are expected to take advantage of voting by mail  something that makes Persily believe the secrecy envelope is an unnecessary impediment.

Fast-forward to today, when youre going to have roughly half of Pennsylvania voters vote by mail and were worrying about people getting disenfranchised, he said.

Which other states have privacy sleeves or envelopes?

Pennsylvania is one of just 16 states that have historically required absentee ballots be mailed with secrecy sleeves or envelopes: Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia are the other 15, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures that reviewed mail-in voting laws earlier this year.

Other states and jurisdictions may choose to use privacy sleeves, as well, while still others use additional processes or mechanisms to try and keep people's votes secret. Utah, which conducts its elections entirely by mail, sometimes uses a tab that allows them to remove identifying information from a verified ballot before it is counted.

Do all states with privacy sleeves reject 'naked ballots'?

No. Many of those states say ballots are acceptable without the secrecy sleeves or envelopes. Florida says its secrecy sleeve is optional. Georgia recently replaced its security envelope with a sleeve, and officials say its also optional. In Utah, an elections official confirmed to NBC News they still count eligible ballots that arrive without a secrecy envelope.

New Jersey, however, rejects ballots that are missing an interior envelope, as voters must sign a certificate on it. Meanwhile, other states election laws do not detail what happens if a secrecy envelope is missing.

Less than 2 percent of mail ballots in 2016 were rejected because of problems with ballot materials, such as the ballot was missing from the envelope, according to a survey of election officials by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. The survey does not list missing privacy sleeves or envelopes as a suggested reason for a ballot rejection.

That alone, Charles Stewart III, a professor of political science at MIT who co-directs the Stanford-MIT Healthy Elections Project with Persily, leads me to believe that rejection for this reason is rare, and certainly behind the other reasons a ballot would not be counted, he said.

Still, in Pennsylvania, a state that Trump won in 2016 by less than 45,000 votes, Persily said the ruling could have a big impact.

"In a close election, this is what well be talking about," he said.
Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee departs for Europe at Incheon International Airport, Sunday. Yonhap



By Do Je-hae



Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee, who is trying to become the first Korean and first female chief at the World Trade Organization (WTO), has embarked on a trip to Europe for her next round of campaigning, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.



"Minister Yoo is visiting Geneva and Sweden from Sept. 27 until Oct. 2 to seek support of WTO member states with regard to the election of the next WTO director-general," the ministry said in a statement, Sept. 25.



Yoo has been making a series of overseas trips to promote her candidacy, which focuses on the reform of the WTO to make it more resilient, relevant and responsive to the new environment in global trade.



She has underlined the role of middle powers such as Korea to mediate conflict among WTO member states, such as the U.S.-China row, at a time when the international community is becoming more protectionist.



Her latest trip to Europe comes at a critical point in her campaign, as she is competing with four other candidates from Nigeria, Kenya, Saudi Arabia and Britain who recently advanced to the second round of voting, which will be closed Oct. 6. She needs to pass this round to become one of the two final stage candidates. The WTO is aiming to conclude the selection process by early November.



Since announcing her bid in July, Yoo actively disseminated her vision for the WTO through interviews in the international media, including CNN Bloomberg TV, as well as social media activities and webinars.



Cheong Wa Dae and the Korean government have actively supported her campaign, creating a taskforce led by senior presidential aide for policy Kim Sang-jo.



"As the first female trade minister for the Republic of Korea, Yoo has been an innovator, negotiator, strategist and pioneer in her 25-year career in trade," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. "She is a skillful negotiator with deep knowledge and insights into the details of various areas of trade agreements, but more importantly, she has flourished in her role as a catalyst who brings together diverse views of the parties involved to derive win-win solutions."



Sources familiar with her bid said that Seoul's election of Yoo as the candidate for Korea's third bid for the top WTO post reflects the deep trust President Moon has put in Korea's first female trade minister.


The European Union called Sunday for a halt to fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani separatists over the Nagorny Karabakh region and an "immediate return to negotiations".

The worst clashes since 2016 broke out on Sunday between arch-foes Azerbaijan and Armenia, which have been locked for decades in a territorial dispute over the Armenia-backed breakaway region.

"Military action must stop, as a matter of urgency, to prevent a further escalation," European Council president Charles Michel tweeted, calling for "an immediate return to negotiations, without preconditions".

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stressed the urgency of relaunching negotiations over Nagorny Karabakh under the auspices of the so-called "Minsk Group" led by France, Russia and the United States.

"The European Union calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities, de-escalation and for strict observance of the ceasefire," he said.

A major conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia could draw in top regional players Russia and Turkey.

The conflict over Nagorny Karabakh has been fuelling regional tensions for 30 years.

Ethnic Armenian separatists seized the region from Baku in a 1990s war that claimed 30,000 lives.

Since then, the Azerbaijani authorities have sought to regain control of it, by force if necessary.

Peace talks have been largely stalled since a 1994 ceasefire agreement. The last big push for a peace deal collapsed in 2010.

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Dubai, Sep 27 : An Indian expat has been sentenced to six months in prison for sexually molesting a jogger in Dubai, the media report.

On Saturday, the Dubai Court of First Instance heard that the 40-year-old defendant claimed that he touched the woman inappropriately while she was exercising near her residence in Bur Dubai in June, reports Gulf News.

The court also ordered the deportation of the defendant after serving his jail term.

The Dubai Public Prosecution has charged the expat with sexual abuse and illegal consumption of alcohol.
The Lib Dems arent known for much these days, apart from being serial losers, as a friend put it. Theyre not even known for being particularly liberal, writes the deputy chairman of the Witney Liberal Democrats Derek Laud

You may not have noticed, but the Liberal Democrats are holding their annual conference this weekend. The event is online, so the party has been spared the usual jibes about gatherings in phone boxes.

It could all have been so very different had the leadership not overplayed their hand at the last Election, even though they faced a feeble Jeremy Corbyn on one side and a rancorous Conservative Party on the other.

The Lib Dems arent known for much these days, apart from being serial losers, as a friend put it. Theyre not even known for being particularly liberal. Despite the partys open-minded reputation, its not a comfortable place for a black man such as myself, willing to question orthodox views.

The Liberals, dating back to the 19th Century Whigs, have always stood for personal liberty, social reform, free trade and minimal government interference.

This is what attracted me when I resigned my membership of the Conservative Party in disgust at Theresa Mays governments treatment of the Windrush generation  when people whod lived legally in the UK for decades were detained or deported.

Yet what Ive found among the Liberals is illiberalism, a hunger for central control and an instinctive distrust of minorities who can think for themselves.

This was seen in the run-up to the last Election when then leader Jo Swinson pledged herself to overthrowing democracy by unilaterally cancelling Brexit if she became PM.

How telling that the electorate responded by overthrowing her  the first major party leader for decades to be booted out of Parliament.

The new leader is Sir Ed Davey (pitured), and his first public remark as leader was to say he was listening

Most Liberal Democrats dont seem to mind. David Laws, a Minister in the Tory/Lib Dem Coalition once observed to me: You dont become a Lib Dem if you have ambition. Or maybe black for that matter.

Studying political theory at Oxford, I was taught the Conservative Party, too, had a strong tradition of 19th Century liberalism in its core, something Mrs May wasnt sophisticated enough to comprehend.

And while I toured the TV studios and wrote newspaper articles denouncing the Windrush scandal, where were the Lib Dems?

The leading members were too busy climbing in and out of limousines and eyeing up titles for themselves.

In the run-up to the last Election, then leader Jo Swinson pledged herself to overthrowing democracy by unilaterally cancelling Brexit if she became PM. How telling that the electorate responded by overthrowing her  the first major party leader for decades to be booted out of Parliament

My experience suggests the party has more authoritarian tendencies than liberal ones.

When Jo Swinson wanted the capable Sir Nick Harvey ousted as Chief Executive of the party, she gave him less notice than I would give my housekeeper.

When the good people of Buckingham expressed an interest in me becoming their parliamentary candidate, Swinson decided that this target seat would have their choice of candidate decided by her.

David Laws, a Minister in the Tory/Lib Dem Coalition once observed: You dont become a Lib Dem if you have ambition'

The Lib Dems talk about natural justice and local democracy, yet take decisions by whisper, nudge and wink. This is a world in which PC Plod types with low intelligence and zero charisma are propelled to the top.

I remain the deputy chairman of the Witney Liberal Democrats. Of the 386 members, Im the only one who is black. At the last annual general meeting, I was the only officer who faced a challenge.

I should have known it was coming as I was routinely asked the Where do you come from question. I hadnt realised being black in the Liberal party would be such a novelty.

No doubt my view will be challenged, but I believe Vice President Isabelle Parasram, a woman of colour, has been appointed as window dressing  to signal that the Lib Dems embrace minorities.

Her role, she says, is to champion diversity. Lets hope she proves me wrong.

Why was it that I alone objected to the re-admission of a former member expelled for expressing racist views on social media? Its not good enough to say you are liberal. You have to think and act like one, too.

The new leader is Sir Ed Davey, and his first public remark as leader was to say he was listening. I hope he is, because while the Lib Dems might want black faces, they dont welcome black voices.

The party was created to change society, yet appears horrified at the idea of changing itself. But if its not prepared to change, it will die  and deserve to.
Watch: Trailer for Netflixs big October release The Trial of the Chicago 7

Netflix has started to announce the new films and shows it is launching on the UK streaming service this October.

Of course, October means Halloween is on the way and to get people hyped for the spookiest day of the year, expect to see a wealth of thrillers, chillers and blood-spillers landing on the platform throughout the month.

Horror highlights include the The Haunting of Bly Manor, Mike Flanagans long-awaited follow up to The Haunting of Hill House, Adam Sandlers new horror comedy Hubie Halloween, and Ben Wheatleys take on gothic classic Rebecca.

Read more: Sky Cinema premieres in October

Elsewhere, the streaming giant is entering the Oscar race with the release of Aaron Sorkins The Trial of the Chicago 7, which features an all-star cast of Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baron Cohen and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.

Heres everything we thats coming to Netflix UK this October.

Films - Netflix Original

The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020) - 16 October

THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 (L to R) SACHA BARON COHEN as Abbie Hoffman, DANNY FLAHERTY as John Froines, EDDIE REDMAYNE as Tom Hayden, JEREMY STRONG as Jerry Rubin, MARK RYLANCE as William Kuntsler in THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7. Cr. NIKO TAVERNISE/NETFLIX  2020

What was intended to be a peaceful protest at the 1968 Democratic National Convention turned into a violent clash with police and the National Guard. The organisers of the protestincluding Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Tom Hayden and Bobby Sealewere charged with conspiracy to incite a riot and the trial that followed was one of the most notorious in history.

Rebecca (2020) - 21 October

Rebecca: (L to R) Lily James as Mrs. de Winter, Kristin Scott Thomas as Mrs. Danvers. Cr. KERRY BROWN/NETFLIX

After a whirlwind romance in Monte Carlo with handsome widower Maxim de Winter (Armie Hammer), a newly married young woman (Lily James) arrives at Manderley, her new husbands imposing family estate on a windswept English coast. Naive and inexperienced, she begins to settle into the trappings of her new life, but finds herself battling the shadow of Maxims first wife, the elegant and urbane Rebecca, whose haunting legacy is kept alive by Manderleys sinister housekeeper Mrs. Danvers (Kristin Scott Thomas).

Over the Moon (2020) - 23 October

Story continues

Fueled with determination and a passion for science, a bright young girl builds a rocket ship to the moon to prove the existence of a legendary Moon Goddess. There she ends up on an unexpected quest, and discovers a whimsical land of fantastical creatures. Directed by animation legend Glen Keane, and produced by Gennie Rim and Peilin Chou, Over the Moon is an exhilarating musical adventure about moving forward, embracing the unexpected, and the power of imagination.

David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (2020) - 4 October

This unique feature documentary tells the story of life on our planet by the man who has seen more of the natural world than any other. In more than 90 years, Attenborough has visited every continent on the globe, exploring the wild places of our planet and documenting the living world in all its variety and wonder. Addressing the biggest challenges facing life on our planet, the film offers a powerful message of hope for future generations.

Hubie Halloween (2020) - 7 October

Hubie Halloween, Adam Sandler as Hubie Dubois. (Scott Yamano/NETFLIX 2020)

Hubie Dubois (Adam Sandler) thanklessly spends every Halloween making sure the residents of his hometown, Salem, celebrate safely and play by the rules. But this year, an escaped criminal and a mysterious new neighbor have Hubie on high alert. When people start disappearing, its up to Hubie to convince the police (Kevin James, Kenan Thompson) and townsfolk that the monsters are real, and only he can stop them.

The Forty-Year-Old Version (2020) - 9 October

Radha, a down-on-her-luck NY playwright, is desperate for a breakthrough before 40. But when she foils what seems like her last shot at success, shes left with no choice but to reinvent herself as rapper RadhaMUSPrime. The Forty-Year-Old Version follows Radha as she vacillates between the worlds of Hip Hop and theatre on a quest to find her true voice.

His House (2020) - 30 October

His House: Sope Dirisu as Bol Majur, Wunmi Mosaku as Rial Majur. (Aidan Monaghan/NETFLIX  2020)

After making a harrowing escape from war-torn South Sudan, a young refugee couple struggle to adjust to their new life in a small English town that has an unspeakable evil lurking beneath the surface.

Holidate (2020) - 28 October

Sloane (Emma Roberts) and Jackson (Luke Bracey) hate the holidays. They constantly find themselves single, sitting at the kids table, or stuck with awkward dates. But when these two strangers meet one particularly bad Christmas, they make a pact to be each others holidate for every festive occasion throughout the next year.

A Babysitters Guide to Monster Hunting (2020) - TBC October

When high school freshman Kelly Ferguson (Tamara Smart) reluctantly agrees to babysit Jacob Zellman (Ian Ho) on Halloween, the last thing she expects is to be recruited into an international secret society of babysitters who protect kids with special powers from monsters.

BLACKPINK: Light Up The Sky - 14 October

The film interweaves exclusive interviews with never-before-seen footage of BLACKPINK members Jisoo, Jennie, Rose and Lisa, from their trainee days to the global sensations they are today. Viewers will get a first look into the recording process of the bands follow up album, which depicts the highs and lows of being a K-pop idol group, and showcases each members incredible talent that when combined, creates the uniquely trailblazing DNA of BLACKPINK.

Cadaver - 22 October

In the starving aftermath of a nuclear disaster, Leonora (Gitte Witt), Jacob (Thomas Gullestad) and their daughter Alice (Tuva Olivia Remman) are on the edge of survival. One day, the local hotel invites survivors to attend a theatre play, with a meal included, as a charitable effort to help those in need. Left with no choice, the family of three decide to go to the hotel, where the director, Mathias (Thorbjrn Harr), introduces the entire hotel as the stage.

Guillermo Vilas: Settling The Score - 27 October

Guillermo Vilas: Settling the Score is a documentary film that follows the story of tennis legend Guillermo Vilas, who for more than 40 years demanded a revision of the rankings so he'd be recognized as No. 1 in the world. It's also the story of a sports journalist, Eduardo Puppo, who took on Vilas fight as a personal one, and started a crusade that lasted more than 10 years against one of the biggest sports corporations in order to prove that Vilas was effectively and unfairly displaced from the top spot in global tennis.

Youve Got This (2020) - 2 October

Alex, an advertising creative wants to be a dad at all cost, but his wife is a lawyer on top of her career, and being a mother isn't part of her plans. An unexpected guest will challenge their love.

Vampires vs The Bronx (2020) - 2 October

A group of young friends from the Bronx fight to save their neighbourhood from a band of vampires.

Dick Johnson is Dead (2020) - 2 October

A lifetime of making documentaries has convinced award-winning filmmaker Kirsten Johnson of the power of the real. But now shes ready to use every escapist movie-making trick in the book - staging inventive and fantastical ways for her 86-year-old psychiatrist father to die while hoping that cinema might help her bend time, laugh at pain and keep her father alive forever.

Films - other

Christopher Lloyd and Raul Julia talking in a scene from the film 'Addams Family Values', 1993. (Photo by Paramount/Getty Images)

The Addams Family (1991)

Addams Family Value (1993)

Friday the 13th (2009)

Paranormal Activity 2/3/4/Ghost Dimension

The Conjuring (2013)

The Purge: Anarchy (2014)

Corpse Bride (2005)

The Bourne Collection

Ready Player One (2018)

Selma (2014)

Now You See Me 2 (2016)

Rampage (2018)

About Time (2013)

Notting Hill (1999)

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004)

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005)

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

Kick-Ass 2 (2013)

Super 8 (2011)

Gangster Squad (2013)

American Gangster (2007)

Doom (2005)

The Da Vinci Code (2006)

Apollo 13 (1995)

Problem Child (1990)

Dr. Seuss' The Grinch (2018)

TV - Netflix Originals

The Haunting of Bly Manor - 9 October

From The Haunting of Hill House creator Mike Flanagan and producer Trevor Macy comes THE HAUNTING OF BLY MANOR, the next highly anticipated chapter of The Haunting anthology series, set in 1980s England. After an au pairs tragic death, Henry Wingrave (Henry Thomas) hires a young American nanny (Victoria Pedretti) to care for his orphaned niece and nephew (Amelie Bea Smith, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) who reside at Bly Manor with the estates chef Owen (Rahul Kohli), groundskeeper Jamie (Amelia Eve) and housekeeper, Mrs. Grose (TNia Miller). But all is not as it seems at the manor, and centuries of dark secrets of love and loss are waiting to be unearthed in this chilling gothic romance. At Bly Manor, dead doesnt mean gone.

Song Exploder - 2 October

Based on the acclaimed podcast of the same name, and from host Hrishikesh Hirway and Oscar-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville, each episode of Song Exploder features some of the world's greatest musicians as they reveal how they brought one of their songs to life.

Emily In Paris - 2 October

Emily (Lily Collins), an ambitious twenty-something marketing executive from Chicago, unexpectedly lands her dream job in Paris when her company acquires a French luxury marketing company  and she is tasked with revamping their social media strategy. Emily's new life in Paris is filled with intoxicating adventures and surprising challenges as she juggles winning over her work colleagues, making friends, and navigating new romances.

Deaf U - 9 October

A coming-of-age documentary series following a tight-knit group of deaf students at Gallaudet University, a renowned private college for the deaf and hard of hearing, in Washington, D.C. As the group of friends navigate the high, lows, and hookups of college life together, their stories offer an unprecedented, unfiltered, and often unexpected look inside the Deaf community. From executive producers Eric Evangelista, Shannon Evangelista, Nyle DiMarco, and Brandon Panaligan.

Social Distance - 15 October

Set in the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic, SOCIAL DISTANCE is an eight-part anthology series that showcases the power of the human spirit in the face of uncertainty and isolation.

Grand Army - 16 October

Grand Army tunnels into a generation thats raging and rising. Five students at the largest public high school in Brooklyn take on our chaotic world as they fight to succeed, survive, wild out, break free and seize the future.

The Queens Gambit - TBC

THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT (L to R) ANYA TAYLOR-JOY as BETH HARMON in episode 105 of THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT (PHIL BRAY/NETFLIX  2020)

Based on the novel by Walter Tevis, the Netflix limited series drama THE QUEENS GAMBIT is a coming-of-age story that explores the true cost of genius. Abandoned and entrusted to a Kentucky orphanage in the late 1950s, a young Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy) discovers an astonishing talent for chess while developing an addiction to tranquilizers provided by the state as a sedative for the children. Haunted by her personal demons and fueled by a cocktail of narcotics and obsession, Beth transforms into an impressively skilled and glamorous outcast while determined to conquer the traditional boundaries established in the male-dominated world of competitive chess.

Unsolved Mysteries Volume 2 - TBC

The iconic series UNSOLVED MYSTERIES is back! Fusing signature elements from the original series with contemporary immersive, character-driven storytelling, the 12 new episodes are rooted in the experiences of ordinary people who have lived the unthinkable  from the trauma of a loved ones unexplained disappearance or horrific death, to the shock of a bizarre paranormal encounter.

TV - Others

Some of the series coming to Netflix UK/IE in October:



The Haunting of Bly Manor

Unsolved Mysteries Volume 2

Line of Duty S5

Star Trek Discovery S3

The Alienist S2

The Queens Gambit

Grand Army

Emily in Paris

Song Exploder

Carmen Sandiego S3

Desmonds S1-6

Teachers S1-4  Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) September 28, 2020

Line of Duty S5

Star Trek Discovery S3

The Alienist S2

Carmen Sandiego S3

Desmonds S1-6

Teachers S1-4

Watch: The top picks for Sky Cinema this October
Mumbai, Sep 27 : Maharashtra's ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies, the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party, on Sunday welcomed the Shiromani Akali Dal's (SAD) decision to quit the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance.

The Punjab-based SAD is the second party - and among the oldest allies - after the Shiv Sena, to have broken ties with the BJP in the past one year.

"Both parties (Shiv Sena and SAD) stood by the BJP through thick and thin, while others have joined when they smelt power. Shiv Sena was forced to quit the NDA last year while Akali Dal has quit over the farm bills. We felt sad over the development," Shiv Sena chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut said.

NCP President Sharad Pawar said "congratulations" to SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal, who under the leadership of his father Parkash Singh Badal, pulled out of the NDA.

He also lauded Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who quit as Union Minister ahead of voting on the farm bills in the Lok Sabha, for leaving the NDA to protest against the bills and expressed his thanks to them "for firmly standing with the farmers".

The Congress has also severely criticised the bills that were passed in the parliament last week leading to a furore among farmers all over the country, and is planning more protest agitations, state party chief and Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat said on Sunday.

In October 2019, after the results of Maharashtra Assembly polls were announced, the Shiv Sena had broken ranks with the BJP as the latter, which had a higher number of seats, refused to concede the post of Chief Minister.

The Sena also bitterly accused BJP leaders of betraying it after promising to give the post, and later quit the NDA to ally with the NCP and the Congress to form the MVA government in the state.

Raut added that both Shiv Sena and SAD were pillars of the NDA and they are no longer there, the present dispensation cannot be called the NDA anymore.

"This is a different kind of alliance. The Shiv Shiv appreciates Shiromani Akali Dal's decision to break it's ties with NDA in the interest of farmers," Raut tweeted.
Rajasthan police on Saturday busted 11 members of an interstate fraudsters gang with tentacles in 14 states and recovered Rs 2.63 lakh in cash, a car, 19 mobile phones, 16 ATM cards, 19 bank passbooks, eight cheque books and 200 fake army gate passes from their possession in Bharatpur.

Bharatpur superintendent of police Dr Amandeep Singh Kapoor said the fraudsters posed as army personnel to cheat people.

These people offered vehicles for sale through online platforms. They made fake Indian Army identity cards and gate passes to lure people. They also posted their photos in army uniform, the SP said.

They called people using SIM cards procured with fake documents and switched them off after prospective buyers had deposited money in their account, Kapoor added explaining their modus operandi.

He said the accused had confessed to have committed fraud in the states of Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi.

Also Read: Rajasthan violence leaves 1 dead, five injured; state seeks RAF from Centre

They did not cheat people in Rajasthan for the fear of getting caught, Kapoor said and added that the police in these 14 states would be informed about the arrests.

The arrested men are from Padla, Kavan Ka Bas, Hingota, Samvler and other villages in Bharatpur.

From duping people in the name of selling gold bricks and coins, the local conmen have now changed their modus operandi to offering things for sale on platforms such as OLX. Police records show that most of these conmen live in the villages in Kaman sub-division of the district.

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Thousands gathered at London's Trafalgar Square to protest lockdowns and social distancing rules imposed to slow the spread of COVID-19 on September 26. (Image: AP)

People take part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions in London. (Stefan Rousseau via AP)

Londons Metropolitan Police has warned demonstrators to follow social-distancing rules. As the protest began, police were visible around the edges of the crowd but didn't confront protesters, most of whom weren't wearing masks. (Image: AP)

The demonstration comes as Parliament prepares to review COVID-19 legislation and the government imposes new restrictions to control the disease. Some lawmakers have criticised the government for implementing the rules without parliamentary approval. (Image: AP)

Speakers at the rally denied they were conspiracy theorists, arguing they were standing up for freedom of expression and human rights. (Image: AP)

The government earlier this week ordered a 10 pm curfew on bars and restaurants nationwide, along with tougher face mask requirements and increased fines for non-compliance. It has also banned most social gatherings of more than six people, but there is an exemption for protests as long as organisers submit a risk assessment and comply with social distancing. (Stefan Rousseau via AP)

The demonstration comes a week after a similar event during which thousands of people crowded into the iconic square. Police say several officers were hurt during that event when a small minority of protesters became violent. (Image: AP)

In addition to the nationwide COVID-19 rules, several jurisdictions have imposed tighter restrictions to control local spikes in the disease. (Image: AP)
For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL  September 25, 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 J&J JNJ, Pfizer PFE, AstraZeneca AZN, Sanofi SNY and GlaxoSmithKline GSK.

Here are highlights from Thursdays Analyst Blog:

Pharma Stock Outlook: Covid-19 Phase-3 Trial Edition

J&J announced the start of a pivotal late-stage study on its potential coronavirus vaccine. Meanwhile, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency gave positive recommendations, granting marketing approval to several drugs this week.

Recap of the Weeks Most Important Stories

J&J Launches Late-Stage Studies on Coronavirus Vaccine: J&J initiated a pivotal phase III study (ENSEMBLE) on its potential COVID-19 vaccine candidate, JNJ-78436735. The study will enroll 60,000 adult participants in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, South Africa and the United States. The large pivotal phase III study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of a single dose of JNJ-78436735 in contrast to two doses being tested for rival vaccines of Pfizer/BioNTech, AstraZeneca /Oxford University and Moderna that are also in late-stage development. J&J expects to file for emergency use authorization of its vaccine candidate in early 2021. J&J initiated the ENSEMBLE study in collaboration with BARDA and NIAID.

FDA Grants Priority Review to Pfizers Xalkori sNDA: The FDA accepted Pfizers supplemental new drug (sNDA) seeking approval of its oncology medicine Xalkori for a new indication. The sNDA is seeking approval of Xalkori for the treatment of pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) that is ALK-positive. With the FDA granting a priority review to the sNDA, a decision is expected in January 2021. Xalkori is presently approved to treat ALK-positive metastatic NSCLC.

Story continues

Sanofi/Glaxo to Supply 300M Doses of Coronavirus Vaccine in Europe: Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline announced an advanced purchase agreement with the European Union to supply up to 300 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, if approved. The vaccine is being developed by combining Sanofis recombinant protein-based technology with Glaxos pandemic adjuvant technology.

The companies also signed an agreement to supply up to 72 million doses of the vaccine to Canada, if approved.

The final decision by the European Union on these products is expected in the coming months.

The NYSE ARCA Pharmaceutical Index declined 2.9% in the last five trading sessions.

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It is profound that the mainstream media now recognizes that Donald Trump is taking the United States down the road to fascism. To a person on MSNBCs Morning Joe, all of these pundits say fascism is upon us. Donald Trump is waging war against the ballots.

He is claiming that if he does not win, the election has been fixed. His strategy to extend his reign not only beyond the election, but a third term and more. The President must be delusional, but with the aid of the Republicans his fascism has turned our democracy upside down.

He has undermined our democratic institutions. Everyone who opposed him has been vulnerable to his wrath without the protections of democratic institutions. Donald Trump transformed Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman from that of heroic patriot, to the sacrificial lamb his father had feared he might become. It does not matter that government agencies are obligated to protect the rights of their civil servants, Donald Trump negates protocols as though the U.S. government was his private fiefdom. Every Inspector General, the agency watchdogs, who attempted to follow the rules to protect democracys interests, as opposed to Trumps personal interests, was fired.

Richard Nixon had to resign from office over essentially one event, The Watergate affair. Fascism is now legit to use in mainstream discourse in that Donald Trump has broken the norms of our democratic republic as a result with his authoritarian corruption. Recall the Thomas Jeffersons admonition to the woman in Philadelphia who asked, what kind of a government do we have? And his response was a democratic republic, if we can keep it? It has lasted for nearly 250 years, but with dictatorship tendencies, there are no guarantees at this point.

As a result of COVID-19, Americas future is up in the air. This virus, being enemy No. 1, has severely weakened our economy. Some economists argue a full recovery may take 10 years. But more than that, under President Donald Trumps leadership, politics of the personal, rather than science and competence, are jeopardizing the nation health-wise. The United States is 5% of the worlds population, but around 25% of deaths worldwide, exceeding 200,000 and counting.

Rage, Bob Woodwards book on Donald Trump reveals that the President knowingly lied to the public by playing down the dangers of the virus when he knew it be more deadly than he was saying. The President claims the reason for the deception was because didnt want to cause a panic, meaning he did not want to spook the stock market, his favored economic indicator.

Trumps lie cost at least one of his followers his life according to his daughter, Kristin Urquiza. Urquiza states that her dad died from the virus. Specifically, she stated her dads only pre-existing condition was trusting Donald Trump. She argued that her fathers belief in the Presidents lie misled him.

Kristins dad was not alone in trusting President Trump. His followers are dedicated to him. They are true believers. In spite of all of the disasters of his many deals, they love him. Thats what those bright red MAGA caps are all about, they believe in him. You tell them the Washington Post has cited him making over 25,000 lies! Their response is Obama said, You like your doctor, you keep your doctor. They have been seduced by Trump.

The problem with these true believers is that following Trump is leading the world in deaths. Rather than follow the science, Trump rallies seem destined to increase deaths, of his own followers like Mr. Urquiza and possibly his friend Herman Cain, who died following Trumps Tulsa rally. Deaths since that fateful day have exceeded 190,000 people.

In 1978, America and the world were horrified to see true believers suckered in by a charismatic leader that they loved and trusted was going to make them a better life. To these desperate people he preached utopia. That utopia was to be Jonestown. Even though he lied to them, they continued to love him. They loved him even to the point that they had disregard for their own lives. The mass murder-suicide was considered such an affront to humanity, the act was condemned by the world. In that case of mass deception 900 people died.

To the 30%-40% that love Donald Trump, he has charisma, partially because he believes in conspiracy theories. Much of the white evangelical is anti-science. They love him being who he is.

From March 19, the date that Donald Trump lied, the nation had lost 190,000 lives. Asked how many lives could have saved had Trump not lied, William Haseltine, a health care expert said 180,000. Hence, 180,000 have died needlessly.

Though impeached for attempting to have a foreign government implicated in our elections, he was not removed from office by the Senate. The incipient fascism and corruption of this president rests with the Republican Party and Mitch McConnell, in particular.

In comparison to the Jonestown horror, the 180,000 deaths since March 19 means Donald Trump has been responsible for 362 Jonestowns!

Robert Newby is professor emeritus in the department of sociology, anthropology, and social work at Central Michigsn University. He writes a bi-weekly column for the Morning Sun.
ALTON  Centerstone, a national leader in behavioral health care, has named its 2020 Community Champion Award winners.

The Community Champion Award honors community leaders who have made a difference by advancing mental health and substance use disorder services through their advocacy, leadership and service.

This years winners are Steve Konopka, Highland High School; Ty Bechel, Alton Memorial Hospital and Amare; Lindley Renken, former Centerstone board member; Nancy Maxwell, The Womens Center; Amber Aden, Carbondale Towers; and Joanna Simpson-Abel, Carbondale Towers.

The six Community Champions display commitment and dedication to their community, and Centerstone is honored to recognize them for their work and for the positive impact they have made and continue to make in the lives of so many across our region, said John Markley, Regional CEO for Centerstone.

While Centerstone usually holds a Community Champions Banquet in both the Metro-East and Southern Illinois regions, the pandemic has prompted Centerstone to honor its 2020 Community Champions virtually through a Facebook video.

The award presentations will be posted on Centerstones Facebook page  facebook.com/Centerstone.org/  starting the week of Sept. 28.

Konopka was nominated by Taylor Marks, Centerstones Director of Flourish and Youth & Family TREE programs, for being a key player in getting Centerstones TREE program  a substance, alcohol and nicotine treatment program that focuses on reducing or eliminating the use for individuals ages 12-25  implemented at Highland High School.

Substance use services are now a normal treatment provided at the school and Steve not only led the school down this route, but provided education to staff members on the importance of substance, alcohol and nicotine treatment and prevention, Marks said. Konopka was also nominated by Lindsey Ebers, former Behavioral Case Manager at Centerstone, who praised him on his efforts to link youth and adolescents to needed services, and Audra Poovey, Mental Health Counselor at Centerstone, who said that Konopka brings a brand of social work credibility seen very rarely in the field.

Bechel was nominated by Jean Schram, a retired Madison County Health Advisory Committee member whom she describes as a person in long-term recovery from addiction who has used his personal experience to help others and educate the public. Schram honored Bechels volunteer work with Amare, a Metro-East recovery community organization that he founded in 2014; his work as a Peer Recovery Specialist for a number of years; and how he has mobilized community and recovery volunteers as well as agencies and community organizations to bring people together in supporting recovery and to assist people needing treatment.

Ty has a passion for helping and impacting the lives of his fellow community members along with a commitment to improve delivery systems and services for people in recovery, Schram said.

Bechel was also nominated by Fred Pollard, who wrote that Bechel works tirelessly to spread the message of hope and recovery, and Elizabeth Bhandari, who wrote that he has a passion for helping others when everyone else has turned away.

Renken was nominated by Anne Tyree, Centerstone Regional Chief Operating Officer, for being the driving force behind the development of supportive, permanent housing for Centerstone in Alton, noting that the organization now has more than 70 units of housing for adults with disabilities with rental assistance. Tyree wrote that Renken was instrumental in leading the development of the Centerstone facility in Alton, which launched the legacy organization, WellSpring Resources, into a period of phenomenal growth.

Lins dedication, selfless service to the organization, and championing of our clients and their needs for housing and service make him a Community Champion for this organization and the community at large, said Tyree.

Maxwell works at The Womens Center helping survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and runs an outreach program for women at the Eurma C. Hayes Center in Carbondale. She also volunteers at the African American Museum in the Carbondale mall. Aden and Simpson-Abel are both service coordinators at Carbondale Towers.

Centerstone accepted nominations for this years Community Champions awards from February through June. Honorable mentions include:

o A.J. French, President, Gift of Voice

o Debbie Humphrey, Madison County Mental Health Board

o Brad LaVite, Veterans Assistance Commission

o Danielle Price, Quality Coordinator, Gateway Regional Medical Center

o Riverbend Ministerial Alliance

o Rebecca Anderson, Perry County Counseling

o Mary Ekstrand, behavioral specialist/psychologist, Tri-County Special Education

o Carrie Eldridge, Franklin-Williamson Bi-County Health Department

o Michael Eubanks, Illinois Department of Corrections

o Joan Filkins, Centerstone residential group home volunteer

o Mary Beth Long, Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, Southern Illinois Healthcare

o Christine Raben, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Ferrell Hospital

o Nicole Rechsteiner, Franklin-Jefferson Counties Special Education District

o Southern Illinois University Legal Clinic Program

o Stephanie Thompson, St. Johns Catholic School

o Steve Webb, Superintendent, Goreville Schools

o The Womens Center Medical and Legal Advocates

Centerstone is a not-for-profit health system providing mental health and substance use disorder treatments. Services are available nationally through the operation of outpatient clinics, residential programs, the use of telehealth and an inpatient hospital.
Swiss voters overwhelmingly rejected on Sunday a right-wing party's attempt to scrap a pact allowing the free movement of people from the European Union, opting for stability amid the economic uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The Swiss People's Party (SVP) had forced a binding referendum on the EU agreement in a bid to curb immigration to the country where foreigners make up a quarter of the population. The measure lost by 62 per cent-38 per cent margin. The SVP - the biggest party in parliament - has long pushed to take back control of immigration, ...
New Delhi: The Indian Army has deployed tanks at forward areas like Chumar, Depsang and Chushul sectors to take on any threat from the Chinese army. It has deployed T-90 and T-72 tanks along with BMP-2 infantry combat vehicles at Chumar-Demchok sector which is crucial for the defence of the Ladakh sector.

The Indian Army has brought T-90 tanks to the Depsang plains in sub sector north (SSN) where Chinese troops are preventing patrols from going to patrolling points (PPs) 10-13.

The army is preparing to stay put at forward posts in the winter. These tanks have the ability to operate even at minus 40 degrees Celsius.

"The Fire and Fury Corps is the only formation of the Indian Army and also in the world to have actually deployed mechanised forces in such harsh terrain. The maintenance of tanks, infantry combat vehicles and heavy guns is a challenge in this terrain. To ensure crew and equipment readiness, adequate arrangements are in place for both man and machine," Fire and Fury Corps chief of staff Maj. Gen. Arvind Kapoor told a news agency.

He said the Army is logistically prepared in terms of tackling the harsh weather, with special winter clothing and other facilities such as fuel, spares and assemblies in place.

"Adequate training with provision of special winter clothing will ensure troop morale remains high and they are ready to function at short notice. Along with this, training and honing of crew skills and drills will remain constant through the winters. The Indian Army in eastern Ladakh is logistically well prepared," he said.

For winters Indian Army is using three types of fuels in these tanks which dont freeze in sub-zero temperatures.

Earlier this month PLA had brought forward their tanks near the Chushul sector to put pressure on Indian Army after it occupied strategic heights on the south banks of Pangong Tso on August 29-30.

The Depsang plains, situated at an altitude of over 15,000 feet, are flat and suitable for tank action. It is one of the critical points where a thrust by Indian tanks threatens Aksai Chin which was captured by China in 1962.

Last week during the sixth round of Corps Commanders meeting, India and China agreed to stop sending more troops to the frontline, refrain from unilaterally changing the situation on the ground, and avoid taking any actions that may complicate the situation.

However, no breakthrough could be achieved by India and China on the disengagement which means that both sides will keep their troops at the forward post in Ladakh sector during winters when temperature dip to as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius.
SIOUX CITY -- After a summer with virtually no arts events because of COVID-19, a group of roughly 40 muralists, plus guitar players, street performers, vendors and at least one clown, gathered in downtown Sioux City for the "Alley Art Festival."

This year's Alley Art (the first-ever was last year) expanded to include a segment of Fourth Street, in addition to the alleyways between Pierce, Nebraska and Fifth streets. Organizer Brent Stockton of Vangarde Arts estimated 600 or 700 people would turn out for the event.

Some of the muralists on Saturday said they'd never painted a mural before.

Tam Doan, who recently graduated with a graphic design degree from Iowa State, spent many hours on her mural, a precise series of blue, yellow and red shapes tentatively called "Primary Daze." (Blue, yellow and red are the primary colors). The mural was based on a drawing she did in college.

"I've always wanted to paint a mural," she said.

For the creative at heart, this year has been rough.

"Theaters, art places, seeing live shows, all of that shutting down, it just like, sucks," Doan added. "It's so bad for just, people's happiness."

Sioux City artist Gregory Danner was both a muralist and a performer Saturday. He used a very-long pole, consisting of two poles taped together with stadium horns added for structural support, to slather paint onto a two-story wall.

The result was a series of green, blue, orange and red/magenta streaks on the wall, and a lot of paint slopped onto the ground. (He used the pole because he wasn't allowed to use a ladder for safety reasons).

The whole thing was live-streamed.

"I like the spectacle of it," Danner said.

Danner said his mural was "process-based" art -- he had no plans for what the end result would look like, because of the emphasis on the process.

Saturday's mural-performance will probably be Danner's Sioux City swan song -- he's moving to Manhattan, Kansas this coming week.

Rebecca Beacom of Sioux City was another first-time muralist Saturday. Her work featured an stylized sun and moon, and a series of semicolons. Semicolons are a symbol of mental health awareness -- her best friend, she said, committed suicide. "It's for suicide prevention, or awareness."

Sarah Gill, a photographer, and Mykala Johnson, a dog groomer and artist, said they'd spent weeks on their alley mural, a Tarot card-style depiction of a woman sitting on the moon. Their aim was to convey a body-positive message.

"She's got curves, she's got stretch marks," Gill said of the woman in their mural. "We really wanted to just celebrate body positivity, and diverse bodies, and just really put the message out there that, it's beautiful, all sizes."

Local acts, including GhostCat, Central Time, Garry Lewis and Tara Edner, a longtime clown, also gave performances Saturday.

"I'm not a gag clown, because I don't like getting buzzed with things, because that's very painful, and I don't like getting squirted with stuff," said Edner, who strives to volunteer her clown skills a few times a year. Her specialty is a "bucket game," which children can play.

Stockton, the organizer, said there had been some uncertainty about whether Alley Art would meet the same fate as Saturday in the Park and ArtSplash this summer.

"We're really, really happy. You know, with the whole COVID thing going on and everything, we weren't really sure what was going to happen, and we've been really, really excited," he said.

"We were still debating whether to even go ahead with this, as late as the middle of August," Stockton added.

Kane Brown at Tyson

Later in the evening Saturday, country singer Kane Brown gave a virtual performance at the Tyson Events Center. The pre-recorded, drive-in show began at 8:45 p.m.

It was the second drive-in concert at the Tyson this year, following Metallica's virtual performance in August.

"Instead of sitting around wondering what was going to happen, we took matters into our own hands to create, innovate and find unique opportunities for Siouxland to get out and enjoy," Tim Savona, the Tyson's general manager, told the Weekender.

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A day after asking if the government will have 80,000 crore available to buy and distribute the vaccine, Adar Poonawalla , the CEO of the Serum Institute of India, took to Twitter today to praise Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Covid-19 vaccines .

'We share and applaud your vision narendramodi ji, on providing vaccines to the global community. It is a proud moment for India, thank you for your leadership and support. It is clear that all your arrangements for India will take care of all needs for the Indian people," Adar Poonawalla tweeted.

We share and applaud your vision @narendramodi ji, on providing vaccines to the global community. It is a proud moment for India, thank you for your leadership and support. It is clear that all your arrangements for India will take care of all needs for the Indian people. https://t.co/b57TH8fDSB  Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) September 27, 2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday highlighted how India has always thought about the interests of humankind and its contribution to the global fight against COVID-19 in his speech at the UN General Assembly. The Prime Minister assured the international community that India's coronavirus vaccine production and delivery capacity will help all humanity in fighting the pandemic.

"As the largest vaccine producing country of the world, I want to give one more assurance to the global community today. India's vaccine production and delivery capacity will be used to help all humanity in fighting this crisis. In India and in our neighbourhood, we are moving ahead with phase 3 clinical trials in India. India will also help all the countries in enhancing their cold chain and storage capacities for the delivery of the vaccines," he said.

Serum Institute is the world's largest manufacturer of vaccines by volume, and is currently conducting a phase 3 clinical trial of a vaccine co-developed by AstraZeneca plc and University of Oxford, of which the Pune-based company plans to manufacture 1 billion doses. Apart from Serum, there are two other companies, Zydus Cadila and Bharat Biotech International, that are conducting human trials in phase 2.

On Saturday, Adar Poonawalla highlighted the challenges in vaccine production and distribution in the country.

"Quick question; will the government of India have 80,000 crores available, over the next one year? Because that's what @MoHFW_INDIAneeds, to buy and distribute the vaccine to everyone in India," he tweeted,

This is the next "challenge" we need to tackle, he said, also tagging the prime minister's office.

I ask this question, because we need to plan and guide, vaccine manufacturers both in India and overseas to service the needs of our country in terms of procurement and distribution.  Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) September 26, 2020





"I ask this question because we need to plan and guide, vaccine manufacturers both in India and overseas to service the needs of our country in terms of procurement and distribution," Poonawalla added.

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Immigration has long been an important foundation for Australias economic development and prosperity, but the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a dramatic slowing of overseas arrivals.

Historically, migration trends have followed economic conditions, and we should not expect this crisis to be any different. Credit:Louie Douvis

The Morrison government has flagged that a reset of the migration program will feature in the October 6 federal budget. Now is the time to take stock of the current system and recalibrate for the future, to help Australia come back better.

Historically, migration trends have followed economic conditions, and we should not expect this crisis to be any different. Policy decisions taken now will have a major impact on Australias ability to attract the best and brightest as we start to emerge from the pandemic, and as countries such as the United States introduce new restrictions on migration. These considerations must be evidence-based and nuanced.

Providing more information and transparency on skills shortages will be critical to bolster confidence in both our skills and migration systems, at a time when we will see both historically high and rising unemployment, as well as pockets of skills shortages. These circumstances will be challenging for the community to reconcile.
India is in a state of political unrest once again as farmers in Punjab and Haryana have been protesting against three farm 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  passed by the Parliament in the recently concluded Monsoon session.



 Reuters

Recently, fresh protests erupted in Qadian, Batala, Dera Baba Nanak and Pathankot over Bollywood actor Sunny Deols tweet in favour of the Farm Bills.



Now, Congress activists have claimed they will not allow Deol to enter his Gurdaspur constituency over his anti-farmer stance.

Heres are the previous tweets by Sunny Deol on the matter:

                             #JaiKisan#AatmaNirbharKrishi  Sunny Deol (@iamsunnydeol) September 18, 2020

Ever since the protests have begun, Sunny Deol hasnt been actively participating in the conversation of the farmers' protests.

Earlier today, people started to trend #SunnyDeolWhereAreYou and Twitter has been bursting with memes since.

Like his movies comes once in 2 or four years even in his own constituency. Someone just remind him that he is a MP too #SunnyDeolWhereAreYou  titto jose (@tittojose9810) September 27, 2020

#SunnyDeolWhereAreYou

Hahaha. People of gurdaspur search their MP sunny deol. Ab bhaiyya hero ki shakal dekh k vote doge to aisa hi hoga  arvind (@iamarvindmeena) September 27, 2020

Help me find this man -

Name- Ajay singh deol

Popular name - Sunny deol

Dob-19 October 1956

Height-1.73 m

Last seen - Gurdaspur,Punjab#SunnyDeolWhereAreYou #IStandWithIndianFarmers #SunnyDeol pic.twitter.com/yttchJX2DI  Satyam Sharma (@satyamvasistha) September 27, 2020

Everyone is asking #SunnyDeolWhereAreYou meanwhile sunny deol pic.twitter.com/wWRWKub7wf  Ujjawal Sharma  (@SharmaJi720) September 27, 2020

Earlier this week, Kanwar Partap Singh Bajwa, general secretary, Punjab Youth Congress told the Tribune, We will not allow Deol to enter his constituency. If he does try to come, he should be ready to face consequences. He knows nothing about the ground reality.

He said, Instead of standing with people who voted for him, he stood with his party, which is doing things which are totally detrimental to the interests of farmers. Today, we blackened his posters and if he comes, we will blacken his face. In just one stroke, the Centre made farmers apprehensive whether they will get minimum support price (MSP) for paddy and wheat products.

 Reuters

Over 200 farmers groups across the country blocked roads and organised rallies last Friday in protest against three controversial farm bills. The farmers worry that the new laws could potentially take apart the current Minimum Support Price (MSP) system and leave them defenceless to exploitation by agribusinesses.


New York (United Nations) 26 September 2020 (SPS)- The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho, Honorable Dr. Moeketsi Majoro, afirmed that Lesotho will continue to stand with the people of Western Sahara in their quest for independence, in his address before the 75th UN General Assembly Today.

The situation in Western Sahara also merits our attention. The General Assembly has consistently reaffirmed the inalienable right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination. We express our disappointment at the lack of progress in this regard, he stressed.

He further recalled that twenty-nine years have passed since the Security Council approved the Settlement Plan and subsequently established the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), with the mandate to implement the plan.

He criticised the UN Security Council failure so far to implement its relevant resolutions on the conflict, considering It was unfortunate that the self-determination referendum has not been held and the Security Council appears reluctant to use all diplomatic tools at its disposal to ensure compliance with the peace plan.

He further considered that the UN should not abandon African Unions efforts to find African solutions to African problems, stressing that the determination of Africa to address, through the AU, the problem of conflicts on the continent should not be misconstrued as absolving the United Nations from its responsibility for peace and security where Africa is concerned. (SPS)

090/500/60 (SPS)
The Coalition of Aggrieved Customers of Gold Coast Fund Management (GCFM) have called on government to include them in the first phase of the bailout package.



This followed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos interview on a local FM station on September 4, 2020, that, GCFM customers were excluded in the first phase of the bailout package by government.



According to the group, the comment by the President was incomprehensible and cannot be a substitute for the many lives that are being lost as a result of the financial crises they find themselves.



At a press conference in Accra yesterday, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the group, Mr Charles Nyame said the fact that liquidation order has not been secured because GCFM was in court contesting the revocation of their licence does not presuppose that innocent Ghanaians must continue to suffer.



We believe laws are made for man and not man for the law, therefore, there is the need for government to prioritise the lives of its citizens above any other thing, and not hide behind the law to cause more havoc to innocent Ghanaian lives, he added.



Mr Nyame bemoaned the fact that, GN Savings and Loans and Unicredit were in court, yet customers of these institutions have been paid their locked up funds in full by the receiver, using the government bailout package, but they have been told by the President that, they cannot be paid with the same bailout package since GCFM was in court contesting the revocation of its licence.



He described the act as discriminatory on the part of the government and urged the government to include them, since their scenarios are the same.



Mr Nyame threatened that, should the government fail to adhere to their plea, they would vote against the government in the upcoming general elections.



He, therefore, called on the various stakeholders such as Christian Council, Catholic Bishops Conference, Asantehene and all civil society organisations (CSOs) in the country to intervene in the distress situation they find themselves in order to retrieve their funds without any further delays.



Some of the aggrieved customers, expressed worry about the delay in retrieving their monies, calling on government to expedite action to avoid any untoward situation.



Madam Joyce Yeboah, an aggrieved customer said she had her savings locked up, which affected her plans and now found it difficult to meet her business obligations.



Mr Richmond Adjetey, another customer, appealed to the government to facilitate the processes to enable them retrieve their monies, since the situation led to the death of some customers, while others suffered various kinds of illnesses.







Source: The Ghanaian Times









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The three farm bills, which were passed in both houses of Parliament during the monsoon session, received the Presidential assent on Sunday evening. President Ram Nath Kovind signed the bills, making them an act, and the government notified them.

The passage of these bills has led to a series of protests by farmers across the country, the Shiromani Akali Dals exit from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and also saw the suspension of eight parliamentarians of the Rajya Sabha when Parliament proceedings were ongoing.

Protests against the three acts - The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Service Act, 2020, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 - began in Punjab and Haryana in early September before the monsoon session had begun.

Also Read: Address farmers issues now | HT Editorial

Farmers and farmers union leaders are still continuing to stage protests all over the country over the passage of these bills as they fear public procurement will be affected and the system of minimum support prices (MSP) will exist no more. Farmer leaders believe that the passage of these bills will affect how the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) used to work exposing farmers to the whims and fancies of private players and corporations belonging to the agricultural sector.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has continually assured farmers that their agricultural produce will continue to be sold under the ambit of MSP and government procurement will not be affected. Opposition parties had earlier requested the President to not give his assent to the three bills.

Parliament also saw huge ruckus in the upper house which then led to the suspension of eight opposition members due to unruly behaviour. Former Union minister and SAD leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal resigned from her post as her party voiced its concerns regarding the passage of the bills.

Farmer agitations against the passage of the bills continue across northern India. Farmers in Punjab held a Rail Roko agitation while in Rohtak farmers blocked the Rohtak-Chandigarh National Highway. Protests were also held in Bengaluru and Kolkata.
Linda was only half-joking when, in 1990, she famously said we dont wake up for less than $10,000 a day. Naomis former agent, Carole White, would later say it was more like 300,000 a job. The money girls amassed fortunes and forged partnerships with the biggest fashion and beauty brands  Chanel and Revlon  but also Pepsi. Forbes did its first-ever celebrity 100 list in 1999 and on it there were five models: Claudia Schiffer, Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Niki Taylor and Kate Moss, says Natalie Robehmed, market analyst and former editor of Forbes annual wealthiest models list. Over the years, some of those people dropped off, but some are still making big money. People like Naomi became iconic  she can speak to people across generations and she has a different kind of star power. The fans, Claudia remembers, were as enthusiastic as any who would have pledged allegiance to the Backstreet Boys at the time. It was insane, she says. Like being a rock star. You couldnt get to your car. We had security at every fashion show  even employed to guard my underwear! When I was out on the runway Id come back and my underwear would constantly be gone. Part of the appeal of the Supers was that they came as a gang. While they operated as individuals, they were also friends. Claudia was synonymous with Guess Jeans and Chanel, while Naomi was with Azzedine Alaia and Yves Saint Laurent, and Christy with Calvin Klein. But they might equally be found doing group shoots for Vogue, joining forces for a Versace campaign or starring together in George Michaels Freedom video. The unity made them at once likeable and untouchable.

The group of girls I started modelling with, and continue to over the years, are unique in their physicality and mentality. Everyone came from different backgrounds and everyone worked really hard, says Helena of the way each managed to find her place in the industry. We also are a very tight-knit and supportive group of girls, with each other and with our families. Claudia agrees. We were on the cover of every magazine and in every campaign. We lived and breathed it and we developed unprecedented control over our careers. Although we could be competitive, there was a lot of camaraderie between us too. We looked out for each other and we werent afraid to speak up. If somebody had a bad experience, we would call everyone and say, By the way, this just happened. We thought, We have the power all together and we should use it, because this is wrong. We made things change. Loading The Supers have always been masters of their own PR. When the social-media era arrived in the early 2010s, it bore a new generation of Insta girls  Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Karlie Kloss. These were models with digital personas, negotiating even bigger pay cheques thanks to having their own ready-made audiences to post ads to. Their arrival changed the rules, filling the market with new personalities. Some 1990s names bowed out, but the biggest stars adapted and seized the opportunity. Its impossible to talk about models and whats happened in the last 30 years without talking about Instagram, says Robehmed. Often when we think of supermodels we think of them walking the runway, but thats not actually where the money is for them. The biggest money-making campaigns

now are the huge deals across print advertising, video and social media.

Claudia lists current modelling, design and curation projects with Etre Cecile and Bordallo Pinheiro, in addition to being the face of Chanels new J12 watch. Ive never worried about being relevant, she says. Nor have I been one that craved the limelight or to be the centre of attention, and my husband is very similar. I love what I do, but I value my privacy and Im in a very fortunate position to be able to concentrate on collaborations Im passionate about. Fundamentally the industry is the same, its just grown enormously, she says. There are more collections, the pace is faster and social media has had a huge impact. Its been great for marketing fashion and beauty products, as well as providing a very effective way to manage your own exposure, which you see particularly with the big models of today. What was great in the 90s, though, was not to feel the pressure to share everything with everybody; you could still have a private life and create a mystique. I miss that clear line of the public figure versus the private one. However, I do love sharing fashion moments of my life on Instagram. These women still suck the air out of the room. Today, theyre still beloved because fashion loves reinvention and nostalgia, not to mention these women still look incredible. Derek Blasberg, head of fashion at YouTube and a journalist who has been friends with Naomi, Christy and Cindy for over a decade, convinced Naomi to start a YouTube channel giving her the chance to put out her own message and share glimpses of a highly entertaining lifestyle with her fans. From her trolley dash at Whole Foods, to her airport routine video, in which she thoroughly disinfects her first-class plane seat prior to take-off, her dry sense of humour has endeared her to new audiences, clocking up more than 20 million views.

Of course, Naomi has had other offers to open her life, says Blasberg. But I think what appealed to her about YouTube was the ability to be in control. She is her own producer, director, editor. She decides what to post and when to post it. I reckon Naomi has always wanted to be a TV host but, being a supermodel and all, shes never been in one place long enough. Until the COVID-19 crisis. For three weeks in April, she did a daily live show from her New York apartment. I should mention: Naomi was on time to every single live show. As much as people love to see new content created by the original Supers, there is also fresh appetite to look back at major moments from the past. Instagram fan accounts such as @The90sSupermodels, with hundreds of thousands of followers, are like shrines to those 1990s Versace catwalk appearances and now-vintage covers. It helps, of course, that the Supers have aged gloriously. The legendary parties and champagne breakfasts have long since been replaced by expensive wellness practices  in keeping, really, with fashions overall switch to a cleaner image. Ask any supermodel about their beauty secrets and theyll say they exercise every day, apply organic creams religiously (Claudias choice is Bamford) and drink lots of water. But theyll also say that its about attitude, not age. These women still suck the air out of the room, says Blasberg, a self-confessed eternal superfan. Christy Turlington is still the most beautiful woman in whatever room shes in. Today, theyre still beloved because fashion loves reinvention and nostalgia, not to mention these women still look incredible. To this day, when Naomi turns the corner and comes out on a runway, boom! You feel electricity.
The Communist Party of Vietnam pursues a consistent policy of resolutely and patiently defending national independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and maintaining a peaceful environment to ensure national sustainable development.

Prior to the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, hostile forces and opportunists have made up stories distorting issues concerning Vietnamese territories in order to sabotage the Party and State of Vietnam and disturb the peaceful life of the Vietnamese people.

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang (Photo: VNA)





Many web pages and forums on social networks frequented by political subversives have spread the message that the Vietnamese Party and State pay more attention to organizing Party Congresses than defending national maritime sovereignty.

There are also stories distorting views, guidelines and policies on safeguarding national sovereignty using provocative conspiracy theory to incite people and undermine their trust in the leadership of the Party and State. More dangerously, many of these agitators abuse the territorial sovereignty issue, particularly maritime sovereignty, to provoke people to take to the streets to demonstrate their patriotism causing social instability.

On June 23, 1994, the Vietnamese National Assembly adopted a resolution approving the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which affirms Vietnams sovereignty over internal waters, territorial waters, and sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the adjacent areas of territorial waters, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Vietnam and asking countries to respect Vietnams rights. The resolution affirms Vietnams sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos and its intention to settle disputes concerning territorial sovereignty and East Sea related disputes through peaceful negotiations on a basis of equality, understanding and mutual respect, and respect for international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS.

Complying with the UN Convention, Vietnam adopted the Law on the Vietnamese Sea in 2012 to consolidate the planning, use, exploration, and exploitation of sea resources and management of Vietnamese waters, continental shelf, and islands as well as the settlement of disputes at sea between Vietnam and neighboring countries. The Vietnam National Assembly also ratified the 2003 Law on National Border, the 2015 Maritime Law, and the 2015 Law on Natural Resources, Marine Environment and Islands.

Defending national maritime sovereignty is a sacred and a long-term challenge. Vietnam has resolutely, consistently, and patiently pursued peaceful means in line with international law to defend its sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction on the ground and through diplomatic channels at different levels.

All is clearly reflected in the Resolution of the 12th National Party Congress and proven in the ways that Vietnam is addressing issues in the East Sea with respect for the rule of law. Vietnam intends to peacefully address disputes in line with international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, refrain from using or threatening to use force, fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and soon finalize the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Vietnams consistent policy on territorial sovereignty has been repeatedly confirmed by leaders of the Party, State, and army. At a meeting with voters in Hanoi last October, Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong pointed out the potential risks of security, complications, particularly border and territorial issues and called on the people to stay vigilant against extreme views about the East Sea issue. Mr. Trong affirmed Vietnams determination to maintain a peaceful, stable environment for development and resolutely and patiently defend national independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity and never make concessions on issues concerning these values sovereignty, independence, unification and territorial integrity.

At a ceremony to release the 2019 White Paper on Vietnam National Defense, Deputy Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh said that Vietnam only uses force for self-defense when the country is invaded to safeguard national independence, sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, national interests and stability of the regime. The White Paper on Vietnam National Defense reiterates Vietnams consistent policy of not using or threatening to use force in international relations and not participating in military alliances.

Valuable lessons learned from wars in the past have prompted countries, even those with strong military capability, to promote dialogue and international law as the model for resolving all territorial issues rather than conflict and confrontation. This is the basis of Vietnamese guidelines and policies that insist on defending national sovereignty and settling related issues through peaceful means.

VOV
YEREVAN, Armenia - Fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces has erupted again over the disputed separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the territorys defence ministry said 16 soldiers and two civilians have been killed and more than 100 others wounded.

Azerbaijans president, meanwhile, says his military has suffered losses, but gave no details.

Armenia also claimed that four Azerbaijani helicopters were shot down and 33 Azerbaijani tanks and fighting vehicles were hit by artillery. Azerbaijans defence ministry rejected an earlier claim that two helicopters were shot down.

The heavy fighting broke out in the morning in the region that lies within Azerbaijan but has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since 1994 at the end of a separatist war.

It was not immediately clear what sparked the fighting, the heaviest since clashes in July killed 16 people from both sides.

Nagorno-Karabakh authorities reported that shelling hit the regions capital of Stepanakert and the towns of Martakert and Martuni. Armenian Defence Ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan also said Azerbaijani shelling hit within Armenian territory near the town of Vardenis.

The territorial defence ministry said late Sunday that 18 people were killed, including a woman and her grandson and more than 100 wounded.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev ordered martial law be imposed in some regions of the country and called for a curfew in major cities.

In a televised address to the nation, Aliyev said that there are losses among the Azerbaijani forces and the civilian population as a result of the Armenian bombardment, but didnt give further details. He also claimed that many units of the enemys military equipment have been destroyed.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is conducting intensive contacts in order to induce the parties to cease fire and start negotiations to stabilize the situation, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, chairman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, called on the sides to stop fighting. The long-unsuccessful negotiations for resolving the territorys status has been conducted under OSCE auspices.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on Sunday said the country could reexamine whether to recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as independent. Such a move would likely obstruct further negotiations.

Foreign Minister Javad Zarif of Iran, which borders both Azerbaijan and Armenia, said We call for an immediate end to hostilities and urge dialogue to resolve differences. Our neighbours are our priority and we are ready to provide good offices to enable talks.

Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin condemned Armenia.

Armenia has violated the cease-fire by attacking civilian settlements ... the international community must immediately say stop to this dangerous provocation, Kalin tweeted. Turkey is a close ally of Azerbaijan and locked in a long dispute with Armenia that has closed the countries border since the early 1990s.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calls on the sides to immediately stop fighting, de-escalate tensions and return to meaningful negotiations without delay, said his spokesman Stephane Dujarric. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun called the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan to urge cessation of hostilities, said State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus.

Mostly mountainous Nagorno-Karabakh  a region around 4,400 square kilometres (1,700 square miles) or about the size of the U.S. state of Delaware  lies 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the Armenian border. Local soldiers backed by Armenia also occupy some Azerbaijani territory outside the region.

___

Jim Heintz in Moscow, Zeynep Bilginsoy in Istanbul and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this story.
The UK went into lockdown for the first time in March. (PA)

One of the governments scientific advisors has warned that a third wave of coronavirus in the UK is entirely possible if no vaccine is found.

Professor Mark Woolhouse, from the University of Edinburgh, said the current strategy of stopping flare-ups with lockdowns was failing to solve the problem in the long-term.

Woolhouse, who sits on the governments advisory body that models pandemics, said a vaccine needed to be found to provide a lasting solution to the pandemic.

The governments strategy is to sit this out for the next six months, thats what were told, he told the BBCs The Andrew Marr Show on Sunday.

People walk along Oxford Street while while wearing face masks. (PA)

And implicitly in that the expectation is that after six months something will be different. And the obvious something is for there to be a vaccine.

I have to say that most people I have talked to involved with vaccine development think that we may have a vaccine in six months but its doubtful that we will have been able to roll it out on a mass scale by then.

So were in a difficult situation for some months to come Im afraid.

Read more: Pubs, restaurants and cafes contributed to a fifth of COVID-19 infections

Prof Woolhouse said the governments failure to plan for anything other than a lockdown had made the possibility of a second wave more likely.

When we started modelling this way back in March, before the first lockdown, it was very apparent from the work that my group did and many other groups did that all a lockdown ever did is defer the problem, he said.

Watch: NHS tracing app problem that left tens of thousands of tests unlogged has been fixed, government says

It solves an immediate crisis because it reduces transmission quickly, but it doesnt actually solve the problem in the long-term  it doesnt make the virus go away.

So in the middle of March we were modelling scenarios where it was entirely possible that we would need to lockdown again in September, and thats exactly the position we find ourselves in.

Story continues

Asked whether there would be a third wave of the pandemic, Woolhouse said it was entirely possible.

The scenario I mentioned earlier does actually include this possibility [of a third wave]. And this is just another demonstration that lockdown doesnt solve the problem, it defers it.

That is why we need some kind of cavalry on the horizon, or alternatively if we think the vaccine is not going to be available in six months, or 12 months, or two years or whenever it may be that we do need alternatives.

The alternatives that have been mentioned so far are things like the Moonshot programme for mass testing, and there may be others on the horizon too.

Coronavirus: what happened today

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LEITCHFIELD, Ky. (AP) - The group gathered around the town square, waiting for the arrival of what has become a new American boogeyman: antifa.

Michael Johnson and others were certain that school buses full of radical left-wing extremists from big cities were coming to Leitchfield, Kentucky, where about 50 of their neighbors had gathered on the courthouse lawn to chant, "Black lives matter!" and wave signs in solidarity with the nation's surging protest movement.

The June 10 protest ended peacefully with no sign of any antifascist activists in the town of less than 7,000 people, but Johnson and his son sat awake outside their house all night, armed with a shotgun, just in case the antifa rumors he saw circulating online were true.

"Theres no reason not to believe it after you watch TV, whats going on," said Johnson, 53.

It's a scene that has unfolded in many other cities and small towns this year, the product of fear and conflict stoked by bogus posts on social media, right-wing news outlets and even some of the nation's most powerful leaders.

President Donald Trump has said the federal government would designate antifa as a "terrorist organization" and has blamed it for violence at protests against racial injustice and police brutality. Attorney General William Barr has claimed groups using "antifa-like tactics" fueled violent clashes in Minneapolis after the killing of George Floyd, a black man who died after a white police officer pressed a knee into his neck for several minutes.

FILE - In this Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018 file photo, a group of anti-fascist and Black Lives Matter demonstrators march in front of the Rotunda on the campus of the University of Virginia in anticipation of the anniversary of the previous year's Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Va. Rutgers University historian Mark Bray, author of the book "Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook," said there are well organized, tightly knit antifa groups that have operated for years. "But that's different from saying that the politics of antifa is just one single, monolithic organization, which is obviously false," said Bray, whose book traces the history and evolution of the movement. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

However, FBI Director Christopher Wray told a congressional panel last Thursday that antifa is more of an ideology or a movement than an organization. While the FBI has had domestic terrorism investigations of "violent anarchist extremists, any number of whom self identify with the antifa movement," Wray noted that extremists driven by white supremacist or anti-government ideologies have been responsible for most deadly attacks in the U.S. over the past few years.

A man suspected of fatally shooting a Trump supporter after a pro-Trump caravan in Portland, Oregon, last month had described himself in a social media post as "100% ANTIFA." Federal agents later shot and killed the suspect, Michael Forest Reinoehl, in Washington state.

But federal arrest records of more than 300 people at protests across the country include very few obvious mentions of the word antifa. They could be hard to identify, however, because there is no domestic terrorism statute under which to charge protesters involved in violence or vandalism.

Louisville, Kentucky-based attorney David Mour has represented many protesters involved in demonstrations over the killing of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency medical technician who was shot by Louisville police officers when they barged into her house in the middle of the night to serve a search warrant. Protesters have occupied a square in downtown Louisville for more than three months. All along, Mour has dealt with wild rumors that antifa is somehow involved.

"Its constant. These people are just trying to generate fear and frenzy. Theyre trying to blame all this stuff on antifa, and Im like, `Who exactly is antifa? Where are they? Who are you talking about? Its insane," he said.

Rutgers University historian Mark Bray, author of the book "Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook," said there are well organized, tightly knit antifa groups that have operated for years.

"But thats different from saying that the politics of antifa is just one single, monolithic organization, which is obviously false," said Bray, whose book traces the history and evolution of the movement.

Many Americans had never heard of antifa before Trumps election and the violent clashes between far-right extremists and counterprotesters at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August 2017. Bray said Trumps campaign and presidency stimulated far-right organizing and the antifascist response to it. He believes Trump and his allies are demonizing antifa for political gain.

"The portrayal they present serves their purposes of using it as a boogeyman to rally support and to kind of redirect attention away from the legitimate grievances behind the Black Lives Matter protests," he said.

Adam Klein, an associate professor of communication studies at Pace University, analyzed social media posts by far-right extremists and antifascist activists leading up to the Charlottesville rally three years ago. He found antifascists have a "pretty loose" communication network.

"You dont get the sense online that there is an organization as much as there are some prominent (social media) accounts associated with antifa," he said.

Lindsay Ayling, a 32-year-old doctoral student at the University of North Carolina's flagship Chapel Hill campus, is a fixture at counterprotests against neo-Confederates and other far-right group members. They often call her "antifa," a label she accepts "in the sense that I oppose fascism and I am willing to go and confront fascists on the streets."

"The thing that's so dangerous about labeling anyone who is antifascist as a terrorist is that it's criminalizing thought," she said. "Not just thought, but it's criminalizing active resistance to fascism."

Ayling said the first person to call her an antifa leader was a Florida man, Daniel McMahon, who dubbed himself "the Antifa hunter" online. McMahon was sentenced to more than three years in prison after pleading guilty in April to using social media to threaten a Black activist to deter the man from running for office in Charlottesville.

Far-right extremists aren't the only ones who use the term against her, Ayling said. Last week, she posted a video of herself asking Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson why he and his deputies were "breaking the law" by not wearing masks at the scene of a protest in North Carolina.

"Ma'am, why are you breaking the law? We know you're with antifa," the sheriff responded.

Rumors of antifa invading Leitchfield, Kentucky, started on Facebook and quickly spread through the community. Stephanie Ann Fulkerson, who had organized the demonstration, was stunned. She usually keeps to herself but felt strongly enough about the Black Lives Matter movement that she decided to plan something in the small town in Grayson County about 70 miles south of Louisville.

"This is the first time Ive really spoke up for anything. Im a stay-at-home mom thats very anti-social. Thats the crazy part of all this," she said.

As the protest got underway, residents lined up in front of businesses to guard against vandalism, some of them on motorcycles. A handful heckled the protesters. At one point, one of them stormed across the street toward the demonstration, but law enforcement restrained him.

The buses didnt show, but that didnt mean everyone accepted it was just a baseless rumor. Johnson said he heard that 15 antifa members in a Winnebago were stopped in town by local residents and law enforcement and complied with a command to go home.

Grayson County Sheriff Norman Chaffins said that didnt happen.

"Thats a rumor," the sheriff said. "People are pretty detailed when they make up stories."

___

Kunzelman reported from College Park, Maryland. Associated Press reporter Michael Biesecker contributed to this story.

This June 10, 2020 photo shows Michael Johnson, part of a group that believed antifa was coming to Leitchfield, Ky., when a local resident organized a Black Lives Matter rally. He said the sign he affixed to his truck was meant to say that all people's lives should matter equally. Johnson said he was troubled by George Floyd's death under the knee of a police officer, but worried the protests across the country would devolve into violence and vandalism. (AP Photo/Claire Galofaro)
Senior Uttar Pradesh government officials on Sunday inspected the land in Sector 21 along the Yamuna Expressway earmarked for the Film City project.

Uttar Pradesh additional chief secretary (home and information) Awanish Kumar Awasthi, who visited the site along with others, directed Yamuna expressway industrial development authority (Yeida) to send a proposal to Film Bandhu, a state nodal agency for film projects, to get the ball rolling on the detailed project report.

The directions come a week after the Uttar Pradesh government on September 20 announced setting the Film City on a 1000-acre plot in Sector 21.

Awasthi, who was accompanied by Yeida chief executive officer, CEO, Arun Vir Singh and other senior officials of the authority, also instructed the staff to demarcate the boundary of the site where the Film City will come up.

We will send the proposal about the project in the next 10 days to the state government, paving way for the detailed project report. The state government has put this project on fast-track and we are working on this project very seriously, Singh said.

Once Yeida sends the proposal, the UP government will appoint a consultant to prepare a DPR for the project. The DPR will be made at earliest and no deadline has been fixed for it so far, said officials.

We have started the process to hire a consultant who will make the DPR. Once the DPR is finalised, the project will witness further progress, Awasthi said.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had on September 18 announced setting up the countrys biggest and most beautiful film city in Gautam Budh Nagar and had instructed officials to search for land in or around Noida and Greater Noida.

We have already acquired 835 acres agricultural land from farmers for the project. We have expedited the work to procure 165 acres of land for this project. All farmers from Rabupura village in Sector 21, where the Film City will come, are happy to give their land for the project, Yeida CEO said.

Once ready, the Film City, located close to upcoming Noida International Greenfield Airport at Jewar, will house film studios, film academies among other facilities.

The Film City will benefit not only aspiring filmmakers, actors, cameraman and technicians among others, but also the film industry at large at large as they will get a much needed facility for shooting at reasonable cost. The project will give a platform to local talent, groom them employ them, said Piyush Singh, CEO, Vistas Media, a Singapore- based company keen to set up an international film Academy at the Film City. The firm had earlier this week submitted a proposal to Yeida to set up a film academy over 20 acres, with an initial investment of USD 10 million.

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The freedom to read is the foundation of Banned Books Week, an annual awareness campaign by the American Library Association. This years campaign, whose mission is to spotlight current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools, runs Sept. 27-Oct. 3, with the theme Censorship is a Dead End. Find Your Freedom to Read.

Each day of Banned Books Week has its own theme: Read a banned book (Sunday); speak out about censorship (Monday); create something unrestricted (Tuesday); express the freedom to read in style (Wednesday); write about your rights (Thursday); watch, listen, and learn from others (Friday); and thank those who defend the freedom to read every day of the year (Saturday).

In Oregon, the best-known recent challenge to a book came during the 2018-19 season of Oregon Battle of the Books, when two school districts declined to participate in the elementary school level of the reading competition for third- through 12th-graders because the reading list included Alex Ginos childrens novel George. The books main character is a transgender girl. (Read our 2018 story.)

The Oregon Intellectual Freedom Clearinghouse puts out an annual report on challenges to intellectual freedom in Oregon libraries and schools. Its 2020 report, which covers the period from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020, noted 19 challenges to books, movies, music, magazines or digital content. According to the report, most of the challenges involved books; half were initiated by parents on behalf of children; four occurred in school libraries and the rest in public libraries; and three of the challenged materials were either relocated or removed, while the rest were retained.

Buzzy Nielsen, the State Library of Oregons program manager, library support and development services, said the number of challenges dropped slightly this year compared to last year, partly because one library had a particularly high number of challenges last year and partly because many libraries have been closed to the public during the pandemic. A lot of the challenges originate from people browsing the shelves, especially the new section, where the books are much more likely to be on display, Nielsen said.

Books most likely to be challenged are those with sexual or LGBTQ content, Nielsen said.

Notable in this years report were other instances of what Nielsen called intellectual freedom or censorship issues. The worlds different, and suppression or chilling of speech or intellectual freedom isnt just around materials, he said. Were trying to better capture the picture.

Banned Books Week, Nielsen said, is an opportunity for libraries to highlight the diversity of the materials they carry and to raise awareness about the challenges of running an institution that needs to find material for a vast swath of the community.

Theres something in the library to offend everybody, he said.

Heres a look at the 18 challenged books in the 2020 Oregon report, along with the reasons given for objecting to them (the 19th item challenged was a DVD):

The Beet Fields: Memories of a Sixteenth Summer, by Gary Paulsen (incest, sexual explicitness, violence)

The Bible (religion)

Black Widow: The Name of the Rose, by Marjorie Liu and Daniel Acuna (nudity, sexual explicitness, violence)

Chocolate Me!, by Taye Diggs (racism)

The Dangerous Alphabet, by Neil Gaiman and Gris Grimly (violence)

Esto No Es Un Libro De Sexo, by Chusita Fashion Fever (sexual explicitness)

Everything You Need: 8 Essential Steps to A Life of Confidence in the Promises of God, by David Jeremiah (religion)

George, by Alex Gino (LGBTQIA+ content), which was also the No. 1 challenged book nationally in 2019, according to the American Library Association

Hedgehug: A Sharp Lesson in Love, by Ben Sutton and Dan Pinto (violence)

Japanese American Internment Camps, edited by Bryan J. Grapes (political viewpoint)

Letting Go, by Maya Banks (sexual explicitness)

Malala: My Story of Standing Up for Girls' Rights, by Malala Yousafzai with Patricia McCormick (violence)

The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James, by Ashley Herring Blake (LGBTQIA+ content)

Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction, by John Austin (violence) -- there are two books with this title that have different subtitles; its not clear which title was challenged.

On Becoming Baby Wise: Giving Your Infant the Gift of Nighttime Sleep, by Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam (inaccuracy)

Ready For It, by Chusita Fashion Fever (sex education)

Sex is a Funny Word: A Book about Bodies, Feelings, and You, by Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth (gender roles, LGBTQIA+ content, sex education)

The True Adventures of Esther the Wonder Pig, by Steve Jenkins, Derek Walter, and Caprice Crane (anti-family)

This post originally appeared in our Saturday Bookmarks newsletter.
Jefferson County Drainage District 6 likely will have its second new board member within the past seven months - replacing a more than seven-year board veteran.

The Commissioners Court will vote Tuesday on accepting board member Miriam Johnsons resignation. They also are expected to vote on County Judge Jeff Branicks appointment of local rice farmer and rancher Chuck Kiker to fill the vacant seat.

Johnsons resignation, submitted this week, comes a few weeks after a contentious board meeting where a slim majority approved the Districts 2020-2021 budget. That document included raises for 11 members of management and an additional 3% cost of living adjustment for all employees.

Chuck Oakley, chief financial officer for the drainage district, noted that the 3% actually broke down to a 1.5% cost of living adjustment and a 1.5% merit increase.

Johnson couldnt be reached for comment on Friday. But during the meeting earlier this month, board member Tony Malley III called on Johnson to abstain from the vote because her daughter was one of the employees set to receive a substantial pay increase.

Related: Local attorney tapped for drainage district board

Im sorry to disappoint you Tony, but I will be voting on this because Im not voting on a single raise, Im voting on an entire budget, she replied during the meeting.

Branick was out of the office Friday after the agenda for Tuesdays meeting was posted and couldnt be reached for comment.

But Kiker said in an interview that he thinks he was recommended for appointment in part because he has some political experience from work in various national cattle organizations as well as the number of years hes lived and worked as a farmer and rancher in western Jefferson County.

Many residents in the area have been calling on elected officials to appoint someone with experience on the land to fill the seat.

Ive been here in every flood. When you farm rice, you watch the weather every night, he said. You know where the low spots are, the high spots. You know where the structures are that flood and those that dont. I hope I can bring something good to the board.

Kiker said he realizes theres little that can be done to prevent all flooding during major rains like that the region saw during Tropical Storm Harvey three years ago and Tropical Depression Imelda last year.

And he acknowledged that he has much to learn about state- and federally mandated processes that might keep the district from pursuing solutions that may seem obvious to residents.

Related: New drainage GM pledges more transparency

His appointment comes as some county commissioners are expressing concern about the way the majority of the board members will allow taxpayer dollars to be spent this year.

When I found out what happened with DD6s budget and the raises, I was offended, said Commissioner Michael Shane Sinegal, whose area is not served by DD6.

But he noted that raises will mean some DD6 employees are making a higher annual salary than the commissioners or the county judge.

During the meeting, District Manager Joe Majdalani defended the raises, saying that he eliminated large bonuses employees had been getting and dissolved two unnecessary positions.

He said those actions led to a net savings.

Majdalani added that some employees do the job of two or three different people and should be paid accordingly.

I didnt run for commissioner for the salary. I feel guilty sometimes because county employees cant get a raise unless we get a raise. But the responsibilities are not half as tough on (some DD6 employees) as they are on us, Sinegal said.

We have some serious responsibilities. We set the tax rate. We give abatements. You think about the county judge - the emergency management responsibilities and disaster declarations where your freedom could be on the line for those decisions.

Top hits: Get Beaumont Enterprise stories sent directly to your inbox

During the DD6 board meeting, Malley noted the districts Chief Engineer now will be making $207,000 annually. Sinegal said the commissioners make $107,000 a year.

Additionally, he and other commissioners added, the high salaries paid by DD6 already make it hard for the county and other governmental subdivisions to hire well-qualified personnel to work for the county.

Commissioner Everette Bo Alfred, who appointed Malley earlier this year, noted that the county is undertaking a salary study to compare county salaries to those at both county drainage districts, in private industry and other similar positions.

When the commissioners decided to pursue the study - long before the recent DD6 raises - they discussed the need for such a study in part because of higher salaries already being paid by the drainage districts.

Malley and district board member Bernie Daleo, who both voted against the budget, said the desire to hold back on offering the raises wasnt a negative critique of the work being done by either employees or Majdalani.

Both said their questions largely were based around the timing.

Related: Drainage projects inch forward as hurricane season nears

Were in the middle of a global pandemic, Daleo said. Unemployment just got down to 8% in Texas, and were doing a lot of raises and a cost of living adjustment that the county didnt even do.

Regardless, residents will see a slight decrease in the drainage districts tax rate. Its expected to take money out of its rainy day fund, although that could change based on which grants come in and what projects ultimately move forward.

kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/KaitlinBain
A Union County police officer was injured during a charity motorcycle ride to raise money for children with cancer, a county spokesman said.

The officer, a sergeant with the county police departments motorcycle division, was escorting the 50-mile charity ride for Jasons Friends Foundation in Clark when he collided with a participant, spokesman Sebastian DElia said.

Both the officer and the participant were taken to a nearby hospital with non-life threatening injuries, DElia said. The cause of the crash was not immediately known.

The Jasons Friends Foundation is a Clark-based charity that helps off-set the costs associated with pediatric cancer treatment.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Katie Kausch may be reached at kkausch@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
Situation improves in Rajasthan's Dungarpur; Protesters clear Udaipur-Ahmedabad highway

India

oi-Deepika S

Jaipur, Sep 27: The situation improved in Rajasthan's Dungarpur district on Sunday after the Udaipur-Ahmedabad highway, which was blocked by candidates of a recruitment exam for three days, was cleared after a meeting between a delegation of the protesters and public representatives and officials.

Tribal Area Development Minister Arjun Singh Bamniya was also part of the meeting.

The protesters were demanding that 1,167 vacant general quota seats be filled from the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category. "The situation by and large remained peaceful today.

The highway in Dungarpur is clear for traffic movement now," Inspector General of Police (Udaipur range) Binita Thakur said.

However, incidents of stone-pelting took place in Rishabhdev and Jhadol area of adjoining Udaipur district, Thakur said. "Police forces are trying to control the situation there also," she said.

On Saturday, a man was shot dead during the protest and two others were injured, while a group of protestors torched a pickup van. The police control room said that stones and other obstacles on the highway in Dungarpur are being removed so that traffic movement can be resumed.

Several torched vehicles, stones and boulders are there on a 20-km stretch of the highway. "Traffic will resume on the highway by tomorrow. After the meeting, which was held in a positive manner today, we conducted a march on the highway to review the situation. Now the things are under control in Dungarpur," former Udaipur MP Raghuveer Meena said.

Violence erupted in the region on Thursday when the candidates of teachers' recruitment examination-2018 blocked the highway, pelted stones at police, damaged several properties and torched vehicles demanding filling of 1,167 vacant posts of general quota with ST candidates.

On Sunday, a meeting was held in Kherwara Panchayat which was attended by public representatives, including sitting and former MPs and MLAs of various parties, senior police and district administration officials, community leaders and members of the delegation of the agitators.

"We have appealed to the protesters to stop the violence and restore peace. There was general consensus on this in the meeting. All public representatives of the area were present in the meeting," Minister Bamaniya told reporters.

The state government had sent DG (crime) M L Lather, Additional DG of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Dinesh M N and Jaipur police commissioner Anand Srivastava to Dungarpur on Saturday night after the situation worsened.

Dinesh MN and other officers also conducted march on the highway on Sunday after the meeting to restore peace. "The situation here is now peaceful. No violence occurred today, he told reporters.

In Jaipur, DGP Bhupendra Singh reviewed the situation and took feedback from senior officials. Two companies of Rapid Action Force were deployed in the area today. Three senior police officers were sent to Dungarpur Saturday night and the situation at present is peaceful, he said.

Chief minister Ashok Gehlot too reviewed the situation and held discussions with the officials.

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Story first published: Sunday, September 27, 2020, 22:39 [IST]
Farmers squatted on the Amritsar-Delhi railway track here on Sunday, continuing their 'rail-roko' agitation against the contentious farm bills passed by the Parliament last week.

People from nearby villages brought cooked food and other items for the demonstrators. 'Langar' (community kitchen) has also been organised at the site by local gurdwaras.

Women wearing saffron dupattas also joined the protest, raised slogans against the Centre and said they would not allow the implementation of the three legislations.

Farmers, under the banner of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, have been staging a sit-in on the rail track in Punjab since last Wednesday.

Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher demanded that all the sitting 13 MPs from Punjab should tender their resignation with immediate effect in support of the farmers' demands. He asserted that BJP leaders would not be allowed to enter villages.

The committee had announced to extend their agitation till September 29. Trains services remained suspended in the state because of the protest.

Farmers have expressed apprehension that the Centre's farm reforms would pave a way for the dismantling of the minimum support price system, leaving them at the "mercy" of big companies.

Parliament had passed the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020; the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill; and the Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill. These are yet to get the assent of the 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.)
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Rule flouters or companies who force workers to come in face 10,000 fines

Anyone contacted by Test and Trace must quarantine for ten days from Monday

Police will carry out spot checks and act on tip-offs to enforce strict new Covid-19 self-isolation rules from today.

People ordered to quarantine after they or a contact test positive for the virus face a knock on the door from officers to check they are not leaving their home.

It comes amid a growing revolt by Tory MPs over the way Boris Johnson's Government is infringing liberties with restrictions to tackle the pandemic.

Signalling a tough crackdown, Home Secretary Priti Patel warned last night that ministers 'will not allow those who break the rules to reverse the hard-won progress made by the law-abiding majority'.

From today, people across England are required by law to quarantine for ten days if they test positive for Covid-19 or are contacted by NHS Test and Trace.

Those who do not self-isolate  or employers who force staff to turn up to work  will be hit with fines of up to 10,000.

The police will be used to 'check compliance' with the rules and will investigate claims by informers that a person who should be in quarantine is flouting the requirement. In other developments:

Ministers faced mounting pressure to review their 'shambolic' 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants after it caused huge crowds across city centres;

A Mail poll found that a third of patients have avoided or delayed making a GP appointment in the past six months;

Three more areas of South Wales were added to the local lockdown list yesterday, meaning two-thirds of the Welsh population are covered by restrictions;

Labour called for a delay to the new university term in England after 1,700 students locked down in Manchester were unable to find out if they have Covid-19;

Universities faced mounting pressure to refund tuition fees as thousands of students faced lockdowns, online-only courses, and the prospect of spending Christmas in their halls;

More than 10 million Britons have downloaded the virus tracing app;

Ministers promised they would provide four months' worth of personal protective equipment to frontline health and care staff over the winter.

People ordered to quarantine after they or a contact test positive for the virus could face a knock on the door from officers to check they are not leaving their home. Pictured: Drinkers out in Nottingham around closing time

Signalling a tough crackdown, Home Secretary Priti Patel warned last night that ministers 'will not allow those who break the rules to reverse the hard-won progress made by the law-abiding majority'. Pictured: Police attempt to disperse crowds gathered in London

The Prime Minister could suffer a hugely damaging defeat within days over his use of emergency legislation to push Covid-19 restrictions through the Commons without proper debate.

Conservative backbenchers are increasingly angry about the imposition of the 'rule of six' without debate in Parliament  and believe they have a good chance of winning a vote on Wednesday.

The Government said yesterday there had been a further 5,693 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus. While an increase on last Sunday's total, this is nowhere near the doubling that chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance suggested last week was on the way.

Last night ministers unveiled the steps they will take to ensure people comply with self-isolation rules. The Government said it would 'use police resources to check compliance' in areas of the country with the highest rates of disease, and on people in high-risk groups.

The Prime Minister could suffer a hugely damaging defeat within days over his use of emergency legislation to push Covid-19 restrictions through the Commons without proper debate

Officers will 'investigate and prosecute high-profile and egregious cases of non-compliance', and 'act on instances where third parties have identified others who have tested positive, but are not self-isolating'.

The rules state that if someone receives a positive test result, they are required by law to self-isolate for ten days after they first displayed symptoms, or ten days after the date of the test if they did not have symptoms.

Other members of their household must self-isolate for 14 days after the onset of symptoms, or after the date of the positive test.

Pubs and restaurants have started displaying QR codes to support the app, but punters have complained after they were denied entry for not installing it

If someone is instructed to self-isolate because they have had close contact with someone outside their household who has tested positive, they are legally required to self-isolate for the period instructed by NHS Test and Trace.

Users of the NHS contact tracing app are not covered by the new rules. They are anonymous and the Government cannot force them to self-isolate.

People on lower incomes who cannot work from home and have lost income as a result will be eligible for a new 500 'test and trace support payment'.

The legal obligation to self-isolate has exemptions, including for those who need to escape from illness or harm during their isolation.

1,400 cases at food factories Virus infections linked to the nation's food processing plants could be many times higher than admitted by industry bosses, it has been claimed. Official records suggest there have been 47 infections and no deaths among the workforce. However an investigation by Pirc, which advises shareholders on ethical investment, claims the number of infections is likely to be much higher and includes some deaths. It found that there have been at least 1,461 individual cases and six fatalities, with the true figures likely to be even higher. The investigation found a loophole in the regulatory system potentially allows companies to determine whether employees became infected while at work or elsewhere in the community. The findings were based on one-to-one interviews with workers, trade union surveys and media reports about food processing companies. Advertisement

Tories are urged to call time on 'shambolic' 10pm pub curfew as swarms of young people are seen dancing in the streets after kicking-out time

ByGlen Keogh For The Daily Mail

As city centres were swamped with revellers over the weekend, the Government came under mounting pressure to review its 'shambolic' 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants last night.

Astonishing footage emerged of swarms of young people singing and dancing in the streets after kicking-out time.

Photographs captured across the country showed drinkers leaving pubs and bars at 10pm  and simply heading to off-licences or supermarkets to purchase more alcohol.

The weekend was the first with the new rule in effect.

MPs, business leaders and publicans condemned the measure as a 'big mistake' and 'another random and arbitrary move'.

Photographs captured across the country showed drinkers leaving pubs and bars at 10pm  and simply heading to off-licences or supermarkets to purchase more alcohol. Pictured: Police speak to a group of young people on Harbourside, Bristol

Officers have been attempting to disperse large crowds of people in London's West End after pubs were forced to move kicking-out time forward to 10pm

Leading hospitality figures also hit out at the lack of consultation before the curfew came into force.

Speaking to the Mail, Simon Emeny, chief executive of Fuller's, which operates 420 pubs, said: 'You can see from the photographs the problem with dispersing customers at exactly the same time. This creates the wrong signal that the customer is better off socialising at home in people's houses.

'I think it was clearly a big mistake and the Government has to be sensible and review their decision.'

Tim Martin, founder of JD Wetherspoon, added: 'The main problem with the 10pm curfew is that it's another random and arbitrary move by the Government which lacks logic or scientific credibility.'

Sacha Lord, night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, said: 'It's very clear across the UK that this ill-thought-out 10pm curfew has pushed everyone out of venues with socially distanced measures into the streets, into off-licences, supermarkets, overcrowded public transport and house parties. Every operator predicted this. Shambolic.'

Neath Port Talbot, Torfaen and the Vale of Glamorgan will be put under coronavirus lockdown from tomorrow

Senior Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood added that the curfew 'makes no sense'.

The criticism came as Professor Graham Medley, a member of the Sage group advising the Prime Minister on the virus, yesterday revealed scientists had 'never discussed' the curfew.

Professor John Edmunds, another member of the committee, added that the 10pm shut-off was 'fairly trivial' and 'will have a very small impact on the epidemic'.

Culture secretary Oliver Dowden yesterday insisted that there was 'definitely science' behind the measure as he was grilled by the BBC's Andrew Marr, who suggested the measure was actually making matters worse.

Critics of the curfew said many would simply retire to one household or wander around city centres in groups in breach of Covid-19 guidelines

Mr Dowden said: 'We are reducing the closing times in order to stop people staying later and drinking. The point about all of this is that everyone has their part to play.'

But critics of the curfew said many would simply retire to one household or wander around city centres in groups in breach of Covid-19 guidelines.

Shadow justice secretary David Lammy said he was 'not clear' where the science behind the move had come from, adding that it led to people 'bubbling out of pubs... hanging around towns and they're potentially spreading the virus'.

A Government spokesman yesterday said all measures were kept under 'constant review', adding: 'These measures strike a balance between saving lives by protecting our NHS and the most vulnerable and minimising the wider impact on the economy and schools.

'The latest data suggests a considerable rise in the infection rate from within the hospitality sector in recent weeks.'

Backlash over 'pathetic' Covid tracing app as pubs and restaurants turn away customers who don't have it  despite faulty system blocking tens of thousands of users from logging their test results

ByMax Aitchison For The Mail On Sunday

Pubs and restaurants are turning away customers who don't have the Government's 'pathetic' tracing app,' - despite glaring errors that stopped thousands from logging their test results.

The beleaguered app's latest fiasco came last night when it blocked up to 70,000 users from logging their test results.

The app relies on Bluetooth to determine if someone has been within two metres of an infectious person for 15 minutes, but other Bluetooth devices can interfere with the signal, generating a 'false positive'.

To compound the problems, it has also transpired that the app doesn't work on millions of older smartphones.

It also requires a code to register a completed test but it is only given if the test returns as positive.

Those with a negative test are only able to register their result if they booked directly through the app.

Despite the issues, Matt Hancock hailed the app as a success as he revealed more than 10 million people downloaded it since its launch on Thursday.

It comes as a further 5,693 people tested positive for coronavirus in the UK today - marking a 46 per cent rise on last Sunday's total, with 17 deaths.

Matt Hancock's new coronavirus tracing app was hit by another fiasco last night after it blocked tens of thousands of users from logging their test results

Pubs and restaurants have started displaying QR codes to support the app, but punters have complained after they were denied entry for not installing it

The Health Secretary said on social media it was an 'absolutely fantastic' response so far, and urged more people to download it.

Despite problems, pubs and restaurants are starting to bar customers from entering, unless they've downloaded the beleaguered app, with QR codes on display for punters to use.

Government advice tells businesses they 'must' display the 'official NHS QR poster' and apply for a code to be connected to the app.

One punter wrote on Twitter today: 'Last night I was denied a meal because I didn't have a Gvt phone app!!!!

'You may think I'm being over dramatic but you must now get the point. What else are we soon going to be denied access to unless we have a government phone app. Please, please, please people wake up.'

Development of an earlier version of the app - which cost nearly 11million - stopped in June.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said that six million people had downloaded the app the first day it launched, and this had since risen to 10 million by midday on Sunday.

More than 1.5 million venue check-ins were recorded on Saturday while more than 460,000 businesses have downloaded and printed QR code posters that can be scanned by the app to check-in to premises, it added.

Mr Hancock said: 'The enthusiastic response of over 10m people downloading the app in just three days has been absolutely fantastic.

'This is a strong start but we want even more people and businesses getting behind the app because the more of us who download it the more effective it will be.

'If you haven't downloaded it yet I recommend you join the growing numbers who have, to protect yourself and your loved ones.'

One user, Chloe James, wrote: 'I'm in a pub and apparently they've been told they can't serve anyone unless they have the track and trace app.'

Brits have encountered problems using the tracing app, while others who refuse to install it say they have been denied entry into pubs and restaurants

Hospitality expert Ollie Vaulkhard wrote today: 'Perhaps you could also trust hospitality to work alongside the app, rather than the current disaster? No app details being taken by people on the street at 10:30pm.'

Last night, Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth said of the latest glitch: 'This beggars belief.'

Other Labour politicians have lent their voice to the criticism.

David Lammy told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show this morning: 'By Christmas we would have had the coronavirus for nine months, that we couldn't get a test, track and trace system in place by then has got to be described as pathetic.'

Speaking on Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday Shadow Culture Secretary Jo Stevens added: 'The whole point of these local lockdowns, they're happening because our test and trace system is not effective... the Government needs to get a grip on test and trace and isolate.'

Users, including NHS workers, have pointed out major flaws in the app that apparently drains battery and takes up space

The government's advice to pubs and restaurants reads: 'By maintaining records of staff, customers and visitors, and displaying an official NHS QR poster, you will help NHS Test and Trace to identify and notify people who may have been exposed to the virus.

'You must register for an official NHS QR code and display the official NHS QR poster.

'The NHS COVID-19 app has a feature that allows users to quickly and easily 'check in' to your venue by scanning the code.

'The information stays on the user's phone. In England, you do not have to ask people who choose to 'check in' using the official NHS QR code to provide their contact details.

'If there is an outbreak associated with a venue, a message will be sent to the relevant app users with the necessary public health advice.

'This will help to avoid the reintroduction of lockdown measures and support the country to return to, and maintain, a more normal way of life.

'In addition to maintaining and sharing records where requested and displaying an official NHS QR poster, you must also continue to follow other government guidance to minimise the transmission of COVID-19. This includes maintaining a safe working environment and following social distancing guidelines.'

The app has come under fire after it emerged that only 'Pillar 2' tests  those carried out by commercial testing centres  provide the relevant codes to allow users to enter their results.

Although people tested under 'Pillar 1'  the NHS and Public Health England  will still be contacted by NHS Test and Trace if they test positive, they could not log the result on the app and alert everyone they have been in close contact with.

After a flood of complaints yesterday, the Department of Health and Social Care said it was 'urgently' trying to fix the problem. Hours later it promised that 'everyone who receives a positive test result can log their result on the app' by requesting a code from NHS Test and Trace.

The latest official Government figures show that a total of 409,975 people have been tested in England since the app was rolled out on Thursday morning, including 128,960 Pillar 1 and 281,015 Pillar 2 tests.

The blunder means that the results of 31 per cent of the tests carried out on Thursday and Friday have not been logged.

The app relies on Bluetooth to determine if someone has been within two metres of an infectious person for 15 minutes, but other Bluetooth devices can interfere with the signal, generating a 'false positive'

Although the exact numbers are unclear, it potentially means that hundreds of positive cases uncovered since the app's official launch have not yet been registered.

The shocking oversight came to light only after a Twitter user asked how he could log his test result if he did not have a code.

In response, the official Twitter page for the NHS Covid-19 app said: 'If your test took place in a Public Health England lab or NHS hospital, or as part of national surveillance testing conducted by the Office for National Statistics, test results cannot currently be linked with the app whether they're positive or negative.'

The reply was met with outrage online, with many users questioning why it was called an 'NHS app' when it did not recognise tests carried out by the NHS.

Last night, Mr Ashworth said: 'This just beggars belief. How can this app be effective if someone is unable to link up their tests carried out by the NHS or tests carried out for surveillance? We all have an interest in this app working which is why we've promoted its uptake.

'This weekend Ministers have thrown cash at promoting this app across local and national newspapers. They need to outline how they will quickly fix this flaw.'

Technology expert Benedict Evans told The Sunday Times: 'A contact tracing app is based on people with a positive test entering that into the app. But the English app that just launched is incompatible with tests done by the NHS.

He added: 'We're six months into this and the UK still doesn't have a unified test result system.'

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: 'We are urgently working to enable positive tests for people who aren't already given a code to be added to the Covid-19 app.

'NHS Test and Trace will continue to contact people by text, email or phone if your test is positive advising you to self-isolate and for those who don't have a code, the contact tracers will shortly be able to provide codes to insert in the app.

'If you book your test via the app, the results will be automatically recorded and the isolation countdown will be updated.'

The Welsh Government revealed it is an England-only issue. In a tweet yesterday after the Department of Health and Social Care statement, it said: 'This issue doesn't apply to Wales. We took the decision to link our all-Wales laboratory testing systems with the NHS Covid-19 app.'

Last week's launch came after a fourth-month delay beset by technological problems.

A trial on the Isle of Wight had to be abandoned after the initial model failed to detect iPhones.
The death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Sept. 18, 2020, ignited a political battle over her replacement.

President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell pressed for confirming a successor before Election Day. Democrats say the next president should decide, citing McConnells position in 2016, when he denied a hearing to President Barack Obamas high court nominee.

Late Friday, the day Ginsburg lay in state at the U.S. Capitol and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, the name of Trumps choice leaked out. She is federal judge Amy Coney Barrett, sources told multiple news outlets.

Bill Bramhall of the New York Daily News subtly pays tribute to Ginsburg by affixing her trademark lace collar to a frieze of Lady Justice atop the Supreme Courts stately entrance. (The real sculpture on the buildings West Pediment depicts Liberty Enthroned, with a retinue of protectors.)

McConnell, not Ginsburg, is the subject of many of the cartoons. He is depicted as a turtle on roller skates, moving with uncharacteristic speed to confirm a new justice; as a vandal who sawed off the pendulum that Ginsburg said would swing back if it went too far right or left; and using a leaf blower to sweep Ginsburgs tributes off the marble steps of the Supreme Court. Scott Stantis of the Chicago Tribune draws a sly reference to Casablanca.

Editorial cartoonists also took note of a grim milestone: 200,000 Americans dead of the coronavirus.

Other topics in the news include a grand jurys judgments in the police shooting of Breonna Taylor in her Louisville, Kentucky, home; Trumps statements casting doubt on the peaceful transfer of power should he lose the presidential election, and on the integrity of the vote; and the death of Chicago Bears legend Gale Sayers.

Cartoons were drawn by Bill Bramhall, Dan Wasserman, Dana Summers, Drew Sheneman, Scott Stantis, Walt Handelsman, Phil Hands, Joel Pett and Joey Weatherford of Tribune Content Agency; and A.F. Branco, Mike Luckovich and Michael Ramirez of Creators Syndicate.

View more editorial cartoon galleries.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 20:02:46|Editor: huaxia

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YEREVAN, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Armenia Sunday declared martial law and general mobilization in response to the escalation of clashes along the contact line of the Nagorno-Karabakh region with Azerbaijan.

"At the decision of the government, martial law and general mobilization is being declared in the Republic of Armenia. I call on the personnel attached to the troops to present themselves to their district commissariats," Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on his social media platform on Sunday.

He said the decision will be effective after official publication.

The Armenian Parliament will convene an emergency session on Sunday to discuss the situation, according to local media Armenpress.

The Armenian Defense Ministry said on Sunday that it has shot down two Azerbaijani helicopters and three drones.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry said it is currently launching a counter-offensive in the region.

Azerbaijan's state news agency Azertac reported that Armenia's 12 air-defense missile systems were destroyed while one military helicopter of Azerbaijan was shot down during the clashes. No deaths were reported among the crew.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have been at loggerheads over the mountainous region of Nagorno-Karabakh since 1988. Peace talks have been held since 1994 when a ceasefire was reached, but there have been occasional minor clashes along the borders. Enditem
A new proxy conflict between world powers is developing in the Middle East today as Azerbaijan launches a military offensive against Armenian separatists in heavy fighting that has left at least 16 dead and 100 wounded.

Former Soviet Republic Azerbaijan is an ally of Turkey, which is increasingly flexing its military muscles in the region, and President Recep Erdogan has recently stationed F-16 fighter jets and other military hardware in the country.

Armenia is a historical enemy of Istanbul and has grown increasingly close to the West after achieving independence from the USSR in 1991.

Azerbaijan has launched an armoured offensive with Soviet-era tanks into the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh border region which its on the border with Armenia and has been attempting to break away from Baku.

Azerbaijan's president said his military had suffered losses in the fighting over the disputed separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenia also claimed that two Azerbaijani helicopters were shot down and three Azerbaijani tanks were hit by artillery, but Azerbaijan's defence ministry has rejected that claim.

The Nagorno-Karabakh leader Arayik Harutyunyan said on Sunday that the breakaway region has lost some positions to Azerbaijan's army amid renewed clashes.

He also said there were dead and wounded both among civilians and military personnel.

An image grab taken from a video made available on the official web site of the Armenian Defence Ministry on September 27, allegedly shows destroying of Azeri military vehicles during clashes between Armenian separatists and Azerbaijan in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh

Azerbaijan's president said his military had suffered losses in the fighting over the disputed separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh

Armenia also claimed that two Azerbaijani helicopters were shot down and three Azerbaijani tanks were hit by artillery, but Azerbaijan's defence ministry has rejected that claim

Heavy fighting broke out in the morning in the region that lies within Azerbaijan but has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since 1994 at the end of a separatist war.

It was not immediately clear what sparked the fighting, the heaviest since clashes in July killed 16 people from both sides.

Nagorno-Karabakh authorities reported that shelling hit the region's capital of Stepanakert and the towns of Martakert and Martuni.

Armenian Defence Ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan also said Azerbaijani shelling hit within Armenian territory near the town of Vardenis.

An Azerbaijani service member drives an armoured carrier and greets people, who gather on the roadside in Baku on Sunday

People line up along the roadside to greet Azerbaijani service members, who drive a truck in Baku

A still image from a video released by the Armenian Defence Ministry shows what is said to be Azerbaijani armoured vehicles, one of which is destroyed by Armenian armed forces

Artur Sarkisian, deputy head of the Nagorno-Karabakh army, said that 16 people were killed and more than 100 wounded. It was not immediately clear if the figure included both soldiers and civilians.

Earlier, the Armenian human rights ombudsman said a woman and child had been killed in the shelling.

Another Armenian Defence Ministry spokeswoman, Shushan Stepanyan, said 'the Armenian side' shot down two helicopters and hit three tanks.

Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev ordered martial law be imposed in some regions of the country and called for a curfew in major cities.

In a televised address to the nation, Mr Aliyev said that 'there are losses among the Azerbaijani forces and the civilian population as a result of the Armenian bombardment' but did not give further details.

A frame grab from handout video provided by the Armenian Ministry of Defence allegedly shows Azerbaijani tanks at the frontline of the self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, between Armenia and Azerbaijan, above and below

Artur Sarkisian, deputy head of the Nagorno-Karabakh army, said that 16 people were killed and more than 100 wounded

Earlier, the Armenian human rights ombudsman said a woman and child had been killed in the shelling

He also claimed that 'many units of the enemy's military equipment have been destroyed'.

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov 'is conducting intensive contacts in order to induce the parties to cease fire and start negotiations to stabilise the situation,' Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

Albanian prime minister Edi Rama, chairman of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), called on both sides to stop fighting.

The long-running and unsuccessful negotiations for resolving the territory's status have been conducted under the auspices of the OSCE.

Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinian said on Sunday that the country could re-examine whether to recognise Nagorno-Karabakh as independent. Such a move would likely obstruct further negotiations.

A still image from a video released by the Armenian Defence Ministry shows what is said to be Azerbaijani armoured vehicles, one of which is destroyed by Armenian armed forces in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, in this still image from footage released September 27

In this handout photo taken from a footage released by Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry on Sunday, Azerbaijan's forces destroy Armenian anti-aircraft system at the contact line of the self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh

Fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan broke out Sunday around the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the Armenian Defense Ministry said two Azerbaijani helicopters were shot down

The news was harshly received in Turkey, a close ally of Azerbaijan.

Turkey's ruling party spokesman Omer Celik tweeted: 'We vehemently condemn Armenia's attack on Azerbaijan. Armenia has once again committed a provocation, ignoring law.'

He promised that Turkey would stand by Azerbaijan and said: 'Armenia is playing with fire and endangering regional peace.'

Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin also condemned Armenia.

'Armenia has violated the ceasefire by attacking civilian settlements  the international community must immediately say stop to this dangerous provocation,' he tweeted.

Nagorno-Karabakh is a mostly mountainous region of some 1,700 square miles and lies 30 miles from the Armenian border.

Local soldiers backed by Armenia also occupy some Azerbaijani territory outside the region.

Speaking at the the Vatican on Sunday, Pope Francis said that he was praying for peace between the two countries, urging them to them to 'accomplish concrete deeds of goodwill and fraternity' to reach a peaceful solution through dialogue.
Former Union minister Jaswant Singh passed away on Sunday (September 27) morning. He was 82.

"Jaswant Singh was admitted on 25 June and was being treated for Sepsis with Multiorgan Dysfunction Syndrome. He had a cardiac arrest this morning. His COVID status is negative," said Army Hospital (R&R), Delhi.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed shock over Jaswant Singh's death and said that the former BJP leader served the nation in several capacities including the charge of Defence Minister.

"Deeply pained by the passing away of veteran BJP leader & former Minister, Shri Jaswant Singh ji. He served the nation in several capacities including the charge of Raksha Mantri. He distinguished himself as an effective Minister and Parliamentarian," tweeted Singh.

Deeply pained by the passing away of veteran BJP leader & former Minister, Shri Jaswant Singh ji. He served the nation in several capacities including the charge of Raksha Mantri. He distinguished himself as an effective Minister and Parliamentarian.  Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 27, 2020

The Union minister said that nation will always remember Jaswant Singh for his intellectual capabilities and the role he has played for the welfare of the country. "Jaswant Singh ji would be remembered for his intellectual capabilities and stellar record in service to the nation. He also played a key role in strengthening the BJP in Rajasthan. Condolences to his family and supporters in this sad hour. Om Shanti," noted Singh.

Shri Jaswant Singh ji would be remembered for his intellectual capabilities and stellar record in service to the nation. He also played a key role in strengthening the BJP in Rajasthan. Condolences to his family and supporters in this sad hour. Om Shanti.  Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 27, 2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed grief over Jaswant Singh's death and said, "Jaswant Singh Ji served our nation diligently, first as a soldier and later during his long association with politics. During Atal Jis Government, he handled crucial portfolios and left a strong mark in the worlds of finance, defence and external affairs. Saddened by his demise."

Jaswant Singh Ji served our nation diligently, first as a soldier and later during his long association with politics. During Atal Jis Government, he handled crucial portfolios and left a strong mark in the worlds of finance, defence and external affairs. Saddened by his demise.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 27, 2020

Born on January 3, 1938, Jaswant Singh was a retired officer of the Indian Army. He was one of the founding members of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

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Jaswant Singh also served as the Union finance minister for the last two years in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government (from 2002 to 2004). During his tenure as the finance minister, Singh introduced the state Value Added Tax (VAT).

Jaswant Singh was also one of India's longest serving parliamentarians, having been a member of one or the other house almost continuously between 1980 and 2014.
Controversial Singapore firm bags coal deal By Bandula Sirimanna View(s): View(s):

Sri Lanka is now being embroiled in another coal procurement deal with Swiss Singapore Overseas Enterprises Pte Ltd (SSOE) recently, once again sparking allegations against the company of irregularities in importing coal since 2009.

The Power and Energy Ministry is not following a formal and practical annual procurement process to avoid malpractices in coal purchases for the Lakvijaya Power Plant in Norochcholai since 2009, a Special Audit Report of the Auditor General (AG) revealed.

The audit query found estimated losses amounting to more than Rs. 4,145.43 million due to irregularities in coal purchases between 2009 and 2016.

The report disclosed that there was lack of transparency in the manner in which tenders were awarded; there was no proper documentation of the process.

The authorities concerned should ensure that the pre-bid meetings are held with better effectiveness and through that minimise problems that may arise in the future, the report said.

Ignoring the findings of this audit query, the US$16 million contract was granted to this company to provide 300,000 tonnes of coal for the Lakvijaya coal power plant in Norochcholai in Puttalam at $60.71 a tonne.

The government Information Department office said the Cabinet of ministers recently approved the deal to award Swiss Singapore Overseas Enterprises the contract to supply half of the power plants 2.25 million metric tonne coal requirement.

The same company has won the contract previously to supply 50 per cent of the power plants 2.25 million metric ton coal requirement to the 900MW power plant in Norochcholai from November 2019 to April 2021 at $60.71 a tonne.

It is mind-boggling as to how the new government has given a green light to supply coal to the same company which was embroiled in an irregular deal that incurred a loss of approximately Rs.1.2 billion to the country in 2016, industry observers said.

In July 2016, a petition was lodged with the Supreme Court regarding the previous transaction pertaining to the awarding of tenders to Swiss Singapore Overseas Enterprises Pte Ltd for the purchase of coal that incurred a loss of approximately Rs.1.2 billion to the country.

Though the application was dismissed citing technical reasons, the Supreme Court said that the transaction shocked the conscience of the Court.

The AG recommended that officers responsible for the estimated loss, additional cost, loss of income amounting to more than Rs. 4,000 million should be identified and that the procurement process should be made formal to prevent the recurrence of such losses in the future.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

By Elchin Mehdiyev  Trend:

It is impossible to understand Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyans statement made at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly on the inadmissibility of the use of force and coercion in the international arena and that Armenia is allegedly a supporter of peace in the UN, Member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Head of the Turkey-Azerbaijan inter-parliamentary friendship group Shamil Ayrim told Trend.

"I do not think that Pashiyanians statement is sincere," Ayrim added.

"Firstly, Pashinyan should be brought to his senses," member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly added. "Is it not Armenia that has been holding Azerbaijani lands under occupation for 30 years?! That is, Pashinyan is trying to behave as if Armenia is not an occupying country. Looking at Pashinyan's behavior and actions after he was appointed prime minister, it is clear that he is pursuing a policy that is far from peace and stability in the region."

"When the whole world was fighting against the coronavirus, Armenia held the so-called "presidential election" in occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region, which the world community, including the OSCE Minsk Group and the EU, did not recognize," Ayrim said.

"Moreover, Armenia held the so-called "inauguration" in Shusha city," member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly said. "And after that, how can one believe in Pashinyan's appeals for peace, which he voiced at the UN?! How can one explain the killing of Azerbaijani servicemen and civilians during the attempted attack by the Armenian armed forces in the direction of Azerbaijans Tovuz district in July this year?! And he dares to speak about the inadmissibility of the use of force and violence in the UN?!"

Ayrim stressed that of course, the Azerbaijani armed forces gave a worthy rebuff to these provocations.

"In all his speeches, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev states that the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be resolved in accordance with the well-known UN Security Councils resolutions," member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly said. "That is, first Armenia must withdraw its armed forces from the occupied Azerbaijani territories. Unfortunately, the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group, which is a mediator in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, was unsuccessful."

Ayrim stressed that Armenia is playing a dangerous game and it is illegally resettling the Armenians from Syria, Iraq and Lebanon to the occupied Azerbaijani territories to change the demographic situation in Nagorno-Karabakh region.

"According to the latest information, members of a terrorist organization and mercenaries, including members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), are being resettled to the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven adjacent districts and Armenia is preparing these murderers for war with Azerbaijan," member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly said.

"The abovementioned aspects testify to Pashinyan's insincerity, and it is obvious that he, together with his patrons, is preparing for a war with Azerbaijan."
Engaged in a conflict with China for almost five months, the Indian Army`s armoured regiments are ready to take on the Chinese Army at altitudes of over 14,500 feet in the area which is the world`s highest battlefield for tanks and infantry combat vehicles along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh.

Along with the enemy across the border, the Indian Army is also working on war footing to fight the extremely harsh winters by building new shelters and prefabricated structures for the soldiers.

A visit near the LAC in the Chumar-Demchok area in Eastern Ladakh shows that for countering the Chinese People`s Liberation Army`s deployment of armoured columns, the Indian Army is battle-ready to face the Chinese Army with its T-90 and T-72 tanks along with the BMP-2 Infantry Combat Vehicles which can operate at temperatures up to minus 40 degree Celsius.

The Eastern Ladakh area witnesses the harshest winters where temperatures normally dip to minus 35 degrees in the night during winters coupled with high-speed freezing winds.

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"The Fire and Fury Corps is the only formation of the Indian Army and also in the world to have actually deployed mechanised forces in such harsh terrain. The maintenance of the tanks, infantry combat vehicles and heavy guns is a challenge in this terrain. To ensure crew and equipment readiness, adequate arrangements are in place for both man and machine," Major General Arvind Kapoor told ANI near a tank exercising area.

The capability of Indian tank regiments, like the crossing of rivers and overcoming other obstacles, was on full display in the region where the Indus River flows all along the Eastern Ladakh sector.

"Mechanised infantry is the advanced part of the Indian Army. It has experience of working under any weather condition and any terrain. Due to features like high mobility ammunition and missile storage, it has the capability to fight for a longer duration. The gunner of mechanised infantry is a trained soldier who is capable of firing different kinds of armaments," said a tank soldier deployed at an altitude of 14,700 feet.

The Indian armoured regiments have the capability to reach the LAC within minutes if they are required there and did so recently, when the Chinese activated their tanks after the August 29-30 incidents when India occupied several heights near the southern bank of Pangong lake.

The entire territory spread from Eastern Ladakh to the Tibetan plateau occupied by the Chinese forces is suitable for the operations of tanks. Kapoor, who is the Chief of Staff of the Fire and Fury Corps which looks after the entire war preparedness along the LAC with China in Ladakh, said the Army is logistically prepared in terms of tackling the harsh weather, with special winter clothing and other facilities such as fuel, spares and assemblies in place.

"Adequate training with provision of special winter clothing will ensure troops` morale remains high and they are ready to function in short notice. Along with this, training and honing of crew skills and drills will remain constant through the winters. The Indian Army in Eastern Ladakh is logistically well prepared," he said.

The Army is also making habitation of the soldiers on a war footing by placing prefabricated container shelters and barrel shelters that use minimum cement and sand. In these shelters, there is proper insulation to protect soldiers from strong winds and winter, proper heating facilities along with basic needs like lavatory and kitchen.

As a part of recreation activities, Army companies are provided with a television along with set-top box connection.

Talking about the climatic challenges at an altitude of 15,000 feet, Maj Gen Kapoor said, "There is no doubt that winters in Ladakh are going to be harsh. We are absolutely in control as far as advanced winter stocking and forward winter stocking is concerned. High calorie and nutritious ration, fuel, oil and lubricants, special winter clothing, winter tentage, and heating appliances are all available in adequate numbers."

Indian Army Corps Of Engineers` working on the shelter erection explained that they have used the latest technology to provide soldiers with the habitat, laboratory, and heating arrangements at the earliest.

"This shelter is custom-made, is fast erectable and has containerised shelters which can be placed quickly. These shelters are prefabricated and hence, the use of cement and sand is minimum," a Junior Commissioned Officer of Corps of Engineers said.

Tensions at the India-China border increased after Chinese transgression in multiple areas in the Indian territory.The Indian Army in response to the aggression shown by the Chinese has deployed more than 50,000 troops along with heavy weaponry including artillery, and tank regiments to tackle the enemy forces.
L uis Suarez came off the bench to score twice and assist another in a lively debut for Atletico Madrid in LaLiga on Sunday.

The Uruguayan striker, who joined from Barcelona last week in a deal worth just 6 million in variables, started as a substitute in the Rojiblancos' league opener against Granada at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Suarez watched on from the stands as Atletico went 3-0 up through Diego Costa, Angel Correa and Joao Felix, but was given his chance with 20 minutes remaining.

After replacing Costa, Suarez set up fellow substitute Marcos Llorente for a fourth goal with his first touch just over a minute later.

The 33-year-old then thought he had won a penalty and was ready to take it himself, only for the referee to reverse the decision after a VAR check.

But after just 14 minutes on the pitch, he netted his first Atletico goal with a fine header at the back post and then scored another deep into added time after his initial effort had hit the post.

That made it 6-1 to Diego Simeone's side and brought up 200 goals since his arrival in Spain in 2014: 198 for Barcelona and two for Atletico.
HAMDEN  Jorge Cabrera, a Democratic candidate seeking to represent the 17th state Senate district, announced Saturday he was suspending canvassing after potentially contracting the coronavirus.

In a statement, Cabrera said he began showing symptoms of COVID-19, which included fatigue, fever, chills, and vomiting, on Friday night.

Within hours of showing symptoms, I was driven by my wife to Yale-New Haven Hospital emergency room, where I was seen by a doctor. At the time, doctors suspected COVID-19, but did not administer a test. I was sent home with a recommendation to get tested the following morning. I returned home late that night and quarantined at my house, said Cabrera in the statement. This afternoon I took a COVID-19 test and will get the results within the next 24-72 hours. While I wait for the results I will err on the side of caution and rest at home where I will quarantine for the next 14 days, per state and CDC guidelines.

Cabrera said staffers with his campaign had been told to get tested for the coronavirus, quarantine themselves, and work remotely for the time being. The campaign had been following appropriate safety measures, including wearing masks and working at least six feet apart, he said.

At the moment, all canvassing by my campaign has been suspended, and pending the results of the test we will work with public health officials to contact trace, said Cabrera. While Connecticut has led the way in protecting our residents from COVID-19, the virus is still very much a threat to our safety. Governor Lamont continues to lead by following the science and data and we must all adhere to the safety guidelines to protect our communities.

Cabrera is running against incumbent Republican George Logan to represent the 17th district, which includes Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Derby, Hamden, Naugatuck and Woodbridge.

The two candidates ran against each other in the 2018 election. Logan narrowly won, earning 77 more votes than Cabrera.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
New Delhi, Sep 27 : With demand for Indian animated content growing among global audiences, especially with children who are a significant consumer group for animations like cartoon shows, a home-grown animation brand Cosmos Maya, the creator of popular children's show 'Motu Patlu', shares that it is an exciting time to be in the animation business.

The animation studio and Arbaaz Khan Productions have recently come together to adapt the blockbuster franchise 'Dabangg' into an animated series. This news comes right in line with the tenth anniversary celebration of the film franchise that introduced the character of Chulbul 'Robin Hood' Pandey for the first time in 2010. The show will feature animated avatars of all of the franchise's characters. Targeted at kids and family audiences, Season 1 will be launching in summer 2021.

Anish Mehta, the CEO of Cosmos Maya - whose content is airing or streaming in over 150 countries on major OTT or TV platforms in 18 languages, speaks to IANSlife about Indian animation and how promising its future is, globally. Excerpts: Q: Tell us about the making of some of your most popular IPs.

A: Our idea behind most of our content output is to ensure familiarity with novelty. Implementing insights, we derive from everyday familial and social life that are relevant for kids in a package that adapts to changing sensibilities and requirements of our young audience. For example, naughtiness and clumsy behaviour is something which many kids expect to be reprimanded for and is often the subject of most kids' animation, so 'Motu Patlu', showing on Nick and Voot Kids, subverted the trope by providing a set of adults indulging in such behaviour instead.

'Selfie with Bajrangi' streaming on Disney TV and Disney+ Hotstar takes the fantastical power of invisibility and shape-shifting and provides the lead character a friend in Bajrangi, a junior version of a revered god who is known for such powers. We largely credit our business spread and market share of over 60 percent to this core philosophy. We are always looking out for arenas where we can be first innovators, such as the Dabangg animated series coming out on Disney+ Hotstar soon, which will be one of our first projects and a step for the Indian animation business towards working with established Bollywood IPs and provide them a creative and lucrative extension.

Q: How exciting is it to be in the animation business right now? How has it picked up over the years? A: Our company is in the remarkable position where we have only witnessed but been a significant catalyst to the growth of the animation and post-production industry in India. We have seen the transition of this market from a solely outsourcing-based service provider sub to and IP-rich industry. Additionally, more and more media outlets and business entities have come to realise that this medium helps them accomplish greater storytelling and advertising potential, as it works perfectly for the zaniest of narratives and visual mandates.

Animation is simply fun, being one of the first visual interfaces a child has for the world, and it is a sector that has proved resilient in the face of global calamities, which reflects in the performance of the industry despite an entire locational shift in the workspace of people involved. The projected growth of the sector is expected to reach almost $26 billion in FY21, and we strive to make the most of it.

Q: Children are huge consumers of animated content. How do you create content around them? A: We have a think tank comprising of people from the creative, business, sales and executive departments and concept artists, who come together to discuss and derive actionable insights from everyday life and how kids are adapting with the times. How life reflects in their worldview and behaviour, and what kind of ideals their parents as the content moderators want to inculcate in them. Our show 'Titoo' on Pogo takes the story of an everyday boy akin to 'Dennis the Menace', and delivering it in a tone and language relevant to kids today in a slice-of-life narrative. 'Bapu' and 'Gadget Guru Ganesha' take a similar setup as 'Selfie with Bajrangi' to provide known and respected figures as best friends/role models to the lead characters and helping them navigate through, discussing relevant topics such as social responsibility in a non-pedagogical manner.

Q: Please tell us about animation as an art form.

A: Two things render animation its artistic status - that it adapts to nearly every creative requirement that a content creator may have of its narrative, and that it's limited only by their imagination. Animation lends itself to the most randomly imaginative narratives and visual detail and nearly every genre of storytelling in a manner that is adaptive, conducive and cost-effective.

Q: What's the global appeal of Indian animated content as of now? Animation is mostly thought of as Japanese or Korean.

A: Our show 'Eena Meena Deeka' can be called to the stand to answer this. A non-dialogue show about three chickens and their battle of wits with a hungry fox, is one of our best performing shows in over 80 countries, and is one of the most highly viewed shows in Europe and Latin America. 'Vir: The Robot Boy' has nearly 11 billion views globally on our YouTube multi-channel brand WowKidz. From long-format to short-format content, Indian animation is catering to audiences across the world and is steadily creating its own niche. If the demand for Indian animation is going anywhere, it's up.

Q: Some new trends you may be observing in the industry or consumer group? A: Thanks to the near simultaneous growth of video-sharing websites, OTT streaming and e-commerce, the issue of piracy is very nearly taken off, with financial losses on that front reducing significantly. Moreover the Indian industry is moving fast to make a foothold in the licencing and merchandising market which is the largest profit driver for the global animation industry. Cosmos-Maya is taking active steps in that direction as well, with advertising-funded modules being discussed with brands. Animation is being explored in detail as an effective communication touch point for business consumers.

(Siddhi Jain can be contacted at siddhi.j@ians.in)
Farmers associated with the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spearheading the protests against the three agricultural bills that received President Ram Nath Kovinds assent on Sunday have been putting up posters asking leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) alliance to stay away.

In Baroula village, nearly a dozen farmers associated with the union called for a complete boycott of the parties.

We wont allow the entry of leaders from the ruling government to enter our village till our demands are met. We also want proper and timely procurement of paddy, said Hardev Singh, BKU member and local resident.

He was among the farmers who had put up a poster near the Panchayat Ghar.

Earlier on Friday, during the Bharat Bandh, farmers of Anandpur Jalbera village had banned the politicians entry.

If our demand to scrap the three farm bills is met, we will not just allow the politicians to enter our villages, we will also welcome them, Dilpreet from Jalbera village, said.

Nearly a hundred villagers, mostly associated with BKU, had put up posters at the entry points. These included Mohra, Matheri Jattan and Panjokhra, said Rajeev Sharma, BKU leader and Ambala media in-charge .

in Farouli village, images of a poster is doing the rounds on social media, with a warning: Gaon mein ghusne parr lath fera jaa sakta hai, jaise sarkaar ne Pipli mein kisano par fera tha, yaad hai na? (Those entering the village might have to face the stick, as was done with farmers in Pipli. Do you remember?).

Police resorted to a mild lathicharge on farmers at Pipli Chowk near Kurukshetra on September 10 for defying prohibitory orders as they were headed to the grain market to take part in a rally against the farm bills.

However, this poster has no mention of BKU or any other union.

Village sarpanch Sunil Kumar said he had seen the poster on Facebook, but was unable to confirm who had put it up.

Protests have been continuing for the last few days, so someone must have placed it overnight. I have not seen it, but was told that it was put up near the bus stop here, Kumar told Hindustan Times.
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Bruce Misstear receives the 2020 Presidents Award of the International Association of Hydrogeologists

25 September 2020

Prof Bruce Misstear is the 2020 recipient of the Presidents Award of the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH). Bruce is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Engineering at Trinity College Dublin and a Fellow Emeritus of the College.

The Presidents Award of the IAH is given to a hydrogeologist who has made outstanding contributions to the development or application of groundwater science and furthering IAHs mission to promote wider understanding and management of groundwater resources for the benefit of humankind and the environment. The citation for the 2020 award reads:



Bruce Misstear is a hydrogeologist with more than 40 years experience of working in academia and consultancy. He is a Fellow Emeritus of Trinity College Dublin and is both a Chartered Geologist and Chartered Engineer.



Following undergraduate studies in geology at Trinity College Dublin (1975) and a Masters degree in Hydrogeology from the University of Birmingham (1976), Bruce Misstear worked as a hydrogeological consultant on groundwater development in several countries including Nigeria, Sudan, Burma and Oman. He subsequently became head of the Groundwater Department at the international consultancy Mott MacDonald and a Director of its Water and Environment Division.



In the mid-1990s Bruce joined the ranks of academia at Trinity College Dublin as a full-time teacher and researcher until his retirement in 2018 (he now teaches part-time). He also served for four years as the universitys first Dean of Students.



Professor Misstears research activities include the investigation of flow pathways of diffuse agricultural pollutants, the linkages between groundwater vulnerability and groundwater recharge, and the impacts of domestic wastewater systems on private wells. He is the author or co-author of more than 150 publications on groundwater science and environmental engineering, and lead author of the textbook Water Wells and Boreholes. Shortly before his retirement he embarked on a research thesis on the Hydrogeology of Irish Holy Wells, which he plans to publish as a book.



In 2012, he was elected Vice President for Finance and Membership of the International Association of Hydrogeologists and in 2016 became Secretary General. Amongst his activities as a member of the Executive, Bruce Misstear has led initiatives concerned with enhancing IAHs role in education, updating the Associations rules, various international engagement activities, acting as link person between the organising committees and IAH Council for the congresses in 2015 (Rome), 2017 (Dubrovnik) and 2019 (Malaga), coordinating recent actions carried out under the 2011-2020 Forward Look Plan, and identifying key challenges for the next planning period. Bruce Misstear is an excellent ambassador for groundwater and for IAH. He is a very worthy recipient of the 2020 Presidents Award.



The presentation of the Award was made at the Annual General Meeting of the IAH which was held (online) on 23rd September 2020.
Israel Adesanya proved beyond doubt that he is the man to beat at middleweight, but the popular fighter's antics in the aftermath of his UFC 253 win are likely to have not sat well with some fans.

The 31-year-old silenced his critics with a comprehensive win over rival Paulo Costa, a formerly undefeated Brazilian, and the pair had not seen eye to eye in the build up to their bout on Fight Island.

The Brazilian threw a white belt in the direction of the champion at a face off during fight week, in an apparent jibe at Adesanya's jiu jitsu, which angered him to the extent that UFC president Dana White had to restrain the 'Last Stylebender' from attacking his rival.

Israel Adesanya launched an x-rated rant following his stunning win at UFC 253 on Fight Island

The 31-year-old silenced his critics with a comprehensive win over arch rival Paulo Costa

"I wrap my dick around my waist that's a black belt motherfucker!"

Adesanya said you should shut up!#ufc253 pic.twitter.com/Eq3eabe01L  Anyi (@AnyiTweets) September 27, 2020

And following his dominant second-round win over Costa, Adesanya made a series of lewd comments in the direction of his rival's corner.

But before that, the 31-year-old appeared to 'hump' his rival shortly after referee Jason Herzog called a stop to the contest, and then strolled around the octagon, launching an angry tirade for everyone to hear.

'I wrap my d*** around my waist it's a black belt, motherf*****' he said, in reference to the white belt gimmick from Costa in the build-up to the title bout.

The 'Last Stylebender' said he has a 'black belt' in a lewd comment made after his win

The comment was a reference to a jibe from Costa about Adesanya's jiu jitsu skills

The champion then made his way to Costa's corner to chat with his trainers. The conversation appeared cordial, until Adesanya said 'Imma c** all over you'.

The 31-year-old then went onto breakdance while Costa was still receiving treatment from doctors just feet away.

It was a bizarre series of events following what was a world-class striking display from the champion, who is setting out to set a legacy of the kind forged by UFC icon Anderson Silva.

The 31-year-old then made a disgusting threat to the Brazilian's corner in the aftermath

UFC president Dana White said that Adesanya has what it takes to be a UFC superstar

UFC chief White believes that Adesanya has what is required to be a UFC superstar.

'I think he's gonna be the new Adesanya of the division,' White said.

'He's got his own style and his own way about him. I think he's gonna be the next big superstar here, especially after tonight's performance.'
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.

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."

Story continues

- '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.

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.

"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.

pb-hrl/dan/qan/je
MERIDEN  The police department and the council of neighborhoods will host a scaled-down version of National Night Out next month.

The event, which is usually held in August at Hubbard Park, was cancelled earlier this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event is now scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 6 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the courtyard in front of the police station.

The new date is the national rescheduling date for all National Night Out events, Holly Wills, president of the Council of Neighborhoods said Thursday. She said the event will be much smaller than normal, but organizers felt it was important to recognize police, fire and emergency medical personnel this year.

This year is going to be very much more low key, Wills said. We thought it was important to show support for our police officers, fire and EMS personnel that work so hard in our community.

Wills said there will be social distancing and masks are required. They will be keeping an eye on the crowd size to make sure they dont go over the maximum of 100 people allowed. She noted they expect a much lower attendance number than the 4,000 to 5,000 that normally attend.

There will be an opening ceremony with remarks from Mayor Kevin Scarpati and Police Chief Roberto Rosado. There will also be a DJ and a projector showing pictures from last years event, Wills said.

Critical

City Councilor David Lowell, who is also executive vice president and chief operating officer of Hunter's Ambulance Service, said the city has always done a great job with its National Night Out event, which he said has been well attended in the past.

Lowell said it is critical for first responders to continuously engage with the public, especially youth.

He said the community has a strong relationship with its police and other first responders.

We cant take that for granted. Keeping that relationship is always a work in progress, Lowell said.

What you see on the news in some communities across the country doesnt reflect what we have here in this community, he said, acknowledging ongoing protests nationwide decrying police brutality. Those protests have been spurred by the deaths of unarmed Black men and women in communities including Minneapolis, Minnesota and Louisville, Kentucky earlier this year.

Lowell commended police, noting recent arrests in particular that have helped take weapons and people with bad intentions off the street. Those arrests occurred following a summer that saw an increase in gun-related incidents.

Our community is not immune to violence and we should never think that we are, Lowell said. And we should always act in a manner that discourages it first of all and build relationships which serve to discourage it. I think by and large we do that.

lsellew@record-journal.com203-317-2225Twitter: @LaurenSellewRJ
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

Trend:

Pakistan is deeply concerned about the deteriorating security situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, Trend reports with reference to the Pakistani MFA.

The intensive shelling by Armenian forces over the weekend on civilian populations of Azerbaijani villages of Terter, Aghdam, Fizuli, and Jabrayil region is reprehensible and most unfortunate. This could compromise the peace and security of the entire region. Armenia must stop its military action to avoid further escalation, the statement said.

Pakistan stands with the brotherly nation of Azerbaijan and supports its right of self-defense. We support Azerbaijans position on Nagorno-Karabakh, which is in line with the several unanimously adopted UN Security Council resolutions, the MFA said.

On September 27, at about 06:00, the armed forces of Armenia, committing large-scale provocations, have subjected to intensive shelling from large-caliber weapons, mortars, and artillery mounts of various calibers of the positions of the Azerbaijan Army along the entire length of the front and Azerbaijani human settlements located in the frontline zone.

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.
Two weeks shy of a year after abruptly quitting Fox News Channel with a declaration that truth will always matter, Shepard Smith returns to television this week at his unexpected new home

He begins a general interest nightly newscast Wednesday at 7 p.m. on the financial network CNBC putting him back in the time slot he loved before Fox moved him to the afternoon seven years ago.

The 56-year-old newsman, a Fox News original who joined that network at its start in 1996, says he's relishing the fresh start.

We're going to come out and do just the news, he said. We're not planning to do any analysis in our news hour. We're going to have journalists, reporters, sound and video. We're going to have newsmakers and experts ... but no pundits. We're going to leave the opinion to others. It's exactly what I've been wanting to do. It's what I've been working at for 30 years.

He'll work out of a new studio that's been built for him at CNBC's New Jersey headquarters by three crews that kept construction going 24 hours a day over eight weeks.

Smith left more questions than answers upon his Fox exit, leaving others to speculate about why. His 3 p.m. newscast stood out at a network where opinion is king, and sometimes he challenged statements made by the network's prime-time hosts.

Figuratively speaking, he didn't smash windows on the way out and still doesn't.

I built a career at Fox News and I have some deep friendships, ones that I'm going to keep forever, he said. But simply, I just felt it was the right time to leave. I asked them if I could and they eventually allowed me to do that.

At Fox, their business model is working very well for them, he said. Their opinion people state their opinions and they draw big audiences. I have no problem with that.

Smith's 2013 removal from the evening schedule, where the biggest cable news audiences reside, was an early sign that the balance was tipping toward more opinion  and not just at Fox. It was announced that he would be on call to anchor in prime-time during big stories, but there proved little interest in pre-empting the stars.

Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up

His 3 p.m. newscast was influential, even if unpopular with many core Fox viewers, and the network's willingness to pay its personalities well no doubt eased hurt feelings.

He left Fox two weeks after an ugly incident with Tucker Carlson, who brought on a guest who said Fox's Andrew Napolitano was a fool for analysis offered on Smith's show. Smith said on the air that Carlson's attack was repugnant.

Asked about it, Smith said that I had felt like it was time for a new challenge for a long time. Nothing about any talent, any on-air people at that place, pushed me out the door.

Smith, a Mississippi native, said he enjoyed some down time, with a couple of vacations. He also took meetings with plenty of media suitors.

He's smart as a whip, agile, super curious and an amazing broadcaster, said news consultant Michael Clemente, Smith's former boss at Fox News and a longtime ABC News executive. He's in the same league as Peter Jennings. He's probably got better chops than just about everyone who is out there, and he's not a product of New York. Hes not from Los Angeles. He's from the core of the country.

Every few years when Smith approached the end of a contract, CNBC President Mark Hoffman would check in with Smith's agent, Larry Kramer. In a nearly empty Manhattan restaurant just before the COVID shutdown, the three men met.

With CNN, MSNBC and the broadcast networks courting Smith, CNBC was considered an underdog, at best.

My feeling was that it was not an obvious, conventional move for him, Hoffman said. But at the same time I felt we had a concept we had been thinking about for a number of years that just might fit his interests. It just so happened that it was, item for item, exactly what Shep was looking for.

CNBC offers financial news during the day and general interest programs that appeal to an affluent audience at night, things like Shark Tank," Jay Leno's Garage and Secret Lives of the Super Rich." The network needed something to serve as a bridge between the day and night identities, and thought a smart, straight newscast could do the trick, he said.

We really clicked at that first meeting, Hoffman said. It was one of those easy conversations. It wasn't a sales pitch. We didn't talk about what we wanted him to do. I just talked about what we wanted to do. We had a nice chemistry and our interests seemed to be aligned. I would say he left the meeting intrigued and then it moved from there.

That was their last face-to-face meeting. Negotiations were done via Zoom.

Smith said he heard great ideas from other networks. Its just that this one fit better, he said.

Being part of the larger NBC News family would hold potential future options for Smith, as well as providing journalists whose work could be included in his new CNBC show.

Otherwise, CNBC offers the closest thing to a clean slate you can find in television news. Fox News Channel is averaging 2.7 million viewers in the 7 p.m. time slot this year. MSNBC has 1.7 million and CNN has 1.5 million, the Nielsen company said.

At the same time on CNBC, Shark Tank has been averaging 153,000 viewers.

There's really no other place to go but up.

Its not an easy thing to start from scratch, Smith said. Theres no muscle memory at CNBC in terms of doing a general newscast. Were creating all of that. And thats fun. It was fun creating in 1996, and its fun creating in 2020.
It looks like AXIS Capital Holdings Limited (NYSE:AXS) is about to go ex-dividend in the next three days. This means that investors who purchase shares on or after the 1st of October will not receive the dividend, which will be paid on the 15th of October.

AXIS Capital Holdings's next dividend payment will be US$0.41 per share. Last year, in total, the company distributed US$1.64 to shareholders. Based on the last year's worth of payments, AXIS Capital Holdings stock has a trailing yield of around 3.8% on the current share price of $42.91. Dividends are an important source of income to many shareholders, but the health of the business is crucial to maintaining those dividends. As a result, readers should always check whether AXIS Capital Holdings has been able to grow its dividends, or if the dividend might be cut.

See our latest analysis for AXIS Capital Holdings

Dividends are usually paid out of company profits, so if a company pays out more than it earned then its dividend is usually at greater risk of being cut. AXIS Capital Holdings's dividend is not well covered by earnings, as the company lost money last year. This is not a sustainable state of affairs, so it would be worth investigating if earnings are expected to recover.

Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends.

Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing?

Businesses with shrinking earnings are tricky from a dividend perspective. Investors love dividends, so if earnings fall and the dividend is reduced, expect a stock to be sold off heavily at the same time. AXIS Capital Holdings reported a loss last year, and the general trend suggests its earnings have also been declining in recent years, making us wonder if the dividend is at risk.

Many investors will assess a company's dividend performance by evaluating how much the dividend payments have changed over time. Since the start of our data, 10 years ago, AXIS Capital Holdings has lifted its dividend by approximately 6.9% a year on average.

Story continues

We update our analysis on AXIS Capital Holdings every 24 hours, so you can always get the latest insights on its financial health, here.

Final Takeaway

Has AXIS Capital Holdings got what it takes to maintain its dividend payments? It's definitely not great to see that it paid a dividend despite reporting a loss last year. Worse, the general trend in its earnings looks negative in recent times. These characteristics don't generally lead to outstanding dividend performance, and investors may not be happy with the results of owning this stock for its dividend.

Having said that, if you're looking at this stock without much concern for the dividend, you should still be familiar of the risks involved with AXIS Capital Holdings. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for AXIS Capital Holdings you should know about.

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.
Poonam Pandey who got married to Sam Bombay on September 9 recently created headlines for all the wrong reasons. It must be recollected that earlier this week the actress had alleged that Sam had molested, threatened and assaulted her. She had filed a domestic violence case against her husband, who was then arrested in Goa by the police and subsequently released on bail.

A police official had confirmed that the incident allegedly occurred in Canacona village in south Goa where the actor was shooting for a film. And now, in another shocking turn of events, the newlyweds are back together as they have sorted out their differences and are starting afresh.



Poonam confirmed the news to ETimes and said, We are trying to iron out things and have more or less sorted it all out. We are back together. You know what? We both love each other too much. We are madly in love. And, which shaadi does not have its ups and downs? Sam chipped in and added, "Everything is sorted. It all got blown out of proportion. It got distorted, I would say."

On being quizzed if their families mediated, Poonam revealed, "Of course, families are important. But we tackled it our ownselves." The actress concluded by addressing the rumours of her participation in Bigg Boss 14. "No way. I am not going to Bigg Boss 14. I am too small for the Bigg Boss show," she said.

ALSO READ: Poonam Pandey Decides To End Her Marriage With Sam Bombay; Says 'I Have Suffered A Lot'

ALSO READ: Poonam Pandey's Husband Sam Bombay Arrested For Assaulting Her
Covid-19 pandemic is spreading globally like a wild fire in dry leaves. Vaccine offers the only hope for its containment and prevention. So far, millions of dollars have been invested in fast tracking the development of vaccines and telescoping the duration of clinical trials from years to months.

While the top pharma companies across the world are hopeful to come up with a vaccine by the year end, Russia in August announced the launch of Sputnik V, its home brewed adenovirus-based vaccine candidate against covid-19, for the citizens. India too has decided to take the Russian vaccine after clinical trials on Indians.

Lalit Kant, Infectious Disease Epidemiologist and former head of epidemiology and communicable diseases at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) spoke about why Phase III clinical trials are important for Russian Vaccine, adenovirus vector vehicle of the vaccine, advantages for India and way forward. Edited excerpts from an interview:

What do you think about the safety of Russian covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V?

This is the first covid-19 vaccine approved anywhere in the world. It is reported that the vaccine is now available to public in Moscow. Scientists and health agencies have cautioned against the euphoria as the vaccine has been approved without the results of Phase I/II trial being made public nor the Phase III trial being conducted. Phase III trials are critical to know the safety and efficacy of the vaccine.

Russias level of confidence can be gauged by the fact that they are not asking for full indemnity of legal risks from the countries which have shown interest to use their vaccine. This is very unlike what the other manufacturers are seeking  full indemnity, that is complete protection from any future liability claims arising from adverse reactions, with the countries they have signed supply deals. Whether the vaccine would turn out to be a Sputnik moment or a Russian roulette, results of Phase III will tell.

Kindly explain adenovirus vectors on which the Russian Vaccine is based?

The Russian vaccine uses the adenovirus (commonly causes common cold in children) as a vehicle to transport the Adenovirus vector carries S gene that encodes for spike protein of the SARS CoV2 to the human body. The adenovirus slips into cells and unloads the gene cargo. It uses a prime boost strategy, that is the vaccine is administered in two doses 21 days apart.

Research on using adenoviruses for carrying foreign genetic material is being perfected since 1980s. The advantage of using adenovirus vectors is that the vector has surface proteins that help facilitate the delivery of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid into the host cell, which then transcribes it to become viral antigens. Adenoviruses have been isolated from humans, simians (monkeys) and birds. Human adenoviruses have more than 50 serotypes and Ad5 is the commonest.

Since adenoviruses are present all over the world and almost all of us would have been exposed to it during our childhood, we all have immunity to it. This pre-existing immunity has been one of the main reasons why adenoviral platforms have had very limited success so far. The only successful application of this strategy has resulted in development and approval of a rabies vaccine for use in animals. Though great efforts have been made for developing a vaccine for HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, Ebola, and Zika virus. To overcome the problem of pre-existing immunity several approaches have been used, like using adenoviruses isolated from Chimpanzees for which humans may have no immunity, giving vaccine in two doses and for each a different serotype of adenovirus is used, and one of them could be common like Ad5 and the other uncommon serotype like Ad26 and Ad35, or using a totally uncommon serotype.

The adenovirus has also been genetically altered and some of its own genes have been stripped off and is therefore unable to replicate and hence minimize reactions with pre-existing immunity. Several companies are using the adenoviral platform for Covid-19 vaccines and some of them are in late stage clinical development for example.

UKs AstraZeneca uses chimpanzee adenovirus, USAs Johnson and Johnsons vaccine is Ad26 based, and Chinese CanSino Biologics is using Ad5 as vector. The Russian vaccine uses Ad5 and Ad26 serotypes for its prime and boost strategy. These vaccines aim to stimulate both arms of the immune system  antibody and T cell responses  so they attack the virus when it is circulating in the body, and also attack cells infected by SARS-CoV-2.

Many countries including India are considering emergency authorisation of covid vaccines. Why do you think Phase III clinical trials are important for any country?

For a vaccine to be pre-qualified for global use by World Health Organization (WHO) it requires data for all three phases of clinical trial (Phase I-III) for review, though each country could have its own criteria for approval in its country. At the time when the Russian vaccine was approved by its national authorities, it had data for Phase I/II and none had been published. Since its publication in the Lancet, scientists have been raising red flag as they observed strange duplicated patterns in the data, among different groups observing different groups and have called for re-review of the raw data.

Since its approval in August, phase III trials of the Sputnik V vaccine have started in Russia, there are reports that about 14% of 300 volunteers who received the vaccine have had mild self limiting side-effects (weakness, muscle pain and rise in temperature and chills). The trial is in 40,000 volunteers and results are expected by end of October, 2020.

Immune response seen in Phase I/II of Russian vaccine trial may not be proportional to the degree of protection that is studied in only Phase III.

India will also conduct clinical trials of the Sputnik vaccine on its population. What is your opinion on side effects of the Russian vaccine during already done clinical trials?

If for some reasons Sputnik does not work or results in some kind of unforeseen adverse event(s) in Phase III that could affect public perception of vaccine process. An inefficient product could worsen the pandemic, as those who receive the vaccine may stop taking precautions. Confidence may be dampened by vaccine which received approval and then shown to be harmful. Safety is of paramount importance as the vaccine is being given to healthy individuals and needs to be balanced against risk of infection. A vaccine that reduces the severity of the disease but does not prevent infection might make things worse.

What are the advantages of the Russian Vaccine for India?

One of the formulations of the Russian vaccine is lyophilized. To my mind this is the greatest advantage it offers. Benefits of lyophilized products include reduced refrigerated warehouse requirements, lower shipping costs, simplified product use, and longer shelf life. This formulation could be used within the existing refrigerated cold chain in India, the product stability would maximize reach in remote areas  which will help universal and equitable coverage. Brazil, Cuba, the Philippines, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have agreed to do a Phase III clinical trial.

On 16 September Dr Reddys Laboratory, Hyderabad announced that it had signed an agreement with Russia Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) to conduct Phase III trails of the Sputnik vaccine. Russia is reported to have submitted comprehensive data on vaccine safety and immunogenicity / efficacy to India. If all goes well this might happen before the end of 2020. About 100 million doses will be available for use in Indian population soon thereafter. If the Phase III trials starts in September, it would be the first vaccine to enter Phase III in India, and may become the first vaccine to be licensed for use. If the vaccine candidate is fast tracked and granted emergency authorization, it may well become available earlier.

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Helsinki [Finland], September 27 (ANI): A technique in which a computer model visualises perception by monitoring human brain signals has been developed by a team of researchers. The model works in a way as if the computer tries to imagine what a human is thinking about.

As a result of this imagining, the computer is able to produce entirely new information, such as fictional images that were never before seen. The study was published in the Scientific Reports journal in September. Scientific Reports is an online multidisciplinary, open-access journal from the publishers of Nature.

The technique is based on a novel brain-computer interface. Previously, similar brain-computer interfaces have been able to perform one-way communication from brain to computer, such as spell individual letters or move a cursor.

As far as is known, the new study is the first where both the computer's presentation of the information and brain signals were modelled simultaneously using artificial intelligence methods. Images that matched the visual characteristics that participants were focusing on were generated through interaction between human brain responses and a generative neural network.

*Neuroadaptive generative modelling

The researchers call this method neuroadaptive generative modelling. A total of 31 volunteers participated in a study that evaluated the effectiveness of the technique. Participants were shown hundreds of AI-generated images of diverse-looking people while their EEG was recorded.

The subjects were asked to concentrate on certain features, such as faces that looked old or were smiling. While looking at a rapidly presented series of face images, the EEGs of the subjects were fed to a neural network, which inferred whether any image was detected by the brain as matching what the subjects were looking for.

Based on this information, the neural network adapted its estimation as to what kind of faces people were thinking of. Finally, the images generated by the computer were evaluated by the participants and they nearly perfectly matched with the features the participants were thinking of. The accuracy of the experiment was 83 per cent.

"The technique combines natural human responses with the computer's ability to create new information. In the experiment, the participants were only asked to look at the computer-generated images. The computer, in turn, modelled the images displayed and the human reaction toward the images by using human brain responses. From this, the computer can create an entirely new image that matches the user's intention," says Tuukka Ruotsalo, Academy of Finland Research Fellow at the University of Helsinki, Finland, and Associate Professor at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

*Unconscious attitudes may be exposed

Generating images of the human face is only one example of the technique's potential uses. One practical benefit of the study may be that computers can augment human creativity.

"If you want to draw or illustrate something but are unable to do so, the computer may help you to achieve your goal. It could just observe the focus of attention and predict what you would like to create," Ruotsalo says. However, the researchers believe that the technique may be used to gain an understanding of perception and the underlying processes in our mind.

"The technique does not recognise thoughts but rather responds to the associations we have with mental categories. Thus, while we are not able to find out the identity of a specific 'old person' a participant was thinking of, we may gain an understanding of what they associate with old age. We, therefore, believe it may provide a new way of gaining insight into social, cognitive, and emotional processes," says Senior Researcher Michiel Spape.

According to Spape, this is also interesting from a psychological perspective.

"One person's idea of an elderly person may be very different from another's. We are currently uncovering whether our technique might expose unconscious associations, for example by looking if the computer always renders old people as, say, smiling men." (ANI)


Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima (NYSE:LOMA), is not the largest company out there, but it saw a decent share price growth in the teens level on the NYSE over the last few months. As a stock with high coverage by analysts, you could assume any recent changes in the companys outlook is already priced into the stock. But what if there is still an opportunity to buy? Today I will analyse the most recent data on Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonimas outlook and valuation to see if the opportunity still exists.

View our latest analysis for Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima

Is Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima still cheap?

Good news, investors! Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima is still a bargain right now. My valuation model shows that the intrinsic value for the stock is $6.10, which is above what the market is valuing the company at the moment. This indicates a potential opportunity to buy low. However, given that Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonimas share is fairly volatile (i.e. its price movements are magnified relative to the rest of the market) this could mean the price can sink lower, giving us another chance to buy in the future. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for share price volatility.

What does the future of Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima look like?

Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Although value investors would argue that its the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. With profit expected to more than double over the next couple of years, the future seems bright for Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima. 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? Since LOMA is currently undervalued, it may be a great time to increase your holdings in the stock. With a positive outlook on the horizon, it seems like this growth has not yet been fully factored into the share price. However, there are also other factors such as financial health to consider, which could explain the current undervaluation.

Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping an eye on LOMA for a while, now might be the time to enter the stock. Its buoyant future outlook isnt fully reflected in the current share price yet, which means its not too late to buy LOMA. But before you make any investment decisions, consider other factors such as the track record of its management team, in order to make a well-informed buy.

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 2 warning signs for Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima you should know about.

If you are no longer interested in Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima, 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.
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Chemcon Speciality Chemicals, the manufacturer for pharmaceutical and oilfields industries, has finalised the basis of allotment after its IPO received an overwhelming response from investors.

Equity shares will get credited to the accounts of eligible investors by September 30 and the listing will be on October 1.

The Rs 318-crore public issue, which opened during September 21-23, witnessed ninth-highest subscription of 149.3 times in a decade and second highest in 2020 after Happiest Minds Technologies (150.98 times).

The IPO comprised a fresh issue of Rs 165 crore and an offer for sale of Rs 153 crore by promoters. The company will utilise fresh issue proceeds for expansion of manufacturing facility, working capital requirements, and general corporate purposes.

Chemcon manufactures specialised chemicals, such as Hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) and Chloromethyl Isopropyl Carbonate (CMIC), which are predominantly used in the pharmaceuticals industry. It also makes inorganic bromides, namely calcium bromide, zinc bromide and sodium bromide, which are predominantly used as completion fluids in the oilfields industry (oilwell completion chemicals).

Given the strong demand, eligible investors may not get full allotment against the number of shares subscribed in the issue.

One can check the application/allotment status in four simple steps either on the BSE website or registrar's website.

Option 1

>> Check box "Equity">> Select your "Issue Name" in the dropdown menu Chemcon Speciality Chemicals (Note: The company name will appear only after the allotment process is done)>> Type your "Application Number" in the box>> Type your "Permanent Account Number (PAN No.)" in the box

>> Finally click on "Search" button

Option 2

>> Select "Company Name" in the dropdownChemcon Speciality Chemicals (The company name will appear only after the allotment process is done)>> Check box either "Permanent Account Number (PAN)" or "Application Number" or Depository/Client ID>> Accordingly, type your "Permanent Account Number (PAN )" or "Application Number" or Depository/Client ID in the box

>> Finally, click on teh "Submit" button

If the information provided by you is correct, then you will see the application status. The number of shares you subscribed to and the number allotted will also get reflected.
The event, organized by Illinois state Rep. La Shawn Ford, also sought to bring awareness to the 2020 census, specifically on Chicagos West Side. Tables with free masks, T-shirts and informational materials about the census were set up throughout the park. Several people danced to the Cupid Shuffle and stretched for the bike ride, expected to go up to 13 miles, according to organizers.
Omans Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation and the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (Madayn) signed a cooperation programme to boost cooperation in various fields that serve education, scientific research and innovation.

The agreement, which comes in line with the significance of establishing robust partnership and integration between various bodies, was signed by Dr Rahma bint Ibrahim Al Mahrouqiyah, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, and Hilal bin Hamad Al Hasani, Chief Executive Officer of Madayn.

According to a statement by Madayn, the cooperation programme aims at developing joint plans to link the outputs of higher education institutions with the investing companies in the industrial cities of Madayn. This shall strengthen integration between the current and future development plans of the industrial cities and the fields of higher education, scientific research and innovation. The cooperation programme will also play a role in developing the curricula of higher education institutions regarding the various specialisations that are linked with the industrial needs of the sector and the companies in the industrial cities. As per the agreement, Madayn will provide training opportunities at the industrial cities for the undergraduates, and vocational colleges students.

The cooperation programme also aspires to enhance the exchange of consultations and expertise to support the development of scientific research and innovation in the industrial fields, and adopt the results and outputs of innovative and viable research and project ideas and transform them into investment projects and opportunities according to mechanisms agreed upon by the related parties.

Additionally, the programme will encourage the investing companies in the industrial cities to offer scholarships for higher education studies, in order to meet the employment requirements in the companies, sectors and industrial cities that fall under the umbrella of Madayn. Moreover, an electronic interactive platform will be formed with the participation of the relevant parties to exchange data and information related to the implementation of this programme.

Nizwa Industrial City

Following the signing of the cooperation programme, Dr Al Mahrouqiyah toured Nizwa Industrial City, which pertains to Madayn, in the presence of Dr Muna bint Salim Al Jardaniyah, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation for Vocational Training, Dr Bakhait bin Ahmed Al Mahri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation for Higher Education, Dr Saif bin Abdullah Al Haddabi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation for Research and Innovation, and Hilal bin Hamad Al Hasani, CEO of Madayn. The series of visits to Madayns various industrial cities aim at exploring cooperation opportunities in scientific research, innovation, and technical and vocational training in the industrial cities.

During the visit, Eng. Saleh bin Salman Al Abri, Director General of Nizwa Industrial City informed that the total investment volume of Nizwa Industrial City has exceeded RO 369 million during the first half of 2020, marking a growth rate of 1.13% compared to the same period in 2019. The number of workforce in the industrial city has reached 6,100 and the total area of the industrial city has surpassed 3 million sq m. The number of projects in Nizwa has reached 150 by the end of the first half of the current year, of which 128 are operating, 10 are under construction and 12 projects have been allotted with space.

Al Abri elaborated that Madayn is currently working on implementing several projects at Nizwa Industrial City, which include expansion of phases 3 and 4 on an area of one million sq m, and implementing a second entrance to the industrial city. Furthermore, a number of investment opportunities were announced recently in Nizwa Industrial City, specifically those related to commercial services and the residential city.

During her visit to Nizwa Industrial City, Dr Al Mahrouqiyah visited Al Anwar Ceramic Tiles, Sledgehammer Gulf, and Gulf Energy.-TradeArabia News Service
(Photo : Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: In this photo illustration, A man is silhouetted against a projection of the Google logo on August 09, 2017 in London, England. Founded in 1995 by Sergey Brin and Larry Page, Google now makes hundreds of products used by billions of people across the globe, from YouTube and Android to Smartbox and Google Search.

(Photo : Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: In this photo illustration, The Google logo is projected onto a man on August 09, 2017 in London, England. Founded in 1995 by Sergey Brin and Larry Page, Google now makes hundreds of products used by billions of people across the globe, from YouTube and Android to Smartbox and Google Search.



Security researchers found 17 Android apps infected with the Joker (Bread) malware, one of the most notorious security threats Google has been dealing with since 2017. Google Play Store has now removed them this week to prevent WAP billing fraud.

Also Read: Twitter Strengthen Security by Distributing Phishing-Resistant Security Keys to Employees Just Before the U.S. Elections after the July High-Profile Attack

"This spyware is designed to steal SMS messages, contact lists, and device information, along with silently signing up the victim for premium wireless application protocol (WAP) services," said Viral Gandhi, one of Zscaler's security researchers.

Play Store published the 17 malicious apps, which were downloaded more than 120,000 times before the security researchers detected the malware. Here are the names of the applications.

Also Read: Who Is Ripjar? British Startup Raises $36.8 Million to Further Grow Its Technologies Against Frauds and Financial Crimes

You might want to check them out and see if you installed one of them.

1) Tangram App Lock

2) Unique Keyboard - Fancy Fonts & Free Emoticons

3) Mint Leaf Message-Your Private Message

4) All Good PDF Scanner

5) Style Photo Collage

6) One Sentence Translator - Multifunctional Translator

7) Private SMS

8) Direct Messenger

9) Care Message

10) Talent Photo Editor - Blur focus

11) Desire Translate

12) Meticulous Scanner

13) All Good PDF Scanner

14) Hummingbird PDF Converter - Photo to PDF

15) Blue Scanner

16) Paper Doc Scanner

17) Part Message

Although Google Play Store has already removed these apps, you still need to intervene and remove the app from your device manually if you downloaded one of them.

How powerful is Joker malware?

The infected apps could easily sneak past Google's defenses and reach the Play Store, using a technique called "droppers," where the user's device is infected in a multi-stage process. Although the cyber attackers' strategy is simple, Google still finds it challenging to deal with it.

The security scans could not easily detect malicious code since the malicious attacks are usually delayed by hours or days. Once a malicious app is installed, it will download and "drop" other apps or components that contain the Joker malware or different malware strains.

What makes this malware notorious is that it can be uploaded by third-party Android app stores, making it more widespread. Security researchers detected more than 13,000 Joker samples ever since it was identified way back in 2016.

For more news updates about the Joker malware, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Also Read: TikTok Ban: US Calls Bytedance CEO 'Mouthpiece' of Chinese Communist Party Over New Filing

This article is owned by TechTimes,

Written by: Giuliano de Leon.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
NEW DELHI : The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down Swedish furniture retailer IKEA's expansion plans in India but the company is adjusting to the new reality while continuing to bet on the country as one of its "very important markets", according to company's India CEO Peter Betzel.

With the changing consumer behaviour due to the health crisis, online business will play a very important role" for IKEA, which plans to expand in India with an omni-channel approach.

The pandemic may have slowed us down a bit like it has for everyone, but we are adjusting to the new reality and are on track with our projects. Our Mumbai store as I mentioned will open within the next half year or so," Betzel told PTI.

He further said,"India remains a very important market and we have our plans to enter many cities with an omni-channel approach. Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi are among the prioritised cities for Ingka Group for fast expansion."

Ingka handles the global retail operation for IKEA, which has a target to reach 100 million people in India by 2022 through an omni-channel approach.

IKEA, which is planning to open stores in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Delhi/NCR, is now looking to have a omni-channel approach, by integrating its brick and mortar format stores with online stores.

We will establish a strong omni-channel presence in Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Delhi/NCR and are also exploring other opportunities in India,  he said adding It will be through a combination of big IKEA stores, smaller city-centre stores, and online platform as a selling channel."

IKEA, which received government approval in 2013 for its 10,500-crore proposal to open retail stores under 100 per cent FDI, has signed MoUs with Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to open retail stores.

The company is planning to open 25 stores by 2025 in nine cities.

Ingka, which handles the global retail operation for IKEA, would open its second store in Mumbai in the next six months after making its first store at Hyderabad operational two years ago.

Our ambition is to expand in more cities in India with an omni-channel approach. Based on our expansion plans, we will also develop logistical capabilities to serve customers more efficiently," said Betzel who is also Chief Sustainability Officer, IKEA India.

Presently, IKEA has one distribution centre in Pune.

During lockdown, IKEA had introduced ''Click and Collect'' contactless and safe shopping in Hyderabad. Now more people are shopping online for all the things they need for their homes.

We expect online sales to be a strong growth driver and IKEA will continue to invest in building more digital," he added.

Besides, IKEA has introduced online consultations/planning services for kitchen, office furniture, wardrobe etc.

It is important to have clear communication in all our channels to our customers as many are depending on online product descriptions, customer testimonials, quality standards, usability, etc. to make a purchase decision. As many potential customers are first time digital users, we want to support them in their online journey," Betzel said.

However, Betzel added that physical meeting places will remain essential hub for home furnishing inspiration, feel, touch, try our range, fun day out, even though in a different manner due to COVID-19.

It is not going to be one or another. It is altogether," he said. IKEA India, part of Ingka Group opened its first retail store in Hyderabad in August 2018, followed by online stores in Mumbai, Hyderabad and Pune in 2019 as part of its multichannel approach.

Ingka Group is a strategic partner in the IKEA franchise system, operating 380 IKEA stores in 31 countries. Ingka Group has three business areas: IKEA Retail, Ingka Investments and Ingka Centres.

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The US Supreme Court

The US Supreme Court Getty Images

Democratic lawmakers have drafted a bill that, if passed, would limit the tenures of Supreme Court justices on the bench to just 18 years.

In the wake of a highly contentious battle set to commence over the replacement of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on September 18 from complications due to pancreatic cancer, those pushing for the reform to the high court believe that it will mitigate future politicization of the institution by limiting the number of appointments made by presidents to just twice every four-year presidential term.

The legislation is set to be introduced by three members of Congress, Representatives Ro Khanna (D-California), Joe Kennedy III (D-Massachusetts) and Don Beyer (D-Virginia).

Limiting how long justices could serve on the court to just 18 years "would save the country a lot of agony and help lower the temperature over fights for the court that go to the fault lines of cultural issues and is one of the primary things tearing at our social fabric," Khanna said in a statement.

It's unlikely that the bill will go anywhere during this term of Congress. While it might pass the Democratic-controlled House, the Republican-controlled Senate will more than likely oppose the idea. Even if it's passed by both houses of Congress, it would still need the signature of President Trump, who may veto it, believing he could make more appointments in a future term in office should he win reelection in November. (If Trump is successful in appointing a replacement for Ginsburg, he will have made three appointments to the Supreme Court within a single four-year term.)

Critics of the idea have also suggested that it's unconstitutional. However, the way the bill is framed may actually allow for changes to the court without the need for states to ratify a constitutional amendment, by giving retiring justices "senior" status. In this way, justices would not technically be retired, and would be allowed to hold onto their title as justice while not actually serving on the bench to take part in decisions. They may also rotate to lower circuit courts after taking senior status, if they wish to do so.

Story continues

The plan  and its justification for avoiding the need for a constitutional amendment  is similar to one advocated in a CNN opinion article written last year by Ruth-Helen Vassilas, an associate at the London law office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP; and Kermit Roosevelt, a professor at University of Pennsylvania Law School (and the great-great-grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt).

"This proposal is lawful under the Constitution," the two wrote in 2019. "First, Congress has the authority to change the size of the court and has done so repeatedly throughout history. Second, federal judges are constitutionally entitled to 'hold their offices' during good behavior and not have their salaries reduced. This plan does not diminish salaries, and it is consistent with a current US law (28 US Code  371(b)) that states explicitly that district and circuit judges who take senior status 'retain the office.' It follows that our legislators can assign senior status to justices, as well."

The idea has widespread support, too. A poll conducted in May by the reform advocacy group Fix the Court found that 77 percent of Americans strongly or somewhat support restrictions for how long justices can serve on the Supreme Court, while only 23 percent are against creating such limits.

Support for tenure limits transcends partisan lines, too: In that same poll, 78 percent of Democrats supported the idea, while 79 percent of Republicans backed it as well.

At least three current justices, Fix the Court has also noted, also seem receptive to the plan. Both Justices Elena Kagan and Stephan Breyer, members of the liberal bloc of justices on the Supreme Court, have made comments supporting tenure limits within the past five years. Chief Justice John Roberts, working within the Reagan administration in 1983, also suggested the reform would be beneficial.

"A judge insulated from the normal currents of life for 25 or 30 years was a rarity then, but is becoming commonplace today. Setting a term of, say, 15 years would ensure that federal judges would not lose all touch with reality through decades of ivory tower existence," Roberts wrote at the time.

Copyright  Truthout. Reprinted with permission.

Related Articles
I dont understand why Gov. Phil Murphy has refused to require that all or most in-person polling facilities be open for Novembers presidential election. Even with COVID-19 still active, I think most people would be OK entering a polling facility under the right circumstances.

Besides the wearing of masks, mandate gloves. That would protect the voting machines. Have the election worker wipe down the console between each voter. Limit the number of voters in the facility.

We have so far reopened indoor dining where people can sit for more than an hour eating. Weve opened indoor fitness facilities where people can gather and workout for more than and hour.

And, let us not forget those Motor Vehicle Commission office lines, in which people can stand for around for 6 to 7 hours waiting to get in.

Social distancing has worked for Costco, Home Depot, ShopRite and more. The last time I entered a polling facility, I think I was there for 10 minutes. Sign in, vote and leave. It is not too late. Let us not turn this years election into a catastrophe that we will all regret.

Ron Klein, West Orange

Editors note: Although at least 50% of a countys normal polling places and one site in each town must be open Nov. 3, machine voting is available only to the disabled. Other in-person voters must vote on paper provisional ballots or use the site to turn in completed mail-in ballots.

Recognizing our nations flaws is patriotic

A recent Star-Ledger article quotes President Donald Trump on a need for patriotic education. He objects to schools and universities, including Princeton, teaching about Americas history of racism and the systemic racism that is still with us. He calls it anti-American propaganda and left-wing indoctrination.

This is Trump being Trump: ignoring or denying whatever he doesnt like.

Point out that the United States has had slavery, Jim Crow laws and discrimination?Just ignore history and say were fine.

State that the pandemic has killed over 200,000 Americans and shut down businesses and schools? Just say the virus will disappear like a miracle, reopen the stores and schools, and let Americans breathe freely  on each other.

Wildfires have destroyed over 4 million acres of forests and are still burning? Just say the people in charge should have done a better job clearing the brush.

Abraham Lincoln famously asked, How many legs does a dog have, if you call the tail a leg? and then answered, Four. Calling the tail a leg doesnt make it a leg.

Our current president needs to acknowledge this truth. The United States has never been perfect. But recognizing our flaws and trying to correct them is one patriotic way to make us better.

Judy Livingston, Hopewell Borough

Irony from N.J. pot-bill obstructionist

It is ironic that state Sen. Ronald Rice, D-Essex, (article, Sept. 4) complains that Sens. Stephen Sweeney and Nicholas Scutari are holding up his marijuana decriminalization bill, S-2535, introduced June 4.

Rice opposed a 2019 bill to legalize and regulate recreational marijuana in New Jersey, authored by Sweeney and Scutari. The bill fell slightly short of support needed for a floor vote. If Rice had supported it, it would likely now be law. Then we could focus on the decriminalization issues rightly raised in S-2535.

But decriminalization alone is insufficient marijuana law reform. It would leave the marijuana industry in the hands of the illegal market, with no government regulation or oversight. Legalization is the only way to decrease violence, ensure safe products and reduce inappropriate use  not to mention a way to raise sorely needed tax money.

Rice needs to take an honest look at how the industry is working in the 11 states where recreational marijuana currently is legal. There is little buyer remorse there.

Rice was wrong when he opposed the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act that became law in 2010. He was wrong when he opposed adding post-traumatic stress disorder as a qualifying condition for marijuana therapy. And, Sen. Rice is wrong again in believing that decriminalization is an adequate substitution for legalization, regulation and taxation of marijuana.

Ken Wolski, Executive Director, Coalition for Medical Marijuana-New Jersey, Trenton

Strange silence from NRA on Kentucky case

Kenneth Walker and his girlfriend Breonna Taylor, who are both Black, were relaxing late at night watching television in her home. There was a pounding at the door, and three men  Louisville police officers  broke the door down and burst into the apartment.

Kentucky being an open-carry state, and Walker being a registered gun owner, he took action to defend his life and that of his loved one, firing a shot at the intruders. (Taylor was killed by return fire from the officers.)

Walkers is the kind of situation that the National Rifle Association and other staunch protectors of the Second Amendment cite and prepare for. (Walker was arrested after the incident in May, but charges were dropped later.)

Yet, the NRA has been strangely silent and has not marched on state capitals to champion Walkers cause.

Oh, wait, maybe it is all about race.

Victoria Nguyen, Branchburg

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With life set to return to the citys streets and the prospect of more relaxed rules for public gatherings, the second step of Melbournes road map to recovery spells a sense of relief to the citys food truck vendors.

While the humble street-side food truck might seem well positioned to capitalise on the push for outdoor dining, the past few months of stay-at-home orders have been a battle for survival.

Food truck pioneer Raph Rashid. Credit:Eddie Jim

Pioneer of Melbournes food truck culture Raph Rashid said the second lockdown led him to take his six trucks off the streets and shut shop for two months.

But last week, as spring descended on Melbourne, the owner of the Taco Truck and Beatbox Kitchen decided it was time to get the show back on the road.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 01:51:13|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg on Saturday reaffirmed her country's commitment to the United Nations.

"The United Nations was founded on hope, the hope for a better tomorrow in the aftermath of war. Seventy-five years later, COVID-19 is putting humanity to test," she told the General Debate of the UN General Assembly.

"Building on the lessons from other crises and infectious diseases, Norway continues our unwavering commitment to the UN and multilateral solutions."

In response to the pandemic, Norway took the initiative to establish a UN COVID-19 response and recovery fund, and the country is co-chairing the global effort on access to COVID-19 tests, treatments and vaccines -- the ACT Accelerator, she said. "We stand firm in our conviction that global problems need global solutions."

Whatever old challenges remain and new challenges arise in the next 75 years, the United Nations must be at the center of international coordinated efforts. This is why Norway continues to invest both financially and politically in the United Nations, she said in a pre-recorded speech.

The goal of the United Nations is a world of peace and security; a world ruled by justice and respect for human rights; a world that acts decisively to reduce inequality, poverty and hunger, to stem climate change, to build resilience against pandemics and other global threats, she said.

The pandemic serves as the best example of the need for the world to come together.

"COVID-19 is putting us all to the test. Information, research, treatment and vaccines must be shared in a way that leaves no one behind. If not, we all stand to lose," she said. "We are united against a common enemy. We have been reminded of a simple fact: We are in this together. There is no stronger argument for our continued support for the United Nations." Enditem
Religious, political leaders urge Western Church to remember 'forgotten' persecuted Christians

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Religious and political leaders urged the Church in the West to speak up for persecuted Christians and warned that if the U.S. doesnt lead the fight for religious freedom, the world will regress to our natural fallen state."

There is more persecution worldwide than at any other time in modern history. And there's never been a greater need for action, former Virginia Congressman Frank Wolf said Wednesday night during the In Defense of Christians 2020 digital summit.

He cited statistics from the Pew Research Center revealing that 80% of the worlds population lives in a religiously repressive environment. Out of all the global religions, Christians are the most persecuted group, he said.

Wolf, a longtime advocate for international religious freedom who authored the legislation that created the international religious freedom office at the State Department, specifically mentioned the persecution of Christians,Uighur Muslims and Falun Gong in China. He also decried the genocide occurring in Nigeria.

Boko Haram has killed more people, more Christians in Nigeria, than all the people that ISIS killed in Iraq and Syria combined, he said.

But according to Wolf, the cries of the persecuted are met with the sound of silence" from many in the faith community in the West.

Many Christians in these communities really feel abandoned. And when you visit them, sometimes they almost feel doomed, he explained.

He cited William Wilberforce, who stated: You may choose to look the other way. But you can never say again that you do not know.

With all the information out there today, you really can't say that we do not know, Wolf contended. You should be speaking out for those who are being persecuted and then, regardless of the cost, you're to be acting, doing something about it because we are facing a very, very critical time. The West needs to step up  particularly the Church in the West needs to step up.

The 81-year-old was among many who participated in the online global summit hosted by the prominent Washington-based human rights advocacy organization In Defense of Christians, which engages in grassroots political advocacy campaigns to lobby for the protection of persecuted ancient Christian communities in the Middle East.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, one of several religious leaders to address the summit, said that when he meets with persecuted Christians in foreign countries, theyll constantly say to me, We feel forgotten. We don't hear anybody speaking up for us. We feel like we're orphans.

I say to them, You got it, Dolan told the audience. And Im asking all of you not to make me a liar. We cant forget those Christians suffering throughout the world. We cant ignore them.

As part of the event, IDC named Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, the IDC Champion of 2020 for advocating for the protection and preservation of Christians and Christianity in the Middle East.

Here in the U.S. we enjoy freedom, Crenshaw said while accepting the award. Freedom to largely do what we please, say what we will, where we want to, with whom we want to do it. But we're unique both today and in the longer history of the world. These are freedoms not everyone enjoys, and in far too many places, those freedoms don't even exist at all. Freedom to gather, the freedom of conscience, freedom of worship, is not the norm.

Crenshaw stressed that the fight for freedom here and abroad is not one that will ever be totally won."

"Its a constant battle that requires our eternal vigilance and willingness to be the shining city on the hill that leads by example and is willing to stand up and fight for the freedoms founded on our Judeo-Christian faith that we hold so dearly," the Republican said.

Evils like the Islamic State can only exist when America refuses to lead, he added. We say 'The price is too high. The burden is just too much.'

If the U.S. refuses to lead or fight for the truth that man is born free with inalienable, God-given rights, the world will regress to our natural fallen state where freedom is not the norm, but a brief memory of the distant past, Crenshaw asserted.

Freedom matters, the representative said. Your freedom matters, freedom of Christians across the globe, but especially in the Middle East, the rights of free conscience to pray freely and the ability to worship without fear, matters.

Opening the digital event, IDC President Toufic Baaklini praised the Trump administration for contributing to historic milestones for religious freedom, mentioning Trump's Executive Order on Advancing International Religious Freedom and the recognition of the Armenian genocide in Congress.

We want to thank President Trump for what he's done, Baaklini said. No other president in U.S. history has done for the Christians all over the world [what hes done].

Wednesdays event was co-chaired by Reps. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., and Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb. EWTN News anchor Tracy Sabol served as the master of ceremonies.
The Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) on Sunday ordered a probe into an alleged manhandling of a ward boy by a patient admitted at a Covid hospital that it runs in Lucknow,

The incident at the Rajdhani Covid Hospital, which took place on September 19, turned serious as the PPE kit of the ward boy was allegedly damaged in the scuffle with the patient and he went on to test positive for Covid-19 positive four days later.

The patient allegedly became violent when the ward boy asked him to wait for dinner for some time.

Director SGPGIMS professor Radha Krishna Dhiman has directed the security committee to conduct a probe into the matter.

Manhandling of medical professionals, especially the corona warriors, is not acceptable. People must understand that everyone serving the patient is also a human being. They need support as they are already under heavy stress, said Dhiman.

Doctors and medical staff are already working under immense pressure. Many of the staff members are not able to meet their families for days. Staff and doctors on duty need some protection. We want the hospital administration to take action against the patient, said a doctor serving at the Rajdhani Covid hospital.
Weigh the big screens appeal

There is a significant difference in the risk of movies versus museums. At a movie, you are seated in one place for a long time, and people will be removing masks to eat popcorn and sip drinks, making the risk more akin to that of indoor dining, experts said. Some theaters also serve alcoholic drinks, which may up the risk. Once you have some alcohol in you, you lose some inhibitions and your judgment, Dr. Swartzberg said. It doesnt help that you (or the people around you) are likely to be yelling, screaming or laughing without masks on.

If you choose to go, look for theaters that are very spacious, have limited occupancy and enhanced air filtration systems, although its hard to really know what youre getting with the air  youre at the mercy of how well the engineers have set it up, Dr. Swartzberg said.

You will also want to consider all of the steps involved in getting to your seat and then exiting the theater, and ask what the theater is doing to minimize the potential for crowding. To avoid the post-movie crush at the door, the Alamo Drafthouse chain shows a video directing patrons to exit by rows, but the procedure is not enforced by the staff, Shelli Taylor, the companys chief executive, wrote in an email sent via a spokesman. The company has 41 locations in 10 states, about half of which are open. From what weve seen thus far, especially with the limited seating capacity, exiting has gone smoothly with appropriate social distancing, Ms. Taylor wrote.

Wear the best mask you can, or even goggles or a face shield. You may feel silly, but they reduce your risk, Dr. Rimoin said. Keep that mask on throughout the movie  meaning yes, skip the popcorn. In fact, forgo any snacks, and if you must have a drink, sip it through a straw underneath your mask, Dr. Rimoin said. But youd be better off avoiding the concession stand  and the need to stand in line with other people  entirely.

Wiping down your seat probably isnt necessary, but just the same, it wouldnt hurt to wipe down any parts of it you might touch with your hands. (You might, for example, be touching the seat and then covering your face or your mouth with your hands during a scary part.)
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he is 'deeply concerned' about the mental health consequences of Melbourne's tough Stage Four restrictions, which ease on Monday.

In a joint statement issued on Sunday with Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Health Minister Greg Hunt, the prime minister said he was concerned about the length of the lockdown.

'As it stands this lockdown is already longer than that faced by residents in many cities around the world,' the statement read.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured on Saturday in Adelaide at the SA Liberal Party AGM) issued a joint statement Sunday with Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Health Minister Greg Hunt urging Victoria's Labor Premier Daniel Andrews to lift restrictions quicker

The latest 14-day rolling average of new infections graph for Melbourne from website covid19data.com.au which shows why restrictions are lifting in Victoria

'We remain deeply concerned about the mental health impacts of a prolonged lock down on Melbourne residents.'

The prime minister put pressure on the Victorian premier to ease restrictions faster, saying NSW had done it with a 'world-class contact tracing facility'.

'We would support Victoria in reviewing the trigger of five and zero cases with regards to the third and last steps,' the statement read.

Melbourne residents have been subject to tough Stage Four restrictions since August 2.

The Federal Coalition Government has put increasing pressure on Victoria's Labor Premier to ease restrictions for the sake of the economy, while Mr Andrews has refused to budge, saying his decisions were always based on medical advice.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews pictured giving his daily coronavirus briefing on Sunday as he announced the lifting of some restrictions

Chapel Street, Melbourne, is usually bustling. Pictured: a woman walks alone past an empty shop on the famous strip on September 6. Traders say the lockdowns are killing their business

The prime minister has blasted Mr Andrews for his coronavirus response, saying with good contact tracing the state could have opened up sooner, frequently praising the NSW Liberal government's contact tracing.

Mr Andrews in turn has said that there were just too many daily cases from unknown sources to effectively contact trace without lockdowns, pointing out NSW did not have a daily new infection rate from unknown community sources anything like Victoria did.

Victoria's tough lockdown has rapidly reduced new infections, which fell from 686 on August 5 to just 16 yesterday.

Premier Andrews' four-step plan out of lockdown is based on the reduction of daily numbers as measured by a rolling 14-day average of daily new cases.

People walking on the banks of Melbourne's Yarra River on Sunday. Residents will be relieved by the end of the curfew and the lifting of many restrictions on Monday

As of Sunday, the rolling average was down to 22.1, well below the trigger zone of 30 to 50 needed to move to Step Two of the coronavirus easing.

Melbourne's 9pm to 5am curfew will be lifted on Monday.

An estimated 127,000 workers will be able to return to their jobs and childcare centres can reopen.

Outdoor gatherings of up to five people from two households will now be allowed, however Premier Andrews also announced a new $5,000 fine to punish any unlawful gatherings that flout the limits.

'We are so close, so, so, so close to beating this thing and it is just not appropriate to be going to visit friends or gathering in car parks,' he said on Sunday.

The next step out of lockdown could come as early as October 19, well ahead of the original October 26 target.

'We are ahead of schedule, we have made more progress than we hoped to make at this point in time,' the premier said.

'We must wait and see how things unfold over the next three weeks.'

The trigger for lifting further restrictions will be solely dependent on reaching the target of a 14-day average of five cases per day or less, he said.

Prime Minister Morrison, however, said he wants that trigger to be reviewed and eased.

Victoria recorded 16 new cases on Sunday of which 15 are known and only one is under investigation.

Two more people died bringing the state's death toll to 784.

The latest 14-day rolling average of new infections graph for Melbourne from website covid19data.com.au which shows why restrictions are lifting

Total cases in Victoria reached 20,145 on Sunday night of which 18,754 were from metropolitan Melbourne.

Victoria has contributed the vast majority of Australia's 27,040 total cases.

Small business traders from the Chapel Street Precinct Association (CSPA) criticised Mr Andrews' restriction-lifting timetable on Sunday saying it was a disappointment.

'It failed to address the elephant in the room  how businesses can survive without a cent for more harrowing weeks,' said Chrissie Maus, CSPA general manager in a release on Sunday.

'There has been this nervous exhaustion in the air. So many business leaders are experiencing an increase in mental health issues (such as anxiety) and are on the verge of burnout,' said Ms Maus, echoing the Prime Minister's statement in a media release on the same day.

CSPA executive chair Justin ODonnell called on the Andrews Government to restart the local economy now.

'Our businesses have been ready for some time now with clear and effective COVIDsafe plans ... surely we can at last reopen our businesses, even if there are travel restrictions in place,' he said.

'At least let us open to locals so we can all get back out and support them.'

Mr Andrews has previously said he would be guided by medical advice so as to avoid the threat of another lockdown which would be even more devastating to business than taking tough measures now.
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Linkedin Mariam Harutyunyan and Emil Guliyev (Agence France-Presse) Yerevan, Armenia and Baku, Azerbaijan  Sun, September 27, 2020 18:16 482 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c478ac4c 2 World Azerbaijan,Armenia,conflict Free

Armenia and Azerbaijan put themselves on a war footing after heavy fighting erupted Sunday between Azerbaijan and Armenian separatists claiming military and civilian casualties on both sides, including at least one child.

The worst clashes since 2016 have raised the specter of a fresh large-scale war between arch enemies Azerbaijan and Armenia that have been locked for decades in a territorial dispute over Nagorny Karabakh.

In a televised address to the nation, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev vowed victory over Armenian forces.

"Our cause is just and we will win," Aliyev said, repeating a famous quote from Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin's address at the outbreak of World War II in Russia.

"Azerbaijani army is fighting on its territory," he said.

Both Armenia and the breakaway region of Nagorny Karabakh declared martial law and military mobilization.

"Get ready to defend our sacred homeland," Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Facebook.

Karabakh's leader Araik Harutyunyan told an emergency parliament session in the enclave's main city of Stepanakert that he had "declared martial law" and a mobilization of all those fit for military service.

Armenia said earlier Sunday that Azerbaijan attacked civilian settlements in Nagorny Karabakh including Stepanakert, with the attacks killing of a woman and child.

Azerbaijan's defence ministry said it had launched a "counter offensive to suppress Armenia's combat activity and ensure the safety of the population," using tanks, artillery missiles, combat aviation and drones.

"There are reports of dead and wounded among civilians and military servicemen," the spokesman for the Azerbaijani presidency, Hikmet Hajiyev, said.

Karabakh's ombudsman Artak Beglaryan said "there are civilian casualties" among the region's population.

Ethnic Armenian separatists seized the Nagorny Karabakh region from Baku in a 1990s war that claimed 30,000 lives.

Talks to resolve one of the worst conflicts to emerge from the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union have been largely stalled since a 1994 ceasefire agreement.

France, Russia and the United States have mediated peace efforts as the "Minsk Group" but the last big push for a peace deal collapsed in 2010.

A major confrontation between the ex-Soviet Caucasus neighbors would draw in big regional players Russia and Turkey.

Russia called for an immediate ceasefire as did France.

"We are calling on the sides to immediately halt fire and begin talks to stabilize the situation," Moscow's foreign ministry said

Azerbaijan's ally Turkey blamed Yerevan for the flare-up and promised Baku its "full support".

"We strongly condemn the attack by Armenia against Azerbaijan," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said on Twitter.

"Armenia violated the ceasefire by attacking civilian locations," he said.

The Karabakh leader, Harutyunyan, accused Ankara of sending mercenaries to Azerbaijan.

"We have information that mercenaries from Turkey and other countries were airlifted to Azerbaijan," he said.

"The Turkish army is already in Azerbaijan, under the guise of military drills," he claimed.

On Sunday morning, Azerbaijan started "active bombing" along Karabakh's frontline including civilian targets and in the main city Stepanakert, Karabakh's presidency said.

The rebel defense ministry claimed its troops shot down two Azerbaijani helicopters and three drones.

The claims were denied by the defense ministry in Baku which said its forces were responding to an Armenian offensive.

Hajiyev said Armenian forces in Karabakh "blatantly violated the ceasefire regime and, using large-caliber weapons, mortar launchers and artillery have launched an intense attack on the positions of Azerbaijan's armed forces along the frontline."

Azerbaijan's transport ministry said it has "put restrictions on internet traffic" in order to prevent "Armenian provocations.

On Friday, Aliyev accused Armenia of undermining Karabakh peace talks.

In July, heavy clashes along the two countries' shared border -- hundreds of kilometers from Karabakh -- claimed the lives of at least 17 soldiers from both sides.

Raising the stakes, Azerbaijan at the time threatened to strike Armenia's atomic power station if Yerevan attacked strategic facilities.

During the worst recent clashes in April 2016, around 110 people were killed.

Topics : Azerbaijan Armenia conflict
The station house officer of Chandpa police station in Hathras district under whose jurisdiction a 19-year-old Dalit woman was gang-raped nearly a fortnight ago, has been transferred to the district police lines, an official said on Sunday. Chandpa SHO D K Verma has been sent to police lines for his failure to promptly acting in the case, said Hathras Superintendent of Police Vikrant Vir.

The SP added that some Provincial Armed Constabulary personnel too have been deployed in the area as a precautionary measure to ensure that the matter does not get aggravated due to the gang-rape of the Dalit women. All the named accused in the case have also been arrested, the SP said.

The woman was raped by four men belonging to a village in Chandpa police station area on September 14. The accused had also tried to strangulate her to death as she resisted their attempt and in the process, she had also ended up biting her tongue and suffering a severe cut on it. After the gang-rape, the victim had been admitted to the J N Medical College and Hospital in Aligarh, where her condition was described by officials on Saturday as critical.

The womans father, however, on Sunday, described his daughters condition as satisfactory" and also expressed satisfaction over the medical treatment meted out to her at the hospital. He also expressed disinclination to shift his daughter to AIIMS, Delhi, saying whenever we feel that it is necessary to take her to Delhi, we will tell the administration.

Meanwhile, the Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati on Sunday condemned the gang-rape of the women, saying no woman from any community is safe in Uttar Pradesh and asked the state government to pay attention to it. A Dalit girl in UPs Hathras district was severely beaten up and then was gang-raped, which is extremely-shameful and extremely-condemnable," Mayawati tweeted in Hindi.

Daughters and sisters even from other sections of the society are not safe in the state. The government must pay attention to it. This is the BSPs demand, she added.
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The remaining 79% of parents are still unsure about their children's safety, given the threat of COVID-19.The Uttar Pradesh Board officials planned to allow students to interact with their teachers about any problems they might be facing in online classes.Vishwakarma added.Parents of 2,65,153 students had been made aware of the different academic content being made available for their kids by the government through various online mediums.Source: Medindia
Srinagar, Sep 27 (UNI) An unidentified militant was killed by security forces in an encounter which ensued during a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in south Kashmir district of Pulwama on Sunday, a police spokesman said this evening.

He said that following specific information about presence of militants, a joint CASO was launched by Special Operations Group (SOG) of J&K police, Army and CRPF at Samboora Pampore in Awantipora on Sunday evening.

However, he said when security forces were moving towards a particular area, militants hiding there, fired at them with automatic weapons. The security forces retaliated, ensuing in an encounter, he said.

Spokesman said an unidentified militant was killed and operation was going on when the reports last came in.

Meanwhile, additional security forces were rushed to further cordon of the area to foil any attempts by militants to escape. Security has also been beefed up in the adjoining areas to prevent law and order problem, they added.

UNI ABS SHK1903
NSW Chief Health officer Kerry Chant at a press conference in Homebush in Sydney, Australia on Aug. 17, 2020. (Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)

Sydney Sewage Tests Find COVID-19 Traces

Traces of the COVID-19 virus have been detected in raw sewage across Sydney as part of new research that could provide another tool in the fight against the outbreak, New South Wales Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant says.

She said the sewage testing program undertaken by NSW Health and Sydney Water started in July could show where the virus had been and provide early warning in places without known or recent cases.

This is early days for this research, and we have a lot of work to do analysing our findings, but its one more way we can strengthen our fight against COVID-19, Chant said in a statement.

This is a program that will show us where COVID-19 has been. For instance, we would expect to see viral fragments in Sydney sewage where we have consistently had cases in the community or in hotel quarantine.

However, if we continue to have very few active cases, there is scope for this testing to provide early warning in places without known or recent cases.

Sydney Waters General Manager Customer, Strategy and Engagement, Maryanne Graham, said treatment processes effectively deactivated the virus and there was no risk to testing staff.

She said Sydney Water was also supporting NSW Health by analysing samples from regional areas including the Hunter, the North Coast, Southern and Western NSW.

NSW health officials have again urged people to get tested urgently when COVID-19 symptoms appear, with residents increasingly moving about the state during school holidays.

NSW recorded no locally acquired cases on Sept. 26 after a mystery infection on Sept. 25 ended a three-day run without community transmission.

Just a single case was identified in the latest reporting perioda returned traveller in hotel quarantinefrom more than 12,000 tests.

Even so, NSW Health stressed that getting tested right away at the earliest symptoms remained vital, especially in Sydneys southwest.

Fridays local case was a man in his 50s from that area but who had not had contact with a previously confirmed case.

There are concerns his infection could reset NSWs border clock with Queensland if authorities cant determine how he got sick.

Queensland chief health officer Jeannette Young says she will await the result of an investigation.

NSW must record 28 days with no community transmissions before its border with Queensland is reopeneda feat Premier Gladys Berejiklian says is a pretty tall order.

That target was on track to be reached on Oct. 6 but the case has put it in doubt.
Long-haul carrier Qatar Airways on Sunday reported revenue losses of $1.9 billion for the past year, blaming the coronavirus pandemic, its liquidation of shares in Air Italy and the ongoing boycott of Doha by four Arab nations for the drop.

The energy-rich nation of Qatar itself needed to bail out the state-owned airline at the end of its financial year on March 31 with $2 billion to keep the airline operating, its annual report acknowledged.

The carrier also blamed new accounting rules for further adding to losses for the past fiscal year.

If not for the exceptional circumstances of fiscal year 2020, our results would have been better than the year before, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al-Baker said in a statement.

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 airline carried 32.3 million passengers in the last fiscal year, compared to 29.4 million the year prior.

But Qatar Airways finds itself in the same position of competing Gulf long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad, slashing thousands of jobs while trying to expand its network as travel restrictions lift worldwide.

Thats as demand for flights remains low over fears about the virus, which has wreaked havoc on international travel.

The airline listed having over 50,000 employees on its payroll in the report.

Qatar Airways, which operates some 250 aircraft out of Dohas recently built Hamad International Airport, follows the model of other Gulf carriers by providing a link between East and West from its location on the Arabian Peninsula.

But the lessened demand saw the carrier ground its double-decker Airbus A380s as it is not commercially or environmentally justifiable to operate such a large aircraft in the current market, the airline said in a statement.

The coronavirus pandemic halted global aviation for months, which only has begun to pick back up.

Qatar also has been targeted by Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in a boycott since June 2017.

That boycott continues today, despite efforts by other Gulf Arab nations and the US to reconcile the countries involved in the political dispute.

Al-Baker said since the pandemic, Qatar Airways has flown over 2 million passengers and carried over 250,000 tons of medicine and aid to areas impacted by the coronavirus.

"I have every confidence that the Qatar Airways Group will emerge stronger from this difficult period and continue to innovate and set the standards that our competitors can only hope to emulate, he said.

Further hurting the airline was the February collapse of Air Italy, a regional carrier it held a 49 percent ownership stake in at its launch in 2018.

Air Italy had been trying to rename and become a national carrier with flights across Europe.

Qatar Airways in its financials said it likely would lose nearly $400 million alone on Air Italy.

Qatar Airways also restated its losses for the previous year in the financial report Sunday, putting it at close to $1.3 billion as opposed to the $639 million it earlier reported. It lost $69 million in 2018.
The stability of the global oil market is under threat. The impact of COVID-19 and the resultant demand destruction has put an ever-increasing amount of oil and gas producers on the path to bankruptcy. At present, the list of U.S. shale oil and gas producers filing for Chapter 11 is growing by the day, while global oilfield services and offshore drilling companies are fighting to survive. Ultimately, this very dire situation is being driven by oil and gas demand and prices, which is why a degree of stability has returned with oil prices back around the $40 mark. But there is another variable beyond just supply and demand that is now threatening to reintroduce instability to markets. Fossil Fuel Divestment, supported by international governments, international financial institutions, and investors is now threatening to push oil and gas companies into the abyss. In recent weeks, a group of 12 major cities in the EU, USA, and Africa, all pledged to divest from coal, oil, and gas. These cities are home to more than 36 million residents and hold over $295 billion in assets. Led by London and New York City, they have decided to divest from the fossil fuel assets that they directly control and have called on the pension funds managing their money to do the same. The other cities joining the divestment declaration are Berlin, Bristol, Cape Town, Durban, Los Angeles, Milan, New Orleans, Oslo, Pittsburgh, and Vancouver.

Activist investors, in-line with the growing Western media onslaught on hydrocarbon production and use, are putting not only the future of international oil and gas producers at risk but increasingly removing the necessary equilibrium between independent (privately owned) oil and gas producers and the national oil companies. For decades, global oil and gas production has been built on several mainstream structures, including the Texas Railroad Commission, Seven Sisters, and OPEC. These structures have helped to stabilize and structure the market to benefit producers, shareholders, and consumers at the same time. The power balance between the Seven Sisters (which in its modern form consists of Shell, BP, ExxonMobil, and Chevron) and OPEC producers has regulated the $1.7-1.8 trillion oil market through times of financial crisis, regional wars, and Black Swan events. This necessary cooperation or power equilibrium is now being undermined by investors and politicians, threatening not only energy and petroleum product supply to global markets but also diminishing the influence of consumer countries on producers, such as OPEC.

An increasing amount of international financial giants, such as Dutch asset manager Robeco, are committed to excluding investments in thermal coal, oil sands, and Arctic drilling from all its mutual funds. The Dutch fund stated this week that it will bar companies that derive 25% or more of their revenues from thermal coal or oil sands, or 10% or more from Arctic drilling. The Dutch asset manager, holding around 155 billion euros ($181 billion), has already excluded thermal coal investment from its sustainable funds.

Related: Oil Bulls Return As OPEC+ Reassures Markets Our move to exclude investments in fossil fuels from our funds is a further step in our efforts to lower the carbon footprint of our investments, transitioning to a lower-carbon economy, said Victor Verberk, Robecos CIO fixed income and sustainability. Robecos move follows a growing list of European insurers and asset managers that have cut investments in fossil fuels, including Dutch insurer Aegon. Robeco said it would complete the exclusion of fossil fuel firms by the end of this year. European insurers, asset managers, and pension funds are not the only ones. Recent reports indicate that global investors have already excluded $5.4 trillion from fossil fuels.

The main driver behind this divestment craze is a determination to remove man-made greenhouse gas emissions in order to counter climate change. Reports indicate that 80% of all global emissions come from fossil fuels. To reach the goals set out by governments, emissions need to be cut by two-thirds, or fossil fuel production has to be cut by 1% per year through to 2050. Fossil fuel production has seen a growth of 2% per year in the last 30 years. In the eyes of most investors and activists/governments, divesting in fossil fuel companies will be a major step forward. Some investors are arguing that it is economically sensible to divest based on the stranded asset argument put forward in a major report from the Bank of England. Bank, equity and pension funds are worried that the intrinsic value of fossil fuel assets is much lower than current market valuations.

The issue with that argument is that risks are not being taken into account by most investors and politicians. Even if the total value of hydrocarbon producers on stock exchanges has dwindled, the impact of divestment on asset allocation and returns will be immense. Fossil fuel producers make up around 6% of the global stock market and over 12% of the UK market. As some have already stated, excluding an entire sector impacts asset allocation, resulting in increased benchmark risk (relative to the market) and potentially higher volatility. Investment bank Schroders research shows that over the long-term the impact of exclusions on investment returns is minimal. However, it can increase volatility in the short term.

Related: Chinas Crude Oil Imports Are Slowing Down

Investors are leaving the market, share prices are plunging, company strategies are being changed and production is in danger. In recent weeks, statements by BP and Shell that they want to move part of their investments from upstream oil and gas to green have been met with plenty of positive reactions from the media, but the announcements should really give observes reason to worry. Going green is putting market stability at risk. Assessments about the major asset re-evaluations by privately-owned oil companies in recent months should be taken with a grain of salt. Even if the worlds biggest oil companies were to slash the value of reserves and current projects in 2020, such as French major Total writing down about $7 billion of Canadian oil sands assets, or Shells $4.7 billion hit in the second quarter relating to assets in North America, Brazil, and Europe and a project in Nigeria, the real value is a book value. At times of crisis and uncertainty, it is always attractive to take impairments. Even Exxon Mobil warned in August that low energy prices may wipe out as much as one-fifth of its oil and natural gas reserves. Not only do shareholders feel the pain of lower revenues and dividends in times like these, but hydrocarbon projects become uneconomical. By removing multibillion-dollar hydrocarbon investment projects around the world though, supply will be hit hard in the coming years while demand will continue to grow. Renewable projects are only able to counter the growing demand for energy, not for products. It should be worrying that IOCs, such as Shell or BP are not only divesting part of their global oil and gas acreage and projects but also stopping exploration for new acreage. If oil and gas markets are destabilized further, it will be left to NOCs to save the market. Clean energy analysts seem to have failed to understand that the stranded assets of IOCs are assets ripe for others. Profit margins, dividends, and activist shareholders are not such an issue for Aramco, ADNOC, NNPC, Gazprom, or CNOOC. With lower supply in the coming years, and demand likely to return, prices will increase and margins will go up. This will make the growing list of so-called stranded assets commercially attractive again. But this time they will likely fall into the hands of NOCs rather than IOCs.

The future of IOCs and independents is not looking very promising. Lack of access to financial markets and a political-societal drive to block hydrocarbon projects makes some of the worlds largest oil firms look like pension funds or even graveyard construction companies. The future for NOCs, especially the OPEC+ parties, however, is bright. Without activist shareholders to worry about, easy access to financial markets, and SWFs, NOCs are not only able to reap the rewards of the current onslaught, they are also willing. For NOCs there are no stranded assets, every drop of resource can and will be produced and used, as it is part of their national identity. For Western and Asian consumers, however, it will mean that their politicians and companies will need to deal with the new hydrocarbon powers. Dealing with Shell or BP on a European government level is easy. To deal with a NOC, supported by its respective national government, is of a far more complex question. Regulating the market in the future will be a real headache for consumers.

By Cyril Widdershoven for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Theres some debate going on in conservative circles about whether Biden will show up at the debate and, if he does, whether hell be an incoherent mess or unexpectedly competent. The debate will continue thanks to Bidens Saturday performance. The news yielded two epic Slow Joe moments, a Hitler insult, and a lie. Joe, however, is assuring anyone who will listen that hell do fine at the debate because Trump is not that smart. Whatever theyre pumping into Joe, it must be good stuff.

No matter how carefully Bidens handlers are keeping him cocooned, and how foreshortened his days (with Biden often signing off as early as 9 a.m.), Biden still has to make the occasional appearance. On Saturday, Joe presented Americans with two farcical moments, one typical lie, and a disgraceful statement about Trump.

On the farcical front, Joe seemed a little unclear about how old he is. We know that, if he were to win, he be the oldest person ever to become president, but this is ridiculous:

Well, in all fairness of COURSE hes exhausted. I mean, 180 years in the Senate. Cmon, man! Thats a lot of work. #TiredOldJoe pic.twitter.com/elrDp8Tp2p  James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) September 26, 2020

I guess when youre that old, youre entitled to forget a few things. Thats what Biden did when talking to MSNBCs Stephanie Ruhle, although she was very willing to help him out:

Awkward. MSNBCs Stephanie Ruhle just had to help Joe Biden remember what hes talking about after he loses his train of thought pic.twitter.com/5u49j8P9zU  TV News HQ (@TVNewsHQ) September 26, 2020

News also emerged on Saturday that Biden, whose presidential aspirations were derailed in 1987 because of his compulsive lying, was caught in another lie:

Last year, Biden claimed on the campaign trail to have attended Delaware State University, one of the countrys historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). I got started out of an HBCU, Delaware State  now, I dont want to hear anything negative about Delaware State, Mr. Biden told the audience of a town hall event in South Carolina before the states Democratic primary. Theyre my folks. On Friday, the school confirmed that Bidens claim isnt true. Biden was never a student there. Vice President Biden did not attend DSU, Carlos Holmes, director of news service for Delaware State, told the Washington Times. However he was the Commencement keynote speaker in 2003 and [2016], and during the former he was awarded an honorary doctoral degree.

Given Joes history of lying, youd think he might have wanted to think twice  assuming hes capable of thinking at all  before using the Ruhle interview to accuse Trump of engaging in Goebbel-style lies. But he didnt think twice; he just went for it:

Joe Biden says Donald Trump is "sort of like" Nazi official Joseph Goebbels.



Goebbels helped carry out the systematic murder of more than six million Jewish people. This is a disgusting thing for a politician to say. pic.twitter.com/xJQFGpQD2k  David Hookstead (@dhookstead) September 26, 2020

Joe is confused, forgetful, dishonest, and malevolent. But the important thing is that he feels good about himself. In that same Ruhle interview, Biden proudly announced that Trump is just too dumb to make a decent showing on the debate stage opposite Biden. (Stick around for the commentary afterward in the above video. Its unintentionally funny.)

Much as I think Bidens a moron, hes also going to be super prepped, super rested, and perhaps super augmented with all sorts of interesting medicinals. We also know that hes had a lot of debate practice during three Democrat primaries over the past three and half decades and that he can spout a line of meaningless B.S. with the best of them. And of course, hes a bully, as we saw with his beat-down of Paul Ryan in 2012. Trump would be wise not to underestimate him.

Having said that, Im reasonably confident that Biden is not Trumps equal, and that Trump will display mastery of the facts and mastery over himself. The latter will enable Trump to poke Joe in ways that will make Joe, whos always had limited self-control, reveal his most ugly qualities.

Image: Joe Biden on MSNBC. YouTube screengrab.
In a race defined by economic views and pandemic fears, and riven by wide gender and education gaps, Joe Biden retains a 10-point lead nationally against Donald Trump in a new ABC News/Washington Post poll, contracting to six points with third-party candidates included.

Biden's 54%-44% advantage over Trump in a two-way contest precisely matches the last national ABC/Post poll in mid-August. Biden's support slips to 49% when the Libertarian and Green Party candidates are included, versus 43% for Trump.

The results underscore Trump's precarious position as the first president in 81 years of modern polling never to achieve majority approval for his work in office. He's at 44% approval among all Americans, ranging from 52% for handling the economy to 40% on the coronavirus outbreak. Fifty-eight percent disapprove of his performance on the pandemic, a key to Biden's support.

At the same time, the presence of Libertarian candidate Jo Jorgensen and Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins could pose a challenge to Biden in close states. Biden's 5-point decline when these candidates are included is a significant, albeit slight, shift.

See PDF for full results, charts and tables.

Related: Polls show surges in support of Joe Biden

Biden continues to trail Trump, by 20 percentage points, in strong enthusiasm among their respective likely voters in this poll, produced for ABC by Langer Research Associates. Still, another measure finds broad antipathy toward Trump: Among those who don't support him, 59% say his reelection would be a crisis for the country. Among those not backing Biden, fewer -- but still 50% -- say it'd be a crisis if he won.

It's true, as well, that national preferences don't always reflect Electoral College outcomes, as was the case in 2016 and 2000. Recent ABC/Post state-level polls found virtually even races in Florida and Arizona and a close contest in Wisconsin, although a wide Biden lead in Minnesota, which Trump has sought to contest.

Story continues

Trump and Biden meet Tuesday in their first presidential campaign debate.

Change?

There's room for changes in preferences, but, as in any highly polarized election, not much. Among likely voters who don't back Trump now, 6% say they'd consider voting for him. Similarly, 5% of those who don't currently support Biden would consider him. That makes for a net total of 5% of likely voters who can be considered movable a a thin slice, albeit potentially enough to matter in some states.

What's likely to matter more is turnout, a question complicated this year by pandemic-related concerns. Just 46% of likely voters plan to cast their ballot in person on Election Day; 50% instead plan to vote early or absentee. Who goes through with it is highly consequential: Trump leads by 19 points, 58%-39%, among Election Day voters, while it's Biden by more than a 2-1 margin, 67%-31%, among those who intend to vote before then.

Issues

The pandemic, of course, has disrupted far more than balloting plans. Sixty-two percent of adults worry that they or an immediate family member may catch the virus, which has claimed more than 200,000 American lives. Likely voters who express this concern favor Biden, 71%-27%.

The economy, even in a pandemic-prompted recession, works better for Trump. While just 40% of Americans say it's in good shape, that's up from 31% just last month. And Trump leads by 82%-17% among likely voters who rate the economy positively. Further, a quarter call the economy the top issue in their vote, and those economy-focused voters favor Trump by 80%-18%.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally, Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, in Atlanta. (John Bazemore/AP)

That said, in a head-to-head test, the two candidates run very closely in trust to handle the economy, 49%-46%, Trump-Biden. And other results on trust are revealing: While Trump has hit hard on the issue of crime and safety, it's Biden who's slightly ahead in trust to handle it, 50%-44%. Biden leads by eight points in trust to handle the next Supreme Court nomination (as reported Friday), 11 points on the pandemic, 16 points on health care and 20 points on equal treatment of racial groups.

Trust on crime is about the same in the suburbs, 50%-46%, Biden-Trump, as nationally overall. Suburban men trust Trump more on crime by 20 points, but suburban women -- a group Trump has focused on -- trust Biden more, by 61%-37%. That tilts to Biden because of the share of suburban women -- about 1 in 3 -- who are racial or ethnic minorities. (Among suburban white women, it's 51%-46%, Biden-Trump.)

There's one warning flare here for Biden: His lead on trust to handle the pandemic has shrunk from 20 points during the summertime surge in cases in mid-July, 54%-34%, to today's 11-point margin, 51%-40%.

As noted, the economy leads as the most important issue, with no consensus on what comes next. Seventeen percent pick the pandemic as their top issue, and likely voters who say so support Biden by 84%-13%. About as many say it's either health care or equal treatment of racial groups; again more than 8 in 10 in both of these groups back Biden. Twelve percent cite crime and safety as their main concern -- and in this group, 84% support Trump. Lastly, 11% focus on the next Supreme Court nomination, with closer vote preferences, 54%-45%, Biden-Trump.

In another delineating result, the public by 54%-42% supports recent protests against police treatment of Black people. Eight in 10 supporters of these protests favor Biden; 77% of opponents are with Trump.

Across issues, these results illuminate the logic of the current campaign, as Trump touts economic recovery and raises crime concerns while Biden pushes on the pandemic response, health care and equal treatment, and both navigate the trickier Supreme Court issue.

Third party

The impact of third-party candidates may be tough to gauge, since the pandemic has constrained their campaigns just as it has Trump's and Biden's. This survey asked two-candidate preferences first, then re-asked the question with Jorgensen and Hawkins added. Biden, as noted goes from 54% to 49% with these two included; that decline is significant at the 90% confidence level, as opposed to the conventional standard, 95%.

Trump moving from 44% to 43% is not statistically significant. Four percent express support for Jorgensen, who's on the ballot in all 50 states; 3% for Hawkins, who's on the ballot in 28 states. (In 2016, the Libertarian won 3%, the Green candidate, 1%.)

Groups

Using two-candidate preferences, huge gaps are evident across population groups. Trump leads by 13 points among men; Biden, by a wide 31 points among women. Trump's up 6 points against Biden among nongraduates, while Biden leads by 30 points among college grads. The race is close among likely voters age 50 and older, while those younger than 30 back Biden by nearly 2-1 (using registered voters for an adequate sample size).

Unpeeling some groups demonstrates the depth of the gender gap, in particular. While the race is a close 52-47%, Biden-Trump, in the suburbs, that's 60-38%, Trump-Biden, among suburban men, compared with 66-34%, Biden-Trump, among suburban women. And it's Trump up 8 among men who are political independents, versus a 77%-20% Biden-Trump blowout among independent women.

PHOTO: This combination of pictures shows Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Sept. 23, 2020, at Camp North End in Charlotte, N.C., and President Donald Trump during a campaign rally at Cecil Airport in Jacksonville, Fla., on Sept. 24, 2020. (Photos by Jim Watson and Brendan Smialowski / AFP)

In another sharp difference, evangelical white Protestants, a core Republican group, support Trump by an expected 75%-25% -- but non-evangelical white Protestants go 58%-41%, Biden-Trump. (White Protestants account for nearly 3 in 10 likely voters; 57% are evangelicals, the rest not.)

Notable, too, is that Trump and Biden are dead even, 49%-49%, in households that include a veteran or active-duty member of the military; these generally are thought to be a more pro-GOP group. Trump took criticism in the past month for reports that he had disparaged military service, which he denied.

Among other groupings, Biden leads by 54%-42% in the 13 states that currently are the most contested by the candidates (Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin). Moreover, it's Biden by 20 points in the blue states won by Hillary Clinton, while dead even, 49%-49%, in the 2016 red states. Trump won those states four years ago by 53%-42%.

2016 comparisons

Comparisons to 2016, based on ABC News exit poll results, are telling. Among the most striking differences:

Clinton won political moderates by 12 points. Biden leads among them by 47 points, 72%-25%.

Clinton won independent women by four points. As noted, Biden leads among them by a remarkable 57 points.

Trump won whites by 20 points in 2016; he's up six points among whites now. One reason: White women have switched from plus-9 points for Trump in 2016 to plus-15 points for Biden now, 57%-42%. That includes a vast shift among college-educated white women, from up 7 points for Clinton to up 41 points for Biden now.

Clinton won college-educated voters overall by 10 points; as noted, Biden now leads in this group by 30 points. In addition to college-educated white women, the change is sharp among people with postgraduate degrees, from up 21 points for Clinton four years ago to up 47 points for Biden now.

Non-evangelical white Protestants, as mentioned, support Biden by a 17-point margin; that compares to essentially an even split in 2016, 48%-45%, Trump-Clinton.

Trump, at the same time, has retained and even consolidated his core support groups. Overall, among 2020 likely voters who report having supported him in 2016, 91% support him now. He's backed by 87% of conservatives, who account for a substantial 36% of all likely voters. And while Biden would be just the second Catholic president, white Catholics -- an on-again, off-again swing voter group -- side with Trump, 55%-44%.

PHOTO: Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden speaks at an outdoor 'Black Economic Summit' while campaigning for president in Charlotte, N.C., Sept. 23, 2020. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

Methodology

This ABC News/Washington Post poll was conducted by landline and cellular telephone Sept. 21 to 24, 2020, in English and Spanish, among a random national sample of 1,008 adults, including 889 registered voters and 739 likely voters. Results have a margin of sampling error of 3.5 points, including design effects, for the full sample and registered voters, and 4.0 points for likely voters. Partisan divisions are 31%-27%-37%, Democrats-Republicans-independents, among all respondents; 33%-29%-35% among registered voters; and 33%-32%-32% among likely voters.

The survey was produced for ABC News by Langer Research Associates of New York, with sampling and data collection by Abt Associates of Rockville, Maryland. See details on the survey's methodology here.

Between the economy and coronavirus pandemic, Biden keeps his advantage nationally: POLL originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Minister of Health Nelu Tataru on Sunday voted for the change of the local administration and also for a change of mentality, saying that this is the when "we will put things back in order" in the Romanian society.

"I have voted the same as I have voted in the past 15 years, since I came to Husi, I voted for a change, for a different mentality, for a different assessment by every one of us of the society in Husi. We need a change, for we need to take care of our children, of our parents. There are very many young people in Husi who are away and it's time for them to come back home. I believe that the time has come to change the local administration, which only followed its personal interest, and I believe that we can change it. The administration needs to work in the best interest of the community. I believe that today is the day when we make a change. I saw people coming to the polling stations, there are a lot of people, and I am glad that they all want to change their destiny. What I expect from people is to change society, and not just in Husi, but in entire Romania. I believe this is the day when we will put things back in order," Nelu Tataru told AGERPRES.

Minister of Health said he expected citizens to observe the rules imposed by the pandemic.

"At the polling stations I saw that people observe the rules and I was glad to see that we are partners in such a difficult time. This partnership must remain during the entire time so that we will be able to manage the cold season, a season when we expect other diseases to manifest themselves. I believe that every one of us and all together we can overcome this tough moment. We just need to observe the rules," said Nelu Tataru.

The Minister of Health voted at the section arranged at the "Sfanta Ecaterina" vocational school in Husi, together with his wife.
Army readies for winter deployment along Indo-China border

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Sep 27: Although there are hopes of an early resolution, India is preparing for a long long during the winter along the border with China.

There are around 50,000 troops on each side which are backed by tanks, air defence systems and artillery.

Last week the spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs, Anurag Srivastava said that the meeting between the military commanders of both sides took place after a gap of nearly 50 days, but resulted in a joint statement.

Now China triggers a border row with Nepal with construction of 11 structures

Corps commanders of the two sides held a crucial round of talks 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.

He further added that disengagement of troops is a complex process and will need mutually agreed reciprocal actions between the two sides.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.

India-China border standoff: Video shows Army tanks near the Line of Actual Control | Oneindia News

"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," the MEA spokesperson also said.

In recent years, China demolished around 16,000 Mosques

"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.

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Story first published: Sunday, September 27, 2020, 9:47 [IST]
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A woman is dead after a hit-and-run crash in New Haven early Sunday.

The 68-year-old, who has not been identified by police, was found after police and fire units responded to multiple 911 calls reporting a pedestrian struck on Whalley Avenue between Davis Street and Anthony Street.

The woman was pronounced deceased on scene, according to New Haven Police Capt. Anthony Duff.

Officers learned the pedestrian was allegedly struck by one or more cars which fled the scene. A vehicles bumper and additional evidence was found at the crash scene.

NHPD Major Crimes detectives, Bureau of Identification forensic detectives and the Accident Reconstruction Team responded to the location, which remained a crime scene for several hours. Streets have now reopened.

New Haven Police ask witnesses who have not yet spoken to detectives to call 203-946-6304.
Afghanistans dwindling community of Sikhs and Hindus is shrinking to its lowest levels. With growing threats from the local Islamic State affiliate, many are choosing to leave the country of their birth to escape the insecurity and a once-thriving community of as many as 250,000 members now counts fewer than 700.

The communitys numbers have been declining for years because of deep-rooted discrimination in the majority Muslim country. But, without what they say is adequate protection from the government, the attacks by the Islamic State group may complete the exodus.

We are no longer able to stay here, said a member of the tiny community, who asked to be identified only by his last name, Hamdard, out of fear he may be targeted for speaking out. Hamdard said seven relatives of his, including his sister, nephews, and son-in-law were killed by Islamic State gunmen in an attack on the communitys temple in March, which killed 25 Sikhs.

Hamdard said that fleeing his homeland is as difficult as leaving a mother behind. Still, he joined a group of Sikhs and Hindus who left Afghanistan last month for India, from where they will eventually move on to a third country.

Although Sikhism and Hinduism are two distinct religions with their own holy books and temples, in Afghanistan the communities are interwoven, having been driven into a kinship by their tiny size, and they both gather under one roof or a single temple to worship, each following their own faith.

The community has suffered widespread discrimination in the conservative Muslim country, with each government threatening us their own way, said Hamdard, whose home was seized by warlords after the U.S. invasion in 2001, forcing him to live in one of two Sikh temples in the Afghan capital of Kabul.

Under Taliban rule in the late 1990s, Sikhs and Hindus were asked to identify themselves by wearing yellow armbands, but after a global outcry, the rule was not enforced. Also driving the exodus is the inability to reclaim Sikh homes, businesses and houses of worship that were illegally seized years ago.

Hindu temples in Kabuls old city were destroyed during brutal fighting between rival warlords from 1992-96. The fighting drove out scores of Hindu and Sikh Afghans.

Aside from the March attack by IS gunmen, a 2018 Islamic State suicide attack in the city of Jalalabad killed 19 people, most of them Sikhs, including a longtime leader who had nominated himself for the Afghan parliament.

Suffering big fatalities for a small community is not tolerable, said Charan Singh Khalsa, a leader of the Sikh community living abroad, who declined to say where he was living out of fear for his safety. He left Afghanistan after his brother was kidnapped and killed in an attack by gunmen in Kabul two years ago. He said the last three years have been the worst period for all Afghans, but especially so for Sikhs and Hindus.

Community leaders have slammed recent governments for failing to step up security in the face of the IS threat.

Afghanistans government in 2010 decided to dedicate a chair in the national assembly to religious minorities, and there have since been two Sikh representatives.

But Khalsa called these posts symbolic. He criticized the government for taking too long to grant political representation powers to the community and for failing to provide security to our places of worship.

A senior Sikh community leader told The Associated Press that the group is in negotiations with the government over its security needs and the repairing of the temple after it was destroyed in Marchs attack. The community leader spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the negotiations with the media.

At a press conference last month, President Ashraf Ghanis spokesman, Sediq Sediqqi, said that members of the Afghan Sikh and Hindu community will return once peace is restored. The presidents office did not respond to a request for comment from the AP, but other Afghan officials have pledged to assist the community.

We will use all our facilities to provide security to the people, Interior Ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said, without elaborating. We are committed and responsible for their (Sikhs and Hindus) mental and personal security.

It is not clear what kind of security measures are being discussed, nor when they might be seen on the ground.

Until then, the communitys flight is accelerating, with large numbers of Sikhs and Hindus continuing a recent trend of seeking asylum in India, which has a Hindu majority and a large Sikh population.

In August, a group of 176 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus went to India on special visas. They were the second batch since March, with the first 11 members arriving in India in July.

Khalsa said that a group of Afghan Sikhs and Hindus in Canada and European countries has volunteered to sponsor the exodus of those remaining in Kabul who cannot afford air tickets and temporary accommodation in a transit country.

Several Canadian legislators have asked the countrys immigration ministry for a special program for Afghan Sikh and Hindu refugees, requesting that they be brought to safety in Canada amid the increasing security threat.

For Afghan Sikhs, the thought of being uprooted is painful, despite the circumstances.

Its hard to leave our birthplace but we have no other option, said Hamdard. Afghanistan does not want us anymore.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 18:22:58|Editor: huaxia

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INCHEON, South Korea, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- South Korea on Sunday returned 117 more remains of Chinese soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War.

The seventh repatriation ceremony was held at the Incheon International Airport, west of the capital Seoul, to hand over the remains of 117 Chinese People's Volunteers martyrs killed in the war.

During the ceremony, South Korean troops delivered the coffins to Chinese soldiers, and the Chinese ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming covered the coffins with China's national flag before the coffins were carried onto the airplane.

It was the seventh repatriation ceremony. In the previous six repatriations, South Korea had returned the remains of 599 Chinese People's Volunteers martyrs killed in the Korean War, including 437 in 2014, 68 in 2015, 36 in 2016, 28 in 2017, 20 in 2018 and 10 in 2019 each.

At this year's ceremony, Chinese Vice Minister of Veterans Affairs Chang Zhengguo said China and South Korea have jointly carried out handover of the remains of the Chinese People's Volunteers martyrs in South Korea for seven consecutive years and returned in total 716 remains to their motherland, following humanitarian principles and in the spirit of friendship and practical cooperation.

Chang noted that against the backdrop of the COVID-19 outbreak this year, both sides have made more efforts in order to successfully complete the handover.

The Chinese side appreciated the efforts made by the South Korean side and is ready to deepen friendly cooperation and exchanges between the two countries, promote the protection of the remains of the Chinese People's Volunteers martyrs in South Korea and bring more remains of the martyrs back to their motherland as soon as possible.

In 2014, South Korea agreed with China to repatriate the remains of fallen Chinese soldiers according to international law and humanitarian spirit, the Seoul defense ministry said.

China and South Korea have consulted every year on the repatriation of the Chinese soldiers' remains found in South Korea.

The Chinese People's Volunteers fought alongside the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) army in the Korean War against the South Korean army and the United States-led UN forces between 1950 and 1953. Enditem
Dharma Productions boss Karan Johar remained tight-lipped about the Bollywood-drug link probe as Republic Media Network questioned the producer-director as he was departing to Mumbai from Goa on Sunday.

Karan Johar's party video from 2019 is under NCB's lens as the agency has taken up Manjinder Singh Sirsa's complaint about the gathering which featured top Bollywood actors and celebrities. In the clip, first posted by Johar on Instagram last year, actors Deepika Padukone, Ranbir Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, Arjun Kapoor, Malaika Arora, Vicky Kaushal, Shahid Kapoor among others can be seen partying together. The needle of suspicion is on one particular part of the video where Vicky Kaushal appears to be 'sniffing' and something resembling a white pattern can be seen close to him and Ayan Mukherji. While some say that it is a 'substance', others opine that it may be merely a reflection of light.

On being questioned by Republic TV about the Bollywood A-listers being named in the drug probe by the NCB, Karan Johar refused to divulge anything even as questions were constantly directed at him. This came just after the NCB received a forensic report about the video.

READ | Top Bollywood Producer, Several Male Actors Under Scanner In Ongoing Drug Probe: Sources

Karan Johar's video authenticated

Republic Media Network sources on Sunday informed that the forensic report of the party video at Karan Johars residence in 2019 where over which questions were raised has been submitted to the NCB.

The report from the forensic department states that the video is authentic and hasnt been doctored or edited, sources said. A meeting will be called over the same where the NCB team led by NCB Deputy Director KPS Malhotra and DDG Mutha Ashok Jain will discuss this with NCB DG Rakesh Asthana to decide on the next course of action.

This comes a day after director-producer Karan Johar has quashed all claims and allegations that narcotics were consumed at one of the parties organised at the filmmaker's home, calling the allegations false and baseless. On Friday, Johar shared a lengthy statement on Instagram saying that neither he consumes narcotics nor does he encourage people to use any such substance.

READ | NCB Dials Deepika Padukone For Summons; Officials Visit Sara & Shraddha's Residence

In the statement, Karan Johar categorically stated that he has neither consumed drugs nor supported their consumption

Watch Republic question Karan Johar in the video above.

READ | Vicky Kaushal Confronted On 2019 Party Video Amid NCB Bollywood Drug Probe; Speeds Away

READ | Karan Johar's 2019 Bollywood Party Video 'authentic & Unedited'; NCB To Chart Next Step
Laura Zimmermann, Co-President of Operation Libero, center, together with Valentin Vogt, President of the Swiss Employers' Federation, Renato Perlini, campaign manager of Operation Libero, and Stefan Manser-Egli, Co-President of Operation Libero, from left, are pleased with the result of the vote, at the Hotel Schweizerhof in Bern, on Sept. 27, 2020. (Peter Klaunzer/Keystone via AP)

Swiss Voters Reject Plan to Limit Jobs for EU Citizens

GENEVAVoters in Switzerland on Sunday strongly defeated a nationalist partys proposal to limit the number of European Union citizens allowed to live and work in their country.

Swiss public broadcaster SRF reported that the measure was rejected by 61.7 percent of voters, with 38.3 percent in favor. All but four of the countrys 26 cantons, or states, likewise opposed the planproposed by the Swiss Peoples Partyto give preferential access to jobs, social protection, and benefits to people from Switzerland over those from the 27-nation bloc that surrounds it.

A man walks past posters of the Swiss Peoples Party (SVP) and of the Komitee Arbeitsplaetze fuer Einheimische schuetzen (committee to protect jobs for locals) in Zurich, Switzerland, on Sept. 17, 2020. (Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters)

The government had warned that the measure could further strain the rich Alpines countrys deep and lucrative ties to the EU. It could also have triggered reciprocal disadvantages for millions of Swiss citizens if they want to live or work in the EU.

Especially at this time, during the difficult economic situation caused by the corona crisis, good relations with our neighbors and with the EU are important, Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter said, welcoming the outcome of the vote.

She said Switzerland would continue to pursue a bilateral path with the EU, eschewing membership of the bloc while seeking close economic ties with it.

In a nod to the misgivings many Swiss have about the countrys big neighbor, Keller-Sutter acknowledged that freedom of movement doesnt just have benefits.

The Federal Council only wants as much immigration as necessary, she said. That continues to be our goal.

Roughly 1.4 million EU citizens live in the country of about 8.6 million, while around 500,000 Swiss live in EU countries. Some are dual citizens and wouldnt have been affected by any restrictions.

In a similar referendum in 2014, the Swiss narrowly voted in favor of limiting EU citizens freedom to live and work in Switzerland. Lawmakers, however, refused to fully implement that referendum fearing a hefty impact on Swiss society and businesses, prompting the Peoples Party to get the issue back on the ballot again this year.

Since the last vote, Switzerland has witnessed the turmoil that Britains 2016 referendum to leave the European Union has caused, especially for EU citizens in the UK and Britons living on the continent. Britain left the EU in January, but is in a transition period until the end of the year with prospects for a deal on future relations between London and Brussels still uncertain.

In Brussels, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the result of the referendum, calling it a positive signal to continue to consolidate and deepen our relationship.

She also urged Switzerland to approve a series of agreements negotiated between the country and the EU in 2018, but not yet ratified.

The freedom-of-movement measure was being considered alongside nationwide votes on several other issues.

SRF reported that a majority of voters backed plans for paid paternity leave and for the purchase of up to 6 billion francs (about $6.5 billion) worth of new fighter planes by 2030. Voters rejected measures on the right to hunt wolves to keep their population down and on increasing tax breaks for child care.

Turnout was higher than in most recent referendums, almost 60 percent of voters going to the polls or casting their ballots by mail.

By Nadine Achoui-Lesage and Frank Jordans
By PTI

PATNA: Former Bihar police chief Gupteshwar Pandey, who took voluntary retirement from service a few days ago, joined the state's ruling JD(U) on Sunday.

Pandey, an outspoken police officer, joined the party in the presence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is also the JD(U) president.

The 1987 batch IPS officer had strongly defended Kumar on the issue of institution of a CBI probe into the mysterious death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

Ever since he took VRS weeks before the October- November assembly elections, there was speculation that he could take the political plunge.

"Nitish Kumar ji personally called me and offered party membership with great love. I accepted it," Pandey said.

"I don't know anything about politics. I will do what I am asked to do," he told reporters.

Speculation is rife that he may be offered ticket to contest the assembly election from a seat in his native Buxar district.
Doctor Foster's Victoria Hamilton is set to reprise her role as Anna Baker, who now goes by the name Belle Stone, in the new BBC One drama Life.

The actress, 49, gushed on Sunday about reuniting with creator Mike Bartlett for the series, which also stars Gavin And Stacey's Alison Steadman, Peter Davison, Adrian Lester, and Melissa Jones.

Of returning to the role, she explained: 'I love Mike Bartlett's writing - I have done for years. I'm lucky enough to have done a couple of his plays in the theatre, and of course Doctor Foster.

Excited: Doctor Foster's Victoria Hamilton gushed on Sunday about reuniting with creator Mike Bartlett to reprise her role in new BBC drama Life

'He writes incredible parts for women. He does seem to have an uncanny insight and ability to write for women extraordinarily well.

'And almost regardless of whatever project of his you're working on, you know that when you take part in one of his projects, it's going to be a fully-fleshed-out three-dimensional, complicated character.'

Victoria's character was last seen in season two of the BBC drama, that also starred Suranne Jones, and Gemma Foster's neighbour moved to Edinburgh to live with her sister after her husband Neil cheated on her once again after promising not to do so.

However Life finds her settled in Manchester, where she has moved into a flat in a house run by Gail (Alison) and Henry (Peter).

Departure: Victoria's character was last seen in season two of the BBC drama (pictured) as she moved to Edinburgh after her husband Neil cheated on her once again

Belle's life is said to fall into disarray when her sister Ruth (Susannah Fielding) is hospitalised, and her neice makes an unexpected arrival on her doorstep.

Victoria went on: 'Mike writes vivid human beings with great compassion and empathy, but he's also not frightened to look at the dark sides of people.

'As an actor it's wonderful because you get to explore a character in a very real way and show, as there is with all of us, areas of your personality that maybe aren't quite so palatable and you're possibly frightened of.

'As well as all of the elements that are moving and emotional and easy for an audience to connect with. All of Mikes characters are fully rounded like that. And that's quite rare. Plus they're a joy to play.'

Changes: Anna Baker now goes by Belle Stone, and Victoria said Mike 'writes incredible parts for women. He does seem to have an uncanny insight and ability to write for women'

Mike, meanwhile, admitted that he'd always wanted to explore what happened to Anna after she left the show.

Of bringing her back, he explained: 'Two reasons. When I was writing some of her final scenes in Doctor Foster, the character surprised me when she said she was moving completely away to a new city. Starting again.

'That felt like a story full of potential and one I hadnt necessarily seen - a woman in her mid-forties, married for a lot of her adult life but now divorced, and keen to start again.

'I also found Belles voice came very easily when writing, and thats a good sign theres lots of fun to be had with the character.'

Gushing about Victoria, he went on: 'Secondly I wanted to work more with Victoria Hamilton. Shes one of the finest stage actors there has ever been, and I wanted to write a leading role on screen for her to get her teeth into.'

Life begins on BBC One and BBC iPlayer this Tuesday, 29 September, at 9pm.
Between the Lines: Rosie Lavan

Between the Lines asks researchers about the process of writing a book. Dr Rosie Lavan from the School of English reflects on the process of writing her book, Seamus Heaney and Society.

When did you first come up with the idea for the book?

The book is based on my PhD thesis, which I wrote at the University of Oxford between 2011 and 2014.

Did you start out with the intention of writing a book about a particular topic, or did a book begin to make sense as you were researching?

The project has had several stages in its evolution. Originally my PhD was to be about Seamus Heaney and the senses  how he evokes and represents perception in his poetry. Many of my copies of Heaneys books have annotations that reflect that early interest and the enthusiasm with which I was pursuing it. Then I began to be especially interested in Heaneys writing of and about memory, which was a natural next step from the focus on perception. But I am instinctively a historicist in my approach to literature, and I am fascinated almost to the point of obsession by the contexts of twentieth-century literature in Britain and Ireland. So the interest in memory as a theme or concept began to encompass an interest in recovering the original contexts and conditions of Heaneys poetry. In the early stages of my PhD, under the guidance of my endlessly patient and encouraging supervisor, Bernard ODonoghue, I continually allowed myself to get sidetracked when I discovered aspects of Heaneys work which seemed to me to be little known or underacknowledged in existing criticism. I was delighted, for example, to call up in the library the issue of British Vogue from September 1965 which ran a feature on the young poet, and fascinated to read early essays by him in The Listener, the BBC magazine which covered current affairs and culture, alongside articles about Che Guevara or Martin Luther King. There is in one sense nothing remarkable about any of this: Heaney was coming of age and coming to prominence as a writer in the late 1960s, and gaining a profile in magazines like The Listener which had an admirably broad-minded editorial scope. But in another sense, and to me, such coincidences in print were relentlessly fascinating, because they revealed new contexts in which we might appreciate his work, and understand his emergence as a writer  and all the more so as we tend to take for granted the world of a contemporary writer, because its our world, too. The more I thought about context, the more other contexts seemed to present themselves are worthy of discussion. Heaneys work in education, for example  for the greater part of his career he earned a living as a teacher, a university lecturer, an educational broadcaster, and a teacher of teachers. This is well known, but again it seemed to me there was much to uncover and discuss. The more I pulled at these threads, the more I became convinced that these different areas and aspects of his career could shed new light on his poetry.

What are the books main ideas?

At its heart, the book seeks to show how Heaneys work in the print and broadcast media, in education, and in his de facto role as a public figure in Ireland, the UK, and the US, shaped his poetry and his ideas about poetry throughout his career. It is interested in institutions  publishers (like Faber & Faber), broadcasters (like the BBC), and universities (like Berkeley, Harvard, and Oxford)  with which he had long associations. It considers how Heaney balanced his public obligations with the much more private work of his poetry, and it takes society as a principle of connection, and in order to situate his work in this network of associations.

What did writing a book allow you to do that wouldnt have been possible in another medium eg. journal article?

Im tempted to modify this question slightly: I think writing a book showed me what wasnt possible in writing a book. I revised this book extensively, and in the process found it necessary to remove some chapters which I was very attached to. One, for example, about Heaney, photography, and memory, was subsequently revised and published separately as an essay in the Honest Ulsterman. It was quite hard to let that go, because it deals with some of my favourite poetry by Heaney, and involves some theories and concepts which I am absolutely fascinated by. Ultimately, though, I realised that the book needed to take a different direction, and needed a more consistent critical tone, and the kinds of ideas I was handling there didnt quite fit.

How long did it take to write?

The thesis was completed within three years; the book was then revised over the summers of 2016 and 2017. I moved from Oxford to Trinity in 2015, and that important development in my career is reflected, in part, by my development as a critic, so  partly in response to readers reports on the book, and partly because my own critical outlook was changing  I decided to introduce material I hadnt covered in the thesis. The actual writing and pulling together of the final manuscript was accomplished in quite concentrated periods of work, but I had to allow for the processing of permissions requests  working on a contemporary writer obviously raises important questions of copyright  and then the production of the book itself.

Did you ever experience any moments of writers block? What did you do to overcome this?

Yes  I did, and I do. Frequently. My usual strategy is to print off whatever I have managed to compose on the laptop, read through it, and then start working with paper and pen or even pencil. Im innately distrustful of computers, and I find working by hand somehow resets my thought processes. I can happily write thirty or forty pages of A4 which Ill then type up. I really enjoy and value that stage of transferring the handwritten work to the screen and it is often a very creative phase in itself, as I once again rethink ideas and the way Im expressing them. I also love the process of editing, partly because I spent time working as a journalist before I did my PhD. Before that I was quite precious about my writing, and inclined to favour style over substance, but journalism taught me the virtue of ruthlessness. I should say that Im also an incurable daydreamer, and distraction is sometimes a good cover for writers (and indeed researchers) block. In fact, without my daydreaming, I may never have called up that issue of Vogue.

If you could go back in time and give yourself one piece of advice before you started writing, what would that be?

Be patient. If someone had said to me in September 2014, when I handed my PhD thesis in, that my book would be published in April 2020, Id have been extremely disheartened. Ive learnt that the production process can be quite stop-start, and theres a lot of work towards an academic book which has nothing to do with writing it. But the two summers I spent revising the book were extremely well spent. Im pleased the book is in some ways very different from the thesis, and glad, too, that it reflects my time in both Oxford and Dublin.
The COVID-19 pandemic had a mixed impact on pharma companies so far. During nationwide lockdowns, some companies benefited from the stockpiling of certain drugs. While others lost out as a result of the postponement of elective procedures, reduced patient visits to physicians and a sales decline of certain vaccines and drugs. All this had an adverse impact on the top line of several pharma companies.

There are many pharma and biotech firms that are not involved in the race of developing a COVID-19 treatment but are making considerable progress in several therapeutic areas. We will use TipRanks Stock Comparison tool to place Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Galapagos alongside each other to see which biotech stock has a more compelling investment story.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)

Vertex is considered the leader in the treatment of cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that can severely affect lungs, pancreas and other organs. Vertex already had a strong presence in the cystic fibrosis space with its three drugs Kalydeco, Orkambi and Symdeko. But, the FDA approval of triple combo therapy Trikafta in Oct. 2019, 5 months ahead of schedule, immensely strengthened Vertexs position in the cystic fibrosis market.

In the first six months of 2020, Trikafta contributed $1.81 million to the company's revenue offsetting the 49%, 24% and 18% sales declines from Symdeko/Symkevi, Orkambi and Kalydeco, respectively. The revenue drop from other products reflected the shift from these medicines to Trikafta in the US market.

Notably, Vertexs 2Q total revenue grew 62% Y/Y to $1.52 billion, of which Trifakta contributed $918 million. Strong top-line growth drove a 107% rise in 2Q adjusted EPS to $2.61. Backed by the robust 2Q growth, Vertex raised its full-year guidance to the range of $5.7 billion to $5.9 billion compared to the prior forecast of $5.3 billion to $5.6 billion.

On Sept. 25, the FDA approved Kalydeco for use in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) aged 4 months to less than 6 months old who have at least one mutation in their cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. Kalydeco is already approved in the US and EU for the treatment of CF in patients aged six months and older.

Story continues

On Sept. 16, Vertex announced its second collaboration with Moderna aimed at the discovery and development of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and mRNAs (messenger RNAs) for the delivery of gene-editing therapies for the treatment of CF.

Beyond CF, Vertexs pipeline also includes clinical programs for the treatment of other diseases like alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and APOL1-mediated kidney diseases. Vertex is also expanding its pipeline of genetic and cell therapies for diseases such as sickle cell disease, beta thalassemia, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Following the Vertex-Moderna deal, Maxim Group analyst Jason McCarthy commented, Vertex has development experience in gene-based therapies from its partnership with CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP - NR) and acquisition of Exonics Therapeutics, while Moderna is an industry leader in mRNA-based therapies. As these programs are still early stage, we do not factor potential revenue in our model.

Focus remains on the CF commercial franchise, and we still expect continued domination in the CF space by Vertex added the analyst. He kept his Hold rating unchanged based on valuation. (See VRTX stock analysis on TipRanks)

Vertex stock has risen 22.5% so far this year. The average analyst price target of $311.27 implies additional 16% upside potential in the coming 12 months. Overall, the Street has a cautiously optimistic Moderate Buy consensus for Vertex based on 13 Buys, 5 Holds and no Sell ratings.

Galapagos (GLPG)

Galapagos discovers and develops small molecule medicines with novel modes of action, 3 of which are currently in late-stage development in multiple diseases. The companys pipeline comprises discovery through Phase 3 programs in inflammation, fibrosis, osteoarthritis and other indications.

Last year, Galapagos closed a deal with Gilead Sciences. As part of the deal, Gilead made a $3.95 billion upfront payment and $1.1 billion in equity investments to get access to Galapagos drug discovery platform and current and future pipeline outside of Europe. Gilead first teamed up with Galapagos for the development of Filgotinib in 2015.

Galapagos revenue grew 107% to 224.6 million euros in the first half of 2020, reflecting the favorable impact of the Gilead collaboration, which contributed 187.7 million euros to the topline. EPS grew 45% Y/Y to 2.55 euros per share during the same period.

Galapagos and Gilead faced a significant setback in August when the FDA expressed concerns over the risk-benefit profile of the rheumatoid arthritis treatment Filgotinib, which is the companys lead drug. In reaction to the FDA's concern Galapagos stock plunged 25% on Aug. 19. Gilead received a complete response letter (CRL) from the FDA for the new drug application for filgotinib. Gilead is the market authorization holder for filgotinib in the US and is responsible for its potential US commercialization.

On Sept. 25, Galapagos announced that the European Commission (EC) has granted marketing authorization for Jyseleca (filgotinib) for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis. On the same day, the company also announced that Jyseleca (filgotinib) was approved in Japan for rheumatoid arthritis.

In reaction to the Sept. 25 updates, Stifel Nicolaus analyst Derek Archila reiterated a Hold rating for Galapagos with a price target of $155. The analyst said although the developments are a modest positive, they are more or less priced in the shares.

Archila sees the resolution of the CRL letter as the next major catalyst for Galapagos. In addition, he expects the EU launch for Jyseleca to be fairly slow as the commercial infrastructure needs to be built and the company has to negotiate reimbursement on a country-by-country basis. He also expressed concerns about competition in the EU from heavyweights like AbbVie, Pfizer and Eli Lilly. (See GLPG stock analysis on TipRanks)

The rest of the Street is sidelined on the stock with a Hold analyst consensus based on 9 Holds, 1 Sell, and 2 Buys. With shares down about 33% year-to-date, the average analyst price target of $161.54 reflects upside potential of 16% over the coming year.

Conclusion

Vertex Pharmaceuticals dominance in the cystic fibrosis space and the potential for its CF treatment in international markets make it an attractive stock. Moreover, even after outperforming Galapagos significantly year-to-date, Vertex stock still offers additional upside potential for investors over the coming year.

To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment

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Saitama Prefectural Police have arrested a 22-year-old man for allegedly abducting a middle school girl he met online, reports TBS News (Sept. 24).

Ginji Sato, of no known occupation, allegedly kept the girl at a hotel in Tokyo between September 19 and 23 while knowing she was a minor.

I abducted her, but I thought she was 19, the suspect was quoted by the Fukaya Police Station in partially denying the allegations.

According to police, Sato, a resident of Oita Prefecture, got to know the girl, who lives in Saitama, via social-networking service. You want to meet, right? We can take a trip over the 4-day weekend, he wrote to her in luring her out.

When the girl left her house, she said, I am going to see grandpa. After she failed to return, her mother alerted police at midnight on September 22.
It was his first Proud Boys event. But LeRoy, a retired factory worker, said he decided he needed to seek out the group because he believes it will fight to keep Trump in power should the election become disputed. LeRoy, who was wearing a Trump T-shirt and carrying a Trump flag, said he is increasingly worried that Democrats will steal the election with voter fraud or vote-by-mail.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement calling for an immediate ceasefire at the Artsakh-Azerbaijan line of contact.

According to existing information the situation at the Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone abruptly escalated. Intensive fire is taking place from both sides at the entire length of the line of contact. Reports on casualties are coming in. We call on the sides to immediately stop the fire and start negotiations to stabilize the situation, the Russian foreign ministry said.

In the early morning of September 27, the Azerbaijani military launched a massive attack on Artsakh using air force, missiles and tanks. The Azerbaijani artillery strikes targeted civilian settlements, including Stepanakert city, which resulted in several civilians being killed.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
On the evening of May 26, Beverly Hills High senior Bianca Khalili visited Dora Afrahim, another popular daughter of the Westside Persian Jewish community who lived in a glittering Century City high-rise.

About 11 p.m., neighbors heard screaming. They looked down from their windows and saw Biancas crumpled body at the foot of the building.

In June, investigators ruled Biancas death a suicide, saying evidence indicated she had jumped off the apartment buildings 15th-floor balcony. We found no evidence, no physical evidence, no witness testimony, nothing to support the fact that this incident was a homicide, said Los Angeles Police Lt. Raymond Lombardo, a department veteran who supervised the investigation.

Nonetheless, today, more than three months after Biancas death, the events of that night continue to divide local Persian Jews, who are unaccustomed to dealing with violent crime and the taboo of suicide. Indeed, no incident in recent memory has so polarized the wealthy, well-educated and insular emigre community, challenging its commitment to Persian Jewish tradition and American justice.

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An entire Persian community centered around Beverly Hills High School has been rocked by this, Lombardo said. The case, he said, has divided the community like driving a stake through their heart.

Biancas family and friends say Dora pushed her and demand that police reopen the investigation.

I just want to clear her name, said Biancas mother, Niloofar Lily Khalili, who insists her daughter could not have killed herself.

Dora declined interviews and photographs. Her father points to the official finding of suicide. He says his daughter has received threats and that community suspicion may spoil her prospects for getting an education, finding work, marrying and starting a family.

All summer, members of the Persian Jewish community have continued to bombard officials with e-mails and phone calls, write letters to the Jewish Journal, post messages on Facebook, and discuss the case in parks and at Westside temples. They have taken sides, calling on police, rabbis, school officials and community leaders to intervene on behalf of one side or the other.

But nothing can ease the heartache of the two families involved, the relatives of two 17-year-olds who once celebrated holidays and other special occasions together, two friends who exchanged texts, calls and photos, two girls on the verge of adulthood.

Traditionally, Jews view suicide as a sin. In most cases, Jewish law forbids burying suicide victims in a Jewish cemetery, although rabbis are often flexible. In Biancas case, the official finding of suicide came after her burial at Eden Memorial Park, a Jewish cemetery in Mission Hills.

Some in the Persian Jewish community did not trust the police findings in the case. For some of them, the criminal justice system remains relatively unfamiliar. In addition, under Irans religious leaders, many Jews had been stripped of their civil rights, engendering a distrust of government officials. It was up to the community to police itself; justice was meted out by elders or religious officials. So although the community of Persian Jews on the Westside has largely embraced the American justice system, those who violate taboos against suicide may still be ostracized if they dishonor their family.

Sometimes your name is more important than what really happened, said Michelle Halimi, a Persian Jewish teacher at Beverly Hills High School who grew up on the Westside.

--

Drawn to the L.A. area

Community leaders estimate there are about 50,000 Persian Jews in the Los Angeles area, the largest enclave in the country.

Many left Iran after Shiite Muslim revolutionaries seized control in 1979. They refer to themselves as Persian -- rather than Iranian -- in reference to their cultural heritage and the countrys historical name.

The Persian Jews were drawn to Los Angeles by connections -- family, business and academic -- and a climate similar to that of Tehran. They settled on the Westside, especially Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Santa Monica, Westwood and West Los Angeles.

At their temples, community centers and schools, their native Persian language is spoken as often as English. In Beverly Hills, about one-fifth of the roughly 35,000 residents are Persian, many of them Jewish, according to Jimmy Delshad, who is Jewish and last year became the citys first Persian mayor.

Even as the community grew, Delshad said, it remained tight-knit, bound by tradition, language and rituals.

Families still host Friday night Shabbat dinners and dores, social gatherings where guests dine on kebabs and homemade choresht stew, drinking chai tea while playing cards and board games and gossiping about the latest community news.

Children like Dora and Bianca grow up speaking or at least hearing the Persian language. At religious schools and Beverly Hills High, where about a third of the student body is Persian, they develop networks of Persian friends with a foot in both cultures. After they graduate, many are pressured by their parents to stay nearby, attend Santa Monica College, marry or do business with other Persian Jews.

That network led many to feel involved in Biancas death, experts say. Said Homa Sarshar, a New York-based Persian journalist and historian who co-founded the Center for Iranian Jewish Oral History in Los Angeles more than a decade ago, All of a sudden, everybody becomes Matlock.

After investigators concluded that Biancas death was a suicide, the community found itself confronting deeper, more painful issues.

--

A friendship goes sour

Bianca and Dora met in high school. They celebrated Jewish holidays together and texted and socialized regularly, friends and family said. Photographs and videos show the two brunets clowning and embracing.

But the relationship soured sometime before Biancas death, as the two girls vied for the same prom date, police and relatives say. Each girls family says their daughter broke off the friendship.

The night Bianca died, the girls exchanged text messages, and soon after Bianca arrived at Doras fathers apartment, they began shouting, police said. At one point, authorities say, Dora locked Bianca out, and Lily Khalili said her daughter called her, frantic, then the phone went dead.

As Dora called a mutual male friend to resolve the dispute, Bianca dashed down a hall and through an open door, pulled herself over the chest-high balcony railing and jumped, said Lombardo, the LAPD lieutenant.

Dora called 911, shrieking to the operator that her friend had jumped. Investigators found a stool propped against the railing and no evidence of a struggle. They interviewed the boy Dora had called, who corroborated her story, Lombardo said.

Still, the rumors spread.

Accusations flew on Facebook and other social networking websites. Some defended Dora; others threatened her.

Doras family kept their distance from Biancas relatives during their mourning period, or shiva, and did not attend Biancas funeral or the memorials that followed, hoping to quell the rumors and respect the familys privacy. Dora stopped going out.

The rumors flourished at Beverly Hills High, where students on May 28 held a memorial for Bianca on the front lawn, under a leafy shade tree that has been dubbed The Persian Tree because so many Persian students regularly gather there.

On June 6, Principal Joseph Guidetti scheduled a meeting with about a dozen students to discuss Biancas death and the investigation. Instead, about 75 students gathered at his office, and some accused him of participating in a police coverup.

It was a nightmare, Guidetti said.

A week later, Guidetti arranged for Dora to visit the school. She sat in front of a group of about two dozen classmates, answering questions about the night Bianca died. Eventually, she wept.

Put yourself in my shoes, she said, reminding them that she had watched her friend die.

As the students got up to leave, one approached Dora and gave her a hug, Guidetti said.

But the rumors persisted.

Dora, whose family was worried about her safety, did not attend her June 20 graduation.

By then, authorities had become convinced that outsiders could not prove Doras innocence to the Persian Jewish community. Instead, said Sarshar, the journalist and historian, they went to the only source that is capable of shutting the gossip mill down.

Lombardo went to meet a group of rabbis at Nessah Temple, a Beverly Hills synagogue popular among Persian Jews. After the meeting, a spokesman for the rabbis sent an e-mail to their congregations that explained the LAPDs findings and urged those with questions to contact police, which some did.

Rabbi David Wolpe, one of the citys most prominent rabbis, whose congregation at Sinai Temple includes a large number of Persian Jews, was so disturbed by gossip surrounding the case that he spoke about it in a sermon.

Wolpe told community members not to spread rumors about Biancas suicide or Doras involvement, since such rumors are lashon hara, Hebrew for evil tongue.

On July 19, rabbis at Nessah held a meeting to urge the community to stop gossiping. They told parents to take responsibility for their childrens spirituality and Persian youths to practice more self-control.

Some work is already being done. Sinai Temple offered a class last week for parents and young adults reflecting on recent tragic events in our community and how we can help our children adjust to life growing up in Los Angeles. They hope to eventually open a parenting center.

Meanwhile, Dora has postponed plans to attend Santa Monica College. She is afraid to venture out to popular hangouts such as the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf or Urth Caffe on Beverly Drive.

Instead, she spends her days inside a relatives gated apartment complex, within sight of the tower where her friend died.

--

molly.hennessy-fiske@latimes.com

tami.abdollah@latimes.com
FLORENCE, S.C.  The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for the 2020 Business Person of the Year.

Area business and community individuals can submit names of people who have managed a successful business with a record of responsibility toward employees, customers and members of the community, said the chamber.

Each year the award committee is tasked with reviewing many local business leaders that are nominated for this community recognition," said Florence Chamber President Michael Miller. "It makes us realize the depth of talent that resides in our towns and communities around the Pee Dee. We are extremely fortunate to have the current nominees, and those that have previously been recognized, working side by side with us every day. Each has helped brighten our future.

Last years recipient was Dale Barth, owner of Red Bone Alley and a partner in Town Hall restaurant, both in Florence.

The award is sponsored each year by Wells Fargo and presented at the chambers Fall Membership Luncheon. This years luncheon will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at the Florence Center. Molly Spearman, South Carolina superintendent of education, is scheduled to be the keynote speaker.
A multinational research group recently published a paper in the journal Lancet Respiratory Medicine which describes the first patient with a severe form of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that was successfully treated with human recombinant soluble ACE2.

A pandemic spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for almost one million deaths due to COVID-19. Therefore, important insights into the viral pathophysiology may facilitate the quest for an effective vaccine and treatment option.

What we already know is that angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the crucial receptor for SARS-CoV-2 that enables viral entry into the cell. However, this enzyme also protects a myriad of different tissues in the human body from injury (which includes the lungs)  primarily acting as a regulator of the renin-angiotensin system.

SARS-CoV-2 virus binding to ACE2 receptors on a human cell, the initial stage of COVID-19 infection. Illustration Credit: Kateryna Kon / Shutterstock

The researchers have shown that ACE2 is the crucial receptor in vivo for the original SARS virus and explains why both SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 became highly pathogenic viruses since the downregulation of ACE2 via virus binding disrupts renin-angiotensin system tissue homeostasis. Naturally, ACE2 has become the prime focus of COVID-19 research and in many drug development efforts.

A promising recombinant compound

Among the novel compounds currently under development is human recombinant soluble ACE2 (abbreviated as hrsACE2), which exhibits two mechanisms of action that should be of benefit against COVID-19. The first one involves binding the viral spike glycoprotein and, in turn, neutralizing SARS-CoV-2.

On the other hand, the second mechanism aims to minimize injury to multiple organs  including the lungs, kidneys, and heart  because of unrelenting renin-angiotensin system hyperactivation and augmented angiotensin II concentration.

Thus far, hrsACE2 has been tested in 89 patients (either healthy volunteers or those with acute respiratory distress syndrome), revealing a good safety profile. Likewise, hrsACE2 can decrease SARS-CoV-2 load by a factor of 10005000 in cell-culture experiments and engineered organoids, which directly demonstrates that ACE2 can effectively neutralize the virus.

Compassionate use of hrsACE2

A research group led by Dr. Alexander Zoufaly from the Kaiser-Franz-Josef HospitalClinic Favoriten in Vienna (Austria) described a case of a 45-year-old woman that was admitted to hospital with a 7-day history of cough, fever, weakness, muscle pains, and difficulties breathing, as well as a 4-day history of diarrhea and nausea.

The diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection was made from a nasopharyngeal swab by using RT-PCR, which resulted in the treatment with hydroxychloroquine and anticoagulation with nadroparin. Nonetheless, the patients clinical condition did not improve; on the contrary, she was exhausted and needed more oxygen on the nasal cannula.

Nine days after the symptom onset, treatment with hrsACE2 intravenous infusion for five minutes twice per day was introduced. This compassionate use treatment was started after consultations among attending physicians, the patients family, as well as external infectious disease experts.

And the results were astonishing; after the first injection of hrsACE2, a marked reduction of angiotensin II was observed. This was followed by the reduction of inflammatory cytokine levels that are critical for COVID-19 pathology, as well as ferritin and C-reactive protein levels.

Angiotensin II concentrations returned to concentrations before treatment within 48 hours after cessation of treatment, which is in line with previous data on hrsACE2 half-life in humans. Notably, this compassionate use treatment was initiated at a late stage of the disease, with elevated inflammatory parameters and markedly deteriorated respiratory function.

Quick viral elimination

Notwithstanding the limitations of this report, the data clearly demonstrate that the virus disappeared swiftly from the serum and from the nasal cavity and lungs (albeit at a later time following hrsACE2 treatment). Whether this viral load decrease mirrors the effect of hrsACE2 treatment or just the natural course of the disease remains unproven.

Importantly, the use of hrsACE2 did not impede the generation of neutralizing antibodies. The same was observed with one patient who received hrsACE2 for only one day  i.e., rapidly undetectable viral loads in the serum and generation of antiviral IgG and IgA antibodies.

Finally, considering how SARS-CoV-2 can directly infect blood vessels, intravenous delivery of hrsACE2 may have an important effect on halting the systemic spread of the virus from the lung to other organs. Further research is needed to appraise the full treatment potential of this compound.
President Donald Trump, heading into a Tuesday night debate against a Democratic challenger who leads in both national and key swing state polls released on Sunday, repeated attacks on Joe Bidens mental fitness by demanding the former vice president take a drug test and pledging to take one himself either before or after they take the stage in Cleveland, Ohio.

I will be strongly demanding a drug test of Sleepy Joe Biden prior to, or after, the debate on Tuesday night, the president Tweeted Sunday morning. Naturally, I will agree to take one also. His debate performances have been record setting UNEVEN, to put it mildly. Only drugs could have caused this discrepancy???

I will be strongly demanding a Drug Test of Sleepy Joe Biden prior to, or after, the Debate on Tuesday night. Naturally, I will agree to take one also. His Debate performances have been record setting UNEVEN, to put it mildly. Only drugs could have caused this discrepancy???  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 27, 2020

The presidents comments came the same morning the Trump campaign was hit with four polls showing sizable leads for Biden.

A nationwide general election poll conducted by ABC/Washington Post showed Biden up 10 points, 53% to 43%, and a similar poll by The New York Times and Siena College showed Biden with an 8-point edge over Trump, 49% to 41%.

Even more pressing for the Republican incumbent: Biden maintains 8- and 10-point leads in Michigan and Wisconsin, a pair of states crucial to his 2016 victory over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, according to a poll by NBC News/Marist College.

Depicting Biden as mentally unfit for the White House is one of Trumps core strategies. Biden served two terms with former President Barack Obama after three decades as a U.S. Senator from Delaware. While Trump has held re-election campaign rallies across the country, the president and his allies have hammered Biden for campaigning largely from home amid the COVID-19 pandemic and not answering questions from the media.

NEW AD 



Team Trump launched a new TV ad titled "Fortitude," which exposes Joe Biden as lacking the mental fitness to be President of the United States.



WATCH BELOW! pic.twitter.com/9tHz7XD3qY  Team Trump (Text VOTE to 88022) (@TeamTrump) June 19, 2020

Tuesday nights debate, moderated by Fox News anchor Chris Wallace, comes a few days after Trumps nomination on Saturday of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the latest flashpoint in an election year thats already seen upheaval due to COVID-19 and nationwide calls for racial justice and police reform.

Trumps mention of drug tests for the candidates is not the first time potential drug use has arisen around a presidential debate.

Four years ago, The Washington Post and several other outlets tracked Trump sniffing more than 50 times during a debate with Clinton. The performance picked up steam over social media, with comedians, commentators and politicians mocking Trump and questioning whether the Republican nominee used cocaine.

Notice Trump sniffing all the time. Coke user? Howard Dean, the former Vermont governor, presidential candidate and Democratic National Committee chair tweeted after the debate. Stephen Colbert suggested on The Late Show that Trump sounded like a coked-up best man in the bathroom at a wedding.

For his part, Trump pinned the sniffs on a defective microphone.

Several of the polls released on Sunday showed a majority of likely voters want the Supreme Court vacancy filled by the president who wins on Nov. 3.

In the middle of a pandemic, Donald Trump is trying to force through the confirmation of a Justice who will help him destroy Obamacare.



Health care is at stake. Protections for pre-existing conditions are at stake.



We can't let them win. pic.twitter.com/zIdPmxzYtQ  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) September 26, 2020

Trump has said he has an obligation to fill the seat, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has enough votes to move the confirmation process forward. Only two GOP senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, said they would not vote on a nominee before Election Day.

Biden says Trumps push to quickly confirm a nominee jeopardizes the Affordable Care Act, Obamas signature bill that expanded health care and guaranteed insurance coverage to those with pre-existing conditions. The Trump administration has sought to dismantle the Affordable Care Act in the federal courts, but the Supreme Court, even with a 5-4 conservative majority, has upheld the law.

The Times/Siena College poll of nearly 1,000 likely voters showed 57% support the Affordable Care Act, and only 38% oppose it.

Trump on Sunday said Obamacare will be replaced with a MUCH better, and FAR cheaper, alternative if it is terminated in the Supreme Court."
Fighting erupted anew Sunday between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the disputed separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh and a top territorial official said 16 people were killed and more than 100 wounded, while Azerbaijans president said his military has suffered losses.

Armenia also claimed that two Azerbaijani helicopters were shot down and three Azerbaijani tanks were hit by artillery, but Azerbaijans defense ministry rejected that claim.

Heavy fighting broke out in the morning in the region that lies within Azerbaijan but has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since 1994 at the end of a separatist war. It was not immediately clear what sparked the fighting, the heaviest since clashes in July killed 16 people from both sides.

Nagorno-Karabakh authorities reported that shelling hit the regions capital of Stepanakert and the towns of Martakert and Martuni. Armenian Defense Ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan also said Azerbaijani shelling hit within Armenian territory near the town of Vardenis.

Artur Sarkisian, deputy head of the Nagorno-Karabakh army, said that 16 people were killed and more than 100 wounded. It wasnt immediately clear if the figure included both soldiers and civilians. Earlier, the Armenian human rights ombudsman said a woman and child had been killed in the shelling.

Another Armenian Defense Ministry spokeswoman, Shushan Stepanyan, said the Armenian side shot down two helicopters and hit three tanks.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev ordered martial law be imposed in some regions of the country and called for a curfew in major cities.

In a televised address to the nation, Aliyev said that there are losses among the Azerbaijani forces and the civilian population as a result of the Armenian bombardment, but didnt give further details. He also claimed that many units of the enemys military equipment have been destroyed. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is conducting intensive contacts in order to induce the parties to cease fire and start negotiations to stabilize the situation, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, chairman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, called on the sides to stop fighting. The long-unsuccessful negotiations for resolving the territorys status has been conducted under OSCE auspices.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on Sunday said the country could reexamine whether to recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as independent. Such a move would likely obstruct further negotiations.

Foreign Minister Javad Zarif of Iran, which borders both Azerbaijan and Armenia, said We call for an immediate end to hostilities and urge dialogue to resolve differences. Our neighbours are our priority and we are ready to provide good offices to enable talks. Turkeys ruling party spokesman Omer Celik tweeted: We vehemently condemn Armenias attack on Azerbaijan. Armenia has once again committed a provocation, ignoring law. He promised Turkey would stand by Azerbaijan and said, Armenia is playing with fire and endangering regional peace. Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin also condemned Armenia.

Armenia has violated the cease-fire by attacking civilian settlements ... the international community must immediately say stop to this dangerous provocation, Kalin tweeted.

Mostly mountainous Nagorno-Karabakh  a region around 4,400 square kilometers (1,700 square miles) or about the size of the U.S. state of Delaware  lies 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the Armenian border. Local soldiers backed by Armenia also occupy some Azerbaijani territory outside the region.
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)
The aggression has always been from the Azerbaijani side, and this time we are also certain that we are going to win. This is what Minister of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Masis Mayilyan told the Information Headquarters of Artsakh.

We actively held talks with different international organizations during the day and informed them about the situation so that our foreign colleagues know who launched this aggression, and it is not by chance that several statements were made; the process continues, and several organizations are directly blaming Azerbaijan for this aggression and expressing support to Artsakh. Overall, the international response was very active, all reputable international organizations responded to the situation, starting from the UN, the OSCE and the Council of Europe. The NATO adopted a declaration, the main message of which was that it is necessary to stop the military operations, return to the negotiations and solve the issue through peace. These statements state that there is no military solution to the conflict and that it has to be solved through peace, Mayilyan said.

According to Mayilyan, all countries responses were for peace, and only Turkeys response was aggressive and unilateral, that is, favoring Azerbaijan.

Artsakh believes that Turkeys involvement in all this contains very dangerous elements. There are also calls for the international community to not only restrain Azerbaijan, but also keep Turkey away from these processes because that may essential change the geopolitical situation in our region, he said.
By PTI

MUMBAI: As Yash Raj Films (YRF) celebrates 50 years, filmmaker Aditya Chopra credited the welcoming nature of the Indian film industry for the success of the studio, set up by his father, late director-producer Yash Chopra in 1970.

In a special note to mark the five-decade-long journey of the production company, Aditya Chopra said the secret of the studio's continued relevance lies in those who have been a part of the journey: from actors, directors, writers, choreographers to every crew member and the audience.

YRF's first film was the 1973 drama "Daag: The Poem of Love" starring Rajesh Khanna, Sharmila Tagore and Rakhee.

It was both directed and produced by Yash Chopra in his debut as a producer.

The same year the banner released "Kabhie Kabhie" and "Kaala Patthar", both featuring megastar Amitabh Bachchan in lead.

In the 1980s, Sridevi and Rishi Kapoor-starrer "Chandni" was the biggest success for YRF and it was followed by a decade full of blockbusters such as "Darr" and "Diwale Dulhania Le Jayenge", which marked Aditya Chopra's directorial debut and cemented Shah Rukh Khan's position as the king of romance.

In the 2000s, YRF produced films like "Veer-Zaara", "Chak De! India", "Tiger Zinda Hai", "Sultan" and "War".

"It's not only YRF that is made by these artists and workers; it's the entire Indian Film Industry.

This is not only YRF's success, it's the success of the Indian Film Industry, which gave the platform for a self-made man to create a self-reliant, truly independent studio of the world.

"An industry, which gives an equal opportunity to each artist and worker to make a life for himself and his family," Aditya Chopra said in the note.

The filmmaker thanked the industry for giving YRF a chance to be a part of its "great heritage".

"It is the industry where I met the most wonderful, talented and beautiful people. The industry I hope to be part of in every lifetime in any capacity whatsoever," he added.

In its five-decade run, Yash Raj Films has collaborated with some of the biggest stars, from Bachchan, Kapoor, Sridevi, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Kajol, Rani Mukerji, Preity Zinta to Saif Ali Khan.

It has also launched new talents in the industry, including actors Anushka Sharma, Ranveer Singh, Parineeti Chopra and Arjun Kapoor, and directors Maneesh Sharma, Sharat Katariya, Vijay Krishna Acharya and Kanu Behl.

Recalling how the production house was formed, Aditya Chopra said in 1970 Yash Chopra left the "security and comfort" of his brother BR Chopra and started his own company.

"Till then, he was a salaried employee of BR Films and didn't own anything of his own. He did not know how to run a business and did not even have the basic knowledge of what goes into making a company.

"All he had was a strong belief in his talent and hardwork and a dream to be self-reliant.

That conviction of a creative man backing nothing but himself and his art, gave birth to Yash Raj Films."

Filmmaker V Shantaram, who owned Rajkamal Studios, gave Yash Chopra a small room in his studio as his office.

"My father didn't know then, that the small company that he started in a tiny room, would one day become the biggest film company of the Indian film industry." In its 25th year, Yash Raj Films released the 1995 romantic-drama "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge".

The filmmaker said the historic success of the movie gave him the confidence to give wings to "crazy risky ideas" that he had for the future of YRF.

"Across five decades, YRF, at its core, has been a traditional company with deep-rooted old world values and a conservative approach to business.

"But at the same time it's also been a bold, forward looking company, constantly trying to push itself in embracing technology and innovations to be ahead of the curve.

This perfect balance of traditional and modern is what defines Yash Raj Films," he added.

Concluding his note, Aditya Chopra expressed gratitude to each artist, worker, employee and audience of YRF for making the studio a part of their lives.

"I dedicate these 50 years to all of you. You are what makes YRF," he added.
Former Queensland premier Peter Beattie says Daniel Andrews must be prepared to accept full responsibility and not "buck pass" to cabinet colleagues or public servants if he is to be forgiven by voters for the state's coronavirus disaster.

The Labor luminary, who made a reputation for issuing mea culpas during his nine years as premier, said while all long-serving leaders face a crisis of some kind, the circumstances surrounding COVID-19 was in "a class of its own".

Peter Beattie has some advice for Daniel Andrews on handling a crisis. Credit:Glenn Hunt

Mr Beattie said Australians were "fair minded" and it was too early to tell what the Victorian Premier's personal or his government's electoral fate would be.
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According to our latest market study on Medical Nutrition Market Share analysis in healthcare analysis COVID-19 Impact and Analysis

Global Medical Image Management Market is expected to register a CAGR of 7.80% to reach USD 5,971.28 Million till 2025. Medical image management systems are used in hospitals and diagnostic centers for sharing patient data and laboratory results with physicians. These systems are very useful and help in maintaining patient data, which plays an important role in clinical decision making.

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Geographically, the global Medical Image Management Market Size has been divided into the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa.

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Paris, Sep 27 : The latest coronavirus wave in France could "overwhelm" the country amid exhaustion of the frontline workers battling the pandemic, a senior health official has warned.

"The second wave is arriving faster than we thought," the Guardian reported on Sunday citing Patrick Bouet, head of the National Council of the Order of Doctors, as saying to the weekly Journal du Dimanche.

Bouet added that last week's warnings by Health Minister Olivier Veran had not been taken seriously.

On September 23, Veran had warned that restrictions in the "red zones" across the country will be tightened due to a spike in the number of confirmed cases.

Since September 19, 53 departments in the country, where the Covid-19 incidence or the number of positive cases per 100,000 inhabitants over a week is greater than 50, have been classified as "zone of alert" or "red zone".

In "zone of enhanced alert" where the incidence is above 150, now including Paris and eight other cities, starting from Saturday, bars started to close at 10 p.m., limit of attendance to public events was cut from 5,000 to 1,000 and gatherings of more than 10 people were prohibited in public spaces such as beaches and parks.

In Marseille and Guadeloupe, now "zone of maximum alert" as the incidence there has gone above 250, in addition to the measures envisaged for the enhanced alert zones, bars and restaurants will be totally closed, according to the Mnister.

Meanwhile, the French Le Monde newspaper said in a report that a third of the new clusters in the country were in schools and universities, the Guardian reported.

The latest figures from health officials indicated that 32 per cent of the 899 clusters under investigation concern schools and universities.

As of Sunday, the total number of coronavirus cases in France has increased to 552,454, while the death toll stood at 31,675.
JOHANNESBURG - In a year of cataclysm, some world leaders at this weeks annual United Nations meeting are taking the long view, warning: If COVID-19 doesnt kill us, climate change will.

With Siberia seeing its warmest temperature on record this year and enormous chunks of ice caps in Greenland and Canada sliding into the sea, countries are acutely aware theres no vaccine for global warming.

We are already seeing a version of environmental Armageddon, Fijis Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said, citing wildfires in the western U.S. and noting that the Greenland ice chunk was larger than a number of island nations.

This was meant to be the year we took back our planet, he said. Instead, the coronavirus has diverted resources and attention from what could have been the marquee issue at this U.N. gathering. Meanwhile, the U.N. global climate summit has been postponed to late 2021.

That hasnt stopped countries, from slowly sinking island nations to parched African ones, from speaking out.

In another 75 years, many ... members may no longer hold seats at the United Nations if the world continues on its present course, the Alliance of Small Island States and the Least Developed Countries Group said.

The main goal of the 2015 Paris climate accord is to limit the rise in global temperatures to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times, but scientists say the world is on track to soar past that. A new study found that if the world warms another 0.9 degrees Celsius (1.6 degrees Fahrenheit), the West Antarctic ice sheet will reach a point of irreversible melting. It has enough water to raise global sea levels by 5 metres (16 feet).

The Pacific island nation of Palau hasnt had a single COVID-19 infection, but President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr. warns its the rising seas that will bring the country down.

The momentary drop in (carbon) emissions this year cannot be allowed to generate any complacency about global progress, he said, referring to the sparkling skies that followed lockdowns to slow the spread of the virus around the world. Pollution has crept back up as restrictions ease.

World powers cannot shirk their financial commitments to fighting climate change during the pandemic, Remengesau said, even as economies are battered.

But few pledges have emerged at the U.N. gathering, aside from Chinas announcement that it aims to have carbon dioxide emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.

The pandemic has muted the U.N. meeting, with world leaders speaking not from the podium in New York but via video from home. That has sapped the urgency of diplomacy and left nations wondering just how many people are listening.

Amid concerns that the world is distracted, it was perhaps no surprise that the student-led movement Fridays for Future returned to the streets this week for the first major demonstrations for climate action in months.

Still, island nations have seized on the unusual circumstances to show off whats at stake.

The prime minister of Tuvalu, Kausea Natano, delivered his U.N. speech with a vista of turquoise waters and swaying fronds behind him that instantly fired the imaginations of house-bound viewers.

But the prime minister quickly shattered any dreams. While Tuvalu is free of the coronavirus, the pandemic struck as the island nation was recovering from a pair of tropical cyclones  storms that scientists say are likely to become wetter as the planet warms.

Tuvalus highest point is just a few meters (yards) above sea level. The pandemics effect on the movement of goods exposed food insecurity as local agriculture becomes more difficult with rising sea levels, Natano said.

While COVID-19 is our immediate crisis, climate change remains the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and well-being of the Pacific and its peoples in the long run, the prime minister said.

From the Marshall Islands, also free of COVID-19, President David Kabua used the viruss example to plead for more help now.

Change relies on protecting the most vulnerable, because those on the frontline  whether healthcare workers battling the pandemic or small island nations sounding the alarm on climate change  are critical to the survival of us all, he said.

Small island and atoll nations like mine do not have time for paper promises, Kabua added.

Urgent pleas also came from Africa, which contributes least to global warming but stands to suffer from it the most.

In favouring solutions based on the respect for nature, were also preserving the health of our peoples, said President Issoufou Mahamadou of Niger, part of the Sahel region south of the Sahara desert where temperature increases are expected to be 1.5 times higher than the world average.

Our global home that was teeming with millions of species of God-given creatures, both great and small, is slowly dying, said Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who last year noted that his country was the only one in Africa to reach the goal of making renewable energy 75% of its energy mix.

He added: Our world is yearning for us to stop its ruin.

___

AP Science Writer Seth Borenstein contributed to this report.
Mumbai (Maharashtra): More than 18 people have been arrested so far by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in connection with Bollywood drug case, Mutha Ashok Jain, Deputy DG, South-Western Region of NCB said on Saturday.



The statements of Karishma Prakash, Sara Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone and Shraddha Kapoor have been recorded, he said.

"The statements of Karishma Prakash, Sara Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone and Shraddha Kapoor have been recorded. Kshitij Prasad has been placed under arrested after questioning. No fresh summon has been issued today. We have arrested more than 18 people," Jain said.

NCB on Saturday arrested Dharma Productions executive producer Kshitij Ravi Prasad in connection with teh drug case.

The NCB had launched an investigation into the drugs case after it received official communication from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which was investigating the money trail related to actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death case. In the investigation, many revelations surfaced including various chats related to drug consumption, procurement, usage and transportation.

The ED had on July 31 registered an Enforcement Case Information Report in the late actor's death case after an FIR was filed by Rajput's father KK Singh against Rhea Chakraborty in Bihar on July 28. Rajput was found dead at his Mumbai residence on June 14.


The initiative aims at providing cash liquidity to enable exporters to fulfil their obligations and keep their labour force amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis

Egypts government is set to launch an initiative within the coming days that allows instant and cash repayment of the entirety of export companies arrears from the Export Development Fund (EDF) before the end of 2020 at a discount of 15 percent, Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait announced on Sunday.

Maait pointed out that the initiative supports domestic and foreign companies operating in the Egyptian market.

The initiative will be implemented in collaboration with the banking system, as the finance ministry will deposit a guarantee at the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) to allow for the payment of the arrears through the end of September for export companies that are willing to pay their entire dues, but with a repay acceleration discount of 15 percent, according to Maait.

He added that the finance ministry will repay these sums and their proceeds to the banks that contributed to the initiative over three years.

The initiative aims at providing cash liquidity to enable exporters to fulfil their obligations and keep their labour force amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, said Maait.

Maait added that the initiative will boost the national economy, increase growth rates, attract new investments, and maximise public revenues.

The cabinet has approved five initiatives since October 2019 that aimed to settle the exporters arrears through June 2019. The initiatives included the repayment of small investors with a maximum of EGP 5 million, the repayment of 30 percent of the whole arrears to the exporters, holding a set-off between the exporters arrears and the payable tax and custom obligations on them, the repayment of the total arrear sums over four to five years while expanding their investments in return, in addition to the land allocation initiative.

The Minister of Finances Advisor for Financial Policies and Corporate Improvement Niven Mansour revealed that 2,351 companies have benefited from these initiatives with total payments of EGP 3 billion.

Moreover, 153 export companies have obtained the first tranche of their arrears at a total of EGP 1.8 billion, according to Mansour.

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U.S. Senators from Tennessee and Georgia quickly weighed in on President Trumps decision to nominate Amy Coney Barrett to the United States Supreme Court.

Senator Marsha Blackburn said, Amy Coney Barrett is a respected constitutionalist and an excellent nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court. Much like her mentor, the late Justice Antonin Scalia, she will be a textualist and originalist devoted to upholding the rule of law. She is a jurist we can trust to safeguard our religious liberties at a time when these freedoms are increasingly under attack.

Americans saw firsthand Judge Barretts commitment to her values and principles during her confirmation hearing for the U.S Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit in 2017. Since taking the bench, she has authored nearly 100 opinions.

Beyond her experience on the bench, Judge Barrett is a mother of seven with an impressive legal career. After graduating from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, she received her law degree from Notre Dame Law School, where she is now a professor.

I look forward to hearing her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the coming weeks.

Senator Lamar Alexander said, "I have voted to confirm Justices Roberts, Alito, Sotomayor, Gorsuch and Kavanaugh based upon their intelligence, character and temperament. I will apply the same standard when I consider Judge Barrett's nomination to replace Justice Ginsburg."



"Judge Amy Coney Barrett currently serves on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Judge Barrett was confirmed by the Senate on October 31, 2017, by a vote of 55 to 43. I supported Judge Barrett's nomination to the Seventh Circuit."

Senator David Perdue (R-GA) said, Georgians want a Supreme Court that applies the law, not makes the law. Judge Amy Coney Barrett is an outstanding choice to serve on our nations highest court. Throughout her impressive legal career, Judge Barrett has been an ardent defender of the Constitution and steadfast supporter of the rule of law. Having clerked for Justice Antonin Scalia, Judge Barrett understands the importance of protecting our nations founding principles. The Senate will now move with due haste to consider Judge Barretts nomination. This is about more than one seat. This is about saving our Republic by maintaining the balance of power between our three branches of government.

Senator Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) said, As the first U.S. Senator to call for a vote before the election, I am so proud to support Amy Coney Barrett as President Trumps nominee for associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. With her background as a former clerk to the late Justice Scalia and an originalist, Judge Barrett will protect individual liberties including the right to life, the Second Amendment and religious liberties by ensuring the Constitution, and our laws, are applied as written.

While she brings a tremendous record of upholding the Constitution, personal integrity and sterling qualifications, we know that the worst elements of the Left will come after Judge Barrett with everything they have. But as someone who has stood up to the radical Lefts cancel culture and won, my advice for a fellow strong conservative woman is this: Keep going, keep pushing, keep fighting and keep winning.

Our Constitution, the right to life and the future of our country are all worth fighting for. My Republican colleagues and I will have your back, and we will confirm you as the next female United States Supreme Court associate justice.

Tennessees Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Marquita Bradshaw said, While expected, todays Supreme Court nomination is a stunning example of flagrant hypocrisy on the part of this administration and those who support it. If Mitch McConnell rushes through this confirmation process, as he has promised he will do, rest assured, I will help lead the charge to expand the number of justices on the bench, in order to restore a system of balanced justice to our nations highest court.

Bill Hagerty, Republican nominee for the Senate seat held by Senator Lamar Alexander, said, I applaud President Donald Trump for nominating Judge Amy Coney Barrett. She is a dedicated Christian public servant - a solid constitutionalist, who will steadfastly serve our nation.

I stand with President Trump and the Republican Senate majority as they do their job to fill the vacant Supreme Court seat. Its reprehensible that the Democrats are already attacking an imminently qualified judicial nominee because of her faith. The First Amendment is not just about freedom of the press; its also intended to protect freedom of religion. If the Democrats can attack Judge Barrett for being a person of faith, just think of what theyre capable of doing to our religious freedom. As your Senator, I will always fight for your religious freedom, and I will fight to confirm outstanding constitutionalist justices and judges to the federal bench.

Rep. Chuck Fleischmann said, I support President Donald Trumps decision to nominate Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the United States Supreme Court. She is a qualified and principled judge with a proven track record of upholding our constitution. She will be a great addition to our nations highest court.

Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III said, Judge Amy Coney Barrett is an exceptional jurist and will make an exceptional justice. She appreciates that a judge's role is not to create the law but to apply the Constitution and the laws of the United States as written. I encourage the Senate to give her a respectful hearing and a speedy vote. And I hope that many of those who are anxious about her nomination will over time come to appreciate her commitment to the rule of law and her fidelity to our Constitution.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 17:56:54|Editor: huaxia

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Palestinian children, wearing face masks, wait to enter Egypt through the Rafah border crossing in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, Sept. 27, 2020. The Egyptian authorities on Sunday allowed a three-day opening of the Rafah Border Crossing with the Gaza Strip for the travel in both directions, Palestinian officials said. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

GAZA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Egyptian authorities on Sunday allowed a three-day opening of the Rafah Border Crossing with the Gaza Strip for the travel in both directions, Palestinian officials said.

In a press statement sent to Xinhua, the Hamas-run Ministry of Interior said the passenger buses have begun passing the border after the gate opened.

"On the first day of the opening, the ministry has allowed patients, students, Egyptian and foreign passport holders, as well as those who have residency documents to travel through," the ministry added.

Over the past days, ministries of interior and health conducted COVID-19 tests for the travellers to ensure that they were not infected with the virus, the statement noted.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Palestinians stranded in Egypt are ready to return to the coastal enclave through the crossing and will be subjected to a week-long quarantine.

On Aug. 11, the Egyptian authorities opened the border crossing for the first time after the coronavirus broke out in Gaza in March to allow hundreds of stranded Palestinian travellers to pass.
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At DMs meets, PM calls for direct, emotional connect between administration and public for good governance

Modi, Yediyurappa govts have launched diabolical attack on the lives of farmers: Surjewala

India

oi-Deepika S

Bengaluru,Sep 27: Calling both the central and state government as ''anti-farmer'', AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala on Sunday alleged that they have launched a "diabolical attack" on the lives and livelihoods of farmers.

Terming amendments to APMC and land reforms acts passed by the Karnataka assembly on Saturday as "black laws", he accused the government of selling the interests of farmers to a handful of corporates and builder lobbies.

"Both the Modi (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) and Yediyurappa (Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa) governments are anti-farmer governments. They have launched a diabolical attack on the lives and livelihoods of farmers in Karnataka, as also the rest of the country," he said.

Surjewala was referring to the amended APMC and land reforms Act in Karnataka and the three contentious farms bills passed by Parliament, against which farmers have launched a stir in Punjab, while those in Haryana would do so from September 28 to 31.

Speaking to reporters here, he said under the leadership of Congress President Sonia Gandhi and former President Rahul Gandhi, and D K Shivakumar in Karnataka, the party is committed to decisively defeat the ''anti-farmer'' forces.

Congress no-confidence motion against Yediyurappa govt defeated

"They are selling the interests of farmers to a handful of corporates and builder lobbies, as is apparent from the black laws passed in the assembly. We will support the farmers endeavour in every manner and will stand in solidarity with farmers in Karnataka and India," he added.

Despite stiff resistance from the opposition, especially Congress, the B S Yediyurappa government succeeded in getting the Karnataka Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation and Development) (Amendment) Bill and the Karnataka Land Reforms (Second Amendment) Bill passed in the Assembly on Saturday.

Farmers organisations have also opposed both legislations, and have called a state wide bandh on Monday against it.

While the amendments to land reform act liberalises farmland ownership, the APMC amendment bill curtails the powers of local Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees (APMC) and private individuals can start agricultural trading, if they hold a Permanent Account Number (PAN). Earlier, State congress president D K Shivakumar said they support the farmers'' agitation.

"Since Congress is a national party, our AICC General Secretary (Surjewala) will discuss with us and announce what is to be done in the state," he said.

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With the growing concerns over ongoing human rights violation in Xinjiang and Hong Kong, the Western countries together slammed China and called for the restoration of the basic legal rights in the two regions.

Amid the growing concerns over ongoing human rights violation in Xinjiang and Hong Kong, the Western countries together slammed China and called for the restoration of the basic legal rights in the two regions.Speaking during the 45th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Friday (local time), John Fisher of Human Rights Watch called for an international mechanism to address the sweeping violations by China. He was speaking on behalf of more than 300 NGOs from over 60 countries. He said, Recently, a group of 50 UN experts had highlighted Chinas mass rights violations in Hong Kong, Tibet and Xinjiang by suppression of information and attacks on rights defenders, journalists, lawyers and government critics.



He further pointed out that China has also targeted defenders abroad, suppressed academic freedom, and engaged in internet censorship and digital surveillance.No state should be above the law, Chinas turn has come, Fisher added.

On behalf of the European Union of Jewish Students, Abdulxukur Abdurixit, an Uyghur, said, Genocide including sterilisation and organ harvesting is being committed against my people. My family has been held hostage in a Chinese concentration camp. My brother is forced to assemble phone chargers as a slave labourer. Your charger may be among them.



Calling the UN to term the ongoing atrocities in Xinjiang as genocide, Abdurixit said, The crimes being committed by China in Xinjiang meet the definition of genocide as laid out in the UN genocide convention. Such horrific atrocities necessitate the coordinated response from the UN and the international community. Further, our suffering is met by indifference by corporations who profit by our collective suffering while most governments are turning a blind eye towards our problems.I call pon this council to assign special rapporteur to my region to present a clear body of evidence to the international committee and stop the genocide, he added.



ALSO READ: Nepal PMs personal physician tests positive for Covid-19

Meanwhile, Britains Lord Tariq Ahmad said, the new security law imposed in Hong Kong was being implemented with the apparent intention to eliminate dissent.It allows prosecution of certain cases in mainland China, a jurisdiction where defendants are often held for long periods without charge or access to legal counsel, and where we have concerns about judicial independence, due process, and reports of torture, he said.Ahmad stressed, There is compelling evidence in Xinjiang including from the Chinese authorities own documents of systematic human rights violations. Culture and religion are severely restricted and we have seen credible reports of forced labour and forced birth control.



German envoy Michael Freiherr von Ungern-Sternberg, on behalf of the EU said, We reiterate our call on China to allow meaningful access to Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region for independent observers, including for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.We also reiterate our call on China to uphold its national and international obligations, and to respect human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities, especially in Xinjiang and Tibet, he said.On China, the EU continues to be gravely concerned about the existence of a large network of political re-education camps, widespread surveillance, and systemic restrictions on freedom of religion or belief against Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, he said.



Extensively researched reports alleging forced labour, and forced sterilisation and forced birth control in Xinjiang add to the gravity and magnitude of these concerns, he added.Similarly, Canadas ambassador Leslie Norton also voiced alarm at mass arbitrary detention and separation of children from their parents, repressive surveillance, as well as reports of forced labour and forced sterilisation affecting Uyghurs and other minorities in the region.
My family comforted itself with both prayer and science, because the data told us that the odds were very much in her favor. Even after being hospitalized, four out of five patients her age fully recover, according to the CDC.

Statistics, however, dont have a face. They dont know anybodys name.

The Tulsa World, in a routine daily update, reported that eight more people in Oklahoma had died of COVID on Aug. 28. One of them I had loved very much.

Protocols

My wife woke up one morning with a sore throat and, as the day wore on, grew increasingly fatigued. It was probably allergies, we said. Probably just didnt sleep well.

She went to a doctor mainly as a precaution and was shocked when the COVID test result came back positive.

Could she have gotten it at Sandys funeral? We had worn masks and kept to ourselves on the back pew. State health officials, who talked to my wife for contact tracing, couldnt determine where she had caught the virus.

My wife and my aunt had both been extremely cautious. They wore masks in public. They practiced social distancing. They washed their hands as often as possible.
SINGAPORE, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Commodities trader Trafigura on Friday proposed a carbon levy of $250-$300 per tonne of carbon-dioxide (CO2) equivalent on shipping fuels to make zero and low carbon fuels more economically viable and competitive.

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) wants to halve the sector's greenhouse gas output by 2050 against 2008 levels. If left unchecked, it says, global emissions from shipping could balloon by up to 130% by 2050, compared to 2008 levels.

"We believe that only through the introduction of a significant levy on carbon-intensive fuels can sufficient progress be made towards the decarbonisation of the global shipping industry," Trafigura said in a research paper published on its website.

The revenue raised by the levy would be used to subsidise and incentivise low and zero carbon fuels, funding the research and development of alternative fuels and, in part, developing countries with the energy transition to mitigate the impact of climate change, Trafigura said.

Carbon emissions from shipping rose in the six-year period to 2018 and accounted for 2.89% of the world's CO2, amid growing pressure on the industry to bring levels down.

"It is now time to put a price on carbon emissions in the shipping industry in the form of a global, mandatory industry levy," the paper said.

Trafigura, which is responsible for more than 4,000 ship voyages per year, acknowledged that a carbon will have an immediate effect on shipping costs which companies would bear.

"This increase in operational costs will spur charterers to change behaviour to reduce emissions, charter more efficient ships and switch to lower carbon fuels," Trafigura said. (Reporting by Roslan Khasawneh; editing by David Evans)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

Trend:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has issued a statement in relation to the escalation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Trend reports with reference to the MFA.

"MFA of Ukraine is deeply concerned about the escalation of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We examine circumstances that led to escalation, call on the parties to return to the dialogue, and settle the conflict by peaceful means. Our thoughts are with the relatives of victims," the statement said.

On September 27, at about 06:00, the armed forces of Armenia, committing large-scale provocations, have subjected to intensive shelling from large-caliber weapons, mortars, and artillery mounts of various calibers of the positions of the Azerbaijan Army along the entire length of the front and Azerbaijani human settlements located in the frontline zone.

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.
Lebanese police have killed nine suspected members of the Islamic State group in the hunt for "terrorists" linked to several deadly attacks, including on soldiers, a security source said Sunday.

Saturday's operation came more than a month after the army and security forces launched a manhunt for suspects in the August 21 killing of two municipal policemen and the son of the mayor of the northern village of Kaftoun.

Police intelligence units raided a house in the northern region of Wadi Khaled where "suspects linked to the IS" jihadist group had been holed up, "killing all the terrorists inside", the Internal Security Forces (ISF) said in a statement.

A security source said "at least nine members of the group were killed".

But the source said the death toll could rise as more bodies could be buried under the rubble of the house, part of which was blown up during the police operation.

The ISF statement said the "terrorist cell" was made up of more than 15 suspects. It added that three had been arrested in previous raids.

Following the August murders in Kaftoun, the army and police launched operations to track down the assailants.

On September 14, the army said four soldiers were killed while attempting to arrest suspected "terrorist" Khaled al-Tallawi at his north Lebanon home, though he was eventually shot dead.

Meanwhile, two Lebanese soldiers were killed overnight in an attack on an army post in the locality of Arman-Minyeh, also in the north of the country, the army said Sunday.

"Two soldiers were killed, in addition to one terrorist," it said in a statement.

An attacker "riding a motorbike tried to enter the army post, and army members confronted him, killing him instantly", it added.

They found grenades and an explosives belt on him, the last of which it said "he had intended to detonate inside the post".

Wadi Khaled and the Arman-Miniyeh region are near second city Tripoli, which has been rocked by violence involving Islamists over the years, including as part of the fallout from the conflict in Syria.

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Asserting that tourism was the most adversely affected sector due to the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic across the globe, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor R K Mathur on Sunday said his administration would do whatever possible to promote tourism in the Union Territory. Mathur was speaking at a function after flagging off a cleanliness drive on the occasion of World Tourism Day from Karzoo Zing here, an official spokesman said.

In this critical time with the threat of COVID-19 pandemic, tourism is the most adversely hit sector across the globe. Whatever is possible to promote tourism (in Ladakh) keeping in view the guidelines of COVID-19 pandemic shall be done, he said. He appreciated the Ladakh Tourism Department, Rural Development Department, Municipal Committees of Leh and Kargil and other bodies for their initiative to celebrate World Tourism Day with a cleanliness drive.

Highlighting the close dependence of tourism and cleanliness, the L-G said that Ladakh needs to continue with the cleanliness drive on a regular basis and create a clean atmosphere for tourists as well as for the local citizens. He exhorted to carry out such cleanliness drives beyond the urban localities and to motivate the rural population also to ensure cleanliness and hygiene at all levels. The Lt Governor also handed over various items for the cleanliness drive to the representatives of different participating localities, the spokesman said.
The Booker Prize is a literary prize award given each year for the best original novel published in the United Kingdom. The Booker Prize 2020 shortlist has been announced by the officials and it contains six-must read novels. The winner this year will be announced, this November and will receive the cash price of 50,000. Take a look at all the short-listed books here:

Diane Cook  The New Wilderness

The New Wilderness explores the unbreakable bond of a mother-daughter who are living in a ravaged world affected by climate change and overpopulation. Beas five-year-old daughters lungs are slowly deteriorating as the citys population increases. The book unveils the mothers efforts of trying to keep her daughter safe.

Tsitsi Dangarembga  This Mournable Body

This Mournable Body is an intense novel about the difficulties faced by women in Zimbabwe. The book recites how Tambudzai, leaves her stagnant job and lives in a youth hostel. While making her life worthy, Tambudzai her daily reality driving her to an ultimate breaking point.

Avni Doshi  Burnt Sugar

Burst Sugar is a story of betrayal, however not between lovers. It essays the story of a mother whose daughter is forced to take care of her, while they never shared a cordial relationship. This sharp story picks up the choking cord of memories that has bound these two women together.

ALSO READ| Indian-origin Author Avni Doshi On Booker Prize 2020 Longlist

Maaza Mengiste  The Shadow King

This gripping novel penned down by Maaza Mengiste takes readers during the 1935 Mussolinis invasion in Ethiopia. Steamed around World War II, The Shadow King aptly describes real conflicts that took place around that time. Along with it, the novel attempts to shed light on women soldiers who are now forgotten in the pages of historical records.

ALSO READ| Booker Prize 2020: Author Hilary Mantel Up For Third Time As 2020 Longlist Announced

Douglas Stuart  Shuggie Bain

Shuggie Bain revolves around the subjects like the harshness of poverty, limits of love and the hollowness that comes along with Pride. Set in 1981, the movie showcases how Glasgow is dying and all the other families are made to struggle for their survival. It essays the story of a woman who always expects more from life.

ALSO READ| Booker Prize 2020: Dutch Writer Becomes Youngest Winner For The Discomfort Of Evening

Brandon Taylor  Real Life

This piece created by Brandon Taylor is a sheer coming-of-age novel. It revolves around topics like intimacy, violence and mercy among friends. Set in Midwestern University Town, the novel unveils the life of an introverted man Alabama.

ALSO READ| Avni Doshi's Burnt Sugar In The Booker Prize 2020 List Among 6 Others; Read Details
D Surendra Kumar By

Express News Service

NELLORE: Though it sounds odd, young turks of the saffron party from Nellore district are now busy learning Hindi, thanks to Vice President of India Venkaiah Naidu, who inspired many young leaders on moving with the times for their professional progress.

Now, the majority of BJP leaders have no command over Hindi and a few, who studied in the northern States and in Hyderabad, can speak Hindi to an extent. So, they are now learning the national language aiming at increasing their prospects in their political career.

Young leaders are now appearing for exams like Prathama, Madhyama, Uttama, Visharad, Bhushan and others. These young leaders, who want progress in their career, are very poor in Hindi and always say they are not able to communicate with the national leaders, which they consider as a major barrier.

Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu crossed this barrier and reached his goal. So, they are learning the language and practising with their colleagues, said a BJP leader. Their basic requirement is to speak in Hindi and understand what others (may be national leaders) speak, he added.
ALBANY New research from the University at Albany offers insight on how government agencies can educate the public and combat misinformation on social media during a pandemic.

Jeannette Sutton, an associate professor and the new director of graduate studies at the UAlbany College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity (CEHC), co-published new research in PLOS ONE that analyzed 150,000 tweets about COVID-19 from official accounts of about 700 state and local agencies between February and April.

The goal was to determine which messaging tactics led to the greatest engagement, measured by the number of retweets. Understanding the messaging features that led to shares could help guide future COVID-19 communication strategies, according to Sutton.

Weve been doing research on Twitter messaging for eight years or so, Sutton said. Many health agencies, especially at the local level, do not have a high reach to begin with. So, giving them insight into what tactics help draw attention to their posts is extremely helpful.

To identify effective messaging tactics, Sutton, along with a team of collaborators, first manually sifted through a random sample of 9,000 tweets, looking closely at both message content and other features used in tweets. From there, they used automated methods to code and analyze the remaining tweets.

The analysis revealed that tweets characterizing the impacts of the virus, its spread, and actions that people can take to protect themselves, were all features that most strongly influenced message retransmission; no single topic was most successful.

Tweets that included videos, and to a smaller extent, images and hashtags, were more likely to be retweeted.

The date the message was sent made a difference too. For example, messages published after the national emergency declaration on March 13 were passed on 44 percent more frequently than those sent before the declaration. Tactics such as using exclamation points or presenting content in the form of a question did not appear to promote retweets  a notable difference from other crisis situations in the past.

The researchers also identified a list of COVID-19-related keywords and phrases that were commonly used during the three-month period.

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 have identified consistent themes across different hazards that are effective, Sutton said. At the same time, some of the usual common messaging tactics  like using exclamation points or asking a question  were found to be counterproductive in the first few months of the COVID-19 crisis. This makes sense given that the context of a pandemic differs from a fast-moving threat, like a wildfire or flood.

Suttons co-investigator is Carter T. Butts at the University of California Irvine. The two are now building on their first study to examine tweets from May to August. They caution that the impact of messaging tactics could change as the pandemic continues to unfold.

Our reports are not usually completed this quickly. But, we recognized early on into the pandemic that there was an urgency for this type of analysis right now, Sutton said. Our research will help agencies reach their target audience during the later stages of this pandemic, or the next public health emergency."

The project is funded through an ongoing RAPID grant from the National Science Foundation to examine COVID-19 risk communication on social media.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday mourned the death of former Union minister Jaswant Singh, who died of prolonged illness in Delhi. Singh died of a cardiac arrest on Sunday morning. He was 82.

Banerjee expressed her condolences to his family. Saddened at the passing away of former Defence Minister and one of Indias longest-serving parliamentarians, Jaswant Singh Ji. My condolences to his family and his many admirers, Banerjee tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also among several leaders who condoled Singhs death.

Jaswant Singh Ji served our nation diligently, first as a soldier and later during his long association with politics. During Atal Jis Government, he handled crucial portfolios and left a strong mark in the worlds of finance, defence and external affairs. Saddened by his demise, PM Modi tweeted.

Jaswant Singh Ji will be remembered for his unique perspective on matters of politics and society. He also contributed to the strengthening of the BJP. I will always remember our interactions. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti, he added.

A nine-term member of Parliament, Singh was a former Union minister in the Atal Bihar Vajpayee cabinet. In 2009, he was elected from the Lok Sabha seat in West Bengals Darjeeling. The late minister held several important portfolios over the years such as external affairs, defence and finance.
For several hours Saturday, as the city waited with bated breath for stricter public health measures to go into effect, more than 125 Winnipeggers gathered at the Palomino Club in the Exchange District, and  at least for them, at least for a night  it almost seemed there was no pandemic at all.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 27/9/2020 (481 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For several hours Saturday, as the city waited with bated breath for stricter public health measures to go into effect, more than 125 Winnipeggers gathered at the Palomino Club in the Exchange District, and  at least for them, at least for a night  it almost seemed there was no pandemic at all.

The partiers, young and old alike, file into the club past security guards patting people down and checking temperatures at the door. A large group huddles close together at the downstairs bar, standing shoulder-to-shoulder, shouting loudly above the din of music.

Almost no one wears a mask.

In the men's bathroom, crowded and tight-quartered, two people whove just met introduce themselves with a handshake. Upstairs, people sway with the live music echoing from the stage, and others move in packs from the patio to their seats, to the bar and back.

Outside, people place their drinks on a small table before entering the designated smoking area. Two Kokanees, two Standards, three Heinekens, two Bud Lights, and a few mixed drinks sit there, all of them open, all of them jumbled together, waiting for their owners return.

"For me, its bullshit," says a man smoking a cigarette, when asked if hes worried about the novel coronavirus pandemic. He stands next to his friend, both exhaling clouds of smoke into the night, and asks for his name not be published.

"I dont believe it at all I dont like (the restrictions), but most of the people are scared, so its OK for them. I dont like to wear a mask, though. Im not going to change my life."

Aside from what staff say is a smaller-than-normal crowd, a ban on dancing, and a message flashing on TVs throughout the club asking patrons not to post photos to social media, signs this is a Saturday night in the middle of a global pandemic, and not just another fall weekend in Winnipeg, are few and far between.

Establishments like the Palomino Club have come under greater scrutiny in recent weeks as the COVID-19 case count continues to climb, with a number of recent exposures linked to young people bar hopping in the city.

On Thursday, Manitobas chief public health officer, Dr. Brent Roussin, said roughly half of recent positive cases could be linked to young people, many in their 20s, gathering at crowded restaurants, pubs, bars and clubs. Some were found to have visited more than one establishment in a night, while others went out despite being symptomatic. In one case, 36 "close contacts" were identified for a single individual.

On Friday, Roussin announced "the Winnipeg metropolitan region will move to the restricted level, or orange on the pandemic response system," effective Monday. Mask use will be mandatory at all indoor public spaces, including bars and restaurants.

"The indicators, certainly in the Winnipeg health region, are trending in the wrong direction. Were seeing more people developing symptoms and accessing testing. Were seeing a growing test-positivity rate and seeing higher rates of community-based transmission," Roussin said.

JESSE BOILY / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES The World Famous Palomino Club in downtown Winnipeg.

Even more restrictions could be coming down the pike for restaurants and bars, he added, as the province plans to consult with the industry to develop further measures to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

But not all of the bars visited by the Free Press Saturday were flouting social distancing guidelines like those gathered at the Palomino Club.

At Bar Italia on Corydon Avenue  the site of a recent exposure  roughly 20 people gathered at tables separated by plexiglass dividers, mainly staying seated and keeping to their groups. They were served by a waitress with a mask hooked around her ears, but pulled down below her chin, who bounced from table to table slinging drinks.

Down the street, at Chaise Cafe and Lounge, whose owner has been repeatedly fined for breaching public health orders during the pandemic, only a few people sat on the patio, and roughly a dozen others could be seen gathered inside through the window.

Corydon Avenue, normally a popular spot for a weekend night out, was quiet Saturday, with only a slow trickle of people walking down the sidewalk, standing there smoking cigarettes, occasionally popping into one of the strips many restaurants, lounges and bars.

At the Kings Head Pub in the Exchange District, the crowd was also small and social distancing guidelines were strictly observed. Staff checked photo identification at the door  not just for age, but to turn away anyone from out of province  and sprayed customers hands with sanitizer before allowing them inside.

All of the staff members were wearing masks, and the patrons remained seated at their tables, which were spaced out throughout the bar. Across the street, 15 to 20 people could be seen at the Bijou Patio enjoying a fall night under the stars, and another group gathered in Old Market Square following a bike jam.

Back at the Palomino Club, a man and woman sell hot dogs from a cart set up next to the building. The man says this is one of the slowest nights he's seen in weeks, adding it's been consistently busy during the pandemic, which has been good for business.

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.

"Oh, its been busy. Last week, it was busy. Tonight, not so busy," he says, as people spill out the front door and wander off into the night.

One of them, a man who did not want to give his name, says he was motivated to come out for a very simple and very human reason: an overwhelming desire for connection.

"I just wanted to see people," he says, walking down the sidewalk around midnight, heading home.

"And I hate people. Thats the weirdest part."

ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @rk_thorpe
Although we recognize that we have yet to fully correct or eradicate matters of racial inequality, we hope that issuing this apology with genuine remorse is a valuable step followed by additional actions, including demonstrable policy changes as outlined in both the Comprehensive Equity Plan and the Action Plan to Combat Systemic Racism, read the letter from the Loudoun County School Board, the administration of Loudoun County Public Schools and the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors.
No plans to introduce bins for used masks - minister

Environment and Water Minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has encouraged the public to dispose of used masks properly but said his ministry has no plans to introduce special bins for that purpose.

According to a report by The Malaysian Insight, Tuan Ibrahim (above) said this was because masks used by non-Covid-19 patients were not considered clinical waste.

The ministry has no plans to prepare special bins for masks.

However, we would like to encourage users to trim the strings off their masks before disposing to avoid them being stuck to animals, he said.

Since Aug 1, wearing masks in public and crowded areas has been made mandatory. This was amid concern over the increasing disregard for standard operating procedures (SOPs) which Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said had contributed to the rise in Covid-19 cases.

Failure to abide by this new ruling would subject the violator to actions in accordance with the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.

Certain environmental groups, such as Sahabat Alam Malaysia, had called on the government to introduce special facilities to dispose of used masks which are deemed to pose a potential health hazard.

Just as we separate and segregate paper, plastic, and glass, we should have special facilities and bins for face masks.

However, we should not be encouraging single-use face masks or those with plastic parts and are non-recyclable.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic is going to be with us for a while and the use of face masks in public is mandatory, it is about time we find solutions to single-use masks and substitute these with reusable face masks,  said Sahabat Alam Malaysia president Meenakshi Raman, according to The Star.
Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.

Sharad Pawar lauds SADs Badals for their strong pro-farmer stance

NCP chief Sharad Pawar applauded Shiromani Akali Dal for breaking away from the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA over the disagreement regarding the farm bills on Sunday. Read more here.

Daughters Day 2020: Tahira-Ayushmann Khurrana, Akshay Kumar, Soha Ali Khan-Kunal Kemmu and Karisma Kapoor go gaga over their jaan

Bollywood made the most of this Sunday by going down the memory lane and digging out old pictures of their little munchkins on Daughters Day 2020. Read more here.

IPL 2020: KL Rahul-Mayank Agarwal demolish Rajasthan Royals during record-breaking partnership

Kings XI Punjab openers KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal left Rajasthan Royals bowlers in tatters after they stitched a record-breaking partnership on Sunday. Punjab were riding high on confidence after a 97-run win over Royal Challengers Bangalore, and the duo showcased why they are a dangerous combo up the top. Read more here.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus review: A value-for-money premium Android tablet

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus is fine hardware but probably not a laptop killer. It is sleek, good looking, and durable. Read more here.

Shabana Azmis Mee Raqsam goes to CoSAFF

Professional beekeeper explains what she does if a colony doesnt have a queen bee. Watch

Professional Beekeeper, Erika Thompson from Texas Beeworks has been educating and entertaining netizens, all at once, with interesting short videos that document her work life. Read more here.
The producer: In 2015, Mags Riordan embraced edible flowers as a serious commercial crop at her organic Bumblebee Flower Farm in Drimoleague, Co Cork.

"2020 was to be my year!" says Mags. "It was the culmination of hard work over the previous seven/eight years. Order books were full with weddings, edible mixes for wedding and celebration cakes, and we were about to start our first harvest for restaurants and chefs.

"When lockdown was announced, everything was wiped out. That sick feeling in the pit of my stomach as the emails cancelling or postponing filled my inbox was one of the most terrifying moments I had. My flowers still needed to be harvested, the natural growing cycle didn't stop because of Covid-19."

Mags knew she had to pivot quickly and took to Twitter to explain that she was swimming in flowers and could deliver nationwide. "The outpouring of support was unbelievable, and overnight my business was transformed. I turned a crop largely destined as an edible one to online bouquet deliveries. Prior to February, my market was very local; now over 90pc of my business is online."

She knew the return of imported flowers could impact her fledgling business, but she says she needn't have worried - the support is still there and growing. She's now offering online workshops, with ingredients shipped to your door, full accompanying tutorials and Facebook live support with Q&A sessions.

"What seemed like a complete disaster back in March has blossomed into a diverse business, where my location is no longer a restricting factor. Never give up. It's in your hands whether you're the driver or the passenger."

bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie

The Takeaway: After 15 years as a navigator in the Indian Navy, Vinod Parary moved to Dublin to manage operations with Asheesh Dewan's Jaipur restaurant group, which he did for a decade.

In 2015, with his wife Shameera in charge of nutrition and food quality, he opened Masala, a takeaway at Killiney Shopping Centre with an open kitchen serving high-end restaurant quality food. It was an instant success.

However, they, too, were affected by Covid-19. "When lockdown was announced, business took a real hit," says Vinod. "We closed for two weeks for staff safety and morale but then, reducing working hours and staff, we were back serving food, complying with all safety norms. Corporate business stopped completely, and the cost of purchases rose due to a food supply chain crisis."

They streamlined their business, putting more resources on their website and online ordering platform with a contactless delivery system. They also introduced a chilled food menu to freeze at home.

"Although the number of orders has increased, consumer spending has come down. A global recession is now a real possibility - even the Irish economy is looking less healthy day by day. Brexit and Covid uncertainty will mean a challenging year ahead. Consumer confidence will be tested.

"SMEs are the backbone of any real economy and are facing a revenue shortfall. SMEs need more grants, not loans, to run their day-to-day business. The Government should reduce the VAT rate to 9pc for at least one year.

"It's the universal truth that if people have more money in hand, they can spend more in the local economy. Employer PRSI contributions reduction should also be considered."

masala.ie

The Restaurant: John Healy is not only the bubbling maitre d' you see on TV's The Restaurant, he's also the debonair general manager of the superb Suesey Street restaurant, with the best terrace in town, in the heart of Georgian Dublin. John also wrote a book about his heart transplant a few years ago.

"Our core business is made up of local regulars. Our staffing level normally stands around 30 people, full and part-time, and we rely on corporate bookings and weddings in our private venue No25 next door.

"When the first lockdown was thrust upon us, we lost 40,000 in bookings already made for March and April. In May, we decided to try our hand at takeaway and delivery and, as restaurants reopened, we did very well over July and August. We've made the restaurant very safe, taking 30 covers out of the room."

John hasn't returned to the restaurant floor as he's on immune suppression tablets. "I can work from home as much as possible, have Zoom meetings, and pop into the restaurant to meet managers and staff. It's not easy. I miss the social interaction."

On September 18, the Government announced the closure of indoor dining in Dublin. "This is a massive blow to the industry. A maximum of 15 people for outside dining in September/October could lead to hypothermia, never mind the rain. It's Ireland for God's sake, not the Mediterranean. We have the heated terrace. It's outdoors, and when it rains I just close the roof, but the already booked brides, for the weeks and months ahead, are panicking, reducing numbers from 50 to 25. My staff are fearing for their jobs, but we're in this together to save our jobs."

sueseystreet.ie

The Hotel: Overlooking Galway's Lough Atalia, The Galmont Hotel is hugely popular and ideally placed for both business and leisure guests to the city. General manager Stefan Lundstrom tells me how the winds of change have affected them.

"We've had to rethink many aspects of what we do and how we do it, and pivot completely towards the leisure end of our market. We count ourselves very lucky. We have a strong local market plus a spacious hotel, with fantastic heated outdoor spaces, which gives us a huge advantage with social distancing."

This year tourists are few and far between. "While we are well behind 2019 we're delighted to be open.

"Our chef has created new offerings. We have an exciting new cocktail menu, our table service system is working well and our new accommodation packages - Organic October, Let's Go Fly a Kite, mid-term and Christmas - are selling well so we're looking forward, with fingers firmly crossed, to some busy times.

"It is really disheartening to see restrictions imposed in Dublin. I'd be very concerned at how hospitality businesses can open again unless substantial financial support is secured.

"We've had quite a few cancellations, but also new bookings from other parts of the country. If Dublin stays on level three after October 9, I'd be apprehensive about October right through to March."

thegalmont.com
NEW YORK: Lawyers for TikTok pleaded with a U.S. federal judge on Sunday to delay the Trump Administrations ban of the popular video sharing program from app stores set to take effect at the end of the day, arguing the move would infringe on First Amendment rights and do irreparable harm to the business.

The 90-minute hearing came after President Donald Trump declared this summer that TikTok was a threat to national security and that it either sold its U.S. operations to U.S. companies or the app would be barred from the country.

TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, is scrambling to firm up a deal tentatively struck a week ago in which it would partner with tech company Oracle and retailer Walmart and that would get the blessing of the Chinese and American governments. In the meantime, it is fighting to keep the app available in the U.S.

The ban on new downloads of TikTok, which has about 100 million users in the U.S, was delayed once by the government. A more comprehensive ban is scheduled for November, about a week after the presidential election. Judge Carl Nichols of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia said he would make a decision by late Sunday, leaving TikToks fate hanging.

In arguments to Judge Nichols, TikTok lawyer John Hall said that TikTok is more than an app but rather is a modern day version of a town square."

If that prohibition goes into effect at midnight, the consequences immediately are grave," Hall said. It would be no different than the government locking the doors to a public forum, roping off that town square" at a time when a free exchange of ideas is necessary heading into a polarized election.

TikTok lawyers also argued that a ban on the app would stop tens of thousands of potential viewers and content creators every month and would also hurt its ability to hire new talent. In addition, Hall argued that a ban would prevent existing users from automatically receiving security updates, eroding national security.

Justice Department lawyer Daniel Schwei sought to undercut TikTok lawyers argument, saying that Chinese companies are not purely private and are subject to intrusive laws compelling their cooperation with intelligence agencies. The Justice Department has also argued that economic regulations of this nature generally are not subject to First Amendment scrutiny. Plaintiffs cant claim a First Amendment right in hosting TikTok itself as a platform for others speech because merely hosting a platform is not an exercise of the First Amendment, the Justice Department contends.

This is the most immediate national security threat," argued Schwei. It is a threat today. It is a risk today and therefore it deserves to be addressed today even while other things are ongoing and playing out."

Schwei also argued that TikTok lawyers failed to prove it would suffer irreparable business harm.

The Justice Department laid out its objections to TikToks motion for a temporary injunction in a brief under seal, but it was unsealed in redacted form to protect confidential business information.

Trump set the process in motion with executive orders in August that declared TikTok and another Chinese app, WeChat, as threats to national security. The White House says the video service is a security risk because the personal information of its millions of U.S. users could be handed over to Chinese authorities.

Trump has said he would approve a proposed deal in which Oracle and Walmart could initially own a combined 20% of a new U.S. entity, TikTok Global. Trump also said he could retract his approval if Oracle doesnt have total control.

The two sides of the TikTok deal have also appeared at odds over the corporate structure of TikTok Global. ByteDance said last week that it will still own 80% of the U.S. entity after a financing round. Oracle, meanwhile, put out a statement saying that Americans will be the majority and ByteDance will have no ownership in TikTok Global.

Chinese media have criticized the deal as bullying and extortion, suggesting that the Chinese government is not happy with the arrangement. ByteDance said Thursday it has applied for a Chinese technology export license after Beijing tightened control over exports last month in an effort to gain leverage over Washingtons attempt to force an outright sale of TikTok to U.S. owners.

Chinas foreign ministry has said the government will take necessary measures to safeguard its companies but gave no indication what steps it can take to affect TikToks fate in the United States.

TikTok is suing the U.S. government over Trumps Aug. 6 executive order, saying it is unlawful. So are resulting Commerce Department prohibitions that aim to kick TikTok out of U.S. app stores and, in November, essentially shut it down in the U.S., it claimed.

The Chinese firm said the president doesnt have the authority to take these actions under the national-security law he cited; that the ban violates TikToks First Amendment speech rights and Fifth Amendment due-process rights; and that theres no authority for the restrictions because they are not based on a national emergency.

_______

Follow Anne DInnocenzio: http://twitter.com/ADInnocenzio

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
Ohioans who thought Sen. Rob Portman would cross President Donald Trump or Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell over the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy might recall a phrase English author Samuel Johnson applied to second marriages: The triumph of hope over experience.

Portman, a wealthy Republican from Terrace Park, the Cincinnati suburb, got where he is by appearing a cut above other, sometimes thuggish, congressional Republicans. Hes a gentleman. Hes attractive. He graduated from Dartmouth and Michigan law. He has a great resume: The U.S. House, then, for George W. Bush, U.S. trade representative and federal Management and Budget director.

Portman won his Senate seat in 2010 and won reelection in 2016. If Portman, 64, wins a third term in 2022, the White House might still be a possibility. True, in 2024, when Americans next pick a president (if were allowed to), Portman would be approaching age 69. Thats young, though, in a country choosing between Donald Trump, 74, and Joseph Biden, 77.

Portman doesnt call to mind Kentuckys Mitch McConnell or other creepy Capitol Republicans. Nope: Robs the good neighbor down the street or across the cul-de-sac. Without being asked, he plows your sidewalk after a snowfall. Thats just how he is. And Portman, to his credit, stopped opposing same-sex marriages after a son came out  before the Supreme Court upheld such marriages.

True, you may not know much about Portmans politics. When you shoot the breeze with him, the topic might be the Reds, or Bengals, not the crying need for tax cuts for the rich.

But hey, you know his hearts in the right place. Sure, Portman takes care of fat cats from towns such as New Albany, Indian Hill or Gates Mills; theyre likely first on his callback list (oops  second, after the White House). Cmon, thats just politics: This winter, like always, Rob will swing by with his Cub Cadet to clear your driveway.

Now, though, Portmans irked some Ohioans because he thinks its OK for Trump to name and the Senate to consider  sooner, not later  a successor to the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Critics want senators to act after Nov. 3, better yet in January, when a new Congress meets.

Portmans foes note that in 2016, when then-President Barack Obama picked Merrick Garland to succeed the late Justice Antonin Scalia, Portman said the White House and Senate should wait till after 2016s election, or till a new president took office. Indeed, the Senate ignored Garland. Instead, in April 2017, McConnells Senate confirmed Trump nominee Neil Gorsuch.

But as Chico Marx said to Groucho in A Day at the Races, Look at the code book. According to Portman: Since the 1880s, no Senate has confirmed an opposing-party presidents Supreme Court nominee in a presidential election year [how things were in 2016]. In contrast, when the presidency and the Senate are controlled by the same party [how things are in 2020] the precedent is for the presidents nominees to get confirmed.

If it makes Portmans allies feel any better, precedent is as good a fig leaf as any for such real-world phases as, That was then; this is now. Or, Heads we win, tails you lose. Or, We can, so we will. Maybe Portmans stance isnt what some voters expected. But he wants to stay in the Senate, maybe move up Pennsylvania Avenue. And Portman may have decided itd be harder to do the first, impossible to do the second, if he crosses Donald Trump.

Legislators thumb twiddling on HB 6

If a picture of the Ohio House of Representatives isnt next to the word shameless in your dictionary, you need a new dictionary. A federal grand jury filed indictments on July 30 charging then-House Speaker Larry Householder, a Perry County Republican, and four other people with a $60 million racketeering conspiracy to pass House Bill 6 in 2019. It will force electricity customers to subsidize nuclear power plants once owned by Akrons FirstEnergy Corp.

The House (GOP-run 61-38) removed Householder as speaker. But its done nothing to kill HB 6. If voters are OK with that, somebody please call the Vatican: A miracles underway in Ohio.

Thomas Suddes, a member of the editorial board, writes from Athens.

To reach Thomas Suddes: tsuddes@cleveland.com, 216-408-9474

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* Email comments or corrections on this opinion column to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 28)  Hours before the House formally starts its plenary debates on the 2021 budget, a congressman claimed that Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Deputy Speaker Paolo Duterte's weekend meeting took place in Metro Manila, and not in Davao City.

Rep. Eric Yap, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, made the clarification to CNN Philippines on Monday, two days after he repeatedly posted a series of photos of him on Instagram together with Duterte, Cayetano and wife, Rep. Lani Cayetano; and House Secretary General Brian Yamsuan.

In Yap's first set of photos posted on Saturday night and captioned "chillax night," the lawmakers were seen posing and smiling after what seemed like a meeting over dinner Saturday night.

On Sunday morning, Yap posted another photo from last night's encounter, this time, with all of them standing closely next to each other at the pool.

The photos were initially set in Davao City, as indicated in the geotag of Yap's Instagram account. A geotag is a feature that reveals the precise location of a photo that was taken before it can be posted on the social media platform. It shows up in an Instagram post if a user's location setting is turned on.

However, Yap reasoned that "he is not too familiar with social media," so the posted photos must have set Davao City instead of Metro Manila as his default location. He did not specify the exact place of the meeting.

No other specific details were also shared about the meeting, but Yap noted that they did not delve much into politics  only personal stories and a discussion on the government's COVID-19 response.

This encounter came a week after Duterte's text message to Yap made the rounds and stirred speculations of a brewing House shakeup to stage a coup d'etat against Cayetano. In that message, Duterte himself warned that he will declare the speakership and deputy speakership posts vacant following the concerns of some colleagues over "inequitable" budget allocations in their districts.

However, no coup took place last Monday and the session ended in a matter of minutes. The days followed with a "supermajority" of allies and regional blocs suddenly expressing support for Cayetano, and backing his continued speakership, despite his term-sharing deal with Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.

Cayetano himself had accused Velasco of being the supposed mastermind of the coup attempt, but the latter insisted that he remained silent out of respect for Cayetano, whose term is set to expire in October.

Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor said Sunday that the general sentiment of "party leaders" for now is for Cayetano keep his post.

The House of Representatives is set to conduct plenary debates on the 4.5-trillion budget for 2021 this afternoon, after the appropriations committee approved it on Friday.

CNN Philippines' Xianne Arcangel contributed to this report.
B oris Johnson is promising to protect 30 per cent of the UK's land by 2030 under Government plans to support the recovery of nature.

The Prime Minister will make the pledge at a virtual United Nations event on Monday, where he will warn that countries must act to reverse biodiversity loss.

Mr Johnsons commitment will see an additional 400,000 hectares of land in England, equivalent to the size of the Lake District and South Downs national parks combined, being protected in the next decade.

The environment is a devolved matter, but the Government has said it will work with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as landowners, to increase the size of protected land across the UK.

Autumn colours are reflected in the water at Buttermere in the Lake District / PA

The Prime Minister will sign the Leaders Pledge for Nature at the UN event on Monday, agreeing to prioritise a green recovery from coronavirus, deliver ambitious biodiversity targets and increase financing for nature, among other commitments.

He will say: We must turn these words into action and use them to build momentum, to agree ambitious goals and binding targets.

We must act now, right now. We cannot afford dither and delay because biodiversity loss is happening today and it is happening at a frightening rate.

Left unchecked, the consequences will be catastrophic for us all. Extinction is forever  so our action must be immediate.

Environmental organisations welcomed the commitment but called for Government to invest in existing protected sites, and to put the new pledge into law.

erdwick sheep graze on the fells above Ullswater lake in the sunshine near Glenridding in the Lake District / AFP via Getty Images

Dr Richard Benwell, chief executive of umbrella group The Wildlife And Countryside Link, said: Just 8% of England is currently protected for wildlife, so designating 30% of land to restore nature would be a tremendous step forward

Of course, designation alone isnt a guarantee of change.

As with marine protection and existing terrestrial protected sites, strong management and investment are also needed.

WWF-UK chief executive Tanya Steele said: This announcement is a welcome step, but it must be backed up by urgent ambition, including strong legislation to avoid damaging trade deals and to stop the food we eat from destroying the environment here and abroad.

Only then can we meet our climate targets, put nature on the path to recovery and set our sights on global leadership at Cop26.

Martin Harper, the RSPBs director of global conservation, said the 30% commitment, if done right, would be a huge step towards addressing the crisis our wildlife is facing.

However, targets on paper wont be enough.

Those set a decade ago failed because they werent backed up by action.

This is why the 30 by 30 promise must now be put into domestic law, as part of a suite of goals to restore the abundance and diversity of our wildlife, in every country in the UK.

Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts said it was a good start but that more action was needed on the ground to deliver on the ambition set out by the Prime Minister, and to put nature into recovery.

This means rescuing the wildlife sites currently in decline, while also making more space for nature through a new wildlife designation called Wild Belt, specifically aimed at putting nature in recovery, protecting and connecting nature right across the country.
Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican majority leader, has already vowed that the Senate will vote on President Trumps Supreme Court nominee by the end of the year, though he has not made clear whether that will happen before Election Day, Nov. 3.

Now that Mr. Trump has announced his selection of Judge Amy Coney Barrett for the courts open seat, what comes next? Here are some of the crucial questions to determine how it will play out.

What happens next? Judge Barrett will have to answer an elaborate questionnaire, which the Senate will examine. Shell also begin calling and meeting with senators as they scrub her background and legal writings.

The 22 members of the Judiciary Committee, which is led by Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a staunch Trump ally, will hold confirmation hearings for four consecutive days beginning Oct. 12. That is considerably faster than recent Supreme Court nominations, cutting the time to prepare for the hearings by about two-thirds.
" " As the 2008 presidential race demonstrated, women won't automatically vote for another woman. Bill Pugliano/ Getty Images

With propositions including cuts to welfare and blocking passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, which sought to constitutionally guarantee women equal rights as men under any federal, state and local law, not all of Ronald Reagan's platforms sat well with American women [source: Copeland]. As a result, enough female voters fled Republican ranks in the 1980 election to produce an 8-percentage point gap between men and women who supported Reagan [source: Center for American Women and Politics]. Of course, Reagan still won then -- and again in 1984 -- but that election has proven pivotal nevertheless, since that slight but persistent red and blue split between male and female voters, respectively, still hasn't closed. For a more recent example, take the 2008 presidential election. Among women, Democrat Barack Obama handily beat his Republican opponent John McCain with 56 percent of the vote. Among men, however, it was a much closer race; Obama eked out just 49 percent of the male vote [source: Center for American Women and Politics].

Not only do today's women tend to side with Democratic candidates, but they also vote in greater proportions than men and from an early age. In the 2004 presidential showdown between Republican George W. Bush and Democrat John Kerry, for instance, women out-voted men in every age demographic, with 60.1 percent of total eligible female voters casting their ballots, compared to 56.3 percent of their male counterparts [source: Center for American Women in Politics]. And when they march to the polls, women bring along distinctive ideologies that drive them toward the donkey rather than the elephant.

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Research suggests that population-wide gender differences in how men and women conceptualize the role of government likely contribute to these nationwide pink and blue voting trends. For instance, a 1997 study from the Center for American Women and Politics found that more women believe the federal government should function altruistically to help disenfranchised citizens, whereas men think it should take a more individualistic approach [source: Frum]. In other words, a majority of women swing more socially liberal and Democratic, while traditionally more men have favored Republican conservatism. That altruistic-versus-individualistic dichotomy is reflected in how women and men prioritize election issues as well. According to a March 2012 survey from the non-partisan Pew Research Center, women were more likely than men to support government services for the poor, tighter regulations on food production and tougher workplace safety laws [source: Pew Research Center].

But there's still plenty of nuance in these numbers. Federal policies related to healthcare, unemployment and gas prices ranked highly for both men and women voters in a recession-era 2012 election season [source: Newport]. Moreover, neither men nor women constitute monolithic voting blocs. They're more accurately described as two mega-demographics that each can be sliced and diced into discrete groups with conflicting political and social affiliations. Moreover, if candidates are hoping to woo the fairer sex in particular, a rookie mistake to make would be emphasizing so-called "women's issues" and calling it a day.

Modern Women Vote Democrat for President The last time that a greater proportion of American female voters opted for a Republican Presidential candidate was 1988, when a single percentage point separated the women's vote for George H.W. Bush versus the defeated Michael Dukakis. Since then, the following Democratic presidential candidates have garnered a majority of the female vote: 1992: Bill Clinton

1996: Bill Clinton

2000: Al Gore

2004: John Kerry

2008: Barack Obama Read More
Tony Jones has stormed off a live TV set in anger after embarrassing footage of him trying to kiss Bec Judd was aired - despite his repeated requests for the clip to never again see the light of day.

The Sunday Footy Show host was furious when he rushed off camera during a live interview with rugby league legend Billy Slater on Sunday.

The 58-year-old had threatened to walk off the job if the awkward clip was played during a radio interview with 3AW's Neil Mitchell in May - and followed through with his warning on Sunday's program.

'What did I say? Jones said. 'Ill show you how much of a joke this is. I told you. You cant help yourself.'

Journalist Tony Jones tried to kiss Bec Judd (pictured with husband Chris) on a Nine News Melbourne broadcast in 2016

Jones was seen on the phone back stage before leaving the set, while Billy Brownless, Nathan Brown and Mathew Lloyd finished Slater's interview.

'We thought he was joking but he's not coming back,' Brownless said.

Jones eventually returned to the program and was clearly unimpressed that the clip was aired.

'Im only back because management said I have to come back,' Jones said.

The incident with Judd happened on Nine News Melbourne in August 2016, as Jones attempted to give her a peck on the cheek before she went on maternity leave.

'Good luck, Bec!' he said, before leaning in. At that moment, the wife of AFL champion Chris Judd instinctively pulled away and yelped, before bursting into fits of giggles.

Realising he had just been rejected on camera, Jones crossed his arms and grumbled, 'OK, good, this is going well,' as his face turned red.

The 58-year-old (pictured) had threatened to walk off the job if the footage was aired again

In March, Jones revealed the truth behind the toe-curling moment, saying he was supposed to present Judd with flowers, but somebody had forgotten to buy them.

In a moment of panic, he decided to just kiss her on the cheek instead, but the gesture didn't go down well.

'I've put up with that c**p for years, and it's not my fault!' Jones said.

'Our news director, Hugh Nailon, here at Channel 9 at Melbourne. He didn't organise the flowers. I was supposed to present Bec flowers.'

Judd, 37, took the faux pas in good humour and later agreed to give Jones a friendly kiss at the 2018 Brownlow Medal count.
She is preparing to imminently welcome the latest Love Island baby.

And Camilla Thurlow proudly showed off her pregnancy curves in her latest Instagram post with dad-to-be Jamie Jewitt.

The 31-year-old reality star wore a figure hugging pale grey dress that revealed how her baby bump has grown, which she matched with a knotted dark grey cardigan.

Parents to be: Camilla Thurlow proudly showed off her pregnancy curves in her latest Instagram post with dad-to-be Jamie Jewitt

Jamie, 30, looked suave in a navy leather jacket, a midnight blue T-shirt and jeans.

Click here to resize this module

Clearly ready to embrace the next stage of their relationship together, the happy couple grinned from ear to ear as they placed their arms around each other.

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Revealing how far along she is, the 2017 Love Island star captioned the post: 'Lovely lunch for my younger sister's 27th birthday #36weeks'.

Not long now: Camilla revealed in the caption just how far along she is

Excited: The happy couple revealed they are expecting a baby over Instagram back in May. Camilla later revealed there's been 'ups and downs' with her pregnancy, but she's 'very happy'

Camilla's post comes after she admitted talking to Andi Peters on Lorraine that there have been 'ups and downs' with her pregnancy, but that she's 'very happy'.

The star also discussed struggling to open up to people after working as an explosive ordnance disposal specialist in Afghanistan and Cambodia.

She said: 'The biggest part of it is about the work I did with the [charity] Halo Trust.

'Before Love Island that was the work I liked doing and I was lucky enough to travel to Afghanistan and Cambodia, and during that time I learned a huge amount.

'As I travelled across several different countries, it changed in different places, but the work was majority in landmine clearance.

'You might clear land that can then be used for people to farm land for food for their family. Every country had different challenges, but it was an amazing experience.'

Camilla has written a book called Not The Type: Finding My Place in the Real World

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The memoir is not just about finding the courage to go out and deal with lethal threats at work, but the courage to confront one's own fears and anxieties.
With COVID-19 vaccines currently in the final phase of study, youve probably been wondering how the Food and Drug Administration will decide if a vaccine is safe and effective.

Based on the status of the Phase 3 trials currently underway, it is unlikely that the results of these trials will be available before November. But it is likely that not just one but several of the competing COVID-19 vaccines will be shown to be safe and effective by the end of 2020.

I am a scientist and infectious diseases specialist at the University of Virginia, where I care for patients with COVID-19 and conduct research on the pandemic. I am also a member of the World Health Organization Expert Group on COVID-19 Vaccine Prioritization.

 What is the status of COVID-19 vaccines in human clinical trials?

Phase 3 studies are underway for the Moderna and BioNTech/Pfizer vaccines and the Oxford/AstraZeneca viral vector vaccine.

Each of these vaccines uses the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein, which the virus uses to infect cells, to trigger the immune system to generate protective antibodies and a cellular immune response to the virus. Protective antibodies act by preventing the spike glycoprotein from attaching the virus to human cells, thereby neutralizing the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.

In the case of Modernas nucleic acid vaccine, the messenger RNA encoding the spike glycoprotein is encased in a fat droplet  called a liposome  to protect the mRNA from degradation and enable it to enter cells. Once these instructions are inside the cells, the mRNA is read by the human cell machinery and made into many spike proteins so that the immune system can respond and begin producing antibodies against this coronavirus.

The Oxford/AstraZeneca uses a different strategy to activate an immune response. Here an adenovirus found in chimpanzees shuttles the instructions for manufacturing the spike glycoprotein into cells.

Phase 1 and 2 studies by pharmaceutical companies Janssen and Merck also use viral vectors similar to the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, while vaccines by Novavax and GSK-Sanofi use the actual spike protein itself.

 Animal tests show the vaccines provide protection from coronavirus infection.

Studies in animal models of COVID-19 provide convincing evidence that vaccination with the spike glycoprotein will protect from COVID-19. Experiments have shown that when the immune system is shown the spike protein  which alone cannot trigger disease  the immune system will generate an antibody response that protects from infection with SARS-CoV-2.

In studies in hamsters an adenovirus viral vector  the approach used by Oxford/AstraZeneca, for example  was used to immunize with the Spike glycoprotein. When the hamsters were infected with SARS-CoV-2 they were protected from pneumonia, weight loss and death.

In nonhuman primates, DNA vaccines  which deliver the gene for the spike glycoprotein  reduced the amount of virus in the lungs. Animals that produced antibody that prevented virus attachment to human cells were most likely to be protected.

 What have the early Phase 1 and 2 studies in humans shown?

Overall, vaccination has triggered a more potent neutralizing antibody response than even that seen in patients recovering from COVID-19.

This has also been the case for Modernas vaccine currently in Phase 3 trials and for vaccines from CanSino Biologics and Oxford/ AstraZeneca.

 What side effects have been observed?

Physicians have recorded mild to moderate reactions when the subjects were observed up to 28 days after vaccination. These side effects included mild pain, warmth and tenderness at the site of injection, and fever, fatigue, joint and muscle pain.

But Phase 1 and 2 studies are by small by design, with just hundreds of participants. So these trials will not be large enough to detect uncommon or rare side effects.

The emphasis on safety as the primary goal was recently demonstrated in the Phase 3 Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine trial where one vaccinated individual developed inflammation of the spinal cord. It isnt clear whether the vaccine caused this reaction  it might be a new case of multiple sclerosis unrelated to the vaccine  but the Phase 3 trial was halted in the U.S. until more is known.

 How is the FDA ensuring that a vaccine will be safe yet quickly produced?

The FDA has issued guidance for industry on the steps required for developing and ultimately licensing vaccines to prevent COVID-19  these are the same rigorous safety standards required for all vaccines.

There are, however, ways to speed the process of approval that are centered on platform technology. What this means is that if a vaccine is using an approach such as an adenovirus that has previously been shown to be safe, it may be possible for a company to use previously collected data on toxicity and pharmacokinetics to fast-track clinical trial approval.

While speed and safety may appear conflicting goals, it is also encouraging to note that the rival vaccine manufacturers have jointly pledged not to bow to any political pressures to rush vaccine approval, but to maintain the most rigorous safety standards.

 How protective does a vaccine need be to receive FDA approval?

The FDA has set the bar for the primary endpoint of a Phase 3 trial of 50% protection for approval of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Protection is defined as protection from symptomatic COVID-19 infection, defined as laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection plus symptoms such as fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle aches, loss of taste or smell, congestion or runny nose, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting.

This means that an effective vaccine is considered one that will reduce the number of infections in vaccine recipients by half. This is the minimal protection that is anticipated to be clinically useful. That is, in part, because lower levels of efficacy could paradoxically increase COVID-19 infections if it leads vaccinated people to decrease mask wearing or social distancing because they think they are completely protected.

Since a vaccine might be more effective at preventing severe COVID-19, the FDA instructs that protection from severe COVID-19 should be a secondary endpoint.

 How many people have to be vaccinated to know if a vaccine works in Phase 3?

The current Phase 3 trials are enrolling 30,000-40,000 subjects. Most of these participants will receive the vaccine and some a placebo.

When, exactly, the results of Phase 3 studies will be released depends in large part on the rate of infection in the placebo recipients. The way that these vaccine studies work is that they test if naturally acquired new coronavirus infections are lower in the group that received the vaccine compared with the group receiving the placebo.

So while it is good news that COVID-19 infections have dropped recently in the U.S. from 70,000 to 40,000 cases per day, this drop in new infections may slow the vaccine studies.

 Will Emergency Use Authorization fast-track vaccine?

In an emergency such as we are faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, with approximately 700 new deaths and 40,000 new cases per day right now, the FDA is authorized to allow the use of unapproved products for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. That includes a vaccine.

The standard approval process for vaccines can require more than one year of observation after vaccination. If the short-term safety is good and the vaccine works to prevent COVID-19, then the vaccine should be approved for use under an Emergency Use Authorization while it is still being studied.

Under Emergency Use Authorization, the FDA will continue to collect information from the companies producing the vaccines for benefit and harm, including surveillance for vaccine-associated enhanced respiratory disease or other potentially rare complications that might be observed in only one in a million.

 What should we expect in terms of approvals?

I expect that the FDA will approve several vaccines by the end of 2020 under its Emergency Use Authorization authority so that vaccination can begin immediately, starting with high-risk groups including first responders, health care personnel, and the elderly and those with preexisting medical conditions.

This will be followed rapidly with roll-out of vaccination to the population at large, while all of the time the FDA and vaccine manufacturers will continue to monitor for side effects and work to improve upon these first vaccines. This process is expected to take months.

It may not be life back to normal next year, but all signs point to a healthier 2021.

Dr. William Petri is the Wade Hampton Frost Professor of Medicine and vice chair for research of the University of Virginia Department of Medicine. His areas of expertise include infectious diseases and international health. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
Long-haul carrier Qatar Airways on Sunday reported revenue losses of USD 1.9 billion for the past year, blaming the coronavirus pandemic, its liquidation of shares in Air Italy and the ongoing boycott of Doha by four Arab nations for the drop.

The energy-rich nation of Qatar itself needed to bail out the state-owned airline at the end of its financial year on March 31 with USD 2 billion to keep the airline operating, its annual report acknowledged. The carrier also blamed new accounting rules for further adding to losses for the past fiscal year.

If not for the exceptional circumstances of fiscal year 2020, our results would have been better than the year before, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al-Baker said in a statement. The airline carried 32.3 million passengers in the last fiscal year, compared to 29.4 million the year prior.

But Qatar Airways finds itself in the same position of competing Gulf long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad, slashing thousands of jobs while trying to expand its network as travel restrictions lift worldwide.

That's as demand for flights remains low over fears about the virus, which has wreaked havoc on international travel. The airline listed having over 50,000 employees on its payroll in the report.Qatar Airways, which operates some 250 aircraft out of Doha's recently built Hamad International Airport, follows the model of other Gulf carriers by providing a link between East and West from its location on the Arabian Peninsula. But the lessened demand saw the carrier ground its double-decker Airbus A380s as it is not commercially or environmentally justifiable to operate such a large aircraft in the current market, the airline said in a statement.

The coronavirus pandemic halted global aviation for months, which only has begun to pick back up. Qatar also has been targeted by Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in a boycott since June 2017.

That boycott continues today, despite efforts by other Gulf Arab nations and the U.S. to reconcile the countries involved in the political dispute.

Al-Baker said since the pandemic, Qatar Airways has flown over 2 million passengers and carried over 250,000 tons of medicine and aid to areas impacted by the coronavirus.

I have every confidence that the Qatar Airways Group will emerge stronger from this difficult period and continue to innovate and set the standards that our competitors can only hope to emulate," he said.

Further hurting the airline was the February collapse of Air Italy, a regional carrier it held a 49% ownership stake in at its launch in 2018. Air Italy had been trying to rename and become a national carrier with flights across Europe. Qatar Airways in its financials said it likely would lose nearly $400 million alone on Air Italy.

Qatar Airways also restated its losses for the previous year in the financial report Sunday, putting it at close to $1.3 billion as opposed to the $639 million it earlier reported. It lost $69 million in 2018. (AP) PMS PMS PMS
Perception management will be the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) biggest challenge in Punjab and other agrarian states after the Shiromani Akali Dals (SAD) decision to end their 24-year-old alliance on the controversial farm sector reforms.

The BJP wouldnt be that badly off without the SAD if it manages to set up a negotiating table with the agitating farmers to limit the bushfires. Thatll set the stage for it to exercise the alliance options it has and the Akalis do not in the sensitive border province.

Given the history of the Khalistan Movement of the 1980s, the Centres initiative to find a middle ground should come sooner than later. Punjab is the key as much to the countrys food security as to its national security imperatives. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance can achieve the twin objective by reaching out to the restive peasantry without standing on prestige.

Also read: President Kovind gives his nod to all 3 farm bills, government notifies them

For its part, the SAD, derided as a fief of the Badal family, has apparently broken free of the NDA in search of its lost glory as a party of struggle and agitation. It had earned the spurs in the post-Independence Punjabi Suba movement and the way it fought Indira Gandhis Emergency. Its 1975-77 court arrest campaign ran for 19 months when its top leadership was in jail.

That was also the phase when the SAD boasted of such tall leaders as Master Tara Singh, Sant Fateh Singh and Giani Kartar Singh (in the vanguard of the Punjabi Suba stir), Gurcharan Singh Tohra, JS Talwandi, HS Langowal and a much younger Parkash Singh Badal.

The parallel Prime Minister Narendra Modi drew a few years ago between Badal and Nelson Mandela was a tribute in fact to his SAD moorings, the years its leadership spent in jails for the causes to which they were committed.

Also read: Farm stir set to intensify as Punjab CM plans sit-in

All that is part now of the folklore the SAD inherited but failed to preserve. In its traditional support base of Jat Sikhs, the Dal has today a challenger in SS Dhindsas SAD (Democratic). The other breakaway faction that went by the name of the Taksali group has since faded out with many among its prominent faces teaming up with Dhindsa.

Having served as a minister under Atal Behari Vajpayee, Dhindsa gained proximity to the BJP at the cost of his mother party. The Padma Bhushan the Modi dispensation conferred on him in 2019 had taken the Badals by surprise.

Little wonder then that Dhindsa is widely seen as a substitute for the Badals in the NDAs scheme in Punjab. A political observer who said it in as many words is former Rajya Sabha MP Tarlochan Singh, who had set up a meeting between Vajpayee and Badal to bring the SAD and the BJP together in 1996.

Also read| Their reasons for quitting alliance werent sufficient: Punjab BJP on SADs exit

The Akalis then had spurned the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader HS Surjeets efforts to get them to back HD Deve Gowda. The latter became PM when Vajpayee couldnt show the numbers he needed in Parliament after being in office for 13 days.

The other reason why the BJP could be confident of ploughing the furrow without the Badals is the inroads the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) has made in Punjab through its frontal organisation with the same acronym, the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat. Its activities have riled the Sikh clergy but on the ground, its believed to be making headway.

From its standpoint, the SAD has come to see the BJPs crisis of perception over the farm laws as an opportunity for the image makeover it direly needs. In the last assembly polls, the Dal lost the principal Opposition slot to the Aam Aadmi Party. That was after the 2014 parliamentary polls that saw it winning as many seats (two seats each) as the BJP.

Also read: Farm bills get Presidents assent amid protests, SADs exit

The ground, therefore, is slipping from under the SADs feet. While it fights to recover its lost appeal, the Dals historical proclivity to show itself as the sole defender of the Sikh cause could divide on communal lines whats essentially a farmers movement for economic rights.

The possibility of such an eventuality in the state bordering Pakistan lends extra urgency to a dialogue between the Centre and the organisations leading the farmers stir.

A helpful template from the past could be the civil society interface that came about in the aftermath of the events of 1984. The group comprised such men of gravitas as Marshal of the Indian Air Force, Arjan Singh, Lt Gen JS Aurora, Ambassador Gurbachan Singh and Inder Gujral.

A panel with matching eminence grise could be the bridge even now between the Centre and the leaders of the farm community. That could help prepare ground for direct talks  and a mutually agreeable accord.
Six teenagers have been arrested after a school was vandalised in a muck up day rampage, causing $50,000 in damages.

The male students, aged 17 to 18, allegedly broke into Fairfield West school in Sydney's west on September 23 between 5pm and 10pm.

Police allege the group destroyed property, spray-painted walls and ransacked classrooms.

Officers saw eight people running through the school when they arrived at the scene.

Police allege the group destroyed property, spray-painted walls and ransacked classrooms (pictured)

Two 17-year-old boy's were arrested and charged with aggravated break and enter, malicious damage, stealing and graffiti after they were allegedly found hiding in a park.

They appeared in a children's court on September 24 where they were granted conditional bail, to reappear in a children's court on November 2.

Another two students, age 17, were arrested on Thursday following further inquiries.

On the same day, a fifth 17-year-old was arrested after he turned himself into Fairfield Police Station.

An 18-year-old man was later arrested at at a home in Casula, in Sydney's south-west.

All four also also faced charges of aggravated break and enter, malicious damage, stealing and graffiti.

The male students, aged 17 to 18, allegedly broke into Fairfield West school in Sydney's west (pictured) on September 23 between 5pm and 10pm

The older student was granted conditional bail and will appear in Fairfield Local Court on October 12.

The five younger students were granted conditional bail and will appear in a children's court on November 2.

Police Minister David Elliott slammed Muck Up day, saying it was not an excuse for alleged criminal behaviour.

'Kids that aren't going to comply with the law will be dealt with both by, I expect, the schools, but certainly by police,' he said on Saturday, according to 7 News.

'Mucking up because it's your last day of school is going to be no excuse when you're before the magistrate.'

Police investigations are ongoing.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 22:40:17|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, speaks while attending a ceremony to welcome back the remains of 117 soldiers of the Chinese People's Volunteers sacrificed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, at the Taoxian international airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 27, 2020. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

SHENYANG, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan on Sunday called for passing on and carrying forward the heroic spirit of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea and striving to achieve national rejuvenation.

Sun, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while attending a ceremony to welcome back the remains of 117 soldiers of the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) sacrificed in the war.

The ceremony was held at the Taoxian international airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province.

Noting that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the CPV's participation in the war, Sun said that the Chinese people have always kept in mind the feats of the CPV in safeguarding justice and opposing aggression.

The great spirit always motivates the Chinese people to overcome difficulties and forge ahead in unity, Sun stressed, adding that China's achievement in fighting the COVID-19 epidemic is a vivid example of this spirit in the new era.

Sun also called for cherishing the hard-won peaceful environment, sticking to the path of peaceful development, striving for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making greater contributions to safeguarding world peace and promoting common development.

The remains of the 117 CPV soldiers will be buried in the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang. A burial ceremony will be held on Monday. Enditem
There are four counties under consideration for additional lockdown measures, according to the Minister for Health.

Stephen Donnelly, speaking to RTE on Sunday said that although Cork, Wicklow, Galway and Louth have cases steadily rising, he does not foresee any announcement being made before Thursday when the National Public Health Emergency Team are due to meet.

Donegal and Dublin have both been ordered into increased local restrictions due to their rising cases and it is widely expected other counties will follow suit as the country battles a second wave of Covid19.

"There are four counties which I think looked at very carefully, they are Cork, Galway, Louth and my own county of Wicklow," he said.

"But right now, there are no plans for NPHET to meet earlier, to make any recommendations to government at this time.

"They meet every Thursday, that may change, but right now they have no plans to meet.

"What happens in each case is the national public health emergency look at a wide variety of measures.

"They look at not just 14 day rates but the seven day rates but they look at where is it coming from, and is it rising quickly? Is it a small number of cases where we've deployed public health to the ground?

"And it's actually well contained, and so forth so we leave it to the experts to come back, they look at a wide range of things."

Mr Donnelly said that although it appears Dublin as stymied their rise in cases through their "local lockdown," it remains too early to tell.

Read More Mary Lou McDonald joins chorus of calls to restore 350 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

"We will be cautiously optimistic as we must always be, but it is very early days, what we want to see happen now, this week is that seven-day rate come down at each and every day," he said.

"I have no doubt that people in Dublin have heard this loud and clear in the vast majority of cases, people are doing exactly what they need to do just by limiting their interactions."

Mr Donnelly added he did not foresee Christmas going ahead as normally planned for a lot of families who have relatives in nursing homes.

"What I would like to see is able to go in and visit their relatives," he said.

"It is heartbreaking. It's heartbreaking for the residents, and heartbreaking for the relatives, heartbreaking for the staff who are dealing with this every single day we had so many cases of people standing on their tiptoes looking in windows, and other relatives are very sick and in some cases died.

"So, what I really love to see is this virus suppressed, to the point that the most liberal visiting regime that we could have safely is brought in."
By Online Desk

India on Sunday reported 88,600 fresh cases in a day as the cases tally mounted to 59.9 lakhs. 1124 deaths were also recored in the last 24 hours.

COVID case tally stands at 5,992,533 including 9,56,402 active cases, 49,41,628 cured/discharged/migrated & 94,503 deaths, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare's latest update said.

Meanwhile, Delhi reported 46 COVID-19 deaths on Saturday, the highest in over 70 days, taking the toll to 5,193, while 3,372 fresh cases pushed the infection tally to 2,67,822, authorities said.

This is the highest number of deaths reported in a day since July 16, when the national capital recorded 58 fatalities.
TEHRAN, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Iran's President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday accused the U.S. administration of committing the "greatest savagery" with its economic siege on Iran, official news agency IRNA reported.

"Americans recently said that they have inflicted tens of billions of U.S. dollars in damage to Iran. In the past three years, they have caused at least a damage of 150 billion U.S. dollars," Rouhani said at a meeting of the National Headquarters for Managing and Fighting the Coronavirus in Tehran.

Iranians resentful of shortages and economic pressure should direct their "curses, maledictions and hate" towards the White House, the Iranian president said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 18:37:17|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection (CHP) reported Sunday one new local and five imported infections of COVID-19, taking the total number of confirmed cases as far to 5,065.

The CHP said at a press briefing that the new local patient was a 22-year-old construction worker with an unknown transmission chain and his nine close contacts have been put in quarantine.

While the epidemic is subsiding in Hong Kong, public health experts called on people to keep their guard up.

Matthew Cheung, chief secretary for administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, urged residents to avoid group gatherings during the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday in an online article on Sunday.

COVID-19 has caused 104 related deaths in Hong Kong and left 141 patients still in hospital, according to Hong Kong's Hospital Authority. Enditem
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 26)  Ninety-five people were arrested in a bar in Quezon City past midnight on Saturday for drinking and violating other health protocols, police said.

Quezon City Police responded to the scene at 1:20 a.m. at Guillys restaurant bar in Tomas Morato, Barangay South Triangle, and brought the violators to the police station after being caught in the act of drinking alcohol.

They will be charged with violation of RA 11332, violation of City Ordinance 2936 and SP 2908, S 2020, violation of SP-2301, S-14, and Violation of Art. 151 Disobedience, RPC.

The Quezon City local government has ordered the closure of the bar on Saturday.

We are still under GCQ or general community quarantine and certain restrictions are still enforced. We appeal to everyone to strictly observe the Quarantine Health Protocols to prevent the spread of COVID 19 virus, said, QCPD Director Police Brig. Gen. Ronnie Montejo.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland City Councilman Matt Zone announced Sunday morning that he is stepping down after 19 years.

Zone will be transitioning away by mid-November, he added.

This was a difficult decision to make; I love serving this community and particularly, the passionate members who call her home, but Im excited about the next chapter, Zone wrote.

Zone will become the executive director of the Thriving Communities Institute (TCI) and will also be Senior Vice President of Western Reserve Land Conservancy. He will succeed Jim Rokakis.

It has been my privilege and honor to serve you as a member of council. Its the job of a lifetime and Im thankful every day I was able to do it. I have always approached the work with full dedication and truly believe that my time on council will be the toughest, most rewarding job I will ever have, he wrote. During my tenure, Ive advocated for a more thoughtful, creative and responsible approach for city government. To accomplish this locally, I have always engaged our citys residents with an inspiring plan and made informed decisions that are based on evidence, community consultation and the merits of arguments -- rather than a particular ideology.

Cleveland City Council President Kevin Kelley said he wishes the best for Zone.

I truly will miss Matt and his passion for the city in which he was raised, but as he is moving on to important organizations - to become executive director of the Thriving Communities Institute as well as vice president of Western Reserve Land Conservancy, Kelley said in a statement. Its comforting that we will still be working with him on various issues related to Cleveland. Matts commitment to Ward 15 is visible in the transformation of the community - including the restoration of the Capital Theatre, renovations at Cleveland Public Theatre, the streetscape improvements, new construction at Battery Park and with the redesign of the West Shoreway, a new restored and improved connection for pedestrian and bike riders to Edgewater Park and beach.

Zone is recommending Jenny Spencer to take his place. She is a Detroit Shoreway resident and has served as managing director for the Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization since 2014, he wrote.

Jenny and I share the same passion and love for the Cudell, Detroit Shoreway and Edgewater neighborhoods, Zone wrote.

Zone was first elected to council in 2001, representing Ward 15, which includes the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood. The ward also includes the Edgewater area, Gordon Square and parts of the Ohio City, Cudell and Stockyards neighborhoods.

Read more Cleveland news on cleveland.com:

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City of Cleveland expresses condolences for Daniel Ripepi, killed in Interstate 480 accident

University Heights investigating string of car thefts over two-week period, police say
The nanosatellites, which received more than 6 million in funding from the UK Space Agency, will join more than 100 other space objects providing support to maritime trade.

Made by Spire Global UK in Glasgow, each device has an onboard supercomputer with machine-learning algorithms that can provide hyper-accurate predictions of the locations of boats, according to the UK Space Agency.

The nanosatellites will calculate the arrival times of boats at ports to help port businesses and authorities manage busy docks safely, the agency said.

The machines will be transported into space on a Soyuz launcher from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia at 12.20pm UK time.

Science minister Amanda Solloway said: Satellites are shrinking in size and growing in ambition.

A satellite the size of a shoebox may sound like a gimmick, but these nanosatellites are driving a revolution in how we observe planet Earth  with each holding the power and intelligence of a regular satellite.

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The Government is ensuring the UK remains at the forefront of this revolution and the Spire nanosatellites we have backed will help us do just that.

Engineers at Spire Global designed, built and tested the spacecraft at the companys Glasgow headquarters.

The nanosatellites were developed under the European Space Agency (ESA) Pioneer programme  a partnership co-funded by the UK Space Agency.

Meanwhile, the Government is also supporting the development of spaceports across the country, which will allow satellites to be launched from the UK soil for the first time in the coming years.
An early-morning shooting in Montgomery left one man dead.

Montgomery police and firefighters responded shortly after 3:30 a.m. Sunday to a report of a person shot in the 3400 block of Mobile Highway, said Lt. Jarrett Williams. Once on the scene, they found the adult male suffering from a gunshot wound.

The man was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Williams later Sunday identified the victim as Lamar Merritt. He was 30 and lived in Montgomery.

Williams said no arrests have been made and no additional information is being released at this time. Anyone with information on the deadly shooting is asked to call Montgomery police at 334-241-2651 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP.
Laurence Fox is launching a political party for the reclamation of British values.

The 42-year-old member of the famous acting dynasty said he has been given 5 million funding to start the party, provisionally called Reclaim.

The former star of Lewis star wants to fight the culture wars, The Sunday Telegraph reported, and intends to stand candidates at the next general election.

Fox, who has been a fierce critic of the BBC, sparked controversy when he said suggestions of racism over how the Duchess of Sussex was treated in some quarters was boring.

We are going to change everything. We are going to do it with love, reason and understanding.  Laurence Fox  (@LozzaFox) September 26, 2020

He also hit out at black and working class actors for complaining about the industry once they have five million quid in the bank.

Fox has now tweeted that his party party will change everything with love, reason and understanding.

He said in a statement posted on Twitter that politicians have lost touch with people and public institutions now work to an agenda beyond their main purpose.

Our modern United Kingdom was borne out of the respectful inclusion of so many individual voices, he said.

It is steeped in the innate values of families and communities, diverse in the truest sense but united in the want and need to call this island home.

The people of the United Kingdom are tired of being told that we represent the very thing we have, in history, stood together against.

Story continues

We are all privileged to be the custodians of our shared heritage. We can reclaim a respectful nation where all are included and none are ashamed to have somewhere to call home.

He said he had received support from those wishing to add their voices to this reclamation of our values.

Our country is now in desperate need of a new political movement which promises to make our future a shared endeavour, not a divisive one. This is now my endeavour.

The Sunday Telegraph quoted a source describing the party as Ukip for culture.

Fox, the ex-husband of actress Billie Piper, had raised large sums from ex-Tory donors and the party name is subject to approval by the Electoral Commission, the paper said.

The actor said he wants to preserve and celebrate our shared national history and reform publicly funded institutions, from media to education, so they are free from political bias.

His father James and uncle Edward are famous in the acting world, as are his brother Jack and cousins Emilia and Freddie.
Karen Stevens didnt plan to get an influenza vaccine when she walked into Safeway on Friday, but in less than 10 minutes she walked away immunized.

Stevens, 55, said shes regularly gotten a flu shot for the last several years and wanted to make sure she did again this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This was not my plan for the day, she said. Im visiting from out of state, and when I called the pharmacy there, they had a pretty long wait, so I thought I might as well get it done.

Stevens was one of several people who received a vaccine at the front of the 15th Avenue store Friday during Safeways walk-in clinic. Safeway had planned to hold the clinic in the parking lot, but wind and rain pushed organizers inside, said Patrick Gallaher, pharmacy manager.

Gallaher and other local health officials are stressing the importance of getting a flu vaccine this season and taking other preventative measures to protect against influenza as well as COVID-19.

Although its not certain, COVID-19 activity will likely increase in the winter as people are inside more, said Dr. Steve Krager, county deputy health officer.

The flu and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. Because some of the symptoms are similar, it may be hard to tell the difference between the two based on symptoms alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Symptoms for both illnesses include fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle pain or body aches, headache, as well as vomiting and diarrhea in some cases. A symptom of COVID-19 that differs from the flu is new loss of taste or smell.

Krager said the demand for COVID-19 testing is likely to grow during flu season because symptoms are similar and as coronavirus activity increases.

When COVID-19 began spreading in the state in March, flu season was still ongoing. Health officials recommended testing for influenza before COVID-19, which will be the recommendation again as flu activity picks up again, Krager said.

One piece of good news is that we have access to flu testing thats pretty widespread and rapid, Krager said. If someone has classic symptoms of flu and tests positive for that, they may not need a COVID test which might reduce strain on testing a little bit.

Influenza season alone can strain health care systems, and COVID-19 adds an extra burden, said Dr. Jas Sandhu, PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center pulmonologist. Sandhu said he expects call volumes at clinics and the hospital to increase, and the hospital is preparing for any worst case scenarios during the flu season or a COVID-19 resurgence.

PeaceHealth is urging the community to get a flu vaccine, and to continue COVID-19 precautions, such as wearing a face mask, distancing, frequent hand washing and staying home when sick, to help reduce that burden on the healthcare system.

What we can do is our part and practice those measures on a daily basis, Sandhu said. All these measures will help us hopefully curb this season.

People should aim to get the flu vaccine before the end of October, Sandhu said. It can take about two weeks to develop antibodies to fight infection, he said.

The CDC recommends the influenza vaccine for all people 6 months or older, especially those with higher risk of complications including children under 5 years old, people 50 and older, pregnant people, those with chronic health conditions and caregivers or household members of those at higher risk.

The effectiveness of influenza vaccines vary from year to year depending on the dominant strain of flu that circulates, as well as the condition of the patient, Sandhu said. Even if the vaccine doesnt fully prevent infection, it will likely prevent severe illness, he said.

People who are sick should stay home and call their primary care provider, who will tell them if they need to be tested for the flu or COVID-19, Sandhu said.

The optimistic view is that social distancing, face masks and other COVID-19 safety measures should help prevent influenza cases as well, Krager said, but we dont know for sure.

Some data from Australia shows as COVID-19-related lockdowns and restrictions went into place in March and April, the number of flu cases dropped dramatically and never really picked up again, Krager said.

Im hopeful something like that could happen (here), he said.

If it had operated as originally planned, the Safeway flu shot clinic would have acted as a dry run for how a COVID-19 vaccine may be distributed once it becomes widely available, said Gallaher, the pharmacy manager.

Its not clear when its gong to hit but we do know one is coming, he said. We want to have practice and an efficient way to administer to largest number of people.

Once a COVID-19 vaccine is approved and released, there will not be enough at first to offer it to everyone, according to the state Department of Health. Federal and state officials will set priority groups, which could include essential workers, health care workers, residents and staff of long-term care facilities, according to the department.

Krager said he thinks there will be a lot of different ways organizations distribute the influenza vaccine this year, as well as the COVID vaccine when its ready.

I think were going to see a lot of creative ideas like that to deliver things to people in a way that will hopefully increase amount of people able to get vaccinated, he said.

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Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - The European Union (EU) and the World Bank have signed an agreement to work in partnership on the Sudan Family Support Programme to assist families affected by economic reforms, a press release said here Sunday




Indian police hauled in Bollywood megastar Deepika Padukone for questioning on Saturday in an escalating drugs probe following the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.







Rajput was found dead in his apartment in June, sparking a media frenzy with rolling news channels speculating that his former girlfriend, actress Rhea Chakraborty, drove him to kill himself with narcotics and even black magic.







Rajput's family disputed reports that he suffered from depression and openly accused Chakraborty, 28, of stealing his money and harassing him.







The actress, who denies any wrongdoing and who has been hounded for months by the media together with her family, was arrested earlier this month for allegedly buying cannabis for Rajput and this week was denied bail.







The saga has now morphed into a probe by authorities into drug-taking within the multi-billion-dollar industry.







Padukone, 34, one of Bollywood's biggest stars, was summoned earlier this week for questioning by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Mumbai as well as actresses Sara Ali Khan, Shraddha Kapoor and Rakul Preet Singh.







Singh's statement was recorded on Friday. Kapoor and Khan were are also expected to appear before the NCB on Saturday.







Earlier this week, TV channel TimesNow broadcast sections of a WhatsApp conversation about procuring hash, alleging that the two people chatting were Padukone and her manager.







Director Karan Johar meanwhile, who has also been a target of TV channels and social media users since Rajput's death, released a statement on Friday rejecting claims that drugs were consumed at a party that he hosted at his home last year. (AFP)


The Ukrainian government is examining the circumstances that have led to the escalation.

Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) says it is deeply concerned about the escalation of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"MFA of Ukraine is deeply concerned about the escalation of the conflict btw Armenia & Azerbaijan. We examine circumstances that led to [the] escalation, call on the parties to return to the dialogue & settle the conflict by peaceful means. Our thoughts are with the relatives of victims," the ministry said in a statement on Twitter on September 27.

MFA of Ukraine is deeply concerned about the escalation of the conflict btw Armenia & Azerbaijan. We examine circumstances that led to escalation, call on the parties to return to the dialogue & settle the conflict by peaceful means. Our thoughts are with the relatives of victims  MFA of Ukraine  (@MFA_Ukraine) September 27, 2020

New hostilities between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region were reported on September 27.

Read alsoNew hostilities erupt along Armenia-Azerbaijan border; civilian, military casualties reported (Photos, video)

War in Nagorno-Karabakh: Past developments
A Tinder creep who abused a woman who rejected him online has struck again, with a second victim coming forward.

Sydney brewery manager Erin Hinds, 26, matched with tech worker Tom, 28, last month on the dating platform.

He invited her to his Bondi home where they met for a drink before spending the night together.

But two days later when she told him she was not interested in taking things further, he bombarded her with horrific derogatory messages.

Sydney brewery supervisor Erin Hinds (pictured), 26, matched with Bondi tech worker Tom last month over Tinder

'I said sorry, I have changed my mind. It was fun but we really don't have chemistry. That is when he flipped the switch,' Ms Hinds told Daily Mail Australia.

'He went crazy.'

'He started calling me a w***e and a s**t then taking pictures of my friends from social media and sending them to me saying that we are all retards, disgusting w****s with bad dental hygiene, and s***ts only worth one f**k each.'

Ms Hinds experience mirrors that of Ebonie Sanderson, 26, who shared images on Instagram this week of messages she had received from Tom after she declined an invitation to his house.

In the appalling tirade, he called her a 'fat f**ing pig', 'f***ing ugly' and said she had 'wasted his time'.

Ms Sanderson's post was quickly picked up by Clementine Ford and her followers whose social media campaign got him fired in less than 24 hours.

Ms Ford claimed that three more women, including Ms Hinds, had contacted her since claiming they had been threatened by the same man.

'One of them, he threatened to share her intimate photographs with her friends and family. The other, he said he would hit if he saw her in the street,' Ms Ford claimed.

Ms Hinds (pictured) said Tom began sending her abusive messages after she told him she was not interested in meeting up again

Tom (pictured left) sent Ms Hinds messages calling her a 'w***e' and a 's***t' then asked her friends for her home address

A message Tom sent to Ms Hinds about her friends, calling them derogatory names

Ms Hind's abuse continued beyond the twisted messages, with Tom taking to targeting her friends and threatening to stalk her at work.

After barraging her with abuse, Ms Hinds said Tom began messaging her friends asking them to give him her home address.

Terrified, she quickly blocked him on all of her social media accounts.

The next day, she matched with a guy called 'Ryan' on Tinder, who later claimed he was a friend of Tom.

'He said he remembered where I worked and threatened to come in,' Ms Hinds said.

'I asked them not to harass me at work or I would call the police. Then I blocked them.'

In messages provided to Daily Mail Australia, 'Ryan' told Ms Hinds that he and 'Tom' expected 'excellent customer service' when they arrived, to remember to 'smile' and that 'customers are always right'.

A day after blocking Tom, Ms Hinds matched with 'Ryan' (pictured), who later claimed he was one of Tom's friends

'Ryan' then started calling Ms Hinds a s**t and started discussing her interaction with Tom

Ms Hinds contacted police who told her she has the right to file a restraining order. She is still waiting to hear back regarding an application.

Ms Hinds said Tom had been pleasant up until the point she decided to break things off.

Now, she feels traumatised and unsafe.

'It has really shaken me up. I haven't gone on a Tinder date since. I was scared of going into work in case he turned up.'

'I wish I had never met up with him. I feel absolutely disgusting.'

Ms Hinds said she was inspired to come forward after hearing about Ms Sanderson's experience and hopes it will help other women speak out against unacceptable behaviour.

'I brushed it aside thinking it had only happened to me, I did not realise there were others,' she said.

'It just insane. Why is this is still happening in 2020?'

Ebonie Sanderson (pictured), 26, shared abusive messages Tom sent her on Instagram this week, which lead to his termination at work

In Snapchat messages, Tom told her she was ' inferior' and 'the dysgenic like you are there to serve us'

On Saturday, Ms Sanderson shared the lurid exchanges and aggressive voicemails she received from Tom after turning down his offer to join him at his home.

'This is what happens when you say NO or call out a man for being disrespectful,' she wrote.

'You apparently earn yourself the right to get verbally abused and fat-shamed on more than one platform.

'No I didn't 'ask for it' and yes, I'm entitled to change my mind and tell someone I'm not interested anymore because I feel uncomfortable and intimidated by one's aggressive and forceful nature.'

In Snapchat messages, Tom told her she was ' inferior' and 'the dysgenic like you are there to serve us'.

'You're actually a fat f***ing pig. You know that? Thanks. You did waste my time,' he said.

'You're f***ing ugly. Your a** looks OKAY and you would have been one f***. You would have been just one f*** because you're a disgusting fat pig.'

When she called him out for his aggressive behaviour he then doubled down and defended himself.

'Look at my f***ing face. I don't have to struggle to get laid. I especially don't need a FOUR like you to get laid.'

Clementine Ford shared the series of messages on Friday night along with a screenshot of the man's LinkedIn profile and the name of the company where he worked.

'Tom' sent Ms Sanderson abusive messages on Snapchat (pictured) after declining an offer to go round to his house

The post went viral, with thousands of women rallying around Ms Sanderson in a show of support.

Ms Ford later told followers she had learned Tom had been fired from his employer as a result of his behaviour.

Tom's boss told Daily Mail Australia he dismissed him after receiving a flood of angry emails this morning.

'I had a read through of the contract and validated that it was an act of serious misconduct and that he was no longer fit for employment with us,' he said.

The CEO said he was 'shocked and disgusted' by the messages.

'There is just no place in our workplace for someone who treats women with that amount of disrespect.

'I have four daughters aged between 10 months and nine years old so that was one of the first things I thought about, and my blood boiled to imagine someone to ever speak to one of my little girls like that.'

Tom's social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook have disappeared since the posts were shared.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Tinder for comment.
With some calling it ground zero in determining which party will control the state Legislature next year, two veterans are vying to represent Legislative District 6 in the state Senate.

Both Democrat Felicia French and Republican Wendy Rogers have been unsuccessful in seeking public office in the past, but this year offers one of them the opportunity to represent people living in rural and northern Arizonan.

A retired U.S. Army Colonel and registered nurse from Pine, French first tried her hand at politics in 2018 when she sought a seat in the state House, losing out to Rep. Bob Thorpe by just 600 votes.

Meanwhile, Rogers is a retired Air Force Lt. Colonel who owns a home in both Flagstaff and Tempe and has been seeking public office for a decade. Most recently, Rogers challenged Rep. Tom OHalleran for his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives but lost with 46% of the vote in 2018.

In August, Rogers beat out incumbent Senator Sylvia Allen, who had represented the district since 2014, in the Republican Primary with 58% of the vote. French was unchallenged in her primary.

Without the incumbent on the ballot, Democrats might have an easier time picking up the seat and getting one step closer to winning control in the Senate. At the moment, Republicans have a three-seat majority over that body and a two-seat majority in the state House.

Even so, that may be an uphill fight for Democrats. According to the Arizona Capitol Times, Republicans hold an 8.8%-point lead in voter registration in the district.

Nonetheless, during an interview over the phone this past week, French said she was optimistic.

On Friday, French was endorsed by President Barack Obama, and she has also received endorsements from VoteVets.org, The Arizona Nurses Association and the Grand Canyon Chapter of the Sierra Club.

Rogers, on the other hand, has sought to align herself closely with President Donald Trump, touting the fact she introduced the president during a campaign stop that then-candidate Trump made in 2015. Rogers has received endorsements from the National Rifle Association, Senate President Karen Fann, House Speaker Rusty Bowers and the Arizona Fraternal Order of Police.

Rogers has sought to portray her opponent as beholden to what she called the radical left elements of the Democratic Party, claiming she is funded by dangerous high-tax, anti-God, anti-police, anti-life, anti-school choice, and anti-gun elements.

At the same time, French bemoaned the divisiveness between the two parties and said everyone should be seeking solutions to better the lives of Arizonans. Of her opponent, French said she thinks Rogers has been focusing mainly on national issues rather than those that are impacting residents of northern Arizona.

Rogers would not agree to a phone interview but did answer several questions over email, writing that her priorities include working to restore law and order, improve schools, secure the border, protect our guns, improve rural broadband access, and get our economy moving again.

French has listed her priorities as improving the state's education system, making healthcare more accessible and making sure state officials address the issues of rural Arizona.

And French spoke at length about the need for rural broadband.

We tend to spend more money on the Maricopa County area because that's where the capital is and there's a lot of people there. And we don't see that money always flow equitably and be distributed proportionally, even to the rural area, French said. [Access to broadband] should be a basic right, like electricity or running water.

French said now that COVID-19 has pushed so many things online and made travel more difficult, good internet access in rural areas has become even more critical.

Without sufficient broadband internet, she said, children in rural areas might have difficulty simply attending school as it has transitioned online. Likewise, better rural internet can make healthcare more accessible, she said. At a time when rural residents could simply use telemedicine to speak with a doctor, many residents are still forced to drive many miles to see specialists in Phoenix, French said.

Contrasting on COVID

The two candidates' views on COVID-19 also differed.

French said she has been disappointed with the states response, which she feels is inconsistent. French said she saw first hand how the Navajo Nation wrestled its outbreak under control by closely following the advice of experts when she volunteered as a nurse working in Tuba City earlier this year.

Rogers, however, said she sees the situation in Arizona improving quickly.

I would like to see everyone back to work and schools open as quickly and safely as possible, Rogers wrote.

Although she did not get into specifics, Rogers also said she would work to improve the state's education system and said the recent 20% increase in pay for teachers is one great step in the right direction. She said Proposition 208, however, isnt the right way to further that goal.

That proposition would increase taxes on individuals making $250,000 and families making $500,000 a year, and send that money to the education system. Voters will decide the propositions future in November but Rogers said it is a step too far, especially as business and residents are recovering from the recent economic downturn.

Just when our small businesses are dealing with the economic fallout caused by COVID-19, the last thing they need is the prospect of a billion dollar tax increase. Our state has been a leader in the nation for job growth and in these challenging times we need to focus on policies that encourage, rather than stifle Arizona's economic recovery, Rogers wrote. Working together, we can ensure that all of Arizona's children have access to a great education without devastating small business owners.

French said she supports Proposition 208 and add that it will provide the funding needed to hire additional teachers, helping address the issue of overcrowding in classrooms and hire more school counselors for which there is a desperate need.

And French said the tax increase won't affect the vast majority of Arizona residents.

Tax cuts have gutted our public schools and it's denied a generation of children the education they deserved. As a soldier, I know what it's like to make the sacrifices for the greater good of your squad, French said.

Forest from the trees

On the issues of forest health and forest fires, Rogers said one solution is to give the state more control over the management of federal lands. In addition to better forest management, Rogers also pointed to arson as a cause of wildfire, a concern that has spread through many communities in the West over the past month.

Forest thinning is key to keeping forest underbrush to a minimum. There is also evidence, however, that some of the fires in the West were caused by arson, Rogers said. We need to take care of our forests and our water. We also need to prosecute arsonists to the fullest extent of the law.

Although there have been isolated instances of arson being a cause of recent large wildfires, the Federal Bureau of Investigations has called many of those claims misinformation.

French said she supported measures such as firewising homes, through which residents maintain their properties and structures so they are more resistant to fire.

And French said that better forest management can be encouraged by using the wood products created by thinning operations to create electricity. Through that process, she said, the state could facilitate better forest management while also creating a new and clean source of energy for the region.

Over the last decade, the City of Flagstaff and those in the Legislature have also butted heads on which issues should be decided locally and which the state should control. Such conflicts have arisen over banning plastic grocery bags, the minimum wage and regulating short-term rentals.

On those issues, Rogers wrote that she believes it is important that the state stands up against local officials to protect the rights of their constituents.

I think local governments often trample on citizens' rights. The state should put these out-of-control cities in check, Rogers wrote. There is a big difference between codifying a law which has been passed by both houses in the state Legislature and signed by the governor, as opposed to a few local tyrants passing something they have no business imposing on free people who already have a duly elected legislature and governor.

But French had a much different take on the issue.

French said while there are times the state may need to weigh in on local issues, she generally believes locals know what's best for them.

I find it kinda ironic; I remember five years ago, going to visit the state Legislature, before even entertaining the idea of running for office, French said. And they were all upset with the federal government telling the state what to do, especially with the state lands issue. They're telling the federal government to get out of their business. [But] now they're doing the same thing to the localities.

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 25, 2020 / Stillcanna Inc. (CSE:STIL) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that as part of the Sativa Group PLC's ("Sativa") ongoing commitment to continually deliver the highest level of regulatory compliance and substantiate CBD you can trust', Sativa has become a member of the Association for the Cannabinoid Industry (the "ACI") Novel Food consortium and it's landmark toxicology study, which will augment the submission of its own Novel Food application dossier.

The toxicology study will provide safety data that is required for Novel Food dossiers validated by the FSA, and for products to remain available on the market after March 31, 2021.

Sativa and the Company's team of scientists and quality/compliance professionals in the United Kingdom and Poland have worked with the ACI to ensure its CBD products meet their rigorous quality management criteria.

As part of this regulatory process, the raw CBD ingredients and final products are tested by a leading third-party laboratory, and cultivation, extraction and manufacturing processes and standards are scrutinised, to ensure that Sativa is meeting safety and regulatory standards from seed through to shelf.

The Company is submitting its own novel food application for its portfolio of products and brands, and on behalf of White Label customers.

Henry Lees-Buckley, Chief Executive Office of Sativa, said: "At Sativa, producing the highest quality and compliant products is our number one objective! We welcome the FSA Novel Foods accreditation process and are very pleased to be associated with the ACI in our compliance efforts".

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

Jason Dussault, Director

For further information, please contact:

Jason Dussault

info@stillcanna.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Story continues

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the Company's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of Stillcanna's control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "will", "expects", "continues to", "plans", "expects", "expects to", or "does not expect", "is expected", "expects", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved".

The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, the submission of the Novel Foods Application, the membership in the ACI toxicology study, the availability of products beyond March 2021 and the timing of such products, the testing of certain products, the relationships with third parties, the creation of a fully integrated European seed to consumer offering, our supply chain, compliance with European industry regulation, the Novel Foods Accreditation, various unforeseen events could make this statement no longer valid. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements.

In particular, there is no guarantee that that the merger solidifies both companies position as a leader across the entire supply chain, and that they are in a unique position to produce and supply the highest quality products with the lowest possible costs. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this press release, and Stillcanna does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities.

SOURCE: Stillcanna Inc.





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/607781/Sativa-Group-PLC-Joins-the-ACI-Toxicology-Study-to-Further-its-Commitment-to-Novel-Food-Compliance




Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the UN, WTO and other international organisations in Geneva,

called on the Vietnamese community in Switzerland to make more contributions to the homeland as well as cooperation between the two countries.

Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the UN, WTO and other international organisations in Geneva,

The ambassador made the appeal during a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of Vietnams National Day (September 2) in Geneva on September 26.

Mai recalled the historic day when President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam 75 years ago, and highlighted the achievements Vietnam has recorded recently, especially amidst COVID-19, with GDP growing 2 percent in the first half of this year.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Switzerland Le Linh Lan briefed the meeting on cooperation outcomes between the two countries, saying Switzerland is an important economic partner of Vietnam.

Two-way trade increased from 1.5 billion CHF (1.6 billion USD) in 2015 to 3.6 billion CHF last year, she said, adding that nearly 100 Swiss firms, including Nestle, Novatis, Roche, Holcim and ABB, have invested in Vietnam.

Lan stressed that many Vietnamese scientists, businesspeople and intellectuals are working in spearheads sectors in the host country such as physics, information technology, AI and blockchain.

At the ceremony in Australia (Photo: VNA)

The same day, a similar event was held in Australia during which Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Thuy Nga reviewed the political-economic situation in the homeland in the first nine months of this year, notably the countrys success in containing COVID-19.

She said the Vietnamese Embassy in Australia has coordinated with the Vietnamese Consulates General in Sydney and Perth and Vietnamese airlines to organise flights bringing home more than 3,000 Vietnamese.

Regarding the relations between Vietnam and Australia, the ambassador said the two counties share common interests, vision and strategic values, both bilaterally and multilaterally.

Nga expressed her hope that with the support of the two governments and people, the bilateral strategic partnership will grow stronger in the time ahead./.VNA
New York, Sep 27 : The anxiety, stress and worry brought on by Covid-19 is not only limited to daytime hours as it is affecting our dreams as well, particularly among women, new research has revealed.

The pandemic has infused more anxiety and negative emotions into dreams and spurring dreams about the virus itself, according to a study published by the American Psychological Association in the journal Dreaming.

Overall, women's dreams have been more strongly affected by the pandemic than men's - possibly because women are bearing more of the burden of caregiving, job loss and other hardships.

To reach this conclusion, researchers went through results of four studies from around the world about people's dreams during the pandemic.

Previous research has suggested that our dreams often reflect what's happening in our waking lives and that other crises -- including war, natural disasters and terrorist attacks -- have led to an increase in anxious dreams.

New research found that the same is true of Covid-19.

"All of these studies support the continuity hypothesis of dreaming: That dreams are consistent with our waking concerns rather than being some outlet for compensation, as some older psychoanalytic theories had hypothesised," said Deirdre Barrett, assistant professor of psychology at Harvard University's Medical School.

"The higher levels of anxiety, dreams about illness and death in general, and Covid-19 specifically, are in line with that." One mother in a study by Barrett dreamed that her child's school contacted her to say that the child's whole class was being sent to her condominium to be home-schooled for the duration of the pandemic.

When mothers of young children hear that dream, there is laughter but also usually a strong empathy at the overwhelmed feeling the dream dramatises.

"Your dreams can make you more aware of just what about the pandemic is bothering you the most -- and sharing them with trusted others is a good conversation-starter for talking about these shared feelings,a Barrett noted.

This study of more than 3,000 US adults surveyed in early May found that people who had been most strongly affected by the pandemic also reported the strongest effects on their dream life (heightened dream recall, more negative dreams and more pandemic-related dreams).

Women and people with more education also reported stronger effects of the pandemic on their dreams.

Women's dreams have been more negatively affected by Covid-19 than men's dreams, according to an international study of 2,888 participants.

Overall, women showed significantly lower rates of positive emotions and higher levels of anxiety, sadness, anger and references to biological processes, health and death in their pandemic dreams compared with the pre-pandemic dreams.

Men's pandemic dreams showed slightly higher levels of negative emotions, anxiety and death than in pre-pandemic dreams, but the effects were less pronounced than they were for women.

In another study, researchers analysed the dreams of 796 Italian participants.

Twenty per cent of the dreams included an explicit reference to Covid-19.

"Overall, women reported higher emotional intensity and a more negative emotional tone in their dreams, as did participants who knew people affected by Covid-19," the researchers said.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Dimitra Fellman and Melissa Graboyes

Fellman is a senior at the University of Oregon. She is writing her thesis on Oregons COVID-19 testing protocols and practices and is funded by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation. Graboyes is assistant professor of medical history and African history at the University of Oregon.

Many objected when the Centers for Disease Control changed its Covid-19 testing guidance in late August, advising that if you dont have symptoms, you dont need to be tested  even if youve been exposed to someone with the virus. After blowback that the change was another political ploy to downplay the severity of the pandemic and would fail to identify pre- or asymptomatic individuals before they infected others, the CDC reversed itself.

But we shrugged at the change and its reversaleven though were two public health researchers whove been closely following Oregons testing protocols and policies over the past six months. Heres what concerns us far more: The controversy is a distraction from more important questions about whos getting tested, whos getting left out and how to ensure that Oregons communities of color  the people being hit hardest by the pandemic  are protected by our public health system. Its important to remember that many of our essential frontline workers are Black and brown, providing services we all need and use. Making sure frontline workers are tested and healthy helps keep everyone safe.

Most health care providers didnt follow the CDCs testing advice before the changes, and wont start following it now. While several states and public health departments publicly rejected the CDCs August guidance, none are bound by its advice to begin with. Providers can use their own protocols, incorporating some or none of what the CDC or state health agencies recommend.

Whats more, Oregon and many other states were already undertesting, even before the CDCs controversial guidance. The Oregon Health Authoritys protocols state that individuals whove been in close contact with someone with the virus should be monitored  but not necessarily tested unless they show symptoms or when testing capacity allows.

In March and April, tests were scarce. Most providers tested only the seriously ill and those requiring hospitalization, as state and federal agencies advised. But as more tests became available, individual providers decided how to use them. Some large Oregon systems like Providence and Samaritan Health have continued testing only the symptomatic, according to their websites, advice given on the phone and coronavirus assessment tools. Other providers such as LegacyGo and Nova opened testing sites where anyone can be tested, with the caveat that they must have private insurance that will cover the cost or be willing to pay a few hundred dollars out of pocket. (While in theory the CARES act covers Covid testing costs, loopholes allow insurers to charge co-pays on asymptomatic tests and providers to bill uninsured patients).

These two divergent strategies allow very different demographics to be tested: sick Oregonians and Oregonians who want to be tested. Each approach leaves important gaps in who gets tested. Test only those showing symptoms and you miss pre- and asymptomatic cases. Give a test to anyone who can cover the cost, and the uninsured, the poor, the undocumented, and people who cant or wont navigate complicated medical systems lose out on expanded testing opportunities.

Both approaches leave out far too many Latinx, Black, and Native Americans, who have been infected, hospitalized, and died at rates much higher than their proportion of the state population. These populations are more likely to be uninsured and undocumented, making it much more challenging to secure testing whether or not they have symptoms.

Publicly-funded county public health agencies have stepped in with community testing events for high-risk individuals such as front-line workers and at-risk racial and ethnic groups. They test people without insurance, who may speak a language other than English, or who may be fearful of the medical system due to their immigration status. But these events dont happen often enough to fix the problem. As with other class and race-based inequities across Oregon and the United States, for the time being, testing remains largely a privilege of the wealthy, white, and insured.

Though we know that some communities are being under-tested, its impossible to know by how much. OHA refuses to release data showing the number of tests performed broken down by race, ethnicity or insurance status, citing public health privacy laws. It is critically important that this information be made publicly available so we know how dramatically testing protocols need to change.

Change could begin with OHA formally recommending that providers develop testing protocols targeting these undertested groups, setting goals to test a certain percentage of ethnic groups, and distributing additional testing equipment to counties with larger numbers of Black and brown Oregonians. Real change will also necessitate health care organizations modifying their testing practices by holding mobile testing events, advertising in multiple languages, partnering with community-based organizations, and making it easy for the uninsured to be tested for free and the undocumented to be tested without fear of being reported. This type of scaling up will likely need to rely on rapid antigen tests, which are cheaper, faster and more readily available than current analysis procedures allow.

These are some of the steps towards testing equity were waiting to see here in Oregon. Weve given up on the CDC, but the OHA and Oregon-based health care organizations still have an opportunity to do whats right and protect the health of all Oregonians.

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New Delhi, Sep 27 : Much has been said about high-profile leaders like Uma Bharti or Ram Madhav who have been dropped from their key posts in the BJP organisation as per the new list of office-bearers, while the inclusion of younger leaders like Tejasvi Surya or D. Purandeswari has also been widely analysed.

But, away from the media glare are three lesser-known names in the new team of party chief J.P. Nadda, who have made their journey from near obscurity to recognition.

Dilip Saikia, Assam The first name that stands out in the new list for climbing the organisational ladder without being media-friendly or nationally-known is Dilip Saikia from Assam. While the top leaders are aware of his track record, if he walks into 6 Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg tomorrow, chances are many most cadres won't even recognise him.

Saikia began with the RSS's student wing, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, before getting involved with the RSS itself and later, joined the BJP. The 47-year-old MP from Assam has been made a General Secretary - one of the most crucial posts in BJP's scheme of things that needs a hands on approach and regular interaction with the party President. Saikia is the first-ever BJP activist from Assam to rise to the post.

From student politics to the party's youth wing, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, and finally being elected last year as an MP, Saikia played a crucial role in Assam politics in spite of presence of bigwigs like Sarbanada Sonowal, Ranjit Das or Himanta Biswa Sarma. He quietly kept on working in the organisation, something that made him a right fit for the job, say sources in Assam BJP.

Anupam Hazra, West Bengal Hazra is young, well-read and a street fighter - a rare amalgamation of qualities in Bengal's polity. While he is known in Bengal for his stint in the Trinamool Congress, he is not the kind of politician that attracts media attention or creates a social media buzz.

He is known for his allegiance to Mukul Roy, in both the Trinamool and now in BJP. After Roy's exit from Mamata Banerjee's party, he kept in touch with him. Last year in March, he, along with Congress's Dulal Chandra and CPI-M's Khagen Murmu, joined the saffron fold.

Hazra has been made a national Secretary, replacing Rahul Sinha which sparked off a possible rebellion by the latter.

Why did Hazra make the cut if he is not as charismatic as Babul Supriyo or a mass leader like Dilip Ghosh? Firstly, his proximity to Mukul Roy, who too was elevated, played a key role. Secondly, through him, the BJP wants to attack Anubrata Mandal, a Trinamool muscle-man who was the reason for Hazra's disenchantment with the party in the first place.

A.P. Abdullakutty, Kerala Abdullakutty's induction in the new BJP team not only surprised the party's Kerala unit but also others in the state.

Beginning his political career with the CPI-M's student wing, he achieved prominence by defeating present Kerala Congress chief and former Union Minister Mullapally Ramachandran twice - in 1999 and 2004 - from the Kannur Lok Sabha constituency.

Though active in Kerala politics, he was never a big name to be considered. In UPA-2, when talk of then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's possible candidature as NDA's Prime Ministerial candidate started, he praised Modi and the Gujarat development model, leading to his expulsion from the Left party.

After switching to Congress, he was sidelined after his loss from Thalassery in 2016. Disenchanted with the Congress and thrown out of the Left, Abdullakutty last year joined the party that has least prominence in Kerala but is led by the man who he once praised and rose to become Prime Minister twice.

Within a year's time, he was brought in the BJP's national scheme of things, being made Vice President, where he will be company of veteran party leaders and former Chief Ministers like Vasundhara Raje and Raman Singh.

While many would like to believe his praise for Modi has played a role in selection, BJP sources say it was a case of calculated move where his minority background is expected to be politically helpful for BJP in the southern state where it is trying hard to expand.

There are also other lesser-known leaders in Nadda's new team who have now been given a chance to prove themselves, like Guru Prakash, an Assistant Professor of Law in Patna University and a champion of the Dalit cause, who has been made a national spokesperson. Another person who has been given a chance to prove himself as spokesperson is Iqbal Singh Lalpura, who hails from Punjab where long-time ally, the Shiromani Akali Dal, has parted ways.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 18:38:19|Editor: huaxia

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People practice sewing during a vocational training class in Zhaosu County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Dec. 14, 2019. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

From 2014-19, the total number of people employed in Xinjiang rose from 11.35 million to 13.3 million.



URUMQI, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region created some 2 million new jobs for its residents from 2014-19.

Xinjiang is located in the northwest of China. For historical and environmental reasons, it has long lagged behind other parts of the country in terms of development, and it has a significant impoverished population.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2012, Xinjiang has been vigorously implementing employment projects and enhanced vocational training, and has been expanding employment channels and capacity.

From 2014-19, the total number of people employed in Xinjiang rose from 11.35 million to 13.3 million, according to a white paper on employment and labor rights in Xinjiang published by the State Council Information Office on Sept. 17.

More and more rural laborers are being employed in cities after skill training. The average annual increase in urban employment is more than 471,200 people, with 148,000 in southern Xinjiang, accounting for 31.4 percent.

The average annual relocation of surplus rural labor is more than 2.76 million people, of whom nearly 1.68 million, or over 60 percent, are in southern Xinjiang.

Four prefectures in southern Xinjiang, which have long suffered from poverty, provided new job opportunities for 148,000 residents from 2014-19, accounting for 31.4 percent of new jobs created across the region.

So far in 2020, Xinjiang has created 50,000 jobs in its eastern and northern regions, in a bid to help 165,800 people from the final 10 poverty-stricken counties in southern Xinjiang.

Worker's job preferences have always served as an important reference for Xinjiang's local government in designing employment policies, expanding employment channels, creating jobs, organizing vocational training sessions, and providing placement services.

Local government has built bridges between workers and employers by keeping track of job preferences and the need for workers, as well as building extensive contact networks with employers.

"More and more people are willing to find jobs and start their own businesses. Great changes have taken place in people's mental outlooks and their smiles have become brighter," said Huo Shucang, a CPC member in the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps in the southern Xinjiang region. 




Drink stirrers, some cups and lids, fruit stickers, and cotton buds will be banned

Businesses will have five years to find substitutes to the everyday plastic items

Jacinda Ardern sped up the policy after she read letters from worried children

The zero waste policy costs $50million and depends on ballot results next month

Jacinda Ardern has vowed to ban plastic cutlery, single-use coffee cups and fruit stickers if she wins the election.

The New Zealand prime minister announced her new zero waste police on Sunday and pledged $50million to research plastic alternatives, pending ballot results on October 17.

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Businesses will have five years to find substitutes to everyday plastic items, such as disposable cups and lids, straws and drink stirrers.

Jacinda Ardern has vowed to ban plastic cutlery, single-use coffee cups. Pictured: Ms Ardern leading a group of schoolchildren on a beach cleanup before coronavirus lockdowns

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'By 2025 we will phase out single use and hard to recycle plastic items such as drink stirrers, cutlery, some cups and lids, produce bags, straws, cotton buds and stickers on produce,' Ms Ardern said, according to Stuff.

'All of these items currently have non-plastic alternatives, and some we will be able to phase out before 2025.'

Ms Ardern accelerated the policy after she received a series of letters from children who expressed concern over waste

The Labour leader accelerated the policy after she received a series of letters from children who expressed concern over waste.

'The letters really made a mark on me,' she said

It is expected to be welcomed by businesses and generate employment opportunities for plastic alternative manufacturers.

About $3million was previously given to packaging company Pact to develop a range of recycled food packaging for deli foods, meats and bakery trays at its Auckland location.

While Labour previously announced an intention to ban single-use plastics, it did not include a time frame.

The announcement comes as the nation is plunged into a recession for the first time in a decade following the draconian lockdowns enforced to curb the spread of COVID-19.

New Zealand saw its economy shrink by a record 12.2 per cent in the June quarter.

The eye-watering figures, released in September by Statistics New Zealand, are significantly more severe than Australia's record seven per cent plummet during the same period.

The popular 'Eat Street' in Rotorua, New Zealand is seen empty during the COVID-19 lockdown

The nation went into a strict lockdown on March 25 and emerged from it on June 8 as part of an elimination strategy.

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Residents were ordered to stay home to prevent the deadly virus from spreading.

Figures showed construction activity was down 26 per cent, manufacturing fell by 13 per cent, and household spending was down by 12 per cent when compared with the previous quarter.

Stats NZ spokesman Paul Pascoe said the closure of New Zealand's borders since March 19 had also had a huge effect of some sectors of the economy.

'Industries like retail, accommodation and restaurants, and transport saw significant declines in production because they were most directly affected by the international travel ban and strict nationwide lockdown,' he said.

'Other industries, like food and beverage manufacturing, were essential services and fell much less.'

Finance Minister Grant Robertson said the lockdown was necessary to save thousands of lives and get on top of the virus so the economy could bounce back faster.
Witness Aarin Sarpee, whose account played a critical role in AG Daniel Camerons decision not to bring charges against officers for Taylors death, originally said officers did not announce themselves

When Louisville police officers executed a no-knock search warrant that led to the March killing of Breonna Taylor in her apartment, investigators found one witness who said they heard what happened when gunfire broke out.

That witness initially said officers did not announce themselves before changing his story months afterwards, according to reporting by Vice News.

Aarin Sarpee, the witness, was visiting the complex when officers arrived to Taylors unit. Sarpee stopped by his brothers apartment, a unit above Taylors residence, to pick us his daughter from a visit to her uncle. The officers bullets struck and killed Taylor after her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, suspected that someone was breaking into her apartment and fired a single shot toward the door.

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron speaks during a press conference to announce a grand jurys decision to indict one of three Louisville Metro Police Department officers involved in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor on September 23, 2020 in Frankfort, Kentucky. (Photo by Jon Cherry/Getty Images)

READ MORE: Cop involved in Breonna Taylor shooting threatens legal action for being called a murderer

Walker stated that the police did not announce themselves as law enforcement upon executing the raid and fired his gun out of self-defense to intruders, according to his attorney.

Sarpee was interviewed by Public Integrity Unit (PIU) investigators of the Louisville Metro Police Department a week after the incident. During a recorded interview, obtained by the news outlet, Sarpee disclosed that he saw the cops show up at Taylors door.

Breonna Taylor is pictured in an undated photo. (Credit: Instagram/@keyanna.guifarro)

I saw the uniform on them, so I know when I looked through the window I saw it was a lot of police car, Sarpee said in the March 21 interview. He said he also saw an armored car in front of the apartment prior to the confrontation.

The interviewer then asked if he heard anyone identify themselves as police, to which Sarpee replied, No. Nobody identified [themselves].

Story continues

READ MORE: Heartbreak in the wake of Breonna Taylors death and still holding hope for justice

However, on May 15, PIU investigator Sgt. Amanda Seeyle interviewed Sarpee again, and he changed the story, saying that the police said when arriving to the apartment, This is the cops.

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron stated in a press conference Thursday that a witness stated that the officers identified themselves prior to entering the apartment. Cameron said the officers were justified in the use of force to defend themselves, pinning the decision to not bring additional charges against the officers on the lone witness testimony.

None of the three officers involved in the raid were charged in Taylors killing, but a third, Brett Hankison, was charged with wanton endangerment for firing his weapon and putting other residences at risk, according to The New York Times.

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The post Key witness in Breonna Taylor case changed his story about police actions: report appeared first on TheGrio.
Ihab ElSewerky talks with Ahram Online about Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank's strategy, expounding on new products and how it will tap into Egyptian market opportunities

On 30 August, the Egyptian banking market welcomed a UAE newcomer, the Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB), to be the fifth Gulf bank to operate in Egypt with total assets of EGP 1.75 trillion.

In interview, ADCB managing director and CEO Ihab ElSewerky talked with Ahram Online about the banks strategy and how attractive the Egyptian market is to Gulf investors.

Ahram Online: What lured ADCB to enter the Egyptian market to be the fifth Gulf financial Institution to join the Egyptian banking system?

Ihab ElSewerky: Egypt and the UAE are linked with special ties that are built on coherence, cooperation and mutual respect. In addition, the UAE is the top international and Arab country in terms of foreign investments in the Egyptian market over recent years.

There is no doubt that the role of UAE banks operating in the Egyptian market should extend to contributing to development and transferring global experience to Egypt, especially that the Egyptian banking system is evolving at a rapid pace as a result of its competitiveness, which will ultimately benefit the Egyptian economy.

UAE banks also have a role to play regarding encouraging the Egyptian and foreign private sector to contribute to development and improvement plans, especially with the increasingly growth rates that have resulted from the successful economic reform programme that Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi launched, and the efforts of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) regarding eliminating restrictions on monetary policy in accordance with governance and transparency measures.

All these aspects have spurred the bank to enter the Egyptian market.

How do you see Egypt's new banking law, which has been approved recently, and the role it is expected to play in supporting the banking system in Egypt?

The law keeps up with best practices regarding banking systems globally and it is expected to cause a quantum leap in the Egyptian banking system, especially that it adopts all key international standards. This will enhance the states plans in economic development, uplift the efficiency of the banking body, and support the CBE and banks for the sake of resuming reform efforts, strengthening their financial structures, raising their capital and creating robust entities that are able to back the state in the development process.

What about ADCBs strategy in Egypt and its expansion plans?

ADCB targets becoming the customers most preferred bank in the domestic market by providing upgrades and safe banking solutions and adopting a digital transformation breakthrough with a focus on achieving client satisfaction and sustainability.

Meanwhile, the bank is expected to play a critical role in the Egyptian market, as we intend to extend unprecedented and innovative banking services to clients built on an ambitious plan including establishing new branches to reach targeted clients.

ADCBs strategy in Egypt focuses on five key pillars, including attaining growth through tapping into available opportunities in the domestic market, achieving sustainability through a deposits base, achieving a high degree of efficiency and quality regarding the services and financial products the bank provides, dealing with likely risks according to a clear strategy, attracting, keeping and improving bank employees capabilities in order to reach high performance levels.

The bank also adopts a package of strategic goals aiming at achieving rapid growth in the Egyptian market through introducing the same products that other banks provide, while extending new innovative products such as new payment solutions, wealth management programmes and concierge services, in addition to establishing partnerships with programme providers to provide accounting services for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Further, we are providing investment opportunities for Egyptian clients to invest in multiple assets, including financial markets and fixed income. In addition, the bank will support its clients growth through its operational transactions in Egypt, which include extending unique banking services and products that will be announced in the coming period.

What about the financial technology solutions the bank could provide?

ADCB adopts a vertical plan centred more on expanding in financial technology services and digitalisation than expanding in new branches with the global tendency to adopt financial technology services. Also, the bank targets upgrading safe banking services to clients and driving digital improvement in the market with a special focus on achieving sustainability and client satisfaction.

What new products has the bank announced for the Egyptian market?

New products include providing online and mobile phone banking services, in addition to launching an online banking services platform for companies in order to finance current commercial operations and cash management products. Moreover, ADCB is to design and carry out transactions that focus on providing an end-to-end service chain. On the other hand, the bank will focus on boosting banking services introduced to clients in Cairo, Alexandria, the Delta, Upper Egypt and Red Sea governorates.

How can ADCB's presence in Egypt enhance its position as the fifth biggest bank to operate in the Egyptian market and the third biggest operating bank in the UAE?

The Egyptian market has lots of incentives and advantages that make it the cherry on top of the cake for Gulf investments.

Currently, Egyptian banks clients constitute 33 percent percent of total adults among a population exceeding 100 million inhabitants, which reflects the significance of current opportunities that Gulf banks seek to tap to succeed in the banking market of Egypt, especially given the stability the Egyptian banking sector enjoys. Moreover, the Egyptian market enjoys an increase of capital yields, which makes it attractive to investors.

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Judge Amy Coney Barrett speaks after being nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court by President Donald Trump in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, on Sept. 26, 2020. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

Confirmation Hearings for Trumps Supreme Court Pick Start Oct. 12

The confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett will begin on Oct. 12.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) announced the schedule shortly after President Donald Trump announced Barretts nomination.

The hearings will last three to four days as they have been for recent Supreme Court nominees. The committee will hear openings from all the senators on Oct. 12 and begin the first round of questions for judge on Oct. 13. Testimony by people who know Barrett as well as legal experts will follow.

As the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Im very committed to ensuring that the nominee gets a challenging, fair, and respectful hearing, Graham said in a statement. We move forward on this nomination knowing that the President has picked a highly qualified individual who will serve our nation well on the highest court in the land.

Trump announced and Barrett accepted the nomination at the White House in Washington. The judges husband and seven children watched seating alongside first lady Melania Trump.

I looked and I studied, and you are very eminently qualified for this job, Trump said, describing Barrett as one of the nations most brilliant and gifted legal minds.

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away on Sept. 18, vacating the seat she held on the high court since 1993. She was considered the leader of the liberal side of the bench.

Barrett is a conservative judge who has been described as a textualist-originalist. If confirmed, she would shift the balance on the Supreme Court for what could be decades.

The committee hearings will conclude with a vote to recommend Barretts confirmation to the full Senate. Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has said Trumps nominee will get a vote on the Senate floor this year, though he hasnt committed to a vote before the election.

Top Democrats including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) have said theyll go to great lengths to try to block the nomination.

Everything is on the table, Schumer told reporters this week.

Democrats want to stall the nomination and eventually stymie it, but lack support across the aisle beyond Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). Murkowski later said she could not rule out voting for Trumps nominee. Graham has said the GOP has enough votes.

Barretts nomination to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in 2017 was supported by every member of her Supreme Court clerk class, including the clerk for Ginsburg and other liberal justices on the bench.
Henry said Bost relatives lived at Cedar Grove after his grandmothers family moved out. They put an addition on the home they called the Glass Room. This was a sunroom built in 1931, the same year Henry was born, for his cousin, Charles Bost, who had contracted tuberculosis. The sunlight streaming into the room each day was supposed to help him heal, but he died there.

Two unmarried uncles of Henrys lived at Cedar Grove sometime after Anna died in 1950. They remained there until their deaths in 1988 and 1991. Henry, his four siblings and three of their cousins inherited the now 107-acre property. Henry and Penina bought the others out, cleared the land of excessive growth and built a home there.

The land at that time did not include the Cedar Grove portion of the property. Henry and Peninas daughter, Nina Ramseur Warren, bought Cedar Grove from Wayne Martin, a local attorney, three years ago. Henry said Nina keeps chickens in the same chicken house as his great aunt, Julia Bost, once did. The property has a granary that stores dried corn from generations past and a smoke house featuring hand-hewn logs with wooden pegs attached, from which they hung meats. A new barn was built to look like the old one it replaced.
T he number of people who have died of coronavirus around the world has passed the grim milestone of one million, according to the latest data.

So far 1,000,502 people have died, according to Worldometer, which calculates the totals from sources including governments and NGOs across the globe.

The data also found that there have been 33,210,246 cases and 24,532,355 people have recovered.

Meanwhile, Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Centre, which also collates worldwide totals, has a figure just shy of the million milestone at 995,352.

It comes after Boris Johnson called on world leaders to unite in the fight against coronavirus as he criticised the lack of coordination so far.

The Prime Minister said the notion of the international community looked tattered following the crisis.

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

He warned that everyone will lose unless countries work in conjunction to defeat the virus.

It comes after a further 17 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Sunday. This brings the UK total to 41,988.

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The Government said that, as of 9am, there had been a further 5,693 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK, taking the overall number of cases confirmed to 434,969.

Separate figures published by the UKs statistics agencies show there have now been 57,600 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

In the US, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Sunday reported 7,059,087 total Covid-19 cases.

This is an increase of 49,871 infections from its previous count.

Meanwhile, the nation's death toll had risen by 853 to 204,033.

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The CDC figures do not necessarily reflect cases reported by individual states.
By Sarah White and Mathieu Rosemain

PARIS (Reuters) - France's richest man Bernard Arnault ratcheted up a tug-of-war over Paris Match publisher Lagardere <LAGA.PA> on Thursday, revealing he had built up a direct stake in the firm, which is under siege from several other investors.

Loss-making Lagardere has become the unlikely target of a proxy battle between some of France's top businessmen, after the firm's managers sought help to fend off a campaign by activist investor Amber Capital to shake up the company's governance.

New investors came on board as a result, including Vincent Bollore, another French billionaire who controls media firm Vivendi <VIV.PA>.

But the new array of shareholders are now at odds over Lagardere's strategy, and the spat has fuelled speculation that Bollore and Arnault, who runs luxury goods conglomerate LVMH <LVMH.PA>, will want to vie for some of its assets, which include publishing house Hachette and a travel retail division.

Arnault said on Thursday that his family holding company now owned more than 5% of Lagardere, and that he was committed to the integrity of the group's main activities.

Arnault has also invested in the vehicle through which Lagardere's Chief Executive, Arnaud Lagardere, controls the firm and said the two, with a 12.8% holding between them, would act in concert.

While Vivendi has recently built up a 23% stake, and has teamed up with Amber, a 20% stakeholder, in a bid to be awarded board seats, Arnaud Lagardere exerts great sway over the company as his stake is held through an unusual "commandite" structure that gives him veto powers on many decisions.

A spokesman for Vivendi said on Thursday the firm was "very happy" that Bernard Arnault had become a direct Lagardere shareholder.

COURT BATTLE

Bollore initially rode to Arnaud Lagardere's rescue earlier this year to help him fight off Amber, but the mood soured after it emerged Bernard Arnault would also get involved, people close to the matter have said.

Story continues

Vivendi and Amber have now gone to court to try and trigger a swift shareholder meeting to change the group's governance. Its supervisory board unexpectedly renewed Arnaud Lagardere's mandate as CEO months ahead of schedule in August.

"It's a company that's managed only in the interest of one person and those close to him," Amber's managing partner Joseph Oughourlian said on the sidelines of a court hearing on the case on Thursday.

Lagardere's lawyers Florian Bouaziz and Didier Malka brushed off accusations of a lack of independence of the board, saying that Vivendi had initially voted for the renewal of the current one and against Amber.

The court will rule on the shareholder meeting request on Oct. 14.

(Reporting by Mathieu Rosemain and Sarah White; editing by David Evans, Kirsten Donovan)
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Prime MInister NIkol Pashinyan had a telephone conversation with President of France Emmanuel Macron.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister, Pashinyan informed Macron that Azerbaijan launched military operations along the entire line of contact on September 27. Pashinyan emphasized that Azerbaijan takes provocative actions aiming to start military operations against the Republic of Armenia as well. The Armenian PM drew the attention of the French President on the extremely biased and aggressive position of Turkey, emphasizing the importance of stopping its possible intervention.

President Macron expressed deep concern over the situation and assessed the future escalation inadmissible. He said that all possible measures should be taken to stop the military operations and de-escalate the situation. He also highlighted the activation of the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group-chairs for achieving peace.

On September 27 early morning the Azerbaijani military launched a massive cross-border artillery attack on Artsakh, including on civilian settlements. Peaceful settlements are also under bombardment, including the capital city of Stepanakert.

The Azerbaijani side has suffered serious human losses and military equipment, including 3 helicopters, 20 UAVs and 30 tanks. Armenia has reported 16 casualties.

Dozens of civilians in Artsakh were wounded as a result of the Azerbaijani attack. A woman and a child were killed in the Azerbaijani attack.

Editing and Translating by Tigran Sirekanyan
She shot to fame on the first ever series of Winter Love Island earlier this year.

And Sophie Piper was every inch the star as she posed in racy lingerie for George at Asda's new Lounge Edit on Monday.

The reality starlet, 21, displayed her ample cleavage and taut midriff in an electric blue lacy bra paired with matching high-waisted underwear as she posed.

Gorgeous: Sophie Piper was every inch the star as she posed in racy lingerie for George at Asda's new Lounge Edit on Monday

Her raven tresses were styled sleek and straight while fluttery lashes, kohl liner and rose gloss accentuated her pretty features.

She then slipped into a pretty floral terracotta bra as she reclined on a bed, displaying her slender waist in the radiant snap.

Sophie was joined by lookalike sister Lili Piper in the shoot, with Lili wowing in a navy bra and joggers.

Sophie's shoot comes following reports she split with Connor Durman just six months after leaving the villa.

Lingerie: She then slipped into a pretty floral terracotta bra as she reclined on a bed, displaying her slender waist in the radiant snap

Cute: Sophie was joined by lookalike sister Lili Piper in the shoot, with Lili wowing in a navy bra and joggers

The admin assistant and the coffee bean salesman, 25, met and fell for each over during the winter version of the ITV2 series in January this year, with the duo said to have taken things slowly once they got home.

However, amid the coronavirus pandemic, it's reported that the pair haven't seen each other since lockdown began and that they never even made their romance 'official'.

A source told The Sun: 'Things just fizzled out. They never even went official.'

They continued: 'It just didnt have a chance to get started because of lockdown and they both agreed it was better to just stay friends.'

When Connor was dumped from the South African villa, the pair vowed to continue their relationship once they got both got back to the UK.

However, things were not meant to be as they never got around to officially becoming boyfriend and girlfriend.

Lounge life: Sophie looked sensational as she relaxed in her stylish loungewear

MailOnline have contacted Sophie's representatives for comment.

In February, Sophie insisted that she was not in a relationship with her reality co-star beau during a radio interview on Will Njobvus radio show on Capital XTRA alongside fellow evictee Leanne Amaning.

'No we are not together at all!' she declared. 'We are just seeing each other! It's a situation-ship. I will get to know him, go on dates with him.'

Sophie, whose sister is Rochelle Humes, added: 'He's met both of my sisters at Aftersun the other day. I've met his sister. They think he's lovely. They approve.'

All over: Sophie and Connor Durman reportedly split just six months after leaving the villa (pictured in February)

Meanwhile, Connor was said to have denied the pair were on the rocks back in March, hinting that they were set to move in together.

Elsewhere, it was recently announced that the TV series won't be airing another winter edition in 2021.

The summer 2020 series was cancelled in May due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and bosses at the channel recently announced that the next series of the ITV2 dating show won't be for another year.

'Love Island UK will return bigger and better than ever with an extended run in summer 2021,' ITV announced in a statement to MailOnline.

The axing of both the summer 2020 series and a winter series in early 2021 is in large part down to the coronavirus pandemic, with restrictions on travel and filming causing huge issues for the show.

Pre-production on the winter 2021 series was scheduled to take place in the coming weeks, but with so many quarantine and social distancing measures still in place, it's thought it wouldn't be possible to fly cast and crew to location and work safely.

Instead producers are keen to focus on one bumper season of the show next summer, which will likely return to Mallorca, after the winter 2020 series took place in South Africa.
Former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday asserted that the BJP has no intention of joining hands with the Shiv Sena or to bring down the Uddhav Thackeray-led state government.

Talking to reporters here, Fadnavis claimed people of the state are unhappy with the performance of the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government and it would collapse due to its own inactions.

The senior BJP leader also said his meeting with Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Saturday, which prompted speculation in political circles, was regarding an interview for the Sena mouthpiece Saamana.

The Shiv Sena snapped ties with the BJP last year after the Maharashtra Assembly polls over the issue of sharing the chief ministerial post.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led party then joined hands with the NCP and the Congress to form MVA government in the state.

We have no intention of joining hands with the Shiv Sena or to bring down the government. When it falls on its own, we will see, said Fadnavis, who is the leader of opposition in the state Assembly.

My meeting with Raut had no political connotations.

He asked me for an interview to Saamana, to which I agreed.

But, I had put my conditions- like the interview should be unedited and I should get to put my own camera during the interview. So we met to discuss its nitty-gritties, he said.

Meanwhile, Raut, who also spoke to reporters here separately, said he and Fadnavis are not enemies and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was aware of the meeting which was pre-planned to discuss the interview schedule.

However, Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam criticised Raut, alleging that he was in a hurry to grab headlines.

When that happens, political careers end. This is not my ill-wish for Raut, but a reality, the former Mumbai Congress chief told PTI.

Nirupam, who has been sulking since his removal from the post of Mumbai Congress chief ahead of the Lok Sabha polls last year, said if the party is serious about opposing the new farm bills passed by Parliament,it should first ask the ruling Shiv Sena in Maharashtra to spell out its stand.

The Congress and the NCP say they will not allow implementation of the new laws in Maharashtra, while Chief Minister Thackeray hasnt uttered a word on it, he said.

The Shiv Sena supported the farm bills in the Lok Sabha,while it staged a walkout from the RajyaSabha when other opposition parties were demanding a vote on it, Nirupam said, adding that farmers in Maharashtra are confused (over the state governments stand).
New Delhi: Two terrorists have been gunned down during an encounter with the security forces in the Samboora area of Awantipora in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Sunday (September 27, 2020). The identity and group affiliation of the slain terrorists are yet to be ascertained.

As per reports, an Army jawan has also got injured and the cordon will remain to continue all night.

A few more terrorists are believed to be holed up in the area as the gunbattle between them and security forces continues. As per reports, heavy firing had ensued between the two sides.



IGP Kashmir confirmed the exchange of fire between the terrorists and security forces and said, "Yes, an encounter started in Samboora area of Awantipora and the police along with security forces are on the job."

#Encounter has started at #Samboora area of #Awantipora. Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow. @JmuKmrPolice  Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) September 27, 2020

A joint search operation was launched by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, 50 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) after they received specific inputs about the presence of a few terrorists in the area.



Live TV

A police officer said, "The security forces cordoned the suspected place and the terrorists hiding there started firing at them. This led to the retaliation from the security forces and the encounter broke out."

Earlier on September 26, the Jammu and Kashmir Police, along with 32 Rashtriya Rifles and 92 Battalion CRPF launched a cordon and search operation at an orchard in Mandigam Kralgund and arrested a terrorist associate, identified as Akeel Parray. The Police recovered arms and ammunition from his possession and he admitted being working as an associate for terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba.
This is Naked Capitalism fundraising week. 903 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, thanking our guest writers

Lambert here: This should provoke discussion! (And do think twice before using the word you in a comment. Address the substance of the comment, not the commenter.)

By Paul Rogers, professor in the department of peace studies at Bradford University, northern England. He is openDemocracys international security adviser, and has been writing a weekly column on global security since 28 September 2001; he also writes a monthly briefing for the Oxford Research Group.. Originally published at Open Democracy.

With the US election campaign entering its final weeks, one of its oddities so far is that Donald Trump is saying very little about the global aspect of his mission to Make America Great Again. True, there are plenty of reasons to concentrate on affairs at home, but all the falsehoods and fake trails on COVID-19, law and order, the economy, wildfires and the rest are doing little but shore up his base.

What makes this odd is that the Trump team are more than skilled enough to manipulate their presentation of foreign achievements as successes if not triumphs. The thorny issue of North Korea is currently sidelined, with Trump able to argue that his deal-making skills have brought Kim Jong-un to the table, while being vague on the details, and he can claim to be a peacemaker in the Middle East with the Israel-UAE-Bahrain agreement.

On Afghanistan he can point to the current peace talks between the government and the Taliban and the steady withdrawal of US troops, with plans being to bring back almost all the uniformed troops by next May, with half of them back home before the election. As for Iraq and Syria, he can also hail the withdrawal of US troops from those countries. It all sounds a good package from his perspective, especially if the pudding is hugely over-egged by a cursory regard for facts.

On all those issues, though, the actual circumstances are trickier. Things certainly are quiet at present on the North Korean front but so far it is Kim who has outplayed Trump and got more of what he wanted. Sanctions continue to have a dire effect on the North Korean economy, but China is providing sufficient support to avoid collapse, while the development of long-range missiles and nuclear warheads continues with little fuss from Washington.

Three years ago, an array of missile tests included the Hwasong-15, an ICBM with a range estimated at 13,000 kilometres  sufficient to reach any part of the US. In his election campaign in 2016 Trump made it clear that he would never allow the North Koreans to threaten the continental US, yet a further test of this missile would be enough to show he has broken that promise. There have been recent indications that the North Koreans could conduct such a test at short notice, so any campaign attempt by Trump to trumpet victory could suddenly look rather silly. Perhaps best to leave that item out of campaigning for now.

As for troop withdrawals from Afghanistan, that is certainly the intention, but problems are already emerging. The peace talks with the Taliban got under way two weeks ago. Within ten days, however, there were strong indications that the Taliban were continuing their offensive operations across the country, and US sources believe the progress of the talks will at best be tortuous.

The Afghan governments concern is that the Taliban are entrenched across so much of rural Afghanistan that they are essentially negotiating from a position of strength and that the US is simply walking away because of domestic considerations. This would leave the government having to concede far too much. Among many sufferers from a Taliban role in governance would be womens rights, but that means little or nothing to Trump.

He may well try and make something of his success in Afghanistan, but it will be more difficult with Iraq and Syria. Here, again, success depends on how you see it. US troop withdrawals have already cost the Kurds dear and are they are being left in the lurch. In any case, in spite of the four-year air war against ISIS which destroyed its caliphate, it is still a significant force even in Syria. It has even increased its attacks on US troops, so much so that earlier this week the Pentagon announced it was sending a mechanised force across the border into eastern Syria to protect US troops guarding oil installations against ISIS.

Trump can claim success in his dealings with Israel, but the agreements with Bahrain and the Emirates will, again, only shore up core support, no more.

Meanwhile, Islamist paramilitaries continue to maintain and even increase their influence in North Africa and across the Sahel. There are reported to be more than 5,000 ISIS paramilitaries in deeply unstable Libya and the instability in Mali following the recent coup does little to diminish their influence there.

Across the continent, Shabab in Somalia and North-East Kenya is sufficiently emboldened to increase its direct attack on US units. One Pentagon response to this is to argue for armed drone operations to be run from Kenya, provided the government will agree.

Overall, given his capacity for wild statements and unpredictability, Trump may still bring these issues into the campaign and will no doubt embellish the claimed successes.

Where he would remain vulnerable, though, is that his recent criticisms of the senior US military, and especially his widely reported comments on US troops killed in action being losers, mean that any reference to military successes can easily be connected to those views. If Trump, as he hints, is ready to challenge the election result, he may come to need the support of the Pentagon. Perhaps best, therefore, not to raise the defence issue during the next few weeks.
Agra, Sep 27 : The number of fresh Covid-19 cases in Agra has come down below 80 in the past few days, after peaking to around 150 a day last week.

In the past 24 hours, 79 new cases were reported. District health officials said the recovery rate too had improved to 80.85 per cent. The number of deaths is 123.

The total number of cases now stands at 5,489. Of this 4,438 have been discharged from hospitals. The case fatality rate is 2.24 per cent and the sample positivity rate is 3.04 per cent. The total number of samples collected is 1,80,351. Each day between 2,200 to 2,500 samples are being tested, health officials said.

A senior gynaecologist Divya Prakash succumbed to Covid-19 in a Delhi hospital after battling for over three months. One more senior doctor and three health workers of the SN Medical College tested positive on Saturday.

Agra's well known orthopaedic surgeon D.V. Sharma after his recovery in a Delhi hospital has made an emotional appeal to the people to follow guidelines sincerely and fight fear.

The nodal officer appointed for Agra by the state government warned people not to move out of their homes without masks. The police had been directed to books violators of Covid-19 guidelines.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Angelica Panganiban attended the virtual press conference of her upcoming teleserye

- She revealed that Walang Hanggang Paalam will already be her last TV series

- The gorgeous actress did not disclose the reason behind her much-talked-about decision

- According to Angelica, she will not leave her home network although she already plans to retire from doing teleseryes

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Angelica Panganiban revealed to her supporters that she will be retiring already from doing television series.

KAMI learned that the award-winning actress made the confession during the virtual press conference of her upcoming project entitled Walang Hanggang Paalam.

Angelica Panganiban (Courtesy of Flickr)

Source: UGC

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She unhesitatingly mentioned that the said teleserye will already be her last. She also thanked all the people behind the said project.

However, Angelica did not disclose the reason behind the said decision. She assured her fans that she will not leave ABS-CBN amid its shutdown issue.

Masaya ako ngayon i-share at masaya ako na nakasama ko sa project na ito ay itong mga director na ito, itong grupong ito, mga artistang ito, dahil gusto ko na magpaalam sa larangan ng teleserye, she quipped.

Marami akong na-discover sa sarili ko na mga hindi ko akalang kaya kong gawin, she added.

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Angelica Panganiban is one of the most popular showbiz personalities in the Philippines. She started her showbiz career when she was just a young girl.

She recently penned a touching message for her pudding Pocholo Barretto. She aired her hopes for the actor on his 35th birthday.

The celebrity also greeted her ex-boyfriend Carlo Aquino for being a certified dad. Carlo and his current girlfriend Trina Candaza recently welcomed their first child.

POPULAR: Read more news about Angelica Panganiban!

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Source: KAMI.com.gh
It is unfortunate that Parliament has ducked discussing the most serious national security challenge that India has faced since 1962: the stand-off in eastern Ladakh and north Sikkim qua China.

It is obvious the government would try and avoid answering hard questions but the combined opposition in both Houses should have pushed harder for a full-fledged discussion and not contented itself with a bland statement from the defence minister with some proforma clarifications in the Rajya Sabha and not even that in the Lok Sabha.

In fact, I wrote to the defence minister on September 16, urging that the government suo motu propose a discussion on the border situation. Not only would that demonstrate the strength of our democracy but also convey to the Chinese our unequivocal national resolve expressed through the collective will of Parliament.

I reminded the defence minister that during the 1962 Sino-Indian conflict 165 members of the Lok Sabha participated in a discussion on the ongoing Sino-Indian war in the Lok Sabha. An equal number including Atal Behari Vajpayee took part in a concurrent discussion in the Rajya Sabha.

In fact, the day the Chinese invaded India, October 20, 1962, on the urging of Vajpayee, who was one of the MPs of a four-member Bharatiya Jan Sangh grouping in the Rajya Sabha, Jawaharlal Nehru unhesitatingly summoned Parliament to meet on November 8, 1962.

A day later, Vajpayee took the floor. He commenced by fiercely critiquing the Nehru administration just as the Chinese were seizing the two crucial knolls  Green Pimple and Yellow Pimple  thereby giving them a birds eye view of the 4 Dogra battalion HQ established at Walong on that very day.

Unconstrained by the consideration that the Indian Army was locked in a brutal battle with the Chinese trespassers, he began by highlighting the need for introspection especially with regard to the events leading up to the Chinese offensive all through the 1950s and early 1960s.

He demanded answers to some very uncomfortable questions, namely, why our army was not in full force in NEFA and why were they not battle ready. He enquired why between September 8 when China's bellicose intent started manifesting itself and October 20, when they struck, the Army had not been mobilised in full force to pre-empt the belligerents.

Vajpayee insisted on clarity on the identity of those eminences in both the civil and military establishment who had kept the dispensation in the dark and what action had been taken against them.

Vajpayee intuitively understood that in a democracy we must state the truth howsoever uncomfortable it might be rather than brushing sensitive issues under the carpet.

That is why 37 years later when the Kargil intrusion took place in April-May 1999, just one year after the high point of the Lahore bus ride, he had no qualms about telling the nation that he had been betrayed by the Pakistanis and they had captured key heights in Drass, Kargil and other areas overlooking National Highway 1-A that connects Srinagar to Leh.

Similarly, during the December 1971 war for Liberation of Bangladesh, the late Indira Gandhi did not dodge Parliament.

Unfortunately, Vajpayees successors lack the moral courage to be forthcoming on the latest Chinese transgressions. They hide behind the specious fig leaf of national security to avoid the hard questions, labelling everyone who tries to hold their policies and personnel to account as anti-national.

Such is the paranoia of this government that all my questions  and there were only unstarred questions permitted in this session of Parliament addressed to the Prime Minister, defence, home and external affairs ministers on the Sino-Indian face-off  were disallowed on grounds of sensitivity despite having been balloted in the list of 230 questions that are supposed to be answered on any given day. This level of opacity only raises further misgivings that the government is attempting to hide the truth from the nation.

During both World Wars I and II, parliaments of democratic nations across the world regularly met to discuss the conduct and direction of war. Winston Churchills most famous speeches were made on the floor of the House of Commons during the Second World War.

The present mess that India finds itself in one is of its own making. India failed to read the Chinese intent. When India was busy playing the friendly neighbour the Chinese were preparing themselves for confrontation.

China deceived India by making it complacent. The present confrontation shows that the 2018 Wuhan and the 2019 Mamallapuram summits were but a smokescreen. The lack of early detection of the Chinese activities on the LAC has intelligence, strategic and tactical failure written all over it.

The Chinese know that the ruling party is heavily invested in maintaining its hyper-nationalist image. Prime Minister Narendra Modis official statements of denying the transgressions have played to Chinas advantage. It now accuses India of violating the LAC.

The ongoing stand-off does not seem to end anytime soon. Talks have been ongoing since May with a goal to disengage and to restore the status quo ante. However, the talks have failed because there is a differing understanding of what status quo ante means to the two parties. India wants a status quo ante as of the pre-April 2020 situation. The Chinese seem to prefer the pre-2019 situation before the revocation of the autonomous status of the region. Both the parties have dug into their positions, to deny the other any strategic advantage.

Both the parties do not want the confrontation to turn into a full-fledged war; therefore, this would turn into a war of attrition that would further sap our already-weakened economy. The Chinese are taking advantage of the stand-off situation to rapidly augment their offensive capabilities along the entire LAC.

The Chinese, by occupying and building infrastructure in the previously viewed grey areas by both the parties, have forced India to accept the Chinese claim line as the new normal through the force of arms.

Should any self-respecting nation tolerate this national humiliation, notwithstanding the obfuscation that the government is blatantly encouraging by running a Bollywood soap opera on what were till yesterday supposed to be news and current affairs dissemination outlets?
Northern Michigans representative in Washington has been a Republican for more than a decade.

Incumbent Rep. Jack Bergman wants to keep it that way. Dana Alan Ferguson is his Democratic challenger in the 1st Congressional District.

Ferguson topped church leader Linda ODell in the Aug. 4 Democratic primary, earning about 45,000 votes, 64% of the electorate. Bergman, R-Watersmeet, ran unopposed for the Republican nomination.

Ferguson wins nomination to face Jack Bergman in Michigans 1st Congressional District

Northern Michigan is one of the stronger Republican strongholds in the state, but Ferguson is vying for a chance to turn it blue for the first time since Rep. Bart Stupak won in 2008.

I think too many (Democrats) look at the 1st District and look at Northern Michigan and theyve written it off, Ferguson said. This is a huge mistake, because I can say with certainty after traveling to all 32 counties multiple times over the last year, it is far from a waste of my time. This is a very, very winnable district, and there are so many people who have more progressive principles that are going to be voting.

According to the Cook Political Report Partisan Voting Index, the 1st Congressional District is strongly Republican, trending +9 points red.

Bergman, a retired Marine lieutenant general, topped 2018 Democratic challenger Matt Morgan by more than 42,000 votes, winning the seat by more than 12 percentage points. The Republican initially won the seat in 2016 by 53,000 votes over Lon Johnson, former Michigan Democratic Party chair.

He sees his role as Northern Michigans congressman as working to allow people from either political persuasion to live the American dream, with more freedom from federal control.

Get a good K-12 education, then allow them to have options like college or tech school or military or into the workforce... whatever it happens to be, Bergman said.

He said rural communities in his district need more funding for broadband internet access to support virtual education during the pandemic.

Ferguson agreed with that initiative in concept, but said there needs to be more urgency in securing that K-12 funding.

Due to COVID-19, this really has gotten more attention, Ferguson said. I think the federal government should be assisting these rural communities that do not have the funding... The will of private investment can make this happen.

Ferguson, a former production manager at lumber company Bell Forest, is now running full-time for Bergmans seat.

Dana Alan Ferguson, a business owner, won the Democratic nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives seat for Michigan's 1st Congressional District. He will face Republican incumbent Rep. Jack Bergman. Photo courtesy of Dana Ferguson for U.S. Congress.Courtesy Photo

Related: Michigan legislature approves $62.8B budget deal, Gov. Whitmer to sign soon

Bergman touts his ability to proactively balance commerce initiatives with environmental regulations in Northern Michigans lakes.

That includes the beautiful outdoors, Bergman said. The water, the land, the wildlife, the hunting, the fishing. I realize that our district is beautifully unique, and not everyone wants to live as rural and remote as we do up there.

He helped secure federal funding to rebuild the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, including $123 million for the FY 2021 budget.

Each year, the locks handle more than 4,500 vessels carrying up to 80 million tons of cargo. Iron ore, limestone and coal make up the bulk of what is coming through on the big freighters.

Regarding regulations, he is committed to advocating for action that promotes safety of our waters," which included looking at the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline contract to bolster environmental protections.

Read more: Line 5 pipeline can go back to full strength

Whether its fuel in the water, whether its bridges that are crumbling, whether its dealing with invasive species like Asian carp, Im not going to allow anyone to do anything from my federal level to endanger the beauty, quality and health of our water.

Fergusons environmental positions include provisions to combat climate change.

We must rejoin and recommit to the Paris Climate Accord and show that we are willing to be leaders in combating climate change, he said. I support the goals of the Green New Deal and am willing to work to achieve those goals over the next decade and ensure future generations have a safe place to live. We must end corporate tax subsidies and breaks for fossil fuels and provide them for clean alternative energy options.

In June, Bergman accused China of exploiting the coronavirus it created in the United States and spreading misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic. A member of the House Armed Services and Veteran Affairs committees, he eventually supported a White House proposal to curb foreign cyber attacks.

Hes also criticized what he calls Gov. Gretchen Whitmers one size fits all solution to curbing COVID-19. While calling her a good person, he said she was not ready for command.

When COVID and the changes and how we were going to do business became real, I tried very hard to communicate with the Governors office about what we saw and what we felt would be appropriate options for the Governor to consider when it came to the U.P., he said. It was only after a few months of sheer frustration that we felt our voice wasnt being heard in Lansing, and thats when we got a little more vocal.

President Donald J. Trump, middle, is greeted by (from left) former Michigan State Attorney General Bill Schuette, State Rep. Matt Hall, U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar and U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga after arriving at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids on Thursday, March 28, 2019. Trump is holding a rally at Van Andel Arena. (Cory Morse | MLive.com) Cory Morse | MLive.com

Related: Coronavirus case levels remain at an elevated plateau, says Michigan epidemiologist

Regarding COVID-19 precautions, Ferguson folds it into his health care policies, which supports a single-payer approach.

No one seeks to get sick or injured, and the COVID-19 pandemic is a clear example of that, he said. "We should be protecting all American citizens the same way we protect them when there is a threat from a foreign foe. The health of our population is tantamount to any other issue we face today as a nation.

Bergman is vastly outpacing Ferguson in fundraising, totaling $1.3 million to his $135,736, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission. Bergman has $765,800 of cash on hand, while Ferguson has more than $34,000.

All responses in the voter guide were submitted directly by the candidate and have not been edited by the League of Women Voters, except for a necessary cut if a reply exceeded character limitations. Spelling and grammar were not corrected. Publication of candidate statements and opinions is solely in the interest of public service and should NOT be considered as an endorsement. The League never supports or opposes any candidates or political parties.

Heres where the candidates stand on several more issues, according to their responses to questionnaires compiled in a partnership between MLive and the League of Women Voters. Access the full guide and search for candidates in your area at vote411.org.

Bergman did not fill out the voter guide or respond to a request to answer questions. His positions on these topics are gleaned from his campaign website or congressional page when available. If a position was already covered above, only the other candidates answer is displayed below.

HEALTH CARE: What do you see as the federal governments role in health care? Given the Covid19 pandemic, what are your concerns and plans regarding U.S. health coverage, policies and programs, including Medicare and Medicaid?

Bergman, on Obamacare in February 2017: "Seven years ago, the Obamacare advocates assured the American people that the best health care system would be state-led, state-implemented and state-monitored. We were told it would be affordable and accessible for every American, that if you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor, that the average family would save $2,500 each year on their premiums and that Obamacare wouldnt add to the deficit.

"It took almost no time for Obamacares big-government failures to become evident. But what do those failures mean?

"For one thing, costs are skyrocketing. Premiums have increased as much as 63 percent in some states and spiked significantly in others. In the year ahead, administration data suggests premiums will increase an average of 25 percent across the board for benchmark plans. And deductibles for some are so high that they may as well not have health insurance....

That said, certain aspects of Obamacare are rooted in sound policy and deserve to be salvaged  for instance care for those with pre-existing conditions and measures that allow young people to stay on their parents' insurance plans until the age of 26. But that doesnt justify keeping the whole plan.

SOCIAL INJUSTICE: Do you believe there is systemic racism, economic disparity, and other social injustices which should be addressed by Congress? If so, what policies do you support?

Ferguson: Systemic racism exists and we must enact policies that protect every person, regardless of skin color, gender, sexual orientation and religion. We must reform the use of force policies from law enforcement and implement strict de-escalation techniques. Community policing has worked in many areas, it created relationships between the community and law enforcement. We must make sure everyone has a right to vote and CAN vote safely and in a timely fashion, period. We must ensure inner cities and rural areas are no longer at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to healthcare, job opportunities, and education.

Bergman, on supporting police officers in 2017: Every community needs leaderspeople for the next generation to look up toand thats a role that law enforcement officers across Michigan and the United States are well-suited to fill. For better or worse, our policemen and women represent the age-old struggle between good and evil. They hold a special place in young minds (how many of us wanted to be policemen and women when we were children?), and they have a unique opportunity to directly and indirectly influence outcomes for so many of our young people. Its a big responsibility, but its one that our law enforcement officers take on willingly. After all, leaders dont shy away from the mission just because its difficult.

ECONOMY: What federal policies do you support for a healthy economy and to help the broader American public improve their economic positions?

Ferguson: We need a progressive tax system with a low federal tax rate for those making under $100,000 per year, with the tax rate going up from there. I believe its the right of everyone working American to earn enough to live off of. Small businesses should be rewarded for paying their employees a livable wage. This promotes a strong sustainable economy. The federal government should foster a smooth transition to automation in the workforce. We should be providing education to those workers being impacted by automation. Modernization of infrastructure is critical for rural communities, their workforce and stability.

Bergman: Jobs are one of the greatest needs for families in Michigans First District. That is why I have voted for pro- growth tax reform, cut over eight billion dollars in government regulations, and fought to bring our good-paying jobs back to the shores of the United States. Every Michigander knows that freedom leads to prosperity. We need streamlined regulations that help create jobs and economic growth. A less cumbersome regulatory system will mean higher wages for workers across our congressional district and more opportunity for all.

IMMIGRATION: What policies do you support relative to immigration into the U.S.?

Ferguson: We need immigration reform to acknowledgement that immigration is beneficial to our country, economically and socially. I support a clear path to citizenship for those looking to enter the United States as workers by creating a better system to match the workers with employers. I believe that as a leader in humanitarian issues, the US has a duty to assist those individuals and families fleeing unsafe and oppressive countries, either by welcoming them here or by working with other countries around the world to find a home for them. I also support DACA and the Dreamers. We should not be punishing these young people.

Bergman: I believe our nations immigration policies should put the interests of our citizens and working families first. While we can continue to be generous, immigration is a privilege, not a right, and we should never allow it for people who intend to do us harm, or who violate our immigration laws and cut in line to come here. Therefore, I am opposed to any form of amnesty for those who came here illegally.
New Delhi, Sep 27 : The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights in its fresh data has revealed that more than 2,50,000 children live in Child Care Institutions across the country of which close to 60,000 alone are in Tamil Nadu.

Out of a total of 2,56,369 children living in CCIs, the maximum number of 59,548 live in Child Care Institutions in Tamil Nadu while only 90 children live in CCI's in Arunachal Pradesh.

Karantaka has the second highest 38,659 children living in CCIs with Andhra Pradesh, Kerala following. The national capital has 3,753 children living in CCIs.

States and UTs with less than 1,000 children living in CCIs are: Andaman and Nicobar Islands (513), Chandigarh (300), Mizoram (932), Sikkim (494) and Tripura (776).

In a letter issued earlier this week, the child rights body has directed eight states, including Tamil Nadu to ensure their return to their families, noting that it is the right of every child to grow up in a familial environment.

"It is therefore requested to your good office to immediately produce all the Children in Need of Care and Protection (CNCP) staying in these CCIs before the concerned Child Welfare Committee (CWC) for their immediate repatriation and restoration and provide soft copy of detailed list of all the children who have been so repatriated by you in this process along with soft copies of order passed by CWC in respect of each child so repatriated, to the Commission," NCPCR said in a letter addressed to the District AMagistrates/ Collectors of the eight states which have maximum number i.e. A70 p.c. of children living in Child Care Institutions (CCI).

The eight states are: Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Mizoram, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra and Meghalaya which have 1.84 lakh children in child care homes out of the total.

It was further recommended by the NCPCR to the District Magistrates that the repatriation and restoration of these children shall be conducted while ensuring strict adherence to the Guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare from time to time to contain the spread of COVID-19.
NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Garrett Motion Inc. (Garrett or the Company) (OTCMKTS: GTXMQ). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.



The investigation concerns whether Garrett and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On August 26, 2020, Garrett Motion issued a press release entitled Garrett Motion Exploring Alternatives For Balance Sheet Restructuring. The press release advised investors that notwithstanding its entry, on June 12, 2020, into an amendment into its credit agreement to obtain relief from certain financial covenants, the Companys leverage ratio remains high and poses significant challenges to its overall strategic and financial flexibility and may impair its ability to gain or hold market share in the highly competitive automotive supply market, thereby putting Garrett at a meaningful disadvantage relative to its peers.

On this news, Garrett Motions stock price fell $3.04 per share, or 44%, to close at $3.84 on August 26, 2020.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com .
Tatiana Turner is taken into custody after witnesses said she drove her car into a crowd of President Donald Trump supporters in Yorba Linda, Calif., on Sept. 26, 2020. (Mindy Schauer/The Orange County Register via AP)

Driver Accused of Striking 2 People With Car at Yorba Linda Protest

YORBA LINDA, Calif. (CNS)A 40-year-old Long Beach woman is being held on possible charges including attempted murder after allegedly driving her car into a group of Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters and counter demonstrators in Yorba Linda.

The BLM protest began at 2 p.m. on Sept. 26 on Imperial Highway and was interrupted by a much larger group of President Donald Trump supporters, who waved American flags and held pro-Trump signs.

The Orange County Sheriffs Department (OCSD) declared the demonstration an unlawful assembly at 2:40 p.m. and ordered everyone to leave the area, Sgt. Dennis Breckner said.

Tatiana Turner, a protester believed to be associated with the Caravan of Justicea car-based protest in solidarity with BLMwas exiting the Yorba Linda Public Library parking lot when she allegedly drove her compact car through an intersection and struck a man and woman, according to Carrie Braun, the OCSD public affairs director.

The man suffered two broken legs and the woman had major injuries, Breckner said. Both were transported to a hospital for treatment of their injuries.

Breckner initially identified the male victim as a BLM demonstrator, but Braun said the department is no longer sure if that was the case, saying he might have been a counter-protester.

Turner was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon, Braun said.

She was being held on $1 million bail and is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 29, according to Orange County jail records.

Jason Mancuso, 46, of Anaheim, was arrested and jailed for refusing to leave after the unlawful assembly was declared, Braun said. He has a scheduled court date on Oct. 26, according to jail records.

A total of 250 protesters converged at the scene, Breckner estimated, adding that everyone eventually left and roads were reopened.

A 47-year-old Yorba Linda man at the protest, who would only give his name as Mike because he feared Antifa-leaning elements might seek to harm him, told City News Service that hes been getting together with a group of several dozen other locals every other week for patriotic rallies.

He claimed he personally saw three Trump supporters injured by the car that was hemmed in and trying to drive away. But he also said the Make America Great Again demonstrators had been harassing the woman, causing the panicked look on her face.

They started to pound on her car, he said, while clutching a carefully rolled up American flag. It took damage.

Mike told CNS he witnessed one female counter-protester get swept under the vehicle, as well as a male counter-protester who suffered an ankle injury. He said another male counter-protester suffered minor abrasions.

The crowd included hundreds of pro-Trump supporters and about 100 to 150 Black Lives Matter demonstrators.
By Online Desk

Former Union Minister and one of the founding members of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Jaswant Singh, passed away on Sunday morning after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was 82.

Singh, a former Army officer, had been ill after a fall at his home in August 2014 and was admitted to the Army Research and Referral Hospital.

He had been in and out of the hospital and was admitted again on June 25 this year and was being treated for Sepsis with Multiorgan Dysfunction Syndrome.

Major Jaswant Singh (Retd), former Cabinet Minister, passed away at 6:55 am today. He was admitted on 25 June & was being treated for Sepsis with Multiorgan Dysfunction Syndrome. He had a cardiac arrest this morning. His COVID status is negative: Army Hospital (R&R), Delhi pic.twitter.com/GEi404GbQj  ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2020

"It is with profound grief that we inform about the sad demise of Hon'ble Major Jaswant Singh (Retd), former Cabinet Minister of Government of India at 0655 hours on 27 September 2020. He was admitted on 25 Jun 2020 and being treated for Sepsis with Multiorgan Dysfunction Syndrome and effects of Severe Head Injury old (Optd) had a Cardiac arrest this morning," the hospital said in a statement.

Despite the best efforts of the attending team of specialists to resuscitate him, he could not be revived and passed away, it added.

His funeral will take place later today at Jodhpur in Rajasthan, family sources said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh condoled the death of the former Union Minister in the Vajpayee cabinet and acknowledged his efforts in strengthening the party in Rajasthan.

"Jaswant Singh ji would be remembered for his intellectual capabilities and stellar record in service to the nation. He also played a key role in strengthening the BJP in Rajasthan. Condolences to his family and supporters in this sad hour. Om Shanti," Singh said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a tweet said, "Jaswant Singh Ji served our nation diligently, first as a soldier and later during his long association with politics. During Atal Jis Government, he handled crucial portfolios and left a strong mark in the worlds of finance, defence and external affairs. Saddened by his demise."

The PM also spoke with Singh's son Manvendra and expressed condolences.

In his eclectic career, Singh donned many hats -- army officer, author, Union minister, but his handling of the Kandahar hijack crisis as the then external affairs minister in 1999 was one that looms large.

Born on January 3, 1938 in village Jasol in Barmer district, Singh served the Indian Army in the 1950s and 60s.

He resigned his Commission to pursue a political career and had a distinguished tenure in Parliament being a member of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha multiple times.

Singh had been associated with the BJP since its foundation in 1980.

He was twice expelled from the party.

In 2009, the BJP expelled him after his book 'Jinnah - India, Partition, Independence' was published.

He came back into the party fold 10 months later, but faced a second expulsion in 2014 when he defied party orders and contested from Barmer as an Independent after being denied a ticket.

Though there were several highs and a few lows in his career in politics, his role and decision-making in the Kandahar hijacking has been the subject of much debate and dissection.

In a book, Singh, while talking about the IC 814 flight that was hijacked from Kathmandu to Kandahar in Afghanistan on Christmas eve in 1999 with 161 passengers and crew on board, said it was "most demanding and emotionally a most draining period" of his life.

Singh had accompanied the three released terrorists, including Jaish-e-Mohammed head Masood Azhar, on a flight to Kandahar for a hostage swap deal with the hijackers.

Singh had recounted in his book how the hijacking had taken place about an hour after he had become a proud grandfather to a baby girl, and that it was a tough decision to agree to swap the terrorists.

He said he was opposed to any compromise to start with but slowly began to change as time passed.

Singh, who had close ties across the political spectrum, was known to be a scholarly gentleman in political circles, but was never one to hold back his views.

Bengal Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, Punjab CM Amarinder Singh, DMK chief MK Stalin, Jairam Ramesh, P Chidambaram and Shashi Tharoor, among others, condoled his demise.

Former Union minister Omar Abdullah tweeted, "Jaswant Singh sahib was my senior minister when I was Minister of State External Affairs. He was supportive without being interfering, was always available for advice & never made me feel like my work didn't matter."

"He was the perfect boss & mentor," he said.

Between 2004 and 2009, Singh was Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha.

He was also a prolific writer and authored several books in Hindi and English.

He also contributed widely to Indian and foreign magazines, newspapers and journals on international affairs, security and development issues.

(With Agencies Inputs)
By STEVE PEOPLES and ZEKE MILLER Associated Press

Ahead of the first debate-stage match-up between President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger Joe Biden, each campaign is promising a stark contrast in policy, personality and preparation.

Trump has decided to skip any formal preparation. And while Bidens team believes the significance of the debate may be exaggerated, the Democratic nominee has been aggressively preparing to take on the president.

Bidens campaign has been holding mock debate sessions featuring Bob Bauer, a senior Biden adviser and former White House general counsel, playing the role of Trump, according to a person with direct knowledge of the preparations who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal strategy. Bauer has not actually donned a Trump costume in line with Trump stand-ins from previous years, but he is representing his style and expected strategy.

Im sure the president will throw everything he can at (Biden). My guess is that theyre preparing for that -- bombarding him with insults and weird digressions, said Jay Carney, a former aide to Biden and President Barack Obama.

Trump and Biden are scheduled to meet on the debate stage for the first time Tuesday night at Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland. The 90-minute event moderated by Fox News host Chris Wallace is the first of three scheduled presidential debates. Vice President Mike Pence and California Sen. Kamala Harris, Bidens running mate, will also debate in October.

For some, the debates represent the most important moments in the 2020 campaigns closing days, a rare opportunity for millions of voters to compare the candidates' policies and personalities side-by-side on prime-time television. Trump has been trailing Biden in the polls for the entire year, a reality that gives the president an urgent incentive to change the direction of the contest on national television if he can.

Others, including those close to Bidens campaign, do not expect the debates to fundamentally change the race no matter what happens, given voters' daily struggles with the pandemic and the economy. They also point to high-profile debates in past elections thought to be game-changing moments at the time but that ultimately had little lasting effect.

Those with knowledge of Bidens preparations suggest he will not take the fight to Trump if he can avoid it. But on Saturday, at least, he was on the attack when he discussed his strategy on MSNBC.

Im prepared to go out and make my case as to why I think hes failed and why I think the answers I have to proceed will help the American people, the American economy and make us safer internationally, Biden said. He argued that Trump wont persuade voters with broadsides because the people know the president is a liar.

He also compared Trump to Adolf Hitlers propaganda minister, Joseph Goebbels, saying, Hes sort of like Goebbels. You say the lie long enough, keep repeating, repeating, repeating, it becomes common knowledge.

While Biden has said he will try to be a fact checker of sorts on stage, the Democrat is being advised to avoid direct confrontations and instead redirect the conversation to more familiar campaign themes of unity and issues that matter most to voters: the economy, health care and the pandemic.

Arguing over facts, litigating whether what hes saying is accurate, that is not winning to Biden, said Jen Psaki, a former Obama aide who is close to Bidens team. This is an opportunity to speak directly to the American people. His objective should be to speak directly to them, but not be pulled in by Trump. That is hard.

President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally Friday in Newport News, Va. He is not formally preparing for Tuesday's debate but says doing his job, including answering reporters' questions, gives him the prep he needs. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)AP

Trump has not been doing any formal preparation, according to aides and allies who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.

No set has been constructed and aides refused to say whether anyone is playing Biden. Trump, instead, has maintained that the best preparation is doing his day job  particularly his frequent and often contentious interactions with reporters. White House aides also scheduled an ABC town hall earlier this month to expose Trump to real voter questions for the first time in months in preparation for the second debate.

Privately some aides and allies are worried that Trumps lack of formal preparation will lead him to fall into the same hubris trap as other incumbents in their first general election debate. Obama, for example, famously struggled in his first match-up against Mitt Romney in 2012.

But other Trump backers are confident that the president is ready to handle any tough questions or pushback from Biden.

The debates matter, said Lara Trump, a senior adviser to the campaign and the presidents daughter-in-law. Donald Trump certainly did a great job on the debates (in 2016) and I think this will be no different.

Lara Trump also seemed to simultaneously raise and lower expectations for Biden.

Joe Biden spent a lot of time in his basement to study up. Hes been in this game for 47 years. I assume hell do okay, she said. Quite frankly, the bar has been lowered so much for Joe Biden that if he stays awake for the whole thing its like maybe he won.

The mixed messages were in line with those of Trumps allies who spent much of the year raising questions about Bidens physical and mental strength, while in recent days trying to cast him as a strong and experienced debater facing a relative neophyte in Trump.

Trump offered a preview of his approach on Sunday when he raised accusations with no evidence that Bidens previous debate performances were influenced by medication. In a tweet, Trump said he would demand that Biden take a drug test and that he would as well.

I will be strongly demanding a Drug Test of Sleepy Joe Biden prior to, or after, the Debate on Tuesday night. Naturally, I will agree to take one also. His Debate performances have been record setting UNEVEN, to put it mildly. Only drugs could have caused this discrepancy???  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 27, 2020

Trumps message seemed to be an attempt at both tripping up Biden and preemptively offering an explanation to his supporters if the Democratic nominee has a strong performance.

A former reality show star, the president is keenly aware of the power and pitfalls of live television. Aides say he is acutely mindful of the power of moments to define how a debate is perceived and that he intends to make his share of them happen.

Terry McAuliffe, the former Virginia governor and onetime national Democratic chairman, said Biden must fashion a succinct, debate-stage version of his message since the spring: draw a straight line from Trumps personal deficiencies to his handling of the pandemic, its economic fallout, the national reckoning on race and then explain why a Biden presidency would be different.

Trumps just looking for a Hail Mary here, McAuliffe said. He knows hes in trouble.

___

Peoples reported from New York. Associated Press writer Bill Barrow in Atlanta contributed to this report.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain Saturday said the surge in COVID-19 cases recorded in September "seems to have plateaued" and should show a "rapid fall".

Interacting with reporters, he also said, the next sero-prevalence survey, slated to be conducted from October 1, is likely to be delayed as the report of the September survey is to be put before the Delhi High Court by this month-end.

"The overall case fatality rate on Friday was 1.95 per cent, so less than 2 per cent. It used to be 3.5 per cent and above earlier. Also, cases which were coming in excess of over 4,000 per day have come down over the past few days. So, the surge we saw in September seems to have plateaued, and it should see a rapid fall," he said.

Asked if the testing will now be scaled down, the minister said, no, it will remain the same.

Even, cases which were reported on Friday were from the over 59,000 tests done the previous day, he said.

The next round of sero-prevalence survey is slated to begin from October 1.

The previous exercise was held in the first week of September and its results have not been shared by the Delhi government.

"The results of the last sero-survey are to be put first before the High Court, so, it seems there will be a delay in starting the next round, as it takes time to do preparations, so October 1 starting date it seems highly unlikely," Jain told reporters.

Asked if a mayor and a minister contracting COVID-19 sends out a signal that perhaps COVID-19 norms are not being followed properly, Jain countered saying, "They are public representatives, and if they contract COVID-19, it does not mean that they violated norms".

"Even healthcare workers who wear full PPE kits, contracted it. So this virus does not discriminate between a minister and the common man. Its behaviour is unpredictable," he added.

On chances of double infection of COVID-19 and dengue, he said, it is "too early" to comment on this matter.

Asked if symptomatic people who tested negative in a rapid antigen test are to take RT-PCR test, he said, there are "strict orders" mandating that such people have to undergo the more reliable RT-PCR test.

On supply of oxygen through equipment, he reiterated , there is stock for 6-7 days.

COVID-19 cases have shown a surge since the beginning of this month with 4,473 infections reported on September 16, the highest single-day spike here till date.

The daily cases in Delhi had breached the 4000-mark for the first time on September 9 when the death count was 20 (overall 4,638 fatalities) and the caseload had crossed the 2 lakh-mark.

From September 9-19, fresh cases have been recorded in excess of 4,000 per day except on September 14 when the figure stood at 3,229 with 26 deaths being recorded that day, taking the toll to 4,770, according to official data.

The Delhi government has significantly ramped up testing over the past few days.

The number of tests conducted and corresponding fresh cases reported, ranged from 24,198 (2,312) on September 1 to 61,973 (4071) on September 19.

Since September 20, cases have remained below the 4,000-mark.

Delhi recorded 3,827 COVID-19 cases on Friday, as the tally in the city mounted to over 2.64 lakh, while the death toll climbed to 5147.
Bill Ernzens 17-year-old daughter Nicola Ernzen has been frustrated with learning online.

Nicola, who was diagnosed with autism at 5 years old, misses the daily routine of waking up, taking her medicine, eating breakfast, and going to school to see her teachers and friends. Adjusting to learning online has been hard, and the Bloomfield Township teens family is worried her educational needs wont be met.
Rochester

It did not take long for President Donald Trump to wade into the civil unrest that seized the city over the death of Daniel Prude, a Black man who died of suffocation after Rochester police officers placed a hood over his head.

Trump likened a peaceful march in Rochester to the clashes in Portland, Oregon, saying earlier this month on Twitter that the two cities had "bad nights." The next day, the president incorrectly asserted that "most of the police in Rochester, N.Y., have resigned," blaming "the Democrat Mayor and, of course, Governor Cuomo."

The president's incursions in Rochester have divided Republicans in Western New York, as candidates vying for Congress and local office weigh whether to embrace Trump or distance themselves from his characterization of the Black Lives Matter movement as "a symbol of hate."

Nowhere is that dynamic more pronounced than in heavily Democratic districts like Monroe County, which includes Rochester, the state's third-largest city, where Republicans running as moderates risk alienating voters by adopting the president's antagonistic view of protesters.

George Mitris, a Republican facing an uphill battle to unseat Rep. Joseph D. Morelle, a Democratic fixture in the region, has openly disagreed with the president's comments on Twitter, and embraced the Black Lives Matter movement in his platform.

Mitris, as well as some Republicans in Rochester running for the state Legislature, have declined to say whether they would vote for Trump in November, instead focusing their campaigns on local issues and pitching themselves as unifiers above partisan politics.

"I worship no man," said Mitris, a lawyer running for office for the first time. "I'm really not focused on the president at all, to be quite honest. I'm focused on the people of this community."

That dynamic is reversed in the 27th Congressional District, a conservative region sandwiched between Rochester and Buffalo, where an insurgent Democrat, Nate McMurray, has been trying to link Rep. Chris Jacobs to the president for months, including during the campaign for a special election in June that ended with Jacobs' victory.

The two men are opposing each other again in November, and McMurray said he hoped that the attention paid to police brutality in Rochester will motivate liberal voters in the district, particularly "young people who are harder to get out to the polls."

Jacobs, a scion of a prominent and wealthy Buffalo family, won in June running on a pro-Trump platform  garnering an endorsement from the president and a campaign robocall from the president's son Donald Trump Jr.  and has remained firmly in that camp.

His Twitter campaign account prominently features a photo of Trump, and its bio describes Jacobs simply as the "Trump Endorsed Candidate for New York's 27th Congressional District."

"Daniel Prude's death was an unspeakable tragedy, and I believe everyone involved wishes it did not happen," Jacobs said in a statement, adding that while he fully supported the rights of those who wish to peacefully protest, "the recent violence we've seen in the streets is unacceptable."

"There is no place for this lawlessness in America," Jacobs continued. "The residents of NY-27 are fed up with the violent riots and support a return to civility."

Nick Langworthy, chair of the state Republican Party and a longtime resident of Western New York, said that he believed that the unrest in Rochester had played in his party's favor, with voters from across the political spectrum concerned about "safety and security."

He argued that the law-and-order message dovetailed with arguments made earlier this year  long before the Black Lives Matter movement gained new momentum  that New York's recently reformed bail laws were endangering public safety.

"Voters are intelligent: They understand that there's a cause and effect, and the cause of this is largely the revolving-door criminal justice policies that have been brought to us in the last year," he said.

He added that he believed that "outside agitators" caused "the worst actions" in protests in Buffalo and Rochester.

"When you have those people that are willing to create mayhem and you can't hold them, you know, they're going to continue to perpetuate the situation," Langworthy said. "And it's a contagious situation."

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Republicans say they are confident their focus on New York's high taxes and their law-and-order message are also resonating with voters, echoing refrains from the president.

In the state Senate, which Democrats control by a healthy margin, Republicans have already poured thousands of dollars into digital ads criticizing Democrats' positions on law enforcement.

In early September, shortly after protesters hit the streets over Prude's death, Republicans pushed an ominous video on Facebook attacking Samra Brouk, a Democrat running for a state Senate seat that includes parts of Rochester, for her stance on policing.

The Facebook ad, paid for by the New York State Senate Republican Campaign Committee, said the police "stood between the rioters and your family," an apparent reference to fires set and stores looted in Rochester over the summer following the death of George Floyd.

Brouk said the ads were backfiring. "This community doesn't respond to that," she said. "People have been drawn to us saying, 'Wow. I don't stand for that. That's Trumpism. We don't stand for that.' It's kind of energized them."

Republicans face daunting odds making inroads in areas like Monroe County, where Hillary Clinton beat Trump by 14 percentage points in 2016 and registered Democrats outnumber Republicans.

Democrats have tried to galvanize their base by championing the protests in Rochester, calling for criminal justice reforms and railing against Trump, who remains deeply unpopular in his native state.

Still, many residents here have blamed much of the political upheaval in Rochester on local leaders, especially Mayor Lovely Warren, a Democrat.

Warren has faced a barrage of calls to resign following revelations that her administration suppressed bodycam footage of Prude's encounter with police for months after his death in March. The footage became public this month after Prude's family filed a public records request.

"Not only did you have an African American die in the custody of the Rochester police department, but you have what appears to be an abdication of leadership and what may be an active cover-up in City Hall," said Bill Napier, chair of the Monroe County Republican Party.

"There is no way to sit there," he said, "and blame that on Donald Trump."
Syracuse, N.Y. -- Syracuse University has had no new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, according to an update on the schools Covid-19 dashboard.

Currently, the school has 17 active cases in the Syracuse area among students, staff and faculty. It has two others among people who are not in the Syracuse area.

Overall, the school has had 92 confirmed cases since Aug. 8.

In the past 10 days, the school has administered about 9,000 tests. Since students began returning, SU has administered nearly 50,000 tests on campus.

So far this semester, SU has discovered cases in three dorms and one sorority house. The school quarantined the sorority members. It temporarily locked down parts or all of the dorms until tests came back negative.

As of today, the school has 118 students in quarantine, up 16 from Friday. Those students have potentially been exposed to the virus.

SUs 37-20 victory against Georgia Tech today was delayed more than 30 minutes while three members of the SU program underwent additional Covid-19 testing out of an abundance of caution, the school said.

Syracuse University would not say what triggered the need to retest the three individuals or who alerted it to a potential issue.

Got a story idea or news tip youd like to share? Please contact me through email, Twitter, Facebook or at 315-470-2274.
The Uttar Pradesh tourism department is working on a post-Covid plan to promote rural tourism in Varanasi, a top tourism officer said Sunday.

Post pandemic, foreign tourists arriving in Varanasi would be taken on a guided tour of some villages in the district. They would be given the option of arriving at these pre-decided rural destinations along the banks of the Ganga by boats.

There are several sites in rural pockets which have potential to attract domestic as well as foreign tourists. These sites have lush green and idyllic surroundings. As part of the plan, facilities for the tourists have been developed at these places. Ghats equipped with potable water facilities have been developed at Markandey Mahadev and Shooltankeshwar Temple, regional tourism officer Keertiman Srivastava said.

He expects the foreign tourist traffic to begin after the pandemic eases.

Foreign tourists would start arriving in Varanasi once the Covid-19 situation eases out. So we are working on a plan to promote rural tourism, one that would help foreigners get an idea of life in rural Varanasi and may enjoy boat rides in picturesque surroundings, he said.

But it is not just the foreign tourists that the tourism department is banking on to promote the rural circuit. There are plans to market these villages among domestic tourists as well.

Tourist guides would be involved in the whole plan as they would tell the tourists about the destinations and idyllic surroundings. So as of now, the tourists could be taken to see the village life in Kaithi, or be driven to Ramna, Prime Minister Narendra Modis adopted village Jayapur or for that matter could be taken to Kakarahia to have a feel of rural life, he said.

So far these Kashi villages are frequented by domestic tourists, mostly from places adjoining Varanasi. Now, we will market these villages among domestic tourists. The rural tourism would also give a boost to the village economy. We plan to involve boatmen too as through them we could offer tourists the option of visiting these destinations by boats too, he said.

This morning, tourism department officials met locals in Kaithi village to raise awareness among them about importance of tourism and how to welcome tourists and attend to them when they visit.

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RTHK: Armenians and Azeris clash over Nagorno-Karabakh

At least 16 military and several civilians were killed on Sunday in the heaviest clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan since 2016, reigniting concern about stability in the South Caucasus, a corridor for pipelines carrying oil and gas to world markets.

The clashes between the two former Soviet republics, which fought a war in the 1990s, were the latest flare-up of a long-running conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, a breakaway region that is inside Azerbaijan but is run by ethnic Armenians.

Nagorno-Karabakh said 16 of its serviceman had been killed and more than 100 wounded after Azerbaijan launched an air and artillery attack early on Sunday. Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh declared martial law and mobilised the male population.

Azerbaijan, which also declared martial law, said its forces responded to Armenian shelling and that five members of one family had been killed by Armenian shelling.

It also said its forces had seized control of up to seven villages. Nagorno-Karabakh initially denied this but later acknowledged losing "some positions" and said it had suffered a number of civilian casualties, without giving details.

Five members of one family had been killed by Armenian shelling, Azerbaijan's prosecutor's office said.

The clashes prompted a flurry of diplomacy to reduce the new tensions in a decades-old conflict between majority Christian Armenia and mainly Muslim Azerbaijan, with Russia calling for an immediate ceasefire and another regional power, Turkey, saying it would support Azerbaijan.

Pipelines shipping Caspian oil and natural gas from Azerbaijan to the world pass close to Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia also warned about security risks in the South Caucasus in July after Azerbaijan threatened to attack Armenia's nuclear power plant as possible retaliation.

Nagorno-Karabakh broke away from Azerbaijan in a conflict that broke out as the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.

Though a ceasefire was agreed in 1994, after thousands of people were killed and many more displaced, Azerbaijan and Armenia frequently accuse each other of attacks around Nagorno-Karabakh and along the separate Azeri-Armenian frontier.

In Sunday's clashes, Armenian right activists said an ethnic Armenian woman and child had also been killed.

Armenia said Azeri forces had attacked civilian targets including Nagorno-Karabakh's capital, Stepanakert, and promised a "proportionate response".

"We stay strong next to our army to protect our motherland from Azeri invasion," Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan wrote on Twitter.

Azerbaijan denied an Armenian defence ministry statement saying Azeri helicopters and tanks had been destroyed, and accused Armenian forces of launching "deliberate and targeted" attacks along the front line.

"We defend our territory, our cause is right!" Azerbaijan's president, Ilham Aliyev, said in an address to the nation.

Turkey said it was talking to members of the Minsk group, which mediates between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Russia, France and the United States are co-presidents.

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone to Pashinyan but no details of the conversation were available, and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan spoke to Aliyev.

Erdogan, promising support for traditional ally Azerbaijan, said Armenia was "the biggest threat to peace in the region" and called on "the entire world to stand with Azerbaijan in their battle against invasion and cruelty."

Pashinyan hit back, urged the international community to ensure Turkey does not get involved in the conflict.

The European Union and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) urged both sides to stop military actions and return to negotiations, as did Pope Francis.

At least 200 people were killed in a flare-up of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in April 2016. At least 16 people were killed in clashes in July. (Reuters)

This story has been published on: 2020-09-27. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Leader of PNL (National Liberal Party) Bucharest Violeta Alexandru on Sunday called on TV channels to stop broadcasting the advertising materials that "lie" about the achievements of the current administration of the Capital City.

"Unfortunately, some TV stations are still broadcasting advertising materials paid for with public money about the companies run by the mayor's office. And I am talking now about the consolidation company and the Parking SA company, the one for parking lots. There are two videos that lie about the so-called achievements of the current administration. (...) I call on the respective TV stations to stop broadcasting these videos so that the people of Bucharest are not influenced in any way in their right to vote. I trust Bucharesters and I know that they can differentiate between advertising made with their money for the interests of some candidates and political parties and the civilized behaviour that all candidates must have today," said Alexandru, at the PNL Bucharest headquarters.

She urged the National Audiovisual Council to note that the Constituency Electoral Bureau said "very clearly" that these advertisements could not be broadcast as they induce a "biased message" to the electorate about a candidate's achievements. "The broadcasting of these videos must be stopped immediately," the PNL Bucharest leader added.

According to Violeta Alexandru, there are signals that in Bucharest, in District 5, for instance, already stamped ballot papers seem to end up in the polling stations.

"I draw the attention of the presidents of the polling stations that they have a career behind them and that they cannot mock it like this. They must take action and they must ensure that the voting in Bucharest takes place in the most correct conditions. They must not mock the citizens' vote. Let the people of Bucharest vote without any influence, without any strategy that will influence the result of the vote," said the leader of PNL Bucharest.
- The mother of Kiki Wa Ng'endo who admitted to having infected men with HIV, said she was hurt due to Kiki's behaviour and disrespect

- Lucy Ng'endo said Kiki was always a stubborn child, especially during her teenage years and got involved in prostitution because she was a lover of money and opulence

- The mother of two said she still loved her daughter and wanted her to get medical help

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The story of Jackline Njoki Mwangi alias Kiki Wa Ng'endo left many astonished after she publicly admitted to knowingly infecting men with HIV.

Kiki blamed the misfortunes of her life to her mother whom she accused of abandoning and also mistreating her when she moved to the United States for work.

READ ALSO: Ruto demands respect from Raila, insists hustlers will not be intimidated: "Enough is enough"

Lucy Ng'endo said she still loved Kiki and wanted her to get help. Photo: Screengrab from Kenya Diaspora Media.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Diana Marua gifts pregnant nanny costly phone, baby clothes during last day at work

Speaking to Kenya Diaspora Media, her mother, Lucy Ng'endo, her elder sister Sarah and Jack, her uncle, all said Kiki's words had greatly hurt them because according to them, they were laced with falsehood and maliciousness.

Kiki as a troublesome teenager

According to Lucy, she brought up Kiki as any parent would do a child but she started being stubborn in her early teenage years and was always in and out of school due to her mischievous behaviours.

"I took her to three schools and she was leaving after a term," she said.

READ ALSO: Kenyan man who married at 21 after wife rejected him thrice details 11 years' love journey

Kiki accused her mother of mistreating her and always insulting her. Photo: Edwin Ochieng'.

Source: Original

The mother of two said the woman attempted to commit suicide at around that time and was enrolled in counselling but even after going back to school, she still dropped out.

"It reached a time that I travelled and she started getting herself into bad practices. I actually think it started a long time, it is just that I had not known," she said.

The US-based woman dismissed as lies claims made by Kiki during her exclusive interview with TUKO.co.ke that she insulted her after she got into prostitution.

She said she had a sit-down with her, just like a mother would, and warned her the path she had taken was hazardous but because she was already using drugs, Kiki abused her.

"I have passed through so much pain because of this child," she added.

READ ALSO: Lady desperately in need of love takes her search for partner online and netizens cannot keep calm

Kiki admitted to having infected her sex partners with HIV. Photo: TUKO.co.ke/original.

Source: Original

Kiki's appetite for money

Lucy said the 36-year-old has always been a lover of money and a posh life and she could sometimes tell her lies so that she could siphon money from her.

She said even the current bad blood between her and her last-born daughter was because she refused to send her some KSh 70,000 that Kiki wanted.

"Every time when she calls me, she is always demanding for money. I found out she was just using me. I have sent her money many times and she uses it for her personal luxuries," she said.

READ ALSO: Frustrated graduate burns his certificates after failing to secure a job

A tearful Lucy said Kiki had called her unspeakable words and it was very painful for her, especially because she was her mother.

In her final words in the interview, the mother said she loved her daughter in spite of all the humiliation and disrespect she had done to her and her wish was that she could seek the help of a psychiatrist.

"I cannot fail to love her despite all this. We have never abandoned her because she is sick. I love her and if she wants medical help I will help her," a heartbroken Lucy said.

READ ALSO: Chelsea news: Frank Lampard told to reinstate Antonio Rudiger in first team

Infecting men with HIV

Speaking exclusively to TUKO.co.ke, the 36-year-old revealed she intentionally infected her sex partners to punish them for not using protection while sleeping with her.

She justified her actions saying she picked the disease from an infected person who also did not care to warn her.

"At the end of the day, I cannot be your keeper. You know you do not know me, I am not related to you yet you want to have sex with me, why don't you wear a condom or take a test with me if I'm comfortable and if I am not, ask me to wear a condom?" she posed.

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Source: TUKO.co.ke
Seoul, Sep 27 : Pyongyang on Sunday warned Seoul against violating its western sea border as search continued for the body of a South Korean official who was shot and killed in North Korean waters.

South Korea has continued to locate the body of the 47-year-old fisheries official who was shot and killed by North Korean troops on September 22 after he drifted into their waters near the Yellow Sea border between the two sides, reports Yonhap News Agency.

While the South has said that the troops burnt the official's body, the North maintains that it was lost in the sea after he was shot.

In a report, Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said: "According to a report by the western fleet of our navy, the South side has mobilized many vessels including warships to an action presumed to be a search operation and let them intrude into our territorial waters since September 25. It arouses our due vigilance as it may lead to another awful incident.

"We can never overlook any intrusion into our territorial waters and we seriously warn the south side against it. We urge the South side to immediately halt the intrusion across the military demarcation line in the west sea that may lead to escalation of tensions." In report, the KCNA further said that North Korea has planned to organise a search operation of its own and considers "procedures" and "ways" of handing over "any tide-brought corpse in case we find it during the operation".

On September 25, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un offered an apology for the "unexpected" and "unfortunate" incident that took place in his country's waters, reports Yonhap News Agency.

On Saturday, South Korea's presidential office said it will demand North Korea carry out an additional or joint investigation into the killing.

But it remained unclear whether North Korea will accept it.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 27)  Vice President Leni Robredo said on Sunday that there is no reason to postpone the 2022 elections amid the pandemic, contrary to the recent recommendation of a congressman to do so.

"Kung kayang buksan ang Manila Bay...bubuksan yung ibang tourism sites, walang dahilan para i-postpone," Robredo said in her weekly radio show Biserbisyong Leni, a week after authorities drew flak for opening Manila Bay's "white sand beach" to a large crowd.

[Translation: If we can open Manila Bay, if we can open Boracay and other tourism sites, we have no reason to postpone it.]

Robredo cited countries such as the United States, New Zealand, South Korea and Netherlands that are pushing through with their own national elections this year despite coronavirus threats in their respective territories.

"Nagsalita na yung Comelec (Commission on Elections dito na hindi ipo-postpone. Yung pinaghahandan nilang scenario may COVID pa din," she added.

[Translation: The Comelec already said that they will not postpone it. They are preparing for a scenario with COVID.]

Comelec chairman Sheriff Abas said during the budget hearing of the poll body in the House of Representatives last Thursday that regardless of how the health crisis will pan out, they will strive to push through with a safer conduct of elections.

Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo initially asked the Comelec if they have considered postponing the elections, saying voters might risk contamination in polling precincts.

Abas emphasized that they have not considered this since the election is a constitutional mandate.

The agency insisted that they are prepared to conduct alternative measures such as a two-day voting period and an online filing of candidacy to reduce transmission.
A new free-trade zone (FTZ) was inaugurated in east China's Yangtze River Delta on Thursday, along with the expansion of another one, representing new steps to ensure high-quality, integrated development for the region and further momentum for the country's opening-up. The two new developments consist of a pilot FTZ in Anhui Province and the expansion of the existing FTZ in Zhejiang Province. Together with similar projects in Jiangsu and Shanghai, they ensure that all four areas of the delta have FTZs, featuring institutional innovations to facilitate trade, investment and business, and undertaking distinctive roles in developing industries. Thursday also saw the inauguration of two newly approved FTZs beyond the delta region, in Beijing and the central province of Hunan, raising the total of FTZs nationwide to 21. The pilot FTZ in Anhui will focus on promoting the in-depth integration of scientific and technological innovation and the development of the real economy. It will accelerate the pace of its pioneering role in scientific and technological innovation and the cluster development of advanced manufacturing and strategic emerging industries, and promote the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta. The expanded area in Zhejiang will focus on building a new type of international trade center and a global shipping and logistics hub, as well as the construction of a commodity resource allocation base centered on oil and gas. It will also see the construction of a digital economy development demonstration zone and a cluster area for advanced manufacturing industries. Last year, China unveiled an outline for the regional integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, which is one of the country's most economically active, open and innovative regions, producing nearly a quarter of the country's GDP. The central authorities expect the entire delta region to provide quality products and serve as a source of high-level technologies to support the national high-quality economic development. The region is also urged to take the lead in forming a new development pattern that takes the domestic market as the mainstay and allows the domestic and foreign markets to boost each other. The new pilot FTZs, together with the expanded one, will strengthen the industrial and supply chain through scientific and technological innovation and enhance its advancement, stability and competitiveness, while leading the high-quality development of industries, said Wang Shouwen, vice-minister of commerce. INTEGRATION, HIGH QUALITY "After having a business meeting in Shanghai in the morning, I take the high-speed train to Hefei for work after lunch, and meet my partners for dinner in the evening. I can return to Shanghai on the same day with a relaxed schedule," said Qin Lihong, co-founder and president of NIO Inc., a leading Chinese electric-vehicle manufacturer. With the company's global headquarters in Shanghai, its China headquarters in Hefei, the provincial capital of Anhui, and a leading new-energy auto-parts manufacturing base in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, NIO has most of its important institutions in the delta region, forming a highly innovative and efficient layout. Improved connectivity within the region, such as the opening of new high-speed railways, has facilitated the flow of talents and resources, as well as the integrated development of the region. Over the past year, local governments in the delta region have launched more than 30 innovative regulations on integrated development, signed more than 120 cooperation agreements, and built more than 60 cooperation platforms, statistics with the regional cooperation office of the Yangtze River Delta showed. In the first half of this year, Jiangsu's foreign trade stood at 2 trillion yuan. During the same period, Zhejiang Province reported 1,133 newly established foreign-invested enterprises. As part of the FTZ in Anhui, its section in Hefei will be developed into a comprehensive national science center and a leading area in industrial innovation, based on industries such as high-end manufacturing, integrated circuits, artificial intelligence and quantum information. According to Liu Qingfeng, chairman of voice-recognition giant iFlytek in Hefei, a spate of supporting measures introduced in the FTZ plan will bring favorable policies to AI industries in terms of technological innovation and application development. Meanwhile, the city of Wuhu will focus on industries such as intelligent connected vehicles, intelligent household applications, robots, and cross-border electronic commerce. Wuhu-based auto-maker Chery Automobile Co. is one of the trail-blazers in developing the intelligent connected vehicle. With its self-developed intelligent connected system featuring facial recognition and remote control, the company continues to make breakthroughs in autonomous vehicles. Chery Automobile Co. will continue to develop cutting-edge technology and cooperate with external resources to build an open system of innovation, according to company sources. "The coordinated development of FTZs in the Yangtze River Delta will spur greater momentum," said Sun Yuanxin, an expert with the Collaborative Innovation Center of China Pilot Free Trade Zone at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics.


Incident: a man is led away from the scene of the stabbing in Belfast's Castle Street

THE victim of a brutal stabbing in Belfast city centre once survived a Provo attack after he was falsely blamed for the murder of IRA chief Jock Davison.

Scott McHugh was knifed in Castle Street during a fight in a shop on the busy thoroughfare on Monday afternoon.

He was treated at the scene of the incident and police officers arrested three men over the attack.

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A 26-year-old male who was arrested on suspicion of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (AOABH) and possession of an offensive weapon has since been released on bail pending further inquiries.

A second man, also aged 26, who was arrested on suspicion of AOABH, was also released on police bail pending further inquiries.

A police spokesperson added that a third person arrested in connection to the incident had been released unconditionally.

The PSNI is appealing to anyone with information to contact the non-emergency 101 number.

McHugh was shot four times in 2016 by two armed men sent to avenge the murder of the IRA commander.

Davison was shot dead as he walked to work at a community organisation in the Market area of Belfast.

Although McHugh was arrested twice by detectives investigating the May 2015 murder, he was released without charge on both occasions after denying involvement.

McHugh told Sunday Life in 2018: "In no way, shape or form was I involved in Jock Davison's murder. The finger of suspicion is still being pointed at me, but I didn't do it. The police know it, but I'm still being hassled."

He was hiding out in a house on Distillery Court in the lower Falls area of west Belfast when he was wounded in an early-morning attack.

McHugh (above) struggled with his attackers and was able to fight them off.

After being wounded, he staggered outside the house and fell on the pavement, where he was tended to by neighbours.
Governor of Tavush Province of Armenia Hayk Chobanyan today took to his Facebook to report the following:

Dear residents of Tavush Province, Azerbaijan has started attacking Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) with shelling and the use of drones.

The situation in the borderline settlements and at the military positions of Tavush Province is stable and under control.

Our powerful army is ready to give a crushing counterattack in Artsakh and on the borders of Tavush Province.

All the residents of Tavush Province of all ages express their willingness to support their brothers and sisters in Artsakh.

Dear residents of Tavush Province, once again, I would like to ask you to be alert. There is no need for panic. All you have to do is to check your shelters and hideouts again and pay attention to the furnishing.

Victory is ours. Long live our Homeland, long live our victorious army.

According to spokesperson of the President of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Vahram Poghosyan, the enemy started shelling actively along the entire length of the line of contact. The enemy is also shelling peaceful settlements, including the capital Stepanakert. In her turn, spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia Shushan Stepanyan stated that the Armenian side has shot down two helicopters and three UAVs of the adversary. The battles continue.

Commander of the Defense Army of Artsakh Jalal Harutyunyan made a call for battle, stating that, currently, the subdivisions of the Defense Army are successfully disrupting the adversarys plans by making the adversary suffer a large number of casualties.
She always manages to look effortlessly chic.

And Laura Whitmore didn't disappoint on Saturday as she was spotted heading home from BBC studios in London following her 5 Live radio show.

The Love Island host, 35, wrapped up well for the autumn in a beige trench coat that hugged her enviable figure.

Chic: Laura Whitmore didn't disappoint on Saturday as she was spotted heading home from BBC studios in London following her 5 Live radio show

She matched her stylish coat with skinny black leather leggings and black high heeled suede boots.

The Irish beauty showcased her natural beauty with minimal makeup and her flaxen tresses hanging loosely down in waves.

Laura fiddled around on her mobile as she strolled along the pavement with the hint of a smile on her face.

At one point, she was seen to rummaged through her leopard-print bag to reveal a patterned face mask, white Apple headphones, and a copy of Sunday Times journalist Dolly Alderton's forthcoming novel Ghosts.

Looking good: The Love Island host, 35, wrapped up well for the autumn in a beige trench coat that hugged her enviable figure

Leggy lady! She matched her stylish coat with skinny black leather leggings and black high heeled suede boots

Laura has recently begun filming for Celebrity Juice, as she and new captain Emily Atack look to begin their stint on the programme alongside host Keith Lemon.

Laura and the actress, 30, took to their social media to share snaps from a picturesque farm where they were shooting scenes with Keith for the programme's next season.

Holly Willoughby, who the pair replaced on the show, also gave her stamp of approval as she shared a snap of the trio and wrote 'Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!'

Bookworm: Laura was in possession of a copy of Dolly Alderton's debut novel, despite the fact it is only to be released to the public on 15 October

The trio kept a tight lip on exactly what they were filming, but appeared to be having a great time as the trio smiled for photos together.

One snap saw Emily, Laura and Keith pose for a fun selfie on the farmland, as Laura put on an animated display by flexing her muscles.

ITV2's comedy panel series will see comedian Keith return to host eight episodes this autumn, followed by two 60-minute specials.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 11:10:12|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Saturday stressed the importance of a negotiated two-state solution to the Palestinian issue, calling for world attention to the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory.

"The only viable way forward is a negotiated two-state solution," Muhyiddin said while addressing the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.

"Annexation is unlawful" and "the acquisition of any territory by war or force is inadmissible and illegal," he said.

The prime minister called on Israel to "restore its credibility and revert to the negotiating table with Palestine."

"Malaysia supports the call of the international community including by the UN Secretary General, for the Middle East Quartet to find a mutually agreeable path for the parties to re-engage towards a negotiated, peaceful settlement," he said.

The two-state solution is widely regarded as a way to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which has been going on for decades. Enditem
Former DGP Bihar Gupteshwar Pandey to join Nitish Kumar's JDU today

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Patna, Sep 27: Former Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey, who recently took VRS, is all set to join Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United) today, ahead of Bihar Assembly elections 2020.

Bihar Polls 2020: Former Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey joins JD(U)|Oneindia News

Pandey had hit the headlines recently for his vocal condemnation of the non-cooperation meted out to the Bihar police team that had visited Mumbai to probe the death by suicide of Patna-born actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

Step closer to politics? Ex-Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey meets Nitish Kumar

Earlier on Saturday, Pandey met Chief Minister Nitish Kumar here on Saturday, lending credence to speculations that the IPS officers sudden move of taking VRS was propelled by the intention to join politics.

Pandey, who stepped down as the state police chief less than a week ago, however, insisted that he had walked down to the state headquarters of the JD(U), headed by thw Chief Minister, to "thank" Kumar for the trust reposed in him by the latter.

"I discussed nothing political with the Chief Minister. I have worked with him for long and, after retirement, I just wanted to thank him for his support. If and when I decide to join any political party, I will make it known to all, Pandey told a posse of journalists waiting outside the JD(U) office at Birchand Patel Marg.

Although the IPS officer, who took VRS less than half a year before he was scheduled to superannuate, has chosen to keep his cards close to the rest, the grapevine has it that he is all set to join the JD(U) and get a ticket from one of the assembly segments in his native district of Buxar.

Reports in a section of the media also say that Pandey might be considered for the Valmiki Nagar Lok Sabha seat where a by-poll has been necessitated by the death of sitting JD(U) MP Baidyanath Mahto.

The JD(U) draws its support, largely, from among non-Yadav OBCs and Pasmanda Muslims. The party hopes that with the induction of Pandey it may be able to reach out to the Brahmins, traditionally supporters of the Congress who have gravitated towards the BJP of late.

With a candour that is usually not associated with bureaucrats, Pandey had lashed out at the municipal authourities in Mumbai when they had forcibly quarantined Vinay Tiwari, a young IPS officer from Patna who heading the investigating team until the probe was handed over to the CBI upon a request to the effect from the deceased actors father.

If public wants I may enter politics: Ex-Bihar DGP Pandey

Pandeys comment, while he was still the DGP, that actress Rhea Chakraborty accused of abetment to suicide by Rajputs father did not have the aukaat (standing) to make any snide remarks against Nitish Kumar was also much talked about.

The Shiv Sena, which heads the ruling coalition in Maharashtra, had accused Pandey of acting as a political pawn of the ruling dispensation in Bihar ahead of the assembly elections. Shiv Sena spokesman Sanjay Raut on the former DGP''s VRS said,he was running a political agenda with his statements on the Mumbai case and now he is going to receive his award.

Maharashtra Home minister and NCP leader Anil Deshmukh Friday said that Pandey''s quitting the job confirmed his doubts that in Rajput''s death case he was making comments not as a DGP but as a BJP leader. Pandey has earlier brushed aside criticism from the Shiv Sena, saying "they keep saying many things, I don''t give much credence to it."

Pandey had resigned from service in 2009 to contest the Lok Sabha elections held that year. His resignation letter was, however, intriguingly not forwarded and he was reinstated into service a few months later. Earlier, on Tuesday, decks seemed to have been cleared for Pandeys future move as his application for VRS received an expeditious approval from Governor Fagu Chauhan and an exception was made in his case with the waiver of a mandatory three-montlong cooling off period for government servants.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 16:12:40|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of young Chinese and U.S. musicians held a virtual concert on Saturday to celebrate China's traditional Mid-Autumn Festival.

The about two-hour event, live streamed on YouTube Saturday evening, is part of the online celebration week hosted by the Chinese embassy in the United States to mark the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on Oct. 1 this year, coinciding with China's National Day.

"Each of tonight's programs will be jointly completed by Chinese and American musicians. This kind of East-West cultural fusion makes this concert an impressionist painting of ink, elegant and full of color changes," Bo Gao, who has just received his doctoral degree in piano performance at the Catholic University of America (CUA), told Xinhua before the concert started.

"It's a good occasion for Chinese students to express their yearning for the homeland, and American friends to show their appreciation about Chinese culture," said Gao, who helped put together the concert since mid-July. "Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it's also a nice opportunity for us to continue with what we love."

In addition to Gao's peers and teachers from CUA, the event also featured music students and professors from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, Northern Texas University, Duke University, Manhattan School of Music, Shenandoah University and University of Rochester.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is generally regarded as one of the most important traditional festivals in China and falls on the 15th day of the eighth month on the Chinese lunar calendar. Enditem
A Quebec author acquitted last week of child pornography charges in connection with passages in a horror novel says he  and fiction writers across the country  can breathe again.

Its as if a huge weight has just come off my shoulders ... I felt emotions that I hadnt felt for a long time, said Yvan Godbout.

He was charged last year with producing child pornography over sections of his 2017 book Hansel et Gretel that include scenes of sexual abuse of the brother and sister as children.

On Thursday, Quebec Superior Court Justice Marc-Andre Blanchard ruled that certain articles of Canadas child pornography laws cast too wide a net, targeting works of literature that dont endorse or promote pedophilia.

Authors and creators will be able to breathe a little more and not feel like they have the sword of Damocles hanging over them, Godbout said in a phone interview.

Despite the relief, he said the anxiety of the past year-and-a-half still clings to him and his family, along with the attendant social stigma and financial toll.

I have lost contacts ... friends, said Godbout, who is in his early 50s.

He recalled the day of his 6 a.m. arrest in his bedroom in Quebec City in March 2019 as a total shock to him and his partner.

I was completely naked. I had to go to the washroom, still nude, and the police stayed in the bathroom with me. It was a kind of nightmare.

Godbout opted to sleep in the basement for two to three months afterward, unable to relive the trauma that played itself over in his head when he entered the bedroom.

His editor Francois Doucet, who was acquitted of charges of distributing child pornography, said the court victory was bittersweet.

Its completely abhorrent to be accused without proof, said Doucet, 63.

He has received death threats by email and social media. Initially one of his sons was mistaken for Doucet and arrested and handcuffed when his father was out of the country, Doucet said.

I have another of my sons who tried to kill himself.

The publishing house Doucet founded in 1992, Editions AdA, has collapsed, causing enormous financial difficulties.

Supermarkets took out my books. We produced 350 books a year ... but we had to sell our land, our buildings, he said.

More than 40 employees lost their jobs.

I wonder how much the federal and provincial prosecutors have read the Marquis de Sade, he said.

Editions AdA published Godbouts novel as part of its series Contes interdits  Forbidden Tales  which recasts classic fairy tales as horror stories.

Godbout had argued that the author of a fictional horror novel that neither advocates nor counsels pedophilia should not see his freedom of expression restricted through criminal charges that carry a devastating social stigma.

He also argued that there is no evidence to show that such written works of fiction cause any harm to children.

At trial, Quebecs attorney general acknowledged a violation of Godbouts freedom of expression but argued it was justified in order to protect societys youngest and most vulnerable. All material depicting sexual acts with children is harmful, it was argued.

In a 55-page decision, Blanchard largely sided with Godbout.

While sexual material involving minors is clearly harmful, the court believes we must distinguish between material that exposes a tangible reality, videos or photos or even drawings, from literary fiction, he wrote.

Blanchard noted the law was broadened in 2005 to include not just material that advocates for or encourages pedophilia, but any description of sexual acts with children, as long as the description is a dominant characteristic of the work of fiction and is done with a sexual purpose.

By that definition, the judge noted, some victims of sexual assault could not legally speak out about their experiences.

Blanchard said the expanded law effectively rendered illegal an overly wide swath of literature, unduly limiting freedom of expression.

The province has 30 days to appeal the decision.

Godbout said he plans to start repairing his life before thinking about exercising his artistic freedom or seeking damages.

For the moment, Im going to focus on my family and me, he said.

I was injured, but there is incredible and almost irreparable damage to my loved ones.

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It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

Im talking about the 1960s.

I realize that two-thirds of the people alive today were not yet born and to them the 1960s is ancient history.

But a lot of commentators have been comparing this year to the worst of the 1960s, so lets take a look back.

Throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s, whites stood in the schoolhouse door as Blacks fought for their children to go to the schools their taxes were paying for until the federal government sent in the National Guard to safely escort them past screaming (though well-dressed and perfectly coifed) white mobs.

Blacks and whites peacefully and bravely rode public buses in the South throughout 1961  the freedom riders  to desegregate public transportation. Whites firebombed some of the buses and savagely beat the riders.

Whites killed four little girls at a Birmingham church. They lynched 14-year-old Edmund Till and thousands of others. They murdered three young men, Goodman, Cheney and Schwerner, and Medgar Evers, Viola Liuzzo and many others who fought for the right of Black citizens to vote.

Throughout the 1960s, Blacks staging nonviolent protests were bludgeoned, jailed and killed by police, and faced fire hoses and police dogs. If only they had demonstrated peacefully, right?

Whites fled the cities by the millions for fear they might have to live next door to a black family, and schools that were integrated by law soon became resegregated by housing patterns.

White people were terrified by the sight of Black men  the Black Panthers  exercising their Second Amendment rights to walk around with guns in public. Today it is white supremacists who walk around with far greater firepower and who carry out more terrorist acts by far than any other group in the United States.

President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on Nov. 22, 1963, the most horrific and memorable event those of us then alive ever experienced. Even with the help of todays social media, QAnon cant even come close to matching the endless conspiracy theories that arose from that event.

As the 60s progressed we waded deeper and deeper into the quagmire that was the Vietnam War until by 1969-1970 we sometimes had weeks where 300 of our brothers, fathers and husbands were coming home in body bags.

In April 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated by a white supremacist fanatic, sparking riots in 146 American cities. Dozens of square blocks burned in some cities, and hundreds of people were killed, most by police and the National Guard.

Three months later, Bobby Kennedy was assassinated by a Palestinian Christian, Sirhan Sirhan, for reasons even he cannot articulate today, ending our chance to elect a president who would have brought the war to an end.

In August 1968, we had a riot at the Democratic National Convention caused by police breaking up a peaceful anti-war protest in Lincoln Park by savagely beating the protesters with batons but leaving them no avenue of escape.

Republican Richard Nixon, who ran on a law-and-order platform and had a secret plan to win the Vietnam war, was elected president by a narrow margin that November. His margin would have been much higher if a white segregationist, Alabama Gov. George Wallace, had not carried five Deep South states.

And so we trudged on into the 1970s.

On May 4, 1970, the National Guard killed four students and wounded nine at Kent State University.

Four days after Kent State, National Guardsmen bayoneted  bayoneted, let that sink in  11 student protesters at the University of New Mexico. On May 14, police killed two and wounded 12 black students at Jackson State University in Mississippi.

Left wing and Black violence escalated, fueled by frustration. The Weather Underground planted bombs and some Black Panthers killed or were killed by police.

It seems like only the violence on the left is remembered and feared now, not the violence of the segregationists and right wing establishment that sought for so long to keep Blacks in their place and send the young off to be cannon fodder in a meaningless war.

In 1972, we re-elected Nixon, who had to resign two years later for having sent a group of thugs to burglarize the National Democratic Committee headquarters in the Watergate Hotel. (Long story.)

Ever since then the two political parties have torn at each other like wolves.

But the 1960s were the best of times too. The Civil Rights movement succeeded in dismantling Jim Crow and Blacks gained the right to vote for real (much of which is being eroded now).

Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (which incidentally granted substantial education and employment rights to women as well) and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Lyndon Johnsons Great Society anti-poverty programs  Legal Aid, Head Start, government-funded health clinics and hospitals  helped lift millions of citizens out of poverty.

We had the Beatles and Elvis, Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Woodstock, Mustangs, Corvettes, air conditioning, transistor radios and color TV. There were plenty of jobs for college graduates. We went to the moon!

Women gained the right to control their own bodies first with access to contraceptives and later legal abortion. We didnt get the ERA amendment adopted, which honestly seemed like a no-brainer, and we still dont have it.

We are being frightened by many of the same bogeymen today, but heres how we differ from the 1960s:

Minorities are not going to overrun the white suburbs (some have long resided there, taking advantage of the same good schools and safe neighborhoods as whites), violent crime is not nearly as high in the cities as it was 20, 30 or 40 years ago.

Blacks are still severely held down economically, educationally and geographically, but the racism has become more granular and harder to see. Why couldnt Colin Kaepernick just protest peacefully somewhere where no one could see him!

Ninety-three percent of the protests over the recent police killings of unarmed Black men have been peaceful and the violence that occurred doesnt even come close to the rioting of the 1960s.

America is not going to turn into the Soviet Union if Joe Biden is elected. We are already a socialist society, or doesnt Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act count? Dont those $1,200 stimulus checks, government-ordered rent moratoriums and an extra $600 a week in unemployment count?

By reducing the payroll tax and promising to make the cuts permanent, President Donald Trump is threatening to kill Social Security and Medicare for good. The Republicans have tried repeatedly to kill the ACA without offering anything in its place.

If thats what you want because you are so scared of socialism, go for it, but what are you going to do when you are sick or old, with no jobs, no pensions and no health insurance?

And yes, we have a killer pandemic that has killed 200,000, and ravaged our economy, our educational institutions and our mental health. We dont know how or when that will end but we do know our current government has done little or nothing to control it.

Worse, climate change is crashing down on us. Forest fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, continentwide snowstorms. Its here, its devastating both physically and economically and its not going away.

Think carefully about this history and these problems as you go to the polls and choose our leaders.

Jodine Mayberry is a former columnist for the Daily Times.
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The easiest part of my job as a psychologist is science. Neurology, biochemistry and psychopharmacology. But in my experience lifes greatest heartaches are not biological but spiritual.

Life is hard.

As the Apostle Paul wrote, Our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against thespiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12) Paul states the real battle is spiritual. The attack on our personal identity with God, the erosion of self-worth and the spiritual depression it causes in our life.

How erosive is sin? What is its impact? How does it affect the mind and body?

Imagine King David came to me for a psychological evaluation during one of his periods of depression. If we use Palms 38 as Davids reason for coming to my office, my clinical notes would look something like this:

Dr. Zuccolotto: Hi King David. Can you tell me why you are here today?

King David: I am full of anxiety because of my sin.

Dr. Zuccolotto: What about depression or feelings of sadness?

King David: Yes. Gods hand has come down on me. It is almost too heavy to bear.

Dr. Zuccolotto: How are your energy levels? Any tiredness or lethargy?

King David: Its bad. It feels like there is no health in my body and my strength has failed me.

Dr. Zuccolotto: Any problems with guilt?

King David: Its crushing me! It feels like wounds that are festering.

Dr. Zuccolotto: What about other people in your life? Any feelings of humiliation?

King David: Definitely. I feel bowed down and lower than anyone around me. As a matter of fact my friends avoid me because of this problem.

Dr. Zuccolotto: Any physical symptoms?

King David: Like I said, I dont feel healthy in my body and my back is filled with pain.

Dr. Zuccolotto: Any anhedonia?

King David: Whats that?

Dr. Zuccolotto: A feeling of no pleasure in life. Things feel hopeless.

King David: Well, I go about groaning most of the day, feeling feeble and utterly crushed. Its like the light has gone from my eyes. Is that anhedonia?

Dr. Zuccolotto: Thats a yes.

DIAGNOSIS: Depression

What was the cause?

King David was decisive: It is because of my sin.

What can we learn from Davids experience of spiritual depression?

First, Davids depression wasnt an isolated event. The psalms chronicle a long journey of King Davids highs and lows. Cycles of sin, anxiety and depression are a common theme. Lifes isnt easy, even for the King of Israel and man after Gods own heart.

But whose to blame?

David acknowledged and accepted that he was the problem. He made no attempts to minimize or rationalize his guilt:

I have become like one whose mouth can offer no reply. (Psalm 38: 13-14)

And yet, King David did reply, I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin. (Psalm 38:18)

The contrast highlights Davids spiritual poverty verses Gods sufficiency. A mouth with no reply acknowledges the incapacity for self-forgiveness. Instead, confession reaches out to God knowing He has the power to heal.

But confession is not simply a judicial process of judgment. David is not saying, bring on the whips and chains of punishment. Instead David pleads, Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. (Psalm 38:1) David is not denying the discipline of the Lord, but pleading it not be delivered in anger.

Once again David highlights Gods power verses his insufficiency. If God WAS angry who could stand? Self-justification provided no leverage or pathway to God. David wasnt seeking self-worth from personal empowerment or his own ability to forgive himself. Forgiveness and healing came from God.

Davids humility and Gods empowerment is what enabled David to survive his cycles of sin and spiritual depression. It is how he positioned himself and lived transparently before God.

My sighing is not hidden from you, David acknowledged (Psalm 38;15). Transparency and Gods presence was assumed in all aspects of life: King, father, husband, warrior and servant. The thread of Gods grace woven into all aspects of life. The common thread to survive the cycles of sin and depression.

What was the process for King Davids healing? Waiting.

Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God. (Psalm 38:15)

Waiting is the expectation of something and perception of how long before it happens.

In a doctors office you expect to see someone to treat your illness. While in the waiting room your perception can be altered by reading a magazine, diverting the anxiety of the wait.

Davids expectation was Gods grace and forgiveness. While waiting Davids perception was strengthened by meditation on Gods law, prayer, confession, and changes to his life. It was what made waiting possible.

What can we learn from King David about spiritual depression?

Most importantly we must understand the pervasive nature of sin. It is not like a broken leg for an otherwise healthy person, but more like a terminal cancer unless treated. It is one thing to say, I made a mistake. It is another to say, I am a sinner. The former implies the possibility of self-correction, the latter acknowledges the impossibility of life without God.

King David realized that nothing of his own character, wit or strength could solve his spiritual depression. It was God who had to come to him, not Davids strengths and merits to come to God. David did not project his low self-worth and defeat onto God. David never assumed that how he felt about himself was how God felt about David.

That is our greatest challenge. Not only to accept our sinful nature and flawed character without God, but to refrain from projecting our fears and defeat onto him. As the Apostle John wrote, If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts and knows all things, (1 John 3:20) Whereas we might condemn ourselves, God does not operate from our perspective or limitations. God knows and is empowered in all things to restore and love his children.

So how do we handle spiritual depression?

Like King David, we wait.

Wait in Gods word.

Wait in daily prayer, confession and repentance.

Wait while loving one another.

Wait while loving your neighbor as yourself.

Wait with God in all roles of life.

Wait gazing at creation that declares His glory.

Wait for Jesus:

The farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. (James 5:7-8).
- Suna East MP Junet Mohammed said Kenya was ready for a referendum and decried the long wait for the release of the BBI

- Mohammed urged Uhuru and Raila to hasten the release of the report so that Kenyans could read it

- Mwea MP Kabinga Wachira said the handshake and the BBI had brought peace and harmony in the country

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A section of MPs have decried the delayed release of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report and called for the speedy release of the document.

Led by Suna East legislator Junet Mohammed, the lawmakers asked President Uhuru Kenyatta and his handshake companion Raila Odinga to hasten the process of making the document public so that Kenyans could read it.

READ ALSO: Ruto demands respect from Raila, insists hustlers will not be intimidated: "Enough is enough"

Junet Mohammed said Kenya was ready for a referendum. Photo: Junet Mohammed.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Kiambu: OCS declines KSh 689K bribe from suspects caught with 700kg of bhang

Speaking in Migori on Saturday, September 27, the National Assembly minority whip said the sooner the BBI was released the better, so that the country can go to a referendum.

"The report has delayed. We want the President and the former prime minister to hasten the release of the report so that we can read it and go to a referendum," Mohammed said.

"The task force completed the work and BBI will bring Kenyans together. When Kenyans come together, they become very strong," another MP added.

READ ALSO: Diana Marua gifts pregnant nanny costly phone, baby clothes during last day at work

Junet said Raila and Uhuru should release the BBI for Kenyans to read. Photo: State House.

Source: Facebook

On his part, Mwea MP Kabinga Wachira said though many did not realise the importance of the BBI and the handshake, they brought peace and harmony in the country and added that was why he was in Migori despite being from Mt Kenya.

The BBI was the highlight of the handshake between Uhuru and Raila and was formulated to solve some of the challenges that have bedeviled Kenya since independence.

Despite the hype towards the report, a week ago, Economist David Ndii and four other Kenyans moved to court to challenge the reforms in the BBI.

READ ALSO: Diamond, Vanessa Mdee's sister spotted having fun in a pool days after he professed love for her

Ndii, among four others, challenged the BBI in court. Photo: David Ndii.

Source: UGC

Ndii, Jerotich Seii, James Ngondi, Wanjiku Gikonyo and Ikal Angelei filed a petition challenging the move to amend the 2010 Constitution.

Ndii said they would challenge the limits of Constitutional amendments and other clauses within the Kenyan laws.

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My car broke my family - Kenneth Saota | Tuko TV.

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The Armenian armed forces committed large-scale military provocations on the frontline today, Azerbaijani President and Commander-in-Chief of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev addressed the nation in this regard this morning.

"Armenian armed forces fired on our settlements, as well as our military positions, from several directions this morning, using various types of weaponry, including heavy artillery," the president said. "As a result of the enemy fire, there are casualties among the civilian population and our servicemen. Some people have been wounded."

"The Azerbaijani Army is currently firing on Armenia's military positions, and as a result of these strikes, many units of the enemy's military equipment have been destroyed. This is another manifestation of Armenian fascism."

The president further said that Armenia plans to occupy Azerbaijani lands and does not conceal that. "Their military-political leadership tried to threaten Azerbaijan with a new occupation, a new policy of occupation for new territories  this is the policy of Armenias military-political leadership today,

Another reason is to distract the population from the very serious social and economic problems in Armenia and portray Azerbaijan as an enemy. Yet another reason is that Armenia is doing everything possible to disrupt the negotiations, and I can say that it has succeeded in doing that. It is as a result of Armenia's hypocritical, unconstructive and false policy that the negotiations have actually stopped and this provocation is aimed at these goals," Aliyev said.

The president also said that Azerbaijan has no military targets in Armenia.

Armenia's military provocations against Azerbaijan have become regular of late. In July, our servicemen and a civilian were killed as a result of artillery fire in the direction of Tovuz on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. It is no secret that the first fire, including artillery fire, was opened by Armenia, and the first victims were Azerbaijani servicemen. Azerbaijan gave a fitting rebuff to the enemy and they could not move an inch forward. The enemy was stopped and the territorial integrity of our country was protected. As a result of the crushing blows, the Armenian side was forced to accept a bitter defeat. I have said this and I want to say again that if we had wanted, we could have conducted military battles on the territory of Armenia. However, we do not have military targets in Armenia, and this being the case, a ceasefire was introduced a few days later.

Armenian armed forced opened fire on our settlements, as well as our military positions, from several directions this morning, using various types of weaponry, including heavy artillery. As a result of the enemy fire, there are casualties among the civilian population and our servicemen. Some people have been wounded. May God rest our martyrs in peace! Their blood will not remain unavenged," said the statement.

"The Azerbaijani army is currently firing at the enemy's military positions, and as a result of these strikes, many units of the enemy's military equipment have been destroyed," the statement said.

The statement also said that this recent provocation is another manifestation of Armenian fascism.

The president also stressed that Armenia plans to occupy Azerbaijani lands and does not hide it.

"Their military-political leadership tried to threaten Azerbaijan with a new occupation, a new policy of occupation for new territories  this is the policy of Armenias military-political leadership today, President Aliyev said.

Another reason is to distract the population from the very serious social and economic problems in Armenia and portray Azerbaijan as an enemy," said the president.

"Yet another reason is that Armenia is doing everything possible to disrupt the negotiations, and I can say that it has succeeded in doing so. It is as a result of Armenia's hypocritical, unconstructive and false policy that the negotiations have actually stopped, President Aliyev said.

Armenia has received their punishment this time again and will continue to receive it, Aliyev said.

In July, Azerbaijan gave a fitting response to the enemy, preserved its territorial integrity, and once again showed that anyone speaking to Azerbaijan in the language of threats will regret doing that. Unfortunately, this was not a lesson for them. However, after July provocation, I said that this bitter defeat by Armenia should be a lesson for them. In August, Armenia launched yet another military provocation. This time a sabotage group was sent to Azerbaijan. The head of the sabotage group was detained by the Azerbaijani military and is currently giving evidence. His statements clearly show that this sabotage group came to Azerbaijan with a plan to commit acts of terror. Another military provocation against the civilian population and our servicemen was committed by Armenia today and, as I said, they have received their punishment this time again and will continue to receive it, the head of state said.

"We are on the right path, ours is the cause of justice, we will win, Karabakh is ours, Karabakh is Azerbaijan."

Azerbaijan has not resorted to any provocation. Azerbaijan simply defends its interests, supports its position, and pursues its policy openly. We have repeatedly stated that Nagorno-Karabakh is the historical and ancient land of Azerbaijan, and this is true. When the prime minister of Armenia says that Karabakh is Armenia, it is a lie. When I say that Karabakh is Azerbaijan, it is true.

The whole world recognizes Nagorno-Karabakh as an integral part of Azerbaijan. Historical justice is on our side. Because it is our native land, our ancestral land. International law is on our side. All international organizations recognize the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. All countries recognize the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Decisions and resolutions adopted within international organizations explicitly state that Nagorno-Karabakh belongs to Azerbaijan.

Four UN Security Council resolutions call for an immediate, full, and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian forces from the occupied territories. These resolutions have been on paper for almost 30 years. Negotiations within the Minsk Group have been going on for almost 30 years and, as a result, Armenia has paralyzed the negotiations by regularly committing military provocations.

Besides the United Nations, all other leading international organizations support our rightful position. The Non-Aligned Movement is the second largest international institution after the United Nations, and it is currently chaired by Azerbaijan. It has adopted a fair resolution on the conflict. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation has adopted fair resolutions. The decisions of the OSCE and the resolutions of the European Parliament support our position. Our position is based on international law and justice.

We are fighting on our own land. Today, the Azerbaijani Army is dealing crushing blows to the enemy on Azerbaijani soil. Today, the Azerbaijani Army protects the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan on its territory. What are Armenian soldiers doing in our lands?! What is the Armenian army doing in our lands?! It is no secret that 90 percent of the personnel in the Nagorno-Karabakh army are Armenian citizens. Armenia is an occupying state, this occupation must and will end. We are on the right path! Ours is the cause of justice! We will win! Karabakh is ours! Karabakh is Azerbaijan! the head of state said.

The president stressed that Azerbaijan will never negotiate with the puppet junta regime.

Armenia's provocations are also reflected in the statements made by the Armenian leadership. A year ago, the Armenian prime minister said in the occupied territories, in Khankandi, that Karabakh is Armenia, full stop. First of all, it is a lie, Karabakh is Azerbaijan, and I have repeatedly expressed my views on this issue. Karabakh is Azerbaijan, an exclamation mark! Secondly, this provocative statement was in fact a major blow to the negotiations. If the prime minister of Armenia says that Karabakh is Armenia, then what kind of talks can there be?! At the same time, the Armenian leadership has been repeatedly stating for two years that Azerbaijan should negotiate not with Armenia, but with the so-called Nagorno-Karabakh republic. This is a big blow to the negotiation process. First of all, Azerbaijan will never negotiate with the puppet junta regime. Secondly, attempts to change the format of talks show once again that Armenia's main goal is to disrupt the talks and maintain the status quo. However, the heads of state of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs have repeatedly stated that the status quo is unacceptable, which means that the occupation must end, the head of state said.

President Ilham Aliyev noted that Armenia's provocations against us do not end at that.

Armenia's provocations against us do not end at that. Recently, the swearing-in ceremony of the head of the so-called criminal junta was held in Shusha, an ancient city of our ancient Azerbaijan. Isn't this a provocation? This is an insult to us. They thought that we would put up with this insult. They are deliberately provoking us and they will see the bitter consequences. Recently, a decision was made by the so-called parliament of the Nagorno-Karabakh republic to settle people in the ancient Azerbaijani city of Shusha. This is another provocation. Recently, the prime minister of Armenia announced that voluntary military units would be established, bringing together tens of thousands of people. Why is this necessary? Who will they fight against? This was part of the preparations for today's provocation against Azerbaijan. I have said several times, including from the UN platform recently, that Armenia is preparing for a new war, and Armenia must and will be stopped, the head of state said.

Recently, a decision was made by the so-called parliament of the Nagorno-Karabakh republic to settle people in the ancient Azerbaijani city of Shusha, Aliyev noted.

This is another provocation. Recently, the prime minister of Armenia announced that voluntary military units would be established, bringing together tens of thousands of people. Why is this necessary? Who will they fight against? This was part of the preparations for today's provocation against Azerbaijan. I have said several times, including from the UN platform recently, that Armenia is preparing for a new war, and Armenia must and will be stopped, the head of state said.
Youve seen the ads. But youre not sure what any of these California ballot measures actually do.

Fear not! Heres a handy, simple guide to each of the 12 propositions on the California ballot for the November general election. From affirmative action to overturning the highly controversial gig worker bill (AB-5), there are plenty of significant measures California residents will be voting on this fall. This guide is broken into three categories: 1. The big ones that interest groups are dumping millions of advertising dollars into, 2. The criminal justice ones, and 3. The rest.

The big ones

Proposition 16

What it does: Allows the state and its public universities to discriminate or grant preferential treatment based on race, sex, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, education, or contracting.

Major players for it: The University of California Board of Regents, Sens. Kamala Harris and Dianne Feinstein, and various Black Lives Matter-related advocacy groups.

Major players against it: A number of Asian American groups and Republicans in the California state Assembly.

Recent polling: 31% support, 47% oppose, 22% undecided (PPIC poll, Sept. 4-Sept 13.)

Links to learn more:

Proposition 15

What it does: Raises funds for schools and local governments by requiring commercial and industrial properties with more than $3 million in holdings to be taxed based on market value as opposed to purchase price. Does not impact homeowners.

Major players for it: Gov. Gavin Newsom, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, and the California Teachers Association.

Major players against it: California Chamber of Commerce, California Small Business Association and several taxpayers groups.

Recent polling: 51% support, 40% oppose, 9% undecided (PPIC poll, Sept. 4-Sept 13.)

Links to learn more:

Proposition 22

What it does: Classifies app-based drivers as independent contractors and not employees, which effectively kneecaps AB5.

Major players for it: Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and other similar services.

Major players against it: Sen. Kamala Harris, Attorney General Xavier Becerra, and several state Assembly Democrats.

Recent polling: 41% support, 26% oppose, 34% undecided (Redfield and Wilton poll, Aug. 9)

Links to learn more:

Proposition 21

What it does: Allows local governments to enact rent control on housing that was first occupied over 15 years ago.

Major players for it: Sen. Bernie Sanders, Democratic Socialists of America, Los Angeles chapter and various tenants groups.

Major players against it: Gov. Gavin Newsom, California Apartment Association and construction workers unions.

Recent polling: N/A

Links to learn more:

Opponents of rent control initiative say Prop. 21 backers violated Stolen Valor Act in ad (San Diego Union Tribune)

The criminal justice ones

Proposition 25

What it does: Eliminates cash bail and gives judges the ability to determine whether a defendant should be released prior to a trial.

Major players for it: Gov. Gavin Newsom, several congressional Democrats and civil liberties groups.

Major players against it: Orange County Board of Supervisors and several groups affiliated with the bail bonds industry.

Recent polling: 39% support, 32% oppose, 29% undecided (UC Berkeley Institute of Government Studies poll, Sept. 13-Sept.18)

Links to learn more:

Proposition 17

What it does: Restores voting rights to people with felony convictions who have been released from prison but remain on parole.

Major players for it: Sen. Kamala Harris, the ACLU of California and many state Assembly Democrats.

Major players against it: State Sen. Jim Nielsen (R-4) and the Election Integrity Project California.

Recent polling: N/A

Links to learn more:

LA County supervisors support proposition restoring voting rights to those on parole (CBS Los Angeles)

Proposition 20

What it does: Adds several crimes to the list of violent felonies for which early parole is restricted. Would undo a series of reforms enacted between 2011 and 2016 aimed at reducing the states prison population.

Major players for it: Assemblyman Jim Cooper (D-9) and multiple law-enforcement-affiliated groups.

Major players against it: Former Gov. Jerry Brown, the ACLU of California and several criminal justice reform advocacy groups.

Recent polling: N/A

Links to learn more:

The rest

Proposition 19

What it does: Allows homeowners over the age of 55, disabled or victims of a natural disaster to take existing, lower property tax rates to new homes anywhere in the state.

Major players for it: California Realtors Association, California Professional Firefighters and several local real estate groups.

Major players against it: Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

Recent polling: N/A

Links to learn more:

Proposition 24

What it does: Expands the states consumer data privacy laws by creating a new state agency to enforce privacy laws, empowering consumers to order that businesses not sell their personal information, and increasing financial penalties on those who violate privacy laws.

Major players for it: Former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang and several online privacy groups.

Major players against it: ACLU of California and the Consumer Federation of California.

Recent polling: N/A

Links to learn more:

Proposition 18

What it does: Allows 17-year-old Californians who will be 18 by the following general election to vote in primaries and special elections.

Major players for it: California Secretary of State Alex Padilla and Assembyman Kevin Mullin (D-22).

Major players against it: The Election Integrity Project California.

Recent polling: N/A

Links to learn more:

Proposition 14

What it does: Issues $5.5 billion in general obligation bonds for the states stem cell research institute.

Major players for it: Californians for Stem Cell Research, Treatments & Cures and the University of California Board of Regents.

Major players against it: The Center for Genetics and Society

Recent polling: N/A

Link to learn more:

Proposition 23

What it does: Places several new regulations on dialysis clinics, including requiring an on-site physician, mandating increased reporting of dialysis-related infections, and not allowing clinics to close before obtaining consent from the state health department.

Major players for it: Californians for Kidney Dialysis Patient Protection

Major players against it: American Legion, California Medical Association and several veterans and health groups.

Recent polling: N/A

Link to learn more:

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Private passenger jets sit on the tarmac at Geneva International Airport in Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday, March 13, 2020.

Swiss voters rejected by a 63-37% margin a right-wing party's proposal to annul a pact with the European Union allowing the free movement of people, broadcaster SRF projected on Sunday.

Opinion polls had found most voters opposed the plan, which would have given non-EU member Switzerland unilateral control of immigration but severely disrupted ties with the EU, the country's biggest trading partner.
Covid-19 has put a halt to all our travel plans this year. While you may not be in the mood to book a flight ticket and go around the world, you can definitely travel virtually. This World Tourism Day, we pick out five shows you can watch on Discovery Plus that will rekindle the wanderlust in you:



1. Travel with Levison Wood

Join Levison Wood on his journey as he explores various parts of the world in his thrilling shows. In Arabia with Levison Wood, he sets out to learn what Arabia means today, takes an epic journey around Caucasus in From Russia to Iran: Crossing The Wild Frontier, walks the Nile from its source to the sea in Walking the Nile, walks over 1800 miles across Central America in Walking the Americas and sets out to hike the length of the Himalayas in Walking the Himalayas.



2. The Great Indian World Trip

Ever heard of a perfect road trip? Watch The Great Indian World Trip where two Indian road trippers drive 90,000 km across 6 continents, 50 countries. The 10-episode series showcases Tushar and Sanjay traveling across Asia, Australia, The Americas, Africa and Europe as they take the viewers through tourist attractions, discover distant lands, explore exotic locales and meet new people from around the world.



3. Expedition Asia with Ryan Pyle

Go on an adventure tour with explorer Ryan Pyle as he sets out to explore some of the very best adventure destinations that Asia has to offer, in the exciting series Expedition Asia with Ryan Pyle. Join him as he sets off on a journey to the Jagatsukh Peak through the Himalayas, starting from the beautiful town of Manali.



4. Joanna Lumleys India

Visit some of the most picturesque places of India through the eyes of the British actress Joanna Lumley as she returns to the country of her birth, India, for a deeply personal journey. She witnesses religious ceremonies in glorious temples, travels to the Himalayas, meets Dalai Lama and explores Rajasthan, Delhi and her birthplace Kashmir in Joanna Lumleys India.

5. Bert the Conqueror

Travel is incomplete without some fun and games. Join Big Kid Bert Kriescher as he dives into Americas most hilarious funs and games at various locations including Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sanduscky, Ohio, travels to Massachusetts for one-of-a-kind extreme rides, gets down and dirty ATV-racing in the mud at the Buddy Run in Texas and many more such fun activities on Bert the Conqueror 6. Mediterranean LifeDive deep into the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea as potential homeowners search for houses along the Mediterranean Sea, in the series Mediterranean Life. Crystal-clear waters, beautiful beaches, old-world charm and breath-taking vistas; life is spectacular along the Mediterraneans coveted coasts. 7. Bahamas LifeTravel across The Bahamas and gaze in awe at the cleanest water on the planet, as home seekers take a break from city life to find a Bahamian dream retreat, in the series Bahamas Life.
Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic leaving around four lakh global seafarers, including thousands of Indians, stranded on ships, India's oldest union of merchant navy officers MUI has collaborated with the to assist these sailors.

The Crisis Action Team (SCAT) has been established by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), a specialised UN agency and a global standard-setting authority of safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has put around the world in precarious situations... Some 4 lakh from across the globe, including thousands of Indian seafarers, are now stranded on ships and continuing to work but unable to be relieved in a deepening crew change crisis which threatens trade and maritime safety," said the Maritime Union of India (MUI).

Travel restrictions mean some cannot leave their ships or be repatriated home, or even get urgent medical assistance, it said and added that others have seen their contracts unilaterally terminated or have been quarantined on board ships for more than 14 days, without getting paid.

Despite multiple pleas to governments across the globe to designate seafarers as essential key workers and to facilitate their travel, the number of seafarers whose contracts have been extended by several months has continued to increase, the MUI added.

"Some seafarers have now been at sea for around 18 months without a break, well beyond the 11-month limit set out in the Maritime Labour Convention. Besides, the four lakh seafarers stuck at sea, another four lakh are unable to join ships," it said.

The body said that under the circumstances, India's oldest union of merchant navy officers has announced to "collaborate with the UN to help resolve individual cases of Indian seafarers through SCAT established by the IMO".

"Over 37,000 seafaring members of MUI will fortunately get benefitted by the UN's SCAT mechanism as our Union is affiliated to London-headquartered International Transport Workers' Federation which closely works with the IMO," Amar Singh Thakur, General Secretary, MUI, told PTI.

Thakur added: "Apart from providing assistance to the Indian seafarers under IMO's SCAT mechanism, MUI will also closely liaise with the Ministry of Shipping of India and Indian embassies and consulates across the globe for offering assistance to Indian seafarers during difficult times."



Expressing serious concerns over some seafarers stuck at sea for about 18 months without a break, Thakur said this threatens the fundamentals of ship safety standards which the IMO has worked to develop for the past six decades.

"Overly tired and mentally exhausted seafarers are being asked to continue to work aboard over 60,000 cargo ships across the globe. The safety of navigation is in peril unfortunately," Thakur emphasised.

In the prevailing scenario, the MUI through SCAT mechanism will provide round-the-clock advice, counselling and assistance to Indian seafarers and their family members, 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.)
State-owned thermal power major



Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) will focus only on to add capacity, a top official said.

It has already mooted 1776-MW floating in four of its dams in West Bengal and Jharkhand, the two states that jointly own the corporation along with the Union government.

DVC has finalised a 50-MW solar project at Panchet (West Bengal), the tender for which has been floated, he said.

"We will execute 1776-MW floating solar plants in the four dams of Maithon, Tilaya, Konar and Panchet. The project will be executed in three phases and the first will be of 50MW," DVC member secretary Prabir Kumar Mukhopadhyay told PTI.

He said the company has zeroed in on the L1 bidder for the Panchet project and the work order will be finalised in early October.

The feasibility study of the solar projects, which are likely to utilise about 15 per cent of their capacities, was carried out by the Solar Energy Corporation of India.

Mukhopadhyay said the corporation has large tracts of land and in the last two years, it had retired old thermal capacities to the tune of 840 MW at Bokaro, Chandrapura and Durgapur.

DVC now has about 7,000 MW of thermal capacity.

The corporation is also concerned about the spares of the 1,200-MW thermal power plant at Raghunathpur in Purulia district of West Bengal, as supply of its parts come from Shanghai Electric Corporation in China.

The Indian Army and the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) have been locked in a tense standoff in multiple areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh since early May.

"We are concerned about maintenance of spares, which iscritical for running the plant. Clarification has been sought as to whether we can import from China," Mukhopadhyay said.

Indigenisation of critical spares will take at least two years, company officials 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.)
Rajnandgaon: A sniffer dog of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) specially-trained to be engaged in the bomb disposal squad successfully detected an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) allegedly planted by suspected Maoists in Chhattisgarh`s Rajnandgaon district on Sunday (September 27, 2020).

Taking to microblogging site Twitter ITBP shared a post confirming the bravery by sniffer dog 'Sophia'. The canine sniffed out the explosive planted in an under-construction road thus saving several lives of her colleagues and people involved in the road construction site.

The tweet read: "Dog Malinois  Sophia also known as 'Shiksha' sniffs the explosive. The 40th Battalion ITBP unearthed an IED weighing 7 kg on an under construction road link between Bega Salewara to Samudpani in Bakarkatta, District Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh today. The IED was later destroyed. #Himveers."

Dog Malinois  Sophia also known as  sniffs the explosive. 40th Battalion ITBP unearthed an IED weighing 7 KG on an under construction road link between Bega Salewara to Samudpani in Bakarkatta, District Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh today. The IED was later destroyed#Himveers pic.twitter.com/QcvxqugocP  ITBP (@ITBP_official) September 27, 2020

Sophia foiled the possible explosion by detecting the IED which waasplanted on the under-construction road between Bega Salewara to Samudpani near Pandaripani village of Rajnandgaon district.

Live TV

The dog was on a search and combing operation when she alerted her colleagues about the IED which was later destroyed by the ITBP personnel on the spot, the paramilitary force said.

According to sources, had the IED not been detected early in the morning, the rebels would have triggered it later in the day, inflicting heavy casualties on paramilitary personnel and equipment.
Houston ISD continued its strong showing in the prestigious National Blue Ribbons Schools competition by earning three awards this year, while Spring ISD celebrated its first award in nearly three decades, the U.S. Department of Education announced this week.

The four Houston-area schools were among the 362 campuses honored nationwide in the annual competition that spotlight schools with strong overall performance and success in closing achievement gaps.

In HISD, a trio of campuses earned their first Blue Ribbon: High School for Law and Justice, Memorial Elementary School and Young Womens College Preparatory Academy. HISD has scored at least one award in each of the past seven years.

In Spring, Edward Roberson Middle School became the districts first Blue Ribbon honoree since 1993, when Spring High School notched an award. The recognition came 11 years after Roberson debuted as one of the districts first schools of choice.

Its a remarkable moment for us, said Roberson Middle Principal Tracey Walker, who has served as an administrator at the campus since it opened. It just really made me Spring proud and solidified some of the things we set out to do in the very beginning of opening Roberson.

Twenty-six public and private schools in Texas received a Blue Ribbon this year following their nomination by the states education agency, which analyzes standardized test scores to determine its selections.

At least 60 percent of students at each of the four Houston-area schools are considered economically disadvantaged by the state. The three middle and high schools enroll students from across their respective districts who meet admission criteria.

Young Womens College Preparatory Academy opened in 2011 as one of HISDs two new single-gender campuses. About 530 middle and high school students from all corners of the district attend the Midtown campus, which typically sends about 90 percent of graduating seniors to college.

With the award, five of the seven members of Texas Young Womens Preparatory Network have won a Blue Ribbon in the past decade.

I can see just how hard theyre working every day, being in the building and surrounded by staff and students, but its nice to get these awards because its a testament to them, said Young Womens College Preparatory Academy Principal April Williams, who also earned a Blue Ribbon as the leader of Oak Forest Elementary School in 2016.

I definitely want to raise that bar and let people know were here, that were working with minority girls, and were getting them to and through college with scholarships.

High School for Law and Justice, which opened in 1981 as one of the districts earlier magnet schools, boasts numerous alumni in Houstons criminal justice, political and education community. The 450-student campus earned a 97 out of 100 rating under the states academic accountability system last year and scored near-perfect passage rates on state standardized tests.

Memorial Elementary School notched a 94 rating from the state last year, tied for the third-highest score among HISD schools where at least three-quarters of students are deemed economically disadvantaged. The campus, located near the Rice Military neighborhood, serves about 310 students.

I am extremely proud of our schools for being recognized with this prestigious honor, HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said in a statement. The hard work is exemplified in the academic excellence of our students, and that takes an entire campus working together to reach such an impressive achievement.

jacob.carpenter@chron.com
Tony Estrela and his cousin Daniel Vieira were having lunch at Yonge and Eglinton, watching as two window washers struggled to scale up the building on their swing stage.

All of a sudden, two cables snapped, sending their stage plummeting to the ground nearly 20 floors below.

Miraculously, nobody was walking along that portion of Yonge Street at the time so there were no injuries at ground level  but the terrified window washers were left dangling and clinging to their ropes.

First thing I did was turn around to my cousin and said, Call 911!, Estrela said.

What followed was an incredible tale of how five Good Samaritans sprang into action to rescue two window washers in midtown Toronto, during the noonhour Thursday.

A group of five Priestly Demolition workers, including Estrela and Vieira, were on a lunch break on the eighth floor at a construction site at 2161 Yonge Street when the dramatic scene unfolded across the street at the TVO building.

Estrela saw one of the window washers struggling with a tangled rope, which was caught on a ledge of the building.

The window washer was trying to fix the rope from where he was positioned below on the swing stage, Estrela said. The other washer was positioned further above him. He then tried to scale up the building, to continue to see if he could untangle the rope.

Thats when the cables snapped.

The Priestly Demolition workers rushed downstairs, dashed across the street and quickly found the building security guard to explain the situation.

My cousin and I, right away turned around to where the security guard is, and said Can you let us on the roof? Estrela told the Star in an interview the next day.

Vieira recalls taking an elevator to the 18th floor and running up another three flights of stairs to get to the roof. As they arrived, Vieira said the window washer working further above had managed to pull himself onto the ledge of one of the windows.

But the other man working below was still dangling, hanging on to his rope, fittingly called a lifeline.

The other gentleman was lower, thats why he did not have enough time (to do the same), Vieira said.

Vieira and the others noticed the window washers lifeline was pulled taut against a concrete ledge. They were afraid of just pulling on that rope as it could cause it to fray and snap against the concrete.

Vieira planned to grab the rope to make sure it wouldnt fray against the concrete. Then, the others would pull the window washer using the rope to help hoist him up to the window ledge.

Vieira and the four men went to the edge of the roof and explained the plan to the dangling window washer.

He looked like he was scared for his life. He just said, Please help me, Estrela said.

Vieira estimates that it took about two minutes to hoist the man to the ledge.

They estimated the man was in his 20s or 30s and about 180 to 185 pounds.

Video from CP24 showed fire crews bringing the men inside off the ledge after emergency rescue workers had smashed the glass.

The two window washers were back at the site the next day to talk to the Ministry of Labour.

The man who had been dangling from the rope came over to the Priestly work site to thank the group for helping save his life.

Mike Glavin, one of the five rescuers, recounted part of that conversation.

I told him, I didnt save your life, your rope did. All we did was make you more comfortable, Glavin said.

In a public Facebook post later that day, Koteles Andras, one of the rescued workers, documented the heroic rescue mission, blaming faulty suspension cables as the cause of the incident.

Andras declined to speak to the Star, saying the accident is still under investigation by the Ministry of Labour.

Vieira said he has never witnessed anything similar in his life.

I helped him, because if I was in that situation, I would want someone to try to help me, Vieira said.

With files from Ann Marie Elpa

Breanna Xavier-Carter is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: bxavier@thestar.ca
The union representing Atlantic City firefighters has filed a complaint against the city contending its procedures for stopping the spread of COVID-19 arent adequate and resulted in 65 members being exposed to the virus.

Six firefighters tested positive for coronavirus recently and the city arranged rapid tests for those directly exposed to the infected individuals, according to the filing in Atlantic County Superior Court. Those who test negative are directed to return to work.

Unsurprisingly, this ineffective approach has resulted in further spread of COVID-19 In doing so, the City has jeopardized the health and safety of all firefighters, their families, and the general public, the complaint reads.

The complaint, first reported by The Press of Atlantic City, says some firefighters who tested negative are now showing symptoms, the filing says.

Atlantic City and the fire department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The union is asking a judge to order the city to place exposed firefighters on paid leave and direct them to self-quarantine for 14 days, provide the union with a list of the citys procedures, disinfect each station between shifts and postpone the training of new hires scheduled to start the week of Sept. 28.

Local 198 alleges the citys procedures are in conflict with guidance issued by the New Jersey Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which says those exposed to an infected person should quarantine for 14 days due to the possibility of a false-negative result.

The state Department of Community Affairs, which runs the city under the state takeover and is named in the complaint, declined to comment specifically about the complaint.

In outlining the citys procedure, DCA spokeswoman Lisa Ryan said any firefighter exposed to another who tests positive for COVID-19 is quarantined from service until he or she can be given a rapid COVID-19 test for results in less than an hour.

She said exposed firefighters who receive negative results and are asymptomatic return to work, and said the procedure follows CDC guidelines surrounding critical infrastructure workers and coronavirus. Those exposed are being monitored for symptoms.

For firefighters who receive positive results, they are ordered to quarantine for 14 days and placed under a doctors care. They are also provided information about how to safely quarantine and monitor their health. All firefighters who have been contacted about possible exposure to COVID-19 have been cooperative and have followed the procedures as directed in order to control the spread of the virus, Ryan said.

Its important to note that the Atlantic City Fire Department quickly adopted COVID-19 safety protocol once the pandemic began. They include taking temperature readings of on-duty firefighters twice a day, social distancing and wearing masks in fire stations, eating in shifts, keeping sleeping bunks at least six feet apart, wearing full PPE on fire calls, doing daily cleaning regimens of equipment and fire stations, and conducting a heavy cleaning at least once a week, she continued.

The six firefighters who tested positive last week work in Stations 1, 2 and 3, and each station has between eight and 13 firefighters during a 24-hour shift who eat and sleep in close proximity to each other, the complaint says.

One of the six developed symptoms while at work and was sent home to take a rapid test and another was going to be an instructor for next weeks new hire training and has been in close contact with other individuals who will be instructing or attending the training, the suit says.

The citys approach to handling the COVID-19 outbreak among firefighters is causing irreparable harm by jeopardizing the health and safety of firefighters, their families, and the general public. As COVID-19 is highly contagious, COVID-19 will continue to spread throughout the ACFD. The spread of COVID-19 among Firefighters also places their family members and housemates at risk, the suit reads.

The suit claims a violation of the due process and equal protection clauses of the state constitution, violation of the Municipal Recovery and Stabilization Act and breach of contract with the union.

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.
The user fee proposals have to be sent to the Union Cabinet for approval. (PTI file photo)

New Delhi: Travelling in trains could soon burn a hole in your pocket. If the Railway Ministry's proposals receive cabinet approval, not only passengers boarding trains but even those getting down after a journey would have to shell out a user fee over and above the ticket prices.

Also, if you are entering a station to drop off or receive a friend or relative, you may have to pay a visitor fee over and above the platform ticket.

The cash-strapped Railway Ministry is planning to levy user fees to raise funds to redevelop 50 stations under the PPP mode.

As per these proposals, passengers of all categories would have to pay user fees. Commuters in the unreserved category will have to pay Rs 10 to board a train; passengers in the non-AC reserved category will have to pay Rs 25; passengers in the high-end reserved AC category will have to pay Rs 50.

For passengers getting off a train, the user fee would be 50 per cent of the rates mentioned above.

Apart from this, a visitor fee of Rs 10 would be levied on people buying a platform tickets.

All these charges are without GST and will be subject to upward revision every five years.

Considering the fact that the New Delhi railway station has a daily footfall of five lakh passengers, even if on an average of roughly Rs 50 is charged per passenger, then the revenue for Indian Railways could be in the range of Rs 2.5 crore.

As we reported on July 24, the Railway Ministry has sought the Finance Ministrys urgent intervention as it is not able to meet its pension expenditure of Rs 53,000 crore for the current fiscal.

Even passengers using suburban trains daily would have to shell out a user charge on tickets. These would be levied on suburban passenger tickets at Rs 3 per journey in monthly season tickets.

A panel of secretaries has suggested these charges as a way to refurbish railway stations.

The proposal of levying user charges is likely to be sent to the Union Cabinet for approval soon, sources in the know indicated.

Sources further said the user fee is likely to be uniform at all stations that are to be developed.

The Railway Ministry had earlier this month indicated that it would be levying user charges at only 10-15 per cent of the total 7,000 stations across the country.

It had further said that these charges would be levied at stations which have been developed or would be redeveloped under the PPP model, and also those stations which are likely to witness heavy footfalls in the next five years.

Further, sources informed that if stations are being developed under the PPP mode, then these user charges would be payable to the concessionaire only from the date of successful commissioning of the redevelopment work.
And while Mr. Trump has insisted that the coronavirus will soon disappear, most voters disagree. Half said they believed the worst effects of the pandemic were still ahead, while 43 percent said the ugliest phase was over.

The poll shows that Mr. Trump is strongest on economic issues, an enduring strength for him. Fifty-four percent of voters said they approved of his handling of the economy, including about half of women, Hispanics and college-educated white voters, groups that mainly support Mr. Biden. The president has staked his re-election in part on the argument that he is best equipped to restore economic prosperity once the pandemic has passed.

But voters assessment of Mr. Trumps economic leadership is not entirely positive, and in this area the president appears to be paying a price for his role during the pandemic. Fifty-five percent of voters said Mr. Trump was somewhat or mainly responsible for the economic downturn, compared with 15 percent who said he was not very responsible for the recession and 28 percent who said he bore no responsibility at all.

Much of the electorate appears to be in a pessimistic mood, with a large share of voters convinced that the American government is deeply dysfunctional and inclined to view the stakes of the 2020 election in drastic terms. Three in five said that the 2020 election would decide whether the United States would remain a prosperous democracy, while only 30 percent said the country would remain prosperous and democratic no matter who won.

That perspective cut across demographic, regional, generational and ideological lines, with a majority of every subgroup saying that the countrys future as a thriving democracy was at stake.

While a majority of voters  54 percent  said that the countrys political system could still address its problems, a full 40 percent said America was too divided for the political system to work.

Voters were about evenly split over whether those divisions would ease if Mr. Biden was elected president, with about a third saying the situation would improve and a third saying it would get worse. Three in 10 voters said the situation would stay about the same.
Conversation first with Yoshihide Suga since new PM took office this month

China would like to make joint efforts with Japan's new government to properly handle major sensitive issues including historical issues and promote mutual political trust, President Xi Jinping said on Friday. Xi made the remarks in a phone conversation with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, the first between the two leaders since Suga took office earlier this month. China and Japan, as important neighbors and cooperation partners for each other, have wide common interests and broad space for cooperation, Xi said. With joint efforts, Sino-Japanese relations have returned to a normal track and kept good momentum in recent years, he added. China stands ready to uphold the principles and spirit of the four political documents between the two countries to handle sensitive issues properly, enhance mutual political trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, enhance people-to-people exchanges and build bilateral relations that meet the requirements of the new era, Xi said. Noting that COVID-19 is still rampant around the world, Xi said that China and Japan can support each other to achieve win-win results. The two countries should maintain stable and smooth industrial and supply chains, promote the building of fair and open trade and investment environments and improve the quality of cooperation, Xi said. He added that China supports Japan in hosting a successful Olympic Games next year. Xi called on the two nations to jointly uphold multilateralism and firmly safeguard the international order and system with the United Nations at the core. They should strengthen communication, coordination and cooperation among multilateral institutions and regional cooperation mechanisms, work together to deal with global challenges and make positive contributions to prosperity and development in Asia, he said. Suga said Japan considers relations with China as one of its most important bilateral ties. A stable Japan-China relationship not only conforms to the interests of the two peoples but contributes to world peace and prosperity, he said. Suga expressed hope of maintaining close communications with Xi with a view to promoting bilateral cooperation and taking the countries' ties to a new stage. Japan wants to communicate with China to ensure the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership will be signed this year, step up negotiations on the China-Japan-Republic of Korea free trade zone and jointly uphold the stability of industrial and supply chains in the region, Suga said. Also on Friday night, Xi held a phone conversation with Angolan President Joao Lourenco. They exchanged views on bilateral ties and the fight against the pandemic and expressed joint commitment to upholding multilateralism.


This year has been one wild ride thus far.

And while hurricane season has calmed down a bit, 2020 has seen a crazy number of the storms  so many that the alphabet was exhausted for names and we moved into using the Greek alphabet. We are up to Beta.

The hurricanes bring to mind hurricanes and tropical storms in the past that have devastated the United States  Harvey (2017), Katrina (2005), Sandy (2012), Ivan (2004), Andrew (1992) and Lee (2011).

And central Pa.'s worst nightmare  Agnes in 1972. Pennsylvania had barely recovered from Agnes when Tropical Storm Eloise slammed us in 1975.

On Sept. 25, 1975, the National Weather Service had canceled flash flood warnings for most of Pennsylvania.

The next day, Friday, Sept. 26, on the front page of The Patriot, a reporter wrote, "The name is Eloise, not Agnes, but midstate residents faced with record rainfall, impassable roads and, in some cases evacuation from their homes, wondered last night if a tropical storm by any other name would be as devastating.

Heavy rains from Tropical Storm Eloise that doused the region with a record - for the date - 6.29 inches or rainfall since Monday, continued to fall, saturating the Harrisburg area with 2.80 inches yesterday, beating the 1902 record of 1.55 inches for the day.

The Susquehanna River is expected to crest at 11 p.m. tomorrow at 16 feet - just one foot below the flood stage of 17 feet, according to the River Forecast Center."

On Monday, Sept. 29, 1975, in The Patriot, it was reported that the Susquehanna River crested at 2 p.m. Sunday - 17 hours earlier than expected - at 23.8 feet - 6.8 feet above flood stage.

While the damage was not as bad as Agnes, it was significant.

Damage from Tropical Storm Eloise at the time was estimated at more than $150 million.

Highspire trailer court, Front Street. (The Patriot-News)

Included was $6.5 million in damage at Boiling Springs High School where a sidewalk and driveway near the auditorium caved in. Walls and the ceiling of the auditorium also were damaged.

Seven people in Pennsylvania died including a York woman who drowned while sitting a stranded car, a toddler who wandered away from his Franklin County home into an overflowing stream and a Carlisle man found dead in his submerged car in the Conodoguinet Creek.

More than 20,000 people had evacuated along the river basin. The National Guard was called in to help with those

This editorial appeared on the front page of The Patriot, Monday, Sept. 29, 1975:

"After Agnes, Eloise; After Eloise, What?

Its over. The flood waters have receeded and the mop-up operation is well under way. Once again Capital Area residents and businessmen have bent but not broken before the onslaught of the raging Susquehanna and its tributaries.

The initial reaction to Eloise was dogged determination instead of the stunned disbelief that greeted Agnes' tides. We have been down this muddy road before. Chances are well travel it again not many years - or months - hence.

The lessons of Agnes were largely ignored.

Eloise was a lady by comparison, so it isnt likely that dramatic action will follow. More of the same is probable: buildings will continue to go up in the flood plains; more and more land will go under concrete and asphalt; the Army Corps of Engineers will continue to wait for Congress to give the go-ahead for flood prevention projects; and the Legislature will continue to buckle under to land speculators and developers instead of passing the strong land use bill the Commonwealth really needs."
In a statement on Saturday, September 26, the Iranian Writers Association (IWA) said that three of its members had been placed behind bars in Tehran's infamous Evin prison.

Baktash Abtin, Kayvan Bazhan, and Reza Khandan have started their prison term while the coronavirus pandemic is underway, with the condition of inmates in Tehran havinb been described as "deplorable."

According to the official Facebook page of the IWA, two members of the board of directors of the association, Abtin and Khandan, with Bazhan being a former member of the organization, were transferred to the prison at about 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.

The three authors had previously been summoned on June 21, but their imprisonment was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

A judge renowned for his harsh verdicts against political and human rights advocates, Mohammad Moqisseh, had initially condemned the three writers to six years jail in May last year.

Following an appeal, another hardline judge, Ahmad Zargar, upheld the verdict against Abtin and Khandan but reduced Bazhan's sentence to three and a half years.

According to the IWA statement, the Appeals Court sentenced the three in absentia, even without their attorneys' presence.

The three are charged with "membership in the Writers' Association of Iran, publishing the association's internal newsletter, preparing a research book on the IWA's fifty-year history for internal publication, compiling the association's statements, visiting the graves of the two of political chain murder's victims, IWA members, Jafar Pooyandeh and Mohammad Mokhtari, and attending the annual ceremony to commemorate a contemporary Iranian poet, Ahmad Shamloo.

The trial and harsh sentencing of the three members of the IWA has so far provoked numerous reactions from domestic and international activists.

In a statement last year, more than 900 writers, poets, essayists, and journalists in Iran condemned the harsh verdicts against the trio as an "unjustified" and "severe damage to the fundamental rights of all Iranians" that "kills freedom."

The statement, published on May 19, 2019, called upon the Islamic Republic judiciary to immediately and unconditionally exonerate Abtin, Bazhan and Khandan Mahabadi.

The 900 signatories to the statement insisted that the three writers were convicted for enjoying their right to freedom of expression and expressing their opinion.

Earlier, PEN International said that it is deeply concerned about the three Iranian writers' ongoing trial.

"We stand in solidarity with our Iranian colleagues who are targeted due to their writing and peaceful activism. We call on the Iranian authorities to drop all charges against them and to respect their right to freedom of expression," said Rebecca Sharkey, Campaigns and Communications Director of PEN International.

Calling upon the Iranian authorities to immediately release them, PEN International also maintained that the three's charges violated their right to freedom of expression.

The Iranian Writers Association is the first professional association of Iranian writers, which was established in 1968 by prominent authors, poets, novelists, and playwrights, including Jalal Al-i Ahmad, Dariush Asouri, Bahram Bayza'ei, Esma'eil Nouri Ala', and Mohammad Ali Sepanloo.

Although it supported the Islamic Revolution of 1979, members of the IWA have repeatedly been subject to harassment and prosecution. Mohammad-Jafar Pouyandeh and Mohammad Mokhtari were among the victims of the serial killings of intellectuals by Intelligence Ministry agents in 1998.
Shawn Marshall Myers (pictured in mugshot) was convicted of two counts of Failure to Comply with an Emergency Order

A Maryland man was sentenced to one in year jail for throwing two large parties that violated the state's COVID-19 gathering orders, prosecutors said.

Shawn Marshall Myers, of Hughesville, was convicted of two counts of Failure to Comply with an Emergency Order on Friday, according to a statement from the Charles County State's Attorney Office.

Myers will serve his prison sentence at the Charles County Detention Center and, upon his release, will be on unsupervised probation for three years.

He was initially charged after deputies responded to his home on two separate occasions in March.

On March 22, multiple officers dispatched to his home due to reports of a large party that violated Gov. Larry Hogan's previous State of Emergency and Large Gathering Order.

Authorities found around 50 people at that 42-year-old's residence. Officers said Myers was initially argumentative, but eventually agreed to disband the party.

Hogan's Large Gathering Order prohibited large groups of more than 50 people gathering amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (pictured) previously implemented a Large Gathering Order in March to curb the spread of COVID-19

At that time, stay-at-home orders had just begun for many states following the arrival of COVID-19 in January and the subsequent infections.

'A person who knowingly and willfully violates this Order is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding one year or a fine not exceeding $5,000 or both,' the order stated.

Just five days later, officers were forced to return to Myers' home after he hosted another party that exceeded 50 people.

'Officers told Myers to disband the party, but again he was argumentative claiming he and his guests had the right to congregate,' the statement read.

'Beyond being argumentative, Myers directed his guests to stay in defiance of Governor Hogans Orders and the officers lawful orders to disband the party.'

Authorities said Myers was taken into custody after he refused to cooperate.

Myers (left and right) was taken into custody after throwing a second large gathering on March 27, in which he allegedly told his attendees to ignore the state's COVID-19 rules

Hogan addressed Myers' arrest on Twitter and lambasted the man for ignoring social distancing protocols that month.

He wrote: 'A Charles County man has been arrested after repeatedly violating the executive order banning large gatherings and hosting a bonfire party with 60 guests.

'I cannot begin to express my disgust towards such irresponsible, reckless behavior.

'Let me repeat: if you are engaged in this kind of activity, you are breaking the law, and you are endangering the lives of your fellow Marylanders.

'State and local authorities will continue to take aggressive enforcement action as we work to prevent the spread of #Covid19.'

Hogan called Myers' behavior 'irresponsible' and 'reckless' on Twitter after the 41-year-old was arrested

Hogan: 'Let me repeat: if you are engaged in this kind of activity, you are breaking the law, and you are endangering the lives of your fellow Marylanders'

At the time of the parties, just 10 Marylanders had died of coronavirus and more than 1,200 had been infected by the disease.

As of Sunday, 3,925 Marylanders have died and more than 123,000 people have been infected.

Earlier this month, a number of local counties were approved for Phase 3 of the state's Roadmap to Recovery.

This allowed some residents to attend movie theaters, view concerts outdoors and reopened larger religious services for in-person operations.

The United States has recorded more than seven million cases and 203,000 deaths.
Tom Ridge, a former Republican governor of Pennsylvania and first U.S. secretary of Homeland Security, plans to vote for Trumps Democratic opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden, he announced on social media Sunday morning.

This also will be the first time Ridge has ever voted Democratic in a U.S. presidential election, he told The Philadelphia Inquirer in an opinion column.

Its time to put country over party. Its time to dismiss Donald Trump, he posted on Twitter.

Its time to put country over party. Its time to dismiss Donald Trump.



Why Im voting for @JoeBiden on November 3rd. https://t.co/rM9MnwjZhr  Gov. Tom Ridge (@RidgeGlobal) September 27, 2020

Ridge told The Inquirer in the piece published Sunday he actually considers it a point of personal pride to be recognized as being among the first Republicans to reject Donald Trump. It wasnt the first time hes dismissed Trump either. He goes on to say in December 2015 he told NBCs Chuck Todd he could never support Trump.

I said then that he was an embarrassment to the Republican Party and our country, Ridge stated. I said he belittles, demeans, and ridicules people who disagree with him, and that Ive never thought that loud, obnoxious, and simpleminded solutions to complex problems are the kind of qualities we want in a president. I believe that earned me my first of several Trump tweets of indignation.

Ridge compared the coronavirus pandemic to his time leading the Department of Homeland Security following the 9/11 terror attacks. He credited U.S. President George W. Bush in then unifying the country while comparing Trump as incapable and significantly falling short. The current president, he stated, could have traveled to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in February and talked plainly about the challenge Mother Nature intended to throw at Americans and how it could be faced with all the fortitude and resources we could bring to bear.

Perhaps I have more trust in Americans being able to handle the truth than the president, Ridge stated.

In supporting Biden, Ridge also stated the former vice president has the experience and empathy necessary to help Americans navigate not only the pandemic, but also other issues that have fractured the nation, including social injustice, income inequality and immigration reform.

Ridge currently serves as the chairman of Ridge Global, which provides clients with solutions to cyber security, international security and risk management issues. After 9/11, he became the first assistant to the President for Homeland Security and in January 2003, became the first Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. President George W. Bush stated in Ridges online bio he had the strength, experience, personal commitment and authority to accomplish this critical mission.

During his DHS tenure, Ridge worked with more than 180,000 employees from a combined 22 agencies to create an agency that facilitated the flow of people and goods; instituted layered security at air, land and seaports; developed a unified national response and recovery plan; protected critical infrastructure; integrated new technology; and improved information sharing worldwide, according to his website.

Ridge was twice elected governor of Pennsylvania. He served as the states 43rd governor from 1995 to 2001 and prior, was one of the first Vietnam combat veterans elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, in which he served six terms.

Ridge isnt the first Pennsylvania Republican lawmaker to endorse Biden.

Former U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent in an August opinion piece for CNN stated he was voting for Biden. He also didnt back Trump in 2016, then stating he was casting his vote for independent candidate Evan McMullin, a former CIA operations officer.

Dent labeled Trump a threat to the rule of law and functional democracy and not representative of the Republican Party that he knows."

Donald Trump is not a conservative: He is an illiberal populist and nativist whose chaotic approach and managerial malfeasance have undermined the functioning of government, Dent wrote on cnn.com.

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.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
On May 8, the first day restaurants were able to again serve customers at tables instead of with to-go boxes, Sherrie Perez took a dozen calls before 10 a.m. from hungry regulars asking if she was open.

Sherries Place, a longtime Casper favorite, had been truly closed for the first time in 22 years. But that morning, Perez greeted familiar faces with a cheerful, Hi, honey. Do you want to be inside or outside today?

Its late September now, and soon she wont be able to offer the same option. The weather wont allow it. Shes already taken down the four tables she moved outside in May.

But the impact might not be so severe. Gov. Mark Gordon announced Thursday that restaurants might soon be able to increase indoor dining capacity.

The state is seeing more COVID-19 cases than ever before, which the Wyoming Department of Health attributes to a variety of causes including students return to the University of Wyoming. But while cases surge, Gordon said Thursday, One place we are not seeing large numbers of cases emerge is from restaurants.

He did not say by how much that capacity could increase. The current public health orders expire Sept. 30.

Hailey Bloom, Casper-Natrona County Health Department spokesperson, echoed Gordons statement about restaurants not being a big concern.

The vast majority (of restaurants) are doing pretty well, Bloom said. In terms of people moving inside, thats been our concern with fall overall, not just with restaurants.

No Natrona County cases have been traced to restaurants, Bloom said, adding the caveat that the nature of COVID-19 makes it difficult to trace community spread with that level of precision. But, she continued, if there was a problem area, we would start to see a trend.

Perez said the four outdoor tables arent a huge loss for her. She has loyal customers.

Were OK. Its not something we really need, she said. People are patient about waiting.

And overall, the restaurant is maintaining a good average, she said.

The risk that cases will continue to rise and stricter mandates could come down from above has crossed her mind. She said if that did happen, the restaurant would just have to comply. Gordons Thursday announcement, however, suggests that wont be the case anytime soon.

For Jim Kanelos, owner of The Office Bar and Grill, being able to seat more people inside will come just as hes about to lose the eight tables he has spread across his patio right now.

In a regular year, the patio could seat up to 80 people. But eight tables is better than none.

Losing the patio, thats obviously some extra seating, seating we dont have inside, so that definitely will hurt, Kanelos said Wednesday, adding that its been particularly stark inside. My bar seats almost 40, and its half that with the way you have to space it.

But Kanelos feels fortunate that the building is large enough to accommodate a fair amount of indoor patrons, despite social distancing. He said business has been steady since May, and he knows if his place were smaller he might be having a harder time.

Rachel Emanuelson, general manager of Raccas, told the Star-Tribune she is a bit nervous about losing outdoor dining, but not as much as shes worried about typical holiday revenue.

Last December, those parties made up 20% of the business revenue.

With social distancing and gathering limitations, she doesnt think the restaurant will be able to host.

We are a venue for Christmas parties, Emanuelson said.  So having restrictions there is going to really affect our ability to host those.

But so far, she said things are better than she expected. The restaurant is currently running at about 75% of its typical sales.

Were doing all right, she said.

Follow local government reporter Morgan Hughes on Twitter @morganhwrites

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Teen burglars killed an old woman committing heinous acts including assaulting her femininity and abusing her corpse by taking her organs, then feed it to her dogs.

This act of extraordinary viciousness has shocked everyone for how it transcended.

According to reports, a group of teen burglars was responsible for the assault that was savage. They weren't satisfied and eviscerated the corpse by drawing out her organs which they fed to her dogs, The Sun.

The accused identified as Igor Ribeiro Nascimento, now 20, is sent to jail for 26 years and 5 months. He is the leader of the criminal gang in Brazil who killed the victim, Thelma Mendonca de Carvalho, on June 25, 2019 in the locality of Aparecida de Goiania.

He allegedly raped the 64 year old victim, along with his two accomplices who aided his crime willingly. He was not satisfied with what he did and proceeded to eviscerating the torso of the victim, and retrieving her heart. They feed it to the dogs soon after.

Not satisfied with their handiwork, they set her remains aflame. Last, they burgled her house and its contents.

The murderous suspect was with equally evil cohorts, a teen boy and girl who were 15 at the commission of the crime.

Allegedly they met at one place and proceeded to the house of their intended victim. The two boys climbed the walls and broke in first.

Also read: Jealous Boyfriend Burned His Fiancee to Death Because She Exposed Her Body on the Beach

Gaining entry, the two attacked Thelma and threw her into a locked room. Inside they had their way with the helpless woman.

While abusing the victim physically, the girl was their lookout while they were busy inside. She went in and helped burgle the house and valuables.

Theft turns to ruthless murder

The victim got the gag off her and tried to scream for help. She was stopped from alarming anyone.

Expecting a huge haul, they just found two cheap mobiles. Now, they wanted to torture the terrified victim more.

A simple theft turned into unspeakable terror and fear into murder. Reports say that they stabbed Thelma in the belly and slashed her wrist in a horrific attack.

The leader, Nascimento, butchered her one side of the chest intentionally. He tore out her heart with a lung part. Sadistically, they fed it to her pet dogs.

Covering the body with a sheet to conceal the crime and burned the corpse. By adding wood, they hoped to cover the stench of burning flesh.

They burned the corpse and charred it, to be sure they dug a hole in the bathroom and hide it there.

Taking with them mobile phones and retrieved the large LCD TV, fridge, and a duvet too.

Dogs were constantly barking which the neighbors took as unusual and decided to do something. Her daughter went and saw the nightmarish crime scene, cited Portal Dia Online.

In June 2019, Nascimento was nabbed by the cops and tried to deny it. His cohorts confessed when arrested by police.

He was sentenced on zoom, on September 22 for torturing and killing Thelma Mendonca de Carvalho.

Related article: Russian Ballerina Dismembered, Dissolved in Sulfuric Acid Amid Fears of Lewd Picture Leak

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The NSW government will not make any immediate changes to COVID-19 restrictions but has praised the community's efforts after no new cases were reported on Sunday, the first time the state has reported zero cases in more than three months.

With 12,333 tests processed in the 24 hours to 8pm on Saturday, the number of cases recorded in the state has remained stable at 4029. NSW has had no local transmissions on five of the past seven days.

The last time NSW had a day with no new cases reported, from either overseas arrivals or locally acquired, was June 10.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard thanked the community for adhering to restrictions and following advice.
Related Armenia says it shot down 2 Azerbaijani copters in dispute

Russia on Sunday called for an immediate ceasefire and the start of talks after heavy fighting broke out between Azerbaijan and Armenian separatists.

"We are calling on the sides to immediately halt fire and begin talks to stabilise the situation," the foreign ministry said.

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Breonna Taylor's family and boyfriend are demanding the release of grand jury proceeding transcripts after a Kentucky grand jury indicted one officer for endangering Taylor's neighbors during the police shooting that resulted in her death.

Taylor's family is "heartbroken, devastated and outraged and confused," family attorney Ben Crump said at a news conference Friday.

"There seems to be two justice systems in America -- one for Black America and one for white America," he said.

PHOTO: Breonna Taylor family attorney Ben Crump, center speaks during a news conference, Sept. 25, 2020, in Louisville, Ky. (Darron Cummings/AP)

Crump went on, "What did Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron present to the grand jury? Did he present any evidence on Breonna Taylor's behalf? Or did he make a unilateral decision to put his thumb on the scales of justice to help try to exonerate and justify the killing of Breonna Taylor by these police officers? And in doing so, make sure that Breonna Taylor's family never got their day in court."

Family attorney Lonita Baker demanded a special prosecutor be appointed to present to a grand jury on Taylor's behalf.

PHOTO: Lawyer Ben Crump speaks at a press conference with Breonna Taylor's family on Sept. 25, 2020. (ABC News)

Brett Hankison, an officer who has since been fired from the Louisville Metro Police Department, was indicted Wednesday on three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment for firing into the apartment directly behind Taylor's.

MORE: After Breonna Taylor's death, a look at other black women killed during police encounters

The neighboring apartment had three people inside, thus the three charges against Hankison, said Cameron. The other officers involved in Taylor's death were not charged.

"Release the transcript so we can have transparency," Crump said. "And if you did everything you could do on Breonna's behalf, you shouldn't have any problems whatsoever, Daniel Cameron, to release the transcript to see you fought for all of Kentucky's citizens."

MORE: Breonna Taylor decision ignites protests from New York to Chicago to Seattle

PHOTO: Breonna Taylor, 26, was shot and killed by Louisville, Kentucky, police officers after they allegedly executed a search warrant of the wrong home. (Courtesy Tamika Palmer)

Taylor, 26, was shot dead by police while in her Louisville home on March 13. Taylor and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, were asleep when three Louisville police officers, including Hankison, tried to execute a "no-knock" search warrant.

Story continues

The officers were investigating a suspected drug operation linked to Taylor's ex-boyfriend. No drugs were found in the apartment.

MORE: Breonna Taylor protests in Louisville: Unlawful assembly declared on 2nd night of demonstrations

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. Earlier this month, he filed a lawsuit against the city of Louisville, its police and others, for immunity against his actions that night under Kentucky's "stand your ground" law.

Walker's attorneys are also pushing for the release of the grand jury transcripts. On Saturday, they filed a motion in his lawsuit asking for access to the grand jury transcript and recordings to "promote 'the ends of justice' and the search for the truth." The motion is also asking for all materials gathered by the police department's public integrity unit pertaining to the incident.

PHOTO: A picture of Breonna Taylor is seen at a makeshift memorial for victims of racial injustice, following the announcement of a single indictment in Taylor's case, in Brooklyn, N.Y., Sept. 24, 2020. (Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters)

Mattingly was shot in the leg, according to Cameron.

Cameron said no shots from Hankison struck Taylor.

Hankison was fired and the other officers involved were placed on administrative duty.

After the grand jury decision, Cameron said at a news conference Wednesday, "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 Taylor's death."

"The truth is now before us. The facts have been examined, and a grand jury comprised of our peers and fellow citizens has made a decision," Cameron said. "Justice is not often easy. Our team conducted interviews in this case, and spent thousands of hours examining all of the available evidence."

Federal prosecutors are looking into potential civil rights charges.

PHOTO: Bianca Austin, Breonna Taylor's aunt speaks at a press conference on Sept. 25, 2020. (ABC News)

On Friday, Crump said the decision in Taylor's case follows a pattern "of the blatant disrespect and marginalization of Black people but especially Black women in America who have been killed by police."

Taylor's aunt, Bianca Austin, wore Taylor's EMT jacket at the news conference and read a statement on behalf of her sister and Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer.

"This has been emotionally, mentally and physically draining for my sister," Austin said.

PHOTO: Tamika Palmer, the mother of Breonna Taylor, center, listens to a news conference, Sept. 25, 2020, in Louisville, Ky. (Darron Cummings/AP)

Palmer, in her statement, said Cameron "had the power to do the right thing. He had the power to start the healing of this city."

PHOTO: Tamika Palmer, the mother of Breonna Taylor, right, listens to a news conference, Sept. 25, 2020, in Louisville, Ky. (Darron Cummings/AP)

Cameron "helped me realize ... it will always be us against them," Palmer continued. "That we are never safe when it comes to them." She said she has "no faith in the legal system, in the police, in the laws that are not made to protect us Black and brown people."

PHOTO: Breonna Taylor family attorney Ben Crump, center speaks during a news conference, Sept. 25, 2020, in Louisville, Ky. (Darron Cummings/AP)

Palmer said Cameron "alone didn't fail her," and that her daughter was also failed by "the judge who signed the search warrant ... the terrorist who broke down her door ... [and] the system as a whole."

"You didn't just rob me and my family, you robbed the world of a queen ... a queen who was starting to pave her path," Palmer's statement said.

Breonna Taylor's family demands release of transcripts from grand jury proceeding originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Coming out of the summer bushfire crisis and headlong into the pandemic, emergency management expert David Parsons started making plans for the recovery.

As an advisor to government agencies and the private sector on emergency and crisis management as well as a part-time lecturer on emergency planning at Charles Sturt University, he has helped industries prepare for the impact of the coronavirus.

"I'm talking to people about what happens next," he said.

RFS firefighters in NSW fight a bushfire south of Canberra in February. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Many companies were finding that while they had handled their day-to-day responsibilities well, a crisis was testing some managers beyond their ability to make good decisions during a time of uncertainty.
Sumi Sukanya Dutta By

NEW DELHI: Raising alarm that unusually high numbers of children are lodged in shelter homes in 8 states, the apex child rights body has asked state authorities to repatriate kids to their permanent homes.

During the first-ever social audit of child care institutions across the country, commissioned by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), it was found that over 70% of about 2.56 lakh children living in shelter homes are concentrated in just 6 states.

These include Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra.

Meghalaya and Mizoram are two states where the number of kids in shelter homes is high when seen as a ratio to the overall population.

This is a very disturbing trend and it suggests that these states are simply not doing enough to either restore children back with their natural homes or find foster or adoptive parents for them, a senior NCPCR official told this newspaper.

In a letter written to all the district magistrates of 8 states that the maximum number of shelter homes and children in need of care and protection placed in these homes paints an unsettling picture indicating a pitiable condition of children in these CCIs.

It added that in Maharashtra and two northeastern states, a vast number of children may also have been kept in shelter homes completely unnecessarily.

The child rights body noted that such a vast number of children being deprived of their natural homes and parents is a matter of grave concern adding that the district authorities should find homes for such kids, except for those living in observation homes and specialised adoption agencies.

The letter cited order from a recent Supreme Court order which had said that there is a dire need to understand that institutionalisation of children in need of protection and care is not the only available option and alternative care in terms of foster care, adoption etc. must be explored, keeping in view the best interest of the child.

The commission has now directed states to get the case analysed by the concerned Child Welfare Committee which is expected to find a suitable home for the kids. In case any child is not repatriated or restored, the Commission has also demanded to know the detailed reasons for the same. It has also asked for the list of those children who could not be repatriated and restored due to prevailing abject poverty in the family.


The Episcopal Conference of Latin America (CELAM), is launching a covid crusade, by combining the expertise, coordinated willpower and strength of the Church, Governments and organizations in an effort to make access to care available to all.

By James Blears

Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy for Life, Archbishop Renzo Pegoraro is leading the call for a combined skillset initiative to birth a beacon of hope and help for all of Latin America and the Caribbean, which is suffering so grievously from the ravages of Covid 19. He did this during a meeting organized by the Conference. The avowed aim is to establish an all-enveloping and all-inclusive health umbrella, to deflect and defeat the reign of the pandemic.

A new force

This will involve containment plus development measures, specifically focusing on public health policies, the family and the economy. Monsignor Pegoraro praised the work of the entire Church in Latin America involving public health and the common good, which will now be channelled into this new force, bringing forth a wind of change.

Vital tasks of the Working Group will involve the prompt and coordinated exchange of expertise and knowledge, via the flow of information, reinforced by justice and full equality.

This embraces treatment strategies with medicines and vaccine development, in the immediate and short term. While in the medium term, understanding and intelligent adaptation dovetailing into the particular health system characteristics and needs of each nation.

Wider access to care

So there can be a wider scope of access to care, irrespective of either social or economic discrimination of any kind. Looking into and carefully considering the long term future with all its implications, there must be a humane approach towards economic parity, with the fair distribution of resources to achieve justice for all, even in the most remote and inaccessible pockets of population.

Only in this way can the pools and reservoirs of skills, energy and expertise, which already glimmeringly exit, be best employed and significantly boosted, to shed an even brighter shining light on all.
Boeing: "Yes. I think you can buy it. I know that [American Airlines] just got some money from the government. I know that finally the airlines are waking up to being able to test people before they go on. I don't know why they haven't been doing that before. I know that masks work on planes. I hear that we're going to start opening up in Europe ... I think you're right to own Boeing."

General Electric: "I think GE is going to be, it's not GE's year. Why do I say that? Because GE has said that. They're not ready yet. They're turning things around. I think they have a very good turnaround plan, even tough they're obviously very linked to aerospace. It's going to take some time. This time next year I think GE is going to be a much better stock than it is now, though, but a lot of people aren't that patient."

Rocket Companies: "Rocket is a very strange company because when it was at $18.90 I said buy it, then it went up to the high $20s, I said sell it. Now it's right back to $20. I feel like, hey, you know what, I had my call with Rocket and now I'm ready to move on. There are a lot of people who are short the stock. They don't like the ownership structure."

Redhill Biopharma: "I think you should be in Royalty Pharma. I think it's every bit as good as Redhill and then some, but I totally understand why you'd want to be in. Smart Israeli company, really smart guys. It's just that I think Royalty is not getting enough love from Wall Street."

Walgreens Boots Alliance: "Chill man is worried about Walgreens. Chill man is worried because I think the prescription drug side is under attack, and the front of the store is under attack from Amazon. So I have a tough time with that one. I just do. I try to figure out what makes it go higher, and I don't know."

Illumina: "Many companies have tried to do this liquid cancer, the [biopsy] test. I hope Grail can do it right. If Grail can do it right, then Illumina turns out to be a great buy. But I like Thermo Fisher and I like Danaher. They are better companies, and I like either one of them more than this one."

Ping Identity: "You know we like Ping. We've had them on. I think they told a very, very compelling story. I like this cohort as it is, and Ping is a good one."

Disclaimer
MIDDLETOWN  Up-and-coming social media influencer Alanna Rondinone, 16, a Mercy High School student, has rocketed to popularity after a whirlwind of public support for her videos and photos posted on various platforms.

In a short period of time, she has garnered 412,600 followers on TikTok and 35,600 on her Instagram page, where she shares professional photographs as well as everyday ones. Shes also on Cameo, where fans can hire her to do personal appearances for parties and other events.

Already, shes being recognized in public  even though her face is partially covered by a mask, she is asked if photos of her can be taken.

A group of people came up to me and asked if it was me. Two boys came up, and then girls. It was so cute, Rondinone said.

I love seeing my supporters. Theyre so sweet, loving and caring. They touched my face and asked if I was real, she said with a laugh.

Rondinone, who lives in Middlefield, was named second runner-up in the 2020 Miss Teen Connecticut pageant. She has been a dancer for about eight years, a model, acted in school plays, and took singing lessons growing up.

She lives a very busy life, balancing school, cheerleading, her career and outside activities. Rondinone also works as a waitress.

Its good to understand the value of a dollar and minimum wage, her mother Marlo Bish said. If you dont have that foundation, how do you appreciate whats given to you?

Not long ago, friends encouraged her to share her vocal talent, which led to a contract, signed in August with Perpetual Vibes of New York City. She filmed a music video recently in Wallingford, during which she sang a cover song. It will appear on YouTube and Apple Music.

The teenager also plans to write original songs down the line.

Rondinone is also set to appear on season one, episode five of the Next Big Thing NYC reality show on Amazon Prime.

KerriAnn Wolf co-owns Perpetual Vibes with Michelle Moyer, said, Alanna has a kind heart and a wholesome image.

Perpetual Vibes uses various online services that track social influencers by scouring the internet, social media, blogs and images looking for people with talent.

Wolf looks for accounts with significant numbers of followers, likes on social media, and judges the likelihood of content that is, or has the potential to, go viral, she said. Wolf said she looks for strong and empowered women with a positive self-image.

Alanna was one of those, Wolf said. The amount of growth she had in such a short period of time, we saw her really being able to expand her talent much further and onto other networks.

Rondinone has unique talent, and multiple passions, Wolf said. She has such a good heart. Shes a beautiful girl  inside and out. Shes young and wants to expand her talent in very healthy ways.

Rondinone promotes awareness of issues, such as driving and texting, and was part of a campaign run by the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

After posting a video with her sister late last year in their Christmas pajamas, she was astonished to see it received 2 million likes. It blew up. After that, my videos kept hitting numbers and numbers, said Rondinone. One in particular saw her dancing to a Lady Gaga song, filmed during the pandemic.

It started growing, and it got so crazy that people were direct messaging her, Bish said. Soon, companies were interested in hiring her to represent their brands, and others asking her to promote their songs.

Most are filmed in her bedroom, where she has a neon pink flamingo in the background. A few videos didnt include the iconic bird, which prompted fans to ask she include it in the future, because they loved it so much, Rondinone said.

In February, she modeled at Fashion Week in New York.

Now that shes under contract, Rondinone will make a number of videos on Sunday and parcel them out during the week. Things move so quickly on social media that often shell have to record additional ones to keep up with new music and trends.

Shes also a spokeswoman for the Saski clothing company and Sumbum beauty products, tagging them on her posts.

Being a social influencer is a hit-or-miss thing, Rondinone said. Each of her TikTok videos span between 15 and 30 seconds, so a lot has to be compressed into a very short time frame.

Rondinone follows the current style of dance of simple moves that can be easily replicated.

She intends to eventually obtain a masters degree in business and one day run her own company. Its a crazy industry, but I love it. Im the CEO of myself, said the teen, who has said since she was very young she wanted to be famous.

Fame is not without dangers, said her mother, who enrolled her daughter in self-defense classes, and counsels her regularly about maintaining her private life while cultivating a career in the public eye.

When youre surrounded by a lot of money and a lot of power, [temptations are] more readily available. We dont know  were not there yet, Bish said. You might see things, or be asked to do things. I warn her to keep your drink in your hand.

Mom worries when Rondinone goes to the mall by herself, and tells her daughter to walk in the center of the concourse, to be aware of her surroundings, and identify exits in case she has to leave quickly.

Rondinone attributes her girl-next-door image to everything she learns at her Catholic high school and from her mother and grandmother. With a talent like hers, a personal brand, and who she is as a person is what resonates with people  and us, too, Wolf said.

For information, visit alannarondinone.us or follow her on Instagram at alannarondinone and alanna.3 on TikTok.
In the latest development from South Africa, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize dismissed the COVID-19 Ministerial Advisory Committee on Friday, September 25. As per News24 reports, the South African Health Minister sent wrote to members of the COVID-19 COVID-19 committee thanking them from service and said new members of the committee will be appointed soon.

The disbanding of the COVID-19 Ministerial Advisory Committee reportedly took place without any warning and is believed to have been done because of the policy clashes with the government.

Read: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani Announces Tougher COVID-19 Restrictions Amid Rising Cases

Ministerial Advisory Committee dismissed without warming

As per reports, 14 members of the committee have been confirmed to have received the letter, including South Africas leading COVID-19 researcher Professor Shabir Madhi and CEO of the South Africa Medical Research Council Professor Glenda Grey. The Advisory Committee was established early into the pandemic to advise the Health Minister and was chaired by Professor Salim Abdool Karim.

According to reports, Madhi and Gray along with some other members of the committee have been vocal critics of the government's proposed actions and policies in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a press release, the South African Health Minister is reported to have said that due to the changing nature of the pandemic and the way it affects society, it was necessary to bring about changes in the committee.

Read: Rugby Returns In South Africa After 6-month Shutout

As per reports, Professor Francois Venter, who was a member of the advisory committee, said that the dismissal came out of the blue and that the South African government needs to start operating with much more transparency. He is reported to have claimed the committee was dismissed because they did not always give their approval to government decisions made behind closed doors.

As per the John Hopkins coronavirus resource centre, South Africa has reported over 600,000 positive COVID-19 cases with a death toll of over 16,000. 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. The US has reported more than 7.2 million positive COVID-19 cases and a death toll of over 200,000.

(Image Credits: AP)

Read: South African President: 2020, The Year Of BLM

Read: South Africa Set For Easing Of Virus Restrictions
Trump paid $750 in taxes to the federal government the year he was elected

President Donald Trump paid no federal income taxes in 10 of the past 15 years, according to a report Sunday in The New York Times.

President Donald Trump speaks at a rally at Harrisburg International Airport on September 26, 2020 in Middletown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Trump, who has fiercely guarded his tax filings and is the only president in modern times not to make them public, paid $750 in taxes to the federal government the year he was elected, 2016, and $750 again his first year in office.

Read More: Trump required to produce tax returns, judge says

The disclosure, which the Times said comes from tax return data it obtained extending over two decades, comes at a pivotal moment ahead of the first presidential debate Tuesday, and weeks before a divisive election.

A lawyer for the Trump Organization, Alan Garten, and a spokesperson for the Trump Organization did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press on the report.

Trump is doing a lie-filled rant about mail-in ballots right now while the country is reading his tax return info indicating he paid virtually no taxes in 10 of the 15 years before he became president. Pathetic distraction attempts.  Ahmed Baba (@AhmedBaba_) September 27, 2020

Garten told the Times that most, if not all, of the facts appear to be inaccurate.

Read More: California Governor decides Donald Trump must disclose tax returns to get on states primary ballot

He said in a statement to the news organization that the president has paid tens of millions of dollars in personal taxes to the federal government, including paying millions in personal taxes since announcing his candidacy in 2015.

Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now!

The post NY Times: Trump paid $750 in US income taxes in 2016, 2017 appeared first on TheGrio.
As the BJP announced the names of new National committee on Saturday, it was Rajesh Agarwals name for the party treasurer that caught the maximum attention. BJP that has an unofficial line of retiring its leaders from active political life beyond the age of 74, brought in a new treasurer for itself who is 77 years of age.

Rajesh Agarwal, who has been a party veteran, has continuously been the Member of UP Vidhan Sabha since 1993. Agarwal who as the finance minister of Uttar Pradesh, was dropped from the yogi cabinet last year, will now be managing the finances for the entire party.

Though Agarwal is not the only leader from UP to get place in the central team, the focus is on him because of the obvious reasons. After being dropped from the cabinet in UP, many thought that Agarwal is being pushed to a corner and neglected further in the recently constituted state party executive and committee. But the veteran is back to the center stage.

Apart from Agarwal, MP Arun Singh who continues as the General Secretary and MP Rekha Verma has been appointed as the Vice president from UP in the newly constituted committee under JP Nadda.

Two other Lok Sabha members Vinod Sonkar and Harish Dwivedi have been brought in as new secretaries. MP Rajkumar Chahar from Fatehpur Sikri will be new head of the Kissan cell.

PULSE ON BOTH BUISNESS AND POLITICS

Rajesh Agarwal, who hails from Bareilly, comes from the trading community of the Vaishya Hindus. Agarwals father was a successful businessman in the region. Apart from his proximity to business, Agarwal was also brought close to the RSS.

Rajesh Agarwals family had a close relationship with top RSS functionaries. Not just the family helped the RSS movement financially, Sangh leaders visiting Bareilly often stayed at Agarwals place. Therefore, Rajesh Agarwal was drawn towards the RSS from a young age, Bareily based senior journalist Ashish Gupta informed.

During the heyday of Ram Temple movement in the 1990s, Rajesh Agarwal was deeply involved with the Sangh and the BJP. When the Kalyan Singh government in UP was sacked following the demolition of the Babri Mosque in December 1992, fresh assembly elections in UP were held in 1993. Rajesh Agarwal was then given a BJP ticket from Barely city constituency.

Since then, Agarwal had kept the party flag flying in his traditional seat of Bareily city and then the Bareily Cant.

During the coalition government of the BJP with BSP in 1990s, Agarwal was inducted in state cabinet for the first time and then held the post of deputy speaker of UP Vidhan sabha from 2003 to 2007. He was also selected as the treasurer in Partys state unit.

Known for his gentle nature, Agarwal has maintained good relation with people in his constituency. He still sits at his old office in Bareily city. It was the connect with people which fuelled his electoral success.

INDUCTION AND OUSTER

In 2017 as Yogi Adityanath emerged as a surprise pick for the chief minister in UP, Rajesh was brought in as the cabinet minister for finance. The portfolio was allotted since Agarwal was one of the senior most party MLA and someone who had a hold on business and financial issues.

However his tenure was surprisingly cut short in 2019 after he was dropped from the cabinet citing health reasons. It was rumoured that the Chief Minister was not happy with the way he was handling the office.

Since then Agarwal had been lying low. It was being speculated that he might be offered a good posting like a governor of any state, but his appointment as the national treasurer for the party has come as a bigger surprise.

It is being speculated that, Agarwals appointment comes with political concerns for the assembly elections in 2022. The party has not only given a message to the prominent Vashiya community, it has also tried to balance the internal dynamics of the party with his appointment.

The concern is reflected in other choices made from within the state. While Rekha verma is from the Kurmi backward caste, Vinod Sonkar is a Dalit and Harish Dwivedi is a young Brahmin face from eastern Uttar Pradesh.
- Out of 244 new cases reported on Sunday, 228 were Kenyans and 16 foreign nationals

- The number of positive cases reported daily seem to be increasing and surpassing the 200 mark since Friday 25

- Over the past two weeks, the country has been recording less than 200 cases daily thus raising confidence the infections curve was flattening

- President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to announce new containment measures not later than Tuesday, September 29

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Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe has announced 244 new cases of COVID-19 in the country pushing Kenya's cumulative number of infections to 38,115.

In a statement to newsrooms on Sunday, September 27, Kagwe said the new cases included 157 males and 87 females. The youngest patient was a three-months-old infant while the eldest was 85-years-old.

READ ALSO: Agikuyu elders ordain Peter Kenneth as community's cultural ambassador

Heath CS Mutahi Kagwe during a past virtual conference. Photo: MoH.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: ODM pulls out of 2 by-elections after Jubilee opts to skip Msambweni race

The CS said the new cases were identified after examination of 3,707 samples between Saturday, September 26 and Sunday 27.

Number of recoveries rose to 24,621 after discharge of 40 patients. Thirty (30) of those discharged were from the home-based care programme while 10 patients were discharged from various hospitals.

READ ALSO: David Ole Sankok amkabidhi DP Ruto ng'ombe: "Wewe ni rafiki yangu wa kweli, rais mtarajiwa"

Two more patients died in the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 691.

Distribution of cases

Nairobi accounted for 63 cases, Nakuru had 58, Kisii (23), Garissa (16), Kisumu (1), Mombasa (13) while Kiambu recorded 10 cases.

Other cases were from Busia (nine), Trans Nzoia (seven), Turkana (six), Kajiado (five), Kericho (five), Uasin Gishu (two), Narok (two), Laikipia (two) and Siaya (two).

Kakamega, Marsabit, Bungoma, Meru, Muranga, Nyeri and Tharaka Nithi had a single case each.

READ ALSO: Mother of woman who claimed she knowingly infected men with HIV speaks out: "I don't hate my daughter"

Ease restrictions

The 244 new cases reported on Sunday came at a time when Kenyans were expecting President Uhuru Kenyatta to lift restrictions that have been in place since March 2020 when the pandemic landed in Kenya.

Uhuru is expected to address the country not later than Tuesday, September 29 and review existing containment measures.

Among measures Kenyans want lifted include the 9pm to 4am curfew and a green light to be given to bars to resume operations.

Over the past two weeks, the country has been recording less than 200 positive cases every day, but the cases seem to have started crossing the 200 mark since Friday 25, save for Saturday 26 when 164 tested positive.

READ ALSO: KTN journalist, news director dies in grisly accident along Kajiado-Namanga road

Flattening of curve

Last week, CS Kagwe confirmed that the infections curved was flattening but urged citizens to continue exercising caution to avoid resurgence.

"In the course of this month, we have been on a positivity rate of below 5%. WHO proposes that if this goes on for 14 days then a nation has begun flattening the curve. However, events across the globe indicate a new wave of COVID-19 cases," said Kagwe.

His remarks were echoed by Director-General of Health Patrick Amoth who said the country had reported a positivity rate of less than 5% for the past two weeks, which according to WHO is an indicator for flattening of the curve.

"We are past inflexion point. We, however, urge citizens not to let down their guard lest we experience a resurgence and enter the second phase of infections," cautioned Amoth.

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FILE PHOTO: A woman walks past a TV broadcasting file footage for a news report on North Korea firing an unidentified projectile, in Seoul

By Hyonhee Shin and Sangmi Cha

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un apologised on Friday for the shooting death of a South Korean man to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, the South's national security adviser said, as public and political outrage over the killing grew.

The apology came in a letter from the North's United Front Department, which handles cross-border ties, to South Korean President Moon Jae-in a day after South Korean officials said the North's soldiers killed the man, doused his body in fuel and set it on fire.

The rare conciliatory message from the North Korean leader came as Moon faced intense political fallout over the incident, which coincided with a renewed push by him for engagement with North Korea.

"Chairman Kim Jong Un asked to convey his feeling that he is greatly sorry that an unexpected unsavoury incident occurred in our waters which hugely disappointed President Moon Jae-in and compatriots in the South," the adviser, Suh Hoon, told reporters.

Suh said the letter was a response to requests for an explanation for the incident and included a promise to prevent any recurrence.

North Korea expressed hope the incident would not undermine recent efforts to foster trust, Suh said, adding Moon and Kim had exchanged letters this month.

Moon praised Kim's "strong resolve to save lives" and steer anti-virus and flood recovery work in his Sept. 8 letter, his office said.

In a Sept. 12 reply, Kim said Moon would win the battle against the coronavirus and "good things" would happen later.

The leaders have held three summits and signed pacts to ease tension since 2018, but relations have soured since the collapse last year of a second summit between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump, at which Moon had offered to mediate.

DEFECTION OR ACCIDENT?

The shooting of the man, a fisheries official who had gone missing this week, shocked South Koreans and sparked a barrage of criticism from the opposition and the public, prompting an unusually tough response from Moon, who called it "unpardonable".

Story continues

Critics accused Moon of failing to save a citizen's life while being soft on North Korea, saying the military did not attempt to save him despite spotting him six hours before he was shot dead.

South Korean officials said the man has run up debt and likely sought to defect to the North. But his brother refuted that, saying he had just got a new boat and must have had some sort of accident.

"Not everyone who has debts wants to go to the North," the brother, Lee Rae-jin, said on social media.

"What the military was doing when he was floating around our waters for almost a day?"

The North's soldiers fired more than 10 shots at the man after he tried to flee without revealing his identity, Suh said, citing the letter.

But the North Korean side denied burning his body, saying the soldiers had burned a floatation device he was using in line with their anti-virus procedures, Suh said.

Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said the apology showed Kim did not want the incident to escalate but it remained highly contentious in the South.

"The letter showed Kim's willingness to quickly resolve the situation but publicly it's a very sensitive matter," Yang said.

The shooting came a day after Moon proposed a new initiative including North Korea to the U.N. General Assembly and called for a formal termination of the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in an armistice, a long-standing North Korean demand.

But opposition politicians derided Moon's olive branch.

"Now is not the time to speak of ending the war," said Thae Young-ho, a former North Korean diplomat who is now an opposition lawmaker. He called for a formal investigation.

(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin and Sangmi Cha; Editing by Jack Kim, Robert Birsel)
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians has interrupted his meeting with Pope Francis I and is immediately returning to Armenia.

He has issued a statement stating the following:

Dear Armenians,

Early this morning, the Azerbaijani armed forces violated the ceasefire again and made an attack along the entire length of the line of contact, shelling peaceful settlement of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), including the capital Stepanakert.

The Armenian land of Artsakh is calling all of us again to protect the rights of our nation, our sacred land, our future and our national dignity.

We call on our people to unite and call on all political forces to place the needs for homeland defense above their differences.

At this moment, while I am on a visit to Italy where I was supposed to meet with Pope Francis I, I am interrupting the visit and returning to Armenia immediately.

May God be with Artsakh and support our brave soldiers and commanders.
Girl, it was so good to finally see you!

Like everyone who was set to attend Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving in March, my ticket went unused. COVID-19 made sure of thatas every museum, restaurant, bar and boutique in town closed, and we all hunkered down at home. This week for the first time, the de Young Museum welcomes back visitors (with limited capacity and strict safety guidelines). At last, culture can officially be had again.

Can you hear the sound of Frida-philes rejoicing?

And celebrate they should: This look at the Mexican artist and cultural icon is a distinctly personal one (our favorite kind). It features a treasure trove of possessions from La Casa Azul, Kahlo's home in the Coyoacan neighborhood of Mexico City. The Blue House is where she spent most of her lifeas in, she was born there and died there (at age 47). It's also the place she famously shared with her also-very-famous husband and muralist, Diego Rivera.

After Kahlo's death in 1954, Rivera had her personal items locked away. They didn't see the light of day until 50 years later when they were rediscovered in the house, which had since become the Museo Frida Kahlo, a constantly sold-out must-see for visitors to CDMX. A selection of these intimate Frida thingsphotographs, clothing, jewelry, cosmetics, prosthetics, medicines, letters, documents, and drawingsare the lifeblood of the exhibition. Kahlo paintings and objects from the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco round out and complement the narrative.

Kahlo's striking appearance is known to virtually everyone on the planet, her visage and singular style of dress immortalized in her many self-portraits and through the images by rockstar photographers including Nickolas Muray, Imogen Cunningham, and Edward Weston. Immediately, we recognize the unibrowed face, the flower crowns, bold jewelry, and colorful Mexican garb.

(Courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco) Nickolas Muray, "Frida with Olmeca Figurine, Coyoacan"  Nickolas Muray Photo Archives.

Similarly, the basic outline of Kahlo's dramatic life story is well known: A child of the Mexican Revolution, she was first disabled by polio as a toddler and then suffered lifelong injury and serious medical issues, including the eventual amputation of her right leg, due to a bus accident as a teen. She married the wildly important artist Rivera and they traveled around the U.S. together mostly for his work, but ultimately Kahlo became an artist in her own right, known mostly for her surrealist self-portraits. After she died, Fridamania ensued.

This pretty much sums up the extent of my pre-exhibit knowledge of Frida Kahlo. (What? That Salma Hayek biopic was like 20 years ago.) But as I whirled through the easy-to-navigate exhibitthere was only one social-distancing kerfufflewith eyes wide and open heart, I learned much about this enigmatic woman. She made art out of pain (those painted plaster corsets!), and her identity was shaped by a mix of politics, gender, disability, and a fierce love of her native country.

Blown away, I was.

No surprise, my favorite section was the final one, where 20 traditional Tehuana looks from Kahlo's wardrobe steal the spotlight. The indelible and intentional way she put her outfits together is the ultimate form of sartorial self-expression, a huge part of her appeal for many. The regiment of mannequins are clothed in long ruffed skirts, shawls (rebozos) and huipils, aka boxy blouses/tunics. Colors are bright, prints are many. And it's really cool to see a garment IRL next to the masterpiece in which it's featured.

Here are a few more FK things I learned/loved:

Her dad was German, and a photographer. Many of the amazing black-and-white childhood photos of Frida and her family were taken by her father. Kahlo changed his name from Carl Wilhelm to Guillermo when he immigrated to Mexico as a young adult in the 1890s.

Many of the amazing black-and-white childhood photos of Frida and her family were taken by her father. Kahlo changed his name from Carl Wilhelm to Guillermo when he immigrated to Mexico as a young adult in the 1890s. Those signature flower crowns weren't crowns at all. Mesmerized, I watched the silent footage of La Casa Azul playing on the giant screen in the middle of the exhibit. Rivera walks up to his wife with a fistful of fresh blooms. She sweetly pecks his cheek and then grabs a stem, one at a time, and effortlessly weaves it into her glorious, raven tresses. Voila, in mere seconds, her chic crown-not-crown is complete.

Mesmerized, I watched the silent footage of La Casa Azul playing on the giant screen in the middle of the exhibit. Rivera walks up to his wife with a fistful of fresh blooms. She sweetly pecks his cheek and then grabs a stem, one at a time, and effortlessly weaves it into her glorious, raven tresses. Voila, in mere seconds, her chic crown-not-crown is complete. She loved her doctors and paid them in artwork. My favorite: Still Life, painted for her dentist and friend Samuel Fastlicht in 1948. This colorful piece stars beautifully ripe fruits and vegetables clustered around a tiny ceramic dog that's one of the ancient pre-Hispanic pieces Kahlo and Rivera collected. Also on display is the famous Self-Portrait Dedicated to Dr. Leo Eloesser (1940). Dr. E was not just her doctor but her best friend and confidante.

My favorite: Still Life, painted for her dentist and friend Samuel Fastlicht in 1948. This colorful piece stars beautifully ripe fruits and vegetables clustered around a tiny ceramic dog that's one of the ancient pre-Hispanic pieces Kahlo and Rivera collected. Also on display is the famous Self-Portrait Dedicated to Dr. Leo Eloesser (1940). Dr. E was not just her doctor but her best friend and confidante. She took pride in her unibrow and embraced her mustache . Kahlo refused to pluck her eyebrows; instead, she emphasized and exaggerated them in her self-portraits. She was also A-OK with her visible mustacheher androgynous features were integral to her identity and complex sexuality. She said: "Of my face, I like the eyebrows and the eyesI have the mustache and, in general, the face of the opposite sex."

. Kahlo refused to pluck her eyebrows; instead, she emphasized and exaggerated them in her self-portraits. She was also A-OK with her visible mustacheher androgynous features were integral to her identity and complex sexuality. She said: "Of my face, I like the eyebrows and the eyesI have the mustache and, in general, the face of the opposite sex." San Francisco deeply impacted her life. Her first visit to SF came in 1930 while accompanying her husband as he worked on murals in the city. Just 23 at the time, Kahlo was inspired by the ethnic diversity of the city and began dressing in her now-famous indigenous Tehuana style. (The voluminous garments were also a sly way to hide her disability.) She also began painting seriously during this trip. She returned to the city in 1940 for medical treatment and to remarry Riverathey had divorced the year before. P.S. Kahlo referred to the U.S. as Gringolandia (lol).

OK, your turn! Reserve a ticket and see what objects and stories resonate with you. I'll be here, ahem, growing out my eyebrows. P.P.S. The Frida gift shop is so good.

// Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving runs at the de Young Museum through February 7th, 2021; 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive (Golden Gate Park), deyoung.famsf.org
Suzanne Wong, 33, launched Pink Cloud Beauty Co in 2018, a range of drinkable vitamins now stocked in Boots, Superdrug, Holland & Barrett, Harrods Pharmacy and Harvey Nichols.

She lives in Manchester with Paul, her partner, who also works for the company.

I was working in sales and marketing and my partner Paul used to have an online health food business and bring home products for me to try.

Suzanne Wong, 33, who lives in Manchester with her partner Paul, launched Pink Cloud Beauty Co in 2018 - a range of drinkable vitamins stocked in leading drug stores

Soon, I was taking a cocktail of different tablets and potions each day to get my vitamin hit. Paul called it my witches brew.

He would see me holding my nose and throwing things down, and say: Isnt there just one product with all these things in it?

I looked into it and there really wasnt. So I realised there was a gap in the market for a simple, all-in-one supplement that was easy to take and tasted great.

Doing my research, I discovered that vitamins in liquid form have better bioavailability  the proportion of a substance that your body absorbs.

So I decided to launch a range of drinkable vitamins.

Because I didnt have a background in nutrition, it was important to me that we got the science right. I was lucky to find a team of industry experts to advise me.

The company sells a variety of products, including pink-lemonade-flavoured drinkable vitamins and as well beetroot which makes the striking pink colour

They helped me identify what was feasible while adhering to the strict legislation.

Then I took away the samples and tried them (I dont sell anything I havent tried myself).

We launched with pink-lemonade-flavoured Beauty Drinkable Vitamins in July 2018, which contains marine collagen, biotin, selenium and vitamins C and E.

And by adding beetroot we made it a beautiful pink colour, which made it a hit on Instagram.

By June 2019 we had added the Focus, Relax and Hair supplements. Then Superdrug started stocking us. We won silver at the 2019 Pure Beauty Awards in the Best New British Brand category.

Its been hard work. I still have a job on the side, but weve boomed since March: web sales are up by 355 per cent.

The name Pink Cloud comes from evening walks Paul and I used to go across Saddleworth Moor in the Peak District. Its quite high up there and the sky was always this brilliant pink colour. I loved the idea of something so natural and yet so beautiful, which mirrors the ethos of the business.
London:

An online petition seeking cancellation of US President Donald Trumps State Visit to the UK has quickly crossed the one-million signature-mark to be considered for a debate in British Parliament, amid international uproar over his controversial immigration ban on people from seven Muslim nations.

The petition titled Prevent Donald Trump from making State Visit to the United Kingdom on the UK Parliament website had been created on Saturday afternoon and rapidly collected the 100,000 signatures needed for it to be considered for a debate in the House of Commons.

The issue will be discussed in the House of Commons on Tuesday for a date to be set for the debate.

Donald Trump should be allowed to enter the UK in his capacity as head of the US Government, but he should not be invited to make an official State Visit because it would cause embarrassment to Her Majesty the Queen, the petition reads.

ALSO READ | US checking immigrants' social media accounts for political view before issuing visa

Donald Trumps well-documented misogyny and vulgarity disqualify him from being received by Her Majesty the Queen or the Prince of Wales. Therefore, during the term of his presidency Donald Trump should not be invited to the United Kingdom for an official State Visit, it adds.

British Prime Minister Theresa May had communicated the invitation to Trump on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II during her US visit last week.

Downing Street has indicated that it has no plans of withdrawing the invitation for the state visit, which involves lavish pomp and ceremony, often with a stay at Buckingham Palace hosted by Queen Elizabeth II.

We extended the invite and it was accepted, a Downing Street statement said. UK Opposition parties have also called for a postponement of the visit, scheduled for June this year.

Theresa May would be failing the British people if she does not postpone the state visit and condemn Trumps actions in the clearest terms. That?s what Britain expects and deserves, Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn said.

Palace has so far declined to comment on the controversy gathering momentum in the wake of the US Presidents executive order that temporarily suspends all immigration for citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days.

UK foreign secretary Boris Johnson?has secured assurances from the White House that the vast majority of British citizens with dual nationality of countries on the list will be exempt from the new US travel ban.

Trump has provoked a fierce backlash after his ban on people from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from travelling to America.

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By Trend

Armenia is responsible for destabilizing the situation in the region, the Turkish presidential administration told Trend.

"By its destructive position, Armenia continues to ruin all efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict peacefully," the Turkish presidential administration said. "The world community must act immediately, condemn Armenias actions and impose sanctions against the aggressor. Turkey once again confirms its full support to Azerbaijan and no matter what decision Azerbaijan will make, Turkey will support a fraternal country."

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

Trend:

Azerbaijan will never negotiate with the puppet junta regime, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said making an appeal to the people of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

Armenia's provocations are also reflected in the statements made by the Armenian leadership. A year ago, the Armenian prime minister said in the occupied territories, in Khankandi, that Karabakh is Armenia, full stop. First of all, it is a lie, Karabakh is Azerbaijan, and I have repeatedly expressed my views on this issue. Karabakh is Azerbaijan, an exclamation mark! Secondly, this provocative statement was in fact a major blow to the negotiations. If the prime minister of Armenia says that Karabakh is Armenia, then what kind of talks can there be?! At the same time, the Armenian leadership has been repeatedly stating for two years that Azerbaijan should negotiate not with Armenia, but with the so-called Nagorno-Karabakh republic. This is a big blow to the negotiation process. First of all, Azerbaijan will never negotiate with the puppet junta regime. Secondly, attempts to change the format of talks show once again that Armenia's main goal is to disrupt the talks and maintain the status quo. However, the heads of state of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs have repeatedly stated that the status quo is unacceptable, which means that the occupation must end, the head of state said.

President Ilham Aliyev noted that Armenia's provocations against us do not end at that.

Armenia's provocations against us do not end at that. Recently, the swearing-in ceremony of the head of the so-called criminal junta was held in Shusha, an ancient city of our ancient Azerbaijan. Isn't this a provocation? This is an insult to us. They thought that we would put up with this insult. They are deliberately provoking us and they will see the bitter consequences. Recently, a decision was made by the so-called parliament of the Nagorno-Karabakh republic to settle people in the ancient Azerbaijani city of Shusha. This is another provocation. Recently, the prime minister of Armenia announced that voluntary military units would be established, bringing together tens of thousands of people. Why is this necessary? Who will they fight against? This was part of the preparations for today's provocation against Azerbaijan. I have said several times, including from the UN platform recently, that Armenia is preparing for a new war, and Armenia must and will be stopped, the head of state said.
The opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Sunday promised to provide 10 lakh permanent government jobs if the Grand Alliance is voted to power in the assembly election in Bihar.

Leader of the opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav who has made unemployment in the state an election issue to accuse the Nitish Kumar government of ignoring youths and promoting migration, maintained that the commitment of the RJD to address the joblessness issue was not a poll promise but a strong will.

If our government is formed, we will approve around 10 lakh jobs in the first cabinet. These jobs would be government employment and permanent. There will be advertisements and in a time frame, appointments would be made, Tejashwi said at a press conference, the first after the three-phase election in the state was announced.

The opposition leader said the states unemployment rate was around 46.6%, one of the highest in the country with poverty and migration being the by-product of the joblessness among youths. He said the partys newly launched portal to invite applications from unemployed youths had received 22.58 lakh registrations.

The RJD leader also accused the state government of not providing job avenues and filling up existing vacancies. Tejashwi claimed that there were around 4.50 lakh vacancies while 5.50 lakh more appointments were required in police, health and other departments.

He attacked the government over health infrastructure and said that according to the WHO standards there should be one doctor for 1,000 population whereas in Bihar it was one doctor for a population of 17,000.

That way, we need 1.25 lakh new doctors. Besides, an adequate number of lab technicians, nurses and pharmacists adding to the number of people required is 2.5 lakh in the health department alone, he said.

Tejashwi also said the number of policemen in the state was inadequate with around 50,000 vacancies. He also said that there was a requirement of three lakh teachers for schools and colleges.  There is also a need for engineers, clerks and secretariat staff. Our objective is to address the unemployment issue, he said.

Meanwhile, deputy chief minister-cum-finance minister Sushil Kumar Modi made an oblique attack on Tejashwi for promising 10 lakh jobs.

Those talking of providing jobs in the first cabinet should first issue a white paper on their 15-year-old misrule and how 118 massacres, B.Ed scam and other scams took place. During the RJD rule, there were 5 lakh vacancies. Had those been filled by the then government, 1.35 lakh people from backward classes would have got jobs, he said.

Modi also obliquely took potshots at jailed RJD chief Lalu Prasad on the latters various corruption charges, stating that the heir apparent of one who gives jobs in lieu of land is talking of providing 10 lakh jobs. Who will believe him? he said.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anirban Guha Roy A journalist for 21 years, Anirban covers RJD, legislature and government beats. Has extensive experience in covering elections and writes regularly on finance, land reforms, registration, excise and socio-economic issues. ...view detail
Haryana Congress president Kumari Selja on Sunday asked JJP leader and deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala to snap ties with BJP-led national democratic alliance (NDA) on the issue of enactment of three anti-farmer legislations by the Parliament.

While addressing a press conference, Selja said Dushyant should wake up from his slumber and act now. Please do not wait for the minimum support price (MSP) to be done away with. The entire farming community is looking at you and your stance on the issue. How can you sit quiet and support a government which is anti-farmer? This is an unholy alliance (between the BJP and JJP), the state Congress chief said.

Referring to the breaking of ties by Shiromani Akal Dal (SAD) with the NDA, Selja said it was a drama staged by the SAD leadership. The SAD did not say anything initially when the three farm ordinances were promulgated. However, they woke up when they saw that farmers in Punjab have taken to streets, she said, adding that Dushyant should also follow in the Akali Dals footsteps by listening to protesting farmers.
Looking for something a little different to do? Something a little creative? Then check out Culture Days in St. Catharines.

The event, which is celebrated across the country, has been expanded into a monthlong event in St. Catharines. It began Friday and will run until Oct. 25. The event is run by the arts and culture community and offers free activities.

There are online and in-person activities, including painting workshops, drawing, illustration, performance and more. Online activities include art, theatre music, film and puppets.

FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre is offering free socially distanced or online performances and film screenings.

One of the activities offered Saturday was a socially distanced puppeteering workshop hosted by theatre company Carousel Players, held at Pearson Park in St. Catharines.

After six months of lockdown measures and limited social contact, participants are more than happy to have a little fun outside.

We are all in theatre, this is our little bubble. We love to create things, said Wendy Mackie who was there with two of her friends, life-sized puppet in tow. We are all community theatre people and everything is closed. We like to support any theatre that is doing anything. Its something to be outside and being in nature in a safe way.

Monica Dufault, executive director of Carousel Players, said the company was looking for a way to engage the community during Culture Days outside.

We thought of making bug puppets so people can be far apart and safe but still enjoy a live performance, she said.

This is a participatory performance. We have put a tutorial on our website so people can build their own giant puppet at home and then come to the field and we are basically doing a puppet dance together.

Circles large enough to fit a family and life-sized puppet were laid out on the ground about three metres apart. During the workshop, participants were taught how to make their puppets dance.

We planned this before the new restrictions on outdoor gatherings so we have planned for 100 people. We had to, unfortunately, minimize that to 25 participants, said Dufault.

Said Victoria Kyoto, as she waited for the workshop to begin, Theyve been very good at expressing all the protocols especially when the government came down with the harder rules.

It put a kibosh on some of the plans they had but they adjusted, they adapted and obviously there are a lot people looking at participating and having a lot of fun today.

Carousel Players is also hosting a scavenger hunt in downtown St. Catharines that runs the whole length of the event.

We have partnered with nine different businesses and we have taken props and costumes and set pieces from our past 39 seasons of performing and we have put little displays in different shops downtown. There is a secret message that families can go and find all of the clues and put together the message and we have prizes for people who solve the message, you are entered into a draw. Or if you take pictures of yourself with some of the clues, you can send us your photos and well put all of photos we receive will be entered into the draw, said Dufault.

For more information or a detailed list of upcoming events, visit Carousel Players Facebook Page, Culture Days in St. Catharines, or stcatharines.ca/en/experiencein/Culture-Days.asp.
Laurence Fox is launching a new political party to fight the 'culture wars' named Reclaim, and he has already raised more than 5million.

The actor, 42, has received substantial sums from former Tory donors and hopes to stand dozens of candidates across the UK.

The Lewis star says he wants to provide a movement for people who are 'tired of being told that we represent the very thing we have, in history, stood together against'.

It comes as Nigel Farage has also threatened to launch an anti-lockdown party after criticising Boris Johnson's draconian measures to curb the rise in coronavirus cases.

Laurence Fox is launching a new political party to fight the culture wars and has already raised more than 5million

The actor, 42, has received substantial sums from former Tory donors and hopes to stand dozens of candidates across the UK

The Lewis star claims he has already raised 5million for the party which has not yet been approved by the Electoral Commission

Among Fox's aims in his new party are reforming the BBC and celebrating Britain's contribution to the world, according to The Telegraph.

The party is provisionally called Reclaim and has a website named LaurenceFoxParty.

He hopes to launch the party next month and the name is subject to the Electoral Commission's approval.

His website states: 'Over many years it has become clear that our politicians have lost touch with the people they represent and govern. Moreover, our public institutions now work to an agenda beyond their main purpose.

Among his aims are reforming the BBC, protecting free speech and celebrating Britain's contribution to the world

Among the early proponents of the new party are Julia Hartley-Brewer, Darren Grimes and Toby Young who said Fox's contribution to politics was 'exciting news'

'Our modern United Kingdom was born out of the respectful inclusion of so many individual voices. It is steeped in the innate values of families and communities, diverse in the truest sense but united in the want and need to call this island home.

'The people of the United Kingdom are tired of being told that we represent the very thing we have, in history, stood together against.

'We are all privileged to be the custodians of our shared heritage. We can reclaim a respectful nation where all are included and none are ashamed to have somewhere to call home.'

He added: 'I have been so encouraged by the support I have received by those wishing to add their voices to this reclamation of our values.

'Our country is now in desperate need of a new political movement which promises to make our future a shared endeavour, not a divisive one. This is now my endeavour.'

Many on social media are divided over the news, with some celebrating an alternative to the current options in politics, while others derided Fox and his views

Fox, who has been a fierce critic of the BBC, sparked controversy when he said suggestions of 'racism' over how the Duchess of Sussex was treated in some quarters was 'boring'.

He also hit out at black and working class actors for complaining about the industry once they have 'five million quid in the bank'.

A Westminster source said the new party is a version of UKIP for the culture wars and believes it could attract hundreds of thousands of unhappy Conservative voters.

Sources close to Fox said the party does not see itself as strictly left or right wing but will be a broad church.

Reclaim so far has three objectives, which include protecting free speech, reforming publicly funded institutions, and preserving and celebrating Britain's cultural history.

Planning has been underway for the last two months and backers include former Tory donor Jeremy Hosking.

Staff are already being recruited for the party after Fox was launched into the political arena after his performance on Question Time in January.

Meanwhile, Nigel Farage has also revealed he is considering launching a new party to challenge the current lockdown measures.

The Brexit Party leader heaped pressure on the Prime Minister, saying the current restrictions are a threat to freedom.

He told The Times: 'We stood aside for Boris Johnson's government, now many are questioning why we bothered.'

Nigel Farage has threatened to start an anti-lockdown party as he criticises Boris Johnson's draconian measures to curb the rise in coronavirus cases

He previously lambasted the government's measures, accusing Mr Johnson of adopting an 'authoritarian' response to the crisis.

The former UKIP tweeted earlier this week: '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.'
For Jennie Ballesteros, having the wings of a United Airlines flight attendant ceremonially pinned to her chest was the fulfillment of a dream she'd held onto for years - ever since some crew members she served as a waitress told her she might have what it takes.

"I'm going to make it," Ballesteros recalls thinking. "I'm going to have some security. A retirement. A 401(k). This is an amazing job. I was just so happy."

It was Jan. 2.

"I said, '2020 is going to be my year.' "

Soon, news of a novel coronavirus from Wuhan, China, began spreading. In her first few months on the job, the 29-year-old was working evacuation flights as people sought to get to their home countries as the world locked down.

Now she's on the verge of seeing her long-held dream end, facing being furloughed as one of 16,300 United employees - and more than 35,000 across the airline industry - set to be out of a job come Thursday. It's another devastating blow for an industry facing a crisis analysts say is already far worse than it experienced after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and one that has already seen employment in air transportation decline by 100,000 jobs according to one measure.

The employees facing furlough will be victims of the ongoing devastation the pandemic has inflicted on airlines, which have seen demand for travel drop precipitously since March, but also of a Congress that says it wants to protect their jobs with billions of dollars in aid and yet has been unable to reach agreement on a bill to do so.

"I feel kind of abandoned by our representatives," said Ballesteros, who is based in San Francisco.

Leaders of her union, the Association of Flight Attendants, along with other labor groups and airline heads were in Washington last week to make a final push for an extension of financial aid known as the Payroll Support Program. At a news conference in the shadow of the Capitol on Tuesday afternoon, their frustration was clear.

"What Congress and the administration did back in March was a remarkable effort to save the U.S. economy and to save aviation," United Airlines Chief Executive Scott Kirby said. His airline, which employs 79,000 people, received $5 billion in the first coronavirus relief package.

"But this is taking longer than most people expected six months ago and the reality is we need to do more to keep those professionals and to keep their support of the economy intact."

Lawmakers say they didn't intend to create a precipice when they gave airlines an initial $25 billion in aid on the condition that they not lay off workers until October. Like many Americans, they expected the virus to be under control by now. Instead, it continues to spread and air travel is stuck at about 700,000 passengers a day, a third of its normal rate.

The prospects of a deal remain uncertain, with Democrats and Republicans still haggling over a broader relief package, of which help for the airlines would likely have to be a part.

- - -

Airline employees are far from the only workers suffering as the pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the U.S. economy. But their situation is particularly dramatic because the industry is concentrated in a few very large and very visible companies, and there is a bright deadline on the calendar. Airline industry employees may not come to mind when many Americans think of "essential workers." But airline employees say they have risked their own health to keep planes in the air during the pandemic, transporting those who had to travel and moving essential goods, including medical supplies. Some 45 to 50 percent of freight typically moves in passenger jets.

The more than 35,000 facing furlough are only part of the industry's story. Tens of thousands more have already taken unpaid leave, or left their airlines for good. Others have seen hours cut and worry about pay cuts this fall.

More than 1,800 U.S.airline planes remain parked - a third of the industry's fleet - and cuts to service are likely to follow the job losses.

Though the aviation industry took a hit from 9/11, a different coronavirus outbreak in 2003 and a deep recession in 2008, economists say those episodes - while painful - pale in comparison to this year's calamity.

Labor Department figures released this month show there are more than 100,000 fewer air transportation jobs in the U.S. than in March, a decline of more than 20 percent.

"This is just unprecedented," said Joseph Sobieralski, an airline labor expert at Purdue University.

That overall figure goes beyond airlines to cover both passenger air travel and cargo-related employment, and doesn't include many support jobs and the layoffs put on hold by the federal bailout. But the number is a good stand-in for gauging the severity of the downturn, Sobieralski said.

The uncertainty of life in pandemic-stricken America has made for a historic crisis for airlines and their employees.

"The 9/11 situation was abrupt. It was shocking. It knocked people back on their heels. This situation seems to be a little bit more sinister, simply because we don't know," said Eric Jones, chair of the maintenance science department at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a former mechanic for Southwest Airlines. "There's a sense of unknowing about, well, when is covid going to recede? When is this vaccine going to happen?"

Furloughed employees will have the right to be called back to their old jobs, but industry leaders and analysts expect the recovery to take years.

The Trump administration has faced sharp criticism for downplaying and mismanaging the pandemic, and for failing to put in place a national testing infrastructure and other measures that could slow the virus's spread and give airline passengers and others the confidence to resume a more normal life.

Daniel Elwell, deputy administrator at the Federal Aviation Administration, recently told state aviation leaders that the government is consulting with airlines and international officials on plans to "incentivize travel while keeping passengers safe and healthy," and said details would be forthcoming. The goal, Elwell told the National Association of State Aviation Officials, is not "to create zero risk or to eliminate any chance of covid," but rather to "bring the highest level of health security into the system without making it so burdensome that we can't fly."

Individual airlines have adopted different strategies in response to the crisis. United and American Airlines began warning of mass furloughs in the summer. But Delta Air Lines has been able to avoid doing so, instead using the summer to convince 40,000 of the 90,000 people it employed in March to go on temporary unpaid leave and another 17,000 to accept separation packages. The company received $5.4 billion from the payroll support program.

Delta's leaders have praised employees' willingness to make sacrifices for the good of the company, but two flight attendants interviewed described receiving a barrage of emails that left them feeling intensely pressured to leave.

"I definitely feel like that was implied, you're a bad employee if you don't take the leave," said one of the flight attendants, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because she feared retaliation and like nearly all Delta employees, is not protected by a union.

Delta, in a statement, said the decision about whether to take a leave, "was left up to each individual Delta employee to make on behalf of themselves and their families."

"Delta people have done everything to step up during this pandemic which is completely a function of our unique culture and why there will be no involuntary furloughs for Delta front-line ground and flight attendants in the U.S.," the company said.

United and American, which are heavily unionized, kept most employees on their payrolls, and the two airlines account for nearly all of the coming job losses. American, which accepted $5.8 billion in payroll support, is preparing to furlough 19,000 of its 107,000 employees. Chief Executive Doug Parker said that with his company burning through $1 billion a month, he has no choice but to move forward.

"As painful as it is that is absolutely what we would have to do," Parker said in a phone interview from the airline's Washington office, where he spent the week pursuing the campaign for more federal assistance.

Should the money come through, Parker and Kirby both said they expect demand for travel to be robust enough in six months that the industry will be ready to start standing on its own again.

However, Parker said if workers are furloughed, the airline won't be able to quickly rehire enough people to match that demand because they will require months of retraining, something he said could hamper a broader economic recovery.

"It would be a really bad thing for American Airlines and it would be a really bad thing for our country," he said.

Southwest, which also is largely unionized, is trying to avoid that situation, agreeing to pay thousands of its employees not to come to work - for up to five years in the case of pilots - or to retire early.

The carrier, which employs 62,000, received $3.3 billion from the payroll program. Southwest has also raised more than $15 billion by borrowing, selling assets and leasing them back and issuing new stock.

With its "Extended Emergency Time Off" program, the company is trying to stop hemorrhaging money on salaries, but still maintain ties with employees it has already spent large sums training and hopes it will eventually need again.

The volunteers keep a significant chunk of their wages and all their benefits. About 12,500 employees are participating. Pilots were offered about half of their pay, a Southwest pilot said in an interview, though the company declined to provide specific compensation figures. The company can call the pilots back to work with a minimum of 30 days notice, but said it would try volunteers first "if additional pilots are ever needed."

More than 4,200 flight attendants, mechanics, pilots, and customer service and ground crew workers have agreed to leave Southwest altogether, the airline said in a regulatory filing. Employees said the departures were sweetened with generous incentive packages.

Avoiding layoffs is a point of pride at Southwest, something the company boasts it has never had to do in its 49-year history. Chief Executive Gary Kelly said Southwest is not planning pay cuts or involuntary furloughs this year either, though "we will continue to plan for multiple weak scenarios and maintain our preparedness."

While avoiding the pain of layoffs, the thousands of early retirements and departures have made for a tumultuous, and at times emotional, stretch at the airline.

"The great thing is, you're getting rid of your top earners," said the Southwest pilot, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because employees are not authorized to speak to media. "It helps all of us."

But the idea of cutting short their careers and time in the cockpit was a struggle for many, the pilot said.

"A lot of these guys just love it. They love what they do," the pilot said. "But the package was so good it really made people think. There are a lot of people who wish they were in a position to take it, myself included."

Some lawmakers have questioned the airlines' efforts to cut labor costs while accepting billions in federal aid meant to shore up their payrolls. Rules for the payroll grant program, part of the massive aid package known as the Cares Act, said airlines could not involuntarily put people out of work or cut pay if they accepted the money, but some airlines interpreted the language to mean that cutting work hours was allowed.

Delta cut hours by 25% for many employees, a policy Delta Chief Executive Ed Bastian said would continue through the end of the year. United sought to force a cut in some 15,000 employees' hours, but backed off under pressure from political leaders and a lawsuit by one of its unions. Several airline contractors are under investigation by House Democrats, accused of laying off workers immediately before receiving the payroll aid money.

Nonetheless, there is broad bipartisan support for renewing the program through April, even among those like Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., who questioned why the Treasury Department allowed companies receiving aid to cut hours. She said she hopes "that it can be reauthorized quickly" and that new safeguards could be included in an extension.

The problem has remained finding a route for turning that support into legislation.

Early last week, Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, who lead committees with responsibility for aviation, introduced a stand-alone bill to extend the payroll protection program. About two dozen other Senators have signed on as co-sponsors of the legislation, including two Democrats.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said the Trump administration wanted lawmakers to pass one-off aid bills, including help for the airlines.

But Democratic leaders in the House have been committed to passing several trillion dollars in aid as a single package. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., who chairs the aviation subcommittee, said he could not foresee a stand-alone bill being successful when there are also local government workers whose jobs are on the line and people are on the verge of being evicted.

"All these folks and more need to have their needs reflected in a covid-19 relief package," Larsen said.

On Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said she would begin crafting a new proposal that would include help for the airlines and took steps to open negotiations with the Trump administration.

For front-line airline workers counting down the days to Oct. 1, the regular struggles of life were magnified to huge proportions by the virus and the impending loss of their livelihoods.

- - -

In March, when President Donald Trump signed the Cares Act, Toni Valentine felt like she finally had time to breathe.

The payroll protection program included in the law offered her assurance she could keep her job as a reservations agent at United, she said, and gave her family stability at a time when so much else in their world was uncertain.

For Valentine, 2019 had been a difficult year: Six months after starting a new job, her husband suffered a massive stroke.

"We lost a whole income, medical benefits," she said. "It just seemed like it happened overnight."

These days, Valentine, 41, who has worked at United for 15 years, finds herself anxious and worried. Worried about supporting six kids. Worried about bills - phone, electricity and gas. Worried about what she'll do if she's furloughed and loses her medical coverage in the midst of a pandemic.

Her family is doing what they can. Her 19-year-old son left college to help her manage, caring for his younger siblings and overseeing their online schooling. She's thankful for that and other small things. Her voice quivered as she recalled how quietly relieved she was that school would be online and not in person: There wasn't any extra money for new school supplies and clothes this year.

And so she prays. And works. And prays. And works. And every day she said it gets just a bit harder.

"I have to put on this brave face and be the best employee I've got to be knowing that . . . I might not have a job," said Valentine, who lives in the Detroit suburbs. "And that's the hardest thing ever."

Andrea' Myers has spent the last few months in a fog of worry. Myers, also a United reservations agent, was diagnosed with cancer in February and had surgery to remove a tumor in March, just as the pandemic was beginning to shut down cities across the country.

Since the hospital only allowed one person to be with her due to coronavirus restrictions, three carloads of relatives sat in the hospital parking lot for nine hours as she underwent surgery. While she was in the hospital recovering, she got covid-19.

But Myers returned to work in July, relieved to still have a job. Then came word of possible furloughs. Now just days from the deadline, she's grappling with the idea she may have to leave the company she's been with for 21 years, losing her health insurance. Her husband was laid off from his job as an electrician, and so was her son, who worked for Hertz.

"We just need to make sure that people understand that we're people," said Myers, 46, who also lives in Detroit. "We're not just a number at United Airlines. We have families. We have things we have to get done."

For Ballesteros, the elation of becoming a flight attendant began to give way to dread as the virus took hold.

In March, she flew on a packed 787 to Munich, returning German residents home from the U.S. At first she was excited to be going to Europe, only to realize she couldn't leave her hotel. And when she was in the van on the way to the hotel, she learned her foster father had had a heart attack.

He'd already been undergoing chemotherapy, and Ballesteros said she had avoided visiting him so as to not potentially expose him to the coronavirus.He died just as she was getting back from Munich.

"I still haven't gone home," she said. "I haven't been able to hug my foster mom."

If there's no aid deal, Ballesteros said she doesn't know what she'll do. At one point it looked like she'd lined up a bartending job at a new restaurant, but because of the pandemic, it's not going to open. Unemployment will barely cover her rent and car payment. She spent her savings to break a lease in Las Vegas and move to San Francisco for the new job.

"I'm at the absolute bottom," she said.

She plans to keep working this week. Then she might have to turn in her company property. But, Ballesteros said, she would keep the wings.
Re: What is the northernmost town I can visit in Canada ?

3. Re: What is the northernmost town I can visit in Canada ?

hi

which polar night would you be happy to experience. Civil or nautical? as that will make a difference to the locations you could visit.

First Air is the scheduled airline that has the most flights to the Arctic.

If you fly to Vancouver there is Air North and Air Canada that gets you close then you have to take other flights from Whitehorse to get as far as Inuvik

Inuvik does get a polar night
California cut $11 billion from its budget, hitting colleges and affordable housing programs. Georgia cut spending by 10 percent, pulling back spending on preschools and programs for the disabled. Tennessee lawmakers cut $1 billion, including transit programs.

New Jersey is charting a different course, increasing overall spending by 4 percent, and kicking off a new program to send checks to nearly 1 million households next summer, worth up to $500 a pop.

If we are outliers on spending, we are also outliers on borrowing.

So far, just one state has tapped into the Federal Reserves loan program for help. Thats Illinois, the only state thats a worse basket case than New Jersey, with an even lower credit rating. And Illinois borrowed $1.2 billion with an agreement to pay it back in one year, a trifle by our standards.

New Jersey is about to borrow $4.5 billion, with a promise to pay it back over 12 years. That will cost us about $450 million a year, considerably more than the new millionaires' tax will raise.

The Democrats, folks, are off the leash.

Even the partys budget chairman, Sen. Paul Sarlo, seemed a bit embarrassed by the lack of discipline. There is a point in time where we need to stop taxing and to do reforms, he said, after a decade with the gavel. Were at the tipping point.

You can make a good case against austerity during a recession. Last month, nearly 100 economist and policy wonks, including Princeton Professor Alan Blinder, a former vice-chairman of the Federal Reserve, signed an open letter to the governor and Legislature warning that spending cuts could deepen the recession, and that raising taxes would be a better solution. Thats the liberal philosophy this budget embraces.

Also, some of the spending is of the sober variety. The budget includes the largest pension payment in history at $4.5 billion, along with the second-largest surplus in history, at $2.5 billion. Thats responsible budgeting, with an eye on the future.

Thatll protect us in the event of a recurrence, says Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, referring to a second-wave of the virus.

Still, I worry. New Jersey is borrowing much more than any other state, and they have pandemics, too. Pew Charitable Trusts studies state finances, and its experts told me that a few other states are considering borrowing, including Rhode Island and Massachusetts. But most are avoiding debt by drawing down surpluses, cutting spending, or raising taxes.

Borrowing money to pay for operating expenses is unusual, says Josh Goodman, a senior officer at Pew.

Even Blinder and his fellow liberal economists didnt go as far as this budget. They cautioned against cuts, but they didnt suggest a tax rebate program that will cost nearly $400 million more a year.

Republicans fumed when this budget passed. Its horrific policy, put forward by an irresponsible governor, with the complete abdication of responsibility on the part of the Democratic Legislature, said Sen Declan OScanlon, R-Monmouth, a senior GOP member of the budget committee.

But Republicans have had no juice in Trenton since Chris Christie left, so Murphy doesnt have to worry much about them, for now.

The surprise to me is that Senate President Steve Sweeney, D-Gloucester, went along with this, even though he looked pained. Hes a centrist who made bipartisan deals with Christie to cut pension and health benefits for public workers, and he spent two years advocating an austerity plan he calls Path to Progress.

Sweeney has been Murphys main rival in Trenton, and has blocked tax increases in the past, saying he wanted to see reforms first. But he caved this time, giving his support in return for a face-saving assurance that the governor will consider his reforms next. Reforms are starting as soon as this budget passes, said Sweeney.

Several other senators said there was little appetite in the caucus for a confrontation during the pandemic, and Sweeney has been making phone calls seeking support for another term as senate president. Also, Sweeney can count and knows that he is outgunned at times like this, when the governor and Coughlin agree.

Coughlin is ascendant in Trenton, along with Kevin McCabe, the party chairman in Middlesex County, who has built a unified team with alliances outside the county. That bloc now controls enough votes in both the Senate and Assembly to dream of rivaling George Norcrosss machine in South Jersey someday.

The tax credit program is monstrously designed. Working poor families wont get a dime; this is all for the middle-class. And single parents wont get as much as married couples.

Coughlin concedes this didnt come from economists or policy experts in the Legislature, but was the work of elected politicians. Thats true, it came from the political side, he said.

And it is great politics, even if it is sloppy policy. What pressured middle-class voter wont feel more kindly towards Democrats next year when that $500 check arrives? And with the big surplus, and the borrowing, its unlikely that Democrats will have to raise taxes or impose big spending cuts next year before the election.

You could call it a political budget because its the re-election budget for Murphy, Sarlo conceded. But its like a two-year budget and thats important. If theres another round of Covid, or the economy doesnt rebound as fast as it should, we have enough safeguards.

For now, Democrats are set up just right, thank you. They got their $700 million in tax hikes, their $1.7 billion in spending hikes, and they have tilted the table for next years vote by preparing this bribe, or tax credit if you prefer. My guess is this alliance between Murphy and Coughlin just might have legs.

More: Tom Moran columns

Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.
San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera says his expanded stay-away orders for suspected drug dealers are no silver bullet for ending the open dealing in the Tenderloin.

And in fact, a review of records shows that 26 of the 28 people in Herreras sights had already been issued a stay-away order. But that didnt stop them from returning, over and over, to set up shop at their favorite corners. And chances are a $6,000 fine for violating the order wont stop them either.

However, the new orders  which take the form of lawsuits and prohibit the 28 from even entering the Tenderloin  could make it easier for police to make more serious arrests.

Heres how it works.

A suspect with prior arrests can be picked up on sight and charged with a misdemeanor if they are within the 50 square blocks covered by the order. When the cops make an arrest for violating the order, they can search and seize any drugs and money the suspect has on them and at the same time hit them with a more serious charge of possession for sale.

Its quick, less costly and takes less time than running undercover operations. At the very least, each stop could mean fewer drugs and less money on the street.

The move, however, is not without controversy  past city injunctions against gangs were criticized for racially profiling minorities, and this latest attempt to clean up the Tenderloin could face the same outcry.

And while Herrera said the proposed injunctions are carefully crafted to safeguard a defendants due process and only targeted out-of-town drug dealers without regard to demographics or membership in any group, 24 of the 28 suspected dealers have Hispanic surnames.

Public Defender Mano Raju is already taking aim.

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.

One-sided fact-gathering leads to injustice, further traumatization of those who are human trafficking victims, further litigation and wasted resources, Raju said in response to the injunction announcement.

Whatever the case, Mayor London Breed, who says the situation in the Tenderloin has never been worse, is ready to give it a try.

San Francisco has become the place to go to sell drugs, Breed said at Thursdays announcement of the plan. And that has got to stop.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Phil Matier appears Sundays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KGO-TV morning and evening news and can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call 415-777-8815, or email pmatier@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @philmatier
Residents and elders of Tefle Tademe, a farming community within the South Tongu District of the Volta region have expressed utmost disgust about the move initiated by members of the separatist group.



The group, calling itself the Homeland Study Group Foundation is advocating the right of self-determination of the people of Western Togoland in their community.



Tsamiga Tordia Dapaah, the chief linguist of Togbui Gbormorde Siame, regent of Tefle Tademe, who spoke on behalf of the Chief, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) they were in shock, when they heard about the activities of the Western Togoland group at the Tademe- Bakpa junction on Friday.



"We never anticipated any move from this so-called Western Togoland group in our area and we are not part of them," Togbui Dapaah said.



He narrated that at about 0200 hours on Friday, the community was woken by loud sounds at the junction causing some drivers plying the Aflao Accra road to divert to other adjoining routes.



"We saw some unknown men and women chanting and singing war songs with logs used as barricades to block the major road causing huge vehicular traffic, when they got to the scene." He said.



He further said the strange and scary scene made it difficult for them to approach the group for questioning saying they were apprehensive of future occurrence and called on the government to stump their authority on the demands of the group.



Mr Benjamin Amekudzi, the Assembly-man for Tefle Electoral Area in an interaction with the GNA said the actions of the group in his area should be condemned.



He said members of the group numbering about 45 burnt lorry tyres and logs to restrain drivers from using the road.



"When we got to the scene, these people managed to stop every car from moving and in the process, some security officers sustained injuries."



Mr. Amekudzi explained that the situation led to rapid security reinforcement with some military and police officers arriving to ensure law and order.



He said three members of the group received gunshot wounds and were currently receiving treatment at the Sogakope District hospital, while others are at large.



Mr. Emmanuel Louis Agamah, District Chief Executive for South Tongu disclosed to the GNA that the activities of the group would be brought under control.



He also said his outfit did not pick any intelligence regarding the actions of the group, but swift security measures would be put in place to suppress their movements.



The GNA observed that heavy Police and Military enforcement had been deployed at the junction to maintain free movement of vehicles.



No arrests were made at the time of the GNA's visit at 1300 hours to the scene of the incident.

Source: GNA









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Loading "I do believe its based on deliverables that we committed to, delivered on time, and show a clear line of sight to having a commercially successful product, he says. BrainChip says it is close to commercialising this new computer chip architecture in a world where the internet-of-everything is taking shape before our very eyes. Neuromorphic chips can process data much faster and more efficiently than traditional computer processors. This is why giants like Intel and IBM are investing in the sector which is expected to grow to a $US65 billion ($92 billion) market by 2025. Its faster processing and energy efficiency advantages make it a clear winner in a world where everyone from electric car manufacturers to drone and surveillance companies need to make sense of vast amounts of information at the edge of networks rather than sending back to a central area to process.

One example given is a neuromorphic chip sitting by the high definition cameras on an e-vehicle. The processor crunches the information on-the-spot to work out whether an object it has detected is a child, or a ball, and sends a message to the car's computer to work out: 'Should I stop' . "What we find the large business opportunity to be is that transcends multiple markets, you can look at consumer goods, smart home applications,  automobiles, drones, medical instrumentation, medical diagnostics," says DiNardo. And there is plenty of room for a player like BrainChip he says. "You dont need a lot of market share to build a big company, so were being somewhat selective about our target markets and applications. And fortunately for us, after a lot of hard work, we now have chips in hand. Its not just about PowerPoint presentations .. weve actually got chips," he emphasises. Founder and chief technology officer of BrainChip, Peter Van Der Made, has spent more than a decade investigating how the brain works and working out how to synthesise it digitally.

Shaw and Partners analyst Danny Younis says the promise of commercialisation is driving the recent attention. "The market is getting very excited by the increasing validation of Brainchipss key product, the super-fast, ultra-low power and low latency spiking neural network processor, AKIDA, driven by a stream of very positive news that is driving AKIDA closer to commercialisation," he says. This includes recently announced collaborations with companies like US-based Vorago Technologies for a Phase 1 NASA project it is working on, as well as two auto manufacturers - Valeo in Europe and an unnamed partner in the US automotive heartland of Detroit. "The technology is moving closer to commercialisation and in time could generate significant revenue streams from multiple applications like Smart Home applications, Edge surveillance and drones, speech and gesture recognition, advanced driver assistance systems and autonomous vehicles," says Younis. DiNardo says the company expects to be in a position to announce contracts to license its intellectual property to customers in the first half of next year.

"Those licenses are probably more near term than large volume chip sales which will take time," he says. "As we get into the later part of 2021 we should start to hit our stride with chip sales, thats six-to-nine months away." Pitt Street Research managing director Marc Kennis says this is where the market will be able to provide a proper valuation of the stock. TMT valued BrainChip at 45c last year when its share price was just 4.1c, but this was based on what larger rivals like Intel were paying for companies with a similar profile to BrainChip. He says the fact that a semiconductor-based company like BrainChip is a rarity on the ASX makes the job of convincing people it is not just a pump-and-dump stock that much harder.

"I think that's totally unfair for a company like BrainChip," says Kennis who thinks it is fairly valued at the current 41c share price. Loading But the real moment of truth is at hand if commercial contracts are announced as planned. "What is needed, to get to the to the next level, are commercial deals ... it will give some idea of what the revenue model looks like," he says. "We can do the math around these contracts."
North Korea Accuses South of Intrusion to Find Dead Official

SEOUL, South KoreaNorth Korea accused South Korea of sending ships across the disputed sea boundary to find the body of a South Korean official recently killed by North Korean troops, warning Sunday the intrusion could escalate tensions. South Korea denied the accusation.

We urge the South side to immediately halt the intrusion across the military demarcation line in the West Sea that may lead to escalation of tensions, the official Korean Central News Agency said. It arouses our due vigilance as it may lead to another awful incident.

Along with its denial, South Korea proposed a joint investigation to resolve discrepancies in each countrys account of the South Korean officials death last week. Officials in Seoul have said the 47-year-old was likely attempting to defect before North Korean troops aboard a boat fatally shot him and burned his body.

South Koreas government ship for a fishery guidance is seen near Yeonpyeong island, South Korea, on Sept. 26, 2020. (Baek Seung-ryul/Yonhap via AP)

According to Seoul, North Korea on Friday sent a message including a rare apology by leader Kim Jong Un for the shooting death of the official, who was found floating on an object in its waters.

The North Korean message distributed by South Korea said its troops shot the official because he attempted to flee after refusing to answer to questions. It said North Korea maintained troops were unable to find the officials body and burned the object he was floating on in line with anti-coronavirus rules.

Sundays KCNA report confirmed North Korea notified South Korea on Friday with its account of the incident, but it didnt say whether the notification included an apology from Kim.

South Koreas military and coast guard responded to North Koreas claim of a border incursion by saying their ships and aircraft have been searching waters south of the boundary since Friday in case the officials body drifts back.

South Koreas government ship for a fishery guidance is seen near Yeonpyeong island, South Korea, on Sept. 26, 2020.(Choi Jin-suk/Newsis via AP)

South Korean President Moon Jae-in met with his National Security Council on Sunday. Moons office said the council viewed Kims apology positively and proposed a joint investigation with North Korea to find out what happened to the official.

Senior presidential official Suh Choo-suk said South Korea also wants North Korea to restore a suspended military hotline between the nations to facilitate communications.

Kims apology was seen as an attempt to soothe anti-North sentiment in South Korea that could make it difficult for him to win concessions in any negotiations. Kim is currently struggling to overcome worsening economic woes caused by U.S.-led sanctions over his nuclear program and the pandemic that forced his country to close its border with China, its biggest trading partner.

While Kims apology could help reduce the risk of escalation of tensions between the rivals, conservatives in South Korea have launched a political offensive against Moon for failing to prevent the mans death.

By Hyung-Jin Kim
The Grand Parade of the Niagara Grape and Wine Parade may have been cancelled, but that did not prevent parade organizers from bringing the parade to the people.

On Saturday, six neighbourhoods in St. Catharines were treated to a mini-Grand Parade, the Meridian Porch Parade.

When I found out we couldnt have a parade, I just started thinking of other ways we could keep the parade spirit alive, said Dorian Anderson, executive director of the Grape and Wine Festival.

I remembered New Orleans  they do a porch parade during Mardi Gras and that was the inspiration, to create a way to keep the parade happening during Grape and Wine.

She said close to 20 neighbourhoods applied to be on the route and six were chosen.

One of the neighbourhoods was Countryside Drive. On Saturday, people decorated their houses, created their own Mr. Grape, Event in the Tent and wine tastings. The street was lined with people in purple, set up in their driveways or on their lawns.

Today is already blowing my mind, said Anderson. I cant believe that amount of spirit and the work people have put into this, its incredible. Im almost overwhelmed at how amazing the neighbourhoods have been.

After six months of lockdowns and COVID-19 stress and isolation, people were excited about doing something different, something social.

A little bit of normal in a time that is not so normal, said Stephanie Taylor as she waited for the parade to begin.

Said Rhiann Carlyle who was spending her day at the Countryside Drive celebration, I feel this is great because I was really disappointed when Grape and Wine was cancelled this year.

Mayor Walter Sendzik led the parade as Niagara IceDogs mascot Bones, Dunkin the River Lion and Knightro the Knight from Niagara College waved to the crowd. Afiretruck, Community Care, Niagara Shine Club, all slowly made their way past the festive homes.

Each house kept to their 25 person-per-lot limit and stressed wearing masks. A responsibility to maintain social distance and COVID-19 rules was easy to spot with signage and masks indicating rules to be followed.

We do have our social distance and wear a mask sign everywhere. We want to keep it 25 per lawn which we stipulated to people, we have our numbers, said Carlyle.

The sentiment was echoed along the route.

We would normally be getting together, said Rob Hitchcock, Tradition is the main thing, keeping it going and it keeps everyone sane.

Footage was streamed on the Grape and Wine Facebook page and will remain posted. The neighbourhood with the most spirit won an entry into next years Grand Parade and there were a few prizes for individual houses. About 300 homes took part in the event.

The City of St. Catharines and Meridian Credit Union partnered to make the event possible.

This has been so much fun we are trying to figure out how we incorporate this into Grape and Wine forever because I think people really got excited about it, said Anderson.
- The president's daughter wedded her lover on Saturday, September 26, 2020

- Zambia's president shared an emotional post explaining how much honoured he was to walk her down the aisle

- The president was later spotted in a video walking his daughter down the aisle at the church looking all emotional

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It is every parent's dream and joy to walk their children down the aisle.

Many feel very much honoured and respected by their children when they are presented with the opportunity and chance to ''brag'' about the fact that they raised them well.

Zambia's president Edgar Lungu said the daughter honoured them with the wedding. Photo: Edgar Lungu/Facebook

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Mzbel shaves off hair and drops 3 videos to reveal new look; Ghanaians react

Zambia President Edgar Lungu is the man feeling the aforementioned right about now, just moments after seeing his daughter off to her new home.

The president's daughter Tasila Lungi exchanged marital vows with the love of her life Patrick Mwansa on Saturday, September 26, morning.

The lovebirds officiated their union at the St. Ignatius Parish Catholic Church.

Well, before the bride could get to the church, she received all the blessings from her parents specifically her father who actually walked her down the aisle as he handed her over to her man.

To start off the day, president Edgar shared several photos of himself, his family and his daughter in her gown, preparing to leave for church on social media.

READ ALSO: Thiago Alcantara: Liverpool complete signing of Spanish midfielder on a 4-year deal

Accompanying the photos, the president disclosed how emotional he was to finally see off his daughter, who will always be his baby.

Edgar added that his daughter had honoured them with the official church wedding.

He also congratulated his daughter and her man on the caption and wished them all the happiness even as they start a new life.

''Giving your daughter away is not an easy thing for a father. I woke up with mixed emotions. In my eyes she's still a little girl, my little girl. Tasila has honoured us, and I was filled with joy as I proudly walked her down the aisle, giving her hand in marriage to Mr. Patrick Mwansa. To both of you, look to God and your marriage will be a success. The bible says in Ephesians 4:2 "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." And in 1 Peter 4:8, the bible says "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. May God bless your union.'' he wrote.

The president was later spotted in a video walking his daughter down the aisle at the church looking all emotional.

Many people were touched by the video of the president and could not help but laud him for being and showing the qualities of a good dad.

Tasila and her boo have been undergoing marriage formalities such as pre-marriage lessons at St. Ignatius Parish in Lusaka as required by the Catholic Church.

The two, earlier onheld a public engagement at the aforementioned church and duly informed the world about their upcoming wedding, which has finally come to pass.

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An area the size of the Lake District and South Downs will be protected under an ambitious pledge to boost Britains natural beauty, as Boris Johnson is today set to sign a new United Nations (UN) pledge to help save the planet.

At a speech set to be made later today at a UN event, the Prime Minster will warn that immediate action is needed to save wildlife and habitats which are disappearing at a frightening rate.

He will add: We cannot afford dither and delay because biodiversity loss is happening today.

'Left unchecked, the consequences will be catastrophic for us all. Extinction is forever so our action must be immediate.

Boris Johnson will today warn that immediate action is needed to save wildlife and habitats which are disappearing at a frightening rate

The area's size would be equivalent to the South Downs and Lake District combine

Mr Johnson is making his promise to safeguard an extra 400,000 hectares of land in the next decade during a virtual event held by the United Nations.

What is the United Nations' Leaders' Pledge for the Future? Boris Johnson will today be joined by Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel, Justin Trudeau, Jacinda Ardern, who are among 64 leaders from five continents to sign the United Nations' Leader's Pledge for the Future. The pledge includes a 10-point pledge, formulated by the governments and the European Union, to counteract the damage to ecosystems that underpin human health and wellbeing. As part of it, governments will pledge more money will be spent on the environment and ensuring nature is a priority. The commitments include a renewed effort to reduce deforestation, the elimination of subsidies that harm the environment and the transition to sustainable food production. Advertisement

The commitment will boost the amount of protected land, which includes national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty, from 26 per cent of England to 30 per cent by 2030.

That is equivalent to the size of the Lake District and South Downs National Parks combined.

The Prime Minister will also say: We must turn these words into action and use them to build momentum, to agree ambitious goals and binding targets. We must act now, right now.

'As the environment is a devolved matter, Westminster will work with the governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland plus landowners to protect more land across the UK.

Mr Johnson will commit to his promise by signing the Leaders Pledge for Nature at the UN event.

He will be joined by Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel, Justin Trudeau, Jacinda Ardern, who are among 64 leaders from five continents to sign the pledge.

It includes a 10-point pledge, formulated by the governments and the European Union, to counteract the damage to ecosystems that underpin human health and wellbeing.

As part of it, governments will pledge more money will be spent on the environment and ensuring nature is a priority.

The commitments include a renewed effort to reduce deforestation, the elimination of subsidies that harm the environment and the transition to sustainable food production.

The new area earmarked for protected status is equivalent to the size of the Lake District and South Downs National Parks combined. Pictured: South Downs (file photo)

The commitment will boost the amount of protected land, which includes national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty, from 26 per cent of England to 30 per cent by 2030. Pictured: North York Moors National Park (file photo)

Martin Harper, RSPB director of global conservation, said the 30 per cent commitment could be a huge step towards addressing the crisis our wildlife is facing. But he added: Targets on paper wont be enough. Those set a decade ago failed because they werent backed up by action.

This is why the 30 by 30 promise must now be put into domestic law, as part of a suite of goals to restore the abundance and diversity of our wildlife, in every country in the UK.

Craig Bennett, of The Wildlife Trusts, welcomed Mr Johnsons pledge as a good start.
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Linkedin Yunindita Prasidya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, September 28 2020

Fund manager PT Mandiri Manajemen Investasi (Mandiri Investasi) is partnering with Bank DBS Indonesia to offer dollar-denominated mutual fund Mandiri Global Sharia Equity Dollar (MGSED) as it aims to increase the total funds under its management.

Alvin Pattisahusiwa, president director of Mandiri Investasi, a subsidiary of state-owned Bank Mandiri group, said the company expected to increase its assets under management (AUM) by US$100 million by the end of the year through the mutual fund.

The product has been gaining traction in the market as Alvin reported that it had collected Rp 598 billion in AUM by the end of August, which had grown to Rp 1.1 trillion as of Sept. 22.

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In June, Ericsson (NYSE:ERIC) warned investors that it would take a $109 million write-down on its product inventory in China. It also suggested that it would have negative gross margins due to 5G contracts with three different mobile carriers in the country. On the surface, that wasnt good news for Ericsson stock.

Ericsson (ERIC) logo on a smartphone screen.

Source: rafapress / Shutterstock.com

Dig deeper and investors will see that its Chinese business is strong and getting stronger. One example is the work its doing in Shenyang, a city of 7.3 million, and the 14th largest in all of China.

If you own Ericsson stock, Shenyang is another example of why its a smart way to play the growth of 5G.

InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips

Im sure President Trump cannot see the progress Chinas making for its people, but Ericsson has a front-row seat to the action.

A Closer Look at Ericsson Stock

In January, a research report was published by SOS International LLC on behalf of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. Entitled Chinas Smart Cities Development, it provides excellent insight into whats happening in urban cities across China, including Shenyang.

Using monitoring technology, AI and embedded sensors China has become a global leader in smart city initiatives. The country has about 800 smart cities pilot programs either underway or in the planning stage. There are fewer than 1,600 total smart cities in the world.

Until February 2018, I lived in Toronto. It was working with Google to build a smart city development on Torontos lakeshore. For various reasons, the project was canceled in May. Canadians are still uncomfortable about big ideas like the Sidewalk Labs experiment.

The Chinese, on the other hand, seem to understand the importance of smart cities as part of its goal to become the worlds leading economy.

Story continues

According to the report, the size of the smart cities solutions market in China is estimated to be worth $1.1 trillion (2018), with 33% annual growth between 2018 and 2022. If these estimates are accurate, the market in China for solutions that Ericsson is providing will grow to $3.4 trillion by the end of 2022.

While a large amount of this spending will go to Chinese companies, Ericsson benefits from this movement.

Ericssons Radio Dot System Connects Subway Users

On Sept. 8, Ericsson published news about its work in Shenyang that was helping connect China Mobiles (NYSE:CHL) mobile 5G customers using the citys Line 9 subway. Through the installation of Ericssons Radio Dot System at all 22 of the subway lines stations, more than 900,000 passengers a day can receive 5G communication.

Ericsson stated in its news release that its 5G radio dot deployment helps China Mobile give its customers better internet in the subway, including high-quality streaming video.

Ericsson installed a total of 500 of these 5G radio dots across the 22-station network in just 20 days, or one-third the time allotted to complete the project. Ericsson estimates that mobile traffic will increase by 31% annually over the next five years through 2025. Much of the traffic will be for videos, which currently account for 63% of the traffic, but expected to grow to 76% by 2025.

We have worked closely with China Mobile on the Shenyang Subway Line 9 deployment and it is a milestone for 5G-enabled transportation in Liaoning province, said Dr. Jessey Huang, Head of Ericssons Indoor Product Line. This opens doors to high-speed connectivity with low latency to passengers for bandwidth-intensive applications while on the move.

As Ericsson stated in June, the contracts its won from all three of Chinas major wireless carriers (China Mobiles one of them) give it scale in the worlds largest 5G market. That will result in significant profits over the life of these contracts.

Projects like the subway line in Shenyang demonstrate why so many of my InvestorPlace colleagues are high on Ericsson stock. While it continues to capture more of the Chinese market, the U.S. and Europe are still fertile ground for its 5G hardware.

I liked it better than its Finnish rival in July. Nothings changed to alter my opinion. ERIC stock remains a long-term buy.

On the date of publication, Will Ashworth did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.

Will Ashworth has written about investments full-time since 2008. Publications where hes appeared include InvestorPlace, The Motley Fool Canada, Investopedia, Kiplinger, and several others in both the U.S. and Canada. He particularly enjoys creating model portfolios that stand the test of time. He lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia. At the time of this writing Will Ashworth did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.

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The post As the Company Helps Build Chinas Smart Cities, Stay With Ericsson Stock appeared first on InvestorPlace.
Published on 2020/09/27 | Source

President Moon Jae-in speaks during the virtual session of the UN General Assembly from Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Tuesday. /Courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae

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President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday told the UN General Assembly that declaring a formal end to the Korean War will open the door to complete denuclearization and permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Speaking at the virtual session of the assembly, Moon stressed that the war should finally end completely and that peace on the peninsula can ensure cordial relations in Northeast Asia.

The war never officially ended but was halted by an armistice in 1953.

Moon's remarks are an attempt to get the stalled peace process with North Korea back on track after denuclearization talks between North Korea and the U.S ground to a halt in February last year.

But the U.S. has long said that there can only be a peace declaration if the North takes steps to dismantle its nuclear program.

Moon vowed that Seoul will do everything it can to continue dialogue with Pyongyang and asked for support and cooperation from the international community.
The British Museum says that it has 'no intention of removing controversial objects from display' - after it received a warning letter from the Government over the issue.

In a leaked letter, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said that Government-funded museums and galleries risk losing taxpayer support if they remove artefacts.

The missive, sent to several institutions, said: 'As publicly funded bodies, you should not be taking actions motivated by activism or politics.

'The significant support that you receive from the taxpayer is an acknowledgement of the important cultural role you play for the entire country.'

He urged institutions to 'continue to act impartially', something he described as 'especially important' as the Government conducts its Comprehensive Spending Review - an apparent threat that funding could be at risk.

The British Museum said in a statement: 'The British Museum has no intention of removing controversial objects from public display.

'Instead, it will seek where appropriate to contextualise or reinterpret them in a way that enables the public to learn about them in their entirety.'

The British Museum says that it has 'no intention of removing controversial objects from display'. Pictured: The 'Elgin Marbles' on display at the British Museum in London

Mr Dowden's letter, seen by the Sunday Telegraph, comes after a summer of cultural clashes over Britain's colonial past.

A leaked letter from Oliver Dowden to museums and galleries has warned them against removing statues

Recipients included the British Museum, Tate galleries, Imperial War museums, National Portrait Gallery, National Museums Liverpool, the Royal Armouries, the Science Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the British Library.

Mr Dowden said in the letter sent last week: 'The Government does not support the removal of statues or other similar objects.

'Historic England, as the Government's adviser on the historic environment, have said that removing difficult and contentious parts of it risks harming our understanding of our collective past.'

The letter continued: 'As publicly funded bodies, you should not be taking actions motivated by activism or politics.

'The significant support that you receive from the taxpayer is an acknowledgement of the important cultural role you play for the entire country.

'It is imperative that you continue to act impartially, in line with your publicly funded status, and not in a way that brings this into question.

'This is especially important as we enter a challenging Comprehensive Spending Review, in which all government spending will rightly be scrutinised.'

The four-ton, 7ft 10in Hoa Hakananaia is regarded as one of the most spiritually important of the Chilean islands 900 famous stone monoliths, or moai. Pictured: The ancestor figure stands at the entrance to the Wellcome gallery in the British Museum

The letter stated that 'rather than erasing these objects, we should seek to contextualise or reinterpret them in a way that enables the public to learn about them in their entirety, however challenging this may be'.

It recently redisplayed its bust of Hans Sloane, its slave-owning founding father.

It was juxtaposed with objects to reflect the fact that Sloane's collection was created in the context of the British Empire and the slave economy.

After ten days of fierce fighting in Benin, the British burnt down the palace and looted the royal treasures: delicate ivory carvings and magnificent copper alloy sculptures and plaques - now known as the Benin Bronzes.

The Museum said it 'continues to acknowledge Sloane's radical vision of universal free public access to a national museum collection and the public benefit that is generated through the British Museum'.

A row over Britain's colonial past erupted in June as protests saw a statue of the slave trader Edward Colston toppled in Bristol.

The bronze statue of the 17th century figure was pulled down with ropes, dragged through the streets and thrown into the harbour during a Black Lives Matter protest.

The letter comes after well-known music venue, named after 17th century slave trader Edward Colston, was recently renamed Bristol Beacon.

A summer of cultural clashes in the UK saw a statue of the 17th century slave trader Edward Colston toppled in Bristol and thrown into the city's harbour

A statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square, Westminster, was also daubed with graffiti amid wider calls for controversial figures to have their statues taken down.

Boris Johnson hit out at the demands to remove statues at the time as he said 'we cannot now try to edit or censor our past'.

The Prime Minister said the UK 'cannot pretend to have a different history' and that the statues 'teach us about our past, with all its faults'.

Earlier this month the Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg blasted the National Trust for not realising 'how wonderful' Churchill was after it included his home on its 'woke' list of houses with historic links to slavery.

Last month, the British Museum has removed a bust of its founder from a pedestal and labelled him a slave owner.

The effigy of Sir Hans Sloane will now be housed in a display alongside artefacts that explain his legacy in the exploitative context of the British Empire, curators said.

Sloane, whose 71,000 artefacts became the starting point of the British Museum after he left them to the state in his will, funded his collecting through his wifes familys sugar plantation. Sloane Square in London is also named after him.
A Nepalese national working as a cook drugged a 78-year old businessman and his entire family and decamped with valuables, including a licensed revolver, police said on Saturday after arresting him.

The incident took place in December last year at the businessman's house in south Delhi's Chattarpur Enclave, where the accused, identified as Dhirender Sahi, worked as a cook, they said, adding that the accused was arrested with the help of a "Facebook post" after his friend tagged him in a photo.

Using the same modus operandi, the accused had also stolen Rs 1.5 crore from another businessman's house in Delhi's Sabji Mandi this year, they said.

With his arrest, the police claimed to have worked out two such cases.

According to the police, a case was registered against Sahi after a complaint was received against him from his 78-year-old employer.

The businessman alleged that just two-three days after being hired as a cook, Sahi spiked his food and gave him sleeping pills.

He also drugged other family members, his driver and maid in order to put them to sleep and in the evening, stole his licensed revolver, eight cartridges, jewellery and cash and fled to his native place in Nepal.

The businessman and his family members were admitted to a hospital in an unconscious state. After recovering, the businessman approached the police.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Atul Kumar Thakur said, "After checking CCTV footage of cameras installed in the house and the complex, it was revealed that Sahi along with three more associates had committed the theft.

"The accused had fled to Nepal after the incident but on the basis of technical surveillance, it was found that the accused was tagged by one of his friends in a photo on Facebook." Police said the accused was caught after nine months with the help of a "Facebook post".

"We traced the location and found that he was in Punjab. A team went there and found him at a guesthouse in Mohali. He was working there as a caretaker. We arrested him," the officer said.

Investigation revealed that the accused worked along with three-four men and targeted businessmen in Delhi. The gang used the same modus operandi and drugged their targets before committing theft, police said. The gang then fled to Nepal and returned before lockdown and started working in Punjab, police said, adding they are looking for the other three gang members who are absconding.
Aaron McCall had just dropped his son Rey off at the Department of Motor Vehicles in Philadelphia. The 18-year-old was renewing his drivers license to vote for the first time.

My sons friends, theyll tell him, Your vote doesnt matter,  McCall said earlier this month. I tell him, Your vote does count. Its people who dont vote, who dont take action, whose voices go uncounted.

And this year, McCall said, "Ive got to be honest with you: I am worried.

McCall, who lives just outside Philadelphia in Elkins Park, is worried another four years of President Donald Trump would further fuel the racism hes seen Trump stoke. Hes worried that without a more effective government response to the coronavirus pandemic, more people he knows will succumb to it  like one close friend who died in April. And while his son is eager to vote, McCall is worried other people Reys age wont.

I dont think this generation really knows how important this is, McCall said outside the West Oak Lane DMV, looking toward Olney Avenue. [Trump] wants to continue to be president. He wants to be a dictator.

Black voters are expected to overwhelmingly back Democratic nominee Joe Biden, who was vice president for eight years under the nations first Black president. But whether they come out to support him at even greater levels than they did for Barack Obama could help determine who wins Pennsylvania  and the presidency. Democrats are hoping to grow their Black support beyond middle-aged and older voters  long the partys most reliable voting bloc and one that powered Bidens comeback in the Democratic primary  to help offset Trumps resilient strength with white voters in rural areas, and in small towns across Northeastern and Southwestern Pennsylvania.

There are differences between now and when Obama was on the ballot. Black voters were especially energized then by the historic nature of Obamas candidacy. Now, a pandemic and protests against systemic racism have given the election a more apocalyptic feel. Trump is a president who has used racist slurs, defended white supremacists, and shrugged off a virus that is disproportionately sickening and killing Black Americans.

 READ MORE: 5 questions that will help decide the presidential race in Pennsylvania

Interviews with more than 20 Black voters across Philadelphia showed a commitment to vote against Trump, as well as deep frustrations over gun violence, poverty, and lack of health care. Many said they are skeptical Biden can do much to solve such problems  but are much more hopeful about a country led by him. And while few people interviewed said they were considering sitting out the election, almost everyone expressed concerns that others would.

I do think that people are motivated, said State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, a Philadelphia Democrat and a top Biden supporter in the state. I also think people are incredibly disheartened by the drain of all that has come with the mismanagement of this pandemic.

But I often push back on this amorphous idea of enthusiasm because ... an enthusiastic vote, an unenthusiastic vote counts the same, he added. "A vote is a vote.

While Hillary Clintons share of the Black vote fell compared to Obamas to disastrous effect in big cities like Detroit and Milwaukee, that wasnt the case in Philadelphia.

Turnout for Black voters in Pennsylvania overall fell only slightly, from 65.4% in 2012 to 65.1% in 2016, an analysis by the liberal Center for American Progress found. In Philadelphia, home to the largest number of Black voters by far, Clintons citywide vote total dropped by less than 4,800 votes, or only 0.8%.

The bigger difference was that the Republican vote total grew by about 12,000 in Philadelphia, while third-party votes almost tripled, to almost 15,000. Trump won the state by about 44,000 votes, or 0.7%.

This time, Democrats want to squeeze even more votes out of Philadelphia. And some undecided Black voters said in interviews that they are not choosing between Biden and Trump  but between Biden and not voting. Those who said they will definitely vote expressed a singular focus on defeating Trump, while also crediting Biden for his service under Obama.

Biden is kind of stale, said Dawn Athy, 56, of West Oak Lane in Northwest Philadelphia. But Im sorry, I dont care. He could be on the cane. He could be blind, it wouldnt matter.

This election, Athy said, its life or death, especially as a woman of color. ... If [Trump] gets reelected, its just gonna be devastation.

 READ MORE: At Harrisburg rally, Trump vows to win and renews warning about ballot cheating

Kayla Mathis, 21, of Grays Ferry in South Philadelphia, is concerned about police brutality and how the coronavirus has affected education. I dont like Trump, Mathis, who plans to vote for Biden, said as she watched her kids at a park. [Biden] better win. Trump is just irking. Hes not a good president.

For John Graves, 52, a construction equipment operator and pastor at Faith Chapel Church in Germantown, Trumps presidency has been mobilizing. Hes done a good job of showing people that voting does matter," he said, "and it can have a ripple effect on the lives of everybody.

But Graves also worries about Trumps support with white working-class voters. He pointed to members of the citys building trades  his fellow union members  previously a heavily Democratic group.

Ive seen excuses for some of the behavior of the office of the president, Graves said. And I know for sure these same people wouldnt have tolerated it from President Barack Obama.

Outside a corner store in Northwest Philadelphia, Taj Wade, 46, said he wants to know what the candidates will do about gun violence in the city, which has experienced a surge of shootings this year.

That is the real pandemic," Wade said.

Its dangerous to be outside in your own neighborhood," he said. "You cant even have a misunderstanding with a child no more, because the likelihood is they got a gun and theyre ready to shoot.

Wade said he always votes Democratic, but isnt sure whether hell bother this year.

Trump did make modest but important inroads with Black men in 2016, when 14% in Pennsylvania supported him, compared to just 1% of Black women. The Republican National Convention last month featured several Black men, often directly rebutting charges that the president is racist. And Trump frequently cites Black unemployment numbers from before the pandemic to falsely state that he has done more for African Americans than any president except Abraham Lincoln.

NextGen, a progressive group that aims to encourage youth voting, has found that young Black voters who are Democrats or lean Democratic are enthusiastic about the election, but with a gender gap: 90% of Black women 35 and under are extremely motivated to vote, compared to 76% of Black men the same age, according to polling in key battleground states, including Pennsylvania.

Black men are a little more dissatisfied and disinterested in the political process just because of years of systemic discrimination and racism, said Terrell Smith, the groups Pennsylvania organizing director.

They dont need to be sold on Trump being a horrible president or a threat to democracy," Smith said, "but what they need to be convinced of and to buy into is [Bidens] platform.

Biden campaign ads focused on criminal justice reform have run in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The ads heavily feature vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris, the first woman of color on a major party presidential ticket, who visited Philadelphia this month. Last week, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, Black Thought of The Roots, and 76ers All-Star Ben Simmons headlined a turnout event hosted by the Pennsylvania Democrats.

Carol Cooper, 73, of West Oak Lane, worries about Trump cutting Social Security and doesnt like how his policies have treated immigrant children and families. She thinks Biden has a better chance at reforming the criminal justice system, and is willing to look past the fact that he wrote a 1994 crime bill that contributed to the growing incarceration of Black men.

There are too many African Americans in jail, and theyre in jail for almost nothing," she said. I know he wrote the bill. But I know he didnt write these sentences. I cant blame him for that.

Voters in Grays Ferry, where census estimates show the median household income is about $33,600, mostly said theyd vote for Biden  but werent optimistic hed change much. Kids havent been in school for six months because of the pandemic, and once they go back, they could be exposed to asbestos, noted Tyrique Glasgow, executive director of Young Chances Foundation, a community group. Theres food insecurity in the area and a lack of playgrounds, he said.

The president needs to be removed, said Glasgow, 37. Are you going to remove the things that got him in there? ... Thats not going to change.

 READ MORE: How naked ballots in Pennsylvania could cost Joe Biden the election

Annette Pressley, 51, had a job as a chef before the pandemic. Her unemployment benefits ran out after six months. Her daughter, a Temple University student, had to move back home and started working part-time to help pay the bills.

Its damn near impossible to get a job as a cook, Pressley said. Its been horrible.

She was sitting on a park bench in Lanier Playground around 6 p.m. earlier this month. She wanted to get away from the TV. I hate to even turn on the news because I see people getting killed every day, Pressley said. Nothing gets done.

Pressley said shes disgusted with Trump, and shell vote for Biden  reluctantly.

Youve been in office for decades and decades," she said of Biden. "What have you done? ... Whats going to be different?

Kim Demby, 54, voted for Clinton in 2016, but said shes undecided and considering Trump. Joe Biden, I dont know too much about him, said Demby, a retired state worker who was watching her two dogs at a park. If he wants to defund the cops, I think thats a bad idea.

She said she was almost robbed last year in her home: And the cops came so fast, so I was happy.

Biden has said he does not support defunding the police.

Demby described Bidens selection of Harris as running mate as a ploy to get Black votes.

But she said Trump did a really bad job responding to the coronavirus, leaving her uncertain who shell back.

A few miles away in the Overbrook Park neighborhood of West Philadelphia, Kim Young was picking up some groceries. The 58-year-old works in a hospital maternity ward and said shes voting for Biden. But she wasnt excited.

If Obama chose him," she said, he cant be so bad.

Nearby, Gene Hamlin, 41, watched the Eagles season opener start to turn bad at a friends outdoor watch party.

Another four years of Trump will set us so far back, she said. She wants to see more politicians come into struggling communities. Its kinda hard to want to vote for someone who isnt really showing up for the people and not willing to bring these people up, she said. "Biden sounds good but is he going to really do something miraculous?

Despite her skepticism, shes committed enough to defeating Trump that shes making sure she turns out her household.

Ill definitely be voting," Hamlin said. And my daughter, too. Shes 18 and we just got her registered.

-Staff writer Sean Walsh and staff photographer Tyger Williams contributed to this article
WASHINGTON  If health care wasnt already at the front of voters minds after six months of a pandemic, the vacancy on the Supreme Court may well put it there heading into November  with the high court slated, a week after the election, to take up a Texas-led lawsuit that aims to end the Affordable Care Act.

Republicans, led by President Donald Trump, are again promising to protect those with preexisting conditions who have benefited from the ACAs most popular measures, should the legal challenge theyre backing succeed. On the other side are the Democrats, hammering the same health care theme that helped them take control of the House in 2018.

In Texas, its a battle playing out in a Senate race between U.S. Sen. John Cornyn  who was instrumental in the GOPs failed bid to end the ACA in Congress and MJ Hegar, a former Air Force pilot who has remained laser-focused on reminding voters of Cornyns role in that effort since she jumped into the race more than a year ago.

At the heart of the fight is polling that shows large majorities of voters, even Republicans, want the protections for preexisting conditions to stay. While Trump on Thursday signed an executive order essentially promising they wont go anywhere, his administration hasnt put forth a detailed plan to preserve them.

Preexisting conditions protections The Affordable Care Act: Bars insurers from excluding those with preexisting conditions. Prohibits them from charging more for preexisting conditions or denying coverage of those conditions. Insurers cannot charge higher premiums for factors such as occupation and gender and are limited in how much higher premiums can be based on age. Bans lifetime and annual limits and sets caps on out-of-pocket costs. Requires insurers cover a comprehensive set of benefits and offers financial assistance for those with low and moderate incomes. The Senate GOP's Protect Act: Bars insurers from excluding those with preexisting conditions. Prohibits insurers from charging more for preexisting conditions or denying coverage of those conditions, if related benefits are offered under the insurance plan. See More Collapse

Cornyn, meanwhile, is co-sponsoring legislation meant to do that.

The real bottom line is, everybody agrees that whatever it is  whether its the ACA or a substitute or some alternative  it has to cover preexisting conditions. That is a universally held conviction, Cornyn said in an interview. The argument that the only way you can do that is through the ACA is just wrong. Thats where the battle has been.

RELATED: Trump promotes health-care vision but gaps remain

The GOP legislation would bar insurers from denying coverage to those with preexisting conditions, from charging them higher premiums and from excluding preexisting conditions from coverage.

Experts on health care policy, however, say the Republican-backed bill has gaps that would allow insurers to once again impose annual or lifetime coverage limits, exclude benefits such as maternity and mental health care, and sell plans without limits on out-of-pocket costs, among other things. They say there are no current GOP proposals that would offer all of the protections and benefits of the ACA.

These are Christmas balls with no Christmas tree, said Arthur Tim Garson, a professor of management, policy and community health at the University of Texas School of Public Health and a former director of the Texas Medical Center Health Policy Institute who says the ACA should be kept in place.

Meanwhile, Republicans are poised to put another conservative justice on the high court  clinching a 6-3 majority. Trump reportedly plans to announce on Saturday that Amy Coney Barrett, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, will be his pick for the seat. Senate GOP leaders have said theyre confident they have the votes to confirm.

TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

With little to do to stop it, Democrats have sought to frame the Supreme Court fight as an election issue.

Cornyn has been trying for years to dismantle the ACA, and now he finally may get his chance by rushing through a lifetime appointment in the midst of an election and effectively silencing the voice of the American people, Hegar said. Texans see who is really fighting to protect their health care and they know it isnt Senator Cornyn.

Texas still leads nation in uninsured

Affordable health care is an issue with added import in Texas, which leads the nation with its uninsured rate  a problem only worsened by the coronavirus pandemic, which saw an estimated 1.6 million Texans lose job-based health insurance. Nearly 2 million more could lose insurance if the ACA is struck down.

But Hegar has struggled to get her message across to voters, with one recent poll showing some 50 percent of voters dont know enough about her, and Cornyn has clearly taken note of how Democrats were able to wield health care against Republicans in 2018.

Cornyn has touted legislation hes pushed to curb drug prices, targeting pharmaceutical companies aggressive efforts to protect patents and avoid generic competition, and to ensure people who lose their jobs during the pandemic can keep health insurance at least until the end of 2020.

We know there are some elements there is consensus on, like reducing prescription drug costs, Cornyn said.

The Republican senator isnt alone in working to bolster his health care credentials. Trumps new executive order declares it the policy of the United States for people with preexisting health conditions to be protected  a mostly symbolic move that comes as his administration also is backing the Texas-led challenge to the ACA, which currently offers those protections.

Were making that official, Trump said during a speech on health care in North Carolina this week. Were putting it down in a stamp, because our opponents, the Democrats, like to constantly talk about it.

Cornyn led anti-ACA charge in Congress

In the Texas-led case, the court is slated to hear arguments Nov. 10. A coalition of Republican-led states argue Trump's tax overhaul, which Congress approved in 2017, renders the health care plan's individual mandate unconstitutional because the federal government no longer imposes a tax penalty.

Trump this week also declared victory, whether the Supreme Court strikes down the Affordable Care Act or not.

Obamacare is no longer Obamacare, as we worked on it and managed it very well, Trump said. What we have now is a much better plan. It is no longer Obamacare because we got rid of the worst part of it  the individual mandate.

The Supreme Court vacancy stands to alter the Senate race more than just about any other in Texas, as the chamber will decide whether to put Trumps nominee on the high court.

Hegars campaign says she received more than 200,000 donations over the weekend following Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs death. She also stands to gain as outside groups buy ads targeting Cornyn, including Protect Our Care, a Democratic advocacy group focused on defending the ACA.

No one has been a stauncher advocate against the Affordable Care Act, said Anne Shoup, a spokeswoman for Protect Our Care. Really, truly, his record just goes back to the beginning.

When the GOP tried in 2017 to repeal the ACA, Cornyn served as Republican whip, responsible for rounding up the votes to get it done. Politico deemed him Obamacare repeals top salesman, a title Hegar has repeated time and again throughout the race.

Another swing at the Better Care Act?

Cornyn then supported the Senate GOPs replacement plan, the Better Care Act, which Cornyn at the time stressed would address Obamacare's ballooning costs for consumers by lowering premiums over time and cutting taxes.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated it would have saved $321 million over a decade.

But the budget office also said it would have increased the number of uninsured Americans by 22 million. The Urban Institute estimated it would have grown Texas nation-leading uninsured rate by more than 21 percent by 2022.

The plan struggled to gain support in the Senate, and Republicans havent put out another plan since.

Cornyn said he still supports the Better Care Act, which he said would help stabilize the insurance markets.

Cornyn, who gets his own health insurance through the ACA, said hes seen costs increase: Its become increasingly unaffordable, which was supposed to be one of its main selling points.

But, he said, there isnt an easy fix.

Door-to-door with Americans for Prosperity

On the campaign trail, Cornyns backers say he is ensuring you can keep your health care.

A Koch-backed political action committee spending well over $1 million to boost his re-election says health care is central to their pitch in mailers, ads and as they make phone calls and knock on doors in the suburbs.

They say they hear a lot from those voters about wanting to keep the insurance they have.

Folks are very protective of their private healthcare insurance if they have it through an employer or if theyve purchased it themselves, said Mack Morris, a senior adviser for the PAC, Americans For Prosperity Action. They also understand the government doesnt provide the best options.

Hegar has said repeatedly she wouldnt favor any plan that strips private insurance plans.

Hegar says she had the best health care when she was in the military and wants that type of government healthcare to be available to all Americans, arguing that with a Medicare-like option, private insurers will have to get better to be able to compete.

ben.wermund@chron.com
State-run Ltd on Sunday said



it has successfully synchronised a 660-MW unit of its supercritical thermal in with the grid, which would help the commercial generation of electricity from it.

The power producer has been setting up five units with 660 MW capacity each, spread across 3,200 acres of land at Barh in Patna district.

The construction work of three units of stage-I of the project was delayed due to "contractual, execution and timeline issues" with Russian firm Technoprom Export which was supposed to develop them, while two units of stage-II (2x660 MW) of Barh STPP have already been commissioned and are presently under operation, an official said.

"The first unit of 660 MW of stage -I of Barh plant was successfully synchronised with the grid at 7.32 am today. The plant has achieved desired capacity," he said.

The construction of the Barh stage-I was initially awarded to the Russian firm but the contract was later terminated due to delay of the work schedule given by the NTPC, he said.

The successful synchronisation would pave the way for commissioning of the unit, the official said.

The remaining two units of stage-I of NTPC-Barh would be made operational by the end of March 2022, he said.

Under the synchronisation process, the 660-MW unit was connected to the grid to see the load factor and to ensure that all other aspects of it were working correctly.

Presently, is getting 1,198 MW of power from the two units of stage-II and will get additional 1,025 MW from three plants of stage-I, he said.

is supplying 4,248 MW of power to from its various plants, 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.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 14:47:19|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Leaders from the Caribbean have called for strengthened global cooperation and financing mechanisms to overcome the health crisis sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic and recover from its massive socio-economic fallout.

They made the appeal in their pre-recorded addresses to the general debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly.

Nations have to re-imagine the ways they cooperate as they respond to COVID-19, said Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Saturday.

"Persistent global problems require consistent cooperation to achieve strategic global solutions," he said, citing the UN COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund as an excellent example of such effective multilateral cooperation.

The fund supports low and middle-income countries in overcoming the health and development crisis caused by the pandemic and support those most vulnerable to economic hardship and social disruption.

Prime Minister Keith Rowley of Trinidad and Tobago told world leaders on Saturday that as with other small island developing states battling the impact of COVID-19, his country had to "walk a thin line" between saving lives and preserving livelihoods. It closed its borders and implemented physical distancing, making adjustments as needed to protect the most vulnerable.

He applauded the World Health Organization for its leadership and commended healthcare and frontline workers everywhere for saving lives.

"The COVID-19 pandemic presents an existential threat of unmatched proportions to human health and safety around the world," he said.

Hubert Minnis, prime minister of the Bahamas, on Friday expressed his solidarity with all other nations in fighting COVID-19 and his condolences over the loss of lives.

"Little did we know that just a few months later, an even greater challenge would emerge, forcing the world to come to a grinding halt, at a proportion not witnessed since the Second World War," he said.

The Bahamas, like so many others, had to act decisively to keep the COVID-19 pandemic from spreading, but with tourism as the main earner for the islands, the closure of borders led to the sharpest decline of visitors, precipitating widespread economic slowdown and unprecedented unemployment, he said.

In response, his government rolled out unemployment benefit and social security programs, including national food distribution initiative.

The prime minister applauded the G20 for suspending debt service payments for the least developed countries.

In terms of vaccines, the prime minister said developing countries should be able to access vaccines "via a transparent procurement process at affordable market rates." Enditem
Main opposition People Power Party floor leader Rep. Joo Ho-young, left, holds signs in protest of the Moon Jae-in administration's response to the North's suspected killing of a South Korean national last week during a one-person rally, Sunday, in the vicinity of Cheong Wa Dae. One of the signs reads "Mr. President, where are you?" PPP interim leader Kim Chong-in paid a visit to the site of the rally for support. Yonhap



By Do Je-hae



Parties are clashing over the possibility of adopting a National Assembly resolution to denounce North Korea over its suspected killing of a South Korean national last week in the North's territorial waters.

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) defined the shooting of the South Korean national who was a civil servant as an "act of atrocity" and proposed the adoption of an Assembly resolution to condemn North Korea. "We will seek an Assembly resolution with the coordination of the opposition parties and pass it at the plenary session," DPK floor leader Rep. Kim Tae-nyeon said during a party meeting in the morning of Sept. 25. "Through the resolution, we will inform the world of the Assembly's stern and resolute determination against North Korea's atrocity, which cannot be tolerated under any circumstances. North Korea must apologize to our people and the victim and punish those responsible."

But the mood at the ruling party has noticeably changed after Cheong Wa Dae unveiled in the afternoon of Sept. 25 a notice from the North Korean side, containing its early findings of the incident and some expressions of apology from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Parties differ on the interpretation of Kim's words in the notice, which was made public during Sept. 25 a press conference by presidential National Security Adviser Suh Hoon. According to the notice, reportedly delivered to Cheong Wa Dae by the National Intelligence Service, Kim said, "I am very sorry for the unexpected, awful incident in our territorial waters, which has aggravated the grave disappointment of President Moon and the people of the South, who are already struggling under the threat of COVID-19."

The notice has resulted in the DPK losing its initial urgency about the need for the resolution to condemn North Korea as the resolution was framed as an apology and calls for a thorough investigation. Party insiders reportedly say that the urgent need for the resolution has subsided since the North has already apologized. The ruling party and the Moon administration are also making note of the recent exchange of letters between Moon and Kim, which was made known to the public suddenly along with North Korea's notice. "The North has never made such a swift apology," Unification Minister Lee In-young said during a session of the Assembly's Committee for Foreign Affairs and Unification, Sept. 25. The presidential office at first declined to go into the specifics about the letter exchanges, except to say that they had taken place "within a month." But in an extremely rare move, the presidential office disclosed the entire letter Moon sent to Kim on Sept. 8, and a reply from Kim to Moon on Sept. 12. The presidential office said that the reason for the disclosure was the "public's high interest."

But despite the all-out efforts for Cheong Wa Dae to change the mood, the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) is determined to pass the resolution during a plenary session today as they do not see the notice as a true apology. "Given the brutality of the incident, the apology is not sincere," PPP floor leader Rep. Joo Ho-young said in a media interview.

Joo participated in a series of one-person rallies in front of Cheong Wa Dae, Sunday, to condemn the President and his administration's handling of the incident.

Some North Korea experts are pointing out that it is not a true apology unless it is carried in its state media, which has remained completely silent on the matter and Kim's reference to it in the recent notice sent to the South. Following North Korea's notice, some liberal commentators are stirring controversy by suggesting that the apology, in addition to the recent exchange of personal letters between President Moon and Kim, could be an opportunity to resuscitate inter-Korean relations.

"The incident is extremely regrettable and unfortunate for the bereaved families of the victim, but this can also be an occasion to improve things," Jeong Se-hyun, a former unification minister during the Kim Dae-jung administration, said during a recent YouTube discussion organized by a foundation for the late former President Roh Moo-hyun.

"Now that North Korea has made a big gesture, it is up to us to make the next move for reviving inter-Korean relations."

The discussion was arranged for the 13th anniversary of the Oct. 4 Declaration from the 2007 inter-Korean summit between Roh and Kim Jong-il, the incumbent's late father.




Bengaluru, Sep 27 : Karnataka is bracing up for a day-long shutdown on Monday by thousands of farmers and others across the southern state in protest against the controversial farmers' bills passed by the Centre and the state government last week.

"We have tightened the security and deployed additional police personnel in cities and towns across the state and stepped up vigil to prevent untoward incidents during the shutdown," a state home ministry official told IANS here.

In an effort to prevent the shutdown, Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa urged the farmers to withdraw the shutdown call, as it would disrupt normal life and cause inconvenience to thousands of people in Covid times.

"As the bandh (shutdown) is uncalled for, I appeal to farmers and others to withdraw their call and discuss their problems with us," Yediyurappa told reporters here.

The chief minister, however, said measures are being taken to ensure normal life is not affected and people are able to go to work by operating public services like buses and metro rail in the city.

The state legislative assembly on Saturday night passed the controversial bills to amend the APMC (Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee) Act and the Land Reforms Act amidst protest and walkout by the opposition Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) members.

The ryots and other organisations are also protesting against the farmers' bills passed in Parliament last week, as they are alleged to be against their interests and welfare.

Rejecting the chief minister's appeal, about 50 farmers' associations and other supporting organisations said they would observe the shutdown and court arrest in hundreds if the police disrupt their protest rallies and sit-in demonstrations against the state and central bills.

Though the chief minister explained to the farm leaders at a meeting here on Friday that the amendments to the APMC were to double their income by allowing them to sell their produce for the best price they get anywhere in the state or country, they refused to withdraw the shutdown call.

Terming the shutdown call illegal and against the Supreme Court orders, state revenue minister R. Ashok said state government and private offices would be open and public transport services like buses, autos and taxis would operate to ensure commuting.

"Strict action will be taken against those forcing people to observe bandh or disrupting normal life. Police has been told to ensure peace and maintain law and order across the state," asserted Ashok.

Though the agitating organisations have exempted essential supplies and services from the dawn-to-dusk shutdown, private transport services like autos, taxis and buses are likely to stay away, as their unions are supporting the shutdown.

"Thousands of farmers, labourers, workers, traders and rural people will observe the shutdown by staging protest rallies and demonstrations against the state and central governments for their anti-farmer bills," Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangh (farmers' association) president Kodihalli Chandrashekar told reporters here.

The state government, however, failed to get the bill to amend the labour laws passed through the legislative council on Saturday though it secured approval in the assembly on Friday where the ruling BJP has majority.

"In the 75-member council, 14 members voted in favour of the Industrial Disputes and Certain Other Laws amendment bill, while 26 members of the Congress and the JD-S opposed it, causing embarrassment to the ruling BJP.
Over the course of his 26 years on Capitol Hill, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham has developed a reputation for his hawkish approach to foreign policy, which became a central focus of his brief 2016 presidential campaign.

Jaime Harrison, the Democrat challenging Graham in the South Carolina Republican's bid for a fourth term in the Senate, touts his experience working under U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-Columbia, for helping him develop his own worldview.

Whichever candidate wins will be tasked with helping form America's response to a wide range of geopolitical threats around the world, as well as improving services for the military veterans who responded  thousands of whom now live in the Palmetto State.

This is the sixth installment of an eight-part series in The Post and Courier leading up to the election that will lay out the policy views of Graham and Harrison on issues that matter most to South Carolina voters.

The responses to this candidate questionnaire have been edited and condensed for space and clarity.

Do you support withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, either fully or partially, over the next few years?

Graham: I support reducing our forces to a level that is based on sound military advice. It should be based on conditions on the ground and how the decision will impact our own national security. Our first priority must be to ensure that any decision does not put the American homeland at risk. We should learn from the misguided mistake made by the (Barack) Obama - (Joe) Biden administration when they recklessly pushed for a full withdrawal from Iraq, a decision which led to the rise of ISIS and the massacre of thousands.

Harrison: South Carolina has a proud military tradition, and so does my family. Two of my uncles served in the Army, and a cousin of mine is enlisted in the Navy. Sending Americans into harms way should never be the first option. We should lead with diplomacy, but we must also engage strongly to defeat global terrorism and protect allies. I commend the current efforts to safely reduce our troop levels in Iraq and Afghanistan, in consultation with allies and intelligence. Any engagement on the ground should be targeted, precise and goal-oriented. Thats why as floor director for Rep. Jim Clyburn, I helped lead an effort to pass a resolution ending the war in Iraq.

Which country do you think represents the greatest geopolitical threat to the United States, and how do you think that threat should be handled?

Graham: We face major threats today on several fronts. China and Russia are expansionist powers who are undermining democracies worldwide and represent brutal, repressive regimes. However, what keeps me up at night is the Iranian Ayatollah and his henchman acquiring nuclear weapons. I fear the Iranians would use them against American interests and our allies in Israel. Irans leadership is motivated by religious doctrine. They consider the U.S. the Great Satan and openly call for the destruction of Israel  one of our closest allies. They must never be allowed to develop weapons of mass destruction.

Harrison: Russia presents profound threats to our security. They engaged in covert cybersecurity actions to influence our election in 2016, and have been meddling in our political system ever since. On the ground, their forces continue to show aggression against American forces. Just weeks ago, Russian forces rammed an American armored vehicle in northern Syria. And I was extremely troubled to read extensive reports about Russian forces offering the Taliban bounties on the heads of American servicemembers in Afghanistan. We have to show resolve in the face of this kind of provocation. And we have to recommit to defending Eastern Europe and ensuring that NATO has the resources and capabilities it needs to defend itself against Russias expansionist ambitions.

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Americas defense budget is bigger than ever. Should it be cut to pay for other programs, increased to further strengthen the military or kept at around the same level it is today?

Graham: The budget should be slightly increased to accommodate the modernization needs of the military. When it comes to Americas adversaries, the threats are growing, not lessening. The Russians and Chinese continue to develop new weapon systems which must be countered. Radical Islam continues to be a threat around the globe, and the terrorists never tire of trying to kill Americans.

Harrison: We have the most powerful military on Earth, and it should remain that way. Our global reach and installations throughout the world protect our interests and those of our strongest allies, and we should spare no expense to support our Armed Forces and their families. At the same time, just like with any other government program, we have to act as good stewards of taxpayer dollars and ensure our defense spending does not exceed the needs of our military.

How significant of a role do you think foreign policy should play in the day-to-day job of South Carolinas U.S. senator? Does South Carolina benefit from being represented by a foreign policy specialist in Congress?

Graham: I pride myself on being able to lead on issues both foreign and domestic. Over 150 bills that I have sponsored or cosponsored have become law. This term alone, my office has closed out over 42,000 casework files for South Carolinians. But I was in Washington, D.C., on 9/11 and remember the day well  walking over to the U.S. Capitol with the city completely shut down. I promised myself I would do everything in my power to ensure it never happened to our country again. South Carolina has one of the most globally connected economies in the nation. International trade and the military are significant factors in creating jobs and promoting our way of life. Understanding the world  the alliances we have and the threats we face  is one of the most important jobs of a senator, particularly one representing a globally connected state like South Carolina.

Harrison: Foreign policy experience is helpful, particularly given our states military tradition and our ports' economic contribution. As a top House leadership aide, I visited several countries across Africa, East Asia, the Middle East and other areas on congressional delegations, during which I met with leaders about pressing economic and geopolitical issues facing America. Our eight military bases and other facilities help drive our economy and create jobs. But when the president in 2019 redirected funds to the border wall that were meant to rebuild a fire station at the air station in Beaufort, Lindsey Graham stood idly by. He promised the money, but has yet to deliver. I wont let politics hurt our states installations, no matter who is president.

What do you think is the most pressing concern facing Americas veterans, and what will you do to address it?

Graham: We owe these great Americans a debt of gratitude that we can never repay, but we must make sure that when people separate from military service their skills are valued in the marketplace. As an Air Force veteran with 33 years of military experience, I strongly support veterans' preference in hiring because I know the amazing capabilities of the men and women in the U.S. armed forces. We also need to continue modernizing the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure veterans can receive medical services locally and access the best health care, regardless of where they reside. Veterans need more choices when it comes to their health care, not less.

Harrison: South Carolina has one of the largest veterans populations in the country. After serving, these men and women deserve peace of mind that they can easily access the health care benefits theyve earned. Ill fight to end long wait times at our VA hospitals and support choice for veterans who lack access to convenient and prompt care through the traditional VA system. Ill also make sure there is adequate funding for veterans and their families dealing with issues such as PTSD. Its unconscionable that political meddling at the Postal Service has caused delays in prescriptions deliveries to veterans. We must make sure the USPS is strong and able to deliver medications on time. As senator, Ill also work to boost investments in job training that empowers veterans to apply their skills in the civilian workforce.
Residents of Lake Jackson, Texas were asked not to use tap water after a brain-eating microbe wasfound in the water supply, which the authorities thoroughly disinfected, BBC reported. A six-year-old boy reportedly cotracted the microbe and died earlier this month. According to reports, the boy, Josiah McIntryre, got infected by water of that area. The residents were strictly asked not to use tap water except for flushing the toilet.

Naegleria fowleri, the microscopic amoeba, can cause a deadly infection in the brain.

The amoeba enters the body through nose and from there, it travels to the brain. Josiahs mother, Maria Castillo, said her son died at Texas Childrens Hospital in Houston on 8 September, and that doctors told her the cause was the brain-eating amoeba, NBC News reported.

The areas affected include Lake Jackson, Freeport, Angleton, Brazoria, Richwood, Oyster Creek, Clute, and Rosenberg. However, the warning was later lifted from the other places except Lake Jackson.

The contamination of US treated public water systems by the microbe is rare but not unheard of. According to the CDC website, the first deaths from naegleria fowleri found in tap water from treated US public drinking water systems occurred in southern Louisiana in 2011 and 2013. The microbe also was found in 2003 in an untreated geothermal well-supplied drinking water system in Arizona, as well as in disinfected public drinking water supplies in Australia in the 1970s and 80s and in 2008 in Pakistan.

(With agency inputs)

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WILLIAMSPORT  Eight conservative state House members are among those seeking an injunction to prevent Centre and Delaware counties and the city of Philadelphia from accepting and using grants from the Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL) to assist with the Nov. 3 election.

The Pennsylvania Voters Alliance, the legislators and five individuals made the request in a suit filed Friday in U.S. Middle District Court.

They contend federal law preempts private federal election grants to counties and cities.

The Wisconsin Voter Alliance Thursday filed a similar legal challenge against five grants totaling $6.3 million awarded in that state.

The suit cites the $10,016,074 CTCL awarded to Philadelphia, $2.2 million to Delaware County and $863,828 to Centre County.

The plaintiffs say they will be injured because the grants targeted counties and a city with progressive voter patterns. They do not want progressive candidates to win Nov. 3, they say.

Hillary Clinton defeated President Trump in Centre and Delaware counties and Philadelphia in 2016.

As a non-partisan organization backed by Democrats, Republicans and nonpartisan officials, we are confident these frivolous charges are without merit and look forward to continuing this critical grant program in these unprecedented times, was CTCLs response to the suit.

The voter alliance and the others claim the federal election law leaves to states the discretion on how to implement federal elections.

Not being a state, Centre and Delaware counties and Philadelphia are preempted from entering into a public-private partnership with the CTCL, they contend.

CTCL could use its funds directly for a get-out-to-vote effort but giving them to public entities gives the appearance of undue influence, they say.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) provided money to the state to help counties with the election, they point out.

The voters' alliance describes itself as an unincorporated association with members who seek to ensure public confidence in the integrity of Pennsylvanias elections.

State House members listed as plaintiffs are Stephanie Borowicz, Eric Nelson, Daryl Metcalf, Dawn Wetzel Keefer, Russ Diamond, Chris Dush, Jim Gregory and Francis Ryan.

Other plaintiffs are Kristine Eng and Theodore A. Dannerth and Eric Kroner of Centre County, Michael Harvey and David Torres of Philadelphia and Dasha Pruett of Delaware County. Harvey and Torres are Republican candidates for Congress.

This year, weve heard from countless election officials from across the political spectrum who simply dont have the funding they need to provide a safe, secure voting process for their voters as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, CTCL says.

It plans to award $250 million in grants to ensure there is sufficient staffing, training and equipment so every eligible voter in November can participate in a safe and timely way and have their vote counted.

The grant program is available to every local election department in the country and more than 1,100 applications already have been received, it says.

Earlier this month Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan said they were donating $300 million toward enhancing voting in the United States with $250 million of that going to CTCL.
The result might have been a bit closer than he liked, but King James Express did what he was expected to do and won the Renaissance Pace for two-year-old colts and geldings at Freehold Raceway on Saturday (September 26).

Off his win in the New York Sire Stakes Final at Yonkers Raceway, he was made the 4/5 favourite in the field of five. He sat in the pocket most of the way, tracking behind early leader Captain Fancy. As they rolled around the turn, he moved two-wide, contending with both Captain Fancy and three-wide mover Solid Alibi.

Turning for home, Solid Alibi began to give way, and King James Express collared Captain Fancy. Even though that rival fought back, King James Express wore him down, and crossed under the wire a head in front. The final time was 1:56.

For King James Express, it's his fourth win of the year from seven races, with earnings beyond the $200,000 mark. He's trained by Mark Harder, who co-owns with Frost, Carleton, and Lockhart. Jason Bartlett was the winning pilot.

Earlier in the day at Freehold, two divisions of the Homegrown Pace for three-year-olds were held. The division for colts and geldings went to JK Lucky Charms, who avenged his defeat in the New Jersey Sire Stakes - Standardbred Development Fund Final last week with a 1-1/4 length victory. Todd McCarthy was the winning driver, for trainer Brett Pelling. Pelling also co-owns with 3 Brothers Racing.

The division for fillies was dominated by JK Finendandy, who won by 6-1/2 lengths in an impressive 1:54. She made the lead easily from post five and cruised around the track, winning as much the best. Jenn Bongiorno is the winning trainer, for owners Gruber, Gruber, Schmucker, and Brookside Stables. Joe Bongiorno is the winning driver.

Live harness racing resumes at Freehold on Friday, with a scheduled first post time of 12:30 p.m.

(Freehold)
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will address the nation soon, his spokesperson Mane Gevorgyan said on social media.

She said the address will be broadcast live on Public TV, the PMs Facebook account and the official YouTube channel of the Armenian Government.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
By Trend

The Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a comment on the recent provocation of Armenia against Azerbaijan, Trend reports on Sept. 27 with reference to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

"Turkey fully supports Azerbaijan and will render the required support to it," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

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On Sunday, Sept. 27, Ontario and Quebec both reported their largest single-day COVID-19 case spikes since early May.

The two provinces are seeing concerning trends as they lead the way for active cases among Canadian jurisdictions.

In Toronto, public health officials are warning the public of potential exposures to COVID-19 at two popular downtown bars, which have a combined 10 linked cases. About 2,300 people may have been exposed to the virus since they were at the venues at the same time as a patient.

One of Quebecs worst-hit long-term care homes, which has seen 43 fatalities in relation to COVID-19, is once again following self-isolation protocols after learning that one of its staff members tested positive.

For more on Sundays top stories, and on how the novel coronavirus continues to spread across the country, please refer to our live updates below on Yahoo News Canada.

12,759 active COVID-19 cases in Canada: 153,125 diagnoses, 9,268 deaths and 131,098 recoveries (as of Sept. 27, 4:30 p.m. ET)

Alberta - 1,497 active cases (17,343 total cases, including 261 deaths, 15,585 resolved)

British Columbia - 1,349 active cases (8,641 total cases, 230 deaths, 7,036 resolved)

Manitoba - 589 active cases (1,880 total cases, 19 deaths, 1,272 resolved)

New Brunswick - 7 active cases (200 cases, 2 deaths, 191 resolved)

Newfoundland and Labrador - 2 active case (273 total cases, 3 deaths, 268 resolved)

Northwest Territories - 0 active cases (5 total cases, 5 resolved)

Nova Scotia - 1 active cases (1,087 total cases, 65 deaths 1,021 resolved)

Ontario - 4,196 active cases (49,831 total cases, 2,839 deaths, 42,796 resolved)

Prince Edward Island - 1 active case (58 total cases, 57 resolved)

Quebec - 4,947 active cases (71,901 total cases, 5,825 deaths, 61,129 resolved)

Saskatchewan - 144 active cases (1,878 total cases, 24 deaths, 1,710 resolved)

Yukon - 0 active cases (15 total cases, 15 resolved)

Nunavut - 0 active cases (4 false positive cases)

CFB Trenton - 0 active cases (13 total cases, 13 resolved)

Story continues

About 2,300 people potentially exposed at two Toronto bars after 10 people test positive

Toronto Public Health (TPH) is warning approximately 2,300 people who visited two popular downtown venues, Regulars Bar and Yonge Street Warehouse, that they may have been exposed to COVID-19.

For Regulars Bar, located at 668 King St. W, the period for potential exposure is between Sept. 13-22. Meanwhile, for Yonge Street Warehouse, located at 336 Yonge St., the period is between Sept. 10-17.

Three employees at Regulars have tested positive and worked throughout those days, while five employees and two patrons who are linked to Yonge Street Warehouse have been diagnosed. TPH has said in multiple press releases that it was followed up with all known close contacts, and they have been asked to self-isolate for 14 days and to get tested.

TPH estimates that about 600 people may have been at Regulars, and about 1,700 people at Yonge Street Warehouse, during the same time frames as the 10 identified cases.

Five staff and two patrons have recently tested positive after being at Yonge Street Warehouse in Toronto. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

If you were at the venues, but have not been contacted, you are not being deemed a close contact and the risk of exposure is being viewed as low. You should instead make an effort to self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days after your last visit.

TPH did not indicate whether the downtown bars were following all COVID-19 precautions, but said that Regulars has worked cooperatively with TPH throughout this investigation.

Earlier this week, Doug Fords provincial government tightened restrictions for bars and restaurants, while also closing all strip clubs, due to a rise in cases in connection to those establishments. Last call for bars and restaurants is now at 11 p.m., and they must close at midnight.

On Sept. 16, TPH closed three restaurants and bars because each establishment has not taken the necessary steps to sufficiently protect both the public and employees from the spread of COVID-19, via press release.

TPH found a concerning link involving these locations where many people are connected to more than one of the businesses noted. In some cases, for example, people infected with COVID-19 were employed at more than one of these locations.

One business served food buffet style, which is currently prohibited under provincial regulations. Another business was uncooperative with investigators, while staff were found to be working while ill or pressured to work while ill.

As of Sunday, Toronto currently leads the way in Ontario with 1,421 of the provinces 4,196 active cases of COVID-19.

Ontario identifies 491 new patients, the most since early May

Ontario announced 491 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, which marks its largest single-day spike since May 2.

Its now the eighth time over the past 10 days that it has surpassed the 400 daily cases mark. Before the recent stretch, Ontario had not recorded more than 400 cases in a 24-hour stretch since June 2.

The most recent group of cases were identified after the province completed 42,509 tests, which is its second largest output throughout the pandemic. The 1.1 per cent positivity rate is one of the highest Ontario has recorded since June.

Two deaths were announced by the Ministry of Health on Sunday, while 289 patients have recently recovered. Throughout the province, there are now 4,196 active cases of COVID-19, the most since May 3.

Ontario has seen its active case count accelerate in a worrisome direction. Two weeks ago on Sept. 13, there were 1,848 currently infected patients throughout the province, while a month ago on Aug. 30 there were 1,181.

Toronto leads the way with 1,421 active cases, followed by Peel (886), Ottawa (617), York (380), Waterloo (139) and Halton (138). The remaining 28 public health units have fewer than 100.

Of the most recent group of 491 cases, 137 were identified in Toronto, 131 in Peel, 58 in both Ottawa and York, 20 in Niagara, 19 in Durham and 13 in Middlesex-London. The remaining 27 public health units reported 10 or fewer cases, while 12 of them reported no new patients at all.

There are 236 new infections among those 20-39 years old, the most of any age group. There are also 118 new cases among those 40-59, and 75 among those 19 and under. Two new cases were identified among long-term care residents, and three among health-care workers. One more LTC resident has also passed away in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch.

Of the provinces active cases, 112 are in hospital, but the Ministry of Health noted that about 35 hospitals did not report their data over the weekend. The 112 patients is still the most Ontario has had since July 24. That includes 28 in ICU, and 16 who require a ventilator.

No update was provided on the situation within schools around the province. As of Fridays update, there have been 238 total cases throughout 198 schools in Ontario.

Residents, staff self-isolate after a case identified at one of Quebecs worst-hit CHSLDs

Flowers were left outside Residence Herron in the spring as it became a focal point in the province's concerning situation within CHSLDs. (Credit: Eric Thomas/AFP via Getty Images)

Update: Sept. 28

COVID-19 is once again posing problems for one of Quebecs worst-hit long-term care homes (CHLSD), after a staff member at Residence Herron tested positive for the virus.

According to The Canadian Press, who received confirmation from the regional health authority, staff at the private care home learned of the case on Saturday morning. The 11 residents and three staff members who were in contact with the infected individual have been tested.

As of Monday morning, the residents have tested negative while the staff members are still in isolation as they await results, said a regional health authority spokesperson to Yahoo News Canada.

Throughout the pandemic, 43 Residence Herron residents have died due to the virus, according to the latest data from the Quebec government on CHSLDs. The data also notes that Residence Herron has a case among its residence, but CIUSSS Ouest-de-l'Ile-de-Montreal spokesperson, Helene Bergeron-Gamache, said that information is incorrect.

Earlier this week, a report by the Quebec government was published, which found that Residence Herron suffered from organizational negligence, in the spring. Between March 26-April 16, 38 of its residents passed away, which included a stretch between April 5-10 in which 23 people died.

When the regional health authority, CIUSSS Ouest-de-l'Ile-de-Montreal, arrived on March 29, it found only three employees caring for 133 residents, since many had deserted their positions upon news of the virus. The facility was reportedly filled with a "nauseating odour of urine and feces" along with unwashed dishes. Many residents were dehydrated, while some were covered in their own excrements.

The report said if management at the private seniors' home understood its responsibilities and used its available resources, "it is reasonable to conclude that the Grim Reaper would not have been as devastating."

The health authority ultimately took over management from the facility on April 7, while the Canadian Armed Forces were also deployed to help with staffing issues. Quebecs association of private seniors residences suspended Residence Herron in May, but its the government that decides whether the owner, Groupe Katasa, can keep its permit to continue running the facility.

Investigations by the police and the Quebec coroner are still ongoing, while an application for a class-action lawsuit has been filled by family members of the residents.

Quebec sees another massive spike, this time with 896 cases

Quebec announced 896 new cases on Sunday, the most in a 24-hour stretch since its May 8 update.

Its now the ninth straight day that the province has recorded at least 400 cases. Before the recent stretch, it had not hit that mark since May 31. Since then, it has enjoyed multiple stretches where it consistently reported fewer than 100 daily cases as it contained the spread of COVID-19 within the province.

Two more people have died in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch, while two more fatalities that occurred between Sept. 20-25 were also added to its death toll of 5,825. The province noted on Sunday that 469 more patients have recovered, so there are now 4,947 currently infected patients in Quebec.

Two weeks ago on Sept. 13, the province had 1,938 active cases, and a month ago (Aug. 30) there were 1,294 active patients. Currently, its 4,947 active cases are the most of any jurisdiction in Canada.

Of the recently identified 896 cases in Quebec, 375 are in Montreal, 120 in Quebec City, 83 in Monteregie, 64 in Laval, 57 in Chaudiere-Appalaches, 42 Laurentides, 40 in Lanaudiere, 37 in Estrie, 35 Mauricie-et-Centre-du-Quebec, 18 in Gaspesie  Iles-de-la-Madeleine and 14 in Outaouais. Five of its 18 health regions reported no new cases at all.

A woman wears a face mask as she walks through a market in Montreal, which has been Canada's epicentre throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. (Credit: The Canadian Press/Graham Hughes)

At the moment, Montreal, Laval, Chaudiere-Appalaches and Outaouais are in the Orange stage (the second highest) on the provinces colour-coded scale, which indicates the severity of the virus within a region. Certain sub regions in Quebec City are also in Orange, while the majority of the province is among the two lowest: Yellow and Green.

Quebecs testing numbers are reflective of its output from two days prior. Most recently, it completed 30,935 tests for COVID-19, as it continues to push its capacity.

Of the provinces currently infected individuals, there are 216 in hospital and 41 in intensive care, down by one and four since Saturday, respectively.

No update was provided Saturday morning for the situation in schools, but as of the last report there are 632 currently infected students and 90 staff in the province. So far, at least 427 class bubbles have been sent home and asked to learn remotely. Of the provinces 3,089 schools, 489 of them have had a case of COVID-19, so far.

Updates from the rest of Canada

Manitoba health officials have identified 51 new cases of COVID-19, throughout the Winnipeg (36), Interlake-Eastern (eight), Southern (four), Northern (two) and Prairie Mountain (one) health regions. The update increases its active case count to a record-high 589, with Winnipeg being home to 490 of the currently infected patients. One more COVID-19 exposure warning has also been released for a school in Winnipeg.

No new cases were identified in Nova Scotia or New Brunswick, as those provinces continue to have one and seven active cases, respectively. As of Prince Edward Islands last update on Wednesday, it also has one currently infected resident.

One new case was identified in Newfoundland and Labrador, involving an individual in the Eastern Health region between 20-39 years old. The patient recently returned from travel to Manitoba, but has been self-isolating since their return. Throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, there are now two active cases.

Fifteen more cases have been identified in Saskatchewan, throughout the Central East (eight), Regina (four, North Central (one) and Saskatoon (one) zones. The location of the remaining case is still pending. Since five more people have recovered, there are now 144 active cases in the province. The Saskatoon zone, its epicentre, is home to 84 of those currently infected patients. Saskatchewan Health Authority is also warning of a potential exposure to COVID-19 at two businesses in Regina.

Timelines of cases prior to today:
Mary Lou McDonald has warned the cut in the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) will lead to economic hardship.

The Sinn Fein leader called for the Government to reverse the reduction.

The 350-a-week payments have dropped to between 200 and 300, which has affected the 150,000 people still in receipt of the benefit.

Read More

Ms McDonald said that Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe will have to reverse the decision, saying it was wrong to cut the payment particularly when Dublin and Donegal are facing tighter restrictions.

I think he will have to change his mind because theyve made a mistake, because what theyre doing is unfair, because what theyre doing will undoubtedly cause not just hardship, but what MABS (Money Advice and Budgeting Service) has described as a forthcoming tsunami of domestic debt, she told RTEs The Week In Politics.

Thats not a smart thing to do socially or economically so Paschal will have to change his position because its the wrong position.

Ms McDonald rejected Mr Donohoes claim that the Government cut the Covid-19 unemployment payments so the PUP could last longer for people.

I think the very reason to extend and to maintain the payments is the fact that we are still in the grips of a crisis, she added.

If we thought initially six months ago that this was a transient crisis, that we could tough it out for six months and then we could go all come back up and breathe air thats wrong.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin last week defended the decision saying that while the rates have been reduced, the scheme had been extended until next April.
Local diners in south Montgomery County have a new place to nosh and nibble at with friends with the opening of the third location of the popular Texas-Southern mash-up restaurant The Republic Grille in Spring. Located off the Grand Parkway, the new space expands on two others in The Woodlands.

We are extremely proud to launch our third rendition of The Republic Grille, said Terry McBurney, in a press release. While the COVID-19 pandemic has surely infringed on how we perform day-to-day operations, nonetheless it didnt stop us from bringing a new option for family dining to southeast Montgomery County and the Grand Oaks / Benders Landing area.

Related: Republic Grille announces new Spring location

McBurney said in a telephone interview on Sept. 26 that, business has been fantastic, and that when he is fully staffed at the third location, about 100 employees will work there. The menu will be identical to the other two locations of the restaurant.

Originally, I had tried to do a lease, and then an opportunity to buy some land and building my own free-standing building opened up. It feels petty darn good, McBurney said of opening despite the pandemic. Business has been fantastic. There is such a pent up demand for higher-end dining because there are so few options outside of fast food. We follow all of the CDC and state guidelines (for safety) and we go above and beyond the minimums. The employees understand and have bought in and our customers know we try to exceed all minimum (safety) requirements.

In a 2019 interview, Terry, who co-owns and co-founded The Republic Grille with his wife, Jennifer McBurney, said the couple had hoped and planned to open a new location on the eastern side of Interstate 45 for years. The couple had purchased of a plot of land at the rapidly developing shopping and dining area adjacent to the Grand Parkway. After years of planning, the restaurant is now open seven days a week, albeit under continued COVID restrictions and heightened sanitation and cleaning.

The first location of the restaurant, in the Panther Creek Village Center of The Woodlands, opened in May of 2014. The popularity of the original fine dining spot, which serves up classic dishes like chicken fried steak, mac n cheese and dozens of other savory dishes and sweet treats, led the couple to open a second location in June of 2016 in The West Woodlands Terramont Shopping Center.

The new 6,000-square-foot restaurant off the Grand Parkway has , Terry stated in press release, an eclectic Hill County ambiance punctuated by portraits of well-known celebrities born in Texas.

New Restaurant What: The Republic Grille, 3rd location Where: 3486 Discovery Creek Blvd., Spring Contact: Online: http://therepublicgrille.com, or telephone: (281) 719-2001. See More Collapse

Located in Spring at 3486 Discovery Creek Blvd., near the intersection of Grand Parkway and Rayford Road in the Harmony Commons development east of The Woodlands, the new location features a private dining room that can be utilized for an array of special occasions and meetings. The full-service eatery also has a full bar with craft beer and what was described in the release as, an expansive wine list.
TORONTO, Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trigon Metals Inc. (TSX-V: TM) (Trigon or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has completed the acquisition (the Transaction) of a 100% equity interest in Technomine Africa S.A.R.L. (Technomine), which owns a 100% interest in the Silver Hill Project (Silver Hill or the Project) in Morocco.



Trigon has received approval of the transaction from the TSX Venture Exchange and has completed the Exchange's final filing requirements for closing the transaction including, but not limited to; receiving a satisfactory title opinion on the licences comprising the high potential Silver Hill and Tama Doult properties located in the Anti-Atlas region of Morocco, and filing the geological report (the Report) in accordance with National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) for exploration of Silver Hill.

The Silver Hill Transaction is part of the Company's continued focus to strategically acquire and develop copper and silver properties in favourable African mining jurisdictions.

Jed Richardson, President and CEO of Trigon Metals, commented, In a world recovering from COVID, the acquisition of the Silver Hill property has added importance. The value of silver as a precious metal and store of value cannot be over emphasized in the face of government stimulus around the world. That said, we are in the midst of a structural shift that should see the world seeking to diversify its supply chains from reliance on China for manufacturing, and copper should see extraordinary demand when the world economy emerges on the other side of this crisis.

Silver Hill Project Overview

The Transaction is centred around the Silver Hill Project (see press release dated November 19, 2019), a 16km2 property in the Anti-Atlas region of Morocco, already home to Africas major silver mines (Imiter, Zgounder). Surface exploration shows copper and silver mineralization at high grades distributed over a wide surface area. Slags from ancient workings indicate historical large scale mining for silver.

Morocco is a favourable jurisdiction for mining, with an established industry producing at a rate of approximately 40 million tonnes of minerals per year. The country is a friendly business environment with a strong mining history, but very little systematic modern exploration.

Highlights of Silver Hill

Ancient slags distributed widely across one third of the concession indicate a history of primitive metal recovery, most likely for silver.

Abundance of visible copper minerals at surface, as well as old workings and slags on the property on surface and in-situ indicate excellent potential for a copper prospect

The Project is easily accessed via paved national highways, with a well-maintained gravel road sufficient to be used for an exploration program.



The full technical report entitled NI 43-101  Technical Report on the Silver Hill Copper and Silver Project, Morocco with an effective date of September 24, 2020 has been posted to the Companys website at https://www.trigonmetals.com and on SEDAR under Trigons issuer profile.

Response to COVID-19 in Morocco

Morocco continues to comply with the recommendations of the World Health Organization to reduce the spread of the virus. Trigon does not anticipate any delays to initializing its exploration program at Silver Hill as a result of COVID-19. The local team is ready to commence work on the Project beginning with a sampling program.

Terms of the Transaction

The Company has acquired a 100% equity interest in Technomine. Technomine owns 100% of the rights to the Silver Hill Project. As consideration, Trigon has paid to the Vendors CAD $500,000 in cash and issued 6,000,000 common shares to the vendors (the First Payment). On the one-year anniversary of the closing of the Transaction, Trigon must pay to the vendors CAD$400,000, and issue such number of Trigon common shares equal to CAD $250,000 (the Second Payment).

Upon the completion of an independent National Instrument 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate at the Project showing at least 100,000 tonnes of contained copper and/or equivalent, Trigon shall issue such number of shares equal to CAD$1,250,000 to the vendors.

In addition, the Company has paid CAD$25,000 and issued 300,000 common shares to Majilias Inc. (the Finder) for its role as an arms length finder. The Finder shall also be entitled to a finders fee of 5% of the cash and share consideration comprising the Second Payment, when paid by Trigon.

Qualified Person

The technical information presented in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Fanie Muller, P.Eng, VP Operations of Trigon, who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.

Trigon Metals Inc.

Trigon is a publicly traded Canadian exploration and development company with its core business focused on copper operations in Namibia, one of the worlds most prospective copper regions, where it has substantial assets in place. The Company continues to hold an 80% interest in five mining licences in the Otavi Mountain lands, an area of Namibia widely recognized for its high-grade copper deposits. Within these licences are three past producing mines including the Companys flagship property, the Kombat Mine.

Cautionary Notes

This news release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements include statements regarding the prospectivity of the Project, the Companys ability to explore the Project and produce a NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate, the impact of COVID-19 on the Companys operations, the Companys strategies and the Companys abilities to execute such strategies, the Companys ability to restart the Kombat operations, the Companys expectations for the Kombat operations, and the Companys future plans and objectives. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially because of factors discussed in the management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial statements or other reports and filings with the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulations. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws.

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.
A team of senior government officers on Sunday asked private medical stations to respond with utmost commitment to the challenge posed by COVID-19 pandemic and redouble their efforts to maintain critical supply for hospitals in Jammu division.

Chief Executive Officer of Economic Reconstruction Agency Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, who is heading the team, cautioned the plant owners against any laxity in the supply of cylinders to hospitals and said any dereliction in this regard would invite action under relevant provisions of law.

The team, which also included Superintending Engineer, Mechanical Engineering department, Rajiv Gupta; Joint Director Industries and Commerce Department Ved Prakash and Deputy Controller Legal Metrology Department Manoj Prabhakar, conducted an extensive tour of Bari Brahmana Industrial Estate and inspected multiple oxygen gas filling stations to prevent any disruptions in supply of medical oxygen to hospitals in Jammu region, an official spokesman said.

He said the team visited various oxygen filling stations including Kashmir Gases, RSS Gases, Valley Minerals and Chemicals JK Private Limited and Allied Gasses.

During inspection, the team was briefed about the filling capacity of the stations, regarding which the officer concerned informed that the Kashmir Gases has a capacity of 240-260 cylinders per day, whereas RSS Gases has a capacity of 380-400, Valley Minerals and Chemicals JK private limited has a capacity of 250-280 and Allied Gasses 160-180 cylinders daily, the spokesman said.

The team monitored the procedure of oxygen filling and also randomly checked the pressure of the cylinders to ensure its adequate supply, the spokesman said.

Shah asked the private medical oxygen stations to respond with utmost commitment to the challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and to fulfil their important social responsibility at this juncture by redoubling their efforts to maintain the critical oxygen supply for hospitals in Jammu division.

It was directed that interdepartmental inspection teams would be constituted for daily checks on the quality parameters of the medical oxygen supply, the spokesman said.

Shah asked the officers to maintain close coordination between the different departments and work in synergy for better results.

(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.)
Siemens Energy, as a stand-alone energy technology company with worldwide 91,000 employees, will locate its Corporate Center in Berlin.



In 2019 the company generated revenue of 28.8 billion, is thus returning to its roots: Werner von Siemens and Johann Georg Halske founded their company in Berlin in 1847 and with the discovery of the electrodynamic principle in 1866 laid a foundation for today's Siemens Group and therefore today's Siemens Energy.



"There were benefits for each of the possible locations in Germany, said Christian Bruch, CEO of Siemens Energy. By choosing Berlin, we are linking the historical roots of Siemens Energy with the shaping of the future, more sustainable energy world. The choice of Berlin will not distract from the important functions of other locations across Germany.



In recent years, Berlin has developed into an important location for innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, and its proximity to policy makers, associations and international institutions is considerable. Berlin is also one of Siemens Energys largest locations worldwide. In the spirit of a partnership, the State of Berlin and Siemens Energy will soon formally sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the location of the Corporate Center.



Michael Muller, Governing Mayor of Berlin, said: We are delighted that Siemens Energy is locating its corporate center in Berlin! Berlin has been a strong center for innovation and high-performance production in the energy industry for a long time now. Siemens history is intertwined with this tradition, and we are glad to have the opportunity to join Siemens Energy in writing a new chapter in this success story. We will be working together on the future of sustainable energy systems and thereby advancing the energy transition. The establishment of this headquarters in Berlin is a huge success for us and a clear commitment from Siemens Energy to Berlin as a location.



The decision, as to which of the Siemens Energys Berlin locations will serve as headquarters, remains open and a more detailed concept will be developed in the coming months. The establishment of the Corporate Center will begin during the next fiscal year (1 October 2020 to 30 September 2021).



The CEO, CFO, and a few teams, will initially move into their offices in the capital. One member of the Executive Board, Jochen Eickholt, will be based at the largest location in Erlangen, Germany, whilst Tim Holt will retain an office in Orlando, Florida (USA).



The Mulheim site is an important part of the production network, while the company's registered seat will remain in Munich. Here, Siemens Energy is listed on the Commercial Register. The company's decentralized approach will remain valid even after the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, a Siemens Energy statement said. - TradeArabia News Service
MBABANE  Revealed! While government has been doing all it can to freeze the hiring of more civil servants, it has emerged that two officers from the MSD Department have been allegedly creating posts illegally, in particular for teachers.

This has resulted in the number of civil servants, in particular teachers, ballooning.

MSD is an acronym for the Management Services Division, which is under the Ministry of Public Service.

The current mandate of the MSD, according to the Eswatini Government, is to assist in finding solutions to problems encountered by principal secretaries of ministries and heads of department in terms of productivity, lack of motivation, organisation, staffing numbers, quality of staff, job grading, and systems and procedures. In carrying out this mandate, MSD is to be guided by the governments policy of having a right-sized and efficient public service or what used to be called a leaner and more efficient civil service.

revealed

However, during a sitting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) last week, it was revealed that the two senior civil servants who are management analysts, in Futhi Gina and Vusi Matsenjwa, were allegedly able to manipulate the system to allow teachers to share the same post numbers.

As a result, the PAC has recommended that the matter be reported to both the police and the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) as it was clear that some people were manipulating the system to add more posts and hire people.

The PAC was informed by a representative of the Ministry of Public Service, Tenele Mamba, that this only happened with posts recommended by the Teaching Service Commission (TSC), through its secretariat and no other department in government. As a result of this anomaly, the budget for the teachers costs has incurred an over-expenditure of E324 154 482.64 under Primary Education for the 2018/2019 fiscal year.

correspond

For the financial year 2019/2020, the Secondary Education overspent by E77 416 227 and as a result the budget appears not to correspond with the actual number of teachers on the ground.

Chairperson of the PAC MP Phila Buthelezi wanted to know how the teachers were given posts which had not been allocated. Mamba told the PAC that for some reason, the TSC secretariat was able to request more posts than those available, but somehow at MSD they were then able to avail the posts.

Gina at first informed the PAC that she was only responsible for adding more teachers; - only those who were being hired on a temporary basis.

However, the PAC wanted to know what then happened to the post of the incumbent teacher. They wanted to know who the person responsible for removing the incumbent (I code) was.

detect

A representative from the Government Computer Services Department, Patience Mtsetfwa, said the system was not able to detect that there were more people posted into the same position and said it was fed by people. Member of the PAC Mangcongco MP Oneboy Zikalala said it was clear that some people were able to manipulate the system so that it could put more people into one post. The Computer Services Department said it was only now working on a system which would reject any additional people in a post already occupied by someone.

Meanwhile, Mamba said they had actually approached the TSC secretariat, asking them to show them the files of the teachers who were employed.

She said, however, they hit a snag and it was discovered that in 2016, when a teacher was for example transferred to another school, they would use the same post.

remove

She said of all the government departments, it was the TSC secretariat which bypassed the proper posting system as someone was able to remove the I and make the post look vacant.

This only happens at TSC, because other ministries submit the names of the people who are hired, she said.

Mamba further stated that it was not the human resources officers who were able to remove the incumbents.

MP Buthelezi asked Gina why they were removing the I code, to which she at first said she was not responsible for that as she only worked on temporary appointments. Meanwhile, PAC member Manzini Region MP Busisiwe Mavimbela said it was clear that there was corruption within the MSD Department, because there were people who were able to add or delete posts from the system. MP Zikalala further asked Gina who had given them the power to remove names from fully occupied posts and make them seem vacant.

Gina said they did not delete permanent positions but instead filled in the temporary posts.

She said for example, if someone went on maternity leave they would temporarily put the post of the replacement teacher, who would then work on a temporary basis.

alone

However, after having been questioned by the PAC, Gina said she did not do this alone, but worked with Matsenjwa who was, however, not in Parliament at that time. MP Buthelezi highlighted that they had all the time in the world to wait for Matsenjwa and said Gina must call him from the office.

After about 10 minutes Gina returned to the House of Assembly and informed the PAC that she could not find her colleague as he was reported to be away from work and that his cellphone was being answered by children at home.

However, the PAC was adamant that Matsenjwa needed to state his side of the story and said if the police needed to be roped in to find him, then they should.

Matsenjwa eventually showed up after an hour and the PAC asked both Gina and Matsenjwa not to sit next to each other as they would try and exchange notes. When he finally made his submission, Matsenjwa said the role of the MSD was to create posts according to the needs of each and every ministry.

He said these could be both permanent or on a contract basis.

He said what happened with the teachers was that there were those hired under B1 and B2, who were previously school leavers. He said diploma holders were under C1, C2 and C3 and were permanent. He added that those classed under C3 and C4 were degree holders with the latter possessing post-graduate certificates. Matsenjwa informed the PAC that they were able to put many temporary teachers into the C3 grades as they earned a much lower salary than the money provided for in the post.

permanent

He said that was why there were seemingly many individuals under one permanent vacancy.

However, the PAC insisted that the two were able to create the playing ground and put people into the payroll without the approval of the Public Service Ministry. The PAC said the two officers could explain their case before the police.

The Committee further submitted that the principal secretaries in the ministries of Education, Public Service and the TSC secretariat, needed to meet as soon as possible to correct this anomaly in the wage bill.

This was after the AG had also discovered that 236 were employed by the TSC without authority from August 1, 2018 to March 21, 2019, which caused a personnel expenditure of E31 848 994.

The police are also expected to find out how some of the teachers ended up sharing the same post numbers.
During the 2017 Topanga fire, helicopters that dropped water were frequently used. (Greg Doyle / Topanga Coalition for Emergency Preparedness)

On a recent afternoon, I was reading about the Bobcat fire ravaging the San Gabriel Mountains when a text landed on my phone: A new fire was burning somewhere in Topanga, where I live.

Immediately I checked the website of a local volunteer organization, the Topanga Coalition for Emergency Preparedness. The group, known as TCEP (pronounced TEE-sep in these parts), disseminates information when there is an emergency in the canyon. To call it a critical resource would be an understatement. If a mega-fire tore through Topanga the way the Camp fire did Paradise, the kind of information provided by TCEP could save lives.

I rely on the group so often, Ive made its website my homepage.

Well before I could smell smoke, I learned numerous spot fires were burning in the canyon and knew their locations, their approximate size (half-acre) and that they were running uphill.

Soon I knew their cause. Police were chasing a hit-and-run suspect who was driving a truck towing a double-axle trailer. The axle was shooting off sparks, which ignited dry brush lining the canyon walls. The pursuit ended with a 45-minute standoff on Pacific Coast Highway, where the driver, shirtless in swim trunks, was taken into custody. A sign in the back of his truck said: I GOT THIS.

If the driver did not live up to his sign, our local fire station did. The biggest fire was knocked out by 9:30 that night. In the meantime, Topanga residents could get detailed status updates from TCEPs website and Twitter feed.

L.A. County Firehawk helicopters fill their water tanks at a fire base in Topanga Canyon. (Greg Doyle / Topanga Coalition for Emergency Preparedness)

I knew when the fire had grown to seven acres, and that it had been halted at 10 acres, a crucial piece of information that meant I did not have to evacuate. If I had had to flee, I would have known to take a back route out  one update reported, Boulders the size of trash cans continue to roll off the mountain onto Topanga Blvd.

Similar volunteer organizations are scattered across the American West  they tend to pop up in the wake of devastating fires, along with the wildflowers. But few have it down quite like TCEP. They are uniquely organized, said Drew Smith, an acting assistant fire chief at the county fire department and renowned fire behaviorist.

Story continues

TCEP is unusual partly because its been around for almost 30 years. Topanga, with its dense chaparral, narrow canyons and notorious Santa Ana winds, was a high-risk fire zone long before global warming turned fire tornados and lightning complexes into common events. Residents formed the organization in 1993 after a wind-fueled fire destroyed 400 homes and left three dead.

Many fires in the Santa Monica Mountains are ignited by cars, including this one in July 2019 in Topanga. (James Grasso / Topanga Coalition for Emergency Preparedness)

Today the groups operations fall into two categories: education and communication. In blue-sky conditions, the emphasis is on the former. In meetings and dispatches, and in a disaster survival guide sent to every household, TCEP stresses preparedness  the empowering alternative to denial, reads a guide tagline. The general topics may be familiar  brush clearance, defensible space, evacuation plans  but the directions are often terrifically specific. Snakes can be transported in a pillowcase, reads one tip in a section on animal preparedness. When transporting house lizards, follow the instructions for birds, says another.

A few months after the Woolsey fire in November 2018, the group helped put on a Topanga Emergency Fair, where disaster prep somehow acquired a festive atmosphere. There were food trucks, music and booths hawking apocalypse merch. I picked up a bandanna with a map of Topangas evacuation zones printed on it and a couple of walkie-talkies. Emergency responders gave presentations, including one with mesmerizing time-lapse footage of helicopters refilling their water tanks at 69 Bravo, a ridgetop fire base nearby. In another, I learned about a new flammable menace in our midst  mustard of unprecedented size  brought on by heavy rains.

As fire season approaches, TCEPs focus switches to communication. This often means gathering information and posting updates online. The group has direct lines to local agencies, including the L.A. County Fire Department, the L.A. County Sheriffs Department and California Highway Patrol. We only put out verified information, explained Scott Ferguson, chairman of TCEPs board of directors.

Although I get Fire Department alerts through PulsePoint, a mobile app connected to 911, the additional updates from TCEP can make the difference between peace of mind and panic. Two days after the police chase, I received a PulsePoint alert about a Calabasas brush fire. If the app had been my only source of information, I might have monitored the fire all day. But TCEP came through with a pertinent detail. The fire was actually smoke from pet cemetery cremating a large animal.

When there is a large fire (or mudslide, or flood, or earthquake), more than 30 volunteers drop what they are doing and assume various duties. Duty officers staff the website and Twitter feed, a hotline team provides updates via landline phones, and a radio team operates a ham-radio network. Their hub is a formal Emergency Operations Center in town.

Later, the teams integrate any new lessons learned. During the Woolsey fire, much of Topanga lost power for the first 30 hours, and with it, all ability to communicate. (Topanga doesnt have a cell tower.) When mandatory evacuation orders went out, many residents didnt know. Since then, TCEP has been upgrading its radio network and is looking into the feasibility of installing an old-fashioned siren warning system in the canyon. Malibu is doing the same.

Two Sundays ago, TCEP ran a community-wide test of the improved radio network. I dusted off the walkie-talkies and tuned in for a Top of the Hour test broadcast, then switched to my neighborhood channel, as instructed, for a roll call. Walkie-talkie etiquette was good, a voice from somewhere concluded.

My spouse and I made the inevitable walkie-talkie jokes, but the drill left an impression. The next morning, I eyed a corridor of dry rosemary bushes as if they were enemy invaders, vowing to replace them with aloes. And while we dont have snakes or house lizards, our dog and his go-bag are ready.

Abby Aguirre is a writer in Los Angeles.





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
On Friday, Germany once again classified the Grand Duchy as an at-risk country.

It is the second time in as many months that the German government has declared Luxembourg to be an at-risk zone.

A number of measures put into place should therefore come as no surprise, but here's what you need to know about the new regulations.

Negative test results or quarantine

Luxembourgish citizens who wish to travel to Germany will once again be required to be in possession of a negative test result to avoid having to quarantine upon arrival. The administration of Rhineland-Palatinate stated that the Grand Duchy's extensive testing strategy would allow its citizens to perform a test, which must be performed less than 48 hours prior to departure.

German citizens can travel to Luxembourg without any limitation, as long as their trip is shorter than 72 hours. If it spans over more than three days, travellers will have to quarantine when returning home.

Exempt from the rule

Naturally, a number of exceptions will still be applied. Both Luxembourgish and German cross-border employees can commute to work without test results or quarantine measures. The same goes for medical appointments in the other country. Furthermore, visiting partners or children will be considered justified trips by the administration of Rhineland-Palatinate, meaning that no quarantine procedures apply.

What to expect in the future

Thus far, most of the regulations are purely legal and not enforced or traced in any form of way. As German newspaper Volksfreund reports, the government does not envision setting up border patrols again. Minister of the Interior Horst Seehofer (CSU) recently admitted that past experiences during the initial lockdown had proven not to be "very good". The administration therefore continues to rely on the common sense of the people.

However, the German government is allegedly working on a new set of unilateral regulations to be applied to all at-risk countries. According to reports by German paper Bild, the new measures would make a five-day quarantine period upon arrival mandatory for all travellers coming from an at-risk zone, regardless of negative test results.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, pay their respects to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the US Capitol. (Getty Images)

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has pleaded with his former Republican colleagues in the Senate to wait until the next president has been inaugurated to seat a replacement on the Supreme Court for the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, arguing that voting is already underway in several states.

People are voting right now, Mr Biden said during a brief appearance on Sunday to discuss Donald Trumps selection of federal appeals court judge Amy Coney Barrett to fill Justice Ginsburgs void.

Americans are voting early because they know the very soul of this country is at stake, because they know that the decisions of the Supreme Court affect our everyday lives, the former vice president said.

Our voices may not matter to Donald Trump. They may not matter to [Senate Majority Leader] Mitch McConnell, he said. But there are other Senate Republicans whom Mr Biden believes know better than to confirm a Supreme Court justice with a lifetime appointment when the early voting period has already begun in many corners of the country.

I urge every senator to take a step back from the brink. Take off the blinders of politics for just one critical moment. Stand up for the constitution you swore to uphold, Mr Biden said.

Mr McConnell has vowed to hold a confirmation vote once Ms Barretts nomination advances out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, although he has not said whether that will happen before or after the 2020 election.

Judiciary chairman Lindsay Graham has confirmed that his panel will vote to advance Ms Barretts nomination by 22 October, teeing up a potential confirmation vote on the floor of the Senate before the end of the month.

That vote could take place just days ahead of the 3 November elections.

Democrats on the Judiciary Committee have no procedural silver bullet to stop Ms Barretts nomination from proceeding to the Senate floor before election day, minority whip Richard Durbin has said.

The No 2 Senate Democrat, who also sits on the Judiciary panel, told ABC Newss George Stephanopoulos on Sunday that his party could "slow it down perhaps a matter of hours, maybe days at the most - but we cant stop the outcome.

Story continues

Mr Biden on Sunday once again declined to answer a question from a reporter on whether he would pack the Supreme Court - that is, increase the number of justices on the bench to dilute the expected 6-3 conservative majority if Ms Barrett is confirmed.

Answering such a question would distract from the conversation at hand, he said, which is about stopping Republicans from confirming a justice in the middle of an ongoing election, even though they refused to hold hearings for 2016 Barack Obama nominee Merrick Garland more than seven months out from that years election.

This is about your healthcare. This is about whether or not the [2010 Affordable Care Act] will exist. This is about whether or not, pre-existing conditions will be continued to be covered. This is about whether or not a woman can be charged more for the same procedure as a man, Mr Biden said.

Democrats have railed against Mr McConnell, Mr Graham, and other Senate Republicans who blocked confirmation proceedings for Mr Garland.

At the time, Republicans said Mr Garlands nomination had come too close to the election.

Mr McConnell tried to explain last week that the political circumstances are different now: Mr Obama was asking an unusual favour of the Republican Senate majority to seat his nominee in an election year, Mr McConnell said, whereas now the White House and Senate are controlled by the same party.

That statement, while factual, does fall in line with Mr McConnells reasoning for blocking Mr Garlands nomination in 2016.

The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president, the majority leader said at the time.

Read more

Barrett could be Ginsburg's polar opposite on Supreme Court

Analysis: Why Trump was never going to nominate a Cuban-American woman for the Supreme Court
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 20:01:54|Editor: huaxia

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-- As many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) worldwide have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, fintech is expected to provide them opportunities to shake off the negative impact and thus inject new momentum into the global economic recovery.

-- Although the world economy remains shrouded in the gloomy shadow of the coronavirus, the financial inclusion and technological innovation brought by China's fintech industry have offered a silver lining.

-- Some of the most visible "added value" of the digital revolution has been seen in the realm of fintech, which has the capacity to underpin positive changes.

SHANGHAI, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- As many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) worldwide have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, fintech is expected to provide them opportunities to shake off the negative impact and thus inject new momentum into the global economic recovery.

Besides the demonstration of innovative applications of fintech in China, more than 40 online and offline sessions were held at the three-day INCLUSION Fintech Conference in Shanghai, covering global inclusion and openness, innovative fintech, global ecosystems and partners, and green solutions and sustainability.

Photo taken on Sept. 24, 2020 shows the innovation exhibition zone of the INCLUSION Fintech Conference held in Shanghai, east China. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

Although the world economy remains shrouded in the gloomy shadow of the coronavirus, the financial inclusion and technological innovation brought by China's fintech industry have offered a silver lining.

CONNECTING GLOBAL MARKETS

Eric Jing, executive chairman of Chinese fintech firm Ant Group, described at the conference how an electronic trade platform can empower SMEs in Africa, with a cup of Rwandan coffee that he personally brewed.

The coffee beans were transported to China through the Electronic World Trade Platform (eWTP) initiative proposed by Alibaba. Despite the disruptions to transport caused by the pandemic, it takes less than a fortnight for the coffee beans to reach Chinese consumers from coffee farms in Rwanda.

Photo taken on Sept. 7, 2019 shows a logo of Rwanda Digital Trading Hub of Alibaba Electronic World Trade Platform (eWTP) Yiwu Global Innovation Center at Kigali Logistics Platform in Kigali, Rwanda. (Xinhua/Lyu Tianran)

"By cutting out the middlemen, the platform reduces costs. Coffee farmers in Africa can earn an additional four U.S. dollars for every kilogram they sell," Jing said.

Chili sauce, made in Rwanda, has also found its way to Chinese dinner tables through the eWTP.

Sami Farhad, senior director of the globalization office of Alibaba Group, said local young people in Rwanda are now more willing to return their hometowns to work because the average daily income of farmers there is five or six times what they used to earn in cities.

"Seizing opportunities to improve financial access was already a priority for countries worldwide before the pandemic. But it is even more urgent now because groups that already lack access are being hit particularly hard by COVID-19," said International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.

According to Georgieva, under such circumstances, financial inclusion and fintech can help people to connect to opportunities and avoid slipping into poverty.

CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGIES

Yuan Jing, a crystal glass merchant in Yiwu, a city in east China's Zhejiang Province and known as the "World's Supermarket," never thought that blockchain would one day play an important role in her work.

Ant Group on Friday unveiled Trusple, a digital international trade and financial service platform powered by AntChain, the company's blockchain-based technology solutions, at the INCLUSION Fintech Conference.

Photo taken on Sept. 25, 2020 shows the unveiling ceremony of Trusple, a digital international trade and financial service platform powered by AntChain, on the INCLUSION Fintech Conference held in Shanghai, east China. (INCLUSION Fintech Conference/Handout via Xinhua)

Trusple aims to make it easier and less costly for all users, especially SMEs, to sell their products and services to customers around the world. This innovative application of blockchain technology is designed to offset the lack of trust in transactions inherent within traditional cross-border trade and promote the smooth flow of global trade amid the pandemic.

During the pre-launch testing period conducted this month, Yuan completed the first transaction on the Trusple platform, sending a consignment of goods headed to Mexico.

Yuan said selling crystal glass to Africa and Latin America used to be a tough task for her -- customers would make a down payment of 30 percent and the last 30 percent of the payment would be received after one to two months, which always kept her on tenterhooks.

This time, however, Yuan received payment the day after the goods arrived in Mexico.

"With the help of Trusple, my business is expected to achieve a growth of at least 30 percent next year," said Yuan.

On the day Trusple was launched, Standard Chartered announced the successful completion of the first cross-border live transaction on the platform.

"SMEs around the world contribute up to 40 percent of GDP in emerging economies and are important contributors to job creation. By integrating our leading financial capabilities into the Trusple network, we have a real opportunity to facilitate these businesses' participation in the growing intra-Asia trade ecosystem and support the development of sustainable supply chains in the region," said Neil Daswani, global head of business banking and corporate partnerships at Standard Chartered.

Photo taken on Sept. 24, 2020 shows a view in the innovation exhibition zone of the INCLUSION Fintech Conference held in Shanghai, east China. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

Achim Steiner, administrator of the UN Development Programme, said during his video address to the opening ceremony of the INCLUSION Fintech Conference that some of the most visible "added value" of the digital revolution has been seen in the realm of fintech, which has the capacity to underpin positive changes.

"Now is the time for nations to seize upon the renewed global solidarity to fully harness the power of digital finance to build forward better," said Steiner.

(Reporting by He Xiyue, Sang Tong, Zhou Rui, You Zhixin, Cui Enhui and Li Laifang; Video reporters: Sun Qing, Sang Tong and You Zhixin; Video editor: Li Ziwei)
MADRID  An association of families of coronavirus victims has planted what it says are 53,000 small Spanish flags in a Madrid park to honour the dead of the pandemic.

Volunteers placed the flags on a grassy slope overlooking a highway in the capital early on Sunday.

COVID-19 has claimed a confirmed 31,232 lives in Spain. But difficulties in testing at the start of the crisis mean many more victims likely have gone unrecorded.

I think it is a beautiful homage to the victims, a lot better than the homage that was given by the prime minister, 62-year-old retiree Honorio Hernandez said. I have been in the Arlington National Cemetery and this reminds me of that. These people at the very least deserve this, if not much more.

Elsewhere in Madrid, over 1,000 protesters rallied to demand a more vigorous response to the growing second wave of the coronavirus.

Madrid has become the epicenter of the rebound of the virus in Spain, once again the worst hit country in Europe. Spain has 319 cases per 100,000 inhabitants over 14 days. France has 229 cases per 100,000, the United Kingdom 96.

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HERES WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK

 Military suicides are up as much as 20% in COVID era

 Social media and COVID shaming: Fighting a toxic combination

 Israelis mark Yom Kippur under painful virus lockdown.

 Masks are posing a problem for educators who teach students who are deaf, hard of hearing or learning English. Experts say other students need to see the teachers mouth in order to learn how to form words.

 More than 1,000 New Yorkers tested positive for COVID-19 in a single day, the first time since June 5 the state has seen a daily number that high.

___

Follow APs pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

___

HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

PARIS  Hospitals in the Paris and Marseille regions are delaying some scheduled operations to free up space for COVID-19 patients as the French government tries to stem a rising tide of infections, the health minister said Sunday.

As restaurants and bars in Marseille prepared Sunday to close for a week as part of scattered new virus restrictions, Health Minister Olivier Veran insisted that the country plans no fresh lockdowns.

Two Nobel Prize-winning economists proposed in Le Monde newspaper this weekend that France lock down its population for the first three weeks of December to allow families to get together safely for the end-of-year holidays and save Christmas.

In response, Veran said on LCI television, We do not want to confine the country again. Several countries around us made other choices. We dont want this.

French health authorities reported 14,000 new infections Saturday amid a mass testing effort. France has reported 31,700 virus-related deaths, the third-highest toll in Europe after Britain and Italy.

While at least 10% of French intensive care beds are now occupied with COVID patients, Veran said theyre far from saturation.

Still, he said hospitals in the Paris and Marseille regions are delaying scheduled surgeries to free up space. Hospitals temporarily suspended such operations when the virus swept over France in March and April, creating backlogs that still persist six months later.

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LONDON  Prince Charles has warned that up to 1 million young people may need urgent help to protect their futures from the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, the Prince of Wales says there has never been a time as uniquely challenging as the present and that it is a particularly hard time to be young.

He says the crisis is reminiscent of the upheavals of the 1970s, when youth unemployment was one of the pressing issues facing British society.

He says, the task ahead is unquestionably vast, but it is not insurmountable.

Charles comments come as university students  many of whom have only just arrived on campuses after the summer break  are facing increased restrictions amid COVID-19 outbreaks in residence halls.

In Manchester, students are chafing at a lockdown they say was imposed without warning. One group taped HMP MMU to a window, suggesting the dormitory had become Her Majestys Prison at Manchester Metropolitan University.

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NEW DELHI  India has registered 88,600 new confirmed coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours in a declining trend with recoveries exceeding daily infections.

The Health Ministry on Sunday also reported additional 1,124 deaths for a total of 94,503. The average of new cases has fallen by around 7,000 daily in the past week after reaching a record number of 97,894 on Sept. 16.

Still, India is expected to become the pandemics worst-hit country within weeks, surpassing the United States, where more than 7 million people have been infected.

Sundays surge has raised the countrys virus tally to over 5.9 million. India, however, also has the highest number of recovered patients in the world, according to Johns Hopkins University. Its recovery rate stands at about 82%.

Health experts have cautioned about two major events next month: the legislative election in Bihar state, with nearly 72 million people eligible to vote, and a major religious festival season that includes huge congregations.

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MELBOURNE, Australia  Australias second-largest city, Melbourne, has further eased lockdown restrictions imposed after a surge in coronavirus cases, allowing most children to return to school from next month and sending more than 125,000 people back to work.

Melbourne and surrounding parts of rural Victoria state were placed under strict Level 4 lockdowns on Aug. 2, shuttering schools and non-essential businesses, imposing a nighttime curfew and prohibiting public gatherings.

The restrictions were scheduled to be eased Sunday if the rolling 14-day average of new infections was between 30 and 50 cases. With 12 new infections reported Saturday and 16 Sunday, the 14-day average has dropped to 22.1.

That allowed Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews to confirm the 9 p.m.- 5.a.m curfew will be lifted from 5 a.m. Monday, though residents still cannot travel more than 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) from home. Public gatherings of up to five people from a maximum of two households will be allowed.

A further easing could take place on Oct. 19 if the average falls below five new cases per day. Masks remain mandatory.

Andrews said there are 399 active cases in Victoria, the first time that number has fallen below 400 since June 30.

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LONG BEACH, Calif.  The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation reports two prisoners have died at hospitals of coronavirus-related complications.

One prisoner was at the California Institution for Men in Chino. He was the 22nd inmate at the prison to die of coronavirus complications.

The second prisoner was at Avenal State Prison in Avenal. He was the sixth inmate to die of complications from the virus at the facility.

The department did not provide more details about the deaths.

Meanwhile, all California State University, Long Beach students who live on campus have been placed in quarantine and all in-person instruction will be halted for two weeks because five students tested positive for COVID-19.

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MADISON, Wis.  Wisconsin on Saturday hit a record for coronavirus cases reported in a single day as health officials reported 2,817 people have tested positive for the virus.

The state has seen some of the nations fastest coronavirus spread over the last two weeks. The rolling average number of daily new cases has increased by 950, an increase of nearly 97%, according to Johns Hopkins researchers. In that time, the state has reported the nations third-highest number of new cases per capita, with about 423 new cases per 100,000 people.

In another troubling trend, the positivity rate for coronavirus testing has also been among the countrys highest. Thats an indicator that many more people have infections than tests are revealing. The seven-day positivity rate is currently over 17%, according to the COVID Tracking Project. Saturdays positivity rate for testing was even higher at 22%.

Over the course of the pandemic, 113,645 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in Wisconsin and 1,281 have died. The Department of Health Services on Saturday reported seven new deaths.

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OKLAHOMA CITY  The number of deaths in Oklahoma from the illness caused by the coronavirus has topped 1,000.

Officials with the Oklahoma State Department of Health reported Saturday that 11 new COVID-19 deaths raised the states toll to 1,004.

State health officials also reported that 990 new confirmed cases raised the Oklahoma caseload to at least 83,510. The number of active cases rose by 136 to 12,752. However, the actual number of cases in Oklahoma is likely higher because many people havent been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick.

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HONOLULU -- A state-owned health care organization in Hawaii will take over a veterans care home where 26 residents have died of the coronavirus.

The arrangement announced on Friday will see Hawaii Health Systems Corporation take over as the operators of Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo. The previous operator, Utah-based Avalon Health Care, will relinquish all control over the facility.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports that the veterans home has had a history of falling short on health standards. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services gave the home a health inspection rating of one star out of five.

There were 89 residents living at the care home before the outbreak. Since then, 71 residents have contracted the virus along with 35 employees.

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ATHENS, Greece  Authorities are closing street kiosks and minimarkets from midnight to 5 a.m. in the Greek capital and other areas in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Such vendors are a popular after-hours source of alcohol for young people, many of whom have been congregating in squares without adhering to social distancing or wearing masks. The closures are set to begin at midnight on Saturday.

Greek health officials on Saturday reported 315 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 7 more deaths. That raised the countrys total case count to 17,228 since the pandemic began and its death toll to 376,

There are 68 people on ventilators, but many more are in intensive care units and the government is concerned about the capacity of the public health system if trends continue.

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska  Alaska health officials say the states COVID-19 death toll has risen by six, which is the biggest one-day jump for the state since the pandemic began.

The state also reported 128 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday, which was the most recent available data.

The deaths include three men in their 60s, one man in his 50s and two men in their 70s. The state previously reported a high of four deaths, on Aug. 25.

Alaska has had 8,202 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 52 deaths from the disease since the pandemic started.

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  Florida reported 107 new coronavirus deaths on Saturday, a day after Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis announced he was lifting restrictions on restaurant capacity.

The state also reported 2,795 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing its total since the pandemic began to just under 699,000. Overall, 14,190 people have died in Florida during the pandemic, including 168 non-residents.

There were 2,109 people hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Saturday morning, or 26 fewer than the day before. Florida has had the third-most confirmed COVID-19 cases of any state, trailing only two larger states, California and Texas.

On Friday, DeSantis issued an order allowing restaurants throughout the state to immediately reopen at full capacity. The order prevents cities and counties from ordering them to close or to operate at less than half-capacity unless they can justify a closure for economic or health reasons.

DeSantis also banned local fines against people who refuse to wear masks.
As we celebrate World Tourism today with great interest by tourism organizations, government agencies, and individuals on the theme Tourism and Rural Development, I would like to share my thoughts on this all-important occasion and the theme set for it.



Countries across the world are dependents on tourism like never before to drive recovery after bearing a heavy blow on their economy due to Covid-19 pandemic.



But as we celebrate the occasion with conscious awareness to drive home domestic tourism before international tourism, let us consider the following;



1. The Image of Our Tour Site



The character of our attraction sites is crucial to tourist participation. The environmental safety, friendliness of the people all add up to attract visitors or not. Therefore, the quality of the attraction will determine whether or not to tourist should visit the site.



We need to develop our local tourism market through branding and positioning to make it attractive. We need to add value to our museums, heritage sites etc. so that tourist will keep coming.



The brand promise needs to be clear and consistent to influence local consumption.



2. The Price of Our Domestic Tour Products



Pricing is one of the most important elements in the tourism marketing mix. Tourism customers rate the product at a price but the right price must satisfy both the tourist and meet the profit objectives of the tourism business.



The government of Ghana needs to review taxes and levies of the tourism products to make it affordable for local consumption.



The rate of a 3-star hotel in Accra for a night stay cannot easily be consumed by and average middle-income worker. Hotels are paying 17.5% VAT, 1% tourism levy coupled with statutory payments such as SNNIT, Tier 1 and 2, income tax etc.



The cost of operating a hotel accommodation is very expensive, thereby business operators pass on the cost to the price of their product. This makes it very expensive for local consumers.



3. Training and Development



The tourism sector enjoins various industries from Transport, Aviation, Agriculture, Catering, Food and Beverage, Accommodation, Drivers, Creative Arts, Fashion etc.



There should be regular training programs for both skilled and unskilled artisans in the tourism business to improve the outcomes of their business operation.



4. Cultural Preservation



Cultural assets must be preserved by engaging local youth who resides in the towns and villages of our major tourism destinations.



The capacity of the community to preserving their cultural heritage will boost tourist arrivals domestically.



Building the capacity of the communities around cultural and heritage will significantly enhance the sustainability of preservation. There must be dialogue between residents and visitors to better understand the cultural values of the community.



Conclusion



Thirty years ago, tourism in Ghana was literally at a standstill, largely due to political instability and problems with shortages of even basic commodities.



Tourism in Ghana has grown significantly as the largest employer in the informal sector after Agriculture, Trade and Industry.



Ghanas tourism comes from the impact of our Food, Culture and Heritages, Creative Arts, Festival ceremonies, Beach Resorts, Hotels etc.



It is significant to note that tourism is major economic activity as an agent of change, a social enabler and a major income generating program for social progress.



The success and sustainability of Local Tourism and Development shall always hinge on Management cooperation with all stakeholders.



A shared vision, willingness to work together to achieve stated goals through work delivery via evaluations and measurable results is very key.



Happy World Tourism Day 2020



By



Abeiku Aggrey Santana

Managing Director

Kaya Tours Ghana Ltd.

Accra, Ghana.



Email: [email protected]

[email protected]



Website: www.kayatours.com www.abeikusantana.com

Source: Abeiku Aggrey Santana/Managing Director - Kaya Tours Ghana









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Stealth is an advantage that is invaluable in targeting enemy assets, but data transfer can alarm enemies in their presence. One of the challenges with the technology is whether data transfer can be done during the stealth mode attack.

Full stealth capable F-22 and F-35 need to fulfill conditions to remain invisible to enemy radar when behind enemy lines and attacking SAMS and targets of opportunity, achieving air superiority for conventional planes. When in enemy airspace, how will they keep invisible while sharing data without calling attention, reported Fox.

One conundrum faced by F-35s, if it sees targets that their more agile F-22 can take them down, but sending the target info will give away their element of surprise. Chances of pouncing on a target and straight air kill will be lessened. Same thing for the F-22 that will need the sensor data package of the F-35, if the F-35 is detected that will alert the enemy planes.

Taking down these planes means sending the data needed and keeping stealth uncompromised, with attracting a swarm of missiles and jets. Chances are these assets will do their best to kill the stealth planes.

According to Northrop Grumman, it might be possible to achieve with tests getting done to do just that. One answer is a secure data link shared by the planes to keep stealthy even when sharing data between them.

A device called a radio translator by Northrop to patch into an F-22 datalink. This Interflight data thank connects to an F-35 data link is called Multi-Function Advanced Datalink, known as MADL.

Also read: Air Force Tests F-35 Integrated Electronic Warfare for Defensive Air Cover With Other U.S. Aircraft

According to Collin Phan, director of strategy and tech communications, he said that they are working on a radio device that will convert F-35 data to F-22s without detection. He said in an interview with Breaking Defense that the system uses defined radio hardware, software and antennas are components of the cutting edge system.

Keeping the planes undetectable is Northrop anti-jam software-defined radio equipment called Freedom 550. It works by sending data packets via encrypted signals that are translated by the F-22. All the information is received by the Raptor in a multifunction box with 25 functions. This sustains undetectability during stealth, with a smaller number of modules to link via the converter.

Fewer modules keep the planes undetectable with fewer emissions that do not use an omnidirectional antenna. The system keeps the signal less detected.

Recently the Air Force designed a successful two-way connectivity transfer for both stealth jets via LINK 16. Current data links are detectable by enemies, and the Freedom 550 keeps stealth. The system developed is part of the Air Force's Advanced Battle Management System which is a series of modules connected to like information in combat.

Overall, the concept is applied not for cmmunications that linear or stovepiped channels. It is s used for more functional connectivity. This includes weapons and sensors that like recon and target data over a wide array of platforms for combat at the same time.

Developing these technologies keeps the interoperability of the F-35 and F-22 intact in hostile airspace. In war, the F-35 and F-22 will be the spearhead of the U.S. Air Force to open a safe corridor for conventional planes. Sharing data in stealth mode makes the pair deadlier.

Related article: US & Israeli F-35s Become SAM Killers After UAE-Israel Deal Formed From Iran's Threats

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Police officers made more than two dozen arrests in downtown Portland Saturday night after they say individuals in a crowd of several hundred protesters threw rocks and shot ball bearings at them, then refused to leave after an unlawful assembly was declared.

Police also were heavily criticized on social media for pushing a news photographer to the ground, as he was trying to document them as they detained a person theyd tackled on the sidewalk. An officer can be seen on video grabbing John Rudoff, a freelance photographer who has shot photos for various media organizations, and throwing him to the ground.

Rudoff, who was wearing a helmet with PRESS stickers affixed to it, can be seen lying on the sidewalk looking stunned as people ask if hes OK. Sunday, Rudoff told The Oregonian/OregonLive: I really am physically OK but am quite annoyed.

That's John Rudoff, fellow photojournalist and an all-around amazing guy. You'd be hard-pressed to find someone in the independent media circuit who doesn't know him.



Tells me he's doing just fine and went straight home to file. What a goddamn legend. https://t.co/oFAZoNwD4k  Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) September 27, 2020

Rudoff, whose 73rd birthday was Saturday, is a trained cardiologist who started a new career in photography after retiring from medicine.

He is one of the plaintiffs who had sued the city in federal court, winning a preliminary injunction that made journalists exempt from Portland police orders to disperse when unlawful assemblies or riots are declared yet required journalists to remain to the side and not get in between police and protesters. The injunction says no journalist or legal observer may impede, block, or physically prevent the lawful activities of the Police.

Its unclear what if any impact Gov. Kate Browns order putting Oregon State Police and the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office in charge of law enforcement operations in the city on Saturday had on the federal judges injunction.

Oregon Public Broadcasting editor Anna Griffin also said an OPB reporter was subject to violence at the hands of law enforcement at Saturday nights protest. Griffin retweeted a video by OPB reporter Sergio Olmos, who appears to have been shoved by an officer into a tree, causing him to drop his video camera.

Id also love to hear elected officials explain why a reporter from my organization was subject to violence at the hands of law enforcement when judges have made it very clear this is not acceptable. https://t.co/yPUkMljGq0  Anna Griffin (@annargriff) September 27, 2020

Another video shows an officer apparently unleashing a chemical spray in the face of a man who was yelling at police and waving a sign toward them.

Police mace protestor for waving sign and flipping off officer pic.twitter.com/CzvhSvB65A  Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) September 27, 2020

The Oregonian/OregonLive asked the Portland Police Bureau, Oregon State Police and the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office for comment. Sheriffs spokesperson Chris Liedle said his office encourages individuals who believe officers' actions were unjust or excessive to file a complaint with the agency or corresponding review board.

Each officer is responsible for upholding their agencys policy, even under Unified Command, Liedle wrote in an email Sunday. Each agency has a professional standards unit that will thoroughly investigate each claim. We encourage individuals to do their best to identify the officer or agency by patch or personnel number, and to submit any evidence related to the incident, including photos and videos.

Saturday nights protest was a continuation of four months of nearly nightly protests in Portland against systemic racial injustice and police use of force nationwide. The nights protest capped mostly nonviolent events earlier in the day in North Portland, including a gathering of about 800 far-right attendees at a Proud Boys rally at Delta Park and a counter-protest of about 1,000 people at Peninsula Park three miles away.

The daytime events in North and Northeast Portland and the nighttime protest in front of the Multnomah County Justice Center in downtown were all overseen by the unified command of the sheriffs office and the state police, with Portland police officers also working the events.

The governor had directed the outside agencies to command the police response as part of an emergency order she made out of concern that white supremacists at the Proud Boys rally would spark violent confrontations. The move allowed officers to bypass Portland Mayor Ted Wheelers restriction on using tear gas.

I would like to thank the law enforcement officers of the Oregon State Police, the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office, the Portland Police Bureau, and other local law enforcement agencies for their professionalism as they executed this plan to prevent confrontations and violence, Brown said in a news release Sunday. I would also like to thank Oregonians for not rising to the bait when the Proud Boys came from out of town to express their hateful views yesterday.

On Sunday evening, the governor tempered her earlier congratulations with a tweet about the police encounters with members of the public and the media. Free speech and free press are two of my core values. I take the use of physical force by law enforcement officers seriously, whether it involves members of the public or the media.

Brown asked the agency heads to review their officers' conduct over the course of the evening. That failed to mollify her most vocal critics, who pointed to weeks of formal complaints over police treatment of press and protesters with little resolution. The ACLU of Oregon called on Brown to appoint an independent prosecutor to investigate police conduct during protests.

Hours after the Proud Boys rally and counter-protest were over, protesters concerned about racial injustice gathered in downtown around 8:30 p.m., according to the sheriffs office. The sheriffs office said that despite repeated warnings, the crowd repeatedly blocked the street to vehicular traffic and threw or shot projectiles at officers at various times during the more than five-hour long gathering. Those projectiles included full beverage cans, firecrackers, glass bottles, rocks and ball bearings, the sheriffs office said.

At one point, a man who was restrained in zip-ties and had been placed in a transport van bolted from the van and ran about two blocks before officers apprehended him again, according to the sheriffs office.

The sheriffs office said officers tried to "disengage and leave the area multiple times in an effort to de-escalate, but people in the crowd continued to throw items at them and the officers went back into the crowd to make more arrests.

Police used a loudspeaker to declare the protest an unlawful assembly at about 11:45 p.m. and ordered the crowd to leave the area. The sheriffs office said few if any people followed the order and officers responded by physically moving the crowd away as officers were pelted with more rocks and other objects.

Thats when the video was apparently taken of Rudoff being shoved to the sidewalk and Olmos into the tree.

Most protesters were gone by 1:30 a.m., but a small number stuck around and threw glass bottles toward officers, according to the sheriffs office. Officers made more arrests.

Law enforcement said 30 individuals, ranging in age from 17 to 48, were arrested at the various gatherings and booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center. Four adults and a juvenile were charged with assaulting a peace officer, and three of that group were charged with riot. Many of the rest were charged with misdemeanors that included interfering with a peace officer and disorderly conduct.

Two men from Sherwood were criminally cited for possession of a loaded firearm in public as they left the Proud Boys rally in Delta Park.

We can confirm that officers have conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle leaving Delta Park. The officers took possession of firearms, paintball guns, baseball bats, and shields. At least one criminal citation was issued. pic.twitter.com/rtJhzeCcv1  Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) September 26, 2020

-- Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee

Maxine Bernstein and Ted Sickinger contributed to this report.
Yerevan: Fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijan forces over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh continued on Monday with the deployment of heavy artillery on both sides, their representatives said.

The Armenian Defence Ministry reported fighting throughout the night, while Azerbaijan's Defence Ministry said Armenian forces were shelling the town of Terter.

Azerbaijani military personnel drive through Baku, Azerbaijan, on Sunday. Credit:Getty Images

Nagorno-Karabakh representatives said on Monday that 15 more of its servicemen had been killed in fighting with Azerbaijan's forces. At least 16 military and several civilians were killed on Sunday in the heaviest clashes between the two countries since 2016, reigniting concern about stability in the South Caucasus, a corridor for pipelines carrying oil and gas to world markets.

The clashes between the two former Soviet republics, which fought a war in the 1990s, are the latest flare-up of a long-running conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed territory that sits is in and is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but is run by ethnic Armenians as the self-declared Republic of Artsakh.
Lufthansa Technik, an aircraft maintenance and repair company and subsidiary of German aviation group Lufthansa, is to open a new engine repair station in Dublin as part of a multi-million euro investment.

The German company, which had record sales of 6.9bn last year, plans on opening the new facility in early October. It will start with a small team of 30, with plans to grow this as business demand increases over time.

According to a statement on Lufthansa Technik's website, the company described Dublin as a "major centre of the EMEA aircraft leasing community and close to the company's airline customers in the British Isles". The Mobile Engine Services site will have five repair bays covering 600 square metres of floor space and will also offer repair services at the locations of its customers.

Dublin will be the second repair station in the EMEA region and its fifth globally. Other sites include Montreal (Canada), Tulsa (Oklahoma, USA), Frankfurt (Germany) and Shenzhen (China).

Wolfgang Reinert, head of external communications for Lufthansa Technik, told the Sunday Independent the new facility represented a "medium single-digit million sum" investment.

Reinert added that opening the new facility during the pandemic had been challenging, but that the company felt there were opportunities to grow the business in Ireland.

"We did face some challenges to maintain our speed in regard to being ready for our go-live this year," he said. "So far, [we] have been able to continue with our intensive training and qualification programme, using remote learning where possible and now we have built up a very strong team of qualified personnel at the station.

"As always, Lufthansa recognises the role that Ireland has in the global aviation industry and our continued presence here is important. Yes, there is potential to grow the mobile engine services business over the next years both in Ireland and worldwide, and we believe that the Dublin location is another successful step in this direction."

Lufthansa Technik had an engine overhaul plant in Rathcoole, Co Dublin. It closed in 2014, with 400 workers losing their jobs.

It also has a plant in Shannon, Co Clare, called Lufthansa Technik Turbine Shannon, which repairs parts for turbines used in aircraft engines produced by leading manufacturers, CFMI and General Electric. That business employs around 200 workers.

The company also has a small engine leasing office in the State.
Justice Lesmes, the President of Spains General Council of the Judiciary, is on the money: having the Spanish king attend the yearly event where Spains newly-appointed judges are inducted is not a mere formality. King Felipe has been ignoring his constitutional role for some time now, either because he has been ill-advised or blinded by hubris and, in doing so, he has put the institution that he claims to defend in jeopardy. His mistakes date back to the beginning of his reign, when he abandoned the crowns symbolic, moderating role, one that would guarantee the survival of the monarchy, and went on to become a source of institutional instability. On 3 October 2017 the Spanish king renounced the symbolic role and political neutrality granted to him by the Spanish Constitution [when he implicitly endorsed the Spanish police violence unleashed on hundreds of peaceful Catalan voters during the independece referendum two days earlier]. Now he has done it again by siding with the very elements of the judiciary that have smeared Spains justice system with their partisanship by doing the PPs bidding and marching to the tune of their own quixotic arrogance.

King Felipe has changed the order of Article 117.1 of the Constitution, which states that justice emanates from the people and is administered on behalf of the King and he has forgotten that he is only supposed to provide a seal of approval, a stamp with no will of its own, only that of Spains democratically elected government: Article 56 states that the monarchs actions will not be valid unless they have been countersigned by the executive branch.

Ideology

When he told Justice Lesmes that he would have liked to attend the event held in Barcelonas School of the Judiciary, Felipe knew that his words could be leaked as they were, indeed but didnt bother to exercising a modicum of discretion. Likewise, Jose Antonio Ballestero a member of the governing board of the General Council of the Judiciary showed little restraint when he absurdly asked those present to join him in shouting Long live the King with the utmost moderation and unshakeable conviction. The newly-appointed magistrates, who will administer justice within a system that is all-too-often blatantly biased, gladly complied.

The conduct of their highest representatives which they largely endorse is seen by the junior judges as providing justification for the sort of politically motivated behaviour that would not be acceptable in neighbouring countries. It is one thing for the judiciary to appeal to the more conservative social strata for sociological reasons. But for it to be seized by reactionary forces is a different matter altogether.

At present a number of crises overlap in Spain, but they all have one thing in common: a disdain for reason, the inability to come up with a shared diagnostic that puts aside emotions and heartfelt convictions to advance and embrace the changes that would allow us to reconcile diverging views. Spains malaise stems from an inability to compromise, the notion that the exercise of power is akin to imposition and it is all about doing as you are told. In contrast, dialogue and agreement are viewed as capitulation. This exact same evil lies at the root of both Spains major public health emergency and the countrys institutional crisis.

As a result, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, Madrids regional president, chooses ideology over science to make public health decisions and governs Madrid like a black hole that siphons off funds from the rest of Spain, as if her authority extended beyond the boundaries of the Madrid region. The Spain within Spain absorbs all the resources and the ambitions of the Spanish right, which does not recognise the incumbent left-leaning coalition government as a legitimate one. The Spanish right has never engaged in parliamentary opposition, but democratic obstruction. To quote conservative daily ABC, the Sanchez government poses an increasingly alarming threat to the continuity of constitutional Spain and [Podemos vice president] Iglesias is a sinister reminder of the Civil War. Once again, the self-appointed guardians of the Constitution are actually behaving like its executioners.

A low profile

For his part, King Felipe should have grasped that his salvation hanged on keeping quiet and smiling where the government asked him to, until part of the general public had forgotten about his fathers alleged corruption and his humiliating flight from justice to a golden lair in a dodgy Gulf emirate, while his former lover keeps dropping nuggets of lethal information. King Felipe cannot compensate for his fathers scandals by leaning to the right, something that Juan Carlos avoided doing when he realised that the PSOEs support was paramount to the survival of the Spanish monarchy.

King Felipe should have known to keep a low profile because challenging the government shatters his legitimacy and cosying up to the Catholic church and Spains politicised judiciary means that most people wont recognise him as a legitimate king.

Troublesome days lie ahead, with Catalan president Quim Torra likely to be disqualified by a court of law, as we wait for the ruling in the case of Josep Lluis Trapero, the former head of the Catalan police. We will see whether justice keeps to the path of discredit or it shows the dignity and the courage necessary to face no less than a trial of the facts.
We, the undersigned, would like to collectively voice our support for two pieces of legislation currently before Congress: the Save our Stages Act and the RESTART Act. Both aim to assist performance venues, which have been especially hard-hit by the pandemic.

Because live performance exists to bring people together, this industry was the first to close and will likely be the last to reopen after COVID-19. This loss is felt not only by the music-loving public, but by industry employees and artists who have lost their livelihoods for the foreseeable future. With upwards of 90% revenue loss during the pandemic and no clear end in sight, the crisis is dire: without support from Congress, vast numbers of stages will be forced to close their doors forever.

In Missoula, we have born blessed with a vibrant and expansive live music scene, largely thanks to Logjam Presents, which operates the Top Hat Lounge, Wilma Theater and Kettlehouse Amphitheater. Not only are these beloved institutions where we make memories, they are community builders and economic multipliers.

As Logjam rose, so did Missoula businesses. Concertgoers stayed in local hotels, ate out at our local restaurants, had drinks at our watering holes and generally enjoyed our lovely city. In 2019, 40% of Logjams ticket sales were folks living outside of Missoula County that traveled to Missoula to hear music. Logjam employed over 180 Missoulians and had expanded to venues in Bozeman as well. A Chicago study found that $1 spent at a small live event venue resulted in about $12 of economic activity for neighboring restaurants, hotels and retail shops.

Logjams founders, Nick and Robin Checota, not only brought jobs and music to town, but donated over $1.2 million to Missoula nonprofits and causes. Without their generosity, we wouldnt have the Zootown Arts Community Center, to which they gave a half-million dollars and vital time and expertise. Their support of the arts and education has had an immeasurable impact on our town. Logjam also put sustainability measures in place in their business that exemplified a strong reuse-and-recycle ethic, while supporting burgeoning green service businesses, further supporting our local economy.

Logjam was a tide that lifted many boats in Missoula. Can we imagine Missoula without the vibrancy they have brought?

When the pandemic struck in March, many of us shut our doors with severe anxiety. When would we be able to open them again? Did we have the staying power to survive? We made do, changed our business models, Zoomed and schemed. Many of us have been able to open to the public again, albeit with limitations. The federal Paycheck Protection Program and Montana state business grants were lifelines for Missoula businesses. Along with strong support from the community, these programs gave most of us the breathing space to stay alive.

Logjam, however, remains closed. Until large gatherings are once again safe and permissible  a date no one can predict  the Top Hat, Wilma and Kettlehouse stages will remain silent. Missoula will continue to feel the loss of these huge economic drivers and community builders.

Logjam has given generously to Missoula and we feel strongly about keeping them around. We thus urge U.S. Sens. Jon Tester and Steve Daines and U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte to use their voices to push the Save Our Stages Act (S. 4258) and the RESTART Act (S. 3814/H.R. 7481) through Congress. We urge Missoulians to add their voices to the chorus. Please visit www.saveourstages.com, where you can quickly write to our congressional delegation.

With any luck, well celebrate the end of the pandemic together while enjoying great music, live on stage.

This opinion is signed by Charlie and Barbie Beaton, David and Britt Bell, Liz Dye, Dean and Hope Folkvord, Scott and Katie Gill, Mimi Gustafson, Dr. Sarah Kirkpatrick, Kia Liszak, Jenny and Ryan Montgomery, Tim OLeary, Michael Ochsner, Terry Payne, Suzy Rizza, Dennis Round, Cindy Smith and Sarah Walsh.

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Neurodiagnostics Market Research Report by Product (Clinical Testing Instrument, Diagnostic & Imaging System, and Reagent & Consumable), by Indication (Epilepsy, Headache Disorder, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Sleep Disorder, and Stroke), by End User - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19

New York, Sept. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Neurodiagnostics Market Research Report by Product, by Indication, by End User - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05941414/?utm_source=GNW



The Global Neurodiagnostics Market is expected to grow from USD 5,397.43 Million in 2019 to USD 8,349.12 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.54%.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Neurodiagnostics to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Product, the Neurodiagnostics Market studied across Clinical Testing Instrument, Diagnostic & Imaging System, and Reagent & Consumable. The Clinical Testing Instrument further studied across NGS Instrument, PCR Instrument, and Sanger Sequencer. The Diagnostic & Imaging System further studied across Angiography System, CT Scanner, EEG System, EMG Device, MEG Device, MRI System, PET Scanner, and Ultrasound Imaging System. The Reagent & Consumable further studied across Antibody, Buffer, Enzyme, Protein, & Peptide, Media & Sera, Probe, and Solvent.



"The Epilepsy is projected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period"



Based on Indication, the Neurodiagnostics Market studied across Epilepsy, Headache Disorder, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Sleep Disorder, and Stroke. The Neurodegenerative Diseases commanded the largest size in the Neurodiagnostics Market in 2019. On the other hand, the Epilepsy is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.



"The Neurology Center is projected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period"



Based on End User, the Neurodiagnostics Market studied across Diagnostic Laboratory & Imaging Center, Hospital & Clinic, Ambulatory Care Center, and Neurology Center. The Hospital & Clinic commanded the largest size in the Neurodiagnostics Market in 2019. On the other hand, the Neurology Center is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.



"The Asia-Pacific is projected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period"



Based on Geography, the Neurodiagnostics Market studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas region surveyed across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The Asia-Pacific region surveyed across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa region surveyed across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom. The Americas commanded the largest size in the Neurodiagnostics Market in 2019. On the other hand, the Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report deeply explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Neurodiagnostics Market including Advanced Brain Monitoring, Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Canon, Inc., F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation, GE Healthcare, Hitachi, Ltd., Lifelines Neuro Company, LLC, Mitsar Co., Ltd., Natus Medical Incorporated, Nihon Kohden Corporation, Philips Healthcare, QIAGEN N.V., Siemens Healthineers, and Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc..



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Neurodiagnostics 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 Neurodiagnostics Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Neurodiagnostics Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Neurodiagnostics Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Neurodiagnostics Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Neurodiagnostics Market?

6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Neurodiagnostics Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05941414/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001




YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Member of the European Parliament, EPP Group Spokesman on Foreign Affairs Michael Gahler calls on Azerbaijan to immediately stop its military activities in Artsakh.

Azerbaijan must immediately stop its military activities in Nagorno Karabakh. It was agreed that a solution to the conflict will be sought peacefully through negotiations. A fully fledged war between Azerbaijan and Armenia must be prevented. It is the people on all sides that will suffer, the MEP said on Twitter.

On September 27 early morning the Azerbaijani military has launched a massive cross-border artillery attack on Artsakh, including on civilian settlements. Peaceful settlements are also under bombardment, including the capital city of Stepanakert.

The Azerbaijani side suffered losses in its military equipment.

Dozens of civilians in Artsakh were wounded as a result of the Azerbaijani attack. A woman and a child were killed in the Azerbaijani attack.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said on Sunday President Ram Nath Kovinds assent to the three contentious farm bills marked a dark day for democracy and farmers.

Extremely sad that @rashtrapatibhvn refused to heed farmers & Punjabis cries & has signed #FarmBills and J&K bill excluding #Punjabi as official language. Hopes that President will act as nations conscience & return Bills to Parliament dashed. Dark day for democracy & farmers, Badal tweeted.

Extremely sad that @rashtrapatibhvn refused to heed farmers & Punjabis cries & has signed #FarmBills and J&K bill excluding #Punjabi as official language. Hopes that President will act as nations conscience & return Bills to Parliament dashed. Dark day for democracy & farmers. pic.twitter.com/BSJXMYMrgf  Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) September 27, 2020

The SAD had on Saturday snapped ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre to protest the bills.

Also read: President Kovind gives his nod to all 3 farm bills, government notifies them

The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, seeks to give freedom to farmers to sell their produce outside the notified Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) market yards.

The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, will give farmers the right to enter into a contract with agribusiness firms, processors, wholesalers, exporters, or large retailers for the sale of future farming produce at a pre-agreed price.

The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020, will remove commodities like cereals, pulses, oilseeds, onion, and potato from the list of essential commodities and will do away with the imposition of stock holding limits.
WASHINGTON  Joe Biden rankled some progressives this month when he boasted of his primary victory over Sen. Bernie Sanders while responding to President Donald Trump's efforts to paint him as a left-wing radical.

"I beat the socialist," Biden said without mentioning Sanders by name during a campaign stop in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. "Do I look like a socialist? Look at my career. My whole career. I am not a socialist."

Former Democratic National Committee chair Donna Brazile scolded the Democratic presidential nominee on Twitter for a comment she said was "playing into Trump's divisive narrative."

"Play to your strengths," she advised Biden.

But Biden is betting that emphasizing centrist credentials will help him win over swing voters in Rust Belt states such as Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, including some who backed Trump over Hillary Clinton in 2016.

Trump won all three states by whisker-thin margins: a combined 77,744 votes out of 13,940,912 cast, or about half a percentage point. Without Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, Trump would have lost in the Electoral College.

Amy Coney Barrett: 10 ways Trump's pick could change the Supreme Court

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden talks with workers as he tours the Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry in Manitowoc on Sept. 21, 2020.

Some of the white working-class and suburban voters who backed Trump four years ago had cast ballots for the ticket that Biden shared in 2008 and 2012 with Barack Obama.

In 2008, with the stock market collapsing at the height of the financial crisis, Obama won over suburban swing voters with a pledge to fix the economy and restore jobs. But some of those voters gravitated toward Trump in 2016 based on his pledge to get tougher on trade and fight for their economic interests.

For Biden, distancing himself from socialism could help him win over suburban voters who are wary of too much government interference in the economy.

At the same time, the former vice president is also channeling Sanders' populist economic rhetoric to try to slice into some of Trump's support with working-class voters.

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His message: The wealthy real estate developer is no friend of blue-collar voters.

Scranton vs. Wall Street

Ive dealt with guys like Donald Trump my whole life  guys from the neighborhood where I come from who would look down on us because we didnt have a lot of money or your parents didnt go to college, Biden said in a factory during his trip to Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Guys who think theyre better than you."

Biden touted his working-class upbringing in Scranton, Pennsylvania, casting the 2020 presidential race as a contest between "Scranton and Wall Street." He argued that Trump's tax cuts benefited Wall Street and big corporations without lifting up the middle class. Biden has also accused Trump of botching the response to the coronavirus pandemic, saying that it cost lives while also exacerbating disruptions to the economy.

"Now some 30 million Americans are out of unemployment," Biden said, adding that Trump wants to give another "gigantic multimillion-dollar tax cut" to the very wealthy. "Whose hide does it come out of? It comes out of your hide.

"The simple truth is that Donald Trump ran for office saying he would represent the forgotten man and woman in this country. And then once he got in office, he forgot us. Not only did he forget them, the truth is that he never really respected us very much."

Biden went on to talk of graduating from a state school  the University of Delaware in 1965  not an Ivy League college like recent presidents, including Trump.

"I say it's about time that a state school president sat in the Oval Office," Biden said.

Former Vice President Joe Biden has painted President Donald Trump as an adversary to blue-collar workers.

Biden has maintained a lead over Trump in the three key Rust Belt battleground states, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. The FiveThirtyEight average of polls has Biden ahead by 5 percentage points in Pennsylvania, 7 points in Michigan and 6 points in Wisconsin. Trump has tried to make a play in another Midwest state  Minnesota  but polling there shows Biden ahead by an even greater margin.

For Clinton in 2016, the loss of white suburban voters wasn't the only reason for her defeat in Rust Belt states. A lack of enthusiasm among Black voters, who lean overwhelmingly Democratic, helped to account for her losses in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania.

As Biden tries to put together a winning coalition for those key states, the first debate between Biden and Trump in Cleveland Tuesday will give the Democratic candidate another opportunity to push back on the president's efforts to cast him as a captive of the radical left.

First Trump-Biden debate: Supreme Court, coronavirus, race among the topics for the Cleveland debate

One risk for Biden is that the effort to distance himself from the socialist label and his emphasis on centrist themes will dampen enthusiasm among progressives, especially younger voters who embraced Sanders during the primary.

But Jeff Weaver, who served as Sanders' campaign manager during his 2016 presidential run, said anger at Trump was helping to unify different segments of the Democratic Party.

"Donald Trump is the P.T. Barnum of modern American politics and it's important to expose what is really at issue of this campaign, which is the future progress of working people in this country and marginalized communities," Weaver said.

Weaver said two issues will help drive progressive support for Biden in November: the hunger to beat "the most destructive president in modern American history" and Biden's support for issues such as raising the minimum wage, increasing family leave pay and dealing with climate change.

There's "100%" more enthusiasm around Biden among the left than Clinton four years ago, said Weaver, who founded the pro-Biden Super PAC America's Progressive Promise.

Sanders goes to bat for Biden

If Sanders was annoyed by Biden referring to him as "the socialist," he didn't show it during a speech Thursday at George Washington University not far from the White House.

The Vermont senator said he is "strongly supporting" Biden, though he focused much of his speech criticizing Trump's refusal to say, when asked by a reporter, whether he would commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he were to lose.

His remarks kicked off Sanders' new role in the campaign  not touting progressive causes like universal health care or the Green New Deal on behalf of Biden, but framing the race as a "struggle to preserve American democracy."

Four years ago, tens of thousands of Sanders voters  about 1 in 8  pivoted from the Vermont senator during the presidential primary and cast a ballot in the general election for a real estate mogul who championed capitalist ideals.

Once political rivals, Sen. Bernie Sanders is now stumping for Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee.

They liked Trumps call for a rebirth in American manufacturing, his willingness to confront unfair trade practices by other countries, his blunt takedown of Washingtons power structure  themes Sanders pounded as well.

More: Joe Biden endorsed, Trump excoriated by nearly 500 retired top military, national security officials

And they didnt particularly care for Clinton.

A USA TODAY/Suffolk University survey in April, around the time Sanders ended his 2020 presidential bid, indicated Biden may lose fewer of the progressive icon's supporters than Clinton did.The survey of 638 voters who backed Sanders in primaries or caucuses this year found that 4% plan to vote for Trump  down from the 12% who voted for Trump over Clinton, according to a 2017 Cooperative Congressional Election study. The Suffolk poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Charles Franklin, director of the Marquette Law School poll in Wisconsin, said Biden is doing a better job than Clinton did of keeping Democrats and left-leaning independents in the fold.

Franklin said Trump is "the great unifier for Democrats this year. A gift that keeps giving to the other party."

Riots. Radicalism. Corruption: Trump and Biden supporters turn to apocalyptic themes in campaign ad wars.

More: Trump declines to commit to peaceful transfer of power, McConnell promises 'orderly transition'

The Marquette polls showed that a greater percentage of Sanders voters (79%) in Wisconsin who identify as Democrats or left-leaning independents view Biden favorably in 2020 compared to Clinton (71%) in 2016, Franklin said.

Todd Belt, professor and political management program director at George Washington University, said he doesn't believe Biden risks alienating progressive voters by pushing back at the socialism tag. He said analyses suggest the Sanders' wing of the party is "pretty solidly" behind Biden

"They've made peace with the fact that he is the nominee and they don't intend to repeat a division of the party that happened in 2016," Belt said.

Where do Americans stand on election issues? Let them tell you how they feel about this policy

Contributing: Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Election 2020: Joe Biden tries to cut into Trump's Rust Belt support
On Saturday, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law mandating that convicted criminals can request placement in single-sex prisons based upon the prisoners self-defined gender identity. Theres strong evidence that letting intact men go to womens prisons is an invitation for rape. That makes the new law one of the most misogynistic things Californias hard-left government could have done.

For myriad reasons, only the smallest fraction of which has to do with biology, there have always been men and women who feel uncomfortable in their skin and associate more strongly with the opposite sex. That must be a terrible feeling, and these people deserve our pity and should be treated whenever possible with kindness and respect for their suffering.

Nevertheless, just because they feel as if they are the opposite sex does not mean that their delusion must be societys reality. That hasnt stopped California, which has joined Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York City, and Massachusetts by passing a law allowing convicted prisoners to pick their gender identity when theyre being assigned to the single-sex prisons in Californias corrections system:

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law on Saturday requiring California to house transgender inmates in prisons based on their gender identity  but only if the state does not have management or security concerns. [snip] The law Newsom signed Saturday says officers must ask inmates privately during the intake process if they identify as transgender, nonbinary or intersex. Those inmates can then request to be placed in a facility that houses either men or women. The law says the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation cannot deny those requests solely because of inmates' anatomy, sexual orientation or a factor present among other inmates at the facility.

The justification for this new law is that men who identify as women, when placed in all-male prisoners are often raped. In Australia, for example, a man who identified as a woman claims to have been raped over 2,000 times, which is utterly appalling and, Im sure, not unique. Vulnerable men need to be protected -- but a sane society doesnt protect gender-confused men by putting women at risk.

Californias new law doesnt require that the men have had mutilating surgery or take hormones because of their body dysmorphia. Instead, the law lets the men decide what gender they are. If I were a man with a choice of a dangerous mens prison or a more civil womens prison, and I wasnt all about being macho, it might seem like a good thing to announce that Id found my inner woman.

For the women, its anything but a good thing.

In England, which has been housing men in womens prisons for some time now, the program has been disastrous for women:

The United Kingdom Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has revealed that inmates who identify as transgender are responsible for a rate of sexual attacks that is exponentially higher than their proportion of the population of womens jails and prisons. In response to a question that former Labour Party General Secretary Baroness McDonagh put before Parliament, the MoJ has acknowledged that, while inmates who identify as transgender make up about one percent of the 3,600 inmates in womens jails and prisons, they have committed 5.6% of all reported sexual assaults.

Also in England, a man calling himself Karen White ended up in prison after stabbing a neighbor. Despite a history that included sexual assault, exposure, sexually abusing minors, and cruelty to animals, he ended up in a womens prison, where he promptly sexually assaulted women.

In Illinois, a woman filed a federal lawsuit claiming that a man who identified as a transgender woman raped her.

In a moral nation, the prisons must protect those men who compulsively present as women. However, that same societal morality says that women in prison must be protected from being forced to share their quarters with mentally ill, or merely opportunistic, men who still have their external genitalia attached.

Image: A poster about Karen White, from Fair Play For Women.
Royal Womens Hospital psychiatrist Lia Laios said coronavirus had added complex layers of logistical and emotional stress to women who are expecting or have given birth. She is now treating a growing cohort of anxious, distressed and depressed women. Even if women havent had any pre-existing obsessive compulsive symptoms, we are certainly seeing more OCD symptoms in pregnancy or in the postnatal period," Dr Laios said. It is a really tough one to manage because on some level there is some normalising about that because we are all expected to be taking extra hygiene precautions. But there are some women where this is becoming quite a lot more entrenched and interfering with their ability to function." Celeste was born on September 19. Credit:Justin McManus Obsessive compulsive disorder is a condition characterised by recurring unwanted thoughts, impulses or repetitive acts. For some new mothers, it has manifested in repeatedly washing their babies or their child's clothing. Others are too afraid to leave home.

"It has been quite striking," Dr Laios said. They are quite terrified to leave the house while pregnant. Postnatally, women are also really reluctant to leave the house, but if they do leave the house there is a lot of excessive washing and stress around that." Loading Australia is also expected to suffer a population slowdown as the coronavirus crisis discourages women from having children, leading to a slump in the birth rate expected to drag down the economy. Jan Ireland, director of private midwifery centre MAMA in Kensington, said phone calls from pregnant women inquiring about home births had tripled this year. "People who never would have thought about having a homebirth, it hadn't even entered their consciousness, are now going down that path," Ms Ireland said.

Concern about putting themselves and their families at risk by attending hospital, bans on water births and visitors and a fear they will be denied the support of their partner during birth are the main drivers of the surge. But then, there is the grief that comes after birth. Loading "It's causing a lot of sadness about the expected fantasy or idea of what motherhood would be like," Dr Laios said. "There is grief about the loss of expectations about how pregnancy might be because it is a much more disconnected and isolating experience for women." Celeste was born in an inflatable pool in the middle of the loungeroom, with the help of two midwives, just before 11am, September 19.

It was amazing, we were in our home, it felt very safe," Ms Graham said. "It was just so serene and really beautiful. I picked her up out of the water and was holding her in my arms and thinking 'oh my goodness Ive just done this'." The last week has been been a blur of sleepless nights and precious moments with Celeste, but there is a lingering sadness. Ms Graham's family is interstate and her mother had planned to fly from Sydney to spend the first weeks with her before the borders closed. Her husband Lee Barlow's family live in the United Kingdom. Caitlin Graham with her daughter Celeste a week after the birth. Credit:Justin McManus Like many of the new generation of lockdown babies, Celeste has been introduced to the world through FaceTime.

"It has slowed everything down in a way, which I guess is what you want when youve just given birth," Ms Graham said. But there is nobody to come over and sit in the house with you and check youve had a cup of tea or a shower. All of thats gone and we dont really know when we will be able to see family or anyone again." With no physical mothers groups running due to COVID-19 restrictions, Dr Laios said women were having to be even more resourceful. Many were creating their own virtual mothers groups. Loading "This a really difficult time and pregnancy is probably the most vulnerable period of time for a woman to develop mental illness," she said. "Add to that a global pandemic. It is so important women are forthcoming about seeking support and that they recognise and know that there other women out there going through the exact same thing." Ms Graham's support network is a WhatsApp chat group she has with mothers she met through her two-year-old daughter Aude. Each day this week, home-cooked meals have been quietly left at her front door.
Australian celebrity chef Matt Preston has shared a foolproof recipe for making delicious hummus at home - his favourite dip on the market.

The former MasterChef judge, 59, told Delicious magazine that 'great hummus should never be grainy from undercooked chickpeas or bitter from old or cheap tahini'.

Preston said the hummus served up at Melbourne's Bar Saracenis is the best he had eaten, as head chef Tom Sarafian takes three days to soak, rinse, cook and blitz large Ord River chickpeas - but there are some shortcuts to make the process quicker.

Australian celebrity chef Matt Preston (pictured) has revealed how to make his favourite dip, hummus, at home

To make great hummus at home, Preston recommends following Yotam Ottolenghi's recipe from his 2012 cookbook Jerusalem.

The recipe involves soaking the chickpeas in water overnight, then cooking them with a small amount of baking soda for a few minutes before adding water.

The chickpeas are cooked for up to 40 minutes, or until soft, and the skins are removed once they start to gather on the surface.

Preston said sprinkling baking powder onto the chickpeas helps break down the skins and reduces the total cooking time.

How to make hummus according to Yotam Ottolenghi INGREDIENTS: 1 & 1/4 cups dried chickpeas (250 grams) 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons light tahini paste (270 grams) 4 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice 4 cloves garlic, crushed Salt 6 & 1/2 tablespoons ice-cold water (100mL) METHOD: Put chickpeas in a large bowl and cover with cold water at least twice their volume. Leave to soak overnight. The next day, drain chickpeas. In a medium saucepan, combine drained chickpeas and baking soda over high heat. Cook for about 3 minutes, stirring constantly then add 6 1/2 cups water and bring to a boil. Cook at a simmer, skimming off any foam and any skins that float to the surface, from 20 and 40 minutes, depending on the type and freshness Once done, they should be very tender, breaking easily when pressed between your thumb and finger, almost but not quite mushy Drain chickpeas - you should have roughly 3 cups (600 grams) Place chickpeas in a food processor and process until you get a stiff paste, then, with the machine still running, add tahini paste, lemon juice, garlic and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt Slowly drizzle in ice water and allow it to mix for about 5 minutes, until you get a very smooth and creamy paste. Transfer hummus to a bowl, cover surface with plastic wrap, and let it rest for at least 30 minutes If not using immediately, refrigerate until needed, up to two days Remove from fridge at least 30 minutes before serving Source: Hummus from 'Jerusalem' Advertisement

Preston said making hummus is a process that requires soaking, rinsing, cooking and blitzing large Ord River chickpeas (stock image)

To make great hummus at home, Preston recommended following Yotam Ottolenghi's recipe from the 2012 cookbook Jerusalem

Once this process is complete, the chickpeas are ready to be blitzed in a food processor.

'Yotam also adds 90 grams of tahini for about every 200 grams of softened chickpeas, adding the lemon juice, garlic and a little olive oil to the processor at the same time,' he said.

'His final trick is slowly drizzling in iced water while processing slowly for up to five minutes to get the hummus satin-smooth.'

The former MasterChef judge, 59, said 'great hummus should never be grainy from undercooked chickpeas, or bitter from old or cheap tahini', he told Delicious magazine

But those who can't be bother waiting overnight to begin the process, Preston said canned chickpeas can also be used once rinsed and drained.

'I'd suggest taking the time to remove the skins by rubbing your chickpeas gently in a tea towel - to do a totally thorough job, you can pour them into a bowl of cold water and rub off any remaining skins between your palms or with your fingers,' he said.

'Then it's just a matter of using the best ingredients you can afford, tasting as you go and throwing a couple of ice cubes in with the chickpeas when you process them.'
Where I come from, in small-town Minnesota, sportsmanship isnt just a casual pastime  its a way of life.

My family, and the others that make up our rural community, has a special affinity for the land that surrounds us. When we werent exploring national parks, we spent my childhood summers on the lake. As the summer months slipped into autumn, my sister and I bundled up to join our dad in his deer stand for the long-awaited hunting season.

Waking up before dawn, driving the hour or so out to my grandpas farm, and delicately walking into the woods with leaves crunching beneath our feet always felt special. Once in the stand, we sat and appreciated the life around us. Waiting for a shot took time. For hours, we watched as the woods came alive to the west, and the sun rose over the field to the east.

Many people have misconceptions about hunting. Hunters are oftentimes vilified, with the skewed perception that they want to take more than nature can give; that they dont respect the land or the wildlife; and that they kill simply for the fun of it.

I know this to not be the case. The truth is that hunters are some of the best advocates for our natural world. Indeed, they consistently fund conservation efforts, keep animal populations healthy, and pass on traditions conducive to and necessary for a healthy ecosystem. What hunters take from nature is far outweighed by what they consistently give back.

Before I was ever allowed near the stand, my dad taught me everything I needed to know. Once I passed my firearms-safety class, my dad and I spent long days target practicing to prove I was up to the task of a clean shot. Over and over he stressed the importance of this  nothing I shot at should suffer. Hunting was never about killing for sport, it was about keeping wildlife in our area thriving. We held a deep respect for the woods and knew we were playing our part to conserve it.

In Minnesota and many other states, various species suffer from overpopulation. The problem is most acute among deer. In such instances, hunting is beneficial for population management. By adhering to hunting quotas, sportsmen help control populations which could otherwise harm their ecosystems if left unchecked. When overpopulation occurs, wildlife is faced with challenges such as starvation, disease, and territorial disputes. In the brutally cold Minnesota winters, an insufficient food supply means slow, inevitable death from starvation  a cruel fate.

Story continues

In addition to herd management, though, hunters and other sportsmen pay licensing fees. These fees go directly into conservation programs that keep our nations natural places beautiful and healthy. Licensing fees, habitat stamps, and taxes on equipment all serve this purpose.

Hunting is an activity often passed down through generations, as it was with my dad and me. But recently, there has been a decline in sportsmanship around the country. In 2016, a U.S. Fishing and Wildlife survey showed that the percentage of Americans who hunt had dropped 3 percentage points from 1991 to 2016. This is not only bad news for the outdoor recreation industry, but also for conservation efforts. Without revenue from licensing and other fees, conservation funds dwindle. Small businesses that rely on equipment sales for hunting excursions fall into the red. In extreme cases, animal populations become too large for their habitats.

For too long, weve perpetuated a false narrative about hunters motives and contributions  a myth that has likely played a role in the decline of hunting. Moreover, its high time we push back on these faulty assumptions. Being a sportsman doesnt mean taking all nature can give, but participating in the delicate balance needed for ecosystems to thrive. We need passionate hunters not only to continue funding conservation and local economies, but for their deep-rooted heritage of conservation.

Hunting cannot be an activity of the past. Now that deer season has begun in some parts of the country, we must stand up and advocate for this deeply American pastime. We must emphasize that hunters are a key component of our nations tradition of conservation, and combat harmful caricatures that paint sportsmen as an enemy of the environment. Sportsmen themselves have become a part of their ecosystems, and without them, our natural world loses its balance.

More from National Review
Photo credit: Instagram

From Harper's BAZAAR

Sir David Attenborough delighted a starstruck Prince George by giving him a fossilised tooth during a private screening of the naturalist's new documentary at Kensington Palace.

The young prince looked captivated as he was handed the special gift, the tooth of a carcharocles megalodon, a shark that was once a sea predator. Sir David had excavated the tooth himself during a family holiday in Malta in the late 1960s.

It was embedded in the island's soft yellow limestone which was laid down during the Miocene period some 23 million years ago.

The Duke of Cambridge was hosting the private viewing at Kensington Palace. Both Sir David and Prince William campaign on environmental issues, with a shared passion for protecting the natural world.

Kate and William shared images of the event on Kensington Royal's Instagram, in which Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis looked awestruck as they meet Sir David. Kate has previously revealed how her children are huge fans of the 94-year-old beloved broadcaster.

Story continues

In one of the photos, George can be seen examining his special fossil with Prince William smiling as he and Louis look on. In another photo, Sir David and William sit in two director's chairs with their names on while watching the documentary on the grounds of the palace.

Photo credit: Getty Images

"The photographs were taken earlier this week in the gardens of Kensington Palace, after The Duke and Sir David attended an outdoor screening of Sir Davids upcoming feature film David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet," Kensington Royal's caption read.

In A Life On Our Planet, David looks back on the defining moments of his life's work and the devastating changes he has witnessed.

Sir David was interviewed by Prince William at the World Economic Forum in Davos last year, where he warned humanity needed to act fast to prevent parts of the natural world being destroyed.

William and Kate have previously worked with Sir David to help the environment, and in January, the naturalist narrated the announcement of the Earthshot Prize, a cash reward for solutions to environmental problems.

The initiative aims to find 50 solutions to our greatest environmental problems over the next decade and Kensington Palace is set to announce more details in the coming days.

David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet is released in cinemas on Monday and launches on Netflix on October 4.

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A further 5,693 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK today - a 46 per cent rise on last Sunday's total - with Wales' lockdown set to grow to 60 per cent of the country's population.

The increase brings the UK's total cases to 434,969 while another 17 people died of the disease, according the Government's Covid-19 UK dashboard.

Today's death toll - which covers deaths in hospitals, care homes and the wider community - brings the total fatalities during the pandemic to 41,988.

Last Sunday saw 3,899 people diagnosed with the bug, significantly fewer than this week's total - which is the highest Sunday figure since April.

But many experts say the daily totals for testing are not comparable to the same totals at the peak of the pandemic when the country's testing programme was much smaller.

More than 100,000 people are believed to have been catching the virus every day at the peak of the pandemic.

Today's figures follow the news that 60 per cent of the Welsh population will be put under coronavirus lockdown from tomorrow after three more council areas are added to the government's list.

In other coronavirus news:

Boris Johnson abandoned plans for a second national lockdown over fears Rishi Sunak could quit, a senior MP said;

Mr Sunak's deputy yesterday swatted away suggestions of a rift between the Chancellor and Mr Johnson over the Government's coronavirus strategy;

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden claimed Tory rebel fears over ministers imposing coronavirus restrictions without asking MPs to vote on them first are 'overblown';

Mail on Sunday poll found voters are now more worried about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy than they are over the collective health of the nation;

Mr Sunak's ratings continue to soar, with an approval rating of plus 37. Mr Johnson, by contrast, receives a rating of minus 17;

Burnley is England's new coronavirus hotspot as the rolling seven-day rate of new cases for Covid-19 are calculated for local authority areas in England;

Professor Mark Woolhouse - who sits on the Government's Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (SPI-M) - said a third wave of infections next year is 'entirely possible';

The Government is set to use a 'gargle-and-spit' test for Covid-19 as part of Matt Hancock's pledge to test 4.5 million people per day;

Government's test and trace app widely criticized for glaring errors that stopped thousands from logging their test results;

Thousands of students are currently on lockdown at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) to curb the rise in the number of cases on campus.

Some 362 new cases of coronavirus have been reported in Wales in the last 24 hours alone bringing the total to 22,945 - but no new deaths.

Rolling seven-day rate of new cases of Covid-19 in hotspot areas in England In Burnley, 228 new cases were recorded in the seven days to September 23 - the equivalent of 256.4 per 100,000 people. Burnley has the highest rate in England, up from 145.1 in the seven days to September 16. Liverpool has the second highest rate, up from 131.1 to 243.8 with 1,214 new cases. Knowsley is in third place, where the rate has risen from 132.6 to 241.9, with 365 new cases. Other areas recording sharp increases in their seven-day rates include: Newcastle upon Tyne (up from 87.2 to 228.8, with 693 new cases)

Pendle (up from 97.7 to 203.0 with 187 new cases)

Sunderland (up from 78.9 to 180.0, with 500 new cases)

Halton (up from 125.2 to 214.0 with 277 new cases)

Sefton (up from 74.2 to 162.8, with 450 new cases) Advertisement

Neath Port Talbot, Torfaen and the Vale of Glamorgan will be covered by the rules, which mean people will not be able to enter or leave the areas without a reasonable excuse from 6pm on Monday.

Residents will not be able to meet indoors with anyone they do not live with, with extended households suspended.

Some 344 people tested positive in Scotland, where one further death was reported.

The announcement comes just hours before local lockdown restrictions come into force in Cardiff and Swansea, Wales' two biggest cities, on Sunday evening.

Further measures were also introduced in Llanelli, in Carmarthenshire, on Saturday evening.

Restrictions are already in place in Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Newport, and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

It means more than 1.8 million people in Wales - nearly 60 per cent the population - will be under local lockdowns from Monday night.

On Saturday, there were a further 370 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Wales.

Wales's First Minister Mark Drakeford said in a statement: 'Following a worrying rise in cases of coronavirus across South Wales, we took action on Friday to introduce local coronavirus restrictions in Llanelli and local restrictions will come into force in our two largest cities - Cardiff and Swansea - tonight.

'We are now taking further action and placing three more areas under local restrictions in South Wales - Neath Port Talbot, Torfaen, and the Vale of Glamorgan - because we are seeing rising rates in these three areas.

Neath Port Talbot, Torfaen and the Vale of Glamorgan will be put under coronavirus lockdown from tomorrow

A woman wearing a face covering walks through Cardiff, south Wales, on September 27 before the lockdown kicks back in

A police van patrols on St Mary Street on September 26, 2020, in Cardiff, Wales. Pubs, bars and restaurants are subject to a 10pm curfew

'These areas also share borders with local authority areas where rates are much higher.

'Introducing restrictions in any parts of Wales is always an incredibly difficult decision for us to make. But we're acting to protect people's health and to try and break the chain of transmission and stop the situation from getting worse.

'This is not a regional lockdown - this is a series of local restrictions in each local authority area to respond to a specific rise in cases in each area, which have distinct and unique chains of transmission.

Cars at a drive-thru coronavirus testing station at Ebbw Vale in Wales. The latest restrictions mean more than 1.8 million people in Wales - nearly 60 per cent the population - will be under local lockdowns from Monday night

Pub industry chiefs blast 'shambolic' 10pm curfew as revellers pour out into streets Pub industry chiefs have blasted the government's 'shambolic' 10pm Covid curfew after revellers were seen pouring into city centre streets and crowding into stations at kick-out time on Saturday night - as social distancing appeared to go out the window. It comes after shocking pictures showed hoards of revellers flocking to the streets in their droves last night after bars and pubs kicked them out at 10pm. Now bosses at the British and Beer and Pub Association, a trade association which representing brewers and pub companies across the UK, have urged ministers to review the government-imposed curfew - which they say they were not consulted about prior to the announcement. They have urged ministers to give venues more flexibility on closing times to allow customers to stagger their exits. Emma McClarkin, CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association, who described the curfew as 'another devastating blow to the beer and pub sector, said: 'As we have seen this weekend, the hard 10pm curfew has led to the consequence of customers leaving venues and filling the streets en masse. 'We would like to see the hard 10pm reviewed to allow us flexibility on doors closing time and allow customers to stagger their exits.' Her comments come after Sacha Lord, night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, said the curfew was 'ill-thought-out'. He wrote on Twitter: 'It's very clear, across the UK, that this ill-thought-out 10pm curfew, has pushed everyone out of venues with socially distanced measures, into the streets, into off-licences, supermarkets, overcrowded public transport and house parties. 'Every operator predicted this. Shambolic.' Advertisement

'In some places, such as Caerphilly and Newport, we have seen really positive falls in response and we hope they can begin to be relaxed if they continue.

'It's really important everyone follows the rules where they live. We need everyone's help to bring coronavirus under control. We need everyone to pull together and to follow the measures which are there to protect you and your loved ones.'

Yesterday, Burnley was revealed as England's new coronavirus hotspot as the rolling seven-day rate of new cases for Covid-19 are calculated for local authority areas in England.

The figures, for the seven days to September 23, are based on tests carried out in laboratories (pillar one of the Government's testing programme) and in the wider community (pillar two).

The rate is expressed as the number of new cases per 100,000 people.

Data for the most recent three days (September 24-26) has been excluded as it is incomplete and likely to be revised.

In Burnley, 228 new cases were recorded in the seven days to September 23 - the equivalent of 256.4 per 100,000 people.

Burnley has the highest rate in England, up from 145.1 in the seven days to September 16.

Liverpool has the second highest rate, up from 131.1 to 243.8 with 1,214 new cases.

Knowsley is in third place, where the rate has risen from 132.6 to 241.9, with 365 new cases.

The list is based on Public Health England data published on September 26 on the Government's coronavirus dashboard.

Last night, hoards of revellers flocked to streets up and down the country in their droves after bars and pubs kicked them out at 10pm.

Vast swathes of Saturday-night drinkers were seen downing pints on empty roads in Soho, London, while others rushed to buy alcohol from off-licences in Leeds after the newly-imposed rules meant venues shut early.

Meanwhile, a huge queue of people formed outside Tesco Express in Portsmouth, Hampshire, as many opted to keep the night going with cans and bottles bought from the supermarket.

Booze-fuelled crowds also gathered at the popular Harbourside area in Bristol, on the streets of nightlife-hotspot Newcastle and in student-heavy city York.

In Liverpool, mask-free rulebreakers gathered in a large crowd on the street, jumping and chanting in an impromptu party. Scenes in Liverpool prompted the city's mayor to slam the curfew as 'simply making things worse not better'.

Matt Hancock's new coronavirus tracing app was hit by another fiasco last night after it blocked tens of thousands of users from logging their test results

The Deltapoll survey suggests that a majority of people  51 per cent  think the impact on the economy is the greatest problem facing the UK over the next year

University demands freshers remove 'send drink' and 'f*** Boris' signs from their windows A university is facing backlash after asking students who have been locked down in halls of residence to remove comical signs and messages displayed in their windows. Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) is one of at least 32 universities in the UK to have confirmed cases of coronavirus. Thousands of students are on lockdown, some enforced by security and the threat of fines, in a bid to curb the rise in the number of cases on campus. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has said students should be allowed home by Christmas, if they follow the guidelines and adhere to social distancing restrictions. In a letter sent out by Manchester City Council, it is reported that at least 99 students at MMU have tested positive for Covid-19, prompting the university to lock down Birley Hall and Cambridge Hall student accommodation. Some 1,700 Manchester Metropolitan University students have been confined to their rooms for two weeks, even if they have no symptoms. Police and security guards were outside Birley and Cambridge Halls on Friday while the university warned disciplinary action will be taken against any breaches. And while the lockdown has proved controversial, with calls for tuition fee refunds and questions raised about how enforceable it is, the university is facing fresh backlash for asking students to remove messages they've put up in their windows. The note sent to students states: 'We are contacting you all today to ask for the signs which are on display on the windows in your flat need to be removed. 'Please ensure these are removed asap.' Members of the public have criticised the message with many saying it was inappropriate. Media Law expert David Banks said: 'Manchester Metropolitan University might have had no choice but to tell 1,700 students in halls to self-isolate. 'But what right do they have to tell them to remove signs in their windows? Someone on their comms team needs to get a grip and stop this spinning into a PR disaster...' Advertisement

The influx of merry partygoers heightened the risk of spreading the virus even more as they crammed together on public transport - after Uber fares surged by 2.6 per cent due to increased demand in London.

Thousands of students are currently on lockdown, some enforced by security and the threat of fines, in a bid to curb the rise in the number of cases on campus at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU).

It is one of at least 32 universities in the UK to have confirmed cases of coronavirus.

It comes as Professor Mark Woolhouse from the University of Edinburgh - who sits on the Government's Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (SPI-M) - said a third wave of infections next year is 'entirely possible'.

He warned Britain will have to live with the virus until 'some kind of cavalry' comes to the nation's rescue in the form of a vaccine or rapid testing and said he is 'doubtful' a jab will be ready for mass roll-out in six months.

The Prime Minister's decision to impose the 10pm curfew to avoid a potential second wave has been hit by criticism after it was revealed the move was not advocated by Sage - the panel of scientific experts chaired by Sir Patrick Vallance.

Sage members are said to be increasingly frustrated that they are being overruled while simultaneously being scapegoated for the harsher measures, according to the Daily Telegraph.

A former World Health Organisation director, Professor Karol Sikora, also highlighted concerns, saying: 'Where is the evidence? Closing a little early will just hurt so many business owners.'

Sage scientists are reportedly calling on the Government to release their advice to exonerate them from any part in mooting a pub curfew.

Concerns about the potential impact on businesses appear to be echoed by the rest of the population as a Mail on Sunday poll found voters are now more worried about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy than they are over the collective health of the nation.

The Deltapoll survey suggests that a majority of people  51 per cent  think the impact on the economy is the greatest problem facing the UK over the next year, compared to 42 per cent who worry about the effects on health.

When asked about the impact over the next five years, the gap widens, with 66 per cent citing the economy and just 28 per cent mentioning health.

And an overwhelming 89 per cent are concerned about the impact of Covid restrictions - including the 10pm curfew on business - with just 8 per cent saying they are unconcerned.

The results suggest there is growing support for the position of Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who has argued in Cabinet against 'doves' such as Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove who want more stringent restrictions.

A huge queue of people formed outside Tesco Express in Portsmouth, Hampshire, as many opted to keep the night going with cans and bottles bought from a supermarket

Crowds of people also took to the streets of Brighton city centre after pubs shut at 10pm on Saturday night

Groups of revellers out in Soho, London last night as Health Secretary Matt Hancock said there had been an 'acceleration of Covid-19 cases across the country'

Wedding venue fined 10,000 after police found 120 revellers at wedding party An events venue has been fined 10,000 after police found 120 revellers at a wedding party. Police were called to the venue at 4.45pm on Friday following reports of a wedding reception taking place at Stafford Park in Telford, Shropshire. The scenes came nearly a week after the Prime Minister set out a raft of measures designed to clampdown on the coronavirus, including slashing the number allowed to gather at nuptials to 15. Chief Supt Paul Moxley, of West Mercia Police, said: 'The majority of our communities are adhering to the new COVID legislation and laws and are acting very responsibly. 'It is therefore unacceptable that a minority of people are continuing to disregard the rules and as a consequence a 10,000 fine was given to the organisation hosting the wedding party in Telford today. 'It is believed that around 120 people were attending the event in Stafford Park, all of whom left the venue when we attended and spoke to them. 'Therefore no fixed penalty notices were given to the guests.' Advertisement

Mr Sunak's ratings continue to soar, with an approval rating of plus 37. Boris Johnson, by contrast, receives a rating of minus 17.

A senior MP today revealed that Boris Johnson abandoned his plans for a second national lockdown over fears Rishi Sunak could quit as rift claims deepen.

Mr Sunak warned the economic impact caused by a second national lockdown would make his job near impossible.

He argued to keep Britain open to protect millions of jobs and businesses despite medical and scientific experts wanting tougher restrictions to stop the spread of the virus, The Sun reported.

The Chancellor has introduced a number of measures to save jobs and businesses throughout the pandemic, including the Job Retention Scheme and Eat Out To Help Out.

A senior MP said: 'There were fears he would find it difficult to carry on if he was ignored.

'It was all down to the Chancellor that we avoided delivering a hammer blow to the economy and took a more balanced approach instead. Rishi saved the day.'

Yesterday, Mr Sunak's deputy swatted away suggestions of a rift between the Chancellor and Mr Johnson over the Government's coronavirus strategy.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Stephen Barclay insisted both men were working 'in tandem' and denied Numbers 10 and 11 were adopting different approaches.

On Thursday Mr Sunak said the nation needed to learn to 'live without fear', just days after the Prime Minister tightened coronavirus laws amid a steep rise in cases.

Rumours of a rift came amid Tory rebel fears over ministers imposing coronavirus restrictions without asking MPs to vote on them.

In York, huge crowds gathered on the street to keep the party going after venues serving food and drink shut at 10pm

Police officers were on patrol ahead of closing time in Soho, London, after pubs and restaurants were subject to a 10pm curfew to combat the rise in coronavirus cases

The Government will this week ask MPs to renew emergency coronavirus powers for another six months.

1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady has tabled an amendment which would require new rules to be voted on before they come into force

But Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbenchers, has tabled an amendment which would require votes to be held on new measures 'as soon as reasonably practicable'.

Sir Graham is believed to now have the support of 60 of his Tory colleagues ahead of a potential crunch vote on the move on Wednesday.

One of the backers of the amendment, former Brexit minister Steve Baker, today argued that 'liberty dies' when governments are allowed to 'exercise draconian powers without parliamentary scrutiny in advance'.

But Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden defended the Government's current approach of imposing rules without parliamentary votes as he said Mr Baker's concerns were 'slightly overblown'.

The Cabinet minister said the 'rapidly' changing nature of the pandemic meant that the Government needed to retain the 'power to move quickly'.

Britons appear to be feeling the fear about a potential second spike as panic buying across the UK has resumed.

Shoppers reporting queuing for 20 minutes to enter shops before similar further delays at checkouts.

And restrictions on items which vanished most quickly during the country's first lockdown, such as flour and eggs, have been put in place. Pictured: Empty shelves in the Asda Superstore in Barnes Hill, Birmingham

And online customers found it near-impossible to get delivery slots from Asda, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury's and Tesco - some didn't have free slots for up to two weeks.

One method to avoid a potential second wave is the Government's tracing app - which has already been widely criticized.

It was today reported that pubs and restaurants are turning away customers who don't have the 'pathetic' app - despite glaring errors that stopped thousands from logging their test results.
By Andrei Makhovsky

MINSK (Reuters) - Masked police dragged people into vans and fired stun grenades and tear gas to disperse crowds as tens of thousands marched for a seventh straight weekend to demand veteran Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko quit.

Protesters chanted "impostor" and "Sveta is our president" as they marched through Minsk and other cities decked out in red-and-white opposition colours. At least 200 people were detained, the interior ministry said.

Some dubbed the protest a "people's inauguration" of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Lukashenko's main opponent who fled into exile after the Aug. 9 election that Lukashenko's opponents say was blatantly rigged to hand Lukashenko a sixth term.

Lukashenko denies electoral fraud and was inaugurated on Wednesday in a ceremony held without any prior announcement, sparking more protests and condemnation from the European Union, the United States and Britain.

French President Emmanuel Macron said in comments in the French press Lukashenko must step aside.

"We are witnessing a power crisis in Belarus with an authoritarian administration that is not able to accept the logic of democracy," Macron told le Journal du Dimanche in comments published on Sunday.

"It is clear that Lukashenko must go."

Lukashenko retorted that, under Macron's logic, the French leader should have resigned two years ago when the "yellow vest" protest for economic justice began and that mass demonstrations had become commonplace in France.

He offered to help negotiate a peaceful transfer of power between Macron and those protesting against the French authorities.

"As an experienced politician - to an immature one - I want to advise Mr. Macron to look around less, and instead finally deal with the internal affairs of France," Lukashenko was quoted by the official Belta news agency as saying.

Russia said the EU's decision not to recognise Lukashenko as the legitimate president contradicted international law and amounted to indirect meddling in the country.

Story continues

Buoyed by the support from traditional ally Russia, the 66-year-old Lukashenko, a former Soviet collective farm manager who has been in power for over a quarter of a century, shows no inclination to resign.

POLICE ACTION PROMPTS HACKER RETALIATION

Riot police pulled people out of crowds and hauled them away into vans, a Reuters witness said. Several metro stations were shut and the mobile internet disrupted. Some protesters wore fake crowns to mock Lukashenko's inauguration.

"We came to celebrate the people's inauguration of the people's president," said Alexander, a 30-year-old logistics worker, while protesting in Minsk. "First he falsified the elections, and then he falsified the inauguration."

Police said they used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse "disobedient" protesters in the eastern city of Gomel, the Russian agency TASS reported.

Local media footage showed masked security forces spraying a substance from a can into the faces of people in Gomel, while the protesters retreated shouting "fascists". One detainee managed to escape from a prison van as people cheered.

In Minsk, helmeted security forces went inside a pizzeria to detain someone as customers looked on.

A group of anonymous hackers has started leaking the personal data of police officers in retaliation for the crackdown on protests since the election.

On Sunday, it released another batch of data from more than 1,000 police stationed in Gomel in revenge for the treatment of the protesters there.

The Belarusian government typically releases the data for the total number of people arrested on the day after a protest.

Police detained 150 people during protests on Saturday, the interior ministry said.

Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei on Saturday accused western countries preparing to impose new sanctions on Minsk of attempting to sow "chaos and anarchy".

(Additional reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin and Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber in Moscow; Writing by Matthias Williams; Editing by Barbara Lewis)
China Ramps Up U.S. Crude Oil Imports As Elections Near

China has been buying a lot of U.S. crude oil lately, perhaps in a belated attempt to fulfill some of the energy import quotas agreed with Washington last year or perhaps in a bid to take advantage of supercheap U.S. crude. But the buying spree is about to end.

This month alone, China could import between 867,000 bpd, according to Reuters' Refinitiv data, and 900,000 bpd, according to oilfield services company Canary. And then the flow of U.S. oil into China will decline, and it will decline sharply, Reuters' Clyde Russell wrote this week. The reason as simple as it is worrying. The U.S. crude that has been going into China since Julyand reaching major records in terms of volume, with the July daily average alone up 139 percent on the yearwas bought much earlier, in April, May, and June. This was oil bought when West Texas Intermediate was trading at multi-year lows. By June it had recovered to about $40, Russell notes, so purchases since then have been more modest.

But here is the worrying part: much of the oil price recovery we've seen since this spring was caused by rising Chinese imports, including from the United States. Rising imports are traditionally taken to mean improving demand, but this time this has not been the case entirely. Chinese refiners have been stocking up on crude more because of the historically low prices than to satisfy growing demand.

In all fairness, oil demand has been seen as recovering pretty faster after the end of the lockdowns there but since China is not an isolated economy, its refining industry needs a recovery elsewhere in Asia and globally, and this has been slow in coming. Now, none other than OPEC is warning that a second wave of Covid-19 infectionsalready visible in parts of Europe, for examplewill further slow down demand recovery, which will unavoidably affect Chinese oil imports.

According to Canary CEO Dan Eberhart, however, China will continue buying a lot of U.S. oil ahead of the U.S. elections. Beijing, Eberhart wrote for Forbes, would want to stay on Trump's good side as much as possible in case he wins a second term. Reuters' Russell is of a different opinion: he cites preliminary import estimates that point to a sharp decline in October to 500,000 bpd of U.S. oil flowing into China and a further decline in November. For Russell, it's all about the price. For Eberhart, it's also about politics and the trade war.

"While importing U.S. crude often doesn't make commercial sense for China's refiners, Beijing has directed them to continue buying as the election approachesa sign that China knows that the trade issue with Trump will only intensify if the president wins a second term," Eberhart wrote.

Yet not everyone agrees that politics will trump the economy. In fact, data from Chinese market research firms suggests private refiners, if not the state giants, may sharply cut their intake of foreign oil this month and next. After all, storage space is finite and Chinese energy companies have been filling it up for months now while demand has been improving but is yet to return to growth mode, even in China with its rebounding economy.

It looks like the dominant opinion is for a decline in Chinese oil imports, from the U.S. and elsewhere, in the coming months, not least because of lower refinery run rates. Reuters reported earlier this week refinery runs are set to be cut by 5-10 percent beginning this month because of a crude oil glut and weak fuel export margins. This would mean more pressure on prices. And this is not all. Some analysts expect that China may start selling the oil it bought on the cheap in the spring. Now that would be really bad news for oil prices.

Link to original article: https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/China-Ramps-Up-US-Crude-Oil-Imports-As-Elections-Near.html

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

 2020 Copyright OilPrice.com - All Rights Reserved

Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




Green Leader Sonia Furstenau was driving Monday when she turned on the radio and learned an early election would be called that day in British Columbia.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 27/9/2020 (482 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

B.C. Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau speaks during a media availability following her speech at the UBCM convention at the Victoria Conference Centre in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday September 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Green Leader Sonia Furstenau was driving Monday when she turned on the radio and learned an early election would be called that day in British Columbia.

She felt a kind of disappointment that she says she's felt many times in the past  one that fuels her.

"It's the disappointment that a lot of people feel when these kinds of cynical decisions are made that put a party ahead of the people that we're in here to serve," she said in an interview.

COVID-19 pandemic aside, it's not an ideal time for an election for the Greens.

Furstenau was only named the party's leader one week before the election was called and the Greens have never had the coffers of their political opponents.

On top of that, the Greens have a lot to prove, having won a record-breaking three seats in 2017. After holding the balance of power in the NDP's minority government, Furstenau and her team must demonstrate the party is more than an anomaly and has a sustainable role to play.

So what has prepared her for this uphill battle?

"Everything. I seem to be in a relentless underdog story."

The mother of three children and two step-children,Furstenau, 50, said she was drawn to politics by a sincere hope in a better future.

Her first foray came in 2014, when she ran for local government as part of her fight for clean drinking water in Shawnigan Lake, north of Victoria. For years she wrote letters, attended hearings and organized rallies against a provincial permit that allowed a company to store contaminated soil in the watershed.

"I was told every step of the way this was an unwinnable fight," said Furstenau, who relaxes by knitting dolls in the likeness of people she loves or admires.

The permit was cancelled in 2017.

She won the leadership even as former leader Andrew Weaver told the Vancouver Sun he was advising her two competitors.

"The former leader was clearly working to not have me succeed in that role and I succeeded," she said.

Weaver told the Vancouver Sun newspaper that Furstenau didn't think she needed advice, but if she asked he would be happy to provide it.

Furstenau also overcame obstacles early in life, she said.

She was raised by a single mother in subsidized housing in Edmonton, and benefited from an experimental early childhood education program that meant she entered Grade 1 knowing how to read and write.

In the 1990s, she became a single mother too. But she could go to the University of Victoria because a tuition freeze meant she could afford it, and there was childcare for her young son, she said.

Before entering politics, she worked as a waitress, a bookkeeper and high school teacher.

Furstenau studied history and education in university and had started a PhD in England until examining the public value of her path.

"A friend of mine asked me a question that I really wrestled with, which was how does this help the world?"

Furstenau took it seriously enough to drop out and return to teaching in B.C., where she thought she could have a more direct impact.

She ran for the Greens in 2017 because she said she couldn't get behind NDP or Liberal policies that supported the oil and gas sectors, or didn't do enough in other areas that are important to her, like child welfare reform.

Adam Olsen, the other member of the Green caucus, said Furstenau was not deterred when she ran for a seat in the legislature, even though her Cowichan Valley riding was widely considered an NDP stronghold.

Olsen said he believes Furstenau is comfortable in the leadership role and ready to prove any doubters wrong.

"I think, actually, she cherishes this opportunity to be in this situation to some extent because I think some people have overlooked (her). She's had shade cast on her since the beginning of the campaign to become leader and she shone through that shade," he said.

"I think that will shine through the next 30 days."

If there's one misconception that people have about her, Olsen said it's that Furstenau is a radical activist. She is a strong organizer and advocates for her community, and Olsen said he believes the two get confused.

"She's very very principled and has a very strong moral compass, is very ethical in her approach to governance," Olsen said.

For her part, Furstenau doesn't see "activist" as a dirty word.

"If it means somebody who stands up for a future that's better, then I'm an activist," she said.

"I think so much of the good outcomes that we have are because of people who stand up for what they believe in."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 27, 2020.
COLD CASE UPDATE 21-year-old photo was not Dana Zelic, police say

Sometime during the early morning hours of Aug. 30, 1999, Dana Zelic left her moms east Hamilton apartment and disappeared.

At first there were sightings of her in Hamilton, but then: nothing.

In the 21 years that have passed, her mom, Biljana, constantly holds on to a mix of hope and grief. But most of all unbearable uncertainty about where her daughter went, why she left and what has happened to her.

If she is alive ... give me a call ... your mom and brother miss you terribly, she says. She needs her daughter to know how much she loves her.

Biljana still lives in that same east Hamilton apartment, a large photo of Dana and her brother, Bata, hangs on the living room wall. She has a box filled with newspaper clippings and photos of her dark-haired daughter, who was 27 when she left home.

Over the years the missing-person case has passed from detective to detective at Hamilton police and the case has gone cold.

In June, Det. Chris Gates took over the case. He wants to bring it back to the publics attention, with the hope that someone, somewhere knows something.

At this point, since so much time has gone by, Im willing to talk to anyone who has any information whatsoever, Gates says.

He started by interviewing Danas mom, brother and former boyfriend. But beyond that its difficult; So much time has passed.

I get a first name of somebody who lived on a street 20 years ago, so its really difficult to track anybody down right now, he says. Thats why were looking for help.

Gates contacted Ontario Provincial Police, who did a rendering of what Dana might look like now. There are two images, one smiling, one a resting face. Biljana isnt sure what to think of them, she likes the smiling one more  it feels more like how she remembers Dana. She doesnt like the other one, but understands showing it might help someone recognize her daughter.

Dana was born Nov. 10, 1972, in Hamilton and grew up with her younger brother in the city.

At 11, her parents divorced and it was devastating for Dana. Biljana recalls her daughter wanted to live with her dad, but was told no. She was crushed.

Biljana worked too much, she says, holding four jobs: at a factory, the market, a restaurant and variety store. She remembers her children saying she was a workaholic, that they missed her.

As she speaks she keeps looking for ways to somehow blame herself for her daughters disappearance. It is not her fault.

After high school Dana travelled, including spending several months in Switzerland where Biljana had a cousin. She also travelled around the province and had friends everywhere from Ottawa to across the border in New York.

Around 21, she was diagnosed with depression and was on medication. Before her disappearance she spent a month as an inpatient at St. Josephs West 5th hospital.

She was enrolled in a tourism program at a vocational school. Biljana recalls a teacher from the school calling her after Danas disappearance made the news, concerned and surprised she was missing.

Dana had a boyfriend who she was living with, but the pair broke up and Dana had been staying at her moms place for about a week when she disappeared. She hadnt been sleeping well and was losing weight.

On the night she disappeared, Biljana remembers she stayed up late reading a book on the couch. Dana was in the bedroom, still in her clothes  a plaid shirt and jeans  she was lying on top of the covers.

Biljana fell asleep sometime after 3 a.m. and when she woke, around 7 or 7:30 a.m., Dana was gone.

She took nothing, not her medication or identification. Nothing was amiss. No note.

At first Biljana held out hope that maybe her daughter had gone to see friends. Dana had been looking for her own apartment. But after several days, she called police and reported her missing.

The first sighting of Dana came in a photo The Spectator published two weeks after she disappeared. It was from the annual Take Back the Night rally.

The image shows Dana  still wearing the clothes her mom last saw her in  marching arm in arm with another woman. Biljana had been scouring the paper in the weeks after her daughter disappeared and called the detective when she saw the image.

What was Dana doing there? Did she know the woman she was with? Had she simply been on the street and was swept up in the momentum of the rally?

Neither Biljana, nor police know the answers to these questions.

Later, someone thought she saw Dana at a Chapters store by Limeridge Mall, drinking a coffee in the Starbucks and reading.

Biljana would return there again and again in hopes of seeing her daughter. But nothing.

Back then, there werent security cameras everywhere.

In the early days after the disappearance, Biljana would get phone calls, but the person on the other end would hang up quickly. And once there was a message left on her answering machine by a woman who said something like: Hi mom, Im OK.

A friend thought it was Dana, but Biljana wasnt sure. The voice sounded similar, but not exact.

Somehow the message was accidentally deleted and police were never able to verify the call.

Dana had a lot of friends and a lot of places she could have gone. In 1999, you could cross the border to the United States without a passport.

Police were told she may have been hanging around the former Sandbar Tavern on King Street East. But Biljana never heard that.

All of those early-day sightings were in Hamilton. In the decades since, there has been nothing. No mysterious tips to Crime Stoppers. Silence.

The years have been hard for Biljana. She tries to keep busy, taking friends grocery shopping or to medical appointments.

Since the early 2000s, she has travelled nearly every other year back to her home country of Serbia to see family. On a recent trip she took her granddaughter  her only grandchild.

The 14-year-old girl looks just like the aunt she has never met, Biljana says, tears escaping.

Biljana doesnt talk about Dana with friends, she says. Because when she does she cannot stop herself crying. She only talks about Dana to people who might be able to help.

Its very hard, she says quietly, wiping away her tears. Its always difficult.

Biljana has submitted a DNA sample for the National Missing Persons DNA Program.

But without a starting point, police have nowhere new to probe.

Any bit of information, no matter how small, could be a piece of the puzzle, Gates says.

Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Chris Gates, Hamilton police criminal investigation branch, at 905-546-2919.

To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or crimestoppershamilton.com.
T he Liberal Democrats will back Britain rejoining the European Union at an appropriate future date subject to public approval, the party has resolved.

A motion passed at the Lib Dems annual conference, with leadership backing, said the party should support a longer-term objective of EU membership in the future.

The date would be determined by political circumstances, subject to public assent, market and trade conditions and acceptable negotiated terms.

The motion also calls for the closest possible alignment between the UK and EU towards a customs union, single market and freedom of movement.

Lorries queue for ferries at the Port of Dover in Kent. / PA

And it urges the Government to honour the commitments made in the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement and the Political Declaration.

An amendment calling on the party to support rejoining the EU immediately was rejected by members.

The Lib Dems campaigned in the 2019 general election to stop Brexit without a second referendum.

An internal inquiry into the partys poor performance later likened the campaign to a high-speed car crash.

The partys Brexit spokeswoman Christine Jardine said following the debate on the motion: With our country already facing the biggest economic and health crisis in generations, it is unthinkable that the UK would crash out of the transition period without a deal.

Boris Johnson must start putting the nation first, rather than sacrificing everything and anything in his ideological pursuit of Brexit. This is about stopping the disaster of food shortages, medicine shortages, and more.

At every step of the Brexit process, Liberal Democrats were clear in our pro-EU position. Well never turn our back on our pro-European values because we are so much better off standing together than we could ever be alone.

That is why our duty now is to put every last ounce of political energy towards stopping a no-deal and opposing Boris Johnsons efforts to drag the countrys reputation through the mud by breaking international law.
ZURICH (Reuters) - Swiss private bank Julius Baer could seek to recoup 150 million Swiss francs ($162 million) from UBS after it was ordered on Friday to repay the German government over millions in East German cash that vanished after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

The German government has been seeking money that it says was illegally transferred out of East Germany when the communist regime collapsed.

At that time, large sums were moved from an East German foreign trade company to foreign banks, so the money could not be seized by a reunified Germany.

For more than 20 years the Federal Agency for Special Tasks (BvS) has been searching for the money which has since been withdrawn from the banks.

The agency has also been seeking to make banks involved liable for not preventing these withdrawals.

Julius Baer became involved due its acquisition of the former Swiss Bank Cantrade, which it picked up in 2005 when it bought Bank Ehinger & Armand von Ernst Ltd from rival Swiss lender UBS.

The matter is related to unauthorised withdrawals between 1990 and 1992 from a Cantrade account of a foreign trade company established in East Germany, Julius Baer said on Friday.

The Zurich-based bank has been fighting a long running legal battle against the payment, but Switzerland's highest court has now given its final decision, ordering Julius Baer to pay 150 million francs.

BvS was not immediately available for comment on the decision.

The payment, which includes interest, is fully covered by a provision Julius Baer booked in December 2019, the Swiss bank said.

Julius Baer said it will notify UBS of the final ruling. It previously said it would pursue Switzerland's biggest bank for payment under the warranties agreed when it acquired Bank Ehinger & Armand von Ernst from it.

UBS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

($1 = 0.9265 Swiss francs)

(Reporting by John Revill; editing by Thomas Seythal and Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi)
The Defense Army [of Nagorno-Karabakh] is successfully repelling the attack, Armenian Prime Minister Pashinian wrote in a Facebook post. He urged Armenians to trust only official sources and stay vigilant against giving in to hostile information flows.

The enemy has launched an air and missile attack in the direction of Nagorno-Karabakh, said Shushan Stepanian, a spokesman for Armenias Defense Ministry.

Azerbaijani forces offensives in several directions have been repelled, Stepanian wrote on Facebook later in the morning. She said Karabakhs Armenian-backed army side has destroyed three Azerbaijani tanks and shot down two enemy helicopters and three unmanned aerial vehicles.

Vahram Poghosian, a spokesman for Karabakh President Ara Harutiunian, likewise accused the Azerbaijani army of starting active shelling along the entire line of contact. Civilian areas are also being shelled, including the capital Stepanakert. We call on the population to take shelter, he said.

At the same time, Poghosian stressed that the response will be proportionate, entire responsibility for the situation lies with the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan and personally with [Azerbaijani] President Ilham Aliyev.

Shortly afterwards a uniform-clad Harutiunian met in Stepanakert with a group of Karabakh army reservists and volunteers. Theyve declared war? Theyll get a war, the Karabakh leader told them in televised remarks.

Harutiunian went on to declare martial law and a general mobilization of army reservists.

Karabakh television showed a column tanks, artillery systems and trucks carrying soldiers moving through a local town towards a nearby section of the Armenian-Azerbaijani line of contact around Karabakh.

According to Stepanian, thousands of volunteers across Armenia are visiting recruitment centers and expressing a desire to join the armed forces. While highly appreciating the readiness of our compatriots, the Armenian Defense Ministry declares that there is no need for volunteers at the moment, said the official.

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said, meanwhile, that its frontline troops have launched a counteroffensive operation along the entire frontline in response to Armenian shelling of Azerbaijani towns of villages. It admitted losing one helicopter in the fighting.

Today the Azerbaijani army is protecting the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan on its own territory, Aliyev said in a televised address to the nation.

Armenia is an occupying state and we must and will put an end to that occupation, he said. We are on the just cause.

Aliyev also again accused Yerevan of disrupting international efforts to the resolve the Karabakh conflict which have long been spearheaded by the United States, Russia and France.

Azerbaijans Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications confirmed reports that it has restricted Azerbaijanis access to the Internet. According to the APA news agency, the ministry cited the need to to prevent large-scale Armenian provocations.

The Karabakh Armenian army reported at around 11 a.m. local time that Azerbaijani troops backed by tanks, artillery and attack drones are continuing to attack its positions at various sections of the frontline. The Defense Armys frontline units are successfully repelling all enemy attacks, it said in a statement.

Karabakhs human rights ombudsman, Artak Beglarian, said at that at least two Karabakh Armenian civilians, a woman and a child, have been killed by Azerbaijani shelling of their homes. There is large-scale damage to civilian infrastructure in many settlements, Beglarian wrote on Facebook.

The Armenian and Azerbaijani governments blamed each other for what appears to be the worst escalation of the Karabakh conflict in years. The Armenian Foreign Ministry said Baku will bear full responsibility for the aggression unleashed by it.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of VROMI Egbert Jurendy Doran has sent the Secretary-General of VROMI Louis Brown home as he is officially suspended. The suspension came after a tense relationship due to the outcome of the court case filed by the Alegria Real Estate.

SMN News learned that Brown went on vacation then sick leave prior to being suspended. This is the second time Louis Brown has been suspended from his job, he was also suspended by former Minister of VROMI and now MP Christopher Emmanuel.

It is understood that the Minister is at odds with the Secretary-General because he made an agreement with the lawyers representing the government and the Alegria Real Estate who just recently won a court case with the water rights lease. SMN News further understands that Brown made the agreement without getting a full agreement with the Minister of VROMI.

The verdict rendered by the judge orders government to issue a long lease of 13,525 square meters in water rights. The government namely the Minister of VROMI had 48 hours to issue the long lease or pay a fine of NAF1,000.00 daily to the maximum of NAF.1M. The government was also condemned to pay the court costs which amounts to NAF. 2,690.50. The Minister of VROMI has since appealed the case and has even decided to put a new legal team on the case.

It should be noted that the Alegria Real Estate water rights requests began way before the current Minister of VROMI Doran took office. It is widely rumored that the investors paid a large sum of money to the former Minister of VROMI Chris Weaver and those that worked closely with him while he was in office yet the long lease request was not finalized.
But dont get the idea that Grassleys a hypocrite. You would be wrong to do that.

On a conference call Wednesday, Grassley said he has no choice but to move ahead with this nomination. After all, he's no longer chair of the Judiciary Committee; Lindsey Graham is in charge.

"The chairman's decided he's going to act," Grassley said, according to news reports. "And I have a responsibility to evaluate the nominees on the merits in the committee, and if it gets out of committee, I have a responsibility to evaluate the nominee on the merits when it comes to an up-or-down vote in the United States Senate as a whole."

Besides, Grassley has noted, this time the Senate and presidency are controlled by the same party (his party), so its not the same thing as when he and other Republicans refused to take up President Obamas nominee to the court in 2016. Then, the Senate and White House were in the hands of different parties.

In fact, Grassley said this week that he's the one being victimized. Just the other day, Sen. Chuck Schumer said Grassley wouldn't even meet with Merrick Garland in 2016.

"WRONG," the senator from Iowa, tweeted: "I had a pleasant breakfast w/ him."
It might seem steep to pay 60,000 for a cupboard door  but thats what one wooden panel is expected to fetch at auction this week because it features an original painting by one of the countrys most successful living artists.

Jack Vettriano painted Suddenly Last Summer directly on to the boiler cupboard door in the one-bedroom London flat where he used to live.

The artist, who also used the Knightsbridge flat as his studio, painted a stylish woman, leaning against a car and smoking a cigarette, to hide the unsightly panel back in 1999.

And when he sold the flat to move back to Scotland in 2013, the door was included.

A wooden panel is expected to fetch 60,000 at auction this week because it features an original painting by one of the countrys most successful living artists, Jack Vettriano

The buyer sold the flat two years later but sensibly kept the door with its 37in x 24in signed oil painting, which is being sold at Christies on Tuesday.

Vettriano, 68, once explained: To cover up the boiler cupboard I painted directly over the door. It was inspired by a love affair I had with a married woman some time ago.

The portrait takes up the top half of a larger door, and Albany Bell from the auction house said: The artist is excited that its coming up for sale and loves that its out there. Hes fully supportive of it.

'The work is still on the door so we are exhibiting it intact as the artist had it. It will be up to the new buyer whether they decide to cut it down, but for us it adds to the story.

Vettriano, 68, once explained: To cover up the boiler cupboard I painted directly over the door. It was inspired by a love affair I had with a married woman some time ago'

Weve had interest already. It has everything youd want from a Vettriano  its very stylish, a very cool image and very well-painted with a sense of intrigue.

Its a really special thing and we think it should do very well against its 40,000 to 60,000 estimate. Hopefully it will go to a good home.

Vettriano was born Jack Hoggan in 1951 and raised in Fife. He took up painting when a girlfriend bought him a set of watercolours for his 21st birthday, and later adopted his mothers maiden name.

He once said his paintings were inspired by 25 years of sexual misbehaviour and in 2004 his most famous work, The Singing Butler, fetched almost 750,000 at auction.
CARACAS, Sept 24 (Reuters) - 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 Maduro's 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. {nL1N2GF00T]

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 Venezuela's 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 country's population by limiting the government's capacity to import food and fuel and restricting its capacity to earn export revenue from oil sales. (Reporting by Brian Ellsworth Editing by Alistair Bell)
WASHINGTON  Majorities of likely voters in Michigan and Wisconsin say the winner of the 2020 presidential election should get to fill the U.S. Supreme Court seat left vacant after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, as Democrat Joe Biden leads President Donald Trump in both states.

Those are the results of two new NBC News/Marist polls of these two battleground states, which show Biden ahead of Trump by 8 points among likely voters in Michigan, 52 percent to 44 percent, and by 10 points in Wisconsin, 54 percent to 44 percent.

The likely-voter numbers in Michigan are within that polls margin of error, while the numbers in Wisconsin are outside the margin of error.

In Michigan, 54 percent of likely voters say the winner of the presidential contest should decide who gets to fill the Supreme Court vacancy; 35 percent believe Trump should fill it immediately; and another 7 percent say Trump should fill it after the election, regardless who wins.

The percentages in Wisconsin are similar: 56 percent say the election winner should fill the Supreme Court seat; 37 percent say Trump should fill it immediately; and another 5 percent say Trump should fill it after the election.

In both states, nine-in-10 Democrats and approximately 60 percent of independents believe the 2020 winner should fill the seat, while about 80 percent of Republicans say Trump should get to fill it immediately.

The polls were conducted before Saturday when Trump nominatedSeventh Circuit Appeals JudgeAmy Coney Barrett to fill the seat, with the Election Day less than 40 days away.

In Michigan, Bidens 8-point lead over Trump among likely voters is fueled by his advantages among Black voters (90 percent to 7 percent), women (59 percent to 37 percent), independents (56 percent to 37 percent), whites with college degrees (56 percent to 39 percent) and seniors (53 percent to 45 percent).

Trump, meanwhile, holds the edge in the state with men (51 percent to 45 percent), whites without college degrees (52 percent to 45 percent) and white evangelical Christians (70 percent to 25 percent).

Story continues

The two candidates are essentially tied among all white voters in the state (Biden 49 percent, Trump 47 percent) and white Catholics (Biden 48 percent, Trump 47 percent).

Among all registered voters in Michigan, Biden gets 52 percent to Trumps 43 percent.

And in Michigans competitive Senate contest, incumbent Democratic Sen. Gary Peters gets 49 percent among likely voters, while Republican challenger John James gets 44 percent. (Among registered voters, its Peters 49 percent, James 43 percent.)

In Wisconsin, the former Democratic vice presidents 10-point lead is fueled by similar margins, although his lead among seniors in state (at 59 percent to 38 percent) is even larger than it is in Michigan.

Among all registered voters in Wisconsin, its Biden 52 percent, Trump 44 percent.)

Governors hold higher job ratings than Trump does

In both Michigan and Wisconsin, the sitting governor has a higher approval rating than Trump does in the state, according to the two NBC News/Marist polls.

In Michigan, 56 percent of all registered voters approve of Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmers job, versus 42 percent who approve of the presidents job. (Trumps approval among likely voters in the state is 43 percent).

In Wisconsin, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers job-approval rating is at 50 percent among registered voters, compared with Trumps 42 percent. (The presidents job approval among likely voters is unchanged.)

On the issues

As with national polls, Trump gets higher marks on the economy from voters in these two states than he does on the coronavirus and race relations.

In Michigan, Trump leads Biden by 7 points among likely voters on which candidate better deals with the economy, 49 percent to 42 percent. But in Wisconsin, theyre tied on the economy, 46 percent to 46 percent.

Biden, meanwhile, is ahead of Trump by close to 20 points or more in these two states on the coronavirus and race relations.

And theyre essentially tied in both Michigan and Wisconsin on which candidate better deals with crime.

Also in Wisconsin, a majority of likely voters  51 percent  say theyre more concerned about the actions of protesters and about looting, while 38 percent say theyre more worried about the actions of police against George Floyd in Minnesota and Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

In Michigan, 49 percent of likely voters say theyre more concerned about the protests, while 42 percent are more worried about the police actions.

What the poll samples look like

As Marist works to ensure that harder-to-reach voters are included in its samples, 16 percent of the likely voters in Michigan are from Detroit and Wayne County, 27 percent are from the southeast part of the state, 24 percent are from the central and east, 19 percent are from the southwest and 14 percent are from the north and Upper Peninsula.

Thirty-one percent of likely voters in Michigan identify as Democrats, an equal 31 percent are Republicans and 36 percent are independents.

Eighty percent of the likely voters in the state are white, while 12 percent are Black.

And 37 percent of the likely voters in Michigan have college degrees, and whites with college degrees make up 30 percent of the likely-voter sample.

In Wisconsin, 15 percent of the likely voters are from Milwaukee County, 21 percent are from the counties surrounding Milwaukee, 10 percent are from Dane County (Madison), 19 percent are from the southwest part of the state and 17 percent are from the northern part.

Thirty-one percent of likely voters in Wisconsin identify as Democrats, an equal 31 percent are Republicans and 36 percent are independents.

Eighty-seven percent are white, while 4 percent are Black.

And 39 percent have college degrees, and whites with college degrees make up 35 percent of the likely-voter sample.

The NBC News/Marist poll of Michigan was conducted Sept. 19-23 of 1,161 adults (which has a margin of error of plus-minus 3.6 percentage points), 1,082 registered voters (plus-minus 3.7 percentage points) and 799 likely voters (plus-minus 4.3 percentage points).

The NBC News/Marist poll of Wisconsin was conducted Sept. 20-24 of 1,131 adults (plus-minus 3.8 percentage points), 951 registered voters (plus-minus 4.1 percentage points) and 727 likely voter (plus-minus 4.6 percentage points).
Republic Media Network sources on Sunday informed that the forensic report of the party video at Karan Johars residence in 2019 over which 'drugs' questions were raised has been submitted to the NCB.

The report from the forensic department states that the video is authentic and hasnt been doctored or edited, sources said. A meeting will be called over the same where the NCB team led by NCB Deputy Director KPS Malhotra and DDG Mutha Ashok Jain will discuss this with NCB DG Rakesh Asthana to decide on the next course of action.

This comes a day after director-producer Karan Johar has quashed all claims and allegations that narcotics were consumed at one of the parties organised at the filmmaker's home, calling the allegations false and baseless. On Friday, Johar shared a lengthy statement on Instagram saying that neither he consumes narcotics nor does he encourage people to use any such substance.

In the clip, first posted by Johar on Instagram last year, actors Deepika Padukone, Ranbir Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, Arjun Kapoor, Malaika Arora, Vicky Kaushal, Shahid Kapoor among others can be seen partying together. The needle of suspicion is on one particular part of the video where Vicky Kaushal appears to be 'sniffing' and something resembling a white pattern can be seen close to him and Ayan Mukherji. While some say that it is a 'substance', others opine that it may be merely a reflection of light.

Karan Johar wrote about the video:

"I had already clarified my position way back in 2019 that the allegations were false." "In view of the current malicious campaign, I am reiterating that the allegations are completely baseless and false. No narcotics substance was consumed in the party. I WOULD LIKE TO UNEQUIVOCALLY ONCE AGAIN STATE THAT I DO NOT CONSUME NARCOTICS AND I DO NOT PROMOTE OR ENCOURAGE CONSUMPTION OF ANY SUCH SUBSTANCE."

'Get ready to face the music'

In a Twitter post, Siromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa claimed that NCB is set to summon Johar soon in the drug-related case. The Akali Dal leader, who had complained against Karan Johar over a 2019 video, reminded him that it was not the star struck Mumbai Police that was investigating this case. He stated that Johars forged defence was not going to work with the Narcotics Control Bureau.

Manjinder Singh Sirsa responded to Karan Johars statement about false allegations, and asked him to be ready to face the music.

          NCB  @karanjohar   summon



    2019          #Istandwithfarmers Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) September 25, 2020

Sirsa hits out as big names emerge

Manjinder Singh Sirsa had reacted through a video message on Twitter after actor Deepika Padukone's name in the chats emerged in the drugs angle probe by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). He claimed "the truth always wins" adding that this is just the beginning and everyone involved Bollywood's conspiracy to "discredit Punjab" will be exposed. He referred to the film 'Udta Punjab' and said that it was always 'Udta Bollywood'.

READ | Manjinder Sirsa claims, 'NCB will soon summon Karan Johar' over 2019 drug party video

READ | Vicky Kaushal confronted on 2019 party video amid NCB Bollywood drug probe; speeds away

"Today, Deepika's name has emerged, tomorrow it will be Ranbir Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor. Karan Johar. Shahid Kapoor, who was the lead character of the movie, was also present in that party. I would request NCB that when it is probing the drug racket, they should also investigate the people who funded that movie and created a plot to defame Punjab. You all will see all these people going to Jail and I have been saying this for a while now," Manjinder Sirsa said.

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.

READ | Mumbai Police tried to protect big fish, now Karan Johar will have Koffee with NCB: Sirsa

READ | Karan Johar, Deepika, Vicky & others named as NCB takes up Sirsa's Bollywood-drugs plaint
Wonderful people of Ghana, greetings to you all. Another election is just around the corner and once again we will all be queuing to vote for a leader coming this December 7th.



Now here is my concern;



An election, What is an election, why do we vote and why must we vote.



An election is a civil right of all citizens who have attained 18 years and above with a sound mind to vote and elect a leader who can, will, and should be able to manage the entire country, for the benefit of all citizens in and outside Ghana by the judicious use of available resources. Through a competent team, tailored plans, policies, and implementation outlets through decisive, determined, focused, and incorruptible good leadership.



Elections have consequences on individuals now and the future directly, indirectly, and therefore the need to think through, investigate, interrogate the background, competence, decisiveness, boldness, willingness, track record, and what the individual you select is willing to bring to the table.



The election is not a mere event but a process, to select a leader who is decisive, a leader who does not make spontaneous wrong decisions by the sight of crowds or emotions, a leader who can recognize the needs of his people, a leader who can decide between when to make a decision and when not to, a leader whose decision can positively affect you and the future generation.



One of the major attributes to look out for in the two main candidates going into election 2020 is the ability to make the right choices, right decisions, right policies, the right attitude, the one who gives hope, trust-based on his decisiveness. The following are a few points to guide you in your decision-making between the two leading candidates coming 7th December.



Personal attributes in terms of the decisiveness of the two personalities



Mr. John Mahama and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo



Nana Addo is decisive (has the ability to make positive, clear, certain or final decisions quickly for the benefit of all), he has demonstrated this in his personal, public life and throughout his less than the four-year rule as the President of Ghana while Mr. John Mahama is indecisive (the state of being unable to make decisions on his own), this Mr. John Mahama said himself, wrote himself in his own book "My first coup d'etat" and demonstrated it as a politician when he had the opportunity to govern Ghana for 8 years when his party was in power as a Vice President and attentive President.



One very important quality all Ghanaians must look out for is that, among the two who can make the best decisions to improve human resource development of Ghana, the one who can make decisions on value for money, the one who can make decisions to improve our health and health sector, the one who can make good decisions to industrialize Ghana, the one who can make positive decisions to paint our country positively to the entire world and attract goodwill, investment, respect and confidence, the one who can make decisions to get Ghana out of aid, the one who can make decisions to move Ghana along with the world through digitization of our systems, the one who can make decisions to reduce unemployment in our country, the one who can make decisions to deny himself and develop Ghana beyond aid, among others.



A few examples on the decision makings of Mr. John Mahama and Nana Akufo Addo



And please NOTE the comparison



1. Mr. John Mahama persistently through his indecisiveness supervised, tens of adverts, public demonstrations, and presentations at various levels against Free Senior High Education (FSHS), he persistently said anything free is not of quality publicly and an impossibility for the implementation of Free SHS policy in Ghana now but, on the other hand



H.E Nana Akufo Addo through consistent decisiveness in less than a year in office implemented the Free SHS policy in the phase of severe challenges Ghana found itself as was once said by Mr. John Mahama before Nana Addo took from him. Nana Addo ensured that every single Ghanaian child got access to free education at the Senior High level including Technical and Vocational Training.



Now Mr. Mahama claims that he is the one who started Free SHS and should be voted back to power to do it better after Nana Addo has implemented and even extended it to the absorption of their examination fees and the abolition of the payment of utility bill among many others.



2. Mr. John Mahama did not add a single library to the existing ones for all the 8 years his party was in power nor did he employ a single staff under his leadership but rather ran down all the existing ones while in less than 4 years, Nana Akufo Addo being a decisive leader was determined to develop the human resource of Ghana ensured the increment of the number of libraries under the management of Ghana Library from 61 to 82. The highest ever expansion of the library network since independence and employed 191 Ghanaians to work in public libraries as well as renovation and stock of existing ones.



Mr. John Mahama is back with the Minister who under her watch all these libraries collapsed as his running mate seeking for votes from the electorates, claiming to do it better, after Nana Addo fixing its pressing challenges and extending his digitization agenda to the library system in Ghana to be at par with the world.



3. Mr. John Mahama after taking over a robust economy that had exited from HIPIC, a robust economy that had discovered oil, with all other natural and human resources took Ghana to the IMF for policy and economic credibility and indecisively agreed to the conditionalities of the IMF not to employ Ghanaians, this he implemented to the latter. He did not employ Ghanaian graduates, neither did he employ teachers, nurses, among many other professionals which led to a massive unemployment rate in Ghana, leading to the formation of unemployment graduate associations with severe hardship and its ripple effects on Ghanaians. Meanwhile, Nana Akufo Addo made a decision and ensured that Ghana exited from the IMF and their conditionalities, lifting the employment ban in the public sector of Ghana. Through this single bold decision of H.E Nana Addo over Two million (2,000.000) Ghanaians have gained various jobs.



Mr. Mahama is now telling Ghanaians to vote him back and will ensure that 250,000 Ghanaians will be employed yearly making it 1,000,000 employment in 4 years, meanwhile, in less than 3 years Nana Akufo Addo has employed over 2,000,000 Ghanaians.



4. Mr. John Mahama imposed and increased over fifteen (15) taxes and levies on Ghanaians including "Kayayes" very poor head porters levy, taxes on even condoms beside the very high unemployment rate and hardship he impounded on Ghanaians but Nana Addo removed and reduced all these taxes impounded on Ghanaians by Mr. John Mahama and even went further to reduce import duties, communication tax, and many other taxes to reduce the hardship on Ghanaians and also help the Ghanaian industry to grow and further attract foreign investors.

Mr. Mahama is now convincing Ghanaians that he will abolish taxes when voted back into power after Nana Akufo Addo has done all the needful.



5. Mr. John Mahama in the midst of the hardship he plunged Ghanaians in, further went ahead to cancel teacher and nurses trainee allowances that supported students from deprived families, communities, and the majority of Ghanaian students. He publicly told Ghanaians to vote him out because he will never do otherwise and surely Ghanaians voted him out, but Nana Addo upon the inception into the Presidency quickly reintroduced and increased these allowances plus the cancellation of utility bills and examination fees which hitherto was being paid by these students.

Now Mr. Mahama is claiming he will maintain the allowance and even pay half of university fees for one year when Nana Addo upon restoring these allowances has gone ahead to put things in place to ensure that university students go through their education with just a presentation of their Ghana Identity Cards.



6. Mr. John Mahama through poor supervision and management of the banking sector saw the massive infiltration of Ponzi schemes and collapse of various banks in Ghana locking up funds of many Ghanaians. H.E Nana assured Ghanaians and customers of all the backs and Ponzi schemes of paying their funds and true to his words he has paid them.

Now Mr. Mahama who was in power under his watch that all these occurred is now claiming that he will refund these funds if voted back to power meanwhile these funds have already been refunded by H.E. Nana Addo.



The upcoming 7th December elections is about making a choice between who is a decisive leader or not. It Is about making a decision yourself about who a true leader is. Who has consistently shown and demonstrated at all levels of having leadership qualities, going by his word, being a decisive individual, of being consistent in conduct and deeds?



Who among the two is promoting, deepening, and projecting Ghana's democracy through good decision making, respect to institutions, rule of law, consistency, public pronouncements, and conduct, and who is on the other hand indecisive "dead goat", breaking all rules, standards, very inconsistent and indecisive as well as drawing Ghana's democracy into mediocrity with the highest level of hypocrisy and persistently precipitating wicked propaganda across all levels of his engagement?



Who among the two is an existential threat to Ghana's democracy and development? Who among the two has exhibited through decision making as the one we can entrust our country and destiny too.



Politics is not merely about political parties or individuals but rather on the track records, attributes, policies, leadership, humility, and what they bring to the table.



Ghanaians please I humbly present to you this " dead goat" Mr. John Mahama and this fine gentleman H.E. Nana Akufo Addo.

Make your decision now, don't be indecisive. Think through and secure you and your generation now.

Your vote on 7th December counts. It is a personal decision to our development or destruction, progression, or retrogression.



The decision is yours to make.



Please let us all make the right decision now.



Part two coming soon

Source: Lady Vera









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The ongoing confrontation between Indian and Chinese troops along the Himalayan frontiers is serious, but pales in comparison with the situation across the Taiwan Strait. Over the weekend of 18-19 September, Chinas Peoples Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and Navy (PLAN) flew 37 aircraftincluding fighters and bombersacross the centre line that has served as the informal boundary between the mainland and Taiwan. One of the intruding pilots declared to Taiwanese defenders on the radio that there is no median line in the Taiwan Strait." Beijings intrusions coincided with and were certainly a reaction to a US state department officials visit to Taipei. As an intimidatory tactic, Chinas move is highly risky. One miscalculation by a pilot or an air defence operator could spark a conflict that could well draw in the United States and its allies into a bigger war.

The Taiwan Strait, followed by the South China Sea, constitute the two biggest flashpoints in the world today. That Xi Jinpings regime is prepared to take such risks at this time indicates where Beijings political priorities and military preparations lie. Preoccupied as we are with the Himalayan theatre, it is important that Indias strategic community pays greater attention to the Taiwan Strait as we search for a way to deal with China in the coming months and years. It is not in our interestto paraphrase Napoleonto distract an adversary heading towards a big mistake.

That Beijing has its eyes on Taiwan after stamping its authority on Hong Kong is not a surprise.

The leaders of the Communist Party of China (CPC), from Mao Zedong to Xi Jinping, have been clear in word and deed that their main foreign policy goal is to retake Taiwan. Great nations tend to have enduring objectives. Only the means of pursuing them change over time and according to circumstances. As Xi Jinping put it in January 2019, The country is growing strong, the nation is rejuvenating and unification between the two sides of the strait is the great trend of history." Even so, Beijings desire and determination have to contend not only with those of the people of Taiwan, but also with the balance of power.

Unfortunately for Beijing, just as it is acquiring the military power to mount a successful invasion of Taiwan, the will of the Taiwanese people is shifting decisively towards formal independence. While Beijing might well have acquired the capability to successfully land troops in Taiwan and also keep US forces at bay, its military hardware will be ineffective against a population 67% of which identifies itself as Taiwanese" and not Chinese". This number was a mere 17.6% in 1992, when the National Chengchi University first conducted this survey. This explains why an independence-minded Tsai Ing-wen won Taiwans presidential election this year, defeating the pro-reunification Koumintangs candidate by a landslide. As BBCs John Sudworth writes, Had the Communist Party not turned up the pressure on Taiwan, had its approach to the crisis in Hong Kong been subtler, the path to victory for a candidate it wanted so much to thwart may have been much less certain."

The military balance might have shifted towards Beijing, but it is by no means certain that the Peoples Liberation Army can sufficiently overpower Taiwanese defences. Thats not counting a potential intervention by US forces on the latters behalf. And even if the Peoples Liberation Army manages to land troops on the island, it will be hard pressed to hold a population of 23 millionover a million of whom have military trainingagainst its wishes. It is one thing for Beijing to strong-arm Hong Kongers, Uyghurs and Tibetans into submission. It is quite another to attempt this in Taiwan, which is politically, culturally, geographically and militarily a very different story. Demographic trends are turning Taiwanese opinion further away from unification" in any form. For this reason, it is entirely possible that hubris, calculation and domestic political expediency will cause Xi to risk a forced re-unification now rather than later.

Beijing might calculate that its accumulation of missiles, fighter aircraft, submarines and surface combatants will deter Washington from joining the conflict in Taiwans favour. Yes, an invasion of Taiwan will be messy and bloody today, but even messier and bloodier tomorrow. Chinas leaders could well start a war if they see their grand historic objectives permanently slipping away. This is not a hypothesis. They have said so for decades.

All that is needed for war to break out is a trigger, which Beijing can put in Taiwanese hands by carrying out aggressive sorties across the Strait, forcing the other side onto a state of high alert. Some analysts argue that the US can deter such a war if it were to shed strategic ambiguity" and declare it will defend Taiwan if China invades. However, such a move on Washingtons part could itself prompt the war it seeks to avoid. In any event, it is quite likely that a military conflict will not end in a way that Beijing would like, but that does not mean Chinas leaders will not start one. As I have previously argued in these pages, the strategic acumen of the men in Beijing has been consistently overrated.

Seen from a narrow perspective of self-interest, New Delhi should not distract China from getting into an energy-sapping quagmire over Taiwan. Border negotiations with Beijing are likely to be in a very different mood if conducted at a time when Chinese forces and economic resources are tied down in the East. It may be a good idea to heed Napoleons famous dictum.

Nitin Pai is co-founder and director of The Takshashila Institution, an independent centre for research and education in public policy

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 16:34:38|Editor: huaxia

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MOSCOW, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- A four-meter-tall pedestrian overpass collapsed in a Moscow suburb, injuring at least 25 people, local media reported on Sunday. Enditem
A CALL has been made for secret CCTV cameras to be used in a bid to stop repeated loyalist attacks on the most damaged Irish language sign in Northern Ireland.

Statistics show that the bilingual sign on the edge of Ballyward village, outside Banbridge, has been attacked more often than any other Irish language sign in the country.

Now Alliance councillor Patrick Brown is calling for the installation of secret CCTV cameras to prevent the attacks and the "sectarian vandalism" of other dual language boundary signs in South Down.

Newry, Mourne and Down Council has once again replaced the Ballyward sign.

In the past four years loyalists have taken an angle grinder to cut this particular bilingual sign in half.

They have also repeatedly paintbombed the sign and even etched out the Irish language part of the sign which has been erected at the council boundary on the A50 outside the village of Ballyward, close to the famous Dolly's Brae.

Since the boundary signs were first erected in the district in the summer of 2016, loyalists have carried out a series of sustained attacks, using paint, spray cans, builder's plastering cement and even a blow torch to deface and destroy the signs.

Mr Brown has demanded an end to the "senseless" attacks and believes CCTV should be used.

"The council has a bilingual signage policy. Whilst some may not like this, the language is part of our shared heritage and should be respected.

"Defacing or damaging Irish language road signs is nothing but sectarian vandalism and amounts to criminal damage," said Mr Brown.

"These signs will be replaced as they are necessary to mark the boundaries of the district. Therefore those responsible are costing ratepayers hundreds of pounds and should be ashamed of themselves.

"I think it is time council invested in hidden CCTV at these locations and would urge anyone who has any information to come forward to myself or the police."
By Trend

The Armenian armed forces blatantly violating the ceasefire regime made another provocation against Azerbaijan, by intensively attacking the positions of the Azerbaijani armed forces along the frontline, as well as the villages of Qapanli of Terter district, Chiragli and Orta Garavend of Aghdam district, Alkhanli and Shukurbeyli of Fizuli district and Jojuq Merjanli of Jabrayil district, using large-caliber weapons, mortar launchers and artillery on September 27, 2020 at around 06:00 (GMT+4), Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

According to the information of the Ministry of Defense, there are reports of dead and wounded among civilians and military servicemen, the message said. Extensive damage has been inflicted on many homes and civilian infrastructure.

The Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan undertake counter-offensive measures within the right of self-defense and in full compliance with the international humanitarian law to prevent another military aggression from Armenia and ensure the security of civilians and densely populated residential areas, the message said.

Full responsibility for the present situation falls on the leadership of Armenia, said the statement.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
A trans-Tasman bubble allowing travel between Australia and New Zealand could be open as early as December - but the states and territories will have to meet a high bar before the plan becomes reality.

Victoria, the Australian state worst-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, recorded just 16 new cases on Sunday - renewing hopes travel between the two countries could be on the horizon in the coming months.

Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham said the plan to re-open travel was possible as long as strict protocols keeping arrivals from New Zealand away from other international travellers were put in place.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has previously said she would not consider a bubble unless the whole of Australia goes 28 days without community transmission.

Tourists at the popular Waiotapu geothermal region on New Zealand's north island. Australia and New Zealand could open a trans-Tasman bubble as early as December

'That would just be a great step and it would prove the work that is being done to make sure this can be done, again, in a safe way,' Mr Birmingham said.

'We're making sure we have all the work done - all the preparations there - so we can safely achieve that bubble with New Zealand.

'It's up to them as to whether they choose to open up to Australia, but we're certainly making sure that we're prepared and I'm hopeful that could be this year.'

The tourism minister added 'corridors' and 'clearances' in airports in Australia and New Zealand would help separate travellers between the two countries and those from other parts of the world who would need to quarantine.

Mr Birmingham's comments come as the coalition government announced it was providing $250 million to boost tourism and infrastructure in Australia's regions.

The October 6 budget will set aside $50 million for a regional tourism recovery initiative to assist businesses in regions heavily reliant on international tourism.

Hopes travel between Australia and New Zealand could be on the horizon have been renewed by falling infection rates in Victoria

Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham said the plan to restart travel between New Zealand and Australia could go ahead with strict airport controls separating flyers from the two countries with other travellers

Earlier on Sunday, it was reported travellers could be allowed to fly from New Zealand into New South Wales without quarantining as early as November.

The federal government will reportedly initially only allow New Zealand residents to fly in.

NSW residents will then be allowed to travel across the Tasman by Christmas, The Sunday Telegraph reported.

Transport and Tourism Forum chief executive Margy Osmond hopes flights between Sydney and Auckland will resume by November.

'It would be fair to say that on both sides of the Tasman, work has been progressing at pace to make sure that when the health requirements are right, we are ready to go,' she told the publication.

Pictured are passengers at Sydney International Airport on September 18 after flying in from Auckland

'It would be a mistake to think that because there's been a bit of a hiccup on their side and our side that work stopped  it hasn't.'

NSW treasurer Dominic Perrottet added: 'NSW is home to Australia's only truly global city, and its economy is the engine room for the nation, so there's no doubt our state should be a part of any trans-Tasman bubble.'

NSW is now allowed to take an additional 500 returned travellers a week in relaxed restrictions introduced on Sunday as the state recorded zero new coronavirus cases for the first time in four months.
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives for a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, September 8, 2020. REUTERS-Yonhap



By Mimi Lau





Chinese President Xi Jinping has told the new Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga that the two countries can offer each other support as relations "get back on track".



Friday's conversation was the first between the pair since Suga replaced Shinzo Abe, who resigned for medical reasons earlier this month. The call did not touch on many contentious areas that dogged relations under Abe, such as Hong Kong, Taiwan and their territorial dispute over the Diaoyu Islands, which are also known as the Senkakus.



Nor did they discuss plans for Xi to visit Japan. He had been due to make a state visit earlier this year, but it has been indefinitely postponed as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak.



Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China.



During the telephone conversation, Xi said the two sides should work on areas of common interest, especially during the pandemic, and expressed support for next year's rescheduled Olympics.



Xi also called on both sides to safeguard stable and smooth industrial and supply chains, as well as an open trade and investment environment, while improving the quality and level of the bilateral cooperation.



"China stands ready to work with the new Japanese government to properly handle key sensitive issues including historical ones, continue to enhance political mutual trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and expand people-to-people exchanges amid efforts to build bilateral relations," Xi told him, according to the state news agency Xinhua.





Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga (front) visits Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in Okuma of Fukushima Prefecture on September 26, 2020. AFP-Yonhap
New Delhi:

With RBI lifting restrictions on cash withdrawal limits from certain accounts, the Election Commission is set to ask candidates contesting assembly polls in five states to open current accounts and overcome the currency crunch regarding election expenses. The central bank on Monday announced lifting of daily restrictions on cash withdrawals from ATMs as well as current accounts.

The latest move comes close on the heels of the Election Commission expressing its displeasure to the RBI for rejecting the request to enhance the cash withdrawal limit for candidates to Rs 2 lakh per week. After the decision of the RBI, the Election Commission has decided to ask all candidates to open current accounts for meeting election expenses, sources said.

Such a move will help candidates to have enough hard currency as well as overcome problems faced with the existing Rs 24,000 per week cash limit set on savings accounts, the sources said. Candidates are bound to open an election account for meeting poll-related expenditure which is monitored by the EC.

Since there is no mention of any specific category of account that needs to be opened, candidates mostly opt for savings account. With the central bank putting in place limits on cash withdrawals in the wake of note ban, candidates are facing problems in meeting expenses where hard cash is required.

The directions for the candidates related to opening current accounts are likely to be issued shortly by the poll watchdog. RBI has removed all limits on cash withdrawals from current accounts/ cash credit accounts/ overdraft accounts with immediate effect. "The limits on Savings Bank accounts will continue for the present and are under consideration for withdrawal in the near future," it said.







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Senior Aam Aadmi Party senior leader Durgesh Pathak and Malviya Nagar MLA Somnath Bharti on Saturday criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled municipal corporations for demolishing eight gates of the Green Park Extension RWA without any prior notice.

These gates were built by the RWA for the safety and security of the residents. The Delhi police is also under the BJP ruled central government and if the Delhi police was competent enough to secure the residents of the RWAs then there would not have any necessity to build these gates. The BJP-led MCDs could have suggested some other ways to deal with the situation. But instead of taking any constructive measure the BJP just demolished 8 gates with bulldozers, said Bharti in a press conference.

AAPs Pathak said the Delhi Police should immediately deploy constables on all those gates to secure the area. No person should be allowed in from those gates without proper ID. If the BJP believes they can continue this destructive attitude across Delhi then they are wrong, he said.

The Delhi BJP said the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) demolished the gates only after receiving multiple complaints from the residents there.

If the AAP feels the gates were wrongly removed, then why wasnt area MLA Somnath Bharti or AAPs MCD in-charge Durgesh Pathak present when the action was being taken? said Praveen Shankar Kapoor, Delhi BJP spokesperson.
Mexico has ordered dozens of military personnel to be arrested for suspected involvement in the disappearance of 43 students from a teacher's college six years ago, in an unresolved case that outraged the country.

The arrest warrants were announced by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Saturday as he presented a report on a lengthy investigation into the tragedy.

"Those proven to have participated will be judged," he said at an event with parents of the missing students

The president did not detail any charges against the suspects.

The disappearance of the students in southern Gurerro state sent shockwaves around Mexico.

They had commandeered five buses to travel to a protest, but were stopped by corrupt police officers in the city of Iguala, Guerrero and handed over to a drug cartel.

Prosecutors initially said the cartel mistook the students for members of a rival gang and killed them before incinerating their bodies at a garbage dump and tossing the remains in a river.

An official report presented in January 2015 by the government of then president Enrique Pena Nieto was rejected by relatives of the students as well as independent experts from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

Pena Nieto had strongly opposed interrogating military personnel or calling them to testify.

But his successor Lopez Obrador wi

Nearly three dozen people allegedly involved in the case have been arrested since March, officials said.

Families of the victims have long complained that the military did nothing to protect the students and may even have been accomplices in the crime.

Speaking for relatives on Saturday, Maria Martinez Zeferino -- the mother of one of the missing students -- thanked the president but urged him to move faster in hopes that some of the disappeared may still be alive.

In the afternoon more than 5,000 people led by the parents marched in downtown Mexico City, chanting slogans such as "They took them alive, we want them back alive!" and "Justice!"

One group that joined the tail end of the marche smashed windows and clashed with riot police, injuring at least one officer.

sem/ch/gle
Reuben Abusah alias Last Burial, a 20-year-old musician and a resident of Akatsi in the Volta Region, has been sentenced by the Ho Circuit Court to two years imprisonment in hard labour for lottery fraud.



He pleaded guilty to a charge of defrauding by false pretense and was convicted on his own plea.



Abusah was also fined GHC2,400 for the offence of impersonation or in default serve 12 months imprisonment in hard labour by the Court presided over by Mr Felix Datsomor.



The convict is one of three persons standing trial for various acts of impersonation and defrauding by false pretense in relation to the operations of the National Lottery Authority (NLA).



The two accused; Godwin Agbenyefia alias Demon and Kelvin Kwame Abouze alias Kartel, both pleaded not guilty to their respective charges of impersonation and defrauding by false pretense.



The Court denied them bail and they would re-appear on October 8, 2020.

The Volta Regional Police Command said it was keenly monitoring activities of lotto fraudsters in the Region and taking pragmatic steps at apprehending persons involved in such acts.



The Command also admonished the public to be wary of miscreants who paraded themselves as staff of NLA and report their activities to the Authority or the Police for necessary action.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A shooting early Sunday morning in Torontos Riverside neighbourhood has sent one woman to hospital, police say.

At approximately 5:20 a.m., Toronto police responded to a shooting in the Eastern Avenue and Lewis Street, close to Queen Street and Broadview Avenue.

Police say the woman, in her 20s, has since been transported to hospital with a non-life threatening injury.

There is currently no information regarding a suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to call police.

Libaan Osman is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Reach him via email: losman@thestar.ca
Have you ever had a crush you never got over? No matter how many new matches you swipe  or no matter how committed you are to your current partner  youll always remember those eyes across the bar.

A similar love story is playing out across the internet right now as the world once again falls under the spell of Mongolian dreamboat Jenisbek Tserik. Tserik is Mongolias most eligible eagle hunter, who yesterday set the internets loins on fire, as CNN published a profile on him.

This isnt the first time the world has gone crazy over Tserik; Vice last year published a similar piece entitled Meet the hot guy of Mongolian eagle hunting.

For those unacquainted with Tserik, his name means steel warrior and he has the credos to back it up. Tserik is a champion archer, master horseman, serial winner of tug-of-war competitions and an award winning eagle hunter.

So adept is Jenisbek, CNN reports, that he has been flown to Dubai to compete in exhibition events.

For a semi-nomadic Kazakh living in Mongolias remote, westernmost province of Bayan-Olgii, any trip abroad would be like visiting another planet. Glitzy Dubai would be a whole different universe.

Jenisbek told CNN hes not married, as well as joking he has five girlfriends, including one in Dubai and another in Kazakhstan (a claim the CNN reporter thinks may hold an element of truth).

This hasnt stopped the internet showering him with affection and coveting at his good looks.

From cool eye emojis and the hot nomad!!! exclamations, Twitter is full of thirst, with cheeky comments spanning from 2019 up until now including: Holy eagle bearer he is hawwwwwt and together well get this guys hotness the recognition it deserves.

The praise continued on Reddit, with a recent thread dedicated to Tserik including the comments: Damn, Id hit that, and, As a girl, I can see it.

Yesterday, @CNNTravel published this story on an attractive Kazakh Mongolian eagle hunter. It makes my blood boil, and Ill tell you why. (a thread) pic.twitter.com/w9RXA8c924  Aubrey (@AubreyMenard) September 24, 2020

US based author of Young Mongols: Forging Democracy in the Wild, Wild East, Aubrey Menard, however, has criticised the news coverage of Tserik.

It might seem strange that I remember a silly article that I read a year ago, Menard tweeted. But Mongolians and people who study Mongolia remember articles like this because there is so little international news coverage of the country. When CNN or Vice write about Mongolia, it gets noticed.

To say that Mongolia is underrepresented in world media is an understatement. In the NYT archive, which dates back to 1851 and holds more than 13 million articles, there are a mere 9,004 articles that even mention Mongolia.

When Mongolia is covered, that coverage all too often promotes a stereotypical vision of Mongolia as a land beyond time, ignoring important modern issues that could benefit from global press coverage.  Aubrey (@AubreyMenard) September 24, 2020

Whatever your take on the ethics of light-hearted articles like these; it appears there is one thing everyone can agree on; Tseriks looks are sizzling.

Read Next
The first dose of Covid-19 vaccine candidate developed by the Oxford University and AstraZeneca will on Saturday be administered to three volunteers at the King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital in Mumbai while 10 more volunteers have been selected for the clinical trial.

Another Mumbai hospital BYL Nair will commence the process of clinical trials from Monday.

Volunteers given the vaccine dose at the KEM hospital will be checked regularly and within 29 days a second dose will be given to them.

Heres everything you need to know about Covid-19 vaccine trial

--All three volunteers who will get the shot today have been screened to rule out any underlying health issues, KEM Hospital officials said. They also underwent RT-PCR and antibody testing. The three participants have been screened after their consent and they dont have any comorbidity. As per randomisation, out of every four participants, one will receive placebo (false drug), said Dr Hemant Deshmukh, Dean, KEM Hospital.

--According to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines, each of the volunteers has been covered with Rs 1crore life insurance in case of death due to any side effects during the trial. They have also been covered under Rs 50lakh medical insurance if they develop any adverse effect from the vaccine.

--We will administer the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine to the three volunteers on Saturday Suresh Kakani, additional municipal commissioner, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said. He added that 10 more people will be screened on Saturday which will take the number of volunteers to 23. We will check how they respond after the inoculation and test them for antibodies, he said.

--After the volunteers are given the shot, they will have to stay at the hospital for two hours to check if they are having any complications,

--The vaccine induces a strong immune response. It provokes a T cell (white blood cells that can attack cells infected with the coronavirus) response within 14 days of the dose, and an antibody response within 28 days.
Joe Biden has been aggressively preparing for the first presidential debate next week with mock sessions that feature a senior adviser playing the role of Donald Trump as the president forgoes formal preparation.

Though Biden's team believes the significance of the debate may be exaggerated, the Democratic nominee has been consistently preparing to take on the president.

Biden's campaign has been holding mock debate sessions featuring Bob Bauer, a senior Biden adviser and former White House general counsel, playing the role of Trump, according to a person with direct knowledge of the preparations who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal strategy.

Bauer has not actually donned a Trump costume in line with Trump stand-ins from previous years, but he is representing his style and expected strategy.

'I'm sure the president will throw everything he can at (Biden). My guess is that they're preparing for that - bombarding him with insults and weird digressions,' said Jay Carney, a former aide to Biden and President Barack Obama.

Scroll down for video

Joe Biden has been aggressively preparing for the first presidential debate next week with mock sessions that feature a senior adviser playing the role of Donald Trump as the president forgoes formal preparation

Biden's campaign has been holding mock debate sessions featuring Bob Bauer (pictured), a senior Biden adviser and former White House general counsel, playing the role of Trump, according to a person with direct knowledge of the preparations

'I think it's an important moment  I think it's really important for President Trump, because the direction of this election has been pretty stable for a long time now, and he needs to shake it up as any candidate would who's behind,' Carney added. 'The question is, can that work?'

Trump and Biden are scheduled to meet on the debate stage for the first time Tuesday night at Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.

The 90-minute event moderated by Fox News host Chris Wallace is the first of three scheduled presidential debates.

Vice President Mike Pence and California Sen Kamala Harris, Biden's running mate, will also debate in October.

For some, the debates represent the most important moments in the 2020 campaign's closing days, a rare opportunity for millions of voters to compare the candidates' policies and personalities side-by-side on prime-time television.

Trump has been trailing Biden in the polls for the entire year, a reality that gives the president an urgent incentive to change the direction of the contest on national television if he can.

Others, including those close to Biden's campaign, do not expect the debates to fundamentally change the race no matter what happens, given voters' daily struggles with the pandemic and the economy.

They also point to high-profile debates in past elections thought to be game-changing moments at the time but that ultimately had little lasting effect.

Those with knowledge of Biden's preparations suggest he will not take the fight to Trump if he can avoid it. But on Saturday, at least, he was on the attack when he discussed his strategy on MSNBC.

'I'm prepared to go out and make my case as to why I think he's failed and why I think the answers I have to proceed will help the American people, the American economy and make us safer internationally,' Biden said, arguing that Trump won't persuade voters with broadsides because 'the people know the president is a liar'.

He also compared Trump to Adolf Hitler's propaganda minister, Joseph Goebbels, saying: 'He's sort of like Goebbels. You say the lie long enough, keep repeating, repeating, repeating, it becomes common knowledge.'

Biden said he doesn't expect Trump to articulate a detailed vision for a second term.

'He doesn't know how to debate the facts, because he's not that smart,' Biden continued.

'He doesn't know that many facts. He doesn't know much about foreign policy. He doesn't know much about domestic policy. He doesn't know much about the detail.'

Trump has not been doing any formal preparation, according to aides and allies who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Trump, instead, has maintained that the best preparation is doing his day job  particularly his frequent and often contentious interactions with reporters

While Biden has said he will try to be a fact checker of sorts on stage, the Democrat is being advised to avoid direct confrontations and instead redirect the conversation to more familiar campaign themes of unity and issues that matter most to voters: the economy, health care and the pandemic.

'Arguing over facts, litigating whether what he's saying is accurate, that is not winning to Biden,' said Jen Psaki, a former Obama aide who is close to Biden's team.

'This is an opportunity to speak directly to the American people. His objective should be to speak directly to them, but not be pulled in by Trump. That is hard.'

Trump has not been doing any formal preparation, according to aides and allies who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.

No set has been constructed and aides refused to say whether anyone is playing Biden.

Trump, instead, has maintained that the best preparation is doing his day job  particularly his frequent and often contentious interactions with reporters.

White House aides also scheduled an ABC town hall earlier this month to expose Trump to real voter questions for the first time in months in preparation for the second debate.

Privately some aides and allies are worried that Trump's lack of formal preparation will lead him to fall into the same hubris trap as other incumbents in their first general election debate.

Obama, for example, famously struggled in his first matchup against Mitt Romney in 2012.

But other Trump backers are confident that the president is ready to handle any tough questions or pushback from Biden.

'The debates matter,' said Lara Trump, a senior adviser to the campaign and the president's daughter-in-law. 'Donald Trump certainly did a great job on the debates (in 2016) and I think this will be no different.'

Lara Trump also seemed to simultaneously raise and lower expectations for Biden.

'Joe Biden spent a lot of time in his basement to study up. He's been in this game for 47 years. I assume he'll do okay,' she said. 'Quite frankly, the bar has been lowered so much for Joe Biden that if he stays awake for the whole thing it's like maybe he won.'

The mixed messages were in line with those of Trump's allies who spent much of the year raising questions about Biden's physical and mental strength, while in recent days trying to cast him as a strong and experienced debater facing a relative neophyte in Trump.

A former reality show star, the president is keenly aware of the power and pitfalls of live television.

Aides say he is acutely mindful of the power of 'moments' to define how a debate is perceived and that he intends to make his share of them happen.

It remains to be seen how aggressively Trump attacks Biden. He has warned apocalyptically about the consequences of a Biden victory and is never one to shy away from a fight.

He is also an avowed 'counterpuncher' and will surely respond to any attacks by Biden in kind.

Terry McAuliffe, the former Virginia governor and onetime national Democratic chairman, said Biden must fashion a succinct, debate-stage version of his message since the spring: draw a straight line from Trump's personal deficiencies to his handling of the pandemic, its economic fallout, the national reckoning on race and then explain why a Biden presidency would be different.

'Trump's just looking for a Hail Mary here,' McAuliffe said. 'He knows he's in trouble.'
Victorias coronavirus curfew is no more but lawyers for a restaurateur suing the state government have told the Supreme Court that the measure was a step too far that had ruined her business and restricted her freedoms.

Restaurant owner Michelle Loielo, an aspiring Liberal Party MP, filed a lawsuit on September 14 claiming the 9pm-5am curfew, yesterday ended by the Andrews government, was unreasonable, disproportionate and violated the human rights of millions of Victorians.

On Monday, it was uncertain whether the trial would go forward but Marcus Clarke QC, representing Ms Loielo, told the court they wanted to pursue their claim to have the curfew declared unlawful.

In his opening statement, Mr Clarke admitted to Supreme Court judge Tim Ginnane on Monday that the pandemic was a serious health crisis that required abrogation of some rights to contain, but that the curfew was not necessary alongside the restrictions already in place.

These restrictions, on top of all the other restrictions, is one step too far, Mr Clarke said.

Mr Clarke reiterated that Ms Loielo cherishes her freedoms, and that her freedom of movement, liberty and security, and to not be arbitrarily detained, was infringed by the curfew policy.

Her contention is that the curfew has violated all of those rights  and that the government has acted excessively in seeking to curtail them.

Mr Clarke said Associate Professor Michelle Giles, being sued in her capacity as the state's deputy public health commander, was acting under dictation of Premier Daniel Andrews when she extended the curfew, that the imposition of the measure was unreasonable, irrational and illogical.

Victorias Solicitor-General, Kristen Walker QC, rejected the notion that the decision was invalid, admitting that Victorians rights were impacted, but in the context of the pandemic were justified.

The risk associated with COVID-19 is death, for certain people in the population, Ms Walker said.

"The evidence will demonstrate that the defendant absolutely did not act at the direction or the behest of the Premier.

Government briefings tabled in court on Monday also revealed more detail about the warning lawyers gave health officials that the curfew measure carried a real risk of unlawfully violating the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities.

The advice, provided to Associate Professor Giles, said that the directions were, on balance, likely to be compatible with human rights under the charter but made specific mention of the risks posed by the curfew.

It is the Departments view that these Directions are, on balance, likely to be compatible with human rights under the charter, the advice reads, in light of the exceptional circumstances in which they are being issued and the public health advice they are based on.

However, we note that this assessment is not without doubt; in particular, there is some risk of incompatibility with respect to the evening curfew.

On Sunday, the Andrews government ended the curfew a month ahead of schedule.

Put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19, the curfew was initially in force between 8pm and 5am but was moved back to 9pm on September 14.

The government's decision to impose the curfew came into focus after Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton and Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton both said it was not their idea.

Lawyers for Ms Loielo have sought to cross examine Associate Professor Giles about what information she used to come to the conclusion that extending the curfew was necessary, and whether she acted under the dictation of Premier Daniel Andrews when she extended it.

The matter has been adjourned to Wednesday. In the interim parties are to make submissions about the impact of the ending of curfew to their case.
My understanding after chatting to friends in SA in the travel industry, and it may not be correct, is that you need to wait for them to produce the list of international countries that will be allowed to enter SA. They havent done it yet, much to the frustration of people in the tourism industry. However, it is highly unlikely that we will be allowed to enter at all

Have you tried contacting the South African High Commission in London? I dont know if there is any chance that you can get a visa for compassionate reasons? The Covid test is irrelevant if we are not allowed to enter SA
Amie Murphy was jailed for four weeks at Douglas Courthouse. (Getty)

A woman has been jailed in the Isle of Man for breaking coronavirus rules by stopping to fill up her car with petrol.

Amie Murphy, 36, was said to have failed to go straight home and self isolate following a trip to the mainland UK.

Murphy stopped for fuel in the town of Laxey when her fuel warning light came on in her car shortly after driving off the ferry on September 18.

Douglas Courthouse heard she had completed a landing card and been explained the self isolation rules which she agreed to.

She reportedly stopped after her fuel warning light came on. (Getty)

Murphy told a filling station assistant she had "just got off the boat" and he opened the forecourt early for her at around 5am.

She was then reported to police after he told his manager about her trip to the pumps.

The court heard Murphy later became aggressive and swore at officers when confronted by police at her home.

Peter Taylor, defending, said she had not realised her car was low on fuel and did not believe that stopping to fill up was "an unreasonable thing to do".

Watch: The government working urgently to fix NHS app

Murphy admitted failing to comply with a direction under emergency powers regulations and resisting arrest and was jailed for four weeks.

Magistrates said the rules had been explained to her and that the island was doing its "very best to keep COVID-19 out"

She is the fifth person to be jailed over social distancing breaches on the Isle of Man.

No pleas were entered to two charges of driving offences and her next appearance at Douglas Courthouse will be on October 15.

Coronavirus: what happened today

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Until a decade ago, the pilgrims would travel by bus, car, donkey and foot to gather by the thousands at the Imam Asim Shrine in the desert on Chinas western frontier. They trudged through the sand dunes to kneel at the sacred site dedicated to Imam Asim, a Muslim holy man who helped defeat the Buddhist kingdom that had ruled here over a thousand years ago. The devotees were Uighurs, a mostly Muslim ethnic minority, and often joined annual festivals to pray for abundant harvests, good health and strong babies. They tied strips of cloth carrying prayerful messages to wooden ...
She found fame on the 2019 series of Love Island before quitting the show early when her romance with Curtis Pritchard didn't work out.

And Amy Hart looked nothing short of sensational as she enjoyed a day by the pool during her trip to Portugal.

The former Love Island star, 27, showcased her incredible figure in a one-piece swimsuit with a leopard and tiger print.

Wow: Amy Hart, 27, looked nothing short of sensational as she enjoyed a day by the pool during her trip to Portugal

Amy cinched her waist with a black belt while she also sported a pair of sunglasses as she went for a dip.

The reality star styled her blonde locks into an updo for the day while she appeared to go makeup free for the day.

Amy took to her Instagram Stories and shared a snap of herself donning a face mask while on her flight back to the UK.

It comes after Amy proved there were no hard feelings with ex Curtis Pritchard as the former flames happily posed for a snap together late last month.

Looking good: The former Love Island star showcased her incredible figure in a one-piece swimsuit with a leopard and tiger print

Radiant: Amy cinched her waist with a black belt while she also sported a pair of sunglasses as she went for a dip

The blonde beauty cosied up to Curtis, 24, in a sweet snap captioned: 'Nostalgia babes x', five months after his split from fellow Islander Maura Higgins, 29.

Curtis also posted a snap of the pair, captioned:'Good to see you x @amyhartxo.'

In the wake of the reunion Amy has now re-followed her ex Curtis on Instagram.

Homeward bound: Amy took to her Instagram Stories and shared a snap of herself donning a face mask while on her flight back to the UK

Later on the evening, Amy looked a little worse for wear as she put on an animated display and hung onto her friend while leaving the Proud Embankment venue after the boozy Cabaret All Stars Show in London.

Curtis, a professional ballroom dancer with a talent for tango, left Amy devastated after he started to chase after single Islander Jourdan Riane while Amy was away in Casa Amor.

Former air-stewardess Amy then told producers she wanted to leave the August series, after her 'half-boyfriend' split with her and began to chase after Islander Maura, who he went on to date, but split from in March.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The ministry of foreign affairs of Artsakh calls the Azerbaijani actions as an act of aggression directed against the Republic of Artsakh, Head of the Information department at the Artsakh MFA Artak Nersisyan told reporters today.

According to the UN charters, the Republic of Artsakh is exercising its right to self-defense and takes all necessary measures to push back the aggression and establish peace in the region, Nersisyan said.

He informed that the Artsakh foreign ministry is in direct contact with the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office.

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are also informed about the aggression of Azerbaijan and the situation caused by it, he stated.

On September 27 early morning the Azerbaijani military has launched a massive cross-border artillery attack on Artsakh, including on civilian settlements. Peaceful settlements are also under bombardment, including the capital city of Stepanakert.

The Azerbaijani side suffered losses in its military equipment.

Dozens of civilians in Artsakh were wounded as a result of the Azerbaijani attack. A woman and a child were killed in the Azerbaijani attack.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Americas among Vietnam's largest trade partners despite of COVID-19

The Americas remained some of Vietnams largest trade partners despite the adverse effect on commerce caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, heard participants at a conference organised by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), aimed at connecting Vietnamese firms with trade partners in American countries in Hanoi on September 25.



According to the ministry, two-way trade between Vietnam and American countries during the first eight months of the year increased 11.8 percent from the same period last year to 69.3 billion USD, with the Southeast Asian countrys exports increasing 15.9 percent.





Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Do Thang Hai speaks at a conference to connect Vietnamese firms with trade partners in American countries in Hanoi. (Photo baodauthau.vn)


On Thursday, Sept. 24, Ontario and Quebec once again reported worrisome case updates, as health officials try to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their situations within their communities have had an impact in their schools, with the two provinces reporting a combined 143 new infections among students and staff.

In Manitoba, there are now 449 currently infected patients, a new record-high. The majority are in Winnipeg, as health officials warn against a worrisome trend that has been developing in the citys bars, pubs and restaurants among those in their 20s.

At a COVID-19 press briefing, Dr. Deena Hinshaw disagreed with Justin Trudeaus claim that Alberta is among the provinces that is currently experiencing a second wave. In addition, 13 school outbreak alerts have now been declared over.

In British Columbia, health officials announced 148 new cases, which marks the second largest spike in daily COVID-19 cases the province has recorded since the start of the pandemic.

For more on Thursdays top stories, and on how the novel coronavirus continues to spread across the nation, please refer to our live updates below on Yahoo News Canada.

11,138 active COVID-19 cases in Canada: 149,094 diagnoses, 9,249 deaths and 128,707 recoveries (as of Sept. 24, 6:30 p.m. ET)

Alberta - 1,462 active cases (17,190 total cases, including 261 deaths, 15,467 resolved)

British Columbia - 1,371 active cases (8,543 total cases, 229 deaths, 6,917 resolved)

Manitoba - 449 active cases (1,711 total cases, 19 deaths, 1,243 resolved)

New Brunswick - 6 active cases (199 cases, 2 deaths, 191 resolved)

Newfoundland and Labrador - 1 active case (272 total cases, 3 deaths, 268 resolved)

Northwest Territories - 0 active cases (5 total cases, 5 resolved)

Nova Scotia - 1 active cases (1,087 total cases, 65 deaths 1,021 resolved)

Ontario - 3,774 active cases (48,496 total cases, 2,836 deaths, 41,886 resolved)

Prince Edward Island - 1 active case (58 total cases, 57 resolved)

Quebec - 3,917 active cases (69,670 total cases, 5,810 deaths, 59,943 resolved)

Saskatchewan - 130 active cases (1,835 total cases, 24 deaths, 1,681 resolved)

Yukon - 0 active cases (15 total cases, 15 resolved)

Nunavut - 0 active cases (4 false positive cases)

CFB Trenton - 0 active cases (13 total cases, 13 resolved)

Story continues

Dr. Hinshaw doesnt agree with Trudeaus assessment that Alberta is in its second wave

Albertas chief medical officer of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, did not agree with Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus claim that the province is in its second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During a public address on Wednesday, the prime minister said in our four biggest provinces, the second wave isnt just starting, its already underway. However, Hinshaw said there are some key differences to consider between Alberta and other provinces when trying to define what exactly is a second wave.

The concept of a second wave implies that we don't have any control or influence over the circulation of the virus, said Hinshaw. In Alberta, I don't think that that's where we're at right now.

Hinshaw noted that the province has seen an increase in daily case counts for the last few months, but they have remained relatively stable. Alberta also hasnt seen a very large spike of uncontrolled spread.

The chief medical officer noted that the province doesnt necessarily need to have a second wave in its future. Instead, they can see a stable, relatively slow burn of a constant case count over time, or even small ripples that go up and down.

To date we have not seen any single factor that seems to be driving the majority of cases, and therefore we have not imposed any additional restrictions, said Hinshaw.

Again, whether or not we have a steep sharp second wave is entirely within our hands, and we can prevent that without any additional formal restrictions.

Hinshaw announced Thursday that the provinces labs have identified 158 new cases of COVID-19. One more person has died, while 215 patients have recovered, setting Albertas active case count to 1,462.

The most recent victim is part of the outbreak at the Foothills Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary. So far, the outbreak at the hospital has led to 29 linked cases, including 17 patients and three deaths.

Hinshaw also provided an update about the developing COVID-19 situation in schools.

There are now active alerts in 97 schools with 163 active cases among them. Throughout Alberta, that means there are only four per cent of schools that have a case.

Alerts at 13 schools have been declared over, with no signs of transmission being identified after all close contacts among students and teachers were forced to self-isolate.

Thirty-two schools have had outbreaks, meaning there have been at least two cases within a 14-day period. Seven of those outbreaks have seen likely transmission between individuals in the school setting.

I remind everyone that although two confirmed cases in a school may qualify as an outbreak, said Hinshaw. It is not a sign that a school is unsafe

Hinshaw says all throughout the pandemic, theyve noticed a consistent correlation between the amount of cases in the community and the amount of cases among people 5-19 years old.

During the provinces peak week in April, labs tested 2,257 school aged children, resulting in 216 cases. Since school started in Alberta on Sept. 1, the province has actually seen a week over week decrease, among school aged children, despite consistent testing outputs.

Top Manitoba doctor shares troubling trend as province reaches new record-high for active cases

Manitoba's top doctor is pleading with the public to follow COVID-19 protocols when visiting restaurants, pubs and bars, as cases continue to spike in the province's largest city. (Getty Images)

Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitobas chief public health officer, said the province is seeing an increasing number of COVID-19 cases among people in their 20s who were in bars, pubs and restaurants in Winnipeg.

In recent weeks, about half of the patients in Winnipeg have been linked to those venues.

"It doesn't mean they necessarily acquired it there, but that's a staggeringly high number of people who were at these sites during their acquisition period," said Roussin on Thursday.

Crowding and the number of people in attendance have been common problems that have raised concerns for health officials. Roussin said there have been individuals who have visited more than one bar in a single evening. In one instance, an individual visited multiple bars while symptomatic, which resulted in 36 close contacts.

We know that we should be decreasing our time in enclosed spaces, crowded places and reducing prolonged contact, said Roussin. We certainly shouldn't be out and about when were symptomatic.

Throughout Manitoba, there are now a record-high 449 active cases of COVID-19. Of those currently infected individuals, 364 of them are in the Winnipeg health region, according to provincial data.

Of the remaining 37 new cases, four were identified in the Interlake-Eastern health region, two in Southern Health and one in Prairie Mountain, which used to be the provinces epicentre in August.

In addition, Roussin announced a case of COVID-19 in connection to Grant Park High School in Winnipeg, involving an individual who was at the school between Sept. 15-17. The risk of further spread is considered low.

The outbreak at Winnipegs John Pritchard School in Winnipeg has now been linked to 26 cases. However, not all the individuals were necessarily at the school.

On Thursday, Roussin also announced one more COVID-19 related fatality, involving a woman in her 90s who lived at the Parkview Place personal care home in Winnipeg. Nineteen people have now died in Manitoba in connection to the virus.

Another day with over 400 cases in Ontario, 31 new infections in schools

Ontario reported 409 new cases on Thursday, which marks the fifth time over the past seven days that it has surpassed the 400 daily cases mark.

Before the recent stretch, Ontario had not recorded over 400 cases in a 24-hour stretch since June 2.

The latest patients were identified after the province completed 30,634 tests for COVID-19, leading to a positivity rate of 1.3 per cent  tied for its second highest output since late-June.

Of the 409 new cases, 151 were identified in Toronto, 82 in Ottawa, 46 in Peel, 34 in York, 26 in Waterloo, 12 in Middlesex-London and 11 in Halton. All the other 27 public health units reported fewer than 10, while 15 reported no new patients at all.

Thirty-one new cases were identified in schools across Ontario in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch. Twenty-four of those include students, three involve staff, while the other four have not yet been identified by the Ministry of Health. Of the provinces 4,828 schools, there are now 178 that have had a case of COVID-19, with 210 total cases among them.

Of the most recent 409 cases, 195 of them were among people 20-39 years old, the most of any age group. There were also 91 cases among those 40-59, and 64 among those 19 and under. Thirteen new cases were identified among long-term care residents and five among health-care workers.

Throughout Ontario, one more person has died and 286 more patients have recovered from the respiratory virus. There are now 3,774 active cases, the most since June 9. Of those currently infected patients, there are 88 in hospital, which includes 27 in intensive care and 11 who require a ventilator.

On Thursday, Doug Ford and his provincial government announced that theyll invest $1 billion on COVID-19 testing and contact tracing efforts as cases continue to rise around Ontario. In an effort to contain the spread and shorten wait times, Ford has asked people without COVID-19 symptoms, who are not at risk, to avoid getting tested. As of Thursday, there are 53,840 tests that are in the provinces backlog.

Quebec reports one of its largest spikes since May, 89 new cases in schools

Quebec reported 582 new cases on Thursday, the second most in a 24-hour stretch since May 27.

Earlier this week on Monday, the province announced 586 cases of COVID-19.

Its now the sixth straight time that the province has recorded more than 400 cases, and the 13th straight time that it has reported more than 200. The last time Quebec had a similar stretch was in late-May to early-June; since then it has enjoyed multiple stretches where it consistently reported fewer than 100 daily cases as it contained the spread of COVID-19 within the province.

Of the most recent cases, 247 were identified in Montreal, 103 in Quebec City, 53 in Monteregie, 36 in Outaouais, 29 in Laval and 25 in Estrie. Of the 18 regions, eight of them reported fewer than 10 cases, while four reported no new patients at all.

Throughout Quebec schools, 89 new cases were identified among students and 23 among staff. Since 29 more school cases have recovered, there are now 576 currently infected students and 72 staff in the province. So far, at least 359 class bubbles have been sent home and asked to learn remotely, up by 34 since Wednesdays report. Of the provinces 3,089 schools, 457 of them have had a case of COVID-19, up by 30.

Quebecs testing numbers are reflective of its output from two days prior. Most recently, it completed 25,553 tests for COVID-19, as it continues to push its capacity.

No one has died in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch, but one more fatality was added to its death toll (5,810) that occurred between Sept. 17-22. Instead, the province noted that 257 more patients have recovered, meaning there are now 3,917 currently infected patients in Quebec, which 184 people in hospital and 31 in intensive care.

Quebec currently leads the way in active and total cases, as well as COVID-19-related deaths throughout the pandemic.

British Columbia records its second largest spike in cases, 30 exposure events so far in schools

Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbias provincial health officer, announced 148 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, which marks the second largest one-day spike since the start of the pandemic.

On Sept. 17, 165 cases were announced for a record-high.

With the latest increase in cases, Henry was asked if the province plans on taking further precautions to limit gatherings around the province. Since late-August, officials have increased fines for party organizers, and have also closed nightclubs and banquets.

Henry said the province has taken necessary enforcement measures for some of the university parties that have taken place as of late, but that the measures they have in place have been relatively successful in the last few weeks.

It's not the number [of cases], in and of itself, that's the issue, said Hinshaw. What is important for us is to say, Can we manage this outbreak, this pandemic? Make sure that we're doing everything we can to prevent transmission.

Obviously, I would prefer if we had far fewer people being infected, because we know every time somebody transmits it to somebody else, there's a risk that is going to be somebody who gets very sick or dies.

In the provinces latest 24-hour stretch, two more people have passed away in Fraser Health, which increases B.C.s death toll to 229. In addition, 148 people have recently recovered.

Throughout the province there are now 1,371 active cases of COVID-19, the fewest since Sept. 7. There are also 3,417 people who are self-isolating and are being actively monitored by B.C. public health, since they were in contact with a known COVID-19 patient.

Henry said there have been 30 school exposure events throughout its more than 2,000 schools. However, by B.C.s definition, there have been no outbreaks that have identified so far.

That is not surprising to me, said Henry. With millions of children going back into the schools in the last few weeks, this is to be expected.

Updates from across Canada

No new cases were identified in Nova Scotia or Newfoundland and Labrador, which continue to have one active case of COVID-19 each. As of Prince Edward Islands last update on Wednesday, there remains one active case in its province as well.

Two new cases were identified in New Brunswick. One of the cases involves an individual in their 40s, who is currently in Ontario and will stay there until they have recovered. They live permanently in the Fredecition region. The other patient is in their 60s in the Moncton region, and their reason for transmission is believed to be travel related. In addition, health officials notified the public that there is a Quebec resident in the Campbellton region who has tested positive; they will stay in N.B. until they recovered. However, they are not counted among the provinces six active cases.

Saskatchewan reported five new cases of COVID-19, but that also eight more patients have recovered. Of the recently diagnosed, two are in Saskatoon, while there is one each in the Central West, Regina and South Central zones. Of the provinces total cases, 130 are considered active. The Saskatoon region is home to 75 of those currently infected patients, while throughout Saskatchewan there are eight people in hospital.

Timelines of cases prior to August:
A manhunt is underway for a passenger who repeatedly spat at a Melbourne bus driver before attempting to assault him.

The incident occurred on the 246 bus route from Elsternwick to Clifton Hill in East Melbourne around 8.30am on August 25.

Police said a male passenger approached the driver and verbally abused him before leaning in to spit in the drivers face three times.

Victoria Police believe this man (pictured) may be able to assist with their inquiries

He then tried to punch the driver around the protective screen.

The bus driver stopped near the intersection of Wellington Parade and Hoddle Street in East Melbourne and ordered the man to get off the bus.

The man was last seen running towards West Richmond train station.

Victoria Police have released an image of a man who may be able to assist with their inquiries.

The passenger was ordered off the bus at the corner of Wellington Parade and Hoddle Street (pictured) in East Melbourne. He was last seen running towards West Richmond train station

Police are also investigating whether there's additional CCTV footage.

The man is described as being of African descent and was wearing a black beanie and a black jacket with a red collar.

Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 17:15:00|Editor: huaxia

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by Peter Mertz

DENVER, the United States, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. federal judge removed a senior official of the Trump administration, who has illegally held the position for 424 days.

William Perry Pendley, a far-right American conservative activist and commentator, has been serving as the acting director of the U.S. Interior Department Bureau of Land Management (BLM) since 2019 without being confirmed by the Senate as required under the Constitution.

On Friday, Chief District Judge Brian Morris of the U.S. District Court of Montana ruled that Pendley has been serving unlawfully, in response to a lawsuit brought by Montana's Democratic Governor Steve Bullock and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.

Morris also ruled that the two sides of the case should file briefs about which of Pendley's orders issued during his public land chief career must be vacated.

Moreover, the judge ruled Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt cannot pick another person to run the BLM as its acting head because Pendley's successor must be appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

Although his tenure expired a month ago, "Pendley continued to hang on to the post, under an arrangement that Pendley himself set up months ago," CNBC said.

Pendley is one of several senior officials in the Trump administration running federal agencies and departments despite not having gone before the Senate for the confirmation hearings that are required for top posts, CNBC reported Saturday.

"The Trump administration continues to laugh at American law and support wealthy capitalists who have no respect for the law, the environment, or science," Washington political analyst David Richardson told Xinhua Saturday.

"They have certainly found extraordinary ways by bypassing the (U.S.) Constitution," he said.

Trump administration officials quickly responded to the ruling, blaming former U.S. President Barack Obama by saying he had "similarly filled key posts at the agency with temporary authorizations."

Analysts agree that Pendley should have left his position long ago.

"Today's ruling is a win for the Constitution, the rule of law, and our public lands," Montana Governor Steve Bullock said in a statement Friday.

Bullock, a Democrat, who runs a conservative western state that voted for Trump overwhelmingly in 2016, said that the former oil industry attorney was illegally overseeing an agency that manages almost a quarter-billion acres of land in the U.S. West.

The BLM regulates activities ranging from mining and oil extraction to livestock grazing and recreation. Under Trump, it has been at the forefront in the administration's drive to loosen environmental restrictions for oil and gas drilling and other development on public lands, CNBC reported Friday.

Last month, the Government Accountability Office, a bipartisan congressional watchdog, said acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf and his acting deputy, Ken Cuccinelli, were improperly serving and ineligible to run the agency under the Vacancy Reform Act.

Wolf and Cuccinelli have been at the forefront of administration initiatives on immigration and law enforcement. Enditem
On Saturday, September 26, the Alberta Standardbred Horse Association (ASHA) held its 2020 Yearling Sale at Century Downs Racetrack and Casino.

The sale was kicked off with an address from Horse Racing Alberta CEO, Kent Verlik, who had a positive message about the industry moving forward into next year.

With the help of Century Downs, buyers and spectators were split between two different locations, the barns where the sale was being held, and the Backstretch Room in the casino where the sale was live streamed. This maximized the amount of people that could attend the sale as well as safely adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines. Live bids from the stream were only accepted from those in the Backstretch Room, however people were able to watch the sale on the ASHA website and Facebook page.

In total, 49 horses were sold and the sale garnered $327,700. Thirteen horses fetched five figures during the sale, and Kill A Dragon and Fan Of Mine fetched $35,000 and $30,000, respectively, for the highest bids of the day. The average price of the day was $7,992.68

For more information on horses from the sale and their pedigrees, click here.

(ASHA)
R egular short "circuit-breaker" lockdowns could help the Government manage Covid-19 outbreaks in the UK, a top Government scientific advisor has said.

Coronavirus infections have continued to rise sharply in the UK in recent weeks.

This has prompted warnings that the country could soon see up to 200 deaths from the virus each day.

The Government was reportedly considering a costly two-week "circuit-breaker" lockdown for the whole country earlier this week, but decided on lighter measures like a 10pm curfew for pubs and restaurants.

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

About a quarter of people in the UK are already under some form of added local coronavirus restrictions, with the Welsh council areas of Neath Port Talbot, Torfaen and Vale of Glamorgan the latest to be put under local lockdown.

But John Edmunds, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) said that repeated "mini-lockdowns" could help bring cases down fast.

"You replace two weeks of exponential growth with two weeks of a decline in cases," he told the Observer.

"This can have a big effect on the total number of cases, particularly if it is implemented shortly after the epidemic starts to grow.

To maximise the effect you also need longer-term measures to slow growth  perhaps along the lines of what Scotland has done.

Neighbours talk over the fence in West Bromwich / Getty Images

"It is of course possible to do more than one circuit breaker  perhaps one now and one around half term.

"This could help reduce cases and deaths and  as the measures are short-lived and can be planned for  potentially limit the impact on the economy.

Passengers wearing face masks on the Jubilee Line in London / PA

It comes as evidence grows that the virus is spreading among elderly and vulnerable people, according to research by scientists at Loughborough University.

Analysing official data, policy and strategy researcher Duncan Robertson found that there are 23 Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people in their 60s, compared to eight per 100,000 at the end of August.

There are 22 cases per 100,000 people over 80, he found, versus from nine at the end of August.

He told the Observer: "It is vitally important that infections within older age groups are minimised.

"Without a functioning test-and-trace system, people are less able to be tested, and their contacts are less likely to be traced, which allows the epidemic to spread throughout the population, including to vulnerable groups.
Wise, a Qatar Foundation global education think-tank, in partnership with Salzburg Global Seminar and Diplomatic Courier, has officially released a special e-book titled Education Disrupted, Education Reimagined - Responses from education's frontline during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond.

Contributors include:

Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al-Thani



The Right Honorable Gordon Brown



Marc A. Brackett



Andreas Schleicher



Stefania Giannini



Manos Antoninis



Olli-Pekka Heinonen

The special edition e-book was produced in real time, as Wise, in partnership with Salzburg Global Seminar, convened key stakeholders and education leaders from over 98 countries in a three-part series of global conferences aimed at bringing the global education community together. The result was a contemporary historical record of how schools, NGOs, governments, and international organisations responded to school closures during the crisis and how they are attempting to use this crisis as a springboard to reimagine  and even transform  education in their communities and countries.The e-book offers an opportunity to a global audience to make sense of what happened, but it also offers a breeding ground of ideas from some of the worlds top education thinkers.It is our hope that this publication will provide the education community with a reference point from the crisis from which future research, policy, and innovation can grow, said Dr Asmaa Al-Fadala, editor of the publication and Director of Research and Content Development at Wise.
From: Larry Levine - Publisher of the Midnight Report Los Angeles , CA Sunday, September 27, 2020

Video Clip: Click to Watch Prison expert Larry Levine explains on Headline News how and Christopher Watts who brutally murdered his pregnant wife Shanann and two young daughters at their Denver area home was moved out of state by US Marshals for his own safety from the Colorado Department to the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. Watts who is serving multiple life sentences was being housed at the Dodge Correctional Institution for classification and psychological testing prior to being designated to a permanent facility 213-219-9033 llevine@wallstreetprisonconsultants.com


Technavio has been monitoring the HMI software market and it is poised to grow by 14.44 bn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of over 12% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200927005013/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global HMI Software Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)

Although the COVID-19 pandemic continues to transform the growth of various industries, the immediate impact of the outbreak is varied. While a few industries will register a drop in demand, numerous others will continue to remain unscathed and show promising growth opportunities. Technavio's in-depth research has all your needs covered as our research reports include all foreseeable market scenarios, including pre- post-COVID-19 analysis. Download a Free Sample Report on COVID-19 Impacts

Frequently Asked Questions:

What are the major trends in the market?

Increased usage of wireless and cloud-based technology is a major trend driving the growth of the market.

Increased usage of wireless and cloud-based technology is a major trend driving the growth of the market. At what rate is the market projected to grow?

The year-over-year growth for 2020 is estimated at 5.23% and the incremental growth of the market is anticipated to be 14.44 bn.

The year-over-year growth for 2020 is estimated at 5.23% and the incremental growth of the market is anticipated to be 14.44 bn. Who are the top players in the market?

ABB Ltd., Eaton Corp. Plc, General Electric Co., Ing. Punzenberger COPA-DATA GmbH, National Instruments Corp., Rockwell Automation Inc., Schneider Electric SE, Siemens AG, Spectris Plc, and Valeo SA are some of the major market participants.

ABB Ltd., Eaton Corp. Plc, General Electric Co., Ing. Punzenberger COPA-DATA GmbH, National Instruments Corp., Rockwell Automation Inc., Schneider Electric SE, Siemens AG, Spectris Plc, and Valeo SA are some of the major market participants. What is the key market driver?

The technological developments in HMI software is one of the major factors driving the market.

The technological developments in HMI software is one of the major factors driving the market. How big is the North America market?

The North America region will contribute 38% of the market share.

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. ABB Ltd., Eaton Corp. Plc, General Electric Co., Ing. Punzenberger COPA-DATA GmbH, National Instruments Corp., Rockwell Automation Inc., Schneider Electric SE, Siemens AG, Spectris Plc, and Valeo SA are some of the major market participants. The technological developments in HMI software will offer immense growth opportunities. To make most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

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Technavio's custom research reports offer detailed insights on the impact of COVID-19 at an industry level, a regional level, and subsequent supply chain operations. This customized report will also help clients keep up with new product launches in direct indirect COVID-19 related markets, upcoming vaccines and pipeline analysis, and significant developments in vendor operations and government regulations.

HMI software market 2020-2024: Segmentation

HMI software market is segmented as below:

End-user Process Industries Discrete Industries

Geography North America Europe APAC MEA South America



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HMI software market 2020-2024: Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. The HMI software market report covers the following areas:

HMI software market Size

HMI software market Trends

HMI software market Industry Analysis

This study identifies increased usage of wireless and cloud-based technology as one of the prime reasons driving the HMI software market growth during the next few years.

Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Technavio's in-depth research has direct and indirect COVID-19 impacted market research reports.

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HMI software market 2020-2024: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024

Detailed information on factors that will assist HMI software market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the HMI software market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the HMI software market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of HMI software market vendors

Table of Contents:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market ecosystem

Value chain analysis

Market Sizing

Market definition

Market segment analysis

Market size 2019

Market outlook: Forecast for 2019 2024

Five Forces Analysis

Five forces summary

Bargaining power of buyers

Bargaining power of suppliers

Threat of new entrants

Threat of substitutes

Threat of rivalry

Market condition

Market Segmentation by End-user

Market segments

Comparison by End-user

Process industries Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Discrete industries Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Market opportunity by End-user

Market Segmentation by Type

Market segments

Comparison by Type

Machine-level Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Supervisory Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Market opportunity by Type

Market Segmentation by Deployment

Market segments

Comparison by Deployment

On-premise Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Cloud-based Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Market opportunity by Deployment

Customer Landscape

Geographic Landscape

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

North America Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Europe Market size and forecast 2019-2024

APAC Market size and forecast 2019-2024

MEA Market size and forecast 2019-2024

South America Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Key leading countries

Market opportunity by geography

Market drivers Demand led growth

Market challenges

Market trends

Vendor Landscape

Overview

Vendor landscape

Landscape disruption

Vendor Analysis

Vendors covered

Market positioning of vendors

ABB Ltd.

Eaton Corp. Plc

General Electric Co.

Ing. Punzenberger COPA-DATA GmbH

National Instruments Corp.

Rockwell Automation Inc.

Schneider Electric SE

Siemens AG

Spectris Plc

Valeo SA

Appendix

Scope of the report

Currency conversion rates for US$

Research methodology

List of abbreviations

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

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An overnight curfew in Australias second-largest city will be lifted this week, officials said on Sunday, even as the global coronavirus toll surpassed one million dead.

Worldwide, at least 1,000,374 people have died of the coronavirus from more than 33 million infections, according to virus tracker Worldometer.

In Australia, Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said Melbourne residents would be free from Monday to leave their homes for work, exercise, shop for essentials, or provide care, after active cases in the state fell below 400 for the first time since June 30.

People will still be confined to within 5km of their homes, and fines for breaching other restrictions will be increased to almost Aus$5,000 ($3,515).

Andrews said several other restrictions, including on religious services, will also be lifted.

In New York state - once the epicentre of the US outbreak - new infections rose for the first time since June to above 1,000 a day, local officials said.

But for residents of Wuhan, where the coronavirus first emerged late last year, life is already back to normal.

There have been 50,340 confirmed cases and 3,869 deaths in Wuhan, according to the official figures - the majority of mainland Chinas toll - but no new infections since May.

Families are once again packing amusement parks, and shopping streets were full over the weekend - although residents remained cautious.
Ait Melloul (Morocco), 27 September 2020 (SAPS) - Sahrawi civilian prisoner, Brahim Dedi Ismaili, who is serving an unjust and harsh life imprisonment sentence at the local prison of Ait Meloul 2, in the suburbs of the Moroccan city of Agadir, initiated on Friday a 24-hour warning hunger strike, said the Association for the Protection of Sahrawi Prisoners, citing family sources.



This protest comes as an expression on the part of the Sahrawi civilian prisoner to condemn all forms of deliberate racial discrimination against him by the prison administration, as he prevented from making phone calls as a basic and declared right.



The Sahrawi civilian prisoner held the General Administration of the Moroccan occupation prisons and the prison administration officials fully responsible for the health safety of all Sahrawi civilian prisoners within the Gdeim Izik group, who are in the same prison, due to the policy of negligence and indifference practiced against them, especially after allocating a neighborhood to treat those infected with the Coronavirus pandemic, where they are quarantined, the same source added.



Sahrawi civilian prisoner, Brahim Dedi Ismaili, is in the local prison of Ait Meloul 2, the suburbs of the Moroccan city of Agadir, under an unfair and harsh sentence of life imprisonment, following an unjust trial that lacks guarantees and fair trial standards, staged in the Moroccan city of Sale, with the testimony of significant international organizations concerned with human rights such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, due to his peaceful participation in the mass exodus of Sahrawi camps of Gdeim Izik region, east of El-Aaiun the occupied capital of Western Sahara, it should be recalled. (SPS)



062/SPS/T
Union Home Minister on Sunday said the country's Northeastern region with its rich natural beauty, culture and art can emerge as a major centre of world

Inaugurating the 'Destination North East-2020', a four-day event showcasing the region's rich heritage, diversity and potentials, Shah said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Northeastern region will emerge as one of the favourite and business destinations of India.

Northeast, rich in natural beauty, folk culture and art, is fully capable of becoming a major centre of world tourism, he said.

The home minister said the 'Destination North East-2020', which will continue till September 30 here, aims to introduce various cultures of the country to each other along with the tourist destinations of the Northeast and through this the whole of India will also get familiar with the vibrant and diverse culture of the region.

Shah said he has seen the tourist places of many states and countries but the beauty of the Northeast is unparalleled.

Northeast is the jewel of India and without it the Indian culture is incomplete, he said.

Inviting the next ceremony to be organised in his constituency Gandhinagar, Shah said it will familiarise the people of Northeast with the culture of Gujarat while the people of Gujarat will be introduced to the culture of the Northeast.

The home minister said peace in the Northeast is very important for economic development, promotion of tourism and employment in the region.

The Northeast, which was once in the news due to terrorism, blockades, violence, is now known for development, tourism, organic farming, industry and start-ups and this has been possible due to Modi's leadership in the last six years, he said.

Shah said a lot of work has been done to establish peace in the Northeast under the leadership of Modi.

The land boundary agreement with Bangladesh, end of blockade in Manipur, signing of the Bodo agreement and the surrender by 641 cadres of eight militant groups were among the notable achievements of the Modi government, he said.

The home minister said after becoming the prime minister, Modi has visited the Northeast more than 30 times most by any prime minister since Independence.

He said development is not possible without proper funds and earlier plans were made for the development of the Northeast but the amount allocated for the region was very less.

The 14th Finance Commission increased the allocation for the Northeast by 251 per cent to Rs 3,13,375 crore, whereas the previous government through the 13th Finance Commission had given only Rs 89,168 crore, he said.

Shah also said adopting an all-inclusive and all-encompassing model of development, the Modi government has decided to spend 21 per cent of the budget of the Northeastern Council on the backward districts, villages and deprived communities.

The home minister said the Modi government has made a huge effort in the direction of linking the Northeastern states amongst themselves and connecting the region with the rest of India by rail, road and air links.

Under this, he said, six railway projects worth Rs 15,088 crore have been completed, Rs 553 crore will be spent on the development of airports and about Rs 10,000 crore has been allocated on 19 road projects of 869 km length.

Shah said during the coronavirus pandemic, the Modi government has provided all health facilities to the people of the Northeast including medicines and treatment through teleconference by AIIMS doctors.

He called for making the Northeast a hub of tourism, industry, IT and organic farming to increase the Northeast's participation in the country's GDP by 2024.

After independence, he said, the region's share in the country's GDP was about 20 per cent which has come down now.

Union Minister for Development of Northeastern Region Jitendra Singh and Chief Ministers of the eight Northeastern states were present on the occasion.

'Destination North East' is a calendar event of the Ministry of Development of Northeastern Region conceptualised with the objective of taking the region to other parts of the country and bringing them closer in order to strengthen integration.

For 'Destination North East 2020', the theme is 'The Emerging Delightful Destinations' which speaks of the tourism destinations emerging stronger and more attractive when the sector picks up momentum.

(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.)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 26)  The Department of Health on Saturday rejected calls to exempt workers in offices and factories from wearing face shields, arguing that such measure could reduce a persons risk of spreading or getting coronavirus disease.

Ang amin pong punto at position mula nung umpisa, iyon pong pagsusuot ng mask at iyong pagsusuot ng face shield, iyong physical distancing, iyong paghuhugas ng kamay, iyan po ay aming sinusulong. Hindi po namin iko-compromise ang position na ito, Health Undersecretary and Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a briefing.

[Translation: We will not compromise on our position that people must wear face shield and face mask, practice physical distancing and wash hands.]

Vergeire noted that these non-pharmaceutical interventions, which are backed by evidence and science, must be followed especially since a vaccine or treatment for the virus is not yet available.

Citing a study, Vergeire said that wearing a face mask and face shield as well as keeping at least three feet of space from others reduces a persons risk of getting COVID-19 by 99 percent.

The officials statement was in response to a suggestion from four business groups for the policymakers to implement practical workplace protocols.

In a joint letter to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Philippine Silk Road International Chamber of Commerce, Employers Confederation of the Philippines, and Philippine Exporters Confederation said they support the government in ensuring workplace safety.

But except for the frontliners, we respectfully take exception to the wearing of face shields inside the office and factories for the rest of our employees, since this can adversely affect their vision, physical safety and productivity, they pointed out.

The letter was signed by PCCI President Emeritus George Barcelon, PSRICC chairman Francis Chua, ECOP chairman Edgardo Lacson and PhilExport President Sergio Ortiz-Luis, Jr.
Three-time Grammy nominee Camila Cabello continued filming Kay Cannon's modern live-action remake of Cinderella in England on Sunday alongside her onscreen stepmother Vivian played by Tony winner Idina Menzel.

The 46-year-old filmmaker wrote that she was 'reveling the time' she had left shooting the Sony Picture with the talented twosome, noting there are 'no villains' in her adaptation co-written by James Corden.

The Cuban-born, Miami-raised 23-year-old makes her big-screen acting debut as Cinderella, and she gushed on August 18 that she 'loves this movie' and is 'so proud to be a part of it.'

Action! Three-time Grammy nominee Camila Cabello (M) continued filming Kay Cannon's (L) modern live-action remake of Cinderella in England on Sunday alongside her onscreen stepmother Vivian played by Tony winner Idina Menzel (R)

BTS: The 46-year-old filmmaker wrote that she was 'reveling the time' she had left shooting the Sony Picture with the talented twosome, noting there are 'no villains' in her adaptation co-written by James Corden

'I'm super involved. I'm writing songs for it, and it's a really collaborative effort to putting the movie together,' Camila told ET Canada last December.

'Kay Cannon is the director. She's absolutely incredible and so talented and I think the whole team is such a joy.'

Cabello's onscreen leading man Nicholas Galitzine - who plays Prince Robert - wrote on September 18 that he's 'brimming with excitement for you all to see what we've made.'

The 25-year-old Englishman and his high cheekbones took part in many dance rehearsals with the My Oh My pop star under the direction of choreographer Ashley Wallen and his assistant Jenny Griffin.

'I'm writing songs for it!' The Cuban-born, Miami-raised 23-year-old makes her big-screen acting debut as Cinderella, and she gushed on August 18 that she 'loves this movie' and is 'so proud to be a part of it' (pictured Tuesday)

'I feel beyond blessed!' Camila's onscreen leading man Nicholas Galitzine - who plays Prince Robert - wrote on September 18 that he's 'brimming with excitement for you all to see what we've made'

Musical: The 25-year-old Englishman took part in many dance rehearsals with Cabello under the direction of choreographer Ashley Wallen (L) and his assistant Jenny Griffin (2-R, pictured March 17)

On February 27, Oscar nominee Minnie Driver - who plays Queen Beatrice - shared a snap of herself getting the 'foundations' of her golden gown assembled.

Four-time Grammy winner Missy Elliot - who portrays the Town Crier - performed a cover of Beyonce's 2008 feminist anthem Single Ladies on the set earlier this year, according to The Sun.

The talented ensemble also features Tony winner Billy Porter as Fab G - a genderless fairy godparent - as well as James Corden, John Mulaney, and Pierce Brosnan.

Production on the fairy tale flick - hitting US/UK theaters on February 5, 2021 - began in mid-February then halted in March due to the coronavirus before resuming last month at Blenheim Palace.

Costume fitting: On February 27, Oscar nominee Minnie Driver - who plays Queen Beatrice - shared a snap of herself getting the 'foundations' of her golden gown assembled

'The Fabulous Godmother has arrived!' The talented ensemble also features Tony winner Billy Porter (M, pictured February 15) as Fab G - a genderless fairy godparent - as well as James Corden, John Mulaney, Missy Elliot, and Pierce Brosnan

Hitting US/UK theaters on February 5! Production on the fairy tale flick began in mid-February then halted in March due to the coronavirus before resuming last month at Blenheim Palace (pictured September 11)

Cinderella marks the second directorial effort for Cannon (L), the ex-wife of SNL star Jason Sudeikis, after her raunchy comedy Blockers in 2018 (pictured August 21)

Cinderella marks the second directorial effort for Cannon, the ex-wife of SNL star Jason Sudeikis, after her raunchy comedy Blockers in 2018.

Camila hasn't been pictured with her boyfriend Shawn Mendes since they attended a Black Lives Matter protest at Federal Detention Center in Miami on May 31.

Cabello and the Canadian 22-year-old's song Senorita is up for two trophies - Top Hot 100 Song and Top Collaboration (fan-voted) - at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards, which air October 14 on NBC.

Shawn will also face off against Jonas Brothers, Khalid, Lizzo, and Post Malone for the Top Radio Songs Artist trophy at the virtual ceremony hosted by Kelly Clarkson.

Still dating? The My Oh My pop star hasn't been pictured with her boyfriend Shawn Mendes (L) since they attended a Black Lives Matter protest in Miami on May 31
Chinese soldiers wait to receive coffins containing remains of Chinese soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War from South Korea during a repatriation ceremony at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea, Sept. 27, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Jingqiang)

SHENYANG, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The remains of 117 Chinese soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War were returned to China on Sunday from the Republic of Korea (ROK).

Escorted by two Chinese fighter jets, an air force plane carrying the remains and belongings of the fallen soldiers landed at the Taoxian international airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, at 11:18 a.m.

It is the seventh such repatriation following a handover agreement signed by the two countries.

The remains were casketed in the ROK on Saturday at a ceremony held at a provisional morgue of the 17th army division of the ROK in Incheon, west of the capital Seoul.

Personal seals of three martyrs -- Ma Shixian, Lin Shuishi and Ding Zuxi -- were found in the belongings, providing clues for confirming the identities of the heroes and finding their relatives.

The remains will be buried in a martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, with a burial ceremony due to be held Monday. The remains of 599 soldiers sent back from the ROK have been buried there between 2014 and 2019.

The Chinese People's Volunteers fought with the army of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the Korean War against the ROK army and U.S.-led UN forces between 1950 and 1953.
News

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'Pivotal region in a pivotal state': How western Wisconsin could determine the election

Morry Gash President Donald Trump speaks Sept. 17 at a campaign rally at the Central Wisconsin Airport in Mosinee. Wisconsin pivoted toward Trump in 2016, capturing 23 counties that voted for Barack Obama in 2012. Now, Trump is working to keep counties he won in 2016 from flipping to Democratic challenger Joe Biden. Carolyn Kaster, Associated Press Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks Sept. 1 at Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry in Manitowoc, Wis. Morry Gash, Associated Press A woman enters the Allis Art Museum to vote Tuesday, Aug. 11, in Milwaukee. Wisconsin's big metropolitan areas are largely non-competitive for Republicans, who are focusing their efforts on rural areas.

During the 2016 presidential election, counties up and down the western border of Wisconsin lit up in a way they hadnt before: They resoundingly voted Republican.

Theyre what political scientists call a pivot county, meaning a majority of voters in that county cast ballots for a party different from previous elections.

In total, there were 206 counties across 34 states that voted for President Donald Trump in 2016 after voting for President Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012.

In Wisconsin, 23 counties pivoted from Obama to Trump, and when looking at a map, they are overwhelmingly concentrated on the west side of the state  almost the entire southwest border flipped except for La Crosse County.

Its not surprising when you consider that Wisconsin has long been a battleground state, a fact which has been on full display by the many appearances both presidential campaigns have made in the state in recent weeks and in recent years.

I always tell my students that by living in Wisconsin, you are living in one of the few states where your vote actually makes a difference in the outcome of the presidential election, said Anthony Chergosky, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse political science professor.

With Wisconsin, you have a competitive state and one that could very plausibly be the pivotal state in the election, he said.

But to win the state of Wisconsin, smaller battles must be fought. And the battles in the western pivot counties could be critical to which color Wisconsin, and the country, lights up on Nov. 3.

The votes of the people in Wisconsin are among the most valuable votes of people anywhere in the United States, Chergosky said. And I think thats especially the case for western Wisconsin because we are living in a pivotal region within a pivotal state.

Understanding the pivot

So what caused voters in this region to change their votes in 2016? Political scientists said its a number of things.

For me, the million-dollar question is if this is part of a longer-term trend toward the Republican party in this region or if 2016 was just an outlier, Chergosky said, and I think you could make an argument in any direction.

Nonpartisan group discusses critical voting info for Coulee Region during rocky election A nonpartisan roundtable on voting Tuesday night in the Coulee Region proved informative and hopeful, as state and local officials discussed questions on the minds of many when it comes to voting this year.

To him, two key factors played into the pivot, the first being that Donald Trumps messaging uniquely connected with the region in new ways.

When you think about the people who pulled the lever for Donald Trump, Chergosky said, it had a lot to do with peoples reactions to the cultural change in the United States.

When we look at voters broadly who are drawn to Donald Trump, it wasnt so much about their economic situation, or their feelings about manufacturing, job outsourcing or trade, he said.

But it was much more about peoples cultural attitudes and peoples attitudes about demographic change and about their sense of national identity, Chergosky said.

And when you add this anxiety to the existing fabric of Wisconsin politics, it made for the perfect storm.

Wisconsin has long been a state where urban and rural communities are extremely divided  well before the 2016 election  in what Chergosky called geographic polarization.

The division manifests itself in different ways: socioeconomic status, education, access to internet, race, health care, jobs and more.

I think in to that broader context marches Donald Trump, who is really going to exacerbate those divisions, he said, noting that the Republican party isnt competitive in cities like Milwaukee or Madison, and instead makes its gains in northern and rural Wisconsin.

Chergosky

Wisconsin is like the prime example of geographic polarization, and I think Donald Trump was really able to take advantage of that trend, Chergosky said.

But another reason for the pivot, which is proving to be a more unique circumstance from 2016, was Donald Trumps opponent.

You would need to take into account the unique unpopularity of Hillary Clinton, Chergosky said.

Could there be a 2020 pivot?

The jury is still out on whether 2016 was just a one-off switch in party or a sign of a trend here to stay, but the results of 2020 could be the true test. But the elections got its own factors at play.

Chergosky said that a big difference between 2016 and 2020 is that Trump is now an incumbent running for re-election.

Typically, incumbents have a leg up in the race, able to point back to the work they accomplished in their first term to garner support. A sitting president hasnt been defeated since George H.W. Bush in 1992.

But another factor, and something that might hold more weight for the impact Trump will have on the region, is his opponent this time around.

His challenger doesnt have the strong negative public reaction that Hillary Clinton did, Chergosky said.

The Trump campaign has had a heck of a time figuring out how to attack Joe Biden in a way that sticks. I mean, theyve just gone from message to message to message trying to figure out how they can land some blows on this guy, he said.

Local female business owners talk recovery with Jill Biden, Kind in virtual event In a remote campaign stop Wednesday, former Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden joined Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse, to discuss ways to boost rural and Western Wisconsins economy.

Trumps 2020 campaign has sort of zig-zagged around, he said. For a while, his messaging was focused on his law and order response to the Black Lives Matter protests and violence from those events, but those ads have slowed down, Chergosky observed.

And his attacks on Biden have been all over the place too, and often unfounded  from his sleepy Joe Biden phrase to his claim that Biden is on drugs, nothing is sticking quite like his coined nasty woman battle cry.

The Trump campaign is struggling mightily to get people fired up about Joe Biden. They are struggling mightily to determine how they can generate intense opposition to Joe Biden, Chergosky said.

Which, consequently, might be giving Biden a leg up in a critical region and state that previously fed off his pointed attacks, he said.

To me, Im not really sure what they can do to really bring down Joe Biden at this point. I mean, to have a message that really sticks, Chergosky said, were pretty late in the ball game for the Trump campaign to settle on something that they can really hammer home.

I think probably the best thing Joe Biden has going for him is just the lack of an intense opposition, he said.

Which makes the 2020 race the ultimate test to see if the region is heading in a new political direction.

If Joe Biden cant draw back some of these voters to the Democratic party in western Wisconsin, then we are seeing something real going on in terms of political shifts, Chergosky said.
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YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. During the period from September 20 to 26 the Azerbaijani armed forces violated the ceasefire regime in the Artsakh-Azerbaijan line of contact nearly 330 times by firing more than 3000 shots from various caliber weapons at the Armenian positions, the defense ministry of Artsakh told Armenpress.

The Artsakh Defense Army forces control the situation in the frontline and take necessary steps for the reliable protection of the combat positions.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Victoria has recorded five new cases of coronavirus and three more deaths in the past day, but low testing numbers could prevent the easing of more restrictions, Premier Daniel Andrews has warned.

The new case numbers bring Melbourne's rolling 14-day average down to 20.3. There are 31 active cases with an unknown source.

Recreational fishing resumed at Albert Park pier on Monday morning. Credit:Eddie Jim

Those who died were a man in his 60s, a woman in her 80s and a man in his 90s.

The Department of Health and Human Services is urging Victorians to continue to get tested. About 164,000 Victorians came forward to get tested across the state over the past two weeks, but only 6807 tests were processed over the past day.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

By Tamilla Mammadova  Trend:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia (MFA) echoes another military escalation between Armenia and Azerbaijan and hopes that a ceasefire agreement will be reached, Trend reports via the MFA.

The statement says that Georgia is ready to contribute to de-escalation and establish peace in the region in any way.

We are watching with concern another military escalation between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which reportedly resulted in casualties and damage to infrastructure. We hope that a ceasefire agreement, a mode of negotiation will be reached between the parties and large-scale military operations will be avoided, which will have a drastic negative impact on the security of the entire region. Georgia calls on the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and international actors to make every effort to stop the escalation and resume the constructive dialogue, stated the Georgian Foreign Ministry.

Clashes on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border have broken on Sept.27.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Mila61979356
The special edition E-Book was produced in real time, as WISE, in partnership with Salzburg Global Seminar, convened key stakeholders and education leaders from over 98 countries in a three-part series of global conferences aimed at bringing the global education community together. The result was a contemporary historical record of how schools, NGOs, governments, and international organizations responded to school closures during the crisis and how they are attempting to use this crisis as a springboard to reimagine  and even transform  education in their communities and countries.

The E-Book offers an opportunity to a global audience to make sense of what happened, but it also offers a breeding ground of ideas from some of the world's top education thinkers.

"It is our hope that this publication will provide the education community with a reference point from the crisis from which future research, policy, and innovation can grow," said Dr. Asmaa Al-Fadala, editor of the publication and Director of Research and Content Development at WISE.

Contributors include:

Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al-Thani

The Right Honorable Gordon Brown

Marc A. Brackett

Andreas Schleicher

Stefania Giannini

Manos Antoninis

Olli-Pekka Heinonen

To download the Digital Edition of the book, please click here.

Email media@wise.org.qa to receive more information or to request experts for media appearances.

WISE is also hosting a virtual session during the Global Goals Week, on September 29 at 3:30PM (GMT+3) to launch the e-book. Six of the e-book's authors will discuss the future of education in a post-COVID-19 world during this panel session.

You can register to the session here.

About WISE: WISE is an international, multi-sectoral platform for creative thinking, debate and purposeful action. WISE has established itself as a global reference in new approaches to education. Through both the biennial Summit and a range of ongoing programs WISE is promoting innovation and building the future of education through collaboration.

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Not business as usual at CP: At Delhis Connaught Place, crowds have made a return but business as usual has not. Most people who visit CP nowadays do so by car. Even outside the only Metro gate that is open, auto drivers complain of getting very commuters daily.

Since the number of tourists has gone down, hardly anyone uses autos. Palika Bazar, which would be packed before the pandemic hit is now seeing business decline to a trickle. CP is also the market where the most number of challans are issued daily for violating Covid-19 norms, according to police. With even bigger stores ...
Bottom row, from left: David Reyes, Virginia Escalante and Louis Sahagun. Top row, from left: George Ramos, Noel Greenwood, Frank Sotomayor, Frank del Olmo, Jose Galvez and Robert Montemayor at the 1984 Pulitzer Prize ceremony in New York. (Los Angeles Times)

We were in bedrooms, home offices, kitchens, even backyards. In ties and sweats and T-shirts and blouses. Some of us were already friends; most of us knew of each other only as bylines until we logged onto the Zoom call and saw everyone's faces. This was the first meeting of the Los Angeles Times Guilds Latino Caucus, and it happened just a few months ago, when we were already well into the COVID-19 pandemic.

Members banded together this summer in the spirit of our Black colleagues, who earlier had organized their own caucus to demand equity and representation from a paper that had long failed them in both categories. Our situation, in many ways, was even more complicated.

Over the last 139 years, Los Angeles Times readers have seen in their newspaper the best and worst of how the American media have covered Latinos.

This paper used to freely call Mexicans wetbacks, border jumpers and greasers. The paper advocated for the invasion of Latin American countries to protect U.S. interests, wholeheartedly embraced ruthless dictators and, in 1934, upon news of his assassination, described slain Nicaraguan rebel leader Augusto Sandino, to whom the Sandinistas paid tribute with their name, as a little jungle warrior.

The paper's coverage of Latinos and Latin America mostly reflected the times. But The Times' unique rancor sparked scholarly articles, angry boycotts and letters to the editor over decades.

When I announced on Facebook in late 2018 that I was joining The Times, more than a few friends announced they would finally subscribe. When I asked what took them so long, they listed enough examples of anti-Latino Times coverage, real and perceived, to fill a full page.

Yet despite this disturbing record, Latinos at the Los Angeles Times have also helped to change American journalism for the better.

The paper was home to Ruben Salazar, whose columns explained the Chicano movement to the nation until he was killed by a tear gas projectile fired by a sheriff's deputy while covering a protest in East Los Angeles on Aug. 29, 1970.

Story continues

It ran a series titled simply Latinos, which won the 1984 Pulitzer Prize for public service and taught news organizations to pay more attention to the changing demographics in their communities. It brought to the mainstream the issue of unaccompanied Central American minors in the United States with the 2003 series Enriques Journey, which also won a Pulitzer Prize and became a bestselling book.

Today, Latinos at the paper are writers, columnists, designers, social media managers and editors. But there are not enough of us. In a city that's almost 50% Latino, only 13% of the newsroom is Latino. In a state where Latinos are a plurality, only 11% of Times editors and managers are Latino. Too many of us leave for other jobs, frustrated at the lack of opportunities here.

And thats why about 30 of us hopped on Zoom for the initial Latino Caucus meeting. No one knew what to expect. Would it lead to tangible change or turn into an unproductive vent fest? The tone was evident as we introduced ourselves.

Smiles. Optimism. Determination.

I was amazed that so many of us turned out, in all the variations of the Latino prism. There were immigrants and third-generation Chicanos. Mexican Americans and Central Americans and Caribbeans and South Americans. Old and young, veterans and newcomers like myself.



It's hard to imagine what the early owners of the Los Angeles Times would have made of the gathering. Often these days, whenever one of my Latino colleagues does something great, I like to tweet out "Harrison Gray Otis is rolling in his grave." In their newspaper with a Spanglish name, members of the Otis and Chandler families that ran the company for 118 years made little effort to understand big swaths of the city. When Latinos  especially Mexicans  made the paper's pages, they tended to be either romanticized or demonized, sometimes in the same stories.

The Times had a westward-ho type of attitude, said Felix Gutierrez, professor emeritus of journalism at USC. This was a conquered territory, and Mexicans were conquered people. The elites were seen as cultured but good people whose best days were past. The rest were seen as half-breeds and shiftless.

The dichotomy was there from the start. An 1883 story about northern Mexico's greasers with the subhead What They Are and How They Live strove to distinguish for readers the difference between Mexicans with mixed heritage and those who were supposedly of pure Spanish blood. The latter were described as bright, active and intelligent."

Greasers, on the other hand, were lazy, thriftless, ignorant, superstitious and unstable," living in homes that bore "the stamp of negligence and shiftlessness." Because they raised only enough on their land to feed themselves, the article said, "between their villages there are large tracts of unoccupied lands subject to entry, which are being rapidly occupied by Americans.

Among those acquiring that land were the Chandlers, who held ranches in northern Mexico and Baja California that eventually totaled hundreds of thousands of acres.

Back home, they helped to propagate what historians call Californias Spanish-fantasy heritage, celebrating the state's mission past as romantic and carefree. The Times cemented this myth in historical remembrances, serialized fiction and news stories about society events where L.A.s new white ruling class  including the Chandlers  dressed as the dons and senoritas of yore. Meanwhile, the city's actual Mexican residents were written about largely in crime stories or what Gutierrez called zoo pieces  stories about Latinos not as individuals but as members of an ethnic group with little chance of being more than that.

Things got even worse with the advent of the Mexican Revolution in the 1910s. Editorial cartoons that once depicted Mexicans as quaint, if backward, now featured dark-skinned, big-lipped rebels. President Wilson was regularly bashed for not trying to invade Mexico, and even local Latino institutions came under attack.

"Watch the dirty Mexican newspapers in this town," snarled a Nov. 28, 1919, column. "They ought to be suppressed."

The rhetoric was so bad during that era that Canadian professor Mark Cronlund Anderson deemed The Times the most unrepentantly racist in its portrayals of Mexico and Mexicans in a 2000 study of how the American media depicted Pancho Villa.

One 1915 editorial titled "What about Mexico" declared that "no land under the sun is blessed with greater agricultural, mineral and timber resources. No land under the sun is cursed with a more idle, dishonest, bloodthirsty lot of savages for people." Another editorial from the same year proclaimed that "the Spanish blood which came into [Mexico] with Cortez was itself a mixture of Iberian, Roman, Celtic, Vandal, Goth and Semitic, and this, mixed with the Indians in the proportion of one to five, produced a people that developed the baser qualities of both races."

It was unrelenting, Anderson said. Youd think that living in Southern California, since youre more likely to see Latinos on a daily basis, that [The Times' racism] would lessen, but situations like that sometimes create people that are frequently the ones that hate [racial minorities] the most."

There were attempts at improving the coverage as Mexican refugees, most from the more Catholic and conservative regions of the country, streamed into the Southland after the revolution. From 1921 to 1933, The Times published a daily column of local and international news in Spanish "for the benefit of the many Spanish-speaking friends of The Times and the many students of the tongue in Los Angeles, according to the inaugural column. Coverage of Mexican food was always kind, even groundbreaking, as Mexican Americans told their own stories and shared their unadulterated recipes with an eager gringo audience.

Think pieces with titles such as Why its Hard for Mexicans to Become Americans examined why Mexican youth in this country seemed so alienated from mainstream society as they assimilated. But the paper couldnt resist quoting a Catholic priest who said that, for many, their "invariable end is the juvenile court."

A low point of The Times' Latino coverage was the summer of 1943, when American military men assaulted Mexican Americans while the police looked on in what became known as the Zoot Suit Riots. The Times openly wished for the beatings in the months leading up to the attacks, and it cheered when they finally happened  Zoot Suiters Learn Lesson in Fight with Servicemen, read one front-page headline.

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt suggested that the violence against zoot suiters may have been prompted by long-standing discrimination against the Mexicans," something The Times hotly disputed, saying her critique bore an amazing similarity to the Communist Party line propaganda."

We have bragged of our Spanish and Mexican missions," it continued, with no sense of irony. We have paid homage and honor to the Californians of Mexican descent among us. We like Mexicans and we think they like us.

Years later, a 1956 American Journal of Sociology study found that The Times coverage of the Zoot Suit Riots gave sanction to making the Mexican the victims of widespread hostile crowd behavior.

By then, Otis Chandler  the great-grandson of Los Angeles Times scion Harrison Gray Otis  was preparing to bring his familys paper into modernity. But Latinos had to wait a couple more decades.

William J. Drummond, a pioneering Black reporter for the paper and longtime professor at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, remembered how assistant editors in the late 1960s would speak in exaggerated Mexican accents during news meetings and crack insensitive jokes, like the one that the definition of Brown Power was a poor Mexican pushing a jalopy.

New slurs took the place of greasers and banditos in the paper  wetbacks in the 1950s and 1960s, illegal aliens in the 1970s. As refugees began to arrive in large numbers from Central America, stories increasingly became alarmist: In 1978, when The Times launched a yearlong series about how immigrants were transforming Southern California, the lead article's headline was "Illegal Aliens are Winning Beachhead for Third World.

The following year, Editor William F. Thomas  credited with executing Chandlers vision for a world-class newspaper  told the Columbia Journalism Review, We cant seem to bring in qualified minorities who can step in and compete with the high-quality reporters we already have.

It was a really, really white world, Drummond said. But slowly but surely, it began to change.



I was familiar with the anti-Latino history of the Los Angeles Times before I joined as a staff writer. It didnt bother me, because thats not The Times of today.

The fact that I, a child of two Mexican immigrants  one of whom came to this country in the trunk of a Chevy  am able to write this critique, get edited by another son of mexicanos and hear feedback from a higher-ranking Chicano editor, shows how far removed we are from those ugly days. And yet here we are. It seems Latinos in the Los Angeles Times newsroom band together every decade to push for change  and then the next generation has to do it again.

This time around, the Latino Caucus penned an open letter to Times owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong with specific demands. The core ones were for the paper to hire more Latinos to better reflect Los Angeles, offer an apology for fomenting episodes of anti-Latino hysteria in California and the United States, and finally put our stories and reporters at the center instead of treating us as an eternal minority.

Such asks might seem like woke nonsense  litigating the past when we should be content with our present. Yet no less a figure than Harry Chandler  grandfather to Otis, and someone so intent on bending Mexicans to his will that he tried to convince the Taft administration to annex his familys ranch in Baja California and was once arrested for his role in an attempted coup in the Mexican state  had words relevant to our cause.

A people that has lost touch with its historical past, forgotten its traditions and wasted its heritage is as unfortunate as a man who has lost his memory, he wrote in 1933, in promoting the then-new Olvera Street. Without knowledge of the past, both the present and the future are meaningless.

We as a news organization must acknowledge our dark past to move forward. You as readers need to know it, to see how much we've improved. I remember a meeting last year between Latino leaders and masthead editors. The former blasted The Times for not covering Latino issues enough; the latter had to gently let them know that the paper had, in fact, covered some of the very issues we were accused of ignoring. It was obvious those leaders hadn't read us in a good while.

And we in the Latino Caucus should study our employer's anti-Latino history, not only to ensure we never allow a repeat of those embarrassments but also to learn about how the pioneers before us pushed the paper to change.

The first, of course, was Salazar, who created a template from nothing on how to cover Mexican Americans before he was struck down (The Times had hired only a handful of Latinos before him). Following in his path was Frank del Olmo, a Times intern whom Salazar convinced to stay at the paper instead of joining him at KMEX-TV Channel 34, where Salazar also worked.

In a 1995 column, Del Olmo shared what Salazar once told him: that The Times had an obligation to report on Latinos  so that Anglo society would better understand the barrio and its problems.

He and others pushed to publish the Latinos series despite the skepticism of white colleagues, some of whom openly mocked the effort; one, according to longtime Metro editor Frank O. Sotomayor, asked whether project members would write their "stories in spray paint." Alumni of that group joined a staffwide revolt in 1994 when The Times endorsed the reelection of California Gov. Pete Wilson, who had spent the year pushing for the passage of the anti-immigrant Proposition 187.

Del Olmo penned a furious dissent and became the first Latino on The Times masthead in its aftermath (there are none today). When the Chandlers sold The Times and its parent company to Tribune in 2000, Del Olmo concluded his column on the news with: They wont be missed in the Latino community. Let them leave. Or, as folks say in the barrio: Que se vayan.

Over the decades, starting with Salazar, the paper's Latinos have pushed for change and seen progress, including the so-called Latino Initiative, a 1998 effort that sought to seed Latinos and Latino coverage through all parts of the paper.

But again and again, the efforts sputtered because editors couldn't get their minds around planning for a manana in Southern California when Latinos would dominate the civic and cultural life of the region.

Manana is now.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Government and CENIT Energy Limited (CEL), a Ghanaian owned independent power producer, have successfully secured terms for an amended Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).

Per the agreement, CEL has decided to convert its power plant into a tolling structure and transfer all resulting cost savings to ECG.

A statement issued by the Public Relations Unit of the Ministry of Finance noted that, the commitment made by CEL is crucial in reinforcing government's efforts to build a balanced and sustainable energy sector.

The terms agreed to between government and CEL will produce a more favourable situation for both parties and ultimately reduce the cost of electricity for the people of Ghana, the Ministry explained in the statement.

Ministry of Finance also noted that amongst other things, CEL has agreed to a further reduction in the capital recovery tariff of 38.9% as this will result in total savings to government and all Ghanaians in excess of US$200 million over the remaining life of the PPA.

The Minister also encouraged other Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to join CENIT to aid in the production of stable energy in the country.

We welcome CENIT Energy's commitment to Ghana and its role in regenerating the energy sector. CENIT is an important partner and a significant energy producer in Ghana. We encourage other IPPs to join CENIT in collaborating to help reduce onerous debts and to provide a stable energy supply for the people of Ghana. We are committed to building a competitive and dynamic energy sector where private investments can thrive, and the interests of the Ghanaian people and businesses continue to flourish, the Ministry added.

At present, Ghana pays over US$500 million a year for unused electricity.

Most of the PPAs are legacy agreements, entered into under the previous administration in an attempt to end erratic power cuts in the country.

The tariffs agreed were not competitive and have contributed significantly to the build-up of debt in the sector and oversupply of energy. This Government, in collaboration with the World Bank, created the Energy Sector Recovery Programme (ESRP), identifying the policies and actions needed for financial recovery in the energy sector over a five-year horizon (2019-2023), the Ministry of Finance explained.

As part of the reforms, government is taking steps to institute competitive bidding for future additional capacity, to ensure that future tariffs are fair and in line with expected pricing benchmarks.

Government has demonstrated its commitment to the ESRP by actively developing whole-of-sector initiatives and reforms, including implementing the Cash Waterfall Mechanism (CWM) in April 2020, which allows Electricity Company of Ghana's revenues to be distributed in a more transparent manner, and managing payments of arrears despite the challenging fiscal situation which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ESRP Steering Committee, established by the Energy Sector Recovery Task Force under the helm of the Senior Minister, is working closely with IPPs and gas suppliers under the ESRP Consultation Process to negotiate more favourable agreements for both parties and to achieve a balanced energy sector capable of delivering fair, long-term solutions.

The Finance Ministrys statement noted that government has undertaken these discussions in good faith and urged all IPPs to continue working closely with the ESRP Steering Committee to conclude negotiations as soon as possible.

 citinewsroom
Bollywood actor Rakul Preet Singh has moved the Delhi High Court seeking urgent interim directions from the court restraining media from running shows or publishing articles against her in connection with the drug probe which emerged out following the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

The matter is likely to come up for hearing in the coming week.

The petition filed through advocates Himanshu Yadav, Aman Hingorani and Shweta Hingorani claims that Rakul Preet has been in Hyderabad for a film shoot and was shocked to see media reports in the evening of September 29 to the effect that the Narcotics Control Bureau, Mumbai has summoned her to appear before it in Mumbai on September 24 in connection with the ongoing investigation in the Rhea Chakrabortys drugs case.

the Petitioner had received no such summons from the NCB at either of her Hyderabad or Mumbai addresses, and accordingly she remained in Hyderabad. The Petitioners father, Col. Kulvinder Singh (Retd), decided to take the morning flight on 24.9.2020 to Mumbai from Hyderabad to ascertain the truth of such reports," the plea said.

however, from the evening of 23.9.2020 itself, the media started running fake news to the effect that the Petitioner, who was in Hyderabad, had supposedly reached Mumbai on the evening of 23.9.2020 for the NCB investigation," it said further.

It added that around 11.20 a.m. on September 24, the Petitioner received summons under Section 67 of the NDPS Act dated September 23 through WhatsApp in Hyderabad which said that she had to appear in person before the NCB, Mumbai at 10 a.m. on September 24.

It is from the email dated September 24 from the NCB that the Petitioner learnt that case in which she has been required to appear has been registered as Crime No. MZU/NCB/15/2020, the plea said.

Earlier this month, Rakul had approached the High Court seeking its direction in order to ask the media not to telecast, publish or circulate on the TV channels, cable, print or social media, as the case may be, any content in context of Actress Rhea Chakrabortys narcotic drugs case that maligns or slanders the Petitioner or which contains anything defamatory, deliberate, false and suggestive innuendos and half-truths in respect of the Petitioner, or to use sensational headlines, photographs, video-footage or social media links which invade the privacy of the Petitioner.

While issuing notice on the said plea, a single judge bench of the high court presided by Justice Navin Chawla had said, There has to be some restraint. Media gets to know info even before the officers themselves. Reputations are getting tarnished."

It is hoped that media houses and TV channels would show restraint and abide by the Program Code and other guidelines while making any report in connection with Rakul Preet Singh," the bench had said further.
In recent years, brown anything in a living space was considered by some arbiters of decor as drab and outdated. But this fall the hue is back in favor, in part because of the unsettled, anxious state of the world.

"Brown traditionally makes people feel comfortable and safe, and those are feelings that many of us are looking to our homes to provide," says interior designer Dawn Hamilton of Oakland Park, Fla.

It's just one of the trends in decor this season, when the pandemic has made home an even more essential space for living, working, studying and more. Also on the watch list: flexible rooms, indoor and out.

Cozy palette

Hamilton says today's brown palette is being used in new ways, as a neutral in all kinds of materials, and as an accent color.

"Brown feels very earthy and rich. It's warm and inviting, and has the same grounding properties as black, although it's not quite as harsh," she says.

New York designer Becky Shea also cites brown's organic versatility: "It's a tone that works cohesively with neutrals as well as dark, bold tones like navy, graphite and black."

Eilyn Jimenez of Sire Design in Miami is adding a mocha brown vanity to the guest bathroom of a "minimalist, French chateau-style" home she's designing. "It adds a layer of depth with a vintage feel," she says.

Don't overdo brown, she warns, but blend it with modern materials like marble for beautiful juxtapositions.

"Bringing it in with light woods, leathers and other natural materials can help make a space feel timeless," Jimenez says.

Melissa Morgan of M Interiors in San Antonio, Texas, thinks brown's rebirth is "a reaction to years of very light, tonal interiors. Clients are looking for warmth and sanctuary in their homes more than ever."

Lighter, yellowish browns, like caramel, often works well in leather.

"In upholstery, we consider saddle leather to be a form of brown that's like a trusty pair of blue jeans  it goes with everything," says Chicago designer Brynn Olson.

Soft browns and caramels are also appearing in pillows, lamps and drapes. Caning is on trend too, says Amy Leferink of Interior Impressions in Woodbury, Minnesota.

As for furniture, Olson likes the effect of brown stains on walnut and white oak, and says a beautifully stained built-in is timeless. "Natural walnut will always feel fresh, and we love to pair it with bright white decor such as plaster vases, for a sophisticated pairing of textures," she says.

That brown-and-white combo has been a favorite of decorating icons including Billy Baldwin, says New York City designer Glenn Gissler. Baldwin's apartment in Manhattan featured a mix of glossy brown walls, white and chartreuse furniture, and brass accents. Inspired, Gissler recently painted a New York loft in a deep, rich brown, with columns and ceilings in crisp white. A long, tuxedo-style sofa in milk-chocolatey velvet anchors the space, along with tonal modern art.

Colors like purples and blues, of any intensity, also complement brown.

Comfort and flexibility

"Home has always been a refuge for recharging and relaxing; it's going to become even more so," says architect Jeffrey Dungan of Birmingham, Ala.

The ideal room now, he says, converts easily from family room to office, studio, guest room or self-quarantine space.

Outdoor spaces, too, must be flexible.

"Can we design outdoor spaces that still have privacy, which become oases to enjoy fresh air and sunlight without being in public?" says Dungan.

Some designers say that because of quarantining and the variety of uses expected from rooms, they're getting requests for more self-contained rooms.

"We'll be saying goodbye to one of the main trends of recent years: open-plan spaces, with the entrance, living room, dining space and kitchen united," Ukrainian architect Sergey Makhno wrote recently in Dezeen magazine.

He says some clients want a separate entrance area, where shoes, clothing and belongings can be sequestered from the main living areas.
Three off-duty Florida police officers became sick and two were hospitalized during a night out and officials are investigating whether they were intentionally poisoned with a date rape drug.

Three officers with the Orlando Police Department went out on September 16 in downtown Sanford where they had dinner at the restaurant Willow Tree, went to Henrys Depot for drinks, Tuffys Bottle shop for a drink and ended at Celery City Craft.

At the last bar one of them started to feel ill, 'visibly sweating and vomited', according to the report by the Sanford Police Department released Tuesday.

They called an ambulance and that officer was treated by a paramedic with an IV, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

Three off-duty Orlando Police Department officers went out in Sanford, Florida on September 16 where they were 'potentially poisioned' and became sick, leaving one on a ventilator

The two other officers later went home and also became sick.

One officer officer developed severe symptoms later in the night and was later placed on a ventilator and the third was also hospitalized.

According to the report one of the officers mixed drinks 'didnt taste good/right' and they only took a couple sips and the other officers split the drink.

A doctor who treated one of the officers at Seminole County hospital said they 'might be experiencing the effect of being drugged or poisoned.'

Medical staffers reportedly told the Sanford Police investigators that one officer 'may have been drugged with a narcotic commonly known as Rohypnol (GHB)', which is known as a 'date rape' drug.

One reported that the symptoms hit 'all at once out of nowhere' including 'vomiting, profuse sweating and muscle pain.'

Medical staffers reportedly told the Sanford Police investigators that one officer 'may have been drugged with a narcotic commonly known as Rohypnol (GHB)', which is known as a 'date rape' drug. File image above

A first responder who treated one of those officers reported the victim went in and out of consciousness and 'appeared to be having the symptoms of someone who may be overdosing', the report said.

The FBI is assisting Sanford police with the investigation.

Spokeswoman Bianca Gillet said investigators are waiting on toxicology results to confirm whether the officers were poisoned.

Adam Krudo, the president of the Fraternal Order of Police lodge that represents the Orlando officers, confirmed that all three were cops with the OPD and were off duty and not in uniform.

He said all officers have since recovered and are out of the hospital.

The trio had dinner at the restaurant Willow Tree in Sanford, Florida before hitting some bars for drinks including Tuffys Bottle shop (above)

The group ended the night at Celery City Craft where one of the officers started to feel ill

Its unclear if this attack was targeted.

The report said one officer has history with a bartender at one of the businesses they visited 'due to some words being exchanged over the bartenders girlfriend hitting on' the officer a few weeks prior, according to ClickOrlando.

Bar and restaurant owners are cooperating with the investigation and say nothing seemed out of the ordinary that night.
California Gov Gavin Newsom has signed a law requiring state prisons to house transgender inmates based on their gender identity - except in cases with 'management or security concerns'.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) houses men and women in separate facilities. Transgender inmates are often housed based on their sex assigned at birth. Advocates say this is dangerous, particularly for transgender women housed in facilities for men.

The law Newsom signed Saturday says officers must ask inmates privately during the intake process if they identify as transgender, nonbinary or intersex. Those inmates can then request to be placed in a facility that houses either men or women.

The law says the CDCR cannot deny those requests solely because of inmates' anatomy, sexual orientation or 'a factor present' among other inmates at the facility.

But the state can deny those requests if it has 'management or security concerns'. If a request is denied, the state must give the inmate a written statement explaining the decision and give the inmate a 'meaningful opportunity' to object.

California Gov Gavin Newsom signed a law on Saturday requiring state prisons to house transgender inmates in prisons based on their gender identity instead of sex assigned at birth

There are more than 1,000 transgender, nonbinary or intersex people currently in the California prison system - a majority of whom have been housed based on sex assigned at birth. Pictured: A corrections officer stands outside San Quentin State Prison on Saturday

State Sen Scott Wiener, a Democrat from San Francisco who authored the bill, said he doesn't expect that exception to be used very often.

'It's just a false narrative about transgender people and about transgender women in particular that they're somehow not really women and are just trying to scam their way into women's bathrooms or facilities in order to do bad things,' Wiener said.

'Overwhelmingly the people who are being victimized are trans people.'

At any time, if inmates raises concerns about their health or safety, the law says the state must reassess where they are housed.

There are more than 1,000 transgender, nonbinary or intersex people currently in the California prison system. While the state does not track how many have been assigned based on gender identity, it's understood to be an extremely small number, often only in cases where they have undergone surgery.

Michelle Calvin, a transgender woman incarcerated at Mule Creek State Prison, praised the new law as a monumental move toward protecting transgender individuals.

'It means a lot to me and my sisters,' said Calvin, who recently called in to a news conference about the bill.

'I've been in for 15 years. I've been through the abuse, I've been through the disrespect of staff not addressing me for who I am because I am a woman.'

State Sen Scott Weiner (pictured) authored the bill signed by Newsom on Saturday. He said he doesn't expect prisons to use the 'management or security concern' exception often because housing transgender individuals based on sex assigned at birth puts them at high risk

Sen Weiner is seen participating in the San Francisco Pride Parade and Celebration last year

Connecticut passed a similar law in 2018. Rhode Island, New York City and Massachusetts have also housed inmates based on their gender identity.

The law also requires officers to address transgender inmates based on the pronouns of their choice. And it requires officers to search inmates based on the search policy of their gender identity.

The law was one of several LGBT-related laws Newsom signed on Saturday. He signed another law authored by Wiener requiring local public health officers to better track how diseases are affecting the LGBT community.

He also signed a law authored by state Sen Lena Gonzalez to ban life and disability insurance companies from denying coverage solely because someone is HIV positive.

And Newsom signed a law authored by Assemblyman Miguel Santiago that sets up a Transgender Wellness and Equity Fund to provide grants to organizations that support the transgender community.

'California has some of the strongest pro LGBTQ+ laws in the nation and with the bills signed today, our march toward equality takes an additional step forward,' Newsom said in a statement.

'These new laws will help us better understand the impacts of COVID-19 on the LGBTQ+ community, establish a new fund to support our transgender sisters and brothers and advance inclusive and culturally competent efforts that uphold the dignity of all Californians, regardless of who you are or who you love.'
A protest in Breonna Taylor's name in New York City (REUTERS)

New York City police officers have come in for harsh criticism over their harsh actions against peaceful protesters in lower Manhattan last night, which saw multiple officers charge forcefully into people standing in the street.

The protesters involved were demonstrating against the leniency granted to officers involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor, who was shot dead in her Louisville, Kentucky apartment earlier this year.

The incident reportedly occurred after the NYPD broke up a protest in Washington Square Park. When a group of people from the protest walked a short distance to a street where numerous others were dining outside, a large number of police suddenly charged them and made several arrests.

The department has since said a number of arrests were made, including for disorderly conduct, but has not explained what actions if any demanded the police response recorded on video.

New York City council speaker Corey Johnson, who recently dropped out of the mayoral race, tweeted his disapproval on Sunday morning as footage of the incident spread on social media.

What happened last night in the Village was unacceptable. The right to protest is sacrosanct. Or at least it should be. We keep seeing incidents that show this right being disregarded. This is unacceptable and must end.

Other city officials made their feelings plain too. My office is in contact with the NYPD about the use of force on New Yorkers on 10th and Hudson tonight, wrote state senator Brad Hoylman.

But were exhausted of seeing video after video, and hearing from constituents in person, of inexplicable escalations that undermine an already fragile trust.

The NYPD has been repeatedly accused of excessive violence against protesters since the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis this summer lit a fire under anti-racism and anti-police protests throughout the US. Reams of footage have been released from protests throughout the summer showing protesters  including people with their hands up  being shoved, punched, thrown to the ground, beaten with hand weapons, and attacked with pepper spray.

Story continues

Meanwhile, across the country, anger at the Breonna Taylor investigation continued to play out on the streets of major cities last night as police cracked down hard on mostly peaceful protesters.

In Ms Taylors home city of Louisville, 25 people were arrested during Saturday nights protests as hundreds of people turned out to protest before being mostly dispersed as city authorities arrived to enforce a curfew. A group of protesters convened at a unitarian church, where the Louisville police say vandalism broke out. The force posted footage from the scene on Twitter.

People inside the church were asked to remain there while police were conducting the investigation and securing the area.



We are providing video captured by our police helicopter and police live streamers.



At this writing, we know of 28 arrests that were made tonight. pic.twitter.com/lAAPWfjeK9  LMPD (@LMPD) September 27, 2020

Other major protests unfolded in Portland and Seattle, which have seen some of the USs most severe street violence since George Floyd was killed. In Portland, police were filmed attacking unarmed journalists and protesters on the streets  hours after a lightly policed rally by the far-right Proud Boys, which saw white militiamen openly displaying heavy weapons and physically attacking people live-streaming from the event.

Police in Los Angeles, meanwhile, are reportedly facing an investigation after video emerged appearing to show an officer striking a protester multiple times on the ankles using his shield while the man lay face down in the street.

Read more

Trump claims his tweet inspired US Marshals to kill suspect in shooting of right-wing protester in Portland
(Bloomberg) -- A job in home-based health care, Americas quickest-growing industry, felt like a step up the ladder for Shawanna Ferguson when she left her fast-food job a decade ago. But in terms of pay and security, it didnt turn out to be much of an advance.

Its taken a public-health emergency to shine a spotlight on the precarious conditions and low pay in this key corner of Americas direct-care economy -- a key employer for Black women, in particular -- and turn it into an issue for presidential politics. Democratic candidate Joe Biden is promising a $775 billion investment in the industry, which he says will help give carers a pay raise.Ferguson was earning $10.50 an hour when the coronavirus arrived in her town of Walterboro, South Carolina. She had to buy her own sanitizer and face masks. When her mother, who also works in home care, tested positive for Covid-19, Ferguson decided the risks were no longer worth the reward. In the middle of the worst economic crisis in generations, she quit.

Were putting ourselves at risk, says the 30-year-old a few weeks later, as she fixes lunch for her four kids in the kitchen of her subsidized house. Were becoming sick, and getting our family members sick, and it just goes unnoticed. They think: Well, theyre going to come to work anyway, because they need the money.

Its Confounding

Demand for home-care has surged as the population ages. Rapid hiring in the industry is one reason why South Carolina, a potential battleground in Novembers election, had the countrys lowest unemployment rate for Black women last year.

But that went into reverse in the past six months, as Black and female unemployment skyrocketed above the overall rate. About 110,000 home-care jobs vanished in March and April, though almost half have since returned. The next update on labor markets is due on Oct. 2 when the jobs report for September will be published.

Even when they keep their jobs, Black women are likely to receive less pay and live below the poverty line. The national median pay for a home-based health aide is $12.15 an hour.Its confounding that a job that is so valuable to all of us, and all of our family members, would pay so little, says Robert Espinoza, vice president of policy at PHI, a New York-based advocacy organization for care-workers and their clients. We dont have a properly financed long-term care system, and it creates all kinds of dysfunctions.

Fergusons duties included feeding, bathing, grooming, and calming elderly and disabled patients for up to 12 hours a day.

Biden says his investment in the care economy will help deliver a pay raise for workers who look after the elderly and pre-school children, without specifying how much. President Donald Trump has praised health-care workers, likening them to soldiers, but hasnt outlined plans for the industry in his re-election platform.

Scholars say that the prominent role of Black women in the caring professions dates back to slavery and the Jim Crow era. And the industry was historically left out of legislation to protect workers rights, even during the 1930s New Deal era that revolutionized so many other jobs.

Paying Their Bills

One result of all that history is the low wages earned by so many carers today.Black women never have a problem getting a job in home care, says Daphne Berry, associate professor of management at Hartford University, who has studied the industry. But they might have trouble getting enough hours, making rent, eating, and paying their bills.

Kim Thomas, a 55-year-old home health-care worker in Conway, South Carolina, has experienced some of those troubles. She earned a degree in business administration and worked as a property closer in law firms and real estate offices for over a decade in several states. But she struggled to find suitable work after moving to North Carolina about 20 years ago.I ended up working at fast-food restaurants like Bojangles, she says. That spurred her to qualify as a CNA, or certified nursing assistant -- a direct-care job which includes administering medicine, and earns slightly more.

I went to school, got my license, and then I ended up with a job right out the gate, making $8 an hour, says Thomas. Two decades later, shes earning a bit less than the roughly $14 national average for the position. Her agency provides health coverage and pays gas money.

Could Be Better

But Thomas lost three-quarters of her clients indefinitely when their nursing homes stopped accepting outside visitors because of the pandemic. She now works half the week delivering groceries for Instacart.

Like Ferguson, who lives a three-hour drive away, Thomas says she wants to become a nurse - a more stable job which pays about three times as much. All 15 nurses that her agency employs are White, reflecting the national picture where about three-quarters of nurses are White.

The lower you are on the health-care totem pole, the darker the workforce, says Anton Gunn, diversity officer at the Medical University of South Carolina, one of the nations oldest medical schools.

The why is around credentials, says Gunn. The profile of a person who becomes a neurosurgeon and someone who becomes a home healthcare worker is very different. I cant disconnect the reasons for that from race.

Nursing requires at least two years of full-time study. For Ferguson in Walterboro, that feels out of reach right now. Theres a lot I have to get in order before I can just say I want to go back to school, she says. What am I going to do about these children? The gas money?She trails off. Im not trying to complain. I just feel like things could be a little bit better.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Varanasi, Sep 27 : The Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department is working on a mega-plan to develop rural tourism in Varanasi in the post-pandemic era.

According to official sources, foreign tourists visiting Varanasi would be taken on a guided tour of villages in Varanasi -- especially those that have been adopted and developed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his parliamentary constituency.

"Tourists would be given the option of arriving at these pre-decided rural destinations along the banks of the Ganga by boats," Regional tourism officer Keertiman Srivastava said.

"There are several sites in rural pockets which have potential to attract domestic as well as foreign tourists. These sites have lush green and idyllic surroundings. As part of the plan, facilities for the tourists have been developed at these places. Ghats equipped with potable water facilities have been developed at Markandey Mahadev and Shooltankeshwar Temple," he said.

Once the pandemic eases, tourists-both, domestic and foreign-would start coming to Varanasi. "So we are working on a plan to promote rural tourism, one that would help foreigners get an idea of life in rural Varanasi and they can also enjoy boat rides in picturesque surroundings," he said.

There are plans to market these villages among domestic tourists as well.

"Tourist guides would be involved in the whole plan as they would tell the tourists about the destinations and idyllic surroundings. Tourists will be taken to see the village life in Kaithi, or be driven to Ramna, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's adopted village Jayapur or for that matter could be taken to Kakarahia to have a feel of rural life," he said.

"So far these Kashi villages are frequented by domestic tourists, mostly from places adjoining Varanasi. Now, we will market these villages among domestic tourists. The rural tourism would also give a boost to the village economy. We plan to involve boatmen too in our efforts," he said.

Boatmen will be trained in increasing awareness about rural tourism and encourage tourists to take boat rides.
The ICMR's second sero-survey shows that Indian population is still far from achieving herd immunity against the coronavirus infection, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan said on Sunday, while underlining the need for following COVID appropriate behaviour

The tally of coronavirus cases in India neared 60 lakh with 88,600 new infections reported on Sunday, while the total number of recoveries crossed 49 lakh and took the recovery rate to 82.46 percent, the Union health ministry said.

The toll rose to 94,503 with 1,124 people succumbing to the disease in a span of 24 hours, data updated at 8 am showed.

The total caseload in the country rose to 59,92,532, includes 49,41,627 recoveries and 9,56,402 active cases. The active cases comprise 15.96 percent of the total caseload, the data stated. The COVID-19 case fatality rate was recorded at 1.58 percent.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a cumulative total of 7,12,57,836 samples have been tested up to 26 September, with 9,87,861 samples being tested on Saturday.

'Populace far from achieving herd immunity'

The ICMR's second sero-survey shows that Indian population is still far from achieving herd immunity against the coronavirus infection, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan said on Sunday, while underlining the need for following COVID appropriate behaviour.

He also stressed that masks be worn even in places of worship.

During an interaction with social media followers, the minister said the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is actively investigating reports of COVID-19 reinfection, and although the number of such cases is "negligible at the moment", the Centre is "fully seized" of the importance of the matter, the health ministry said in a statement.

He cautioned that the sero-survey report should not create a sense of complacency among the people.

The first sero-survey of May 2020 had revealed that the nationwide prevalence of novel coronavirus infection was only 0.73 percent.

"Even the soon to be released second sero-survey indications are that we are far from having achieved any kind of herd immunity which necessitates that all of us should continue following COVID appropriate behaviour," Vardhan said in response to the queries posed by his social media followers on Sunday Samvad platform.

The health minister also dispelled fears regarding the phased opening of schools, and advised on proper protocol to be followed while visiting salons and hair spas, the ministry said.

"The pandemic can only be fought when the government and society work in tandem," he was quoted as saying in the statement.

Fatality rate less than 1% in past 10 days: Delhi

Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain said that the COVID-19 fatality rate in the National Capital was less than one percent in the past 10 days and asserted that a massive increase in testing for the detection of the spread of coronavirus has led to the rise in cases.

Noting that 46 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours  which is reportedly the highest in nearly 70 days  Jain said, "We do not look at the figures for a single day. The average fatality rate of the last 10 days has been 0.94 percent."

"The patients who have succumbed are not those who tested positive in a day. These are people who tested positive 15-20 days back. That is why we take the average of 10 days," he added.

The overall case fatality rate is 1.94 percent. The occupancy of beds in Delhi hospitals has declined in the last four-five days and 55 percent of the total beds are unoccupied currently, the minister added.

The Delhi government had constituted a three-member committee to audit daily the deaths caused by the coronavirus in the National Capital. Jain said the committee visited all the hospitals and the report is satisfactory.

"There were a few glitches which have been ironed out. There was a time when the fatality rate was at four percent but it has remained below one percent in the last 10 days," he said.

SII CEO lauds Narendra Modi's UNGA speech

Serum Institute of India (SII) CEO Adar Poonawalla on Sunday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech on the COVID-19 pandemic at the United Nations General Assembly.

This, a day after Poonawalla had questioned the Centre on its plans to manage vaccine distribution in the country.

In his address on Saturday, Modi said, "As the largest vaccine producing country of the world, I want to give one more assurance to the global community today. India's vaccine production and delivery capacity will be used to help all humanity in fighting this crisis."

In a tweet on Sunday, Poonwalla said it was "clear" that the Centre's "arrangements for India will take care of all needs for the Indian people".

We share and applaud your vision @narendramodi ji, on providing vaccines to the global community. It is a proud moment for India, thank you for your leadership and support. It is clear that all your arrangements for India will take care of all needs for the Indian people, Poonawalla tweeted.

Modi's speech at the UNGA also received praise from British prime minister Boris Johnson and the WHO.

In his own speech at the UNGA on Sunday, Johnson made a special reference to India's role in the manufacture and access to one of the most promising coronavirus vaccine candidates currently undergoing trials, during his address to the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on Sunday.

In reference to the vaccine being worked on by the University of Oxford in partnership with the Serum Institute of India, Johnson stressed the importance of equitable access of any successful vaccine because the health of every country depends on the whole world having access to a safe and effective vaccine, wherever a breakthrough might occur.

"The Oxford vaccine is now in Stage 3 of clinical trials, and in case of success AstraZeneca has already begun to manufacture millions of doses, in readiness for rapid distribution, and they have reached agreement with the Serum Institute of India to supply 1 billion doses to low and middle-income countries," he said.

Meanwhile, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has lauded Modi's statement and said the pandemic can be defeated only by mobilising resources for common good.

Uma Bharti, Congress' Dinesh Gundu Rao test positive

Karnataka Congress leader and MLA Dinesh Gundu Rao on Sunday said he has tested positive for COVID-19.

"I have tested #Corona positive today. Therefore will be quarantining myself for 10 days. I request all my primary contacts to get themselves checked and take necessary precaution," Rao tweeted. The former state Congress president said he was asymptomatic and will recover soon.

Rao had taken part in the proceedings of the monsoon session of the Karnataka Assembly till late on Saturday night. He was recently appointed as AICC in-charge of Tamil Nadu, Goa and Puducherry.

Meanwhile, former Union minister and senior BJP leader Uma Bharti also said that she tested positive for COVID-19 and has quarantined herself.

Taking to Twitter, Bharti on Saturday night said that she had taken a COVID-19 test as she was suffering from fever, and the report came positive.

State-wise deaths

The 1,124 new fatalities include 430 from Maharashtra, 86 from Karnataka,85 from Tamil Nadu, 67 from Uttar Pradesh, 57 from Andhra Pradesh, 56 from West Bengal, 54 from Punjab, 46 from Delhi and 40 from Chhattisgarh.

Total 94,503 deaths reported so far in the country includes 35,191 from Maharashtra, followed by 9,233 from Tamil Nadu, 8,503 from Karnataka, 5,663 from Andhra Pradesh, 5,517 from Uttar Pradesh, 5,193 from Delhi, 4,721 from West Bengal, 3,406 from Gujarat, 3,188 from Punjab and 2,181 from Madhya Pradesh.

With inputs from agencies
The mental and physical resources that enabled Saw Agu to survive the horrific experience of the 2004 tsunami are an inspiration to us all  perhaps even a metaphor for overcoming this coronavirus pandemic and its challenges.

Read part 1 of this column here.

Agu called out to his companions again and again, with whatever force was left in his body and through the excruciating pain. But there was no answer; their names would be added to the list of tsunami victims in the Andaman and Nicobar islands.

The height of the fall from the peepal tree into the swirling tsunami waters had been at least 6 or 7 metres. Hed hurtled through the old-growth maze of twigs and branches which had bruised and gashed his body; and he realised that the searing pain was from a fracture on his right arm. That this was the extent of his injuries, was a miracle.

But other miracles would follow, adding Agus tsunami story to the chronicles of almost unbelievable human endurance and courage.

Struggling to free himself from the forest debris, gasping and swallowing the swirling, smelly water, Agu tried to find his bearings. But the world had changed. All around him was the fallen forest in a sea of water; and as he tried to orient himself another tidal wave pulled him under. Its brute force ripped the clothes off him, leaving him naked. The raging waters threw him against fallen trunks and branches and dunked him repeatedly in the stinking marsh. He managed to crawl to the one standing tree near him so he could use it as a crutch, stand up and survey the landscape. But it gave way and fell on him, causing further injury.

The main thing, the only thing, on his mind was that he had to stay afloat, keep his head above the water, breathe. He struggled towards a floating raft of tree logs, reached it, and gaining some safety and height, called out again with the strength left to him. He was able to sit on the logs, scan the landscape: Just water and debris, with the columns of the bridge jutting out in helpless surrender. The coast was gone. An eerie quiet surrounded him; no birds or insects, just the sound of water, lapping, swirling, rushing. Would there be another wave?

Then, through the pain and exhaustion, came a life-saving realisation from his vast fund of forest knowledge. The tree-raft he was sitting on had been part of a swatch of lowland forest adjoining the sea-bound Galathea River. He tried to keep his head clear, and used this clue to orient himself. It gave him a possible direction for the coast, and he knew thats where he should head to. But for now, moving from the log raft was impossible. He had to stay put; his battered and bruised body and fractured arm needed rest.

Night came, and not a wink of sleep. In the morning light, he watched a turtle carcass float by; then a live turtle, a good reminder that there was still life around him. As the sun rose, it got hot and his thirst drove him to drink the smelly slush around him. He fell asleep for a while, woke up, drifted off again.

And thus the hours, then days, passed by. The dehydration and weakness caused him to drift into long semi-conscious spells with some alert times in between. He managed to keep track of the days, counting and remembering the number that had passed. He saw light aircraft and helicopters circling overhead, searching for survivors. But he was too weak by now to even think of a plan for alerting them. Sometimes, during an aerial sortie, hed try to stand above the wall of debris and raise his good arm, but it was a useless action that drained him of the little energy he had left.

Sandflies tortured him during the day, mosquitoes at night. This was also the home of saltwater crocodiles and he saw several swimming or basking on the fallen trees. One night he saw a saltwater crocodile in the moonlight. It swam up to his log raft, circled. Agu looked around for a suitable branch to use as a weapon but luckily it decided to swim off and leave him alone. After a week, it rained and he was able to catch and drink the little that fell into his open mouth. But the rain also brought freezing nights.

And then there were no more helicopter sorties; they must have stopped looking for survivors and bodies. He plunged into the depths of despair. But hitting the bottom helped him rise. The catalyst was a water monitor lizard (Varanus salvator) which, tongue flicking, investigated his inert body to check if he was carrion. Agu willed his mind and body back into action. Using a small branch as a crutch for his wounded arm, he left his raft and swam to the next logjam. There, after a rest, a life-saving image came into his mind: a forest trail at the 35th kilometer, that led from the beach to the village of Shastri Nagar. A small stream ran alongside it. He had to orient himself accurately, and get there.

Stumbling, crawling, sometimes yelling out from the excruciating pain, frequently falling unconscious, he crawled onward and got to the shore. The beach was unrecognisable; but the stream still flowed, and he was able to quench his thirst for the first time in two weeks.

On 11 January, Day 16, crawling on all fours, Agu got to the outskirts of Shastri Nagar village. Spotting a pair of trousers in the muck, he put them on, using a fresh vine as a belt to keep them on his now skeletal body. [This was how Manish, co-author of this article and part of the ANET team, saw him later that day in Port Blair.] Further on, Agu met an old man he knew, but who didnt recognise him. He took Agu home, gave him some daal roti, and led him to Shastri Nagar. Here the devastation was complete; devoid of life, with debris and shards from houses scattered everywhere.

Harry Andrews was then director of the Madras Crocodile Bank. He and Manish had managed to get to Port Blair from the mainland on hearing news of the disaster at the leatherback camp. Theyd been desperately trying to organise an aerial search over Point 41, but naval aircraft were busy 24/7 with rescues, disaster surveys and reaching rations to stranded survivors.

By an extraordinary coincidence, this day, Day 16, was when they finally got permission from the Navy for an aerial search. Harry and the pilot circled the mouth of the Galathea and scanned the ravaged landscape for signs of life. And in a forest clearing above the water line, they saw people waving. The pilot landed nearby. Harry was delighted to see Agu sitting under a coconut tree, and heartbroken in the immediate knowledge that the others probably hadnt made it. He explained to Agu that he would be taken to Port Blair. Harry and the pilot would continue the search for the others.

A chopper took Agu to Campbell Bay and from there to Port Blair on the next Navy Dornier shuttle flight. Manish and others from ANET received him and he was soon in INS Dhanvantari, the Amed Forces hospital at Minnie Bay. After his injuries healed and he gained some strength, he spent several months with his family in the Karen settlement of Webi on North Andaman, before returning to ANET. Ambika Tripathis legacy lives on and the leatherback research project continues through ANET, which is now under the wonderful conservation NGO, Dakshin Foundation.

The mental and physical resources that enabled Agu to survive this horrific experience are an inspiration to us all; perhaps even a metaphor for overcoming this coronavirus pandemic and its challenges. As to his abiding memory of it, I can only repeat his words when I said, Agu, what horrors you lived through!

Yes, hed said, I was so worried about where the others were, what was happening to them.

Something to learn from this. Maybe a lot.

*

Author and conservationist Zai Whitaker is managing trustee  Madras Crocodile Bank Trust/Centre for Herpetology
Coronavirus Updates:Maharashtra recorded 18,056 new coronavirus positive cases on Sunday, which pushed the state's overall tally to 13,39,232, the state health department said. With the death of 380 patients during the day, the toll reached 35,571, it said.

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The caseload of coronavirus cases in India crossed 59 lakh on Saturday with 85,362 new cases, however, the number of recoveries was higher with 93,420 people recuperating in the last 24 hours, the Union health ministry said. The total number of recoveries stands at 48.49 lakh.

"I am quarantined at Vande Mataram Kunj, that lies between Haridwar and Rishikesh. I will get another Covid test done again after four days and if the situation remains the same, will consult doctors," Uma Bharti said in a tweet.

Uma Bharti said that she was down with mild fever for the past three days and that despite following all the COVID norms, she has tested positive.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Uma Bharti has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. In a late night post on Twitter, Uma Bharti informed that she has tested Covid positive and appealed to those who had come in contact with her, to get a COVID-19 test done.

In a bid to return to 'normalcy', West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee yesterday said the state government will allow "jatras, plays, OATs, cinemas and all musical, dance, recital and magic shows" to resume with up to 50 participants from 1 October.

Wearing a black mask, Maestri said the race was a beautiful initiative uniting the two hard-hit cities, and that he was thrilled to be even alive to participate. I feel very lucky, he said at the starting line.

Mattia Maestri was suited up Saturday for the start of the two-day race between Italy's first two virus hotspots. It began in Codogno, where Maestri tested positive 21 February, and was ending Sunday in Vo'Euganeo, where Italy's first official COVID death was recorded the same day.

Italy's coronavirus Patient No 1, whose case confirmed one of the world's deadliest outbreaks was underway, is taking part in a 180-kilometer (112-mile) relay race in memory of COVID-19 victims and as a sign of hope after he himself recovered from weeks in intensive care.

India on Sunday reported a single-day spike of 88,600 new COVID19 cases and 1,124 deaths reported in India, in the last 24 hours. As per Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, COVID-19 case tally in the country stands at 59,92,533 including 9,56,402 active cases, 49,41,628 cured/discharged/migrated & 94,503 deaths.

From late July through the start of September, the state had an average of around 660 people test positive per day. In the seven-day period that ended Friday, it averaged 817 positive tests per day.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Saturday there were 1,005 positive cases tallied on Friday out of 99,953 tests, for a 1 percent positive rate.

The number of positive tests reported daily in the state has been steadily inching up in recent weeks, possibly because more businesses have been reopening and students have been returning to schools and college campuses.

More than 1,000 New Yorkers have tested positive for COVID-19 in a single day for the first time since June 5 the state has seen a daily number that high.

Globally, the coronavirus has infected more than 3.27 crore people and killed almost 1 million - the toll is currently at 9,92,984, according to Johns Hopkins University.

He said that even during these very difficult times of the raging pandemic, the pharmaceutical industry of India has sent essential medicines to more than 150 countries.

In his address to the 75th session of the UN General Assembly on Saturday, Modi said that as the largest vaccine producing country of the world, I want to give one more assurance to the global community today. India's vaccine production and delivery capacity will be used to help all humanity in fighting this crisis.

World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assurance that India will use its vaccine production capacity in helping nations fight COVID-19, saying the pandemic can be defeated only by mobilising resources for common good.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has said that 7,12,57,836 samples were tested for COVID-19 in the country till yesterday (September 26). Of these, 9,87,861 were tested yesterday

The cumulative recovered cases stood at 1,54,499, while 30,234 are under treatment across the state. As many as 50,108 samples were tested on September 26, taking the total number examined so far to 28,50,869. The samples tested per million population was 76,788, the bulletin said.

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation accounted for the highest number of cases with 297, followed by Karimnagar (152), Rangareddy (147), Medchal Malkajgiri (137), Nalgonda (105) and other districts, a state government bulletin said on Sunday, providing data as of 8 pm on 16 September.

Telangana reported 1,967 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total infection count to 1,85,833, while the death toll rose to 1,100 with nine more fatalities.

As of now, there are 17,940 active COVID-19 cases in the district while 1,46,359 patients have recovered. The recovery rate in the district was 86.79 per cent, while the mortality rate was 2.57 percent, the official said

The maximum fresh cases were reported from Thane city at 428, followed by Kalyan-376, and Navi Mumbai-309, he said, adding that the remaining cases were detected in other parts of the district. Out of the total cases so far, Kalyan has reported over 41,000 cases, while Thane city and Navi Mumbai have recorded more than 35,000 cases each, the official said.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Thane has gone up to 1,68,634 with 1,621 fresh infections in the Maharashtra district, an official said on Sunday. Besides, 33 more patients succumbed to the disease on Saturday, taking the COVID-19 death toll in the district to 4,335, he said.

Jharkhand currently has 12,426 active coronavirus cases, while 65,839 people have recovered so far. As many as 30,152 samples were tested for COVID-19 on Saturday, the official added.

Nine more people succumbed to COVID-19 in Jharkhand, raising the death toll to 670, while 1,226 new cases pushed the tally in the state 78,935, a senior health department official said on Sunday.

The total recoveries have surged to 49,41,627, and there are 9,56,402 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which comprises 15.96 percent of the total caseload, the data stated. The COVID-19 case fatality rate was recorded at 1.58 percent.

The total coronavirus cases mounted to 59,92,532, while the death toll climbed to 94,503 with 1,124 people succumbing to the disease in a span of 24 hours, data updated at 8 am showed.

India's COVID-19 caseload neared 60 lakh with 88,600 fresh infections being reported on Sunday, while the number of people having recuperated from the disease crossed 49 lakh pushing the national recovery rate to 82.46 percent, according to the Union Health Ministry.

A total of 68 people tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday, the bulletin said, adding the fresh cases include 54 in Leh district and 14 in Kargil district.

It said a patient, who had recently tested positive for coronavirus, breathed his last in Leh on Saturday. His death was the 24th in Leh district, while rest of the 33 COVID-related deaths had taken place in Kargil district.

With 47 more patients cured of the disease, the number of active cases in the region dropped to 1018  615 in Leh district and 403 in Kargil district, the bulletin released by the directorate of health services Ladakh said.

The Union Territory of Ladakh reported 68 new coronavirus cases and one more death, taking the virus tally to 4093 and death toll to 57, an official bulletin said on Sunday.

The number of active COVID-19 patients has been below 10 lakh for several successive days. The active caseload is 15.96 percent of the total positive cases and is consistently declining.

On an average, single-day recoveries have been more than 90,000 in the last few days. The overall recovery rate stands at 82.46 percent.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has said that new recoveries in the country have exceeded the new COVID-19 cases for several successive days during the period of the past nine days.

Paul, who is also a well-known fashion designer, had been touring districts regularly to lead street protests and undertake campaigns against the ruling TMC. She attended party programmes at state BJP headquarters here earlier this week.

BJP women's wing president in West Bengal Agnimitra Paul said on Sunday she has been diagnosed with COVID-19, and requested people who came in touch with her recently to get themselves tested.

He said that 443 patients recovered and were discharged during the last twenty four hours from hospitals. The fatality rate and recovery rate was 1.94 per cent 78.21 percent respectively.

A total of 4,623 samples were tested, taking the total number of specimens examined so far to 1,71,561, Director of Health and Family Welfare S Mohan Kumar said. The overall COVID-19 cases in the union territory stood at 26,400 (after transfer of four cases to Tamil Nadu), he said.

A total of 372 fresh COVID-19 cases and 13 deaths in the union territory took the infection count to 26,400 and the toll to 513 on Sunday, the government said. The deceased included four women and were in the age group of 31 to 80 and most of them had comorbidities, a release from the health department said.

Serum Institute of India (SII) CEO Adar Poonawalla applauds PM Narendra Modi's vision on providing vaccines to the global community. It is a proud moment for India, you for your leadership and support. It is clear that all your arrangements for India will take care of all needs for the people, says Poonawalla.

As per the latest data accessed by PTI, these forces have recorded over 36,000 COVID-19 cases till now, out of which, 6,646 are active while rest of the personnel have recovered. The maximum cases at 10,636 have been recorded in the BSF, the country's largest border guarding force with about 2.5 lakh personnel. This is followed by 10,602 cases in the largest paramilitary force CRPF and 6,466 cases in the CISF. The BSF guards Indian fronts with Pakistan and Bangladesh, while CISF is the national civil aviation security force.

The total number of coronavirus cases in central police forces under the Ministry of Home Affairs have gone over 36,000 with 128 personnel succumbing to the pandemic, according to a latest data. The cases pertain to the seven forces of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), National Security Guard (NSG) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

The 28-year-old singer requested those who came in contact with her to also get tested for coronavirus.

Punjabi singer and former "Bigg Boss" contestant Himanshi Khurana on Sunday said she has tested positive for COVID-19 after she participated in a protest against the farm bills passed by Parliament recently.

The new cases were reported from all the 30 districts of the state, he said. At least 2,309 cases were registered in quarantine centres, while 1,613 people tested positive for the infection during contact tracing.

Odisha's COVID-19 tally rose to 2,09,374 on Sunday as 3,922 more people tested positive for the disease, while 14 fresh fatalities pushed the state's coronavirus death toll to 797, a health department official said.

Rao had taken part in the proceedings of the monsoon session of the Karnataka assembly till late last night. He was recently appointed as AICC in-charge of Tamil Nadu, Goa and Puducherry.

Karnataka Congress leader and MLA Dinesh Gundu Rao on Sunday said he has tested positive for COVID-19. The former state Congress President said he was asymptomatic and will recover soon because of the good wishes from every one.

Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain on Sunday said, "We were testing around 20,000 samples earlier which have been increased to 60,000 now."

They have been accused of violating Covid protocol by amassing a large number of people at the airport on Saturday when some party leaders were arriving in the Bihar capital to strategise for the upcoming assembly elections.

An FIR has been registered against Bihar Congress president Madan Mohan Jha and several other senior party leaders for violating Covid norms at Patna airport, officials said on Sunday.

The Maharashtra Police on Sunday said that 169 police personnel have tested positive for COVID-19 and two have died in the last 24 hours, taking total cases to 22,629 in the force.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose to 3,774 on Sunday as 15 more people tested positive for the infection, a health official said. Six new patients have travel history, while nine fresh infections were detected during contact tracing, he said.

In reference to the vaccine being worked on by the University of Oxford, Johnson stressed the importance of equitable access of any successful vaccine because the health of every country depends on the whole world having access to a safe and effective vaccine, wherever a breakthrough might occur.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a special reference to India's role in the manufacture and access to one of the most promising coronavirus vaccine candidates currently undergoing trials during his address to the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.

ICMR is actively investigating & researching reports of Covid-19 reinfection & although the number of reinfection cases is negligible at this moment, the government is fully seized of the importance of the matter: Union health minister Harsh Vardhan

Tamil Nadu reported 5,791 new COVID-19 cases, 5,706 recoveries and 80 deaths on Sunday, taking total positive cases to 5,80,808, including 5,25,154 recoveries, 9,313 deaths and 46,341 active cases, the state government said.

Gujarat in 24 hours recorded 1,411 positive cases in 24 hours, taking the total to 1.33 lakh. The state also recorded deaths of 10 positive patients, taking the death toll to 3,419.

Delhi reported 3,292 new cases of coronavirus on Sunday, taking the total number of cases in the state to 2,71,114; and the toll rose to 5,235 with 42 more fatalities, The Times of India reported.

In reference to the vaccine being worked on by the University of Oxford, Johnson stressed the importance of equitable access of any successful vaccine because the health of every country depends on the whole world having access to a safe and effective vaccine, wherever a breakthrough might occur.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a special reference to India's role in the manufacture and access to one of the most promising coronavirus vaccine candidates currently undergoing trials during his address to the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.

The overall case fatality rate is 1.94 percent. The occupancy of beds in Delhi hospitals has declined in the last four-five days and 55 percent of the total beds are unoccupied currently, the minister added.

About 46 deaths reported during the same period, which has been the highest in nearly 70 days, Jain said, "We do not look at the figures for a single day. The average fatality rate of the last 10 days has been 0.94 percent. The patients who have succumbed are not those who tested positive in a day. These are people who tested positive 15-20 days back. That is why we take the average of 10 days."

He said Delhi recorded 3,372 fresh cases on Saturday and 4,476 patients recovered within 24 hours.

Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain said on Sunday the COVID-19 fatality rate in the national capital was less than one percent in the last 10 days, and asserted that a massive increase in testing for detection of coronavirus infection has led to the rise in cases.

ICMR is actively investigating & researching reports of Covid-19 reinfection & although the number of reinfection cases is negligible at this moment, the government is fully seized of the importance of the matter: Union health minister Harsh Vardhan

Tamil Nadu reported 5,791 new COVID-19 cases, 5,706 recoveries and 80 deaths on Sunday, taking total positive cases to 5,80,808, including 5,25,154 recoveries, 9,313 deaths and 46,341 active cases, the state government said.

Gujarat in 24 hours recorded 1,411 positive cases in 24 hours, taking the total to 1.33 lakh. The state also recorded deaths of 10 positive patients, taking the death toll to 3,419.

Delhi reported 3,292 new cases of coronavirus on Sunday, taking the total number of cases in the state to 2,71,114; and the toll rose to 5,235 with 42 more fatalities, The Times of India reported.

Maharashtra recorded 18,056 new coronavirus positive cases on Sunday, which pushed the state's overall tally to 13,39,232, the state health department said. With the death of 380 patients during the day, the toll reached 35,571, it said. A total of 13,565 patients were discharged on Sunday. With this, the state's recovery count stands at 10,30,015, the department said in a statement.

Fifty more fatalities pushed the toll due to COVID-19 to 3,238 in Punjab while 1,458 more cases took the infection tally to 1,10,106 on Sunday. A total of 2,299 coronavirus patients were discharged after recovering from the infection, taking the number of cured people to 88,312 in the state. There are 18,556 active COVID-19 cases in the state as of now, according to the bulletin.

To keep the COVID-19 positivity rate below five per cent and the death rate below one per cent in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday directed officials to intensify surveillance and contact tracing.He also said that testing among high-risk groups should be intensified. These combined endeavours are the only way to keep the COVID-19 death rate low and prevent spread of the infection, Adityanath said. The chief minister issued the directions while reviewing the COVID-19 situation in the state, especially in 16 districts where more than 100 cases are reported within a week, a statement issued by the state government said. He said that testing should be focussed and one-third of testing should be through RT-PCR and the rest by the rapid-antigen method.

Odisha Assembly Speaker SN Patro and Parliamentary Affairs Minister BK Arukha on Sunday tested negative for COVID-19 while Government Chief Whip Pramila Mallick and another ruling BJD MLA tested positive for the infection, official sources said.The two lawmakers were among the 757 persons comprising MLAs, journalists and Assembly employees who had come forward for COVID-19 test on Saturday ahead of the monsoon session of the Assembly on 29 September, the sources said.

Coronavirus Updates: Maharashtra recorded 18,056 new coronavirus positive cases on Sunday, which pushed the state's overall case count to 13,39,232, the state health department said. With the death of 380 patients during the day, the toll reached 35,571, it said.

Union health minister Harsh Vardhan on Sunday said that the ICMRs nationwide serological survey showed that "the Indian population still far from achieving herd immunity".

"An ICMR expert panel is examining reinfection cases. Remdesivir and plasma therapies are not to be encouraged. Aatmanirbhar Bharat gets a major impetus in the health sector. The country is poised for major exports now. The governments commitment to the North East evident from its plans to massively upgrade medical colleges and other infrastructure in a phased manner," News18 quoted him as saying.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a special reference to India's role in the manufacture and access to one of the most promising coronavirus vaccine candidates currently undergoing trials during his address to the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.

In reference to the vaccine being worked on by the University of Oxford, Johnson stressed the importance of equitable access of any successful vaccine because the health of every country depends on the whole world having access to a safe and effective vaccine, wherever a breakthrough might occur.

Karnataka Congress leader and MLA Dinesh Gundu Rao on Sunday said he has tested positive for COVID-19. The former state Congress President said he was asymptomatic and will recover soon because of the good wishes from every one.

Rao had taken part in the proceedings of the monsoon session of the Karnataka assembly till late last night. He was recently appointed as AICC in-charge of Tamil Nadu, Goa and Puducherry.

BJP women's wing president in West Bengal Agnimitra Paul said on Sunday she has been diagnosed with COVID-19, and requested people who came in touch with her recently to get themselves tested.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has said that new recoveries in the country have exceeded the new COVID-19 cases 'for several successive days during the period of the past nine days'

The total recoveries have surged to 49,41,627, and there are 9,56,402 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which comprises 15.96 percent of the total caseload, the data stated.

India on Sunday reported a single-day spike of 88,600 new COVID19 cases and 1,124 deaths reported in India, in the last 24 hours.

The caseload of coronavirus cases in India crossed 59 lakh on Saturday with 85,362 new cases, however, the number of recoveries was higher with 93,420 people recuperating in the last 24 hours, the Union health ministry said. The total number of recoveries stands at 48.49 lakh.

The data updated at 8 am on Saturday showed that the coronavirus caseload has risen to 59,03,932, while the toll rose to 93,379 after 1,089 people succumbed to the disease in 24 hours.

With a total of 48,49,584 recoveries, the country's recovery rate rose to 82.14 percent. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 case fatality rate was recorded at 1.58 percent.

There are 9,60,969 active cases in the country which comprise 16.28 percent of the total caseload, the ministry's data showed.

India's COVID-19 tally had crossed 20 lakh on 7 August, 30 lakh on 23 August, 40 lakh on 5 September, and it went past 50 lakh on 16 September.

On Saturday, the ministry said that of the 85,362 new coronavirus cases reported in the last 24 hours, 75 percent are found concentrated in 10 states and Union Territories.

It also said that the country's testing capacity has crossed 14 lakh tests daily. According to the ICMR, a total of 7,02,69,975 samples have been tested up to 25 September, with 13,41,535 being tested on Friday.

The 10 states and Union Territories from where 75 percent of the new cases have been reported are Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Delhi, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh.

Maharashtra continues to top this list by accounting for more than 17,000 cases. Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh reported more than 8,000 and 7,000 cases respectively, the ministry said.

Also, Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Chhattisgarh account for 83 percent of the 1,089 deaths due to COVID-19 registered in a day.

On the other hand, the ministry added that seventeen states and UTs "have cases per million lower than the national average (4,278) while 23 are reporting deaths per million lower than the national average (68)".

Meanwhile, the Union health ministry said that 24 states and UTs are reporting a higher number of new recoveries than new cases.

"As India records more recoveries than new cases, the gap between recovered and active cases is continuously widening. The recoveries are more than five times the active cases of coronavirus infection," it said.

The recovered cases exceed active cases (9,60,969) by nearly 39 lakh.

The ministry added that 10 states and UTs account for nearly 73 percent of the new recovered cases. Maharashtra has maintained this lead with 19,592 new recoveries.

"These sustained encouraging results have been made possible with the Centre-led proactive and calibrated strategy of 'test, track and treat' with a sharp focus on 'Chase the Virus' approach," the ministry said.

Will Centre have Rs 80,000 cr for distribution of vaccine, asks Serum Institute CEO

Adar Poonawalla, Chief Executive Officer of Serum Institute of India (SII) which is producing the potential coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University, asked on Saturday if the government will have Rs 80,000 crore available to buy and distribute the vaccine.

"Quick question; will the government of India have 80,000 crores available, over the next one year? Because that's what @MoHFW_INDIAneeds, to buy and distribute the vaccine to everyone in India," he tweeted.

This is the next "challenge" we need to tackle, he said, also tagging the prime minister's office.

"I ask this question because we need to plan and guide, vaccine manufacturers both in India and overseas to service the needs of our country in terms of procurement and distribution," Poonawalla added.

SII has signed an agreement to manufacture the potential vaccine developed by Jenner Institute of Oxford University in collaboration with British-Swedish pharma company AstraZeneca.

Earlier, SII had announced that it will make the Oxford vaccine available at $3 for low- and middle-income countries including India.

Meanwhile, PTI reported that clinical trials of the Oxford University vaccine  named 'Covishield'  were set to begin at the State-run KEM hospital in Mumbai from Saturday.

The report quoted KEM dean Dr Hemant Deshmukh as saying that three people will receive a shot of the vaccine on the first day.

"We have screened 13 persons so far including 10 today, of which three will get the first shot of Oxford University-AstraZeneca developed Covishield vaccine on Saturday," he said.

Another person will get placebo as part of the standard testing procedure, he added. KEM is the first hospital in Mumbai where human trials of the vaccine, being manufactured in the country by Serum Institute of India, will begin on Saturday.

Where is UN's effective response against COVID-19, asks Modi at UNGA

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the UNGA on Saturday and raised questions on the response of the United Nations in combating the COVID-19 pandemic and assured the global community that India will use its production and delivery capacity to help all humanity in fighting the deadly disease.

"Over the last 8 to 9 months, the whole world has been battling the pandemic of the coronavirus. Where is the United Nations in this joint fight against the pandemic? Where is its effective response?" Modi said as he asserted that reform in the responses, in the processes, and in the very character of the United Nations is the need of the hour.

In his pre-recorded video statement to the landmark General Debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, Prime Minister Modi said that even during these very difficult times of the raging pandemic, India's pharmaceutical industry has sent essential medicines to over 150 countries.

"As the largest vaccine producing country in the world, I want to give one more assurance to the global community today. India's vaccine production and delivery capacity will be used to help all humanity in fighting this crisis," Modi said in a strong assurance to the international community that is battling the devastating coronavirus pandemic.

Uddhav Thackeray warns against 'second coronavirus wave' as people move out of homes

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday expressed apprehensions of a "second wave" of coronavirus transmission in the state as more people are moving out for work and called for stricter compliance with norms.

Speaking at a virtual meeting with ministers and officials of Marathwada and Nashik divisions on the COVID-19 situation, the chief minister expressed concerns over asymptomatic patients, allowed to remain at home, stepping out without proper precautions and infecting others, PTI reported.

He said the focus should be on reducing the mortality rate. Thackeray directed officials to ensure that people follow health norms like wearing masks and that violators be fined.

"In Britain, asymptomatic positive patients are treated at home, but they are checked every day. They are shifted to hospitals if needed. We are allowing asymptomatic patients to remain under home quarantine, but they are moving out and infecting others," the chief minister said.

"There is the fear of a second wave (of coronavirus transmission) since more people are now moving out for work. There is a danger of senior citizens getting infected in their homes," he said.

During his interaction with officials, Thackeray stressed the need to increase mass awareness and tracing and testing. He added that proper protocol should be followed in treating COVID-19 patients, "and only medical prescription should be followed".

He asked district-level task force comprising medical experts to remain in regular touch with the state-level task force.

Similarly, in Tamil Nadu, Chief Secretary K Shanmugam directed the state's District Collectors to ascertain the reasons for the increase in COVID-19 cases in the state recently. Tamil Nadu has seen a spike of cases in at least 15 districts, PTI reported.

State-wise deaths

The new fatalities include 416 from Maharashtra, 86 from Karnataka, 84 from Uttar Pradesh, 72 from Tamil Nadu, 68 from Punjab, 59 from West Bengal, 48 from Andhra Pradesh, 30 from Madhya Pradesh, 25 from Chhattisgarh and 24 from Delhi.

Total 93,379 deaths reported so far in the country includes 34,761 from Maharashtra followed by 9,148 from Tamil Nadu, 8,417 from Karnataka, 5,606 from Andhra Pradesh, 5,450 from Uttar Pradesh, 5,147 from Delhi, 4,665 from West Bengal, 3,393 from Gujarat, 3,134 from Punjab and 2,152 from Madhya Pradesh.

With inputs from agencies
Chennai, Sep 27 : Three persons coming from Dubai have been arrested for trying to smuggle in gold paste concealed in their rectums, Customs officials said on Sunday.

In a statement issued here, the Commissioner of Customs, Chennai International Airport, said the three passengers, identified as Mohd Mustafa Meerasa Maraikkayar, Shaubar Ali Aynjai and Sheik Abdullah Habeeb Abdullah, arrived by two different flights from Dubai on Saturday.

On questioning, the three confessed to carrying bundles of gold paste concealed in their rectums, The three were searched and two bundles each were recovered from Maraikkayar and Aynjai and three bundles from Abdullah, along with 5 pieces of gold that they had hidden in their trouser pockets.

The total gold, amounting to 1.62 kg and valued at Rs 83.7 lakh, was seized under the Customs Act.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, September 27, 2020 08:41 482 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c47730a8 4 National Banda-Aceh,caning,rapist,Qanun-Jinayat,qanun,aceh,bylaws Free

The caning of a convicted child rapist in Aceh had to be suspended after he developed severe bruising on his back.

The man, 28-year-old Roni bin M. Hasan, had been declared guilty by a local court in May for raping a child in Banda Aceh. He was sentenced to 169 lashes of the cane for violating Article 50 of sharia-based Acehs Qanun Jinayat, an Islamic criminal code bylaw, on child rape.

Prosecutors said Roni was to be lashed after serving 180 days in prison.

The caning was carried out by a squad from the Banda Aceh Prosecutors Office at Bustanussalatin Park on Thursday. After the 52nd stroke, however, Roni began begging for the caning officer to stop.

Read also: Indonesian women whipped for online pimping

A team of doctors overseeing the caning proceeded to examine him and told authorities that the convict's wounds were severe and the punishment needed to be suspended.

We checked him and there were severe lashings on his back. If we continue the execution, he could bleed. We suggest that the punishment be suspended until his wounds are fully recovered, Sarah, a member of the medical team, said as reported by kompas.com.

Besides Roni, five other people found guilty of gambling were caned that day. Their punishment varied from six to nine lashes.

Aceh is the only province in Muslim-majority Indonesia that implements the sharia law devised under its special regional autonomy. The administration of the westernmost part of the country has fully enforced the stricter Qanun Jinayat since 2015.

Public and activists have widely criticized the sharia-based bylaw, specifically canning as a punishment, for inflicting pain and public shaming, as well as discriminating against minorities. (dpk)
This past August was the hottest ever in Palm Springs, with high temperatures rising to 110 or above on 24 days, and even hitting an astonishing 120 degrees.

That kind of heat would normally keep away all but the most intrepid desert rats. But not during a pandemic. Since June, after county and state leaders allowed hotels and home rentals to re-open, Palm Springs has enjoyed a relative surge of visitors  and that interest should extend into the cooler fall and winter months.

"Our summer bookings were up 42% over summer 2019," said John-Patrick Flynn, the brand manager at Acme House Company, which manages about 150 rental properties in the area. "Since re-opening in June, we have been completely sold out of all our single-family pool homes every week," he added. "Most guests are traveling from the West Coast, particularly the Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco Bay areas, and staying longer than usual."

Overall hotel occupancy in the Palm Springs area is down compared with last summer. "Contributing factors include the staggered re-opening of hotels and because groups cannot gather due to California state restrictions," according to Joyce Kiehl of the Greater Palm Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau. However she said that the leisure travel segment is up 38.3% year-over-year so far in September, with hotel rates up 10%.

Air travel demand is soaring, too. "Desert locations like Palm Springs, Phoenix, and Albuquerque have increased their share of fall air travel bookings compared to last year, while big cities like Chicago, New York and San Francisco have seen marked drops," according to Kelly Soderlund, a spokesperson for TripIt, the popular trip itinerary organizing app. She told SFGATE that TripIt's advance bookings for fall flights to Palm Springs alone show a year-over-year increase of 66%, while fall bookings to San Francisco and New York are both down 42%.

Following the trend toward increased leisure travel and away from business travel, which is not expected to return in any significant way until the pandemic is over, airlines are chasing that bump in demand. In just the last month, several have announced plans to add new nonstops or flight frequencies to Palm Springs International Airport (PSP).

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This week, Alaska Airlines, the dominant carrier at PSP, announced it would add new nonstops, including twice daily, year-round service from Mineta San Jose International Airport starting Dec. 17, plus new flights from Reno and Boise. Earlier this month, Southwest announced that, at long last, it would add Palm Springs flights. Although it did not specify the cities to which it would fly, it's likely to add flights to Oakland and/or San Jose and perhaps other focus cities like Denver, Dallas, Chicago or Phoenix.

And there's more: American Airlines will add a new seasonal nonstop from Philadelphia, starting Dec. 19. JetBlue said it would fly nonstop twice a week from Fort Lauderdale (a real head scratcher!). Delta Air Lines and tiny Boutique Air announced year-round nonstops on the 25-minute route from Los Angeles International (LAX). Boutique will also fly in from Phoenix. Allegiant Air will add twice weekly flights from Eugene and Boise. (You can see all flights to/from PSP, which really ramp up during winter months, here.)

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TORONTO, Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gran Colombia Gold Corp. (TSX: GCM; OTCQX: TPRFF) announced today that it has entered into a letter of intent (the LOI) dated effective September 23, 2020 with ESV Resources Ltd. (ESV) (TSXV: ESV.H) to spin out its interest in the Zancudo Project to ESV. Gran Colombia will also subscribe for CA$3,000,000 of subscription receipts in a non-brokered private placement being completed concurrently by ESV as described further below.



Serafino Iacono, Executive Chairman of Gran Colombia, commenting on the news stated, In light of the bullish outlook for silver, we see the acquisition of an investment in ESV as a tremendous opportunity to participate in a new vehicle that is turning its attention to becoming a silver focused company looking to offer its shareholders exposure and leverage to the precious metal. We also see the spin out of our interest in the Zancudo Project as an opportunity to create value for our shareholders in this undervalued silver-gold asset. We will be providing in-country operational expertise to ESV to advance their projects in Colombia, including an exploration program planned for the Guia Antigua Project following completion of the transactions and financing by ESV.

Zancudo Project Spin Out

The Zancudo Project consists of a 1,052-hectare mining concession area located in the Titiribi mining district in Antioquia, Colombia, about 27 kilometers southwest of Medellin. Zancudo comprises a historical silver-gold mine (the Independencia Mine) located in the Middle Cauca Gold Belt. Gran Colombia acquired Zancudo in 2010 and completed a 14,000 meter drilling program carried out in 2011 and 2012.

In March 2017, Gran Colombia signed an option agreement with IAMGOLD Corp. (IAMGOLD) for the exploration and potential purchase of an interest by IAMGOLD in Zancudo. Under the agreement, IAMGOLD was granted an option to acquire an initial undivided 65% interest (the First Option) in Zancudo by incurring an aggregate of US$10 million of mineral exploration expenditures over a six-year period, subject to meeting specified annual work commitments during this period. From 2017 through 2019, IAMGOLD has completed a total of approximately 16,224 meters of drilling at Zancudo and has incurred over US$4 million of its exploration commitment. However, due to COVID-19, IAMGOLD has suspended its drilling program thus far in 2020. IAMGOLD was also granted an additional option (the Second Option) to acquire a further 5% undivided interest, for an aggregate 70% undivided interest in Zancudo, by completing a feasibility study within three years after exercising the First Option. Upon exercise of the First Option or the Second Option, as the case may be, the parties will form a joint venture to hold Zancudo, to advance the exploration and, if feasible, to advance the development and mining of any commercially exploitable ore body.

Under the terms of the spin out transaction, ESV will issue 27,000,000 common shares to Gran Colombia in exchange for its interest in the Zancudo Project. In addition to any escrow restrictions imposed by the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV), all common shares issued to Gran Colombia will be subject to a voluntary pooling arrangement from which one-quarter of the shares will be released on each of December 28, 2020, March 27, 2021, June 27, 2021 and September 27, 2021. ESV has also agreed to be bound by the terms of the option agreement with IAMGOLD.

ESV Private Placement

ESV has announced that it has also signed a letter of intent with 1255269 B.C. Ltd. (the Guia Antigua Vendor), a company not related to Gran Colombia or any insiders of Gran Colombia, to concurrently acquire all of the outstanding share capital of the Guia Antigua Vendor. The Guia Antigua Vendor owns the Guia Antigua Project (the Guia Antigua Transaction) which encompasses the exploration, development and mining rights to a 386-hectare area located in the eastern part of Gran Colombias Segovia mining title focused on the high-grade silver-gold Guia Antigua vein which falls outside the areas associated with Gran Colombias mining operations and exploration activities.

As a condition to completing the acquisitions of both the Zancudo and Guia Antigua Projects, ESV has announced that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement financing (the Concurrent Financing) to raise up to $7,000,000 through the issuance of up to 15,555,000 subscription receipts of the Guia Antigua Vendor at a price of CA$0.45 per subscription receipt. Gran Colombia intends to subscribe for CA$3,000,000 of the Concurrent Financing.

The proceeds of the Concurrent Financing will be held in escrow, pending ESV receiving all applicable regulatory approvals and completing the Guia Antigua Transaction. Upon satisfaction of the escrow conditions, immediately prior to completion of the Guia Antigua Transaction, each subscription receipt will automatically convert into one common share of the Guia Antigua Vendor for no additional consideration and will be exchanged for common shares of ESV on a one-for-one basis. If the Guia Antigua Transaction is not completed on or before December 31, 2020, the proceeds of the Concurrent Financing will be returned to the subscribers.

It is anticipated that ESV will change its name to Denarius Silver Corp. in connection with the completion of the aforementioned acquisitions and Concurrent Financing. In addition, Gran Colombia will become a new control person of ESV and have two nominees on the reconstituted board of directors of ESV following the transactions. If required by the policies of the TSXV, ESV will obtain shareholder approval for the creation of a new control person by way of written consent of the majority of the outstanding common shares of ESV prior to completion of the acquisition transactions.

About Gran Colombia Gold Corp.

Gran Colombia is a Canadian-based mid-tier gold producer with its primary focus in Colombia where it is currently the largest underground gold and silver producer with several mines in operation at its high-grade Segovia Operations. Gran Colombia owns approximately 57.5% of Caldas Gold Corp. (TSX-V: CGC; OTCQX: ALLXF), a Canadian mining company currently advancing a major expansion and modernization of its underground mining operations at its Marmato Project in Colombia. Gran Colombias project pipeline includes its Zancudo Project in Colombia together with an approximately 20% equity interest in Gold X Mining Corp. (TSXV: GLDX) (Guyana  Toroparu) and an approximately 26% equity interest in Western Atlas Resources Inc. (Western Atlas) (TSX-V: WA) (Nunavut  Meadowbank).

Additional information on Gran Colombia can be found on its website at www.grancolombiagold.com and by reviewing its profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information:

This news release contains "forward-looking information", which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to anticipated business plans or strategies. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Gran Colombia to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements are described under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form dated as of March 30, 2020 which is available for view on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this press release and Gran Colombia disclaims, other than as required by law, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, results, future events, circumstances, or if management's estimates or opinions should change, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

For Further Information, Contact:

Mike Davies

Chief Financial Officer

(416) 360-4653

investorrelations@grancolombiagold.com
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

Trend:

The villages of Azerbaijans Fizuli, Jabrayil, Tartar, and Aghdam districts were subjected to artillery fire by the Armenian armed forces at 6:00 (GMT+4), Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov said.

Hasanov made the remark at the meeting of the Security Council, Trend reports on Sept. 27.

"There are wounded and killed among civilians, houses and infrastructure were destructed, the minister added. The front line of military units was bombarded. At the same time, the concentration of the Armenian armed forces from Aghdam, Fizuli, Jabrayil districts, and their preparation for the offensive was observed. Taking into account the operational situation, first of all, a report was made to the president.

Taking into account the operational situation, the Azerbaijani army carried out a counter-offensive operation, as a result of which the Armenian armed forces defense line was broken through, Hasanov added.

I was informed that seven villages, namely, Garakhanbeyli, Nuzgar, Yukhari Abdurrahmanli, Boyuk Marjanli, Kend Horadiz, Garvend, were liberated, the minister added. The Azerbaijani army is carrying out a successful counter-offensive operation in other directions, and the Armenian armed forces, suffering big losses, are retreating.

I would like to stress that the attacks of the Azerbaijani army are carried out both on the front line and further location of the Armenian armed forces, the minister said. The most modern weapons are used and we do not see strong resistance from Armenia. The Armenian armed forces are retreating."
Toronto, Sept. 27, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Date: 28 Sept 2020 l Time: 09:00 - 10.30 ET l Venue: Virtual (streamed here)





WHAT



Ahead of the UN Summit on Biodiversity, this high-profile event co-hosted by WWF is bringing together world leaders from more than 20 countries, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. They will be making a pledge to step up global ambition for biodiversity and encourage other leaders to commit to matching their collective ambition for nature, climate and people.



RESPONDING TO OUR PLANETARY EMERGENCY



Nature is in crisis. Science tells us that human activities are destroying and degrading the very natural systems that support our health and livelihoods.



Urgent actions to restore biodiversity, including Indigenous-led conservation, nature-based solutions, formal protections and stewardship along with millions of actions by individuals and communities across Canada and around the globe is needed to address wildlife and biodiversity loss and climate change.



The event will:

Officially launch the Leaders Pledge for Nature , with leaders of (40+ and growing) countries committing to ambitious action to address biodiversity loss;

, with leaders of (40+ and growing) countries committing to ambitious action to address biodiversity loss; Showcase endorsements from Heads of State and Government of the pledge and its actions, as well as non-state actors. Addressing a Planetary Emergency requires concrete and urgent action for the benefit of all people everywhere.

WHEN



Monday 28 September 2020, 09:00AM - 10:30AM EDT.



LIVE OPEN LEADERS CONVERSATION



The event will also feature a live conversation between H.E. Justin Trudea, Prime Minister of Canada; H.E. Carlos Alvarado Quesada, President of Costa Rica, and H.E. Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway.



STATEMENTS BY:

H.E. Mr. Alexander van der Bellen, President of Austria

H.E. Ms. Jeanine Anez, President Plurinational State of Bolivia

H.E. Mr. Ivan Duque Marquez, President of Colombia

H.E. Carlos Alvarado Quesada, President of Costa Rica

H.E. Mr Janos Ader, President of Hungary

H.E. Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya

H.E. Mr. Ion Chicu, Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova

H.E. Mr Laurentino Cortizo Cohen, President of the Republic of Panama

H.E. Mr. Martin Vizcarra Cornejo, President of the Republic of Peru

His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, Monaco

H.E. Mr David Kabua, President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands

H.E. Danny Faure, President of Seychelles

H.E. Mr Borut Pahor, President of the Republic of Slovenia

H.E. Dr. Lotay Tshering, MBBS, MD, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bhutan

H.E. Mr Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

H.E. Mr Andrej Babis, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic

H.E. Mr Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister of Luxembourg

H.E. Mr. K. P. Sharma Oli, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal

H.E. Ms. Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway

Hon. Imran Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan

H.E. Mr. Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

And H.E. Ms. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission



Further Heads of State and Government, as well as UN high level officials, are in the process of being confirmed. The event will also include statements by leaders from across society and business.



MEDIA RESOURCES & SPOKESPEOPLE



A press release, embargoed for 00:01 BST (GMT+1) on 28 September 2020 , will be made available to media ahead of the event. Contact: news@wwfint.org.



TO JOIN



The Leaders Event for Nature and People event is open to the media. You are cordially invited to watch the event live. The event will be broadcast live on this page: https://www.learningfornature.org/en/topic/session-1-a-global-response-to-our-planetary-emergency-protecting-our-safety-net/



About World Wildlife Fund Canada

WWF-Canada creates solutions to the environmental challenges that matter most for Canadians. We work in places that are unique and ecologically important, so that nature, wildlife and people thrive together. Because we are all wildlife. For more information, visit http://www.wwf.ca
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George (seated), Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis with Sir David Attenborough in the gardens of Kensington Palace. (Kensington Palace)

Naturalist Sir David Attenborough presented Prince George with a special gift as he joined the Cambridge family for a lockdown movie night.

Sir David, 94, gave George, seven, a fossilised giant sharks tooth to mark their meeting at Kensington Palace.

Prince William hosted the TV legend for an outdoor private screening of A Life On Our Planet, a documentary giving his first-hand account after decades of broadcasting on the natural world.

Kensington Palace teased the event on Friday night, sharing a picture on social media of two directors chairs, one marked Prince William and the other Sir David.

But a photo shared of the viewing shows the men actually sat in each others chairs during the outdoor, socially distanced viewing.

While it doesnt appear Kate and the three children joined them to watch the documentary, pictures released by Kensington Palace show the youngest royals getting to meet the veteran broadcaster, who are big fans.

In one, George looks fascinated by the sharks tooth he has been given, as he sits on a bench next to his father.

The tooth is from an extinct Carcharocles megalodon, one of the most feared predators of the sea, and was found by Sir David on a family holiday in Malta in the 1960s.

William and the veteran broadcaster watched A Life On Our Planet, Sir David's newest documentary. (WWF/PA Wire)

Read more: Harry and Meghan's political statements 'could harm US brand - but might help them internationally'

Charlotte, five, is unable to hide her joy as she looks at Sir David, with Kate smiling down on her daughter.

Sir David and William look to be sharing a joke in the moment, as they both laugh, while Louis, two, is distracted by something off camera.

Kate, 38, looks to have co-ordinated the family outfits in shades of blue, led by her own choice of a long blue shirt dress.

Charlotte complemented her grey dress with blue shoes.

George was wearing a blue checked shirt and trousers, while Louis was dressed in a blue jumper, over a similar checked shirt, and navy shorts, matching his brother and father.

Story continues

Its traditional in royal circles for younger boys to wear shorts with long socks, rather than trousers.

The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Louis watch as Prince George holds the tooth of a giant shark given to him by Sir David Attenborough. (Kensington Palace)

Earlier this week, Prince Williams own nature documentary, due out next month was revealed. He was joined by a crew two years ago to put together Prince William: A Planet For Us All.

In the trailer, he said: Now I have got George, Charlotte and now Louis in my life  your outlook does change. You want to hand over to the next generation, the wildlife in a much better condition.

The short clip shared on social media on Tuesday also showed Kate and William meeting Sir David, with Kate saying: The children were very upset that we were coming to see you and they werent coming.

Theyre massive fans of yours.

WATCH: Prince William says fatherhood gave him new sense of purpose

William and Sir David have established a good working relationship through their projects on the natural world. William interviewed Sir David at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland last year, and Sir David is supporting the royals Earthshot Prize.

The prize is an environmental award designed to help tackle issues like climate change. It was announced in December 2019, and more details are expected in the coming weeks.

David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet is to be shown in cinemas from Monday and on Netflix from 4 October, with an accompanying book out on 1 October.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 21:58:15|Editor: huaxia

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WUHAN, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Yellow Crane Tower, a landmark tourist attraction in Wuhan, will launch night tours, the latest move to boost the city's tourism after the COVID-19 epidemic subsided.

The night tours will be available during the coming National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday from Oct. 1 to 8, usually a peak travel season in China.

It will be the first time the historic building will open night viewing since it opened to the public in 1985 after reconstruction.

Visitors will be allowed to ascend the building to appreciate the full moon as well as a light show that will be staged during the period, according to the tour company in charge of the shows.

Perching by the Yangtze River, the 1,800-year-old Yellow Crane Tower often appeared in ancient Chinese literary works. It has been destroyed and rebuilt many times in history.

It is among the major tourist sites in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, that have scrapped tickets for domestic visitors as a token of gratitude for nationwide assistance during the COVID-19 outbreak.

In August Hubei announced the policy to open its key scenic spots to visitors from across the country free of charge till the end of the year. The policy is a boost to the province's virus-ravaged tourism industry. Enditem
This story was published in partnership with The 19th, a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom reporting on gender, politics and policy.

Months into the COVID-19 pandemic, details about the virus sex and gender implications have begun to emerge: More men than women are dying from the coronavirus. But other details  such as why, or what social or biological mechanisms are involved, or what that means for treatment or public health  remain unknown.

One problem, experts say, is an international blind spot to sex and gender. Global disease surveillance systems have done a poor job of monitoring how the virus affects people of different gender identities or sexes.

A new database is trying to address that. The project, compiled by researchers across the globe and spearheaded by gender equity group Global Health 5050, is the first major effort to capture and quantify COVIDs gendered impact.

The data highlights blind spots in how countries track the virus. And the United States is particularly far behind, said Sarah Hawkes, an epidemiologist and co-director of Global Health 5050.

Researchers are working to understand the gendered impacts of COVID-19, such as why it kills more men than women.

Those information gaps matter, she added. Understanding COVID-19s sex and gender disparities can help researchers develop effective medical responses to the virus, or craft effective public health outreach campaigns.

Hawkes spoke with The 19th about the shortcomings in global COVID-19 data, what this database shows, and how its findings could help fight gender inequities in coronavirus.

The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Question: What prompted you to do this work?

Hawkes: At the start of the epidemic, we started looking for sex disaggregation data on COVID. And we didnt see it. We discovered that, although global (disease) monitoring systems recommend sex disaggregation, they cant mandate it. They also dont have a mandate to report by sex disaggregation. So we thought, Well, somebody should do it, so we may as well.

Q: What were the challenges in getting that data together?

Story continues

Hawkes: One was our own resource capacity. Its very time-consuming to be able to go through websites to find the data.

The second big challenge is the lack of access to sex-disaggregated data. Were pretty sure that most of the countries that are collecting data on COVID actually have, somewhere in their system, a box ticked to say this is a data point on a man or a woman. But when they put the data out publicly, they put it out collapsed together. So the biggest challenge is, how do you find the sex-disaggregated data?

And its actually very difficult to find the data itself. Not just sex-disaggregated, but the actual (COVID) data, because frequently, governments are not putting it out. Im trained originally as an epidemiologist, so I would expect if I wanted to know national data on XYZ disease, to be able to go to a ministry of health website for most countries and look up the information.

But because its a pandemic, what we found is that a lot of the data is being put out in really  from an academic perspective  quite unusual channels. We find some of this data on Twitter. On Facebook. On even YouTube. Which is great in some ways, because it means youve got a really wide audience, but going back to our first challenge, which is our own human resource capacity, then its really hard to have to go to so many different channels.

Q: Are you having similar challenges finding data for gender identity? And why arent governments publishing sex and gender data? Is it a blind spot?

Hawkes: What we are asking for is data that is disaggregated at a minimum by sex. And we can then, as the research community, think about the gendered reasons why we might see difference.

Lets say we see 100 COVID deaths in men and 85 in women. We would never, or very rarely, think thats all down to gender. We would put forward the notion that some of that is possibly due to absolute biological differences between people with XX chromosomes and people with XY chromosomes. We know from some of the evidence on COVID that there are immunological differences, for example, between men and women that might explain the outcome differences were capturing.

It would be great if surveillance systems captured gender identity as well as sex. But they dont. If you go and have a COVID test, they dont say, Whats your biological sex and whats your gender identity. Its simply a case the forms dont say that.

As feminists, and as people doing research, were really keen to recognize that sex and gender both play a very important role in the outcomes. Pragmatically, we also recognize that current data capture systems generally only capture self-identified sex. The systems arent nuanced enough.

One of the things were trying to say is, at a minimum, give us the sex disaggregation. If you can now please talk about gender identity, we can investigate even more carefully why you see differences.

But youve got huge numbers of countries not even giving us sex disaggregation. We havent got any data on nonbinary populations. Its not that we dont want to report it; the data arent there.

Q: How did the United States fare on collecting gender or sex information and making it public?

Hawkes: They were late to the party. Which I think characterizes several characteristics of the U.S. response, does it not? As an epidemiologist, I was really surprised.

Ive spent over 30 years working predominantly in Asia and the Middle East. The (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) is second to none when it comes to global strengthening for epidemiological surveillance. I could see there were countries where capacity is generally quite low in the health system that were reporting sex-disaggregated data well in advance of the U.S. The same for the U.K. The U.K. and the U.S. both have very strong system capacity to think about sex, gender, racial identity, class identity and present data in that way. But it took them a number of weeks to do so.

Q: In your database, you werent able to provide gender or sex-based data for testing in the United States at all. Is that not there?

Hawkes: Im sure that somewhere in the testing system, someone knows whether theyve tested men or women. But theyre just not giving that data out publicly.

Thats the same for all of it. Countries that dont present death data disaggregated  they know if its men or women dying. They know. They just dont have the mind-set to think it might be important.

Q: Why is this data important? What are we starting to see in the case of COVID-19 with regard to sex and gender that we wouldnt have?

Hawkes: Weve got really good data to show that there is a very clear gender impact of the secondary outcomes  social impact, economic impact. But the data were providing is the best way of beginning to think about what the actual impact of the infection itself is, and whether that has a sex and gender component. Its only by measuring the data that you actually see a difference that you can begin to investigate.

Q: Once you see a difference, you can begin to really investigate: Is this down to biology? Is there something about womens immune systems?

Hawkes: We see lots of countries dont provide sex-disaggregated data. Theres no excuse for it. But when we do have the data, what we see is that more women get tested. That allows you to think, Well, why havent we got public health messaging that is gender responsive to mens lack of participation? We need to change the way we talk about the way men get screening.

When you look at the rest of the data, you see a pretty even split between men and women in cases, but men are more likely to be hospitalized, and theyre more likely to die. If I was a lab researcher, Id say, Is that because theres something about womens immune systems that means they survive better? And what can I identify as the biological mechanisms, that can then help me think about treatments for everybody? People could use the data to think about hypotheses.

Public health researchers should think about the big gaps between men and women. Do you see more cases of deaths in men because they have more heart disease and lung disease? Do we see that gap because women dont have access to services? Are we seeing more men in hospitals and in the death registration system because women cant access services, and their deaths dont get counted? What we hope is our data will mean people can start to investigate why those differences are there.

Q: What do you hope this work leads toward?

Hawkes: We need a stronger global surveillance system that can actually mandate disaggregated reporting. Right now, were doing it and, to be really honest, weve all got day jobs. We think, actually, there are agencies that should have the mandate to do this.

Then theres nationally, and in the case of countries like the U.S. or India, where youve got federated systems, subnational. There should be an absolute requirement that, at a minimum, you have sex and age disaggregated. If you could add on other intersectional issues, that would be fantastic. Globally, we want sex and age; nationally, we want more. This should be a mandated part of the surveillance system.

The only purpose of collecting accountability data leads to the third, most important point. The datas not there just because we like producing pretty graphs; the data is there for people to act on it. Whether theyre going to use it to investigate differences, or use it to ensure that policies and programs are more equitable and more effective.

COVID-19 vaccine: First people to get vaccines also will get daily check-in text messages from the CDC

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New database tracks how COVID-19 affects people by sex and gender
Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, an honest look at President Biden's press conference.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
HURON COUNTY, MI -- A 58-year-old Brighton man died over the weekend after his bicycle was involved in a two-vehicle crash in Huron County, police said.

Deputies with the Huron County Sheriffs Office responded shortly before 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 to the area of Limerick Road near Maxwell Road in Chandler Township, southeast of Caseville, for a crash involving an SUV and a bicycle.

A preliminary investigation by the Huron County Sheriffs Office indicated a 58-year-old man on a bike was headed west on Limerick Road when the crash occurred.

A 2014 GMC Acadia driven by a 33-year-old Pigeon man, also headed west on Limerick Road, impacted with him, per a news release from Huron County Sheriff Kelly Hanson.

The bicyclist, identified by police as Lawrence J. Buescher, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the GMC Acadia was not injured, police said.

The fatal crash remains under investigation by the Huron County Sheriffs Office.

Firefighters with the Caseville Fire Department, Caseville Police Department, Scheurer Ambulance Service, as well as an investigator from the Huron County Medical Examiners Office assisted sheriffs deputies at the scene.

More on MLive:

Police seek help finding suspect in homicide outside Michigan haunted house

Stabbing outside funeral home in Saginaw Township leaves two men hospitalized

Man shot and killed by Dearborn officer while assaulting woman with knife, police say

Wild scene outside Bay City bar ends in two arrests
The Comey Rule

Creator: Billy Ray

Cast: Jeff Daniels, Brendan Gleeson, Michael Kelly, Jennifer Ehle, Holly Hunter

Its so unfair that the Americans get to watch Brendan Gleeson playing Donald Trump in a trickily timed show just ahead of their elections, and we had to settle for Vivek Oberoi as Narendra Modi after ours. Interestingly, both The Comey Rule, the two-part political drama in which Gleeson so sinisterly plays the US president, and Oberois laughably bad PM Narendra Modi biopic, were involved in a bit of a fiasco concerning their release dates.

While The Comey Rule, initially given a premiere slot after the US presidential elections in November, was brought forward to September after writer-director Billy Ray protested, the Modi biopic, which was expected to be a campaign tool, was rightly delayed until after the 2019 Indian general elections.

The change in release date made no difference then, but its clear that everyone involved in The Comey Rule hopes that the miniseries could, in some manner, have an impact on voters ahead of the 2020 elections.

Watch The Comey Rule trailer here

The man it whitewashes  former FBI director James Comey, played by Jeff Daniels  certainly knows a thing or two about influencing elections, and therefore, the course of world history. In 2016, just days ahead of the polls, Comey made the controversial decision to initiate an investigation into presidential candidate Hilary Clintons emails.

He did this knowingly, despite several of his top advisors (and not to mention his own family) telling him otherwise. The contents of the emails were never the issue, but the optics of a presidential candidate being investigated by the FBI sent a message to the voters  that the candidate might be dishonest. The timing of the probe was what killed the Clinton campaign, the show surmises in hindsight. If it had been pushed by a fortnight  the option was on the table  the results could have been different.

In a bizarre scene just before Comey makes the all-important decision, his wife tells him to look the other way, and consider what a Trump victory could mean for their daughters. The series never lets you forget just how monumental Comeys call was. What if this leads to the election of Donald Trump as the president? one character hisses. This is explosive! declares another, almost as if they knew that a show would eventually be made about them.

And then, when Trump, to everyones surprise (including his own), won, Comey became the punching bag. The Democrats felt that he was in bed with the Republicans, and the new president, with more skeletons in his closet than youd find six feet underground at Arlington Cemetery, was convinced that he could be used as a pawn.

Brendan Gleeson in a still from The Comey Rule.

All this builds to the shows most riveting scene, a meeting between Comey and Trump at the White House, where the newly elected president, over shrimp cocktail and vanilla ice cream, asks for the FBI directors loyalty. Its the centrepiece of the show; a crescendo of sorts before the house of cards comes tumbling down. Billy Ray, a veteran of political dramas, directs with an almost Clint Eastwood-like plainness. He lets his actors do the heavy lifting.

And what a treat they are to watch. Neither is doing an impression. Its like theyre men possessed. Gleeson, the rugged contours of whose face are regularly shot in tight close-ups, is unnerving as Trump. He does this thing with his mouth  a quiet sucking sound  that Ive never noticed the real Trump do, but must have been something that the actor picked up on. Its a showy performance, for sure, but Trumps a showboat if there ever was one.

Hes barely in the first episode, skulking in the shadows like a Bond villain, surrounded by vile henchmen, and grotesque  both physically and psychologically.

Jeff Daniels in a still from The Comey Rule.

But Daniels, on the other hand, delivers a mostly internalised performance as Comey. He plays the former FBI director as an isolated man of principle  someone who always put his duty to his country above all else. While Trump in the show is portrayed as a loudmouth who cant keep up with his own rambling thoughts, Comey rarely reveals what is going on in mind, unless it is to bark sharp orders and exude authority. He communicates not in words, but expressions. What a masterclass by Daniels.

The Comey Rule, despite its obvious flaws, cannot be faulted for them. It achieves what it set out to. To enjoy the drama, one doesnt need to have an intimate understanding of American politics, or of the pawns who are sacrificed amid its unending power games. This is wonderful for international audiences such as ourselves. And at a time when nationalism is often confused with patriotism, its a show that offers a much needed distinction between the two. The Comey Rule premieres Sunday, September 27, on Voot Select

Follow @htshowbiz for more

The author tweets @RohanNaahar
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Linkedin Shadine Taufik (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, September 27, 2020 14:52 482 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c47813fa 1 Food #book,#literature,#food,#spices,#SpiceRoad,#Indonesia,#TimHannigan,#WilliamWongso Free

The diversity of local cuisine and spices across Indonesia has given rise to an array of unique flavors.

However, the notion of spice trade purely as a product of colonialism is still rampant  with memories of the spice route poisoned with violent confrontations.

The Education and Culture Ministry's director general of culture, Hilmar Farid, said that spices played a very significant role not only in Indonesian cuisine but in the countrys history.

Hilmar, a speaker in an online discussion titled The Diverse Flavors of Indonesia, organized by the Periplus bookstore chain, said the government began an initiative to rebuild the spice route four years ago.

Bringing this up, many have asked, why are we talking about the spice route? We are not celebrating colonialism. Because when we discuss spices right now, we talk about losses, he said. It is important to remember that spices existed before colonialism.

Hilmar said insights, experiences, feelings and thoughts on the topic had been passed down from generation to generation, over hundreds and thousands of years.

The sad story is that much of what we have is lost. Many expressions are now unknown. I am faced with [culinary] maestros that dont have successors, he said.

The Austronesian diaspora, he said, far preceded the colonization of Indonesia, dating back thousands of years to Graeco-Roman times, a feat only possible through connections.

Hilmar said the topic of colonialism should not be ignored because of the bitter memories. We have to find a way to face this painful past and sublimate it. Our suffering, bitter experiences, stories of losses should become something useful, he said.

Hot stuff: Indonesia has been known throughout history for its plethora of spices. (Courtesy of Shutterstock/-)

The Indonesian archipelago has been known throughout history for its wealth of spices, from nutmegs, cloves and ginger to pepper and cinnamon, brought to the world by its sailors.

Their healing properties, distinctive tastes and aromas, as well as other benefits, are the main reasons the spices have been sought after worldwide. Trading routes to and from Indonesias Spice Islands are known by many names, such as the Spice Trail, the Spice Route or the Maritime Silk Road.

Earlier in March, Hilmar revealed that his office and Negeri Rempah Foundation would collect historical data to support the governments effort to get the great story of the spice trade recognized by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.

The idea of having world recognition for the spice route was initiated by The Jakarta Posts Indonesian Museum Foundation in 2015. In collaboration with other media companies and a production house, there was an expedition to spice suppliers of Indonesia.

Understanding on the importance of connections in Indonesian culinary history was further highlighted by British journalist and author Tim Hannigan, another speaker at the event.

Cuisine, he argues, is the result of connections formed through trade and assimilation between countries and diverse groups.

In every part of the world, you cannot have entirely local food. You cannot have food without outside influences [] Food is an international thing, try to imagine Indonesian food without chili and nuts  they are also from South America, brought to Indonesia by Portugal  every cuisine is international, Hannigan said.

Food for thought: Periplus hosts a virtual discussion on Indonesias diverse flavors, featuring three speakers: author Tim Hannigan (top left), culinary expert William Wongso (top right) and Education and Culture Ministry director general of culture Hilmar Farid (bottom left). It was moderated by food writer Ade Putri Paramadita. (Courtesy of Periplus/-)

Indonesian culinary expert William Wongso reflected on culinary diversity and the concept of Indonesian flavor profiles in food.

There is no such thing as Indonesian food, only regional cooking, since Indonesia has no [dishes consistently appearing throughout all regions]. Indonesia is the most diverse culinary heritage, region by region.

Wongso has also been instrumental in the fight to rebuild the spice route. His Spice Up The World initiative introduces Indonesian cuisine to different countries.

He said Indonesian restaurants tended to not fare well abroad due to a difference in palate, pushing him to emphasize the importance of food culture and adapting Indonesian ingredients to different local flavors.

We have to understand our food not through taste, but food culture. If we introduce food culture [to foreigners], they will become much more absorbed [] Otherwise itll be between like or dislike.

Through fusing raw ingredients, or recreating a specific dish, Wongso has assimilated Indonesian spices into the context of the local culinary scene. Through this fusion cooking, taste buds are primed for Indonesian food without alienating people that are unfamiliar with it.

Hannigan also pushed for greater awareness for travelers to help in preserving traditional dishes by embracing diversity of flavors in Indonesian cooking.

People from outside, traveling, have an input to protect local cuisines. If you look for the same things in every place [you visit], then why would people sell the local food?

Hannigan also spoke about the etymological nature of dating food, a technique that is not accurate, but may provide historians with a vague idea about how to go about tracing culinary origins.

The history [of flavors] is not written, it is in our language. Its the history thats not in books, its the history thats in our mouths  in words and in flavors.

Wongso is hopeful for the future, however, saying that with social media, people are more interested in tasting a wider variety of cuisines.

You can Google anything, but you cant Google taste, he said. (ste)

-- The writer is an intern at The Jakarta Post.
We live in an era where everything is shocking and nothing is surprising. Every major item of news over the last week or so  Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs passing, the inevitable Republican hustle to replace her on the eve of an extremely contentious election with the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett and the sectarian clashes over her faith  arrived as a jolt to a fragile, anxious nation. And yet all of it was long in the making  the conflict over Judge Barretts religion most of all.

In 2017, when Judge Barrett was appointed as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, in Chicago, she faced a tense confirmation hearing in which Senator Dianne Feinstein infamously remarked that the dogma lives loudly within you, and thats of concern. A mother of seven and a devoted Roman Catholic, Judge Barrett has continued to field concerns about whether she will be able or willing to resist the expectations of her church when it comes to cases involving relevant moral issues, and whether she will cater to the wishes of People of Praise, a mostly Catholic ecumenical organization with a distinctly traditional bent, of which she is a member.

The scrutiny focused on Judge Barretts beliefs has provoked allegations of old-fashioned anti-Catholicism on behalf of her Democratic critics. A good amount of febrile nonsense has indeed been floated regarding Judge Barretts spiritual life, such as the notion that People of Praise inspired Margaret Atwoods dystopian novel The Handmaids Tale, a charge that is reminiscent of 19th-century myths of nuns kidnapping good Protestant girls to force the faith upon them.

But the animosity faced by Catholics in todays America has little in common with its direct predecessor. Real sex-abuse scandals have replaced the imaginary ones circulated in the lurid tracts of yesteryear. White Catholics are no longer subject to the religious bigotry that once animated vicious rumors and, occasionally, violent attacks on Catholics and their places of learning and worship. Rather than regenerating a long-vanquished prejudice, Judge Barretts nomination has merely renewed attention to a fundamental conflict, centuries underway, between Catholicism and the American ethos.
I assume most readers of this column like beer, and I would bet that most also like donuts.

But that doesnt mean we want donut flavors in our beer.

However, I am always willing to give things a chance, and the recent news that Dunkin has once again teamed up with Harpoon Brewing to make donut-flavored beers caught my attention. Overall, Im not a fan of beers with a lot of extra ingredients or flavors added in, but I never say never.

After the success of their Harpoon Dunkin' Coffee Porter beer last year, the two companies decided that folks needed some donuts to go with that coffee. So this year, they collaborated on a mix pack, which features the new Pumpkin Spiced Latte Ale, Boston Kreme Stout, and Jelly Donut IPA.

The coffee porter is decent and pretty much standard issue for the style. Nothing much new to report here, but its good if you enjoy that style, which I am fairly ambivalent about.

So, lets look at the three new donut beers:

Well start with the Pumpkin Spiced Latte Ale, since there seems to be a cabal of folks who dread pumpkin spice anything in autumn. I dont belong to that group of people, but I will say Im not a huge fan of pumpkin beers in general. I dont hate them or anything, but they are not among my favorites. This iteration of a pumpkin ale is actually a bit better than most. It doesnt hide the fact that it has a spiciness to it and the pumpkin flavor is innocuous enough. My take is that if you like these sorts of flavors in general, youll probably like this beer. There is also a hint of dark-roast coffee in there, it seems.

The Boston Kreme Stout is very tasty for an in-between stout, which is described as a dry Irish Stout, but which has a somewhat sweet ending note due to the chocolate. But again, Im not overly enthusiastic about chocolate stouts in general. I will say, however, this one is done well, and not cloying the way some chocolate stouts can be. If I were into rating beers, which Im not, Id give it a solid 7.5 on a scale of 1-10.

Last but not least (at all) is the Jelly Donut IPA. To be honest, I expected to absolutely hate this beer. IPAs should not have fruit flavors in them, and if they do, they should be citrus flavors to augment whatever citrus notes are created by the hops. But raspberry puree? I braced myself for a bad reaction.

But you know what? Maybe Im getting old and soft about certain opinions, but this brew wasnt bad at all. I know a lot of purists will poo-poo the puree part, but those folks usually annoy me anyway. Look, this isnt a Top 10 entry in the IPA category or anything, but somehow Harpoon made these flavors work just fine. I wont be buying it again, but if you are looking for an odd but tasty IPA that has a raspberry aspect, this is right up your alley.

So kudos to Harpoon for making a nice, if weird, batch or autumnal brews that clearly arent for everyone, but then again, what is?
California: Tech giant Google`s video chat platform Google Meet has announced that after September 30, free versions of Meet will be limited to meetings no longer than 60 minutes.

A Google spokesperson told The Verge in an email, "We don`t have anything to communicate regarding changes to the promo and advanced features expiring. If this changes, we`ll be sure to let you know."

The Verge reported that the deadline of September 30 is also applicable to other features like access to advanced features for G Suite and G Suite for Education customers, including allowing meetings of up to 250 participants, live-streams of up to 100,000 people within a single domain, and the ability to save meeting recordings to Google Drive.

Those features are normally only available to customers on the "enterprise" tier of G Suite, which costs USD 25 per user per month.

During the coronavirus pandemic, Google Meet and other video-conferencing platforms have been chasing the meteoric rise of Zoom, with Meet passing 100 million daily participants back in April.
SCHENECTADY  The city is looking at opening a center to help small businesses crippled financially by the coronavirus epidemic.

Affirmative Action officer Ron Gardner told City Council members last week that the economic empowerment center, which would be located on Erie Boulevard near Route 890, would provide an environment where we can help sustain and offer technical assistance and our resources to help businesses get back on their feet.

"Well be there engaging with the businesses and working with the businesses and helping them with technical assistance, added Gardner.

Gardner wants the city to chip in $100,000 from COVID-relief fund monies to help get the center up and running.

The total cost of the project is $290,000.

City Councilwoman Leesa Perazzo questioned Gardner about staffing and why the center wasn't being housed at City Hall.

Gardner said City Hall doesnt currently have any more space and that he was in talks with other partners regarding staffing the center.

Perazzo described the center as an exciting proposal but said more details would be nice.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

I just think a business plan, a budget and curriculum would help me, she said, adding it feels a little cart before the horse.

I dont want to get the program created and then realize that we have to allocate additional monies because of staffing.

Gardner said part of the holdup from releasing more information publicly about the proposal is that some of the potential partners still needed to get the required approval from their board members.

He suggested that the panel could make the $100,000 contingent of the other groups coming through with funding, which they ultimately agreed on and voted it out of a City Council Committee.

The matter will be voted on the by full Council soon.
A World Health Organization official has warned that the global COVID-19 death toll will likely reach as high as 2 million without an effective vaccine.

Dr. Mike Ryan, WHO's emergencies head, said that number could spiral even higher if countries do not formulate and adhere to a plan to stop the spread of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

Already, there are nearly 1 million global deaths and 32.5 million worldwide infections of COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins University statistics.

Ryans dire warning comes as Europe is experiencing a new wave of coronavirus infections, leading governments across the continent to reimpose some restrictions on residents and businesses.

Dutch Prime Minister Make Rutte called the wave of infections in his country very worrying as the Netherlands reported a new daily record of 2,777 cases.

"The figures look downright terrible, he told reporters Friday. In short, the situation is very worrisome and will force us to take extra measures.

Rutte said he expects to announce those restrictions next week.

The Czech Republic also will face new measures starting next week, Health Minister Roman Prymula said Friday, without specifying exactly what limits will be in place.

Figures from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control show the Czech Republic trailing only Spain for the highest number of new cases per capita in Europe during the past two weeks.

Prymula said the countermeasures will affect gatherings of people but not harm the economy.

In Spain, local Madrid authorities and the national government are clashing over the extent of the steps needed to control the outbreak of new infections in the capital region.

Spanish Health Minister Salvador Illa said Friday the government wants all of Madrid and its 3.3 million residents to go under lockdown.

The regional government said it will expand lockdown orders, but only partially, adding about 160,000 more people to the 850,000 who had to stay home this week unless they had an authorized reason to go out.

Madrid also has cut the number of people allowed to visit shops and restaurants, and it has closed parks.

The lockdown has drawn protest from those who say they are being targeted because they live in more densely populated, poorer areas that have worse infrastructure.

In contrast, in the U.S., Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, announced Friday that the state will move forward with reopening plans and entering Phase 3 despite the spread of the coronavirus.

Phase 3 includes lifting restrictions, including capacity limits, on the states bars, nightclubs and restaurants. In addition, under Phase 3, businesses that have had staffs teleworking as a result of the pandemic are allowed to resume unrestricted staffing on site, employees can resume nonessential travel, theme parks are able to return to normal operations, and gyms and fitness centers can operate at full capacity.

"Every business has a right to operate ... you cant just say no after six months and have people twisting in the wind, DeSantis said at a press conference in St. Petersburg.

An article published Friday in The Lancet, a medical journal, says fewer than 1 in 10 Americans have developed coronavirus antibodies.

That determination is a result of tests conducted on medical samples from 28,500 dialysis patients across the country.

The study by Stanford University and Ascend Clinical laboratory, also uncovered that the U.S. minority population has a disproportionate amount of exposure to the virus in comparison to the countrys white population.

Sixteen percent of the people who live in majority Black and Hispanic communities have developed antibodies, while 11% of people living in majority Hispanic locations had also developed the antibodies. However, only 4% of people living in white communities had the antibodies.

The U.S. has more than 7 million COVID-19 cases, followed by India with almost 6 million and Brazil with over 4.6 million, according to Johns Hopkins.
Oregonians know what to expect from Sen. Jeff Merkley. Before joining the U.S. Senate in 2009, the 63-year-old Democrat from Myrtle Creek spent 10 years in the Oregon Legislature, including two as speaker of the House. Known more for his earnest wonkiness than a natural gift for politicking, he successfully pushed progressive policies on green energy, health care expansion and rights for LGBTQ Oregonians  all issues that have been at the top of his agenda in Washington D.C. as well.

But he still has the power to surprise Oregonians  and Americans as a whole. In his most prominent act of his second term, Merkley helped show the country the human costs of President Donald Trumps zero-tolerance policy toward families who enter the United States illegally. In 2018, he traveled to a Brownsville, Texas, federal detention center where children who had been separated from their parents were being held, livestreaming his unsuccessful efforts to gain access. The video was both awkward and powerful. His polite but repeated requests to tour the facility emphasized the lack of scrutiny with which the administration was being allowed to carry out an inhumane policy. While the visit may have been choreographed as Merkley contemplated a presidential run, it was a catalyst for mobilizing sentiment against the policy.

That win isnt the only reason he deserves a third term. Merkley has consistently delivered for Oregon, building on successes from his first term. A national water-infrastructure financing program created by legislation he sponsored already has provided two Oregon water districts with hundreds of millions in low-cost loans. He has helped secure funding for small-scale projects that factor large in economic impact in rural and coastal districts. And his office emphasizes constituent support  answering letters, advocating for Oregonians displaced by the recent wildfires and assisting those locked out by the states overloaded and unresponsive unemployment system.

By contrast, Merkleys Republican opponent, Jo Rae Perkins, 64, of Albany, offers platitudes in listing her priorities, pledging simply to vote in accordance with the responsibilities and duties as defined by the Constitution and to hold every agency accountable on how funds are spent. Her devotion and belief in the right-wing QAnon movement of social media-based conspiracy theories are of deep concern. In responses to The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board, she made several false statements, including asserting that Black people commit more crimes than white people  a fact easily refuted by FBI statistics  and openly dismisses the seriousness of COVID-19.

Oregon and the nation need leaders who can recognize fact from fiction and understand the difference between critical thinking and conspiracy theory. The choice is easy. Re-elect Merkley for a third term.

- The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board

For other November 2020 voting recommendations, visit our main endorsement link.

Subscribe to our free weekly Oregon Opinion newsletter. Email:


Zooming with Graham Norton, who is in West Cork, makes me first want to find a red chair to sit in, and then ready myself to be tipped over backwards when I fail to be sufficiently entertaining. As it happens, we don't get very long face-to-face before Norton's patchy WiFi defeats us - "people tell me I'm unstable," he says with a laugh, "I don't need to hear that!" - and we revert to the phone. But it's long enough face-to-face to feel that we have established something of the dynamic for which Norton is famous - that cosy, intimate, slightly risky rapport in which Norton plays both the beguiling host and the zany, unpredictable contributor.

At one point, we have a chat about housework which is pure Norton, meaning I don't honestly know how much he's joking - "In London I have a cleaner and here I don't, I do it myself. I say 'do it myself', I mean when my mother's coming to stay, that kind of galvanises me. Left to my own devices, I will walk into the kitchen and think 'there could be vermin in this room'" Seriously?

Housework aside, we're talking about his new novel - his third, on top of two memoirs. Home Stretch is a skilfully plotted, pacy and emotionally resonant tale that starts in rural Ireland in 1987, in a fictional town called Mullinmore, takes in London and New York, and ends 32 years later in 2019, back in Mullinmore.

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Just as with his first two books, Holding and A Keeper, Norton's characters are the people of this small town. They are unshowy, often inarticulate, bound by the town and its expectations until forced to confront these by dramatic external events. In this case, it's a car accident that kills three young people and maims another on the eve of a wedding. Two escape, and much of the story is what happens to them and because of them, in the aftermath of the crash.

Home Stretch, it seems to me, is a more personal book than either of his previous two: Connor, the main character, moves to London, comes out as gay, works in restaurants, hangs out with designers, then moves to New York.

Is that reading too much into it? "I think it's easier to find bits of me in it," Norton agrees. "All books are personal but this one is the most overt. Initially, I was reluctant to have anything that might remind people that I'd written the books. With the first two books I was really strict - there were no gay characters, no London This one, I thought, 'oh come on, this is Book Three, I've got to mine bits of my own life if I'm going to keep writing here'" he laughs. "So I allowed myself. It's still not 'my life', though - and I hope people won't think it is."

'His' London - he moved there in the late 1980s - sounds a lot like Connor's. "When I went to London I didn't do any of the Kilburn stuff," he says. "I thought, 'I left an island with three-and-a-half million of them, I don't need to meet any more Irish people, thank you very much.' So I worked in restaurants, went to drama school, made friends."

As part of the acknowledgements to the book, Norton thanks "all the people who stayed in Ireland to fight for the modern tolerant place it has become. I took the easy way out and left..." Does he really think that was the easy way out? "Yes, absolutely. I moved where the gays were. I went to London. Where nobody knew me so there was none of that scariness and there were gay bars that were just on the street so I could walk in, and meet other gay people. And I don't want to be glib about it, because those people who stayed, who went on the marches and did the petitions, are nameless and faceless and I'll never get to actually thank them, but they did the hard work."

Then he adds, "I am aware that Ireland isn't Nirvana - and I think if young people hear me talking they'll think 'what is wrong with him? It's horrible here' Well, try being here in the late '70s! People should be proud of themselves. Ireland is transformed."

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His description in the book of marriage - "It wasn't about being happy or making someone happy. It turned out it was just a matter of whose unhappiness was the easiest to deal with" - is particularly arresting. That, he says, when I mention it, "is my favourite line in the whole book. That is really true of relationships, particularly long-term relationships: choosing whose unhappiness is easiest to deal with."

As for his own current relationship status, "I get really uncomfortable talking about dating. I'm 57 years old, which sounds an awful lot like 60. Who wants to hear about that man's love life? Fifty-seven-year-olds only appear in porn when it is very, very niche. I'm not married with children but nor am I a monk. Shall we just leave it at that? I'll alert your local milliners if my circumstances change."

For all the wit, there are many moments of psychological astuteness in the book, including this, on Connor's fear of his parents' rejection: "How many gay young men had made the same excuses, when in reality it was all about their own self-loathing?"

Is that really how it feels, I ask? "You'll have to talk to other gay men about that," he says, "but I think that is a sort of truism. It goes back to Panti Bliss's speech on homophobia, that we're all a bit homophobic. We judge our own gayness harshly. Hopefully not any more; hopefully that is changing. But if you grew up in the society that myself and Rory [aka Panti] grew up in, you're not going to think being gay is a great thing. You're not going to go 'yippee!' You know it's not a choice, you know it's not something you did, but you feel like you're less than. You feel like you failed. You don't want to test people's love, because you don't love you"

He breaks off then and laughs, and says "I sound like RuPaul now" - and I'm honestly not sure if the laughter is a defence. It's tempting to see the use of humour as a way to deflect - the 'tears of a clown' drill - but I'm not at all sure that's what's going on here.

Does he feel he should engage more on, say, Twitter? Do battle for the things he believes in? "It's so difficult. I think my younger self would judge me very harshly," he says. "That I have a potentially loud voice and I don't use it at all. I feel guilty on his behalf. I feel like apologising to him that I turned into such a wimp. What stops me are two things. One is working for the BBC; it doesn't sit well with the guy on BBC One on a Friday night if I'm constantly campaigning. But also because I think, 'who does care what I think?' I scarcely care what I think."

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Twitter, he reckons, "is essentially a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week bar brawl. You can't go in there and whisper your nuanced opinion and expect not to be hit over the head by a chair leg. I don't understand the people who engage; I think, 'how can you be bothered talking to people who are clearly stupid?' They're stupid and angry. Angry, stupid people -they're not the ones you would normally like to spend time with!"

Success, at the age Norton was when he moved to London, feels like a kind of zero sum game, we agree. "You look at your friends and you think, 'They're having my success,'" he laughs. As for his own considerable success (hosting his own chat show for 22 years; nine Baftas, a BBC2 radio show and much more), "I was lucky in that I had failed at acting quite early on," he says. "Or I decided I'd failed, early on. I didn't keep knocking on that door. I knew I still wanted to show off, and that was when I started my own little shows and that bridged into stand-up; I did some radio, some TV, and that felt easier to cope with not being very successful at, because it was unclear what I was doing. I felt successful when I was able to pay my rent without working in a restaurant, and I wasn't able to do that until I was about 31. It felt like a long time coming"

Back to acting, or, more specifically, actors. Given his unique vantage point, does he find the younger generation have less to say for themselves? Are they harder to talk to? "Not harder to talk to," he says with a laugh, "harder to listen to" There are still, he says, "the good ones" where "you think 'you're great. You're funny, you're engaged, you're interested in other people' You then get that really depressing thing when you have them on [the show] again and you think 'oh no! You've turned! You've drunk the Kool-Aid! You aren't as interested. You're very cautious now because you've been in the paper for the wrong reasons, or you said something stupid on the show the last time,' and it's sad to see that."

He talks about that elusive star quality - "the really big stars, they have learned whatever it is that they do, so that people on the film set walk away and think, 'what a lovely guy', and audiences go to see the film and think 'what a lovely guy'" When I say, "Ah, but that's exactly what people say about you!" he responds with, "well, you hope you're a decent human being. I think that should be everybody's basic ambition. And we are all aware of the days when we failed in that basic ambition, and we all have those days and we're not proud of them and you think, 'well, I must start again, learn patience,' stuff like that"

Home Stretch resolves itself in a way that is subtle, almost low-key [mild spoiler alert]; "I was slightly worried that readers would feel cheated of a big comeuppance. I kind of thought that's where we'd end up - with fisticuffs, punishment. It was such a Eureka moment when I realised the only possible ending is forgiveness. That's a lesson for me; for anyone. That actually, it is the most powerful thing you can do - to forgive someone, because that's it, you've washed your hands. You get to walk away whereas they are still stuck."

Is he good at forgiveness? "I have to work at it," he says frankly, "but I do work at it."

Forgiveness needn't, however, mean forgetting: "I do do forgiveness," he says, "although I'm still not talking to that person and don't want them in my life any more. I'm over it; I'm not angry, I'm not seething, I wish them well - 'good luck with the rest of your life that I'm not in.' They're unaware of my forgiveness, but I've let it go in my own head, and that feels as good."

The question of whether humour is a defence for Norton is one I have another chance to consider when I mention the period during his college years at UCC (he studied English and French, but didn't finish his degree). For a time back then, he refused to leave his room. I make a rather stretched analogy with lockdown, of which he is decently tolerant ("That is interesting, how you've joined up bits of my life," he says kindly), but takes gentle exception to the word 'breakdown', which is how it is mostly reported, along with the detail that he gathered dead flies in a saucer.

"I don't think I said in the book I had a breakdown," he says. "I think it's been reported I had a breakdown. And maybe I did. But I was never diagnosed, so I don't want to kind of trivialise.

"But I did kill a lot of flies and then keep all their bodies. I might have thrown them away! It was weird that I kept a kind of mass grave, on one of the stereo speakers. Those heavy winter flies" and he's laughing again in a way that, truly, seems exactly as though he finds this delightfully funny, albeit at a distance of more than 30 years. I guess if one is as open and approachable as Norton, maybe it's only fair that he gets to have a little bit of clever fun with our perceptions.

Home Stretch by Graham Norton is out on October 1, published by Coronet, 13.99. Join Graham in conversation with RTE broadcaster Rick O'Shea at an online event, 4 October, 5-6pm; tickets 18, include a signed copy of the book; dublinbookfestival.com

http://dublinbookfestival.com/dublin-book-festival-eason-graham-norton/

The kids done good: Irish presenters in British media

Angela Scanlon

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From Co Meath, Angela started on RTE but has made waves in the UK presenting shows including Getaways, The One Show, and Your Home Made Perfect. Later this year she will present a 10-part series for BBC2, In the Noughties, in which Scanlon and celebrity guests will look back on a different year each week and discuss their favourite moment.

Dara O Briain

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Born in Wicklow, he started as a children's TV presenter on RTE and spent three years presenting Echo Island. He moved to the UK where he has hosted Mock the Week, Blockbusters, Robot Wars, Stargazing Live, Dara and Ed's Great Big Adventure and Dara O Briain's Go 8 Bit. Recently, he hosted the Bafta Games Awards from a spare room in his house.

Laura Whitmore

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Dublin-born Laura studied journalism at DCU and moved to London in 2018, where she presented Survival of the Fittest for ITV2, and took over from Caroline Flack for the sixth series of Love Island and spinoff series, Love Island: Aftersun.
Ushering in a new chapter of development cooperation in Vietnam, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the United Nations (UN) and SOVICO Group was signed in Hanoi earlier this week by Kamal Malhotra, UN resident coordinator in the country, and Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, chairwoman and CEO of SOVICO Group.

This partnership between SOVICO Group and the UN marks the first strategic cooperation of a Vietnamese corporation with the UN in support of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Noting that both parties share common interests in promoting youth engagement, green growth, and the protection and promotion of natural and cultural heritage in Vietnam, the MoU establishes a long-term framework for action and calls on the parties to work together to broaden this partnership with other like-minded Vietnamese businesses.

As a first step, SOVICO Group will collaborate with UNESCO, UNIDO, and UN-Habitat to aid Hanois development as a UNESCO Creative City through the preservation and restoration of cultural heritage, revitalization of craft villages, and support for creative hubs to nurture talented young people.

Guided by the values of sustainability and respect for local culture, this partnership envisions the development of Hanoi as a Creative Capital whose development builds on its creative past and the energy of its youth.

"This partnership with the United Nations to support Hanoi's cultural heritage and development demonstrates the continued commitment of SOVICO, with Vietjet, HDBank, Phu Long, the joint venture of Bac An Khanh, and its affiliates to support the long-term development of Vietnam by supporting youth leadership to make a meaningful contribution to [the countrys] social, cultural, and economic development, Thao said to a gathering of interested government ministries, city officials, and international partners on Wednesday.

We also expect our cooperation with the United Nations through UNESCO technical assistance will help establish a SOVICO Fund for Vietnam's Heritage & Innovation to support even more initiatives and solutions for cultural and green city development, artistic and design activities, as well as creative hubs to nurture creative talents, promoting entrepreneurship and innovation.

With this new partnership, SOVICO Group is demonstrating its commitment to sustainable development in Vietnam and to the principles and values of the United Nations, Malhotra said.

We salute them for being pioneers among Vietnamese corporations, and welcome them as partners, he remarked.

We hope that SOVICOs example will inspire other Vietnamese private sector companies to take the necessary actions that will realize a sustainable future for Vietnam."

Wednesdays MoU signing event was attended by senior government representatives and development partners who signaled their strong support for this public-private partnership and their hope for new initiatives that unite the private sector, development partners, and government to spur sustainable development and help Vietnam realize its objectives in the Decade of Action for the SDGs.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Did anyone really think Donald Trump, in the midst of an election all about ensuring a big turn out from his almost exclusively white conservative base, would nominate a Cuban American to the highest court on the land?

It always was going to be Amy Coney Barrett, a White Catholic mother of seven from the Midwest. No, from the Rust Belt.

Mr Trumps campaign is dialed into states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and to a lesser extent, Minnesota.

The Belt of Rust.

His, at least semi-public consideration of Florida-based federal Barbara Logoa, was aimed at Hispanic voters in Florida and other key swing states. He is not the first sitting president to consider election year politics while choosing a supreme court nominee.

In a recent television interview, former President Bill Clinton said he considered several then-Cabinet members when he nominated Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the seat that Ms Barrett likely will fill before years end  if not by Election Day. But Mr Clinton admitted he kept several Cabinet members in place because they did not help him in enough battleground states.

Mr. Trump has worked hard to keep the sunshine State in his column after nearly winning it four years ago. He has held multiple official events and campaign rallies there each year. He even changed his official residence to Florida, departing his native New York City after seven decades.

In short, a single judge nomination was never going to be the deciding factor in Florida, where polls show the economy and Covid-19 are bigger issues to voters.

Mr Trump predicted during a Thursday night rally in Jacksonville that he would again win the state, citing his big rally crowd that night.

Were not losing Florida, the president vowed on a day when his general election foe, former Vice President Joe Biden, was again at home in Wilmington, Delaware. You can just feel it.

His campaign aides feel it too, saying their internal campaign polls show Mr Trump ahead even though RealClearPolitics average of multiple polls show a dead heat in the presidents new home state.

The president has never reached beyond his base, never crossed the political aisle in any meaningful way to pass legislation that meant very much to moderate Democratic voters.

He let his base know his pick was for them during a late-night campaign rally in Newport News, Virginia, on Friday night.

You know they say the biggest thing you can do is the appointment of judges, but especially the appointment of Supreme Court justices, he said before a crowd of local and public officials called gargantuan even before they filed into and around an airport hangar that required the president to use the smaller version of Air Force One.

He talked under darkness that night of Republican voters needing to hit the polls in big numbers to, in his words, uphold religious liberty, free speech and the right to keep and bear arms Virginia.

A day later, shortly after announcing the white 48-year-old white Barrett, he let his base know he thinks it was her, not the Cuban-American Logoa who reflected his and their views.

I think its very hard. Where? he said. I think its very hard.  I think itll send a great signal to a lot of people.
Dancing With The Stars will be transforming into a fairytale wonderland as the contestants tackle Disney Night on Monday.

And Chrishell Stause was in full princess mode as she arrived for another round of rehearsals on Sunday afternoon.

The 39-year-old Selling Sunset star flashed her toned midriff in a white long sleeve crop top before embracing her pro partner Gleb Savchenko, 37.

Ready for it: Chrishell Stause was in full princess mode as she arrived for another round of Dancing With The Stars rehearsals on Sunday afternoon

Chrishell paired her crop top with a metallic skirt and a pair of slip on heels.

Her lengthy brunette hair was tied up into a neat ponytail and she had a single gold chain around neck.

The Days of Our Lives alum showcased her killer smile before entering the studio with Gleb.

She may be nursing an injury, but that hasn't stopped Kaitlyn Bristowe from giving Dancing With The Stars her all.

Dream team: The 39-year-old Selling Sunset star flashed her toned midriff in a white long sleeve crop top before embracing her pro partner Gleb Savchenko, 37

Beaming: The Days of Our Lives alum showcased her killer smile before entering the studio with Gleb

The Bachelorette vet, 35, was spotted returning to the dance studio on Sunday morning, ready to perfect her next routine.

Despite her ankle setback, Kaitlyn looked in high spirits as she arrived to rehearsals with a smile on her face.

Kaitlyn flashed a friendly wave and peace sign as she prepared for another day of rigorous rehearsals.

Making moves! Kaitlyn Bristowe was spotted returning to the Los Angeles dance studio on Sunday morning, ready to perfect her next routine

Top of the crops! Bristowe flashed her danced-honed torso as she arrived to the studio wearing a cropped sweatshirt

The star flashed her danced-honed torso in a trendy cropped sweatshirt, black joggers, and matching slides.

She arrived to the set with her blonde hair down, but was ready to pull it up with a bright orange scrunchie.

Kaitlyn was armed with a few workout essentials, including a bottle of water nestled into her arm.

Peace out! Despite the injury, Bristowe was still in good spirits

Seeking medical attention: Last week she underwent an MRI to get to the root of her injury

While it may only be week three of the competition, Kaitlyn has already garnered some of the highest scores this season with dance moves that have dazzled viewers and judges alike.

Unfortunately, Kaitlyn has already suffered a setback with her ankle injury.

Last week she underwent an MRI to get to the root of the matter.

'Getting the MRI right now. Yesterday was kind of a write off for me because I was just in pain and kept my foot elevated and just did nothing all day yesterday,' she said on her Instagram stories.

Back on the dance floor! Skai Jackson flashed a friendly wave as she headed to practice wearing a 'Do Not Disturb' face mask and NYC cap

Don't mess with Texas! Cheer star Monica Aldama wore a Dallas Cowboys jersey as she headed to the studio with her giant red bag slung over her shoulder

Grecian inspired: Emmy nominee Anne Heche and her dance partner Keo Motsepe arrived ready to rehearse their quickstep for Disney Night

Camo leggings: The 51-year-old Chicago P.D. actress will take on the role of Megara and Keo will play the titular character from the 1997 animated flick Hercules

'I don't want to seem like a baby because I know so many people go through injuries on this show, and battle through, and that's what I'm gonna do. But I just want to keep you guys posted.'

Fortunately, the injury hasn't kept Kaitlyn out of the competition.

Kaitlyn and her pro partner Artem Chigvintsev are competing against a slew of celebs for this year's Mirrorball trophy.

Skai Jackson and Monica Aldama were among the competitors heading into practice.

Mulan? The Real co-host Jeannie Mai flaunted her bare midriff in a cropped snakeskin top before rehearsing the Viennese waltz with partner Brandon Armstrong

Meow! Tiger King star Carole Baskin wore a cat T-shirt with cat shoes and a cat-themed mask on her way inside rehearsals

Controversial casting: The 59-year-old Big Cat Rescue CEO was excited to Samba as characters from her favorite Disney movie The Lion King with partner Pasha Pashkov

Actress Skai flashed a friendly wave as she headed to practice wearing a 'Do Not Disturb' face mask and NYC cap.

Cheer star Monica wore a Dallas Cowboys jersey as she headed to the studio with her giant red bag slung over her shoulder.

Emmy nominee Anne Heche and her dance partner Keo Motsepe arrived ready to rehearse their quickstep for Disney Night.

The 51-year-old Chicago P.D. actress will take on the role of Megara and Keo will play the titular character from the 1997 animated flick Hercules.

The Real co-host Jeannie Mai flaunted her bare midriff in a cropped snakeskin top before rehearsing the Viennese waltz with partner Brandon Armstrong.

Tiger King star Carole Baskin wore a cat T-shirt with cat shoes and a cat-themed mask on her way inside rehearsals.

The 59-year-old Big Cat Rescue CEO was excited to Samba as characters from her favorite Disney movie The Lion King with partner Pasha Pashkov.
The United States announced on Thursday it would provide more than $720 million in humanitarian assistance for the response to the crisis in Syria.

Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun made the announcement on Syria at an event on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. He said the money would go both for Syrians inside the country and for those in desperate need across the region.

According to thearabweekly.com, Biegun said the additional funds for Syria would bring total US support since the start of the crisis there to more than $12 billion.

A crackdown by Syrian President Bashar Assad on protesters in 2011 led to civil war, with Iran and Russia backing the government and Washington supporting the opposition. Millions have fled Syria and millions have been internally displaced.

In July, the United States imposed new sanctions aimed at cutting off funds to Assad.

Syrian authorities blame Western sanctions for civilian hardship in the country, where a collapse of the currency has led to soaring prices and people struggling to afford food and basic supplies, the news website said.

Washington says its sanctions are not intended to harm the people and do not target humanitarian assistance.

As the eighth year of conflict in Syria winds down, economic losses had exceeded an estimated $442 billion.

This huge figure alone does not reflect the suffering of a population among which 5.6 million people were registered as refugees and 6.4 million as internally displaced; 6.5 million were experiencing food insecurity; and 11.7 million were still in need of at least one form of humanitarian assistance.

The repercussions of the conflict were detailed in the Syria at War: Eight Years on report, released this week by the National Agenda for the Future of Syria (NAFS) program of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), and the Centre for Syrian Studies at the University of St Andrews.

Covering the period 2011-2019, the report reveals that nearly 3 million children inside the country were out of school during the 2017-2018 academic year. The conflict has torn apart the countrys social fabric and caused significant losses in human development, downgrading Syrias status from medium human development to low human development.

The report shows that 82% of conflict-induced damage was accumulated in seven of the most capital-intensive sectors, namely housing, mining, security, transport, manufacturing, electricity and health. It estimates the value of physical capital destruction at $117.7 billion and the loss in gross domestic product (GDP) at $324.5 billion, thus placing the macroeconomic cost of conflict at about $442.2 billion.

The report also cites official data according to which, by the end of 2018, real GDP had lost 54% of its 2010 level.

As for trade, the report underlines that Syrian exports witnessed a collapse from $8.7 billion in 2010 to $0.7 billion in 2018, resulting from disrupted production and trade chains.

Infrastructure damage, the restrictive unilateral economic sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union, and physical, financial and human capital flight out of the country are among the contributing factors to this collapse.

Imports, however, did not witness a comparable fall, which has widened the trade deficit and generated increasing pressure on the value of the Syrian pound.
Aer Lingus will restore many operational staff to 50pc of their pre-Covid shifts from today - up from 30pc.

However, the move will see the airline pay many staff just 3.80 per hour gross from its own resources, with the rest coming from Government supports.

Staff in Shannon will continue to receive even less of their wages directly from the airline after it decided to put them on just 40pc of their pre-Covid shifts.

The move by airline management to restore Dublin and Cork staff to 50pc of their shifts - as well as to introduce winter leave and voluntary severance - comes as analysis by the Sunday Independent shows that, for most of the summer, Aer Lingus paid as little as 0.50 per hour gross pay from its own resources to its staff for hours worked.

The airline did not comment directly on these figures, but said that it had used the government subsidy scheme "to maintain a direct employment relationship with its employees".

The Covid-19 crisis has had a catastrophic impact on the aviation industry, it said in response, adding that this had been "exacerbated" by the Government's travel policy.

Aer Lingus faces intense political pressure to deal with the unresolved pay and social welfare crisis among its staff, with the latest fortnightly payslips of some staff members, seen by the Sunday Independent, still showing zero net pay after deductions for credit union, trade union and health insurance. That is after the airline receives a 203-a-week Government subsidy payment per employee. The situation contrasts with industrial relations progress this weekend at airport authority DAA, which is also facing financial challenges because of the pandemic.

More than 1,500 DAA employees have voted in favour of new work practice changes. Ballots in different areas of the company are ongoing, but already about 65pc of staff who are to vote on the proposals have accepted, including a more than 70pc acceptance from the 750 member Airport Search Unit, where opposition to the changes had been strong. DAA has said the new work practices are crucial to its financial stability, will allow it to lower its headcount by proceeding with a voluntary severance scheme, and also ensure staff receive at least 80pc pay.

By contrast, in June, after passenger numbers had collapsed, Aer Lingus staff voted against changes and the airline cut rosters to 30pc of pre-Covid levels, or just 22.5 hours a fortnight. That was equivalent to the 350 a week available on the TWSS.

That scheme more than paid for the hours of many staff. Under the new EWSS scheme the airline now directly receives 203 a week per staff member so paying the average staff member the remainder of their wages costs it less than 6 per week in total. Based on several payslips, including those of a front-of-house staff member of almost 30 years' service with 700 a week pre-Covid earnings, the analysis indicates that when staff go back on to 50pc rosters this week, an average staff member will cost the airline just 140 per week in total. Aer Lingus staff have struggled to access social welfare payments.

The Government pays 203 per employee per week in subsidy. The Department of Social Protection would have paid 350 a week for much of the summer were the airline to have temporarily laid off staff.
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Linkedin Sebastian Smith (Agence France-Presse) Washington  Sun, September 27, 2020 13:32 482 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c477bc88 2 World Joe-Biden,Donald-Trump,Presidential-Debate Free

The volatile US presidential election enters a fierce new stage this week when Donald Trump and Joe Biden hold their first debate -- a television spectacle finally allowing Americans to witness the two antagonists head to head.

Tuesday's clash, coming right after Trump defied Democrats and nominated a conservative to replace the late Supreme Court liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg, could again upend an already nail-biting contest.

Biden, 77, leads in polls against the Republican incumbent, both nationwide and in most of the crucial swing states set to provide the decisive electoral college count on Nov. 3.

But Trump, 74, is campaigning hard, criss-crossing those battlegrounds on Air Force One while Biden runs a far lower profile strategy. And with his history of skillful showmanship and brutal debate tactics, Trump is hoping the meeting in Cleveland will put him back on top.

Because of COVID-19 restrictions this has been a mostly long-distance election season. That puts even more weight on the first of three 90-minute debates, where tens of millions of Americans will weigh up two men who each accuses the other of posing an existential threat to the United States.

High stakes

Trump sees his nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court -- potentially tilting the court to the right for years -- as a fundamental boost to his troubled reelection campaign.

But the live TV debate will be a wild card.

Trump needs to break through the bad news of 200,000 coronavirus deaths, the long-lasting economic fallout, and fatigue among swaths of the country at the constant scandal and upheaval roiling his administration.

And Trump has huge confidence in his prowess on stage.

Yet unlike the fawning treatment he enjoys during his weekly call-ins to Fox News or the adoring atmosphere at rallies, he'll find himself facing a man painting him as "toxic" in front of the entire country.

"When Joe Biden walks onto the debate stage, it will be the first moment in four years where an American has the opportunity to confront Donald Trump for what he's done," Steve Schmidt, a Republican strategist turned outspoken Trump opponent, said on MSNBC.

Biden, as the frontrunner, mainly needs just to keep steady.

But he'll be up against a man many would call the best provocateur in the business.

"There is virtually no doubt that Trump will try to bait him," David Barker, director of the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University, said.

"Biden does have a history of being thin-skinned, and most of his most memorable gaffes have come when he is responding to a question or comment that has gotten under his skin."

Who's more ready?

Trump has spent months denigrating Biden's mental state.

He says the former vice president is "shot." He questions whether Biden took drugs to boost his performance during the Democratic primaries.

Biden, though, has been through the crucible of the Democratic primary debates earlier this year. He's also been making a string of generally well received speeches on the campaign trail.

Trump comes with his own weaknesses.

Although he often takes questions from groups of journalists, it's rare that he'll do the more risky one-on-one televised session with a tough interviewer. Neither has he had to debate an opponent face-to-face since Hillary Clinton back in 2016.

"Normally, that first debate is the toughest for the incumbent," said Aaron Kall, director of debate at the University of Michigan and co-author of "Debating The Donald."

"When you are the president, you are kind of in a bubble and historically that first debate usually goes better for the opponent."

In the days leading up to the Cleveland clash, the Trump campaign has been busily trying to reset expectations, suddenly painting Biden as a master performer.

"We have to be prepared for the tuned-in Joe Biden," Trump's campaign communication chief Tim Murtaugh said.

Off topic

The debate moderator, Fox News host Chris Wallace, has set topics ranging across several of the most explosive political and social issues in the country:

-- The Trump and Biden records.

-- The Supreme Court, which Trump intends to shift to the right for a generation on election-eve by nominating conservative judge Amy Coney Barrett as replacement for the late justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

-- The COVID-19 health and economic disasters.

-- Race relations and urban violence.

-- The integrity of the election, which intelligence agencies say is being undermined by Russia in particular, and which Trump claims will be "rigged" by Democrats.

Whether Wallace can keep both men moving along, however, is an open question.
IFA President Tim Cullinan held an online meeting with the Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe, the Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath and the Minister of State at the Dept of Finance Patrick ODonovan today to discuss the IFA's pre-Budget submission.

While we fully understand that challenges facing the exchequer arising from COVID-19, the shadow of Brexit is creating massive uncertainty for farmers. Government support for the sector was never more important, he said.

While a 5bn contingency fund has been set aside at EU level, our Government will have to step up to the plate also, he said.

We are facing at least a one-year CAP transition, and the funding for farm schemes will have to be maintained. They are a vital part of farm incomes, and they also underpin investment in the sector, he said.

Investment in farming gives a real return to the rural economy, and we believe farmers and the agricultural sector can play a major part in the economic recovery, he said.

The Chair of the Farm Business Committee Rose Mary McDonagh and the Chairman of the Rural Development Committee Michael Biggins also attended the meeting.

Rosemary McDonagh said the delegation also raised the importance of the range of reliefs.

The renewal of consolidation and consanguinity Stamp Duty reliefs are crucial to encourage generational renewal. Both of these need to be renewed this year, and we need the PAYE self-employed allowance equalised fully, she said.

All the tax reliefs for agriculture must remain in place, she said.

IFA Rural Development Chairman Michael Biggins said that farmers need certainty concerning vital farm schemes.

A lot of these schemes have an environmental component and are critical supports for farm incomes.

We need a clear commitment from Government that these schemes will be maintained during the CAP transition phase, whether that lasts for one or two years, he said.

IFA also had the opportunity to raise the importance of an adequate budget to fund the proposed three-year cap on the Fair Deal Scheme, amongst other issues in our pre-Budget submission.
Farmers groups and political parties plan to intensify protests against the three farm bills that were signed into law on Sunday by President Ram Nath Kovind, who ignored demands that he withhold his assent to the legislation that the opposition has described as anti-farmer and corporate-friendly.

Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh will stage a sit-in protest against the contentious laws on Monday at Khatkar Kalan, the ancestral village of freedom fighter Shaheed Bhagat Singh, on his birth anniversary. Others participating in the protest are state affairs in-charge Harish Rawat, all state Congress MPs and MLAs, said the Congress partys Punjab unit chief Sunil Jakhar on Sunday.

This will be Amarinder Singhs first protest against the farm bills. Former Uttarakhand chief minister and Congress general secretary Rawat will also be visiting Punjab for the first time since taking charge of state affairs.

Punjab cabinet minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Nawanshahr MLA Angad Singh visited a Bhagat Singh memorial on Sunday to oversee arrangements for Mondays sit-in. Channi said the Congress was on the verge of launching a long-term campaign against the Central government over the farm bills from Bhagat Singhs village, with more plans expected to be announced by the CM to compel the Centre to withdraw the legislation.

Also read| Their reasons for quitting alliance werent sufficient: Punjab BJP on SADs exit

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said President Kovinds assent to the three bills marked a dark day for democracy and farmers.

Extremely sad that @rashtrapatibhvn refused to heed farmers & Punjabis cries & has signed #FarmBills and J&K bill excluding #Punjabi as official language. Hopes that President will act as nations conscience & return Bills to Parliament dashed, Badal tweeted.

SAD had on Saturday snapped ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre to protest against the bills that farmers say put the interests of corporate entities above their own. Farmers groups have also expressed concern that the laws may pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price system.

Also read: Farm bills get Presidents assent amid protests, SADs exit

The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, seeks to give freedom to farmers to sell their produce outside of the notified Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) market yards.

The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, will give farmers the right to enter into a contract with agribusiness firms, processors, wholesalers, exporters, or large retailers for the sale of future farming produce at a pre-agreed price.

The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020, will remove commodities like cereals, pulses, oilseeds, onion, and potato from the list of essential commodities and will do away with the imposition of stock holding limits.

On Sunday, farmers squatted on the Amritsar-Delhi railway track on Sunday, continuing their rail blockade protest against the contentious farm bills. People from nearby villages brought cooked food and other items for the demonstrators. Community kitchens were organised at the protest site by local gurdwaras.

Also read: Sharad Pawar lauds SADs Badals for their strong pro-farmer stance

Women wearing saffron dupattas also joined the protest, raising slogans against the Centre, and said they would not allow the implementation of the three legislations.

Farmers, under the banner of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, have been staging a sit-in on the rail track in Punjab since last Wednesday.

Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher demanded that all the sitting 13 MPs from Punjab resignation their seats with immediate effect in support of the farmers demands. He asserted that BJP leaders would not be allowed to enter the villages of Punjab.

The committee has announced an extension of its campaign against the bills till September 29. Trains services have been suspended in the state because of the protests.

Farmers have expressed apprehension that the Centres farm reforms would pave a way for the dismantling of the minimum support price system, leaving them at the mercy of big companies.

The Trinamool Congress came out in support of the Shiromani Akali Dal for quitting the NDA government at the Centre. In a tweet on Sunday, TMC national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O Brien offered the partys support to SAD, which received a positive response from the Punjab partys president Sukhbir Singh Badal.

We support Sukhbir Singh Badal and Akali Dals stand with the farmers. Fighting for farmers is part of Trinamool DNA. In 2006, Mamata Banerjee risked her life on a historic 26 day fast for farmers rights. We oppose #FarmBills2020 as they endanger States role, MSP, PDS and procurement, OBrien said on Twitter.

Derek - your stand against the #AgricultureBills in parliament is well known. Appreciate your support, Badal said on the micro-blogging website in response to the TMC leaders tweet.
The city of Rochester has named Cynthia Herriot-Sullivan as the city's new interim police chief after the police department faced criticism over its handling of the death of Daniel Prude.

Ms Herriot-Sullivan will be the first woman to hold the position, according to ABC News.

Mr Prude died in March after he was pinned to the ground by Rochester police officers.

Officers encountered him while he was having a mental health emergency. He died a week after his encounter with the officers, during which an officer put a "spit bag" on his head and pinned him to the ground.

Seven officers at the encounter were suspended without pay.

The city's former police chief, La'Ron Singletary, was fired in the wake of Mr Prude's death.

Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren announced the change during a press conference on Saturday.

"Traditional policing practices must be altered and improved to better serve and protect our citizens," she said.

She said Ms Herriott-Sullivan brings a "fresh approach to policing" and that she is "uniquely qualified to deal with the many current issues that the city of Rochester is facing."

Ms Herriott-Sullivan is a nearly-24 year veteran of the Rochester Police Department. She left the department in 2009.

"Interestingly, I left law enforcement because I wanted to have a bigger hand in helping people stay out of jail, rather than putting in that," she said. "So I moved on to roles helping deal with criminal justice disparities."

Mr Prude's death was ruled a homicide caused by "complications of asphyxia in the setting of physical restraint."

New York Attorney General Letitia James expressed outrage after Mr Prude's family released a video taken by an officer's body camera showing the incident. They claimed the police attempted to cover up the incident.

Ms James said on 5 September a grand jury will investigate Mr Prude's death.

On Sunday, Ms James announced there would be reforms in how police body camera footage is used. Under the new policy, police body camera footage will be released earlier in the investigation process. Once families have had a chance to see the video and jurisdiction has been established, the videos will be released.
Editorial

The BookSeller have published an interesting article on library usage, pointing out that it is only at one-fifth to one-third of pre-covid levels. There are many reasons for this situation, some of which are listed below, but its still a worrying statistic to be made public at a time when councils are looking for ways to save money:

much usage has moved online. On the other hand, while such usage is often larger than any single physical library branch, it wont account for a significant amount of the fall. There were 157m book loans in 2018, while the article states that ebook loans March to August were 3.5m. The 600% increase figure often quoted as an e-lending rise is not an overall accurate figure for the whole period.

many libraries are still closed, on reduced hours or click and collect only.

unlike shops, libraries are not promoting themselves or encouraging visitors. The focus is on safety, not income. Libraries need to be models of safety for their councils, and being risk averse, unlike retail.

the unique returns aspect of libraries means quarantining of books unlike in shops. This may have a knock-on effect in highlighting risk to users and in keeping popular titles outside of circulation.

A significant user base for libraries is amongst the old: a demographic most at risk and thus less likely to go out.

An example of an authority trying to save money is Kent, which has the largest number of library buildings of any UK authority, has announced that it will 66 of its 99 branches closed until 1st April 2021. Those normally working in the closed branches have been moved to open ones. Also, reading between the lines, the closure of Stockport Central Library and its moving some time next year to a co-location in an old Argos shop is as likely to be as much about saving money as modernising the service, although it is true that sometimes both can be achieved.

Changes by local authority

National news

Collaborations For Libraries: How To Create New Things With Partners  Princh. Includes room hire, using a wedding dress designer to come up with a new staff uniform, and jazz  plus a please to not hurt reputation of library.

 Princh. Includes room hire, using a wedding dress designer to come up with a new staff uniform, and jazz  plus a please to not hurt reputation of library. How Yorkshire towns can lead UK fightback  The Yorkshire Post says  Yorkshire Post. North and East Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership says lack of broadband holding back region.

 Yorkshire Post. North and East Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership says lack of broadband holding back region. It Took Covid Closures to Reveal Just How Much Libraries Do Beyond Lending Books  Observer. A look at York Explore, Tacoma, New York, Suffolk, with increase in online usage. Its many proposals also include the use libraries  many of which are fighting for their futures  as centres to teach new digital skills to the less computer-savvy.

The American Library Associations Games and Gaming Round Table (GameRT) is proud to announce that despite COVID-19, International Games Week (IGW) will take place from November 8 to November 14, 2020. Libraries of all stripes around the world are encouraged to sign up between now and October 24 to be eligible for a drawing for one of three special GameRT Loot Boxes. While GameRT encourages participants to hold a gaming event at their Library during IGW, due to the pandemic, any event held during the month of November can be counted. This year, GameRT will be spotlighting freely available print-and-play games and listing resources available for libraries to use to set up gaming events online at games.ala.org. Darren Edwards, Lis-Pub-Libs

Levelling Up Our Communities  UK Government. Report by Danny Kruger MP (Conservative) to the Prime Minister on improving community. The local Library is or should be a crucial element of the social model we need to create, or re-create. Libraries are no longer dusty book depositories. Increasingly they serve as digital hubs and information centres for communities, and places for classes and sessions of all kinds. The British Librarys Business and IP Centre network is supporting local libraries to assist people in starting their own businesses. Even more is possible: siting BBC local radio stations in libraries, spreading the Library of Things network, using libraries for cultural events and exhibitions, and working with Historic England to establish new libraries in old buildings.  Government should make a major commitment to support the local library as the hub of the 21st century community

Library footfall down 80% on last year  BookSeller. Libraries Connected  collects weekly figures and, up to the week ending 13th September, they show a very gradual uptick in the number of physical users since lockdown ended for libraries from early July, with footfall still at only around 20% of last years level.  many libraries still closed so those open more at 35%  the figure is still far lower than for the commercial high street, where more shops have opened fully and footfall has peaked at close to 70% of previous levels.

 BookSeller. Libraries Connected  collects weekly figures and, up to the week ending 13th September, they show a very gradual uptick in the number of physical users since lockdown ended for libraries from early July, with footfall still at only around 20% of last years level.  many libraries still closed so those open more at 35%  the figure is still far lower than for the commercial high street, where more shops have opened fully and footfall has peaked at close to 70% of previous levels. Public Library Apparel  KickStarter. Apparel to raise awareness and funds for public libraries in the UK.. Check out these literary themed t-shirts to support ailing libraries  Big Issue.

 KickStarter. Apparel to raise awareness and funds for public libraries in the UK..  Big Issue. Public Library Reopening Poll  Summer 2020  Lorensbergs. The results provide a snapshot of the services available at late August/early September and libraries plans for the months ahead. A total of 96 library authorities have taken part, with participation stretching across the UK. The findings represent how its been necessary for library authorities to respond according to the guidelines and different circumstances of their local areas.

Transforming the digital offer for public libraries  BookSeller. Our goal was not just to conceptualise what a website for public libraries might look like, but rather to think more deeply and strategically about how to improve the use of digital technology throughout the whole public library sector.   We believe that a national digital presence should help everyone discover the power of the public library by making access to knowledge easier and more enjoyable, and supporting every public library to deliver digital services of the highest quality.  to build a national digital channel for public libraries and develop patterns and designs that local libraries can use and re-work

International news

Local news by authority
Aaron Sorkin arrives at the Oscars Nominees Luncheon, Los Angeles, California, February 5, 2018. (Reuters/Mario Anzuoni)

Aaron Sorkin has revealed how the night of the 2020 United States presidential election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden would unfold, if he was writing it as a screenplay.

Sorkin, who is widely remembered for his work on the hit political series The West Wing, broke down his dramatisation of Tuesday, November 3, 2020, during a video conference at the San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain for his upcoming Netflix film The Trial Of The Chicago Seven.

Read More: Jeremy Strong begged Aaron Sorkin to use real tear gas on The Trial Of The Chicago 7 set

In Sorkins head, Biden will come out on top, but Trump will do what we all assume he will do and not concede defeat. Instead, he will claim that the elections rigged and the Democrats cheated, Variety reported.

Mike Pence laughs as Donald Trump holds a baseball bat as they attend a Made in America product showcase event at the White House in Washington, July 17, 2017. (Reuters/Carlos Barria)

All of which Trump has already suggested might actually happen.

But this is where Sorkin took a huge leap of faith, as he added: For the first time, his Republican enablers march up to the White House and say Donald its time to go. I would write the ending where everyone does the right thing. I dont think Trump will do the right thing, except by accident.

Read More: Sacha Baron Cohen is unrecognisable in first look at 'The Trial of the Chicago 7'

During his press conference for The Trial Of The Chicago Seven, Sorkin admitted that he was inspired to start work on the story of the anti-Vietnam War protests in the Windy City in 1968 after the 2016 election of Trump, especially since the current president of the United States started being nostalgic about the good old days beating up protestors.

Sorkin said the court case has now gone on to become even more relevant in the wake of the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement across the world.

The Trial Of The Chicago Seven will be released on Netflix on October 16.
A federal prosecutor in Massachusetts has written an extraordinarily damning letter criticizing his boss, Attorney General William Barr, and accusing him of 'a dangerous abuse of power' and bringing 'shame on the department he purports to lead'.

James D. Herbert acknowledged in his letter, published by the Boston Globe on Thursday, that few acting federal prosecutors were willing to openly voice their opinions.

But Herbert, who was one of the lead prosecutors in the case of mobster Whitey Bulger, said he felt compelled to speak out.

'Many former federal prosecutors have spoken out against Attorney General Bill Barr, while current federal prosecutors have understandably remained silent,' he wrote.

Bill Barr was appointed by Donald Trump to lead the Department of Justice in 2019

James D. Herbert wrote a letter to the Boston Globe published on Thursday

Herbert said that Barr was servile to the president, which he said was an abuse of power

Herbert said that Barr's comments at Hillsdale College in Michigan on September 16, however, 'compel me to speak out as well.'

Barr had, in a discussion with students, likened COVID-19 lockdowns to slavery and, according to CNN, equated his staff with preschoolers.

'The attorney general acts as though his job is to serve only the political interests of Donald J. Trump,' wrote Herbert.

'This is a dangerous abuse of power. From his misleading summary of the Mueller report, to his selective intervention in cases against political allies of the president, to his accusation that victims such as George Floyd are being used as mere props by those calling for racial justice, to his baseless claims about mail-in ballots, William Barr has done the presidents bidding at every turn.'

Herbert concluded by saying that Barr was an embarrassment to the Department.

'For 30 years I have been proud to say I work for the Department of Justice, but the current attorney general has brought shame on the department he purports to lead,' he said.

Herbert said Barr 'acts as though his job is to serve only the political interests' of Trump
Chinese textbook rewrites Bible, claims Jesus stoned woman to death

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A communist textbook that's being used in Chinese schools falsifies the biblical account found in John 8:311. The textbook claims that Jesus murdered the woman who was found in adultery and said He, too, is a sinner.

The textbook, published by the government-run University of Electronic Science and Technology Press, states: The crowd wanted to stone the woman to death as per their law. But Jesus said, Let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone. Hearing this, they slipped away one by one. When the crowd disappeared, Jesus stoned the sinner to death, saying, I too am a sinner. But if the law could only be executed by men without blemish, the law would be dead.

Catholics in mainland China are distressed about the distortion of the biblical account, reports UCA News.

I want everyone to know that the Chinese Communist Party has always tried to distort the history of the Church, to slander our Church, and to make people hate our Church, a parishioner who uploaded the textbook on social media was quoted as saying in his post.

Another Catholic in mainland China, who was identified only as Paul, was quoted as saying, The same pattern has been repeated every year but the Church has never fought back or received the respect and apology it deserves.

The news of the distortion of the Bible in the Chinese textbook comes as the Vatican and China are expected to renew a deal on the appointment of Catholic bishops in China. The United States has advised Pope Francis against it due to the severe violation of human rights and religious freedom in the communist country.

Bitter Winter, a magazine that reports on religious liberty and human rights in China, noted the subtle objective behind manipulating the textbook.

The story teaches that the law and the (Chinese Communist) Party are good and pure, and transcend the impure human beings who happen to represent them. Even if the officers are corrupted, their decision should be acceptedbecause, honest or corrupted, they represent the Party, and the Partys law should never be questioned, the magazine writes.

Heres what John 8:311 says in the Bible: The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now, what do you say? They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her. Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?

No one, sir, she said.

Then neither do I condemn you, Jesus declared. Go now and leave your life of sin.

The magazine reported earlier that children were also being taught to oppose religion, encouraged to question the beliefs of family members and report those closest to them to authorities.

China has been cracking down on underground churches and Christian activists for years.

In 2015, more than 1,000 crosses were removed from church roofs and entire church buildings were destroyed across the Zhejiang province.

The Chinese government continued its campaign against Christianity during the countrys coronavirus outbreak by destroying crosses and demolishing a church while people were on lockdown.

More than 60 million Christians live in China, at least half of whom worship in unregistered or so-called illegal underground churches.

China is ranked as one of the worst countries in the world when it comes to the persecution of Christians, according to Open Doors USAs World Watch List.
She's the wholesome face of Great British Bake Off but cookery doyenne Prue Leith, 80, has revealed how dabbling with LSD just once in her twenties left her plagued with nightmares and 'horrific' hallucinations for decades.

Leith, 80, who's back on screens in the latest series of the popular baking show, made the shocking revelation to LBC, saying the terrifyingly realistic hallucinations that followed saw her thinking flesh had 'melted' from her arms.

Speaking to the London radio station, the Bake Off star said she'd taken the drug with her then husband Rayne Kruger, who died in 2002, saying: 'It was the Sixties, there was a lot of drugs around. We used to smoke a bit of pot, not all the time and not a lot, but we did.

'And one day, we did take acid, only once, and I must tell you, it was the most appalling experience I've ever had.'

Scroll down for video

Scary: Bake Off's Prue Leith, 80, has she took LSD just once when she was in her early 20s but says the 'appalling' experience left her with nightmares and hallucinations for decades afterwards (Prue pictured in 2019)

Speaking with Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson on LBC, Prue admitted she only took the mind-altering drug once along with her then husband Rayne Kruger but says the hallucinations that followed left her terrified (Prue pictured in 1985)

She continued: 'I had absolute horrific hallucinations. I couldn't look at him because he turned into a kind of monster, and my arms, the flesh dripped off them. There was just bones left.'

Prue admitted the experience left her with nightmares for several decades and said she would sometimes wake up in the middle of the night and the room would look like it was 'sinking and shrinking'.

The candid radio interview with Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson saw Prue also recall how she once stumbled into an orgy in Paris.

The TV star admitted she stripped off so she would blend in with the crowd and walked around for about an hour before her friend reappeared and she went home.

It comes after The Great British Bake Off scored record views for Channel 4 when it returned for series 11 on September 22.

Prue pictured with her co-hosts on the latest - 11th - series of the Bake Off; it returned last week to a whopping 7.9million viewers (Pictured clockwise from top left: Matt Lucas, Noel Fielding, Leith, Paul Hollywood)

Ruth said: 'I had absolute horrific hallucinations. I couldn't look at him because he turned into a kind of monster, and my arms, the flesh dripped off them'

Quite a life! Prue also admitted she once ended up at an orgy in Paris - and decided to strip off too...but didn't join in

7.9 million tuned in to see Matt Lucas' first episode as the new co-host and 12 home bakers compete in the first drama-filled challenges.

The show marked the biggest Great British Bake Off launch Channel 4 has seen since it started airing the show in 2017, following seven years at the BBC.

Tuesday night's series premiere beat last years opening episode by a huge 1.3 million viewers, and surpassed the broadcasters first ever episode in 2017 by 500,000.

The peak of 7.9 million (average audience 6.9 million) marks Channel 4s biggest broadcast of 2020 to date and the channels highest rating broadcast since the series nine final of Bake Off in 2018.

The start of Tuesday night's show was delayed by 15 minutes to make room for Prime Minister Boris Johnson's address at 8pm, which three million people tuned in for on Channel 4.

All 12 bakers, presenters Matt Lucas and Noel Fielding, judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood along with the entire crew lived together in an isolation bubble for six weeks in order to film.

The production took over luxury hotel Down Hall in Hertfordshire with all cast and crew living together on site for the duration of the shoot, undergoing regular COVID-19 testing and living away from their families.

This allowed the bakers and the judges and presenters to forgo social distancing in the famous tent.

The series had already seen it's start date pushed back by a month from its usual late August slot after filming was delayed by lockdown.

The production worked to ensure COVID-19 restrictions would not impact the close-knit nature of the show.
Before long, our democracy will be supplanted by a not-so-benevolent dictator  Donald J. Trump.

Trumps megalomania is the gravest threat to our nations democracy since World War II, and the reason his evangelical friends should ask God to temper this wannabe strongman before he destroys the nation.

We have in this president a perfect storm of evil. First, hes a pathological liar. Second, hes a dangerous demagogue who will say anything and do anything to remain in power. Third, hes a malignant narcissist who will destroy anyone who fails to show him fealty. And fourth, hes an autocrat. Hence his fascination with tin pot dictators the world over. Trumps fawning proclivity for authoritarian despots is all the proof one needs that this president will not leave office if Joe Biden wins.

For many years Ive heard scholars and historians warn that democracy is a fragile concept. Sadly, were about to find out just how fragile democracy can be.

Vote! Uncle Sam needs you.

Robert Earl Fried

Allentown
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Police are investigating after discovering a 45-year-old woman dead inside a vacant apartment Thursday evening.

The woman has not yet been identified. Police found her about 5 p.m. Thursday in an apartment on Detroit Avenue near Center Street, Cleveland police spokeswoman Sgt. Jennifer Ciaccia said.

Police responded after receiving a call from a friend who found her dead in the vacant apartment, Ciaccia said. Though drug paraphernalia was found next to her in a bedroom, officers could not determine the cause of her death.

Members of Cleveland polices Homicide Unit came to the scene to investigate, along with the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiners Office.

Investigators learned she was last seen alive Tuesday, Ciaccia said.

Read more crime stories on cleveland.com:

Man shot dead in Clevelands Garden Valley neighborhood, police say

Ohio Investigative Unit cites Port Clinton bar in violating coronavirus-related health orders

Kent police arrest man accused of shooting bystander in arm

Ohio Investigative Unit: Euclid bar cited in violating coronavirus-related health orders

City of Cleveland expresses condolences for Daniel Ripepi, killed in Interstate 480 accident
Tatiana Turner is taken into custody after witnesses said she drove her car into a crowd of President Donald Trump supporters in Yorba Linda, Calif., on Sept. 26, 2020. (Mindy Schauer/The Orange County Register via AP)

Woman Charged With Attempted Murder After Driving Through Crowd of Trump Supporters

A woman was arrested and charged with attempted murder after targeting a crowd of President Donald Trump supporters in California on Saturday.

Tatiana Turner, 40, of Long Beach, was arrested after striking at least two people in the parking lot of the Yorba Linda Public Library, the Orange County Sheriffs Office said.

Turner was being booked into the Orange County Jail on attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon charges.

The man and woman who were struck were transported to a nearby hospital with major injuries. Theyre both expected to survive.

Officials said Turner was believed to be part of the Caravan for Justice, a social justice group that protests with Black Lives Matter organizations. Turner was wearing a black t-shirt that had #Caravan4Justice. Caravan for Justice, which couldnt be reached for comment, had said the march was to combat racism.

It wasnt clear whether Turner had a lawyer.

Witnesses said Turner targeted a crowd of Trump supporters that had faced off with demonstrators. The man that was hit was a Trump supporter, independent videographer Tomas Morales said.

Someone ran their car through a crowd of Trump supporters, an independent reporter on the scene said.

Video footage showed a white passenger car plowing through a crowd of people holding American flags in the library parking lot.

Black Lives Matter protesters and counter protesters clash in Yorba Linda, Calif., Sept. 26, 2020. (Mindy Schauer/The Orange County Register via AP)

Orange County Sheriff deputies intervene to keep protesters and counter protesters from each other, in Yorba Linda, Calif., Sept. 26, 2020. (Mindy Schauer/The Orange County Register via AP)

Prior to striking the people, Turner had pepper sprayed multiple people for no reason and brandished a wooden weapon, Morales reported.

The two sides had clashed before the incident. Deputies received reports of physical altercations between the Caravan for Justice demonstrators and counter-demonstrators about 30 minutes before the 2 p.m. event was planned for, including at least one person who was pepper sprayed by another protester.

There were about 250 present.

Due to the physical altercations and reports of individuals within the crowd having weapons, an unlawful assembly was declared and a dispersal order was issued, the sheriffs office said.

Another person, 46-year-old Jason Mancuso of Anaheim, was arrested for failure to obey the order to disperse.

The crowd had dispersed by 4:30 p.m.

Yorba Linda is about 30 miles southeast of Los Angeles in southern California.

Interactions between drivers and people during demonstrations have become common in recent months. Several drivers were attacked by protesters in Hollywood late Thursday, police said.

One of the drivers struck people blocking the road; one person suffered minor injuries, according to officers.

But Angelique Jackson said she was struck by one of the drivers and suffered a fractured skull.

It looks like I shouldnt be alive. Its kind of shocking that Im as fine as I am, Jackson told CBS LA. Of course, I put myself in that position. I knew the risk I was taking, however, he hit me.

The drivers were detained but ultimately released without being charged. An investigation is ongoing.
Former Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey, who recently took VRS, joined JD(U) at Chief Minister Nitish Kumars residence in Patna on Sunday.

Although the IPS officer, who took VRS less than half a year before he was scheduled to superannuate, has chosen to keep his cards close to the chest, speculation is rife that he may get a ticket from one of the assembly segments in his native district of Buxar.

Reports in a section of the media also say that Pandey might be considered for the Valmiki Nagar Lok Sabha seat where a by-poll has been necessitated by the death of sitting JD(U) MP Baidyanath Mahto.

The JD(U) draws its support, largely, from among non-Yadav OBCs and Pasmanda Muslims. The party hopes that with the induction of Pandey it may be able to reach out to the Brahmins, traditionally supporters of the Congress who have gravitated towards the BJP of late.

The former IPS officer had recently hit the headlines for his vocal condemnation of the non-cooperation meted out to the Bihar police team" that had visited Mumbai to probe the death by suicide of Patna-born actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

With a candour that is usually not associated with bureaucrats, Pandey had lashed out at the municipal authorities in Mumbai when they had forcibly quarantined Vinay Tiwari, a young IPS officer from Patna who heading the investigating team until the probe was handed over to the CBI upon a request to the effect from the deceased actors father.

Pandeys comment, while he was still the DGP, that actress Rhea Chakraborty accused of abetment to suicide by Rajputs father did not have the aukaat" (standing) to make any snide remarks against Nitish Kumar was also much talked about.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has been mocked for delivering a melodramatic speech following President Trump's nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.

The Democrat was accused of 'fear-mongering' and being 'hysterical' as he held an impromptu press conference on Saturday night in which he proclaimed that Barrett's confirmation would 'hurt every single American'.

In his hyperbolic address, Schumer attacked Barrett by claiming she 'stands against' 'just about everything America believes and stands for.'

'Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg must be turning over in her grave up in heaven,' he howled.

Several poked fun at the Senator for that line, with one stating: 'RBG hasn't even b been buried yet...'

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has been mocked for delivering a melodramatic speech following President Trump's nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court

Barrett has repeatedly emphasized that she is an impartial judge, but some liberals worry that her 'originalist' interpretation of the Constitution means she often comes to decision that jibe more with conservative policies and viewpoints.

On Saturday night, Schumer began his attack on Barrett by claiming she would dismantle the Affordable Care Act if she were confirmed before November 10, when the issue is set to come before the Court.

'A vote for Amy Coney Barrett is a dagger aimed at the heart of the healthcare protections Americans so desperately need and want,' Schumer raged to an assembled crowd of cameras.

He then went on to claim that Barrett would attempt to topple women's reproductive rights.

'Her record also makes clear that women's reproductive right will be at risk, Roe V Wade will be at risk. If she's on the court I believe it will be eliminated or so greatly constricted that in effect its eliminated.'

Barrett has repeatedly emphasized that she is an impartial judge, but some liberals worry that her 'originalist' interpretation of the Constitution means she often comes to decision that jibe more with conservative policies and viewpoints. Barrett is pictured with four of her seven children

Amy Coney Barrett has been nominated to fill the Supreme Court seat left vacant following the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg last week

Schumer subsequently claimed that 'labor rights would be eliminated' and 'all efforts to stop global warming would be hurt'.

He continued: 'LGBTQ rights would also be hurt. This hit home personally for me, because at our Jewish New Year's dinner we heard that Justice Ginsburg had died My daughter who was sitting next to her wife whispered "Will our right to marry be constrained under this new court?"'

Many accused Schumer of making up that story, with one channeling a Jeopardy contestant by stating: 'I'll take "Things That Never Happened" for 500, Alex'.

Another stated: 'Chuck, seriously, I'm Jewish, my sister is married to a woman, and the idea that this Justice is going to overturn that is just hysterical. Judges don't just make decrees. They decide cases brought before them. Please please stop saying stupid asinine things.'

Barrett is pictured at The White House after being nominated to The Supreme Court by President Trump

Lawyer David Limbaugh also similarly criticized Schumer for his overwrought reaction to Barrett's nomination.

'Chuck Schumer launches into scaremongering, saying Judge Barrett threatens our health care. Only a leftist could say that. She wont legislate from the bench. Shell adjudicate Obamacare challenges on the basis of the Constitution and statutory construction, unlike leftist judges.'

Conservative commentator Mark Simone also chimed in: 'Always count on tasteless, crude, awkward Chuck Schumer to spew out his partisan hatred and hysterical hyperbole even at the first second of her nomination.'

Even supporters of Schumer appeared less than impressed by his dramatic display, saying he came up with no actual solutions as to how to stop Barrett's confirmation from occurring.

'OK. So what's the plan, Chuck? How will you prevent this?' they asked.
Yema Khalif feared for his life.

It was late one August night and Khalif was at his eponymous clothing store, Yema  the only Black-owned shop in Tiburon  with his wife, Hawi Awash, and a friend. They were putting clothes onto the racks and processing other inventory that had arrived a few days earlier. He noticed a police car circling his block, slowing down by his store, and then making more rounds.

Khalif, an American who emigrated from Kenya as a student almost a decade ago, was nervous. This would not be the first time he had been profiled by police, he said, and he braced for an interaction that was a few minutes away.

A patrol officer had seen people in the store at 1 a.m. and questioned why they were there. Bodycam footage captures the tense exchange.

Hi guys, Ive never seen you open this late, you just restocking? the officer asks.

No, were just doing our thing, Khalif says.

Whats your thing? the officer asks.

Is there a problem? Khalif asks.

The officer keeps asking why theyre at the store this late, at one point asking Khalif to take his hands out of his pocket. Khalif repeats that if there isnt a problem, he didnt need to identify himself and asked that they be left alone.

Whats the problem with three people being in a store? Khalif asks.

Because its 1 oclock in the morning, the officer who identifies himself as Isaac says.

So what stands out to you is that theres three Black people in the store? Khalif says.

Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle

The officers supervisor, Sgt. Michael Blasi, and another officer arrive at the scene five minutes in. Khalif insists that if he isnt doing anything suspicious, he doesnt need to answer anyone.

Simply being in a well-lit store wasnt a crime, and the fact the alarms werent blaring was also an indicator they belonged there, Khalif told The Chronicle.

On the recording, he keeps asking why the police officers were interrogating him, and the officers keep asking him to identify himself.

Is it your store? Thats all we want to know, Blasi says.

If I tell you its my store, then what? Khalif asks.

Then show me that its your store, Blasi says. Can you prove that its your store?

This is one of the numerous moments in the video that many Black Americans, and experts on race relations, say exemplifies the experience of Black people across the country.

This case illustrates how fraught relations are between communities of color and the police, said Jack Glaser, a professor at UC Berkeleys School of Public Policy who researches racial disparities in law enforcement.

Theres nothing inherently wrong with the police checking in on a store that has people in it at 1 a.m. in a quiet town like Tiburon, Glaser said. But the people in the store have seen that police officers are inordinately suspicious of Black people, overly monitor them and use more physical force against them. So the store owners concerns are justified, he said.

The wealthy, serene community of Tiburon, with a population of 9,000 people, is 90% white. Its what Nikki Jones, a professor of African American studies at UC Berkeley whose research focuses on race and policing, calls a quintessentially white space. The consequence of being in an environment like that if youre Black is that you stand out. Youre hyper-visible and the assumption is that you dont belong, she said.

Thats what Yema was attuned to. That the officers saw three Black people in the store who maybe should not be there. Perhaps these were not the store owners, but if they were, then they had to prove it, Jones said.

It took a white neighbor who lived a few doors down to yell, Its his store! for the officers to leave, the video shows.

Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle

Awash, who co-owns the store, said she was shaking the entire time. Their friend was recording the exchange. Awash said she has been profiled before and pulled over when shes driving around Tiburon, and the interaction with the police that night was like reliving trauma over and over again. The indignity Khalif experienced when a neighbors word was taken over his was particularly grating, she said.

How do you not know the only Black shop owners in town? Awash said. Were pretty well-known around here, and for the police officers to not know about us says a lot about them. The Tiburon Chamber of Commerce named the Yema store Business of the Month in May.

Tiburon police declined to comment, citing an ongoing investigation into whether the officers violated policies or procedures.

Awash and Khalif met as students at Dominican University. Khalif grew up in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya. Awash was born in Ethiopia and moved with her family as refugees to Kenya before landing in Minnesota at the age of 8. They started their company online in 2016, and opened their first physical store in February of this year  just in time for shelter-in-place orders a month later. The store specializes in selling African print clothing, and it has since reopened, building a strong clientele.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

The recording from inside the store was shared on social media and gained prominence after Colin Kaepernicks Know Your Rights Camp organization shared it. Golden State Warriors player Klay Thompson posted on his Instagram saying, Black people always have to prove their innocence no matter how successful they are. This ss exhausting.

Jones said the store owners are not overreacting. And what may seem innocuous to some people are encounters that could turn deadly very quickly for Black people.

George Floyd died over a $20 bill, she said.

In a year marked by the killings of Black people at the hands of law enforcement, leading to protests nationwide calling for police reform, the conduct of the Tiburon officers is particularly tone-deaf, Jones said. All of this could have been avoided if the officers knew the owners of the only Black-owned shop in a town thats 90% white, she said.

Thats the core issue. Why does Tiburon have those demographics in a place as diverse as the Bay Area? We need to look at decades of segregation, housing and education policies to truly explain why that night happened, Jones said.

The incident has rattled Tiburon and the neighboring town of Belvedere. The two local councils held a special meeting a week after the incident to discuss what happened and to hear from Khalif and Awash, and the community. The one-hour meeting turned into four hours, with impassioned perspectives during the public comments portion.

Richard Fink, a longtime resident of Belvedere, said at the meeting that the need for community policing, in which law enforcement officers knew shop owners and people who live in the town, was paramount. Teveia Barnes, a Tiburon resident, said Black people daring to leave their homes only to risk ending up as a tragedy was disturbing. Logan Grime called to say that Blasi was one of the deputies involved in a wrongful death lawsuit involving his father, Cary Grime, who was arrested in Novato in 2003 after a struggle and died a few days later, according to court documents. The lawsuit was later settled.

Blasi resigned from his post on Sept. 1. A week later, Tiburons police chief, Michael Cronin, opted for early retirement amid the community backlash. The town has hired an independent attorney to investigate the incident. There have been three meetings about the incident so far and a move to create a diversity task force. Not everyone agreed on the function of the committee.

Tiburon Mayor Alice Fredericks favors an advisory capacity for the task force, but Vice Mayor Holli Thier prefers an oversight committee with powers to launch investigations into police misconduct and for the committee to be involved in hiring and firing decisions of the police. But she didnt have the votes for it and praised her colleagues for at least moving to create the advisory task force. A draft resolution on the creation of the task force will be presented at the next meeting on Oct. 7.

Khalif, for his part, would like to envision a neighborhood, a world, where he doesnt have to prove his existence.

Ive been profiled before. Once when I went to pick up mail on Main Street and numerous times when Ive been walking by my home in Tiburon, he said. I just wish the amount of heart I put into this community was a two-way street.

Shwanika Narayan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: shwanika.narayan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @shwanika Instagram: @shwanika
Rapper Tory Lanez has recently broken his silence about the shooting incident with Megan Thee Stallion.

Megan accused Tory of shooting her in the foot in an unknown incident that happened in July.

Recently, Tory dropped an album "Daystar" with 17 tracks, and there was a song that addressed the shooting incident and its fault out.

On Thursday, Tory, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, took to Twitter to tease his public comeback after a month of silence.

"To my fans... I'm sorry for my silence... but respectfully... I got time today... 9 PM PST."

On Friday morning, he also returned to Instagram to promote his album.

He shared a picture to his 10 million followers with the caption, "There is a time to stay silent. And a time to speak. I said all I could say in this."

Tory opened his album with a diss song that is said to be for Megan. It's titled "Money Over Fallouts," addressing allegations and claiming as he raps, "I ain't do it," and alleges, "Megan('s) people trying to frame me for shooting."

"Girl, you had the nerve to write that statement on an affidavit / Knowing I ain't do it, but I'm coming at my truest / trying to keep this --- 200 with you, shorty / I can prove it."

In the song, the Canadian-born musician repeatedly refers to a relationship with the "WAP" hitmaker.

"I love you hard / I'm still down to renegotiate the unity / My heart is some foolery."

He also claimed that Megan Thee Stallion, whose real name is Megan Pete, has tried to ruin him with her accusations.

"Look at how you doing me / People try to ruin me / And what's even worse is I'm still thinking about you and me."

More than a month after she was shot in the feet at a party in Hollywood Hills, Megan said on Thursday night that it was her fellow rapper Tory Lanez that pulled the trigger.

The 25-year-old rapper said in an Instagram Live video in August, "Yes, Tory shot me. You shot me, and you got your publicist and your people going to these blogs lying."

"Stop lying. Why lie? I don't understand."

According to the Associated Press, nobody from Tory's camp has responded to requests from comment.

Megan claimed that she didn't tell the police what happened on the scene on July 12 because she was scared of the legalities and was afraid for her safety.

The pair were leaving a party at Kylie Jenner's house when he allegedly shot Megan in the feet.

When police arrived, she told them she stepped on broken glass instead.

Later, Tory Lanez was charged with carrying a concealed weapon and is scheduled to appear in court on October 13 after posting bail of $35,000.

Fellow musicians Kehlani, Jojo, Chance the Rapper, and Hollywood stars Halle Berry and Michael B Jordan came out in support of Megan The Stallion since the shooting.

READ MORE: Emma Stone Secretly Marries Dave McCary Because She's Pregnant?
According to preliminary data, the Armenian Armed Forces have 16 casualties and over 100 wounded persons. This is what Deputy Commander of the Defense Army of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) ArturSargsyan said during a press conference today.

Every officer and soldier is performing his task with a high level of awareness and a high sense of responsibility, he said.

As reported earlier, today at around 7:15 a.m. Azerbaijan launched an offensive along the entire length of the line of contact of Karabakh-Azerbaijan forces through the use of artillery and attack UAVs, targeting settlements in the rear as well, including the capital of Stepanakert.

The units of the Defense Army of Artsakh destroyed 4 helicopters, nearly 15 UAVs (including attack UAVs), 10 tanks and infantry fighting vehicles of the adversary.

As a result of Azerbaijani shelling, there are victims and wounded civilians. Schools have also been shelled, including schools in Stepanakert. Civilian infrastructures have been largely damaged in several settlements.
It's not only in the where protests against racial injustice are part of the national conversation. A handful of America's critics have taken note too, using recent months' demonstrations and graphic images of police violence to denounce the country at the United Nations' gathering of world leaders this year.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani invoked the killing of George Floyd, the Black American man who died after a white police officer in Minneapolis pressed his knee against his neck even as he repeatedly said he could not breathe. Floyd's death, caught on video, set off nationwide protests in support of Black lives.

Rouhani said the scene was reminiscent of Iran's own experience in its quest for freedom and liberation from domination, and that Iran instantly recognised "the feet kneeling on the neck as the feet of arrogance on the neck of independent nations. Cuba and Venezuela also took jabs at the U.S., making specific references to the protests during words delivered to the U.N. General Assembly.

While the tactic of criticizing the for its racial tensions and policies toward Black Americans is decades old, it comes as historians and experts on democracy warn that under President Donald Trump, American moral authority and stature around the world has waned.

When the falters, it ripples across the world. And the United States has long faltered in regard to its racial policy and upholding its promise of equality, said Rachel Kleinfeld, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for Peace whose research focuses on democracy and governance.

In the past, when we've faltered, we've tried to do better, she said. I think what's different now is that people fear that those ideals and values are possibly slipping. In his remarks to world leaders at the all-virtual U.N. meeting this week, Trump touted what he called his administration's achievements in advancing religious liberty, opportunity for women and protecting unborn children.

America will always be a leader in human rights, Trump said. He made no reference to the protests roiling multiple cities as Americans prepare to vote in November's presidential election.

In contrast, Barack Obama spoke directly about America's own own racial and ethnic tensions during his U.N. General Assembly remarks in 2014, saying he knew the world took notice of Ferguson, Missouri, where the shooting of an unarmed Black 18-year-old by a police officer set off protests.

America's critics will be quick to point out that at times we too have failed to live up to our ideals," he said at the time. But we welcome the scrutiny of the world -- because what you see in America is a country that has steadily worked to address our problems, to make our union more perfect."



Though Trump made no mention of the struggle for racial equality in his speech, did. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said we aren't going far enough to eliminate systemic injustice, whether it's a question of against Black or Indigenous people, homophobia or sexism. The small island chain of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines proclaimed that Black Lives Matter" and said the case for reparatory justice remains strong.

As the Republican nominee in 2016, Trump seemed to acknowledge that when it came to civil liberties, the U.S has a lot of problems" that impact America's ability to promote democracy abroad. I think it's very hard for us to get involved in other countries when we don't know what we are doing and we can't see straight in our own country," Trump told The New York Times that July.

That argument echoes the one the Soviet Union levied against the U.S. during the Cold War, particularly in the civil rights era of the late 1950s and early 1960s under Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy. Soviet media often portrayed the protests and sit-ins as evidence that was systemic of capitalism.

According to a State Department memo in 1963, written just months after Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested in Birmingham, Alabama, Soviet broadcasters portrayed U.S. policies toward Black citizens as indicative of its policy toward colored peoples throughout the world.

Karl Jacoby, a professor of American history and co-director of the Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Race at Columbia University in New York, said that the U.S. moved to end segregation and push forth the Civil Rights Act as it competed for influence with the Soviet Union in part because it was untenable to try to be the leader of the democratic world and be undemocratic at home.

This is really a very old pattern that the United States finds itself very vulnerable on the stage because of the hypocrisy of its stated ideals and the actual reality of the treatment of a lot of its citizens, he said.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel leveraged that vulnerability when he referred to U.S. imperialism and the irrational and unsustainable production and consumption system of capitalism" in his speech at the U.N. General Assembly this week. He said the U.S. was facing an abundance of practically uncontrolled expressions of hatred, racism, police brutality and irregularities in the election system.

(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.)
Spring exam dates were canceled because of the pandemic, often with little notice, and the College Board, which produces the SAT, abandoned plans for an online, at-home option. When the board added a September test date for the first time in decades, more than 334,000 students registered to take it on Saturday.

But again, many were thwarted; four out of 10 testing centers, mostly in the Northeast and California, remained closed on Saturday, a decision that the College Board said is made by local administrators, based on conditions in their communities. (The rival ACT has faced similar disruptions; nearly a third of its centers were closed for the Sept. 19 testing date.)

To try to avoid that risk, some determined test takers traveled many miles from home. Ava Pallotta, 16, a high school senior in New Rochelle, N.Y., had registered for the March and June test dates, but both were canceled. So for this weekend, she picked a spot in Albany, about two hours away, and drove there Friday night to sleep at her grandmothers place.

I cant give myself a break, said Ava, because Ive been so concerned about this deadline that keeps getting pushed back.

Although testing centers in New York City and other major metro areas are often packed, those in suburban and rural areas generally have spots available, a split that exacerbates the inequities inherent in admissions testing. The College Board said less than 10 percent of its testing sites across the country were full on Saturday.

Thats how I wound up at Sleepy Hollow High School, which drew students from New York City and across its suburbs, along with locals. (I didnt register for the test until the last possible day, and did so at a site far from my home in Brooklyn that still had vacancies, to avoid taking a spot from a student that wanted it.)
By Express News Service

GUWAHATI: The National Peoples Party (NPP) viewed the axing of two of its four ministers in Manipur as betrayal by ally BJP.

The four NPP legislators, who are camping in Guwahati, held a meeting with partys national president and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Saturday evening. They will hold another round of meeting on Sunday evening and decide the fate of the NPPs alliance with the BJP.

We are not happy. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had made a commitment to us. It was not fulfilled. They betrayed us, one of the NPP legislators told this newspaper requesting anonymity. He did not explain the commitment.

All four of them  Deputy CM Y Joykumar Singh, minister Letpao Haokip, sacked ministers L Jayentakumar and N Kayisii  had arrived in Guwahati on Saturday to decide their future in consultations with Sangma.

No decision (on the alliance with the BJP) was made last night. We will meet him (Sangma) again this evening and take a decision, the NPP legislator said.

On Thursday, Manipur CM N Biren Singh, who heads a BJP-led coalition government, had effected a reshuffle of his Cabinet by dropping six ministers  three from BJP, two from NPP and one from Lok Janshakti Party  and inducted five, including Oinam Lukhoi and Okram Henry, who is a nephew of former CM Okram Ibobi Singh of the Congress, into the ministry.

Lukhoi and Henry, who had won the 2017 elections on the Congress tickets, had resigned as MLAs prior to defecting to the BJP last month.

Recently, when reports were rife on the social media that two NPP ministers would be dropped, the partys Manipur unit had sent out a message to the BJP that it would withdraw its support to the government if any of them was targeted.

In June, all four NPP ministers had pulled out of the government following differences with the CM. They returned as ministers just days later after the BJPs central leaders including Shah and JP Nadda had assured them of addressing their grievances. They were then critical of the CMs autocratic style of functioning.
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The good

Italians star at disorganization, disobedience, and discord. They sneak past no-entry signs, light up under no-smoking signs, barrel along at 80 in 35 mph zones, fasten their seat belts under their butts. Plus, they had the worst COVID-19 epidemic in Europe.

So how come theyre doing so well now? Europe battles a second wave, with the U.K., France, and Spain all reinstating restrictions, while Italians amaze both Americans and themselves by remaining with Germany, among the winners. Heres why:

Italys lockdown was one of the strictest and lengthiest around, achieving an astonishing level of compliance from a population who for 12 weeks had to carry a pass every time they went out, certifying they were shopping for food or medications or walking for exercise, all within 200 yards of home. People survived on community spirit, deliveries from corner stores, and constantly available surgical masks, disinfectants, and toilet paperno T. P. Arias here.

Italian institutions shone. Doctor visits, hospitalizations, and COVID-19 swabs are free, medications cost a couple of bucks max, workers have 3-6 months paid sick leave, and the central government has generally been successful at dictating policy. A Facebook friend commented: Despite political differences, Italian leaders actually care about their citizens. Imagine! Italy a civilized, unified country, the United States not.

Italy hasnt seen Americas anti-mask, open-it-up madness.

Italy has reopened intelligently, almost all regions leaving shuttered the bars and discotheques feeding the second wave in Spain and the ongoing disaster in the United States.

Italy is over its testing shortage. It has so few new cases and so many trained trackers that they can do real contact tracing: finding, testing, and quarantining everyone exposed to a case.

Cultural health mania facilitates the paranoid new normalItalians peel their apples, for fear of pesticide residues.

Mainly, Italians remain COVID-prudent.

Stores easily enforce mask requirements, many adding obligatory hand disinfection.

During patient visits in my office, everybodys masked and the windows open. Whatever touches a patient gets disinfected, from chair to stethoscope. The waiting room is ventilated, near-emptyno accompanying familyand emptied of items that risk repeated handling.

Weve attended two concerts: outdoors, assigned/distanced seats, masks when standing, names, and phone numbers recorded. At the marvelous Raphael exhibition, we were ushered from one room to the next every five minutes at the sound of a bell, in masked groups of six.

The bad

Italy may be ducking a second wave, but its had a ripple, with new diagnoses creeping up from 200 a day to 1,600, evenly divided among symptomatic cases, contact tracing, and mass screening.

What went wrong?

Tuscany and Sardinia, where young vacationers are the backbone of the summer economy, defied national discotheque shutdowns; other club hoppers went abroad. Thousands carried coronavirus home, driving the average age of new cases down to 30. Everybody entering from Spain, Greece, Croatia, Malta, or much of France now must get a COVID-19 swab at airport rapid-test centers or drive-bys.

Many cases affected resident foreigners. Italy responded by canceling flights from Bangladesh, ordering returning Romanians to quarantine, and performing mass testing in both communities.

American colleges opened complete with frat houses, karaoke bars, and bacchanals: 3,000 new COVID-19 cases a day. Israel allowed over-the-top weddings and undistanced schools: a second wave worse than the first, new lockdown. Spain still leaves indoor bars and restaurants open with minimal distancing: it tops the US in daily cases per capita.

Italy has avoided those traps, but people are getting sloppier. Yes, theres plenty of masks even outside, one customer at a time in small shops and uncrowded supermarkets, but inside large stores, I see little distancing; people clearly think a mask takes its place. Outside the big city, I hear folks have returned to hugs-and-kisses greetings.

Screening of incoming travelers has gone by the boards. When my husband and I arrived from the US in June, officials demanded our address and telephone numbers, and health authorities phoned daily during quarantine to check up. Lately, they just wave you through.

Public transport theoretically runs more frequently and plasters Do Not Sit Here signs on half the seats. But the first (and last) time I took a tram, I waited 20 minutes, the car was packed, the windows were sealed shut, and all the Do Not Sit Here places were occupied. At least passengers were masked.

The pandemic has strained an already frayed Italian economy, with the young worst-hittheyre concentrated in decimated industries such as tourism, and often hired on temporary contracts. Unemployment compensation covers 70 percent of salary, and 600 more has been wired once or twice into bank accounts of certified taxpayers with permanent jobs. But the millions working under the table get nothing.

I ask every patient how theyve been bearing up. Several burst into tears; Ive heard of 4 suicides.

One Italian friend old enough to remember World War II agreed this was the first time since that people have had to tolerate such disruption of their lives. But, he added, The pandemic is worse. During the war, we still had our dreams. Now peopleworldwidehave lost their sense of the future and their dreams.

The ugly

Neotrumpian anti-immigrant frenzy being whipped up by the countrys right-wing in the persons of frankly fascist Giorgia Meloni and merely racist Matteo Salvini.

Minimizers such as publicity-hound physician Alberto Zangrillo, who continued to deny the resurgence threat even when his patient Silvio Berlusconi was hospitalized with COVID-19 double pneumonia.

Loose talk of herd immunityis there less disease because everybodys immune? No! In Milan, the epidemics epicenter, bus drivers who had worked at its peak and were at extremely high risk were tested for antibodies. Only 7.7 percent were positive.

No Italian nonsense comes anywhere near American levels. A giant COVID-denier demo fizzled at 1,500 people. And even at Salvinis blame-the-immigrants open-it-up events, you see plenty of masks, though not all cover the nose.

Susan Levenstein is an internal medicine physician and author of Dottoressa: An American Doctor in Rome.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
Two railway engineers posted in Bhopal railway division were arrested on gang rape charges by police on Saturday night and were sent to jail on Sunday. The engineers were produced before the court while they were placed under suspension by the railway authorities, police and railway officials said.

The victim, a 22-year-old woman who hails from a town in Bundelkhand region in Uttar Pradesh, was allegedly gang raped on Saturday in railways VIP guest house at Bhopal railway station, according to police.

Superintendent of Police (Railways), Bhopal, Hitesh Chaudhary said, Both the accused, Rajesh Tiwari - who is in his late 40s and is a junior engineer (carriage and wagon) - and Alok Malviya who is in his early 50s and is a senior section engineer (electrical), confessed to have committed the crime during interrogation. Both are married. We collected evidence and produced them before the court from where they were sent to jail under a judicial remand.

He said, So far, there is no information about the two having been involved in any other heinous crime in the past. Tiwari had faced some criminal cases relating to fracas etc.

Also read: Woman gangraped by ex-army personnel, his friend in Meerut

According to police, the woman - who is class 12 pass - in her FIR said she got acquainted with Rajesh Tiwari through social media. When she wanted help from Tiwari in getting a job given his position, he asked her to come to Bhopal. She reached Bhopal railway station by Bhopal Express on Saturday morning. Later, she was accommodated in room no. 2 of railways VIP guest house at Bhopal railway station by Tiwari.

She further alleged that Rajesh Tiwari called the other accused Alok Malviya in the room around noon where they both had a drink and offered her a glass of cold drink laced with some drug. When she fell unconscious they gang raped her which she realised on regaining consciousness. They were not in the room when she regained consciousness. She came out of the room and reached the government railway police (GRP) station to lodge the FIR.

Meanwhile, divisional railway manager (DRM) of Bhopal division Uday Borwankar suspended the two engineers and ordered shifting of the guest house custodian who had booked the room for the woman in violation of rules.

DRM Bhopal in his tweet on Sunday said, Railway administration suspended both the railway employees on Saturday night after they were booked under sections 376D, 323 and 328 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and has initiated a departmental enquiry (against them).

The DRM also tagged railway minister Piyush Goyal in his tweet.

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FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: The Tesla logo is seen on a car at Tesla's showroom in Manhattan's Meatpacking District in New York

By Ernest Scheyder

(Reuters) - Tesla Inc's <TSLA.O> plan to produce lithium for electric vehicle batteries close to its Nevada Gigafactory faces stark challenges from the outset, including an onerous permitting process, uncertain access to water and questions about unproven methodologies.

Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk told shareholders on Tuesday Tesla has secured rights to 10,000 acres in Nevada where it aims to produce lithium from clay deposits using a process developed internally.

The move would make Tesla the first company in the world to commercially produce the white metal from clay. Lithium is produced either from brine, commonly found in South America, or spodumene hard rock, usually in Australia.

In Nevada, Tesla plans to mix clay with table salt and then add water, which it says causes a reaction where the salt would leach out with lithium, which can then be extracted. The leftover clay would be put back in the earth to mitigate environmental damage.

"It's a very sustainable way of obtaining lithium," said Musk, who did not say where in Nevada the company had obtained the lithium rights or whether development has started.

The plan drew backlash almost immediately, with critics describing Musk's plan as too simplistic and light on details. Returning rock to the earth after minerals are extracted, for instance, is already common industry practice through the use of tailings dams.

"This plan from Tesla brings up a lot more questions than it answers," said Chris Berry, an independent lithium industry consultant. "Are we just supposed to take Elon Musk's word for it that the cost will be lower than existing lithium projects?"

Palo Alto, Calif.-based Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Nevada already has several lithium clay projects under development, including one from Lithium Americas Corp <LAC.TO> that has been seeking federal permit approval for more than a decade and another from ioneer Ltd <INR.AX>.

Story continues

Lithium Americas has said it is confident it can successfully extract lithium from clay through a process that involves acid leaching. Tesla said its process won't involve acid, fueling further questions.

"If producing lithium in commercial amounts at battery quality grades from clay was feasible, why isn't it already being done?" said Berry.

Any lithium project from Tesla would require an intensive application process for necessary permits that could stretch on for years.

"Mining lithium is very challenging," said Pedro Palandrani of the Global X Lithium & Battery Technology ETF <LIT.P>, which holds shares in Tesla and lithium producers. "If Tesla really wants to fly solo, we're talking about four to five years to really see any kind of lithium production."

Tesla's plan also would likely require substantial amounts of water, forcing the company to battle with cattle ranchers for access to underground reservoirs in the arid state.

Albemarle Corp <ALB.N> operated the only existing U.S. lithium mine at a site roughly 200 miles (322 km) north of Las Vegas until it shut it down last month.

Operational since the late 1960s, the site produced less than 5,000 tonnes of lithium per year, a relatively small amount and far less than Tesla would need.

(Reporting by Ernest Scheyder; Editing by David Gregorio)
Republican nominee Donald Trump speaks to Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton during a presidential debate Oct. 9, 2016, at Washington University in St. Louis. (Patrick Semansky / Associated Press)

Debates dont often decide the outcome of a presidential campaign  but Tuesday's scheduled collision between President Trump and Joe Biden could be an exception to the rule if Biden comes out a winner.

It has happened before.

In 1980, Democratic President Jimmy Carter and Republican challenger Ronald Reagan were closely matched in the polls before they met for their only debate.

Carter had presided over a disastrous four years, including an economic recession. But undecided voters were worried that Reagan, at 69 the oldest presidential candidate in history, might not be up to the job.

At the debate, Reagan was at the top of his game  and deftly parried Carters attacks with a line he delivered more in sorrow than in anger: There you go again. A week later, the challenger won in a landslide.

On Tuesday, Biden will be aiming for that kind of outcome.

Like Reagan in 1980, hes challenging an incumbent whos broadly unpopular. Unlike Reagan, he has a clear advantage in most national polls  but he still needs undecided voters to shift his way in the swing states that will decide the election.

Most strikingly, Biden, like Reagan, needs to dispel the notion  propounded relentlessly by Trump and his supporters  that at 77, the former vice president has descended into senility.

Biden cant put two sentences together, the president claimed in July. I dont know if hes all there, he said last week.

If Biden can rise above that very low standard, Trumps decision to lower expectations for him could turn out to be the dumbest move of the campaign.

So Step 1 for Biden is clear. If he performs as cogently as he did in the final primary debates in March or during his appearance at a CNN town hall Sept. 17, he wins.

Trumps goal is to knock Biden off stride  to rattle him with wild attacks, distract him by distorting his positions or make him angry by attacking his son Hunters malodorous business deals in Ukraine and China.

Biden has a temper, and when it gets the better of him  as it did last year in Iowa, when he called a voter a damn liar  he doesnt look presidential.

Story continues

Trump approaches a debate like a WWF wrestler, not a boxer. When his opponents cautiously jab and parry, Trump decks them over the head with a metal chair, Judd Legum of the newsletter Popular Information wrote.

For more tips on strategy, I consulted two political professionals who have prepared candidates to debate Trump before: Philippe Reines, who advised Hillary Clinton in her 2016 presidential campaign, and Alex Conant, who worked for Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) in that years GOP primaries.

Reines  who in Clinton's prep sessions played the role of Trump, in an ill-fitting blue suit and too-long red tie  told me Biden needs to find a measured way to parry the presidents attacks.

You cant out-Trump Trump, he warned. But you cant stand there and be a punching bag, either."

Biden should begin by addressing Trump directly," he advised. "He should say, Before we start, I gotta say something: Were all on to you. A hundred million people are watching tonight, and they already know how you operate. When you say something is fake, we know that means its real. When you say something is a lie, that means its probably the truth. If you stand up here tonight and make things up about me, its not going to work. We all see right through it. "

Beyond that, Reines said, Biden needs to focus on delivering his core message to undecided voters. He can spend his half of the debate fighting with Trump or talking to a hundred million people, Reines said. Which is it going to be?

Conant agreed.

This feels like 1980, when Carter debated Reagan, he said. People have made up their minds about the incumbent, but they need to be convinced to vote for the challenger. A lot of them have questions about Biden's age and whether hes up to the job. Thats his challenge  and his opportunity.

Trump will do everything he can to make that difficult by throwing the kitchen sink at Biden, he added. You cant ignore him, but counterpunching doesnt work, either; Trump loves it. So Biden needs to dispense with Trumps attacks without playing Trumps game. We never really figured out how to do it.

Heres my advice to the two candidates.

For Biden: Dont try to land a knockout blow; Trump has done a fine job defeating himself without your help. Your goals are to establish your fitness to be president and to remind voters how you got this far  by being a reassuring, empathetic moderate who can organize a coherent response to the coronavirus and Make America Normal Again.

For Trump: If you want to expand your support beyond the 43% you have, heres another chance to be presidential. You have a solid conservative message on the economy, but your penchant for creating chaos and division gets in your way. Above all, stop refusing to say youll accept the results of the election if Biden wins. Its OK to say you want the election to be honest and fair  but not to say that if you lose, the election must have been rigged.

Tuesday's stakes will be high. If Trump knocks Biden off his game, he can buy time to stage a comeback over the five weeks that remain. But if Biden does well, he can solidify his lead and take a step toward putting the election away. Either way, the debate will be well worth watching.

For the record:

9:49 AM, Sep. 27, 2020: An earlier version of this column said seven weeks remain before the election. Five weeks remain before the election.



This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Senior Assistant to the Iranian Foreign Minister for Special Political Affairs Ali Asghar Khaji and UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Otto Pedersen emphasized holding political talks and continuation of the constitutional committees activities to achieve a final solution to the Syrian crisis, Trend reports citing IRNA.

During the Saturday phone call, both sides discussed the latest situation and developments in Syria.

They underlined reaching a final solution to the Syrian crisis within the framework of respecting Syrian national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Earlier, both sides in a phone call discussed different issues related to Syria's Constitutional Committee, the situation in Idlib, and the humanitarian conditions.

Two sides once again voiced their support for the promotion of the political trend and the continuation of the work by the Syrian Constitutional Committee.

Pederson and Khaji called for help by the international community to the Syrian people given the difficult humanitarian conditions, especially during the coronavirus outbreak.

Khaji underlined the need for the implementation of Idlib agreements in line with tranquility and preventing the re-emergence of the tensions.
When Bulgarian writer Svetoslav Nahums book Escape From Crimea was published in Sofia last year, he expected support from the Union of Bulgarian Writers (SBP) -- a century-old Sofia-based literary organization.



Nahums book depicts the tribulations faced by Ukrainians who fled their homes in Crimea after the territory was occupied by Russian military forces in 2014 and illegally annexed by the Kremlin.



Instead of support, the 49-year-old Nahum says, the pro-Kremlin leadership of the SBP tried to undermine the promotion of the book and launched a media campaign in Bulgaria to discredit his work. He resigned from the SBP in protest.



Nahum then sought support from the Bulgarian PEN Center -- the Sofia-based chapter of PEN International, a global nongovernmental organization that champions human rights and freedom of expression.



As a member of the Bulgarian PEN Centers managing board, Nahum in February proposed a declaration condemning Russias seizure and annexation of Crimea.



The declaration denounced the information war that Moscow is waging against Bulgarias national sovereignty as part of a hybrid war that promotes the Kremlins geopolitical agenda.



It also called for the immediate release of Ukrainian writers, journalists, and filmmakers whod been imprisoned in Russia and in Russia-occupied Crimea after theyd opposed the annexation of Crimea.



But the Bulgarian PEN Centers management board rejected Nahums declaration by a 25-4 vote. Some members accused Nahum of accepting payments from the Ukrainian Embassy in Sofia to write what they called anti-Russian propaganda -- a charge Nahum dismisses as ridiculous.



Nahum resigned from the Bulgarian PEN Center in protest amid calls from key board members for his expulsion.



This month, Nahums book came out in Ukrainian. It is being praised in Kyiv as a bold attempt to counter Kremlin propaganda by telling the truth about events in Russia-occupied Crimea.

We were interested in the fact that, for the first time, a Bulgarian writer has dared to talk about the situation in Ukraine as it really is, and not as our [Russian] neighbors claim that it is, says the Ukrainian translation's publisher, Mykola Martinyuk, head of the Tverdinia Publishing House.



There were 1,500 copies of the first edition in Ukrainian -- a print run that is nearly sold out after less than a month. A second edition of 2,000 has already been printed.



Escape From Crimea is getting much more attention this way with a much larger audience in Ukraine, Nahum says. I hope this book will also draw attention in the West to the suffering that so many Ukrainians have been through because of the Russian occupation and because of Russias military aggression in eastern Ukraine.



Information War



Nahum tells RFE/RL he is relieved that "Ukrainian writers and Ukrainian media have become a kind of natural defense for me against the pro-Kremlin Putinists in Bulgaria whove been attacking me.



In Kyiv, PEN Ukraine says the backlash Nahum has faced from Bulgarian Russophiles in Sofia is an echo of the powerful information war Russia is leading against Ukraine and the whole of Europe.



In a letter to the Bulgarian PEN Center, PEN Ukraines executive board accuses the Union of Bulgarian Writers of demonstrat[ing] a downright negative attitude to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and European choice of Ukraine -- thereby bringing discord in relations between the two countries.



We are very concerned that the leaders of major writers organizations of Bulgaria have openly taken the side of the aggressor state by condemning Bulgarian colleagues who express their humanitarian position, and who advocate against violence and propaganda from the Russian Federation, the PEN Ukraines letter said.
French President Emmanuel Macron said Belaruss leader Alexander Lukashenko has to step down, in comments to a French weekly published on Sunday.

Its clear he has to go, he told the Journal du Dimanche, speaking days after the European Union refused to recognise Lukashenko as the countrys legitimate president.

It is a crisis of power, an authoritarian power that cannot accept the logic of democracy and which is hanging on by force. It is clear that Lukashenko has to go, he said.

Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in Belarus since August 9 elections which opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya says she won, despite Lukashenkos insistence he took a landslide victory.

The embattled leader has launched a brutal crackdown against the protesters -- drawing condemnation from the West, but support from Moscow.

He recently triggered new demonstrations and fresh Western criticism after holding a secret inauguration for himself.

Macron on Sunday said he had been impressed by the courage of the protesters in Belarus.

They know the risks they are taking by demonstrating every weekend, and yet, they are pushing forward with the movement to make democracy come alive in this country that has been deprived of it for so long, he said.

Women in particular, who march every Saturday, command our respect, he added.

More than 90 people -- most of them women -- were arrested on Saturday at opposition rallies, one NGO said.

The EU on Thursday said Lukashenkos inauguration lacked democratic legitimacy and refused to recognise him as president.

Brussels is reviewing its relations with the country, the blocs diplomatic chief has said.

EU ministers decided in principle last month to impose sanctions against the regime, but Cyprus has been blocking approval until the bloc agrees similar measures against Turkey over gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean.

On Friday, EU Baltic states Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia expanded their own sanctions against Belarus.

The issue will be debated during an EU summit on October 1-2 in Brussels.
The Eurozone is still battling the damaging effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo: Getty

Business activity stagnated across eurozone manufacturers in September, according to market research firm IHS Markit.

After seeing a rebound in July and a little bump in August, the eurozones economic recovery stalled in September, as rising COVID-19 infections led to a renewed downturn of service sector activity across the region, said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit.

Its flash Eurozone Composite PMI dropped to 50.1 in September, from 51.9 in August, as rising infection rates and ongoing social distancing measures curbed demand, notably for consumer-facing services, IHS Markit wrote.

Faster growth of manufacturing, led by Germany, was offset by a renewed downturn in the service sector, which was often linked to resurgent COVID-19 infection rates, IHS Markit reported.

Watch: What is a V-shaped economic recovery?

The Eurozone recovery has stalled before it even reached third gear, Jarek Sklodowski, senior trader at financial Markets Online said in a note. Two months of surging growth and optimism have come screeching to a halt, with the summers impressively v-shaped recovery giving way to a flatlining sense of uncertainty in September.

READ MORE: More masks, less alcohol: German state that led first lockdown to re-impose rules as cases surge

In France, the flash composite PMI fell to 48.5, down from 51.6 in August  a four month low overall  amid renewed disruption from the coronavirus pandemic.

The country is experiencing a surge in new coronavirus cases. On Tuesday (22 September), it reported just over 10,000 new daily infections, and has had 468,069 to date.

The fresh downturn was predominantly driven by a solid reduction in activity at services firms, while manufacturers recorded a slightly faster output expansion than in August, IHS Markit said.

In Germany, Europes largest economy, the IHS Markits flash composite PMI showed a further increase in business activity in September, powered by a sharp rise in production. But it noted that the pace of growth was slowing for the second month in a row.

Story continues

Watch: What is a recession?

The Germany composite index registered 53.7 in September. While indicative of a solid rate of growth, the latest reading was down from Augusts 54.4 and further below the near two-year high seen in July, pointing to a continued loss of momentum in the recovery from the COVID-19 shutdown, IHS Markit said.

READ MORE: Coronavirus: German economy recovering more favourably than expected

Consumer morale in Germany stagnated heading into October, according to the latest data from German market research institute GfK on Wednesday.

It seems as if the massive stimulus packages for consumers and companies are the right measures to help Germany get out of the worst recession in post-war history, GfK consumer expert Rolf Buerkl said, noting that consumer confidence had stabilised despite the recent rise in COVID-19 infections and the prospect of fresh lockdown restrictions.

Bavaria, Germanys largest state by size, announced a raft of fresh coronavirus restrictions on Tuesday (22 September), to be applied to localised hotspots as they happen. The new rules include mandatory masks in crowded places, a ban on drinking alcohol in public places, and an 11pm curfew on bars and restaurants.
China is injecting thousands of its people with Covid-19 vaccine shots, which are still under trial and hence their efficacy unproven, reports said. Those who are getting these vaccine shots are also made to sign a nondisclosure agreement, according to which they cant talk about it to the news media.

High-risk population, including staff of state-owned companies, government officials, vaccine company staff, teachers are being inoculated on an emergency basis. Global heath experts are raising questions whether their consent has are being taken or not.

In its defence, China has said that the World Health Organization supported Chinas experimental coronavirus vaccine programme, which started in July. China informed WHO in June, Zheng Zhongwei, a National Health Commission official, told Reuters.

WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan has said countries can approve use of medical products within their own jurisdiction in the current emergency situation but only as a temporary solution.

China currently has 11 vaccines in clinical trials and four in Phrase 3 trials.Among these. two are developed by state-backed China National Biotec Group and one by Sinovac Biotech. Another experimental vaccine was developed by CanSino Biologics, which was approved to be used in the Chinese military in June.

(With agency inputs)
(Photo : Photo by NASA via Getty Images) In this handout provided by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), back dropped by planet Earth the International Space Station (ISS) is seen from NASA space shuttle Endeavour after the station and shuttle began their post-undocking relative separation May 29, 2011 in space. After 20 years, 25 missions and more than 115 million miles in space, NASA space shuttle Endeavour is on the last leg of its final flight to the International Space Station before being retired and donated to the California Science Center in Los Angeles. Capt. Mark E. Kelly, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' (D-AZ) husband, has lead mission STS-134 as it delivered the Express Logistics Carrier-3 (ELC-3) and the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-2) to the International Space Station. (Photo : Photo by NASA via Getty Images) In this handout image provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), NASA astronaut Mike Fossum, Expedition 28 flight engineer, waits at an International Space Station's pressurized mating adapter (PMA-2) docked to the space shuttle Atlantis, as the station's robotic system moves the failed pump module (out of frame) over to the spacewalking astronaut and the shuttle's cargo bay during a planned six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk July 12, 2011 in space. This is the 160th spacewalk devoted to station assembly and maintenance since construction began in 1998. Space shuttle Atlantis has embarked on a 12-day mission to the International Space Station where it will deliver the Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module packed with supplies and spare parts. This was the final mission of the space shuttle program, which began on April 12, 1981 with the launch of Colombia

NASA will soon launch a new cargo into space, scheduled on Tuesday, Sept. 29. The private cargo spacecraft will lift off from Virginia, which carries new equipment for the International Space Station (ISS). These include scientific experiments, Estee Lauder items, and a space toilet. Yup, astronauts need to take number two, too.

NASA is having a launch date with a... toilet!

The mission, known as Cygnus NG-14, will be happening on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 10:27 p.m. EDT, coming from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

According to Space news site, the rocket will be carrying 7,624 lbs of materials from Earth to space. This will be the 13th mission to the International Space Station that will be launching the astronauts' needed supplies.

Since the rocket has a limited amount to carry, only essentials will be launched to space and carried to the ISS. These includes:

food supplies for astronauts

the radish-growing experiment known as Plant Habitat-02

The Onco Selectors investigation--the main focus on cancer therapies

experiment on the novel water recovery system

a specialized 360-degree virtual reality camera that will capture what it's like to be aboard the space station

bottles of skincare serum from Estee Lauder

And a space toilet worth $23 million

You've read it right! A space toilet will be launched soon into space for astronauts living in ISS. Of course, this is not your typical toilet at home, which makes its amount fair.

As said in the report, the toilet was created with a bunch of improvements compared to the last time NASA sent.

This $23 million-toilet is 65% smaller and 40% lighter than the current ISS have in the past.

It was also meant to enhance "the use of the toilet for the female crew, and NASA spent a lot of time working with crewmembers ... to improve the use of the commode," Melissa McKinley, NASA Advanced Exploration Systems Logistics Reduction project manager, said during the same teleconference.

Where can you watch it?

Just in case you want to watch the space toilet being launch from Earth to space, here's a way how.

Go to NASA Wallops' Ustream site beginning at approximately 5:30 p.m. EDT or watch directly at NASA TV starting at 10:00 p.m. EDT.

ALSO READ: NASA Patented a Trajectory that Would Make Travel to the Moon Cheaper and Faster

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Jamie Pancho

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A well-built and a robust product, the ThinkBook Plus definitely changes the definition of a clamshell laptop.

Brand: Lenovo

Product name: ThinkBook Plus

Key specs: 10-inch E-Ink display, 10th gen Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, Harman Kardon speaker.

Price: 99,990 (base variant)

Rating: 3.5/5

Lenovos ThinkPad and ThinkBook line of laptops have always been built to serve the purpose  performance and productivity. You dont get overly fancy designs or over-the-top features but a straight and simple, no-nonsense product that gets the work done. And for the most part, business or commercial users have loved these. But as the competition grows intense with brands like Asus entering the commercial laptop segment and the increasing Work from Home scenarios, Lenovo is doubling down on its effort with the ThinkBook Plus.

With a starting price of 99,990, this laptop not just brings whatever we mentioned above, but adds to the productivity with a secondary, 10-inch E-Ink display at the back. Yep, theres a full-fledged screen that you can use. And the purpose? Simple, to get the work done without opening your laptop at all.

So, we have been using the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus for the past couple of weeks now. While the E-ink screen is the highlight, the story doesnt end there. Theres more than what meets the eye. We used it as our daily driver, testing the workloads, performance and portability. And heres what we found

Design and display

With Lenovo ThinkBook Plus, terms like design and display go together. You cant just talk about one without mentioning the other. Although the basic look is that of a usual laptop, what strikes you first is that large E-ink display on the outer side. This essentially takes the entire area so the look of the laptop is really different. Some might like it, some may not, but then looks are not what we are here for. However, the entire device is not bulky but rather easy to carry around.

But since there are two screens on the same cover lid, it is thicker than usual. This is not a deal-breaker though. The overall weight is around 1.4kgs, which is not a drastic increase but enough to give a robust feel.

What matters the most to a business user is the keyboard. It is comfortable to type on with good key travel and well spacing so you dont have to stretch your fingers by a lot when typing for hours. (Robin Sinha/HT Tech)

What matters the most to a business user is the keyboard. It is comfortable to type on with good key travel and well spacing so you dont have to stretch your fingers by a lot when typing for hours. Its a compact setup since you dont have speakers anywhere around the keyboard. The trackpad is precise and works as it should. Fortunately, the palm rest in this one is just about right  something that many OEMs are not able to get right with compact commercial laptops.

As for the display, theres a 13.3-inch primary screen with FHD resolution, which is bright and good to look at. Although it has 100% RGB colour space, its not made for creators but for everyday office work. Working on it for hours doesnt strain your eyes. A special mention also goes to the tight hinge that prevents the screen from wobbling.

Yes, one can easily see the bezels, which are not really slim but less than what usually we get in laptops. However, the bezel at the bottom is really deep and serves no purpose. It doesnt even have the branding. Just a plain look. But whats good is that the hinge can go all the way up to 180-degrees.

Lenovo has said that it may bring some more apps and functions in the future versions but until then, the use stays extremely limited. (Robin Sinha/HT Tech)

The 10.8-inch E-Ink display on the cover is a bright and nice screen to look at. Although you cant work on it in low light situations, it still works as intended and takes up negligible battery since it is E-Ink. Brightness level might not be much but for general usage, it will get the job done.

Since the finish is matte all the way, getting fingerprints and smudges on this one is difficult and hardly visible. However, the direct light reflections may still show you the faint marks of the Lenovo Active stylus that comes with it. That said, you can operate the screen using fingers too.

Performance

Continuing with the E-Ink screen, although we faced no such glaring issues with it and in fact appreciate the effort made by Lenovo, we still werent able to use it fully. The screen has really very limited function. Primarily this is made for taking some quick notes in case you are one of those who is hoping from one meeting room to another the whole day and want to write some important information easily. It comes handy that way. However, Lenovo needs to bring support for more apps right away. And since most of them are not working in an office but at homes on the main 13-inch screen, the use of E-Ink panel will eventually drop.

That said, its a step in the right direction for sure.

There are three buttons to access the Menu, Quick Notes option and Settings. Out of these, you are more likely to use the Quick Notes app the most. And rightfully so, the dedicated icon is there. Besides this, you can check Outlook emails, Outlook Calendar, tweak Settings and change the background image, which you will show to the rest of the world when working on a 13-inch screen. Also, it shows PDF and TXT formats too.

The E-Ink screen is made for taking some quick notes in case you are one of those who is hoping from one meeting room to another the whole day and want to write some important information easily. (Robin Sinha/HT Tech)

Lenovo has said that it may bring some more apps and functions in the future versions but until then, the use stays extremely limited. You might as well find it easier to whip out your smartphone and take notes instead of using the E-Ink screen.

As for the performance, the laptop naturally shines across the board. Heavy business users who want to work on slides, word files, multiple Chrome tabs or want to perform video calls with collaboration tools, the ThinkBook Plus handles everything well. After all, the machine is powered by Intel 10th-gen processor. The unit we received ran on Intel 10th-gen Core i7 (10710U) processor along with 16GB RAM - a setup that is good enough for day to day office work. You can even use it for light gaming at times but then its not made for that.

However, we did find the laptop getting a bit heated when used for long durations. A quick thermal check gave us between 37-40 degrees on the keyboard area. But fortunately, the palm rest area stays fine.

What, however, might pinch some users is the lack of enough ports in this one. Being a laptop that is made for office goers, it may force you to carry a multi-port dongle with you since it has two USB Type-A slots on the right side and just one Type-C slot on the left along with an HDMI port and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

We did like the inclusion of the fingerprint sensor on the right side to unlock the laptop. (Robin Sinha/HT Tech)

And when it comes to the audio, the ThinkBook Plus may not sound that loud and clear with defaults software settings and Harman Kardon tuned speakers, which by the way are placed on the underside. However, what can be done here is that you can tweak the settings in the pre-installed Dolby Audio software. Changing the EQ levels gave a drastic change in audio delivery with clearer speeches and more details than before.

We did like the inclusion of the fingerprint sensor on the right side to unlock the laptop. However, having it above the keyboard space may have been easier to access. This is just nit-picking though. Having the sensor on the side just makes a tad bit different.

Battery

The battery is a plus point with ThinkBook Plus. Despite working on the primary screen and the E-Ink display, we were able to stretch the laptop to roughly 10 hours. This also means that in case you are somewhere outside the house for roughly half a day or slightly more, you can be sure that ThinkBook Plus wont ditch you. However, in case you want a laptop that can go on for the entire day, which means for around 12 hours or so, this might not make the cut.

That said, the workload also differs and a light user that mainly streams videos or does some basic editing with more use on the browser than the installed apps, the ThinkBook Plus might just go beyond 12 hours.

You can always change the software settings regarding the battery from Lenovos Vantage application. It lets you choose between Rapid Charge and Conservation Mode, enable Intelligent Cooling and see battery details as well.

Verdict

Lenovos idea of adding a second screen at the back is not just something new and innovative but also a really good attempt at making users a bit more productive. Although the E-Ink display is good and works really well, it still lacks a lot of functions and apps. For someone who doesnt use Outlook services, it will limit him/her to a very few features. But, as we said above, it is definitely a step in the right direction and updating it with support for more apps and the ability to show more information on the screen will just work wonders.

Besides this, the overall package is fine. From the screen to keyboard performance and battery life, we didnt find anything glaring enough to complain about. Yes, the device gets a bit heated up but thats not a deal-breaker in any way. The only factor that might not work in Lenovo ThinkBook Plus favour is the fewer number of ports. If you can live with it, you will definitely love this machine.

Yes, the 99,990 for the base model is high but thats mainly because of the E-Ink display you get at the back. In case that doesnt fancy you, there are always some good Intel 10th-gen alternatives, with a recent one being the Asus ExpertBook series. Otherwise one can always go for HP and Dell.

All said, being a well-built and a robust product, the ThinkBook Plus is definitely changing the definition of a clamshell laptop.
A Los Angeles Police Department Harbor Division veteran with more than 30 years of experience is recovering in the hospital this morning after a violent encounter with man inside the police station late Saturday night.

The incident happened shortly before 10 p.m. at the Harbor Station in San Pedro, California, when, an individual described as a Hispanic male who was approximately 29-years-old walked into the station and the officer went to meet him in the lobby area. An altercation then allegedly began after a brief discussion and, according to the Los Angeles Police Department, the officer's weapon was taken from him and rounds were fired by the individual at the officer.

"Fortunately, the officer was not struck by those rounds," Police Chief Michel Moore said during a press conference.

The suspect then fled the station after the incident in a white pickup truck when a short pursuit occurred. It was when the suspect was being apprehended that another brief altercation ensued and that officer was injured in the confrontation.

According to the LAPD, the arresting officer may have injuries similar to being pistol whipped. The officer is now resting comfortably at a local area hospital.

The officer involved in this incident was transported to a local hospital and is receiving medical attention for non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect involved in this incident is in custody. This is preliminary information, as this is an active and ongoing investigation.  LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) September 27, 2020

The suspect was taken into custody. A gun was recovered from the scene which belonged to the desk officer who was assaulted at the police station. The suspect also sustained injuries and was taken to the hospital. He will subsequently be released and booked on appropriate charges.

"I am grateful that the officer who was in this incident tonight, who was working the desk, came out to assist this individual to understand what his needs were, that he survived," Chief Moore said.

Story continues

Related: Los Angeles County deputies released from hospital after ambush

Chief Moore said the officer is "resting" and is "comfortable" after suffering several injuries consistent with being "pistol-whipped or assaulted."

Early reports indicating that the desk officer suffered a gunshot wound which were incorrect.

More information is expected to be released later today as the investigation remains ongoing.

"The officer involved in this incident was transported to a local hospital and is receiving medical attention for non-life-threatening injuries," the Los Angeles Police Department tweeted in a statement on social media. "The suspect involved in this incident is in custody. This is preliminary information, as this is an active and ongoing investigation."

Sending my best wishes for a quick and full recovery to our @LAPDHQ officer injured in an incident at the Harbor Station tonight. The officer is in stable condition and we're closely monitoring the situation.  MayorOfLA (@MayorOfLA) September 27, 2020

"Sending my best wishes for a quick and full recovery to our @LAPDHQ officer injured in an incident at the Harbor Station tonight," Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted .The officer is in stable condition and we're closely monitoring the situation."

The officer involved in the incident has yet to be identified and additional information about the shooting incident was not immediately released.

The shooting comes after two Los Angeles County sheriffs deputies were shot in an apparent ambush earlier this month while sitting in a patrol car parked near a metro stop in Compton, California.

Police veteran among 2 officers injured after violent incident at station originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
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Summer is officially behind us as parts of the UK recorded the coldest September night on record, the Met Office confirmed.

Large waves battered the coastline around the UK and chilly temperatures gripped the nation.

The village of Katesbridge, in Northern Ireland's County Down, fell to a teeth-gritting -3.7C (25.3F) - a new September minimum temperature record for Northern Ireland.

Katesbridge is reportedly well known for often recording Ireland's highest and lowest temperature due to its geography.

A pair of walkers narrowly missed being dragged out to sea by a giant wave when it crashed over the pier in Seaham in County Durham

The village of Katesbridge, in Northern Ireland's County Down, fell to a teeth-gritting -3.7C - a new September minimum temperature record for Northern Ireland, the Met Office confirmed in a tweet

Temperatures are set to rise into the high teens on Monday and Tuesday this coming week, with forecasters suggesting areas in the south east will experience highs or 19C, but the coming weeks look quite cool and temperatures are below average for the time of year, The Met Office revealed

The Met Office said the UK are experiencing 'unusually strong winds for September', with strong Arctic gusts coming from the north creating large waves (Pictured: couple in Seaham, County Durham)

East Anglia, the south east of England and Yorkshire experienced a cold and cloudly weekend with rain and strong northerly winds, while the rest of the country enjoyed blue sky and crisp, autumnal weather.

Parts of the UK hit highs of 26C (77F) this time last week, so the colder temperatures on their way next week are a clear departure than from the warmer temperatures the UK experienced this summer.

Meterologist Tom Morgan, of the Met Office, said: 'For most parts of the country the weekend will end on a sunny but rather chilly note.

'I'm afraid there is no indication of any warm weather returning.

'We can sometimes in October get temperatures in the 20s, very occasionally.

'But these coming weeks look quite cool and temperatures are below average for the time of year.

'It's been really quite noticeable in the last week how temperatures have plummeted and we've gone from what felt like summer this time last week to definitely autumn at the moment.

'We've had some quite cold nights and that's going to be the same in coming nights,' he added.

Temperatures are set to rise into the high teens on Monday and Tuesday this coming week, with forecasters suggesting areas in the south east will experience balmy highs of 18 or 19C (66F).

A coastguard team rescue a stranded dog in the sea at Porth, Cornwall, after it was quickly submerged by 6ft of thick sea foam

For most parts of the country the weekend will end on a sunny but rather chilly note, with temperatures set to fall to around 14 degrees

East Anglia, the south east of England and Yorkshire experienced a cold and cloudly weekend with rain and strong northerly winds, while the rest of the country enjoyed blue sky and crisp, autumnal weather (Pictured: walkers in Oxfordshire)

Parts of the UK hit highs of 26C this time last week, so the colder temperatures on their way next week are a clear departure than from the warmer temperatures the UK experienced this summer

But the Met Office warned it is only a shortlived return to average temperatures.

'By Wednesday we're going to see low pressure dominating, bringing spells of rain for all areas and temperatures will be back down to around 14 to 16 degrees if we're lucky,' added Tom.

Waves battered the British coastline this weekend as gusts reached up to 40mph.

A pair of walkers narrowly missed being dragged out to sea by a giant wave when it crashed over the pier in Seaham in County Durham.

The Met Office warned that giant waves breaking on the shore are likely to lead to further coastal erosion.

'It's still very windy today but we're not seeing winds anywhere near as strong as we have a couple of days ago.

'On Friday we had gusts of 67mph on the most exposed parts of Nofolk and Lincolnshire.

'But it is still gusting at about 34 to 40 mph on the coast in East Anglia and Kent today. Those will ease down markedly in the next 24 hours or so.

'Those are unusually strong winds for September for that part of England.

'It's all down to an area of low pressure sitting in the north sea, and that area of low pressure was causing a strong northerly flow, bringing winds all the way down from the Arctic.

'Bringing a cold pool of air with it, but also causing the waves to crash on shore onto the beaches leading to some coastal erosion and large waves.'
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

Trend:

The information spread by Armenia about allegedly shooting down of 3 tanks, 2 helicopters and 3 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) of the Azerbaijani Army is false and is disinformation, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani defense ministry.

We pointed out that our units have complete advantage over the Armenian armed forces in the front, the message said.
Amidst the ongoing mass anti-government protests in Belarus, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has to go. While speaking to the French weekly Journal du Dimanche, Macron called the situation in Belarus crisis of power and added that Lukashenko has an authoritarian power that cannot accept the logic of democracy, which is hanging on by force. It is clear that Lukashenko has to step down.

Belarus saw the start of mass protests after the results of the presidential elections deemed President Alexander Lukashenko the winner with 80% votes. Protesters have claimed that the election was rigged and have thus called for Lukashenkos resignation. Last week, the European Union also refused to recognise Lukashenko as the countrys legitimate president.

READ: Belarus Tells UN Sanctions Would Be 'harmful For Everyone'

As the embattled leader has launched a brutal crackdown against the demonstrators, Belarus police have been accused of using violent tactics against the protesters in addition to mass arrests. Lukashenkos move has been condemned by the West, however, he still enjoys support from Moscow. Recently, the Belarusian leader triggered new demonstrations and fresh criticism after holding a secret inauguration for himself.

READ: Belarus Rejects Interference In Internal Affairs

Macron impressed by protesters

As Belarus protests entered its eighth week despite multiple reports of arrest and crackdown on anti-government demonstrations, Macron told the French weekly that he had been impressed by the courage of the protesters. He said that despite knowing the risks, the demonstrators in Belarus are pushing forward with the movement to make democracy come alive in the country that has been deprived of it for so long. Further, he added that women, in particular, command our respect.

Meanwhile, the action of Belarus police and other officials against the protesters in the past weeks have gained international condemnation, with the UN suspecting large scale human rights violations. The European Union has begun debate on possible sanction against Belarus but due to internal conflict has not been able to reach a consensus. The UK on September 24 stated that it was preparing to impose targeted sanctions on Belarusian officials involved in human rights abuse as a means to hold President Lukashenko accountable. Anti-Lukashenko protests have been going on in Belarus for almost seven weeks, with nearly 200,00 people frequently taking to the streets of Minsk.

READ: Scores Arrested In Protest Against Belarus' President

READ: Belarus Authorities Detain Top Opposition Leader's Lawyer Amid Anti-government Protests
Nene Leakes recently revealed that she made the 'difficult decision' to leave the cast of the Real Housewives Of Atlanta after 11 seasons.

But now the 52-year-old television personality is alleging that Bravo 'forced' her out of the hit reality series.

The shocking allegation was made after a fan on Twitter asked if Leakes would be getting her own 'spin-off series' on the network.

Drama: Nene is alleging that Bravo 'forced' her out of the hit reality series; Nene pictured in 2019

'They dont think i deserve to work at all in any [capacity],' she replied, which prompted another fan to write: 'it sound like they forced you out!'

'They definitely did,' wrote Nene, affirming the fan's claim.

Hours later, Leakes tweeted a message to RHOA executive producer Andy Cohen, regarding his recent praise towards RHOBH star Teddi Mellencamp and a statement she issued following her own dismissal.

'@Andy said he respected Teddi for telling the truth about her exit. Well i cant wait to tell my truths i hope i get just as much respect,' she wrote. Nene has yet to receive a reply from Andy.

Allegation: The shocking allegation was made after a fan on Twitter asked Leakes if she would be getting her own 'spin-off series' on the network

Correct: 'They dont think i deserve to work at all in any [capacity],' she replied, which prompted another fan to write: 'it sound like they forced you out!'

Nene announced that she was done with the Real Housewives Of Atlanta in a YouTube video on September 17.

In the clip Leakes said that she decided she was done with the show after going through 'exhausting' and 'emotional negotiations with the network.

Leakes revealed her big news in a YouTube video titled: 'Listen Closely, I got something to tell you!'

After thanking fans for their support at the top, Nene opened up about her departure.

Direct: Hours later, Leakes tweeted a message to RHOA executive producer Andy Cohen, regarding his recent praise towards RHOBH star Teddi Mellencamp and a statement she issued following her own dismissal; Andy pictured in 2019

'There's been a lot of emotions on both sides. It's been hard and I have made a hard, difficult decision to not be part of Real Housewives Of Atlanta season 13,' she said.

'It wasn't an easy decision for me. It was hard,' the TV favorite went on.

Nene reflected on how important the show's diversity was saying: 'I'm just so happy that I can say that I was part of a genre that opened up a door for Black ensemble reality shows to step up and be a part of what we all now love so much: reality TV.'

Leakes' farewell was also full of gratitude, as the star said: 'I want to thank everybody that has looked up to me over the years. ...I want to thank Bravo for all the memories. ...Thank you to the cast for all of the memories.'

Andy Cohen was quick to send Nene his love after the announcement, calling her 'an icon of the genre.'

Au revoir! Nene Leakes announced she was leaving The Real Housewives Of Atlanta after 'exhausting' negotiations with Bravo

Groundbreaking: Nene reflected on how important the show's diversity was saying: 'I'm just so happy that I can say that I was part of a genre that opened up a door for Black ensemble reality shows to step up and be a part of what we all now love so much: reality TV'

'She is a gif and catchphrase machine,' Cohen, the show's executive producer, went on. 'In 11 years of #WWHL, Nene has been our most frequent guest, and she is always A BLAST.

'Nene nicknamed me Buttercup the first day we met, and still calls me that today. Through her whole run, she has always had a serious concern and drive to maintain the success and well-being of #RHOA.

'I am going to miss Nene on the show, but Im hoping we work together again soon and will,' he wrote before signing off as Buttercup.

Shortly after Andy's message, a representative for Bravo called the star 'instrumental' to the show's success.

'We wish Nene all the best in her future endeavors and thank her for sharing her journey for over a decade with the fans of The Real Housewives of Atlanta,' they told People.

Iconic: Andy Cohen was quick to send Nene his love after the announcement, calling her 'an icon of the genre'

Close: He shared several shots of Leakes during visits to Watch What Happened Live, dubbing her his 'most frequent guest'

And they didn't discount the idea of her returning in the future, going on to say: 'She's been instrumental since the start and will truly be missed, and maybe one day she'll hold the peach again.'

This isn't the first time the reality star has parted with the show.

In season eight she took a step back as only a part-time 'guest' before going on to skip season nine completely.

In between Nene enjoyed a number of TV roles, appearing on Glee, The New Normal, and E!s Fashion Police.

But it seemed Bravo couldn't keep Nene from the Hollywood Of The South for long.

Always a possibility! Nene has left the show before. In season eight she took a step back as only a part-time 'guest' before going on to skip season nine completely

Hints: Nene shared and then deleted a June tweet that seemed to suggest she was at odds with the network - or at least someone

She returned to RHOA during the 10th season and has been on the show since.

While there were rumblings that Leakes was ready to leave - or even canned from the show - over the summer, her manager Steven Grossman said she was still in talks over her contract on June 18th.

'It is absolutely not true that Nene has been fired from RHOA,' Grossman said. 'Furthermore, it was made abundantly clear prior that she will always be welcome on the series as long as she wants to be.'

He assured people things were in motion, telling the outlet they were 'having on-going bigger picture conversations with NBC Universal and have not made any decisions regarding next season specifically. Any speculation or sources trying to create controversy by stating otherwise are incredibly inaccurate. Bloop.'

But just the day before that Leakes posted a since-deleted tweet (captured by LoveBScott) which said: 'You are NOT gonna get away with this! I promise.'

Tea time: As an anchor of The Real Housewives, Nene has always been a magnet for drama. This last season she feuded with a majority of the cast, finding herself at odds with Cynthia Bailey, Porsha Williams, Eva Marcille, Kandi Burruss and rival Kenya Moore

No longer pals: While they started out as friends, with Nene even taking Kenya under her wing during Moore's debut on season five, things soured when Leakes invited Kenya's ex to her 2013 wedding, prompting Burruss to skip the entire affair. They're seen playing nice in 2017 above

She continued to hint at the idea of leaving that same day, retweeting a fan who declared: 'I wouldn't watch RHOA without Mrs. @NeNeLeakes she is what keeps me watching the show, she cracks me up!'

As an anchor of The Real Housewives, Nene has always been a magnet for drama.

This last season she feuded with a majority of the cast, finding herself at odds with Cynthia Bailey, Porsha Williams, Eva Marcille, Kandi Burruss and rival Kenya Moore.

While they started out as friends, with Nene even taking Kenya under her wing during Moore's debut on season five, things soured when Leakes invited Kenya's ex to her 2013 wedding, prompting Burruss to skip the entire affair.

Nene also feuded with former series regular Kim Zolciak-Biermann, accusing RHOA's only white star of being racially insensitive several times throughout their time together.

Tension: Nene also feuded with former series regular Kim Zolciak-Biermann, accusing RHOA's only white star of being racially insensitive several times throughout their time together. They're seen in 2009 above

Earlier this year Zolciak said that the tension had mellowed, telling WWHL's Andy Cohen: 'It wasn't like we reconciled. We started talking a couple years back and so we chat here and there through text.

'And I haven't talked to her really since we did our [Instagram] Live. She's been doing a lot of Lives I see. We follow each other. We're good. We're cool."

Zolciak - who left RHOA after season five and stars in her own spin-off Don't Be Tardy - has yet to comment on Leakes leaving.

But frenemy Kandi seemed to hint at the news on her Instagram Story, sharing a text post that said: 'Learn the difference between a real friend and a close hater' with GIFs of hands clapping around it.

Back in July Nene appeared to call Burruss a 'sociopath' after Kandi said she would be upset if Leakes left the show but still described their relationship as being like 'oil and water.'

Me, myself and I: Rival Kenya didn't respond but instead shared an outfit shot captioned 'firmly grounded' at the same time as Nene's reveal

Subtext: Frenemy Kandi seemed to hint at the news on her Instagram Story, sharing a text post that said: 'Learn the difference between a real friend and a close hater' with GIFs of hands clapping around it

Kenya seemed more focused on herself, sharing an outfit shot captioned 'Firmly grounded' around the same time as Nene's departure was announced.

Leakes isn't the only one saying goodbye to the show. In June Eva Marcille revealed she was done after a three season stint.

'I appreciate the bond of friendship that Ive made with my castmates and strong personal relationships I have with numerous executives and producers of Bravo,' she said June 16th on the Rickey Smiley Morning Show.

'I am thankful for the opportunity I was provided, however, after speaking with my family and representatives, I believe that what I hope to accomplish for the culture and community will be better served by focusing on other opportunities.'

Season 13 will be seeing some new faces too. LaToya Ali Main and Drew Sidora are set to join the cast once shooting begins again.
Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh will stage a dharna against the controversial farm bills on Monday at Khatkar Kalan, the ancestral village of freedom fighter Shaheed Bhagat Singh on his birth anniversary.

Others participating in the protest are state affairs in-charge Harish Rawat, all state Congress MPs and MLAs, said party chief Sunil Jakhar on Sunday.

This will be Amarinder Singhs first protest against the farm bills. Former Uttarakhand chief minister and Congress general secretary Rawat will also be visiting Punjab for the first time since taking charge of state affairs.

Elaborating on Mondays plans, Satbir Singh Palli Jhikki, chairman of SBS Nagar district planning commission and Halqa in-charge of Banga constituency, said the CM and other leaders were expected to pay floral tributes to Bhagat Singh at his memorial at Khatkar Kalan on the occasion.

Punjab cabinet minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Nawanshahr MLA Angad Singh visited the memorial on Sunday to oversee arrangements for Monday.

The SBS Nagar district administration also held review meetings to discuss the CMs itinerary.

Channi said the Congress was on the verge of a long-term agitation against the Central government over the farm bills from Bhagat Singhs village, with more plans expected to be announced by the CM to compel the Centre to withdraw its legislation.

On Akali Dal snapping ties from BJP, Channi said it was an alliance for the personal benefits as SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and former Union cabinet minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal failed to protect the farmers rights.
The EU's tariff incentives in EVFTA are the highest ever a partner has offered Vietnam at the time the deal comes into effect, says a VCCI director.

Nguyen Thu Trang, director of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry's (VCCI) centre for WTO and economic integration, added: "EU tariff commitments to Vietnam under the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) are more attractive than those under the CPTPP."

"The EU is offering Vietnam a great opportunity," she told an EVFTA seminar Thursday.

Employees at a garment factory in Hanoi. Photo by VnExpress/Cao Nam.

Originally a 12-member agreement, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was thrown into limbo when U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew his country from the deal in January 2017. The remaining 11 countries renegotiated parts of the TPP and in March 2018 signed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Trang said she chose the CPTPP for reference as most of the 11 partners in this agreement had signed with Vietnam another FTA. The level of commitment in these individual FTAs is lower than that of the CPTPP.

Under EVFTA, effective from August 1 this year, the EU eliminated 85.5 percent of tariff lines for Vietnam immediately after the agreement came into force, while CPTPP partners committed to abolish 78-95 percent of import taxes.

Trang said the EU incentives looked modest compared to the CPTPP, but that "it is not actually the case."

"The reason is many members of the CPTPP like Singapore have fulfilled commitments to erase many tariff lines for Vietnam under previous trade agreements within the ASEAN bloc so their number of removed tariffs under the CPTPP is high."

Under the roadmap, the EU will eliminate the remaining tariffs in 3-7 years. By 2027, almost all Vietnamese products exported to the EU would enjoy zero percent tax, except for a small group of "sensitive" goods. For CPTPP, the tax reduction roadmap would take 5-10 years.

In terms of each commodity, the EU has also created many advantages for Vietnam, with 100 percent elimination of tariff lines on vegetables and fruits, coffee and honey exports, for instance. Meanwhile, CPTPP partners need 3-5 years to eliminate tariffs on processed and canned vegetables and fruits, Mexico needs 5-10 years for coffee, and Japan needs seven years for honey.

For textiles and footwear, the EU abolished 42.5 percent of tariff lines when the agreement took effect, with the rest taking 3-7 years. "This figure may be a bit stricter if you look at Singapore's commitment to eliminate all taxes, and Australia, Canada or Chile with 80 percent or more under CPTPP. As explained above, the numbers do not reveal the entire picture," Trang said.

The EU is currently allowing Vietnam to enjoy a general system of preference (GSP), a kind of most-favored nation regime that reduces or exempts import duties on goods. Textiles, garments and footwear are products enjoying GSP with an average preferential tax rate of 3-4 percent.

Vietnam will still enjoy GSP in the first two years of EVFTA enforcement. Tariffs in the third year are in line with the EVFTA but in all cases would not be higher than the GSP levels applied by August 1, 2020.

By 2025, the value of Vietnam's rice exported to the EU is expected to grow 65 percent, textiles increase by 67 percent, garments rise by 81 percent, and leather and footwear by 99 percent. For pork, beverages and tobacco, the figures are expected to be lower, at 4-5 percent, respectively, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.
Individual politicians are spending thousands of dollars a week of taxpayers' money to boost their "likes" and push political messages on social media, with data released for the first time by Facebook's Ad Library revealing how much MPs of all political stripes spend on the platform.

Politicians defended their use of advertising for social media likes as a way to connect with voters in the digital age, and pointed out it was cheaper than old-fashioned letter box drops.

The data shows Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor topped the list of local politicians buying Facebook ads in the past month. In the 30 days to September 23, Mr Taylor sank $12,599 into 27 ads on the company's platforms, which include Instagram.

Federal Energy Minister Angus Taylor bought a series of Facebook ads to promote Australian National Flag Day.

Mr Taylor spent at least $3300 on six ads promoting Australian National Flag Day, proclaimed in 1996 to celebrate the first time the flag was flown on September 3, 1901. But many of Mr Taylor's ads did not start running until after the event.
This town continues to confront a historic level of local crime and in this post we take a pause in order to chronicle recent mugshots, police action, court cases and all manner of news and info related to local crime.



Gunfire Scares Kansas City

KCPD locate surveillance footage in West Bottoms shooting KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City, Missouri, police have located surveillance footage connected to a shooting that occurred last week in the West Bottoms . Two shooting victims arrived at Truman Medical Center Friday night and told police that they heard shots near 1300 West 12th street - the location of The Beast and Edge of Hell haunted houses - and later realized they had been struck.

Shooting Caught On Camera

Investigators release dash, body camera video from January crime spree that ended when deputy shot, killed the suspect CLAY COUNTY, MO (KCTV) - Dash and body camera videos obtained by KCTV5 News give perspective into what happened during a violent multi-city crime spree that ended with a deputy shooting and killing the suspect. The violent day began in Liberty, Missouri, on January 2nd of this year.

No Justice In JoCo

Victims of alleged Johnson County carjacking question delay in arrest Three months after an alleged carjacking in Johnson County, a teenager and her mother still are without a vehicle - and have yet to see both suspects arrested. The District Attorney says Juvenile Justice Reform has is partially to blame.

Family Mourns Murder Victim

Family grieves as Independence police seek clues in killing of transgender woman INDEPENDENCE, Mo. - Detectives in Independence continue to seek tips in the murder of a transgender woman last weekend. Aerrion Burnett, 37, was found shot and killed Sept. 19 near 13th and Brookside. Her body was in a grassy area near the road. While police are still searching for a motive and the suspect, her [...]

Lady Killer Suspect Surrenders

Kansas City man charged with murder after turning himself in KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A man accused of killing his girlfriend in their Kansas City, Missouri, home later turned himself in while claiming he had been "set up," according to court records. Kelshaun D.

Show-Me Clan Charged

Nine suspects charged in connection with kidnapping, killing woman in southwest Missouri LAWRENCE COUNTY, Mo.- A grand jury indicted nine people involved in the deadly shooting of Sarah Pasco. The incident happened Sunday, August 16th, when Gary Hunter allegedly shot Pasco and another woman in Lawrence County. Below are the updated charges for each of the nine suspects.

Local Park Shooter Suspect Now Confronts Serious Allegations

KC man charged in connection with shooting of 4-year-old girl at city park KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Kansas City man is facing changes in connection with the shooting of a 4-year-old girl at a city park. Michael Glover, 28, faces charges of unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action and unlawful possession of a firearm. According to court documents, police were dispatched to a shooting at [...]

Suburban Survivor Help

Widow of slain Overland Park officer talks about group that helped her When a law enforcement officer loses their life on the job, people respond. Overland Park Officer Mike Mosher was shot and killed back in May.

Authorities Still Searching

Merriam police ask for help in finding missing person Police in Merriam, Kansas are asking for help in finding a missing person.Authorities said Riley D. Murawski was last seen at his Merriam home at 9 p.m. on Thursday.Police ask anyone who has seen Riley to call them at 913-322-5560. Police in Merriam, Kansas are asking for help in finding a missing person.

1st Responders Helped Five Injured And One Killed At Scene

KCPD: Multiple people injured in crash Friday near 75th, The Paseo Multiple people were injured in a crash Friday evening near 75th Street and The Paseo, Kansas City police said.The two-vehicle wreck was reported about 7 p.m.Police said an investigation determined that a Chevrolet SUV and a Ford Crossover collided in the intersection, and the Ford burst into flames.Authorities said people in both vehicles were taken to hospitals with injuries that are not considered life-threatening.

Justice Delayed Two Decades

Missouri man waits for Missouri Supreme Court ruling, has already spent 26 years in prison- called innocent by current prosecutor FAIRWAY, KS (KCTV) - Lamar Johnson has spent more than half of his life in prison for the 1994 murder of his friend Marcus Boyd. Johnson had an alibi and thought speaking with police would clear things up. 26 years have now rolled by. "They just made up case.

Fed Crackdown Complete

Federal agents temporarily assigned to Operation LeGend have left Kansas City Federal agents temporarily assigned to Operation LeGend have left Kansas City and returned to their home districts, U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison announced Wednesday.Garrison, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and Kansas City police Chief Rick Smith will talk about Operation LeGend, and how the effort to reduce violent crime will continue, at a noon news conference on Monday.

Developing . . .
Alto, a ridesharing app that also offers on-demand delivery, is rolling into Houston soon. The Dallas-based company announced in September that it will begin service in the Bayou City on October 1.



When it launches here, Alto will employ up to 40 salaried drivers. The full-time employees, who will receive benefits and sick leave, will be required to complete a background check and defensive driving program before getting behind the wheel of the 15 to 20 company owned and operated vehicles. All have a 5-star safety rating.



Although Alto will cost you the price of the ride plus membership ($12.95 per month or $99 per year), it includes passenger perks such as control of music and air temperature, along with a do not disturb option for a non-conversational trip.

OPINION: Stop driving like this, Houston, I beg you



It also comes with a roster of safety measures, especially important during the novel coronavirus pandemic.



The company said its vehicles are equipped with cabin air filters and plexiglass barriers between the driver and passenger compartments.

Deep cleaning procedures include disinfecting high-touch areas such as door handles and headrests between every trip.
The Opposition on Tuesday announced the boycott of Parliament till the suspension of its eight MPs are revoked even as the BJP-led NDA sought to play the 'Bihar pride' card ahead of the Assembly elections in the state with Deputy Chairman Harivansh going on a 24-hour fast, serving tea to protesting lawmakers and Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeting in his support.

The government insisted that it could revoke the suspension of the lawmakers, who were accused of "unruly behaviour" during the passage of two contentious agriculture Bills in Rajya Sabha on Sunday, if they expressed regret even as the eight MPs sat on an overnight sit-in protest in Parliament House, which ended soon after Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad announced the boycott.

The announcement was made by Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad in Rajya Sabha in the morning and Leader of Congress Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in Lok Sabha in the evening.

Follow live updates on the Parliament's Monsoon Session here

DH on Monday reported about the Opposition's plan to boycott Rajya Sabha on the issue of suspension of MPs.

The day started with 'Gandhigiri' by Harivansh, a JD(U) MP from Bihar who is in the eye of the controversy with the Opposition accusing him of not allowing voting on the contentious "anti-farmer" Bills, by driving to Parliament House and serving tea to the protesting MPs and later announcing that he will observe a 24-hour fast, which Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu described as a "Gandhian way and JP's (Jaiprakash Narayan) way".

Also read  Suspended Rajya Sabha MPs hold indefinite protest in Parliament

Modi followed it up with tweets saying, "To personally serve tea to those who attacked and insulted him a few days ago as well as those sitting on dharna shows that Harivansh-ji has been blessed with a humble mind and a big heart. It shows his greatness. I join the people of India in congratulating Harivansh-ji.

To personally serve tea to those who attacked and insulted him a few days ago as well as those sitting on Dharna shows that Shri Harivansh Ji has been blessed with a humble mind and a big heart. It shows his greatness. I join the people of India in congratulating Harivansh Ji.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 22, 2020

He highlighted that Harivansh is an MP from Bihar and said, For centuries, the great land of Bihar has been teaching us the values of democracy. In line with that wonderful ethos...Harivansh-jis inspiring and statesman like conduct this morning will make every democracy lover proud."

For centuries, the great land of Bihar has been teaching us the values of democracy. In line with that wonderful ethos, MP from Bihar and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Shri Harivansh Jis inspiring and statesman like conduct this morning will make every democracy lover proud.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 22, 2020

Congress chief whip Jairam Ramesh responded, The shadow of the forthcoming Bihar elections has fallen over Parliament now. It is all very well for Constitutional authorities to demand respect. They must, in fact, command respect by their non-partisan actions.

The shadow of the forthcoming Bihar elections has fallen over Parliament now. It is all very well for Constitutional authorities to demand respect. They must, in fact, command respect by their non-partisan actions.  Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) September 22, 2020

Bihar is going to polls in the next couple of months and in the past two days, NDA leaders have been raking up the 'Bihar pride' claim through Harivansh. However, the Opposition was not impressed and continued to target Harivansh. They said the NDA strategy would not work and the farmers of the country would rise in revolt against the Bill.

Suspended MP and CPI(M) Rajya Sabha leader Elamaram Kareem told DH that Harivansh's visit to their protest site was "nothing but drama" and one staged for the cameras.

Congress Deputy Leader Anand Sharma said Harivansh was "shedding crocodile tears" for Parliamentary democracy after brazenly violating rules and his "token fast" was "nothing but a farce". "Hypocrisy will not wash away the sin of doing injustice to India's farmers," Sharma tweeted.

Hypocrisy will not wash away the sin of doing injustice to India's farmers.  Anand Sharma (@AnandSharmaINC) September 22, 2020

Also Read | Derek O'Brien, 7 other Rajya Sabha MPs suspended for remainder of Monsoon Session over uproar on Farm Bills

Rajya Sabha witnessed passionate speeches by Azad, former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda (JD-S), Tirchi Siva (DMK), K Keshava Rao (TRS) and Praful Patel (NCP ) demanding revocation of suspension while Leader of House Tawarchand Gehlot, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi and JD(U) floor leader RCP Singh training guns at the Opposition.

Soon after Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha, Azad raised the issue of suspension of MPs and the incidents of Sunday and said nobody would be happy about what transpired on Sunday but highlighted that the "last straw that broke the camel's back" came when Harivansh did not allow voting on the motion to send the Bills to Select Committees.

Emphasising that he would not approve the breaking of microphones or standing on table by three MPs inside Rajya Sabha, Azad said the Leader of Opposition is being reduced to be a mere member as restrictions are put on the time he could take for his interventions.

Announcing the boycott of Rajya Sabha, he set three conditions for the Opposition's return to the House -- government bring a new bill to rein in private players and ensure that they adhere to Minimum Support Price for agricultural products, ensuring MSP as per M S Swaminathan Commission report and revoking suspension of the MPs.

Ramesh cited seven reasons for the boycott of the session, which included the manner in which the Bills were "bulldozed" and the suspension of MPs without listening to them, the manner in which the Leader of Opposition was not allowed to speak and not referring Bills to Parliamentary panels.

Gehlot said Azad was trying to defend the Opposition MPs' conduct, which the latter himself described as unfortunate.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said the government will not press for continuation of suspension of MPs if they expressed regret. "Is it not painful that the Opposition MPs almost attacked the Deputy Chairman? One marshal was attacked, they threw papers at the Chair. Is it the right way?" he said.

JD(U)s Singh opposed any move to revoke the suspensions and said the intention of the MPs should be taken into consideration though they are talking about emotions. "They are sitting on a dharna as if they are fighting for independence," he said. Harivansh is a JD(U) MP.
BEIJING - The remains of 117 Chinese soldiers who died in the 1950-53 Korean War were returned to China on Sunday in an annual repatriation delayed this year by the coronavirus outbreak.

South Korea handed over the remains at a ceremony at Incheon airport outside Seoul, and a Chinese military transport plane flew them to Shenyang, a northeastern Chinese city near the North Korean border.

Chinese soldiers fought on the North Korean side against U.S.-led forces in the South during the war on the Korean Peninsula.

Most of the 117 remains were found in the Demilitarized Zone that separates North and South Korea. It was the seventh annual repatriation, and the largest since the 437 returned in the first one in 2014. In all, the remains of 716 Chinese soldiers have been sent back.

This years return, originally planned for the spring, was postponed for several months because of the spread of COVID-19.

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Former Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey joins JD(U) in run-up to polls

India

oi-Deepika S

Patna, Sep 27: Former Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey, who stepped down as the state police chief less than a week ago, joined Janata Dal (United) on Sunday evening.

Bihar Polls 2020: Former Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey joins JD(U)|Oneindia News

Gupteshwar Pandey, had hit the headlines recently vocally condemning the investigation into the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, sparked rumours of joining politics by announcing his retirement.

Although the IPS officer, who took VRS less than half a year before he was scheduled to superannuate, has chosen to keep his cards close to the rest, the grapevine has it that he is all set to join the JD(U) and get a ticket from one of the assembly segments in his native district of Buxar.

Reports in a section of the media also say that Pandey might be considered for the Valmiki Nagar Lok Sabha seat where a by-poll has been necessitated by the death of sitting JD(U) MP Baidyanath Mahto.

The JD(U) draws its support, largely, from among non-Yadav OBCs and Pasmanda Muslims. The party hopes that with the induction of Pandey it may be able to reach out to the Brahmins, traditionally supporters of the Congress who have gravitated towards the BJP of late.

Pandey had condemned of the non-cooperation meted out to the Bihar police team that had visited Mumbai to probe the death by suicide of Patna-born actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

Step closer to politics? Ex-Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey meets Nitish Kumar

With a candour that is usually not associated with bureaucrats, Pandey had lashed out at the municipal authourities in Mumbai when they had forcibly quarantined Vinay Tiwari, a young IPS officer from Patna who heading the investigating team until the probe was handed over to the CBI upon a request to the effect from the deceased actors father.

Pandey's comment, while he was still the DGP, that actress Rhea Chakraborty accused of abetment to suicide by Rajput's father did not have the aukaat (standing) to make any snide remarks against Nitish Kumar was also much talked about.

The Shiv Sena, which heads the ruling coalition in Maharashtra, had accused Pandey of acting as a political pawn of the ruling dispensation in Bihar ahead of the assembly elections.

Shiv Sena spokesman Sanjay Raut on the former DGP's VRS said, he was running a political agenda with his statements on the Mumbai case and now he is going to receive his award.

Maharashtra Home minister and NCP leader Anil Deshmukh Friday said that Pandey's quitting the job confirmed his doubts that in Rajput's death case he was making comments not as a DGP but as a BJP leader.

Pandey has earlier brushed aside criticism from the Shiv Sena, saying "they keep saying many things, I don't give much credence to it."

Pandey had resigned from service in 2009 to contest the Lok Sabha elections held that year. His resignation letter was, however, intriguingly not forwarded and he was reinstated into service a few months later.

Earlier, on Tuesday, decks seemed to have been cleared for Pandey's future move as his application for VRS received an expeditious approval from Governor Fagu Chauhan and an exception was made in his case with the waiver of a mandatory three-month long cooling off period for government servants.

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Story first published: Sunday, September 27, 2020, 16:35 [IST]
Rebel Wilson's romance with new boyfriend Jacob Busch is going strong.

On Sunday, the 40-year-old actress and her 29-year-old businessman beau shared a short Boomerang clip in which they were cuddled up together on a yacht in Monaco.

The Isn't It Romantic star snuggled close to her handsome man, curling up with a blanket around her shoulders.

So sweet: Rebel Wilson's romance with new boyfriend Jacob Busch is going strong. On Sunday, the 40-year-old actress and her 29-year-old businessman beau shared a short Boomerang clip in which they were cuddled up together on a yacht in Monaco. Both pictured

Both Rebel and Jacob wore trendy sunglasses, and wore amused expressions on their faces.

Rebel showed off her slimmed-down look and angular features, wearing gentle makeup and keeping her hair mostly off her face.

Jacob wore a crisp grey shirt and poked his tongue between his teeth in a cheeky pose.

Snuggles: The Isn't It Romantic star snuggled close to her handsome man, curling up with a blanket around her shoulders

Earlier in the day, Rebel flaunted her incredible 18kg weight loss in another Boomerang clip via Instagram.

After attending an art exhibit at the Villa Paloma Monaco in Monte-Carlo with Jacob, the Australian comedian shared a video of herself twirling on the balcony.

Rebel has been on a health and fitness journey this year, losing at least 18kg (40lbs or 2.8 stone).

Looking good! Earlier in the day, Rebel flaunted her incredible 18kg weight loss in another Boomerang clip via Instagram

What a transformation! Rebel has been on a health and fitness journey this year, losing at least 18kg (40lbs or 2.8 stone). Pictured left on Sunday, right in December 2014

Elsewhere at the art exhibition on Sunday, Rebel and Jacob met with Prince Albert of Monaco.

Rebel posed up a storm with the 62-year-old royal when appearing at the art event for renowned Spanish painter Joan Miro.

The beauty made her red carpet debut with Jacob at a gala in Monaco this week.

While the Isn't It Romantic star and the beer heir held back on any public displays of affection, they are reportedly 'officially boyfriend and girlfriend.'

Earlier, Rebel had attended an art exhibit at the Villa Paloma Monaco in Monte-Carlo with her 29-year-old beau Jacob

Billionaire family: Jacob's family founded the Anheuser-Busch brewery, which produces America's most popular beer, Budweiser. Businessman Jacob is readying the launch of his premium ice cream company called Napp's

Businessman Jacob is readying the launch of his premium ice cream company called Napp's.

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.

Jacob and Rebel's 11-year age gap shouldn't be a problem for the 29-year-old, who previously dated Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Adrienne Maloof, 59.
NASA Astronaut Kate Rubins NASA

NASA astronaut Kate Rubins will be in space during the upcoming general election, but won't let that stop her from voting.

"We consider it an honor to be able to vote from space, and so we fill out a form and we vote via absentee ballot," she told the Associated Press.

Texas, where most US astronauts live, allows them to vote via a secure electronic ballot, which, once completed, is forwarded to the country clerk by Mission Control.

"I think it's really important for everybody to vote, and if we can do it from space, then I believe folks can do it from the ground too," Rubins told AP.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

NASA astronaut Kate Rubins plans to vote from space during the upcoming general election.

Rubins told The Associated Press on Friday that astronauts cast votes from the orbit because they "feel that it's very important."

"It's critical to participate in our democracy," she said. "We consider it an honor to be able to vote from space, and so we fill out a form and we vote via absentee ballot, and I plan on doing that in November."

Rubins is in Star City, Russia, the AP reported, where she is getting ready for a mid-October launch to the International Space Station. She will spend six months there.

Most American astronauts live in Houston, Texas, the AP said. The state's law permits them to use a secure electronic ballot to cast a vote, which Mission Control sends to the county clerk, once it's completed.

"I think it's really important for everybody to vote, and if we can do it from space, then I believe folks can do it from the ground too," Rubins said.

Rubins and her fellow astronaut Shane Kimbrough voted from space during the 2016 presidential election, per AP.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A car fleeing police Saturday hit another vehicle, killing a woman.

A Winnipeg police traffic unit was in the area of Salter Street and Boyd Avenue about 1:30 p.m. when it tried to stop a vehicle, which then took off speeding, according to a press release.

The suspect vehicle struck another vehicle two blocks away on Andrews Street and Boyd Avenue. Four people from the vehicle that was hit, including an infant and child, and two from the suspect vehicle were taken to the hospital, most in serious or critical condition. An adult female from the car that was hit died from her injuries.

The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba is assuming responsibility for the investigation. No further information is being released today.
Iran on Sunday called for an end to the fighting between arch-foes Armenia and Azerbaijan and said it was ready to facilitate talks and a ceasefire between its two neighbours.

Iran "is closely following the military conflict between the republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia with concern," foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in a statement.

Tehran is ready "to use all of its capacities to establish ceasefire and start talks between the two sides", he said and called for "an immediate end to the conflict".

Fighting broke earlier Sunday between Azerbaijan and Armenian separatists claiming military and civilian casualties on both sides, including at least one child.

The clashes, the worst since 2016, have raised fears of a new war between the two countries which have been locked for decades in a territorial dispute over the Armenia-backed breakaway region of Nagorny Karabakh.

Ethnic Armenian separatists seized the region from Baku in a 1990s war that claimed 30,000 lives.

Peace talks have been largely stalled since a 1994 ceasefire agreement, with the last big push for a peace deal collapsing in 2010.

Iran has an Azeri-speaking community of over ten million as well as an Armenian community of just under 100,000.

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Chinese honor guard members put caskets containing the remains of Chinese soldiers in a cargo airplane during the handing over ceremony - South Korea Defense Ministry

The remains of 117 Chinese soldiers who died in the 1950-53 Korean War were returned to China on Sunday in an annual repatriation delayed this year by the coronavirus outbreak.

South Korea handed over the remains at a ceremony at Incheon airport outside Seoul, and a Chinese military transport plane flew them to Shenyang, a northeastern Chinese city near the North Korean border.

Chinese soldiers fought on the North Korean side against US-led forces in the South during the war on the Korean Peninsula.

Most of the 117 remains were found in the Demilitarized Zone that separates North and South Korea. It was the seventh annual repatriation, and the largest since the 437 returned in the first one in 2014. In all, the remains of 716 Chinese soldiers have been sent back.

This year's return, originally planned for the spring, was postponed for several months because of the spread of Covid-19.
Nine candidates have joined a crowded race to become Melbourne lord mayor in the October election, promising to steer the city to a recovery after the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Incumbent lord mayor Sally Capp remains the frontrunner, but she faces challenges from her deputy Arron Wood, Greens candidate Apsara Sabaratnam, Labor's Phil Reed and Labor-aligned Jennifer Yang.

Preferences must be lodged by Monday and have been crucial in the past, cementing Cr Capp's lead over Ms Yang in the 2018 byelection.

Melbourne lord mayor Sally Capp was elected in the 2018 byelection. Credit:Jason South

Cr Capp's team has confirmed she won't swap preferences but will number candidates in the order they fall behind her on the ballot. That means her how-to-vote cards will encourage voters to put her main competitor, Cr Wood, last based on the ballot drawn on Thursday.
In the 2nd Act downtown, 'Starbucks meets the pub'

The spacious 2nd Act is open at 100 East Allen.

Two women walk into a bar and start talking about the office. No, wait. Thats not right. The story told by Mike Willey, about his wife, Christa, and her friend, Terry Jacobs, opens this way: Two women walk into an office and start talking about a bar.

Chris told me she was going to be meeting with Terrye and next thing I know Christa walks in my office and Terrye walks in right behind her and they sat down and Christa said, Were going to go into the coffee business with Terrye, and I said, No were not.

And she said, Well, hear us out. So I was completely against it  the last thing I wanted to do was get into hospitality. We were looking at a different space, a smaller space. It would be a good hobby business. Then it turned out to be this  we went from a hobby business to a go big or go home business I guess.

This is The 2nd Act Coffee, Wine and Craft Beer Bar, which opened Wednesday in an impressively renovated space in the 100 East Allen building, itself rebirthed and reimagined by developer Andrew Riddle and Allen Street Partners.

Were more of a Starbucks meets the pub, says Willey (pronounced Wiley), who runs a construction recruiting business. He carries out the day job upstairs in the same building as The 2nd Act, which occupies part of the ground floor of the renovated Wetmur building now known as 100 East Allen.

The 2nd Act serves coffee, beer and wineOpened 94 years ago as Joines Ford Motor Co., the building has been home to Robotyper, an electric typewriter maker, the Board of Education and the Henderson County Planning Board.

The Willeys and Jacobs brought on Chris Nevel to execute the shared vision of the team and orchestrate the design, upfit, lighting and decoration of the 2,500-square-foot space with high ceilings and brick walls.

When we came in, all we had was that back wall with an unfinished piece of drywall, Willey says of the blank canvas they confronted. We spent 3 months clearing off these floors. We stained and finished this floor. We built the bar, built the room.

The building was built in 1926 so we really wanted to go with that industrial soft feel, he continues. It really takes on dual personalities. During the day, with all this natural light that we have coming in, its really full. At night, though, when its dark out and when these warm amber Edison bulbs heat up this place it looks like a speak-easy. Its real mellow. It takes on a completely different personality.

The morning is driven by Jacobs specialties. In her last act, Jacobs was owner of Jongo Java, the popular coffee, smoothie, pastry and sandwich shop on South Main that closed in July 2018.

The 2nd Act offers pastries from local bakeries, desserts, chocolate and sweets, breakfast fare such as bagels and bacon, egg and cheese croissants. Lunch items are also Jacobs specialties from her Jongo Java days  Cuban sandwiches, turkey, ham and cheese, a BLT, salads. Were not serving any main entrees, Willey says. We didnt want to go into a full restaurant.

Chris Nevel created a 15-minute video tracing the history of the 1926 Wetmur Building through the latest renovation.

In the evening, the pub offers charcuterie plates and a few other lighter items. And on Friday and Saturday nights theyll host a food truck in the parking lot. So far, Willey has signed up Olive catering and he expects to bring in Carolina Ace BBQ, which serves smoked ribs and brisket.

On the beverage menu are an unusually large selection of sparkling wines, more than 30 red and white wines, 11 craft beers on tap, plus other beer, hard cider and spritzers in cans and bottles. They offer a full menu of mocktails and four non-alcoholic beers so patrons who choose not to drink alcohol can feel like youre involved in the party but not involved in the party.

Struggling to its feet during the first days of the pandemic, The Second Act has overcome the odds. The varied, complementary talents of the four partners have produced a finished product that seems to be working in harmony.

We originally thought I was just going to do some fill-in work as a barista when Christa and Terrye sent me a Facebook message, Nevel says. Back in January, the three of them met for breakfast at Mikes on Main.

The large space at 100 East Allen was nothing but a dusty unfinished brick shell with damaged floors, Nevel says. In late May I declined, thinking it was terrible time and we were undercapitalized. But Michael is so good with figures and forecasting that I left that two-hour meeting signed up, first employee and a primary investor.

He finished the upfit, chose the lighting, the 75-inch wide-screen TV, photos and other art work. A talented videographer, Nevel made a 15-minute video featuring black-and-white photographs of the Wetmur building from its beginning as a Ford dealership all the way to short video clips of the renovation work.

He came in because we wanted to go big, Willey says. All four of us  weve never had a speed bump, weve never had a roadblock. Though we all come from different parts of business, we have been able to finish each others sentences. Ill say, Theres something I was thinking and Chris would say, I was actually going to bring that up. Weve all been on the same wave length.

* * * * *

The 2nd Act Coffee, Wine and Craft Beer Bar, at 101 East Allen, is open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and 7 a.m.-10 p.m. ("10ish") Thursday- Saturday. Visit the site on Facebook or call 828-513-0045.
The Member of Parliament for Sekondi Constituency in the Western Region, Andrew Egyapa Mercer has said the Electoral Commission (EC) should be applauded for successfully compiling and exhibiting a new voters register in a short while.

His admonition comes in the wake of concerns of missing names from the new voters register.

Mr. Mercer said issues with the compiled voters register should be expected, given that the compilation could not be completely seamless.

I think we should commend the Electoral Commission for successfully conducting a voters roll and putting out an exhibition in September and assist them by calling on our supporters to go out there and verify their names, he stated on Citi TV/FMs The Big Issue.

He said the flagbearer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama is leading a campaign against the new register because it does not favour him.

Were we not in this country when Mr. Mahama, then-President told us that the EC is an independent body and no political party can rig the elections? What has changed? he asked.

The MP said developments surrounding the compilation of a new voters register reflects what happened when the NDC was in power in 2012, adding that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) did not threaten the peace of the country despite anomalies in the register at the time.

There were issues with the 2012 register. There were issues raised by the then opposition party [NPP]. Didn't we still have an election? Were the issues not resolved? Did we not have a credible election in December of 2012? Did the NPP threaten that they were not going to accept the outcome of a flawed election?

---citinewsroom
Less than a month ago, The Atlantic relied on anonymous sources to allege that President Trump refused to visit a World War I graveyard in France, calling those who died there suckers and losers. It was such a ridiculous claim that even John Bolton, who has no love for Trump, refuted it. Nevertheless, the mainstream media ran the story hard, trying to interfere with the bond between Trump and the troops. By contrast, now that footage has emerged of Biden rudely abusing troops to their faces, the mainstream media are silent.

In March 2016, while he was still vice president, Biden was visiting Al Dhafra airbase in the United Arab Emirates. What the press reported at the time was that Biden thanked the troops while promising that the United States would squeeze the heart of ISIS.

What the press forgot to report is that Biden was unforgivably rude to the troops. In the video now making the rounds, he announced that he has incredibly good judgment. His first proof for that statement was that I married Jill. His second proof, which is a bit unintelligible, sounds like his boasting about having appointed someone to a military academy.

I cant understand what Biden said and, apparently, neither could the assembled troops. Whether because what he said made no sense or just wasnt funny, the assembled men and women said nothing. Biden snapped, Clap for that, you stupid bastards. The troops responded with muted laughter and light applause.

Biden then looked around the room and said, Man, you are a dull bunch. It must be slow here, man. If that was meant to be an insult comedians funny line, it too failed. The room remained silent. Here, see for yourself:

A video of Joe Biden saying clap for that you stupid bastards to military members and adding you must be slow is making its rounds online.



He made the remarks to 380th Air Expeditionary Wing on March 7, 2016, in Southeast Asia, and met with applause. pic.twitter.com/Th2wdF0VQE  Alex Salvi (@alexsalvinews) September 26, 2020

If youre the vice president of the United States and your initial joke falls flat, you continue graciously. However, if youre Joe Biden, a mean man behind that ostensibly affable front, you insult Americas military men and women to their faces. This is disrespect at a very fundamental level.

And yet the mainstream media says nothing. Well, thats not quite true. The Daily Beast, at least, made sure to defend Slow (and mean) Joe:

Biden campaign says he was jokingly encouraging the audience to clap for an airwoman on stage, and a number of service members can be seen laughing and smiling ... Seconds before, he praised them for 'the incredible sacrifices they make for our country.https://t.co/Zc7ILP331m  Alex Salvi (@alexsalvinews) September 26, 2020

That was no jest. Audiences arent stupid. They understand when they hear a good, albeit insulting joke, as opposed to just being insulted. And if theres anyone who can take a good insult joke, its a member of Americas armed forces. The men and women standing there understood that Biden, who couldnt make the room laugh, was lashing out at the audience for failing to appreciate his comedic brilliance.

Trump, on the other hand, deeply respects the military. My favorite video of Trump is still this one, showing when he took care of a Marines lid:

Trump also takes care of the troops in more important ways, by ensuring that they are the best armed and trained fighting force in the world, and by letting them kill their mortal enemies, men such as Qassem Suleimani or Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and by ensuring that a functional VA system gives them the medical care theyve earned. Biden, on the other hand, didnt even want to kill Osama bin Laden. Some Commander in Chief he would be.

Image: Biden insults the troops. Twitter screengrab.
27.09.2020 LISTEN

Mary Stopes Ghana is urging government to improve access to contraception to contain teenage pregnancies during the period of the Coronavirus crisis.

Due to the global phenomenon, it is estimated that as many as 1.4 million women globally lost access to family planning services alone.

During the COVID-19 lockdown in the country in April 2020, Marie Stopes Ghana projected that over 26,000 women and girls could lose access to contraception due to significant reductions in service provision for 3 months (April - June) at Marie Stopes Ghana clinics, health outreach areas, and in all the private BlueStar clinics that they support.

Between March and May this year, a revelation by World Vision Ghana confirmed that its Krachi West Area Programme in Ghana recorded almost a ninefold rise in teen pregnancies.

Taking into consideration the statistics provided and many others, Mary Stopes Ghana on the occasion of World Contraception Day is asking the Ghana government to ensure women have continued access to contraception throughout the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Marie Stopes Ghana is therefore urging local health authorities/governments, donors and the global community to work together to prioritize access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services in their COVID19 response, to collaborate with service providers to ensure the landscape supports safe access, and to learn from the impact we have seen during the pandemic so far to ensure women and girls have timely access to essential services when needed most, the non-governmental organization further adds.

Below is the full press statement:
Greens leader Adam Bandt will urge crossbenchers and the Labor opposition to help overturn planned changes to the federal government's wage subsidy scheme, seizing on modelling which shows it would cost less to maintain JobKeeper at its current rate than to bring forward income tax cuts.

Mr Bandt has seized on Parliamentary Budget Office-backed analysis showing it would cost $11.3 billion to keep the wage subsidy at the higher rate until March next year.

In contrast, the independent costing shows that bringing forward the government's scheduled personal income tax cuts by two years to July 2020 would cost the budget $27.7 billion, and that bringing the cuts forward by one year to July 2021 would cost $14.14 billion.

Greens leader Adam Bandt says cutting wage subsidies in favour of tax cuts is "trickle-down brutality". Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Mr Bandt argued that rather than tax cuts, the better economic stimulus was to ensure low and middle income earners were able to keep themselves homed and fed during a recession.
It's the memory of a small kindness in a desperate moment that still brings tears to Malcolm Byrne's eyes.

He's casting his mind back 14 years, when he became national news for the first time. As he walked toward the counter of a newsagents in Gorey, the woman behind the counter looked at him sadly and asked: "Why are they doing this to you, Malcolm?" On the newsstand, the face of the then 31-year-old councillor, an up-and-comer in Fianna Fail, was emblazoned across the front page of The Sun with the headline 'Bertie's Fianna Fail man in gay web shame'.

It was the Gorey Echo which first ran the story. "The first few questions were about roads," Byrne recalls. "Then the journalist said, 'Are you aware you have a profile on this dating website?' I said, 'I am, but frankly it's none of your business.' He said, 'We'd like to do a story around this,' and I said I'd have to ring back. There was so much going through my head."

He confirmed that the profile was his and then waited for the story to appear.

"I can remember I didn't really sleep the night before and I went down to the local newsagent the next morning. I knew I was about to be outed. I was ringing around people I knew and my parents were ringing around people. It was a terrible moment. Even though I knew it was coming, it was a shock to see it when it appeared. It was front-page news and a small part of me was thinking, 'Have they nothing else to write about?' I was out to my parents, but my grandmother didn't know and a lot of my extended family and my friends didn't know."

The headlines screamed of shame, but nobody could agree on what the shame was. Gorey Echo group editor Tom Mooney said the issue was not that the paper sought to 'out' a gay politician, but that "some of the information given by Malcolm, I thought, was unfitting of a public representative."

But there was no contradiction in Byrne using a gay website - he notes that he was never "hypocritical" and had spoken out in favour of gay rights. Going online to meet a partner, which was at that point the only dating website for gay men, would seem like a sensible option for a gay man in small-town Ireland.

Taken all together, Byrne's profile on the site was quite tame - friends of his described it as "dull".

In the most normal, human way, he was clearly looking for a partner, not for sex. When asked now about the content of the profile, Byrne says: "The profile contained pictures of me on holidays. The nature of the story was about me coming out. I don't remember the [content of the] story but the headline was 'Gay website outs Malcolm'."

He says in the aftermath of the story, he received an outpouring of support. "I was getting letters from gay men and women around the country." And yet, while others might have embraced this enforced change of brand, he baulked at it. He turned down going on The Late Late Show because, "I didn't want to be known as the gay politician."

There were no other out gay politicians in Fianna Fail. Byrne had been something of a rising star in the party. As a young man with no political background or connections, he was inspired to get into politics by the fall of the Berlin Wall and the protests in Tiananmen Square.

As a law student at UCD, he had been secretary of the Kevin Barry Cumann, where the activist Tiernan Brady and broadcaster Ryan Tubridy were also members. At 25, Byrne was the youngest member of Wexford County Council and big things were predicted for him. He says he doesn't think his treatment in the press had a negative impact on his career, but in the aftermath of the 'Gaydar' scandal, his progress did appear to stall. He was not selected to run in the 2007 general election and for much of the next decade he worked outside the political establishment, first as executive director of Screen Producers Ireland and then as the head of communications at the Higher Education Authority.

In the meantime, the country moved on. The marriage referendum was passed in a landslide - he says that he was heartened to see the huge proportion of people in Wexford who voted for it. Other politicians came out. There was a gay cabinet member and then a gay Taoiseach. He smiles ruefully when I wonder if his public outing came just a little too early. "In politics, timing is everything."

By the time he was selected to run as a TD in 2016, Fianna Fail was a toxic brand - a legacy of its role in the economic crash - and he failed to win a seat.

In 2019 he ran in the European elections but once again, scandal was to stalk him. The Sunday Independent published a story in which Byrne said that he was "ashamed" of "striking out at" a female friend in 1994 while he was in college and an education officer with the Union of Students in Ireland.

"It was a learning experience," he says now, while declining to go into the details. "When I was in college I had a lot of fixed views, I was very black and white about things. Frankly, I was a bit confused about myself then. That related to my sexuality. I never considered myself the angry young man but I could certainly get annoyed a lot more easily. I always had a sense that I was always right. That particular case involved a friend at the time. We're not in touch now. I learned a lot about myself when I was in college, in so many different ways."

Between last year and this year, he contested five elections, including the European elections and a by-election, in just the space of a few months. He was elected as a TD in the 2019 Wexford by-election and held the seat for just 71 days, making him the second-shortest serving TD in history after anti-H-Block TD Kieran Doherty, who died on hunger strike in 1981. Byrne later said that it was a 'dirty' campaign.

"Politics has been increasingly polarised in recent years and there's been a rise in trolling and anonymous posts and attacks," he says. "I'd like to say I ignored it but it has an impact and it hurts. I think the attacks on me, in most cases, were from outside the party."

Earlier this year he was elected to the Seanad and, fittingly perhaps, has taken a particular interest in issues surrounding Big Tech companies and privacy - after we meet, he's due to meet representatives from TikTok to discuss issues around data usage. While he applauds the Government's performance on things such as education and he says dissent is healthy - "this isn't North Korea" - he deplores the communications strategy of the current Government.

"Being blunt, it has been a communications disaster. I get annoyed by the messaging because good things are happening. The schools have reopened and what is happening is, broadly speaking, a success. Micheal is hugely capable, he's policy driven. I think part of his problem is that he listens to too few people. Most of us in the party want to help him."

From dealing with trolls to working on issues in tech, the vicissitudes of the internet seem to have been a constant theme in his career. As you might expect, he's a proponent of the so-called right to be forgotten, at least as it pertains to his missteps.

"The internet has made it so that any mistake you ever made in your life is going to be thrown back at you," he says. "And I sort of think, hang on, I've achieved a lot of stuff as well."

He has remained single. He still lives on his own in Gorey and says that he sacrificed his personal life for politics. "I don't do regrets but I don't have a relationship at the moment and for anyone who goes into politics, it's hard to have relationships," he says. "I sacrificed a lot for my career in terms of other things I could have done, and my personal life. Politics is almost like an addiction."

And like Morrissey, his faith in love is still devout. "I continued to use the technology, and why not? A dating app is the modern equivalent of meeting at a bar. An online dating profile is part of your private life."
(Natural News) On Friday, Sept.11, Israels government announced that it was entering into a second lockdown nationwide, becoming the first developed country to do so in the process. The lockdown comes as the government struggles to contain a fresh outbreak of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) that has battered the economy and divided the nation.

The lockdown is set to last through early October at the very least. It aims to prevent mass gatherings during the Jewish holidays that began at sundown on Friday. It will extend through three more holidays that typically involve millions of Jewish worshipers attending synagogues and gathering for prayer service: Rock Hashana, Yom Kippur and Sukdot.

Should the lockdown be deemed effective, Israel will later move to localized lockdowns of coronavirus hotspots.

Israeli PM moves to halt coronavirus surge

With the new surge, Israel now has one of the worst rates of daily coronavirus infections per capita in the world. On Saturday, September 12, the country recorded 2,715 new infections and 38,008 active cases overall according to the countrys Ministry of Health. In addition, there were 513 patients in serious condition, while 1,108 people had died.

We want to curb the surge, said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the cabinet voted to back the lockdown on Sunday. We are not going to be able to be together with our extended families and some are going to see damage to their businesses.

Under the new lockdown measures, people must stay within one-third of a mile of their homes unless shopping for essential goods or seeking essential services. Businesses deemed essential, such as supermarkets and pharmacies, will remain open. Government offices and some private businesses are allowed to remain open provided that they dont accept customers, which means that some people will continue to commute to work.

Schools will have to close during the lockdown, as will hotels, gyms and restaurants. Meanwhile, indoor gatherings will be limited to only 10 people. Outdoor gatherings, on the other hand, can have up to 20 people.

In addition, the government has also released guidelines that limit holiday prayer services to small groups.

Measures coming to stem the economic loss

To help alleviate the expected economic toll of the shutdown, Netanyahu said that his government is looking to approve additional financial aid. The ongoing pandemic has spurred a steep recession in the country  in late August, the Bank of Isreal estimated unemployment being at 12 percent, down from a peak of roughly 27 percent in May following two months of business closures from the outbreak. As such, the countrys finance ministry predicts that the measure will cost their economy 6.5 billion shekels or $1.88 billion.

The meaning of any further shutdown of the economy is a significant decline in the standard of living for Israeli citizens for the next decade and a passing on of great debt to future generations, Rom Tomer, the head of the Manufacturers Association of Israel, said in a written statement Sunday.

Hotels, which have been limited to catering to Israelis largely barred from traveling overseas, say theyve been hit particularly hard. We managed to get reservations for the holidays, bought goods, food, equipment and are now facing a hopeless situation, Amir Hayek, president of the Israeli Hotels Association, stated in an interview Sunday with local radio station 103FM. We are in a catatonic state.

Israel was a leader in fighting the first wave of the coronavirus after Netanyahu moved quickly to shut down its borders and institute a quarantine for all returning travelers. The country, however, also moved quickly to reopen schools and businesses in May and in June, which looks to have fueled the second outbreak that has worsened over the summer. (Related: Israels Health Ministry bans the use of Chinese coronavirus test kits.)

This type of spreading and expanding of the infection obligates us to take steps, said Dr. Ronni Gamzu, the countrys coronavirus czar, in a televised broadcast from his home.

Believe me, this is the lesser of two evils. We must understand were in a battle.

Ruling coalition divided as orthodox leaders dissent

The decision to implement a new shutdown has divided the countrys ruling coalition. Some of its more conservative members have criticized it, saying that it will prevent tens of thousands of people from attending services during the most important holidays of the year.

The shutdown has caused at least one high-ranking member of the coalition to quit. Housing Minister Yakov Litzman, leader of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish party, resigned in protest of the new shutdown, saying that it would prevent Jewish people from celebrating important festivals such as Yom Kippur  the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, on September 27.

In addition, Litzman has also threatened to pull his party out of the governing coalition.

This wrongs and scorns hundreds of thousands of citizens, wrote Litzman in his resignation letter. Where were you until now? Why have the Jewish holidays become a convenient address for tackling the coronavirus?

Not all conservative leaders agree with Litzman. Interior Minister Aryeh Deri, leader of yet another ultra-Orthodox party, stated he supported the planned restrictions in a video posted on Twitter. He said that not obeying them would be tantamount to murder.

Meanwhile, in his address to the cabinet as it convened to vote on the lockdown on Sunday, Netanyahu said that he regretted Litzmans resignation.

We have to move on, to make the decisions necessary for Israel in the coronavirus era, and that is what we will do in this session, he stated.

Learn more about the continued spread of the coronavirus at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

WSJ.com 1

WSJ.com 2

BBC.com
The Delhi Police and the DCPCR have seen an increase in cases of during the COVID-19 pandemic which along with the lockdown has severely hit the income of families, giving an opportunity for traffickers to target the poor and persuade them to send their children to work, officials said on Sunday.

Both the Delhi Police and the Delhi Commission For Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) have



jointly rescued several children during this time, they said.

Officials of DCPCR said with the outbreak of COVID-19 and ensuing lockdown, there has been a drastic impact on the income of families and the traffickers have been targeting poor families in various states, including Bihar, persuading them to send their children on the pretext of giving employment.

The child rights panel said it has been working to curb such cases through a multi-stakeholder approach, coordinating with all the stakeholders, including Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs), Mandi Associations, Private Schools Associations among others in Delhi.

The Commission is concerned about increasing number of cases during the pandemic, said an official.

Even the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has predicted that with COVID-19 pandemic, the world may witness an increase in for the first time in 20 years, thus, there is a risk of reverting years of progress in this arena, he added.

In the second week of July, the DCPCR along with the police rescued 12 child labourers from Gandhi Nagar in east Delhi. The children were found in a garment factory and cycle-motorcycle mechanic shops and they were not wearing masks and working in unsafe and unhygienic conditions, the panel had earlier said.

A few days later, the DCPCR rescued five child labourers from Okhla, who were working at a bike service centre and eateries respectively. In the same month, another rescue operation was conducted by the body along with the police, in which nine child labourers, who were working in various scrap shops in Mustafabad were rescued.

In September, 14 children allegedly trafficked from different districts of Bihar to Delhi were rescued and 10 people were arrested by the Railway unit of Delhi Police.

Among those rescued, nine children were from Katihar, two from Begusarai, two from Kishanganj and one from Purnia. The accused had planned to take them to different places, including four to Azadpur and two to Seelampur in Delhi, two to Faridabad in Haryana and six to Punjab, Harendra Kumar Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Railways) had said.

Due to the shortage of labourers amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the traffickers saw an opportunity to get the children employed in factories and targeted poor families in Bihar, the DCP had said.

In order to curb such incidents, the DCPCR has started a scheme for providing financial incentive for reporting of

Anurag Kundu, chairman of DCPCR recently urged citizens to pro-actively report instances of child labour and win cash award of up to Rs 10,000. He had also said the Commission is building an early warning system to determine child adversity using children's school attendance as an indicator.

"It is in the process of laying down processes to activate a series of actions and interventions in the event of children remaining absent from the schools for more than 50 per cent of the days. This will help mitigate the child's adversity in early stages," he had earlier said.

The Delhi Police have reorganised it's Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU). The operation 'Milap', under which children are rescued, was launched in December 2014.

Under this project, the AHTU develops information, rescues the trafficked or kidnapped person and arrests the kidnappers.

A senior Delhi police officer said many of the children who go missing belong in the age group between 12-18.

Having solved many such cases, Deputy Commissioner of Police (south) Atul Kumar Thakur said one of the noteworthy thing is that even on being scolded by parents on trivial or minor issues, children go away from their houses. Later when they reach railway stations or bus stands, they are brought to children's home and it becomes difficult for the parents to trace them.

The officer said it has been observed in some cases that parents from weaker section do not even lodge an FIR or a missing report, making it difficult to find out about the whereabouts of the children or match their photo on Zipnet (Zonal Integrated Police Network) -- which has details of the missing children or unidentified dead bodies.

"To reunite the missing children, we visit children's home where our staff speak to them and try to win their confidence so that they tell us from where they have come. In many of cases, children are initially skeptical or they do not open up easily, but after sometime, we have observed that they do share some information about their house.

"In many cases, even a small information like I have a post office near my house or a railway track goes from near my village, have helped us reunite missing children with their families," said Thakur.

Citing a similar case from his district, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) R P Meena said on September 12, during a routine visit to an observation home, a team of AHTU met a 12 year-old boy who disclosed that he hails from Loni, Ghaziabad and only remembered that a white temple was near his home, he said.

Based on that clue, Google search was used and location of all white temples were searched in Loni and finally on September 19, the family of the missing boy was traced near one white temple in Loni, he said.

When visiting children's home, the police personnel always ensure they are in civil dress and its mostly the women officers who interact with children and counsel them to make them comfortable, police officials 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.)
More than 20 of the largest and most active branches of the NSW Nationals have unanimously backed Deputy Premier John Barilaro's leadership in the wake of a damaging Coalition rift.

The grassroots members supported Mr Barilaro at the Barwon electorate's annual general meeting in Gilgandra in the central west on Saturday, following a bruising month for the party and Mr Barilaro.

Deputy premier John Barilaro has received significant support from grassroots Nationals members. Credit:James Brickwood

Another of the party's largest branches, Wee Waa, also says it should be "noted and voiced in the strongest terms necessary our support for John Barilaro as leader of the NSW parliamentary team".

Mr Barilaro took four weeks' mental health leave after addressing the annual general meeting of the Nationals' governing body in Sydney on September 18, telling colleagues he needed a break.
Putting to rest all speculation, Sharad Yadav-led Loktantrik Janata Dal on Sunday ruled out the possibility of the party joining the JD(U).

The national office bearers of the party met in New Delhi on Sunday and called the rumours of the party switching sides totally false and baseless.

The meeting was not attended by Yadav, who is hospitalized.

LJD wishes to clarify that Sharad Yadav has always been a part of the JD (U) which played a key role in bringing Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) to power in the 2015 Bihar assembly elections and continues to work with the people of Bihar to bring GA to power again in the upcoming assembly elections. LJD expresses its solidarity with the GA, said a statement issued by partys general secretary Sushila Morale.

What triggered the speculation of his possible return to the JD(U) camp was a courtesy call by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar to the family of former JD(U) president Sharad Yadav to enquire about his health. During the course of his illness, several JD(U) leaders also contacted him and enquired about his health. According to Yadavs party sources, the LJD leader, like other Grand Alliance partners, was feeling neglected in the alliance. Only recently, HAM-S, one of the GA partners, exited from the alliance.

Yadav formed LJD after he was expelled from the JD(U) for his anti-party activities in August 2017. He contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Madhepura as a Grand Alliance candidate and lost the elections.

The JD(U) had removed Yadav as the partys leader in the Rajya Sabha in 2017 after he publicly disapproved of Nitish Kumars decision to re-join the NDA in Bihar. He was subsequently disqualified from the upper house on a petition filed by the JD(U). Yadav, whose Rajya Sabha tenure ends in 2022, challenged the decision in court. The matter is still sub-judice.
Energy Minister Angus Taylor has dismissed concerns over whether the advisory panel who recommended a gas-fired economic recovery from the pandemic will personally benefit from the plan.

The government outlined its gas plan last week, as recommended by its hand-picked COVID commission which includes energy executives.

Mr Taylor says the government receives advice from multiple groups all the time, all with varying interests.

"We make the decisions and that's what we've done here. They have to be the right decisions for Australia and we're very confident that they are," he told the National Press Club on Tuesday.

"It's not something that I'm even focused on," Mr Taylor said when pressed if he knew whether the panel stood to personally benefit.

"I'm focused on delivering a plan that is right for the country," he said.

The COVID commission is headed by Nev Power, who was asked in June by Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie if he could guarantee no members of the commission stood to personally gain from the flagged gas expansion.

"I can't do that Senator," he said at the time.

"I don't know what their individual circumstances are and it depends on what happens."

Mr Power - who is a non-executive director of Strike Energy - said he wouldn't attend board meetings or vote on strategic matters while in his commission role, to prevent conflict of interest issues.

The commission has also included EnergyAustralia's managing director Catherine Tanna, property sector boss Paul Little, health expert Jane Halton and former Labor minister Greg Combet.

The gas push has come from the manufacturing task force, which was asked what would create jobs.

The head of that task force was Andrew Liveris, who is on the board of a Saudi oil and gas company.
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.
27.09.2020 LISTEN

It is an immense and great antique to have your solemn present in our country, filling the vacant space in our various hospitals, delivering undisputable service and attitudes towards individuals you barely know.

From the beginning of creation to the time mankind will travel to meet his maker, most of his time is spent with you servicing the unknown breakages and fallouts in our systems.

it is either with talents, gifts or calling that has made you wear the shoes of lifesavers, with your gold and silver medal around your necks with tags of your names makes you different and unique amongst other professionals.

What surprises me is the headset you put on to check the temperature of patience, I sometimes wonder what music does our body play in your ears.

You accidentally put your lives at risk to save ours even when situations at hand are very risky to bear, yet you lay all fears aside and face patients and survive them.

Your works are unprecedented and can be compared to none. you swear oaths to protect patients with diligence and humility, I must say we salute you all.

On the other side, the midwives who risk your lives to survive pregnant stubborn women and their children in the maternity hall makes you more godly than anyone else.

Evaluating the number of lives that comes to and fro from your offices make you wanted 24/7 because each day and night the life of many patients and victims lies in your hands to survive them.

Amongst the professionals in Ghana, it is Doctors, midwives and nurses who deserve much attention..

The reason being that is, since the outbreak of the pandemic covid19 it is the nurses and doctors who have put themselves on the front desk to receive unknown patience from morning to the next morning. some get to the extent of losing their lives, with persistence, selflessness and determination you give your all to save lives.

You deserve a greater portion of finance and respect.

With respect to authorities and for the sake of the life of individuals it would be advisable if much financial support would be bestowed upon the Health workers out there, not just promising them but executing those promises.

Doctors, Nurses and Midwives are human angels whom through talents and patience have made themselves vulnerable for all sickness and dangers that come across their path of professionalism.

with your strongest an indelible hardworking we say ayekoo to all of you.

A whole life depends on your aid, waiting on you to come back to work with full potential and enthusiasm.

the reward of your outstanding work is still in the process. keep the fire burning with your nose masks on, nurses, doctors and Midwives.

You are our source of life-saving, second to God, for God and country.

By Iddrissu Oware.
CPAP Store USA Wipes CPAP Store USA announced today the launch of its own CPAP Store USA brand.

CPAP Store USA, a leading provider of worlds finest CPAP machines, supplies and respiratory products for more than 18 + years, announced today the launch of its own CPAP Store USA brand. The multi-location retail store and the leading online CPAP store will now be selling to the public its own brand of CPAP supplies, including CPAP wipes, CPAP tubing, CPAP Filters, Chinstraps, CPAP machine travel bags and backpacks along with other CPAP supplies.

On September 25, 2020 CPAP supplies will appear on the store shelves and online under the CPAP Store USA brand. That is set to expand to 150 products by late of next year.

This is an exciting change for us, a major step forward and marks a strategic pivot in our future direction," said Marina BerBeryan, Ambassador of CPAP Store USA.  CPAP store USA brings forth an expanded commitment to all of our customer and CPAPers. In the spirit of evolution, we will continue to bridge new gaps while simultaneously expanding our resources, solutions and our store across the nation and the CPAP community.

CPAP Store USA aims to provide affordable options for all major CPAP brands such as ResMed, Philips Respironics, Transcend, Fisher & Paykel and CPAP Store USA. The store-front retail offers a selection of hundreds of CPAP masks and machines, along with many other CPAP Supplies. CPAP Store USA is now accepting Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA). Financing is also available with zero down and low monthly payments with CareCredit.

More than 100 million people are estimated to suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) worldwide. Obstructive sleep apnea is a common and serious sleep disorder that causes a person to stop breathing during sleep. The airway repeatedly becomes blocked, limiting the amount of air that reaches the lungs. Some of the symptoms include snoring loudly or making choking noises as a person tries to breathe. The brain and the body becomes oxygen deprived and sleep apnea treatment and prescribed.

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Hollywood Times PR

Olga Love

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Australia's coal miners are headed for a $17 billion collapse in export earnings this year as the shock of the coronavirus crisis persists and more Asian power utilities switch from coal to gas.

The projected declines across 2020-21, contained in a federal government report to be released on Monday, come after a succession of coal companies reported sharp full-year profit contractions including New Hope Corporation, which took a 69 per cent hit, and Whitehaven Coal which fell 95 per cent.

The COVID-19 economic downturn has weighed heavily on export prices for Australia's thermal coal. Credit:Nic Walker

Swiss giant Glencore last week suspended operations at most of its coal mines in the Hunter Valley in New South Wales for at least a fortnight in a bid to curtail output in the face of falling demand.

Exports of metallurgical coal  the coal used in steelmaking  are projected to shrink 34 per cent from $35 billion to $23 billion as prices hover around four-year lows, according to the federal Industry Department, while thermal coal  used in power generation  is set to fall 25 per cent from $20 billion to $15 billion.
North Korea accused South Korea of sending ships across the disputed sea boundary to find the body of a man recently killed by North Korean troops - Yonhap

North Korea said on Sunday it is searching for the body a South Korean official killed by its troops, but warned that South Korean naval operations in the area threatened to raise tensions.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un issued a rare apology on Friday for the fatal shooting of the South Korean fisheries official in North Korean waters.

Seoul then urged Pyongyang to further investigate the fatal shooting and suggested it could be a joint probe by the two sides. South Korea's military has accused the North's soldiers of killing the man, dousing his body in fuel and setting it on fire near the sea border.

North Korean state news agency KCNA said on Sunday that the country's authorities were considering ways to hand over the body to the South if it is found.

The report called it an "awful case which should not have happened" but warned that South Korean naval operations near the site of the incident had crossed into North Korean waters.

South Korean marine soldiers patrol on Yeonpyeong island - Yonhap

"We urge the south side to immediately halt the intrusion across the military demarcation line in the west sea that may lead to escalation of tensions," KCNA said.

A spokesman for South Korea's Ministry of National Defense had no immediate comment on the North's accusations.

South Korea has mobilised 39 vessels, including 16 naval ships, and six aircraft for the search, which continued on Sunday despite the North Korean complaints, South Korean news agency Yonhap said. North Korea was beginning its own search operation to recover the body, KCNA said.

"We also took more necessary security measures in order to make sure that no more incident spoiling the relations of trust and respect between the north and the south would happen in any case, true to the intention of our Supreme Leadership," the report added, without elaborating.
Since March, its been all about Fortress Canada.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, our ports of entry have been restricted. Travellers from other countries have been largely barred. Many international students and migrant workers have been kept away. Loved ones have been split by the border. Even asylum seekers have been shut out.

But some say the time will come to change that.

Many experts argue Canada cannot continue to keep its doors shut to the world and wait for an effective coronavirus vaccine to be universally available, something some have speculated may not happen until 2024.

How might Canada reopen to travellers? How could it be done  incrementally and safely?

We cannot maintain blanket border restrictions indefinitely, says Dr. Vivek Goel, an expert on the federal COVID-19 Immunity Task Force and adviser for CanCOVID, the national research network for the coronavirus.

That really takes us to: How do we approach reopening in a safe way while maintaining all the work thats been done within our country, so we dont re-introduce infections?

Before assessing how Canada might ease its border restrictions, its probably worth asking the question of whether the closures have worked.

That question turns out not to be so simple.

When you look at the science around border closures, the evidence is not very thick, because we havent had that experience with border closures and pandemics, says Steven Hoffman, director of the Global Strategy Lab and a professor of global health, law and political science at York University.

It might very well work, but we just dont have yet research that shows it.

When news first emerged in January and February about a highly contagious virus emerging in China, countries including Canada followed the World Health Organization guidelines and kept the border open, relying on health screenings at entry points.

In March, when COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau immediately called on all Canadians abroad to return home before travel restrictions were imposed, so the country could focus on controlling the spread of the virus within its border.

With some exceptions granted, non-essential travel was banned and incoming visitors have been subjected to a health questionnaire and mandatory 14-day quarantine.

A recent paper published by Hoffman and University of Ottawa professor Patrick Fafard found 18 countries had mandated quarantines as of March 18 for incoming travellers from high-risk regions such as China, while 55 countries had banned travel from high-risk regions and 37 countries had enacted total border closures.

Two months later, 14 countries had quarantines for travellers from high-risk regions, 29 countries had bans against travel from these regions and 113 countries had total border closures.

There have been a range of health measures adopted in most countries  social distancing, frequent washing hand and face mask wearing  making it almost impossible to pinpoint how well the border measures in and of themselves are working.

Weve seen deference to government, scientists and lawyers around what makes the most sense, Hoffman says.

Of course, we should be deferring to the science and the law, but border measures are based on so much more than science and law. Ultimately, actions taken at the border are political.

Public polls have consistently shown Canadians overwhelming support for border restrictions especially at the land ports of entry with our nearest neighbour, the United States, where more than seven million Americans have contracted the virus and about 203,000 have died.

The Public Health Agency of Canada stands by the decision to keep Canada closed.

Epidemiological evidence has demonstrated that further to those border measures, imported cases of COVID-19 dropped precipitously, from 3,840 confirmed and probable cases in March to an average of 175 per month over the subsequent months, the agencys spokesperson, Tammy Jarbeau, says in an email.

Other countries have similarly demonstrated significant reductions in importation of cases further to imposition of quarantine measures.

Canadas new COVID-19 cases have predominantly been spread through community transmission, as officials appear to have a good handle on detecting and tracking imported cases, despite incidents of Americans violating quarantine rules driving to Alaska via Canada and flights flagged for possible exposure to the virus.

People think the travel restrictions are a panacea for this issue, says Kelley Lee, a Simon Fraser University public health professor and the Canada research chair in global health governance.

(They think) If we just close the border, everything will be fine. Of course, thats not the case. And they become complacent.

Lee is part of an international research team thats studying how various restrictions are working to combat COVID-19 in hopes of developing a tool to guide international border policies during a pandemic.

We have to make people aware that border restrictions are just one set of measures.  Its not like somehow you just shut your border and the pandemic is going to go away, she says.

There are other possibilities  some more practical than others.

Canada could reopen its border to travellers from countries where the spread of coronavirus is under control.

The federal government could set up a travel pre-authorization system to assess the risks of COVID-19 that a visitor presents before deciding to let them in the proverbial door.

Or Canada could, theoretically, lift travel restrictions to all, but quarantine everyone who arrives in this country for 14 days in government facilities.

There are different examples of travel restrictions for the federal government to draw on.

Since July, the EU has lifted its border restrictions against non-essential travellers from more than a dozen safe countries outside of the union, including Canada, that have low infection rates and robust containment measures in place. Countries within the union and the U.K. have peaked again in September and restrictions are being re-imposed.

Places such as Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan have imposed strict government quarantines and tracing measures on incoming travellers.

And within Canada, two months ago, the Atlantic provinces formed a travel bubble to restart traffic between New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, following months of regional restrictions to stop the spread of COVID-19. Case counts have remained low throughout the region.

When you think of travel restrictions, its a class of measures trying to stop people from moving and then transmitting a virus. It ranges from us remaining in our homes to people moving from country to country, says Lee.

We have different scales of movement and distance. These are similar measures. We are just trying to get people to stay away from one another.

All measures have their pros and cons.

Holding arriving travellers in designated facilities under government watch is expensive and would be a logistical nightmare.

People can game GPS locators by leaving their cellphones at their supposed quarantine venue.

Safe travel bubbles are based on shared public health practices and compatible infection rates of participating jurisdictions. They wont work, for instance, if a country is simultaneously open to both high-risk travellers from the U.S. and visitors from low-risk Canada.

And country conditions can also evolve quickly.

In August, thousands of British holidaymakers in Croatia were caught in a rush to return home to avoid a 14-day quarantine after the Balkan state was suddenly removed from the UK governments travel corridor list.

Since the beginning of September, Goel and McMaster University microbiologist Marek Smieja have started a study at Torontos Pearson International Airport. Passengers volunteer to self-swab and are provided with two test kits to repeat on Day 7 and 14 after their arrival, while in quarantine. Participants samples are picked up by couriers and tests are done at St. Josephs hospital in Hamilton.

Participants are asked about their quarantine condition and public health protocols. A risk assessment is conducted based on where theyre coming from and what activities they have planned while in Canada. For instance, a traveller who stays with a relative or only remains in a conference centre throughout their visit is considered lower risk than someone who will make multiple stops across the country.

The study hopes to enrol 16,000 international travellers by early October, with final results available by the end of November to help guide the federal government on what to do with its travel restrictions.

The goal of the study is to develop a pre-travel assessment and authorization scheme based on the level of COVID-19 risk someone presents.

The customized assessment result would then determine the duration of the quarantine, if any. Those considered low risk could be exempted from a 14-day self-isolation, which hinders the travel plan for people who only have a week-long vacation or need to be here for just a three-day business conference.

Our view is to start to prepare for this longer period of what could be several years as the vaccine is being rolled out, so the outbreak may be under control but people will still want to have some reassurance about the travellers that are coming in. So we can get tourism and other industries going again, Goel says.

Overall, about 10 per cent of the global economy is connected to travel and tourism. Its not just the airlines and cruise lines. Its the hotels, taxis and restaurants.

However, there are risks involved in any measure: Quick self-swab tests may not be as accurate and risks posed by travellers from the same source country can vary.

To relax the travel restrictions and reopen the border, Canada will first need to have its own outbreak under control with a steadily low infection rate. It also needs to ramp up its capacity for testing and tracing.

If we see 15,000 people coming in each day and each needs two tests, its already going to hit Ontarios daily (COVID-19) testing capacity, says Goel. Our capacity needs to be many times than whats currently available.

Lee says the terms border closure and travel bans are misleading because it is not a binary choice like a door that opens or shuts.

If you are to lift the restrictions, you need to put other things in place, she notes. You have to be able to detect those new cases that come in and get them to comply with the quarantine. There are options, but a lot of it comes down to the other measures within the border measures.

Canadas approach for inbound travel restrictions has not been country specific but rather based on purpose of travel (whether its essential or not).

The Public Health Agency of Canada said it is continually assessing travel risks for Canadians and will adjust and adapt its border measures based on science and evidence.

As public health pre-requisites are met, Canada will consider a gradual, targeted easing of border measures, said Jarbeau.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warns of the risks of China in remarks to state legislators in the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday accused China of trying to foment unrest in the United States through its criticism of racism.

Pompeo, known for his hawkish views on China, went on the attack on Beijing in an unusual address to state lawmakers in Wisconsin, a crucial swing state in November's presidential election.

The Chinese Communist Party "thinks it can drown out American cries for accountability with shouts of racism," Pompeo told lawmakers from his Republican Party inside the state Capitol in Madison.

"The CCP wants to foment the kind of strife we've seen in Minneapolis, and Portland and Kenosha," he said, referring to three cities that have seen protests over racism and police brutality in recent months.

"That's disgusting. We can't let it happen," he said.

As evidence of China's intentions, Pompeo pointed to a letter from a Chinese diplomat to a lawmaker from Wisconsin.

The letter said that Beijing was "firmly opposed to racial discrimination and xenophobia" against the Chinese community in the United States over the coronavirus crisis.

"They want you to believe that America's righteous anger at the CCP over its handling of the coronavirus has something to do with race. It does not," Pompeo said.

"It has everything to do with citizens who are no longer with us, children who are not able to go back to school and jobs that have been lost," Pompeo said.

"The CCP knows this."

President Donald Trump has alarmed not only China but many Asian Americans by referring to the "China virus," a term that health experts call stigmatizing.

The United States frequently assails China's human rights record including over its incarceration, according to witnesses and activists, of more than one million Uighurs and other Turkic-speaking Muslims in the western region of Xinjiang.

China's official media eagerly returned criticism after the May killing of African American George Floyd by Minneapolis police, which has sparked global protests and renewed attention to racism.

Story continues

- Backing Taiwan -

Taiwanese representatives traveled to Madison for Pompeo's address, in which he offered strong support for the island.

China frequently pushes local US leaders to shun Taiwan, a self-governing democracy and economic power that Beijing considers a province awaiting reunification.

"When you are approached by a Chinese diplomat, it is likely not in the spirit of true cooperation or friendship," Pompeo said.

"You can ignore CCP threats and encourage mayors and businesspeople to engage with a free and democratic Taiwan."

China voiced anger last week and carried out military exercises after a senior State Department official visited Taiwan for the funeral of president Lee Teng-hui.

The United States recognizes only Beijing but maintains close but unofficial relations with Taiwan, where China's nationalists fled in 1949 after losing the mainland's civil war.

sct/sst
Somali and Kenyan troops engaged in a minutes-long firefight on Saturday at the two countries' shared border, local officials and witnesses said after the Kenyan side fired shots to deter Somali demonstrators from approaching.

The incident took place at the frontier between the Somali town Bulo Hawo and Kenya's Mandera, close to where the border meets Ethiopia to the north.

Multiple sources told AFP the exchange was triggered when a group of Somali demonstrators angry at the alleged killing of three civilians approached border posts manned by Kenyan soldiers.

'Kenyan troops opened fire on Somali protesters who closed (in) on their positions along the Bulo Hawo boarder and the Somali troops stationed close to the area responded with heavy fire, this continued for several minutes," Bulo Hawo police officer Mohamed Abdirahman told AFP by phone.

None of the sources contacted by AFP reported any casualties from the brief exchange of fire.

The demonstrators believed that three civilians "kidnapped the day before" in the border town of El Wak, south of Bulo Hawo, had been killed by Kenyan anti-terror police, Abdirahman said.

They 'were dispersed with heavy gunfire by the Kenyan troops," eyewitness Abdifatah Hassan said. "The Somali forces close to the area intervened in the situation by engaging (in a) gunfight with the Kenyans."

A Kenyan security official confirmed to AFP that "there was gunfire at the border where SNA (Somali National Army) and KDF (Kenya Defence Forces) exchanged gunfire after some incident of protests".

"The locals on the other side are accusing Kenyan forces of killing three civilians who were not Al-Shabaab," he added, referring to the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Islamist militant group active in Somalia.

The Somali government has so far not acknowledged the incident.

Striking from Somali territory, Al-Shabaab regularly defies Kenyan army troops to attack towns along the two countries' long shared border.

Over the past year, relations between Nairobi and Mogadishu have soured, especially over a political crisis in the semi-autonomous Jubaland region of Somalia.

The Somali government has refused to acknowledge the contested reelection in August 2019 of Jubaland president Ahmed Madobe, a political ally of Kenya's.

Somalia accuses its larger neighbour of interference in its internal affairs, in particular through its support for Madobe.

Tensions were stoked in March when fierce fighting broke out between Somali and Jubaland troops, also near Mandera.
F1 racer Lewis Hamiltons bid for a record-equalling 91st career Formula One win took a huge hit at the Russian Grand Prix on Sunday after stewards imposed two five-second penalties for practice start infringements. Stewards had notified the Mercedes driver, who was on pole at Sochi, before the start that he was under investigation. Hamilton pitted after 17 laps and dropped from the lead to 11th place. Hamilton is one victory away from matching the all-time win record of Ferrari great Michael Schumacher. For the rest of the world and national news, heres Mint Lite.

Ayodhya real estate high in demand

View Full Image Availability of land is limited and the cost ranges between  2,000 and  3,000 per square feet

Since the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya a month ago, real estate prices in the Uttar Pradesh city have doubled. Property prices went up by 30-40% after the Supreme Court in November paved the way for the temple construction at the disputed site, where a mosque stood before it was demolished in 1992 by kar sevaks who claimed an ancient Ram temple stood at the same site. And the prices have doubled now since the bhoomi pujan ceremony by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 5 August, reports PTI. What has further contributed to the rise is limited availability of real estate as the government plans to acquire land for infra projects befitting an international tourist destination, said people aware of property-related developments. They said, in the heart of the town, availability of land is limited and the cost ranges

TikTok attacks Donald Trump ban

View Full Image ByteDance is fighting the Trump administration in court even as it pursues its approval for the sale of a stake in its US operations to Oracle and Walmart

Hours before TikTok was removed from US app stores from midnight on Sunday, a lawyer for the popular video-sharing app told a federal judge that Donald Trumps impending ban was irrational given that its Chinese owner, Bytedance, was in talks to strike a deal the president himself had demanded, reports Bloomberg. How does it make sense to impose this app-store ban tonight when there are negotiations underway that might make it unnecessary?" attorney John Hall asked at a Sunday morning hearing on TikToks request to temporarily block the ban. ByteDance is fighting the Trump administration in court even as it pursues its approval for the sale of a stake in its US operations to Oracle and Walmart. Trump has called for bans on both TikTok and WeChat, arguing the Chinese apps could give Chinas government access to millions of Americans personal data.

Most displaced people in India

View Full Image Disasters effect on people

Disasters such as cyclones and flooding displace the highest number people in India every year, an average of 3.6 million people a year since 2008. In the first six months of 2020, 2.67 million people have been displaced by disasters such as Cyclone Amphan, the most in the world (see chart), according to Genevas Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. Last year, there were five million new disaster displacements in India, the highest figure in the world. It was the result of increasing disasters and high levels of social and economic vulnerability. In the first half of 2020, cyclo-nes Amphan and Nisarga displaced the most people worldwide. Communal violence, particularly in Delhi after the adoption of CAA, triggered the majority of new conflict displacements in the first half of 2020.

If not covid, climate change will kill

View Full Image At the 75th UN General Assembly, world leaders are taking the long view, warning that if covid-19 doesnt kill us, climate change will

At the 75th UN General Assembly, world leaders are taking the long view, warning that if covid-19 doesnt kill us, climate change will. Leaders of countries from Indonesia to Palau have warned that rising seas that will have a greater impact than the virus. Fijis Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama described US wildfires and high temperatures in Siberia as environmental Armageddon". The islands of Palau and Tuvalu are virus-free yet both have seen hundreds affected by climate change. Tuvalus PM Kausea Natano, who delivered his UN speech via video against a vista of turquoise waters and swaying fronds, said the island is free of the virus but is still recovering from a pair of tropical cyclones. Such storms are likely to worsen as the planet warms. Agriculture has become harder to sustain due to rising sea levels and the pandemics effect on movement of goods exposed food insecurity in island nations this year.

Estee Lauders doing shoot in space

View Full Image Cosmetics multinational Estee Lauder is sending its newest skincare formula into space on Tuesday for a photo shoot, and its costing them less than it would to sign to mega influencer

Cosmetics multinational Estee Lauder is sending its newest skincare formula into space on Tuesday for a photo shoot, and its costing them less than it would to sign to mega influencer. It is paying NASA $128,000 to fly 10 bottles of skin serum to the International Space Station. Kim Kardashian West earns between $300,000-500,000 per Instagram post. Once there, astronauts will take photos of the formula in the cupola control tower, which has panoramic views of the cosmos. The images will be used on social media, with the firm planning to auction one bottle for charity when the items return to Earth this spring. The Estee Lauder tie-up is part of NASAs effort to commercialize low-earth orbit and make it a domain where private enterprise eventually does business as routinely as the government conducts spacewalks. NASA also hopes to bolster space tourism by selling trips to the ISS to private customers.

Curated by Shalini Umachandran and Pooja Singh. Have something to share with us? Write to us at businessoflife@livemint.com or tweet to @shalinimb

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For months, Democrats have been planning to win the election through mail-in voting. This is because mail-in voting easily allows fraud. Democrat judges have done what they can to help by riding roughshod over state voting statutes to increase opportunities to mail ballots after the election. Doug Ross, however, argues that, if you look at the Constitution, these judges may be encouraging their states citizens to cast votes that cannot be counted in federal elections.

One of the most egregious examples of judges running amok came out of Pennsylvania. That states Supreme Court, which has five Democrats and only two Republicans, looked at the states explicitly written statute governing mail-in voting and decided to expand upon its terms:

Mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania have previously been due by the time polls close on Election Day. But the court's order adds a three-day extension to receive ballots that are postmarked by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Ballots with a preelection postmark will now be counted as long as they are received by 5 p.m. on Nov. 6, three days after the polls close. The court also wrote that ballots received within this period that lack a postmark or other proof of mailing, or for which the postmark or other proof of mailing is illegible, will be presumed to have been mailed by Election Day unless a preponderance of the evidence demonstrates that it was mailed after Election Day.

In other words, after the polls close, if Trump has won (as I believe he will), Democrats can then figure out how many more votes they need to change the outcome and simply deliver the ballots without even bothering with the pretense of mailing. In theory, thats how you win an election, every single time. Lazy voters dont have to bother with polling places or deadlines. They just wait until called upon to act.

Pennsylvanias not alone. Activist judges in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have also entered rulings throwing over their states statutes regarding mail-in voting and, instead, substituting judge-made rules that drag voting out far beyond the November 3 election.

Doug Ross thinks these activist judges may have been too clever by half. Typically for Democrats, these activist judges dont know the Constitution:

All of these illegal proclamations directly contravene state law and are simply naked, partisan attempts to swing the election. More importantly, they are in clear violation of the Constitution. Article I, Section 4 ...The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof The Judicial branch -- at any level of government -- has no role in deciding the times, places and protocols for Congressional elections.

Ross reads the Constitution to mean that, while the judge-made rules can affect state elections, they cannot affect federal elections. At the federal level, the only elections that count are those that comport with legislation. Put another way, only the peoples representatives in a given state have the authority to decide how federal elections should be handled in that state. Judges dont have that power.

Doug says the same line of thinking applies to the presidential election:

As for the presidential election, the Constitution is equally clear, as Mark Levin has repeatedly pointed out. Article II, Section 1 ...Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector Once again, the legislature is wholly responsible for directing the manner of presidential elections.

If the new rules from the activist judges suppress in-person voting, that may prove to be a disaster if the subsequently mailed ballots get thrown out. No wonder Democrat bigwigs are starting to encourage their peeps to vote in person.

This is the kind of issue that will ultimately end up before the Supreme Court. Thats why the Supreme Court must have nine justices. Better still, these justices should owe their intellectual fealty to the United States Constitution, not to political outcomes and policymaking. They need to be the type of people who look to the Constitution first and follow where it leads. Amy Coney Barrett has made clear throughout her career that she is that judge.

Images: Inserting ballot into secrecy envelope, by Chris Phan. CC BY-SA 2.0.
Afghanistans dwindling community of Sikhs and Hindus is shrinking to its lowest levels. With growing threats from the local Islamic State affiliate, many are choosing to leave the country of their birth to escape the insecurity and a once-thriving community of as many as 250,000 members now counts fewer than 700.

The communitys numbers have been declining for years because of deep-rooted discrimination in the majority Muslim country. But, without what they say is adequate protection from the government, the attacks by the Islamic State group may complete the exodus.

We are no longer able to stay here, said a member of the tiny community, who asked to be identified only by his last name, Hamdard, out of fear he may be targeted for speaking out. Hamdard said seven relatives of his, including his sister, nephews, and son-in-law were killed by Islamic State gunmen in an attack on the communitys temple in March, which killed 25 Sikhs.

Hamdard said that fleeing his homeland is as difficult as leaving a mother behind. Still, he joined a group of Sikhs and Hindus who left Afghanistan last month for India, from where they will eventually move on to a third country.

Although Sikhism and Hinduism are two distinct religions with their own holy books and temples, in Afghanistan the communities are interwoven, having been driven into a kinship by their tiny size, and they both gather under one roof or a single temple to worship, each following their own faith.

The community has suffered widespread discrimination in the conservative Muslim country, with each government threatening us their own way, said Hamdard, whose home was seized by warlords after the U.S. invasion in 2001, forcing him to live in one of two Sikh temples in the Afghan capital of Kabul.

Under Taliban rule in the late 1990s, Sikhs and Hindus were asked to identify themselves by wearing yellow armbands, but after a global outcry, the rule was not enforced. Also driving the exodus is the inability to reclaim Sikh homes, businesses and houses of worship that were illegally seized years ago.

Hindu temples in Kabuls old city were destroyed during brutal fighting between rival warlords from 1992-96. The fighting drove out scores of Hindu and Sikh Afghans.

Aside from the March attack by IS gunmen, a 2018 Islamic State suicide attack in the city of Jalalabad killed 19 people, most of them Sikhs, including a longtime leader who had nominated himself for the Afghan parliament.

Suffering big fatalities for a small community is not tolerable, said Charan Singh Khalsa, a leader of the Sikh community living abroad, who declined to say where he was living out of fear for his safety. He left Afghanistan after his brother was kidnapped and killed in an attack by gunmen in Kabul two years ago. He said the last three years have been the worst period for all Afghans, but especially so for Sikhs and Hindus.

Community leaders have slammed recent governments for failing to step up security in the face of the IS threat.

Afghanistans government in 2010 decided to dedicate a chair in the national assembly to religious minorities, and there have since been two Sikh representatives.

But Khalsa called these posts symbolic. He criticized the government for taking too long to grant political representation powers to the community and for failing to provide security to our places of worship.

A senior Sikh community leader told The Associated Press that the group is in negotiations with the government over its security needs and the repairing of the temple after it was destroyed in Marchs attack. The community leader spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the negotiations with the media.

At a press conference last month, President Ashraf Ghanis spokesman, Sediq Sediqqi, said that members of the Afghan Sikh and Hindu community will return once peace is restored. The presidents office did not respond to a request for comment from the AP, but other Afghan officials have pledged to assist the community.

We will use all our facilities to provide security to the people, Interior Ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said, without elaborating. We are committed and responsible for their (Sikhs and Hindus) mental and personal security.

It is not clear what kind of security measures are being discussed, nor when they might be seen on the ground.

Until then, the communitys flight is accelerating, with large numbers of Sikhs and Hindus continuing a recent trend of seeking asylum in India, which has a Hindu majority and a large Sikh population.

In August, a group of 176 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus went to India on special visas. They were the second batch since March, with the first 11 members arriving in India in July.

Khalsa said that a group of Afghan Sikhs and Hindus in Canada and European countries has volunteered to sponsor the exodus of those remaining in Kabul who cannot afford air tickets and temporary accommodation in a transit country.

Several Canadian legislators have asked the countrys immigration ministry for a special program for Afghan Sikh and Hindu refugees, requesting that they be brought to safety in Canada amid the increasing security threat.

For Afghan Sikhs, the thought of being uprooted is painful, despite the circumstances.

Its hard to leave our birthplace but we have no other option, said Hamdard. Afghanistan does not want us anymore.
Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed on Sunday several regional and international issues, particularly the crisis in Libya, with his US counterpart Mike Pompeo in a telephone call, the Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement.

According to the Egyptian foreign ministry, Pompeo and Shoukry discussed the efforts to solidify the current ceasefire in Libya.

The two officials also discussed the latest developments concerning the Palestinian issue and the peace process in the Middle East.

They also discussed Egyptian-US strategic relations, and agreed on the necessity to continue coordination and consultation concerning issues of common interest in the coming period.

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By PTI

AHMEDABAD: Twelve crew members of a cargo vessel sinking in the Arabian Sea off the Gujarat coast have been rescued by the Coast Guard, officials said on Sunday.

Around 9 pm on Saturday, the Coast Guard received information that there was flooding onboard the vessel 'MSV Krishna Sudama' around 10 nautical miles off the Okha coast.

The vessel had on Saturday started sailing from Mundra in Gujarat for Djibouti, carrying 905 tonne rice and sugar to the African nation, the Coast Guard said in a statement.

"Search and rescue was immediately commenced wherein Coast Guard Ship C-411 sailed from Okha, C-161 was diverted from off Mundra, and MV Southern Robin in the vicinity of the area was diverted to render assistance," it said.

The Coast Guard ship C-411 arrived near the vessel in distress.

It undertook extensive search in the area and located the craft carrying 12 crew members who had abandoned the vessel as it was sinking due to flooding, it said.

The Coast Guard ship rescued all the 12 crew under challenging circumstances owing to night hours, floating dangerous debris and unfavourable weather conditions, it said.

"They were brought to Okha and are safe," the statement said.

The area where the incident took place is being monitored by the Coast Guard Ship C-161 so that it can combat any probable oil pollution incident that might result from leakage of fuel from the sunken dhow, it added.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 07:39:17|Editor: huaxia

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United Nations (UN) Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka speaks during a press briefing at the UN headquarters in New York, March 5, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

"With laws to support women's equality, scaling up education, health and childcare services, and using gender quotas to boost women's representation, the world has found common solutions to shared problems," says Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.



UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- UN undersecretary-general and executive director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, has asked for action in four areas in order to carry forward gender equality and prevent a reversal of hard-won progress because of COVID-19.

Exactly 25 years after the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, the significance of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action is undimmed, she said in an exclusive written interview prior to a high-level UN meeting on the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Conference.

The outcome of the 1995 conference remains the most comprehensive and transformative global agenda for the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, she said.

Despite challenges, in the last quarter-century, countries in all regions have shown that change is possible, she said. "We have seen the strength and the impact of collective activism grow and underline the importance of multilateralism and partnership. With laws to support women's equality, scaling up education, health and childcare services, and using gender quotas to boost women's representation, the world has found common solutions to shared problems."

However, progress for women in many areas has been unacceptably slow and the social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic threaten to reverse many of the hard-won advances made, said Mlambo-Ngcuka.

Violence against women continues unabated. Men still hold more than 70 percent of parliamentary seats, managerial positions, climate negotiators posts and represent almost all peace negotiators. In addition, due to persisting inequalities such as women's uneven access to paid work, it is estimated that without change, 47 million women and girls will be pushed into extreme poverty in 2021, bringing the total to 435 million with women between the ages of 25 to 34 especially affected, she noted.

Mlambo-Ngcuka named "four important catalysts" to ensure that progress is accelerated.

First, supporting women's movements and leadership. This includes women in decision-making at all levels and a safe and enabling environment for civil society organizations.

Second, harnessing technology for gender equality. This includes closing the gender digital divide and ensuring that women have access to the digital economy.

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women, addresses a high-level event on Women in Power at the UN headquarters in New York, on March 12, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

Third, ensuring that no woman is left behind -- by empowering and guaranteeing the rights of those who have been pushed to the margins by decades of structural discrimination, and ending all forms of violence against women, including cyber violence.

Fourth, matching commitments with resources.

"In 1995, the Beijing Conference raised attention to global issues that remain urgent today. Stepping up to this legacy, we must build back better, bringing women right into decision-making, and instituting the structural changes that intentionally enable this," she said.

A key to success is to support and promote the leadership of young people, she said.

UN Women has launched "Generation Equality" to mark this 25th anniversary and to engage young women and men in support of gender equality, in the hope that this process will mobilize and energize the world, in the same way that the Beijing Conference did, to create a clear path forward for the achievement of gender equality by 2030, said Mlambo-Ngcuka.

As UN Women celebrates its 10th anniversary amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the human rights of women and girls have more prominence, universality and more urgency than ever before, she said.

"We have been working to demonstrate the central role women can play in economic and social recovery, and to raise the alert on the dangers of failing to do so. We are proud to be the global champion and ally for women and girls. We are 10 years strong and ready for the next 10 years in the UN's Decade of Action (on the Sustainable Development Goals)," she said.

In the past decade, UN Women has worked with governments, civil society, the private sector and the UN system to place women's rights, priorities and voices high on the global agenda, she said.

UN Women has supported more than 175 successful legal reforms and over 25 constitutional reforms to strengthen women's rights and trained more than 30,000 women political candidates to engage in successful campaigning. Over 2 billion women benefit from better national policies to fully participate in economy. Thanks to its support, more than 1.5 billion women and girls benefit from enhanced legal protection and higher quality services to address violence, said Mlambo-Ngcuka.

UN Women has also deployed experts to investigate conflict-related sexual violence. This resulted in some of the first prosecutions of gender-related crimes under international law. And it has supported women's meaningful participation in peace processes in countries such as Colombia, Syria and Yemen, she said. 
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 23:02:12|Editor: huaxia

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BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Brunei is looking to increase the share of electric vehicles to 60 percent of the total annual vehicle sales as one of the key strategies under the Brunei National Climate Change Policy (BNCCP), a senior government official said.

"We are trying to come up with a pilot scheme by bringing a number of electric vehicles into the country and increasing awareness," Haji Azhar, Brunei's Permanent Secretary (Energy) at the Ministry of Energy was quoted as saying by local daily the Borneo Bulletin on Sunday.

"It will take some time but we hope that following the pilot scheme, we can start to bring in electric vehicles to sell in the open market," he said.

Haji Azhar also said that electric vehicles are well-received globally, especially in Europe and the United States, and have been selling quite well, compared to countries in Southeast Asia.

"One of the key things is to provide the infrastructure like charging stations. We are planning to have a couple of charging stations, which is currently in discussion."

"Of course, we need to increase awareness of the advantage of electric vehicles. Brunei is not very big, so from one end to the other is not a very long distance; a single charging of an electric vehicle can be used for up to 300km, which means it can last for a few days," he added. Enditem
Khalsa Aid India (a UK-based international Sikh charity) has always stepped up to help the needy and this time around, they have taken the charge of distributing food and water to the farmers who have been protesting in Punjab.



The NGO has also set up a makeshift kitchen to make meals over 15,000 farmers who are agitating against the government.

People are impressed with their Seva and are dropping comments over their posts, praising their selfless work.

 Khalsa Aid India Facebook

 Khalsa Aid India Facebook

While farm unions have refused the help, we are still here to show our solidarity with them, a volunteer said.



Punjab is in a state of unrest ever since three farm 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 the Parliament.

 Reuters

Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher told PTI, We have decided to hold a rail roko agitation from September 24 to 26 in the state against the farm bills.



Not just in Punjab, farmers in Haryana are also protesting against the farm bills. According to farmers, they allege that the bills will enhance the corporatization of the agriculture sector and will leave them at miserable spots financially.
W alkers have flocked to climb up Mount Snowdon despite government warnings to stay away from crowded tourist spots amid the recent spike in coronavirus infections.

The Welsh mountain, which is in Snowdonia, one of the country's top tourist destinations, is popular in part because it can be walked on foot without specialist climbing gear.

Visit Snowdonia, which manages the national park for the Welsh government, told people to keep away from busy places on the weekend.

They said in a statement: "Ahead of another fine weekend expected here in Snowdonia, we ask you all to help us keep everyone safe by adhering to the Welsh Governments Covid-19 guidelines, and having a backup plan if you arrive somewhere which is clearly too busy."

But footage taken on Saturday appears to show dozens of people bunched up together on the path leading to the mountain's summit.

Some people reacted to the scenes on Snowdon with frustration and worried that climbers could be spreading coronavirus.

On seeing the video, one person said: "Do people really not understand what is happening right now? Staggering stupidity, which is eventually going to lead to another total lockdown."

Another added: "Glad to see them social distancing".

A spokesperson for Snowdonia National Park Authority told the Standard that this season has been the busiest on record for the park and queueing for the summit has become normal.

"It's been a good boost for tourism businesses after huge losses for them in lockdown, and the majority of visitors have been respectful of each other and of the area, but the vast numbers do raise a number of challenges for us in looking after the National Park," they added in a statement.

The spokesperson continued: "We're urging hikers to think about how busy the area they're visiting are likely to be when planning their trip with Covid being on the rise again and to make sure they are adhering their own local as well as national Welsh restrictions and guidance.

They added that the "amount of litter, illegal camping and antisocial behaviour... this summer has been unprecedented" and urged visitors to clean up after themselves to avoid the "disheartening" scenes.

A general view of Snowdonia / PA

Scientists think coronavirus is much less likely to spread outdoors than indoors, although there is still some risk, especially if people are close to each other.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van-Tam said in May that "it is absolutely categorically clear that outdoor spaces with higher degrees of ventilation are less problematic environments for transmission than indoor spaces."

Coronavirus infections continue to rise rapidly in the UK, with stricter restrictions recently imposed, including a 10pm curfew for pubs and restaurants.

Young people queue to get into a pub in Cardiff city centre / PA

In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland restrictions are even more severe than in England, with a ban on people mixing in the homes of people outside their extended household.

Cardiff, Swansea and Llanelli have all been placed under local lockdown this weekend after a rapid rise in cases.

From 6pm on Sunday people living in Cardiff and Swansea will not be able to travel in or out without a reasonable excuse, or meet indoors with anyone they do not live with.

The same rules applied to the Carmarthenshire town of Llanelli from 6pm on Saturday after a spike in cases there.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian paratroopers parachuted into Belarus on Wednesday as part of joint military drills, the Ministry of Defence said.

The show of force happened on the same day as President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus was sworn in for a new term in an inauguration denounced as illegitimate by the opposition, which called for more protests against his 26-year rule.

Russia is a close ally of Belarus and the Russian-Belarusian "Slavic Brotherhood" military exercises have been interpreted by some military analysts as a show of support for Lukashenko by Moscow.

The defence ministry said in a statement that 900 Russians were taking part in the drills, as well as 100 separate items of military equipment.

(Reporting by Andrew Osborn; writing by Tom Balmforth; editing by Andrew Osborn)
A tourist could face up to two years in prison over his negative online reviews of a Thai island hotel.

The Sea View Resort on Koh Chang claims American Wesley Barnes launched a barrage of complaints against them after his stay, forcing them to take legal action in a country renowned for strict criminal defamation laws.

Mr Barnes, who works in Thailand, penned multiple reviews on different sites, the hotel alleges. In one posted in July, he claimed to have encountered "unfriendly staff" who "act like they don't want anyone here".

Another post, which accused the hotel of "modern-day slavery", was removed by TripAdvisor for violating its guidelines.

Mr Barnes is accused of causing "damage to the reputation of the hotel". He was arrested and returned to Koh Chang for a brief detention but is now out on bail.

Management at the Sea View said they took legal action to discourage further reviews from being posted and had attempted to contact Mr Barnes beforehand.

"We chose to file a complaint to serve as a deterrent as we understood he may continue to write negative reviews week after week for the foreseeable future," they said.

Thailand's notorious defamation laws have faced condemnation from human rights organisations, who say they can be used to stifle free expression. Offenders can face two years' imprisonment and a 200,000 baht (5,500) fine.

In December 2019 a Thai journalist was handed a two-year sentence for libelling a chicken farm on Twitter.

Suchanee Cloitre was convicted for a post she made about a legal dispute over working conditions at the Thammakaset farm.

"I'm shocked and did not think the sentence would be so harsh," Ms Suchanee told Reuters after the sentencing.

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]
Azerbaijan is attacking in different sectors of the line of contact with military aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, armored vehicles and artillery.

The Ministry of Defense of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) told Armenian News-NEWS.am that the frontline units of the Defense Army are successfully thwarting all the attacks of the adversary.

According to specified information, the Azerbaijani army has lost 2 helicopters, 14 unmanned aerial vehicles and armored vehicles.

The battles continue.

As reported earlier, today at around 7:15 a.m. Azerbaijan, using artillery and strike UAVs, launched an offensive along the entire length of contact of the Karabakhi-Azerbaijani forces, targeting also settlements in the deep rear, including the capital Stepanakert.

According to the Human Rights Defender of Artsakh, there are victims and injured parties among civilians as a result of the shelling.

A woman and a child were killed and two people were injured in Martuni region. The data regarding the other settlements are being specified. Schools have also been shelled, including schools in Stepanakert. There are large-scale damages of civilian infrastructures in several settlements.
Justice Ayo Salami said he regrets heading the presidential panel set up to investigate Ibrahim Magus tenure as EFCC chairperson, two lawyers present when the jurist allegedly made the statement told PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr Salami allegedly stated this on Friday at the close of Mr Magus defence hearing held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The panel, headed by Mr Salami, a former President of the Appeal Court, is investigating allegations of corruption and insubordination following complaints by the attorney general of the federation, Abubakar Malami, which led to Mr Magus suspension from his EFCC role.

The sitting of the panel has been held behind closed doors with journalists barred from attending. Journalists have, therefore, relied on lawyers and witnesses who appear before the panel to get details of what transpired.

Civil rights organisations and activists have demanded that the sitting of the panel be made public for the sake of transparency and fairness. However, such calls have been ignored.

Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES in separate interviews, two lawyers to Mr Magu who were at Fridays sitting, Tosin Ojaoma and Zainab Abiola, said before the commencement of the proceedings, Mr Salami told them that he regrets accepting the task to chair the panel.

We all sat down as lawyers, after a little period, Justice salami said he regretted working in this panel.

As soon as the proceedings opened, Salami was full of regrets, he (Salami) brought out his handkerchief and said he is full of regret taking up the job. Then our team asked him, is it because the panel is yet to find evidence against our client, (Magu), Mr Salami did not respond he only kept saying he regrets taking up the job, Mrs Abiola said.

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Mr Ojaoma also gave a similar narration.

Mr Salami kept saying he feels embarrassed for talking up the job. He also lamented that for years after he had retired he was seated in his home eating Tuwo (a popular food from the northern part of Nigeria), without any disturbance, Mr Ojaoma told PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr Salamis panel was supposed to have sent in its report, but it asked for more time to conlcude its assignment.

Mr Buhari had approved the establishment of the Salami panel, tagged the Judicial Commission of Enquiry under the Tribunals of Inquiry Act (Cap T21, LFN, 2004), for the investigation of the activities of the EFCC from May 2015 to May 2020.

Mr Magu was arrested in a dramatic manner in July and driven to the Presidential Villa where the panel seats. He was also detained for more than four days on the directive of the panel. He was eventually released but still attends the panels hearing while his suspension continues.
Prime Minister and his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen will hold a virtual summit on Monday that will provide a broad political direction to strengthen the collaborative bilateral partnership, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Sunday.

"?An MoU in the field of intellectual property cooperation between India and Denmark is being signed on the occasion. Another major outcome will be the joining of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) by Denmark," the said in a statement.

The ?summit is being hosted by India.

Denmark is a key country in Northern Europe with whom India's bilateral trade ties witnessed a significant expansion in the last few years.

"The virtual bilateral summit will give an opportunity to the two leaders to comprehensively review the broad framework of the bilateral relationship in the context of the time-tested friendly ties between the two countries and give broad political direction for a strengthened and deepened collaborative partnership on key issues of mutual interest," the said.

According to official figures, ?bilateral trade in goods and services between India and Denmark grew by 30.49 per cent between 2016 and 2019 as the trade volume rose from USD 2.82 billion to USD 3.68 billion.

Around 200 Danish companies have invested in India in sectors such as shipping, renewable energy, environment, agriculture and food processing.

Several major Danish companies have built new manufacturing factories under the Make in India' scheme.

The said around 25 Indian companies are operating in Denmark in IT, renewable energy and engineering sectors.

Nearly 5,000 Indian professionals are working in major Danish companies, while 20 Indian IT companies are operating in Denmark for decades, according to official data.

Major Danish companies such as Grundfos, Danfoss, Vestas, LM Wind, Novozymes, Rockwool, Haldor Topsoe, etc. have set up factories and manufacturing facilities in India under the Make in India' scheme.

India and Denmark are cooperating in fighting climate change by exporting wind turbines. Danish companies like Babcock&Wilcox have set waste-to-energy facilities in Punjab and Haryana to fight air pollution.

Danish companies RAMBOLL & COWI are engaged in engineering and design for the trans-harbour sea-link in Mumbai which will link Mumbai with Navi Mumbai.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivers remarks during a speaking appearance with state Republican legislators in the Senate chamber of the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wis. Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. Read more

ATHENS, Greece  U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is due to arrive in Greece on an official visit early Monday, has had a conversation on tensions in the eastern Mediterranean with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

Pleased to speak today with @NATO Secretary General @jensstoltenberg to discuss de-escalation of the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and reiterate the importance of NATO Alliance unity, Pompeo tweeted while en route to Greece.

Relations between NATO members Greece and Turkey, always tense, have further deteriorated this year over long-standing disputes, including maritime boundaries and energy rights. France has been vocal in its support for Greece and the latters call for European Union sanctions.

Pompeo is due to arrive in Thessaloniki, Greeces second-largest city, shortly after midnight Sunday on the first leg of a five-day trip to Europe, which includes visits to Italy, the Vatican and Croatia. This is is the first visit by a U.S. secretary of state to Thessaloniki.

According to State Department background briefings, Pompeo will meet with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias to renew the two countries shared commitment to advance security, peace, and prosperity in the eastern Mediterranean and celebrate the strongest U.S.-Greek relationship in decades.

On Monday, Pompeo will meet with Dendias, sign a bilateral science and technology agreement, as well as host energy sector business leaders for a discussion to highlight energy diversification and infrastructure projects in Greece. He will also join members of the citys Jewish community to commemorate Yom Kippur.

Pompeo will depart later Monday to visit the NATO Souda Bay naval base. He will tour the facilities Tuesday and have lunch with Mitsotakis at the latters nearby residence. The two will issue a joint statement.

The U.S. secretary of state will depart Greece early Wednesday for Rome.
Tejashwi Yadav also took a dig at BJP saying that RJD 'is not like those who achieve power with a promise of two crore jobs every year and leave Bihar bankrupt after 15 years of rule'

Patna: Seeking to lure voters in poll-bound Bihar, the Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Sunday promised to provide "10 lakh permanent government jobs" if voted to power.

The populistic announcement was made at a press conference here by Tejashwi Yadav, the party''s chief ministerial candidate who is faced with the uphill task of holding his own against the formidable ruling NDA in the absence of his father and RJD boss Lalu Prasad.

"It is not just a vaada (empty promise). We will do what we have promised with mazboot iraada (firm resolve). If the RJD is able to form its government, filling up of 10 lakh posts all permanent, government jobs will be sanctioned in the very first cabinet meeting," said the former deputy chief minister.

Assembly elections will be held in three phases in Bihar on 28 October, 3 and 7 November. The results will be announced on 10 November.

In a veiled dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Yadav said, "We are not like those who achieve power with a promise of two crore jobs every year and leave Bihar bankrupt after 15 years of rule."

Yadav, who has been Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing Assembly since the abrupt exit of Nitish Kumar from the Grand Alliance robbed him of the deputy chief minister's post and his party of power, accused the chief minister of inaction despite "lakhs of posts lying vacant in health, education and police departments".

"Bihar is the most densely populated state in the country and about 60 per cent of its population is said to be young and of employable age. Still, there are so many vacant posts of doctors, paramedics, teachers and police personnel and Nitish Kumar did nothing to fill up these," the 31-year-old RJD leader alleged.

He said his party intends to fill up the vacancies as well as increase the number of sanctioned ones since the state is plagued by an acute shortage of doctors, teachers and policemen.

"I would like to ask Nitish Kumar how does he go around boasting about improved law and order when Bihar has only 77 police personnel for every one lakh people and, as per the NCRB, reports a rape or a murder every four to five years," the RJD leader charged.

Yadav further made it clear that these "10 lakh sthaayi sarkaari naukriyan" will be in addition to the jobs generated after growth in sectors such as agro-based industries and tourism.

"We have made this announcement after due consultation with economic experts. It is an attainable goal. We will come out with a blueprint shortly," he added.

The RJD heads the Grand Alliance, comprising old ally Congress and new ones like the Upendra Kushwaha-led RLSP and Mukesh Sahni's VIP. Besides it tends to take along the Left parties which have had some following in the state sharply divided along caste lines.

Nonetheless, the coalition has been plagued by frequent squabbles and rebellions. It lost former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha to the NDA a month ago.

Kushwaha, too, has been striking a note of dissent of late, stressing that he would remain with the Grand Alliance only if the chief ministerial candidate is changed since he saw Tejashwi as "no match to" Nitish Kumar, the incumbent for the last 15 years.
Two years ago Sara Gideon, the Democratic speaker of the Maine House of Representatives, announced that she was sick and tired of the partisan rancor permeating her states government. So she ripped up the seating chart in the 151-member chamber, the one where Republicans and Democrats traditionally glare at each other from across the room, and mixed up the two parties.

Neither party was happy about the plan.

Virtually every comment I received from people about why they didnt want to sit in a combined seating arrangement  I want to be comfortable about who Im sitting next to, I want to trust the person sitting next to me, I want to feel I can be myself  made me realize that this was the only way forward, Ms. Gideon said in an interview.

State Republicans still grumble that the move isolated them from one another and represented little more than window dressing from a politician who, they say, is partisan when it suits her. But Ms. Gideon, 47, says it brought a new comity to the Statehouse, and her Democratic colleagues now say that it helped foster unexpected cross-party cooperation on tricky pieces of legislation.

It was incredibly meaningful, because you get to know your seatmates very, very well, said Heather Sanborn, a state senator who served a term in the House with Ms. Gideon as speaker.
Boys Basketball: Watertown wins over Rapid City Stevens

Reese Stark and Drew Norberg combined for 41 points to propel Watertown to a 61-51 high school boys basketball win over Rapid City Stevens.
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
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

Trend:

Ankara supports Baku and condemns Armenias latest provocative actions against Azerbaijan, Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin wrote on his Twitter page, Trend reports.

"We strongly condemn Armenia's attack on Azerbaijan," Kalin tweeted. "Armenia violated the ceasefire by attacking civilian settlements and once again demonstrated that it opposes peace and stability. The international community must immediately stop these dangerous provocations."

Kalin also added that Ankara supports Baku "amid these attacks".
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a special reference to India's role in the manufacture and access to one of the most promising coronavirus vaccine candidates currently undergoing trials during his address to the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.

In reference to the vaccine being worked on by the University of Oxford, Johnson stressed the importance of equitable access of any successful vaccine because the health of every country depends on the whole world having access to a safe and effective vaccine, wherever a breakthrough might occur.

"As I speak there are 100 potential vaccines that are trying to clear the hurdles of safety and efficacy, as if in a giant global steeplechase, Johnson said in a prerecorded speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday.

"The Oxford vaccine is now in Stage 3 of clinical trials, and in case of success AstraZeneca has already begun to manufacture millions of doses, in readiness for rapid distribution, and they have reached agreement with the Serum Institute of India to supply 1 billion doses to low and middle-income countries," he said.

Declaring that "humanity was caught napping" as the pandemic struck and has been "scrabbling to catch up" ever since, Johnson issued a spirited defence of the World Health Organisation as the one body that marshals humanity against the legions of disease and confirmed increased investment that would make the UK the largest state donor to the UN health agency if US President Donald Trump's exit from the multilateral body goes through next year.

He pushed for greater international collaboration to fight a common enemy such as the virus and urged countries to reach across borders and repair "ugly rifts" and "heal the world".

"And after nine months of fighting COVID-19, the very notion of the international community looks, frankly, pretty tattered. And we know that we simply can't continue in this way. Unless we get our act together," he said.

"That is why we in the UK global Britain are one of the biggest global funders of that organisation, contributing 340 million pounds over the next four years, that's an increase of 30 per cent," Johnson said.

The biggest single donor to the efforts of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness to find a vaccine and contribution of up to 571 million pounds to COVAX, a new initiative designed to distribute a COVID-19 vaccine across the world, were among some of the other UK initiatives Johnson sought to highlight in his address.

He also called for honesty to reach a joint understanding of how the pandemic began and how it was able to spread as a "moral imperative", indicating that he had no intention of finger-pointing at China.

"Not because I want to blame any country or government, or to score points. I simply believe as a former COVID patient that we all have a right to know, so that we can collectively do our best to prevent a recurrence," he said.

"And as we now send our medical detectives to interview the witnesses and the suspects bats, the pangolins, whoever we should have enough humility to acknowledge that alarm bells were ringing before this calamity struck," he said.

Describing the pandemic as an "immense psychic shock" to the human race, he declared it outrageous that such a "microscopic enemy" should have routed the unity of the human race as he condemned the perverse ranking of death tolls across different regions of the world.

"COVID-19 has caused us to cease other vital work, and I'm afraid it made individual nations seem selfish and divided from each other. Every day people were openly encouraged to study a grisly reverse Olympic league table, and to take morbid and totally mistaken comfort in the greater sufferings of others, he said. "We cannot go on like that, we cannot make these mistakes again, he concluded.Also read: Coronavirus update: India records 88,600 new cases, 1,124 deaths in one day; tally surges to over 59 lakh
Air Canada (TSX:AC) stock is stuck. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, shares have traded sideways, valued at roughly $17.

Before the pandemic, however, it was a much different story. Shares rose 50 times in value from 2012 to 2019, peaking just above the $50 mark.

Many investors are betting on a turnaround. Air Canada stock used to be an easy way to make a ton of money. Now trading at a discount, some argue that this is a rare second chance to get in on the action.

Others arent so sure. The COVID-19 crisis rages on to this day, and the future is as uncertain as ever.

If you want to know where this stock is headed, pay close attention to what its CEO has to say.

Read the details

When the COVID-19 crisis first hit, Air Canada CEO Calin Rovinescu quickly stated how serious the pandemic would be for airlines.

Were now living through the darkest period ever in the history of commercial aviation, significantly worse than the aftermath of 9/11, SARS, or the 2008 global financial crisis, he told investors shortly after the downturn began. There is little doubt that we are not yet out of the trough.

Months later, his words ring true. Airline traffic is still 90% below its pre-pandemic peak, and several carriers have already gone bankrupt.

Air Canada always faced unique circumstances, as the entire border between Canada and the U.S. was shuttered to tourism. Today, 85% of Canadians are still in favour of a closed border.

For Air Canada, the pandemic and government-imposed lockdowns and travel restrictions the world over have ended a run of 27 consecutive quarters of year-over-year revenue growth, Rovinescu stressed at the time.

Recently, we got an updated take from the company during its latest conference call with investors. If you own the stock or are thinking about jumping in, make sure you read these words.

New info from Air Canada

The latest quarter was ugly. By all accounts, there has been zero improvement in airline traffic, even though analysts were hopeful on several occasions. Again, Rovinescu blamed government restrictions.

Story continues

With Canadas federal and interprovincial restrictions  which have been amongst the most severe in the world  we carried less than 4% of the customers carried during last years second quarter. Revenue passengers declined more than 96% compared to a year ago, he said.

With high fixed costs, these revenue declines forced huge losses. Over the last six months, Air Canada lost nearly $3 billion. Thats concerning since it only has around $8 billion in liquidity left. The clock is ticking.

Its important to dig into the details here. How exactly is the Canadian government standing in the way of a recovery?

At present, there exists no fewer than four overlapping barriers to travel and economic recovery, imposed by governments in Canada, Rovinescu claims. These include a blanket restriction on all foreign travelers, blanket quarantine rules, interprovincial travel barriers, and travel advisories to avoid all non-essential travel.

Together, Rovinescu believes these measures constitute one of the most severe aviation lockdown regimes in the world.

For now, theres no indication that the government will ease up on these restrictions, nor is there a sign that passenger traffic would pick up meaningfully should they be lifted.

The post Air Canada (TSX:AC) Stock: Hear What the CEO Just Revealed appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

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Fool contributor Ryan Vanzo has no position in any stocks mentioned.

The Motley Fools purpose is to help the world invest, better. Click here now for your free subscription to Take Stock, The Motley Fool Canadas free investing newsletter. Packed with stock ideas and investing advice, it is essential reading for anyone looking to build and grow their wealth in the years ahead. Motley Fool Canada 2020
More than 100,000 Michigan residents experiencing developmental disabilities or mental illness were supported recently, thanks to the Legislatures decision to continue a $2 an hour wage increase for their direct care workers.

Residential and vocational direct care workers provide much-needed personal care, training, emotional support and respite to vulnerable people and their families.

While this continuation is not the ultimate solution we need for Michigan, it is an important step along the journey, said Robert Stein, general counsel for the Michigan Assisted Living Association. We are incredibly pleased that, even during these uncertain budget times, our states leaders have chosen to continue their support for essential direct care workers and the individuals and families they serve.

To support the continuation funding, a total of $40 million in state general fund/general purpose dollars are being added to $110 million in federal spending.

This essential budget solution means we can retain essential staff, who have historically been paid around the same amount as fast-food workers, said Tracey Hamlet, executive director of west Michigan-based MOKA. This is unconscionable, given the dedication, skill and support they demonstrate each and every day. While we know this is a temporary fix, it gives us hope that more lasting solutions can be found with the help of Gov. Whitmer and the state Legislature.

Nearly a million Michigan residents rely directly or indirectly on the value direct care workers provide.

As we work to bring new people into this much-needed profession, the support of our state leaders remains essential, said Ann Meldrum, director at Muskegon-based Samaritas. Once we get some of these basic wage issues met, we can begin to take a longer view toward building robust career pathways in this important sector.
The current polls show former Vice President Biden and President Trump in a statistical tie for the 38 Texas electoral votes. For the first time since 1976, the state of Texas may go for the Democrat Presidential nominee.

Texas has added 1.5 million new voters since the 2016 general election, surpassing 16.6 million in total, according to the latest figures announced Tuesday by Texas Secretary of State Ruth R. Hughs. The massive number of newly registered voters in Texas has already reached a new voter registration record with just about two weeks to go until the states early-voting process begins.

The record number of registered voters has set up the possibility that former Vice President Biden could pull one of the biggest electoral upsets in U.S. history. Bidens winning the state of Texas would guarantee his victory in the upcoming election.

To put this explosion in voter registration in Texas into perspective, consider that in the four previous presidential election cycles, Texas added an average of about 700,000 new voters, according to the Houston Chronicle, which first reported the news. Thats less than half as many who have been added this cycle.

According to the registration numbers, about one-third of the growth that has occurred during the last four years has occurred in three of the deepest-blue counties in Texas: Harris, Travis, and Bexar. Meanwhile, voter registration is also sky-rocketing in suburban communities that Trump carried in 2016. However, the national trend shows that Trump may get crushed by the suburban demographic all of the United States. The big swing away from President Trump helped Democrats take control of the House of Representatives in 2018. Polling in suburban communities has been consistently showing Trump getting walloped by suburban women, white college-educated voters, and black and Hispanic voters.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbotts nonpartisan decision to add six days to the states early-voting period because of the coronavirus pandemic may be more than enough to accommodate enough Democrat and Independent voters to tip the states Electoral votes to the former Vice President. If Trump loses Texas by a big enough margin  we may also see an upset in the Senate race where Republican John Cornyn finds himself ahead of his Democrat Challenger MJ Hegar 43% to 37% thats down from an 11% lead earlier this month.





MJ Hegar released her first TV campaign ad of the general election

spending $1.5 million to close the gap with Cornyn. Hegar a military veteran, winner of the Purple Heart, and the Distinguished Flying Cross with valor during three tours of duty in Afghanistan.

A strong turnout by Democrats, disaffected Republican women, veterans, and independent voters could yield the biggest upset of the 2020 election. Hegars first ad is perfectly aligned with the sensibilities of Texans. Her gain in the polls should help her raise big money to bombard Texans with TV and social media ads, and with a big turnout for former Vice President Biden, she just might pull off the biggest upset of the election cycle.








By PTI

JAMMU: To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Army on Sunday sprayed disinfectants at community facilities, public transport, hospitals and residential areas in Daradulian and Jhullas villages near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district, a defence spokesperson said.

A team of health workers of the Army along with health officials of civil administration spread awareness on maintaining social distancing norms and taking other precautions against COVID-19 among the locals of the villages which lack basic medical and health infrastructures, the spokesperson said.

Masks and sanitisers were also distributed to the residents including school children, the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, Army's Rashtriya Rifles unit in Bhaderwah area of Doda district too distributed masks and sanitisers to 400 individuals including 60 women and 30 children in Marmat Bowl which is deprived of basic amenities and medical facilities, the spokesperson said.

He said the majority of the population in Marmat resides in rural areas with highly restricted access to essential hygiene items.

The event was conducted in Marmat Bowl in presence of Sarpanches of Goha, Parbal, Sarak, Lower Bihota and Bari, the spokesperson said.

Parvez Ahmed, a local, thanked the Army and stated that such "people friendly" efforts would have a long lasting impact on the populace and motivate youth to channelise their energy in the right direction for nation building activities.
The three farm bills piloted by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government to liberalise agricultural trade and passed by Parliament, overriding demands by the Opposition for greater scrutiny, are a done deal. Big farmers groups, particularly in Punjab and Haryana, are continuing to protest the bills, fearing deregulation will leave them vulnerable to powerful corporate agribusinesses and in an even weaker negotiating position than before, but it is unlikely this will force the government to have a rethink. The reforms have cost the Bharatiya Janata Party one of its oldest allies, the Shiromani Akali Dal, which has quit the ruling alliance. Farm reforms have been long overdue in India, but the governments new farm laws have become contentious for two reasons: one, they do not guarantee acquisition of farm produce at the minimum support price (at least, not in letter); and two, the manner in which they were pushed through, by a dubious voice vote, ignoring calls for parliamentary oversight, even voting.

A prolonged agitation by farmers can impact rabi or winter-sown farm operations, hamper procurement of kharif or summer-sown crops and delay the benefits that should accrue from the reforms themselves. Reforms cant be forced on a sector that still employs the poorer half of all Indians. Mere laws cannot change ground realities or alleviate Indias agrarian distress if the farming community doesnt perceive them to be beneficial. The agriculture sector has been the only bright spot in the Indian economy, growing 3.4% in the June quarter, as the overall economy contracted 23.9% due to the widespread lockdown. It will have to keep up the momentum to protect rural incomes, even as the wider economy heads for a rare recession. The government must, therefore, resolve this crisis. The government ought to have agreed to the Oppositions demand to send the bills to a select committee for greater scrutiny. And it should have written in the concept of support prices into the laws. These would have reassured agitating farmers, satisfied critics and made regulatory oversight more robust. One way to do this is by framing appropriate rules to operationalise the farm bills that provide for a strong regulatory mechanism to ensure that private agribusinesses dont act as the new overlords.
Support a Mother Save a Child Foundation, a charitable organization has presented some items to mothers at the Kade Government hospital in the Morning Eastern Region.

The donation include items such as Veronica buckets, dusk bins, diapers, toilet rolls, tissues, bedsheets and pillowcases, powder, wipes, Dettol, soaps, plastic chairs, water, drinks and special baby kinds of stuff.

The donation was done on behalf of the organization by the Programmes and Projects Manager Marian Ayettey together with the team members of the NGO.

During the donation, the project manager of the foundation thanked the hospital administrators for opening their doors for the foundation to also support mothers who need the support most.

Mrs Nanendy Phyllis A. Adjei, a student nurse, an entrepreneur and the founder of Support A Mother Save A Child Foundation (SAMSACF), who is currently abroad said her foundation is set to support the communities in Ghana where cases of struggling single mothers and children are high.

The NGO started in August 2018 but prior to that, Nanendy was single-handedly helping and supporting individuals with similar and related situations.

As to why they chose Kade hospital, she said they noticed a lot of women who goes to maternity in deprived rural areas live underprivileged lives and needed support of which Kade Government Hospital was picked.
By Trend

The Azerbaijani president addressed people and informed about the goals of the provocation and the act of Armenias aggression, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Head of the Department for Foreign Policy Affairs of Azerbaijans Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev said, Trend reports.

The president emphasized the fascist essence of this provocation, in connection with which the Azerbaijani lands have been under occupation for more than 30 years, assistant to the president added.

"Since this morning, the Armenians have once again demonstrated their fascist essence by opening fire on civilians, Hajiyev said. To suppress this provocation, counter-offensive measures are being taken, the fire of the Armenian armed forces is successfully suppressed and the Armenian armed forces are thrown back.

The public will be informed in detail about these events, assistant to the president added. The Azerbaijani army is carrying out its valiant mission to suppress this provocation and liberate our lands. The Azerbaijani people united around the supreme commander and this plunges Armenia into horror."

The Armenian armed forces committed a large-scale provocation, subjecting the positions of the Azerbaijani army along the entire front line and the Azerbaijani settlements located in the front-line zone to intensive shelling from large-caliber weapons, mortars, and artillery installations of various calibers in the front-line zone on Sept. 27 at 06:00 (GMT+4).

To suppress the combat activity of the Armenian armed forces and ensure the safety of the civilians, the command of the Azerbaijani Army decided to launch a counter-offensive operation of Azerbaijani troops along the entire front.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 20:53:45|Editor: huaxia

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Workers assemble vehicles in a smart factory of Chang'an Kuayue Automobile Co., Ltd. in Wanzhou District, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Sept. 23, 2020. In recent years, Wanzhou District has stepped up measures to make the local manufacturing industry smarter. Factories have become more efficient with the introduction of industrial robots and cloud platforms. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)
Shankkar Aiyar By

It is said that nothing quite matches the impact of unintended dark humour for a reality check. This was validated by the line-up of speakers addressing the UN General Assembly on September 22. At around 10 am, US President Donald Trump addressed the UNGA. In his opening salvo, he blamed the pandemic on the China virus and bluntly stated, The United Nations must hold China accountable. And then as he lauded the peace deal between Israel and the UAE, he claimed, There is no blood in the sand.

Trump was followed by Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Turkey. He lamented the ineffectiveness of global mechanisms, argued for effective multilateral institutions and then went on to urge that the Syrian-owned and led political process under the Assad regime be allowed to succeed.

At around 10.30 am, it was the turn of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Predictably, Xi Jinping asserted that any attempt of politicising the issue or stigmatisation must be rejected. And then in a string of words which left irony gasping for breath, the Chinese President claimed China, will never seek hegemony, expansion, or sphere of influence.

In the run-up to the 75th anniversary, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hoped for a revival of multilateralism through a grand consultation. What the commemoration witnessed instead is a near perfect metaphor, a view of the United Nations @ 75 in a divided world order.

It is true that there has been no world war since 1945. It is equally true that the UN has been less than able in resolving conflicts within the UN to halt those outside. The consequences of unilateral invasion of Iraq by the US and allies in 2003 are yet unravelling. The crisis in Syria is now nine years and six months old. In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea  the very Crimea where the contours of the UN were defined amidst World War II. The war in Yemen, which has wrecked the country, is on since 2015. The list is long.

The US has frequently complained bitterly about Gulliverification of the UN but the charge cuts both ways. The P5  as the US, the UK, France, Russia and China are known  have used the veto to defeat multilateralism.

The UN has been effete when it matters most  best illustrated by its  and the World Health Organisations negligence  to the pandemic. The opportunistic use of powers by the Veto Club  for instance, by China against India on issues of terror funding in Pakistan, or Russia on use of chemical weapons in Syria, or by China and Russia on atrocities in Myanmar and Zimbabwe  is the primary cause of unattended tragedies.

The failings of the UN are located in its architecture. Appointments to specialised agencies are subject to gaming and post facto influence  the role of the WHO in the pandemic is a case in point. Power is vested in the composition of the UN Security Council which hasnt changed since five decades. For 15 years, Japan, Germany, Brazil and India have argued for the expansion of the Security Council and a permanent seat in keeping with their stature. But this has been derailed by the P5 to maintain the interests of client states. Indeed, India with a populace of 1.4 billion and a $2.8 trillion economy has the same vote as the Republic of Nauru which has a population of 10,670 and a GDP of $160 million.

Meanwhile, China is using its chequebook and expanding its sphere of influence and hegemony, all tailored to derail rule of law and install its own order across geographies. The creation of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the promotion of BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation were aimed at luring subscription. Since then, pretence has given way to brazen defiance. The Belt and Road Initiative, potentially an environmental disaster in the making, the expansionism in the Himalayas and the South China Sea can only be characterised as imperialism with Chinese characteristics.

The fact is the world needs multilateralism like never before. The need to curb nuclear proliferation, to urgency combat climate change, resilience from pandemics and the imperative of trade and investment demand collaboration and collective intelligence. There are success stories within the UN. The UN Peacekeeping force has rendered yeomen service even in regions where there is no peace settlement. Its institutions  World Bank, International Monetary Fund, International Development Association, IFC, UNESCO  have enabled human and economic development.

The need for the UN or indeed a new UN is indisputable. So is the need for a new order. Dag Hammarskjold, the legendary UN Secretary-General, speaking to students at the University of California Berkley in May 1954, said, It has been said that the United Nations was not created in order to bring us to heaven but in order to save us from hell. That is true. It is also useful to remember the history of the 1815 Congress of Vienna and the 1919 Treaty of Versailles. Frequently the road to hell is paved with lofty intentions.

The sustainability of multilateralism calls for fair and equitable terms of engagement. Recognition and roles must follow rise of nations and attainment. The institution campaigning for a rule-based world order must prima facie be based on rules and order not archaic notions.

SHANKKAR AIYAR

Author of The Gated Republic, Aadhaar: A Biometric History of Indias 12 Digit

Revolution, and Accidental India shankkar.aiyar@gmail.com
Gladwin County Community Foundations Flood Relief Fund has been open for over three months and has amassed over $200,000 in contributions, with fund distribution taking place at the discretion of the Mid Michigan Community Action Agency, in conjunction with the Long-Term Recovery Group.

By collaborating with Mid Michigan Community Action Agency and the Long-Term Recovery Group, Gladwin County Community Foundation is being intentional on how we invest funds into the community, stated Terry Brokoff, Gladwin County Community Foundation chairman, in a news release. We are part of a long-term recovery plan that avoids duplication, maximizes resources, and provides equitable access for all.

The Long-Term Recovery Group is operating in a systematic manner to lay the bedrock for recovery in Gladwin County. Gladwin County Community Foundation staff members are serving on various subcommittees of the Long-Term Recovery Group alongside members from other community organizations, faith-based groups, corporations, and volunteers. Long-Term Recovery subcommittees include Financial Support, Volunteer Coordination, Housing Support, Rebuild and Construction, Public Relations, and Case Management. All subgroups hold specific responsibilities, collaborating to serve the singular goal of long-term recovery.

We understand that long-term-recovery cant take place without an organized approach paired with contributions from the community. Everyone plays a role to assist survivors of this unforeseen disaster, stated Brokoff. We are humbled by the support weve received locally, regionally, and nationally.

Theres currently one flood case manager directly serving Gladwin County as the FEMA deadline to apply for assistance nears the cutoff date of Sept. 30. Flood disaster survivors living within Gladwin, Arenac, Iosco, Midland and Saginaw counties are eligible to apply. Assistance for applicants can include rental assistance, essential home repairs, personal property losses, and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by conventional insurance. Residents who have had water access impacted through their private well, if the well was damaged, if the well has collapsed, or if the well is no longer producing potable water as a result of the disaster, could also be considered for assistance under FEMAs Individuals and Households Program. Eligible applicants are encouraged to apply at DisasterAssistance,gov, through the FEMA app, or by calling 800-621-3362. Those who are denied assistance or dont receive what they believe to be the correct benefit amount are encouraged to appeal.

Mid Michigan Community Action Agency has programs and initiatives in place to ensure proper distribution of donated funds, said Jill Sutton, executive director of Mid Michigan Community Action Agency. By collaborating with United Way of Clare and Gladwin Counties and Gladwin County Community Foundation, we are able to put a funding mechanism in place that reduces duplication and maximizes impact in the face of devastation.

Gladwin County Community Foundation is continuing to receive donations at ReliefGladwin.org. It can accept online VISA and Mastercard payments. If you would like to contribute via mail, you can mail checks to Gladwin County Community Foundation, P.O. Box 480, Gladwin, MI 48624. If you have any questions about Gladwin County Community Foundation's involvement in local flood relief, you can call the foundation at 989-839-9661.

 Processed by Kate Hessling, khessling@hearstnp.com
Getting Buffaloed is a good thing

In these days and times you could be forgiven for thinking that films only work if they have big-name stars and are full of superheroes. That certainly isnt the case though and sometimes it takes a small film like Buffaloed to remind you that all you need for a great film is a talented cast and an intriguing screenplay.



By David Griffiths

Sunday 27 September 2020, 12:00PM

Set in the city of Buffalo, the film follows Peg (Zoey Deutch  Before I Fall), a young woman who has dreamed about escaping the city for her entire life. With her Dad out of her life since a very early age, Peg watched as her mother, Kathy (Judy Greer  Jurassic World), struggled to make ends meet and ultimately run up so much debt that calls from debt-collection agencies are almost a daily occurrence.

Peg does all she can to try to educate herself in an attempt to break out of this lifestyle, and when she watches her brother JJ (Noah Reid  Schitts Creek) open up his own bar she decides that it is time to live her own dreams. But after a small misdemeanour she finds herself put into jail by prosecutor Graham (Jermaine Fowler  BoJack Horseman). Upon her release life is even more surprising as she finds herself having to work for a debt-collection agency under the control of the ruthless Wizz (Jai Courtney  Suicide Squad).

The power of Buffaloed comes from its witty and original screenplay that is brilliantly brought together by director Tanya Wexler (Girl With No Name). In a lot of ways Buffaloed is played out with the intensity of a stage play. There are many dialogue-driven scenes that pack the punch of an action film whether it be Deutch going toe-to-toe with unrecognisable Jai Courtney or moments of true realisation when Peg realises that her life is a mess and that it isnt going to be easy to fix.

The true power of this film though comes from the characterisation. Despite her obvious flaws, and criminal activity, Peg is a likable character. I never in my life thought I would see a movie where a debt collector was made likable but somehow screenwriter Brian Sacca (The Definition Of Sex) does just that. You want to see Peg win in life, but you also understand the obstacles that she must face.

What separates Buffaloed from so many of the feel-good movies out there is that not everything in her life is easy to overcome and the obstacles that are placed there are believable. Sure the film might be making a statement about debt culture, but it is also showing that there are ways out of it if you put your mind to it.

When it comes to characterisation, Saccas script also brings the minor characters into play in a big way. Like so much of this movie the relationship between Graham and Peg is believable even if it is freshly unexpected. The fact that the team that Peg brings together to form her company is each given a character trait shows the power of Saccas writing, as does the fact that Pegs brother JJ is so three dimensional that he becomes another character that you find yourself barracking for.

Saccas screenplay also allows for some amazing performances in the film. There is no doubting that Deutch makes a massive statement in this film. She is often cast in the supporting role in films like Zombieland: Double Tap, but people have forgotten just how good she was in films like Before I Fall. Here, though, Deutch takes a huge step and breaks out of that teenage role stigma. She is strong, confident and shows Hollywood that she is more than ready to be a leading lady with a performance that needs to be seen to be believed.

Likewise, Jai Courtney also takes that big step we knew that he was capable of. Sure he has had some big roles in movies like A Good Day To Die Hard and Terminator Genisys but here Courtney gets a chance to show off his real acting ability. His character acting style that he brings to the character of Wizz is something that we havent seen from him before. He is sensational in the role and makes Wizz a truly menacing antagonist.

With its powerful script Buffaloed is one of the genuine finds of 2020. Not only does it show a different side to the acting of Zoey Deutch and Jai Courtney but also announces the arrival of Tanya Wexler as a director to look out for in the future. Witty and heartfelt, this may well be one of the most underrated films of 2020.

Buffaloed is for an adult audience and is currently available on a number of streaming platforms.

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
By Akanksha Rana and Hyunjoo Jin

(Reuters) - Tesla Inc <TSLA.O> 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 <GM.N>, Volkswagen <VOWG_p.DE> 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)
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Linkedin Jan Lee (The Straits Times/Asia News Network) Singapore  Sun, September 27, 2020 13:35 482 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c477e0a0 2 Entertainment K-Drama,South-Korea,Jung-Yu-mi,The-School-Nurse-Files Free

When South Korean actress Jung Yu-mi imagined her first action role, she thought it would be along the lines of the sword fights of wuxia film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000).

Instead, in the fantasy dramedy series The School Nurse Files, the 37-year-old is fighting jelly monsters with a BB gun and a tiny plastic sword.

"To be frank, it is not what I expected or dreamed of as a kid growing up," she says at a virtual press conference with regional media.

"But it was a completely new kind of action series which I got to experience."

While the battles were added later via computer graphics, she adds: "It was exciting and fun. Staff members would give me the 'okay' sign when I was done with a scene and I wouldn't be entirely sure what I had done. But still, I felt very satisfied."

The six-part Netflix original series premiered last week. It is based on the novel School Nurse Ahn Eun-young by South Korean writer Chung Se-rang, who also adapted her book for the screen.

The series stars Jung (Train To Busan, 2016) as the title character, who has the extraordinary ability to see monsters. South Korean actor Nam Joo-hyuk plays a teacher at the same high school, who discovers his ability to recharge Eun-young's powers during battles.

The 26-year-old actor, known for his roles in series like Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo (2016), says of his new role: "He is someone who doesn't know himself well initially. But when he realizes that he can be the source of power for someone else, he changes and develops further."

On set, the two leads were each other's source of power.

Read also: Five K-dramas with female characters that break gender stereotypes

Jung says of Nam: "He has a very quick wit and I think that influenced me and made me quicker in my reactions to him as an actress too."

But Nam is quick to demur: "It's the other way around. I feel like I was following her lead and that she really carried me on her back throughout the series."

Director Lee Kyoung-mi, 46, says in a separate video interview that she feels The School Nurse Files series brought out a surprising side to both Jung and Nam.

She says: "For Nam Joo-hyuk, it was like, how could someone be so lovable, so good-looking and so funny at the same time? And he very often brought more to the screen than just the directions that were in the screenplay.

"For Jung Yu-mi, it's how well she handled her action scenes. I had not known before how well she could manoeuver her body to create action sequences."

The director adds: "On top of that, she incorporated a lot of fun, cartoonish gestures and expressions into her performance."

As for the other stars of the series - the numerous jelly monsters - Lee had a say in how they looked.

"There are both harmless jellies and those that Eun-young has to defeat. For the harmless ones, I wanted them to look cute - like animals in a nature documentary which are not that familiar to the general public," she explains.

"For the ones that Eun-young fights, I wanted to invoke fear and curiosity by drawing on phobias like trypophobia (fear of closely packed holes)."

Lee is relatively new to television as she is better known as a film director and screenwriter. Her debut feature Crush And Blush (2008), which won her best new director and best screenplay at the Blue Dragon Film Awards, was produced by South Korean auteur Park Chan-wook.

The strong female vibe of the project - with a female heroine and a female director and screenwriter behind the cameras - is familiar to Lee, whose works are often female-led.

She says: "The stories which are in talks to be created into films - most of them are about men and are male-centric, so I'll be way behind in the list of directors who get contacted. That's why I started writing my own films to direct, perhaps that's why my female characters are so angry."

She adds of the character of nurse Eun-young in this series: "I see the series as the personal growth of a heroine who develops when she goes through the process of wondering why she even exists in the first place."

Actress Jung agrees that beneath the offbeat fantasy exterior of the series is the beating heart of a complex female lead.

She says: "I feel empathy for her. She has to see these things which are unseen to others. I feel her loneliness. But she accepts her destiny and takes bold steps forwards."

The School Nurse Files is available on Netflix.

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This article appeared on The Straits Times newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
More than 1,000 New Yorkers have tested positive for Covid-19 in a single day on Friday.

It was the first time since 5 June that the state has reported a daily case number that high.

Positive cases in the state have been rising steadily over the last few weeks, according to ABC7. The rise may be attributed to the reopening of businesses and schools.

The state was seeing an average of approximately 660 people test positive each day. The state reported it had averaged 817 positive tests per day in the seven-day period that ended Friday.

On Saturday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced there were 1,005 positive cases out of nearly 100,000 tests on the previous day.

Mr Cuomo called for continued practice of virus-mitigation guidelines.

"It's vital that New Yorkers continue to practice the basic behaviors that drive our ability to fight COVID-19 as we move into the fall and flu season," Mr Cuomo said. "Wearing masks, socially distancing and washing hands make a critical difference, as does the deliberate enforcement of state guidance by local governments."

According to Gareth Rhodes, a member of Mr Cuomo's Covid-19 Response Task Force, the overall per cent positive cases is actually far lower than in the early months of the pandemic.

He pointed out that the latest numbers were judged against 100,000 tests. In June, the numbers were compared to 60,000 tests.

Is there cause for concern? As long as COVID is here, yes, Mr Rhodes wrote on Twitter. "Key is ensuring these clusters dont spread into neighboring/other ZIPs.

He also said that the increase was lower in college-aged individuals, who made up only 16 per cent of all positive cases on Friday.

Certain neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens where private religious schools reopened for in-person schooling in early September have seen rising numbers.

New York health officials have warned that continued growth in Covid-19 cases in these neighborhoods could trigger severe restrictions on public gatherings.

The rising numbers comes as Mr Cuomo announced he would form a committee to review and distribute any coronavirus vaccines developed under the Trump administration.

Recommended Man jailed for throwing large parties during coronavirus pandemic

Im appointing a committee today that is going to come up with a vaccine distribution and implementation plan on how we will do it, Mr Cuomo said.

Mr Trump criticised the move.

I think you put the people of New York at great risk, and hes done that if you look at the nursing homes, 11,000 people died needlessly," Mr Trump said. "So when you look at that, its very sad.
North Dakota court and corrections officials are working through a pilot program that aims to keep less-serious offenders out of jail before trial. One state lawmaker says this goal is what excites her about the program's potential.

The 2019 Legislature authorized the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for the two-year, $755,034 pilot with seven full-time staff, to work with other legal entities on pretrial services in three judicial districts.

After a year of developing the program, pretrial services began July 1 in North Dakota's East Central, North Central and South Central judicial districts. The South Central Judicial District encompasses Burleigh and Morton counties. A report of outcomes with recommendations for the Legislature is due next year.

Supporters say the pilot's results could reduce incarceration for people who might become destabilized from potentially losing their employment or housing while in jail awaiting trial. Some people simply can't afford to bond out.

The services including risk assessments for reports to aid in bond decisions and arguments. Pretrial supervision is done according to a calculated risk level to maximize court appearances and public safety, said Program Manager Adam Anderson.

"We intend to serve as many people as we can effectively," he said.

Pretrial staff have screened 45 South Central Judicial District defendants -- 27 of whom were placed into a control group and 18 on supervision.

"Because of a number of COVID-related factors, we are lower than our projected numbers in this area and are currently in the process of expanding our caseloads by accepting defendants who are currently incarcerated into the program, rather than only the ones that are coming through the court system on the designated days for pretrial pilot program screening and selection," Anderson said.

Caseloads will vary by courts' volume and supervision standards based on defendants' risk levels. Higher-risk defendants who require more supervision and additional supports also require more staff time.

Rep. Karla Rose Hanson, D-Fargo, proposed the legislation that led to the pilot. She's excited to see its data.

"We really want to see what kind of positive outcomes might result from getting people connected with services earlier," she said. The pilot also could show taxpayer savings from fewer nights in county jails, she added. Further legislation could come in 2021 after considering the pilot's results and feedback and the state's budget situation.

Parallel to the pilot is a North Dakota Supreme Court work group drafting a new court administrative rule for pre-appearance release. Pre-appearance is the period between a person's arrest and first appearance before a judge.

Chief Justice Jon Jensen said the proposal's ultimate goal is to ensure people aren't being held unnecessarily. For instance, a person charged with driving under suspension "should be presumptively released," he said.

"We do try to get folks in front of judges as quickly as possible," he said. "The longest delay is 48 hours, but most folks should be released immediately, so that's what the rule's trying to address."

The work group comprising judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys also has been a sounding board to the pilot, Jensen said.

Most pretrial services defendants have been represented at their first appearance, Anderson said. The pilot has involved many people, including jail administrators, who have helped arrange for defendant interviews; court staff, who have facilitated the flow of information; and various disciplines of attorneys, from state's attorneys to public defenders.

"It is amazing how many people 'touch' a case as it goes through the court system," Anderson said.

Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com.

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Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE) Chairman Calin Popescu-Tariceanu said on Sunday, after the polling stations closed, that his party's results in the local elections in the Capital were "a reason for profound disappointment."

"It seems that the ALDE has failed to reach the 5% electoral threshold in Bucharest and the other sectors, but we must wait for the results of the exit polls at 23.00, which will probably be more comprehensive. Until then, I must tell you that these results represent for me a reason for profound disappointment, it is a disappointment that I think I share with my colleagues, the candidates from the six sectors of Bucharest," said Tariceanu, at the ALDE headquarters.Calin Popescu-Tariceanu ran for the position of general mayor of the Capital and, according to the results of the exit poll conducted by CURS - Avangarde, the ALDE leader was credited with 1.6% of the votes of Bucharest residents.
by Pierre Balanian

Azerbaijani bombings in the Marduni region (Karabakh): at least 10 dead. The Armenians shot down two helicopters and 14 attack drones. State of emergency proclaimed. The destabilizing factor of Turkey. Karekine II's Message to the Armenian Nation.

Echmiadzin (AsiaNews) - Patriarch Karekine II, the Catholicos of all Armenians, based in Echmiadzin, has interrupted his official visit to Italy and shortened the meeting scheduled for today with Pope Francis. He said he was returning to his homeland to be close to his people at this critical time of armed aggression.

In the early hours of this morning, the armed forces of Azerbaijan interrupted the truce and attacked with intense bombing the nearby Republic of Nagorno Karabagh, mostly inhabited by Armenians, whose secession from the Soviet Union is not recognized by the international community and fought by Azerbaijan. After a bloody war in 1991-1993, the two sides signed a ceasefire and started a dialogue to find a solution that is slow to come.

So far, there have been 10 Armenian soldiers from the Marduni region (Karabakh) who died while sleeping during the surprise armed attack launched by Azerbaijan. The Armenians had managed to shoot down 2 helicopters and 14 attack drones as this article was going to print. The Armenian forces are trying to repel any attempt at invasion and territorial advancement.

The Echmiadzin Press Office issued a Message from Karekine II to the nation: "Sons and daughters of the Armenian people, early this morning, once again violating the armistice and their own commitments, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces have passed offensively across the entire border line, bombing unarmed centers of Artsakh [Armenian name of Nagorno Karabagh] including the capital Stepanakert. Artsakh, part of our homeland, calls us once again to defend the rights of our nation, our sacred lands, our future and national honor. We urge our people and all political forces to unite, putting aside all oppositions in the name of defending the homeland. At this moment, while we are visiting Italy where we should have met our much loved brother Pope Francis of Rome, we immediately interrupt our visit to reach the homeland. May God protect Artsakh, may he support our brave soldiers and their commanders ".

The Presidency of the Republic of Karabakh as well as the Republic of Armenia have proclaimed a state of emergency and general mobilization to deal with Azerbaijani aggression.

From Turkey, an ally and supporter of Shiite Azerbaijan, a spokesman for President Recep Tayyep Erdogan accused Yerevan in a tweet of attacking "civilian locations" in Azerbaijan without mentioning where or when.

This morning, Moscow asked the two sides to apply an immediate "ceasefire" and launch "talks between the belligerents".

In 2016, ISIS fighters appeared among Azerbaijani fighters who entered Karabakh villages and carried out massacres, beheadings and mutilations of corpses, in a dangerous precedent of resorting to foreign Islamic terrorists in the Caucasus.

According to the Armenians, Turkey has become a destabilizing force in the Eastern Mediterranean and is implicated in armed conflicts in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Cyprus, also threatening Greece and Egypt. In supporting Azerbaijan against Armenia, Turkey today accused the Armenians of being a "threat to the stability of the Caucasus".

Since this morning, thousands of Armenian volunteers have poured into the barracks to go to fight. "The victory will be ours" promised the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinian, inviting citizens not to heed unofficial news and not to spread uncertain news on social media. Azerbaijan has silenced all social media in the country except Twitter, used by the Azerbaijani president.

We pray for peace and we don't want war. But they impose it on us. And since they want war, they will have war, said the leader of the Republic of Karabakh Araik Arutyiunian.
Members of the Minneapolis City Council are backtracking on their collapsed promise to dismantle the city's police department, with some councilors now saying the pledge was 'up for interpretation'.

On June 7 the council released a pledge to dismantle the Minneapolis police department and replace it with a new community support and outreach system following the May 25 death of George Floyd.

However, that effort was stalled in early August when the citys Charter Commission voted to pause the amendment to dissolve and replace the police force and voted to take 90 more days to review it.

Council members have revealed that they didn't state their intentions clearly and it caused confusion among officials, activists and the public.

Councilor Phillipe Cunningham said the language in the pledge was 'up for interpretation' and that even after the pledge was released, 'it was very clear that most of us had interpreted that language differently, according to New York Times report.

Members of the Minneapolis City Council are backtracking and revealing they have regrets on their collapsed promise to dismantle the city's police department, saying the pledge was 'up for interpretation'. BLM protesters pictured in Minneapolis on September 11

Critics are bashing officials for not working together and for failing to define whether the move means to abolish the police altogether or reallocate funds. A police fires tear gas and less-lethan rounds at protesters on May 29 in St. Paul, Minnesota at a George Floyd demonstration

Councilor Andrew Johnson, one of the nine members who supported the pledge in June, said that he meant the words 'in spirit'.

Council president Lisa Bender said: 'I think our pledge created confusion in the community and in our wards.'

Elected officials have interpreted the pledge differently, some believing defunding the police means to redirect some money in the police budget to social programs and others thinking it means creating a police-free future.

The move to dismantle the police has faced significant legislative hurdles as it has been rejected by the citys mayor, a plurality of residents in public opinion polls, and the city's Charter Commission.

Previous hopes to have the move to dissolve the department on this November's ballots have been dashed.

Now taking its place is incremental reforms for the police department.

Since the May 25 killing of Floyd, Minneapolis has banned chokeholds, enacted new de-escalation requirements and changed reporting measures for the use of force.

City Council member Linea Palmisano, who was one of the three councilors who did not take the pledge, admonished her colleagues for rushing the pledge saying they 'have gotten used to these kinds of progressive purity tests.'

But some activists still believe that pledge should seek to completely abolish the police department.

'What kind of violence are we going to experience over the next year? When these decisions a re made on a political level, they have human consequences,' Miski Noor, an organizer with Black Visions Collective, said.

'I think the initial announcement created a certain level of confusion from residents at a time when the city really needed that stability,' Mayor Jacob Frey, who refused to support the pledge, said.

'I also think that the declaration itself meant a lot of different things to a lot of different people  and that included a healthy share of activists that were anticipating abolition,' he added.

Minneapolis City Council members above. On June 7 the council released a pledge to dismantle the police force but in August the move was paused by the city's Charter Commission who asked for 90 more days to review the plan, meaning it won't be on this November's ballot

Councilor Andrew Johnson (left) said he meant the words of the pledge 'in spirit'. Council president Lisa Bender (right) said: 'I think our pledge created confusion in the community and in our wards'

In the wake of Floyds death and national uproar against police brutality and systemic racism, gun violence has surged in the embattled city this summer.

Some communities are worried of how the policing system will continue to function in the city.

Cathy Spann, a community activist in North Minneapolis, an area home to many of the citys black residents, says that black and brown communities are paying the price for the political stall.

She is in favor of adding more police officers on the streets.

'They didnt engage black and brown people. And something about that does not sit right with me. Something about saying to the community, "We need to make change together" but instead you leave this community and me unsafe,' she said.

Minneapolis has a long history with police violence and incremental changes within the force.

But to many reforms like body cameras and civilian oversight arent enough.

From the get-go the pledge to dismantle the police department had problems, including a lack of a transition plan.

On a policy level, the councilors did not have the unilateral power to end the citys police department as some residents believed.

The national public attention only heightened the pressure.

There are conflicting points of view in Minneapolis on how to move forward with the police department in the wake of George Floyd's death (above). A poll conducted by The Minneapolis Star-Tribune found a plurality of residents, including 50 percent of black people, opposed reducing the size of the police department.

Minneapolis has been the focal point of the movement to dismantle and defund the police following the police killing of George Floyd on May 25 (above) where white cop Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyd's neck until he lost consciousness and died

'I was surprised and was overwhelmed by it,' Councilor Cunningham said. 'A big lesson learned for me was to be mindful of the language and words we used and how it can be interpreted.'

The agenda to dismantle the police was further polarized by President Donald Trump and Republicans who pinned the move to defund police forces as a Democratic agenda in a bid to win over suburban voters.

However, prominent blue figures like Biden joined Mayor Frey in rejecting such proposals.

The City Council made the pledge, passed a provision to ask voters to remove the police department from the citys charter and place public safety duties under a new department with an unspecified structure, but there were no public hearings on the matter.

Dave Bicking, board member of Communities United Against Police Brutality, a grassroots group in Minneapolis that was founded in 2000, did not back the pledge.

Lisa Bender admonished the Charter Commission for pausing the amendment to dismantle the police force in August, taking it off the 2020 ballot

His group supports a smaller police force with more limited responsibilities.

'I think the City Council and the people they work with pretty much knew that this was a nonstarter. But it would get them off the hook and give them some time until things blow over,' Bicking said of the charter amendment.

After the decision the matter went to the Minneapolis Charter Commission, a group of city volunteers, which considers legal and technical questions to charter amendments before they go to residents for approval.

The commission consists of members appointed by the chief district judge, but they are not elected by voters.

The commissioners had concerns about the council's proposal saying it does not meet several guidelines including legal provisions and necessary public input.

Optics also played a role as the board is largely white and was unelected, compared to the diverse city councillors who were supported by activists.

They also faced mounting public pressure to pass the charter amendment.

Barry Clegg, the commissions president said one day he woke up to graffiti outside his house and his home was egged.

George Floyd's family members cry as attorney Ben Crump speaks at a press conference outside the family justice center after a court hearing on the murder of George Floyd on September 11

Andrea Rubenstein, a charter commission member, said she was inundated with e-mails ordering her to pass the charter amendment  or else.

As the commission reviewed the case, evidence proved that the public wanted police reform but did not support the actions of the councilors or the aims of activists.

A poll conducted by The Minneapolis Star-Tribune found a plurality of residents, including 50 percent of black people, opposed reducing the size of the police department.

They faced backlash for not getting on board the proposal and in the end in August in a 10 to 5 vote chose not to pass the councilors amendment and called for further study  killing the chances to put the amendment on the November ballot.

'A majority-white, unelected board of people cant decide that they knew better than the community,' Miski Noor, the Black Visions organizer said.

Council president Bender said: 'I understand that we did not give the charter commission a lot of time to weigh a very substantive change to our system of government. I also know that were proposing a question to put to all of the voters of Minneapolis. And I think the charter commission is overstepping their role by digging so far deeply into the substantive question.'

Now the amendment to dismantle the police department could appear on the 2021 ballot when the mayor and city council members must all run for reelection.

Activists have cast blame on officials and the mayor for not working together.

'What I see happening is these council members and these other elected officials all trying to figure out how to put the genie back in the bottle. And its up to us, in my opinion, to let them know that the genie aint going back in the bottle,' activist Michelle Gross said at a recent public meeting at Powderhorn park convened by Communities United Against Police Brutality.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 09/27/2020



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[ Spoiler Warning: This report includes spoilers revealing if Kalani and Asuelu broke up or if the : Happily Ever After? couple is still together after they parted ways during the COVID-19 pandemic.]

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Did Kalani and Asuelu stay separated for good and are they divorcing each other -- or is the couple still together and married?

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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

star Kalani Faagata kicked Asuelu Pulaa out of their home amid the coronavirus pandemic as shown on Season 5 of : Happily Ever After?, so did the couple stay apart and break up or are they still married and together?Kalani, a 31-year-old from Orange County, CA, and Asuelu, a 24-year-old from Samoa, met in July 2016 and initially appeared on Season 6 of in 2019.Kalani and Asuelu met when Kalani was visiting a resort where Asuelu worked as the activities director, and the couple pursued a long-distance relationship once Kalani returned to America.After communicating and getting to know each other better, Kalani decided Asuelu could be the man of her dreams and so she traveled back to Samoa to visit him.During that trip, Kalani lost her virginity and the pair had sex for the first time, which resulted in a surprise pregnancy that rocked Kalani and her whole family.Kalani's conservative Mormon family was disappointed in Kalani's actions and choice of partner, especially since her father Low didn't want any of daughters to get involved with a Samoan man like himself, but Kalani opted to follow her heart.Kalani ultimately ignored her family's warnings and concerns about Asuelu and went ahead and applied for a K-1 visa so Asuelu could move to the United States and become a hands-on father. At this time, Kalani and Asuelu's son Oliver was five months old.Once Asuelu moved to the United States, there was quite an adjustment period as he attempted to acclimate to American culture. Despite some ups and downs, Kalani and Asuelu got married in September 2018.'s sixth season concluded with Kalani and Asuelu's wedding ceremony as well as Kalani finding out she was pregnant with their second child.Kalani and Asuelu found out they were expecting Baby No. 2 together less than a year after she had given birth to Oliver, and the news was totally unexpected.Kalani and Asuelu are now parents of two sons: Oliver, whom the couple welcomed in January 2018, and Kennedy, who was born in May 2019.About four months later, Kalani suggested in a poll on her Instagram that Asuelu wasn't helping her with the kids and she felt totally overwhelmed."Do all husbands expect their wives to pay bills, clean the whole house, do all the laundry, feed/watch the kids 24/7 (unless said husband is in public or wants a selfie)?" Kalani asked in the September 2019 poll. "Asking for my gottdamn self. Is this normal?"Apparently 70 percent of Kalani's followers who participated in the poll answered "No."However, the couple appeared to be a very happy family at Christmas time in December 2019.On : Happily Ever After?'s fifth season, Asuelu and Kalani had been married for one year and three months at the time of filming. Asuelu was working part-time and shown passing out free samples.Kalani suggested her marriage was suffering and she was exhausted all the time, so her parents moved in with the couple to help them out with the boys, which apparently upset Asuelu because he no longer was the man of the house.Kalani believed Asuelu would rather play volleyball or video games after work than spend time with his family, and she felt romance had gone out the window in her relationship.Kalani missed the times when she and Asuelu longed to be around each other and loved every minute with each other."If Asuelu refuses to change, I don't know if I can keep doing this anymore," Kalani said in a confessional.Kalani's dad Low also wanted Asuelu to "step up" and stop "f-cking around." Low said Asuelu would get his "ass whooped or sent back to Samoa" if things didn't change for the better.But Asuelu continued to disappoint Kalani and her family, like when he was angry at his wife for turning down an opportunity for their family to travel to Samoa.Not only would the trip cost thousands of dollars in plane fare alone, but there had also been a Measles outbreak recently -- and children in Samoa were dying from it.Asuelu and Kalani's seven-month-old son Kennedy wasn't vaccinated and wasn't supposed to get that MMR vaccine until 12-24 months old, according to his doctor, so Kalani put her foot down and pumped the breaks on Asuelu's dream vacation.Instead of going to Samoa, Kalani decided to celebrate Oliver's second birthday in California, but Asuelu was grumpy and resentful he couldn't get his way.In the car ride to California, Asuelu complained, "I think Kalani can't do what mother in Samoa do," adding that being a stay-at-home mom is "easy."Kalani argued that she was the one up all night with both of their sick kids when she was sick too and did "everything for them," and Asuelu called her out for being "annoying" as well as a "lying b-tch."Kalani's mother was driving the car and scolded Asuelu for being "disrespectful" and talking to her daughter that way, which only made Asuelu more frustrated."I don't know how your husband talk to you when you guys been together. But it's my wife; I can talk whatever," Asuelu said. "Your daughter asks stupid questions."Kalani felt Asuelu was trying to sabotage the weekend and ruin it for everyone as a way to get back at her for canceling their trip to Samoa."It just shows me that he doesn't really care about me and the boys and he's just No. 1 to himself," Kalani complained in a confessional, later adding that she'd never be "subservient" to a man.Kalani subsequently called Asuelu "a manipulator" and said she demands "an equal partnership." But instead of talking things out, Asuelu took off on a bus and Kalani had to pick him up at a random location hours later.Kalani's sister Kolini said Asuelu "sucked the life" out of her sister and it was hard to see, and Kalani's whole family thought Asuelu was "in the wrong" and had behaved rudely.Asuelu even refused to attend Oliver's birthday party at first and hid in a bedroom.Asuelu later apologized to Kalani, but Kalani wanted to see change in his actions since his words were no longer enough.In order to make Asuelu happy and hopefully strengthen their relationship, Kalani agreed to visit Asuelu's mother Lesina and two half-sisters in Washington State.Asuelu wanted to bring gifts for his family and give his mother $1,000, which Lesina had asked for, but Kalani rejected that idea and said they couldn't afford it.Kalani agreed to let Asuelu buy $200 worth of gifts and give his mother an additional $100. After all, Asuelu was only working part-time.Kalani believed Asuelu was "trying to buy his family's love."It had been about a year since Asuelu last saw his mother and sisters Tammy and Rosa, but it didn't take long for the women to bring up money once Asuelu reunited with them.Asuelu's mother was shocked he only had $100 for her, and Tammy advised Asuelu to step up like a man and work full-time. Asuelu's family figured Kalani's family could support his kids, and Lesina and Tammy accused Kalani of controlling her husband.Kalani later met with Lesina and Tammy on her own in attempt "to talk some sense into them," but the discussion turned out to be a disaster.Asuelu's mother called Kalani "lazy" for not working and pleaded, "Just give me money. That's all I want... I don't care about the kids. I want to take back my son to Samoa to do his duty as before."Tammy insisted Kalani was "brainwashing" Asuelu, but Kalani insisted she had done nothing but love her husband.Tammy actually tried to fight Kalani physically, so Kalani returned to Asuelu upset about the turn of events. Asuelu, however, only seemed concerned about whether Kalani or Tammy would win in a fight.Kalani grew so frustrated that she called Asuelu "a lunatic," who in turn dubbed Kalani "f-cking crazy." She no longer felt supported by her husband and worried he'd never change.Kolini told Kalani that she was too good for Asuelu and didn't deserve to live that way. Kolini advised her sister to leave the relationship for her own well-being."I do feel like I love him still," Kalani griped. "I just feel like every day, it's getting less and less, and I feel like if it keeps continuing on like this, I won't want to be a part of this marriage anymore."Asuelu apparently overheard Kalani and Kolini talking, and so he and Kalani got into a huge fight off-camera."I'm questioning if I can even do this anymore... [I want to see] if we can fix his behavior, and if not, I just need to not be with him," Kalani admitted.Kalani wished her marriage was about love, happiness and supporting each other, and she confessed that that's not what she had. In fact, Kalani believed Asuelu wanted to take possession of her."I am tired and I'm emotionally exhausted... I just need to go home and figure things out. I don't know, I just want to be done. I don't want to be married anymore," Kalani confessed. "I love him, but I have to start loving myself and loving my boys more."Kalani said it was "insane" for her and Asuelu to keep living the same way, so the couple went to therapy or counseling together."I don't think he understands that I'm at -- I'm past my breaking point," Kalani told the cameras."I'm done at this point. I'm giving him a last chance and he's either going to take it or he's going to take his sh-t out of the house," Kalani shared in a confessional.Kalani and Asuelu met with Dr. Matt Eschler and a Samoan translator, Ilena Williams.The couple discussed their issues, including how Asuelu longed to be head of their household but Kalani didn't want to be viewed like her husband's property.Asuelu also blamed Kalani for trying to ruin his relationship with his family.Dr. Eschler was hoping the pair could begin new traditions that neither of them were accustomed to in order to blend their cultures and household responsibilities, and Kalani said she and Asuelu had made a little progress in that area."I love you and I'm trying to help our marriage and fix our marriage. It's not that I don't want to. I'll try for you," Kalani told Asuelu.Asuelu later asked his family members, including his mother, to travel from Washington State to visit him in Utah in attempt to repair Kalani's relationship with them. Asuelu demanded that his relatives apologize to Kalani.Lesina and Tammy admitted they'd like to see Asuelu and Kalani get divorced, but Asuelu had his wife's back and demanded his family respect her. Lesina eventually came around and seemed okay with the fact Asuelu wasn't going to be able to give her much money."Asuelu said all of the right things today, so I feel more hopeful and think there are a lot more things to look forward to in our relationship," Kalani told the cameras.Kalani and Asuelu's progress led to a fairly happy three months until the global outbreak of coronavirus earlier this year.The pandemic apparently put additional stress on Kalani and Asuelu's relationship.Kalani said she and Asuelu were fighting all the time and it seemed like Asuelu almost wanted to be exposed to coronavirus because he was going out with his friends a lot and allegedly lying about his whereabouts."I need to protect my kids. I can't keep letting him do whatever the hell he wants," Kalani said. "I'm not just going to let him back in the house with the babies."After a big fight, Kalani told Asuelu to go to his mother's place in Washington State. She said their marriage wasn't working any more and she didn't know what was going to happen.Kalani said she needed a break from Asuelu and wasn't even sure whether they'd work as a couple again. She also said Asuelu hadn't been helping her with the kids or around the house.Kalani told her mother Lisa that she caught Asuelu lying because she had put a tracker on his phone. Asuelu told Kalani he was out for a drive one day when he was really playing volleyball with his friends amid the coronavirus pandemic."I'm with someone who just gives me nothing. At this point, I don't really see the point of being married anymore. I really am just done... I don't see the point of it all. I've just been fighting and trying my hardest, and it's just me trying," Kalani cried."There's, like, 20 percent of me that's waiting to see if he'll change or do something different, but I'm not going to hold my breath."Lisa said she just wanted to see her daughter happy and no longer cared if Asuelu and Kalani stayed together. Kalani and Lisa wanted what would be best for her boys, and Asuelu told the cameras he didn't want to go or be away from his family.Kalani acknowledged love just didn't seem to be enough and their relationship was not working.Asuelu is still working at the same nutrition store in Utah -- which is near the home he shares with Kalani -- where he was shown passing out free samples on an episode of : Happily Ever After?.Also, the pair definitely appear to still be married based on their social-media activity.In late August, Asuelu called Kalani his "wife" when telling fans they can now book him for Cameo videos.And back in late July, Asuelu captioned a series of photos of his family in Pine Valley, UT. They appeared to do some hiking by a lake."Family Adventure #blessed #love #utahcheck," Asuelu captioned the slideshow.Asuelu also posted a TikTok video of himself dancing in the couple's kitchen about a week earlier, and Kalani can be seen in the background preparing food for her family.Asuelu captioned the video, "Morning routine after riding the bus."In early July, Asuelu wished Kalani a happy birthday on his Instagram account by posting a video of his wife and son. He wrote over the video "love of my life."And in the caption, Asuelu gushed, "My wife's birthday. Cheers for 32nd years my love @kalanifaagata and many more to come."Not only has Kalani also posted recent photos with Asuelu on Instagram, but the couple additionally shared two YouTube videos on their channel this past summer after not uploading anything on their channel for almost a year.On June 30, Kalani posted a sweet photo of Asuelu cuddling with their boys on Instagram Stories.One week earlier, Kalani posted a smiling selfie with Asuelu, a video of Asuelu laughing in a massage chair, and brief throwback clips of the couple's axe-throwing date.Kalani uploaded the photos and videos shortly after the June 21 episode of : Happily Ever After? aired on TLC, and she captioned the slideshow, "BTS of tonight's episode. What'd y'all think?"Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage!
LIDL has been asked to include housing in its plans for the Dock Road by local planners.

As exclusively revealed by the Limerick Leader, the discount retailer is seeking to build a new flagship store at the former National Rusks factory, in a move which it says would generate 30 new jobs.

However, in a request for further information, the council has said that the supermarket should form part of a mix of uses on site, including residential.

The planning authority also requested stronger street facades with active street frontage.

The local authority has asked the firm to provide a retail impact statement which will demonstrate that the proposed development as outlined shall not have a detrimental impact on the viability and visibility of the city and existing retail centres.

On top of this, Limerick City and County Council believes the number of parking spaces proposed by Lidl  100  to be an inefficient use of space and not in keeping with national guidance.

Limerick council planners have also called for a bat survey to be completed on the site.

Lidl now has six months to return to Limerick City and County Council with proposals on how to address local planning concerns. 

All this comes as Lidl Ireland breaks ground on the construction of its latest store on the other side of the city  in the Clare suburb of Westbury.

More than 30 jobs are set to be created once the store opens here.

Monami Construction has been awarded the contract to build, and following the installation of Covid-19 protective measures, have began construction.

The planned store will incorporate a range of sustainability features including an ISO 50001 certified energy management system, electric vehicle charger spaces and a solar panel system.

Paul Downey, regional property executive, Lidl Ireland said: We are delighted to see construction start at our site and are eager to support the local community with significant investment, job creation and the highest quality at the best prices when we begin trading.

The move has been welcomed by South East Clare-based Fianna Fail TD Cathal Crowe.

He said: Its fantastic to see that the shovel has broken the ground on this long-awaited development. Site preparation works has begun where Lidl will be; they have started clearing and excavating the ground for the pouring of the foundations, he said.

Lidl currently has three branches in Limerick  at Childers Road, the Ennis Road and the Dublin Road.

Rival discount retailer Aldi is seeking to build a new branch in Roches Street.

This project is also still awaiting further information from the developers.
Bir-Lehlou (Liberated Territories), 27 September 2020 (SPS) - The Polisario Front and the SADR government have alerted the international community, the United Nations and its mission for the organization of the referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), on the seriousness of the escalation led by the Moroccan occupation state, calling on the UN Security Council to take a clear and firm position in order to save international peace and security in the region.



The Minister of Information, the government's spokesperson, warned in a statement of the danger of Morocco's current extensive campaign to tarnish the reputation of the Polisario Front, on the eve of the Security Council's debates on the issue of Western Sahara and in light of the successive positions expressed before the 75th session of the UN General Assembly by states and governments supporting the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination and independence.



"This frantic campaign demonstrates Morocco's aggressive intentions to drag the entire region into an escalation towards the unknown, due to the march of Sahrawi civilians in peaceful protest against the illegal passage of El Guergarat", he said, underlining that this breach constitutes a violation of the ceasefire, signed in 1991 between the two parties to the conflict (the Polisario Front and Morocco) under the auspices of the UN and the OAU, currently AU.



Morocco, through this campaign, is trying unambiguously to drag the whole region into an escalation towards the unknown, in order to maintain its illegal occupation of our homeland, plunder our wealth and prevent our people from exercising their inalienable right to self-determination and independence, the spokesman pointed out.



He also noted that Morocco is trying to divert public attention from the reality of Morocco's internal political, social and economic problems, "which will not escape its inevitable fate, namely the definitive withdrawal from our homeland"; concluded the statement of the government spokesperson. (SPS)



062/SPS/T
The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has confirmed that there are currently four counties being monitored closely as their incidence rates continue to rise.

Cork, Galway, Louth and Wicklow are all under consideration for further restrictions as case numbers rise, but Minister Donnelly told RTE that no immediate action was required.

"There are four counties which I think are being looked at very carefully, they are Cork, Galway, Louth and my own county of Wicklow," he said.

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"But right now, there are no plans for Nphet to meet earlier, to make any recommendations to the Government at this time.

"They meet every Thursday, that may change, but right now they have no plans to meet.

"What happens in each case is the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) look at a wide variety of measures, he said.

Mr Donnelly said well leave it to the experts with respect to deciding which, if any, counties will have further restrictions imposed.

Dublin and Donegal are currently at Level 3 in the Governments medium-term Living with Covid plan in an attempt to stem the flow of cases.

Donegal recently overtook Dublin as the county with the highest incidence rate in the country with 148, while neighbouring Derry has the highest rate in Northern Ireland.

Minister Donnelly also said that Christmas as Ireland knows it would be highly infringed upon this year, especially for those with relatives living in residential care homes and nursing homes.

"It is heartbreaking. It's heartbreaking for the residents, and heartbreaking for the relatives, heartbreaking for the staff who are dealing with this every single day. We had so many cases of people standing on their tiptoes looking in windows, and other relatives were very sick and in some cases died.

"So, what I really love to see is this virus suppressed, to the point that the most liberal visiting regime that we could have safely is brought in, the Minister said.

Mr Donnelly urged people to reduce their contacts in a bid to push down the reproduction R number, which refers to the number of people that one infected person will pass on the virus to on average.

When it is above 1, the virus is growing, when it is below 1, the virus is shrinking and we need to get the R number below 1. Right now, its about 1.5, 1.6 and what the public health doctors are saying to us is, 'think about all the people you were planning on meeting over the next week or two and half that number.'

"If we all do that, its not always possible, but if we do that, if we all reduce our contacts, then we will get this R number down and we will push this virus back.

What everybody wants is to get every part of this country back down to Level 1 as quickly as possible and keep everybody there. The whole point of the roadmap is to target the virus where we know it spreads in order to keep the country open, to keep the schools open, protect the health services, protect jobs, he said in an interview today on This Week on RTE One.

In relation to a shortage of hospital beds as the health services gear up for an increase in admissions this winter, he said that the HSE is negotiating with each private hospital, instead of the previous joint agreement that was in place.

We are looking for surge capacity, if a wave happens, he said.

In addition, the health sector is looking for additional capacity to treat public patients in the private hospitals, to tackle waiting lists.

Separately, he revealed that about half of the expected flu vaccine stocks have now arrived.

There was a batch of vaccines for which there was a two week delay.

Mr Donnelly said 2m vaccines will be provided for free to the groups who have been identified as at-risk groups. This year, for the first time the under-12s will be included for free, and they will receive a nasal spray rather than an injection.
Mr. Hopeson Yaovi Adoye, New Patriotic Party's (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Kpone-Katamanso, has appealed to the electorate to give him a chance to serve them as their member of parliament.



Mr. Adoye made this appeal during an interview with the media after a campaign tour of the Kpone-Katamanso constituency.



He said he was the best candidate to represent the constituency in parliament, saying, he had the needed skills and confidence to lobby for developmental projects for the area.



According to him, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) had held on to the Kpone-Katamanso seat since the inception of the fourth republic and had nothing to show hence the need to change that trend.





The Ghana News Agency observed that Mrs Gifty Adoye, a popular gospel musician had joined the husband's campaign train amidst singing and cheering to NPP campaign songs through the principal streets of the constituency.



Many party members joined the campaign to express their support and love for the party.

Source: GNA









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Vietnam reported no new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday morning, with recoveries now nearing 1,000, according to the national government.

This is the 25th day in a row that the country has documented zero domestic infections, the government said in a post on its verified Facebook page, where it frequently gives COVID-19 updates.

The national tally remains at 1,069, with 35 virus-related deaths, most having suffered critical concomitant conditions.

The number of recovered patients has reached 999 as of Sunday morning.

Vietnam has recorded 551 local cases since July 25, when Da Nang confirmed the first community transmission after the Southeast Asian nation had gone 99 days without any domestic infection.

Most of these cases were linked to Da Nang, a beach city in central Vietnam.

The coastal hub and Ho Chi Minh City have both been cleared of all COVID-19 patients following the governments extensive contact tracing and focused treatment for more than a month.

At the time writing, Vietnam is quarantining 16,829 people who came into close contact with infected patients or entered the country from outbreak-hit regions.

The country has resumed commercial flights to certain destinations, including Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and mainland China.

Entrants from these places are now required to present certificates proving they tested negative for the novel coronavirus within three days of their boarding flights.

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.

Vietnam currently charges international arrivals for quarantine. It provided the quarantine service for free in the past.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
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The Centre on Sunday released a video of Indian Army tanks and armoured personnel carriers in forward locations in eastern Ladakh, amid the ongoing border stand-off with China.

T-90 and T-72 tanks along with BMP-2 Infantry Combat Vehicles, which can operate at at temperatures upto a minus 40 degree celsius can be seen in the video. The tank formation is near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Chumar-Demchok area in Eastern Ladakh.

#WATCH Indian Army deploys T-90 & T-72 tanks along with BMP-2 Infantry Combat Vehicles that can operate at temperatures up to minus 40 degree Celsius, near Line of Actual Control in Chumar-Demchok area in Eastern Ladakh.Note: All visuals cleared by competent authority on ground pic.twitter.com/RiRBv4sMud  ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2020

In Indias multi-level talks with China, the country has reiterated maintenance of stability on ground and for no unilateral changes to the status quo amid the disengagement process. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said previously disengagement of troops was a complex process and would require mutually agreed reciprocal actions".

The Chinese army had engaged in provocative action" on August 31 even as commanders from both sides were engaged in discussions to de-escalate the situation at LAC in eastern Ladakh on the southern bank of Pangong Lake, the MEA had said then.

On the night of August 29 and August 30, the Peoples Liberation Army had moved their tanks and troops at night, in contravention of confidence building measures that ban military movements at night. On August 31, more troop movements took pace as ground commanders of the two sides were in discussions to de-escalate the situation.

Further, two days before External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi reached an agreement in Moscow on September 10, heightened tensions along LAC in Ladakh had led Indian and Chinese troops to open fire on the north bank of Pangong Tso. A day after the allegations of firing, officials told News18 that the Indian army had also spruced up numbers after noticing a PLA build-up on the heights near finger 3.

At the most recent Corps commander-level meeting on Monday India made it clear to the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army(PLA) that any misadventure or aggressive behaviour by it will be met with firmly as India was determined to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The meeting took place in the backdrop of deteriorating situation in the Chushul sector following three incidents of shots being fired in the air by the PLA soldiers since the intervening night of August 29 and 30.

Thus, the Indian Army is now determined to strengthen its security in the whole area.

"Fire and Fury Corps is the only formation of Indian Army and also in the world to have actually deployed mechanised forces in such harsh terrain. Maintenance of tanks, infantry combat vehicles and heavy guns is a challenge in this terrain," said Major General Arvind Kapoor, the Chief of Staff of 14 Corps.

Indian preparation is on to brace the winter while maintaining its strength with little progress having been been made in Corps Commander level talks, amid indications that immediate de-escalation and withdrawal of Chinese troops may not happen.

To tackle the winter conditions, Indian Army is also procuring Russian tents. A source said the ordinance factory in Kanpur has been approached to procure these tents. China has constructed semi-permanent structures at Pangong and at other friction points of LAC.
Seeing yourself grace the cover of Vogue must be an incredible experience for anyone.

But for actress Emma Corrin, 24, barely known before she was picked to play Princess Diana in Netflix hit The Crown, the experience must have been particularly difficult to believe.

And she was so surprised to spot herself on the fashion magazine cover in a newsagents window while walking her dog that she decided to record the moment with a photo.

'So surreal!': Emma Corrin was starstruck by her own image when she spotted her glam Vogue covershoot image on display at a newsagents while out walking her dog

Wearing square-shaped sunglasses, black boots, bright-yellow trousers and a tanktop, Miss Corrins look in her picture is in stark contrast to her image in Vogue, where she is dressed in a glamorous blue dress.

Still so bloody surreal!!! posted Miss Corrin, 24, alongside the photo on Instagram.

Cambridge University graduate Miss Corrin was picked to portray the Peoples Princess last year despite having only a handful of small roles to her name prior to her audition.

She told Vogue that playing Diana has given her a feeling of rapport with the late princess. I feel Ive got to know Diana like you would a friend, Miss Corrin said.

Coming up: Huge role: Emma (left) will portray Diana, Princess of Wales (pictured right in 1983) in the upcoming fourth season of The Crown, which comes to Netflix on November 15

I know that sounds really weird, but I get a great sense of companionship from her.

Ms Corrin also revealed to Vogue that she keeps a vibrator in her handbag  just like the late Diana, Princess of Wales.

The actress admitted that she likes using the sex toy as a way to 'unwind'.

In a recent video interview she said of the gadget as she revealed the contents of her bag: 'Its great if youre stressed and need to unwind. Also, it kind of looks like a lipstick so, you know, nice and subtle.'

Huge role: Emma will portray the mother of princes William and Harry in the upcoming fourth season of The Crown, which comes to Netflix on November 15

Princess Diana had a 'secret mascot' in the form of a sex toy, which she took with her on all overseas trips as a good luck charm, her former bodyguard revealed in 2016.

Royal protection officer Ken Wharfe said the marital aid  which was referred to as 'Le Gaget', or 'the gadget'  was purchased on a 'wild staff night out' in Paris in 1992.

Wharfe claimed he then persuaded Diana's sister Sarah McCorquodale to hide the sex toy in the Princess of Wales' bag the next day.

The shock revelation was made by Wharfe in an updated edition of his book Diana: Closely Guarded Secret.

He added that the Princess 'loved pranks and practical jokes' and thought the toy was 'hilarious' before she quickly made it her 'secret mascot for foreign trips'.

The Crown season 4 will be available to watch on Netflix on November 15.
A rally by the far-right Proud Boys in Portland, Oregon, in support of President Donald Trump and police drew about 200 protesters Saturday afternoon, far fewer than the expected thousands that led the city to brace for potential violence.

Among the rallygoers who gathered at a city park were dozens wearing militarized body armor, including helmets and protective vests. Many flew American flags or black flags bearing the logo of the Three Percenters, another far-right group, and some wore Make America Great Again hats. Some had long guns.

The Multnomah County sheriff had said police were anticipating a crowd of 1,000 to 3,000 people at the demonstration, NBC affiliate KGW reported. Organizers of the rally had said they expected to draw 20,000 people.

Portland has become a flashpoint for sometimes violent political conflict in months of ongoing demonstrations, and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat, declared a state of emergency on Friday, saying that white supremacist groups from out of town were coming to the city.

We have seen what happens when armed vigilantes take matters into their own hands. Weve seen it in Charlottesville, weve seen it in Kenosha and, unfortunately, we have even seen it here in Portland, the governor said, referring to deaths following political clashes in Virginia, Wisconsin and Oregon.

Let me be perfectly clear, we will not tolerate any kind of violence this weekend, she said. "Those stoking the flames of violence, those coming to Portland looking for a fight will be held accountable."

The Proud Boys, a group of self-declared Western chauvinists, were denied a permit for the planned gathering due to coronavirus social-distancing concerns, but rallied anyway in what they had said would be a free speech event to support Trump and the police and condemn anti-fascists.

Image: Proud Boys (John Locher / AP)

Last month, a Trump supporter and follower of another right-wing group, Patriot Prayer, was fatally shot during a clash with counterprotesters in Portland. The man was part of a motorcade that clashed with Black Lives Matter demonstrators and other protesters, with some members of the caravan firing paintballs and pepper spray into the crowd.

Story continues

The Proud Boys mentioned the death of Aaron Jay Danielson in their permit application. They also mentioned Kyle Rittenhouse, a 17-year-old charged in the shooting deaths of two Black Lives Matter protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

The governor used her emergency powers to give the Oregon State Police superintendent and the local sheriff the power to take charge of public safety in Portland for the weekend, a move that would restore the ability of law enforcement to use tear gas as a crowd-control measure.

The state police superintendent said there would be a massive influx of troopers in the city beginning Saturday morning.

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, a Democrat, said on Twitter this week, Violence has no home in Portland.

The dueling protests in Portland come as tensions around the U.S. have once again escalated following the decision by a Kentucky grand jury this week not to charge any police officers in the killing of Breonna Taylor, a Black woman, during a police raid at her home in March. One former Louisville officer was charged with first-degree wanton endangerment for gunshots that hit neighboring apartments.
Masterwebsite.web.id scored 57 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 3/5.0 Stars by Social Team

This CoolSocial report was updated on 5 Feb 2016, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.

The total number of people who shared the masterwebsite homepage on Delicious. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the masterwebsite homepage on Twitter + the total number of masterwebsite followers (if masterwebsite has a Twitter account). This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the masterwebsite homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if masterwebsite has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the masterwebsite homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. The total number of people who shared the masterwebsite homepage on StumbleUpon.

Basic Information

PAGE TITLE CV. Master Website Karawang | Jasa Pembuatan Pembuatan Website, Jasa Pembuatan Aplikasi, Website Mur DESCRIPTION IT Solution and Website Developer KEYWORDS Jasa Pembuatan Pembuatan Website, Jasa Pembuatan Aplikasi, Website Murah, OTHER KEYWORDS website, karawang, pembuatan, master website, master, jasa pembuatan, alexa



The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The title found in the head section of the homepage.

Domain and Server

DOCTYPE HTML 5.0 CHARSET AND LANGUAGE English (United States) UTF-8English (United States) DETECTED LANGUAGE English English SERVER LiteSpeed (PHP/5.4.38) OPERATIVE SYSTEM

Type of server and offered services. Operative System running on the server. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) The language of masterwebsite.web.id as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Character set and language of the site.

Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world.

Referring domains for masterwebsite.web.id by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines.

Facebook link

FACEBOOK PAGE LINK FOUND FACEBOOK PAGE www.facebook.com/denidarmayana.dh DESCRIPTION LIKES PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT PAGE TYPE TIMELINE PAGE NO TIMELINE

The total number of people who like website Facebook page. The type of Facebook page. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. The URL of the found Facebook page.

Twitter account link

TWITTER PAGE LINK FOUND TWITTER PAGE twitter.com/#!/MasterWebKrw DESCRIPTION Webhosting Murah ACCOUNT CREATED ON 22 Jul 2015 LOCATION Karawang TWEETS 372 FOLLOWERS 12 LISTED 0
A federal judge on Sunday granted a preliminary injunction against a Trump administration order to ban the viral video app TikTok from U.S. app stores, in a reprieve for the Chinese-owned service.

The injunction halts only the element of the ban scheduled to take effect Sunday at midnight, which would have forced TikTok off app stores run by companies like Apple and Google. It does not cover a broader set of restrictions set to take effect in November at this time, the judge, Carl Nichols of United States District Court for the District of Columbia, said in his order.

The government had argued that the measures were responding to fears that the app, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, could send data back to authorities in Beijing. A Justice Department official, Daniel Schwei, said that TikToks First Amendment rights are not implicated by the ban.

Lawyers for the app told Judge Nichols in a hearing on Sunday morning that forcing online stores to remove the app weeks before an election  and at a time of increased isolation because of the pandemic  would impinge on the rights of potential new users to share their views. TikTok had sought the preliminary injunction to temporarily halt the ban.
The Government is due to finalise the details on how airport testing will work in the next two weeks.

The Green Party leader says it is a complex issue and that testing everyone who passes through an airport would not work.

"You have to be careful that you don't take from the testing capacity that we need in the State within our public health system. More likely it would apply where you would take a test a period of time before flying, because that is what other countries are doing.

"I think it meets some of the public health concerns, that you are not missing people at the airport."

This comes as Ireland's 'green list' is due to be updated from midnight tonight.

Germany, Poland, Iceland and Lithuania have been removed from the list, leaving just four countries: Finland, Cyprus, Latvia and Liechtenstein.

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Passengers arriving into Ireland from the four remaining countries included on the list are not required to isolate for 14-days.

However, passengers leaving Ireland are warned that they are still subject to Covid-19 restrictions in the country they are heading to.

Currently, Finland and Cyprus both require proof of a negative Covid-19 test no older than 72 hours, while Latvia requires passengers arriving from countries with a 14-day incidence rate above 16 to isolate for a 10-day period. This would apply to Irish passengers as Ireland's current rate is 78.1 according to data from the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC).
Almost one in 10 trainee teachers fails to meet literacy and numeracy standards required for graduation, prompting an internal government report to call for the tests to be held at the beginning of the degree so students dont waste their time.

Some 84 per cent of students meet both the standards on their first attempt at the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students or LANTITE, while 11 per cent meet one of the standards and 5 per cent meet neither.

Teachers should pass basic standard tests before starting tertiary studies. Credit:Cathryn Tremain

By following ITE [initial teacher education] students across all [five] possible test attempts, we can expect that, ultimately, 91 per cent of students meet both standards, says a report prepared by consultancy dandolopartners for the federal Department of Education.

The report, finished in May and obtained by the Herald under freedom of information laws, also found a correlation between the ATAR of an incoming group of students and their LANTITE results, although it was a weak one.
An Australian makeup artist who created a 'clean beauty' retailer in 2017 is set to turn over $1.5million three years later as more people turn towards using natural, high performing products.

Erin Norden, 37, launched the brick-and-mortar and online store for Clean Beauty Market at the same time in September 2017, with the brand experiencing year-on-year growth of 80 per cent ever since.

'My youngest daughter was eight months old at the time and I was taking leave to care for her when I had the idea,' Erin, who lives on the Gold Coast, Queensland, told FEMAIL.

Erin Norden (pictured) launched the brick-and-mortar and online store for Clean Beauty Market at the same time in September 2017

'It dawned on me that we didn't have an actual physical space to shop natural yet high-performance brands in Australia,' Erin said

'It dawned on me that we didn't have an actual physical space to shop natural yet high performance brands in Australia.'

As a makeup artist and self-confessed beauty junkie Erin loved 'luxurious beauty shopping' and was 'sick' of doing all of her shopping in a health food store - but they were the only ones selling organic and cruelty-free items.

'I wanted to shop brands and products with safe ingredients that were sustainable and cruelty-free but I didn't want to compromise on results or the luxury look and experience of brands and beauty shopping,' she said.

'My target market were women just like me, that were looking for more options in the natural beauty space and a storefront to come and try the products.'

As a makeup artist and self-confessed beauty junkie Erin loved 'luxurious and high performance beauty shopping' and was 'sick' of doing all of her shopping in a health food store

Erin acknowledges that shopping purely online for beauty products is tough, so having and expanding a brick-and-mortar presence on James Street in Burleigh Heads was important to her

Erin acknowledges that shopping purely online for beauty products is tough, so having and expanding a brick-and-mortar presence on James Street in Burleigh Heads was important to her.

'Before the coronavirus we had people from all different states come and visit our store just so they can have that delightful beauty shopping experience and try before they buy,' she said.

'Sometimes they come purely to see our brands in person as they may have only seen them available online in Australia.'

Clean Beauty Market started with 20 brands but three years later they have over 70 leading labels from around the world in the categories of makeup, skincare, haircare, wellness and body.

Clean Beauty Market started with 20 brands but three years later they have over 70 leading labels from around the world in the categories of makeup, skincare, haircare, wellness and body

Erin has a very strict criteria when it comes to brand curation and every label has to incorporate clean ingredients, sustainable values, and be cruelty-free

Some of the most popular brands the company stocks are Josh Rosebrook, Osea and Kjaer Weis because they deliver results without the use of harsh chemicals.

Erin has a very strict criteria when it comes to brand curation and every label has to incorporate clean ingredients, sustainable values, and be cruelty-free.

'It also has to work and be a delight to use and look at. You really can have it all, there are an abundance of amazing clean brands out there and we're lucky to have the best of the best,' she said.

'I think people have gotten used to seeing a very limited amount of brands in Australia so they are excited to discover new favourites, particularly in an actual storefront.'

'I think people have gotten used to seeing a very limited amount of brands in Australia so they are excited to discover new favourites, particularly in an actual storefront,' she said

On top of simply stocking the products Erin's team provides a lot of education in-store and over the phone or via email

On top of simply stocking the products Erin's team provides a lot of education in-store and over the phone or via email.

'We have a service where interstate customers can book in online for a free 15 minute clean beauty consultation and we can help them customise a beauty routine that's right for them,' she said.

She hoping to expand their storefronts soon but also has some 'really exciting developments' in the digital space coming in the next few months.

'It will help us maintain our position as the number one destination for clean beauty in Australia,' Erin said.
Where Is Everybody?

Commentary

There is too much financial uncertainty, political conflict, and random violence these days.

We were already feeling frustrated with the prolonged isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic when waves of outrage began to spark. There were widespread civil rights protests following the tragic deaths of African Americans Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky, and George Floyd in Minneapolis, which continue to smolder to this day. Then came the devastating wildfires in the West, which left at least 35 peoples dead and thousands homeless. Add in, of course, the yearslong simmering fury at the current occupant of the White House.

It seems that all we hear from the media is OUTRAGE. Blame must be placed for each tragedy and scandal, which all blur together, their details reported in such contradictory terms that citizens are left not knowing what to believe.

Divisions between the two main political parties and among neighbors just get deeper and more vicious. Deadly riots in the name of social justice continue. People are canceled by a vocal sliver of the population for saying the wrong thing, yet what is considered woke seems to change daily. Gads, we cant even agree on the best ways to fight the pandemic and keep our population safe!

Is this our future?

Here is a most serious question. Where is everybody? Where are the calm voices of those who think there is a better way? Where are the parents and grandparents, the small-business men and corporate chiefs, the educators and the heads of law enforcement? Where are the doctors and mental health experts, the historians and social scientists who have studied crumbling societies, the mediators, the big-idea people? There must be a way for those who think a peaceful republic is worth striving for to band together to heal this nation. There must be some true leaders out there capable of steering us away from the current cliff.

I know in my soul that a majority of Americans do not want our country to go down its current chaotic path. So, why isnt that majority rising up and speaking out? Has everyone been too preoccupied with surviving COVID-19? Or maybe we have lost the vision or the will to recognize the festering wounds developing in our society. Deep down, we must realize a happy and productive country is the most important legacy we can leave our children.

Recently, I became aware of a nonprofit organization called Braver Angels, formerly known as Better Angels, an homage to President Abraham Lincolns challenge to the nation to return to the better angels of our nature. Its the largest grassroots movement to unite red and blue Americans in a working partnership to try to depolarize the country.

We try to understand the other sides point of view, the organizations website declares, even if we dont agree with it.  We engage those we disagree with, looking for common ground and ways to work together.

What a concept! Bringing all sides together to compromise and find ways to right this teetering ship of state. I wonder if groups such as Black Lives Matter would consider joining the Braver Angels effort. Unlikely. Some of the loudest, most strident voices are obviously uninterested in compromise. Demands must be met, they say, no matter how outrageous they are.

As for the nations current poisonous political climate, Braver Angels reminds us it can be tracked back more than two decades. In other words, the groups website reads, the vitriol in American politics was a problem long before Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton and the 2016 election.

So, where does the deterioration of our lawful society and political system stop? It is clear that todays politicianson both sides of the aisleare incapable of compromising. Many are more intent on keeping conflicts red-hot and then using the stalemate as a finger-pointing campaign issue.

So, there are only two choices left to the citizenry. Either sit back, doing and saying nothing, or decide your country is worth speaking up for.

Yes, voting is a start, but there is much more to be done at the human-to-human level to bridge our divide. During this difficult and dangerous time in our history, we must find ways to heal. Where is everybody? Where are you?

Diane Dimond is an author and investigative journalist. Her latest book is Thinking Outside the Crime and Justice Box.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Prayagraj : , Sep 27 (IANS) Nearly 80 per cent parents of students enrolled in the 1,000-odd secondary schools of Uttar Pradesh Board in Prayagraj district are not prepared to send their children to school amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

UP Board secretary Divyakant Shukla had directed district inspectors of schools (DIOS) to seek a written permission from parents about their willingness to send their children back to schools amid the pandemic.

"We contacted parents of 3,42,657 students from Classes 9 to 12 whose homes were not located in containment zones. Among those contacted, parents of just 71,958 (21 per cent) students agreed to let their children go back to schools and meet their teachers," DIOS (Prayagraj) R.N. Vishwakarma said.

The remaining 79 per cent parents were still unsure about their children's safety given the threat of Covid-19.

Since schools have remained shut since March and online classes are being held for students, the UP Board officials planned to allow students to interact with their teachers about any problems they might be facing in online classes.

Around 1.25 crore students are enrolled in Classes 9 to 12 in more than 28,000 UP Board schools in the state.

"In Prayagraj alone, 3,53,961 students are enrolled in 1,079 schools. Of these, 1,023 schools are located outside containment zones and have enrolled 3,42,657 students in classes 6 to 12. The number of UP Board schools outside containment zones in Prayagraj is 56," Vishwakarma added.

The officer said that through an awareness drive, parents of 2,65,153 students have been made aware of the various academic content being made available for their children by the government through various online mediums.

Principal of KV (IIIT-A. Jhalwa) Vijeyesh Pandey said that the schools had also asked its students' parents if they were willing to send their kids back to school. "We had sent out online forms for a feedback and over 95 per cent of the parents were not ready to send their children back to school even if it was to get their doubts cleared or getting guidance," he said.
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Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett laughs as President Trump nominates her Saturday at the White House. (AFP via Getty Images)

Did anyone really think Donald Trump, in the midst of an election all about ensuring a big turn out from his almost exclusively white conservative base, would nominate a Cuban American to the highest court on the land?

It always was going to be Amy Coney Barrett, a White Catholic mother of seven from the Midwest. No, from the Rust Belt.

Mr Trumps campaign is dialed in two states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and to a lesser extent, Minnesota.

His, at least semi-public consideration of Florida-based federal Barbara Logoa, was aimed at Hispanic voters in Florida and other key swing states. He is not the first sitting president to consider election year politics while mowing a supreme court nominee.

In a recent interview, former President Bill Clinton said he considered several then-Cabinet members when he nominated Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the seat that Ms Coney Barrett likely will fill before years end  if not by Election Day.

Mr. Trump has worked hard to keep the sunshine State in his column after nearly winning it for years ago. He has held multiple official events and campaign rallys there each year. He even changed his official residence to Florida, departing his native New York City after seven decades.

In short, if a single judge nomination was never going to be the deciding factor in Florida, where polls show the economy and Covid-19 are bigger issues to voters.

Mr. Trump predicted during a Thursday night rally in Jacksonville that he would again win the state, citing his big rally crown that night.

Were not losing Florida, president vowed on day when his general election foe, former Vice President Joe Biden, was again at home in Wilmington, Delaware. You can just feel it.

His campaign aides feel it too, saying their internal campaign polls show Mr Trump ahead even though RealClearPolitics average of multiple polls show a dead heat in the presidents new home state.

The president has never reached beyond his base, never crossed the political aisle in any meaningful way to pass legislation that meant very much to moderate Democratic voters.

Story continues

He let his base know his pick was for them during a late-night campaign rally in Newport News, Virginia, on Friday night.

You know they say. The biggest thing you can do is the appointment of judges, but especially the appointment of Supreme Court justices, he said before a crowd local and public officials called gargantuan even before they filed into and around an airport hangar that required the president to use the smaller version of Air Force One.

He talked under darkness that night of Republican voters needing to hit the polls in big numbers to, in his words, uphold religious liberty, free speech and the right to keep and bear arms Virginia.

A day later, shortly after announcing the white 48-year-old white Barrett, he let his base know he thinks it was her, not the Cuban-American Logoa who reflected his and their views.

I think its very hard. Where? he said. I think its very hard.  I think itll send a great signal to a lot of people.

Read more

Trump nominates anti-abortion conservative Amy Coney Barrett to replace feminist icon RBG on Supreme Court

Amy Coney Barrett: From law professor to high court in four years

In nominating Amy Coney Barrett, Trump may have put the nail in his already dying re-election prospects

Amy Coney Barrett: The most controversial decisions by Trumps Supreme Court nominee
Hong Kong: Welfare chief visits agent bank

Secretary for Labour & Welfare and Community Care Fund Task Force Chairperson Dr Law Chi-kwong today visited a Bank of China (Hong Kong) branch to learn about its situation on the first day of applications for the One-off Allowance for New Arrivals from Low-income Families Programme.

Bank of China (Hong Kong) is the agent bank for the programme.

Dr Law spoke to bank staff to better understand how they accept and check the applications.

He was pleased to note that overall operations were generally smooth on the first day and that applications could be dispersed in phases to help applicants.

Dr Law thanked the bank for its special arrangement to open 17 branches this Sunday in different districts to enable the submission of application forms.

Applications can be submitted to any of the bank's 168 branches across the city starting tomorrow. People can also submit online applications through its website or make paper-form applications.

The deadline is December 31.

Call 3988 1810 for enquiries.

This story has been published on: 2020-09-27. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
More than 6,000 people were booked in 20 cases in the violent protests by candidates of a teacher recruitment exam in Rajasthans Dungarpur and Udaipur districts.

In 20 cases, 6,019 people have been booked under various sections for arson, damaging public property, rioting, assaulting a public servant. A total of 1,219 accused have been named in the FIRs and the rest are unidentified, said a senior police official familiar with the development of the case.

He added, Out of these 20, eight each are registered at Dungarpur Sadar and Bicchiwara police station in Dungarpur district and rest four at Kherwara police station of Udaipur district. So far, 34 accused have been arrested.

Also read: President Kovind gives his nod to all 3 farm bills, government notifies them

The official further said that the number of FIRs will see a sharp rise in the coming days as the victims who bore damage to their properties or those who got injured in the incident are yet to register the FIRs.

Meanwhile, the first phase of panchayat election to be held on September 28 and September 29 in Sarada and Gogunda block have been postponed due to deteriorating law and order situation in the state. Yesterday, one person was killed and at least five were injured in Udaipur.

The protesters vandalised over 100 houses in a residential colony of the town. State government has sought Rapid Action Force from Centre to rein in the agitators.

The state government on Saturday rushed three senior police personnel  director-general of police (DGP) (crime) ML Lathar; Jaipur police commissioner Anand Shrivastwa; and additional director-general of police (ADG), anti-corruption bureau (ACB), Dinesh MN  to Udaipur to bring the situation under control.

Violence erupted across districts on Thursday when the candidates of teachers recruitment examination-2018 blocked Udaipur-Ahmedabad highway, pelted stones at the police, damaged properties and torched vehicles demanding filling of 1,167 general vacant posts with Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates. The violence continued on Friday and incidents occurred on Saturday as well.

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot urged the protesters to maintain calm and put an end to the demonstration. Gehlot said his administration is ready to meet all legitimate demands, according to a statement.

Governor Kalraj Mishra spoke to CM Gehlot on phone in Jaipur and called principal secretary (home) Abhay Kumar and ADG (law and order) Saurabh Srivastava to Raj Bhawan, directing them to control the situation, the statement added.
As good-government types know, redistricting reform in Pennsylvania is a decade-long process of pulling teeth.

And in the 11th year, alas  life in Harrisburg goes on with the same rotting teeth  with partisan fangs fully intact, of course.

This year looked to be different, as a groundswell of public support formed around the idea that an independent citizens commission might be approved to redraw the boundaries of state Senate and House districts, using the updated information from the 2020 census.

But that type of change is cumbersome. It requires a constitutional amendment, which in Pennsylvania means approval of both houses of the Legislature in two separate sessions, followed by statewide voter approval in a referendum.

And once again  with Republican leaders keeping a big toe on the brake  Pennsylvania is stumbling into a new decade without a better way to redraw state legislative district lines. That, in turn, enables gerrymandering  the process by which lawmakers create ready-made districts packed with like-minded voters, to fend off competition and keep Republicans in majority control. But it also has the effect of keeping minority Democrats in mostly blue districts, leading to the type of partisan isolationism that works against change. Against reforming a corrupt system. Against new blood. Against any need to compromise. Against consideration and discussion of bills in committees.

Against good government.

As bills to create a citizens commission have stagnated, two senators  Bethlehem Democrat Lisa Boscola and Delaware County Republican Tom Killion  have drummed up support for another route. Their bill wouldnt deny the Legislature the final say on new political maps, but it would switch a public light on the subject, and stem the outright mangling of communities to create safe districts.

As reported by SpotlightPA last week, the bill would require lawmakers to hold public meetings about the redrawing process. War-room findings would be made available for public analysis before the 10-year die is cast.

Also, guidelines would limit the slicing and dicing of municipal/county boundaries to establish ultra-red and deep-blue districts. That practice was cited by the state Supreme Court when it threw out Pennsylvanias gerrymandered map of congressional districts in 2018 and replaced it with one more reflective of the states partisan make-up.

With congressional districts, state lawmakers oversee the redrawing process. The final bill is subject to the governors approval or veto.

State legislative districts, on the other hand, are redrawn by a five-member commission made up of the four Democratic and Republican legislative leaders, along with a chair selected by the other members. If they cant agree on a fifth member, the state Supreme Court makes the choice.

The Boscola-Killion bill advanced out of the State Government Committee last Tuesday with bipartisan support and some opposition. A companion bill is being sponsored in the House by Rep. Wendi Thomas, R-Bucks.

If this approach sounds like a type of low-cal reform, it is. The reform favored by FairDistrictsPA, NAACP, League of Women Voters and other groups  having non-politicians oversee the redrawing process  is eminently better.

But consider the alternative: Ten more years of partisan stasis.

The constitutional amendment to create an independent commission must remain on the Legislatures to-do list, even as the door closes on another 10-year opportunity.

Still, a bill illuminating the mapping process and limiting the worst instincts of power-mongers is a step forward. Gov. Wolf should climb aboard, if the bill gets to his desk.
Rusten Sheskey (pictured), the Kenosha police officer who shot Jacob Blake in the back seven times last month, told investigators he thought Blake was trying to abduct one of his own children before he opened fire

The Kenosha police officer who shot Jacob Blake in the back seven times last month told investigators he thought Blake was trying to abduct one of his own children before he opened fire.

Brendan Matthews, the attorney for Officer Rusten Sheskey and the Kenosha police union, offered his client's version of what went down during the August 23 shooting in an interview with CNN published Friday.

Matthews claimed that when Sheskey arrived at the scene in response to a call from a woman who said Blake was at her home and shouldn't be there, he heard a woman say: 'He's got my kid. He's got my keys.'

Sheskey saw Blake put a child in the SUV as he arrived, but he didn't know that two other children were also in the back seat, Matthews said.

He said Sheskey told investigators he opened fire because Blake 'held a knife in his hand and twisted his body toward' the officer, and that he didn't stop shooting until he determined Blake 'no longer posed an imminent threat'.

If Sheskey had allowed Blake to leave and something happened to the child, Matthews said: 'The question would have been: "Why didn't you do something?"'

Scroll down for video

Blake (pictured) was left paralyzed after Sheskey shot him seven times in the back in front of his three children on August 23 in Kenosha, Wisconsin

Video showed the moment Sheskey opened fire on Blake as he responded to a call from a woman who claimed Blake shouldn't have been at her home. Sheskey's lawyer said the officer opened fire because Blake turned toward him with a knife

Cellphone video captured by a bystander and posted online showed Sheskey and another officer following Blake with their guns drawn as he walked around the front of his parked SUV, opened the driver's side door and leaned into the vehicle.

Sheskey, who is white, then opened fire, hitting the black man seven times and leaving him paralyzed from the waist down, according to his family members and lawyer.

The shooting sparked outrage and led to several nights of protests and unrest, including a night in which authorities say an Illinois 17-year-old shot and killed two protesters and wounded a third.

Cellphone video captured by a bystander and posted online showed Sheskey and another officer following Blake with their guns drawn as he walked around the front of his parked SUV, opened the driver's side door and leaned into the vehicle

Ben Crump, an attorney for Blake's family, said Blake was only trying to break up a domestic dispute that day and that he did nothing to provoke police, adding that witnesses didn't see him with a knife

Ben Crump, an attorney for Blake's family, did not immediately respond to a Sunday email seeking comment about Matthews' interview and his voicemail wasn't accepting new messages, according to the Associated Press.

But Crump previously said Blake was only trying to break up a domestic dispute that day and that he did nothing to provoke police, adding that witnesses didn't see him with a knife.

Blake's uncle, Justin Blake, said Saturday that the allegation that Blake was attempting to kidnap his own child was false, the Kenosha News reported.

'That's ridiculous,' Justin Blake said. 'It's gaslighting. Outright lies.'

Sheskey (pictured) and the other two officers who were at the scene were placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation

Blake's family decried Sheskey's claim that he was attempting to kidnap his own child

The bystander who recorded the shooting, 22-year-old Raysean White, said he saw Blake scuffling with three officers and heard them yell: 'Drop the knife! Drop the knife!' before gunfire erupted. White said he didn't see a knife in Blake's hands.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice, which is leading the investigation, previously said in a news release that a knife was found in the vehicle, but it didn't say whether Blake had been holding it at any point during the confrontation or whether police knew it was there before Sheskey shot him.

In a statement previously released by Matthews on behalf of the police union, Matthews said Blake was armed with a knife but that officers didn't see it until Blake reached the passenger side of the vehicle.

As Blake opened the driver's door of the SUV, Sheskey pulled on Blake's shirt and then opened fire. Three of Blake's children were in the backseat.

The mother of the three children, who called police that day, filed a complaint against Blake that had led to felony charges being filed in July accusing him of sexually assaulting a woman in May.

Blake, who was wanted on a warrant for those charges when police arrived at the scene August 23, pleaded not guilty to the charges earlier this month via video from from his hospital bed. A trial date was set for November 9.

Sheskey and the other two officers who were at the scene were placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Blake broke his silence for the first time since he was shot in a video from his hospital bed earlier this month (pictured). 'Your life, and not only just your life, your legs, something you need to move around and forward in life, can be taken from you like this, man,' he said
PATNA: Putting rest to days of speculations, former Bihar Director-General of Police (DGP) Gupteshwar Pandey has joined the ranks of Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) on Sunday (September 27, 2020).

As per news agency ANI, Gupteshwar Pandey joined the party on Sunday evening. "Former Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey, who recently took VRS, joins JD(U) at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's residence in Patna," ANI tweeted.

Former Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey, who recently took VRS, joins JD(U) at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's residence in Patna. pic.twitter.com/jtVtl6eA1U  ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2020

Speaking to ANI, Gupteshwar Pandey said that he asked to join the party by Nitish Kumar ehich he accepted. "I was called by CM himself and asked to join. Whatever the party asks me to do, I will do. I don't understand politics. I am a simple person who has spent his time working for the downtrodden section of society," he said.

The development comes just days after the Election Commission of India announced the dates for the upcoming Bihar assembly polls 2020.

On Saturday, the top cop, who came into limelight for his role in Bihar police's investigation to Sushant Singh Rajput's death case, had met state Chief Minister Nitish Kumar thus triggering massive speculation of him contesting in the upcoming Bihar assembly polls.

When quizzed by reporters, Pandey had reiterated that he had not taken any decision about entering the political field and claimed that he wanted to meet and convey his thanks to CM NItish Kumar. I came here to meet CM Nitish Kumar and to thank him as he gave me absolute freedom to serve my duties as DGP, he said.

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Earlier, Gupteshwar Pandey had requested for voluntary retirement from the state police service to the state governor which had been approved. The, 1987 batch IPS officer, had then said that he has not decided about joining politics and added that he may join if the people from his hometown Buxar ask him to do so.

The former DGP has taken on the Mumbai Police and the Maharashtra government for allegedly blocking the Bihar Police's investigation into actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death. Gupteshwar Pandey had alleged that Mumbai Police was not fair in investigating the late actor's death.

The EC announced the date for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections on Friday. The 243-member legislative assembly will be held in three phases -- the first phase on October 28, the second on November 3, and the third on November 7, while the counting of votes and results declaration will be held on November 10.
Crowds of people were seen gathering in the city center of Liverpool, England, on September 26, after the United Kingdoms 10 pm curfew came into effect.

Earlier in the week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced tougher restrictions including a 10 pm curfew on pubs, restaurants, and bars in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus.

This clip posted by Adam Walthew shows people dancing and singing on Church Street in Liverpools city center after the curfew had passed. Some people can be seen still holding drinks. Thats what happens when you close at 10pm, thousands of people trying to go home at once, he said in his post on Facebook.

Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson tweeted a series of pictures taken after curfew, saying that the nightlife restrictions may be making the things worse not better.

This was repeated right across the UK, Anderson said. Credit: Adam Walthew via Storyful
United States-based fund Interups Incorporated is expected to put forward its bid for troubled national carrier Air India (AI) soon.

Interups bid includes an Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) structure that will subsume the airlines revenue generating arms  separated from core operations  to encourage participation from institutional investors, Business Standard reported.

It has already completed its valuation of Air India and has initiated talks with Indian banks and investors for a joint bid through the InvIT route, it added.

The development is significant and may come as a pleasant surprise to the Indian government, as previous frontrunner Tata is now dealing with a $20 billion buyout of the Mistry familys 18.37 percent stake in Tata Sons and fundraising problems with foreign airline partners in its aviation joint venture Vistara, a source told the paper.

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report.

Air Indias divestment has seen a revolving door of suitors. Among these, the Hindujas backed out citing issues from the COVID-19 pandemic, while AIs domestic competitor and current number one IndiGo also evinced interest and then did a U-turn.

The last date for submission of Expressions of Interest (EoI) is October 30.
Students described being scared and confused as their accommodation was locked down on Friday, as up to 1,700 were told to stay in their rooms at the Birley campus and Cambridge Halls for 14 days after 127 tested positive for coronavirus.

Some at the Birley campus described confusion as security staff arrived to enforce the lockdown before many of them had received any official communication from the university, leaving them wondering how they would stock their shelves as they were not allowed to go out to buy food.





In an update to students, the university said: As you know, this was a decision taken in conjunction with Public Health England and Manchester City Council, and was taken on the basis of the latest data.

With more than 100 students testing positive for Covid-19 in the halls, the decision was deemed necessary to prevent the spread of the virus to other students, staff or the local community.

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We appreciate your many concerns about the impact of this isolation period and we are working hard to put plans in place to help you in the coming days.

Among the plans are the stepping up of food deliveries with the university working in partnership with a local supermarket.

But students were told they were not permitted to travel to a nearby Covid-19 testing centre in Denmark Road and that the university was working with local health services to put another testing system in place.

The university added: We appreciate this self-isolation period will present difficulties for you, especially coming so soon after your arrival at the university. We are here to support you, and our staff are working hard with local partners to make this period more manageable for you.

On Saturday, Dominic Waddell, 21, a first-year filmmaking student, told the PA news agency: A few people got an email to announce they were locking down my accommodation, but not everyone got that so there was a big freak-out with everyone.

There was a security guard that then just arrived at the gate of our accommodation and he wasnt letting anybody leave, not really explaining what was going on.

Theyre saying the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff and the local community is our top priority but it doesnt really seem like that if they havent allowed us time to prepare for this.

Megan Tingey, a 19-year-old criminology student, said police also turned up outside her Birley Vine accommodation.

It was quite scary and confusing, she told PA. A police van turned up and there were police outside the gate, quite a lot of them just walking around looking at everyone, especially because we didnt know what was going on.

No ones really told us much and then the police turn up as well with security outside  its a really, really difficult situation.

For those in her flat, she said, it was particularly tough as they were only just emerging from isolation having themselves tested positive for the virus around 10 days ago.

I think pretty much everyone in our accommodation finished their self-isolation around yesterday, so I think doing a lockdown of the building now is quite bad considering weve all just come out of it, Ms Tingey said.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's General Assembly speech on September 26 stands out among the few this year at the virtual talkfest which offered up ideas and approaches as complements to soothe the collective anxiety of a global quarantined audience.

With 150 words tucked into the middle of a 21-minute speech, Modi ripped into the core paradox of the idea of the as a cross country collaboration ninja.

Modi asked aloud what commoners on New York's streets wonder when the annual gridlock and mass migration of diplomats drives them nuts each September. "So, what exactly does the UNGA do?"

"Where is the in this giant fight against the pandemic? Where is its effective response?" Modi asked, on behalf of 1.3 billion Indians and then proceeded to tell the world how India solves hard problems.

Modi's pitch shone a light on India's problem-solver avatar amidst a mass of bickering nations reciting speeches that are at best substitutes for each other. In the time of the greatest public health emergency the world has known, Modi's talk delivered the goods for the pandemic-weary.

In a UNGA resonating with desperate pleas for a vaccine delivery strategy, the only worthwhile complements (beyond masks and social distancing) are therapeutics, and a vaccine. In that order.

India spoke to both issues, in stark contrast to the contradictions of the UN platform which is falling well short of a truly global response to a crisis unlike any other in its 75 year history.

"Your Excellency, even during these very difficult times of the raging pandemic, the pharmaceutical industry of India has sent essential medicines to more than 150 countries as the largest vaccine producing nation in the world," Modi said, serving notice of India's superpower during an ongoing catastrophe.

"I want to give one more assurance to the global community today. India's vaccine production and delivery capacity will be used to help all humanity in fighting this crisis in India and in our neighbourhood. We are moving ahead with phase three of the clinical trials. India will also help all the countries in enhancing their cold chain and storage capacities for the delivery of the vaccines."

India's address reflected both the questions at the heart of the 2020 UNGA and some answers, which have been elusive.

While UN leaders continue to drum up the notion of multilateralism, the nature of the pandemic simplifies that construct to its core: If a vaccine proves effective in one country, it will spread.

The UN Secretary General framed this year's virtual gathering as a "global conversation" but what we're getting from the UNGA video stream is an endless talk shop filled with pre-recorded content that are mostly substitute avatars of each other.

It doesn't really matter who is saying what because this year, the virus has made the problem definition very clear. At other times, countries could get away with vague assurances during a geopolitical stand-up at the UNGA. Not any longer.

Adding to the mix is the 100 per cent virtual format of this year's UNGA. Real time content is not walled off, the audience needs no lanyards and complicated entry passes to witness arguments at the UN Security Council, the UN's most powerful body. Modi turned a mirror to the cracks within, twice in the same week.

India has long sought a permanent seat on the Security Council and Modi bookended his two appearances at the UN this week tearing into UN's "outdated" structures.

"For how long will India be kept out of the decision-making structures of the United Nations?" Modi asked. India starts a term as a non-permanent member in January.

For his part, the UN Secretary General himself is pinning the international community's failure on what he describes as a "lack of global preparedness, cooperation, unity and solidarity".

The COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access Facility or COVAX is a grouping of more than 150 countries pooling resources for the distribution of a future vaccine. Their target is to make two billion doses to inoculate 20 per cent of the world's population. The US is staying away from the effort, led by the World Health Organization. Beijing and Moscow are absent too.

Guterres has tried hard to project the primary achievement of the UN as the absence of military confrontation between major powers.

He said that if the world responds to even more catastrophic challenges with the same disunity and disarray, "I fear the worst."

The virus has altered more than just the format of the UNGA. It is calling into question the absence of the much-hyped UN clout at a perilous moment.

--IANS

nn/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.)
The Ashanti Regional Police Commander, Commissioner of Police (COP) Kwasi Mensah Duku, has given the assurance that the police will do everything to protect the peace of the region as the December 7 general elections get closer.

He stressed that the police were on the ground, and with the support of sister security agencies, had adequately prepared themselves to ensure peace before, during and after the polls.



COP Duku gave the assurance at a press briefing in Kumasi last Wednesday.



He spoke on recent cases of violent crimes in the region, and said the command had prepared itself for the upcoming elections.



Cooperation



The regional commander also called for cooperation among the citizenry, and cautioned that anybody who misconducted themselves would face the full rigours of the law.



COP Duku advised motorists to refrain from careless driving, overloading and speeding.



He said there were series of serious motor accidents in the region, and mentioned one which happened recently on the Offinso road which, he noted, was avoidable.



Crime situation



On the crime situation in the region, COP Duku noted that it had been relatively manageable despite the two recent violent robberies at a mining site at Bekwai, and another attack on a bullion van at Manso-Nkwanta.



The regional commander gave the assurance that the regional command had acquired some leads to help in its investigation to apprehend the perpetrators.



Car snatching



With reference to car snatching, COP Duku said the command had arrested four persons who were the brain behind the robberies of Toyota Hilux pick-ups and SUVs in the Kumasi metropolis and other places.



He said at about 9.30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 1, 2020, the suspects  Michael Kwakye, aka America; Kwadwo Korankye, aka Joe; and one person named only as Mustapha, all in their 30s  snatched a Toyota Hilux pick-up with registration number GN 526-19 from its owner.



But when a report got to the Atasemanso Police, they expedited action and the next day, at about 12 noon, the police intercepted the vehicle at Oduom, near the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), with the number plate changed to GN 5723-18.



According to COP Duku, on Friday, September 4, 2020, two of the suspects  Kwakye and Korankye  were arrested at their hideouts at Santasi Roundabout and Kotwi respectively, and during interrogation, they mentioned Adam Sulemana Sani and Mustapha as their leaders.



Sulemana Sani was subsequently arrested, while Mustapha was still on the run.



COP Duku said Korankye and Kwakye were identified by their victims during an identification parade conducted by the command.



According to COP Duku, prior to that, Korankye was arrested in another robbery at Kintampo in the Bono East Region where he and his accomplices snatched a Toyota Hilux pick-up and a Mitsubishi Pajero belonging to Fidelity Bank at Kokobra, near Ejisu, on May 5, 2019.



He, however, jumped bail when he was put before court.

Source: Graphiconline.com









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The development of the situation between Armenia and Azerbaijan is "troubling", and Romania appeals to both sides to resume political dialogue in order to find solutions by peaceful means, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, according to AGERPRES.

"The development of the situation between Armenia and Azerbaijan, on the contact line, is troubling. Romania appeals to both sides to de-escalate the conflict and resume political dialogue, for the purpose of finding solutions exclusively by peaceful means, within international law," wrote, on Sunday, on Twitter, Aurescu.

Armenia declared martial law and disposed a total mobilization of the army following confrontations in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, disputed with Azerbaijan, the Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, announced on Sunday, according to the international media.

Armenia claims that Azerbaijan committed and air and artillery strike on the Nagorno-Karabakh region, while the Azeri side claims it did nothing but respond to an aggression of the Armenian forces, who - according to the Baku authorities - have launched deliberate and targeted attacks on the front line.

In a reaction to the events in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Azeri military announced that a full mobilization is not necessary as it has enough military personnel.

The two countries in the Caucasus are engaged in a frozen conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, region inside the Azeri territory, but with an Armenian ethnic majority. Although a ceasefire agreement was concluded in 1994, Armenia and Azerbaijan frequently accuse each other of attacks in the Nagorno-Karabakh region and along the border between the two countries.
An Oregon police department revealed its removing the 'thin blue line' graphic on patrol cars because the symbol has become 'divisive'.

The City of Bend Police Department said it will remove the decal from 29 patrol cars amid nationwide protests that have decried racial inequality and criticized the institution of law enforcement.

'Our patrol vehicles are currently getting a makeover, by removing the blue line graphic on them. The thin blue line has meant many things over the decades,' the department wrote on Facebook.

'The divisive use of the thin blue line symbol to fit a narrative unassociated with our department or what we stand for, has unintentionally created an ongoing divide between some members of our community and the police officers who serve them.

The Bend Police Department Oregon announced last week that it would remove the thin blue line graphic from patrol vehicles (pictured)

'In the spirit of mending divide, being inclusive with the community we serve, and to continue to build trust within our entire community, our current and future vehicle graphics package will no longer contain a blue line.

'Moving forward, we will be looking for a design that incorporates a way to honor members of our first responder family who have given their life in service of their communities. Our goal is to have a symbol created that blends seamlessly with our existing mountain graphics.

The 'thin blue line' traditionally refers to the idea that authorities hold the line that separates order from unrest, but in recent months the symbol has been used a sort of counterforce to anti-racism and Black Lives Matter demonstrations.

The City of Bend Police Department shared a statement on Facebook addressing the decision and explaining the rationale

Chief Mike Krantz: 'Some community members view it as an important piece on our cars, others view it as a barrier between the police and the community, so its my role to evaluate that and look at how we can best serve the entire community'

Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz explained to KTVZ that the blue line on Bend police vehicles was initially meant to be a blue horizon behind the mountain graphics.

'The intent of the blue line with the black background is, of course, for current law enforcement is the memorial, the ultimate sacrifice of giving your life and service of your community,' he told KTVZ.

But recently, the graphic has taken on different interpretation among residents and he said there's a responsibility to ensure the community feels connected.

'Some community members view it as an important piece on our cars, others view it as a barrier between the police and the community, so its my role to evaluate that and look at how we can best serve the entire community,' said Krantz.

Krantz added that removing the decal does not diminish or invalidate community members who want to support law enforcement.

Resident Alex Burnett told the publication that he agreed with the Bend Police Department's decision, but also noted it could be a 'people-pleasing' tactic.

'I think it is a step forward, and its putting this conversation in the spotlight, which is a good move,' Burnett said.

'But Id be interested to see what they actually have to say about it, because actions speak louder than words -- but at this point this is just words.'

Mikki Slaska, another resident in Bend, shared the sentiment.

Amid nationwide protests, some people have leveled the thin blue ling flag as a response to anti-racism protests

Mikki Slaska: 'Removing themselves from that symbol, to me, shows theyre not wanting to make it an 'us and them'

'Removing themselves from that symbol, to me, shows theyre not wanting to make it an 'us and them,' said Slaska.

Slaska added that they understood why the removal could be seen as controversial.

'Even if the symbol has been around longer than these protests have gone on, I think its been picked up by people for a different reason, and that seems like why they would take it away,' said Slaska. 'Because it no longer stands for what it used to.'

Krantz told KTVZ that he's listened to arguments on both sides of the aisle, but its not just about certain individual groups in the community.

'My job is to bring the community together with law enforcement, and anything that can be used as a division or divisive tool is to eliminate it, if we can,' said Krantz.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Geneva  Sun, September 27, 2020 16:06 482 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4785a1a 2 News switzerland,tourism,travel Free

Switzerland said Friday that mandatory quarantine would be imposed on travelers arriving from 15 more countries, including Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands, due to their coronavirus infection rates.

The 10-day quarantine restrictions, aimed at stemming the spread of the novel coronavirus, come into force from Monday.

The requirement will also apply to seven other European countries -- Denmark, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal and Slovenia -- plus Ecuador, Jamaica, Morocco, Nepal and Oman.

Quarantine is already imposed on arrivals from 44 other countries, including Argentina, Brazil, India, Spain and the United States.

Areas of Switzerland's neighbors France, Italy and Austria are also on the list, with Brittany, Liguria and Lower and Upper Austria being added from Monday.

"People who have spent time in a country or area with an increased risk of infection and then enter Switzerland must go into quarantine," the health ministry said.

Switzerland defines such countries as ones where the infection rate over the last 14 days is more than 60 per 100,000 people.

The wealthy Alpine country said Friday that its own rate was 61.7 over the previous fortnight.

The restrictions apply to anyone who has set foot in one of the countries or regions on the list during the previous 10 days, other than passengers in transit.

Some 10,148 people were in quarantine in Switzerland on Friday after returning from a country deemed to pose an increased risk.

Anyone failing to declare their arrival to the authorities or comply with the quarantine can be fined up to 10,000 Swiss francs ($10,770, 9,260 euros).

Switzerland is meanwhile continuing to exempt immediate border regions in neighboring countries from the quarantine requirements.

The government in Bern said earlier this month it was seeking a "pragmatic" approach by exempting areas impacted by heavy cross-border trade, and which are home to many who cross over daily to work in Switzerland.

Swiss daily case numbers regularly topped the 1,000 mark in March, but hit a very low and stable level in mid-June. Infections have been steadily on the rise since then.

Switzerland, a country of 8.5 million people, has recorded a total of 51,747 positive tests for the new coronavirus, while 1,777 people have lost their lives.

Topics : switzerland tourism travel
CASS COUNTY, MI -- Two motorcyclists crashed into a deer Saturday night in Penn Township, police said.

Cass County Sheriffs deputies responded at 10:12 p.m. to the crash on White Temple Road near Gunther Street.

The drivers, a 28-year-old man of South Bend, Indiana, and a 59-year-old man of Niles, crashed into a deer that ran into the roadway, according to police.

The 59-year-old was transported to Borgess Lee Memorial for injuries sustained in the crash. Police didnt release his condition. The other motorcyclist was treated on scene, according to police.

Helmets were not worn at the time of the crash. Alcohol and drugs did not appear to be factors, according to police.

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A few days ago, TST tourist company has organized a trip to Con Dao island in the Southern Province of Ba Ria  Vung Tau for 330 holidaymakers.

The company is working at full speed to prepare the best travel experience for groups of 600 travelers to popular tourist destinations in the North region, Phu Quoc Island in the Mekong Delta Province of Kien Giang and Con Dao Island in Ba Ria- Vung Tau in this month.



There have been inquiries from companies about group tours for their employees in the year-end, said Nguyen Minh Man, Head of the companys Marketing Department. It is forecast that from now to end of the year, more travelers will book their tours as it is peak season for Meetings, Incentive Travels, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tours.

A representative from Hoa Binh tourism agent said that some companies contacted it asking about tour schedule from now to the end of year; however, just a few of them officially registered for the tour. Generally, people just wanted to know promotion programs in many travel agents.

According to a representative from Fiditour - Vietluxtour agent, the company will offer service to groups of 100-500 travelers if the disease is still under control. The company is planning for MICE tours to Phu Quoc Island and well-known resort city of Nha Trang in the south-central coastal province of Khanh Hoa in last months of the year.

The city Department of Tourism said that presently, tour operators are preparing to take travelers to safe districts and launch new attractively priced tours to revive demand after the Covid-19 shutdown. Simultaneously, airlines increase flight frequency and new routes to facilitate peoples traveling demand.

Director of LienBang Travel Tu Quy Thanh said travelers still worried of Covid-19; therefore, no foreign holidaymakers will arrive in Vietnam at this time. LienBang Travel has updated information of Covid-19 in Vietnam so that its partners in Taiwan ( China) , Hong Kong, many parts of China and some other places in the world which are keeping an eye on Vietnams reopening plan in early 2021 to design tours for customers.

Director of Images Travel Nguyen Ngoc Toan said it is possible to receive holidaymakers from February, 2021 as normal meanwhile the company will introduce safe destinations for local tourists who are still worried about Covid-19.

Similarly, General Director of Saigontourist Nguyen Huu Y Yen said the company is ready to receive voyagers. Viet Excursions expected that Vietnamese government will allow to receive foreign holidaymakers in early 2021.

The municipal Department of Tourism has sent its proposal on stimulus packages to the Peoples Committee to revitalize its tourism industry on 2020. Specifically, the Department proposed free entry of the War Remnants Museum, the Museum of Vietnamese History, Ho Chi Minh City Museum, Cu Chi Tunnels as well as give financial assistance to employees in these venues.

Moreover, city authorities was proposed to reduce water charges for tourist accommodation.

By SGGP staff writers - Translated by Anh Quan
T hree more local authorities in South Wales will go into local lockdown from 6pm on Monday, a day after large swathes of the area are hit by new restrictions, the country's government has announced.

Neath Port Talbot, Torfaen and the Vale of Glamorgan will be covered by the coronavirus restrictions, which mean people will not be able to enter or leave the areas without a reasonable excuse.

They will not be able to meet indoors with anyone they do not live with.

The announcement came just hours before local lockdown restrictions come into force in Cardiff and Swansea, Wales two biggest cities, on Sunday evening.

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

Llanelli in Carmarthenshire is also under restrictions, which came in on Saturday at 6pm.

Coronavirus restrictions were already in place in Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Newport, and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said: Following a worrying rise in cases of coronavirus across South Wales, we took action on Friday to introduce local coronavirus restrictions in Llanelli and local restrictions will come into force in our two largest cities  Cardiff and Swansea  tonight.

We are now taking further action and placing three more areas under local restrictions in South Wales  Neath Port Talbot, Torfaen, and the Vale of Glamorgan  because we are seeing rising rates in these three areas.

Young people queue to get into a pub in Cardiff city centre / PA

Introducing restrictions in any parts of Wales is always an incredibly difficult decision for us to make.

But were acting to protect peoples health and to try and break the chain of transmission and stop the situation from getting worse.

The decision means more than 1.8 million people  around 60 per cent of the Welsh population  will be covered by local restrictions.

On Saturday, there were a further 370 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Wales, bringing the total in the country to 22,584.

Public Health Wales said three further deaths had been reported, with the total since the beginning of the pandemic increasing to 1,612.

Health Minister Vaughan Gething told BBC Breakfast on Saturday that the situation was real and very serious, with coronavirus transmission driven by households mixing indoors and in pubs.

He said that there had also been some imported coronavirus transmission, mainly from European holidays.

Mr Gething warned that if there was no improvement the Welsh Government will need to consider further restrictions.

He added: We are doing this because we have to try to avoid much more significant harm and if we cant see a turnaround in the collective discipline that saw us out of lockdown through the summer then we are going to have to consider taking further measures.

With additional reporting by PA
Bengaluru, Sep 28 : Marking 'World Tourism Day', Karnataka unveiled a new tourism policy to create 10-lakh jobs and attract Rs 5,000 crore investments in the sector by 2025.

"Our aim is to increase the contribution of tourism to 20 per cent from 15 per cent of the gross state domestic product (GSDP) and attract more domestic and overseas tourists across the state, which has more to offer than rich flora and fauna," said Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Sunday.

Unfolding a new chapter in the tourism sector battered by the corona virus pandemic since March, the five-year policy envisages a 360-degree marketing strategy to promote Karnataka in domestic and overseas markets by leveraging its brand (One State, Many Worlds) for more footfalls and position itself as the most preferred destination in the sub-continent.

"The policy aims comprehensive development of the sector across the state with focus on attraction, accommodation, accessibility, amenities and activities," said state tourism minister C.T. Ravi.

Besides promoting heritage tourism, the policy pitches for agri and rural tourism with a to showcasing farming activities and the rural life across the southern state, including its local traditions, arts, culture, people and their cuisine.

"Heritage tourism will be promoted with focus on explore and experience. Measures will be taken to popularise the culture of Lambani and Adivasi communities at national and international levels as a special attraction to tourists from the world over," asserted Ravi.

Karnataka is home to a rich world heritage, wildlife, waterfalls and more. The policy promotes new destinations, more investments and greater job opportunities in the tourism sector.
New Delhi, Sep 27 : Former Defence Minister Jaswant Singh passed away early Sunday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences over the sudden demise of the 82-year-old veteran leader.

"Spoke to Shri Manvendra Singh and expressed condolences on the unfortunate demise of Shri Jaswant Singhji. True to his nature, Jaswantji fought his illness with immense courage for the last six years," Modi tweeted.

Singh passed away at R&R Hospital. "Major Jaswant Singh (Retd), former Cabinet Minister, passed away at 6.55 a.m. today. He was admitted on 25 June and was being treated for Sepsis with Multiorgan Dysfunction Syndrome. He had a cardiac arrest this morning. His COVID status is negative," a hospital statement read.

The former Minister was a close aide of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpaee and had handled important portfolios during the former PM's tenure and was a powerful leader of his time.

"Deeply pained by the passing away of veteran BJP leader and former Minister, Shri Jaswant Singhji. He served the nation in several capacities including the charge of Raksha Mantri. He distinguished himself as an effective Minister and Parliamentarian," Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted.

"Shri Jaswant Singhji would be remembered for his intellectual capabilities and stellar record in service to the nation. He also played a key role in strengthening the BJP in Rajasthan. Condolences to his family and supporters in this sad hour. Om Shanti," he added.

Speaker Om Birla also remembered Singh as an efficient politician and Army officer.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

By Elchin Mehdiyev  Trend:

The Azerbaijani army achieved a great strategic advantage by liberation of the Murov peak of the Murovdag mountain range by the Azerbaijani troops in the direction of Goranboy district of the front as a result of the military operation, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Head of the Department for Foreign Policy Affairs of Azerbaijans Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev said, Trend reports.

The Azerbaijani army carried out a very successful operation in this direction, Hajiyev stressed. "Nagorno-Karabakh is a historical Azerbaijani land, and we will bring victory here!"

Hajiyev reminded that Armenia has been carrying out an occupation policy against Azerbaijan for more than 30 years and today Armenia receives a worthy rebuff.

"The Armenian armed forces suffered big losses, assistant to the president added. The public will be additionally informed about the development of the situation."

As a result of the operation, the Vardenis-Agdere military road, connecting the occupied territories of Azerbaijan with Armenia, was taken under visual control and firing points of small arms and artillery installations were also controlled.

The military advantage makes it possible to stop the supply of military cargo along the route from Armenia to Kalbajar and Agdere districts.
Washington, Sep 27 : Puneet Ahluwalia, an Indian-American business consultant, is running for the Republican nomination for Lt. Governor of Virginia, saying the state needs a new leadership to attract investment, jobs, growth and wealth, it was reported.

"Virginia is in trouble right now, and we're running out of time as Democrats offer the same old tired promises," The American Bazaar reported on Saturday citing the 55-year-old as saying while announcing his run.

"Virginia needs new ideas and a business environment that will attract investment, jobs, growth and wealth," said the Delhi-born Ahluwalia in a note to his supporters.

"Virginia needs to support its hard-working and courageous police, protect 2nd Amendment rights, and stand up for law and order." A Delhi Public School (DPS) alumnus who immigrated to the US in 1990, Ahluwalia serves as a consultant to international businesses on client acquisition, marketing, and strategic affairs with The Livingston Group.

"I wasn't born an American, my wife and I are Americans by choice," wrote Ahluwalia. "I am not a politician; I am a proud American living the American dream." Ahluwalia, who has been active in the the Republican Party politics for over two decades, also serves on the Northern Virginia Republican Business Forum.
Melburnians still won't be allowed to leave their homes for non-essential reasons for another three weeks despite the 9pm to 5am curfew being lifted on Monday.

Scott Morrison called for Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to review his roadmap that requires five daily cases to move to the third step, and zero new cases for the final step of eased restrictions.

'Easing restrictions in Victoria in a COVIDsafe way is vitally important so that more Victorians can get back to work and resume their normal lives,' the prime minister said in a statement.

'Today's announcement is a small but important step in that direction. It will be important that more be done in the weeks ahead to safely ease more restrictions.'

Melburnians still won't be allowed to leave their homes for non essential reasons for another three weeks despite the 9pm to 5am curfew being lifted on Monday

Melburnians are currently only allowed to leave home to shop for essential supplies, work, two hours of exercise or providing medical care

The city's multi-billion dollar hospitality industry also won't be able to reopen until at least mid-October.

Melburnians are currently only allowed to leave home to shop for essential supplies, work, two hours of exercise or providing medical care.

The city's residents slept through their final night of curfew as the Victorian government lifts the controversial lockdown measure.

They have lived with the nightly 9pm to 5am curfew for eight weeks in a move to bring the state's devastating second wave under control.

But it will be repealed from 5am on Monday under widespread rule relaxations unveiled on Sunday.

Mr Andrews said lifting the curfew did not mean people could hold private indoor or outdoor gatherings, with those caught doing so liable for a beefed-up $5000 fine.

'No one has the right to put everything that Victorians have done at risk by going and potentially spreading the virus, one family to another,' Mr Andrews said.

A trial contesting the curfew's legality under the state's human rights charter was scheduled for the Supreme Court on Monday.

The premier denied the move to repeal it was motivated by the legal action.

From 11.59pm on Sunday, 127,000 people can return to work - close to 30,000 more than originally expected.

Other rule changes include childcare reopening, allowances for outdoor gatherings of up to five from two households and the lifting of a shopping limit of one person per household a day.

Scott Morrison called for Premier Daniel Andrews (pictured) to review his roadmap that requires five daily cases to move to the third step, and zero new cases for the final step

The city's multi-billion dollar hospitality industry also won't be able to reopen until at least mid-October

Restaurants, cafes and pubs are still only allowed to do takeaway services

Victoria's VCE and VCAL students will also return to school for assessments from October 5, with primary school students back on October 12.

Hospital patients will be allowed one visitor per day for a maximum of two hours, while patients under 18 will be allowed unlimited visits from two parents or carers.

Melbourne's two-hour exercise limit and 5km travel restriction remain, although Mr Andrews foreshadowed full freedom of movement could come on October 19 ahead of AFL grand final weekend.

He urged Victorians not to let their guard down, saying the virus would run wild if people pretend the second wave is over.

Victoria reported 16 new cases and two further fatalities on Sunday, taking the state's death toll to 784 and the national figure to 872.

Melbourne's 14-day case average dropped to 22.1, while regional Victoria's sits at just 0.6.

There are 399 active cases in the state, the first time that number has been under 400 since June 30.
Theres a revealing tidbit in journalist Jeremy Alfords latest LaPolitics Weekly newsletter previewing the special legislative session that starts Monday.

A handful of conservative representatives, Alford wrote, are planning to show up early and remove their respective sheets of plexiglass that were placed around House floor desks as a part of COVID-19 mitigation measures.

Nothing says were done with the pandemic like literally tearing down the protections designed to keep the highly contagious and sometimes deadly virus from spreading through the chamber. Better to unilaterally disarm against an unseen enemy, I guess, than to have to speak a little louder. Any guesses on how many of these lawmakers will wear masks during the four-week session?

In fact, one of the main takeaways out of the 70-item call issued by House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, R-Gonzales, and Senate President Page Cortez, R-Lafayette, is that legislators are done with the sort of medically sanctioned caution embodied in those precautions  and more broadly, in Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards overall handling of the crisis.

Thats evident in the laundry list of non-emergency topics  a throwback to last spring, when much of the state was shut down and hundreds of thousands of Louisianans were thrown out of work, but conservative lawmakers acted as if changing laws governing litigation over vehicular accidents was absolutely urgent.

And its evident in the sessions apparent underlying impetus: To rein in a governor whos used his executive powers to issue restrictions that have helped keep the virus at least somewhat in check, but have also kept businesses from fully opening up.

"A significant number of House members have also asked to address the continued proclamations issued by the governor during the pandemic and what many see as an imbalance of power," Schexnayder said. "This special session will not end without a solution to this problem."

Whether its a problem at all is in the eye of the beholder. Emergency authority generally rests in executive branches for good reason, because they are set up for command-and-control situations and can interact directly with federal authorities. Earlier petitions circulated by angry legislators challenging Edwards authority would have put Louisiana out of compliance with federal law and could have cost it a ton of federal funding.

Like all governors, Edwards has had to strike a difficult balance in deciding what should open and how, particularly given that Congress has abdicated its responsibility to issue a new round of help for those badly hurt by the closures. He knows perfectly well that saying the risk is behind us doesnt only not make it so, but enhances the chances that it will persist longer than it otherwise might.

So do the lawmakers who bother to follow the science, or listen to President Donald Trumps coronavirus task force (as opposed to the president himself). Just last week, Dr. Deborah Birx, one of the White House groups most prominent members, came to Louisiana and gave Edwards mask mandate and other strict measures a thumbs-up, saying that they saved lives.

Theres reason to worry about yet another spike: Fall and flu season are coming, and although the state has seen some impressive successes in curbing the virus spread, it still leads the nation in per capita cases and has traced past resurgences to careless behavior. That means theres reason to worry about the signals being sent by the Legislature, whether theyre that distancing measures such as plexiglass dividers are passe or that the governors public health missives are over the top.

Thats not to say that the session is bound to be a total bust. Buried in the long tally of possible topics, interspersed with the attempted power grabs and the hyperlocal items meant to secure someones vote on something, are some important measures. Topping the list is finding a way to replenish the states depleted unemployment trust fund, so that businesses dont have to contribute more and recipients dont see their paltry state benefits drop even further.

This is the kind of stuff that should drive a special session. The rest is the sort of business as usual that, emergency or not, gives the Louisiana Legislature a bad name.
ISLAMABAD - Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday assailed Indias Hindu nationalist government and its moves to cement control of Muslim-majority Kashmir, calling India a state sponsor of hatred and prejudice against Islam.

Khan said at the annual U.N. gathering of world leaders that Islamophobia rules India and threatens the nearly 200 million Muslims who live there.

They believe that India is exclusive to Hindus and others are not equal citizens, he said in a prerecorded speech to the U.N. General Assembly, which is being held virtually amid the coronavirus pandemic.

India responded by calling Khans remarks a new low in diplomacy. We saw lies, misinformation, warmongering and malice spread through this assembly, Mijito Vinito, a diplomat with Indias U.N. mission, said as the two countries traded barbed rebuttals in the assembly hall Friday night. Such exchanges between the two nuclear-armed neighbours have been common at recent U.N. General Assembly meetings.

Khan has frequently criticized the August 2019 decision by the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strip Jammu and Kashmirs statehood, scrap its separate constitution and remove inherited protections on land and jobs.

Indias action and a security clampdown that followed have sparked protests. U.N.-appointed independent experts have called on India to take urgent action.

Residents of the heavily militarized Indian-controlled region of Kashmir say security forces have arrested thousands of young men, raided peoples homes, inflicted beatings and electric shocks, and threatened to take away and marry their female relatives. Thousands of protesters over the past five years have been wounded by shotgun pellets, including hundreds blinded in one or both eyes. For seven months, until March, the area was under a communications blackout, with social media and internet access banned.

The international community must investigate these grave violations and prosecute the Indian civil and military personnel involved in state terrorism and serious crimes against humanity, Khan said.

Vinito retorted later: The leader of Pakistan today called for those who incite hate and violence to be outlawed. But, as he went on, we were left wondering, was he referring to himself?

The larger Kashmir region is split between India and Pakistan, which have fought two wars over the territory. India accuses Pakistan of arming and training insurgents fighting for Kashmirs independence from India. Pakistan denies the charge and says it offers only diplomatic and moral support to the rebels.

Khan, as he did in his speech before the world body last year, also condemned the targeting of Muslims in many countries. He noted provocations and incitement, such as the Quran being burned or offensive depictions of the Prophet Muhammad, that took place in the name of free speech.

Despite Khans outcry at the treatment of Muslims worldwide, Pakistan has not criticized Chinas assault on its Muslim minority Uighur population. China has been accused of incarcerating tens of thousands of Uighurs in so-called reeducation camps aimed at indoctrinating them in Chinas communist ideology and away from their Islamic beliefs.

Pakistans silence, like that of other influential Muslim nations, is linked to its economic ties to China. Pakistan is heavily indebted to China, and the two countries have a long history of military co-operation. China has provided Pakistan with missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

Khan also used his speech to call for debt relief for poor nations amid the pandemic.

He said COVID-19 illustrated that no one is safe unless everyone is safe. He said lockdown measures by richer countries have triggered a global recession that has hit poor countries the hardest. He touted his governments decision not to impose a wide-scale lockdown, which he said would have led to more people dying of hunger than the virus.

However, we are still not out of the woods, like no country is out of the woods today, Khan said.

Pakistan, with a population of about 220 million, has recorded 6,444 COVID-19 deaths from around 309,000 infections since February.

Khan said a push by the Group of 20 leading rich and developing countries to suspend debt repayment of poorer nations and rapid finance efforts by the International Monetary Fund are not enough. He called for the creation of at least $500 billion in new special drawing rights for developing nations.

Modi is scheduled to address the General Assembly in prerecorded remarks tomorrow.

___

Batrawy reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writer Jennifer Peltz contributed from New York.

___

In a story Sept. 25 about Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khans speech at the U.N. General Assembly, The Associated Press erroneously stated the time frame in which thousands of people were wounded by shotgun pellets in the Indian-controlled region of Kashmir. Thousands of people have been wounded over the past five years, not the past year.

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L ondon residents once again appeared to get around the new 10pm curfew by moving parties from the pub to the street on Saturday night.

The blanket restriction, which kicked in on Thursday, is enforceable by law and pubs and restaurants can lose their licence for ignoring it.

Revellers gathered in Leicester Square - apparently with little social distancing - late on Saturday to keep the festivities going, to the dismay of many onlookers.

In one video, a group of revellers were seen dancing and singing along as a man played a drum kit outside in the square.

One viewer said that the young people in the video think they are "untouchable".

"This age group have been told and are still being told that it won't affect them.....until one of their family members becomes ill, or worse this will continue," he added.

Elsewhere, some people said Liverpool city centre was the busiest they'd seen it in months.

On seeing the footage, one Twitter user said: "Town is an absolute disgrace, shame on anyone getting involved in those crowds."

Another added: "What a stupid idea it was having a curfew, havent seen town this chocker in months."

Liverpool Echo reporter Emilia Bona shared photos of a queue of people trying to get onto a crowded bus, while others appeared to be buying drinks in an off-licence.

"In town for chucking out time and this is the situation," Ms Bona said. "Two buses full before we even got near them and queues out the offy next to the stop. This isn't working."

Merseyside Police said in response to the footage that police had managed to disperse the "good-natured" crowds by 10.30pm.

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Superintendent Chris Gibson said in a statement: : We are aware of a video circulating of Liverpool City Centre, which shows crowds gathering near to Hanover Street at around 10pm last night, Saturday 26 September.

"Id like to give some context to the images, as they do not reflect the overall behaviour of people in Liverpool this weekend. This was a spontaneous gathering around a local street performer, and dispersed within minutes, under the close monitoring of officers and via CCTV.

The city centre was virtually empty at around 10.30pm and no serious incidents were reported. Although naturally there will be a surge of people leaving premises at 10pm, everyone we spoke to was good-natured and wed like to thank those people for moving on swiftly."

He added that police had issued fines for house parties over the weekend, and urged people to continue keeping to coronavirus restrictions amid rising case numbers.

It came after similar scenes across the country on Thursday and Friday evening.

There was an "impromptu party" around Oxford Circus in central London on Friday night, with footage posted on social media showing huge crowds dancing and bumping into each other as loud music blared, with seemingly no social distancing in sight.

Journalist Charlie Haynes tweeted: "Oxford Circus has turned into an impromptu party," adding: "It really is packed here".

Crowds in Soho after the 10pm closing time / PA

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said on Friday: "Merseyside Police is reminding local residents to stay safe and follow new Covid-19 guidance, ahead of the first weekend in Merseyside under the latest new regional and national restrictions."

The Metropolitan Police declined to comment.

Under the new regulations certain businesses like restaurants and pubs must close between 10pm and 5am and must operate table service only.

This also applies to places like social clubs, casinos, bowling alleys, bingo halls, amusement arcades and other indoor leisure facilities.

Some had warned of the 10pm cut-off becoming a pinch point for crowds to assemble, with similarly busy scenes pictured in Soho on Thursday night. Wales has allowed drinkers a 20 minute window to finish up after 10pm to stagger leaving times.

Professor Graham Medley, an expert on the Governments scientific advisory committee (Sage), claimed he had never heard of the curfew being discussed during the panels meetings.

Another Sage member, Professor John Edmunds, said the 10pm curfew was fairly trivial and said that it will have a very small impact on the epidemic.

Meanwhile an authority on pubs, bars and restaurants in Manchester hit out at the "shambolic" curfew.

The city's night-time economy adviser Sacha Lord tweeted: "Its very clear, across the UK, that this ill thought out 10pm curfew, has pushed everyone out of venues with socially distanced measures, into the streets, into off licenses, supermarkets, over crowded public transport and house parties.

"Every operator predicted this. Shambolic.
California activists who want to give disadvantaged minority students more access to opportunities such as spaces in state universities thought this would be a good year to try to kill Prop 209. White Californians, who tend to oppose affirmative action, made up more than half of the population in 1996 but are now down to 37 percent. Polling of Hispanics, now 39 percent of the population, as well as Asians at 15 percent and Blacks at 6 percent, indicated support for affirmative action. The portion of registered Republicans, who strongly supported Prop 209, has dropped from 35.6 percent of the electorate in 1996 to 24 percent this year.
Residents of Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah in the UAE can apply for visas to Italy at the new Visa Application Centre jointly launched by the Consulate General of Italy in the UAE and VFS Global.



The centre was officially inaugurated on September 27 by Valentina Setta, Consul General of Italy in Dubai, and Zubin Karkaria, Chief Executive Officer, VFS Global, in the presence of dignitaries from the Italian Consulate and VFS Global staff members.



With the launch of the new centre in Dubai, customers can submit their visa applications at the VFS Global centre in DIFC without having to visit the Consulate General of Italy. The centre will initially accept applications for limited visa categories.



Vinay Malhotra, Regional Group Chief Operating Officer - South Asia, Mena, Americas, VFS Global said: With the launch of the new centre in Dubai, and our new relationship with the Consulate General of Italy in the UAE, VFS Global reinforces its partnership with the Italian Ministry. VFS Global has a long association with Italy, providing visa services on behalf of the country since 2004. With the growing demand for Italy as a destination, we look forward to welcoming customers to our new centre and offering them our best-in-class services.



VFS Global has established standardised protective measures to be followed across the centre including specific social distancing and sanitation mandates. All customers are subject to body temperature checks before entering the centre, to assess their health condition. Any customer exhibiting Covid-19 symptoms, including high fever, cough and breathing difficulties will not be permitted to enter the centre and will be requested to return once their health condition improves. Additionally, all customers and VFS Global employees are required to wear a face mask and gloves within the centre.



The new centre offers:



A Premium Lounge facility

Doorstep delivery of passports

SMS notifications on application status

Online tracking of application status

A dedicated website for easy access to end-to-end information including visa categories, requirements, document checklists and applicable fees

A dedicated contact centre and email support to answer queries and track application status



Residents of Abu Dhabi can continue to submit their applications at the Visa Application Centre located in the The Mall, World Trade Centre, in Abu Dhabi, a VFS Global statement said.

VFS Global is the world's largest visa outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions worldwide.  TradeArabia News Service
In the art world, the culture war is playing out as a question of how big a role art can and should play in bringing about certain kinds of social change. Many on the left want our idea of art to become so instrumentalist  so subservient to political imperatives  that they are willing to jettison large parts of what art means to people who love it and truly need it. I am referring to its ambiguities, its contradictions, its connection to the richness and freedom of our inner lives, to beauty and pain, and its ability to speak to confusions within and without. Im talking about all the things you find in Toni Morrison, in Frank Ocean, in Anton Chekhov or Alice Munro, in Shostakovich or Duke Ellington, in Romare Bearden or Philip Guston.
Gov. Greg Abbott cant catch a break these days.

Texans on both sides of the aisle have been frustrated by his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. His approval rating on the subject has dropped from 61 percent in April to 38 percent in July, according to a survey by four major universities.

Still, its a bit surprising to see a sitting Republican governor, re-elected by a double-digit margin in 2018, on the receiving end of a lawsuit from legislators in his own party.

In a crisis, you usually see this kind of rally-around-the-flag effect, and were not, observed Emily Farris, a political scientist at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth.

The Houston-based conservative activist and physician Steven Hotze, she noted, has filed several lawsuits against state and local officials since the pandemic began. These include one against Abbott in July after the governor, responding to a surge in cases following his reopening of the state in May, issued an executive order that mandated masks in businesses and most public places. But Hotzes latest lawsuit, Farris continued, has more institutional backing. The other plaintiffs include six Republican lawmakers as well as Keith Nielson and Allen West, the chairs of the Harris County and state Republican parties, respectively.

It seems like theres really a deterioration between Abbott and the rest of his party, Farris said.

Thats putting it mildly.

The new lawsuit, filed Wednesday, takes aim at the governors July executive order extending the early-voting period by six days. Abbott has ordered early voting to start on Oct. 13, instead of Oct. 19, and continue until Oct. 30.

The move seems like a sage one, given that the new coronavirus, responsible for the deaths of more than 15,000 Texans, has yet to be contained. More days of early voting will essentially help spread out the arrival of voters to the polls, in turn helping efforts to maintain social distancing and sanitizing procedures during in-person voting.

And Abbotts announcement also marked a moment of welcome bipartisanship, as Republicans and Democrats continue to spar over the potential expansion of mail-in voting across the state. Texas Democratic Party chair Gilbert Hinojosa welcomed the news as a step, albeit the bare minimum.

Still, those considerations are ultimately irrelevant, according to state Rep. Steve Toth, a Republican who represents part of Montgomery County and joined the lawsuit along with state Reps. Bill Zedler, Cecil Bell, Jr., Dan Flynn, and state Sens. Charles Perry and Pat Fallon.

In a letter to Abbott this week, Toth declared himself a former ardent supporter.

Throughout this crisis, you have shown an appalling lack of consistency, leadership, and concern for the small business owners that are the primary driver of the Texas economy, he wrote.

Toth told me that Abbott simply doesnt have the authority to extend the early-voting period by fiat.

This is something thats not in the purview of the governor, Toth said.

The plaintiffs note in their brief that the Texas Election Code defines the early voting period as the 17th day before election day  through the fourth day before election day.

Abbott noted that, too, in his executive order, but invoked his powers under the Texas Disaster Act to suspend that section of the code.

Toth countered that the executive order that Abbott issued in July does not give him the ability or the right to unilaterally make decisions about everything.

And theres a proper way to make such changes, Toth argues: The governor should convene a special session. This should be something that the Legislature comes together on. I would love to hear both sides of the argument, the pros and the cons  lets consider it.

The plaintiffs have a point: the Texas Disaster Act, passed in 1975, empowers the governor to declare disasters in all or part of the state  and having done so, the power to suspend certain rules and regulations that would hinder the states response to the emergency. But the breadth of the governors emergency powers isnt specified, which is troubling.

Abbotts interpretation of his own powers under the Disaster Act has been expansive. Future governors may, for good or ill, take the same view of things.

This is something a future Legislature should revisit, sooner rather than later, now that questions about the scope of the law have been raised.

For the time being, though, were still in the midst of a pandemic. Coronavirus expert Peter Hotez, for one, has recently warned that Houston might be headed for a third peak this fall. Under such circumstances, Abbotts decision to expand the early voting period is a reasonable and eminently defensible one.

The fact that the governor is being sued over such a decision is a measure of the ersatz authority hes accorded to his partys right wing by taking such an equivocal approach to public safety measures in the first place, seemingly in response to pressure from the GOP base.

Texans who have been following state government closely would be hard-pressed to disagree.

If Abbott isnt catching any breaks lately, he has only himself to blame.

erica.grieder@chron.com
As if working mothers did not have enough to worry about, experts are now sounding the alarm that progress toward gender equality may be the latest in a long list of casualties of the coronavirus pandemic.

Substantial research has shown that most professional gender gaps are in fact motherhood gaps; women without children are much closer to parity with men when it comes to salaries and promotions, but mothers pay a large career penalty.

Women tend to take on more of the burdens of caring for children and the family. To go to work, they need someone to help with that care. But fathers have been slow to change their behavior. And without subsidies, private child care can be prohibitively expensive.

Workplaces already tend to penalize women who choose to work fewer hours or need more flexibility, and that, too, is proving to be exacerbated in the pandemic.

The bottom line is that, based on decades of research, we know that there was one institution that was effective at limiting gender inequality and encouraging womens participation in the workplace, and it was early childhood education, said Claudia Olivetti, an economist at Dartmouth College.

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

Now the pandemic  and its hobbling of schools and child care providers  is taking that away, too, piling pressure on working mothers, like me.

Around the world, working women are facing brutally hard choices about whether to stay home if they havent already been laid off. And the effect may be particularly severe in countries like the United States, where the pandemic is compounding inequalities that women already faced as a result of the lack of guaranteed paid maternity leave and affordable child care.

The question, said Olivetti, who studies gender inequality, is, how far back do we go?

I tried for a week, and I just couldnt do it

Israel is both an example of subsidized child cares power to narrow gender gaps at work and a cautionary tale about how easily the pandemic can shatter that fragile progress.

The Israeli government provides free early childhood education from age 3 and means-tested day care for many babies and younger toddlers. As a consequence, before the pandemic, womens overall labor force participation had reached 74%, significantly higher than the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development average of 66%, according to a recent report from the Taub Center for Social Policy Studies, an Israeli think tank. The gender wage gap, though persistent, was narrowing.

Then came COVID-19. Schools and day care centers closed in mid-March, and the child care that had allowed so many mothers to work was gone.

The first impact is that the unemployment rate is growing faster for women than for men, said Liora Bowers, author of the Taub Center report. Women are a minority of Israels labor force but make up 56% of those who have lost their jobs since the pandemic began.

Nor was the phenomenon the result of layoffs being concentrated in heavily female jobs: Bowers found that in 18 out of 19 industries, women filed for unemployment at higher rates than their representation in the industry.

Women already held more precarious positions in the workforce  working fewer hours, for less money, with shorter tenures and in lower-ranking jobs than men. The loss of child care limited many working mothers hours and availability even further, meaning they were often the first to be selected for layoffs and unpaid leave, the report concluded. And it noted that many families appear to be deciding that if they need one parent to give up a job and prioritize child care, it should be the lower-paid parent  usually the mother.

Sveta Skibinsky Raskin, a mother of five who lives in Jerusalem, worked as a writer while her children were in school and day care. But when the schools closed, she had to stop. I tried for a week, and I just couldnt do it, she said. I cant work in an environment that constantly requires my attention.

Even when schools reopened in May, they were too unpredictable to rely on, she said. As we spoke, her two oldest children were self-isolating at home after some classmates tested positive for the virus. Now, with the country back in lockdown to combat a second wave and schools closed once again, a lot of women are having to make difficult choices, she said.

It is likely to be worse in the United States

Before the pandemic, many American mothers were effectively forced to stop working for some period of time because they could not afford paid child care. And research shows that the longer a woman is out of the workforce, the more severe the long-term effects on her earnings will be.

A 2018 study by the Institute for Womens Policy Research found that an employment gap of four years or more leads to a whopping 65% reduction in annual earnings, compared with a 39% decrease after a one-year break. As school closures force women out of the workplace for a year or two more than planned, that will have lifelong consequences for their financial stability.

A July report from McKinsey Global found that in the United States, where women made up 43% of the workforce, they accounted for 56% of COVID-related job losses  though it is unclear how much of that is specifically because of day care and school volatility.

By contrast, Sweden, which heavily subsidizes day care and has one of the highest rates of female labor participation in the developed world, has kept schools and day care centers open throughout the pandemic. Although this has been questionable as a public health strategy  Swedens death rate from the virus has been higher than its neighbors  it has allowed working parents to avoid the burdens of lockdown.

Although data is scarce, the government predicts that Swedish men are more vulnerable to COVID-related unemployment than women.

Hard choices for rich women. Impossible ones for the poor

As with most social phenomena, this plays out differently for wealthy women than for poor ones. Research shows that when high-earning couples have children, they tend to divide responsibilities, with one parent stepping back from a career to take on the increased care duties, and the other making work a priority  and in heterosexual couples, it is usually the mother who steps back.

Once on the mommy track, women make less money and have fewer opportunities for advancement. If the woman is the secondary earner, then it is less costly at the margin to cut her hours when a crisis like the pandemic hits, Olivetti said.

Poorer families tend to have more parity between the parents earnings, but they rely on both incomes to survive and are also more likely to have jobs that must be done in person rather than remotely. When schools and day cares close, there is no one to care for young children or supervise older ones remote schooling if both parents work. But if one stays home, the family faces financial catastrophe.

Trying to help working families ease this child care constraint  its not just a gender inequality issue; its also an income inequality issue, Olivetti said.

Women from minority and immigrant backgrounds are even more vulnerable to the pressures of lockdown, said Zinthiya Ganeshpanchan, who runs the Zinthiya Trust, a charity serving disadvantaged women in Leicester, England.

They are often living in overcrowded living situations. Many had three, four children living in just a two- or three-bedroom flat with extended family, she said. Many were also dealing with domestic violence.

The loss of school and day care, Ganeshpanchan said, is going to take our women 10 years back because the only way for women to improve their public participation is by reducing the extra burden of caring responsibilities they have.

Reopening as a source of chaos

The British government has said it is committed to keeping schools open this fall, with a particular focus on the youngest children having access to in-person education.

Unfortunately, as parents across the country are now discovering, it doesnt matter if schools are a priority if the system prioritizing them ceases to function.

My oldest daughter woke up with a mild fever a few days before she was supposed to start primary school last Wednesday in London. Although her symptoms cleared up quickly, the damage was done: Without a negative COVID test or 10 days of isolation, she could not go to school.

Unfortunately, the government testing program, which is supposed to provide free tests to all who qualify and is the cornerstone of the countrys reopening plan, had ground to a halt. There were no tests available for her. Eventually, desperate for my daughter to not miss her first day, I paid nearly $500 for a private doctor to come to our home and administer a test, only to discover that private labs are now overloaded as well. After days of delay, the results came back negative, but she had to wait until this week to join her class.

In addition to a very disappointed 4-year-old, that made for a chaotic week of scrambling to juggle work, child care and the other complications of pandemic life.

I am fortunate to have an egalitarian marriage, patient editors and a job that can be done remotely at odd hours. But many parents simply cannot make such circumstances work.

In the United States, home-schooling pods, in which a small group of parents band together and hire tutors for their children at great expense, might help children learn, but they add to the burdens on working parents.

Those pods require a lot of coordination, Olivetti said. And those costs will invariably fall primarily on mothers.

By Amanda Taub

c.2020 The New York Times Company
The community came together on skates Saturday to help a family rebuild after a tragic house fire.

Neighbors and other supporters organized a fundraiser for the Rodgers  a single mother and her three children  at the Rainbow Roller Rink in Conroe.

The skating rink is the perfect place to show kids generosity, kindness, and supporting one another when in need, Willis Neighbor and Fundraiser Coordinator Breanna Hearne said, noting the Rodgers children are in elementary school and middle school. Hearnes daughter attends Wednesday skating sessions at the rink, where the owner reached out about helping the Rodgers family.

Bringing your peers in to see what you can do in kindness, she continued. My little one is four years old, and she has been helping me collect clothing and basic needs donations, and she kind of helped me with raffle items, too.

The Rodgers family lost their home to a blaze in August that also claimed the life of their relative Mary Weaver, 18, who the mother, Aimee Rodgers, had adopted and considered like a daughter.

Even though it has been a horrible tragedy that is unbearable, the neighbors, the support, the outreach has lightened the burden of this horrendous event and horrendous sadness. It almost outweighs it, Rodgers said.

It makes this horrible thing that I cant even comprehend every day  I wake up, and it is a reality  but for some reason the community that is giving, the generosity, the time, the money, just support that people who dont know me are doing, she continued. Its so extremely ridiculous that it really takes edge off of the excruciating pain I have to wake up to every morning.

The house was a cash-only purchase, the only one Rodgers said she could afford in a safe neighborhood. Her mother and stepfather paid for it with their retirement money. She planned to remodel the home, get it insured and buy it from them to pay back the funds.

The Sam Houston State University graduate had moved to Willis, where her mother lives, after a divorce for a fresh start. Her niece Mary, who she was so close to that she adopted, moved in, eager to pursue nursing at her aunts alma mater.

Motivated to give her children a good life, Rodgers obtained her masters degree in accounting in May, shortly after taking care of her father for months before he passed away during her final exams from a health condition unrelated to the coronavirus pandemic.

After studying abroad in Japan last summer, the tax accountant hoped to begin work this year. But due to the pandemic and her fathers illness, the company had cutbacks and encouraged her to focus on her family and pursue her license as a certified public accountant this upcoming December to start back in January.

What seemed three bricks away from completing the home, after building a sensory room for her youngest son, Rion, 9, who was recently diagnosed with autism, the fire started for an unknown reason. While she and her children survived, her niece Mary and her dog did not.

In the middle of the chaos of that painful memory, she still remembers her neighbors youngest daughter Scarlett Hearn, 4, who approached her, kindly introduced herself, and told her she was sorry her house was on fire.

Its little things like that, Rodgers said with a smile as the young girl skated up to her to say hello again Saturday.

Through the nightmare of the loss, Rodgers shared the community has given her a hope in humanity that she had stopped believing in. They raised over $20,000 on a GoFundMe page to start the demolition process, the Montgomery County Fire Station 94 had a barbecue benefit that sold out, and her neighbor Hearnewho immediately set up her home as a drop-off site  began coordinating this fundraiser.

The tax company, who she plans to work for in January, is also helping provide and pay for her CPA and study material. The school district brought devices and school supplies.

Her family is grateful for the communitys support.

She had just started a new chapter and got it the way she wanted it, Rodgers sister Trishta West, 36, of Conroe, said. The support we have seen from the community, from Willis, and even from my job  it is just overwhelming. It makes you want to cry for a different reason. It reminds you that there are still a lot of people out there that are good.

Hearne set out 22 items donated by various community members and businesses on the raffle table, including board games, clothing, an emergency kit and cosmetics. Early in the event, she hoped to raise at least $1,000 through the admission to the roller rink and the raffle.

Tai-Ishka Chambers, 40, of Shepherd, was celebrating a birthday at the skating rink when she noticed the event and participated in the raffle.

I think it is great  that is what a community should do right now, Chambers said. My favorite quote is that you treat people how you want to be treated. If I was in this situation, I would want people to do it for me. For me, I dont know these people, but I would rather help someone that is in need.

Michael Majkszak, owner of Majkszak's Meat Market in Conroe, stopped by with his family.

Its amazing. Thats one thing thats good about our community, we always seem to come together, Majkszak said. I brought my kids out here because I heard about it. We bought a few raffle tickets, and people like to go skating. We can all use help sometimes.

Before this experience, Rodgers had lost faith in people. Now her plan is to get back on track and to provide for her children.

This experience, even though it has been so bad, it has really reinforced community. There is community. There is kindness, Rodgers, who only requested friendly faces, said. It has taken off an edge of the pain every day to see in such a small town, too.

They are giving so much more than I would ever believe in a small community could ever do  especially for a stranger they didnt know, she added.

While Rodgers would prefer to live in another location due to the experience, she shared she must rebuild the home due to her financial circumstances. Hearne said they are seeking anyone that has a specialty in construction, painting and wiring, connections or donations toward material cost. One neighbor, who is an electrician, has donated his service.

We want to rebuild their home, Hearne said. We want to make it home for them that they can enjoy and live and not worry about what happened.

And, on Saturday, as Rodgers watched her son Rion skate around happily, she shared the event also gave her son the chance to have fun again.

Hes just another wild kid on wheels, she said with a smile.

There is a GoFundMe account available to donate to at gofundme.com/f/u2rvk-willis-house-fire. People can follow updates on fundraising efforts on Facebook at facebook.com/RodgersRebuildCommunity.

mellsworth@hcnonline.com
A public health expert has warned the Cork and Galway may be the next counties to face further lockdown restrictions as cases in Ireland continue to rise.

Anthony Staines, Professor of Health Systems at Dublin City University, said the number of cases is increasing "uncomfortably high" and that he would not be surprised if Cork and Galway were placed under increased restrictions.

Professor Staines highlighted returning students to UCC for the start of the semester next week as a possible factor in the surging cases reported in Cork city.

"It's rising uncomfortably high and I wouldn't be terribly surprised if Cork was next and Galway was next," said Professor Staines, "It will depend on contact tracing but I wonder how many of these cases are associated with students coming back to UCC."

"A lot of students will have come to Cork to get ready for the first semester which starts on Monday," Professor Staines said.

Earlier the public health expert said the five reported deaths from the coronavirus today show the urgency required for "bringing the number of cases in the community down".

Professor Staines said the latest deaths are a sad reminder of the critical need to stop the spread of the disease.

"It takes a significant time to go from developing an infection to actually becoming sick enough to die from it. So normally we see cases rising, admissions rising, intensive care admissions rising, and deaths rising in that order.

"It is not surprising that this has happened but it is still very sad that this has happened. It shows the urgency in bringing the number of cases in the community down," said Professor Staines.

Today's figures bring the total number of Covid-related deaths in Ireland to 1,802.

248 new cases of the disease were also confirmed by the Department of Health today.

From today's data, Dublin reported the highest number with 104 new cases confirmed followed by Donegal at 37 and Cork at 36.

In the rest of the country, eight cases were in Kildare and a further eight cases were confirmed in Westmeath, six cases were in Kilkenny, six in Laois, six in Offaly, five in Longford, five in Monaghan, five in Wexford, and the remaining 22 cases were reported in 11 other counties.

Speaking earlier today in a video message, Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn urged the public to observe social distancing and public health guidelines.

Dr Glynn said it was not inevitable that further restrictions would be introduced in other counties as case numbers rise and that collective and individual action can prevent the spread of the virus.

Dr Ronan Glynn on how each of us can live safely with this virus over the coming months. Do not underestimate the value of your individual actions. Please stick with this and together we will get through #COVID19 #StaySafe [for subtitles/closed captions, select "cc"]. pic.twitter.com/HdO92ycHBa  Department of Health (@roinnslainte) September 25, 2020

However, Dr Glynn said other counties could still be subject to further restrictions.

I ask every individual to take personal responsibility prioritising need to limit the size of their social network and reduce your social contacts over the coming days and weeks, he said.

Because while theres every chance that other areas in the country will have to move to level three. There is nothing inevitable about that, said Dr Glynn.

The Acting Chief Medical Officer also praised the counties of Limerick and Tipperary for their response to heightened Covid-19 levels.

"We have seen previously in Limerick and Tipperary and possibly over the past few days in Waterford, how people working together can take control and turn the tide on this virus.

"But even in these counties people need to keep going, keep making the right choices, and deny Covid the opportunity to transmit," said Dr Glynn.
A California court ruling said it granted a motion for a nationwide injunction against the implementation of the government order on WeChat, with the judge citing concerns over free speech. (Photo | AFP)

New York: A US judge on Sunday blocked the governments ban on WeChat downloads, hours before it was due to take effect in an ongoing technology and espionage battle between Washington and Beijing.

The Trump administration had ordered a ban on downloads of the messaging platform WeChat as well as hugely popular video-sharing app TikTok, both owned by Chinese companies. Both bans have now been suspended.

A California court ruling said it granted a motion for a nationwide injunction against the implementation of the government order on WeChat, with the judge citing concerns over free speech.

The order would have slowed WeChat down and made it unusable in the United States for video chats with family and friends, according to experts.

Owned by technology giant TenCent, WeChat has around 19 million active daily users in the United States.

When contacted by AFP, TenCent declined to comment on the ruling.

The ruling is a short-term relief for the plaintiffs, who wanted to be sure that the app was not shut down tonight, said Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond.

If the government appeals and wins, the plaintiffs can appeal that decision. The plaintiffs wanted to just buy time, Tobias said. It may be very soon that the president is no longer the president.

As President Donald Trump seeks a breakthrough with voters to win a second term in the November 3 election, he has increasingly put national security and his aggressive stance toward China at the center of his campaign.

He regularly accuses Democratic opponent Joe Biden of weakness toward Beijing.

The president said Saturday that he had approved a deal allowing Silicon Valley giant Oracle to become data partner for TikTok to avert a shutdown of that app.

The deal, announced by the companies, includes Walmart as a commercial partner and would create a new US company named TikTok Global.

TikTokowned by Chinas ByteDanceconfirmed the Oracle agreement, which came as companies raced against the Sunday deadline.

The US Department of Commerce on Saturday announced it was postponing the ban on TikTok downloads until September 27, due to recent positive developments.

WeChat is mostly used by Chinese visiting or working here or by Chinese-Americans staying in touch with their relatives, said William Reinsch of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

That includes several hundred thousand Chinese students in the United States, who use it for daily online conversations.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
Photo by MC1 Steven Hoskins / Naval Submarine Support Center

NEW LONDON  The U.S.S. Indiana returned to the Naval Submarine Base in New London on Friday, bringing sailors back to their loved ones after a six-month deployment.

The naval base posted video of the homecoming and some of the reunions on its Facebook page.
Philadelphia police searching for shell casings has become a familiar scene throughout Philadelphia this year as alarming rates of gun violence have city officials and community groups pushing for solutions. Read more

Six teenagers were among the people wounded in two quadruple weekend shootings in Philadelphia.

The more recent occurred shortly after 11:30 p.m. Saturday in West Philadelphia, where police found four males with gunshot wounds on the 100 block of North Lindenwood Street. They had just left a party, said Officer Miguel Torres, a police spokesperson.

According to police, the youngest victim, a 15-year-old, was shot four times  twice in the left shoulder, once in the left ankle, and once in the left foot.

The others were a 16-year-old shot once in the left ankle, a 21-year-old shot once in the right elbow, and a 46-year-old shot once in a hip, police said. All were taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and were listed Sunday in stable condition, police said.

The other quadruple shooting occurred just after 10 p.m. Friday on the 1300 block of Sanger Street in the citys Frankford section. There, a 17-year-old female and an 18-year-old male were each shot once in the right leg, a 17-year-old female was shot once in the right elbow, and a 19-year-old male was shot once in the left arm.

All were reported in stable condition at either Jefferson Torresdale Hospital or Einstein Medical Center.

No arrests were reported in either shooting.
Democratic Presidential Candidate Joe Biden speaks with the press before departing Charlotte, N.C., on Sept. 23, 2020. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

Republican Jews Call on Biden to Apologize for Nazi Comment

A Republican Jewish group on Saturday demanded an apology from Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, who compared President Donald Trump to Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels.

The rule in debate is that if your only argument is to call your opponent a Nazi, you have no argument at all. Instead of engaging in debate on policy, Joe Biden has descended to name-calling and Holocaust references, the coalition said in a statement.

During an interview with MSNBC, Biden was asked how he would respond to Trump claiming that the former vice president is pushing a socialist agenda. Biden said Trump is sort of like Goebbels.

Joseph Goebbels was a Nazi propagandist.

You say the lie long enough, keep repeating it, repeating it, repeating it, it becomes common knowledge, Biden said.

The Republican Jewish Coalition endorsed Trump for president and is backing Republicans in key battleground states.

There is no place in political discourse for Holocaust imagery or comparing candidates to Nazis. Its offensive and it demeans the memory of the Holocaust, the suffering of the victims, and the lessons we must learn from that terribly dark chapter of history. Joe Biden has been in politics long enough to know this, the coalition said. We call on Joe Biden to retract and apologize for that egregious comment.

The Biden campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In the MSNBC interview, Biden went on to compare Trump to communist dictator Fidel Castro.

I think people see very clearly the difference between me and Donald Trump, Biden said. Trump is clearing protests in front of the White House that are peaceful, you know, with the military. This guy is more Castro than Churchill.

Trump did not order the clearing of the protesters in front of the White House, according to Attorney General William Barr. The protesters had injured 150 law enforcement officers before the crowd was pushed back to create a safety perimeter around the White House.

Trump and Biden are scheduled to face each other during the first of three presidential debates on Tuesday evening.

Trump has repeatedly compared the recent leftward shift of the Democratic party to socialism.

During a crowded Democratic primary, Biden shifted his platform far to the left in order to appeal to the growing progressive wing of the party. Ahead of the Democratic National Convention, the former vice president merged his policy platform with that of self-described socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

The so-called Unity Platform did not mention the key socialist proposals by Sanders like Medicare for All and the Green New Deal, instead striking a balance between appeasing the progressive base while giving the Trump campaign little ammunition for attack.
MILFORD  Businesses, outdoor venues, and indoor performing arts facilities throughout Milford are gearing up for Phase 3 of the states opening from the pandemic.

The details were announced by Gov. Ned Lamont, and will take effect Oct. 8. Phase 3 involves an increase from 50 percent to 75 percent capacity indoors - subject to COVID-19 safety requirements - for restaurants, personal services, hair salons, barber shops, and libraries. Additionally, outdoor event venues will increase from 25 percent to 50 percent capacity.

Bars and nightclubs will continue to remain closed.

Julie Nash, Milfords director of economic and community development, said this is what the city has been waiting for.

Adding this 50 to 75 is going to make a great difference for the winter months, she said.

Dining options

Many restaurants are now looking at different options to make outdoor seating more comfortable in cold weather, such as using fire pits and outdoor ice bars.

Additionally, she said those that utilize outdoor tents are considering adding sides onto them. Right now, this isnt allowed by fire department, but this could change, she said.

She added that many restaurants in the city have transformed desolate ugly parking lots into beautiful outdoor restaurant facilities.

Arts venues

Also changed in Phase 3 will be the rules for the indoor performing arts venues, which will be able to open at 50 percent capacity

This is huge because our little arts theaters have been struggling along without being able to fill their audience and sell tickets, Nash said.

She added that a lot of the arts centers help the restaurant business since many are located in the same area.

Having them have the ability to sell tickets to shows will buoy the downtown restaurants, she said.

Paige Miglio, executive director of the Milford Arts Council said prior to the pandemic, the council presented the arts 220 times a year, drawing an estimated 12,000 people annually.

When they closed in mid-March, the challenge was letting people know that the arts werent dead in town.

We just wanted to let everybody know that we were not going away, Miglio said. We are almost 50 years old we are not going to disappear.

While working remotely, the MAC created programs, and also held committee meetings remotely. For example, the Eastbound Community Theater Group began presenting live streamed one-act plays called Homebound with Eastbound.

Virtual online gallery exhibition went from a 300 to 400 in-person viewing to over 3,000 views online, Miglio said.

It was so successful, said Miglio, that shell be keeping the online gallery going forward.

Additionally, the MAC will present a live exhibit in a few weeks, which is called The story of women and celebrates womens right to vote.

It will be open from mid-October to mid November, for limited visitations, for between 25 to 40 people at a time.

We will also present that online for people who are not comfortable and people who have found us from distances, Miglio said. Submissions will be hung in the gallery space at the MAC as well as be visible online through our website.

We are trying to pivot and re-imagine ourselves, said Miglio, who has been involved with the MAC for about 10 years.

Going forward with the Phase 3 opening, we will really need to assess our space. Its still a very small space, she said.

The MAC is now talking with city officials about utilizing Parsons Veterans Memorial Hall, as well as outside concerts at Eisenhower Park.

Miglio is also considering developing a concert series that would produce four to six concerts next year.

Making customers comfortable

Bob Chicoine, owner of Dockside Brewery at 40 Bridgeport Ave., said Phase Three doesnt change anything for him.

Our capacity on the inside is not that large, he said. Its more about the tables. At 50 percent capacity, we are maxed out with a six-foot distance.

While Dockside has 12 tables indoors, it has benefited all summer, according to Chicoine, due to its outdoor seating area, which can hold 32 tables.

Thats one of the things people have been happy with, he said.

However, he added more recently, customers appear to be getting more comfortable coming inside.

We have a sanitizer, a busser, a runner and server, he said. Weve done everything we can to make customers feel comfortable.

He plans on leaving the tables outside in the colder months, since there are many nice, sunny days where it would be pleasant to sit outdoors, he said.

By Nov. 1, they have plans to enclose the top deck and putting the heaters inside the top deck.

On track

In regard to the reopening of Connecticut, Milford Mayor Benjamin Blake said there is a reopen Milford committee, where theres a representative from each of the various industry experts and healthcare professionals, whose advice we are relying on heavily.

There are about 400 restaurants in Milford, he said.

Blake added while there have been some restaurants that have closed their doors for good due to the pandemic, other restaurants are doing well, including some that opened during the height of the pandemic.

Weve had 500 new business open each year. Were on track for that, Blake said. Weve been very successful in terms of new business and expanding existing business that have been here for awhile  this is helping out our Grand List.

sandra.fox@hearstmediact.com
Doria Ragland, the Duchess of Sussex's mother, has been appointed the boss of a care company for the elderly.

The 64-year-old, who is a former yoga instructor, is now the Chief Executive Officer for the company Loving Kindness, based in Beverly Hills.

Meghan Markle's lawyer Rick Genow, who represents a string of movie stars, reportedly set up the deal, according to the Express.

Doria (pictured with Meghan), 64, who quit her post as a social worker at a mental health clinic after her daughter married into the Royal Family in 2018, is now in charge of care company

Company documents filed in California earlier this year show Doria is the CEO, CFO and Company Secretary of a firm called Loving Kindess Senior Care Management Inc

The company describes itself as a 'senior care management company' and it says it 'was created to support and give peace of mind to you, your beloved parent, relative or friend'.

The company's website states: 'Our role is to provide a holistic approach to care by guiding and advocating for the client and families while managing and navigating important concerns around health and social issues.'

According to official documents, Meghan's mother has also been appointed as Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary as well as CEO.

The company's address if listed as Beverley Hills, in California, but official documents state the jurisdiction of the company is Delaware.

The phrase 'loving kindness' has links to Buddhism, which has served as an inspiration for both Meghan and Doria.

One US business expert told the Sunday Express: 'It's not the usual sort of deal for someone like Rick Genow to get involved in.

'When you are as highprofile as Meghan and her family it's understandable why they would keep things as low-profile as possible.'

Pictured: Dora, Meghan and Harry in London in September 2018

Meghan's lawyer Rick Genow is also based in Beverly Hills and is a founding partner of Hollywood powerhouse law firm Stone, Genow, Smelkinson, Binder and Christopher.

Official documents list Genow as Agent for Service of Process.

He also represents actor Sir Ben Kingsley and has also worked closely with the film studio Paramount Pictures.

Earlier this year, Doria, who quit her post as a social worker at a mental health clinic after her daughter married into the royal family in 2018, was teaching how to make jewellery at a community college in Los Angeles.

Doria was a make-up artist on television show General Hospital when she met Meghan's father, Thomas Markle, a lighting director.

She used to sell jewellery that she had made herself to help the family finances.

Meghan was six years old when her parents divorced and she lived with her mother until she was a teenager, when she moved to live with Thomas.
Syriac Patriarch Calls for Sanctions on Syria to End

Patriarch Aphrem II, head of the Syrian Orthodox Church. Ignatius Aphrem II, head of the Syriac Orthodox Church, has called on the UK Government to lift economic sanctions against Syria which he claimed were "prolonging the suffering of innocent civilians".

He made the comments during an online humanitarian conference with British parliamentarians, diplomats and international religious leaders, saying:"It is now undisputed that the imposition of these crippling economic sanctions has worsened the humanitarian crisis in Syria. They severely limit access to food, medical equipment and life-saving medicines."

Former British Ambassador to Syria, Peter Ford, who attended the conference, concurred: "The UK Government must stop playing politics with people's lives," he said.

Meanwhile the apostolic nuncio to Syria said that the Syrian people were losing hope that peace and normality would ever return. "Unfortunately, what is dying in the hearts of many people is hope," Cardinal Mario Zenari said on 17 September. He reported that while the "fragile truce" has led to a decrease in bombings, there is a "poverty bomb" causing hunger, malnutrition, and the spread of disease.

The Catholic and Orthodox Churches were doing what they could to "to give hope back", he said.

Another middle eastern prelate has warned that Christianity there has began to appear like a "sinking ship". Cardinal Bechara Rai, patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church, made the statement at a recent ecumenical meeting of Christians from around the region.

"The ship threatened by strong winds and waves" symbolises "the witnessing Church in the sea of our Middle Eastern countries troubled by the winds of conflicts and wars, political, economic, financial and livelihood crises, and the corona epidemic," according to Cardinal Rai.

Rai emphasised the difficult position of many Christians in Lebanon in the aftermath of the Beirut dock explosion, which has displaced 300,000 people and caused further chaos in an already struggling economy. More than 50 percent of Lebanon's residents live below the poverty line, and even prior to the coronavirus pandemic, the unemployment rate hit 25 per cent. Lebanon ranked is 137 out of 180 nations (180 being the worst) on Transparency International's 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index.
"Every soul shall taste of death"-Q 21:35.

Life is a stage. Every living soul mounts the stage. At the end of their performance, they disengage while others continue the acting to the admiration or disapproval of their beholders.Apologies to William Shakespeare.

The quintessential Professor Hassan Kehinde Okeleye came up stage as an exemplary performer, dazzled his audience and garnered a loud ovation. Exeunt! He bowed. Curtain dropped! Lights faded out. And he was out of sight.Conspicously his last performance on the earth stage. The erstwhile vice chancellor of Crescent University, Abeokuta, Nigeria has gone on a journey of no return. He has signed out to proceed on another journey.

Bespectacled. Soft-spoken. Gentleman. He came in, determined to re-organise, appraise and impact positively on the vision and mission of the founder,His Excellency Prince Bola Ajibola. He had consulted every unit, department and college of Crescent University, Abeokuta when he was appointed as its vice chancellor in December 2010. By doing this he had got a useful feedback to work on. Thenceforth, he had interactions with virtually all members of staff of the university to get acquainted with them on the one hand and to grasp their face-to-face reservation on the other.

Late Professor Okeleye smiled orders, handshook success, led laudable projects, arbitrated congress, troubleshot crisis, projected progress and midwived lofty accomplishments. He spoke lesser than he listened. A strength and an excellent tool of a two-way communicator. He gathered over 50% of solutions to problems from his subordinates' feedbacks to let them realise that their voices counted in the scheme of things, although he wielded his own antidotes at hand.

At different interactions with Crescent University publics, both in the north and southern parts of the country, he led his team with sincerity of purpose and actions. A man of his words, Professor Okeleye never bullied his subordinates.

He possessed qualities of a good leader as he was accessible to all. He pursued organisational goals energetically while he would not underestimate any of his staff. He motivated with commensurate rewards and allocated responsibilities judiciously and efficiently. Professor Okeleye would take prompt actions to issues and would never impose decisions. He would not shout orders; he gave instructions with smiles and soft-spoken utterances.

In law of attraction, likes attracts likes. Professor Okeleye attracted friendliness with fellow professors, cordiality with his lieutenants, confidence with aides, reputation with the academic community and mutuality with the university publics.

Because he attracted dedication, focus and industry in the discharge of his duties, the Proprietor of the university slept with his two eyes closed because His Excellency, Judge Bola Ajibola was assured that a loyal general was in charge.

When likened to a father of many children, he did not favour one over or above others. All staff members were treated based on their peculiarities. He compensated based on merit not favouritism. His proximity with the National Universities Commission (NUC), Conference of Proprietors of Private Universities in Nigeria (CPPUN) and Committee of Vice Chancellors provided a fillip to the steady growth in development of Crescent University, Abeokuta throughout his stint.

The current Vice Chancellor, Professor Ibraheem Gbajabiamila, in a condolence message, described him with the following words:

"Our dear Professor Okeleye contributed immensely to the growth of Crescent University, Abeokuta within his four-year stint as our vice chancellor. His tenure strengthened our Academic Planning Unit , the National Universities Commission's accreditation status of all courses and the establishment of Centre for Sub and External Degree Programmes (CESEDEP).

"His leadership also saw the establishment of two more colleges namely: Bola Ajibola College of Law (BACOLAW) and College of Environmental Sciences (COES). I was privileged to work closely with him as deputy vice chancellor between 2011 and 2014 after which he returned to Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB). Until his death, he never ceased to contribute his wealth of experience to move Crescent University forward".

When he joined the team of the university, within one year, he had separated the chaff from the grains in the academic community. To achieve his set goals, he dropped the toga of his academic zenith as though he were an ordinary member of The Crescent. He would never leave the academic warfront until resource verification and accreditation battles were won so much so that laurels National Universities Commission (NUC) programme accreditation spoils were counted in his favour.

May Allah accept his return and grant him Aljannat Al-Firdaus.
Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said on ABC's "This Week" Sunday that Senate Democrats can slow the process of confirming Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett perhaps a matter of hours, maybe days at the most," but that they "cant stop the outcome."

Why it matters: Durbin confirmed that Democrats have "no procedural silver bullet" to stop Senate Republicans from confirming Barrett before the election, especially with only two GOP senators  Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine  voicing their opposition. Instead, Democrats will likely look to retaliate after the election if they win control of the Senate and White House.

What he's saying: "We can slow it down, perhaps a matter of hours, maybe days at the most, but we can't stop the outcome. What we should do is to address this now respectfully," Durbin said.

"But understand the context, George. Sen. Mitch McConnell, who could find no time to attend the negotiating on the coronavirus relief package that we need to put together for the pandemic facing our country, for the unemployed people, for the businesses," he continued.

"Sen. McConnell refused to attend those meetings. Didn't have time to do it. And yet when this vacancy occurred, he dropped everything. Now we're going hellbent on getting this done before the election. And the second thing, of course, he had to reverse the position he took four years ago, saying that we should wait for the next president to fill the vacancy."

What to watch: Durbin addressed calls by some Democrats to eliminate the legislative filibuster and expand the Supreme Court if they take control of the Senate, saying that "a conversation about the future of the Senate rules is on the table" because of McConnell's "destruction and denigration" of the institution.
A male was shot to death in the Hawg Stop Bar and Grill parking lot on Sheldon Road Saturday night.



Houston Police Department says the 8 p.m. shooting seems to be from a conflict between two rival motorcycle gangs that frequent the bar.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan addressed the people of Armenia. ARMENPRESS reports the Armenian PM noted that the Republic of Artsakh has been subjected to Azerbaijani aggression starting from early morning. Civilian population of Artsakh, capital Stepanakert, the civilian infrastructures of the Republic of Artsakh are being bombarded.

''At the moment we have already victims and injured, including among the civilians. Using heavy weapons, artillery and infantry, the adversary is attacking the military positions of the Defense Army in all the directions. At the moment the Defense Army is fighting stubbornly and honorably fulfilling its task of defending Artsakh by taking actions stemming from the situation', Pashinyan said.

He emphasized that the dictatorial regime of Ilham Aliyev has again launched warfare. ''This is a war declared against the Armenian people. This is a war against our independence, freedom and dignity. The Armenian people are ready to this war since we have always well acknowledged that Armeniaphobia, enmity and hatred with which the Azerbaijani dictatorship has nourished its people for decades, could not lead to anywhere else but war. The Azerbaijani dictatorship has become the hostage of its own anti-Armenian policy and today is trying to justify its propagandistic promises about solving Karabakh issue through military ways'', the PM emphasized.

The PM assured that the Armenian people are ready to adequately retaliate to the enemy. ''The Republic of Armenia is the guarantor of security and independence of the Republic of Artsakh. And the Republic of Armenia today is standing with Artsakh with its entire population and the potential of the state system. We will make all possible and impossible efforts for keeping our borders inviolable and protecting our freedom and independence.

As a signatory of the ceasefire agreement of 1994, the Republic of Armenia will make all necessary measures in the political, diplomatic and military platforms for ensuring the physical security of the people of Nagorno Karabakh and enforcing peace to the adversary. The adversary is already suffering serious human and technical losses. Azerbaijan should well acknowledge that today the combat readiness of our army is higher than ever. The enemy should understand that the entire Armenian nation is standing with Artsakh. We are united like always. We are united in the way we have been united in any decisive moment in our history when the enemy threatened our existence and values. The dictatorial leadership of Azerbaijan should understand that its impossible to bring the Armenian people to the kneels. During our millennia-old history we have faced numerous decisive moments and overcome many hardships. Our case is fair, this criminal encroachment will receive a worthy blow, the PM emphasized.

Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan
T he police officer who shot Jacob Blake has told investigators he thought the 29-year-old was trying to abduct one of his own children, his lawyer has said.

Officer Rusten Sheskey shot Mr Blake several times in the back on August 23 in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

The incident set off days of raging protests that made the state the epicentre of the nations ongoing reckoning with police violence and racial injustice.

Mr Sheskey said he opened fire because he started turning towards the officer while holding a knife, according to his lawyer Brendan Mathews.

People march in support of Jacob Blake and his family to the Kenosha County Courthouse / Getty Images

Mr Matthews - also the Kenosha police union - told CNN that Mr Sheskey arrived at the scene in response to a call from a woman who said Mr Blake was at her home and should not be there.

He said that Mr Sheskey heard a woman say: Hes got my kid. Hes got my keys.

The officer saw Mr Blake put a child in the SUV as he arrived but he did not know that two other children were also in the back seat, Mr Matthews said.

The lawyer said Mr Sheskey told investigators he opened fire because Mr Blake held a knife in his hand and twisted his body toward the officer.

Jacob Blake releases powerful message from hospital bed

He said he did not stop shooting until he determined Mr Blake no longer posed an imminent threat.

Mr Matthews said if Mr Sheskey had allowed Mr Blake to leave and something had happened to the child, the question would have been why didnt you do something?'.

Mobile phone video captured by a bystander and posted online shows Mr Sheskey and another officer follow Mr Blake with their guns drawn as he walks around the front of the parked SUV, opens the drivers side door and lean into the vehicle.

Mr Sheskey, who is white, then opens fire, hitting the black man seven times and leaving him paralysed from the waist down, according to his family members and lawyer.

The shooting sparked outrage and led to several nights of protests and unrest, including a night in which authorities say an Illinois 17-year-old shot and killed two protesters and wounded a third.

Ben Crump, a lawyer for Mr Blakes family, did not immediately respond to Mr Matthewss interview but he has previously said that Mr Blake was only trying to break up a domestic dispute that day.

Thousands march on Washington in wake of Jacob Blake shooting

Mr Crump says that Mr Blake did nothing to provoke police, adding that witnesses did not see him with a knife.

Mr Blakes uncle, Justin Blake, said on Saturday that the allegation that Mr Blake was attempting to kidnap his own child was false, the Kenosha News reported.

Thats ridiculous, Justin Blake said. Its gaslighting. Outright lies.

The bystander who recorded the shooting, 22-year-old Raysean White, said he saw Mr Blake scuffling with three officers and heard them yell: Drop the knife! Drop the knife!, before gunfire broke out.

Mr White said he did not see a knife in Mr Blakes hands.

Wisconsin, Kenosha: Jacob Blake Protests - In pictures 1 /21 Wisconsin, Kenosha: Jacob Blake Protests - In pictures REUTERS Law enforcement officers walk amidst tear gas during a protest following the police shooting of Jacob Blake REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS Protestors run for cover as police shoots tear gas in an effort to disperse the crowd during the demonstrations AFP via Getty Images Police clash with protesters in Kenosha on Monday night AP Flames roar from cars torched by protestors a few blocks from the County Court House AFP via Getty Images Protesters clash with officers during demonstrations against the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha AFP via Getty Images Kenosha County Sherriff and police officers in riot gear form a line behind a burning truck during demonstrations against the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin AFP via Getty Images A protester stands in a cloud of tear gas near a burning garbage truck outside the Kenosha County Court House AP AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AP AP

The Wisconsin Department of Justice, which is leading the investigation, previously said in a news release that a knife was found in the vehicle, but it did not say whether Mr Blake had been holding it at any point during the confrontation or whether police knew it was there before Mr Sheskey shot him.

In a statement previously released by Mr Matthews on behalf of the police union, the lawyer said Mr Blake was armed with a knife.

He added that officers did not see it until Mr Blake reached the passenger side of the vehicle.

As Mr Blake opened the drivers door of the SUV, Mr Sheskey pulled on Mr Blakes shirt and then opened fire. Three of Mr Blakes children were in the back seat.

The mother of the three children, who called police that day, filed a complaint against Mr Blake that had led to charges being filed in July accusing him of sexually assaulting a woman in May.

Mr Blake, who was wanted on a warrant for those charges when police arrived at the scene on August 23, pleaded not guilty to the charges earlier this month via video from from his hospital bed. A trial date was set for November 9.

Mr Sheskey and the other two officers who were at the scene were placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Before Blue Homeland was widely adopted by Turkish politicians, it was seen as reflecting the worldview of nationalists who oppose Ankaras orientation toward NATO, the United States and the E.U. and favor closer ties with Russia and China. Gurdeniz  who studied at the Naval Postgraduate School, worked at NATO and collaborated extensively with U.S. naval officers  said he agreed with those views but is not a zealous nationalist. He called himself a Kemalist, referring to the secular ideology of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, and distancing himself from Erdogans Islamist-based policies. But he added: I dont get involved in the daily politics of Turkey.
By Trend

The firing points and the combat activities of the armed forces of Armenia are suppressed with the interaction of foremost military units, missile and artillery units, frontline aviation, armored vehicles, and other branches of troops deployed in the tensest Tartar-Aghdam and Fizuli-Jabrayil directions of the front, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

Currently, the Azerbaijan Army is taking retaliatory actions and our troops fully control the operational situation.

The mass media and the public will be additionally informed about the events taking place in the frontline zone.

"We urge users of social networks, electronic media, and other mass media representatives not to use unofficial, unspecified, and biased information in order to prevent panic among the population and to ensure the safety of our servicemen".
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani military has suffered big losses during its attack on Artsakh, the Secretary of Security Council of Artsakh Samvel Babayan told reporters.

Azerbaijan is losing equipment every minute, he said.

In the early morning of September 27, the Azerbaijani military launched a massive attack on Artsakh using air force, missiles and tanks. The Azerbaijani artillery strikes targeted civilian settlements, including Stepanakert city, which resulted in several civilians being killed. Schools were also bombed.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Its been over a month since the Central Bureau of Investigation took over the investigation of the Sushant Singh Rajput case. With officials not announcing any major breakthrough yet, it seems patience is running out for the late actors family and friends. After the family lawyer questioned the delay of CBI to convert the abetment to suicide case to homicide, now his friends Smita Parikh and Nilotpal Mrinal have also made strong statements, seeking justice for SSR.

READ: Sushant Case & Drug Probe LIVE Updates: Deepika, Karishma, Sharddha & Sara Grilled By NCB

Sushant Singh Rajputs friends seek justice for SSR

Smita Parikh took to Twitter to send a strong message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She wrote people across the globe had sought his help regarding justice for Sushant Singh Rajput. She called it a brutal murder, and added that the world had huge hopes from the leader in their quest.

We had appealed tp ypu from across the globe @narendramodi @PMOIndia regarding justice for sushant singh rajput its a brutal murder happened right under your nose sir we the people of india want fair justice for @itsSSR the entire globe has huge hopes from you  Smita Parikh (@smitaparikh2) September 26, 2020

Another family friend of SSR, Nilotpal Mrinal shared how Sushant Singh Rajput banners had been pasted at multiple locations in Mumbai. One of them was set up near Mount Blanc, the building in which SSR breathed his last.

READ: Sushant's Family Lawyer Says 'no Information Of CBI's Progress', Slams Attempt To Distract

I was one of you. Do you deserve justice? So do I read the message on the banner, along with the hashtag #JusticeforSushantSinghRajput.

On Saturday, SSRs family lawyer Vikas Singh had stated that he was frustrated about the CBI not making the Sushant Singh Rajput case as a homicide case. He claimed that a doctor from the team of AIIMS, that is working on the forensic report of the death, had told him 200 per cent that Sushant had died of strangulation and not hanging.

Apart from CBI, the ED is probing the embezzlement charges against Rhea Chakraborty, the prime accused in the case. Rhea has been arrested for her alleged involvement in a drug cartel. The spotlight has now turned to more actresses as Rakul Preet Singh was questioned on Friday while questioning of Deepika Padukone, Sara Ali Khan and Shraddha Kapoor was underway.

READ: Sushants Family unhappy With CBI 'pace', Lawyer Reveals Doctors strangulation Claim

READ: Frustrated With Delay, Sushant's Sister Shweta Asks 'How Long Will It Take To Find Truth?'
Chiefs in the Tain Traditional Area have hailed the significant impact President Akufo-Addos flagship educational intervention, Free SHS is having on their community.



At a durbar of Chiefs on Thursday, September 24, 2020, in Nsawkaw, the Chiefs said Free SHS has made it possible for their children to access secondary education.



"The people of Tain are so grateful for your Free SHS. Today, most of our people are getting free education and that will help us," said Daasebre Okogyeaman Duodu Ampem III, Nsawkaw Chief, who spoke on behalf of the Tain Chiefs.



The Chiefs said as a poor and marginalised community, the Free SHS policy will help transform the community.



"It will help to change the socio-economic structure of our district," Daasebre Okogyeaman said.



While commending the government of Akufo-Addo for its educational intervention, the Chiefs urged the government to continue to do more to bridge the gap in social differences in the country, especially in their community.



"We are part of the marginalised; very poor, low income. So then, every effort that the government will undertake to help us is very critical."



"Your programs should be geared towards alleviating poverty in poor communities like Tain."



The Chiefs acknowledged government's ongoing project of building a cashew factory in the area and also appealed to government to have a second look at the pricing of Cashew to help cashew farmers in the area.



"We grow cashew and we know there is an attempt to build a cashew factory for us; it is in the process and we are waiting for it."



"We also want you to do something about cashew prices because the cashew farmers are complaining of the pricing."



Akufo-Addo government committed to Cashew production



Prior to Dr Bawumia's visit to Nsawkaw, he had earlier in the day visited Bongaase in the Damba Constituency, where chiefs there also spoke about the welfare of cashew farmers.



The Vice President spoke extensively on the government's plan to prioritise the cultivation and processing of cashew and other crops.



He said the Tree Crops Development Authority Bill has been passed by Parliament, and the Authority will supervise the activities of cashew farming and other crops, just as the Cocoa Marketing Board does for Cocoa.



On pricing, the Vice President said the Tree Crops Development Authority will be the exclusive government agency to manage Cashew pricing, as well as conduct research into cashew production and other tree crops.

Source: peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Louisiana politicians and Judge Amy Coney Barretts high school alma mater weighed in on the Metairie natives nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court on Saturday, with some praising her pick by President Donald Trump.

Barrett attended St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School in Old Metairie and graduated from St. Marys Dominican High School in New Orleans in 1990. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, and her law degree from Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana, and is now a Trump-appointed judge of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago.

As a Dominican alumna, she reflects the profile of a Dominican graduate who seeks veritas  truth, the motto of Dominican. Dominican recognizes Judge Amy Coney Barrett and congratulates her on this major accomplishment, the school said.

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican whos running for re-election this year, called Barrett "incredibly well-qualified. She walks the talk, and D.C. Democrats fear that," he said on Twitter. (Earlier this week Cassidys leading Democratic opponent, Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins, said the Senate should not vote a successor to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg until the winners of the Nov. 3 presidential and Senate elections take office in January.)

U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, a Republican who serves on the Judiciary Committee that will vote on the president's pick, called Barrett an "impressive jurist. One of the most sacred jobs Louisianians sent me to do is to vet nominees for lifetime appointments to the highest court in the land. I will join my colleagues on the Judiciary Committee in doing just that  fairly and thoroughly," he said.

State Attorney General Jeff Landry said he wholeheartedly commended the choice of "Louisianas own" to the high court. He also accused the "radical left" of hurling "anti-Catholic bigotry" at her.

Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

Barrett's parents, Mike and Linda Coney, are longtime leaders of a local Roman Catholic group. During Barrett's appellate court confirmation process in 2017, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., questioned whether Coney's adherence to "dogma" was greater than her adherence to the Constitution.

Several Louisiana members of the U.S. House praised Barrett, although they won't vote on her nomination.

"Another great Supreme Court pick by President Trump," said U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson. "Amy Coney Barrett is an impeccable jurist and an extraordinarily thoughtful, principled woman committed to our Constitution  and a New Orleans native!"

+2 Romney OKs voting on Supreme Court nominee, all but assures approval WASHINGTON (AP)  Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah said Tuesday he supports voting to fill the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's seat on t

U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Benton, who met Barrett at a student leadership event in 1988 when they were high school juniors and became friends with her, also offered his support in a video.

The anti-abortion rights group Louisiana Right to Life praised Barrett.

"I am beyond proud that Judge Barrett has been nominated by President Trump to the Supreme Court," said a member of the group's board, Sharon Rodi. "As a graduate of my high school alma mater, Dominican High School, Amy has a reputation in the New Orleans area as a wonderful and well-qualified person. She is a strict constructionist who will interpret the Constitution as it is written. "
SHENZHEN, China, Sept. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- OneConnect Financial Technology Co., Ltd. (OneConnect,NYSE: OCFT), a leading technology-as-a-service platform for financial institutions, won the Platinum Award for Digital Banking at the IFTA FinTech Achievement Awards 2019, in recognition for the innovation of its OneConnect Bank Solution.

"We are very honored to receive this award. It is a recognition of our effort and achievements in leveraging advanced technologies to serve the financial industry. We believe that Hong Kong financial institutions have enormous demand for financial technology innovation, and this market is worth exploring," said Daniel Ling, General Manager of OneConnect Hong Kong.

The Institute of Financial Technologists of Asia (IFTA) is a non-profit organization in Hong Kong founded in 2017 by a group of finance and technology professionals. IFTA is committed to driving forward the development of global fintech and to build an ecosystem to connect fintech talent worldwide.

The IFTA FinTech Achievement Awards is co-organized by IFTA and public relations consultancy PR Asia. The awards recognize individuals and enterprises pursuing creative solutions that meet business and social needs. It also celebrates outstanding achievements in implementing information technology in financial services.

OneConnect delivers innovative solutions to facilitate digital transformation in financial services. It is dedicated to boosting value for Hong Kong financial institutions such as banks, securities and asset management companies with its localized fintech solutions for sales, risk control, operations and financial middle-end platforms.

The awarded OneConnect Bank Solution demonstrates OneConnect's core technologies and advantages. It has impressed the industry with three key features: the Online Bank Account Opening Process, the Online SME Account Opening and Loan Solutions, and the Bank Cloud. It incorporates one-stop services that have helped bank clients drive sales, enhance risk management and improve customer service quality.

As of June 2020, OneConnect had served 630 banks and 100 insurance institutions in China, and over 50 international customers in more than 15 countries and regions. Its subsidiaries are based in Hong Kong, Singapore and Indonesia, providing services for the banks and large financial institutions in countries including Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia.

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.

About IFTA FinTech Achievement Awards

The IFTA FinTech Achievement Awards (IFTA) showcases and celebrates the extraordinary achievements made by corporations, NGOs, start-ups, and individuals in the finance and technology industry. The second annual awards are divided into 30 fintech categories, including 26 for corporates and four for individuals, to recognize a wide spectrum of fintech innovation, education, research and development and fintech applications worldwide.

SOURCE OneConnect
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

Trend:

In his statement today, the head of the general staff of the armed forces of the occupying country - Armenia voiced racist statements full of hatred against the Azerbaijani people, Spokesperson, for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Leyla Abdullayeva said.

Abdullayeva was commenting on the statement made by the chief of the Armenian General Staff, Trend reports on Sept. 27.

This statement testifies to the aggression, inter-ethnic strife and Azerbaijanophobia are the state policy in Armenia, the spokesperson added. Such statements about other peoples in the 21st century demonstrate how far from civilization Armenian officials are. We call on the international community to condemn this racist and chauvinist statement made by an Armenian official.

The Armenian armed forces committed a large-scale provocation, subjecting the positions of the Azerbaijani army to intensive shelling from large-caliber weapons, mortars, and artillery installations of various calibers in the front-line zone on Sept. 27 at 06:00 (GMT+4).

The command of the Azerbaijani Army decided to launch a counter-offensive operation of Azerbaijani troops along the entire front to suppress the combat activity of the Armenian armed forces and ensure the safety of the civilian population.

Ashagi Abdurrahmanli, Garakhanbeyli, Garvend, Kend Horadiz, Yukhari Abdulrahmanli villages of Fizuli district, Boyuk Marjanli, and Nuzgar villages of Jabrayil district were liberated.

Moreover, the positions of the Armenian armed forces were destroyed in the direction of the Agdere district and Murovdag, important heights were taken under control.

In accordance with the information of the Ministry of Defense, as a result of the military operation of the Azerbaijani armed forces in the direction of Goranboy district of the front, the Murovdag peak of the Murov mountain system was liberated.

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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

Trend:

A meeting of the Security Council was held under the chairmanship of Azerbaijani President, Supreme Commander of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Head of the Department for Foreign Policy Affairs of Azerbaijans Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev said, Trend reports.

The heads of relevant structures, including the prime minister and speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament, attended the meeting, Hajiyev said. In accordance with the current situation, the president gave instructions to the relevant structures.

The Armenian armed forces committed a large-scale provocation, subjecting the positions of the Azerbaijani army along the entire front line and the Azerbaijani settlements located in the front-line zone to intensive shelling from large-caliber weapons, mortars, and artillery installations of various calibers in the front-line zone on Sept. 27 at 06:00 (GMT+4).

To suppress the combat activity of the Armenian armed forces and ensure the safety of the civilians, the command of the Azerbaijani Army decided to launch a counter-offensive operation of Azerbaijani troops along the entire front.

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.
ST. CLOUD, Minn. October 4, 2019  National Fire Prevention Week is October 6 to 12, and the Minnesota Region of the American Red Cross urges everyone to practice their home fire escape plan and test their smoke alarms.

During Fire Prevention Week, prepare your family for home fires before the holidays and cold weather increase the risk of these crises, said Linda Blackmore, Executive Director of the American Red Cross serving Central Minnesota. Home fires are most often caused by cooking and heating equipment, and we want everyone to stay safe. Please install and test smoke alarms on every level of your home, and practice your escape plan until everyone can get out in two minutes or less.

Practice your plan and test your alarms.

For free home fire safety resources, visit redcross.org/homefires or download the free Red Cross Emergency App (search American Red Cross in app stores). The Red Cross also encourages people to share this brief video with family and friends on "How to Prevent a Home Fire".

 Include at least two ways to get out of each room in your home fire escape plan.

 Select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as your neighbors home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone can meet.

 Practice your escape plan until everyone can get out in two minutes or less.

 Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, placing them inside and outside bedrooms, and sleeping areas.

 Test smoke alarms monthly, and change the batteries at least once a year, if your model requires it.

Lifesaving home fire campaign marks five years.

Home fires take seven lives each day in the U.S., most often in homes without working smoke alarms. Thats why the Red Cross is working with partners to install free smoke alarms in high-risk communities and help families create escape plans through its Home Fire Campaign  which has saved at least 638 lives across the country since launching in October 2014.

Over the past five years the Minnesota Region and local partners have:

 Installed 24,971 free smoke alarms.

 Reached 16,497 children through youth preparedness programs.

 Made 7,662 households safer from the threat of home fires.
Identifying the border in Arunachal is difficult because the British left large stretches of it without delineation or demarcation

As the four Arunachal boys who strayed into China said, 'It's hard to say which is which'. (Photo: ANI)

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.
President Donald Trumps decision this week to expand a ban on divisive and un-American anti-racism training to federal contractors is fueling fears the White House order will deal a crippling setback to corporate efforts to increase workplace equality and address race and gender disparities.

The biggest challenge right now is the confusion, chaos and the uncertainty of not knowing what this means, said M.E. Hart, an attorney and diversity, equity and inclusion expert who runs training sessions for businesses and federal agencies. My concern is that it will stop these efforts for months and may have a chilling effect on the momentum in businesses and organizations.

The announcement just weeks before the November election runs counter to the policies of many American companies as well as state and local government agencies that mandate diversity, inclusion and equity training sessions for employees.

Race in America: Why are there still so few Black executives?

Black employees ask: Do we matter to corporate America?

Corporations in every sector from technology to financial services are reviewing training materials, diversity consultants say. Some are pausing training sessions to make sure they comply with the executive order before it takes effect in November. Particularly worried are businesses such as defense contractors that are heavily dependent on government contracts.

Behind the scenes, individual companies and industry groups are supporting efforts to mount a legal challenge to the executive order, similar to industry opposition to the presidents Muslim travel ban.

This is an incredible opportunity for the business and financial communities to push back against these obvious plays at white supremacy, said Aubrey Blanche, global head of equitable design and impact at high-tech firm Culture Amp.

Trumps appeal to his mostly white base puts corporate America in a bind. Research shows that fostering diverse and inclusive workplaces boosts financial performance and increases innovation.

Story continues

President Donald Trump has expanded a ban on anti-racism training to federal contractors.

Corporate anti-racism initiatives have surged as racial justice and police brutality emerged as pressing issues following the death in police custody of George Floyd.

The nations largest companies issued statements in support of the Black community and made fresh commitments to racial justice, an unprecedented outpouring after decades of corporate silence.

The Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping targets workplace training that is rooted in the pernicious and false belief that America is an irredeemably racist and sexist country.

It instructs corporations to halt any training that inculcates in its employees any form of race or sex stereotyping or any form of race or sex scapegoating" or risk having their government contracts canceled.

The executive order cited a recent seminar at the Treasury Department that argued virtually all White people, regardless of how woke they are, contribute to racism and training materials from Argonne National Laboratories in Chicago, which said racism is interwoven into every fabric of America.

This order and the memo it cites follow numerous appearances of Discovery Institute research fellow Christopher F. Rufo on Tucker Carlson's Fox News talk show, discussing his "one-man war" against critical race theory, the contention systemic racism and racial privilege are embedded in America's legal and societal institutions.

Rufo celebrated achieving his goal  "...persuading the President of the United States to abolish critical race theory in the federal government"  posting on Facebook moments after Trump issued the order: "The president has effectively declared war on critical race theory  and extended the battlefield to all of our major institutions....he has used all of the mechanisms of power to destroy the anti-American ideology of critical race theory  and immediately takes the fight to the bureaucracy, woke corporations, and universities."

VICTORY: Ten minutes ago, the President issued a full Executive Order abolishing critical race theory from the federal... Posted by Christopher F. Rufo on Tuesday, September 22, 2020

The Labor Departments Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs will launch a hotline to report government contractors not following the order.

Stakes are high for contractors who could lose out on lucrative deals if they run afoul of the executive order, government contracts attorneys say.

This has caused quite a bit of curiosity, fear and consternation amongst my clients, said Franklin Turner, a partner with law firm McCarter & English who represents multinational contractors and small and medium-sized companies. Companies have an obligation to ensure equality in terms of affirmative action requirements so most companies engage in this type of training to try to create an inclusive welcome environment for everybody.

Turner says hes read hundreds of executive orders over the years and has never encountered one like it.

Its clearly in my view something that is coming out because of this notion that it might perhaps help the president galvanize a certain segment of his core supporters. That is not how these things should typically work, he said. Theres also some sense that perhaps if we are looking at President Joe Biden come January 2021 that these requirements might go away as quickly as they have emerged.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump ban of 'un-American' diversity training roils corporate America
While the days of empty shelves and panic buying are (hopefully) behind us amid the COVID-19 pandemic, one product has emerged as the most unlikely commodity of the year: toilet paper.

And a new Seattle startup is capitalizing on people's renewed appreciation of TP while also offering a more sustainable, eco-friendly alternative to the paper-based rolls you buy at the store.

Cloud Paper, a tree-free toilet paper startup based in Seattle, was started by University of Washington graduates Ryan Fritsch and Austin Watkins with the goal of giving people a way to lessen their environmental impact and end deforestation caused by tree-based paper products.

This week, the company raised $3 million in seed funding from a host of high-profile investors including "Shark Tank" entrepreneur Mark Cuban, Ashton Kutcher, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, Robert Downey Jr. and Goop's Gwyneth Paltrow.

"Cloud Paper is on a mission to end deforestation caused by traditional paper products," wrote the company. "Today, 20% of deforestation globally is due to tree-based toilet paper and paper towels."

The company offers monthly subscriptions boxes with their 3-ply bamboo-derived toilet paper with convenient delivery right to the customer's door. All packaging is recycled and plastic free, and even the delivery of the toilet paper is carbon neutral, keeping with their eco-friendly mission.

Bamboo is largely seen as a more sustainable alternative to paper made from trees as it is able to grow up to three feet per day and reaches harvest maturity in just three years. In comparison, trees take up to 30 years to grow back and mature.

And that certainly pays off for the planet: the company says that bamboo toilet paper generates 30% less greenhouse gas emissions compared its tree-based counterpart, and the average household would save 250 trees in their lifetime by switching to Cloud Paper.

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

The company, which is only about a year old, says it has seen an 800% increase in memberships this year, showing how something as ubiquitous as toilet paper can drive change during these strange times.

RELATED:
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has held a one-day Tema Dream Conference in Tema East with a call on the party faithful to propagate the achievements of the President, and Member of Parliament for the area.



The conference brought together party members clad in NPP paraphernalia who danced to party songs and listened to speeches from some deputy ministers and party chiefs at the Kplejootsoshishi at Tema Newtown.



Mr Daniel Kwartei Titus-Glover, MP for Tema East and Deputy Minister of Transport, charged party members to get fully involved in the political campaign by selling the gains of the NPP to the public especially those in the constituency.



Everybody have a responsibility to retain the party, and project our works in the constituency so we can meet our 60,000 votes winning target, he said.



According to him, as part of the vision of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the government had provided infrastructure, especially such as roads and in health and education sectors, adding that Tema had received a number of those projects.



He announced that it was his vision to complement the governments Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) by dedicating some of his share of the common fund to provide skills training for the local youth.



He said it was important for the youth to acquire skills to empower them economically and depend on the big companies for jobs because they did not have vacancies.



To empower women in his constituency, parliamentary candidate for the NPP, said when retained, he would liaise with savings and loans companies to provide loans to market women, and those in small scale businesses to enlarge their businesses.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Sri Lankan police on Friday arrested three people suspected of trapping and killing an endangered leopard and trying to sell its meat as a cure for asthma.

The trio were detained after police raided their home following a tip-off that they had used a snare to catch the creature in the central highlands.

"They cut the head off and killed the animal after it got caught in the snare on Thursday," chief inspector Dushantha Kangara told AFP by phone.

He said the suspects had thrown the leopard's head in the forest and removed the carcass to sell the animal's skin, meat and other body parts.

Several leopards have been trapped by snares in the region, some 175 kilometres (110 miles) east of Colombo.

Kangara said there was a popular belief that leopard meat could cure asthma.

Police seized 17 kilos (37 pounds) of leopard meat from the three suspects.

There are believed to be fewer than 1,000 leopards in the wild in Sri Lanka, and harming the big cat is punishable by up to five years' jail.

Wildlife conservationists have asked the authorities to ban snares and to prosecute those who use them.
The Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce is hosting a 2020 Stafford candidates forum slated for 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1.

The forum will be broadcast live on the Stafford METV at https://tinyurl.com/y5a9jdhv and via Facebook Live on the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerces page at www.facebook.com/FortBendChamber.

Running for mayor of Stafford are Cecil Willis, Arthur AJ Honore, Wen Guerra and Jim Narvios. The new mayor will attempt to fill the shoes of longtime Mayor Leonard Scarcella, the only mayor Stafford knew from 1969 until his death on June 28. Scarcella was 79 years old.

The candidates for the Stafford Municipal School District school board are Clint Mendonca, Jacqueline Jean-Baptiste and Christopher Caldwell.

Candidates for City Council Position 4 are Don Jones and Adam Sanchez. Position 4 council member Ken Mathew is running unopposed.

All have been invited to attend the forum. Early voting begins Oct. 13 and runs through Oct. 30. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

For more information about the forum contact Paige Talbott at paige@fortbendcc.org or call 281-566-2152.

Infrastructure updates

Fort Bend County Precinct 1 Commissioner Vincent Morales is scheduled to give an update on infrastructure in his area from 8 to 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, via Zoom.

The update is being presented by the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce. Individual tickets are $20 for members and $30 for prospective members. Once registered for the event, attendees will receive login information for the Zoom call.

Geographically, Precinct 1 in the largest in Fort Bend County, taking up a huge portion of the southern portion of the county.

To register for the event go to https://tinyurl.com/y5lz3nzg.

For more information on the update contact Ryan Husid at ryan@fortbendcc.org or 281-566-2163.

City of Stafford

The Stafford City Council is scheduled to meet three times this week to discuss the citys budget.

Starting at 10 a.m. each day, the council has scheduled public meetings on the budget on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. There is no public access to the meetings. The public and listen to the meetings via telephone and offer comments when appropriate.

On Monday, the call-in number is 1-866-899-4679. The access code is 587-460-181.

On Tuesday, the call-in number is 1-877-309-2073. The access code is 923-878-301.

On Wednesday, the call-in number is 1-877-309-2073. The access code is 263-992-413.

The 2020-21 budget lists more than $18.9 million in revenues and more than $24.9 million in expenditures.

For more information go to www.staffordtx.gov.

City of Missouri City

The Missouri City City Council is scheduled to meet in special session at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28. The public will not be allowed to attend the meeting due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The meeting will be broadcast live on the Internet at www.missouricitytx.gov/780/MCTV.

Members of the public who wish to comment during the meeting should email or call the City Secretary at CSO@missouricitytx.gov or call 281-403-8686; or submit a Public Comment Form to the City Secretary using the form at https://bit.ly/39pw73Q.

On the agenda are a pair of public hearings.

The first deals with a partnership agreements with Sienna Municipal Utility District Nos. 1, 5, 6 and 7. The second hearing deals with annexation for the purpose of providing fire protection services for Sienna Municipal Utility District Nos. 1, 5, 6 and 7.

For more information go to www.missouricitytx.gov.

Chamber Chat

The Fulshear-Katy Chamber of Commerce will host its weekly Chamber Chat & Boss series from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, on Facebook.

This week, the chat will be with Fulshear-Simonton Lions Club, a non-political service club based in Fulshear. For more information on the club, go to www.fulshearsimontonlionsclub.org.

The next Chamber Chat & Boss series is scheduled to include Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, on Facebook.

Programs appear on the Fulshear-Katy Chamber of Commerce Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FulshearKaty.

For more information go to www.fulshearkaty.com.

B.O.B. Bowling Tournament

Registration in ongoing for the Fulshear-Katy Area Chamber of Commerces Fourth Annual B.O.B. (Battle of the Businesses) Bowling Tournament, scheduled for noon to 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, at Main Event-Katy at 24401 Katy Freeway.

Due to COVID-19, safety protocols have been put into place which include not having to wear a mask while bowling or eating and drinking as long as within a particular teams area. However, if leaving an assigned area, it will be necessary to wear a mask. For information on the safety protocols in place go to www.maineventsafety.com.

For more information, contact the Fulshear-Katy Area Chamber of Commerce via email at FulshearKaty@gmail.com or by calling 832-600-3221. To register for the tournament go to https://tinyurl.com/yxfg3w5y.

Webinar on finances

The Katy Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a webinar from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30, focusing on building finances.

Cody Huggins of Regions Bank will discuss how to re-evaluate what stresses you and what motivates you about your finances. Learn how to take charge of your money and grow more confident about your finances.

The event features a pay what you can registration. Although it is presented free of charge, the chamber is asking for donation so it can continue providing services to the business community.

Webinar Wednesdays are designed to keep our business community educated with topics regarding Telecommunications, Technology, Finance, Healthcare, and Human Resource.

For more information go to www.katychamber.com.

rkent@hcnonline.com
Abuja, Nigeria (PANA)  Armed Forces of Nigeria on Sunday said that 13 Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) from Kodila village have surrendered to troops in the northeast region alongside six women and 17 children
MUMBAI: A discord seems to have appeared in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MAV) coalition government in Maharashtra following a meeting between Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut and former state Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis.

The Raut-Fadnavis meeting sparked several speculations in political circles. The two-hour-long meeting between Fadnavis and Raut was the first one between leaders of both the parties after the acrimonious post-poll break-up last year.

According to sources, there has been resentment in Congress and NCP over Raut-Fadnavis meeting. On Sunday, Maharashtra Congress President Balasaheb Thorat and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray at latter's official residence in Mumbai. The meeting lasted for about an hour. However, what transpired during the meeting could not be known immediately.

Live TV

Sources said that the Congress and NCP leaders reportedly made it clear that leaders of the three parties should not engage themselves in any action which may affect the Aghadi coalition or raise questions on Maharashtra government.

Thorat insisted that the Congress is opposing the farm bills and that it should not be allowed to be implemented in Maharashtra. He further stated that as an alliance partner, Shiv Sena should openly support the party on the issue.

Fadnavis and Raut had met at a hotel in Mumbai on Saturday. Although their meeting triggered speculation, Fadnavis on Sunday asserted that the BJP has no intention of joining hands with the Shiv Sena or to bring down the Uddhav Thackeray-led state government.

Fadnavis also said the meeting was regarding an interview for Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

Shiv Sena and BJP, which contested the 2019 state Assembly elections as allies, fell out over power sharing formula, with the Uddhav Thackeray-led party said it was not ready to accept 'less than what was agreed' with the BJP. he Sena formed the government in November last year with the NCP and Congress as the new alliance partners.
It is time to exert more pressure on the terrorists and their supporters, said Director-General of Police (DGP) Jammu and Kashmir, Dilbag Singh here on Saturday.

" Police and all security forces in the Union Territory have sacrificed number of officers and Jjwans in achieving peace in the Union Territory, and it is time to exert more pressure on the terrorists and their supporters," Singh said while chairing high-level meetings to review present security scenario in the valley with officers from the administration, Army, Police, CAPF at Police Control Room Kashmir, and also at Anantnag.

The officers representing different agencies briefed the DGP about the measures put in place for maintaining peace and order and ensuring security of the people.

The DGP while addressing the meeting, stressed for intensified cordon and search operations to flush out the terrorists, "who are desperate to disturb peace and order on the behest of Pakistan terror agents and also their agents present in the valley".

The DGP said that during the current year, the intensified anti-terror operations have yielded good results across against the terrorists, yet we have to continue our actions against them with coordinated strategies to ensure long-lasting peace in He emphasized on collective measures to tackle any situation and any subversive act by the terrorists and their masters across the border.

The DGP reiterated that the support of the community was essential and more and more public cooperation should be ensured by prioritising community-based programmes. He directed the officers that all possible help should be extended to the public as and when required.

He emphasised taking all preventive measures which will stop the recruitment of youths into terrorism.

SSP Anantnag and SSP Awantipora briefed the DGP about the security scenarios and measures taken for maintaining peace and order in their respective districts.

(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.)
Racist white men love invading Black womens personal spaces. At least it seems that way. They treat us like were insignificant, and then bulldoze their way into our native countries, our cities, our neighborhoods, our streets, our homes and our bodies without criminal consequence.

Perhaps the white mans feelings of entitlement to the Black womans personal space comes from the centuries of slavery when a white man could violate any Black woman within his reach and suffer no consequences. Perhaps these are the great days that our president longs for. Lets not forget that hes been accused of violating women at least 26 times.

In March, white police officers invaded Breonna Taylors home and shot and killed her. On Wednesday, a grand jury decided that the two Louisville police officers who murdered her will be free to move around their Kentucky communities like it never happened.

Every time I see Breonnas photo, I see myself. She could have been me. I could have been her.

Breonna was a 26-year-old Black, college-educated, ambitious woman. When I was her age, I was working my first full-time job as a reporter for the Record-Journal in Meriden, and I was a full-time graduate student studying journalism at Quinnipiac University. I was living in my first solo apartment. It was a cute little one-bedroom in West Haven. I had a boyfriend at the time who lived 45 minutes away, and he sometimes spent the night at my house when he didnt feel like driving all of the way back home.

Breonnas boyfriend was spending the night at her place when police officers botched a raid on her apartment.

Ive imagined myself in Breonnas situation. Ive imagined laying in bed next to my boyfriend laughing and talking, and then suddenly the police are knocking down my door, firing bullets through my apartment and through my body. In this scenario that Ive imagined, Ive done nothing wrong, like Breonna. I wasnt really in the wrong place at the wrong time because I was home, where I should have been, just like she was.

Breonna didnt deserve to be murdered. The cowards that murdered her dont deserve to be living outside of a prison cell. The city of Louisville will pay Breonnas family $12 million as part of a settlement for the botched raid, but that is not justice. Her life was worth more than that money. Her mother lost her daughter. As a mother of two, I would much rather have my sons here with me than $12 million.

White people, just a few months ago you were horrified when you watched Minneapolis police officers strangle George Floyd for eight minutes and 46 seconds. After seeing that video, you swore that Black lives mattered. You quickly drafted statements about equality and social justice. You hired Black people and called them chief diversity officers. You created new confusing catch phrases to describe Black people, like BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color). You wanted to know what books you could read to learn about racism. You were studying systems of white supremacy and wanted every Black person you knew to tell you how you contributed to those systems. Now, an innocent Black woman has been killed in her home, and youre silent. Getting justice for Breonna Taylor was your pop quiz, and you have failed.

Black people have been pleading for justice for some time now, and were not getting it. We are tired, but a Black persons fatigue mixed with anger and centuries of oppression is a deadly eruption just waiting to happen. There is going to come a time when Black people start shooting back, fighting back and strangling back. If we face the possibility of being killed without consequence, why wouldnt we fight back?

The world will become as equally dangerous for white people as it is for Black people ... if not more. White people have been bullying Black people for 400 years. Weve been taking some major blows this year. Now Black women are livid. We are also well-educated, strategic, organized, financially literate and ready to obliterate anyone or anything that stands in the way of our freedom and safety.

A severe storm is coming. Consider this your weather advisory.

Stacy Graham-Hunt is a national-award winning columnist and author, who writes about race and identity. She is passionate about Black people telling their own stories. Email her at stacygrahamhunt@gmail.com or follow her on social media @stacyreports.
An Irish tourist has been arrested for allegedly carving his initials into the Colosseum in Rome.

The Carabinieri police said a 32-year-old man was caught by the Colosseum's private security and immediately reported to officers.

The man's two initials, about 6 centimeters (2 inches) high, were said to have been carved with a metal point on a pillar of the first floor on Monday.

The Carabinieri police said the 32-year-old man was caught by the Colosseum's private security and immediately reported to officers

The unnamed man is accused of damaging a historical and artistic landmark, according to CNN, a crime according to Italian law.

If he is convicted he could be punished with up to one year in prison or a fine of no less than 2,065 euros ($2,400).

Archaeologist Federica Rinaldi, responsible for the ancient Roman amphitheater, said people who carve their initials into the monument want to 'appropriate' it.

He added: 'The Colosseum, like any monument that represents the history of all of us, must be preserved and handed over to future generations.'

The Colosseum, considered one of the seven wonders of the modern world, is a World Heritage Site.

This is along with 54 other Italian sites that comprise the city's historic centre.

The man's two initials, about 6 centimeters (2 inches) high, were said to have been carved with a metal point on a pillar of the first floor on Monday

This is not the first time tourists have been fined for vandalising what is believed to be the world's largest amphitheatre.

A Russian tourist was fined 20,000 euros in 2014 for carving the letter 'K' on a section of brickwork.

Construction on the Colosseum began sometime between 70 and 72 CE and seated around 50,000 spectators.

They came to watch gladiators in combat with each other and dangerous animals, including lions.
A year ago, farmers in Hanh Phuoc Commune, Nghia Hanh District in central Quang Ngai Province started growing asparagus in hopes of improving their income by selling the expensive vegetable.

Vo Manh Tu prepares bunches of his asparagus before selling them. VNA/VNS Photo Ngoc Phuoc

But asparagus is not an easy plant to grow.

Most of the inexperienced farmers had to stop growing it after seeing the plants wither due to pesticide overuse.

Vo Manh Tu, 24 years old, was the only farmer who didn't abandon asparagus.

He studied and used organic and environmentally-friendly elements to feed one hectare of asparagus with 14,000 roots in his farm.

Tu started by selecting micronutrients from plants and leftovers like chillies, garlic, lemongrass, ginger, pomelo peel, fish bones, beef bones, soybeans, bananas and moringa leaves, then mixed them together and fermented the mixture.

The water-diluted organic mixture fed to the asparagus increased the plants resistance to insects and helped it grow quickly.

On the first days I tried the mixture, other farmers did not trust it. They did not like the unpleasant smell of fermented soybean. The first soybean mixture came out with a yeast-like smell and others changed their attitude towards my method, Tu told the Vietnam News Agency.

The organic technique helped increase the productivity of Tus asparagus.

The chemical-free asparagus grown by the young farmer has become widely known by local people and those from neighbouring areas. Many traders have visited his farm to buy the vegetables.

When picky traders wanted to check whether the vegetables were really organic, Tu stayed quiet and simply picked an asparagus branch and ate it.

To ensure supply, about 30kg of asparagus is harvested each day.

The vegetables are harvested for six months a year. In the other months, Tu leaves the plant to take a rest and wait for new branches to grow from the old ones without having to seed new plants.

Top tier asparagus is sold to restaurants and apartment buildings at the price of VND110,000 (USS$4.7) per kilo, while lower quality versions sell for VND70,000-80,000 ($3-3.5) per kilo for regular consumers.

Tus consumption market is mostly in Quang Ngai Province and Da Nang City.

Tran Thi Hoa, a customer in Quang Ngai, said she buys the organic asparagus from Tus farm because the vegetables are clean.

The organic model has helped Tu have a stable income of about VND60 million ($2,600) per month and more than VND500 million ($21,740) per year.

Compared to other vegetables, asparagus brings higher economic efficiency and helps create jobs for local farmers with a daily income of VND6.5 million each.

Myself and many other asparagus growers in the province have connected to expand the growing area and look forward to creating a specialised organic asparagus farm to meet the increasing demand of customers, Tu said.

Phan Thi Cam Van from the Technology Market and Management Division, Department of Science and Technology of Quang Ngai Province, said growing asparagus is not a new farming model in the province but there are not many organic models like Tus.

This model makes use of natural raw materials and ensures high quality and safety of the products. Tu has built a sales distribution channel and intends to expand production scale, she said.

Vo Cong Thanh, chairman of the People's Committee of Hanh Phuoc Commune, Nghia Hanh District, said Tu was an example of a young person having success in his own homeland.

The organic asparagus planting paves a new direction for an effective farming model in the locality and needs to be widely spread, he said. VNS

Organic farms fuel sustainable development Born in Dien Ban Town, Quang Nam Province, 37-year-old Duong Hien Tu has developed the area's first organic ecological agriculture system and a sustainable farming model over the past seven years to create the An Phu organic farm brand.
Closeup portrait of a young African American woman with face mask on the studio against white background.

Health experts and organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have been urging people to wear face masks for months to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. And now a new commentary published in the New England Journal of Medicine theorizes that population-wide face mask use may have additional benefits  namely, by making you less ill if you get COVID-19 and allowing a very small amount of the virus to get through and possibly trigger protective immunity against the coronavirus.

Its worth noting that these are only proposed theories. But if this hypothesis is borne out, universal masking could become a form of variolation  referring to a now obsolete and risky practice in which patients were exposed to a small amount of smallpox scabs containing the variola virus to trigger an immune response  that would generate immunity and thereby slow the spread of the virus in the United States and elsewhere, as we await a vaccine.

Experts in the commentary also suggest that the severity of a COVID-19 infection is related to how much of the virus patients are exposed to.

The role face masks play

Dr. Brian Garibaldi, director of the Johns Hopkins Biocontainment Unit and associate professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, tells Yahoo Life that more research is needed to prove these hypotheses. But he calls the theory that mask wearing might allow in very small viral particles that then generate some protective immunity against the coronavirus an intriguing possibility.

Face masks help protect people by effectively filtering out the vast majority of virus particles, Dr. Dean Winslow, an infectious disease specialist at Stanford Health Care, tells Yahoo Life. But no mask provides 100 percent protection (the coveted N95 masks filter out 95 percent of airborne particles), which means tiny amounts of the virus may still get through.

Dr. Monica Gandhi, co-author of the commentary, theorizes that this minimal exposure to the virus might lead to asymptomatic or mild infections  rather than more severe ones if the person hadnt been wearing a mask  and they might provide short-term immunity. (However, scientists still dont know how long immunity lasts after a coronavirus infection.)

Story continues

Masks will significantly cut down the amount of COVID you might come into contact with, but they may not block all of it if you walk into an area where [an infected person] might sneeze, Garibaldi explains. If youre wearing a mask in that scenario, you only get a little bit of exposure and it may not be enough to make you very sick or sick at all, but it might prime your immune system. So if you came into contact with the virus again, you might have an immune response.

While any exposure to the coronavirus sounds understandably scary, experts explain that its not just about exposure to the virus, but also how much (the viral load) and for how long. Theres good data that the risk of getting infected with SARS-CoV-2 [the virus that causes COVID-19] is the product of the amount of virus thats in the air times the number of minutes or hours that youre exposed to it, explains Winslow.

Gandhi, a professor of medicine and associate division chief of the Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine at UCSF/San Francisco General Hospital, says, Our theory is masks have a major advantage, not only in decreasing transmission but also possibly decreasing the severity of illness.

However, some experts are skeptical about the theories without more research. It seems like a leap, Saskia Popescu, PhD, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the University of Arizona (who was not involved in the commentary), told the New York Times. We dont have a lot to support it.

Popescu added that in addition to wearing masks, we still want people to follow all the other prevention strategies, such as social distancing and washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds (or using hand sanitizer).

Other experts expressed concerns that people might incorrectly misinterpret the hypothesis to mean that masks arent effective. As Gandhi states: There are so many advantages of facial masking, and even though we know its a hard thing to swallow for the American population, it really seems to have so many different [ways] that it helps.

Masks as the best defense

Gandhi says when the CDC first issued guidelines to the public on wearing masks, it kind of got the messaging wrong by focusing on the fact that masks protect others. Theyre right that it protects others, she says, but that message didnt really work. It would have helped if we said [earlier on] that masks protect you and others. It really protects you from transmission.

The CDCs guidelines on masks have evolved as the scientific community has learned more about the coronavirus. Most recently, while giving testimony before a Senate subcommittee hearing on Sept. 16, CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield called face masks the best defense we have against COVID-19, as reported by CBS News. Redfield also mentioned that face masks may be even more effective than a vaccine, which is not projected to become available until mid-2021.

I might even go so far as to say that this face mask is more guaranteed to protect me against COVID than when I take a COVID vaccine, because [the vaccine] may be 70 percent effective, Redfield said. And if I dont get an immune response, the vaccine is not going to protect me. This face mask will.

But Gandhi notes that wearing masks is just an intermediate step to get to that vaccine. In the meantime, she says, the multiple benefits of wearing one make her feel hopeful.

This has been a really scary time because theres this feeling that theres no control, and it gives me a lot of hope and optimism that something very simple like wearing facial masks ... can provide us some control over it. There is something we can do.

Garibaldi agrees, telling Yahoo Life: We should wear a mask because thats the only way were going to get transmission under better control until theres a vaccine. The most important reason to wear a mask is its going to save lives. If we all masked up right now and stopped the nonsense of masks as a political statement, we would save hundreds of thousands of lives over the next six months.

As Gandhi notes, COVID-19 is a deadly disease for some, adding, Anything we can do to both decrease people getting it and decrease the severity of illness, thats a win-win.

For the latest coronavirus news and updates, follow along at https://news.yahoo.com/coronavirus. According to experts, people over 60 and those who are immunocompromised continue to be the most at risk. If you have questions, please reference the CDCs and WHOs resource guides.

Read more from Yahoo Life:

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The number of U.S. COVID-19 Cases passed seven million on Friday, with the country accounting to 20 percent of the world's total number of infections.

As per the tracker maintained by John Hopkins University, the current number of U.S. COVID-19 cases came days after the country surpassed 200,000 deaths.

The six-million mark was hit on August 31, noted Politico. It took less than a month for that number to jump by a million.

The number of U.S. COVID-19 cases went down by the end of the summer, but at least 21 states are now seeing resurgences in infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data.

Recently the seven-day average for confirmed cases hovered around 40,000. Back in July, when the health crisis was at its peak, the average was over 66,000 infections.

Some States Improve COVID-19 Handling

COVID-19 Tracking Project said states in the South and West saw improved situations since mid-summer. The Midwest is the only region that sustained growth in its infections, they added.

"This has yet to result in dramatic regional spikes in hospitalizations and deaths similar to those seen in the South and West in prior months," the project said in a blog.

CDC Director Robert Redfield said that Americans aged 18 to 25 make up 26 percent of COVID-19 cases. This age group percentage is more than any other age groups' case count.

Death counts are down nationwide, as well as hospitalizations. This may be because younger people are generally better at fighting off the virus than older groups, said a U.S. News and World report.

But Redfield still warned that this age group could spread the disease to others who are vulnerable.

Despite this, COVID-19 infections in California are still more than 800,000, which is more than any state and more than many countries. But it is lower than its peaks in July and August.

In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis lifted restrictions on bars, restaurants, and other businesses. The move pushed the state into "phase three" of reopening," said a CBS News report.

DeSantis said the state would not be "closing anything moving forward."

The governor is even confident that the state can host a Super Bowl in February, which causes concerns for health professionals. The state has long been a COVID-19 hotspot.

At least eight states also reported spikes in new virus cases. These spikes showed an increase of more than 60 percent in the past two weeks.

Wisconsin also saw its virus caseload go up by nearly 100 percent.

Global COVID-19 Case Count

All over the world, COVID-19 cases are up at 32 million. The U.S. is with the highest case count, followed by India and Brazil.

The U.S. also sees far higher numbers in COVID-19 deaths than any other country.

Data from the Department of Health and Human Services show that U.S. cases went up 10 percent over the last few weeks.

The death toll was a "shame" for President Donald Trump. But he also said the situation could have been worse.

He pointed to a 2.2 million projection that said 2.2 million Americans could die from the virus without action to stop it.

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Two terrorists were killed in a gun battle with security forces in south Kashmirs Pulwama district on Sunday, couple of days after two so-called Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commanders were shot dead in Bijbhera, officials said.

The encounter between security forces and terrorists in Samboora began in the afternoon after officials received inputs about the presence of terrorists in the area. The identity and the affiliation of the terrorists killed in the encounter have not been ascertained, officials said.

While searching the area, the security forces were fired upon by the terrorist which triggered the encounter, officials said. A cordon was laid and contact was established with the terrorists which ensued in a firefight, an Indian Army spokesperson said.

Kashmir police had tweeted earlier in the evening that an unidentified terrorist was killed in the encounter. The operation is going on and further details will follow, it had said.

On Friday, the so-called LeT commanders were killed following a night-long encounter in Sirhama area in Bijbhera. The terrorists were identified as Adil Ahmad Bhat of Pulwama and Abu Rehan alias Towheed, a Pakistani national.

A terrorist was killed in an encounter with security forces on Tuesday in an overnight gunfight in Central Kashmir, officials said. He was identified as Asif Shah resident of Samboora Pulwama. He was affiliated with proscribed outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

On September 17, three Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Batamaloo area of Srinagar. According to the police, a woman was also killed in the crossfire during the gunfight.

Around 181 terrorists have been killed in Jammu and Kashmir so far this year in around 75 anti-terrorist operations, according to officials.
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Teresa Thorne

Todays guest columnist is Teresa Thorne.

One of the confusing calls today is the one to Defund the Police. My thoughts on the subject are seasoned with a career in law enforcement, a masters in social work, some research, and a couple of decades of contemplation.

Actually defund the police

Some who call to defund police, mean it. They want to restructure society without police. I sincerely hope we figure out how to do this, but at this point in our development as human beings, abolishing police is not a workable idea, particularly in the U.S. Consider recent events in Chicago (where in two weekends, 34 people were killed and 186 were shot); consider also Seattles failed no-police protest zone experiment; and the violence in our own communities.

Abolishing police would stop police abuse issues, but it would create a vacuum that could be filled with violence. Even a country with minimal crime like Norway has a police department.

Replace the department

For others, defunding the police means they want to dismantle the particular law enforcement system in place as completely dysfunctional and reassign it. A most unlikely place did that. Camden, NJ, in 2010 had the highest crime rate in the country. They faced a $14 million budget deficit and had to lay off half their police force. What happened? Arrests in 2011 dropped by half, burglaries increased 65%, and the murder rate skyrocketed. So that is one lesson about defunding police.

Heres the other side of what happened. In desperation, Camden dismantled their (union represented) police department and merged with the county, putting more officers on the street for less money. The change also gave them an opportunity to instill new cultural values in the department, significantly reducing excessive use of force complaints, and crime rates dropped 42% compared to a drop of 4.9% in U.S. (in the same time period.)

Redefine the job and reallocate resources

But for the most part, the meaning of defund the police means a city reviewing what it wants and expects from its police, what it values and believes is effective in terms of where it puts resources.

I say this is long called for  both for government and for police agencies themselves. Im not saying the Birmingham Police Department, in particular, needs an overhaul. First, Ive been too long removed to comment on that, and second, it was an honor to have served there with many extraordinary men and women doing a difficult and demanding job, some of whom gave their lives.

But there are systemic issues with the culture of law enforcement. Even as a rookie, I was confused by the militaristic model of training we received (picture red-faced sergeants yelling at recruits, making them drop for push-ups, etc.) A military model works for . . . um, the military, which actually has an enemy and relies on instant, unquestioned obedience. That kind of role model is reinforced by peer pressure and instills in police recruits an expectation and demand for obedience and a respectful attitude from the public, which adds to the (human) difficulty of maintain stoic responses in the face of the opposite behavior. It is also not conducive to the type of independent and sometimes creative decision-making required of police officers on the street.

Officers are trapped in a system that measures and rewards them for writing tickets and making arrests. Think about that. Number one: Neither interactions are helpful to developing relationships. Number two: Officers tally up their tickets and arrests for evaluations and promotional decisions. So, in reality, officers chase an unknown numbera type of reward system that creates anxiety and competition, ill feelings in the public, and overfills our jails and prisons. Obviously, that is also driven by what society defines as criminal.

Add to that the systemic dysfunctions that create a breeding ground for crime, like a dearth of available, affordable drug rehab, mental health support, housing, and predatory lending, limited services for the homeless, food deserts, lack of arts and enrichment in schools, mentoring and tutoring needs, high speed internet, transportation, job training and placementsonly to name some of the challenges facing a large portion of the population, mostly the people who both need and fear the police the most.

Then blame the police for not being able to solve the problems that arise from societys dysfunctions. Throw in the perception and sometimes reality of police abuse, and its a no brainer to realize that much of the public has no trust for police or that police feel they are made the enemy and tasked to do an impossible job.

I want to be clear that police need to protect themselves and others. In 2/3 of the nations police departments the number of deadly-weapons attacks on officers averaged 27 per day. Officers need to be constantly aware and alert but call on those responses only as a last resort. This is a daunting requirement.

The links to crime

Studies show it is not the number of police or the number of arrests that affect crime. An avalanche of research in criminology is linking declining legitimacy with increases in crime. When Camden lost half its police force, it may not have been the lack of arrests per se that drove crime, but the perception that there werent enough police. People virtually stopped calling the police for misdemeanor infractions.

Predatory violence can increase because offenders believe victims and witnesses will not report incidents to the policethe primary reason that many homicides go unsolved and perhaps a reason behind the explosion of shootings in cities like Chicago during a pandemic. They dont believe the police can or will be able to stop it.

Trust is key

Lets talk about lack of trust. How do you trust someone you only have negative interactions with? How do you address the fear of police? For me personally, the reality of that hit home with two eventsthe killing of George Floyd and the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre. As a Jewish person, I appreciated the outpouring of sympathy and outrage at the massacre, but it did not make me feel safe. And I can understand that no amount of white participation in protesting and support makes black people feel safe.

The number of police shootings of unarmed Black shooting victims is down 63% from 2015. That does not make Black people feel safe anymore than Chicago residents feel safe knowing that the weekend shooting sprees were anomalies in pandemic crime trends. Trust is going to take a long time to build and is going to be about people interacting with people in the community. It must be, as it always has been, about relationships.

And how do police build relationships if they dont have the time to do anything but answer calls or if they are busy making traffic stops and arrests to go on their monthly reports? Im not saying those things should not be in law enforcements toolkit, but the majority of responses society needs from police officers are better addressed by a mindset and training as problem solvers with crisis intervention and de-escalation skills. Try to fit that into a military training model.

That said, even the military has recognized that many of todays soldiers need multiple skill sets and the trust of the community in dealing with warfare in areas where the enemy is indistinguishable from innocent civilians. That takes a maturity, training, and value set reinforced by standards, expectations, and peers. The latter is the hardest to tackle but not impossible.

Police need to be screened, trained, evaluated, and importantly  paid as professionals doing an extremely difficult job. Yes, Camden put more officers on the street by paying them less, but their turnover is very high. That means they are investing in people who dont stay. It helps payroll, but in the long run it will cost the city. Paying police more by itself doesnt solve the issues, either, but without that, you are looking at reduced applicant pools, both in quality and quantity or, as in Camden, police who stay long enough to get trained and then leave for other jobs or other careers. That is actually an ongoing problem plaguing departments throughout the country, including Birmingham.

Change is needed, both for police and society. But just taking money from the police department is not going to accomplish anything of value. A safest metros' report found that the most dangerous cities dedicate about 50% fewer dollars to police and public safety, and their community services allocations are 3 times smaller than in the safest metros.

In particular, taking street officers away from areas of high crime would be counterproductive and abandoning those who need them the most (see Camden). The city needs to invest in solving its problems, and that is going to take funds and dedication to do something hard. In a time when revenue is decreasing, that also means how to do more and be effective with less.

How to reduce costs

Although more officers overall doesnt seem to affect crime, deploying more officers on the street in high crime areas has shown to be effective, and not result in more arrests, just less crime, especially if they have the time and motivation to get out of their cars and talk to and interact with the community. That means reducing costs and redeploying sworn officers.

Utilizing trained civilians could reduce the need for sworn officers in many positions. Working the front desks at precincts, as assistants in detective offices to deal with paperwork, contacting victims, etc. (possibly freeing some detectives to return to street duty). Why do we need armed officers to respond to accident scenes to take reports for insurance companies? Trained citizens could do that or even respond to theft/burglary or other after-the-fact calls where the major requirement is filling out a report.

Birmingham was an early leader (1970s) in hiring social workers to follow up or to respond with officers to calls of domestic violence, mental health, child abuse, etc. But there are only 5 positions to cover the city 24/7. That program should be expanded, along with the resources they and police officers need to support their efforts to address community problems.

Technology can be employed. Why do police have to stop vehicles to give tickets? Yes, sometimes drugs or weapons are found that way, but is it worth it in terms of the negative association of citizens with police and the opportunity for harm to both inherent in even routine traffic stops? We are quite capable of having cameras and computers monitor traffic violations and issue appropriate tickets.

Perhaps it is time to reexamine the possibility of sharing costly facilities like jails, dispatching, training, and vehicle pools and to evaluate law enforcement hiring and traininga topic unto itself. Monies saved can go toward addressing the communities' needs.

But it shouldnt stop at police departments. A reevaluation of where monies are going throughout city government is called for, to weigh the value of administrative costs and to shift people and resources where they are neededmore police on the streets, more investments in schools and youth, drug rehab, job training, and mental health services to start. With access to these resources, police can actually be problem-solvers, have alternative strategies to arrest, and can build trust in the communities they serve, and that will make their jobs easier and more rewarding and our communities safer.

Change is hard. It is much easier to keep the status quo. The pandemic has created a tough financial time for cities in addition to the pressure of calls for reform. We need to do more than just survive it. We need to use the opportunity to take a hard look at what we do, who we are, and who we want to be.

T.K. Thorne, a retired Birmingham police captain and former director of downtowns CAP, explores murder, mayhem, and magic in her newest novel, House of Rose. Her books include award-winning historical novels, Noahs Wife and Angels at the Gate, and her nonfiction, Last Chance for Justice, details the investigation and trials of the 1963 Birmingham church-bombing case. Her forthcoming nonfiction is Behind the Magic Curtain: Secrets, Spies, and Unsung White Allies of Birminghams Civil Rights Days. She writes from her mountaintop Alabama home. TKThorne.com
The Minister of Culture, Bogdan Gheorghiu, on Sunday, stated, after voting at one of the sections organized at the "Petru Rares" High School in Suceava, that he voted for good managers and with a vision to lead the local administration and for the development of the community.

"The time has come to have at the head of each local administration managers, good managers with European projects, for the development of the community. I invite all Romanians to come to the polling stations because it is their right, but also their responsibility to decide the fate of each locality for the next four years. I voted with people who have done concrete things for the community, who have vision, energy and projects. Performance, professional achievements and, finally, meritocracy are the words that should help you make the right choice. Romania is deep, kind, solidary, responsible, hard tried and yet full of hope. Let's not disappoint her!,'' said the Minister of Culture.
Covid-19s shadow looms over the 75th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly

Covid-19s shadow looms over the 75th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly this year. The high-level segment began September 22, with virtual speeches delivered to a near empty hall. Customarily, the first speaker was Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, followed by US President Donald Trump. The US presidential election is just weeks away, the outcome of which is critical for America and indeed the world.

For India, the anniversary has little cause for celebration as China, a UN Security Council permanent member, ignoring its Charter commitments, is attempting by force to alter the status quo at the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh. The 2020 theme is: The Future We Want, the UN We Need: Reaffirming our Collective Commitment to Multilateralism. This sounds unrealistic, the world being caught between the pandemic and the rise of nationalist-populist leaders in almost all major powers, other than perhaps Germany. Its therefore important to study what they had to say.

President Trump, days from a tough November 3 election, was naturally more geared to a domestic than global audience. Incidentally, he spoke as Bob Woodwards book Rage, based on extensive interviews including with the President, reached bookshops. Pulling no punches, Trump called the pandemic the invisible enemy and China virus. He likened US mobilisation to that during World War II, having already cost over 200,000 dead, 40 million jobless and an economic slowdown nearing recession. The $2.2 trillion stimulus may leave behind rolling deficits. Trump sought accountability from those who unleashed the plague. While China, he alleged, locked down domestic travel, it kept international flights open, and delayed sharing sharing that the disease was communicable person-to-person and by asymptomatic individuals. Woodward recounts Trumps discussion with advisers whether China, realising the likely damage to its economy, allowed international travel and thus the pandemics spread, to level the playing field with the developed world. Trump then fielded the usual claims about US economic and military growth under his watch and a swipe at the UN that it must focus on real problems to be effective. The US, he claimed, led in protecting human rights, which sits poorly with his handling of the Black Lives Matter protests. When Woodward pushed with: Im asking whether you can understand the plight, struggle, pain of people?. The reply, more dodge than revelation, was: Im somebody that likes to get things done rather than talk. Trump cited his America First invocation, encouraging others to the same. It summed up his anti-multilateralism at the citadel of global governance.

Chinese President Xi Jinping was happy to fill that gap. He repeatedly referred to the pandemic, on the defensive after the US onslaught. He pledged the virus must be defeated, but must not be politicised, nor nations stigmatised. He sought macro policy coordination between major economies to enable global recovery. He then waxed eloquent about helping the developing world, especially Africa, which for China is a crucial market and source of raw materials. Chinese companies control mines from Congo to Chile and Australia, cornering minerals needed for solar panels, electric vehicles, etc. The pandemic, Xi argued, should teach there is no escaping inter-dependence and respect for each countrys independent choice of development path and model. He countered the crescendo for decoupling from China by seeking an open multilateral trading system with WTO as its cornerstone. On climate change, he promised carbon neutrality in China by 2060. Of course, he ignored that Chinas installed capacity for polluting thermal power is half the worlds total. Even new Belt and Road Initiative projects have a mix of thermal and hydro power units. Reaffirming faith in global governance, he promised China will never seek hegemony. The speech will leave most of Chinas neighbours astounded at the gap between his words and Chinas actions.

Interestingly Russian President Vladimir Putin contested Americas claim of stabilising West Asia and the Gulf by peace deals. He said as the world changes so must the UN, but undermining it may collapse the architecture of international organisations. In the Mideast, he sees foreign interference, not democracy and reform, with the vacuum filled by extremists, leading to an illicit trade in arms and oil. He undercut Trumps simplistic conclusion that splitting and realigning parts of the Islamic world with Israel and against Iran and its Shia nation-allies would buy peace.

Amid this dissonance among major powers Pakistans PM Imran Khan addressed the UNGA. He tried linking the UNs 75th anniversary as a time to recall fascisms defeat in Europe and focus on contemporary neo-fascism by the RSS and the BJP government in India. From that it was an easy path to claiming repression in Kashmir, and the breach of real and imaginary past UNSC resolutions. While he focused on the flow of illicit funds of Pakistans politicians to developed nations, with his political rivals in mind, there was no mention of Pakistans funding non-state actors and its travails with the Financial Action Task Force. His angst is understandable as the big powers arent interested in Pakistans Kashmir laments, except China.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi may take the high road and leave Indian diplomats to respond. He will no doubt seek UNSC reform, support equitable globalisation, as India needs investment to create employment, reiterate Indias commitment to the Paris climate change accord and, like China, offer help to developing nations in fighting the pandemic. The post-pandemic world has conflated with the post-Trump world. Woodwards final words on Trump are that his oversized personality and lack of trust in experts led to the undermining or attempted undermining of so many American institutions. The failure of calming, healing voice. The unwillingness to acknowledge errors.... Facing a recalcitrant China, angry farmers up in arms and a swirling Covid, Indias government should draw a lesson from this.
Vietnam reported five imported COVID-19 cases on Sunday, with the country having gone over three weeks without registering a single community-based infection, the Ministry of Health said.

The five new patients are Vietnamese returnees from France. They all hail from Ha Nam Province in northern Vietnam.

The patients arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on board the same flight on Friday.

They were sent to a centralized quarantine center in neighboring Binh Duong Province upon landing.

Their tests for the novel coronavirus returned positive at the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday.

They are being isolated for treatment at a general hospital in Binh Duong.

Vietnam has confirmed a total of 1,074 cases since January 23, when the virus first battered the country, according to the health ministry.

The number of recovered patients has reached 999 as of Sunday night, with 35 virus-related deaths.

Nineteen patients have tested negative for the virus for one to three times and are expected to be discharged from the hospital in the coming days.

The nation has recorded zero local infections for 25 consecutive days.

Vietnam has resumed commercial flights to certain destinations, including Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and mainland China.

Entrants from these places are now required to present certificates proving they tested negative for the novel coronavirus within three days of their boarding flights.

The Vietnamese government had suspended international commercial flights since March 25 to slow the spread of COVID-19.

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, subject to mandatory quarantine.

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.

Vietnam currently charges international arrivals for quarantine. It provided the quarantine service for free in the past.

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The pent-up demand for travel is going to be further unleashed in the foreseeable future with the improvement of the COVID-19 situation in various countries, which enables global tourism to expect a recovery, according to Qian Jiannong, board chairman and chief executive officer of Fosun Tourism Group (FOLIDAY).

(Photo/fosunholiday.com)

Although the pandemic situation can be uncertain, hopes of tourism recovery are certain, Qian said, explaining that COVID-19 has mainly impacted the structure of tourism products but hardly affected medium and high-end products.

FOLIDAY has witnessed a rapid recovery of business in the Chinese market. Our business rebounded in Hainan province first, with the Atlantis resort in Sanya receiving more guests last month than it did in the same period last year, Qian disclosed.

On July 19, FOLIDAY, the travel and cultural arm of Shanghai-based conglomerate Fosun International, officially launched its tourism brand Thomas Cook in cooperation with British travel group Thomas Cook Group, which has nearly 180 years of history.

The Thomas Cook app has been downloaded more than 170,000 times over the past two months. On Sept. 16, Thomas Cook Group was relaunched as a brand new online travel agency in the UK, Qian shared, saying that FOLIDAY will continue to seek more resources overseas for cooperation.

Most foreign tourists come to China for sightseeing, while the number of foreign visitors who come for a leisurely vacation is nearly zero, said Qian, explaining that the phenomenon is mainly caused by the structure of Chinese tourism products.

Therefore, we must upgrade leisure tourism products and resorts. In addition to good hotels, we should also have a good cultural atmosphere and better marketing and services, Qian suggested.

As a global leader in the leisure tourism industry, FOLIDAY owns world-famous self-owned brands including global leading resort brand Club Med, the worlds first tourism brand Thomas Cook, Atlantis Sanya, and tourist destination complex Foryou Town.

Frequent major moves and innovative products of the group have injected fresh vigor into Chinas cultural and tourism industry and made FOLIDAY an emerging leader in tourism culture.

The efforts to support the development of the Thomas Cook brand in China represent a major step of FOLIDAYs global journey, according to Qian, adding that the popularity of the Thomas Cook digital lifestyle platform will further consolidate the ecosystem of FOLIDAY.
No new coronavirus infections were detected in NSW on Sunday, the first zero-cases day in almost four months.

The state has in the past week recorded several days of no new local cases, but this is the first day where there were also none in hotel quarantine.

The last time zero cases of any kind were reported in NSW was June 10, before infected Victorians caused an outbreak in Sydney.

There are still 90 active cases in NSW, nine of whom are in hospital and three in intensive care.

Crowds were allowed at an NRL match between the Wests Tigers and the Parramatta Eels at Bankwest Stadium on Saturday night as Sydney has very few coronavirus cases

Just 18 cases were detected over the past week, only one of which was from an unknown source.

The tiny number of new cases in recent weeks led to South Australia opening its border to NSW and increases pressure on Queensland to follow suit.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, facing an election next month, is stubbornly refusing to open the NSW border.

She demands there be no community transmission for 14 days in a row, despite there being almost none for weeks.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian continues to reap the benefits of nipping an outbreak in Sydney in the bud with no new cases on Sunday

NSW Health official Christine Selvey urged residents with any symptoms to keep getting tested despite there being so few cases.

'We continue to ask people to remain vigilant and come forward for testing immediately if symptoms such as a runny nose, scratchy throat, cough or fever appear,' she said.

'This is particularly important with the start of the school holidays and increased movement of people around the state.'
Keep track of issues that come up throughout the week, and schedule frequent meetings to resolve them as they arise. Yamalis Diaz, a child and adolescent psychologist at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York, suggested alternating sitting down with your own family and with all the members of the pod every other week, just like you would if you were working as part of a team at work.

Set a clear agenda for these meetings to make sure all participants have the time and are emotionally prepared to address problems. Write down the decisions that are made and update your initial guiding document as needed, so your pod can refer to it later on. And be prepared to compromise.

Consider other perspectives.

Everyone is really primed to be overwhelmed and anxious, said Stephanie Lee, the senior director of the A.D.H.D. and Behavior Disorders Center at the Child Mind Institute in New York. And that stress can be augmented even further when youre talking about the well-being of your children. Use empathy when bringing up problems with other members; present a potential solution and withhold judgment. Its important to approach this with the idea that theres no ideal situation, Dr. Lee said. If there were, wed all be doing it.

Accounting for the specific perspectives of pod members is especially critical if any of the children in the pod have disabilities, or if the families come from different ethnic, socioeconomic or linguistic groups. The first thing to look at is whos spoken up more and whos been heard less, Dr. Lewis-McCoy said. The only way these pods can work toward equity is finding a place of common ground, while paying attention to the specific needs of different families to ensure each pod member is supported.

Solicit support from teachers and experts.

Remote learning has thrust many parents into roles normally occupied by teachers and school administrators. But educators have training and experience in dealing with problems that might seem insurmountable to parents  especially when it comes to students behavior in the classroom, which many parents are only seeing up close for the first time.

Parents should be reminded they are not supposed to have all the answers, Dr. Diaz said. She suggested seeking academic and behavioral support from a pods private tutor or the students school, and mental-health and emotional support from a counselor or therapist.

Dont forget about the grown-up friendships.

Amid the stresses of organizing logistics and managing personalities, its easy to forget that pods are meant to be, well, a good thing. Dr. Diaz pointed out that while parents might be in constant communication about the pod, little of that time is likely spent tending to their own self-care and relationships with other pod parents. In addition to the regular meetings, make time for an adults-only happy hour or dinner, as well as morning walks and other social activities that include the kids.
Belarusian security forces tear-gassed anti-government protesters and fired shots in the air in the city of Homel on September 27. Demonstrators were also detained in another major city, Hrodna. Rallies against the authoritarian ruler, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, have taken place every day since he declared victory in a disputed presidential election on August 9.
(Newser)  Failure to party like it's 2020 landed a Maryland man in the clink until it's 2021. As WJLA reports, police were summoned to the home of one Shawn Marshall Myers on March 22 over a report of a gathering of some 50 to 60 of his nearest and dearesta no-no under Gov. Larry Hogan's ban on parties of more than 50 people. Myers at the time was "argumentative with officers but eventually agreed to disband his party," per the State's Attorney.

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That might've been the end of it, but for a repeat gathering on March 27 in which it appears that Myers was less cooperative. Again, per the State's Attorney: "He was argumentative claiming he and his guests had the right to congregate. ... Myers directed his guests to stay in defiance of Governor Hogans Orders and the officers lawful orders to disband the party." Myers was arrested and on Friday was convicted of two counts of failure to comply with an emergency order to the tune of one year in jail. (Read more coronavirus stories.)
President Trumps nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett for the U.S. Supreme Court on Saturday instantly altered the focus of the Nov. 3 election and positioned conservatives to secure a majority on the high court for years, if not a generation, to come.

The confirmation process ahead is certain to be contentious given the stakes, but the result is not in much doubt. The Republican majority in the U.S. Senate appears ready to fall in line to approve Trumps choice to succeed the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg, whose intellectual heft in pursuing equal rights in myriad ways made her a revered figure on the left.

Barretts record as a legal scholar and federal appeals court judge in Chicago suggest she would rule in the opposite direction of Ginsburg on everything from abortion to gun control, affirmative action  and, quite possibly, the fate of the Affordable Care Act, a challenge to which is about to reach the high court in November. Her confirmation would give conservatives a 6-3 majority.

The fight ahead is expected to center not so much on the 48-year-old Barretts integrity and legal credentials  which are widely regarded as impeccable  as on the propriety of rushing through a nomination that would upend the balance of the Supreme Court within weeks of a presidential election it may need to adjudicate.

The hypocrisy of the Senate leadership, notably Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., would be breathtaking if not so predictable. Each was steadfast in his refusal to even grant a hearing to President Barack Obamas 2016 selection of Justice Merrick Garland to succeed the late Justice Antonin Scalia because it was within eight months of election day. The voters must be allowed a voice in a decision of such magnitude, they piously insisted. They managed to run out the clock on Garlands nomination, clearing the way for Trump to appoint Justice Neil Gorsuch.

Those GOP leaders principles have given way to a partisan power play. In this case, voting is not months away, it is happening now in some states. The confirmation hearings are scheduled to begin the week of Oct. 12, with the likelihood of a final vote before Nov. 3.

Installment of a third Trump-appointed justice before the election is no small matter.

Trump has made no secret of his contempt with the decision of many states to expand mail-in voting in response to the coronavirus pandemic, calling it a scam that would be riven with fraud. He predicted the vote count would be a horror show that would extend well beyond election day. Even as he trails in the polls, Trump repeatedly has claimed the only way he could lose would be if the election were rigged  and lawsuits from GOP lawyers already are proliferating across the country.

Most ominously, Trump laid bare his immediate personal stake in the composition of the Supreme Court while speaking with reporters at the White House on Wednesday.

This scam that the Democrats are pulling  its a scam  the scam will be before the United States Supreme Court, Trump said, also asserting that its very important that we have nine justices.

The prospect of a newly stacked Trump court arbitrating a closely contested election evokes echoes of 2000, when the justices ruled along party lines, 5-4, to stop the Florida recount, effectively delivering the presidency to George W. Bush over Al Gore.

Barretts interpretations of election law  and the role of the courts in adjudicating it  must be among the questions in her confirmation hearings. American voters may be powerless to stop this nomination, but their stated choice for president must be held sacred.

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. Note: This editorial has been revised from an earlier version to correct the name of President Trumps first Supreme Court appointee. It is Neil Gorsuch.
Based on my information, 10 servicemen have died as a result of the military operations launched against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). This is what Secretary of the Security Council of Artsakh Samvel Babayan told reporters in Stepanakert.

There are injured civilians, even children, but there will be exact figures at the end of the day. Were not concealing anything, this is a war, he said.

According to spokesperson of the President of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Vahram Poghosyan, early this morning, the enemy started actively shelling along the entire length of the line of contact, including peaceful settlements and the capital of Stepanakert. In her turn, spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia Shushan Stepanyan stated that the Armenian side has struck two helicopters and three UAVs of the adversary. The battles continue.

Commander of the Defense Army of Artskh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Jalal Harutyunyn has made a call for battle, stating that, at this moment, the subdivisions of the Defense Army are successfully disrupting the adversarys plans by making it suffer a large number of casualties.

The Armenian side has two victims, including a woman and child.
Dr Issam Hijjawi, who who is an outspoken activist for Palestinian rights and lives in Edinburgh, was arrested last month over his attendance of a meeting of alleged members of the New IRA in Omagh.

He was taken into custody as part of a police investigation into the activities of the New IRA and charged with an offence of preparatory acts of terrorism.

The 62-year-old is the tenth person to be charged in the PSNI/MI5 investigation 'Operation Arbacia'.

He was arrested at Heathrow airport as he attempted to leave the UK and transported to Belfast to be questioned at Musgrave PSNI station.

His house in the Blackhall area of Edinburgh was also searched by officers from Police Scotland. Dr Hijjawi, whose family come from the the occupied West Bank, is the chair of the Association of Palestinian Communities in Scotland.

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In a statement, the Irish Republican Prisoner Welfare Association (IRPWA) said that affiliated prisoners in Portlaoise on the wings E3 and E4, Roe House in Maghaberry Prison and Hydebank Prison are on hunger strike.

The Association said: At present due to Covid-19 restrictions prisoners upon entry to Maghaberry Prison are placed in a two week isolation/solitary confinement. Dr Hijjawi and his comrades have completed this arduous isolation and are now housed in the Republican landings.

[Prison authorities] have forcefully and punitively isolated Issam for another two weeks in the filthy and dilapidated conditions that exist in Foyle House

However, they pointed out that due to a medical condition Dr Hijjawi was taken for a hospital MRI scan and has once again been placed in isolation for a further two weeks.

[Prison authorities] have forcefully and punitively isolated Issam for another two weeks in the filthy and dilapidated conditions that exist in Foyle House.

Issam has multiple medical conditions and has now embarked on a hunger strike. We feel that to put [him] in isolation is both vindictive and a continuation of the concerted, petty targeting that he has endured since entering Maghaberry Prison.

The Association called on prison management to show common sense and transfer Dr Hijjawi back to Roe House where he needs to be safely and humanely cared for.

Police authorities allege he attended one of the two meetings which were bugged by MI5, along with a number of leading members of the group Saoradh, who it is also alleged are members of the New IRA.

He also travelled, sometime in 2018 to Lebanon, and its capital Beirut, with leading Tyrone republican Kevin Barry Murphy.

Dr Hijjawi, who is represented by Phoenix Law, says he attended the meeting to give an update and political analysis on the current situation in Palestine. The Belfast based law firm represents seven of the 10 people arrested as part of the MI5 sting.

Independent councillor and former Dublin Lord Mayor Christy Burke, who took part in a protest outside Kilmainham Gaol said that Dr Hijjawi was being housed in Dickensian type accommodation and that he needs to urgently be relocated back into the main prison on humanitarian grounds due to his ill health.

In the 1970s, Cllr Burke served two terms in Portlaoise Prison on IRA membership charges.
Some of the first delivery trucks for Triangle Distributing Co. at a temporary warehouse in Whittier. Triangle is being taken over by the Anheuser-Busch brewery giant. (Courtesy of Peter Heimark)

Rudy Heimark started hauling beer in the 1930s, driving a lone truck into Indio and later the Mojave Desert to slake the thirst of Army troops training under Gen. George S. Patton. From that modest, dusty beginning, Heimark and his family built a monument to American entrepreneurial spirit.

Now their Triangle Distributing Co. is headed for the dustbin of history.

On Friday, its 80,000-square-foot warehouse in Santa Fe Springs, a fleet of 35 semitrailer trucks and 1,800 customers will be swallowed up by Anheuser-Busch, the worlds largest brewery. Most of the companys 100 or so workers will be absorbed into Anheuser-Buschs workforce of 18,000.

Rudy Heimark and his wife, Pat. Their firm, Triangle Distributing Co., began hauling beer in the 1930s. (Peter Heimark)

The sale of Triangle was spurred in part by the COVID-19 pandemic, which devastated business at bars and restaurants. But its really part of a trend thats transforming the global economy. And though that trend has almost certainly boosted corporate profits, evidence suggests that its also contributed to higher consumer prices for some goods and services, and income inequality. Some economists say it's stifled entrepreneurship and business investments.

For the Los Angeles area, the Triangle sale means that Anheuser-Busch along with another industry powerhouse, Reyes Beverage, will be moving 90% of the suds local residents consume.

When you have a duopoly, that tends to start easing prices up, said Peter Heimark, Triangle's president and the founders grandson. He recalls the days when 10 or more distributors battled for the local market.

Whether its beer or baby food, cellphones or hearing aids, healthcare, social media or search engines, markets for many goods and services all across the U.S. economy are now dominated by a handful of companies. The pandemic and resulting recession are hastening that change: Hard times favor large firms with deep pockets.

The result is likely to be more mergers and takeovers of small companies like Triangle.

Recently, politicians in Washington, and even more in Europe, have been fretting that tech giants such as Apple, Facebook, Google and Amazon have amassed enormous wealth and market power, in part thanks to their huge repository of data on consumers. Their scale, infrastructure and clout with suppliers and distributors already made it hard for start-ups or smaller players to compete.

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But the history of the last four decades suggests the fretting in Washington may not come to much. Far from opposing concentration, Washington has been a facilitator.

Often its just two, three or four firms that have the lions share of sales in a given industry and locale; thats notably true in healthcare and phone services. And the giants tend to divide up markets and avoid sharp competition with one another. In 2008, Anheuser-Busch, an iconic American company, itself was swallowed up by a Belgian brewer, InBev.

Experts say increased market concentration has come hand in hand both with burgeoning mergers  theyve jumped nearly sevenfold from 1985  and the government's weaker enforcement of U.S. laws meant to maintain competition.

The watchdogs have largely been silent, whether about preventing a monopoly or stopping firms from colluding at the expense of workers and consumers.

Lax enforcement of hundreds of transactions over time has resulted in creeping concentration in many markets, resulting in tight oligopolies and dominant firms, the nonprofit group American Antitrust Institute said in an April report assessing the state of U.S. competition policy.

The situation has only gotten worse in the last 3 years of the Trump administration as merger and cartel enforcement actions have declined, said Diana Moss, president of the group, an advocate for stronger enforcement. "We havent seen any monopoly cases to speak of, she said.

Trump's Justice Department did try to block AT&T's merger with Time Warner, although many saw it as politically motivated, reflecting the president's beef with coverage of him by Time Warner unit CNN. The challenge was ultimately unsuccessful.

As of mid-September, the number of small businesses operating was down nearly 25% from the start of the year. Small firms overall sales were off almost as much, according to an economic tracker compiled by economists at Harvard and other institutions.

At the same time, profits have soared for some of the largest corporations as they take more and more market share.

Home Depot and Lowe's already commanded about 80% of the home-improvement market  nearly double their share in 2002, according to Open Markets Institute  and they saw sales and profits boom in the quarter ended July 31. Home Depot's earnings rose 25%, and those for Lowe's jumped 65%. It was a similar story for Walmart, which reported a 97% jump in online sales.

Patrons relax at Huntington Beach Beer Co. Lost business at bars and restaurants amid the pandemic has in turn hurt suppliers and distributors, leaving them vulnerable to closures or takeovers. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Even before COVID-19, Triangles Heimark saw the writing on the wall as consolidations meant fewer breweries were calling the shots on sales and distribution. Coors and Miller merged in 2008, and when Constellation, the big importer of brands including Corona and Pacifico, decided two years ago to distribute its products in Los Angeles through Reyes, Triangles business took a big hit.

For us to be competitive and relevant, we needed access to other brands, Heimark said. The pandemic certainly made the decision easier.

Corporations and private equity groups snapping up smaller operations or abandoned leases isn't all that worries Sarah Crozier, spokeswoman for Main Street Alliance, a small-business advocacy group. So do resulting inequities in the supply chain for small businesses that remain.

When there were distribution issues around toilet paper and all that kind of stuff, some of our small-business members were stuck to the back of the line while Amazon sort of gobbled up those contracts of distribution, she said.

The middlemen, she added, were going after the big corporate companies for the larger distribution orders, and it meant that small businesses, who had long-term contracts with distributors, were on an uneven playing field.

Not everyone agrees that market concentration has been bad, including adherents of the free-market Chicago school that has greatly influenced the thinking around antitrust regulations over the last generation.

One is Joe Kennedy, a senior fellow at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a nonpartisan think tank. He said a key question is whether firms have the ability to raise prices above what they otherwise would if the market were not highly concentrated.

Many dont have that flexibility, he argued, because that would invite rivals into the market to undercut them. Kennedy said large, dominant firms can boost profit margins by cutting costs rather than increasing prices.

Economists say that's what's happening in some industries with the rise of so-called superstar firms, companies that are both comparatively innovative and efficient.

Concentration is going up, but not to worrisome levels, Kennedy said, adding that a lot depends on the locale. You have to look at specific markets and not focus on concentration.

Even so, data suggest far less benefit to the average worker or the economy as a whole. U.S. productivity overall has lagged since 2000, and labors share of national income has declined amid stagnant household earnings.

Why is it that up until COVID, we were operating at around 3% unemployment and wage rates were barely moving? asked Barry Pupkin, a veteran antitrust lawyer. He answered his own question: Whats causing it is a lack of competition. Laborers couldnt control the price of their labor [because] buyers of that labor have huge amounts of power and are controlling how much they would pay for it.

To be sure, the decline in unions, increased foreign competition and greater outsourcing also have played a role. Meanwhile, the share of workers at companies with more than 5,000 employees has grown from 28% in 1987 to 34% in 2016, according to the latest Census Bureau data.

At Triangle, workers are expecting few changes when Anheuser-Busch takes over. Warehouse manager Frank Barron, a 25-year Triangle employee, said he'll continue in his position, at the same pay.

Jim Fleming, left, and Don Heimark, two of the founders of Triangle Distributing Co., about 1982. (Peter Heimark)

The 54-year-old knows it won't be the same; he loved Triangle's small, family-owned company culture, which included an open door to the president. But Barron said younger workers may find more opportunities with a global corporation, and older ones like him were pleased with the new benefits package.

Though he sees risks that Anheuser-Busch could someday consolidate in the Los Angeles area, where it has four other facilities, the future of Triangle, on its own, was far from assured.

Personally, it was a shock. I thought I was going to retire at Triangle," he said. "Times are changing and we just have to adapt."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) president Simarjit Singh Bains today lambasted Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal for severing ties with old allies BJP.

He said that breaking the alliance was too little and too late. Badals aides, who were earlier supporting the bill, recently took a u-turn on realising that they were losing their political ground in the state, he added.

But now they are exposed. Both Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal had won the elections by sitting comfortably on the Modi wave. I challenge them to resign and fight for re-election to prove that they had won without Modi wave, said Bains.

Till now, the BJP was quiet on the illegal businesses of Badals and their aides. As now they are out of favour, the cases of drugs against Bikram Singh Majithia will resurface. I hope a probe into Badal familys private transport racket will also be launched and reveal how it caused losses to the government-run public transport sector, said Bains.

On the issue of allying with BJP, Bains said, We are fighting for farmers, while the saffron party is ruining the farming sector. I hope the local BJP leadership will visit Delhi and acquaint the central leadership about the situation in Punjab.

Bains asked chief minister Amarinder Singh to lead the farmers agitation to Delhi to press the government to withdraw the bills.
BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis' meeting with Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Saturday caused a buzz in political circles. However, Fadnavis on Sunday said there was no political connotation to the meeting, which was for an interview to 'Saamana'.

Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar met Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai on Sunday.

The meeting took place a day after former state chief minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis met Shiv Sena MP

Sanjay Raut in Mumbai, sparking speculation in political circles.

Pawar met Thackeray at the latter's official residence and the meeting lasted for about 40 minutes, sources said. What transpired during the meeting could not be known immediately.

Sources, however, said the future unlocking process and the COVID-19 situation in the state were some of the issues that were discussed during the meeting.

Fadnavis and Raut had met at a hotel in Mumbai on Saturday. Although their meeting triggered speculation, Fadnavis on Sunday asserted that the BJP has no intention of joining hands with the Shiv Sena or of bringing down the Uddhav Thackeray-led state government.

Fadnavis also said the meeting was regarding an interview for Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana'.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. On September 23, Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan participated in the online Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries on the "Vienna Partnership Action Plan for the Accelerated Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals of the Landlocked Developing Countries", the MFA told Armenpress.

The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly, UN Under-Secretary-General, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States Fekitamoeloa Katoa Utoikamanu, Foreign Ministers of about two dozen countries and heads of international organizations also participated in the meeting, which was chaired by Mukhtar Tleuberdi, the Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan.

In his remarks, Minister Mnatsakanyan thanked his Kazakh counterpart Mukhtar Tleuberdi for Kazakhstan's effective Chairmanship in the UN Group of Landlocked Developing Countries and the efforts towards advancing this very important agenda. The Minister also expressed his deep gratitude to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, for his continued support to landlocked developing countries and for constantly raising the needs of landlocked developing countries.

In his speech, Foreign Minister Mnatsakanyan touched upon the new challenges faced by landlocked countries due to the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that within the framework of the global restrictive measures the landlocked developing countries encountered greater limitations on sustainable and inclusive growth. In the context of international cooperation towards mitigating the consequences of the pandemic on landlocked countries, the Foreign Minister of Armenia highlighted the importance of the Vienna Action Plan and the roadmap for its accelerated implementation.

In this year of global turbulence, major grievances, anxieties and fears, the international community has a historic opportunity to lay the groundwork for meaningful change and to build back better. The risks posed by the COVID-19 have demonstrated that, for the response and recovery efforts to be effective, they need to focus on tackling inequalities, discrimination and lack of inclusion, otherwise, the gaps are likely to remain and increase. It is important that, together with the disruptions caused by the pandemic, we also look at the pre-existing barriers to development- blockades, unduly discriminating trade regimes and unilateral coercive measures are detrimental to sustainable development and inconsistent with the response and recovery efforts. They undermine not only regional development but peace and security.

It is almost three decades that Turkey has been denying the right of Armenia to access to and from sea by closing its land borders. This medieval-type siege cannot be justified either by common sense or by international law as it directly violates not only relevant international convention, customary law but also international agreements.

Armenia is fully committed to effective multilateral cooperation for development at the global, international and regional levels. We continue to view inclusive cooperation between the landlocked and transit countries as an essential prerequisite to removing political barriers for the free movement of people, goods and services, and for the effective realization of the economic and social rights and rights of all peoples, including those residing in conflict areas. The promotion of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, gender equality and inclusion, as well as consolidation of democratic values are key priorities for Armenia, predicated on the idea that human rights are universal for all peoples and individuals in all parts of the world, regardless of geography or status.

Ensuring human rights-based and people-centered approach remains an ultimate priority for the response and recovery efforts, to which Armenia is fully committed. Investing in people and embracing the national talent as the driver of smart development defines the nature of Armenias reform and recovery agenda, with particular emphasis on information and communication technologies, fostering innovation and development of the ICT sector, which is prioritized as an essential tool to lower costs and facilitate access to foreign markets, thus contributing to increase of foreign trade, noted the Foreign Minister.

In conclusion the Foreign Minister reiterated Armenias full commitment to effective multilateral cooperation in support of the six priority areas of the Vienna Programme of Action and the Roadmap for Accelerated Implementation of the VPOA.
The Northern Ireland Protocol must be implemented in full to give the regions businesses the certainty they crave, Simon Coveney has said.

Mr Coveney stressed the importance of operating the protocol in good faith as he met with 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 engagement came amid the UK Governments controversial bid to override elements of the Northern Ireland Protocol through domestic legislation at Westminster.

Naomi Long, Michelle ONeill and Colum Eastwood arrive at Iveagh House in Dublin for the meeting with Simon Coveney (Julien Behal Photography/PA)

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 NI from GB deemed at risk of onward transport to the Irish Republic  is set to be overridden in further domestic legislation tabled by the Government.

Read More New Brexit checks at NI ports will not be ready on time, official confirms

At Thursdays meeting, Mr Coveney outlined the Irish Governments very real concern about the move by its UK counterpart.

Afterwards, the he 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.
Aug. 29, 1942-Sept. 11, 2020

Beloved wife, sister, aunt and friend, Mary Kathleen Mary Kay Craig passed away due to complications of surgery at St. Vincents Health Care in Billings on Friday, September 11, 2020.

Born August 29, 1942, Mary was the fifth of seven children of Margaret Harris Craig and Anthony J. Craig. Mary Kay graduated from St. Joseph School in 1956 and Girls Central High School in 1960. Mary Kay enjoyed speed skating as a child and competed in many city skating meets. She was the ladies Bay Area Champion speed skater as a member of the San Francisco Striders. After her return to Butte she continued to skate at the Butte High Altitude Speed Skating Center. After High School she worked for Cannon Brokerage in Butte, before moving to San Francisco in 1962. There she embarked upon a career in marketing, achieving high-level positions in organizations such as Del Monte Corporation, William A Robinson Agency and GNC Stores. She spent two years working for GNC in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, before moving back to her favorite place on earth, Butte, Montana. In Butte she continued her marketing efforts for various national nutrition companies, while becoming passionately involved in environmental justice issues through her work with Butte's Citizens Technical and Environmental Committee (CTEC). In 1996, she married Montana Tech professor George Waring who shared her commitment to Social Justice and together they worked to make this a more just world.

Mary Kay's overriding passion in life was that she needed to make things better. Whether working for clients and coming up with creative marketing solutions or in her passion in her hometown of Butte, working to develop solutions to address Buttes environmental issues, she was a courageous and compassionate peace and environmental activist. In the late 1990s, Mary Kay served as president of the Rocky Mountain Lung Association. As a founding member of various peace and environmental groups  Taking Action for Peaceful Solutions (TAPS), Citizens for Labor and Environmental Justice, and Restore our Creek Coalition (ROCC), Mary worked tirelessly and fearlessly to help lead the fight for a better Butte. In 1999, she earned a degree in Public Policy, graduating Summa Cum Laude, at Montana Tech. Since 2000, she has worked as an Associate of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM), helping the sisters communicate their justice seeking agenda. In 2004, the Montana Chapter of Amnesty International presented Mary Kay with the Montana Human Rights Award for her work on peace, justice and environmental issues. Amnestys members saluted MK for her extensive work on everything from entering a peace float in the July 4th Parade and campaign finance reform to speaking out against violent video games. On the 60th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, she was one of the hundreds of Pax Christi protestors arrested at the huge federal nuclear reservation near Las Vegas. Marys creative endeavors included self-taught painting, creative writing, July 4th parade entries, (Wishing for Fishing in Silver Bow Creek) and events to support causes such as protecting Snow Geese. Mary Kay was immensely proud of her Irish heritage and, with her sister, Suellen, resurrected the Butte Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians.

Preceding Mary in death were her parents; and siblings, Tony, Pat, Suellen; and God-daughter, Trinity Berry. Surviving are her husband, George Waring; siblings, Hugh Craig, Katie Craig Hanson (Tom) and Mike Craig; nieces, Theresa Craig, Meghan Hanson (Mike), Kathleen Hanson (Steve) and Nora Hanson (Phillip); nephews, Dan and Joseph Gassenberg; grand-nieces and nephews, Maille, Dillon, Tyson, Nell, Torran; and her life-long friend, Patsy Harper Dunfee; cousin, Sister Toni Harris; along with many cousins and dear friends.

Thank you Mary for your many timely reminders to us to always do the right thing!

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Wednesday at 11 a.m. Rite of Committal will take place in Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery. Social distancing protocols will be in place. A celebration of Marys life will be held when the Pandemic is over. No flowers please. Memorials may be made to many of the good causes in which Mary Kay was involved.
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Linkedin Andrew Chung (Reuters)  Sun, September 27, 2020 11:33 482 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4779550 2 World Amy-Coney-Barrett,Supreme-Court,Donald-Trump,Joe-Biden Free

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and others in his party on Saturday blasted President Donald Trump's choice of conservative judge Amy Coney Barrett for the Supreme Court, focusing in particular on the threat they said she would pose to healthcare for millions of Americans.

Biden noted that even as Trump's administration is seeking to strike down Obamacare in a case the Supreme Court is due to hear on Nov. 10, Barrett has a "written track record" criticizing a pivotal 2012 ruling authored by Chief Justice John Roberts preserving the law formally known as the Affordable Care Act.

Biden, seeking to defeat the Republican president on Nov. 3, called on the Senate not to act on the court's vacancy caused by the death of liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg until after the Nov. 3 election, allowing the winner to make the appointment.

"The United States Constitution was designed to give the voters one chance to have their voice heard on who serves on the court. That moment is now and their voice should be heard," Biden said.

Senate Republicans refused to consider President Barack Obama's 2016 Supreme Court nominee, saying the winner of that year's election should make the pick.

Trump's choice means that he would replace Ginsburg, a champion of gender equality and other liberal causes who died on Sept. 18 at age 87, with a jurist who in many ways is her judicial opposite.

If confirmed, Barrett would give the court a 6-3 conservative majority. The implications for contentious issues such as abortion, LGBT rights, gun-control measures and healthcare has prompted passionate reaction on both sides.

Democrats said Barrett would vote to dismantle healthcare during a coronavirus pandemic that already has killed more than 200,000 Americans.

"This nomination threatens the destruction of life-saving protections for 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions together with every other benefit and protection of the Affordable Care Act," House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said.

Obamacare has helped millions of Americans obtain medical insurance.

Trump wants Barrett confirmed before the election. If so, she would be on the bench for the Obamacare oral arguments, with Republican-led states and Trump's administration trying to invalidate the law. A coalition of Democratic-led states is seeking to preserve the law in the litigation.

Republicans hold a 53-47 Senate majority and have committed to moving quickly on confirmation. They cheered Trump's choice.

"President Trump could not have made a better decision," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said.

Senator Lindsey Graham, chairman of the Judiciary Committee that will conduct confirmation hearings, added, "We move forward on this nomination knowing that the president has picked a highly qualified individual who will serve our nation well on the highest court in the land."

Trump critics also have expressed concern that a hasty confirmation process so close to an election risks further eroding the court's reputation as independent.

But Christian conservative and anti-abortion activists, who praised the choice, urged senators to move quickly and warned Democrats not to attack Barrett's religious faith.

"We have full confidence that the pro-life Senate majority will move swiftly to confirm her before the election," said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony List, an anti-abortion group that is launching a digital advertising campaign supporting Barrett.

Abortion rights groups said Barrett's addition to the court could jeopardize the landmark 1973 ruling that made abortion legal nationwide.

"The Supreme Court has a vital role in protecting and upholding civil rights and liberties - including reproductive rights - for everyone in the United States. We cannot barrel forward with a nomination that will impact people's lives for generations," said Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights.
New Delhi: BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s address at the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda on Saturday said that the former presented a strong representation of India`s culture and thinking to the United Nations.

Taking to microblogging site Twitter, Nadda said, "Prime Minister @narendramodi in his address to the United Nations General Assembly today, presented a strong representation of India`s culture and thinking to the United Nations, which I welcome from the depths of the heart.''

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In a series of tweets, Nadda praised PM's speech and said that it clearly highlighted India's objective. "Representing 130 crore Indians, Prime Minister @narendramodi ji spoke of making India a part of the decisive structure of the United Nations. India has always been in favour of peace, security and prosperity," tweeted Nadda.

He pointed out that the Prime Minister also spoke about the relevance of the objectives of the establishment of the United Nations in today`s time.

Also Read: Ahead of Bihar assembly election 2020, BJP president JP Nadda announces new team, check full list

"The Prime Minister in his address also spoke about the relevance of the objectives of the establishment of the United Nations in today`s time, assessment of achievements, the problem of terrorism and the global damage caused by it, introspecting the role of the United Nations in its efforts to deal with the corona epidemic," Nadda said.

Making a strong pitch for India`s inclusion as a permanent member of United Nations Security Council, Prime Minister Modi on Saturday said: "Reform in the responses, in the processes, and in the very character of the United Nations is the need of the hour" and wondered as to how long India with its unique contribution to the UN will be "kept out of the decision-making structures" of the world body.

Addressing the 75th United Nations General Assembly in Hindi the Prime Minister questioned the pace of reform of the United Nations and its response to challenges such as terrorism and the coronavirus pandemic.

In a 20-minute pre-recorded speech, PM said that the international community is faced with a very important question about the relevance of United Nations as the "requirements and challenges" of the present as well as the future are vastly different from those when the world body was constituted in 1945.

While recounting how India has been dealing with its challenges, the Prime Minister explained his vision for self-reliant India and how it would be a force multiplier for the global economy.

Interestingly, Modi completely ignored Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan`s diatribe against his government at the UN on Friday.
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) would oppose any move to expand the number of justices on the Supreme Court if Democrats win back the Senate and White House in the election, he told Jake Tapper on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday.

Driving the news: Democrats have floated adding more justices to the court as retaliation for Republicans rushing through a new justice for President Trump weeks before the 2020 election, after stalling President Obama's final nominee nine months before the 2016 election.

What he's saying: Manchin said he would not support the move because it's not in line with the Senate's reputation and history as the "most deliberate body."

"I'm not going to vote for anything that would cause, basically, not to be able to work in a bipartisan way," Manchin said. "That is not something that I would support."

Manchin is one of the more conservative Democratic senators and comes from a state that Donald Trump easily won in 2016.

Go deeper: Democrats' Armageddon option
Anyone who watched the lines of people who paid their respects to Ruth Bader Ginsburg as she lay in state at the Supreme Court would have noticed a peculiar atmosphere. The reactions of those filing past her coffin went far beyond ordinary, quiet, and respectful homage to the dead. Women and little girls were kneeling down before her, offering prayerful salutes and shedding tears of grief and rage. Some were almost hysterical.

Once again, it's clear that the left is deeply religious. Be it the elevation of Greta Thunberg to the status of St. Joan of Arc; the high reverence accorded Al Gore, the prophet of doom whose declamations have rivaled those of St. John's pronouncements in the book of Revelation; or now the late Justice Ginsburg, it is apparent that the left has a religious need for saints as surely as any Christian church.

Now already elevated above her mortal status as a judge on the bench of the Supreme Court, Ginsburg is seated in the pantheon of the left. Even her final words, in which she apparently expressed a wish that her replacement not be nominated until after the election, are as authoritative as scripture to devotees such as Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, who believes that the oracular pronouncements of an "icon" of the left are to supersede the directives of America's constitution.

After the memorials in her honor are complete, Ginsburg doubtless will be accorded hagiographies. What is perhaps more troubling than the accordance of sainthood on the former justice by the left are the obsequies of Christians and others who have almost fought one another in conferring honors on a person who was unalterably and ferociously opposed to everything Christianity once stood for without apology: the sacredness of every human life, the sanctity of marriage, the biological distinctions of the sexes, and the integrity of the Church.

Typical of the accolades heaped on her by even the religious are the praises offered by Erika Bachiochi in her article "What I Will Teach My Children about Ruth Bader Ginsburg." Bachiochi separated Ginsburg's personal life from her judicial decisions, praising her for "her noble vision for caregiving" as exemplified by her tender regard for her husband of 56 years.

But as the redoubtable and indefatigable Phyllis Schlafly pointed out in her article appearing in Human Events in 2005, no matter how tender the late justice's caregiving, what Ginsburg stood for as a legal scholar and justice of the Supreme Court was a radical leftist's wish list for America.

Schlafly noted that the late justice called for the "sex-integration of prisons and reformatories so that conditions of imprisonment, security and housing could be equal." She added that perpetuation of single-sex institutions should be rejected.

Continuing in a similar vein, Ginsburg called for the "sex-integration of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts" because they "perpetuate stereotyped sex roles." College fraternities and sororities were to be replaced with "college social societies." In the interest of equality, Mother's Day and Father's Day were not to be celebrated separately

Worse, "Ginsburg called for reducing the age of consent for sexual acts to people who are 'less than 12 years old.' She wrote that laws against 'bigamists, persons cohabiting with more than one woman, and women cohabiting with a bigamist' are unconstitutional. Further, prostitution was a consensual act, and the Mann Act was "offensive," as such acts were to be considered "within the zone of privacy."

Schlafly continued:

Ginsburg listed hundreds of 'sexist' words that must be eliminated from all statutes. Among words she found offensive were: man, woman, manmade, mankind, husband, wife, mother, father, sister, brother, son, daughter, serviceman, longshoreman, postmaster, watchman, seamanship, and 'to man' a vessel[.] ... She even wanted he, she, him, her, his, and hers to be dropped down the memory hole. They must be replaced by he/she, her/him, and hers/his, and federal statutes must use the bad grammar of plural constructions to avoid third person singular pronouns. Not only did Ginsburg pass former President Bill Clinton's litmus test of being pro-abortion, (she even supported partial birth abortion) but she was also on record as opposing what was then settled law that the Constitution does not compel taxpayers to pay for abortions. In her chapter in a 1980 book, Constitutional Government in America, she condemned the Supreme Court's ruling in Harris v. McRae and claimed that taxpayer-funded abortions should be a constitutional right.

Considering just how radical Ginsburg's stances and decisions were, what are we to make of Christians' praise and support for her? Why are conservatives, religious or not, putting wreaths on Ginsburg's head?

The fact is that in place of Christian virtues, too many conservatives have substituted the progressive virtue of "tolerance." The hallmark of secular progressive religion has also become the defining virtue of the Christian/conservative community. The drive to appear "nice" and inoffensive, to "understand' the other viewpoint, no matter how offensive or prurient, has vitiated the Judeo/Christian virtues of justice and righteousness; of steadfast opposition to evil. The progressive idea of virtue has won over the truth, including the truth of what Ginsburg and her feminist acolytes devotedly believe in  most avidly and ferociously, the progressive sacrament of abortion. Ginsburg never, ever wavered from her advocacy of abortion. Never.

We cannot praise her tenacity as a good thing. Her tenacity and those likeminded have contributed to the deaths of some 60,000,000 innocents.

Would a similar tenacity be exhibited by Christian conservatives, many of whom have waffled continually, debating for over fifty years what is anathema to the God they profess to worship  namely, the shedding of innocent human blood?

In conclusion, while God the Creator pronounces himself as not taking pleasure in the death of any human being and admonishes those who believe in Him not to rejoice when any human dies, neither are we to praise and give accolades to those who are by their ideology sworn to do evil.

On the contrary, those who are opposed to the "fundamental transformation" of American society by the advocacy of evils that have become systemic, evils Ginsburg promoted in the name of equality should stand up and fight: Fight for the good, the true and the beautiful  for human life in all its fullness.

Fay Voshell holds a M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary, which awarded her the prize for excellence in systematic theology. Her thoughts have appeared in many online magazines, including American Thinker. She may be reached at fvoshell@yahoo.com
On the Frontline Against China, the US Coast Guard Is Taking on Missions the US Navy Can't Do

Competition with China has drawn more Pentagon resources to the Pacific, but the most visible U.S. military presence there...
Photo: The Canadian Press Two children participate in a climate change protest in Montreal, Saturday.

Demonstrators gathered in downtown Montreal on Saturday to protest planetary warming on the Global Day of Action for Climate Justice.

The coalition behind the event is calling for net zero emissions by 2030 as part of a broad slate of demands that also includes Indigenous self-determination, migrant rights and defunding the police.

Lylou Sehili, co-spokeswoman for the Student Coalition for an Environmental and Social Shift (CEVES), said combining divergent social issues into a single movement strengthens their message.

"We cannot exclude social justice from the climate fight," Sehili said, pointing to a legacy of colonialism she said manifests itself in areas ranging from resource extraction to police brutality.

Activists gathered at Place du Canada around 1 p.m. to kick off the march, which went east on Sherbrooke Street from the intersection of Peel Street and Rene-Levesque Boulevard.

A group of parents set up an installation showcasing a pile of children's shoes to symbolize the carbon footprint current generations are leaving for their kids.

"Young people will be disproportionately impacted by climate change. The Quebec government must act now to ensure their safety," said Dr. Genevieve Ferdais, a family doctor and member of the group For Our Kids Montreal.

The demonstration follows the Liberal government's throne speech Wednesday, which singled out clean technology and green jobs as cornerstones of an economic rebound.

The address, which outlined the government's priorities for the new session of Parliament, did not change its emissions goals of net zero by 2050 and a one-third reduction by 2030.

Saturday's event also comes a year after hundreds of thousands put foot to pavement for the Montreal Climate March, which featured teen climate activist Greta Thunberg as the keynote speaker.
Job Sectors

We use job sectors to help organize employment trends with our alumni. These sectors reflect the employers segment of the economy and/or organizational type, which is distinct from alumni job titles or responsibilities in these sectors.

Academia represents a variety of positions at colleges, universities, or other research-oriented institutions. It does not include primary or secondary schools. Example employers in academia include Stanford University, San Jose State University, Foothill College, and University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. For further details on academic employers, please see Institution classifications below.

represents a variety of positions at colleges, universities, or other research-oriented institutions. It does not include primary or secondary schools. Example employers in academia include Stanford University, San Jose State University, Foothill College, and University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. For further details on academic employers, please see Institution classifications below. Banking & Finance employers are focused on the study and system of money and investment. Examples include H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC and JPMorgan Chase & Co.

employers are focused on the study and system of money and investment. Examples include H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC and JPMorgan Chase & Co. Biotechnology represents positions in medical device, medical technology, and drug development companies. These positions may include scientific and non-scientific management roles within large, medium, and start-up companies. Examples include Genentech, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead, and Illumina.

represents positions in medical device, medical technology, and drug development companies. These positions may include scientific and non-scientific management roles within large, medium, and start-up companies. Examples include Genentech, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead, and Illumina. Consulting businesses advise other organizations on how to increase efficiency, raise profits and become more successful in their markets. Examples include The Boston Consulting Group, L.E.K. Consulting, and Bain & Company.

businesses advise other organizations on how to increase efficiency, raise profits and become more successful in their markets. Examples include The Boston Consulting Group, L.E.K. Consulting, and Bain & Company. Education represents primary and secondary schools, as well some educational companies. Examples include Castilleja School, Los Altos High School, and Coursera.

represents primary and secondary schools, as well some educational companies. Examples include Castilleja School, Los Altos High School, and Coursera. Government institutions are funded solely by the federal or state government. Examples include the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), and the NASA Ames Research Center.

institutions are funded solely by the federal or state government. Examples include the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), and the NASA Ames Research Center. Healthcare represents institutions with a focus on medical services, such as hospitals and doctors private practices, without a university affiliation. Examples include Kaiser Permanente, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center and St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital.

represents institutions with a focus on medical services, such as hospitals and doctors private practices, without a university affiliation. Examples include Kaiser Permanente, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center and St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital. IP/Law represents work in patent, corporate, and technology transfer legal services. Examples include Morgan, Lewis, & Bockius LLP, Morrison & Foerster LLP and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.

represents work in patent, corporate, and technology transfer legal services. Examples include Morgan, Lewis, & Bockius LLP, Morrison & Foerster LLP and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. Media & Communication can include a range of employers in media companies, but primarily refers to alumni working as writers or editors in scientific journals. Example employers include Cell Press, Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, and American Journal Experts.

can include a range of employers in media companies, but primarily refers to alumni working as writers or editors in scientific journals. Example employers include Cell Press, Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, and American Journal Experts. Personal represents any vocation generally assumed to be related to science or a bioscience degree. Examples include Meadow Lark Farm Dinners, Rockos Ice Cream Tacos, and Silvies Valley Ranch.

represents any vocation generally assumed to be related to science or a bioscience degree. Examples include Meadow Lark Farm Dinners, Rockos Ice Cream Tacos, and Silvies Valley Ranch. Technology generally refers to larger companies offering technology services or products. Examples include Amazon, Tesla, and Google.



For more on how to start building your path towards the above job sectors, please see What Can I Do with My Degree?
The Dubai Health Authoritys (DHA) Dubai Health Insurance Corporation has announced the introduction of diagnosis-related group (DRG) for all hospitals in the emirate.

The move came into effect this month, though it has been in the pipeline for over four years during which active consultation and stakeholder engagement with the private sector took place, said a statement.

DRG helps health insurance companies categorise hospitalization costs. Rather than paying the hospital for each specific service that was provided, a private insurer will pay the hospital a predetermined amount based on the patient's diagnostic related group. This DRG is based on a variety of metrics including patient diagnosis, prognosis and various other factors.

DRG is a widely adopted model across countries including Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Measurable benefits of DRG include: Reduction of the length of stay for in-patient cases; Reduction in medical expenditures; and reduction in unnecessary services, the statement said.

The DHA discussed today the emirates model of DRG and the Dubai Health Insurance system during a virtual meeting that was organised by the authority in partnership with the Supreme Council of Health of Bahrain.

The virtual meeting took place in the presence of Humaid Al Qutami, Director General of the Dubai Health Authority and Lieutenant-General Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Health of Bahrain and Ebrahim Al Nawakhtha, Secretary General, Bahrain Supreme Council of Health. From the DHA, Saleh Al Hashimi, CEO of the Dubai Health Insurance Corporation, Dr Mohammad Al Redha, Director of Project Management Office, Health Informatics & Smart Health at Dubai Health Authority and other senior officials attended the meeting.

Al Qutami said that the DHA is keen to explore collaboration and corporation between the two entities especially for key areas such as health insurance.

He provided an overview of the health insurance system in the emirate, its achievements and highlighted the recently introduced DRG model.

Lieutenant-General Dr Shaikh Mohammed highlighted the importance of such bilateral opportunities to discuss pertinent health topics such as health insurance and primary healthcare with an aim to exchange expertise and promote knowledge transfer to further help enhance the health systems of both countries with an aim to provide the highest quality of care to patients.

Al Qutami highlighted the benefits of DRG for the overall health sector in Dubai and said that it will increase efficiency, further improve provision of healthcare and reduce healthcare costs.

Saleh Al Hashimi, CEO of the Dubai Health Insurance Corporation, said: The implementation of DRG will undoubtedly help both providers and payers and most importantly it will benefit patients as it will further drive up efficiencies in inpatient care, it will improve quality of care across the spectrum and it will encourage cost reduction which will help build a robust and dynamic health sector.

Al Hashimi added: We believe that DRGs will cause a shift in paradigm from being a fee for service market environment to a pay-for-performance and get rewarded for clinical outcomes market. Payers will have to continue to get creative with offerings to cater to different sections of the market and some may eventually create a niche for themselves, while providers will have to compete on quality outcomes. The implementation of DRGs focuses on benefitting patients as it will lead to improved efficiencies and quality of patient care. In the DRG payment model, bundle payments encourage hospitals to be more cost effective in their care delivery. As a result, the cost of healthcare and premiums will reduce overtime. Hospitals will become more efficient, leading to improved patient outcomes and increased patient satisfaction while reducing waiting time for approvals.

He said the implementation is in line with the Dubai Health Authoritys Dubai Strategy for Healthcare 2016-2021 as DRG will help further enhance the quality of medical insurance.

In addition to controlling the rising cost of health care expenditure, eliminating waste, helping resource distribution objectively and equitably, creative incentives to deliver cost effective and high quality of care, DRG will also help with enhancing transparency, it will help benchmark and monitor quality across hospitals and countries.

It will also help maintain high standards of medical practice, clinical pathways and protocols which will help ensure hospitals and health care providers adhere to unified protocols of health, the statement said. - TradeArabia News Service
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Thampanoor Police on Sunday registered non-bailable cases against a group of activists for assaulting a YouTuber as he allegedly made derogatory remarks against women on social media. The group was led by dubbing artist Bhagyalakshmi and activist Diya Sana.

The police have also registered a bailable offence against YouTuber Vijay P Nair, who was accused of making sexually explicit comments against feminists on his channel, 'Vtrix scene'. The complaint against Nair was lodged by one Sreelakshmi on Saturday evening.

However, the police have been accused of siding with Vijay after they filed non-bailable cases against the activists.

Cases were registered against Bhagyalakshmi, Diya Sana, and Sreelakshmi Arackal Vijay on Saturday under sections 323(Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 506 ( Punishment for criminal intimidation), 294b (sings, recites or utters any obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place,), 452 ( House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint) and 392 ( Punishment for robbery) of Indian Penal Code.

The activists were charged of robbery as they took Vijay's laptop and hard disk for producing it as proof before the police.

But the cops only charged Section 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) against Vijay, kicking off a row. According to police, further action will be taken based on a preliminary investigation.

"A probe is on. We have registered cases based on complaints from both the sides. Now, we need to probe in detail and further actions will be taken accordingly. So there is no point in any controversy," said Baiju A, Thampanoor CI.

Meanwhile, Bhagyalakshmi told media persons, "I have no regrets. If the police registered a case against us, we are ready to go to jail."

According to her, they had to confront Nair due to a lack of response and action from the police and the Women's Commission on the matter.

On Sunday, the woman activists marched towards the Secretariat in protest against the police action.

The incident went viral on social media after Diya Sana, who rose to fame through the reality show Bigg Boss, posted live videos of the protests on Facebook.

The incident took place at the lodge room of Vijay around 5 pm at Gandhari Amman Kovil Road in Thiruvananthapuram.

Earlier, activist Sreelakshmi Arackal had approached the Kerala Women's Commission, the Cyber Cell, as well as the Social Justice Department, seeking action against him.

In the video clip, Bhagyalakshmi said that their protest was for all women in the state. It is an appropriate reply to those who think they can say anything they want on social media, she said.
AMRITSAR A day after the Union government ordered early procurement of paddy in Punjab and Haryana at minimum support price (MSP) amid protests against farm laws, agitating farmers on Sunday stated that this was an attempt to appease and divide them.

The Centres move is widely seen as being aimed at reassuring agitating farmers about the sanctity of the procurement system through notified market yards run by agricultural produce market committees (APMC). In a statement issued here, leaders of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee said, This order is untimely as the crop will come to the mandis after 10 days. Secondly, the procurement arrangements have not been made yet in the mandis. This is a tactic of the BJP to create rift among the farmers. This kind of tactics and propaganda being spread in favour of the laws by the Modi government will not pacify the farmers.

A large number of women from peasant families took part in the rail rook agitation on the Amritsar-Delhi rail route at Devidas Pura village in the district. They reached there with saffron dupattas on their heads and holding flags of the organisation. They sat there throughout the day and raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is a good sign for the farmer struggle that the women have decided to be a part of it, said Sarwan Singh Pandher, state general secretary of the organisation, who is leading the agitators at Devidas Pura village.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Sikh seminary Damdami Taksal on Sunday called on Punjab assembly speaker Rana KP Singh with a memorandum seeking an all-party meeting to pave the way for adopting legislation to counter the new laws.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. envoy for Afghanistan, has predicted the Taliban will not accept a permanent truce until a political deal is reached with the Afghan government.

"I think you're right that the Talibs will not accept a cease-fire, comprehensive and permanent, until there's a political settlement," Khalilzad said on September 25.

His comments to the U.S. public broadcaster PBS came as Taliban militants continue to carry out attacks across the country despite taking part in peace talks with the Afghan government in Qatar.

Khalilzad said despite the current spike in violence, it was still at lower levels than the same time last year.

"Compared to the first six months of last year to this year, despite a recent increase in violence, the number of casualties, both military and civilians, are down this year," Khalilzad, a veteran diplomat, said.

"So, yes, the violence is high at this point. And both sides need to bring down the level of violence. And we're committed, when I return to work with both sides, to get an agreement on reduction of violence," he added.

When asked why the militants have not yet publicly cut ties with the terror network of Al-Qaeda as set out in their deal with the United States, Khalilzad said that Washington will assess the situation in the next couple of months after the number of its troops in Afghanistan drop to 4,000-5,000 from the current level of 8,500.

The comments came as dozens of members of the Afghan security forces were killed or wounded across the country in a series of Taliban attacks.

Taliban militants on September 26 claimed to have killed an unspecified number of troops in central Bamyan Province and northeastern Badakhshan Province.

On September 23, the Taliban launched a wave of attacks on security checkpoints in southern Afghanistan overnight, killing a total of 28 Afghan policemen, officials said.

The violence comes even as Taliban leaders and Afghan government-appointed negotiators are holding historic peace talks in Qatar, a Mideast country where the Taliban set up a political office after they were toppled from power in the 2001 U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan.

The negotiations, which started earlier this month, are meant to end the fighting and establish a roadmap for a postwar society.

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.

With reporting by AP and AFP
Kathmandu, September 27

China has demanded that Nepal install a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test machine at Rasuwagadi border point between the two countries so as to test people crossing the border for coronavirus.

China complaints safety measures adopted in Nepal are not enough yet to open the full-fledged cross-border movement, showing reluctance to open the border movement as request by Nepal.

Rasuwagadhi Customs Office Chief Punya Bikram Khadka says China has also urged Nepal to efficiently disinfect all vehicles that pass the border carrying various goods.

Currently, consignments being supplied to Nepal have not come due to a landslide on the China side. But, they have also demanded additional safety assurance against Covid-19 to open the border without any interruption.

Khadka says his office has taken initiatives to establish a test centre at the crossing. it has been learned that the Department of Customs has already written to the Ministry of Health to install a PCR machine in Rasuwa.
On the occasion of World Tourism Day, Oil Minister on Sunday urged for switching prime tourist destinations to 100 per cent

He was addressing a virtual meet on 'tourism and rural development' along with Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel, an official statement said here.

Pradhan commended the Ministry of Tourism for its novel initiative 'Dekho Apna Desh' that promotes and encourages local heritage and tourist sites.

He spoke about India's rich culture, history and ancient architectural marvels which offer immense scope for the growth of the tourism industry.

Tourism industry, he said, offers immense job opportunities and called for weaving sustainability with tourism and collaborating to switch prime tourist cities to 100 per cent clean fuels, which will further help protect monuments and ensure a cleaner environment for tourists.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
It's in the air: the Democrats are emitting fumes of panic. They are in a frenetic mode that must be deemed dangerous. No action is out of the question for them, as the election has already begun, and now their fear that Biden will crumple before the deadline of November 3 is causing them to sweat. They've been in a constant state of lunacy since Hillary was "cheated" out of the presidency four years ago.

The upcoming "debate" on Tuesday night is another nightmare for the few in their upper echelons who really know the score. Joe can't endure two hours on his feet. He's physically shot. He cannot take the mental pressure of being on camera in front of over 100 million viewers and answering questions that require him to immediately respond. He just can't remember dates, places, and situations. He jams up. He's been kept off the campaign trail, hidden away, getting worse daily from his obvious neurological or other disorders to the point where he might just fall apart emotionally in front of the cameras. He'll be under unbearable stress. People will be focusing on his ears for hidden microphones, his every expression will be scrutinized for hesitancy, his eyes for searching answers, his hands for reaching out for help.

Will Chris Wallace, a known Trump-hater, toss Wiffle balls to Joe and blazers to Trump? The president will be prepared with his patented behavior by calling out Wallace, unlike Mitt Romney, who got eaten up by Candy Crowley during his debate with Obama. And we can't forget the conspiracy among CNN, the DNC, and Donna Brazile in giving Hillary the advantage in her debate with Bernie Sanders by giving her the questions in advance. A repeat on Tuesday?

In short, putting Biden, as a warring gladiator in the Roman Coliseum of a monumental presidential debate with the likes of Donald Trump, is a dangerous move. Trump has wielded his weapons of words, wit, nastiness, and belligerence successfully against the likes of Putin, Xi Jinping, the mullahs, Nancy Pelosi, and Chuck Schumer. In addition, on a daily basis, his responses have been honed to a fine edge with his daily encounters with the hyena-like press. Biden hasn't had any batting practice at all. For Biden's handlers to throw him into the arena with a bare-fisted street fighter like Trump is an accident waiting to happen.

I've got my coffee pot loaded and ready and my favorite cookies in the freezer ready for Tuesday night. Who knows how it will end? Will it ever take place?

Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.
People gather at Jefferson Square in Louisville, Ky., on Sept. 23, for word on whether the police officers involved in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor would be charged. (Associated Press)

To the editor: I am not an attorney, a police officer or anyone with real expertise on the criminal justice system. I am simply a random citizen and reader of the Los Angeles Times. The police killing of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Ky., in March and the aftermath compelled me to write because, like many, I am appalled and outraged.

Taylor's senseless death, in my opinion, is such a colossal systemic failure that it somehow reminds me of the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger in 1986. The combination of misinformation, incompetence and poor oversight is beyond my feeble comprehension. It seems obvious that if people were to break down your door in the middle of the night, as the Louisville police did with Taylor and her boyfriend, you would treat them as mortal threats and defend yourself.

As much as I would love to see the police officers do a perp walk and have their mug shots taken, I understand why this will not happen. There is no jury that would find an officer guilty of murder or manslaughter when he can reasonably claim that he was acting in self-defense. If those officers are arrested and prosecuted, it would be the Rodney King trial all over again. The officers would be acquitted, and there would be rioting.

In fact, sending these officers to prison wouldn't be enough. We as a society must prevent this from ever happening again. That means ending "no knock" raids. It means ending the war on drugs. Sending police to prison may feel like justice in this moment, but doing the hard work of reforming our society in tribute to Taylor and her family is simply what she, and all innocent bystanders in an endless drug war, deserve.

Mark Rogers, South El Monte

..

To the editor: The decision on whether to indict the officers was made by the Kentucky attorney general, not the grand jurors, who were spoon-fed less than all the important and contradictory facts. The prosecution controlled what evidence they did and did not get.

Story continues

The officers' fusillade that killed Taylor was done recklessly, consisting of shots fired at no one in particular and clearly not at the boyfriend, who fired in lawful self-defense at the intruders.

The officers' claim they announced their presence was refuted by several neighbors, according to a lawsuit by Taylor's boyfriend, but the attorney general offered the testimony of only one person who claimed to have heard an announcement but earlier contradicted himself on that point.

The proper decision would have been to let the "announcement" defense be weighed by a jury and not the attorney general alone. That's how it works for everyone except law enforcement shooters.

Thomas E. Beck, Rossmoor

The writer is an attorney specializing in police misconduct cases.

..

To the editor: After two Louisville police officers were shot, Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf was quick to tweet, "Violence against law enforcement is NEVER acceptable in a civil society."

But law enforcement violence against civilians is also never acceptable in a civil society.

Police officers stormed into an apartment and killed an unarmed person. Apparently that isn't a crime. The crime that the state says was committed was that the police shooting was reckless and a neighbor could have been shot.

The decision not to charge the officers for the killing is foul and unjust.

Note I omitted any mention of race, class or gender in my retelling. It adds salt to the wound. A Black woman was killed, and her death was in vain. There is no justice.

Northern abolitionists were incorrect when they said the Civil War would cleanse the nation's soul and end slavery. Children taken from their parents, systemic oppression, the killing of Black people, racist remarks against Asians for COVID-19, a crippling economic depression that affects mostly people of color, a bellicose president who has used law enforcement against the American people  these are the signs and symptoms of a nation on the brink of war and civil unrest.

Jose Rodriguez, Los Angeles

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The government has been urged to stop students arriving at universities amid fears teenagers across the UK will be locked in their rooms as coronavirus outbreaks force thousands to self-isolate.

Labour said education secretary Gavin Williamson must consider delaying the start of the autumn term until mass on-campus Covid-19 testing or remote learning options were available.

The call came after thousands of students in Glasgow, Manchester and Edinburgh were ordered to self-isolate following outbreaks linked to freshers week, with some accusing their university of false imprisonment.

Manchester Metropolitan University conceded on Sunday it was unable to prevent students leaving their accommodation after human rights lawyers questioned the legality of a lockdown enforced by security staff.

Professor Malcolm Press, vice-chancellor of the university, said he trusted up to 1,700 students confined to Birley campus or Cambridge Halls would do the right thing and abide by government guidelines on self-isolation.

He claimed it would be "unfair for students" if the new academic year was delayed or cancelled, adding: "The government places a high priority on universities staying open and delivering high quality education."

But Labours shadow education secretary Kate Green suggested a delay was necessary to ensure adequate remote learning and coronavirus testing was available for students.

She also called on the education secretary to promise that students would not be prevented from travelling home for Christmas.

"Universities have done all they can to prepare for students' safe return, but the government has failed to play its part," Ms Green said in a letter to Gavin Williamson. "You let young people down with the exam fiasco over the summer and now many of those same students are being let down again. These young people deserve better than your incompetence."

Ms Green added: "It is unthinkable that students will be locked in their rooms and unable to return home to spend Christmas with their families. The government must promise that this will not happen, and work with universities to enable every student to access tests so that they can travel home safely.

""The government should also consider a delay to the start of term or a pause in migration for universities where term has not yet begun to allow improvements in testing capacity and remote learning provision.

"Gavin Williamson must urgently come to parliament and set out how he will resolve the critical situation in our universities that is causing such anxiety for families across the country."

Shadow justice secretary David Lammy also called on the government to fix its "pathetic" test and trace programme to allow students to return home for Christmas.

He added: "Students have been done over on their A-Levels, they've been done over on freshers' week, the government's now threatening to lock them up at university. We want young people home with their families at Christmas time and they need the testing to make sure that that can happen. "

Union leaders said their warnings to managers at Manchester Metropolitan University "went unheeded" before the outbreak of coronavirus among at least 127 students prompted the city council to impose the lockdown on Friday night.

Hours later, as students put up posters criticising Boris Johnson and compared their halls of residence to a prison, human rights lawyers questioned whether local authorities and universities had the legal authority to lock students in their rooms.

A Liverpool-based firm offered their services "pro bono" to challenge the decision, amid claims the restrictions could amount to false imprisonment.

Students said they were left "scared and confused" after police turned up at the gates and security guards refused to let them leave to buy food.

The university has since pledged support for all the residents staying in the affected halls including food deliveries from Asda.

Meanwhile university bosses in Glasgow and Edinburgh faced criticism for banning students from returning home or visiting pubs and restaurants following a cluster of cases.

It prompted the Scottish government to issue updated guidance allowing students to "change household" and return home from study accommodation.

Higher education minister Richard Lochhead said: "We know that many students may be struggling with the prospect of not being able to return home to visit family and other support networks, especially if is the first time in their life they have been away from home.

"Knowing what to consider in deciding whether to return home will help support wellbeing and enable students to make informed choices, but it is important to stress that adjusting to life away from home is always challenging."

The government has rejected calls to delay the return of students to university after unions described the situation as "shambolic".

Culture secretary Oliver Dowden accepted that said the start of the autumn term was "not as it would be" due to the crisis but said that students should still pay tuition fees as they were being taught.

He also insisted that students had "clear guidelines to follow" as he told BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "Young people have paid a huge price during this crisis and I think it is only fair to try and get them back."

A Department for Education spokeswoman said: "The government is working closely with universities to ensure they are well prepared for the return of students, and we have published guidance to help them keep students and staff as safe as possible.

"We will continue monitoring the situation very closely and follow Public Health England advice, adapting policies to best support students and providers."
Border Security Force troops foiled an infiltration attempt at the International Samba Border on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. The movement of 5 terrorists was noticed in Pakistan side of International Boundary.

The Border Security Force (BSF) troops foiled an infiltration attempt at the International Border in Samba sector on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. The alert troops of BSF foiled another major infiltration bid from the Pakistan side in Samba Sector, said BSF in an official release. The movement of a group of 5 terrorists was noticed in Pakistan side of International Boundary by alert BSF troops. This is the second attempt of infiltration by the terrorist group after the September 14-15 foiled attempt, BSF said.

During night hours taking advantage of darkness, the terrorist group of heavily armed 05 terrorists tried to enter into Indian territory but engaged by alert BSF troops. BSF troops challenged them to stop on which they started firing on the BSF party with Pakistan Ranger posts also giving fire support to terrorists, it added. BSF alert troops fired on the infiltrating ANEs (anti-national elements) with coordinated effective fire, however, they managed to flee back to Pakistan territory.

With this, BSF foiled another possible infiltration bid of armed terrorists from Pakistan side well supported by Pakistan Rangers, it said. Earlier this month, BSF troops foiled an infiltration bid by terrorists from Pakistan at the international border of Samba, on the intervening night of September 14 and September 15 at about 12.30 am.

Also Read: Western nations criticize China at UNHRC over human rights violations in Xinjiang, Hong Kong

As per the release, the area was illuminated by the help of the Para bomb and BSF troops saw fleeing terrorists toward the Pakistan side. The area was searched but nothing recovered as terrorists could not cross the IB. Strong protest note is being lodged with Pakistan Rangers for their help in facilitating terrorists in infiltrating towards the Indian side, the release added.

Also Read: North Korea warns South Korea against violating sea border in search for officials body
The members of Shimla Nagrik Sabha (SNS) will gherao the municipal corporation (MC) on Monday for charging inflated water and garbage collection bills and property taxes, among other issues.

The SNS will also submit a memorandum of demands to the mayor, deputy mayor, municipal commissioner, joint commissioner and all councillors of the MC.

Other demands of the SNS include rationalisation of civic bills of paying guests, gymnasium, street vendors and other small shopkeepers; no hiking of garbage and water bills by 10% every year; no 10% late charges for water bills; slashing parking charges; withdrawal of property tax rates for municipal shops, stalls, warehouses owing to coronavirus; waiver of garbage collection and water bills from landlords whose tenants have left to their native places; 20,000 litres of water should be provided free on the lines of Delhi.

SNS president Vijendra Mehra said the state government and Shimla MC have not given any relief to the people who were financially affected during the Covid pandemic. The hotel and restaurant businesses in Shimla have come to a standstill. Due to this, about 5,000 labourers working directly with the industry have lost their jobs, he said.

Mehra added that in such a difficult situation, it was expected of the state government and the MC to provide financial help, but both have remained indifferent towards the public.

Thousands of garbage bills have been handed over to the residents. Every month, litter and water bills of closed quarters are being forcibly collected from the landlords, he rued.
The Chinese have reverse engineered and steal plans from other nations. One example is their J-1 stolen from Russia's Sukhoi. Under development in China is their version of the Sea Hunter drone.

A Chinese project on social media revealed that somehow, they are developing a version of an above-surface unmanned autonomous vehicle. The drone is a trimaran type UAV that is structurally the same as the American version. Whether the Chinese version is as fully capable, that is left to be seen, reported USNI.

Sources say that details of the project are unknown, the analysis is not concrete and the builder with the craft's dimensions are known.

The autonomous surface vessel is fabricated and devised under the Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel (ACTUV) program. As the threat of submarines will require an uncrewed surface vessel (USV) that go on long missions without going to the port. This system will seek out and lock on to submarines and track it like a mechanical bloodhound.

Smaller surface robotic combatants might have upgrades and extras that will give them an edge. China will not allow the U.S. Navy to get one over them, so they will pursue as a matter of fact.

Maybe the Chinese know that American nuke powered subs will not be tracked so easily by their knock off USV, making it useless to even consider tracking them. One of the best applications is to track slower diesel-electric subs of Asian countries aligned against it. These are Japan, Australia, and India with the U.S are the Quad which China begrudges as its stumbling blocks to dominance in the Indo-Pacific.

Also read: China Builds Advanced Amphibious Assault Ship to Copy the US Navy Version

In comparison to the original Sea Hunter, the Chinese knockoff has several marked differences. The length of the Chinese version is longer and slimmer based on satellite images that were taken. Another is that is a bit bigger. Generally, one look, and the outriggers are closer to the body.

The builder of the knockoff is Jiang Tongfang New Shipbuilding Co., it is based in Jiujiang City in Jiangxi. According to the satellite images taken that indicated the drone was launched before August 30, 2019. The shipyard is on the Yangtze rivers, located 760 kilometers from the sea.

No information states if the project is an official Chinese government-funded program or a private venture. The company Jiang Tongfang New Shipbuilding does build ships for the government but is not officially linked to the People Liberation Army Navy.

USVs are already in development with Chinese firms in the defense business. One exhibited is the Tianxing-1, first seen in the 2017 China Marine Economy Expo in Zhanjiang. It used an existing RIB (rigid inflatable boat) with a 12.7 mm machine gun as the probable armament for it.

Another is the JARI catamaran with a 30-mm cannon, surface to air missiles, and dual anti-submarine torpedoes on the heavily armed platform. Compared to the American drone (USV) knockoff they are just smaller.

One big question is whether the copy can manage transoceanic travel without a hitch.

The E-2 Hawkeye has been knocked off by China in their version, the KJ-600 carrier-borne airborne early warning, and control (AEW&C). There is doubt it can match the original in operation. Intel says only one exists of U.S. Sea Hunter Drone knock off still docked at the shipyard.

Related article: US Navy Develops Sea Drones to Join Surface Fleet for Joint Attack

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
'They haven't gone away, you know," says John Duignan, a former Scientologist, who left the controversial religion in 2006 and hasn't looked back since, metaphorically at least.

The night John fled the Church of Scientology, he was chased through a train station in Birmingham by scientologists tracking him. He evaded them and got a flight back to Ireland, to begin his life anew, having spent the previous 21 years dedicated to the church. For some time, though, he felt as though he was looking over his shoulder. Scientologists visited various family members' homes, enquiring of his whereabouts.

Now based in Midleton, Co Cork, John says he is finally "content within myself". But he is deeply concerned about the proposed opening of a 6m drug rehab centre in rural Co Meath, run by Narconon Trust, a branch of the church to which he was once utterly committed.

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On October 9, Narconon Trust v An Bord Pleanala will come before the High Court yet again. An Bord Pleanala is trying to halt the opening of the facility, in what has become a long-running legal saga now destined for the Supreme Court.

Narconon Trust purchased a property in Ballivor after Meath County Council agreed, in 2016, that planning permission was not required for a change of use from a nursing home to a residential rehab facility. Narconon developed the site, a former primary school, into a drug rehab centre.

In 2018, when construction work on the building was nearly complete, An Bord Pleanala made a contradictory declaration. Complicated legal wrangling ensued. Finally, in January of this year, Narconon Trust was given the go-ahead to open its contentious facility. Then, in a last-ditch attempt to stop it, An Bord Pleanala was given permission on July 31 to bring an appeal regarding Section 5 Planning Declarations to the Supreme Court.

The Church of Scientology's rehab centres are, like the religion itself, divisive. Narconon does not believe in weaning addicts off drugs; instead, participants go cold turkey. Its drug detoxification programme uses high doses of vitamins, coupled with long periods in dry saunas, which it says flushes toxins out of drug users' bodies.

"Narconon's rehab centres are dangerous and inhumane places," says John, who did not directly work for Narconon but did interact on a regular basis with personnel from the Scientology-run rehabs and had knowledge of how its operations worked.

Narconon dispute this view of its facilities, and in a statement released to the Sunday Independent it claims to have helped "thousands of people" stating: "Thousands of people from many ethnic and religious backgrounds have gone through the Narconon programme reporting that it has helped them get off drugs and alcohol, stay drug-free, rebuild their lives and reunite with their families".

Dr Garrett McGovern, a specialist in addiction medicine who runs the Priority Medical Clinic in Dundrum, south Dublin, says he has "concerns" over patients suffering from withdrawals not receiving appropriate medical interventions at Narconon-run facilities. "Scientology is Scientology and that's fine. But their treatment does not have any evidence behind it if it is the case that they are being treated with vitamins and saunas to flush the toxins out. It's potentially very dangerous."

A Narconon-run rehab stint also doesn't come cheap. It will cost a minimum of 30,000 per patient at the facility in Ballivor, should it become operational.

"Oh, 30,000 would be the minimum cost here for a person to attend their rehab. But it will mainly be people flown in from overseas," says Duignan. "As well as these rehabs making a lot of money for the church, its so-called counselling takes the form of intense Scientology introductory courses. There is a very high chance that after being at one of their Narconon centres, you will end up working for the church. They are recruitment centres really."

The proposed Ballivor site would be the first Narconon facility in Ireland, though the Church of Scientology already has a community centre in Dublin's Firhouse, as well as headquarters in Merrion Square. Local opposition in Ballivor has been vocal and shows no sign of abating.

"The reason we are opposed to this is not because it is a drugs rehab centre," says Claire O'Mara, of the 'Ballivor Says No' action group. "It is the way they treat the people. They won't even give someone going through severe withdrawal a paracetamol. Complete cold turkey for addicts is dangerous. And what if some of these people, in a bad way because of the type of rehab, walk out or jump out a window to escape? That's not me being dramatic. The rehab centre is beside a playground and a pre-school. Ballivor is one long street really and this centre is in the middle of it. The community are scared."

Directly next door is Ballivor community centre. "The local scout group have already taken the decision that they can't have the children out in the grounds if Narconon opens. They haven't frosted the windows and it's not OK for the children to be able to see in if there are going to be people going through severe withdrawals."

Narconon facilities have been the subject of several wrongful death lawsuits in the US. In one case in 2013, Narconon of Georgia settled a wrongful death lawsuit taken by the family of a former patient who died of a drug overdose while receiving court-ordered drug treatment that cost the patient's parents $30,000.

There were four deaths in three years at one facility in Oklahoma alone, although these have not been linked specifically to the treatment administered during the programme. "We don't want Ballivor to be known as the little village in Co Meath where people died in a controversial drugs facility," adds Ms O'Mara. "We want it to be known for positive things like the successes of our GAA clubs. We won't stop opposing it. Our voices must be heard. We want people overseas to think twice before they send their loved ones to a facility like this in Ireland. Because they might not see them ever again. They could lose them to Scientology. Or lose them altogether."

A spokesman for Narconon Trust in Ireland said its "sole purpose" is to help people free themselves from addiction. It pointed to an HSE report in March, which found that 365 more beds were needed to deal with the demand for residential alcohol and drug rehabilitation. "Since then, with social distancing measures, the number of existing beds has been reduced even further, with some facilities having to take up to two-thirds of their beds offline," a spokesman told the Sunday Independent.

"The drug and alcohol crisis has worsened significantly during the pandemic. Narconon's facility in Ballivor can offer up to 28 additional beds. While the facility can accommodate people from anywhere, it was built with the intention of helping Ireland to deal with the drug and alcohol crisis."

While the HSE may well need additional facilities for people struggling with addiction, a private Scientology rehab is not the answer, insists Aontu leader and Meath TD Peadar Toibin. A major issue for the local TD is that this proposed drug facility is not governed by the HSE at all, or HIQA inspections.

"HIQA do not visit these types of institutions and the HSE claim that they have no duty of care to the patients," says deputy Toibin. "This is absolutely wrong." He has outlined his concerns to the Minister for Drugs, Frank Feighan. "Evidence of efficacy, minimum standards and site visits to ensure safe keeping of patients may make the Church of Scientology business infeasible. It may prevent it from functioning in the future.

"That planning permission was approved for this by Meath County Council was a serious mistake given that the building was supposed to be a nursing home. We await the court's decision on that process and hope that the needs and rights of both the patients and local residents of Ballivor are protected."

John Duignan is loath to say it, but he believes the facility will eventually open its doors in Ballivor. "I think they will win in court, unfortunately," he says. This opinion is based on more than two decades of direct experience with Scientology. He joined the church aged 22 following a chance encounter on the streets of Stuttgart, Germany.

By his own admission, John was a damaged young man when Scientology entered his life. Both of his parents died tragically in the UK when he was just 10 and he was sent to live with his aunt and her family in Carrigaline, Co Cork.

Though his relatives were supportive and caring, he struggled throughout his life with the sudden loss of his parents and being separated from his brothers and sisters, who were sent to live with other family members.

"My parents died six months apart. You never get over it. I was left scarred for life. My aunt and uncle were great but I always felt I wasn't one of their own kids. Spiritually speaking, I was searching for that family unit when I encountered Scientology as a young man. They saw that vulnerability in me and used it."

Within a few months, he was deeply entrenched in the church. "I was a penniless vagabond really. I didn't have the money for their courses, so I was assigned to join their staff as a volunteer, then recruited by the Sea Organisation, which is its militant religious wing really. I was shipped out to California within three months. They saw in me an utter gullibility.

"I then gave them 21 years of my life, before I finally woke up and left in 2006. There was a very gradual progression of realisation to get to that point before I left."

During his 21 years as a Scientologist, John rose to the position of "commanding officer". In this senior managerial role, he was involved in activities from computer coding and overseeing local churches, to finance and marketing campaigns, worldwide.

But it was when he was posted in Birmingham, involved in a marketing campaign, that his niggling doubts over L Ron Hubbard's teachings took over. He had more freedom in Birmingham and was assigned to work with community and business groups, giving him exposure to lots of non-Scientologists. He then began scouring ex-Scientology message boards.

"I found people online who I used to work with and knew well, who had simply disappeared. I had a moment of realisation: 'Oh my god, I'm in a cult.' I had to plan to walk away, and I did. I had a midnight flit back to Ireland.

"The transition wasn't easy. But I've lived a lifetime in the 16 years since I left Scientology behind."
HONG KONG, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- With the central government's support, Hong Kong is building a makeshift hospital and adding new treatment facilities in AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE) in case a new wave of the COVID-19 epidemic breaks out in winter.

Michael Wong, secretary for development of the government of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said on Sunday that the construction starting Sept. 19 has progressed smoothly and predicted the treatment facilities expansion project in AWE will be completed in four weeks.

In an online article, Wong said the new AWE treatment facilities can provide nearly 1,000 hospital beds, including 160 beds in negative pressure wards.

The makeshift hospital adjacent to AWE will be built in four months and will have negative pressure wards able to hold more than 800 beds, Wong said.

With the new anti-epidemic projects, the pressure on public hospitals will be significantly reduced in case there is a new wave of outbreak, Tony Ko, chief executive of Hong Kong's Hospital Authority, has said.

The construction is also supported by the governments of Guangdong Province and its Shenzhen city and the costs will be paid by the mainland authorities, according to Wong.
One final steps stands between Katy and the approval of its 2020-21 fiscal year budget and the City Council is expected to cross that hurdle on Monday.

The Katy City Council is scheduled to meet at 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there will no public access to the meeting.

To join the meeting via Zoom, go to www.zoom.com, click join a meeting and input meeting ID 825 1149 1903. To join via telephone caall 1-877-391-0239 and enter meeting ID 825 1149 1903.

The council will hold a final public hearing on the proposed budget before voting on the budget and the associated tax rates.

The 2021 proposed tax rate of $0.447168 per $100 valuation. Assuming no other deductions, the taxes on a $250,000 home would be $1,117.92. Taxes on a $1 million home would be $4,471.68.

The 2020 tax rate is $0.48 per $100.

Besides the budget, the council has a full slate of business in front of it, including nine resolutions.

For more information go to www.cityofkaty.com.

Webinar on finances

The Katy Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a webinar from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30, focusing on building finances.

Cody Huggins of Regions Bank will discuss how to re-evaluate what stresses you and what motivates you about your finances. Learn how to take charge of your money and grow more confident about your finances.

The event features a pay what you can registration. Although it is presented free of charge, the chamber is asking for donation so it can continue providing services to the business community.

Webinar Wednesdays are designed to keep our business community educated with topics regarding Telecommunications, Technology, Finance, Healthcare, and Human Resource.

For more information go to www.katychamber.com.

Chamber Chat

The Fulshear-Katy Chamber of Commerce will host its weekly Chamber Chat & Boss series from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, on Facebook.

This week, the chat will be with Fulshear-Simonton Lions Club, a non-political service club based in Fulshear. For more information on the club, go to www.fulshearsimontonlionsclub.org.

The next Chamber Chat & Boss series is scheduled to include Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, on Facebook.

Programs appear on the Fulshear-Katy Chamber of Commerce Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FulshearKaty.

For more information go to www.fulshearkaty.com.

B.O.B. Bowling Tournament

Registration in ongoing for the Fulshear-Katy Area Chamber of Commerces Fourth Annual B.O.B. (Battle of the Businesses) Bowling Tournament, scheduled for noon to 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, at Main Event-Katy at 24401 Katy Freeway.

Due to COVID-19, safety protocols have been put into place which include not having to wear a mask while bowling or eating and drinking as long as within a particular teams area. However, if leaving an assigned area, it will be necessary to wear a mask. For information on the safety protocols in place go to www.maineventsafety.com.

For more information, contact the Fulshear-Katy Area Chamber of Commerce via email at FulshearKaty@gmail.com or by calling 832-600-3221. To register for the tournament go to https://tinyurl.com/yxfg3w5y.

Infrastructure updates

Fort Bend County Precinct 1 Commissioner Vincent Morales is scheduled to give an update on infrastructure in his area from 8 to 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, via Zoom.

The update is being presented by the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce. Individual tickets are $20 for members and $30 for prospective members. Once registered for the event, attendees will receive login information for the Zoom call.

Geographically, Precinct 1 in the largest in Fort Bend County, taking up a huge portion of the southern portion of the county.

To register for the event go to https://tinyurl.com/y5lz3nzg.

For more information on the update contact Ryan Husid at ryan@fortbendcc.org or 281-566-2163.

rkent@hcnonline.com
On Sept. 16, Taiwan added the Marshall Islands to its esteemed low-risk COVID-19 country list for reporting zero new cases and meeting its required per-capita testing threshold.

However, on the very same day, it removed Myanmar from the list, meaning business travellers from the Southeast Asian country would no longer enjoy any relief from the 14-day mandatory quarantine upon arrival.

Just a week before that, Taiwan also welcomed Vietnam and Hong Kong to the privileged low-risk travel club as a reward for their declining coronavirus infection rates.

Constantly tightening and relaxing the leash of a quarantine according to changing risk factors  and testing  are key in pandemic travel restrictions for Taiwan in its effort to strike a balance between economic interests and the need to protect its border from the threats of a global pandemic.

As of Monday, Taiwan recorded a total of just 509 confirmed cases  with seven deaths.

Quarantine of arrivals is a major strategy for handling cross-border transmission, said Chen Shih-chung, Taiwans Health and Welfare Minister and head of its Central Epidemic Command Center. Strict border-control measures will remain in place for the foreseeable future.

Since March 19, all inbound travellers to the island  citizens or not  must undergo a two-week mandatory quarantine.

Visitors can only board an inbound flight if they can provide negative COVID test results from within three days before boarding. Taiwanese nationals, temporary residents, migrant workers, international students and diplomats are exempted.

To ease international travel, the Taiwanese government in June established separate country lists based on their risk of spreading COVID to the island. The designations are reviewed and updated regularly.

Business travellers from low- and medium-risk countries can apply for shortened quarantine periods if they have no history of travel to other places in the 14 days prior to coming to Taiwan.

However, they must stay in designated quarantine hotels at their own expense and test negative after at least five days before they are cleared.

But even after that, theres a catch.

The business hosts inviting them to Taiwan must submit their schedules and health-related programs and make proper arrangements in advance regarding means of transportation, dining arrangements and meetings, Chen explained.

The visitors must be continuously accompanied by assigned staff to ensure effective implementation of all protective measures.

Since July 26, those from high-risk countries such as the Philippines are tested for COVID upon arrival and sent to government quarantine sites before they can be cleared. As of Sept. 13, 17 of the 1,023 Filipino travellers  with or without symptoms  tested positive.

The geography of being an island makes it easier and more effective to enforce border quarantines in Taiwan, said Chen. This is a unique advantage, he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday came out strongly in defence of the three contentious farm bills enacted by his government, saying the legislation would benefit both farmers by giving them the freedom to choose where they wanted to sell their produce as well as consumers by taking middlemen out of agricultural trading.

Amid protests by some farmers groups against the legislation, Modi said in his monthly radio address, Mann Ki Baat, that farmers had benefitted when fruits and vegetables were brought out of the Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) system in some states a few years ago, allowing them to sell the produce outside of the mandis that once functioned as monopolies.

Grain producers will now gain the same freedom, the prime minister said, illustrating the theme with examples from states.

The speech came a day after the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost its Punjab ally, the Shiromani Akali Dal, which walked out of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) after protesting against the new laws. SAD had pulled its lone representative in the Modi government, food processing industries minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, from the cabinet on September 17.

Modi cited the example of a farmer, Kanwar Chauhan, in Haryanas Sonipat district,who told him about how he could not sell his fruits outside the mandi system at one time. In 2014, fruits and vegetables were excluded from the APMC Act and the farmers benefitted from the move.Farmers like Chauhan produce sweet corn and baby corn and supply the produce directly to Delhi market and earn Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh per acre per year.

Also read: On Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi focuses on storytelling; hails passage of farm bills

What is different that these farmers have? They have the strength to sell their produce where they wish. Now the other farmers of the country have also got this strength. They have got the freedom to sell their produce, not just vegetables and fruits, where they want to, Modi said.

Modi also referred to a group of farmers in Maharashtra who sold their produce directly to consumers. He also alluded to Theni district of Tamil Nadu where farmers had formed a group that would buy vegetables from the members of their community and sell them elsewhere in Tamil Nadu.

This benefitted not just the farmers but also the consumers by excluding the middlemen, said the prime minister.

Modi referred to similar groups in Lucknow, Manipur and Banaskantha. He said a farmer, Ismail Bhai, grew potato in Gujarat which he is selling directly to food companies and earning well.

The PMs monthly radio address came as President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday signed into law the three contentious farm bills, which the government says will widen market access to farmers and which opposition parties say are anti-farmer and corporate-friendly.

The three bills  the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Service Bill, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020  have become acts of law with the Presidents signature .

The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, seeks to give farmers the right to enter into a contract with agribusiness firms, processors, wholesalers, exporters, or large retailers for the sale of future farming produce at a pre-agreed price. And the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020, seeks to remove commodities like cereals, pulses, oilseeds, onion, and potato from the list of essential commodities and will do away with the imposition of stock holding limits.

The government, which has said that these laws will make farmers self-reliant, has notified them. More than a dozen opposition parties had urged President Kovind not to sign the contentious bills, alleging that they were passed unconstitutionally in complete disregard of parliamentary norms. Opposition parties and farmers groups have expressed concern that the new laws could pave way for an end of the minimum support price (MSP) regime.

The PM recalled landmark events that will be observed in the coming days, including the Bhagat Singh Jayanti on Monday, the birth anniversary of Mahatama Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri on October 2. He took a swipe at the Congress party, saying that f the essence of Mahatma Gandhis economic philosophy was followed by successive governments, there would not have been any need for the Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) campaign his government has launched because India would have become self-reliant much earlier.

He said the farm sector is playing a major role in efforts to build a self-reliant India. Modi paid a tribute to farmers. In this difficult time affected by Covid-19, the farm sector has shown its strength, he said, adding that the stronger it is, the stronger will be the foundation of a self-reliant India.

The Congress, meanwhile, likened the laws to cancer and slow poison that will kill farmers and agriculture. At a joint virtual press conference, Congresss Haryana chief Kumari Selja and Punjab president Sunil Jakhar urged all parties to come together and oppose the farm Bills, which they said will make farmers slaves of big businessmen.

Selja and Jakhar said NDA allies should support the opposition, the same way they extended support against the Land Acquisition Bill, which the BJP-led Union government was forced to withdraw.

On the Shiromani Akali Dals exit from the NDA, Jakhar said the party did not quit the ruling coalition on its own. It was forced to do so by farmers, who made it difficult for the Akalis to enter Punjab without doing so, he said.

Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh also termed the Akali Dals decision to quit the NDA as a case of political compulsion for the Badals, who were left with no other option after the BJPs public criticism over the farm bills.

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday congratulated the leadership of SAD for its decision to quit the NDA. SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal announced the decision to snap ties with the NDA on Saturday night amid farmers protests in Punjab.

Congratulations to Shri Sukhbir Badal, president of Akali Dal and the party MP Harsimrat Badal who under the leadership of Prakash Singh Badal pulled out of the NDA in protest against the farmers Bills. Thanks for firmly standing with the farmers! Pawar tweeted.

With SADs exit, the BJP has lost its by far two most dependable and ideologically bound allies within a year. Last year, the BJP lost the support of the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, where the Sena formed a government with the NCP and the Congress.


600-year-old Psalm manuscript found in Norfolk 600-year-old Psalm manuscript found in Norfolk

An archaeologist working alone through lockdown in the attic rooms of Oxburgh Hall in Norfolk has uncovered one of the largest underfloor archaeology hauls of its type in a National Trust house, including a 600-year-old illuminated manuscript of Psalm 39.

The variety, age and significance of the items found and what they reveal about the history of Oxburgh Hall make it a unique discovery.



A page from a rare 15th-century illuminated manuscript was among the items recovered, many dating back to the Tudor period. Finds range from fragments of late 16th century books to high-status Elizabethan textiles, as well as more mundane modern objects such as cigarette packets and an empty box of Terrys chocolates that date to the Second World War  which may have been hidden after the chocolates were eaten.



The discovery was made during a project to re-roof Oxburgh Hall, a moated manor house, which includes lifting many of the floorboards in the attic rooms to repair floor joists. Independent archaeologist Matt Champion agreed to continue through lockdown on his own and carried out a careful fingertip search.



The house was built by Sir Edmund Bedingfeld after he inherited the estate in 1476. The family still live in part of the building today.



Anna Forest, the National Trust curator who is overseeing the work, said it was the first time anybody had searched under the floorboards in centuries.



When the boards came up, we could see a wave pattern in the debris which showed it had been undisturbed for centuries, said Anna.



The peak of each wave of dust, debris and objects was highest under the crack between the boards. In was often inches thick and lay on top of a layer of lime plaster, which drew out the moisture from the debris and resulted in much of it being perfectly preserved over the centuries.



Anna continued: One particular challenge was in areas with south-facing windows, where hundreds of pins were found, so Matt had to use thick gloves when searching. The rooms, being well lit, had clearly been used for sewing, and for organising correspondence, with evidence of wax seals and fragments of late 18th-century handwritten documents in English and French.



The value of underfloor archaeology to our understanding of Oxburghs social history is enormous.



The star find was the 15th-century illuminated manuscript fragment on parchment spotted in the rubble of the eaves by one of the builders. Despite centuries amongst debris, the glimmer of gold leaf and bright blue of the illuminated initials was still vibrant.



Anna said: The text is distinct enough for us to identify it as part of the Latin Vulgate Psalm 39, Expectans expectavi [I waited patiently]. We contacted Dr James Freeman, Medieval Manuscripts Specialist at Cambridge University Library, who explained that the leaf may be from a Psalter, but its small size  just 8cm x 13cm  suggest it once was part of a Book of Hours. These portable prayer books were for private devotion.



The use of blue and gold for the minor initials, rather than the more standard blue and red, shows this would have been quite an expensive book to produce. It is tantalising to think that this could be a remnant of a splendid manuscript and we cant help but wonder if it belonged to Sir Edmund Bedingfeld, the builder of Oxburgh Hall.



The Bedingfeld family at Oxburgh Hall were once rising stars of the Tudor Royal Court but Sir Henry Bedingfeld refused to sign the Act of Uniformity in 1559  which outlawed Catholic Mass. The devout Catholic family stayed true to their faith over centuries despite being ostracised and persecuted and even had a secret priest hole at Oxburgh to shelter Catholic clergy.



The manuscript parchment and other objects found may well have been used in illegal masses and hidden deliberately by the family.



Some tiny pieces of books have been identified including extracts from the 1590 edition of book one of The ancient, famous and honourable history of Amadis de Gaule, a chivalric romance from the Iberian Peninsula, first written c.1420. It is noted that Catholics of the period tended to read the romances set in Spain, especially since the books mention the Mass.



The most recent discovery, spotted in an attic void by a builder, is a complete book called the Kings Psalms dated 1568. Complete with its gilded leather binding, it is almost intact  a few fragments from it had previously been found in a rats nest. Research into the book has just started.



Russll Clement, General Manager at Oxburgh Hall, said: We had hoped to learn more of the history of the house during the re-roofing work and have commissioned paint analysis, wallpaper research, and building and historic graffiti recording. But these finds are far beyond anything we expected to see. These objects contain so many clues which confirm the history of the house as the retreat of a devout Catholic family, who retained their faith across the centuries. We will be telling the story of the family and these finds in the house, now we have reopened again following lockdown.



This is a building which is giving up its secrets slowly. We dont know what else we might come across  or what might remain hidden for future generations to reveal.



The 6m roof project was already underway when lockdown began and is supported by funds from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Wolfson Foundation, as well as the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development through the LEADER programme, the Sylvia Waddilove Foundation UK and The Constance Travis Charitable Trust, as well as ongoing support from National Trust members and donors.



More information is available on www.nationaltrust.org.uk/oxburghhall



Pictured above is a fragment of the manuscript being examined by curator Anna Forest. Picture (c) National Trust/Mike Hodgson.



Keith Morris, 27/09/2020
Trinamool Congress MP Derek OBrien on Sunday said the clarification issued by the government about the chain of events which occurred during passage of the contentious farm bills in the Rajya Sabha on September 20 were farcical". He added that video evidence obtained by various media organisations shredded" the centres version, instead.

Media reports claim the governments stance on the rules not being followed during the voting in bills in Rajya Sabha on September 20 are discrepant with the television footage of the proceedings.

Solid investigation by reputed journalists, backed by video footage and irrefutable evidence, have left this shameless govt scurrying to find cover through lies. Read their farcical clarification re events in Rajya Sabha! The video of Farm Bill vote shreds governments version Derek O'Brien |  ' (@derekobrienmp) September 27, 2020

During a debate on the bills, OBrien had rushed to the Well of the house to protest against them. Reports at the time claimed he had attempted to tear the rule book in front of Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh over the demand for a division of vote. Singh and the government have claimed that the demands for opposition for physical voting were negated as the members were not in their seats while they made their demands.

However, an investigation of the video by the Indian Express revealed that from 1 pm, which was when the Deputy Chairman extended the sitting, to 1:26 pm, when the House was adjourned for 15 minutes, two of the three MPs who had moved motion to send the controversial bills to a select committee - DMKs Tiruchi Siva and CPMs K K Ragesh - were in their seats when they demanded a division of votes.

At 1pm, Deputy Chairman told Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, who was replying to the discussion on the two Bills, that it was 1 pm. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi proposed an extension of the House.

Singh asked whether the House agreed to sit till the disposal of the bill. Congress members Anand Sharma and Jairam Ramesh demanded that proceedings be continued Monday and then, along with Siva, asked the Deputy Chairman to take sense of the House. Singh replied there was consensus and asked Tomar to continue.

After that, the members rushed to the Well of the House shouting slogans. Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the extension should be done on the basis of consensus and added that most political parties are saying that time should not be extended today and tomorrow the minister can reply.

At 1.07 pm, Singh began to dispose the statutory resolutions before passage of the Bill while the Opposition continued to shout slogans against it. He called CPMs K K Ragesh, who had moved a statutory resolution and told an unidentified member in the Well to return to his seat in the gallery upstairs. Ragesh is seated in the gallery.

Singh said on Sunday in his version of clarification - The statutory resolution disapproving the ordinance and the amendment for the reference of the bill to select committee moved by Sri KK Ragesh were negated by voice vote by the House at 1.07 pm, as Sri Ragesh was in the Well of the House and not on his seat at the gallery at that point of time. This can be seen from the video as calling him to move his resolution and amendment, I looked at the gallery, but he was not there."

At 1:08 pm, the statutory resolution got negated in a voice vote. After that, Singh took up a motion moved by Ragesh which sought the reference of the Bill to a select committee. The motion was negated by a voice vote.

1:09 pm, Singh took up a motion moved by OBrien which sought the reference of the Bill to a select committee, and the motion was negated by a voice vote. A voice was heard seeking division, after which the audio went off for a couple of seconds. Singh then said demand for division ought to be made from the seat.

At 1:10 pm, Singh took up a motion moved by Siva which sought reference of the Bill to a select committee, and the motion was negated by a voice vote. The footage showed Siva in his seat, with his hand raised in demand of division. OBrien rushed to Singhs podium with a copy of the rule book in his hand and shouted you cannot do this.what is the rule. At the time, Siva was still put in his seat.

At 1.11 pm, Deputy Speaker began clause by clause consideration of the Bill. He took up amendments moved by Ragesh to clause-II and the footage showed him in his seat upstairs demanding division. The amendments were negated through a voice vote.

At 1.12 pm, the footage showed Ragesh in his seat and Siva was tearing papers from his seat. The chaos increased and at 1.13pm, an unidentified member attempted to uproot the microphones installed on Singhs podium. At 1.14 pm, the Audio went off and stayed off. At 1.26 pm, the House was adjourned for 15 minutes.

Singh in a statement on Sunday denied the oppositions allegations with an incident report", which detailed an account of the chain of events that day.

When Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, was replying on 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, some Members disregarded the authority of the Chair, abused the rules of the Council (Rajya Sabha) by persistently and willfully obstructing the business thereof. A detailed report in this regard as per the available footage is as under" the statement said.
Sindh, Sep 27 (UNI) At least 13 people were killed in a road accident involving a passenger van in Pakistans Sindh province, the Dawn newspaper reports.

The accident occurred on Saturday night, when a passenger van carrying at least 20 people overturned and caught fire on the Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway, police told the newspaper.

According to police, the seven survivors include the van driver and a child. Five people were taken to a hospital.

Nooriabad Deputy Superintendent of Police Nazar Deeshak said as cited by the newspaper that the van was on its way to Karachi from Hyderabad. The accident occurred 63 kilometers (39 miles) from Hyderabad.

Police said the passenger van overturned and caught fire after taking a number of turns and bouncing off the road.

UNI XC-RHK0838
Israeli protesters gather during a demonstration amid a second lockdown in front of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem - EMMANUEL DUNAND /AFP

Thousands of Israelis protested outside the residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday, demanding his resignation over how the government has handled the coronavirus pandemic.

The protests continue weeks of anti-Netanyahu demonstrations despite a strict lockdown order and one of the worst infection rates in the world.

Draconian new lockdown measures came into force on Friday that closed many businesses, banned large gatherings and ordered people to stay close to their homes. Protesters say Mr Netanyahu's government is bungling the response to the pandemic.

The Knesset, Israels parliament, failed to pass a measure that would ban the right to protest more than a kilometre away from home which would have seen an end to the weekly demonstrations outside Mr Netanyahus official residence.

Mr Netanyahu rejected allegations that tougher lockdown rules were in part intended to quash the protests, which he has often called anarchist and ludicrous.

We need the lockdown in order to save lives, he said on Thursday. The Prime Minister has pushed hard for the ban on demonstrations, which have surged throughout the summer.

Some protesters said Mr Netanyahus efforts to curb the demonstrations was a driving force for them attending.

Protesters also say Mr Netanyahu shouldnt remain in office while on trial for corruption charges.

With one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in the world, many protesters make an effort to social distance by standing in marked spots or attending car rallies.

The country has reported more than 229,000 cases since the pandemic began, including 1,450 deaths. It currently has more than 68,000 active cases, including 749 patients in serious condition.

Israel is marking the holiest day in the Jewish calendar on Sunday as Yom Kippur begins at sundown.

As part of the latest tightening of lockdown measures, Israelis can only pray in open areas close to home, with gatherings limited to 20 people.

Synagogues will be allowed to open for limited prayers with social distancing despite warnings from health experts that it could lead to a rise in infections.
Here's an update on the latest local shooting report and lives that will likely be shattered permanently by gunfire as the most violent year in Kansas City history continues . . .



Checkit:


A young lad with a machine pistol from the 56 revolution in Budapest; a student from Prague Spring in 68; a Solidarity activist from Warsaw in 80  these are the images of Eastern and Central Europe favoured in Western Europe. They see far-away champions of freedom, who add some romance to the life of the Western European citizen, but at the same time in in no way upset the staid predictability of their own everyday life, thanks to strength of the Iron Curtain.

Yet somehow in the West many still sensed that the East European democratic transitions and the dismantling of the frontiers lockdown would launch a new era for them, too. For the French and British, German reunification foreshadowed the image of far too large a European superpower. To many, the Yugoslav Wars and the newly independent Croatia meant the breakdown of the Central European status quo. The abundance of new parties, players and developing systems appeared as threat in the committee rooms of Western chanceries. Publicly they hoorayed it while in private they were less than delighted with the end of Socialism.

Since then a generation has gone by but Western Europe is still not able to accept the spirit of Europes reunification. The European Union has enlarged towards the east in vain  instead of equal treatment as fellow citizens of Europe, we are met with suspicion, accusation and distrust.

Quite a few EU member states shut off their labour market to the citizens of incoming countries. Thereafter the romantic image of the champion of freedom was slowly replaced by that of the Polish plumber or the Hungarian waiter, who only came to steal the jobs of the locals.

Its not just meanness that keeps the West from accepting a unified Europe. In the last quarter of the century they have already declared Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, or even us Hungarians to be non-democratic, because the electors brought to power politicians with views not favoured by the West.

During the same period, racial hatred or ethnic violence erupted several times in France, the Netherlands and Britain - but nobody was worried about democracy there. The number of incidents of an anti-Semitic nature grew markedly in Sweden  yet nobody considers the Swedish nation to be anti-Semitic. Far-right parties have sprung up in Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Britain  still, nobody collects signatures for the salvation of their democracy.

We, just like our regional partners, have to prove our commitment to democracy every day, while, for our part, we have genuinely had to struggle and fight for democracy. They watch the distinctive Eastern and Central European solutions mistrustfully as if they did not care about how they came into being. They do not want to understand that the average salary of a German, a Portuguese and even a Greek is many times that of the Hungarian average of 700.

They do not want to understand that in many cases the nations, as well as the organizational structures of these countries, have had to be rebuilt, because they were emptied materially, societies were demoralised and insecure about their values following the decades of Socialism. All this has had to be done in the midst of an economic crisis, with debts and without reserves.

They do not want to understand  not due to a lack of intellectual aptitude, but due to lack of willingness. They do not want to understand, because they seem to think that it has nothing to do with them, that our concerns are not their concerns. Because the romantic far-away champions of freedom have acquired human form, have turned into flesh and blood, they do not perceive them as their own, as their fellow Europeans.

Today, Europe is not weak because the Eastern and Central European countries are poor or weak. Rather this is due to the West that is still unable to come to terms with the unification of Europe. The very fact that we too are Europeans has invigorated us through the decades, but Europe will stay weak as long as those in the West refuse to take notice of this.

Dr Tibor Navracsics is Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Public Administration and Justice of Hungary
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the 69th edition of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat on Sunday. Modis outreach talk that focuses on a range of subjects will broadcast on All India Radio, DD and Narendra Modi mobile app at 11am.

Do join tomorrow, 27th September at 11 AM. #MannKiBaat, PM Modi wrote on microblogging site Twitter on Saturday.

The programme will also be streamed live on the YouTube channels of AIR, DD News, PMO and information and broadcasting ministry.

In his previous address, the Prime Minister had called for startups in the country to come together to make India a manufacturing hub for toys. India should become a hub for toy production, he had said, adding that the global toy industry is over Rs 7 lakh crore but Indias share is very small and the nation will have to work to increase it.

Some areas are being developed as toy clusters. The best toys are those which encourage the creativity of children, he added, suggesting startups to team up for toys. Come, lets play, he had said.

Modi had also renewed his pitch for the nation to become self-reliant across all domains. At a time when Atmanirbhar Bharat is becoming a mantra of the people, how can any domain be left untouched by its influence?, he said

He had also suggested people to bring home dogs of local breeds.

Modi had also highlighted the potential of the countrys young people by drawing attention to the ministry of electronics and information technologys Atmanirbhar app challenge launched on July 4 that threw up alternatives to popular applications such as Twitter and TikTok.

Mann Ki Baats latest episode comes a day after the Prime Ministers pre-recorded video address to the UN General Assembly where he expressed his concerns about the pace of reform of the United Nations its response to challenges such as terrorism and the Covid-19 pandemic. Modis speech focussed largely on the need to reform the UN with him saying todays world and contemporary challenges are significantly different from those of the era when the body was created in 1945.
STAMFORD  Police have made an arrest in last weekends shooting at an outdoor party that left a Stamford mother dead and two people wounded.

Ian Easy Evans was arrested on a court warrant Thursday on charges of first-degree assault, criminal attempt at first-degree assault, criminal use of a firearm and reckless endangerment. He is being held on $1 million bond.

The charges are related to the wounding of a man at the party, police said.

Police are calling the arrest the first that they plan to make in relation to the incident. Detectives are still are looking to make an arrest in the killing of Shernetta Dunmore, 35.

Capt. Richard Conklin said information was developed that established Evans as a person of interest in the case.

Stamford police requested the service of U.S. Marshals, who located Evans in a Bridgeport residence on Thursday, police said. Stamford police then executed a search and seizure warrant at the residence.

They are among the very best in finding people and very quickly the marshals tracked him down and we were not surprised, having worked with them so often, Conklin said.

The police captain said the case remains very active.

This investigation has clearly established that there were many witnesses, Conklin said.

We would like people to come forward. We have to implore them because an innocent mother lost her life during this situation, he said. We really want to seek justice for her and her family and the community.

On Sept. 20, Dunmore, who lived on Henry Street, joined a group of city residents celebrating the end of summer at Cummings Park. When the park closed, people moved to a parking lot of the Ursula Place Housing Complex just off Cove Road.

Just after midnight, gunfire erupted at the party. Dunmore was shot numerous times. She was rushed to Stamford Hospital, but died from her injuries.

Two Stamford men, ages 43 and 27, were also struck by bullets in the shooting. One of those men turned up at Bridgeport Hospital and the other at Stamford Hospital.

Conklin said there were upwards of 30 people in the parking lot early Sunday when the shooting took place.

There are witnesses that are starting to come in and talk to us, but there are many others that we need to speak to, he said. We are identifying people who were there and cars that were there and it is just a matter of time before we are going to be knocking on their door. We would rather they get a hold of us.

Police said about 30 shots were fired in the incident.

Dunmore was born and raised in Stamford, she ended up graduating from Bassick High School in Bridgeport and then went to Maine where she became a Jobs Corps graduate and learned about the culinary arts, her brother Jamal, said.

Before she died, Dunmore was working a security job to make ends meet and create a good life for her son, he said, adding his sister will be greatly missed in the Stamford community where she had a ton of friends.

Jamal Dunmore has echoed police officials call for witnesses to come forward and cooperate in the investigation.

The city has a confident mentality and if Stamford is the stand-up town as we believe, we are asking as a family for them to step up, he said earlier this week. Im believing the community will stand up for our family and I believe the individuals will be brought to justice.

I pray their hearts will be softened, and I know this is faithful thinking, but I think people will step up and turn in those individuals who are responsible.

Anyone with information about this case, to include the identity of those who witnessed the shooting, should contact the Major Crime Squad at 203-977-4417.
Sunday update: Authorities have found Garrows body, family says.

Bridgeport, N.Y. -- The search for Elizabeth Garrow, a 19-year-old mother whos been missing since Wednesday, will continue on Sunday, Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood said late this afternoon.

More than 100 law enforcement officers and public safety officials searched an area in Madison County that covered parts of about 100 square miles, Hood said.

No evidence was recovered today, Hood said. Authorities did recover evidence in searches on Friday. Hood declined to say what that evidence was.

Her husband, who is in custody on a separate charge, has invoked his right to counsel, Hood said.

Right now, we are going under the assumption that she is alive, he said.

Garrow was last seen between 11 a.m. and noon Wednesday at the Dunkin' at 369 N. Peterboro St., Canastota, deputies said. When she was last spotted, Garrow was with George McDonald Jr., her husband, deputies said.

McDonald, 24, of Sullivan, was arrested Friday for violating probation and is being held in the Madison County Jail. His charges are not related to his wifes disappearance, deputies said. The Madison County District Attorneys Office said McDonald is also facing a second-degree criminal contempt charge.

The search today covered public and private lands that includes swamps. Dive teams, drones and police search dogs were used, Hood said.

Volunteers provided water and food for the searchers, Hood said.

Several agencies are participating in the search, including: The New York State Forest Rangers, the state Environmental Conservation Police, New York State Police, the Bridgeport Volunteer Fire Department and Canastota police.

Four search and rescue teams -- Madison, Oswego, Massasuaga and Wilderness -- also helped.

Deputies have asked anyone with information to call (315) 366-2311.

Got a story idea or news tip youd like to share? Please contact me through email, Twitter, Facebook or at 315-470-2274.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

On Sept. 4, then-Albuquerque Police Chief Michael Geier told the Mayors Office he wanted to reassign his first deputy chief because he was insubordinate and failed to carry out a project aimed at reducing gun violence in Albuquerque by the end of the year.

I told her I really need to switch him; hes failed in this endeavor; this is a primary goal, Geier recalled of his conversation with Chief Administrative Officer Sarita Nair. If youre a deputy chief and you work against something, you might as well be the criminal on the street.

Geier said he was told he couldnt do that without the mayors approval, and three days later, on Labor Day, he was summoned to a small neighborhood park in the far Northeast Heights for a meeting with the mayor. Geier said he sat on a park bench with Mayor Tim Keller  he had a hat on and sunglasses; he was very much incognito  who asked him if he had thought about retiring.

I knew whats coming, and I said, No Im not quite ready. Ive got a few more things,  Geier said.  Well, he goes, crime is out of control, and thats on you. 

Over the summer, Albuquerque had been thrust into the spotlight when President Donald Trump held a news conference announcing it would be one of the cities where federal agents would be sent to combat violent crime. Although property crime had decreased over the past couple of years, violent crime and shootings have remained persistently high.

Geier said that shortly after his meeting with the mayor he met with CAO Nair and then the next day he met with both of them and was basically told he had to retire. His first deputy chief, Harold Medina, would be taking his spot in the interim  the same person Geier had complained about being insubordinate.

In interviews with the Journal before he left office on Friday, the soft-spoken Geier blasted the mayors administration for constant micromanagement  to the point where he couldnt even hold his own press conferences and was told what to say at the ones he was involved in  and for putting on what he called dog and pony show news conferences. He said the Mayors Office set the departments priorities and dictated staffing structures.

The mayors team sees it differently. In multiple statements to the Journal in response to Geiers criticism, they countered that Geier should be taking responsibility for what happened under his watch. They assert that a lot of people put in a lot of hours propping up Geier because he wasnt doing the job himself.

Its sad to see him take the low road on the way out, the mayors team said.

Unfortunately, he was an absentee Chief much of 2020, rarely at important incidents like officer-involved shootings, critical COVID actions, protests, staff meetings, or press conferences, Mike Puelle, the mayors chief of staff, said in a statement. Albuquerque needs the Chief to be able to put in the 80 hours a week this job takes, on scene, on camera and side-by-side with our officers who work so hard in the field.

At a news conference announcing Geiers retirement a little more than two weeks ago, Keller framed the decision as mutual but said there were many small distractions as well as big issues facing the city. He said he saw the need for increased progress and for a faster rate of change.

In the statements, Puelle was more blunt about the reason for the change: The job just wasnt getting done. Crime is still too high, reforms hit snags and HR squabbles were a distraction.  As a courtesy to Geier and out of respect for his service in law enforcement, he was given the opportunity to retire.

Geier, who left the news conference early because he couldnt stomach sticking around for the end, said he was leaving to spend more time with his two young grandchildren, whom he and his wife are raising, and to hand over the reins to someone who is younger and has more energy.

He told the Journal it was true that he missed spending time with his family but that he had also asked if he could stay through the end of the year instead of being forced out immediately. He was told no, and the following Monday, Medina took over as acting chief.

Since then, he said, hes been having trouble sleeping at night, and keeps going over the events in his head.

I dont have that closure; I just feel a little bit that this was unfair, he said. I could have been given more time, and I feel like it really was for the wrong reasons that this happened.

As for the charge that he was an absentee chief, Geier was indignant. He said he put in long hours, was often the last person to leave the office, ate lunch at his desk almost every day  sometimes in 10-15 minutes  and brought work home to spend hours on at night.

As chief, I had to delegate many duties to my deputy chiefs in their areas of responsibility because my job was so demanding at times, Geier said. I even attended meetings, events and such after work hours and on weekends, so its pretty ludicrous to even suggest I was an absentee chief.  Ask my family how much time I spent trying to keep up with the never-ending demands of my job as chief. I never took a sick day and did not take a vacation in 2020.

A politicians aide

Geier said a big concern of his was that the mayors administration micromanaged APD. As an example, he said he was given a matrix that listed projects that needed to be carried out and specific deadlines.

He said he wasnt allowed to call his own briefings without including the mayor and was handed talking points from the administration.

Im not a cop anymore; Im just a politicians aide is the way I describe it, Geier said.

In one particularly galling moment, he remembers being told not to speak to the media until after the mayor arrived when bones were found buried in a West Side dirt lot that was being made into a park. Initially, it appeared to be a huge development in the notorious West Mesa serial killer case that Geier himself had worked on for years after the burial site was found in 2009.

The chief should be able to say, Were going to do the press conference,  Geier said. You dont even have to be there, Mr. Mayor, unless you want to see whats out there.

The bones turned out to be ancient and not connected to the serial killings, but Geier said the episode stuck with him.

I dont want to get out in front of the cameras, but if someone knows something about it, thats the person you want out there, he said. That case, I dont think anyone knows it better than me.

He also described instances in which the mayors communications staff, and his own spokesman, attributed statements to him that he didnt make.

The most glaring example was a tweet about Jacob Blake  a Black man who was shot in the back by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in August.

The senseless shooting of Jacob Blake once again shows why our community and communities across the nation are seeking justice and change, the now-deleted tweet read. On Behalf of APD, I offer my sympathy to Jacob Blakes family and his children who witnessed this disturbing act. I sincerely hope he makes a full recovery.

These words, attributed to Geier, set off a firestorm. But Geier said he had not even seen the statement before it was sent out. APD spokesman Gilbert Gallegos acknowledged the tweet was sent without Geiers approval. He said last week that he had sent it to Geier for him to look at, and after not hearing a response, gave the green light to go.

Geier said he sent a departmentwide email clarifying that he had not prepared or approved the statement. He said that he asked Mayors Office staffers whether it came from them and that they denied it.

(Union President Shaun) Willoughby was already wanting to do a no-confidence vote, the APD wife group was ready to hang me, and there was a law enforcement group with 55,000 members that had my picture on it saying its not enough that I have bad shootings in my own town, I have to criticize some others, Geier said.

Kind, old grandfather

In early 2017, Geier retired as chief of the Rio Rancho Police Department after three years on the job.

He had spent 20 years as an officer in the Chicago area and 20 years with APD. He stepped down from the Rio Rancho position for personal reasons related to life changes and his wifes chronic illness. His son and his sons wife were separated, and Geier and his wife ended up gaining custody of their two young grandchildren, then ages 6 and 4, the previous May.

Still, when Keller  who was just beginning his campaign for mayor  approached him and asked if he was interested in being chief of APD if he won, he said maybe.

Eleven months later, Geier voted for Keller and when Keller won the runoff election, he took the job as interim chief.

APD had been beat up really bad, and it was a chance to do the right thing, Geier said. I dont think hes a bad mayor, he was one of the ones I would have followed.

Seven months later, after a nationwide search, Geier was appointed permanent chief.

Over the next couple of years, some categories of crime  like auto theft  decreased substantially, but others, including violent crime, remained constant or decreased only slightly. In 2019, the city had 80 homicides  more than any other year in memory.

In Geiers first six months in office, he drew praise for his commitment to the reform effort mandated by the Department of Justice after an investigation that concluded in 2014 that officers had a pattern and practice of excessive force. The independent monitor overseeing the effort has consistently pointed to mid-level supervisors resisting reforms, but has said overall the attitudes toward the undertaking have been better than under the previous administration.

But at a news conference earlier this month announcing Geiers retirement, Mayor Keller said the reforms laid out in the Court Approved Settlement Agreement had stalled and he wanted a chief with the time to commit to it in order for it to go faster.

Matt Ross, the mayors spokesman, has since said that Geier was resistant to holding people accountable and it was beginning to threaten the hard-fought reforms at APD.

Geier, who was a member of APDs first Crisis Intervention Team in 1997 and later became the teams supervisor, said he was frustrated by the emphasis on harshly disciplining or firing officers rather than helping them change their ways. He says the coming monitor report will criticize him for having too soft a touch and not disciplining officers more.

(Independent monitor James Ginger) described me as that kind, old grandfather that gives the wisdom, Geier said.  But everyone Ive worked with, none of them got back in trouble.

More recently, even before he became interim chief, Medina was put in charge of discipline, and three officers were fired right away, Geier said.

Some officers are going to be collateral damage, Geier said.

Rumor control

In November, Geier wrote an email to all APD officers refuting rumors that he planned to retire the next month. The email, with the subject line rumor control, said that he knows of at least 12 people in the department who perpetuated this rumor and that it was detrimental to the organization and him.

Throughout the year, Geier said, the rumors escalated, and it was said he had COVID, and then, Alzheimers disease.

Two to three weeks before Labor Day, Medina started saying, Theyre going to fire you, put me in as interim chief, and do a nationwide search,  Geier said. So about three to four times, he tells me that. They didnt fire me, but they forced me out.

For his part, Medina said he did not spread any rumors and says he told others to stop. He also said the department continues to be rife with rumors, but hes willing to send a message from the top that hes not going to tolerate that kind of behavior.

I think thats where a good strong, 24/7, engaged chief is important for the city, for any police department, Medina said. I have the personality that there is a little bit of fear that the chief is going to do something if something comes up.

Medina, a former commander over the SWAT team, bomb squad and K-9 units, acknowledged that he and Geier were very different people, pointing to their lifestyle differences as Geier raises two young grandchildren and Medinas children are grown.

Medina, who was brought back to APD by Geier in 2017, has responded to almost every police shooting, and more often than not holds the press conferences at the scene.

I think Chief came in at the perfect time with the perfect philosophy, Medina said. You know, Im very enforcement-oriented; I go a hundred miles an hour, were always trying to get things done. Im implementing new programs. But when we came back, what we needed was that academic person to sit here and get us on academic track to make sure we started moving toward the end of that settlement agreement.

Gun violence plan

As gun violence continued to increase, many plans were formulated to address it.

Geier said he and a commander created a violence reduction plan that included scheduling regular meetings and brainstorming sessions for officers to talk with their supervisors about patterns in fatal shootings and shootings with injury in their area commands and come up with plans to address it.

But Geier said he felt that Medina never embraced it and didnt instruct his officers to follow it through. He said the program was delayed in launching by six weeks, and those under Medinas command had to undergo remedial training on the project again because they still didnt understand it. He said Medina told him it was too confusing.

We had a number of discussions over the next several months and it appeared that you made little effort to bring your people on board, Geier wrote in the memo, dated Aug. 31. On May 19, 2020, I had to issue Special Order 20-40 in an effort to make up for lost time in our efforts to reduce gun violence. Rather than reductions, APD saw significant increases for over 4 months in this regard.

Graphs provided by Geier show that between Jan. 1 and last Tuesday there was a 16% increase in shooting murders  from 37 to 43. The goal was 31 or fewer.

Shootings with injury increased 27% citywide  from 152 to 193  and five of the six area commands saw more or as many shootings with injury as this time the year before. The Valley Area Command  which encompasses Downtown  was the only one to see a decrease; shootings dropped 38% from 34 to 21, which is below the goal. However, Geier speculates, that could be because bars and activities that typically draw crowds and violence have been shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Medina said in an interview last week that for the first time in a long time, the 28-day shooting numbers are showing a little over 20% decrease. He said the seven-day average was down 50%.

In his memo to Medina, Geier said he feels like its almost as if you made an effort to make this program fail and his behavior has bordered on insubordination. He wrote that he intended to move him from the field services bureau.

I plan on discussing this with Sarita at our weekly update meeting this coming Friday, September 4th, Geier wrote. I expect you to handle your new position as a professional so as to renew my faith and trust in you.

Geier said he left the memo on Medinas desk and didnt see him again until after he was told to retire.

He probably just threw it away, Geier said. Medina said he never saw the memo.

When asked if the plan will continue now that Geier has left, chief of staff Puelle said, This is the kind of finger pointing and petty refusal to take responsibility for the department that we want out of the way. We are now optimistic that APD will now be able to ramp up our gun violence reduction efforts.

Now that hes retired, 67-year-old Geier said he doesnt think he wants to take another job in law enforcement, and he is looking forward to spending time with his family. He said overall hes glad he took the job in 2017, although he wishes it had ended differently.

I regret I lost time with the family, Geier said, but he doesnt regret taking the job as Albuquerques top cop. Since his retirement announcement he has received an outpouring of letters and messages thanking him for his service.

I think it was a good experience, he said.
The rally began at noon and was largely dispersed by 3 p.m.

Police arrested three people at a right-wing rally Saturday afternoon in Portland, Oregon, and authorities say theyre also investigating an assault after one person who was documenting the event was pushed to the ground and kicked in the face.

Several hundred people, dozens of them wearing militarized body armor, had gathered  far fewer than the 10,000 organizers had expected to show to support President Donald Trump and his law and order reelection campaign as tensions boil over nationwide following the decision not to charge officers in Louisville, Kentucky, for killing Breonna Taylor.

The event began at noon and was largely dispersed by 3 p.m. The Oregon Department of Transportation shut down the interstate highway for a brief time to help control the crowd and flow of traffic.

Proud Boy security watch for counter protesters during a Proud Boy rally on September 26, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

The purpose of this closure was to clear some people out of the area who wanted to leave and to keep competing groups separate, said Chris Liedle, a spokesman with the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office, in updates posted on Twitter as the city braced for the threat of violence at multiple rallies in the area.

The people arrested include a man suspected of driving under the influence and a woman for an outstanding arrest warrant, Liedle said.

Dozens began to show up two hours before the rally, some packed into the beds of pickup trucks. Many were wearing some sort of militarized body armor, including helmets and protective vests. Many flew American flags or black flags bearing the logo of the Three Percenters, another far-right group and some wore Make America Great Again hats.

Read More: Black man calls out Portland protesters in viral video: You aint from here

The Proud Boys, a group that has been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, described it as a free speech event to support Trump and the police, restore law and order and condemn anti-fascists, domestic terrorism and violent gangs of rioting felons in the streets. Local and state elected officials forcefully condemned the event and rushed to shore up law enforcement ranks as left-wing groups organized several rallies to oppose the Proud Boys message.

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TJ Detweiler, who works in construction and plumbing, said at the rally that he wanted to end domestic terrorism in the U.S.

I would like to see people stop the looting and rioting and enjoy the country for what rights we have, Detweiler said.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown on Friday said she was sending state troopers to help the Portland police and was creating a unified command structure among city, regional and state law enforcement  a tactic that essentially circumvents a city ban on the use of tear gas as a crowd-control measure. The state police said a massive influx of troopers would be in Portland by Saturday morning.

This is a critical moment. We have seen what happens when armed vigilantes take matters into their own hands. Weve seen it in Charlottesville, weve seen it in Kenosha and, unfortunately, we have seen it in Portland, she said, referencing deaths in Virginia, Wisconsin and Oregon during clashes between those on the right and left of the political spectrum.

The Proud Boys and Patriot Prayer groups have come time and time again looking for a fight, and the results are always tragic, said Brown, a Democrat. Let me be perfectly clear, we will not tolerate any type of violence this weekend.

The Proud Boys are self-described Western chauvinists and they have held multiple events in Portland since Trumps election alongside other right-wing groups such as Patriot Prayer that often end in violent clashes with left-wing counter-demonstrators.

Last month, Aaron Jay Danielson, a Trump supporter and Patriot Prayer follower, was shot and killed after some vehicles in a pro-Trump car caravan diverted into downtown Portland and crossed paths with left-wing activists. The suspect in the shooting, a self-described anti-fascist, was killed the following week by law enforcement as they tried to arrest him in Washington state.

Breitbart's live cameras are *embedded* with police and streaming live as two officers are shot. How did Breitbart get permission to tag along on such short notice? Just like Kenosha, and Portland, right wing camera crews are somehow rolling as violence shows up. https://t.co/7vTDDHdiFv pic.twitter.com/SL8t3HEZVe  Zev Shalev (@ZevShalev) September 24, 2020

The Proud Boys mentioned Danielson in their permit application, as well as Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old charged in the shooting deaths of two Black Lives Matter protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Some attending Saturdays rally carried signs that said Free Kyle Now. The permit application had estimated 10,000 people would attend.

Rittenhouses attorneys have said he was acting in self-defense. The Proud Boys raised the specter of a vigilante response to the actions of a mob in a permit application filed with the city this week.

Portland leadership is unwilling to stop the violence, the Proud Boys wrote in the application. They have been blinded by their hatred of our President and will not allow outside help stopping the violence.

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said the city and its police force did not need or want help from paramilitaries or vigilante groups.

Police have canceled all scheduled days off for officers Saturday and will primarily be focused on keeping dueling groups of protesters separated.

Deputy Chief Chris Davis acknowledged that Oregon is an open-carry state for firearms. But he reminded those attending the rally and counter-demonstrations that under Portland law, its illegal to carry a loaded firearm in public without an Oregon concealed handgun permit. Officers will patrol for weapons and check for permits as needed, he said.

Read More: Federal task force kills Portland shooting suspect at arrest

We ask that you come peacefully and engage in your free speech peacefully, Police Chief Chuck Lovell said. Its OK for us to disagree about things. But at the end of the day, doing so peacefully, letting people exercise their rights safely is very important. So thats my ask the folks who are attending.

The rally comes as Portland approaches its fifth month of almost nightly protests against racial injustice and police brutality.

Demonstrators want the city to take millions from the police budget and reallocate it to support the Black community. Some also are angry with the mayor  who is also the police commissioner  for allowing police to use tear gas until recently and for what they call overly aggressive police tactics. Wheeler has also refused to cede control of the police bureau to a Black city councilwoman with a decades-long resume of activism around police reform.

Associated Press reporters Sara Cline in Salem, Oregon, and Sally Ho in Seattle contributed to this report.

Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now!

The post Police: 3 arrests at right-wing rally in Portland, Oregon appeared first on TheGrio.
Interior designer Gauri Khan says that actor husband Shah Rukh Khan took on cooking duties during the coronavirus lockdown earlier this year. Gauri said that as the family was too scared to order outside, Shah Rukh rose to the occasion and cooked scrumptious dishes for the family.

Gauri and Shah Rukh have been living with their kids--Aryan, Suhana and AbRam--in their Mumbai home, Mannat, ever since the older kids returned from US in March due to the pandemic. She said that while Shah Rukh loves to cook, she enjoys eating.

During this lockdown, we were initially scared to even order any food from outside. So ghar ka khana is made by Shah Rukh himself and we are enjoying it. He loves cooking and I enjoy eating, she said in an interview to NDTV.

Also read: Poonam Pandeys husband Sam Bombay posts pic from their wedding after domestic violence controversy

Speaking about her children, Gauri gave details about what each of them is up to these days. Aryan has finished his filmmaking course at the University of Southern California and is now taking a break, watching a tonne of movies at home. Sushanas online classes at the University of New York are keeping her busy. AbRam is back to school.. something very new. It was initially quite hard on the kids..at his age. But he is coping well. Spending a lot of time with the family and all of us together, she added.

Shah Rukh was spotted filming a few PSA videos and commercials from his house during the lockdown. He was also a part of the iForIndia concert, for which he sang a song with son AbRam.

He was last seen in 2018s Zero with Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif. The film was a major flop and the actor has since not signed or announced his next movie.

Follow @htshowbiz on Twitter

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Japan will make available an online version of a health questionnaire that travelers are required to fill out before entering the country to streamline the immigration control process, sources familiar with the matter said Saturday.

The online questionnaire meant to flag travelers who are possibly at higher risk of arriving while infected with the coronavirus will be available soon on a trial basis for some international flights arriving at Narita airport near Tokyo, they said.

The questionnaire is currently handed out to travelers aboard inbound flights.

With the new system to be introduced more widely later this year, arriving passengers can complete the questionnaire by accessing a dedicated website of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry before their departure and are given a QR code that confirms they have completed the process to use upon arrival, according to the sources.

Japanese authorities said Friday the country will reopen its borders to foreigners with permits to stay for three months or longer for purposes including engaging in medical, cultural and sports-related activities. Business trips for less than three months will also be allowed.
- Abdi Koropu Tepo attended the burial function of two locals who were killed by bandits from Garissa county

- Angry residents, however, refused to be addressed by the lawmaker and turned violent, accusing him of holding secret meetings to instigate violence in the area

- The Isiolo South MP was forced to flee the scene with constituents throwing stones towards his motorcade

- Tepo's woes came barely a month after Mbeere South MP Geoffrey Kingagi Muturi was chased away by charged constituents for allegedly failing to deliver on his promises

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Isiolo South MP Abdi Koropu Tepo was forced to scamper for his safety after angry residents heckled and chased him away when he took to the podium to address mourners at Rapso village where the burial of two gun victims was ongoing.

The two victims were reportedly killed by gunmen from Garissa county with locals accusing the area MP of working in cohorts with the "enemy" to cause violence.

READ ALSO: Ruto demands respect from Raila, insists hustlers will not be intimidated: "Enough is enough"

Isiolo South MP Abdi Koropu Tepo. Photo: Abdi Tepo

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Waluke, Wakhungu wasubiri kufahamu kuhusu dhamana yao kwa hamu kubwa

Tepo who attended the funeral on Saturday, September 26, accompanied by his Isiolo North counterpart Hassan Hulufo was forced to hand over the mic and flee the scene after irate mourners turned against him immediately he began his speech.

Two high-end cars reportedly belonging to the lawmakers were smashed with stones and left the scene with broken windscreens.

READ ALSO: Brighton vs Man United: Why Red Devils were awarded penalty even after final whistle

In August, a similar attack happened in the area where two people were killed by bandits who did not take away anything.

Concerned locals called on the government to arm their police reservists so as they can help in countering the perennial attacks being meted to innocent residents by bandits.

They claimed the attacks are meant to scare them away from their ancestral land so as they can pave way for their rivalry community from Garrissacounty.

"One of the victims, a youth, was arrested and killed by the bandits while grazing his livestock. The killed on the spot," said one of the residents.

The irate Rapso villagers claimed the area MP has been holding secret meetings with their rivalry community to instigate violence.

Tepo's woes came barely three weeks after Mbeere South MP Geoffrey Kingagi Muturi was chased away by charged constituents for allegedly failing to deliver on his promises.

Photos shared by netizens showed the first term Jubilee MP who is a retired Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) colonel running for his dear life as residents pursued him.

In July 2020, a report released by Parliament watchdog Mzalendo Trust ranked the legislator as one of the most silent MPs who contributed little in the floor of the House.

On Friday, September 25, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro was also heckled by mourners during the burial of two victims who died in a road accident while heading to a funeral function.

Locals were irked by the MP's political sentiments and forced him to cut short his speech and leave the function in a huff.

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

Kenyans weigh in on who would make it back to Parliament if it were dissolved | Tuko TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
An audit of Worcesters fiscal 2019 budget that included reviews of police detail assignments, police overtime, parking garage receipts and other departments said there needed to be policy changes within the police department concerning overtime and details.

While the audit conducted by an independent firm found some minor issues with police details reporting, the firm also said changes in policies and procedures needed to be made for how police overtime is documented and approved.

The audit of the fiscal 2019 budget and the recommendations are in the City Council agenda for the upcoming meeting. CliftonLarsonAllen LP in Boston conducted the audit.

The audit discovered several matters that are opportunities for strengthening internal controls and operating efficiency, the firm wrote.

With more than $4 million spent in overtime for police in fiscal 2019, the audit found that commanding officers are required to submit narratives describing the reasons for the overtime pay. Some of the overtime reports reviewed by the firm found the narratives were missing.

The audit found that in fiscal 2019, a significant amount of supplemental budget transfers, from both police department salaries and other city department budgets, were required to fund police overtime expenses. It was the case for previous years as well.

Some overtime slips did not have the printed name of officers which made it hard to determine the name of the officer paid for overtime, the audit also found.

The audit also reviewed police working at election day locations and noted that department policy does not allow officers to work more than 16 hours in a 24-hour period except for emergencies or serious crime investigations.

In many cases, employees worked more than 16 hours in a 24-hour period for elections, the audit said.

A division commander is required to document reasons for an officer working more than 16 hours in a 24-hour period, but some of the samples reviewed by the firm found documentation was missing.

Under the department policies reviewed in the audit, elections would not meet the criteria for an officer to exceed 16 hours of work in a 24-hour period, the report states.

The audit found the documents reporting overtime for elections were missing the initials of officers who worked and supervisors approving the overtime.

Court overtime is also paid at a 4-hour minimum, but the audit found it was not stated in the department policy, according to the review.

The audit also found there was no written policy to substantiate which types of overtime require requisition slips and which types do not.

Some sample slips reviewed showed the overtime slips were dated after the overtime shift took place.

While there are many instances in which it is not possible to obtain supervisory approval prior to incurring overtime, there are instances in which it is feasible to obtain prior supervisory approval, the audit said. Some of the examples in our sample were instances in which it was feasible to have obtained prior supervisory approval.

The audit said in one sample the employee incurring overtime also signed off as the supervisor approving it.

The city said the police department adopted new policies and procedures for fiscal 2021 that outlines guiding principles and specific procedures related to overtime. This update addresses items raised including eligibility, reporting and documentation.

Some of the recommendations made by the firm conducting the audit included:
SIOUX CITY -- The number of patients hospitalized in Sioux City for COVID-19 has crept up steadily this month, and the number of new infections is beginning to approach levels not seen since the height of the outbreak this spring.

As of Saturday, there were 39 patients in Sioux City hospitals getting treatment for COVID-19 (another 11 were in the hospital and were positive for the virus, but were hospitalized for other reasons).

On Sept. 1, there were only 15 patients hospitalized in Sioux City for the virus, plus four others who had the virus but were hospitalized with something else, according to Siouxland District Health Department data.

Siouxland District Health on Saturday also acknowledged the county's 64th COVID-19 death, a woman over age 81. That death was first reported by the Iowa Department of Public Health on Friday.

The health department reported 91 new infections in Woodbury County on Saturday. The daily tally of new infections in the county has been elevated for days -- 100 new infections were reported Friday, 64 on Thursday, and 84 on Wednesday.

In its weekly coronavirus status update, Siouxland District Health reported that 456 new infections were recorded in Woodbury County for the week ended Sept. 20, which was double the number of the week prior and "comparable to what was occurring in the spring."

"Our current situation has been created by the choices that individuals are now making," Siouxland District Health wrote in the report.

Across Northwest Iowa, a total of 86 COVID-19 patients are currently hospitalized, according to data from Region 3 of Iowa's Regional Medical Coordination Centers (RMCC). Twenty-one of those patients were admitted in the past 24 hours, and 16 COVID patients in the region are in the ICU. Seven are on ventilators.

Representatives of the four healthcare systems of Sioux County -- Hawarden Regional Healthcare, Hegg Health Center, Sioux Center Health and the Orange City Area Health System -- met with education leaders via a Zoom call on Friday to discuss the COVID-19 outbreak in the county.

On Saturday, the percentage of COVID-19 tests coming back positive in Sioux County jumped yet again, to an alarming 32.8 percent, the highest in the state. Approximately 530 people in Sioux County tested positive for the virus during the past two weeks, according to a review of Iowa Department of Public Health data.

Some of the most-serious COVID-19 hospitalizations in Sioux County, who would ordinarily have been transferred to hospitals in Sioux Falls or Sioux City, are being handled within the county due to increased hospital demand, according to a statement summarizing Friday's meeting. Each of Sioux County's healthcare systems is also under staffing strain, because some workers have been quarantined.

State epidemiologists looking at Sioux County's infection data haven't been able to identify a specific source of the outbreak, the letter continued. The statement urged the usual COVID-19 precautions, including face masks, social distancing and handwashing.

"To help slow 'community spread,' healthcare leaders are not only urging schools to enact measures including masks and physical distancing, but all churches, businesses, residents, and visitors in the county to observe them as well  with the ultimate goal to protect those most vulnerable to becoming ill and requiring hospitalization," the statement said.

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Alert Border Security Force (BSF) personnel foiled a major infiltration bid by five armed Pakistani terrorists along the 198-kilometre (km) International Border (IB) in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu & Kashmirs (J&K) Samba sector on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday.

Alert BSF troops foiled another major infiltration bid from Pakistani side in the Samba sector on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. The movement of a group of five terrorists was noticed on the Pakistani side of the IB in the Samba sector by alert BSF troops. It was the second such attempt through the Samba sector. Earlier, terrorists from Pakistan had tried to intrude on the intervening night of September 14 and 15, said a BSF spokesperson.

Both the attempts were foiled.

Five heavily armed terrorists tried to enter into Indian territory at the dead of night, but were engaged by the alert BSF troops, said the spokesperson.

They had reached close to the IB taking advantage of dense growth of Sarkanda, a variety of wild grass.

The BSF personnel ordered the terrorists to stop, but they started firing at the troops. Pakistan Rangers personnel provided cover fire to these terrorists. However, the alert BSF troops started retaliatory firing at the terrorists, he said.

The terrorists retreated to the Pakistani soil following the exchange of fire.

NS Jamwal, inspector-general (I-G), Jammu Frontier, BSF, said, We foiled another possible infiltration bid of armed terrorists from the Pakistani side, who were well supported by Pakistan Rangers.

He added: From 11.45 pm on Saturday to 12.15 am on Sunday, the jawans of 173 Battalion deployed at Mangu Chak post in Ghagwal sector observed suspicious movements between pillar number 132 and 133 in the opposite Pakistani post called Pir Bunker. The BSF troops fired around 180 rounds of small arms towards the Pakistani side because of the suspicious movements. Pakistan Rangers also retaliated with around 80 rounds of small arms fire. The suspected persons ran back towards the Pakistani side following the firing by Indian troops.

BSF personnel recently shot down an arms-laden Pakistani drone in Hiranagar sector of Jammus Kathua district and also detected a trans-border tunnel in the Samba sector.

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Self-declared anti-fascist activist Michael Reinoehl in Portland, Oregon (via REUTERS)

Donald Trump told a crowd last night that one of his tweets inspired US Marshals to swoop on a gunman who shot a right-wing protester in Portland, Oregon.

His speech came after another night of unrest saw the Portland police use physical force against people on the streets.

Speaking at a rally in Middletown, Pennsylvania, Mr Trump reiterated his description of Portland as an anarchist city where police are not allowed to do their job, before describing the killing of Aaron Danielson in Portland and the US Marshals subsequent shooting of the alleged killer, Michael Forest Reinoehl.

You had the guy two weeks ago, remember? said the president. He shot a guy and killed him right in the middle of the street. Shot him like a  oh, I dont even wanna say like what, cause his parents are so devastated. A young man, and they shot him and killed him, this one guy, this one animal ... And this guy, everybody knew who he was, right? And I said after two days, Where is he, did you arrest him? No we didnt  after two-and-a-half days! Did you arrest him?

And then I put out on social media, Why didnt you arrest him? And you know what, the US Marshals saw it, they went in, and he pulled a gun on em, and in 15 minutes it was all over. None of our guys were hurt, and he was gone. This guy was a stone-cold killer, and yet they say he was a protester, he was not a protester. He was an anarchist and a killer. And the US Marshals: Thank you, that was an incredible job they did, brave.

Rest In Peace Jay! https://t.co/j6FYxIygmh  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 30, 2020

Mr Reinoehl, a longtime self-proclaimed anti-fascist activist, shot Mr Danielson during a protest in Portland on 29 August. Mr Danielson was a supporter of the right-wing group Patriot Prayer, which was counter-protesting in the city along with various pro-Trump groups who sped through downtown in a procession of cars and trucks.

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Mr Danielson was shot at close range in the chest, apparently by Mr Reinoehl, who was shown firing a gun on CCTV. A few days later  and after Mr Trumps tweet  Mr Reinoehl was surrounded by US Marshals at his home in Washington state; there are conflicting witness reports as to whether or not he drew a gun before being shot dead.

Ever since Mr Danielsons death, the far right have made him into something of a hero, along with 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse who allegedly shot two people dead during a protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Mr Trump himself has expressed sympathy for both men, tweeting his condolences for Mr Danielson and defending Rittenhouse at a rally.

Why arent the Portland Police ARRESTING the cold blooded killer of Aaron Jay Danielson. Do your job, and do it fast. Everybody knows who this thug is. No wonder Portland is going to hell! @TheJusticeDept @FBI  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 4, 2020

At last nights rally, Mr Trump segued from Mr Reinoehls death to one of his current favourite themes: the possibility of using law enforcement to crush political unrest. We can solve their problem so easy, we can put em in there so easy, but the governor doesnt want em, the governor wants to leave it that way. Can you imagine the mess? For years thats been going on. I said what do the streets look like? They said you wouldnt believe it.

He did not make clear who they were.

Mr Trump has for months been railing against the increasingly violent clashes between protesters and police in Portland and elsewhere, at one point sending in federal forces  who were seen grabbing people from the streets and bundling them into unmarked vans  and repeatedly tweeting the words LAW & ORDER!

The Portland protests, which began after the killing of George Floyd this summer, have seen damage to property, including federal buildings, while police officers have been filmed repeatedly shoving, gassing and beating apparently unarmed people without provocation. Footage from last night showed incidents of them indiscriminately targeting both protesters and journalists.
Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, Minister for Employment and Labor Relations has said Government would ensure job security for workers of the communication sector.



He said the communication sector workers continued to endure unstable jobs and poor working environments despite their significant roles in development and especially in the ongoing fight against the coronavirus pandemic.



Mr Awuah said these in a speech read on his behalf at the opening of the Seventh Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Ho.



The Minister said the sector contributed considerably towards the economy although constituting a wee fraction of the nations workforce, and appealed to management of institutions within the sector to consider the relevance of communication workers and to stay true to laws governing employment.



In spite of the significant roles played by workers in this sector, decent work standards seem non-existent for them. Poor working conditions, exploitation and abuse of workers rights such as freedom of association, unfair termination of contract of employment among others continue to be rampant and these do not auger well for the pursuit of decent work for all.



Challenges of this nature limit the full realisation of the potential of the communications sector, he said.



Mr Awuah added that concerns of the sector remained top priority, and that the Ministry would promote and deepen management-union relationships at all times.



He advised sector workers to seek peaceful means to addressing disagreements with management, and also said the Ministry was available to receive all complaints.



Dr Yaw Baah, Secretary General of the TUC commended the peaceful outlook and aspirations of the CWU.It takes Unions like this to bring about peace. The TUC will support you to keep the peace that you have in the Union, he said.



He said media unions emerged as one of the groupings most affected by industrial transformations, and encouraged members to explore new methods.



He advocated grassroot participation, and announced that the TUC would be converting its guesthouse into a wing of its soon to be established labour college.



Dr Baah said the TUC was persistent on ensuring that all pension claims were faithfully honored by trustees, and asked those affected not to despair.



Mr, Henry Adomako Oduro, Chairman of the Ghana News Agency, CWU, said the Union remained committed to maintaining cooperation among its institutions, and called on members to sustain the partnerships.



He said in spite of the weakening of union bodies by socio-economic trends, and the exit of hundreds of CWU members from some communications firms, the Union remained strong.



Mr Oduro announced that land had been acquired in the Eastern Region for the establishment of events and hospitality centre towards generating more funds for the Union.



He reminded communication sector workers of their responsibilities during the electioneering period, and asked that politicians, who produced highly flammable words were denied public attention.



The Conference was on the theme Empowering Union/Management Partnership; A Tool for Development and Industrial Race, and had in attendance, members from the various communications service institutions, agencies and departments.



Elections were held during the event to elect new members, and two recent past executives were recognized for exceptional service.

Source: GNA









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By Nvard Hovhannisyan and Nailia Bagirova

YEREVAN/BAKU (Reuters) - At least 16 military members and several civilians were killed on Sunday in the heaviest clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan since 2016, reigniting concern about stability in the South Caucasus, a corridor for pipelines carrying oil and gas to world markets.

The clashes between the two former Soviet republics, which fought a war in the 1990s, were the latest flare-up of a long-running conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, a breakaway region that is inside Azerbaijan but is run by ethnic Armenians.

Nagorno-Karabakh said 16 of its servicemen had been killed and more than 100 wounded after Azerbaijan launched an air and artillery attack early on Sunday. Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh declared martial law and mobilised the male population.

Azerbaijan, which also declared martial law, said its forces responded to Armenian shelling and that five members of one family had been killed by Armenian shelling.

It also said its forces had seized control of up to seven villages. Nagorno-Karabakh initially denied that but later acknowledged losing "some positions" and said it had suffered a number of civilian casualties, without giving details.

The clashes prompted a flurry of diplomacy to reduce the new tensions in a decades-old conflict between majority Christian Armenia and mainly Muslim Azerbaijan, with Russia calling for an immediate ceasefire and another regional power, Turkey, saying it would support Azerbaijan.

President Donald Trump said on Sunday the United States would seek to end the violence.

"We're looking at it very strongly," he told a news briefing. "We have a lot of good relationships in that area. We'll see if we can stop it."

The U.S. State Department condemned the violence in a statement, calling for an immediate halt to hostilities and any rhetoric or other actions that could worsen matters.

U.S. Democratic presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden said in a statement that hostilities could escalate into a wider conflict and urged the Trump administration to push for more observers along the ceasefire line and for Russia "to stop cynically providing arms to both sides."

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Pipelines shipping Caspian oil and natural gas from Azerbaijan to the world pass close to Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia also warned about security risks in the South Caucasus in July after Azerbaijan threatened to attack Armenia's nuclear power plant as possible retaliation.

Nagorno-Karabakh broke away from Azerbaijan in a conflict that broke out as the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.

Although a ceasefire was agreed in 1994, after thousands of people were killed and many more displaced, Azerbaijan and Armenia frequently accuse each other of attacks around Nagorno-Karabakh and along the separate Azeri-Armenian frontier.

In Sunday's clashes, Armenian right activists said an ethnic Armenian woman and child had also been killed.

INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY

Armenia said Azeri forces had attacked civilian targets including Nagorno-Karabakh's capital, Stepanakert, and promised a "proportionate response".

"We stay strong next to our army to protect our motherland from Azeri invasion," Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan wrote on Twitter.

Azerbaijan denied an Armenian defence ministry statement that said Azeri helicopters and tanks had been destroyed, and accused Armenian forces of launching "deliberate and targeted" attacks along the front line.

"We defend our territory, our cause is right!" Azerbaijan's president, Ilham Aliyev, said in an address to the nation.

Turkey said it was talking to members of the Minsk group, which mediates between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Russia, France and the United States are co-presidents.

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone to Pashinyan but no details of the conversation were available, and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan spoke to Aliyev.

Erdogan, promising support for traditional ally Azerbaijan, said Armenia was "the biggest threat to peace in the region" and called on "the entire world to stand with Azerbaijan in their battle against invasion and cruelty."

Pashinyan hit back, urged the international community to ensure Turkey does not get involved in the conflict.

The European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) urged both sides to stop military actions and return to negotiations, as did Pope Francis.

At least 200 people were killed in a flare-up of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in April 2016. At least 16 people were killed in clashes in July.

(Additional reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu in Ankara and Diane Bartz in Washington; Writing by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber and Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by David Evans, Daniel Wallis and Peter Cooney)
As authorities sought to contain COVID-19 outbreaks at British universities Sunday, some students complained they were being imprisoned in their dormitories and politicians debated whether young people should be allowed to go home for Christmas.

Students at universities in Glasgow, Manchester and Edinburgh who have returned to campus in the past few weeks are being asked to self-isolate in their residence halls, with security guards at some schools preventing young people from leaving their buildings.

While students at Glasgow University greeted the lockdown with humor, posting signs asking passersby to send beer," those in Manchester had a darker message, taping HMP MMU in their windows, suggesting the dormitory had become Her Majesty's Prison Manchester Metropolitan University.

Dominic Waddell, 21, a first-year filmmaking student at MMU, said some students didn't even receive emails informing them about the lockdown.

There was a security guard that just arrived at the gate of our accommodation and he wasn't letting anybody leave, not really explaining what was going on, Waddell said.

They're saying the safety and well-being of our students and staff and the local community is our top priority, but it doesn't really seem like that if they haven't allowed us time to prepare for this.

The lockdowns come as more students headed back to campuses across the country, and some observers criticized the government's decision to reopen universities despite forecasts that this would lead to virus outbreaks. The government defended the decision, saying it had put clear guidelines in place to protect students and staff.

Young people have paid a huge price in this crisis. I think it's only fair to try to get them back," Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme.

Meanwhile, Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, warned that up to 1 million young people may need urgent help'' to protect their futures from the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The social and economic crisis created by the is reminiscent of the upheavals of the 1970s, when youth unemployment was one of the most pressing issues facing British society, he said.

There has never been a time as uniquely challenging as the present, when the pandemic has left perhaps another million young people needing urgent help to protect their futures,'' the Prince of Wales wrote in the Sunday Telegraph.

The task ahead is unquestionably vast, but it is not insurmountable. The controversy is the latest to embroil Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government as the spread of COVID-19 accelerates across the U.K. Johnson last week announced a 10 p.m. curfew on bars and restaurants throughout England, along with other restrictions on social interactions, but many health experts said the measures didn't go far enough.

Lawmakers and scientists have criticized Johnson's Conservative government for problems with the national test-and-trace program that was supposed to help control the spread of the disease and reduce the need for limits on social interactions.

Young people have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic, even though they are less likely to become seriously ill. The closure of schools during the spring lockdown canceled national achievement tests in and threw university admissions into disarray.

First-year students have had to forego social events seen as a rite of passage at the start of their college careers, and the job prospects for graduates look bleak as unemployment rises.

Now many university students are facing increased restrictions amid clusters of COVID-19 cases on campuses that have already reopened. With health experts saying the university outbreaks were entirely foreseeable, the debate has begun over whether students will be allowed to return home for Christmas.

The opposition Labour Party urged the government on Sunday to promise that students would be permitted to go home for the holidays. David Lammy, a leading Labour lawmaker, told the BBC the government must improve the country's virus testing system to make sure this is possible.

We want young people home with their families at Christmastime, and they need the testing to make sure that that can happen, he said. By Christmas, we would have had the for nine months. That we couldn't get a test, track and trace system in place by then has got to be described as pathetic.''



The struggles of students underscore growing indications that the virus is spreading throughout the U.K. New infections, hospitalizations and deaths have all risen sharply in recent weeks.

already has Europe's worst death toll from the pandemic, with about 42,000 confirmed deaths. But scientists who are urging more restrictive measures are being challenged by critics fearing further damage to the economy.

In addition to national restrictions announced last week, several regions have already imposed tighter rules to control local spikes. By Monday, about one-quarter of the U.K.'s 65 million people will be living under these heightened restrictions.

London, home to almost 9 million people, was added to the government's COVID-19 watchlist as an area of concern. It's very likely that London will find itself in a situation with restrictions, said Lammy, who represents an inner-city constituency of the capital.

(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.)
America's top diplomat Mike Pompeo left Washington on Sunday for Greece, where he intends to call for the de-escalation of tensions in the eastern Mediterranean and encourage a nascent dialogue with Turkey.

The secretary of state's first stop on a mini European tour will be Thessaloniki, in northern Greece, on Monday, where he will meet his counterpart Nikos Dendias.

On Tuesday he will head for Crete to meet with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and visit the NATO naval base in Souda Bay. The tour also includes stops in Italy, the Vatican and Croatia.

Greece and fellow NATO member Turkey are at loggerheads over energy exploration in disputed waters after Ankara stepped up hydrocarbon research activities in the sea.

But on Tuesday they said they were ready to start talks over the tensions, which have been running high for weeks.

The US has been vocal on "the need to de-escalate in the Eastern Med," a senior US official told journalists before the tour, stressing that Pompeo had "expressed his deep concern."

He also wants to embrace "the recent positive developments and the prospect of return to dialogue," the official added.

The official insisted on the need to reduce "the likelihood of any accidents or incidents," and called for "Greece and Turkey to move forward on that and ideally be able to ... complete an agreement."

Washington encourages "all states to resolve maritime delimitation issues peacefully and in accordance with international law," he continued.

The visit to Thessaloniki is also intended as a sign to the Balkans on American willingness to invest in the region, the State Department said.

Pompeo will travel Wednesday and Thursday to Rome to meet with Italian authorities.

There he will discuss efforts by the Trump administration to deter its European allies from using equipment by Chinese manufacturer Huawei in developing their ultra-fast 5G cell-phone networks.

With Sino-American trade tensions rapidly turning into a new Cold War, the US president is accusing Huawei of being a tool for Beijing's espionage.

Pompeo is also scheduled to attend a meeting at the Vatican on religious freedom, his human rights priority. There, too, he will warn of China's actions against minorities, including Muslims.

Finally, he will make a brief stop in Dubrovnik, Croatia, on Friday.

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Scott Disick looked every bit the doting dad as he hung out on the beach with daughter Penelope, eight, and son Reign, five, on Saturday afternoon in Malibu.

The 37-year-old Talentless founder donned a stylish tie-dyed button down and a pair of bleach-dyed shorts for their outing.

Meanwhile, Disick's baby mama Kourtney Kardashian, 41, grabbed lunch down the road with Tik Tok star Addison Rae, 19.

Bonding: Scott Disick looked every bit the doting dad as he hung out on the beach with daughter Penelope, eight, and son Reign, five, on Saturday afternoon in Malibu

Style: The 37-year-old Talentless founder donned a stylish tie-dyed button down and a pair of bleach-dyed shorts

Scott kept his brunette hair concealed beneath a backwards cap as he walked the shore with two out of his three children by his side.

Penelope looked undeniably adorable in a monochromatic ensemble that consisted of a black tee and some shorts.

Reign, rocking his newly trimmed mohawk, had on a plain white t-shirt and a pair of black board shorts.

The trio remained on the beach until the sun set before heading back to their oceanside rental property.

Strolling: Scott kept his brunette hair concealed beneath a backwards cap as he walked the shore with two out of his three children by his side

Killing it: Though he did not share any photos from their day at the beach, Scott did upload a photo of himself and Reign riding in a luxury SUV to his Instagram page on Saturday

Though he did not share any photos from their day at the beach, Scott did upload a photo of himself and Reign riding in a luxury SUV to his Instagram page on Saturday.

'Killing it,' captioned Disick as his youngest son climbed on the vehicle's white leather seats.

Kourtney, who spends most of her time with her children, appeared to be enjoying herself as she dined with her new BFF Addison.

Addison uploaded a brief video of Kardashian to her Instagram that showed the POOSH founder wiggling a pair of sunglasses up and down on her face.

Taking a break: Meanwhile, Disick's baby mama Kourtney Kardashian, 41, grabbed lunch down the road with Tik Tok star Addison Rae, 19

Playful: Addison uploaded a brief video of Kardashian to her Instagram that showed the POOSH founder wiggling a pair of sunglasses up and down on her face

On her personal page, Kourtney reposted Addison's video and uploaded a slew of scenic shots taken from the balcony of her rented Malibu beach house.

Penelope and Reign were featured in one of the share-worthy photos as they sat in the sand and watched the waves roll onto the beach.

Before uploading the sweet snap, Kourtney drew a heart around her children with her finger via the app's 'draw' feature.

Apple of her eye: Penelope and Reign were featured in one of the share-worthy photos as they sat in the sand and watched the waves roll onto the beach

Scenic: On her personal page, Kourtney reposted Addison's video and uploaded a slew of scenic shots taken from the balcony of her rented Malibu beach house

Scott has been spending a ton of time with ex Kourtney and their children in recent months following his split from girlfriend of three-years Sofia Richie, 22, in May.

Kourtney and Scott, who split in 2015 after nine-years together, not only share Penelope and Reign, but also 10-year-old son Mason.

Despite all of their bonding time, sources close to the former pair refuted all claims that they planned to rekindle their romance to TMZ.

Co-parenting: Kourtney and Scott, who split in 2015 after nine-years together, not only share Penelope and Reign, but also 10-year-old son Mason; Scott, Penelope, Kourtney, Reign, and Mason pictured in June

Scott briefly reconnected with Sofia as they attended a Fourth Of July party in Malibu together.

But, shortly after, the pair split 'for good' and a source told Us Weekly at the time that their '15-year age difference' may have been an issue.

'He's in a very much different place in his life, really focused on a more quiet lifestyle, his kids and his investment businesses and Sofia, at 21 years old, is really still trying to figure what she wants to do, which drove them apart over time,' they explained to the outlet.
1. Yes. Too many kids are staying home. They need a virtual learning option to keep up.

2. Yes. Teachers are out sick and subs cant handle the load. Online learning is needed.

3. No. Its too late in the school year to make a wholesale switch in teaching platforms.

4.No. Many parents arent in a position to stay home while their kids learn virtually.

5. Unsure. It may seem like a good idea from a health standpoint, but it has shortcomings.

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Camper fire claims the life of two people in Marshall County
Is Prince Harry struggling with the new chapter of his life after his exit from the royal family? One royal expert believes that Harry is currently miserable and out of his depth in California, calling this shift for Prince Harry tragic.

Prince Harry | Peter Nicholls-WPA Pool/Getty Images

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left their royal duties behind

In January, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex made a surprising announcement  a plan to take a step back from their royal duties so they could escape the nearly constant negative media attention they endured.

Their announcement outlined a roadmap that would have them living partly in the UK and partly in North America. Queen Elizabeth, while supportive of the Sussexes, ultimately determined there would be no half-in/half-out arrangement for the couple.

At the time, the queen issued a statement that noted, in part, Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family. I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life.

RELATED: How Queen Elizabeth Took Back Control of the Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Exit Situation, Expert Explains

Prince Harry is miserable, according to one expert

The Sussexes first moved to Canada before spending some time in Los Angeles, and eventually buying a home in Santa Barbara. It was undoubtedly an adjustment for Prince Harry but many royal fans believed the couple found peace with their new life away from the spotlight.

Royal biographer Hugo Vickers, however, believes Prince Harry is now a boy lost who appears to be miserable.

In an article for The Telegraph, Vickers noted, It is tragic to see a man who once smiled so broadly looking as miserable and out of his depth as Prince Harry now does.

He added, In a few short months, Harry has gone from being a prince with the chance to use his position to achieve much for Britain, the Commonwealth and the military, to a boy lost.

Though Prince Harry is moving forward with his non-royal life, Vickers believes he has taken a backseat to Meghan, giving up his purpose along the way. He is out of his depth, behaves like a ventriloquists dummy, and can barely hide his discomfort, the biographer noted.

Members of the royal family are at their best when they support the queen, rather than setting themselves up in competition, Vickers wrote. Those who do their duty, as the queen has done, invariably emerge happier than those who pursue the path of perceived happiness.

I wonder now if freedom has been a greater burden than Harry anticipated it might be, the biographer added. He has fallen from Captain General of the Royal Marines to First Husband to his ambitious wife.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS  WPA Pool/Getty Images

Prince Harry is more in control now, according to another expert

Much has been written about how the Sussexes are moving on after their royal exit and another expert believes that Prince Harry appears to be in control because of his new freedom.

Omid Scobie, who co-wrote the book Finding Freedom about Prince Harry and Meghan, explained to Vanity Fair how Harry can really dig into projects in a new way now that hes not held back by his royal status.

As a royal who was not particularly high up the ladder within the institution, Harry wasnt always able to go at it full force, Scobie explained. Now hes in control. He gets to juggle multiple projects at the same time; the budget is there, the space is there.
The most terrible toll of COVID-19 has been the lives taken from us  more than 15,200 in Texas alone. On the heels of that tragedy is a wave of economic injury to Texas families, communities and entire industries.

Without public policy solutions, if left to chance, too many Texans would see a lifetime of work, and even the work of their parents and grandparents, erased.

But there are policy tools, straightforward and doable, that Texas and the federal government can pick up to provide health care access and economic relief. Importantly, these steps would also begin to undo structural racism that has left Black and Hispanic Texans with dramatically worse uninsured rates and rates of infection, hospitalization and death from COVID-19.

Staggering unemployment  more than 3.5 million Texans have filed for relief since March  also brought a wave of lost job-based health coverage and prompted millions of Texans who never before thought of using anti-poverty programs to seek help.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, formerly food stamps, rolls have grown by more than 600,000 Texans since March. Texas had 5.2 million uninsured residents in 2019, and new research estimates it added close to 700,000 uninsured adults by May 2020. Projections for early 2021 are much worse.

As in many other areas of society, COVID-19s devastation has laid bare the big gaps in Texans access to health coverage, which affects families from the poorest to middle income. A short list of the worst gaps includes the lack of any low-cost coverage for Texas working poor and near-poor adults. Texas elected officials have not turned on the Medicaid coverage for them that 38 other states make available.

Some Texans just above the official poverty line can get sliding-scale subsidies for insurance, which is great. But a glitch that Congress and the president could easily fix means other low-income Texans are locked out of financial help for health coverage.

Moving up the income scale, half of Texas households earned $64,000 or less in 2019  less for Black and Hispanic families. At this income level, the Affordable Care Acts discounts plummet. The average cost of a privately purchased family health plan topped $20,000 in 2019. Its easy to see that a family earning $65,000 would be hard-pressed to cover that without sliding-scale subsidies.

More than 1 in 4 Texas children live in a family with at least one parent who is not a U.S. citizen, including parents with lawful immigration status or without documentation. In the past three years, hundreds of thousands of Texans who are U.S. citizens or immigrants with lawful status have dropped Medicaid, the Childrens Health Insurance Program and SNAP because of fears the parents immigration status could be harmed if the U.S. citizen child or spouse received benefits. This is a fixable problem that leaders can solve with changes in federal policy and strong outreach by Texas public officials.

Why care? Lack of health coverage affects Texans health and their ability to save, buy a home, and join and stay in the middle class. One in 4 have medical debt in collections, one of the highest rates in the country, mostly affecting Black and Hispanic Texans.

Uninsured Texans outside big cities often live in counties with no programs that provide free or low-price care  for COVID-19 or anything else. Too often, they already skip medical care because they cannot afford it and fear accumulating medical debt that could prevent them from ever getting ahead.

With the added financial strains of losing a job or work hours due to the pandemic, more Texas families need action from state leaders and Congress. Without relief for medical debt and access to health care, generations of family asset-building work would be wiped away, and new generations would be unable to move up and ahead.

For Texas officials, making health insurance a priority in Texas COVID-19 recovery strategy is indispensable. At the national level, the Kaiser Family Foundation offers a comparison of the presidential candidates positions on improving access to good affordable health care  and the distinctions are sharp: a hands-off policy that takes no steps to cover the uninsured versus an active set of solutions to close the gaps. To pave the way to a rebuilt middle class in Texas and the U.S. that is inclusive of every race and ethnicity, Every Texan advocates for the active approach.

Anne Dunkelberg of Austin is associate director of Every Texan, formerly known as the Center for Public Policy Priorities.
Former President Traian Basescu, the People's Movement Party candidate for the mayoralty of Bucharest, advises Bucharest residents to cast a "useful vote for them" in order to change things in the city.

"I have voted, I think the people of Bucharest will manage to cast a useful vote for them. For now, the television stations have advised them to cast a useful vote for the parties. I advise them to cast a useful vote for them, to choose the one who can change things in Bucharest. I wish a good day to the people of Bucharest", Basescu declared on Sunday, at the exit from the polls.

The former president voted with his wife, Maria Basescu.
Health departments in at least three major Texas cities  Houston, Dallas and Austin  investigate COVID-19 cases in which a person tests positive for the novel coronavirus in an antigen test but has no symptoms.

The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District does not investigate such cases, nor does it consider them even as probable cases of COVID-19.

Metro Health instructs its case investigators to kindly inform all antigen positive patients without symptoms that they are not considered a case by the city of San Antonio, close the case, classify it as not probable or confirmed and change the lab test category to none.

The policy has raised alarms for members of a Metro Health contact tracing work group worried that the health department is ignoring people without symptoms who test positive for COVID-19. Metro Health Director Colleen Bridger has dismissed their concerns as a whole lot of ado about nothing.

On Friday, Mayor Ron Nirenberg told the San Antonio Express-News that he wants Metro Healths policy to change.

I support contact tracing, following up with and reporting all asymptomatic antigen positive residents, Nirenberg said. Its my goal that we always implement the best practices to ensure that were protecting public health, and Im confident that were going to begin following through and investigating these asymptomatic cases.

Positive results from antigen tests are highly accurate. Most of them 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.

On ExpressNews.com: To visit a relative inside a nursing home room, prepare to get a COVID-19 test

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  even if they have no symptoms.

Last week, Dr. Joseph Petrosino, chairman of the Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, said that anyone who tested positive in an antigen test should be counted and traced as if they tested positive in a PCR test.

Experts say nearly half of those who get infected have no symptoms but are able to transmit the virus as so-called silent spreaders.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce on Thursday that 40 to 45 percent of people infected by the virus have no symptoms.

Then it becomes the silent spread, Fauci said, which is what we call community spread.

Concerned about these silent spreaders, San Antonio tech entrepreneur Graham Weston has formed a new nonprofit with the mission of screening hundreds and eventually thousands of residents to identify who is infected without symptoms and stop them from unknowingly spreading the virus.

Once residents are infected, investigating positive cases  tracing their close contacts to stop the spread  is critical to controlling an epidemic.

For each new COVID-19 case, a case investigator is assigned to call the patient and collect information on any close contacts. The investigators share that information with contact tracers, who warn the close contacts that theyve been exposed to the virus and encourage them to get tested and to self-quarantine.

Metro Health does open investigations into antigen positive patients if they have symptoms. The district includes those cases in its total COVID-19 case count, classifying them as probable.

On ExpressNews.com: In Texas, Cornyn v. Hegar is epicenter of battle over coverage for preexisting conditions

At a COVID-19 briefing on Thursday, city officials defended Metro Healths practice of not counting or investigating antigen positive patients without symptoms.

There arent any other health departments in Texas that are doing that, Dr. Junda Woo, Metro Healths medical director, said.

Nirenberg said at that briefing that since August, Metro Health had received only about 100 positive antigen test results in people without symptoms. He called that a relatively small amount.

The city has recorded almost 54,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases since March.

A little perspective, Nirenberg said then. San Antonio is the only public health authority in Texas, except for Tarrant, that is actually counting any antigen tests at all.

I do want to assure people who are watching this that San Antonio Metro Health, the public health authority, has raised the standard, Nirenberg continued, that it seems like very few, if any, public health authorities are meeting at this point in terms of counting and being rigorous with following through with infections in our community.

On Friday, Nirenberg acknowledged he was wrong when he made those statements.

Officials at the Houston Health Department, Austin Public Health and the Dallas County Judges Office said that health authorities in those cities consider all antigen positive patients  even those without symptoms  as probable cases and open contact investigations into them.

By both the state and the national case definition antigen tests would be investigated as a probable case not a confirmed case, said Porfirio Villarreal, spokesman for the Houston Health Department.

Alina Carnahan, a spokeswoman for Austin Public Health, echoed Villarreal.

She said both the CDC and the Texas Department of State Health Services define antigen positive patients as probable cases regardless of whether there are symptoms. She said the Austin health department opens investigations into those cases.

Lauren Trimble, chief of staff for Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, confirmed that Dallas County Health and Human Services handles positive antigen patients without symptoms the same way.

Contact tracing/public health investigations are done on those cases just as they are with confirmed cases, Trimble said.

Nirenberg said the change in policy at Metro Health was under consideration by the contact tracing work group that raised the concerns last week.

Theyre researching, Nirenberg said, and will make their recommendations to Metro Health.

Bridger has dismissed the concerns of the work group, saying last week that they do not have the full understanding of the situation, which is not surprising given they dont currently work in a health department.

She said Metro Health was not counting or investigating antigen positive patients without symptoms because the Food and Drug Administration has authorized the use of antigen tests only in people who have symptoms of COVID-19.

But after the mayor made his statement on Friday, Bridger seemed to accept the possibility of changing the health authoritys policy.

We are currently following the State Public Health guidance on how to process asymptomatic positive antigen cases, she said in a statement. However, responding to any novel virus requires constant adaptation as disease control experts study its characteristics and transmission.

We have had great success throughout this pandemic of collaborating with our community to thoroughly vet and discuss emerging issues, Bridger continued. In fact, we are waiting on the contact tracing work group of the COVID-19 Community Response Coalition to provide a recommendation to our epidemiologist about potential modifications to our case definition and process.

Metro Health also came under scrutiny this summer, when it failed to ramp up its number of case investigators before a surge of infections overwhelmed the agency. Only 25 investigators were working when cases spiked in June, a fraction of the 175 that a panel of health experts had recommended in April.

Dawn Emerick, the former director of Metro Health, had tried to recruit and train more than 100 case investigators in April. But she halted those plans after receiving push back from Bridger, who was her supervisor at the time.
FIREBRAND MDC Alliance deputy national chairperson, Job Wiwa Sikhala, says the struggle for a just and better Zimbabwe for all will never be derailed by the alleged persecution of individuals like him by the State.

Speaking in an interview with the Daily News On Sunday yesterday, the larger-than-life Zengeza West legislator also vowed that anyone who allegedly played a role in his dramatic arrest by authorities last month would be brought to book.

All this comes as the infighting within the countrys opposition forces has reached breaking point, with their leaders consumed by the mindless brawling.

It also comes after Sikhala was released from Chikurubi Maximum Prison on bail last week, following his arrest last month in Tynwald North  a western suburb of Harare.

Speaking to the Daily News On Sunday in an interview yesterday  the daring lawyer-cum-politician warned the snitches who allegedly sold him out to the authorities that they would be punished.

Whether sold or not, it was Gods will. But if there is anyone who did it, they must know that it will not go unpunished.

I dont put much currency on personal relationships because the struggle is bigger than personal relationships. The struggle is for the people of Zimbabwe, not individuals.

The fight for a just society is a calling. It cannot be halted because of persecution. An illusionary regime thinks that it can silence individuals through persecution Sikhala told the Daily News On Sunday.

The irrepressible MP was nabbed by police in August, having been in hiding for nearly a month after authorities went on the hunt for some of the leaders of the foiled July 31 anti-government mass protests.

Upon his arrest, police claimed that he had been found hiding in a ceiling at a house in Tynwald North  claims which Sikhala refuted, saying he had a huge frame which made it impossible to hide there.

His arrest also sent tongues wagging at the time within opposition ranks, where accusations flew around furiously as to how he ended up being nabbed by authorities.

MDC Alliance youth spokesperson Stephen Sarkozy Chuma and former Zanu PF youth leader Jim Kunaka were among those who pointed fingers at each other over the arrest.

Chuma  who is seen as a disciple of Sikhala  denied the accusations that he had sold out his mentor, instead pointing fingers at Kunaka.

Kunaka had a friend who is a member of the CID (Criminal Investigations Department) who was coming to our hiding place regularly, bringing him food. One day we left the house in the morning with other comrades.

When we left, I received a call from Kunaka telling me that they had brought me a phone after I had lost mine, and that I needed to rush back to the hiding place within 30 minutes or he would take it back to the shop.

Unfortunately, we had no car, but we then heard a few moments later that Wiwa had been arrested, Chuma told, the Daily News, when the allegations were flying around.

Jim was not there at the hiding place when the arrest was made, yet he is not being implicated. The same person who is accusing me is the one who used to bring his CID friends, about three times, he added.

On his part, Kunaka said he was convinced that Chuma had snitched on Sikhala after the combative Zengeza West legislator allegedly showed him messages that he got from some sources before he was arrested.

Before we came to the Tynwald house, Sikhala told us that one of us was selling out without mentioning names. But I pressured him to say who it was.

He pointed at Sarkozy (Chuma), who then said there were people who wanted to divide us. Sikhala said nothing more, probably thinking that he had changed.

But then on Wednesday, he (Sikhala) came to our room and told us that there was a security threat and that he had messages from his sources that Sarkozy was still selling out, Kunaka also told the Daily News then.

Kunaka  a former leader of the notorious and now defunct Chipangano terror group  also said he had left the Tynwald North house after hearing that his wife was unwell.

I left after I consulted Sikhala and  I then called Sarkozy to go and collect a phone that I had taken from my shop and told him he would pay later because he had lost his.

I then got a message from some of the guys who were with Sarkozy that Sikhala had been arrested, he said further.

Sikhalas arrest happened at a time that the Daily News had reported that some MDC Alliance bigwigs were pushing to have him expelled from the coalition for his radical political activities and dogged opposition to Zanu PF and its government.

So bad was the situation said to have become for Sikhala, that it was claimed some of his comrades were even hoping that authorities would manage to fish him out from his hideout.

Yesterday, Sikhala said he was not moved by all these alleged machinations, including having him expelled from the Alliance.

People are free to suggest whatever they want. If there is anyone who wants me expelled they are free to move the motion and see where it will take them.

Currently, my focus is on the freedom of our people and Zimbabwe at large. I dont want to be diverted from the cause of our people. Freedom is coming, Sikhala told the Daily News On Sunday further.

This comes as MDC Alliance leadership has been accused of calling for protests but failing to lead from the front  like what the late MDC founding father Morgan Tsvangirai used to do, including when he participated in the Save Zimbabwe march in Harare in 2007.

Then, Tsvangirai and his colleagues such as Tendai Biti, Arthur Mutambara, Grace Kwinjeh, Sekai Holland and Lovemore Madhuku were bludgeoned by heavily-armed police during brutal attacks which saw a shoe cobbler, Gift Tandare, being shot dead.

However, Sikhala defended MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa yesterday for not leading from the front during recent protests.

What else would you expect from a frightened regime that mobilises all the mighty of the entire security services against unarmed civilians?

When they brace for murder, you duck them and leave them exposed. Like I indicated earlier, the struggle of today uses sophisticated brain power rather than the primitive methods of violence and terror which are the hallmarks of this regime.

When they expect to shoot leaders to destroy resistance against its tyranny they find those leaders more advanced in handling the situation at hand, Sikhala told the Daily News On Sunday.

The legislator is currently facing charges of inciting public violence after he joined the organisers of the foiled July 31 demos in calling for protests against the government. Daily News
PORTLAND, Ore. - Hundreds of members of the far-right group Proud Boys rallied at a public park here Saturday, venting threats and flashing weapons but failing to mobilize the show of strength that organizers had planned - and that Portland's leaders had feared.

The demonstration by the group - which has earned a reputation for politically motivated violence - was intended to bring adherents from across the nation to a city that has become a magnet for ideological brawls, some of them deadly.

Organizers said they expected as many as 10,000 people to turn out. Yet the actual crowd was far smaller, and the event in a grassy park near the Columbia River started breaking up after just 90 minutes - significantly less than the hours of rallying that were initially planned.

In that time, demonstrators preached their hatred for antifa and other left-wing organizations, along with their fealty to President Donald Trump. Many were dressed in camouflage and some were armed with bear mace, batons or semiautomatic rifles.

"How do you become a Proud Boy? You gotta feel that calling," one speaker told the crowd, which intermittently tuned in to the speeches radiating off the back of a flatbed truck. "We kick a lot of people to the curb. . . . Gotta love to drink, gotta love to fight."

Yet at least during the afternoon demonstration, there was no overt violence.

That is likely to come as a relief to Portland's leaders, who have grown weary after months of political showdowns that have come to symbolize the nation's descent into extreme partisanship and ever-widening ideological chasms.

The city was especially on edge because left-wing groups, including antifa, staged a counter-rally at a different city park, three miles away. That demonstration, which was substantially larger than the Proud Boys rally, also appeared to proceed peacefully.

Speakers condemned white supremacists and conservative politicians while many in the vast crowd donned black clothing and body armor.

"I am just very anti-racist, and I lived in Oregon a long time and there is a lot of it here," said Brian Calza, 42, who drove in for the rally from Eugene, Ore.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat, had declared a state of emergency Friday and said the state police and county sheriff's office would oversee the response to the protests Saturday. They would be dispatching additional law enforcement to the area, she said, to patrol highways, looking for people coming to town to "cause trouble."

Portland has seen four months of Black Lives Matter and anti-police protests, a chain broken only when massive wildfires made gathering outside hazardous in the waning weeks of summer. Although the protests have been generally been limited to relatively small areas of the city's downtown, Proud Boys and other right-wing groups have echoed Trump's rhetoric in portraying them as sowing chaos across the city.

The group has made its own contributions to the unrest, with Proud Boy counterprotesters riding through the streets in pickup trucks flying Trump banners. Some have fired paintball guns or otherwise tried to provoke conflict, with left-wing activists replying in kind.

In late August, one such confrontation turned deadly when Aaron "Jay" Danielson, a supporter of the far-right group Patriot Prayer, was shot and killed on a city street following a vehicle parade in support of Trump.

Five days later, members of a federal task force fatally shot a suspect in Danielson's death - Michael Forest Reinoehl, 48, an ardent supporter of the far-left antifa who had regularly attended nightly protests and spoke of a "revolution."

Speakers at the Proud Boys rally on Saturday venerated Danielson, along with Kyle Rittenhouse, the teenager who prosecutors allege killed two people during demonstrations in Kenosha, Wis., last month.

"We do this for Jay. We do this for Kyle," said Janira Brannigan, the chair of the Polk County, Ore., Republican Party,

She condemned Oregon's governor as a "dictator" and urged the crowd to run for office or to get government jobs so as to "infiltrate every agency under the dictator's control."

The Proud Boys are one of several predominantly White right-wing groups that have surfaced publicly since Trump's election. Vice News creator Gavin McInnes started the group in 2016, though he has since distanced himself from the organization and its increasingly violent reputation.

Members describe themselves as a "Western chauvinist" fraternal group that believes in ending welfare, closing the borders and strict adherence to traditional gender roles. They are ardently pro-police and see themselves as a group prepared to do battle with leftists.

"Stand up to anyone who tries to f--- with us" a man said through the microphone, before the crowd shouted out the Pledge of Allegiance.

Saturday's attendees were explicit in their support for Trump and their ties to the Republican Party.

Tented tables in the parking lot hawked Trump merchandise, and rally attendees carried American flags and thin blue line flags. The vast majority were White men, with a few White women sprinkled in.

Richard LeRoy, 63, said he showed up at the rally to show his support for the president and because he believes the Proud Boys will be a decisive force in supporting Trump should the country "slide into anarchy" in January.

It was his first Proud Boy event. But LeRoy, a retired factory worker, said he decided he needed to seek out the group because he believes it will fight to keep Trump in power should the election become disputed. LeRoy, who was wearing a Trump T-shirt and carrying a Trump flag, said he is increasingly worried that Democrats will "steal the election with voter fraud or vote-by-mail."

"They are standing up against antifa and Black Lives Matter groups, who I believe are Marxist," LeRoy said.

Amid a succession of speakers earning tepid applause, there were periodic bursts of energy from the crowd when alleged antifa supporters were identified. In each case, a group of Proud Boys surrounded the supposed interlopers and forced them out, hurling invective along the way. Through it all, police in riot gear looked on from the park's edge - but they did not directly engage.

At several points, speakers urged the crowd to show restraint - in line with the mantra of group leaders that they are not the ones inciting violence.

For many attendees, it was the violence of left-wing protesters that they said had motivated them to turn up.

Rod Davis and his wife Diane, from Milwaukee, a suburb of Portland, said they came to Saturday's event because they feel the Proud Boys are the only ones standing up to the people creating mayhem in Portland.

Marcia Davis said she was fed up with the authorities who weren't doing enough about violent protests that had rocked downtown.

"Let's be real about what is going on. My city is being destroyed," Diane Davis said. "I feel like the mayor handed antifa the keys to the city."

Rod Davis said he expects the trouble to continue at least until the election.

"I don't think these people are going to go away," he said, pointing to the Proud Boys. "Antifa is not going away."

- - -

Witte reported from Washington.
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- Once a bastion of political stability in a troubled region, Malaysia faces the prospect of its third government in little more than six months. A war of attrition over the premiership is the last thing the country needs.

Gross domestic product shrank 17.1% in the second quarter, the worst performance in East Asia, and deflation is taking root. Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin came to power in March, just as the pandemic began rippling through the region. His support never looked very solid.

That shaky backdrop has opened the door for the latest leadership challenge. On Wednesday, Anwar Ibrahim, a one-time establishment insider now heading up the opposition, shocked investors by asserting he has more than enough votes in parliament to command a majority and oust Muhyiddin. While Anwars announcement hasnt been matched by public declarations of support, it was jarring enough to push stocks lower and nudge the currency to a two-week low.

The premier says he isn't going anywhere and is focused on trying to contain Covid-19 and lift the economy out of a historic recession  effectively challenging Anwar to put up or shut up. Theres no denying Anwar has come close to the apex of power in Malaysia in the past, only to stumble, or get tripped, before the finish line.

With an abundance of salon intrigue, the political class at times appears out to lunch on basic governing needs. Within Muhyiddins camp, backers have engaged in public spats about who gets to contest electoral districts and which supporters get plum public-sector jobs. Four stimulus packages have been passed mostly by decree; other critical things like raising the debt ceiling need legislation. Demonstrating a working majority is critical, but Muhyiddin's is so thin he appears wary of risking a public vote.

It wasn't always this way. For most of its six decades of nationhood, the country was able to steer a middle ground in Southeast Asia. One coalition ruled for most of that time and returned at regular elections. By contrast, neighboring Indonesia has been prone to epic crackups that degenerate into communal violence. In Thailand, the military regularly installs and sacks cabinets, and Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines was able to seize power and rule as an autocrat for years before getting overthrown. Now, power in Malaysia risks falling into a disturbing pattern: a few lawmakers switch sides and unseat governments outside of elections.

Story continues

Thats what Anwar's gambit would mean. Neither he nor Muhyiddin want the stalemate broken by the monarch  whose role is largely ceremonial  dissolving parliament and calling a fresh election. Each man worries that he would lose. Provincial balloting this weekend in Sabah is the next potential trip wire; the northeastern Borneo state is one of the few local administrations not allied to Muhyiddin's bloc. The return of the state government would be seen as a rebuff of the prime minister and, in theory, a plus for Anwar.

The fractured nature of the opposition is also part of the story here. Before March, Anwar looked on course to assume the premiership later this year, such was the gentleman's agreement with then-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. The two had history: Back in the 1990s, Anwar was also heir apparent to Mahathir, when both held office under a different political grouping, the Barisan Nasional, which had run the country since independence. But Anwar fell out with Mahathir and was jailed. The two men reconciled and united to defeat Barisan, which they claimed had succumbed to graft. Najib Razak, the last Barisan leader to occupy the premiers job, was convicted and sentenced to prison for his role in the 1MDB saga. (Najib has appealed.) The terms of the Mahathir-Anwar peace treaty were that Mahathir, now in his 90s, would stand aside for Anwar after a few years. They could never fully reconcile, however. Their supporters split, enabling Muhyiddin to ascend. Anwar is on the outside wanting desperately back in; Mahathir says he'll wait and see how things pan out.

This isn't just a storm within the ethnic Malay community, which has long formed the backbone of politics and policy. The region has much at stake in Malaysian stability. The nation is a major exporter of electronics and tied intimately to the global economic cycle. It sits astride the vital sea lanes of the Straits of Malacca and is one of the claimants on tracts of the South China Sea.

Consistency and continuity count for a lot in such a diverse corner of the world. Unfortunately, these virtues tend to get noticed only once they are gone. Soon after Muhyiddin was installed in March, I wrote that Malaysia's politics had come to resemble the divisions over faith, ethnicity and urban-rural cleavage that characterized Brexit and Donald Trump. Malaysia can do better. Considering his reputation as a reformer and champion of civil society, so can Anwar.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Daniel Moss is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Asian economies. Previously he was executive editor of Bloomberg News for global economics, and has led teams in Asia, Europe and North America.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
If you mean if we, in the U.K. had to quarantine for 14 days when we return from Turkey, no you would not get a refund, as flights would still be available. If you travel, you will have your temperature taken at Dalaman., if it is high and after a test, you turned out to be Covid-19 positive, you would be taken to a Hostel and put into Quarantine for 14 days and you would be liable for the cost of your stay in the hostel.

As for Turkey stopping people from the U.K travelling, highly unlikely. Turkey itself has a spike in their first wave of the Virus. However, they are allowing countries with much higher Coronavirus figures than the U.K. to visit. Turkey are not banning any tourists , so French, Russians, Americans, Americans , who have the worse virus figures in the world are welcomed, as Turkey need the Tourists money to boost their economy at the moment.

Edited: 1 year ago
Coronavirus antibodies are found in only a small portion of the American population, leaving most of those in the U.S. still at risk of contracting the virus.

A new nationwide study published on The Lancet found that, less than 10 percent of Americans showed signs of coronavirus antibodies. This means they've fought off the virus before, or have been infected.

They found that coronavirus antibodies can be found in about 9.3 percent of the U.S. population. But these numbers range depending on location.

The West showed that 3.5 percent had antibodies, but an average of 27 percent was seen on the Northeast, CNN reported.

Meanwhile, seven states showed no signs of the antibodies based on their sample.

Published on Friday, the study drew data from over 28,000 dialysis patients from around the U.S., reported The Wall Street Journal.

The researchers analyzed plasma samples from more than a thousand facilities in 46 states run by one lab.

Other than location, it also found a range in levels of antibodies across race. In the study, they found that Hispanic or Black patients living in low-income neighborhoods were more likely to have antibodies.

Stanford University medicine professor and study author Dr. Julie Parsonnet said the study had a clear message. It confirms that even though the country has seen high numbers of COVID-19 cases, people who have the antibodies to fight off the virus are still low.

No Closer to Herd Immunity

"We haven't come close to achieving herd immunity," Parsonnet said.

Shuchi Anand, nephrologist at Standford and co-author of the study, also supported her colleague's statements.

"If we're measuring herd immunity by antibodies, then this study does not support that there is herd immunity," Anand said.

Parsonnet also warned that, until an effective vaccine is approved, people at risk should be reached out to for preventive measures.

Anand said their findings "track" what is known right now about the virus. Its intense in the northeast and is moving throughout the country.

Anand did note that the study's data was gathered back in July. It is likely that more people may have been exposed to the virus in the South and West since then.

A CNBC article pointed out that even those with coronavirus antibodies are not completely immune to the virus. But there is some level of protection from the antibodies.

Scientists are still looking into the level of protection these antibodies create and how long the protection may last.

Why Dialysis Patients?

The researchers said they chose to study on dialysis patients in the U.S. because they undergo routine monthly lab studies.

They found that since this is the case, there was no need for "considerable infrastructure and expense." There won't be much trouble in collecting samples and other challenges due to COVID-19.

They also said the risk factors for getting the COVID-19 and developing severe disease "are the rule rather than the exception in the U.S. dialysis population."

Dialysis patients, as the researchers thought of it, were their "ideal sentinel population."

The effects of antibodies to the human body may still be uncertain, but there can still be positive effects drawn from this study. Research on this case on an ongoing basis can lead to answers that scientists have been waiting for.

Check these out!

CDC Removes Warning About Spread of COVID-19 Through Air

US COVID-19 Cases Exceeds 7 Million as Some States Relax Restrictions

Trump Says He Might Reject Tougher FDA Vaccine Standards
Sir,

Over the past week, we have been made aware that the Ministry of Finance will no longer issue permits to import cars older than seven years from date of manufacture, if the car is bought outside SADC. This decision comes with a lot of implications to both car dealers and customers.

We would like to believe that our government considered a lot of things before taking such a decision. The implications of this decision include the following:

1. Car dealers will have to close down.

2. A lot of emaSwati employed by these dealers will lose their jobs.

3. Hawkers who relied on these cars will struggle to find transportation.

4. The cost of cars will increase with about 150 per cent.

5. A lot of emaSwati making a living direct or indirect will lose income.

6. A lot of emaSwati will no longer afford buying a car.

7. The crime rate will shoot up.

8. The working citizens will report for duty late.

Our government should be considerate and involve its citizens as such decisions have negative impact on emaSwati. We should also remember that during this lock down due to COVID-19, these garages were closed, hence the employees were not being paid their salaries. They have been back at work for a few months, then this drastic decision is taken.

My request for government is that at least they should extend and give proper notice to the car dealers, employees and customers. I trust that our government has not taken this decision to frustrate anyone. We appeal to the relevant authorities to have a heart and give a proper notice and a positive (12 years) direction to all of us. This will give everyone a chance to come to terms with the new normal, and car dealers to conclude their current shipping that is already enroute to Eswatini.

Frustrated liSwati






YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan has used all rocket-artillery means in its arsenal with the exception of a few largest caliber rocket systems during its attack on Artsakh, the Unified InfoCenters official representative Artsrun Hovhannisyan told a news conference.

Clarifications are underway, but there are different reports that we gathered, with the exception of one or two largest caliber rocket measures Azerbaijan has basically used all other measures. It has also used its army air force, air-to-surface bombs, UAVs, aircraft, helicopters and others, he said.

Asked whether or not the Armenian Air Force intends to use aerial equipment, Hovhannisyan said the leadership is under full control and will act according to the situation.

They are fully supervising the situation and the kinds of weaponry deemed necessary to be deployed at a given combat situation will be deployed, he said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
A panel of experts gathered by the World Health Organization (WHO) has listed a number of factors that may be pushing the spread of coronavirus in Africa down.



Expertise in epidemic control, a young population and a possible effect of pre-existing immunity were cited as possible factors.



The panel of experts, that included the WHOs regional director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, offered several explanations to the different behaviour of the pandemic in the continent, when compared to the rest of the world.



The swift application of lockdowns that came at a high cost for many economies was mentioned.



The structure of the African society of caring for the elderly at home was also cited.



But new explanations also emerged in the conference, such as the possible impact of smaller urban areas in many African countries, which means that the virus could travel less fast in more remote populations in rural areas.



The continent's transport system was also mentioned, as cities and regions are not as interconnected as in other parts of the world.



Dr Moeti said that previous experiences in handling pandemics, such as Ebola, have also proven crucial when dealing with this pandemic.



But she warned that more research needs to be done to establish the true extent of Covid-19 on the continent.



More than 1.4 million confirmed cases have been reported in Africa with over 34,000 deaths. About one million people have already recovered.

Source: BBC









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Sam Fornasiero Sam Fornasiero

For an instant, luck seemed to change for Sam Fornasiero. The 21-year-old's phone call was put on hold  a noteworthy improvement relative to the 2,000-plus prior attempts to reach New Jersey's unemployment bureau, by his estimation. The call went dead after a half hour of waiting. But Fornasiero has gotten good at waiting. Furloughed from his job at a film-production company in New Jersey in April, Fornasiero has waited more than five months for jobless benefits to arrive. He expects to be recalled to work at some point but doesn't know when. "Weeks turned into months," Fornasiero, a photographer by trade, said of the benefits delay. "I burned through what savings I had."

Waiting game

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Some waited much longer. About 18%  nearly 400,000 people  waited at least 70 days, according to the Labor Department. "[All states] have been overwhelmed," said Stephen Wandner, a labor economist and senior fellow at the National Academy of Social Insurance. "But the bottom line is, this shouldn't happen to people, not getting benefits for months and months. "States can normally do this rapidly," he added.

Falling through a hole

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Holding jobs in multiple states over the past year or so has emerged as a major stumbling block for workers. Fornasiero, for example, joined his New Jersey production company in December last year. But he'd worked at a Patagonia retail store in New York, where he lives, earlier that year. Prevailing guidance suggests workers file for benefits in the state where they'd worked, hence his application in New Jersey. Brett Lawrence, tired of the long hours at a corporate information-technology job in New Jersey, decided to switch careers midway through 2019. He became an account manager at a Pennsylvania firm that builds trade-show exhibits.

Brett Lawrence has waited months for unemployment benefits to arrive. The delay has caused financial hardship for his family. Brett Lawrence

But Lawrence, 35, who lives in Levittown, Pennsylvania, was laid off May 1 as business ground to a halt. He swiftly applied for unemployment benefits in Pennsylvania. He hasn't yet received them. Repeated calls inquiring about payment status go unanswered. The lone time Lawrence received a call from an unemployment representative, weeks ago, he learned the state could release his funds after New Jersey's unemployment office confirms the wages he'd earned in 2019 from his prior job.

Pennsylvania had requested the information eight times from New Jersey, the rep told Lawrence. He's owed more than $18,000, between state benefits and a $600 weekly federal supplement that ended in July. "There's a hole somewhere people are just falling through," said Lawrence, a father of four, including a baby girl who was born Sept. 6. Meanwhile, Lawrence's family has relied on his wife's income as a teacher to survive. The couple has exhausted savings, deferred two mortgage payments, racked up credit-card debt and had to ask family for financial help. Luckily, he found a freelance IT gig that will help financially in the short term but is pushing him back into a field he doesn't enjoy.

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"I have no other choice," said Lawrence. "We have bills, I have four kids." A spokeswoman for the New Jersey Labor Department disputed that the state is delaying Lawrence's payment and referred an inquiry about his claim to Pennsylvania. A spokeswoman with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry declined to provide specific details about Lawrence's application due to privacy laws. The unemployment unit reviewed his claim information and will be reaching out to him, she said. A wage-exchange program overseen by the National Association of State Workforce Agencies is meant to help officials more quickly verify worker wages earned in other states, Wandner said.

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However, states aren't using it and instead appear to be doing the verification mechanically when it should be automatic, said Wandner, who is a former actuary at the U.S. Labor Department. "The system is out there," he said. "Some states are just not using [it] and they're not picking up all wages. "It's a disaster." A spokesperson for NASWA didn't return a request for comment.

Costly mistakes

For some workers, benefits were delayed due to errors on the part of their employer. Georgia, for example, adopted an emergency rule in March requiring businesses to file unemployment claims on behalf of furloughed workers.

Sam Thornton Sam Thornton

Employer-filed claims generally speed up receipt of benefits since they remove the employer-verification step necessary when individuals apply, according to a spokeswoman for the state labor department. But that wasn't the case for Sam Thornton. Thornton, 70, who lives in Marietta, Georgia, designs and sells residential security systems. His employer filed an unemployment claim on his behalf in late March after work dried up.

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At first, things looked good  he received a mailed notice in early April saying he would get $365 a week from the state, records show. But those payments never came. Countless calls and e-mails went unanswered. "I can't find out what the problem is, and if there's a problem I can't find anything out," Thornton said in August. "That's been the frustrating part. "It's like a black hole," he added. He finally received $5,580 in back pay on Sept. 4  more than five months later  after a CNBC inquiry about his claim to the Georgia Department of Labor.

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As it turns out, Thornton's employer accidentally reported that he'd earned $700 during each week he was out of work, which disqualified him from receiving benefits. His employer eventually corrected this error. Further, the name under which the claim was filed didn't match the name on his Social Security account. (Thornton began collecting Social Security at 62.) Officials needed to verify that Sam Thornton and Samuel M. Thornton were the same person to eliminate the possibility of fraud, he was later told. He sent material corroborating his identity four times but never received confirmation or feedback, he said. "The majority of our claims were employer filed claims, and they were processed and paid quickly," according to a spokeswoman for the state labor department. She acknowledged some employers made errors that delayed aid.

Any discrepancy on an application requiring human intervention will almost certainly delay benefits to a maddening degree, Wandner said. That may occur in the appeals process, for example, if a worker or employer disputes an unemployment claim. "If you are in the backlog, and your case is being adjudicated, you're in deep trouble," Wandner said. In August, 43% of decisions in appeals cases took more than 60 days to arrive  a sharp increase from the 8% share in January, according to the U.S. Labor Department. Claims that can't be approved by an automated system generally have common mistakes, like providing incorrect Social Security numbers or addresses, according to the Pennsylvania labor official. More complicated issues involving wages or work history all require human intervention to review and correct, she said. "These types of issues took time to resolve even before the record numbers of Covid-19-related claims," she said.

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KOLKATA : A river cruise for just 39 may sound unbelievable, but the West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) has come forward to launch a leisure ride on the Ganges for the price to give tourists and local visitors a memorable experience of viewing the heritage of the city, an official said on Sunday.

The unique pricing of less than a dollar for a 90- minute cruise over the Ganges, like the London river cruise or Singapore boat ride or those on River Mandovi in Goa, is aimed at attracting people from all walks of life, WBTC managing director Rajanvir Singh Kapur said.

The cruise, traversing many landmarks and hidden gems of the city of joy, will be launched on October one, he said.

"The idea is to make heritage river cruise experience affordable and popular among people from all walks of life and all age groups," Kapur said.

He said that during the cruise, the guests will see 'Mayer Ghat', which Ma Sarada, wife of Ramkrishna Paramhansa visited regularly, apart from Ganga Arati on the banks of River Ganga after sunset.

The cruise will travel past the Armenian ghat, Nimtala ghat, Chandpal ghat, the Eastern Railway headquarters which came into being in 1952, Binoy Badal Dinesh Bagh, among several landmarks of the city along the river, Kapur told PTI here.

"The guests will enjoy a ride into the history and heritage of Kolkata with light music playing in the background on the vessel, which is being decked up aesthetically to reflect the eclectic spirit of the city," the WBTC managing director said.

He said that the cruise will be operated on a no- profit basis by the West Bengal government-run transport corporation.

He said that the cruise will be operated on weekdays from Millenium Park at 4 pm and 6 pm, while on holidays, Saturdays and Sundays it will be operated at noon, 2 pm, 4 pm and 6 pm.

Assuring that proper sanitation protocols are being followed for safety, Kapur said that a maximum of 150 people will be accommodated in one ride of the cruise for maintaining social distancing norms.

"For 39, the cruise offers a free onboard heritage tour guide, complimentary cruise heritage navigation brochure for guests to take home as a souvenir and also to help them appreciate the landmarks and an onboard cruise cafe where one can purchase packed snacks and tea or coffee," Kapur said.

Apart from these, there will be complimentary selfie booths, drinking water and washrooms in the WBTC vessel.

Kapur said that the WBTC will offer special booking arrangements for the cruise for educational tours in the future.

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He alleges the Azerbaijani military have Turkish-made weapons.

The Armenian Defense Ministry has accused Turkey of meddling in the war over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

This was stated by representative of the Armenian Defense Ministry Artsrun Hovhannisyan, the Armenian information and analytical center Verelq said.

Read alsoNew hostilities erupt along Armenia-Azerbaijan border; civilian, military casualties reported (Photos, video)

He alleges the Azerbaijani military have Turkish-made weapons  "these facts are no longer in doubt."

He also shared information allegedly about mercenaries participating in battles on the side of Azerbaijan.

"I can't say about militants  more evidence is needed, and we'll speak more confidently," he said.

War in Nagorno-Karabakh: Past developments
Shop.gaoyuanshengguo.com scored 40 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team

This CoolSocial report was updated on 20 Jan 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.

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PAGE TITLE  |  |  |  |  |  | |  DESCRIPTION 400-0808-005 KEYWORDS , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,  OTHER KEYWORDS ceres,



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Referring domains for shop.gaoyuanshengguo.com by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines.

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Members of South Korean Marine Corps patrol the country's inter-Korean border region on western waters near Yeonpyeong-do Island of Incheon, Sunday. Yonhap



North Korea warned South Korea Sunday to stop violating its western sea border in searching for the body of a missing citizen shot and killed in North Korean waters, saying it will search for the body on its own and hand it over if it's found.



South Korea has been searching for the body of the 47-year-old fisheries official shot and killed by North Korean soldiers earlier last week after he drifted into their waters near the Yellow Sea border between the two sides. South Korea claims the North shot him to death and burned the body, while the North claims that it was lost in the sea after he was shot.



"According to a report by the western fleet of our navy, the south side has mobilized many vessels including warships to an action presumed to be a search operation and let them intrude into our territorial waters since September 25. It arouses our due vigilance as it may lead to another awful incident," the Korean Central News Agency said.



"We can never overlook any intrusion into our territorial waters and we seriously warn the south side against it. We urge the south side to immediately halt the intrusion across the military demarcation line in the west sea that may lead to escalation of tensions," it said.




Dubai, UK flyers contributed max Covid-19 importations in India: IIT Study

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Sep 27: Travellers from Dubai and the UK were primary sources of COVID-19 importations into India, according to an analytical study done by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mandi.

According to the research, which has been published in the Journal of Travel Medicine, COVID-19 got induced into Indian states mainly due to international travels.

The study has also found that infected cases from Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh played less role in spreading the disease outside their communities. Whereas infected people in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, and Karnataka played a significant role in the local transmission, and some of them caused interstate transfer too.

"We tracked the spread of COVID-19 and its diffusion from the global to national level and identified a few super spreaders who played a central role in the transmission of the disease in India. The COVID-19 spread in phase one was traced using the travelling history of the patients, and it was found that most of the transmissions were local," Sarita Azad, Assistant Professor, IIT Mandi, told PTI.

"The research team has used the travel history of infected patients from January to April as the primary data source and a social network was created depicting the spread in the early phase of the pandemic. The research found that the maximum numbers of connections were established from Dubai (144) and the UK ( 64), she added.

Bihar Polls 2020: How EC plans to conduct free and fair elections amid coronavirus pandemic

Azad explained that statistical metrics calculated from the data revealed that Dubai and the UK played a crucial role in spreading the disease in Indian states and were the primary sources of COVID-19 importations into India.

"Dubai's eigenvector centrality was the highest that made it the most influential node. The statistical metrics calculated from the data revealed that Dubai and the UK played a crucial role in spreading the disease in Indian states and were the primary sources of COVID-19 importations into India.

"Based on the modularity class, different clusters were shown to form across Indian states, which demonstrated the formation of a multi-layered social network structure. A significant increase in confirmed cases was reported in states like Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh during the first phase of the nationwide lockdown, which spanned from March 25 to April 14," she said.

"The modularity class of states such as Tamil Nadu, Delhi, and Andhra Pradesh was low. Hence, it is likely that infected cases from these states played less of a role in spreading the disease outside their communities. Whereas states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, and Karnataka played a significant role in the local transmission, and some of them caused interstate transfer too," she added.

Azad, who conducted the analytical study, along with her student Sushma Devi, said, "When a pandemic like COVID-19 subsides, a good research work serves as a record for the future. In this work, we have used real time data and demonstrated how the disease got diffused from the global to national level from January 30 to April 6. This will be an important contribution to understanding the disease transmission in India during the early phase of the pandemic."

India's COVID-19 caseload neared 60 lakh with 88,600 fresh infections being reported on Sunday, while the number of people having recuperated from the disease crossed 49 lakh pushing the national recovery rate to 82.46 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry.

The total coronavirus cases mounted to 59,92,532, while the death toll climbed to 94,503 with 1,124 people succumbing to the disease in a span of 24 hours, data updated at 8 am showed.

with PTI inputs

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Story first published: Sunday, September 27, 2020, 15:38 [IST]
Antarvedi : , Sep 27 (IANS) The Andhra Pradesh government started the new chariot construction work for the Antarvedi Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple on Sunday, deputing ministers and officials for the rituals.

Revenue Minister Dharmana Krishnadas said the government is building a new chariot on the instructions given by Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.

According to the minister, the government wants to complete the chariot construction as soon as possible.

"Probe to find the culprits responsible for the chariot blaze is continuing. Whoever it is and however big they may be, the government will severely punish them when nabbed," he said.

However, he said some political parties are trying to take mileage out of the chariot issue and called it a sad development.

As part of the rituals to build a new chariot, priests started performing the ceremonies right from the wee hours of Sunday.

Using Bastar teak, the government aims to build the chariot in three months' time, which will be identical to the old one.

On September 5, a six-decade-old wooden chariot of the famous Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple at Antarvedi in East Godavari district was gutted in a fire under mysterious circumstances.

The state government allocated Rs 95 lakh to build a new chariot and Reddy handed over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Scenic Antarvedi is located in the lush green Konaseema region of East Godavari district, 57 km south-east of Bhimavaram. The temple is located near the confluence of the mighty Godavari river and the Bay of Bengal on the east coast of India.
Iowa Department of Public Safety From left: Cody Johnson, Julia Cox, Roy Lee Garner, and Steven Vogel

Four people have been arrested after a Black man's body was found on fire in a rural ditch in Iowa.

On Tuesday, law enforcement officers arrested four suspects in connection to the killing of Michael Williams, 44, of Grinnell, Iowa, whose body was found burning in a ditch on Wednesday, Sept. 16, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

Steven Vogel was charged with one count of murder in the first degree and abuse of a corpse. Vogel, 31, is being held at the Marshall County Jail, where he was already in custody for unrelated charges.

Julia Cox, 55, and Roy Lee Garner, 57, were charged with one count of abuse of a corpse, destruction of evidence and accessory after the fact. Additionally, Cody Johnson, 29, was charged with abuse of a corpse and accessory after the fact.

Cox, Garner and Johnson are being held at the Poweshiek County jail. It was not immediately clear if the four suspects had attorneys for PEOPLE to reach for comment.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

A Sept. 18 autopsy report from the Office of the State Medical Examiner classified Williams death as a homicide, with a cause of death listed as strangulation.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety believe Williams and Vogel were "known acquaintances who often socialized within the same circle of friends." Officials added that no evidence has led them to believe the crime was "motivated by his race nor that his death was the result of a hate crime."

"The investigation has revealed Mr. Williams was killed on or about September 12, in Grinnell. Mr. Williams body was then wrapped in cloth and plastic, which was secured with rope and tape, then transported to rural Kellogg on September 16, where it was set ablaze," officials said.

Williams' ex-wife, Janalee Boldt, spoke out about his death, telling KCCI that her daughter "will not let me outside in the dark by myself because she's afraid of losing another parent." According to CNN, Williams shared five children with Boldt.
Even when a business is losing money, it's possible for shareholders to make money if they buy a good business at the right price. For example, although Amazon.com made losses for many years after listing, if you had bought and held the shares since 1999, you would have made a fortune. But while history lauds those rare successes, those that fail are often forgotten; who remembers Pets.com?

So, the natural question for EcoGraf (ASX:EGR) shareholders is whether they should be concerned by its rate of cash burn. For the purpose of this article, we'll define cash burn as the amount of cash the company is spending each year to fund its growth (also called its negative free cash flow). The first step is to compare its cash burn with its cash reserves, to give us its 'cash runway'.

Check out our latest analysis for EcoGraf

Does EcoGraf Have A Long Cash Runway?

You can calculate a company's cash runway by dividing the amount of cash it has by the rate at which it is spending that cash. In June 2020, EcoGraf had AU$2.8m in cash, and was debt-free. Importantly, its cash burn was AU$3.6m over the trailing twelve months. Therefore, from June 2020 it had roughly 9 months of cash runway. That's quite a short cash runway, indicating the company must either reduce its annual cash burn or replenish its cash. The image below shows how its cash balance has been changing over the last few years.

How Is EcoGraf's Cash Burn Changing Over Time?

EcoGraf didn't record any revenue over the last year, indicating that it's an early stage company still developing its business. Nonetheless, we can still examine its cash burn trajectory as part of our assessment of its cash burn situation. Cash burn was pretty flat over the last year, which suggests that management are holding spending steady while the business advances its strategy. Admittedly, we're a bit cautious of EcoGraf due to its lack of significant operating revenues. So we'd generally prefer stocks from this list of stocks that have analysts forecasting growth.

Story continues

How Hard Would It Be For EcoGraf To Raise More Cash For Growth?

Since its cash burn is increasing (albeit only slightly), EcoGraf shareholders should still be mindful of the possibility it will require more cash in the future. Generally speaking, a listed business can raise new cash through issuing shares or taking on debt. One of the main advantages held by publicly listed companies is that they can sell shares to investors to raise cash and fund growth. By looking at a company's cash burn relative to its market capitalisation, we gain insight on how much shareholders would be diluted if the company needed to raise enough cash to cover another year's cash burn.

EcoGraf has a market capitalisation of AU$55m and burnt through AU$3.6m last year, which is 6.7% of the company's market value. That's a low proportion, so we figure the company would be able to raise more cash to fund growth, with a little dilution, or even to simply borrow some money.

How Risky Is EcoGraf's Cash Burn Situation?

On this analysis of EcoGraf's cash burn, we think its cash burn relative to its market cap was reassuring, while its cash runway has us a bit worried. Even though we don't think it has a problem with its cash burn, the analysis we've done in this article does suggest that shareholders should give some careful thought to the potential cost of raising more money in the future. An in-depth examination of risks revealed 4 warning signs for EcoGraf that readers should think about before committing capital to this stock.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies insiders are buying, and this list of stocks growth stocks (according to analyst forecasts)

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.



Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com.
At the opening of the New England Independent Booksellers Association's annual meeting and town hall on September 25, Beth Wagner, NEIBA board president and manager of Vermonts Phoenix bookstores, warned her virtually assembled constituents: the path ahead will not be easy. But in a meeting that touched on the many issues and challenges that booksellers face today, attendees staring down the bumpy road ahead did so in good spirits, taking up a message of resilience and looking forward to 2021.

NEIBA executive director Beth Ineson praised members for the adaptations they made this year in response to the pandemic. What you have all done this year is nothing short of incredible, she said. Despite waiving member dues, Ineson reported that the organization was able to come in on budget for the year, managed in part by moving offices, which reduced rental costs by half, and then negotiating those costs down by another 60% due to the pandemic.

Ineson said that the group has made strides in reaching members via digital engagement, including with the virtual fall conference that culminated in Fridays meeting. Based on the success of those programs, Ineson said that online programming sessions will remain a part of a hybrid model for the organization in the future: Theyve been too successful to let them go entirely.

In addition to increasing digital tools for booksellers, the organization is also exploring creating a 501(c)3 to exist alongside NEIBAs current 501(c)6 structure, if it's feasible. Ineson explained that the existing structure prevents NEIBA from providing direct financial support to members as she would like. Im excited about the possibilities, she said. We may not be able to pull it off [but] I feel like I owe you all to think this all the way through.

The meeting also marked changes in the groups leadership, including the departure of former board president Laura Cummings of White Birch Books in Conway, N.H., and board member Stephanie Schmidt of Water Street Books in Exeter, N.H. Incoming board members are Kelsy April, manager of Savoy Bookshop and Cafe in Westerly, R.I., and Casey Gerken of Innisfree Bookshop in Meredith, N.H.

Diversity and access were among the most pressing issues discussed at the meeting. NEIBA membership must increase diversity, Wagner said bluntly. Black Lives Matter is more than a slogan.

That idea extended to author representation as well, with Print Bookstore bookseller Stephanie Heinz pushing for publishers to be required to display books by BIPOC authors during regional bookselling conferences as part of their contracts to participate. Harvard Book Store bookseller Read Davidson, who cochairs the groups New England Childrens Booksellers Advisory Council, also asked the organization to increase education around disability access and inclusion in the bookselling community, which Ineson said the group was eager to take up in subsequent meetings.

In response to a member query about opening more membership opportunities to frontline booksellers, Ineson again championed the value of digital access to major events like the fall conference. This years attendance was 450, up from 377 last year, Ineson said, noting that the increase was due in part to hosting it online. Weve been able to have a ton of folks come who wouldnt have been able to before, she said.

Joining the meeting, American Booksellers Association CEO Allison Hill praised the optimism of the group. I have to say, it is such a heavy time right now, and this meeting is filled with light, she said.

Hill provided updates to members about the ABAs new October Is the New December initiative, aimed at getting customers to spread out their buying in advance of a holiday season that booksellers fear will be plagued by shipping and printing disruptions. There is no doubt in my mind that you are going to see delays and you are going to see disruption, Hill warned. It is inevitable.

With an uptick in bookseller complaints about shipping issues in the last month, Hill also encouraged members to reach out about any issues with distribution from Ingram, the primary wholesaler for many booksellers. I meet with Ingram all the time, so its really helpful if I have specific examples, she said. Theyre moving really fast like we are, so they may not recognize that there is a bigger problem.

ABA is simultaneously looking beyond the holidays into next year, with plans to increase education and diversity initiatives, updates to the IndieCommerce sales platform, and improved outreach to members, Hill said. Those include a planned rollout of a newly updated iteration of Bookselling This Week, the ABAs weekly member newsletter.

During the town hall portion of the gathering, members called widely for mentorship opportunities and more education about core business issues. Ineson and Hill were both receptive, detailing clear plans on multiple fronts for the year ahead. Hill also emphasized the need for booksellers to join a push that ABA will make in 2021 related to the sales data booksellers collect. She stressed the need to provide data to publishers that improves booksellers competitive standing in the marketplace in the face of increased online sales competition.

Its pretty clear that one of the things the publishers value the most is data, and that we, as a channel, ABA, needs to do a better job collecting data that will make us a more valuable channel, Hill said. That will then hopefully mean that [publishers] dont have to find these other ways of getting what they need.
The Daily Beast

Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/GettyWhen volunteers at Venue Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee, arrived at their pastors house last November, they were hoping to raise his spirits with a surprise visit. Instead they got a shock: Pastor Tavner Smith was alone with a female church employeeshe in a towel, he in his boxers.The charismatic 41-year-old hurriedly explained that the two of them had been making chili and hot dogs and gotten food on their clothes, according to one
This important angle of a constitutional struggle is buried in MSM coverage but deserves a look for more critical denizens of the discourse as we approach the election.



Take a look:


NEW HAVEN  Even the doctors see it as monumental shift.

Those heavy lead aprons weve always worn during an X-ray are being phased out at some hospitals in the state and experts say its for health reasons.

The lead aprons are no longer are being used at Yale New Haven Hospital, a change in longstanding practice accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bridgeport Hospital also is ending their use, and the other Yale New Haven Health hospitals, including Greenwich Hospital, will end the practice.

We are one of the first, if not the first in Connecticut, and theres only a handful of hospitals nationwide to discontinue use of the lead shields, said David Facchini, diagnostic imaging manager at Yale New Haven Hospital. We are a pretty big innovator in terms of this practice change.

Radiologists and doctors have long talked about whether the shields, used primarily to block radiation from the ovaries and testes, really do any good, especially given the low amounts of radiation used in modern X-rays.

There is evidence that they actually can increase the amount of radiation a person receives, especially if they block a portion of the scan and it needs to be done a second time.

This is a monumental shift in what has been standard practice in radiology for 50-plus years, said Dr. Jay Pahade, radiology medical director for quality and safety at Yale New Haven Health. They were taught over and over again to shield, to shield, to shield  to protect the patient.

However, research has found that the lead shielding not only does little if anything to protect the gonads from radiation that might cause genetic defects or cancer, but that it may result in an increase, said Adel Mustafa, chief of diagnostic radiology physics, radiology and biomedical imaging at the Yale School of Medicine.

Medical professionals in the past had the mistaken idea that they are going to protect the gonads from scattered radiation, he said. If one is to look at the amount of external radiation, it is insignificant compared to the internal scatter.

Another issue is that modern X-ray machines use an auto-exposure control device to measure how much radiation to emit. If the lead shield is detected by the machinery, it will actually be seen  as if it is a large person and increase the amount of radiation, Mustafa said.

Facchini said, It actually increases the dose and that has been going on for a long time.

When preparing an X-ray, radiologists follow a standard called ALARA: as low as reasonably achievable, Pahade said.

That is kind of our gospel in radiology when it comes to exposure to the patient, he said. Radiologists use the least exposure possible to answer the diagnostic question, such as where there may be a pelvic fracture.

We want to use enough radiation to get a good-quality image  We want to use the least amount possible, he said.

Another issue is the risk that an X-ray will have to be repeated, resulting in twice the dose of radiation.

Sometimes the shield was used and not placed in the right place by the tech. It may block things we need to see, Pahade said.

Mustafa added that there is a bit of guessing where that ovary is in the patient and also that patients move during exposure.

The change in practice has been discussed for a decade, Mustafa said, with members of the medical physics community asking, Why are we doing this? The American Association of Physicists in Medicine recommended in April 2019 that lead shields be discontinued.

The shields became standard in the 1950s out of concern that radiation could cause genetic defects in ova and sperm. There is also a small risk of radiation causing cancer in internal organs. Radiation levels at that time were about 10 times higher than what we are using now, Mustafa said.

The risks now are extremely low to the point where no one can quantify it.

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.

Facchini said we are continually bombarded with radiation. You get so much radiation from the sun when youre outside so as to make the additional exposure from an X-ray insignificant.

Its hard for a lay person to understand it, Pahade said. We just essentially know that the risk is so low from a regular X-ray that its not even worth talking about.

The amount of ionizing radiation we receive varies, depending on the part of the body. According to radiologyinfo.org, a chest X-ray will deliver as much as 10 days of background exposure, a mammography similar to seven weeks and a scan of a hand or foot about three hours.

Pahade said Yale New Haven had planned to change its practice in July, but when COVID-19 hit, it became more urgent. Cleaning the aprons took additional time and there was an increased risk of infection from the coronavirus.

Staff asked, Can we make this change quicker? he said. It really made sense for us during the pandemic to flip the switch.

They made the change March 28 at Yale New Haven Hospital and will do so at Yale New Haven Healths four other hospitals.

Dr. Ian Karol, chairman of radiology at Bridgeport Hospital, said in an email, Following our colleagues at Yale, here at Bridgeport Hospital we will be immediately following a new protocol of no longer considering gonadal shielding as a gold standard of radiology care. ... We would like to keep the public informed of this current change of practice as we continue to adjust in order to maintain the best diagnostic care for our community.

The shields still will be available if patients ask for them, but they will be told why they arent really necessary. Also, technologists who may be exposed to repeated doses of radiation will continue to wear protective gear.

Nuvance Health, which includes Norwalk, Danbury and New Milford hospitals, is currently evaluating this practice, according to spokeswoman Andrea Rynn.

edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com; 203-680-9382
By Trend

Foreign Minister of Lithuania Linas Linkevicius and Foreign Minister of Latvia Edgars Rinkevics expressed concern over Armenia's recent aggression against Azerbaijan, Trend reports on Sept. 27.

"Monitoring worrying developments between Armenia and Azerbaijan very closely, Linkevicius tweeted. I strongly call for de-escalation. Peaceful solution is the only possible solution.

"Very alarming events along the contact line in Nagorno-Karabakh region, I call on Armenia and Azerbaijan to de-escalate and resolve the current situation through a political dialogue," Rinkevics tweeted.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 18:07:07|Editor: huaxia

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by Bambang Purwanto

JAKARTA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government has announced a reformed National Logistics Ecosystem (NLE) recently which was expected to ease the country's business community of logistics management.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati on Thursday announced that the government is developing the reformed NLE to simplify the upstream to downstream process to cut the logistics cost from 23.5 percent to 17 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

The cost could be saved among others from the delivery order process and the issuance of letters for containers, she noted, citing that these services were previously open from Monday to Friday at 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. local time, and now they are open all day online.

The minister expected such a way of operation would save the logistics cost by 402 billion rupiahs (some 27.06 million U.S. dollars) per year and cut the time by 91 percent.

Logistics companies said that the improvement in the national logistics ecosystem would accelerate cargo traffics as the government has made the business process in the new system easier.

"We are happy with the NLE as it helps us increase productivities," the Indonesian Trucking Association's General Chairman Gemilang Tarigan told a press conference on Thursday.

The Indonesian Logistics and Forwarders Association's Yukki Nugrahawan Hanafi said the effort to shorten the long logistics business process would make a new history in the logistics ecosystem.

Hanafi said the NLE would support the development of the logistics industry in Indonesia. "We, the business sector, will also give our full commitment to the government and support the NLE."

Other stake holders of the NLE include relevant ministries that have expressed readiness and support to the new logistics ecosystem which was expected to simplify the upstream to downstream process and cut the logistics cost.

"The ministry fully supports the NLE which was expected to remove obstacles, accelerate process and reduce logistics costs in the domestic and international trading activities," Trade Minister Agus Suparmanto said on Friday.

The Trade Ministry would simplify the licensing process related to the domestic and international services which would be integrated to the NLE to attract more investors, the minster said.

In addition, the ministry would also cooperate with provincial and district administrations to set up cargo terminals in an effort to increase the national export-import productivities, he said.

Meanwhile, the Transportation Ministry would integrate the systems of licensing from the export-import to logistics services in the aspect of transportation in a bid to improve the inter-regional connectivity and accessibility management.

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi called on logistics companies in a virtual press conference to actively take part in making the new NLE better with high competitive edge.

The logistics cost in Indonesia is higher than that of other economies in Southeast Asia, according to the Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati.

With the reforms, the transporting and loading-unloading process which previously underwent duplications in seven institutions would now take place under a single submission system, and this would save about 4.03 million U.S. dollars per annum and cut the time by 74 percent.

The logistics sector would then increase not only in efficiency but also its contribution to improving the competitive edge of the whole national economics, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati told a virtual press conference. ( 1 U.S. dollar = 14,938.20 rupiahs) Enditem
Wakefield, MA, Sept. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Apache Software Foundation (ASF), the all-volunteer developers, stewards, and incubators of more than 350 Open Source projects and initiatives, announced today Apache IoTDB as a Top-Level Project (TLP).



Apache IoTDB is an Open Source IoT database designed to meet the rigorous data, storage, and analytics requirements of large-scale Internet of Things (IoT) and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) applications. The project was first developed as a research project at Tsinghua University and entered the Apache Incubator in November 2018.

"The Internet of Things, especially Industrial IoT, has swept the globe with unimaginable volumes of data, said Xiangdong Huang, Vice President of Apache IoTDB. "To date, both Relational and Key Value-based database solutions struggle to meet the demands of IoT data management. Apache IoTDB is the missing link between current IoT data and IoT applications, and is redefining how IoT data is managed, both in the cloud and on the edge. We are proud to graduate as an Apache Top-Level Project, which is an important milestone in our projects maturity."

Apache IoTDB provides a compact and time series optimized columnar data file, which is able to efficiently store and access time series data. The database engine is specially optimized for time series-oriented operations, such as aggregations query, down-sampling, and time alignment query. Due to its lightweight structure, high performance, and deep integration with Apache Big Data ecosystem projects (such as Flink, Hadoop, and Spark), Apache IoTDB easily meets the requirements of storing massive data sets, ingesting high-speed data, and analyzing complex data, both on the edge and the cloud. Features include:

High-throughput read and write: supports high-speed write access for millions of low-power and intelligently networked devices, and provides lightning-quick read access for retrieving data on billions of data points.

Efficient directory structure: organizes complex metadata structure from IoT devices and large scale time series data, with fuzzy searching strategy for complex directory of time series data.

Rich query semantics: supports time alignment for time series data across devices and sensors, computation in time series field, and abundant aggregation functions in time dimension.

Flexible deployment: supports running on the edge (e.g., running on a Raspberry Pi), as well as forming a cluster in the cloud. It also provides a bridge tool between cloud platforms and data synchronization on premise machines.

Deep integration with Open Source Big Data projects: supports analysis ecosystems, including Apache Flink, Hadoop, PLC4X and Spark, as well as other Open Source applications.

Low hardware cost: reaches a high compression ratio of disk storage.



Apache IoTDB is in use at dozens of organizations that include ArcelorMittal AMERICA, BONC Ltd., the China Meteorological Administration, Datang Xianyi, Goldwind, Haier, Lenovo, NAVINFO, pragmatic industries GMBH, Shanghai Metro, Tsinghua University, Yangtze Optical Fiber and Cable Company, and more.

"IoTDB has attained Apache Top Level project status at a time of confluence of database, IoT and AI technologies in conjunction with a wider adoption of Industry 4.0 and automation approaches to further enable remote work and increased efficiencies," said Prof. C. Mohan, recently retired IBM Fellow, Former Chief Scientist of IBM India, and a member of the US National Academy of Engineering. "I am excited since this is the first Chinese University originated open-source project to reach this status. While I have been associated with the researchers behind IoTDB as a Distinguished Visiting Professor of the School of Software at China's prestigious Tsinghua University, I have seen this project reach maturity and build up a vibrant OSS community around it. It has a bright future ahead of it and I plan to collaborate on it."

"Apache IoTDB is a perfect fit for edge computing," said Dr. Julian Feinauer, CEO at pragmatic industries GmbH. "The high compression helps to use the (limited) amount of memory we have very efficiently. IoTDB is a perfect fit, especially in IIoT use cases, where network and compute capabilities are limited on the edge."

"Apache IoTDB was initially launched by a Chinese University and then incubated successfully in the Apache Community," said Prof. Hong Mei, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. "Following the Apache Way, it has created a healthy and active international open source community. It is a successful practice of open source education and culture advancement in China."

"Apache IoTDB has made many optimizations for different runtime environments, operating systems, and workloads in both the edge and the cloud. As a core infrastructure software in Industrial Internet, it innovates a series of IoT data management and analysis techniques," said Prof. Xiangke Liao, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. "Through the open source model, Apache IoTDB shares its creative techniques to the world."

"With the continuous growth of intelligent devices, machine-generated data is growing day by day, which poses extraordinary challenges on storing process, query speed, and storage space," said Dawei Liu, architect at AutoAI Inc., a subsidiary of NAVINFO, and member of the Apache IoTDB Project Management Committee. "We tried and tested a variety of solutions and finally chose IoTDB as our core database for its high performance, openness to the enterprise, and its active community. We built our Wecloud platform based on Apache IoTDB, which has served well for BMW, Toyota, and Great Wall Motors, among other auto manufacturers. The project deeply attracted me to become a part of the community. The coolest thing is that I finally became an IoTDB committer and now share our ideas to the community."

"Apache IoTDB is an open source project and software technology innovation developed for the need of AIoT Big Data applications," said Prof. Jianmin Wang, Dean of the Tsinghua University School of Software, who originally decided to donate the project to the ASF. "It is also a very beneficial attempt for training leading talents. There will be a long way to go and the future is promising."

"Apache IoTDB is on its way to becoming a standard IoT data management and analysis solution, and were excited to build upon our work thus far," added Huang. "We believe Apache IoTDB will help more users and companies to solve their real problems. The process to achieve the goal is exciting and honorable, and we invite more contributors to join us. Following the Apache Way, let's bring this interesting, meaningful, and powerful software to the whole world."

A published paper on Apache IoTDB written by members of the Apache IoTDB Project Management Committee is available at http://www.vldb.org/pvldb/vol13/p2901-wang.pdf . An introduction to Apache IoTDB from ApacheCon Europe 2019 is available on Feathercast https://feathercast.apache.org/2019/09/12/hello-world-introducing-apache-iotdb-a-database-for-the-internet-of-things-xiangdong-huang-julian-feinauer/

Catch Apache IoTDB in action at ApacheCon@Home, 29 September-1 October 2020 https://www.apachecon.com/acah2020/tracks/iot.html

Availability and Oversight

Apache IoTDB software is released under the Apache License v2.0 and is overseen by a self-selected team of active contributors to the project. A Project Management Committee (PMC) guides the Project's day-to-day operations, including community development and product releases. For downloads, documentation, and ways to become involved with Apache IoTDB, visit http://iotdb.apache.org/ and https://twitter.com/ApacheIoTDB

About the Apache Incubator

The Apache Incubator is the primary entry path for projects and codebases wishing to become part of the efforts at The Apache Software Foundation. All code donations from external organizations and existing external projects enter the ASF through the Incubator to: 1) ensure all donations are in accordance with the ASF legal standards; and 2) develop new communities that adhere to our guiding principles. Incubation is required of all newly accepted projects until a further review indicates that the infrastructure, communications, and decision making process have stabilized in a manner consistent with other successful ASF projects. While incubation status is not necessarily a reflection of the completeness or stability of the code, it does indicate that the project has yet to be fully endorsed by the ASF. For more information, visit http://incubator.apache.org/

About The Apache Software Foundation (ASF)

Established in 1999, The Apache Software Foundation (ASF) is the worlds largest Open Source foundation, stewarding 227M+ lines of code and providing more than $20B+ worth of software to the public at 100% no cost. The ASFs all-volunteer community grew from 21 original founders overseeing the Apache HTTP Server to 813 individual Members and 206 Project Management Committees who successfully lead 350+ Apache projects and initiatives in collaboration with 7,800+ Committers through the ASFs meritocratic process known as "The Apache Way". Apache software is integral to nearly every end user computing device, from laptops to tablets to mobile devices across enterprises and mission-critical applications. Apache projects power most of the Internet, manage exabytes of data, execute teraflops of operations, and store billions of objects in virtually every industry. The commercially-friendly and permissive Apache License v2 is an Open Source industry standard, helping launch billion dollar corporations and benefiting countless users worldwide. The ASF is a US 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization funded by individual donations and corporate sponsors including Aetna, Alibaba Cloud Computing, Amazon Web Services, Anonymous, Baidu, Bloomberg, Budget Direct, Capital One, Cerner, Cloudera, Comcast, Facebook, Google, Handshake, Huawei, IBM, Inspur, Pineapple Fund, Red Hat, Target, Tencent, Union Investment, Verizon Media, and Workday. For more information, visit http://apache.org/ and https://twitter.com/TheASF

 The Apache Software Foundation. "Apache", "IoTDB", "Apache IoTDB", "Flink", "Apache Flink", "Hadoop", "Apache Hadoop", "Spark", "Apache Spark", and "ApacheCon" are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Apache Software Foundation in the United States and/or other countries. All other brands and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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New Delhi [India], September 28 (ANI): A Delhi court on Sunday sent freelance journalist Rajeev Sharma, arrested in an espionage case under the Official Secrets Act, to judicial custody, his lawyer Senior Advocate Adeesh Aggarwala said.

Sharma, along with others, was arrested by the special cell of Delhi Police recently under the Official Secret Act. The judge also sent two of his associates - a Chinese woman and a Nepalese man - to judicial custody after they were produced before the court.

While producing them before the judge on Sunday night, the investigating officer of Delhi Police told the court that the accused were not required for further custodial interrogation. The court will hear the journalist's bail petition on Monday.

The court, earlier ordered to provide the FIR copy to the lawyers of the accused. The court had also allowed the counsels of the accused to meet the accused for 30 minutes during their custody period.

"The nature of allegations against the accused persons pertains to offences under sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Officials Secrets Act as well as an offence under section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) wherein the accused alleged to have been supplying strategic/sensitive information to their handlers in China. However, after going through the press release which mentions in detail the background of the case, as well as the outcome of the interrogation of the accused persons, the contents of the FIR, seem very sketchy as they do not give details of the nature of the investigation being done by police," the court stated.

Meanwhile, wife of freelance journalist Sharma has written a letter to the special cell of Delhi Police, claiming that the interrogation of her husband is "illegal" and that police has destroyed some material evidence and fabricated others.

Delhi Police, on September 14, had arrested Sharma with the allegations of passing sensitive information about India's border strategy, army's deployment and procurement, and foreign policy to Chinese intelligence agencies.

According to the police, a Chinese woman and her Nepalese associate were also arrested for paying him large amounts of money routed through shell companies.

Sharma and other accused persons are currently in police custody till September 28.

Delhi Police special cell said Sharma, a resident of Pitampura in New Delhi, was "found to be in possession of some defence-related classified documents". (ANI)


A Massachusetts health care system said it is seeing an uptick in children becoming sick after ingesting candies, chocolates and gummies containing THC.

South Shore Health, located in Weymouth, said the many of the THC-laced edibles are packaged to look like brand name candies and snacks.

Over the past few months, South Shore Healths pediatric emergency department noted an uptick in incidences involving children who have become ill after ingesting products such as candies, chocolates, sours and gummies containing THC, South Shore Health said in a news release. One case involved gummies which were packaged to look nearly identical to a leading brand of childrens vitamins.

The health care system said recently one teen was treated after consuming five (600 mg each) fruit-flavored, THC candies.

"Children often cant tell the difference between a food product laced with THC and one without. Edibles laced with THC, and intended for adult consumption and dosages, have a greater clinical impact on children based on their smaller size due to the childs larger volume of distribution. said Mark Waltzman, chair of Pediatrics at South Shore Hospital.

South Shore Health said in older children, who may weigh more than younger children, excessive doses of THC can cause a racing heart, drop in blood pressure and the risk of seizures.

According to the health care system, the Massachusetts Poison Control Center is citing recent data showing a trend concerning pediatric ingestions of marijuana edibles.

Over the first three quarters of 2020, the Poison Control Center said 66% of exposure calls were related to pediatric exposure to marijuana products. During the same period, 80% of calls related to marijuana edibles were for pediatric exposure, according to the data.
VASILY MAXIMOV/AFP via Getty Images

NASA astronaut Kate Rubins plans to cast her vote for the upcoming 2020 presidential election from space  more than 200 miles above Earth.

Speaking with the Associated Press, Rubins, 41, discussed the importance of voting and implored others that if she can do it, then they can as well. "I think it's really important for everybody to vote," she said.

"If we can do it from space, then I believe folks can do it from the ground, too," Rubins said.

Rubins voted from space in the 2016 election, according to CBS News. President Donald Trump claimed victory over then opponent, Hillary Clinton.

RELATED: NASA Unveils Plans to Send the First Woman to the Moon in 2024

"There's been legislation passed a number of years ago to allow astronauts to vote in space," Rubins said. "I think a lot of astronauts do this, they feel that it is very important. It's critical to participate in our democracy."

"We consider it an honor to be able to vote from space," she continued, explaining that astronauts fill out a form before they vote via absentee ballot.

According to the AP, Rubins is currently just outside of Moscow in Star City, Russia, where she is preparing for a mid-October launch and a six-month stay at the International Space Station with two cosmonauts.

Most U.S. astronauts live in Houston, where Texas law allows them to vote from space using a secure electronic ballot. Mission Control then forwards the ballot to the space station and relays the completed ballot back to the county clerk.

RELATED: Former NASA Astronaut Says Getting Stopped by Police as a Black Man Is Scarier Than Going to Space

According to a post from NASA's official Tumblr account, astronaut David Wolf was the first American to vote from space in 1997, the same year the Texas law was passed.

Voting from space was never quite a concern before then, as NASA astronauts typically spent no longer than two weeks on shuttle missions, according to NPR. But now, there are times where Americans are sometimes on missions for months at a time.

For astronauts, the voting process starts a year before launch, when they are able to select which elections  local, state or federal  they wish to participate in while in space.
By Julien Pretot

PARIS (Reuters) - Former world number one Victoria Azarenka complained about the playing conditions at the French Open amid light drizzle and low temperatures during her 6-1 6-2 first-round victory on Sunday.

The U.S. Open runner-up, who entered court Suzanne Lenglen wearing a thick pink puffer jacket, and her opponent Danka Kovinic walked off the court after play was suspended with Belarusian Azarenka leading 2-1.

"No, it's eight degrees, I live in Florida, I'm used to hot weather," a furious Azarenka told the supervisor who asked her to wait on court until a decision was made on whether the match should continue.

Speaking to her opponent from Montenegro, 10th seed Azarenka, who next faces either Venus Williams or Slovakia's Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, said: "Do you want to wait on court?

"No," Kovinic replied.

"No, it's ridiculous, it's too cold. What's the point? Sitting here like ducks," said Azarenka, who wore a wind jacket on court and said she was worried about sliding on a court made heavier by the persistent drizzle.

The players returned after a delay of about 50 minutes and Azarenka immediately broke her opponent's serve before wrapping up victory in front of nine spectators.

Azarenka said the interruption should have been better managed.

"I think it's very tricky at the moment to have these conditions. So definitely not going to sit here and complain, but sometimes I think there are smarter ways to handle situations.

"The unfortunate part sometimes with the French Open is that there is no communications with players or players council," she added.

The French Open is usually played in May-June but this year's tournament was pushed back to late September due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The weather in Paris is therefore colder than normal for the Grand Slam event with the claycourt conditions much heavier and slower than the players are accustomed to.

Story continues

Asked whether the tournament should have been cancelled altogether, like Wimbledon was, Azarenka said it was important for lower-ranked players.

"I wouldn't particularly say so because I do believe that I want to play," she said.

"We all want to compete and we want to play and for maybe not a player like me that maybe financially is more stable than other players are, it's very important to have this opportunity during the pandemic.

"I think that there should have been a little bit more consulting and heads up and conversation. I think that's where we can improve, for sure."

(Reporting by Julien Pretot, additional reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; Editing by Ed Osmond)
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. According to the preliminary data, the Armenian side has 16 losses and more than 100 wounded in Artsakh as a result of the military aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan, Artsakhs deputy defense minister Artur Sargsyan said.

The Azerbaijani armed forces have launched artillery strikes on the Artsakh combat positions, the permanent deployment sites of the military units, as well as settlements, the capital Stepanakert, by using air force, including attacking UAVs, he said.

On September 27 early morning the Azerbaijani military has launched a massive cross-border artillery attack on Artsakh, including on civilian settlements. Peaceful settlements are also under bombardment, including the capital city of Stepanakert.

The Azerbaijani side suffered losses in its military equipment.

Dozens of civilians in Artsakh were wounded as a result of the Azerbaijani attack. A woman and a child were killed in the Azerbaijani attack.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Repeating the same behaviour usually leads to the same outcome. If that maxim were to hold true in the case of the latest federal bid to preside over the creation of a national child-care program, the project could be dead on arrival.

Here is why:

It is not a lack of federal interest that accounts for Canadas patchwork approach to child-care and early childhood education.

Since the mid-eighties, every prime minister  with the notable exception of Stephen Harper  has, at one time or another, had child-care on the agenda.

Over Brian Mulroneys first term, legislation to implement the embryo of a program was actually passed in the House of Commons. It died in the Senate in the lead-up to the 1988 election and was not resuscitated afterwards.

A national child-care program figured prominently in Jean Chretiens 1993 platform, the Liberal Red Book. It subsequently became a casualty of the drive to eliminate the federal deficit.

On Paul Martins brief watch as prime minister, bilateral agreements were negotiated with the provinces. Those did not survive the 2006 Liberal defeat and the election of a Conservative government.

But while one can criticize the successive federal governments that did not follow through on their promises for a deficit of attention, their collective failure to bring the project of a national program to fruition is really rooted in a systemic lack of provincial political will.

That dearth predates the arrival at the first ministers table of a majority of Conservative premiers. It is not primarily grounded in ideology.

Take Ontario. The Liberals were in power at Queens Park from 2003 until 2018, giving them 15 years to set up a child-care system along the lines of the Quebec model.

When Dalton McGuinty became premier, the $5-a-day Quebec plan had been up and running for six years. In progressive public policy circles, it was hailed as a groundbreaking initiative.

Or take British Columbia. The provinces incumbent NDP government came to power three years ago on the promise of a $10-a-day child-care plan, but it has been reluctant to disburse the considerable sums required to deliver more than a modest supply of affordable places.

The Quebec model was developed without federal help, at a time when the province was otherwise working all out to balance its books.

Then-premier Lucien Bouchard wanted to demonstrate that eliminating the deficit need not be achieved at the expense of a governments social policy ambitions.

The Parti Quebecois also sought to have something other than fiscal restraint (and sovereignty) to put in the window of its first post-referendum re-election campaign.

It was over that same period that the provinces public pharmacare program was created.

The Quebec child-care template has been in place for more than two decades. If Quebec has demonstrated anything over that period, it is that it is possible  even in fiscally challenging times  for a province to create and operate a comprehensive child-care system without Ottawas help.

But the reverse is not. When it comes to daycare and early childhood education, provincial leadership is an essential ingredient for which there is no federal substitute.

With the countrys governments swimming in red ink, whether that leadership will be on hand going forward is not a given.

The concept of a comprehensive child-care and early learning system has gained quite a bit of traction since Quebec pioneered its plan 23 years ago.

Over that time, support has spread from academia to corporate Canada. This week, the renewed federal commitment to an ambitious national child-care strategy earned it praise from business leaders.

The pandemic and its dire impact on womens participation in the workforce have given the file more impetus than at any other time in recent history.

Based on Wednesdays throne speech, Justin Trudeau and his team believe there is now an iron to be struck while it is hot.

The current Liberal government could prove more persistent in its efforts to bring provinces on board than its predecessors.

Back in the late nineties, Quebec would not have broken the ground it did on the child-care front had it not been for the presence of a critical mass of influential female ministers at the cabinet table.

Trudeaus cabinet similarly boasts a sizable number of women who are liable to hold their governments feet to the fire, starting with Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.

And as it happens, Freeland and Premier Doug Ford have struck an improbable political friendship.

Who knows? Ford could be as instrumental in securing a more productive outcome to the latest round of child-care politics as the billions of dollars Ottawa (again) promises to put on the table.

Chantal Hebert is an Ottawa-based freelance contributing columnist covering politics for the Star. Reach her via email: chantalh28@gmail.com or follow her on Twitter: @ChantalHbert

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Culture secretary Oliver Dowden has insisted 'no offers have been made' over new Ofcom and BBC chairmen - with ex-Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre and Charles Moore favourites - but has warned the Governments wants a 'strong, big person' to hold Beeb to account

Speaking today Mr Dowden played down either appointment, pointing out there would be a process for appointing both roles, with interviews conducted by an independent panel.

He told BBC One's The Andrew Marr Show that no offers had been made, adding: 'We have a formal process for them to go through so I will be launching shortly the competition for the chair of the BBC.'

But it hasn't stopped ongoing speculation that Mr Dacre has been approached by Boris Johnson to become Chairman of Ofcom, nor the belief that BBC critic Charles Moore could be the next chairman of the corporation.

Speaking on Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday today, Conservative MP Steve Moore said he would be 'delighted' to see both appointments.

However the shadow culture secretary Jo Stevens asked why the Government was 'interfering,' in the process.

Former Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre has been approached by Boris Johnson to become Chairman of Ofcom, in the latest example of Downing Street's determination to shake up the Left-wing establishment

Speaking earlier today, culture secretary Oliver Dowden played down rumours that Paul Dacre and Charles Moore were set for high profile appointments to Ofcom and BBC respectively

Mr Moore told the programme: 'Anyone suggesting we were somehow appointing our preferred people needs to look at the records of others who have been appointed to these roles and try to be a bit more realistic about politics and policy.

'They're conservatives, they might actually start to look at the way the media functions and ensure there's some impartiality.

'From my point of view time and again during interviews I've felt there was a consensus thought on the side of the broadcaster that was not on the side of moderate, mainstream conservatives.

'I look forward to them perhaps being appointed and perhaps being a bit more conservative and pragmatic in what's being reported.

Speaking on the same programme, Mr Dowden had said the Government wanted a 'strong, big person who can hold the BBC to account' to be the broadcaster's next chairman.

There has been mixed reaction on Twitter to the potential appointments, with Labour MP Chris Bryant declaring it 'the end of days'

Shadow culture secretary Jo Stevens questioned the Government's priorities following the reports.

She told Sky News's Sophy Ridge On Sunday: 'I think the whole idea of announcing appointments before a process has actually taken place is a bit strange and I think the public will be wondering where the Government's priorities are on this.

'Why are they worrying and interfering in an open process and appointment for BBC and head of Ofcom, both two very senior independent public service posts that carry significant salaries?

'Why are the Government interfering in that sort of thing, when they should be concentrating on getting a grip on test and trace, keeping coronavirus rates under control and getting the economy back on track?'

Ms Stevens added: 'I'm not going to comment on individuals being trailed as potential heads of the BBC or heads of Ofcom.

The attempt to install Mr Dacre at the broadcasting regulator comes as Whitehall mandarins are trying to put the brakes on the Prime Minister's drive to install Charles Moore (pictured)  a Brexiteer critic of the BBC  as the Corporation's next Chairman

'When an appointment is made and announced we'll take a position and we'll take a view and comment on it then, but the fact is that the BBC and Ofcom are integral to our national interest, Ofcom regulates the BBC, they should be free from political interference, they should be impartial and the stuff that's being trailed about these appointments is quite worrying.'

The Mail on Sunday understands that Mr Dacre, 71, who edited the Daily Mail for 26 years until 2018, was wooed by Mr Johnson over drinks at No 10 earlier this year and was asked to consider succeeding Lord Burns.

He is due to step down imminently, after agreeing to go this year rather than complete his four-year term in 2022.

Paul Dacre: Former Daily Mail editor who dominated journalism for 26 years By James Gant for MailOnline Paul Dacre was the editor of the Daily Mail for 26 years. The journalist was educated at University College School in Hampstead, north London, before studying at Leeds University. He had a taste for news from a young age, having edited his school magazine and university student paper. After leaving Leeds he worked for the Daily Express as a reporter but joined the Daily Mail a decade later in 1980. He spent a year editing the London Evening Standard before taking up the mantle at the Mail in 1992. He became well known for his campaigning headlines such as 'Murderers' in 1997, where he accused five men of killing Stephen Lawrence. Mr Dacre also received widespread praise for his role in stopping Gary McKinnon being extradited to the US for hacking into Pentagon computers. He was personally thanked by the 46-year-old Asperger's sufferer's mother for 'standing up for Gary non-stop for years'. Ahead of his potential role as chairman of Ofcom, Mr Dacre was formerly a member of the Press Complaints Commission and chairman of the Editors' Code of Practice Committee. Next year Mr Dacre will lift the lid on his time at the Mail in a three-part Channel 4 programme called The World According to Paul Dacre. Advertisement

During ongoing conversations with Downing Street, Mr Dacre said that he was interested, subject to 'assurances' about 'freedom and independence'.

The combination of Lord Moore as BBC Chairman with Mr Dacre at Ofcom would be greeted with dismay at the BBC.

During his tenure at the Daily Mail, Mr Dacre would rail against the bloated bureaucracy and Left-wing bias of the Corporation  but also said that he would 'die in a ditch' to preserve it and hoped that it could be saved from itself.

Lord Moore, the former editor of The Daily Telegraph and The Spectator, was revealed by this paper last week to be Mr Johnson's preferred candidate for BBC Chairman.

He has since accepted an approach to replace Sir David Clementi when he steps down in February and has discussed contractual terms.

However, civil servants at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have complained to No 10 that the position has to be formally advertised in order to follow 'due process'.

It comes amid an ongoing battle between Downing Street and Whitehall, with Mr Johnson's influential adviser Dominic Cummings waging war on the power of civil servants to stymie No 10's operation.

Lord Moore, 63, is a vehement critic of the Corporation's 'Leftwing woke values' and objects to its guaranteed 4 billion-a-year income from the licence fee.

In 2010, he was fined 262 for not possessing a licence, having donated the equivalent sum to charity in protest at the BBC's refusal to sack Jonathan Ross for making prank calls with comedian Russell Brand to the actor Andrew Sachs.

Allies of Mr Johnson complain that Civil Service selection protocols introduced by Jeremy Heywood when he was Cabinet Secretary forced candidates to jump through 'hoops' designed to ensure the selection of 'members of the same Left-wing cabal'.

Ofcom, which regulates the broadcasting, telecommunications and postal industries, will be at the centre of Government efforts to curb the powers of online giants such as Facebook, which have used their power to cannibalise the revenues of traditional media firms.

The Mail on Sunday understands that Mr Dacre, 71, who edited the Daily Mail for 26 years until 2018, was wooed by Mr Johnson (pictured) over drinks at No 10 earlier this year and was asked to consider succeeding Lord Burns

Lord Burns (pictured) is due to step down from Ofcom imminently, after agreeing to go this year rather than complete his four-year term in 2022

Charles Moore: Former Spectator and Telegraph editor who was fined for refusing to buy a TV Licence By James Gant for MailOnline Charles Moore was born in Hastings, East Sussex, before heading to Eton College followed by Cambridge University. He has written three volumes in his biography of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, with the last one - published last year - described by the Sunday Times as 'one of the great biographical achievements of our times'. He often appears on television as a commentator on politics and culture and writes for the Telegraph. During his time editing the newspaper Mr Moore was once Boris Johnson's boss, but described working with him as 'a nightmare'. In one of the more bizarre moments during his editorship, the newspaper was successfully sued for libel by the then MP George Galloway after they claimed he had been paid by Saddam Hussein's regime. Ahead of any role at the BBC, Mr Moore was once fined 262 plus costs by Hastings magistrates when he refused to buy a TV licence. The move came when the Corporation failed to sack Jonathan Ross after the TV host and Russell Brand made offensive telephone calls to Andrew Sachs. Advertisement

It is understood that Mr Dacre was approached because Mr Johnson wanted a candidate with a history of supporting freedom of expression and the freedom of the press and a determination to rein in the giant digital monopolies.

Mr Dacre, who was instrumental in the editorial launch of Mail Online, the world's largest newspaper website, is said to be keen to ensure that the online giants pay other media outlets  and local papers in particular  for the content they recycle.

Mr Dacre also masterminded the launch of Metro, Britain's most widely read paper, and chaired a Government review which successfully recommended reducing the 30-year rule under which state documents were kept secret, reducing the period to 20 years.

Appointing Mr Dacre would represent a culture change for Ofcom: Ed Richards, a former chief executive, wrote a Labour manifesto for Tony Blair and was a former head of corporate strategy at the BBC.

In a further blow for the BBC this weekend, its combative current affairs presenter Andrew Neil revealed that he was leaving the Corporation to spearhead rival GB News, which is expected to start broadcasting early next year.

Mr Neil is a close friend of Sir Robbie Gibb, Theresa May's former Director of Communications, who The Mail on Sunday revealed last month was leading efforts to raise money for the new channel.

The BBC had been in discussions with Mr Neil about a new interview series, but the deal was said to have been 'too little too late' for Mr Neil, who will present the new channel's flagship evening programme as well as being company chairman.

The BBC Chairman job is formally a Royal appointment, on the recommendation of the Culture Secretary. However, Downing Street will have the final say.

A Government spokesman said: 'We will launch the application process for the new chair of the BBC shortly.

It is an open recruitment process and all public appointments are subject to a robust and fair selection criteria.'

The process for the Ofcom chairmanship is expected to open next month.

In a further blow for the BBC this weekend, its combative current affairs presenter Andrew Neil (pictured) revealed that he was leaving the Corporation to spearhead rival GB News, which is expected to start broadcasting early next year

The news sparked a Twitter storm, with some hailing it as a win against 'woke TV types' but others criticising Mr Johnson.

The journalist Matt Chorley said: 'Huge news that Donald Trump has chosen Paul Dacre as his pick for the Supreme Court.'

Ex-editor of the Sun Kelvin MacKenzie put: 'Fantastic news that No.10 intend to appoint Daily Mail's great Editor Paul Dacre to be the new chairman of the media regulator Ofcom. Woke TV types will be seeking fresh careers.

'First time the Liberal grip on broadcasting has been broken in my lifetime with the appointment of ex-Mail editor Paul Dacre as chairman of Ofcom and ex- Telegraph editor Charles Moore as chair the BBC. A doco showing woke producers cr***ing themselves will win Baftas.'

Poet Matt Abbott wrote: 'Paul Dacre being appointed to run Ofcom is a bit like Genghis Khan being appointed to run a care in the community project.'

Monty Python actor John Cleese commented: 'Just heard about Paul Dacre. I've just realised how like Trump Johnson is. Quite a shock...'

Director of Council for Arab-British Understanding Chris Doyle commented: 'Charles Moore and Paul Dacre will try to kill off the BBC and have great fun doing it.'

Lord Adonis added: 'If the story about Paul Dacre and Charles Moore to run Ofcom & the BBC is true, then this is Cummings operating straight out of the Trump playbook with the intent to undermine our democratic institutions.'
A woman was charged with attempted murder after the car she was driving struck two people during a demonstration for racial justice in California that clashed with a counterprotest on Saturday, the authorities said.

The driver, Tatiana Turner, of Long Beach, Calif., was also charged with assault with a deadly weapon, the Orange County Sheriffs Department said in a news release.

The protest, which took place in Yorba Linda, about 35 miles southeast of Los Angeles, was organized by Caravan4Justice, a grass roots protest group that campaigns against police brutality.

It was met by a group of counterprotesters, some waving Trump 2020 flags and wearing Make America Great Again hats.
Cats are in the news. Since May 13, mountain-lion cubs have been born to five mothers in Californias Santa Monica Mountains, the largest number of births recorded since studies of this small, highly endangered population began 18 years ago.

A huge forest fire destroyed much of the habitat in 2018, but natural disasters are not the main threat to the cats; these secretive animals face creeping human encroachment. As the area was developed, they were hemmed in between highways, including the notorious multi-lane Route 101.

Mountain lions, also known as cougars, are among the wild creatures killed running the gauntlet of vehicles.

Imprisoned by motorways, the cougars cant meet and mate with those outside their area. They have no option but to breed with close relatives, leading to consanguinity. That a genetic bottleneck has developed became evident last March, when a young male was captured by researchers to have a neck-collar fitted.

The animal, known as P81, had only one descended testicle and its tail was kinked. According to The Los Angeles Times, this was the first documented physical manifestation of extremely low genetic diversity within an isolated population of less than two dozen mountain lions still roaming the rugged canyon-lands just north of Los Angeles. Two more cougars with deformed tails were sighted recently.

A significant increase in the number of mountain lion cubs being born in California's Santa Monica Mountains has been recorded.

In other cat news, the University of Copenhagen has just published interesting research results on leopards. The worlds most widely distributed big cat is threatened by people almost everywhere; its numbers have declined by 85% worldwide.

Rasmus Havmoeller, of the Danish Natural History Museum, set up 164 camera traps in the Udzungwa Mountains of Tanzania. This area of dense rainforest, Havmoeller remarks, is impossible to reach by jeep. He wore out several pairs of good hiking boots.

The leopards there have not been studied until now. They are so secretive that Havmoeller never got to see one of the shy leopards with his own eyes. Choosing such an inaccessible study location enabled their natural behaviour, unaffected by human influences, to be studied.

The camera-traps, triggered by motion-sensors, recorded 4,297 independent events, involving spotted-hyenas, antelope, baboons, and cats.

Leopards, it was expected, would be most active at dusk, but this proved not to be the case: images of them were captured throughout day and night.

Females and males, Havmoeller found, have differing routines. Females are typically active from early through late morning, and then a bit before sunset, while males only really wake up at night. They seem to be inactive during the hours when their competitors, spotted hyenas, are most active.

Irish curlews come to mind; females have longer bills than males, ensuring that the sexes target creepy crawlies and worms at different depths in the mud and dont take the bit out of the others mouth.

Female birds of prey, likewise, are larger than their mates. The average female sparrow-hawk, for example, tips the scales at around 264grams.

Her mate weighs about 144grams. She targets starling and thrush-sized birds. He concentrates on sparrow-sized ones. Does timeshare enable male and female leopards to exploit food resources more evenly?
On the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, UNHCR appreciates the message of Pope Francis highlighting the plight of people who have been displaced within their own country.



Today there are 45.7 million internally displaced people in the world. Many of those displaced are in countries facing protracted conflict and insecurity. They have been driven from their homes by violence, persecution, and gross violations of human rights and other traumatic events.



The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded their vulnerability, precariousness and suffering.



We echo the Popes compassionate plea to listen to those displaced and to build international cooperation to ensure no one is left behind.



As the global pandemic has shown us, we can work together to tackle global challenges through inclusion and solidarity.



We call on States to pay special attention to the needs of displaced people and to ensure their protection and inclusion in public health systems and recovery plans as the pandemic subsides.



We reiterate the Popes appeal to empower displaced people and support their positive contributions to communities.



Many internally displaced people have used their skills and resources to help respond to the pandemic. From Ukraine to Colombia and beyond, they are contributing to solutions, working on the frontline with medical services and producing personal protective equipment, soap and hygiene products.



As long as the root causes of conflict and displacement continue, however, protection will remain the most fundamental challenge.



We are therefore pleased to announce UNHCRs commitment to form a Multi-Religious Council of Leaders, together with Religions for Peace, to support peacebuilding, inclusion and reconciliation efforts.



Faith-based actors and faith leaders can play a vital role in finding solutions to the protection needs of people who have been displaced. They are also effective advocates for a moral and humanitarian response.



UNHCR looks forward to advancing our work with faith groups in the community. As the staggering human and economic cost of internal displacement has shown, we need to adopt a more collaborative approach by engaging with all sectors of society.
Pedestrians along the Orchard Road shopping district wait to cross the street. (PHOTO: Getty Images)

SINGAPORE  The Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed 15 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore as of noon on Sunday (27 September), taking the countrys total case count to 57,700.

There are five imported cases, all of whom were placed on Stay-Home Notice (SHN) upon their arrival in Singapore. According to the MOH, there are no new community cases.

Among the five imported cases, two (Cases 57832 and 57840) are Singapore permanent residents who returned to Singapore from India on 15 September and 25 September. The remaining three (Cases 57833, 57834 and 57841) are work permit holders currently employed in Singapore who arrived from Indonesia and the Philippines on 15 September. All of them had been placed on 14-day SHN upon arrival in Singapore, and were tested while serving their SHN at dedicated facilities.

Overall, the number of new cases in the community has remained stable at an average of fewer than one case per day in the past two weeks, the ministry said. The number of unlinked cases in the community has also remained stable at an average of fewer than one case per day in the past two weeks.

There were no new places added to a list of public venues visited by community cases during their infectious period.

99% of total cases have recovered

With eight more patients discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities on Sunday, 57,367 cases  or 99.4 per cent of the total  have fully recovered from the infection.

Most of the 31 hospitalised cases are stable or improving, while none is in critical condition in the intensive care unit.

A total of 275 patients with mild symptoms or are clinically well but still test positive are isolated and cared for at community facilities.

Apart from 27 patients who have died from COVID-19 complications, 15 others who tested positive for the virus were determined to have died from unrelated causes, including three whose deaths were attributed to a heart attack and another four, whose deaths were attributed to coronary heart disease.

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COVID-19: Singapore confirms 20 new cases, 1 in the community

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In fact, the arguments against the amendment amount to an attack on the good in the name of the perfect. Democrats say Republicans on the redistricting commission might try to cause a deadlock, thereby shifting the drafting process to an expert named by the state Supreme Court, a majority of whose judges are conservatives picked by the former GOP-dominated legislature. But it is highly unlikely that a map drawn under the courts auspices would be as partisan as those produced by the legislature. The judges are well aware that a nakedly slanted map would be rejected by federal courts, much as the U.S. Supreme Court twice rejected the GOP-drawn map after the 2010 Census.
Two weeks ago, we counseled patience all around as Central New York schools reopened with new coronavirus precautions. Today, we are calling on the Syracuse City School District and its teachers union to show more urgency to reopen classrooms for students who stand to be harmed the most by being away from school.

Its frustrating to hear the Syracuse Teachers Association union chief say it will take a miracle for the districts 36 buildings to be ready by Oct. 5, the date in-person classes are supposed to begin.

A month ago, the district decided to begin the school year 100% online in response to concerns from parents and teachers about the safety of buildings. Just before classes were to begin Sept. 14, the district delayed the reopening for another three weeks.

Superintendent Jaime Alicea insists schools will be ready by that date  but he has not provided the union with sufficient details about ventilation, air filters, spacing and personal protective gear to satisfy teachers' concerns.

Alicea should be able to answer those questions. After all, buildings either have air filters, or they dont. School nurses either have N-95 masks, or they dont. We expect the superintendent will present more information at Mondays school board meeting. If the district is not ready to reopen classrooms  after having months, plus an extra three weeks, to prepare  the board ought to hold the superintendents feet to the fire on behalf of the parents and students who will be left hanging.

These are our most vulnerable children. They will suffer the most harm because the adults in charge cant get it together.

The switch to remote learning has been particularly hard on children with disabilities, English language learners and young students who need an adult to guide their lessons. Parents are tearing out their hair trying to juggle their jobs, manage home-schooling and troubleshoot technology issues.

Then there are the unknown number of SCSD students who still lack access to the computers and internet connections to adequately take advantage of remote lessons. Televised classes and paper worksheets are a poor substitute.

Students are falling behind. How many of them will be irretrievably lost to the education system? How much longer can they wait?

It cant be until the risk of coronavirus is zero; its present in the community and capable of spreading. Will any amount of coronavirus precautions persuade reluctant teachers that the district is doing enough?

Moving around the community  going to church, eating at restaurants, going shopping  carries risks that will follow teachers and students into the schools. Three SCSD staffers have tested positive without students even in the classrooms yet. As of Thursday, there were 24 cases in schools among teachers and students in Onondaga County. Of those, 12 were remote learners. The local infection rate hovers around 1%  far below the 9% threshold Gov. Andrew Cuomo set for schools to remain open.

We acknowledge that reopening three dozen schools is infinitely more complicated than reopening a smaller suburban or rural district. Looming state budget cuts and resulting furloughs add another layer of uncertainty. School leaders cant let that paralyze them.

They can draw on the experiences of suburban schools conducting in-person classes. While some districts are playing whack-a-mole with coronavirus infections, most students and teachers are interacting safely by relying on precautions like screening, mask wearing, physical distancing and handwashing. Science supports schools opening for those who need or want in-person education; those students and parents who feel unsafe still have the option to stay home.

The longer the district delays, the greater the temptation to keep delaying  for furloughs, for the flu season, for the holidays, for the new year. Delaying classes yet again would be the easy thing to do. The children and parents of the Syracuse City School District need leaders who will do the hard thing: get them back into the classroom as safely and quickly as possible.

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Residents of the heavily militarized Indian-controlled region of Kashmir say security forces have arrested thousands of young men, raided peoples homes, inflicted beatings and electric shocks, and threatened to take away and marry their female relatives. Thousands of protesters over the past five years have been wounded by shotgun pellets, including hundreds blinded in one or both eyes. For seven months, until March, the area was under a communications blackout, with social media and internet access banned.
Two men were arrested on accusations of plotting ISIS-inspired terrorist attacks including bombings on the White House, the New York Stock Exchange and the Trump Tower.

Plotting a terrorist attack

On September 21, Jaylyn Christopher Molina of San Antonio Texas and 34-year-old Kristopher Sean Matthews from Eglin, South Carolina were arrested by authorities.

The two were separated as Molina is detained in Texas and Matthews was arrested in Tennessee. According to the FBI, they intercepted communications which showed the men planning an attack in the name of the Islamic State, as shown in the court documents obtained by KSAT.

The document also states that Matthews allegedly suggested it would be better to attack government centers instead of crowed public places like malls as there will be innocent children there.

Matthews also allegedly suggested targeting Trump Tower and the New York Stock Exchange, hoping the important sites would give them both a "rock star status" and they thought that a series of attacks across the U.S could be "Netflix worthy."

Also Read: Kim Jong-Un Sent Letter of Apology to Seoul After Shooting South Korean Official

The two men also allegedly discussed the possibility of traveling overseas to join the terrorist group ISIS. Molina refers to himself as "Abdur Rahim" according to the criminal complaint, while Matthews calls himself "Ali Jibreel."

Both men are now facing a charge of conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, according to Fox News.

Matthews is accused of being the originator of the plot, and in 2019 he used an encrypted chat service to find an ISIS supporter outside the United States who would help him travel to Syria and recruit additional ISIS supporters.

In April 2020, Molina joined the chat and began communicating with Matthews. He soon posted a manual on how to train with an AK-47. The two allegedly shared ISIS propaganda videos, unaware that they were being tracked online.

Molina wrote on social media that America was hi enemy, according to court documents, and posted an extremely graphic photo collage of an American citizen being murdered by ISIS members.

In May 2020, he allegedly posted images in the encrypted chat that provided bomb-making instructions. That same moth, in the same encrypted chat, the two men discussed where the attack on the United States should take place.

Matthews allegedly said that he wanted to avoid killing innocent children and he preferred attacking sites such as government buildings, including the FBI headquarters, CIA headquarters and DEA headquarters.

Molina also allegedly told Matthews that they need to stick together and they need to "defeat them" and they need to take a lot of casualties.

Last month, Molina and Matthews allegedly said in the encrypted chat that they could use a multi wave attack strategy to carry out the attacks. If the two are convicted, they can face up to 20 years in prison.

Attacking the White House

In 2019, a 21-year-old man from Georgia was arrested for allegedly plotting to bomb the White House, a synagogue and other sites in Washington DC.

According to a report from Buzzfeed, Hasher Taheb from Cumming, Georgia, planned to use improvised explosive devices made of C4 and an anti-tank rocket on January 17, 2019 to cause as much damage as possible. He also had sketches of a White House floor plan.

Taheb was arrested on January 16 by undercover FBI agents.

Related Article: US Air Force Bombers Setting Up Another Intel Trap with Five NATO Spy Planes

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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.
India is far from achieving herd immunity for covid-19, Union minister Harsh Vardhan said on Sunday while interacting with people on social media during the third episode of Sunday Samvaad.

It may be noteworthy that, India has recorded over 60 lakh covid-19 cases, while the death toll has breached 95,000.

The soon to be released second sero survey indications are that we are far from having achieved any kind of herd immunity which necessitates that all of us should continue following covid-19 appropriate behaviour," said Harsh Vardhan. The first sero survey of May 2020 revealed that the nationwide prevalence of novel coronavirus infection was only 0.73%.

On the emerging evidence that the disease not only impacts the lungs but also other organ systems, especially cardiovascular and renal, the health minister said that the government has already set up committees of experts to look into these facets of covid-19.

The India Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is also studying this subject. ICMR is also actively investigating and researching reports of reinfection and although the number of reinfection cases is negligible at this moment, the government is fully seized of the importance of the matter," said the health minister.

Regarding wide usage of investigational therapies such as Remdesivir and Plasma Therapies, Harsh Vardhan said that the government has issued regular advisories regarding their rational usage. He re-emphasised on the need for wearing masks even in places of worship.

The private hospitals have also been advised against routine use of these investigational therapies. The doctors in the States/UTs are being made aware of this through webinars and during the tele-consultation session of AIIMS, New Delhi, he said.

For covid-19 testing rates, the union health minister said that States/UTs have been advised to lower the prices of covid-19 diagnostic tests.

In the early days of the pandemic, as the kits were imported, the price tended to be high. But now, supplies of testing kits have also stabilized and domestic production of these kits have also commenced," he said adding the Ministry of Health has written to States and Union Territories to engage private laboratories at mutually agreeable lower rates. I have spoken personally to several State health ministers regarding reduction of prices of testing in their respective states," said Harsh Vardhan.

The number or covid-19 cases continue to increase in India. According to Union health ministry, a total of 88,600 new cases have been reported in the last 24 hours in the country. About 10 states/Union territories (UTs) account for 77% of the new confirmed cases.

With more than 20,000 cases reported during the last 24 hours, Maharashtra leads the tally, followed by Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh with over 8,000 and 7,000 cases respectively.

There have been 1,124 deaths in the past 24 hours. 10 States/UTs account for 84% of the deaths in the last 24 hours due to covid-19. Of the new deaths, Maharashtra reported more than 38% of deaths with 430 deaths followed by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu with 86 and 85 deaths, respectively," the government said in a statement.

Meanwhile, 92,043 new recoveries have been reported in the last 24 hours in the country, highest in Maharashtra.

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A 32-year-old man escaped an attack when a group of at least five men armed with a knife, sticks and cooking utensils was thwarted by a policeman carrying just a lathi in central Delhis Anand Parbat on Saturday night, police said.

The attack and the subsequent intervention by the policeman, head constable Damodar, was captured by a CCTV camera installed in the neighbourhood.

Also read: Senior Chhattisgarh journalist beaten up in Kanker district of Bastar region

The victim, Gaurav, sustained stab wounds to his head and other body parts, but he was out of danger, said Sanjay Bhatia, deputy commissioner of police (central).

The attack took place around 9.30pm on Saturday when Gaurav and his friend Prem Sagar visited a dhaba in Anand Parbats Nayi Basti for dinner.

Since the service was slow, it led to an argument between the two friends and the dhaba owners. The two men decided to leave the dhaba, but they were attacked from behind, the DCP said.

Neelesh and Akash -- the two brothers who run the dhaba -- and three-four of their associates allegedly attacked the duo with a big knife, stick and cooking utensils in the street.

The local beat policeman, Damodar, and constable Vijay were passing by on a motorcycle just then. When they heard the commotion, Damodar hopped off the motorcycle and got into the middle of the fight with a lathi in his hand, the DCP said.

Damodar was able to thwart the attack, but not before Gaurav was stabbed multiple times. The policemen, however, held both the attackers.

The DCP said that an FIR is being registered in this case and the role of other people seen in the footage is also being verified.
Bernie Sanders has claimed that a 'number of plans' are in place in case Donald Trump loses next month's election and refuses to leave the White House - but would not expand on what they were.

Sanders, who challenged Joe Biden for the Democrat candidacy, dropping out in April, appeared on Bill Maher's show on Friday night.

The Vermont senator was asked about Trump's repeated refusal to promise to accept the result of the November vote.

Trump himself has stated several times that he might not accept the result.

On Wednesday he once again refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses November's election.

'Well, we'll have to see what happens,' the president told a news conference at the White House. 'You know that.'

In July, he told Fox News: 'I have to see.

'No, I'm not going to just say yes. I'm not going to say no, and I didn't last time either.'

Sanders said: 'If Trump attempts to stay in office after losing, there will be a number of plans out there for make sure he is evicted from office.'

Bernie Sanders appeared on Bill Maher's show on Friday night and said there were 'plans'

Maher asked him what the plans were to force Trump from the White House

Maher asked: 'What?'

Sanders ignored him, and said: 'Right now, and for the next five weeks, our job is to defeat him, and defeat him badly.'

Sanders said that 'it was more than a wish' to get him out.

On Thursday night Sanders spoke at George Washington University, and warned that the country was at a perilous moment in history.

'This is not just an election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden,' he said. 'This is an election between Donald Trump and democracyand democracy must win.'

Sanders told Maher that he was shocked and saddened that he needed to spell out what was at stake.

'Never in a million years did I think I'd have to give a speech about what do we do if a president refuses to leave office,' Sanders told Maher.

'Listen to what Trump is saying. Don't brush it off.'

Donald Trump has repeatedly refused to promise to accept the result of the election

Earlier on Friday evening, Trump was asked again about the possibility of losing to Biden, and insisted he didn't 'want to be cheated' or 'stupid'.

Raising once again the specter of voting fraud, he said: That's the only way we're gonna lose is if there's, uh, mischief  mischief, and it'll have to be on a big scale. So be careful.

'And we do want a very friendly transition. But we don't want to be cheated, and be stupid.'

On Saturday he added: 'This whole thing - I've been telling you, this whole ballot scam is going to cause a lot of problems for our country.

'I want to see a very peaceful transition, but it's got to be a legal process.'

Mitt Romney, a Republican senator who is a rarity in his party because he occasionally criticizes the president, tweeted on Wednesday: '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.'
A passenger was allegedly gang-raped inside a running bus for the entire night on Friday and was later thrown out of the bus in a grim reminder of the Nirbhaya gangrape in Delhi that shook the nation in 2012.

The woman was found lying unconscious on Delhi Road in Meerut on Saturday and was rushed to the hospital where she later recounted the horrific crime.

This is the third such incident in Uttar Pradesh in the last one month where a passenger on the way to Delhi was gang-raped on a moving bus by the staff.

According to local media reports, the victim told the police that she had boarded a bus from Bhaisali bus stand on Friday night. On the bus, she was reportedly offered soft drink which turned out to be spiked. She lost consciousness and was gang-raped by the driver and the conductor through the night.

Police have recorded the womans statement and sent her for medical examination.

Meerut SSP Ajay Sahni confirmed the incident and said that efforts were on to nab the culprits using CCTV footage.

With inputs from IANS
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 22:11:25|Editor: huaxia

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-- The remains of 117 Chinese soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War were returned to China on Sunday from ROK.



-- Seventy years ago, the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) crossed the Yalu River and fought alongside the army of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea against the ROK army and U.S.-led UN forces, eventually winning the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea in 1953.

-- A total of 2.9 million CPV soldiers entered the battlefield, and 197,653 of them sacrificed their lives in the war.

SHENYANG, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The remains of 117 Chinese soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War were returned to China on Sunday from the Republic of Korea (ROK).

Escorted by two Chinese fighter jets, an air force plane carrying the remains and belongings of the fallen soldiers landed at the Taoxian international airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, at 11:18 a.m.

Escorted by two Chinese fighter jets, an air force plane carrying the remains and belongings of the fallen soldiers landed at the Taoxian international airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, at 11:18 a.m. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

It is the seventh such repatriation following a handover agreement signed by the two countries.

The remains were casketed in the ROK on Saturday at a ceremony held at a provisional morgue of the 17th army division of the ROK in Incheon, west of the capital Seoul.

Personal seals of three martyrs -- Ma Shixian, Lin Shuishi and Ding Zuxi -- were found among the soldiers' belongings, providing clues to confirm the identities of the heroes and find their relatives.

Caskets containing the remains of 117 Chinese soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War are escorted by honor guards at the Taoxian international airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 27, 2020. The remains of 117 Chinese soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War were returned to China on Sunday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

"Most of them are unknown martyrs. 'Hero' is their shared name," said Li Hanxiang, a veteran who fought in the Korean War, at a ceremony held at the airport to welcome the martyrs home.

"My father was also a martyr, sacrificed in the Korean War. Seeing the remains of these soldiers return is like seeing my father," said Zhu Jiangbo, who came to the airport early in the morning to welcome the heroes home. "The motherland and the people will never forget them."

Caskets containing the remains of 117 Chinese soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War are escorted by honor guards at the Taoxian international airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 27, 2020. The remains of 117 Chinese soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War were returned to China on Sunday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

Seventy years ago, the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) crossed the Yalu River and fought alongside the army of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea against the ROK army and U.S.-led UN forces, eventually winning the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea in 1953.

"Why did we win the war? Because we, brave soldiers fearing no sacrifice, were fighting for justice and peace," said Wang Liping, an 89-year-old CPV veteran.

An honor guard covers a casket containing the remains of the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyr with national flag at the Taoxian international airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 27, 2020. The remains of 117 Chinese soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War were returned to China on Sunday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

A total of 2.9 million CPV soldiers entered the battlefield, and 197,653 of them sacrificed their lives in the war. The names of the martyrs can be found on a memorial wall at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang.

"We never thought of coming back. Every soldier was determined to defend the country with their life. Today, they finally returned home," said 88-year-old Li Weibo, who operated anti-aircraft artillery during the war.

Most of the martyrs returning home this time are unknown heroes. "Although we don't know their names, we once fought side by side. They are all my comrades-in-arms, friends, and family," Li said.

A casket containing the remains of the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyr is escorted to the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 27, 2020. The remains of 117 Chinese soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War were returned to China on Sunday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). (Xinhua/Yao Jianfeng)

The remains will be buried in the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, with a burial ceremony due to be held on Monday. The remains of 599 soldiers returned from the ROK were buried there between 2014 and 2019.

Cemetery staff have registered more than 5,000 items that were returned together with the previous six groups of remains, and have established electronic files.

In 2019, with the help of DNA technology, China successfully identified six of the unknown martyrs and found their families.

Caskets containing the remains of the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs are escorted by honor guards at the Taoxian international airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 27, 2020. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

"The great spirit of CPV soldiers is the precious wealth of the Chinese people. Heroes will never die but always live in the hearts of the motherland and the people," said Liu Kai, son of CPV martyr Liu Tianzeng.

"We have to remember the war in order to safeguard peace and tell the world that a people, daring to rise up and fight for the glory, independence and security of its motherland, is invincible," said Zou Jiliang, a CPV veteran.

(Reporting by Chu Yi, Xu Yang, Zhao Hongnan and Wang Wei; Video reporters: Liu Bin, Gao Ming, Zheng Jinqiang, Han He, Tian Ming, Lu Rui, Jin Haomin, Jiang Zhaochen and Zhou Xiaoli; Video editor: Lin Lin)
MALTA  The town supervisor said he will be discussing safety on the Zim Smith Trail with town board members after a woman was sexually assaulted while jogging on the trail Saturday afternoon.

The woman had stopped to stretch while jogging around 3:48 p.m. when she was grabbed from behind by a stranger at the midway point on the Malta portion of the trail, according to the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office. Sexual contact was forced upon her, and her face was injured during the attack, the sheriff's office said.

Captain Daniel P. Morley said the suspect ran off, but there were enough people in the immediate area for them to search and help sheriff's deputies find him. The victim was treated at the scene by emergency responders.

Tyler J. Gaston, 26, of Clifton Park was charged with first-degree sexual abuse and second-degree assault.

"This heinous attack goes against the very fiber of who we are as a community," Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo said in a statement. "We are extremely hopeful the victim makes a full recovery and that the suspect is held accountable for his actions to the fullest extent of the law."

Zurlo also thanked members of the public who provided "invaluable assistance" in the investigation. "I want to personally thank each and every one of our citizens who helped our law enforcement officials bring this case to a swift conclusion."

Zim Smith Trail is a 9-mile multi-use trail that connects Ballston Spa to Coon's Crossing in Halfmoon, and runs through Ballston, Malta, Clifton Park and Round Lake.

Morley of the sheriff's office said he was not aware of any other attacks happening on the trail in recent years - only instances of cars being broken into.

"It's extremely rare and I was very disturbed to hear that this morning," Malta Town Supervisor Darren O'Connor said Sunday. He said it has made him think about what could be done to make the trail safer. However, he noted the attack happened during the day when there were many other people on the trail.

"It makes me wonder what in the heck was going through this characters mind? This was inexplicable," O'Connor said.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

He noted that up until this incident, the trail has been extremely safe. "I just hope this doesnt dissuade people from using it," O'Connor said.

O'Connor said he and the town board will be discussing the incident. "(The sheriff's and State Police) do a great job, but they cant be every where all the time," the supervisor said. "I thought about cameras. But they're hard to maintain and monitor. Well have to be thinking about this."

Gaston, the suspect in the case, was arraigned remotely in Stillwater Town Court, and sent to the Saratoga County Jail to await further court proceedings.
After the announcement of the Realme Narzo 20 series smartphones earlier this week, we spoke with Madhav Sheth - Vice President of Realme and CEO of Realme India and Europe - to learn more about the Narzo lineup's international availability, commercial availability of Realme's first smartphone with 125W UltraDart charging, and the company's ever-growing product lineup. You can read the full interview below for all the details.

Madhav Sheth - Vice President of Realme and CEO of Realme India and Europe

The first-gen Narzo phones were technically exclusive to India, although we did see them in international markets under different names. Will we see a repeat with the Narzo 20 lineup?

All markets vary from country to country considering consumers habits, competition situations, etc. If we feel there is a demand by the users of those countries we might launch then.

The new Narzo series joins an already vast lineup of currently available Realme phones. Do you plan on maintaining such a broad portfolio going forward or do you feel there's a need to streamline it a bit?

People may ask about our comprehensive product line-ups. I would say that dont worry too much and trust the brand on that. We launch products because customers need it and thats what has made Realme the Worlds fastest-growing smartphone brand. We dare to do things in a way different from other brands.

In fact, our product differentiation is quite clear - C series, the entry-level Value King covering under INR10k segment; Number series, the youth flagship covering INR10k to 20k; X series, the ultimate flagship which goes above INR20k, and the new Narzo series for Young Players.

The Narzo series is performance-oriented with powerful processors, fast charging technologies and mega battery, carrying forward our Power meets Style legacy. Therefore, we dont see Narzo as a competition for any of the other Realme products.

The 125W UltraDart charging was announced over three months ago, but we are yet to see a phone with it. Do you have any updates about it? Can we expect to see one this year? Which series will get it first?

We are currently working towards making the 125W UltraDart available commercially and will soon share the updates regarding the same. Please stay tuned for further details.

Despite releasing plenty of camera-centric phones we are yet to see a Realme phone with autofocus on the front-facing camera? Is it because you believe people don't really care about it or is there a different reason?

Thickness is the reason. To enable autofocus on the front camera, the thickness or the battery will be compromised. The most important reason is still the consumer demand. According to our research among consumers, since objects and distance to be captured by a front camera are almost fixed, consumers didnt face much pain for selfies. They can always get clear photos hence the demand for autofocus on the front camera is not high. So we dont want to compromise on the more important camera or battery volume.
"We've seen the same pattern with suicide," he said. In older teen girls it's up 70 per cent compared with the first decade of this century and "in pre-teen girls, who had very low rates [previously] it's up 151 per cent and that pattern points to social media." Watching the documentary, Catherine Manning, who runs self-esteem workshops for young people, said the revelations about the methods used by social media platforms to get into people's minds and the statistics around the resulting self harm left her "in tears". Catherine Manning, a self-esteem educator, was "in tears" watching the Netflix documentary in which social media's creators outline its harms to young people. Her daughter, Lucinda, has changed her ideas about the platforms after watching it. Credit:Jason South "I was just thinking about how abducted our kids have been and how much it [social media] is already causing them so much pain and anxiety. But at the same time, it is such a great tool for our socialisation," said Ms Manning, CEO of SEED workshops. "The statistics presented about the rise in self-harming behaviours and suicide among young people certainly correlate with those around the increase in things like body dysmorphia [a mental health condition in which physical defects are imagined] across the board," she said.

"The powerful thing for kids to identify is that something they care about so much has no care for them other than as revenue ... there is nothing new in this, but it makes it a whole lot more personal." Teens including Neisha Biviano, her friend Mia Quinn, also 15, and Ms Manning's daughter Lucinda, 18, are saying the documentary's revelations have been so affecting it will influence their real-world relationships with social media. I was just thinking about how abducted our kids have been and how much it [social media] is already causing them so much pain and anxiety. Catherine Manning, CEO SEED workshops Mia Quinn, an aspiring visual artist and photographer, said despite the value platforms such as Instagram offer, especially showing her other young people's art, after watching The Social Dilemma she immediately told her friendship circle she wanted to delete the app. "I had just watched The Social Dilemma and said [to my friends] guys let's all delete Insta and Snapchat, I said 'Insta isn't working for me I don't want to be here anymore, this isn't right'.

"Then again, I don't want to leave it and move to a different platform without my friends [who did not want to abandon it entirely]." She unfollowed large numbers of people, including all "influencers", and stuck only with those offering creativity. She said this "confused the algorithm" on Instagram - which guesses what individual users might like and curates personalised streams and targeted ads - and "it now only shows me new people to follow that are mainly art students, and that's really good". "I think the best thing you can do is buy books, unfollow influencers who make their money from social media - they bring more harm than good to everyone - turn your notifications off ... and follow more of your hobbies and interests rather than people."

Ms Biviano says despite the instinct to disconnect, the fact many positive things come into her world via social media means it is worth continuing with. "It has two possibilities: there is a really amazing virtual place that's filled with acceptance and it can be a lovely creative outlet and inspiring. "But the other is this breeding zone full of self-destructive energy and hate and this increasing amount of political, polarising views getting thrown up, and also an increasing amount of negative and really toxic, unreachable standards that have been created." Julie Inman Gant, eSafety Commissioner, has "lived" The Social Dilemma and believes the will by giant platforms to lead the creation of a safe social medial culture is not there. Credit:Janie Barrett The national eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, has insider experience of tech corporation culture and says the will to create a safe environment is not there. I worked in the tech industry for more than 20 years and actually lived the Social Dilemma," she said, "I tried to serve as a constructive safety antagonist from within the industry, but it only got me so far because the corporate will and leadership was not there."

The film particularly illustrates the influence of social media on children who may not yet have developed sufficient critical reasoning skills to stay safe online and combat fake news, she said. If the tech giants are building the digital roads they must also be installing the virtual seatbelts and stop signs and policing theses roads to keep users safe. Given Facebook has 2.5 billion users and YouTube has 1.5 billion, and algorithms create and recommend content, "the frightening reality is that they [users] could spend this critical early part of their lives only hearing one viewpoint". Loading Melbourne University senior social sciences lecturer Dr Lauren Rosewarne has written two books on social media and says revelations about activities of big tech companies shock users but they generally do not cause widespread user-behavior change.

The impression given in The Social Dilemma that developers were "babes in the woods" who had no idea features they built could become harmful or addictive were "laughable", but members of the generation that has known no life before social media are equipped with more media literacy than older peers. "What we need to do culturally is think about how do we become more savvy users and how do we control the tech we use rather than letting it control us," she said. Lucinda Manning, 18, said though parents may believe kids did not question the dark arts of social media platforms competing in what the film dubs the "attention extraction" industry, they do and will be even more selective now. Friends have deleted apps like Facebook and Instagram as theyre very aware of the negative impacts it has on their mental health. Lucinda Manning, 18 "I do believe my generation is becoming very aware of the impacts social media has on them. I think many parents think young people dont care and arent paying attention but the reality is we are, and we really do care.
Nephrology Devices Market Research Report by Device (Dialysis Catheter, Dialysis Instrument, Lithotripter, and Hemodialysis Water Treatment System) - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19

New York, Sept. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Nephrology Devices Market Research Report by Device - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05941406/?utm_source=GNW



The Global Nephrology Devices Market is expected to grow from USD 11,952.37 Million in 2019 to USD 17,226.74 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.28%.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Nephrology Devices to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Device, the Nephrology Devices Market studied across Dialysis Catheter, Dialysis Instrument, Lithotripter, and Hemodialysis Water Treatment System.



"The Asia-Pacific is projected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period"



Based on Geography, the Nephrology Devices Market studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas region surveyed across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The Asia-Pacific region surveyed across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa region surveyed across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom. The Americas commanded the largest size in the Nephrology Devices Market in 2019. On the other hand, the Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report deeply explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Nephrology Devices Market including Asahi Kasei Corporation, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Baxter International Inc., Boston Scientific, C.R.Bard, Inc., Cantel Medical Corporation, Cook Medical, DaVita, Dornier MedTech, Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA, Nikkiso Co., Ltd, and Nipro Corporation.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Nephrology Devices 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 Nephrology Devices Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Nephrology Devices Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Nephrology Devices Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Nephrology Devices Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Nephrology Devices Market?

6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Nephrology Devices Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05941406/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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The Kaduna State government will not work with the report submitted to it by the Zazzau Emirate kingmakers recommending three princes for the vacant position of the emir of Zazzau, sources familiar with the matter have told PREMIUM TIMES.

The latest decision has brought back Ahmed Bamalli, a man believed to be Governor Nasir El-Rufais favorite of the contenders, back in contention.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered from informed sources that the government has decided to set aside the report over allegations of inducement of some kingmakers.

The intense race for the influential throne began six days ago following the demise of the long-reigning Zazzau emir, Shehu Idris, who died last Sunday.

Mr Idris, who died at 84 ascended the throne in 1975.

This newspaper reported that as of the beginning of the week four princes from three ruling houses were in the forefront in the race for the coveted throne.

Those said to be in the frontline were Iyan Zazzau, Bashir Aminu; Magajin Garin Zazzau, Ahmed Bamalli; Yeriman Zazzau, Munir Jaafaru and the Turakin Zazzau, Aminu Idris.

This newspaper reported on Friday that the kingmakers recommended three of the contenders based on a grading and voting system agreed and executed by the five kingmakers.

Mr Bamali was not recommended by the kingmakers because he was not among the three top scorers.

Mr Aminu was graded highest by the kingmakers with 89 per cent grade and 3 votes while Mr Jaafaru came second with 87 per cent and one vote.

The son of late Emir Idris, Aminu Idris, was graded 53 per cent with one vote, putting him in third position. Mr Bamalli was eliminated from the contest.

In the report sighted by PREMIUM TIMES, no reason was given for the kingmakers low grading of Mr Bamalli but palace sources said the kingmakers rated him low because his father did not occupy the Zazzau throne.

Scandal uncovered

Kaduna Government sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, confirmed to this newspaper that the government is now accusing some of the kingmakers of receiving bribe and compromising themselves during the selection process.

One of the contenders is alleged to have induced some of the kingmakers for favorable result.

This, according to our sources, is why Mr El-Rufai has now decided to set aside the report submitted by the kingmakers.

The sources said the kingmakers suspected to have been involved in the scandal have confessed to the inducement.

That claim could not be independently verified by PREMIUM TIMES.

The inducement was huge and government has gotten evidence of the transaction, one source said.

It is the view of the government that the money-for-vote scandal has tainted the outcome of the nominations.

A new method

In place of the kingmakers report, PREMIUM TIMES gathered, the state government has decided to give consideration to all interested contenders.

Already, the government has forwarded the names of all the princes who indicated interest, 11 in total, to security agencies in the state for screening.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters is also writing confidential report on all the 11 persons.

This would be attached to the security report and submitted to the governor for his decision, an insider familiar with the process told this newspaper late Saturday.

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When contacted, the spokesperson for the Kaduna Government, Muyiwa Adekeye, declined comments on our findings, saying he had not been briefed on the development.

All I can tell you is that the processes of selection are on and you can trust the governor to do the right thing, he said.

Mr El-Rufai had on Thursday wrote on Facebook that he was awaiting the reports from the commissioner as well as the security agency responsible for security vetting.

I await the recommendations of the Commissioner responsible for chieftaincy matters after due security clearance of the aspirants, he wrote.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New York City students in blended learning programs at K-5 and K-8 schools will begin the return to their school buildings for in-person instruction on Tuesday, Sept. 29, as part of the citys phased-in school reopening plan -- marking the first time these students are back in their classroom since the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak shuttered school campuses in March.

Public school students were initially planned to return to school buildings on Sept. 21 for in-person learning -- a delay from the Sept. 10 start date. But Mayor Bill de Blasio later announced that kids would instead return in phases, with preschool and special education students going back for in-person learning first on Sept. 21.

The 2020-2021 school year still began for all New York City public school students on Sept. 21 -- for both blended and remote learners until their phased date for in-person instruction.

And now, schoolchildren in kindergarten to fifth-grade schools and kindergarten to eighth-grade schools will be able to return for in-person learning starting Tuesday, Sept. 29.

*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

Middle and high school students will begin returning on Thursday, Oct. 1.

Under the blended learning plan, put into place to cut down on the number of students at school at one time, students will return to their classroom one to three days per week, learning virtually the rest of the time. Students also have the choice of learning remotely full-time.

Students who chose blended learning will learn in smaller in-person class sizes to adhere to social distancing protocols. In this learning model, students will rotate in groups between in-person and remote learning. Students will be required to stay in pods together throughout the day as much as possible, and will limit contact with other classrooms to contain any potential spread of the virus to other parts of the school.

Families can switch to full-time remote learning for their children at any time. You can go to this website, www.nycenet.edu/surveys/learningpreference, to fill out the form.

Students who chose full-time remote learning will be able to opt back into in-person instruction during designated timeframes throughout the school year, starting this fall, according to the DOE.

Whether blended or remote, parents have been coming up with creative ways to make the school year digestible for their children -- but not without cost. Many Staten Island parents have been forced to pay hundreds of dollars more for school supplies this year compared to previous years.

And another change this year is the abundance of safety protocols and procedures in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus while kids are learning in-person, including face masks and social distancing.

HEALTH SCREENINGS

All students will be required to complete a daily health screening when attending in-person instruction.

The city Department of Education (DOE) is encouraging families to use an online health screening tool each day a child is scheduled to attend in-person learning. You can go here to learn more about the required health screening.

Students and staff will not be allowed to remain at school if they have one or more of the following: a temperature greater than 100 degrees; coronavirus symptoms; a positive coronavirus test. In addition, those who have traveled internationally or to a high-infection state in the last 14 days will not be admitted.

Should a student exhibit coronavirus symptoms -- such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, lack of taste or smell, or other symptoms -- he or she will be escorted to the schools isolation room. The student will then be evaluated by a nurse or health-care professional.

You can go here to learn the protocols to be followed for a student to return to school after showing coronavirus symptoms.

RANDOM TESTING

New York City public school students, teachers, and staff will be subject to mandatory random coronavirus testing throughout the school year, beginning Oct. 1.

Each month, schools will select and test a blind sample of anywhere from 10% to 20% of the school community. The size of the sample will depend on the population of the school, said Dr. Jay Varma, the mayors senior adviser for public health.

All tests will be free of charge, with results available within 48 hours. Parental consent is required for all students under the age of 18.

Any student or staff member who tests positive for the virus, regardless of symptoms, will be asked to quarantine for 14 days.

City contact tracing teams will then be dispatched to the school to determine any potential spread.

WHAT COULD CLOSE A SCHOOL?

If new coronavirus cases surpass the 3% threshold using a seven-day rolling average, all schools in New York City will need to close.

If there are two or more confirmed cases within the same school, and not in the same classroom, the two classes quarantine for 14 days and the school is closed for a minimum of 24 hours while a city Department of Health (DOH) investigation is underway.

When a school building closes or a classroom quarantines, students and teachers will move to remote learning.

You can go here for more details about what happens if there are confirmed cases in a school.

INSTRUCTION FOR REMOTE, BLENDED LEARNERS

Live instruction will be provided for fully remote learners. This real-time instruction will be delivered in short intervals -- 15 to 20 consecutive minutes -- throughout the day for the youngest learners, and may increase based on developmental appropriateness and grade level, according to the DOE.

Students participating in the citys blended learning model may not get live instruction on the days they are learning remotely.

The DOE initially promised that, on virtual days, students would receive both synchronous and asynchronous instruction that would complement each other for continuity. And students would receive anywhere from 65 minutes to 120 minutes of live instruction -- using video conferencing tools like Zoom or Google Meet.

But the DOE issued new guidance to offer principals flexibility when providing synchronous instruction to blended students on remote days. The agency also removed the requirement to offer a minimum number of minutes of live instruction to those students.

TRANSPORTATION

This past week, the DOE began providing school bus service for preschools, District 75 schools, Catholic schools, private schools and charter schools -- with approximately 2,700 routes for District 75 schools and 1,400 routes for non-public schools, according to the agency.

With the rest of the citys public schools slated to reopen this coming week as part of the citys phased reopening plan, the DOE will have its full fleet of 10,000 school buses running to ensure safe student transportation with appropriate social distancing measures being enforced.

CHILD CARE

Some families are still awaiting specifics on the citys free child-care program, Learning Bridges -- which is being operated at various sites citywide, including five locations on Staten Island.

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city would provide free child-care options for 100,000 kids from 3-K through eighth grade this fall -- providing relief to families who cant stay home or find alternate care for their kids on days they arent in school buildings. The city would offer 30,000 seats for families by the first day, prioritizing students with the highest need. By the end of October, the program will have 70,000 seats available and 100,000 seats available by the end of December.

The Jewish Community Center of Staten Island told the Advance/SILive.com that it would be offering the Learning Bridges program at five locations, working with one feeder school for each location.

The sites include: the Bernikow JCC with PS 54 in Willowbrook; the Avis/South Shore JCC with PS 58 in New Springville; the Richmond Terrace Community Center with PS 31 in New Brighton; the Gerard Carter Community Center with PS 78 in Stapleton, and the Todt Hill Community Center with PS 29 in Castleton Corners.

According to the DOE, Learning Bridges launched for 3-K and pre-K children on Monday, when schools opened for in-person learning for these students, as well as students with disabilities in District 75. It will launch for children in kindergarten to eighth grade -- alongside the K-5 and K-8 school reopening of in-person learning on Tuesday, Sept. 29.

All families who expressed interest and filled out the survey on the DOEs website will automatically go into the enrollment process. The DOE said it began its notification process for families and it will continue on a rolling basis as more seats are added.

You can fill out the survey here. Families with inquiries about the status of their application can email LearningBridges@schools.nyc.gov.

Related stories:

NYC schools daily health screening: What parents need to know

How to check number of coronavirus cases at your childs school

First day of school in NYC: So glad to have our students back

NYC schools reopening amid coronavirus: How to care for your childs mask

NYC schools reopening: Heres what you need to know

Safety protocols in NYC schools: What you need to know

NYC to bring in 2,000 more educators for the start of school as de Blasio pushes forward with Sept. 21 reopening

Coronavirus: How to find ventilation inspection results for your childs school

NYC school year delayed; in-person learning to start Sept. 21

Reopening of NYC schools delayed: What you need to know

Heres how coronavirus testing will work in NYC schools

Coronavirus: How NYC plans to safely reopen schools in fall

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Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, recalled the memories he has of working with former Union minister Jaswant Singh, who died of prolonged illness on Sunday and called him the perfect boss and mentor.

Never made me feel like my work did not matter, Abdullah said as he paid his condolences to the late minister.

Jaswant Singh sahib was my senior minister when I was Minister of State External Affairs. He was supportive without being interfering, was always available for advice & never made me feel like my work didnt matter. He was the perfect boss & mentor. Rest in peace sir, Abdullah, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference party president, wrote on Twitter.

Singh died of a cardiac arrest at the age of 82 on Sunday morning.

Singh was a former Union minister in the Atal Bihar Vajpayee cabinet. Over the years, he held several important portfolios such as external affairs, defence and finance.

Praising Singhs work in finance, defence and external affairs, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over his passing.

Jaswant Singh Ji served our nation diligently, first as a soldier and later during his long association with politics. During Atal Jis Government, he handled crucial portfolios and left a strong mark in the worlds of finance, defence and external affairs. Saddened by his demise, PM Modi wrote on Twitter.

Singh contributed to the strengthening of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the prime minister further said.

Jaswant Singh Ji will be remembered for his unique perspective on matters of politics and society. He also contributed to the strengthening of the BJP. I will always remember our interactions. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti, PM added.
TV actor Anupam Shyam Ojha, who wooed audience with his stellar performance in Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya" has expressed his gratitude to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for providing financial assistance for his medical treatment when he was facing a financial crunch.

The actor, a resident of Pratapgarh, has been undergoing treatment for kidney ailment in Mumbai and the Chief Minister had provided him an assistance of Rs 20 lakh, to bear the cost of treatment.

In an emotional letter, the actor said that he would like to meet Adityanath and personally thank him when he recovers.

The actor also congratulated the Chief Minister for announcing the construction of a Film City in the state.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Shots fired at three separate locations over a 28-hour span last week left three men dead  representing the deadliest spate of gunplay on the borough since at least the turn of the century.

An analysis of an Advance/SILive.com homicide database shows no comparison to three separate shootings causing fatalities in less than two days in at least 20 years of record keeping.
Cynthia Herriott-Sullivan has been appointed Rochester's new interim police chief -- the first woman to hold the position -- amid criticism over the handling of the death of Daniel Prude, a Black man who died in March after he was seen being pinned to the ground by Rochester police officers.

Police Chief La'Ron Singletary was fired in the wake of Prude's death.

"Traditional policing practices must be altered and improved to better serve and protect our citizens," Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren said at a news conference Saturday.

PHOTO: Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren speaks at a press conference, Sept. 26, 2020, in Rochester, NY. (WHAM)

Herriott-Sullivan brings a "fresh approach to policing" and is "uniquely qualified to deal with the many current issues that the city of Rochester is facing," Warren said.

Herriott-Sullivan, a Rochester native, left the Rochester Police Department in 2009, after about 24 years of service.

"Interestingly, I left law enforcement because I wanted to have a bigger hand in helping people stay out of jail, rather than putting in that," she said at the news conference. "So I moved on to roles helping deal with criminal justice disparities."

PHOTO: Cynthia Herriott-Sullivan, the new interim police chief for the Rochester Police Department, speaks at a press conference, Sept. 26, 2020, in Rochester, NY. (WHAM)

Herriott-Sullivan's new role begins on Oct. 14.

MORE: Daniel Prudes brother speaks out about ongoing protests

Prude, 41, died one week after being restrained by Rochester police during a mental health emergency. Officers put a spit bag on his head and pinned him to the ground.

PHOTO: This undated file photo, provided by Roth and Roth LLP, shows Daniel Prude. (Roth and Roth LLP via AP, FILE)

The Monroe County medical examiner listed his death as a homicide caused by "complications of asphyxia in the setting of physical restraint."

Seven officers who were at the scene were suspended without pay.

MORE: New York Attorney General Letitia James announces body camera reforms in response to Daniel Prude's death

Prude's family released video from officers' body cameras and accused the department of covering it up.

New York Attorney General Letitia James said she was "outraged" after viewing the video and that she stood in solidarity with the Rochester community in their calls for change.

Story continues

On Sept. 5, James said she would empanel a grand jury to investigate Prude's death.

Then on Sunday James announced reforms for releasing police-worn body camera footage in response to the handling of Prude's death. With the new policy, body camera footage will be released earlier in the investigation process, as soon as jurisdiction has been established and the family has had a chance to see the video.

Last week, an independent investigation into the handling of the case moved forward when the Rochester City Council authorized the power to subpoena several city departments, including the mayor's office and the Rochester Police Department.

An attorney leading the investigation said the team will collect sworn testimony from witnesses, emails, text messages, memos and other documents to try to determine a timeline of events, examine how city departments communicated with each other behind closed doors, and what city officials said publicly, versus what they knew at the time.

ABC News' Meredith Deliso, Julia Jacobo and Jason Volack contributed to this report.

1st woman named Rochester interim police chief amid criticism over Daniel Prude's death originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
PUNE: Two doctors have been booked for allegedly molesting their woman colleague working in a COVID- 19 facility in Maharashtra's Pune, police said on Sunday.

In her complaint, the doctor said she was touched in an inappropriate manner on several occasions by the two doctors in the last few days, a Shivajinagar police station officer said.

"A woman doctor approached us with a complaint that she was molested by two doctors on multiple occasions in the last few days. We have registered a case and our investigation is on," he said.

A Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) official said the two accused doctors were hired by an agency which is managing the said facility.
Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

A 6-year-old boy in Texas died earlier this month after being hospitalized with a brain-eating amoeba, causing officials to prompt warnings in the state that the source of the amoeba was the water supply.

Josiah McIntyre, 6, died on Sept. 8 at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, according to NBC News. His mother, Maria Castillo, told the outlet that doctors said her son's cause of death was a brain-eating amoeba.

Jenn Jacome, a spokeswoman for the hospital, confirmed the child's death to NBC News but could not discuss further details.

"He was an active little boy. He was a really good big brother. He just loved and cared about a lot of people," Castillo said at a benefit for her late son, according to local news outlet KTRK.

"Texas Children's did do everything that they could. No one left my son's side. There was always a nurse or a doctor at the side of my son's bed. Any fear that I had was able to be answered," Castillo said. "I'm angry and upset and sad and heartbroken. It really means a lot to me because we want to know as a family for peace of mind. I know it doesn't bring him back. The fact that we know how he got it, how he contracted it, gives us peace of mind."

The city of Lake Jackson said in a statement that they identified the "rare and often fatal brain-eating amoeba" as Naegleria fowleri, NBC News reported.

According to the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention, Naegleria fowleri is most commonly found in freshwater (such as lakes and rivers) and soil. It typically infects people when contaminated water enters the body through the nose.

The city also reportedly said that they narrowed down the source of McIntyre's amoeba to two options: a water play area called the Lake Jackson Civic Center Splash Pad and a home lawn hose.

RELATED: FDA Warns of TikTok 'Benadryl Challenge' Linked to Teen Hospitalizations

Story continues

According to CNN, an Do Not Use Water Advisory has been issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to residents served by the Brazosport Water Authority.

Lake Jackson, Freeport, Angleton, Brazoria, Richwood, Oyster Creek, Clute and Rosenberg were all issued the warning, as well as the Dow Chemical plant in Freeport and the Clemens and Wayne Scott Texas Department of Criminal Justice corrections facilities, CNN reported.

According to a statement from the TCEQ on Twitter, the advisory has since been lifted in all but one location, Lake Jackson, where officials have issued a disaster declaration.

*UPDATE* Do Not Use Water Advisory LIFTED for most Brazosport Water Authority users



Lake Jackson residents are still urged to heed DO NOT USE Water Advisory. https://t.co/QEJ0uTNGUi pic.twitter.com/N8f1wVxnfT  Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (@TCEQ) September 26, 2020

According to the CDC, Naegleria fowleri infections are rare, and most are fatal. Initial symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, while later symptoms that occur before death include seizures, hallucinations, and coma.

Between 1962 and 2018, 145 people were infected with Naegleria fowleri, and only four survived, the CDC said.
Webster Area uses hot-shooting performance to roll past Roncalli

Webster Area used a strong offensive performance, shooting better than 50% from the field to down Aberdeen Roncalli 68-39 on Friday night in Aberdeen.
Punjab BJP chief Ashwani Sharma said on Sunday the reasons given by the Shiromani Akali Dal for snapping ties with the NDA were very surprising, but also mentioned that he felt sad over their decision.

The SAD on Saturday night announced to quit the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) over the farm bills issue. The partys chief had also expressed anguish over the non-inclusion of Punjabi in the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill, 2020.

In the wake of this development, the Punjab unit of the BJP held a meeting of its core group core on Sunday.

Addressing reporters after the meeting, Sharma said, The BJP has always given respect to every party associated with the NDA. But the SAD is a political party and they chose another line. Surely I felt sad as they were the oldest ally. But the two reasons they (Akalis) gave (for snapping ties) were very surprising, he said.

On the issue of farm bills, the Akalis alleged that the BJP was not pro-farmer. But, ever since Narendra Modi became prime minister, several decisions have been taken by the farming community, Sharma said.

He cited the support of Rs 6,000 given to farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sammann Nidhi scheme, supplying neem-coated urea, Kisan Bima and Fasal Bima schemes among others.

Strongly defending the three farm bills, Sharma said the prime minister had assured the minimum support price system and government purchase would continue.

The Punjab BJP chief said the Akali Dal also raised the issue of non-inclusion of Punjabi language in Jammu and Kashmir.

Under a new clause 4, which has been inserted in the new law (Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill, 2020), a provision has been made to promote the Punjabi language in Jammu and Kashmir, Sharma claimed.

He said the BJP is accountable to Punjab, Punjabiyat and the people of Punjab.

Therefore, the reasons they (Akalis) gave (for leaving alliance) are not sufficient, he said.

Sharma also accused the Congress and the AAP of trying to mislead the farmers.

Taking on Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, the state BJP chief accused him of using the shoulder of farmers in a bid to hide his governments failures and rampant corruption and existence of liquor and mining mafias.

He lashed out at the Congress, alleging that it ruled the country for 60 years and gave false hopes to the poor and the farmers and never took any decision to raise their standard of living.

Reacting to the SADs decision of breaking ties, BJPs senior leader Manoranjan Kalia said it was unfortunate that they broke a long association.

He said there was a generational change in the Akali Dal as several senior leaders like Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Ranjit Singh Brahmpura and Sewa Singh Sekhawan, who used to work with Akali stalwart Parkash Singh Badal, have left the SAD.

Now, the second generation has taken over and some leaders are more reactive now, said Kalia.

Another BJP leader Master Mohan Lal described the Akalis move of pulling out of the NDA as a decision taken in haste. He said the Akalis should have held a meeting with BJPs core group.

I do not understand what were Akalis compulsions and why they took this decision, he said.
TOKYO - A woman has filed a suit against the Roman Catholic Church in Japan alleging that a priest raped her four decades ago, as the churchs unfolding worldwide sexual abuse crisis gradually reaches Japan.

The civil lawsuit, filed this week in Sendai District Court, seeks 56.1 million yen ($534,000) in damages. It accuses a priest, who has not been charged or penalized, as well as a bishop who counselled the woman in recent years about the alleged abuse.

The suit, which also accuses the Diocese of Sendai in northeastern Japan, says the church refused to take the complaints seriously, causing psychological pain.

I have filed this lawsuit to claim back the dignity I have lost, and to try to end this serious crime that is a violation of humanity, said Harumi Suzuki, who has gone public with her name.

She said she lived through more than 40 years of hell, but wants to raise her voice for other abuse survivors.

You are innocent, and you are not alone, she said in a statement.

The Rev. Shiro Komatsu at the Sendai diocese said it has no comment because it has not seen the lawsuit.

Documents seen by The Associated Press show the diocese carried out an investigation by third-party lawyers into her case in 2016.

The investigation determined that the sexual act likely occurred but decided no criminal or civil responsibility could be pursued, given the passage of time and that the priest may have thought the act was consensual. Suzuki denies she consented.

The bishop, Martin Testuo Hiraga, who met often with Suzuki, has said it was hard to arrive at a solution and the priest has denied the allegations. The priest was not available for comment.

The priest is identified in the lawsuit, but lawyers for Suzuki requested that his name not be reported, for fear of a possible defamation lawsuit under Japanese law.

Suzuki, a Catholic, was a victim of domestic violence in 1977 and turned to the priest for consolation, according to the lawsuit. She was raped in the upstairs bedroom of the church during a counselling session, and suffered depression for years, it says.

The Catholic Church is a giant organization of power for the believers and has their unconditional trust, the lawsuit says. Sexual violence by the clergy on members of the congregation is an extremely despicable act that takes advantage of the absolute inequality in power.

Pressures are strong in conformity-oriented Japan for women not to speak out against sexual abuse. But the #MeToo movement is gradually starting to take off.

Yuma Sato, Suzukis attorney, said Japans justice system makes it very difficult to claim damages from sexual abuse unless acted on within a few years.

But I hope this case sends a message about an effort to create change, Sato said.

We also want Japanese society to learn more about the problems in the church, its secrecy, its coverups and how perpetrators are going unpunished.

___

Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter at https://twitter.com/yurikageyama

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Dhaka, Sep 27 : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday recalled India's contributions to her country's Liberation War in 1971, following which the then East Pakistan became an independent nation.

She made the remarks as outgoing Indian High Commissioner Riva Ganguly Das called on her at her official residence 'Ganabhaban'.

Ganguly also said the people of India and all political parties extended overwhelming support to Bangladesh's Liberation War, and in the same way, supported the historic land boundary agreement with the neighbouring country.

The Indian envoy also informed Hasina that the Foreign Ministers of the two countries are likely to hold talks virtually on Tuesday.

She also handed over a letter by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeting the Bangladeshi leader on the occasion of her 74th birthday.

Hasina thanked Modi as well as Ganguly for greeting her.

The Bangladeshi Prime Minister also stressed the need for better cooperation with the neighbouring countries for the development of the region.

She said the neighbouring countries can use Bangladesh's Chattogram, Sylhet and Syedpur Airports for their convenience.

"Our foreign policy is 'friendship to all and malice to none'. We always think that better cooperation with the neighbouring countries is firstly needed for the development of the people of the region," Hasina said.

The Prime Minister and Indian High Commissioner also discussed bilateral issues in the meeting where Hasina's Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus and Indian Deputy High Commissioner in Dhaka, Bishwadip Dey were present too.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, the PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said that the Covid-19 situation and the protracted Rohingya crisis also came up for discussion.

The Indian envoy said the two countries are working together to combat Covid-19, and appreciated the steps Bangladesh has taken under Hasina's leadership to contain the pandemic.

Das also lauded Bangladesh's economic development under her.
Kyle Sandilands and his girlfriend Tegan Kynaston have taken their relationship to the next level.

Less than a year since they debuted their relationship, the pair have moved into a $5000-per-week mansion in Sydney's affluent suburb of Woollahra, according The Sunday Telegraph.

Located a few minutes drive from radio co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson's mansion, the sprawling, three-storey home boasts extreme privacy and lavish interiors.

It's getting serious: Kyle Sandilands and his new girlfriend Tegan Kynaston (pictured) have moved in to a $5000-per-week three-storey Woollahra mansion, reports claim

Kyle and Tegan's love shack! The ultra-private home is set on almost 1094sq metres and boasts seven bedrooms, five bathrooms, and a large outdoor swimming pool

Built in 1923, the extravagant home boasts seven bedrooms, five bathrooms, and a large outdoor swimming pool.

It boasts a grand marble entrance leading into a large foyer with bevelled glass windows and a wide staircase.

The property, which is set on 1094sq metres, also features a marble powder room and an under-stair mudroom.

Classy: It boasts a grand marble entrance leading into a large foyer with bevelled glass windows and a wide staircase

The Woollahra property has been meticulously renovated for living and entertaining while maintaining its grand circa 1910 stately character and privacy.

The home's elegant decor is world's away from the Mosman mansion once shared with Imogen Anthony - which included animal skin rug and a life-size giraffe statue.

Kyle began dating personal assistant Tegan just under a year ago, after splitting from his long-term girlfriend Imogen Anthony.

That's different! The home's elegant decor is world's away from the Mosman mansion once shared with Imogen Anthony - which included animal skin rug and a life-size giraffe statue (pictured)

Remember this? Kyle opened the doors of his 'bogan chic' Mosman mansion he once shared with Imogen in an episode of MTV Cribs in 2018

The radio titan announced his shock split from his girlfriend-of-eight-years on The Kyle and Jackie O Show in November last year.

He told listeners the couple 'haven't been living with each other' for months and their relationship had simply 'run its course'.

'We haven't been with each other for quite a few months now. Unfortunately it's run its course,' he said.

New flame: Kyle began dating personal assistant Tegan less than a year ago, following his split from ex-girlfriend Imogen Anthony

Tegan is the director of communications for Sandilands' company, King Kyle Pty Ltd, and was previously the radio star's personal assistant.

The couple went public with their romance on New Year's Eve, when Tegan shared a picture of herself kissing Kyle on the cheek in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Two months earlier, she had denied rumours she was dating her employer.
NEW DELHI: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced was conducted on Sunday (September 27).

JEE Advanced was conducted in two shifts. The paper 1 exam was held from 9 am to 12 noon and the second slot exam was held from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm. The exam was conducted across 222 cities and 1,001 exam centres this year. The NTA had arranged more exam centres following the COVID-19 guidelines this year. The candidates had to appear in the exams with face masks, hand sanitisers. Nearly 97.94 per cent of candidates who have registered and paid the fee for entrance have been allocated exam cities among their top three choices.

96% of the total registered candidates took the JEE Advanced 2020 on Sunday, said IIT Delhi in an official statement. 1,51,311 candidates took the Paper 1 exam and 1,50,900 candidates took the paper 2 exam.

Live TV

In order to avoid overcrowding at the centre and to ensure the implementation of other safety norms, candidates have been given staggered reporting time.

This year, only 64% of the students eligible to appear for the JEE- Advanced are registered for the examination in 2020.

IIT Delhi in an official statement said that JEE Advanced has witnessed the largest number of nodes ever provided by TCS-ION for an exam in the country, which is approximately 3.4 lakh nodes, to accommodate everyone while complying to social distancing norms.

JEE Advanced 2020 final answer key and the results will be declared on October 5 after which the joint seat allocation authority, also known as JoSAA will start an online counselling and seat allotment process.

What next after the exam?

The students who will clear Advanced can seek admissions to IITs, including institutes- Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (IISc), Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs), Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology (RGIPT), Indian Institute of Petroleum & Energy, Visakhapatnam.

Nearly, 1.60 lakh (1,60,831) candidates have registered for the entrance following the COVID-19 guidelines.

JEE Advanced answer key, as well as final result, will be released on October 5 and seat allocation will begin from October 8, as per the statement. Counselling will be done through Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA). Interested and eligible candidates who have cleared JEE Main or will pass the JEE Advanced exams will be able to register at josaa.nic.in. This year, there will be six counselling rounds instead of seven.
A security officer stands outside a building of Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) during its grand opening in Shanghai on Nov. 22, 2001. (Reuters)

US Blocks Exports to SMIC, Chinas Biggest Chipmaker

The United States has blocked American firms from doing business with Chinas biggest chipmaker SMIC, over concerns about its alleged connections to the Chinese military.

The U.S. Department of Commerce issued a letter dated Sept. 25 to American companies asking them to acquire a government export license before they can sell certain technology to the Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC) and its subsidiaries.

In the letter, the Bureau of Industry and Security under the Commerce Department stated that exports to SMIC pose an unacceptable risk of being diverted to military end-use. As a result, American suppliers must submit an application for an individually validated license prior to exporting, reexporting, or transferring in-country to SMIC.

Semiconductor chips power nearly all modern devices, from computers and cellphones to missiles and fighter jets.

SMIC said it had not received any official notice of the restrictions and said it has no relationship with the Chinese military.

SMIC reiterates that it manufactures semiconductors and provides services solely for civilian and commercial end-users and end-uses, SMIC said.

The Commerce Department said that while it would not comment on specific matters, it is constantly monitoring and assessing any potential threats to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests and will take appropriate action as warranted.

Restrictions

The administration is concerned about the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)s state-directed initiative of military-civil fusion, which leverages cooperation between the military and private industry to advance technology innovations. The fusion effort is now overseen by a Chinese government agency called the Central Commission for the Development of Military-Civil Fusion, established in 2017.

The CCP is implementing this strategy, not just through its own research and development efforts, but also by acquiring and diverting the worlds cutting-edge technologiesincluding through theftin order to achieve military dominance, the U.S. State Department describes on its website.

In a Sept. 27 report by Chinas hawkish state-run media Global Times, a veteran industry analyst named Ma Jihua said the impact of export restrictions on SMIC could be catastrophic for the Chinese chipmaker, since it had not made preparations in advanceunlike Chinese tech giant Huawei.

Huawei currently faces similar export restrictions, which went into effect on Sept. 15.

While it is unclear how much precisely Huawei has spent to stockpile on semiconductor chips before the Sept. 15 deadline, Huawei has been busy buying semiconductor chips from Taiwan, home to the worlds largest contract chipmaker TSMC.

Taiwans Finance Ministry said in early September that the islands chips exports in August topped $31.17 billion, an increase of 8.3 percent from a year earlier, according to Taiwans government-run Central News Agency. The export hike was due in part to the islands exports of $1.5 to 2 billion to Huawei.

In recent weeks, some Taiwanese chipmakers have said they will apply for special U.S. licensesin compliance with the export restrictionsin order to ship products to Huawei.

In early September, Reuters reported that the Trump administration was thinking about blacklisting the Chinese chipmaker, citing a Pentagon spokeswoman.

SMICs shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange plummeted on the first trading day after the news reports (Sept. 7), dropping nearly 23 percent to HK$18.24 ($2.35) per share. The share price has since remained depressed, closing at HK$18.58 ($2.4) on Sept. 25.

Taiwanese daily newspaper Economic Daily News, citing unnamed industry analysts, reported on Sept. 27 that Taiwanese chipmakers are set to benefit, picking up additional orders if SMIC were indeed sanctioned.

Chinas Chip Ambitions

China is currently heavily dependent on foreign chips for its tech manufacturing, though Beijing aims to domestically produce 70 percent of its semiconductor needs by 2025, under its industrial policy of Made in China 2025.

On Sept. 3, Beijing promised to spend an additional $1.4 trillion through 2025 to boost its semiconductor industry, according to Bloomberg, citing unnamed sources.

Chinas regional governments have been rolling out policies, such as incentives and government subsidies, in an effort to boost their local integrated circuit (IC) and semiconductor industries. According to Chinas state-run news site 21st Century Business Herald, 7,021 new semiconductor companies were established from January to Sept. 1 this year, citing its own compiled data.

For example, the municipal government in Zhuhai city located in southern Chinas Guangdong Province, announced on its website in mid-September that it aimed to boost the local IC industry to a value of 100 billion yuan ($2.9 billion) by the year 2025, with a set of new policies, including offering training and housing subsidies to new recruits at semiconductor companies.

However, it is unlikely China can become self-reliant on chips in the foreseeable future.

Jin Chun, a former engineer at Huaweis research and development center in Nanjing, recently told NTD, an affiliate of The Epoch Times, that chipmaking could have more than a thousand different steps, and it would be impossible to get every single step correct simply by investing a lot of money.

Jin compared the current frenzy in China to manufacture domestic chips to Beijings call to produce steel during the Great Leap Forward era

Arizona-based semiconductor market research company IC Insights made a similar conclusion in a report issued in May. It stated that Chinas domestic semiconductor production would only reach 20.7 percent in 2024about one-third of its 70 percent target. Chinas domestic production stood at 15.7 percent in 2019.

IC Insights forecasts that at least 50% of IC production in China in 2024 will come from foreign companies such as SK Hynix, Samsung, Intel, TSMC, UMC, and Powerchip with fabs in China, the report stated.

UMC and Powerchip are both Taiwan-based semiconductor companies, while SK Hynix and Samsung are based in South Korea.

Reuters contributed to this report.
After serving in the armed forces for just over 10 years, Jaswant Singh resigned from the Indian Army in 1965 and began his journey in politics.

Former Union minister Jaswant Singh, who passed away on Sunday, was one of the founding members of the Bharatiya Janta Party and a key member of Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government.

Jaswant's political career spanned nearly six decades  the most significant years being between 1998 to 2004, when he handled key ministerial portfolios of defence, external affairs and finance.

While he earned praise for his handling of strained ties with the US in the aftermath of the 1998 nuclear tests, perhaps the lowest moment of his political career was the Kandahar hijacking and the release of three terrorists.

In his early years, Jaswant studied at the Mayo College in Ajmer and later joined the Indian Army after completing his education at the National Defence Academy (NDA). At 19, he joined the Central India Horse cavalry regiment of the Indian Army.

After serving in the armed forces for just over 10 years, he resigned from the army in 1965 and began his journey in politics.

Political career

Jaswant was introduced to Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the 1970s by Sardar Angre, a close aide of Vijayraje Scindia, according to an NDTV report.

He entered Parliament in 1980, when he was elected to the Rajya Sabha. He was subsequently elected to the Lok Sabha from Jodhpur (1989), 1991 and 1996 (Chittorgarh). Later, when the Vajpayee government came to power, he was elected to the Rajya Sabha again.

Jaswant had first served as finance minister in the short-lived 13-day government of Vajpayee in May 1996.



Later, he was given the charge of portfolios such as finance (2002-2004), defence (2000-2001), and external affairs (1998-2002). Jaswant also handled the ministries of electronics, and surface transport as a Union minister during Vajpayees tenure.

He was also the chairperson of Parliamentary committees such as Public Accounts, Estimates, Energy, and Environment and Forests, among others.

Jaswant was widely hailed for his handling of relations with the United States which were strained after the nuclear tests in 1998.

His skill as a negotiator and diplomat during talks with the US has been acknowledged by his American interlocutor Strobe Talbott. His protracted engagement with Talbott on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and related nuclear issues is considered a high point in Indian diplomacy, a PTI report noted.

Controversies

Jaswant was expelled twice from the BJP. The first time was in 2009 for his praise of Mohammed Ali Jinnah, and he was readmitted to the party in 2010. He was expelled again after the 2014 Lok Sabha polls for defying the party directive to withdraw his candidature as an Independent from Barmer in Rajasthan. He, however, lost the election.

But it was the hijack crisis in December 1999 which dealt a body blow to his image for escorting three hardcore terrorists in an official aircraft to Kandahar in Afghanistan. Jaswant was the then external affairs minister.

The three terrorists, including Maulana Masood Azhar, who later founded the Jaish-e-Mohammed(JeM), were released by India in exchange for the release of more than 150 passengers and crew from the hijacked Indian Airlines plane(IC 814). The terrorists had killed one passenger.

Jaswant was also at the centre of a controversy in October 2007 when he was accused of illegal drug possession after he allegedly offered 'kesar' milk laced with opium to his guests during a function at his ancestral house in Barmer district in Rajasthan.

Jaswant, who was dragged to the court, denied the charge.

In 2008, a special court gave a clean chit to him and nine others in the opium case.

With inputs from PTI
Pyongyang should put action before words



North Korean leader Kim Jong-un offered an apology to South Korea, Friday, for the killing of a South Korean fisheries official by the North's military. Such an apology is rare, considering the North's bad track record of never saying sorry for similar incidents.



The United Front Department, a Workers' Party organ in charge of inter-Korean relations, delivered Kim's message that he feels "very sorry" for greatly "disappointing" President Moon Jae-in and other South Koreans with the occurrence of the "unsavory" case in its waters. The notice was sent to Cheong Wa Dae, three days after North Korean soldiers brutally shot and killed the unarmed official, 47, who had drifted into the North's territorial waters off the western coast of the Korean Peninsula.



Ostensibly, Kim's two expressions of "sorry" in the notice is "exceptional" as Unification Minister Lee In-young put it. Pyongyang had never apologized for the death of a female South Korean tourist, Park Wang-ja, who was shot at the Mount Geumgang resort in 2008. But if one looks into the notice carefully, his apology sounds like a lame excuse for the North's brutal and barbaric act. The North's soldiers even incinerated the victim's remains, according to information gathered by the South's military and intelligence agency. The North said that it only burned the unidentified flotation device he had been holding.



The North was apparently trying to justify the killing by stating that its soldiers fired more than 10 gunshots under the related rules of engagement for maritime border security. The notice gave the impression that the shooting was inevitable because the official was trying to flee disobeying verbal security checks after the soldiers fired two blanks. Pyongyang also denied Seoul's announcement that the shooters set fire to his body. It also described the official as an "illegal intruder."



What's more problematic is that the North warned the South to stop violating its western maritime border in searching for the remains of the victim. The warning came Sunday after the South's military and Coast Guard conducted a search operation on the South Korean side of the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border. It is hard to understand why the North issued such a warning which could reignite a sea border dispute without recognizing the established NLL. It should not try again to nullify the NLL and move the border further to the South.



The Kim regime should take follow-up measures if it wants to prove the sincerity of his apology. The North must conduct a probe again into the shooting case to lay bare the truth. It also needs to accept Seoul's demands for a joint investigation to clear any suspicions. Then it should punish those responsible for the killing and take action to prevent a recurrence. Otherwise, Kim's apology cannot prevent already-frayed inter-Korean ties from becoming further aggravated.



President Moon, for his part, should explain why he dealt with the incident belatedly. Moon kept mum on the killing for 33 hours after having received a report on the case. He did not attend a National Security Council meeting to discuss the matter. He must clear allegations that he delayed his response to give a prerecorded video speech to the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday to call for a declaration to terminate the Korean War which ended with an armistice in 1953. His quick action could have saved the life of our citizen.


A computer-processed image of Venus first captured by NASA's Mariner 10 spacecraft in 1974. The contrast-enhanced version, right, makes features in the planet's thick cloud cover visible in greater detail. (NASA / JPL-Caltech)

Hazy and noxious clouds obscure the hot land below. Here in Utah, as I write, distant wildfires have turned the sky a monochromatic opal. In a time of unrest, plague and rising fear of science, joy is hard to find. Consolation, if it comes, is the sweet call of a bird, a favorite, a northern flicker above maple-red woods.

And when its clear, Venus, in the morning sky like a gem.

Ive been thinking about the hazy, noxious clouds on Venus for the past few days because in its hellish sky theres something called phosphine. Phosphine stinks. But its discovery lifted my heart.

Life is resilient. Recently, scientists revived 100-million-year-old microbes from deep ocean sediments. Another study suggests that a strange critter called Lystrosaurus  a survivor of the greatest mass extinction in Earth history, the Permian  was the first to adapt to cold by hibernating. Extinctions pound the biosphere  like, right now  and life comes back, filling empty spaces like birdsong in quiet air.

Astronomers look hungrily to Mars for evidence of life from its more clement past, and oceans  water  lurk under the ice of Jovian and Saturnian moons. Even Pluto  Pluto!  shows evidence of a subsurface ocean. Venus, not so much. Its Dantean surface broils at 900 degrees. Its atmospheric pressure is more than 90 times that of Earth. Wreathed in corrosive sulfuric acid, Venus is not the swampy jungle sci-fi writers once imagined.

But the lofty regions above the Venusian surface are another story. Planetary scientists, including Carl Sagan, have long suggested that microbial life might persist there, in the less-pressurized, cooler atmosphere (where temperatures can range from 30 to 200 degrees). And indeed, last week an international research team announced that it had found the signature of phosphine in the clouds of Venus. So far as we know, phosphine can only be created artificially or by life itself. Not all microbes need oxygen, and those on Earth that dont  well, they produce phosphine.

Story continues

In media reports, one of the scientists, MITs Clara Sousa-Silva cautioned, On Earth, some microbes can cope with up to about 5% of acid in their environment, but the clouds of Venus are almost entirely made of acid.

Her fellow researcher, Janusz Petkowski, was a little more sanguine: We really went through all possible pathways that could produce phosphine on a rocky planet. If this is not life, then our understanding of rocky planets is severely lacking.

The teams study is careful and compelling  and just a start. More observations, and missions to Venus, are needed to understand the phosphine detection. If Venusian phosphine doesnt signify life, then scientists will unravel new processes that produce the gas.

And if the Venusian phosphine is what we hope it is  well, thats a spark of joy in a hellish sky.

It means that life arose more than once in our backwater solar system. It means that life is common, and its tenacity is cosmic. For me, that puts our struggles in a grand context. Not by way of diminishing the hard work of problem-solving that faces us. Rather, the possibility that swaths of airborne microbes are going about their business in the skies above Venus reminds me that life finds a way. We can find our way too.

And when our time is up  later rather than sooner, if we get our act together  life, microscopic or intelligent, will have claimed other skies on other worlds.

Christopher Cokinos is co-editor of the anthology "Beyond Earths Edge: The Poetry of Spaceflight."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
By Norihiko Shirouzu

BEIJING (Reuters) - Nissan Motor's chief executive <7201.T> said on Saturday he planned to launch a number of new vehicles in the growing Chinese market over the next five years, including electrical cars, that could help the struggling Japanese automaker return to profit.

"The recovery in the Chinese market has been very remarkable, and our key segments have returned to the previous year's level if not slightly better," CEO Makoto Uchida said at a press conference at the Beijing auto show via a video link from Japan. "I expect this rebound to continue, but we need to watch for signs of trouble," he added.

Uchida and the company's China boss, Shohei Yamazaki, said Nissan will launch nine new and re-designed electric models in the world's biggest auto market by 2025, including plug-in electric vehicles and hybrid electric cars that charge with a gasoline engine.

Uchida's remarks come as investors express concern about Japan's second-largest carmaker, which has warned of a record $4.5 billion loss this year as the pandemic hampers its turnaround.

Growth in China is a key part of Nissan's effort to recover from rapid expansion that left it with dismal margins and an ageing portfolio that the automaker says is a result of a mismanagement by former boss Carlos Ghosn, who was arrested for financial misdeeds which he denies.

Nissan has pledged to cut 300 billion yen (2.23 billion pounds)from annual fixed costs and focus on each of the companys three biggest markets: China, the United States and Japan.

Yet, while Chinas automotive market continues to recover strongly, Nissan last month saw its business shrink 2.4% after showing modest growth every month since April.

That sales contraction was in stark contrast to Japanese rivals Toyota and Honda, which have both seen rapid sales growth since the pandemics effects began easing in China over the summer.

In August, Toyota vehicles sales in China rose 27.2% from last year, while Honda's grew 19.7%.

Story continues

To bolster its finances, Nissan this month said it plans to issue $8 billion in dollar-denominated bonds and is considering euro-denominated debt. The bond sale is its first dollar-denominated issuance since its tie-up with France's Renault SA <RENA.PA> in 1999, a Nissan representative said.

A Nissan spokeswoman said some of that money would be used to repay other debt.

"Although Nissan continues to have sufficient levels of liquidity, we are seeking to strengthen our liquidity position in order to ensure smooth implementation of our business transformation plan," she said.

(Reporting by Norihiko Shirouzu, writing by Tim Kelly; editing by Sam Holmes and Raju Gopalakrishnan)
Dr. Anthony Fauci has gone global. The top infectious-disease expert in the U.S. was interviewed on Ireland's Late Late Show on Friday night, where he talked about the current state and future outlook of the coronavirus pandemic. He pointed to a potential problem this winter, shared the latest vaccine predictions, reflected on becoming a political enemy to some people, and addressed his relationship with President Trump. Read on, and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had Coronavirus.

1 This Could Be "Problematic"

People line up at a mobile Coronavirus testing site at Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital

Fauci said that COVID-19 cases had plateaued in the US at about 40,000 a day. "As we move into the winter months, where there will be much more indoor activity, that could be problematic. We have got to do better than that."

He added: "We got hit badly, worse than most countries. Ireland did not get as hit as bad, but you did get hit bad, and what you did is that you put restrictions that were substantial restrictions, and you got a baseline back down."

2 Public Health Shouldn't Be Politicized

Officer use infrared forehead thermometer to check fever body temperature for virus symptoms

Fauci said it was "painful" that public health recommendations to blunt coronavirus have become controversial. "Adherence, or not, to these has almost turned into a political statement in the U.S.," he said.

"I myself have been physically threatened and harassed and my family have been harassed," he added. "The enemy is the virusthe enemy is not the public health people who are trying to contain the virus."

3 Young People Aren't Immune

Friends in the Pub

Fauci has repeatedly warned against large gatherings, which are driving up coronavirus cases as colleges have reopened. He expressed frustration that his recommendations are going unheeded. "With an infectious disease, you can't consider yourself in a vacuum and say, 'Well I don't really care if I get infected, because I'm a young person, and it's likely that I will not have any serious consequences'," he said. "A high percentage of people who get infected are asymptomatic, but the thing you forget is, by getting infected, even if you are without symptoms, you are inadvertently propagating the outbreak."

Story continues

4 This Is The Best Way to Rescue the Economy

couple checking food label at the store

"You have public health officials like myself who keep saying wear masks, [keep] physical distancing, avoid crowds, as if that were somehow an affront to some people," he said. "That we were either encroaching upon their individual rights or we were not sensitive to the impact that this has on the economy, neither of which was true."

He added: "The enemy is the virus . . . the best way to get the economy back is to control the virus."

5 This Is What Will Bring Normality Back

scientist looking at ampoule with new medication, vaccination development

"We should know by the end of this calendar year  let's say November, December  whether we have a safe and effective vaccine that can then be started to be deployed," said Fauci.

"Once we get vaccines distributed in the population  we won't be completely avoiding and not adhering to public health measures  but clearly they will be much less restrictive," he added. "Vaccines are going to make things much more amenable to approaching some sort of normality in society."

6 He Says He Gets Along With President Trump

Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony S. Fauci attends a coronavirus update briefing Tuesday, April 7, 2020, in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House.

Fauci dismissed questions about friction between himself and Trump; Fauci has appeared at White House briefings less frequently of late. "As a health person, my relationship with the president I believe is a good relationship," he said. "As a personal relationship, it is not a bad relationship at all; it's a good relationship. There has been some tension there because I have been having to say things from a public health and scientific standpoint that were at odds with what the president was saying."

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As for yourself, do everything you can to prevent gettingand spreadingCOVID-19 in the first place: Wear a face mask, get tested if you think you have coronavirus, avoid crowds (and bars, and house parties), practice social distancing, only run essential errands, wash your hands regularly, disinfect frequently touched surfaces, and to get through this pandemic at your healthiest, don't miss these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Paris  Sun, September 27, 2020 18:05 482 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c478a8b1 2 Art & Culture Solitude,Paris,statue,anti-slavery Free

Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo said Saturday the French capital plans its first statue of a black woman to remember a heroine who fought against slavery on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe in the early 19th century.

The woman, Solitude, was a key figure in the resistance movement against slavery in Guadeloupe and was executed for her role aged just 30.

Hidalgo said the new statue was planned as she opened a park in Paris named after Solitude, who she said "with her courage and commitment to justice and dignity opened the way towards a definitive abolition of slavery in France".

"Paris is honoring Solitude, a Guadeloupean figure in the resistance against slavery by dedicating a park to her," added Hidalgo on Twitter.

"Soon, a statue of this heroine -- the very first of a black woman in Paris -- will be erected there (in the park). A strong symbol to never forget her fight," she added.

Slavery was abolished in France in 1794 but under orders from Napoleon Bonaparte troops were sent to Guadeloupe in 1802 to restore the practice there.

The move sparked an insurgency, with many black women who were former slaves rising up. Solitude was arrested and hanged on Nov. 29, 1802, an execution that was held back so she could give birth just one day before.

Read also: New Zealand removes statue of controversial colonist

She was the daughter of a black slave and a white French sailor, who according to some accounts had raped her mother.

"Solitude is the first black woman honored for herself and for her action in a Paris public space," Jacques Martial, deputy mayor of Paris in charge of overseas territories issues, told AFP.

"A defender of the values of the Republic, a committed woman, she fought for the freedom of all, against the reestablishment of slavery in Guadeloupe. She paid for that fight with her life", he added.

The debate on France's colonial past has been revived by protests against racism and police brutality in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement that rocked the United States in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd.

Anti-racism activists in July tore down a statue of Napoleon's empress Josephine in the overseas French territory of Martinique.

There have also been calls for the removal of the statue outside France's National Assembly in Paris of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, the man behind the "Code Noir" decree that defined the conditions of slavery in the French colonies.

But President Emmanuel Macron warned in June that France would not take down statues or names of controversial figures, saying it would "lucidly look at our history and our memory together."
Mumbai: Actress Payal Ghosh on Sunday said she would resort to a hunger strike if no action is taken against filmmaker Anurag Kashyap whom she has accused of raping her seven years ago. Ghosh told reporters outside Versova police station here that Kashyap has not been arrested despite the Mumbai Police registering an FIR against him because he is an influential person.

The actress and her lawyer Nitin Satpute on Sunday reached the police station demanding a quick probe, six days after she filed an FIR against Kashyap accusing him of raping her at a place on Yari Road in Versova in 2013. Kashyap had dismissed the allegations as baseless.

Ghosh said she met senior officials at the police station and threatened to go on a hunger strike if justice is not delivered to me quickly. Ghosh also claimed that she faced a threat from Kashyap and his well-wishers.

She said she was asked to come to the police station again on Monday as the investigating officer was not present. Versova police is probing the case under sections 376 (I) (rape), 354 (outraging modesty of woman), 341 (wrongful restraint) and 342 (wrongful confinement), an official said.

Kashyaps lawyer had earlier tweeted a statement that my client, Anurag Kashyap, has been deeply pained by the false allegations, these are completely false, malicious and dishonest.
Officials of the Lexington Selected Sales Co. have announced COVID-19 protocols for both consignors and those planning to attend the upcoming yearling and mixed sales, to be held October 5-10 at Fasig-Tiptons Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, KY.

Were fortunate to follow Fasig-Tiptons own successful Thoroughbred yearling sale, which was held here Sept. 9 and 10, sale co-manager David Reid said. Both Randy (co-manager Randy Manges) and I were in attendance and able to see firsthand the measures they had in place. Everyone adhered to the regulations and the yearling shows and the sale went very smoothly.

Reid said the Thoroughbred sale utilized two large tents for expanded seating and gathering areas, and those will be kept in place. They are located alongside the pavilion and in the lot behind the back walking ring.

The companys statement regarding protocols follows:

In advance of the upcoming Lexington Selected Yearling and Mixed Sales, the company has announced the following COVID-19 protocols will be in place in accordance with Kentucky regulations:

Screening measures, including temperature checks and health screening questions, will be in place to gain admittance to the sales grounds for all staff, participants, and attendees.

Cloth face coverings are required in accordance with U.S. CDC recommendations.

Participants will not be allowed to congregate. At least six feet of distance must be maintained between people.

Participants will not be allowed to congregate. At least six feet of distance must be maintained between people. Seating capacity in the sales pavilion will be reduced below 60% of capacity. Buyers are encouraged to enter the arena just before they are ready to bid on a horse.

No food service will be available in the sales pavilion. Food service will be available in the restaurant and back bar.

Valet parking will not be available.

Increased cleaning and disinfection procedures will be implemented with regular sanitation of high touch surfaces at least every two hours.

Frequent hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is recommended for all attendees.

Sales company management requests that anyone showing symptoms of the virusor if they are not feeling wellnot attend the sale, and stay home.

The health and safety of sale participants is of paramount importance. These guidelines are intended as a supplement to assist with safe operations during the COVID-19 pandemic and are subject to change.

Those who would like further information are asked to call Randy Manges (859-255-8431) at the sales companys Lexington office.

(Lexington Selected Sales Co.)
Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, has called for a Family Rosary Crusade against Covid-19 during the month of October.

I invite families all over Ireland to pray the Rosary together at home each day for Gods protection during this time of Coronavirus.

These past six months have reminded us of the importance of the domestic Church  the Church of the sitting room and kitchen  the Church that meets every time a family stands or kneels down, or sits down to pray together," Archbishop Martin said.

It has also helped us realise how important is the vocation of parents to be the primary teachers and leaders of their children in faith and prayer.

That is why I am calling for a Family Rosary Crusade against Covid-19 during October  encouraging you to pray the Rosary, or even a decade of the Rosary, each day during the month of October. Pray for your own family and loved ones and for all those whose health or livelihood is being seriously impacted by the coronavirus crisis.

Archbishop Eamon is also inviting families to spread the word online. He said, Using the #FamilyRosaryCrusade or #OctoberFamilyRosary hashtags please feel free to share a picture or a short sound clip of your family saying a Hail Mary, Our Father or Glory Be! on social media.

Archbishop Eamons inspiration for the Rosary Crusade came from a visit to the Missionaries of Charity in Armagh who reminded him of what Mother Teresa, St Teresa of Calcutta, once said: Cling to the Rosary as the creeper clings to the tree  for without Our Lady we cannot stand."
MONTREALA staff member at a private long-term care home in suburban Montreal where dozens of residents died during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has tested positive for the disease, the local health agency said Sunday as Quebec reported its highest single-day total of COVID-19 cases since May.

Helene Bergeron-Gamache, a spokeswoman for the CIUSSS-Ouest-de-lIle-de-Montreal, said the agency was informed Saturday morning that a staff member at Residence Herron tested positive for COVID-19.

Eleven residents who had been in contact with that person have been tested for COVID-19 and are now self-isolating in their rooms, Bergeron-Gamache said in an email.

Three other staff members who were in contact with the infected person have also been tested and are in self-isolation as they wait for their test results, she said.

Thirty-eight people died at Residence Herron between March 26 and April 16, according to a Quebec government report released Wednesday.

The report detailed the chaos that followed the discovery of the first case at the facility on March 26, and its devastating effects on a residence described as ill-prepared to confront a pandemic.

In late March, regional health authorities found only three employees on site to care for 133 residents, some of whom were wearing overflowing diapers and suffering from dehydration.

Quebec reported 896 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, the provinces highest single-day tally in months, and Health Minister Christian Dube said the increase in cases is primarily due to community transmission.

Were asking to limit contacts over the next weeks, Dube wrote on Twitter after the number was announced.

Health officials also reported four additional deaths attributed to the coronavirus: two in the past 24 hours, and two that took place between Sept. 20-25.

The province has now recorded a total of 71,901 COVID-19 cases and 5,825 deaths.

Another COVID-19 outbreak was reported this weekend at a long-term care home in Laval, Que., north of Montreal.

Judith Goudreau, a spokeswoman for the local health agency CISSS Laval, said Sunday that 11 residents and seven staff members at Centre dhebergement Idola-Saint-Jean had tested positive.

Goudreau said the residents who tested positive have been moved into a red zone on the ground floor of the facility, which has a capacity of 25 beds.

Visits to the facility have been suspended, Goudreau said in an email, and all employees and residents will be tested for COVID-19.

Quebec authorities also said Sunday that hospitalizations went down by one over the past 24 hours for a total of 216.

Of those, 41 people are in intensive care  a drop of four from the previous day.

Officials said 27,380 COVID-19 tests were conducted on Sept. 25, the last date for which the testing data is available.

Read more about:
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 of the accused persons 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 year 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 Torkornoo, 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 Fortuna vehicle 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, one Apple Macbook laptop valued at GH 1,300.00 and one iPhone valued at GH 600.00, cash of GH 900.00, US$ 50.00 and her three Bibles and bolted.



The robbers not satisfied, further drove Justice Torkornoos vehicle to the house of Mr Bediako (2nd complainants ) at Anyaa, where they further attacked him at gun point and robbed him of his Hyundai Santafe Sport Wagon vehicle Number GR 714-16, cash of GH 350.00 and Huawai mobile phone and bolted.Prosecution said investigation led to the arrest of the accused persons who were charged with the offences.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









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A statue of reformist leader E V Ramasamy Periyar here was found smeared with saffron dye on Sunday by unidentified miscreants, drawing strong responses from political leaders in Tamil Nadu.

A slipper was also found near the statue at Samathuvapuram colony in Inamkulathur here early this morning, police said, adding, a case has been registered for defacing and vandalising the statue.

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam condemned the vandalism and assured that stringent legal action would be taken against those involved.

Political leaders, including DMK chief M K Stalin slammed the incident, the second such one in the state in recent months, after a statue of the rational leader was found daubed in saffron paint in Coimbatore.

Locals blocked traffic for some time on the Dindigul highway, protesting against the vandalism and dispersed after police assured them that action would be taken.

Panneerselvam lashed out at the incident, and hailed the leaders struggle for ensuring social justice.

Stringent legal action will be taken against those anti-social elements involved in the incident, he said in a tweet.

Stalin slammed the defacing of the statue of the Dravidian stalwart and said people will boycott such persons.

Periyar was not the leader of just a movement---Dravidar Kazhagam -- but that of Tamils, he said.

When are they going to realise that people will further boycott them if they repeatedly do the same mistake, he said in a Facebook post without naming anyone.

There have been repeated instances of Periyar statues being vandalised or desecrated in the recent past in the state.

Periyar is not the leader of just a movement. He is the leader of the Tamil race. Those who do such things thinking they are insulting him are insulting themselves, he said and strongly condemned the incident.

PMK leader S Ramadoss hit out at the defacing of the statue and demanded strong action against those involved.

MDMK founder and Rajya Sabha MP Vaiko, AMMK leader and independent MLA T T V Dhinakaran and VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan, MP, also criticised the latest episode of targeting Periyars statue and demanded that such elements be dealt with strictly.

E V Ramasamy, fondly addressed by supporters and followers in the reverential term Periyar, led a popular self-respect movement in the state based on rationalist principles and is the founder of DMKs parent organisation, Dravidar Kazhagam.

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To determine if Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg is doing a good job, consider the claims of the opposition she has drawn this election year.

In the Democratic primary, she faced a challenge from the left, with opponents who believed her support for bail and other reforms has been too tepid. In the general election, her Republican opponent complains shes too soft on law and order.

Neither claim hits the mark. For Ogg, 60, has approached the job of district attorney as she should: making it her priority to ensure a fair process that engenders trust in the system, supporting both reform and law enforcement with eyes open to their potential flaws and pushing back accordingly.

I believe reform and public safety can mutually exist, Ogg told the editorial board. I believe Harris County is safer today because they have an independent district attorney.

We agree.

Ogg has shown independence by holding accountable those who break the law, including police. Her office charged former Houston narcotics officer Gerald Goines with felony murder over the botched Harding Street drug raid and prosecutors continue to sift through the fallout, evaluating thousands of convictions now suspect because they depended in all or part on Goines testimony.

She was an early and important supporter for bail reform, even if we found some of her late criticisms of the reforms puzzling. During her first term, she has also expanded jail diversion for low-level misdemeanor offenders with mental health issues, implemented a diversion program for people caught with small amounts of marijuana and launched a program to help clear some criminal records, giving access to better employment and housing opportunities.

Her Republican opponent, Mary Nan Huffman, is an attorney for the Houston Police Officers Union and a a former prosecutor in Montgomery County.

She is sharp and rightly faults Oggs office for its high turnover. We were troubled, however, by her claims that Ogg is not keeping people safe, that she cares more about politics than protecting the people, and that Houston streets are being flooded with dangerous criminals. Statistics do show that violent crime is up slightly overall, but far less steeply than her rhetoric blaming Ogg and her sweetheart deals would suggest. So far this year, homicides in the city are up by more than a third and the sheriffs department has tracked 81 murders so far, up from 66 last year.

Oggs holistic and restorative approach to justice is the right fit for Harris County. She has earned our recommendation.
(Newser)  A clash of left-wing activists and far-right Proud Boys seemed all but inevitable Saturday in Portland until the skies opened and everyone got wet, the Oregonian reports. A Proud Boys rally attracted roughly 500 people in Delta Parkmany of them touting guns or tactical gearas various left-wing groups assembled down the street to hear about Black shipbuilders who once lived there in subpar conditions. The Proud Boys, a loose group that sometimes turns to violence, had issued a nationwide call for demonstrators. Gov. Kate Brown responded by declaring a state of emergency. "The pattern of these particular groups is clear: to intimidate, instigate and inflame," she said of the Proud Boys, per the New York Times.

story continues below

Law enforcement pledged to keep the groups apart and created a unified command under the state police and sheriff's office that enabled officers to use tear gas despite a city ban, per the Oregonian. But both rallies ended peacefully when rain began falling at around 1pm, and Proud Boys members left the park in trucks flying Trump flags. As the rain cleared later on, hip-hop artist Mic Crenshaw spoke to roughly 1,000 people at Peninsula Park about his experiences battling neo-Nazis in Minneapolis as a young man. "I want them to understand that when they come here with their violence, it's not going to work out," he said of far-right activists. The Proud Boys often describe themselves as supporters of President Trump and the police and opponents of antifa, per NBC News. (Read more Portland stories.)
Those 2000 eyebrows!

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they made me hate my naturally thick eyebrows

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Me too. Thankfully mine were able to bounce back lol

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Skinny eyebrow trend is the worst. Don't ever come back.

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How do all of these celebrities have normal eyebrows after this?? Mine never recovered and now I have to draw them on and me tell you, it isnt pretty!

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forever grateful my beautician refused to do that to me and said one day i'd thank her lmao

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her honey colored hair & brows are dated but I'm sure I won't be the only person to say she looked so much prettier and interesting to look at before. now its all the curated for the grid Instagram face she helped make so omnipresent and that is incredibly boring.

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She was an absolutely stunning beauty.

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ugh I miss Benihana so much.



I got it to go for my birthday this year (had to use my 30 dollar coupon) and it was GOOD but it wasn't the same. ;_; I did like my gallon sack of mango lemonade tho.

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This might be the one time Kylie has ever seemed human. Because this is exactly the shit I would post if my sis posted a throwback pic of us, lmao.

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lmao i thought the same

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I remember when she went blonde in like 2009 and looked so weird

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why would Kylie be identifying as Armenian?

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I have no idea but this kind of thing seems weirdly common? taking on the identity of someone close to you.



my aunt (half jewish, half filipino) completely dropped her culture after she married a macedonian man. none of my cousins identify as anything but macedonian. she was super upset that I called my grandmother "lola" because she wanted to distance herself so much from being an asian jew. I cut her and her family out of my life for that, among other things.



I know that's not exactly the same since Kylie is trying to distance herself from boring whiteness and my aunt was doing pretty much exactly what the Spanish tried to do to our ancestors (remove all of our culture and assimilate us into Christianity). BUT WHATEVER.



sorry for this tmi novel. I still have a lot feelings about this lol :/



Edited at 2020-09-27 05:43 pm (UTC)

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I doubt she ever claimed that, we would have had a big post on here. I assume, OP is saying it because she uses so much self-tanner / bronzer now.

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lol kim knew what the fuck she was doing posting those og faces! tellin them hoes y'all would be nothing without me. you tell em kim





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I mean Kim is the only one who was naturally pretty pre-plastic surgery so she's asserting her dominance here.

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she was definitely on her second or third look here though

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this is not her original face either but she got in earlier than the rest of them

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idk kylie was still a baby basically and i think she was a cute kid. she should have let her features settle before blowing her face and body up.

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What did kourtney look like originaly? Idt ive seen any pics

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I always thought Kourtney was the prettiest tbh

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with her whole chest kim saidwith her whole chest

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omfg hahahaha

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The best part is that Kylie doesnt even look bad here? It's just her OG face ! She looks just like a normal teen.

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she's mad as if almost everyone is gonna think she's white or something now....

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allegedly identifies as Armenian*****







Edited at 2020-09-27 01:51 am (UTC) Kylie's bronzer****identifies as Armenian*****

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I'm actually surprised she'd even post that.

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LOL...I had this frenemy who snuck up and took pictures of me with food in my mouth. I of course looked like a bone chewing ogre. She put them in her fancy ass Michaels scrapbook, with some phony caption about her "beautiful best friend!!!" I asked her to remove it, and she refused, so I tried to rip the picture out when she left the room. She caught me and told her mommy and I got in trouble.



I very maturely got back at her by making my own scrapbook, and inserting the most hideous picture of her I could find. I surrounded it with cut out hearts and flowers and wrote something like, "So Pretty!"



Middle school.......

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O man, ADULTS pulling that shit? WTF is wrong with people?! (My middle school frenemy is still a toxic beast, so I have her blocked on Facebook, lol.)

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lol i was waiting for the age bracket to b mentioned bc this really could b any age. we try to take pics of my grandmother (like before she dies) and we always catch her trying to destroy them bc she thinks she looks bad

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Kylie is probably mad that it reminds people that she's white. These women truly think fucking and having babies with Black men makes them a poc as well.



Edited at 2020-09-27 12:51 am (UTC)

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i can definitely see that + how she still presses on with the whole "puberty changed my face/body entirely" excuse

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she just overlines her hips, you see

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yep yep, we all get flattering jawlines as party favors as we exit adolescence

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That, and it reminds people of her original human face

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kim looked so pretty, why she fuck with herself like that?



Edited at 2020-09-27 12:55 am (UTC)

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mte



it's sad that she had to scrub the naturally ethnic spicy white features off her face and relocate that to her body instead. sad, anti-black, and.... sad



idk where i'm going w this but it got her kanye, acceptance from bougie white fashion people, all while keeping personal agency and a brand as a white woman vs being commodified etc etc



anyways, i wonder when she's gonna announce the divorce

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agree with most of this, but i do think that she's been commodified.

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lol she doesn't want people to remember her original true face.

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TDT | Manama

A first of its kind hybrid-virtual business matching event held by Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry resulted in enhancing Bahraini-Thailand ties in various sectors. The event held via VIXMA platform offered business owners the opportunity to mull business and partnerships in sectors like organic food, beauty, hotel supply, and spa & wellness.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber Shaker Al Shater voiced pride in the deep-rooted relation between Bahrain and Thailand, and the extensive cooperation at all levels, with 12 agreements and 17 memoranda of agreements signed between both sides.

Shedding light on the economic challenges that came along with the Coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown and containment measures, he stressed the need to capitalise on technological advancements and innovation. Al Shater expressed the keenness of the private sector in Bahrain on reinforcing liaison with their Thai counterparts, and the readiness of the Bahrain Chamber to facilitate and support all those endeavours.

Al Shater highlighted Bahrains top rank in economic freedom allowing 100 per cent foreign ownership in some business activities, strategic location giving access to the 1.5 trillion dollars GCC market, pioneering standing as a financial hub, and advanced transportation and telecommunications infrastructure.

On this note, Bahrains ambassador to Thailand Ahmed Abdulla Al Hajri expressed pride in the strong ties between Bahrain and Thailand and the high-level cooperation. He also called Thai business owners to mull investment and partnership opportunities, and to benefit from the vast features offered to foreign investors. He underlined Bahrains favourable business legislation and laws including the updated bankruptcy law, and shed light on the ease of starting up a business in Bahrain using Sijilat platform.
Coronavirus has claimed the lives of one million people worldwide since the outbreak emerged in China late last year.

The virus has been recorded in 210 countries and infected at least 32 million people across the globe, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP.

Europe is now battling a second surge of the virus as the continent enters its winter months.

The United States, India and Brazil have recorded the most cases, with more than 15 million between them. Above, people wear protective masks in Mumbai

Coronavirus has claimed the lives of one million people worldwide since the outbreak emerged in China late last year

The figure comes a day after the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned that then global coronavirus death toll could hit two million before an effective vaccine is widely used.

Six months after coronavirus was first detected at a Wuhan wet market in December 2016, the global death toll had claimed at least 500,000 lives. In half that time, the known death toll is now believed to have doubled.

The true number of deaths and infections are likely to be significantly higher due to insufficient testing and reporting in many countries.

The United States, India and Brazil have recorded the most cases, with more than 15 million between them.

The U.S. 'has been the worst-hit country in the world', reflecting 'the lack of success that we have had in containing this outbreak,' Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease specialist, told a Harvard Medical School audience earlier this month.

The US recorded the highest number of new coronavirus cases in a single day since August on Saturday

The US surpassed the grim milestone of over 7million cases on Friday as infections continue to trend upward

The country has recorded over 7 million cases and 208,000 deaths.

On Saturday, the U.S. recorded the highest number of new coronavirus cases in a single day since August, after several states saw record daily spikes.

There were 55,054 new COVID-19 cases reported by health authorities across the United States on Friday, a Johns Hopkins University tally shows.

It's the highest figure since August 14, when 64,350 new cases were recorded following a peak in infections in the summer.

On Friday, the US topped more than 7 million coronavirus cases, making up 20% of the world's total. Above, Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health nurses Crys Kuntz (left)and Sara Nelson confer inside the Bismarck Event Center in Bismarck, North Dakota, September 8

India is expected to become the pandemic's worst-hit country within weeks, surpassing the United States, where more than 7 million people have been infected.

The country has registered 88,600 new confirmed coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours in a declining trend with recoveries exceeding daily infections.

The Health Ministry on Sunday also reported additional 1,124 deaths for a total of 94,503. The average of new cases has fallen by around 7,000 daily in the past week after reaching a record number of 97,894 on September 16.

In recent weeks, Europe has been hit by a surge of coronavirus cases, prompting warnings of new national lockdowns.

The global pandemic has also had an unprecedented impact on the economy, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) describing the resulting global recession as 'a crisis like no other' earlier this year.
MONDAY

By Bay City News Service

PG&E plans to de-energize electrical lines in 16 northern California counties beginning with four counties early Sunday morning as it prepares for forecasted dry wind gusts of up to 55 miles per hour during the next 48 hours.

Electrical power will be turned off in phases with the first phase coming just after midnight early Sunday morning, said Lynsey Paulo, a PG&E senior manager, during a virtual public briefing Saturday evening.

The first phase will affect approximately 15,000 PG&E customers in Butte, Plumas, Shasta and Tehama counties. Estimated power restoration for this region is expected late Monday evening.

The second phase will take place at approximately 4 p.m. Sunday, affecting 74,000 customers in Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Lake Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Sonoma and Yuba counties as well as the Mooretown Rancheria tribal region.

In Napa County, only 200 customers will be affected. In Sonoma County, only two customers will be affected.

Once the severe weather conditions with gusty dry winds passes, PG&E crews will patrol the lines that were de-energized by potential wind-related damage, Paulo said.

All 89,000 customers will be restored by late Monday evening, depending on weather conditions.

"We analyze various weather models," said Scott Strenfel, a PG&E meteorologist. "North and northeasterly Diablo winds will develop later tonight in the Sacramento Valley and the northern Sierra. It'll increase in strength before sunrise and will taper off by midday. A stronger pulse of winds come in Sunday night and through Monday morning, then will taper off after sunrise.

Strenfel added that dry, gusty southerly winds are also expected in the Tehachapi mountains in Kern Counry beginning Sunday evening.

PG&E said it will be monitoring the weather conditions 24 hours a day.

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for most of the Sacramento Valley region, the Sierra foothills and portions of eastern Alameda and Contra Costa counties and portions of Sonoma and Napa counties. The warning is in effect now through Monday morning.

For PSPS updates, visit www.pge.com/pspsupdates

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.
With less than six weeks until New Jersey voters decide if the state will legalize marijuana for those over 21, support for the ballot question remains steady  although some say the coronavirus outbreak has caused them to shift their views.

A recent poll from the law firm Brach Eichlers Cannabis Law Practice found around 65% of respondents strongly or somewhat support the ballot question. A similar poll conducted for the firm by DKC Analytics in July found around 68% of voters favored the question.

The latest poll shows the pandemic has had some rethinking their views. While 79% of respondents said the outbreak had not altered their position on cannabis, 21% said it had. Of those, 13.5% said they now support legalization, while the crisis has led 7.5% to oppose it.

I was somewhat surprised that it did influence that many people, said Charles Gormally, co-chair of the firms Cannabis Law Practice. I really think the reason it influenced people is a natural derivative of beginning to accept the concept that cannabis isnt harmful, and may in fact have a positive impact in many circumstances.

The pandemic has made many feel anxious, a condition more people have treated with cannabis as the medical program has grown in recent years. During the strict lockdowns from March to May, the state allowed medical cannabis dispensaries to remain open, a move that further legitimized their status.

Despite strong support among the public for legalizing marijuana, the state Legislature failed several times to pass a bill that would do so. Last November, they voted to instead pose the question to voters, who now have the chance to amend the state constitution to allow for legal sales.

The outbreak had mostly Republicans and Conservatives moving in favor of the question, the polling found.

But economics may play a role, too.

Gov. Phil Murphy has touted legalizing marijuana as a way to boost the economy ravaged by coronavirus restrictions that shut down businesses and led to layoffs. But with a low proposed tax rate and a lengthy road to opening dispensaries, estimates of tax revenue from legal sales vary.

The poll questioned 501 registered voters between Sept. 8 and 16, just days after NJ CAN 2020, the largest state coalition seeking to legalize marijuana, rolled out their campaign. With social distancing in play, campaign officials said they planned to use social media and online advertising to spread the word.

Nearly 75% of respondents in the poll said they had not yet seen ads, but 70% said they were aware of the ballot initiative.

As in past polls, support for legalization crossed parties. Democrats supported it at the highest rate of 72%, with Independents second at 65%. A majority of Republicans, 56%, also said they support the question.

That comes as some Republican leaders across the state openly oppose the issue. In early September, all 21 county Republican chairs voted unanimously to oppose the measure and encouraged candidates for municipal offices to do the same.

Election day is on Nov. 3, though New Jersey voters will primarily cast their ballots before then by mail due to the coronavirus.

A version of this story originally appeared in NJ Cannabis Insider.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Amanda Hoover may be reached at ahoover@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandahoovernj.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) has issued the following statement:

"On 27 September 2020, the Azerbaijani armed forces launched a large-scale attack on the positions of the Defence Army of the Republic of Artsakh along the entire line of contact of the armed forces. The armed attack by the Azerbaijani army was accompanied by artillery shelling and air strikes, including on civilian objects and civilian population. In particular, capital Stepanakert and border settlements came under fire. As a result of the shelling, there have been civilian casualties.

The actions of the Azerbaijani side constitute an act of aggression against the Republic of Artsakh, which, in accordance with the provisions of the UN Charter, exercises its inherent right to self-defense and takes all necessary measures to repel the aggression and restore peace in the region.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh is in direct contact with the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs were also informed about the armed attack by Azerbaijan. The foreign ministries of the two Armenian States are conducting coordinated work with the relevant international structures in order to suppress the act of aggression by Azerbaijan.

This armed attack was preceded by public statements of the Azerbaijani authorities attacking the Armenian parties and the process of peaceful settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict, as well as overt threats to use force against the Republic of Artsakh and to refuse from conducting the OSCE monitoring of the Line of Contact scheduled for 1 October 2020. In accordance with principles of international law, the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan bears full responsibility for the crime of aggression.

The authorities of the Republic of Artsakh have repeatedly stated that such a policy of Azerbaijan is a direct threat to peace and security in the region. The repeated act of aggression by Azerbaijan against the Republic of Artsakh leaves no doubt that the most effective response of the international community to Azerbaijan's attempts to resolve the conflict by force is the recognition of the Republic of Artsakh."
The coronavirus pandemic forced China to bring industrial activity to a halt earlier this year, but the country is revving its engines again  and global prices of metals are reflecting that renewed appetite for growth.

China consumes roughly half of the world's industrial metals, according to analysts. As the country emerged from the worst of the pandemic in March, the Chinese government unleashed a program of enormous fiscal stimulus aimed at building bridges, roads, utilities, broadband and railroads across the country. As a result, the prices of iron ore, nickel, copper, zinc and other metals used to build infrastructure have surged in recent months.

China's construction industry is picking up pace, sending metal prices surging. Credit:AP

Since late March, prices of iron ore  the key ingredient in steel  have risen more than 40 per cent. Nickel, needed for stainless steel, and zinc, used to galvanise metal, are up more than 25 per cent. Copper, which is used in wiring for power transmission, construction and car manufacturing, and has long been seen as a barometer for the world's industrial economy, is also up around 35 per cent.

"China, as usual, went the investment route and is massively investing in metals-intensive infrastructure," said Caroline Bain, a commodities market analyst with Capital Economics in London. "So there's been a very strong pick up in China's demand for metals."
President Trump backlit by an American flag at a rally in Minnesota earlier this month. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

President Donald Trump has repeatedly refused to commit to the peaceful transfer of power if he loses to Joe Biden, but his rhetoric escalated last week, only 40 days before the presidential election. On Thursday, Trump expressed his skepticism that the election would be honest after initially saying well see what happens when asked a day earlier if he would accept the results in November.

While Trump made similar remarks on the eve of the 2016 presidential election, he was not then the incumbent president with all the powers of the executive branch at his disposal. Last weeks comments provoked guarded critiques from Republican elected officials on Capitol Hill who often literally subtweeted him, sharing statements on social media that did not mention Trump by name.

The reaction couldnt have been more different from leading scholars and historians who study countries that have fallen into dictatorship. A half-dozen prominent academic figures interviewed by Intelligencer warned of extreme danger for the country and analogized the United States right now to Eastern European and Latin American countries that faced a breakdown of the democratic order and sometimes plunged into autocracy as a result. Even so, they cautioned that analogies are only so useful given the unprecedented nature of events in the United States.

Harvard political scientist Steven Levitsky, the co-author of the book How Democracies Die, noted the chance of an outright stolen election and Trump refusing to give up power  is quite low. But he noted the chances of a serious crisis are probably 50-50 at this point. Particularly given that there is a good chance even though Biden is ahead [in polls], given the distribution of voting on election night that Trump could either be tied or ahead. He added that the one thing Im confident about that Trump will cry fraud, so I think there is a pretty good chance of a serious crisis on Election Night that will make Florida in 2000 look like a walk in the park.

But while Levitsky conceded, I dont think fascism is around the corner  were not headed for 20 years of a Trump dictatorship, other experts were more concerned.

Its hard for me as an historian to think of a coup detat as well telegraphed in advance, warned Timothy Snyder, a professor at Yale and a scholar of Eastern Europes blood-soaked history.

Snyder noted that Trumps repeated comments dismissing the legitimacy of the election make it clear to us that he wants to stay in power illegally. In Snyders view, this is characteristic of an authoritarian or pre-authoritarian situation. He said that there will likely be a power struggle after the election unless the Democrats win decisively. He analogized the situation to Serbia in 2000 where the opposition to President Slobodan Milosevic knew that it had to win by at least ten points  by some kind of margin that looks big. But the opposition didnt win by a big margin  and it took mass demonstrations labeled the Bulldozer Revolution and the threat of a military coup for Milosevic to finally yield power.

With Trump under apparent criminal investigation, Snyder saw Trump in a classic authoritarian position. He has to win for its own sake, he doesnt want to go to prison.

He knows hes broken lots of laws and wants to die in his own bed.

There was also debate about how much of the danger is due to Trumps unique personality and how much is about institutional rot within the United States. Valerie Bunce, a political scientist at Cornell, said as someone focused on institutions, all democracies have flawed institutional designs and there are always tradeoffs.

Scholars repeatedly pointed to the Electoral College as one such flaw that has led the loser of the popular vote to win the White House twice this century. A repeat of this scenario is a particular danger in the view of Joshua Tucker, a professor at New York University and co-director of NYUs Center for Social Media and Politics. Eventually, at some point people are no longer going to see the system as legitimate and that is a serious concern, he said.

On top of these flaws is the extreme level of political polarization in the United States. Daniel Ziblatt, a political science professor at Harvard and the co-author of How Democracies Die with Levitsky, compared the level of polarization to what happened in Chile in the early 1970s. Chile had been Latin Americas most stable democracy throughout the 20th century, he said, but polarization beginning in the early 1960s led to the election of leftist President Salvador Allende  which was followed by a bloody military coup in 1973 that killed him and installed right-wing general Augusto Pinochet, whose brutal dictatorship lasted for the next two decades.

While no one predicted the U.S. was headed for a junta or civil war, Cornells Bunce said extreme polarization makes people more and more afraid of the other party taking power and can lead to scary results if they view that the alternative to their preference is truly horrific.

Trumps complete takeover of the Republican Party also prompted scholars to point to parallels abroad. The best example, according to Bunce, was Hungarian strongman Viktor Orban, who remade the Fidesz political party into the standard-bearer for his vision of illiberal democracy. But Bunce also noted that Orban, who has drawn praise from Trump and many in the his inner circle, had structural advantages that Trump does not. In particular, the federal structure of the U.S. means a lot of power is out of Trumps hands, according to Andrew Behrendt, a professor at the Missouri University of Science and Technology who focuses on Hungarian history. Whats more, Democrats have provided a far more organized opposition to Trump than what Behrendt described as the feckless and splintered opponents Orban faced.

Domestic parallels were harder to come by. Sean Wilentz, an award-winning historian at Princeton University, thought the the great parallel was the election of 1860 where slaveholders were not willing to accept any Republican president and seceded when Abraham Lincoln was elected. Granted, Wilentz said the ideological issues today were not quite as sharp, and the country is not as purely sectional  after all, Austin would have to secede from Texas.

He also dismissed comparisons to the election of 1876, which constitutional scholars have repeatedly cited in recent months as the only time a disputed presidential election plunged the United States into political chaos. In that case, election returns from four states were disputed and the outcome was not resolved until the eve of the inauguration with a grand compromise where Democrats conceded  effectively in return for Republicans ending Reconstruction in the South. It was a constitutional crisis, no question, said Wilentz, but the presidential winner, Rutherford B. Hayes was not a would-be authoritarian.

The question that scholars struggled with most was how bad things could get today.

Tucker, the NYU professor, stressed that where democracy is truly crumbling, opposition party candidates get arrested and dont get approved to be on the ballot  and the entire state marshals its resources to get its incumbent candidates reelected. That is what is now happening in Belarus, where dictator Alexander Lukashenko presided over a transparently fraudulent election in August that has led to hundreds of thousands of people marching for his ouster.

Indeed, comparisons only go so far. As Levitsky put it, Its hard to come up with parallels because there are so few cases of established stable democracies in wealthy countries that have had a crisis like this.

The ultimate specter for those who study the decline of democracy is, of course, Germany and the rise of Adolf Hitler.

Zilblatt said he once laughed off comparisons of the U.S. to the Weimar Republic, noting Germany in the early 1930s had a major economic crisis and the trauma of millions of people dead in World War I. However, while its not exactly the same, Zilblatt said Americans are nevertheless suffering economically and from the trauma of death and being isolated amid a recession and a pandemic that has left over 200,000 dead barely a month before Election Day.

Obviously, neither Hitler nor fascism is coming around the corner in the United States. But, the fact that such a comparison can even be considered by a serious political scientist with a straight face shows how far things have degenerated.
Judge Amy Coney Barrett is nominated to the US Supreme Court by President Donald Trump in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC on September 26, 2020.

Hearings to consider President Donald Trump's nominee to fill the Supreme Court seat vacated after the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg are set to begin Oct. 12, Senator Lindsey Graham said late Saturday.

The announcement from Graham, who leads the Senate Judiciary Committee, came hours after Trump formally named Amy Coney Barrett as his selection, the third nomination of his tenure so far.

The move, coming less than 40 days before the Nov. 3 general election, shows the accelerated timeline in which Trump and other Republicans hope to install Barrett.

The time from nomination to the start of Senate hearings for the previous three Supreme Court justices have taken more than three times longer than in this case.

"Judge Barrett has a sterling academic and legal background, having clerked for Judge Laurence Silberman on the DC Circuit Court of Appeals and Justice Antonin Scalia on the U.S. Supreme Court," Graham said in his statement.

Barrett later became a professor at Notre Dame Law School for 15 years before being named by Trump as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in 2017.

Trump's nomination has seized attention in an already intense election cycle dominated by the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing economic collapse.

The development, set into motion by the Sept. 18 death of Bader Ginsburg, is considered a major victory for conservatives. If Barrett is confirmed, conservatives would hold a 6-3 majority on the highest American court. Trump appears to have enough support from Senate Republicans to confirm Barrett without a single Democrat.

Meanwhile, Democrats have warned that the move will imperil abortion rights for women and the availability of health care for millions of Americans under the Affordable Care Act.

They have also decried a nomination so close to a national election, a move that Graham and other Republicans have said was wrong on principle in 2016 when it applied to former President Obama's selection Merrick Garland.

The hearings will last three to four days, according to Graham, who faces a hotly contested race for his own South Carolina Senate seat.

Opening statements from the Judiciary Committee and Barrett are scheduled for Oct. 12, followed by questioning and testimony from "those who know Judge Barrett the best," according to Graham.
PONTIAC, MI  Police have asked for the publics help finding a suspect in a fatal shooting that occurred in a parking lot outside the Erebus Haunted Attraction in Pontiac early Sunday morning.

Deputies with the Oakland County Sheriffs Office and STAT EMS responded shortly after 12:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 27 to the popular haunted house, 18 South Perry St., for a shooting report.

The caller said the victim, a 29-year-old Detroit man, was laying on the ground in a nearby parking lot, per a statement issued by the Oakland County Sheriffs Office.

The victim and his girlfriend had been waiting in line to enter the haunted house when a man in line ahead of them would not move.

Michigan haunted house, ranked No. 1 in the US, opens this week with COVID changes

The victim and the suspect -- described as a man standing 6-foot tall and wearing an orange hooded sweatshirt and jeans -- exchanged words as the suspect thought the victim had cut in line ahead of him.

The victim told his girlfriend he was going to his vehicle, police said. The suspect and the victim then went separately to the parking lot.

Thats when witnesses told police they heard shots fired. The victim, whose name has not been released, was shot in the side, neck, and chest.

He was transported to McLaren Oakland hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

A witness reported a blue sedan fled the scene at a high rate of speed after the shooting.

Anyone with information about the fatal shooting is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.

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When it comes to face masks, surgical N95 masks are the most potent for blocking most particles, if a recent study is to be believed.

The study published in the Scientific Reports analysed the difference between surgical/professionally created masks and homemade cloth masks. They found that N95 masks and common surgical masks were able to cut down most of the aerosolized particles emitted during breathing, talking and coughing. They later tested a batch of homemade cloth face covers and found that instead of cutting, these masks were also releasing a fair amount fibre into the air.

The study was carried out at the University of California and published on Medical Xpress.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, masks are now an essential commodity. With still no vaccine or confirmed medication, precaution is most necessary. This involves isolating, social distancing, repeated hand-washing or sanitizing, and proper mask covers for the face.

Many countries have made it mandatory to use a face mask in public spaces. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US, Ministry of AYUSH (India) and World Health Organization all suggest that masks are most essential in preventions against COVID.

A masks job is to not only prevent aerosols from infected people to reach you, but also stops asymptomatic people from transmitting the virus to others. Multiple tests have been carried out to test the effectiveness of various masks since the pandemic began.

For a comparison between wearing a mask and not wearing one, the results were obvious. A passage of text was read as the testing factor to mimic talking. Without a mask, 10 times more particles were released than regular breathing. Forced coughing results were highly variable but one number stood out. A volunteer who was called superemitter produced more than 100 times normal particles than anybody else coughing.

With the subsequent step, one where the faces were covered with surgical and N-95 masks, almost 90% less particles were blocked as compared to no mask. The face covers were successful in limiting the amount of particles even from the superemitter.

The homemade cotton masks, however, released more than not wearing a mask. These particles werent necessarily coming out the mouth, but very tiny fibres of the mask itself that were being released in the air. Whether or not they blocked particles exhaled by the volunteers remains unclear. But larger aerosols were definitely lessened.

So the bottom line of the research remains the same  wear a mask.

Link- https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-09-surgical-n95-masks-block-particles.amp
Dubais Aster Hospital, Mankhool recently used a bio-absorbable and self-dissolving scaffold called Magmaris, one of the latest stent innovations in the field of Cardiology, to treat a patient diagnosed with Discrete Coronary Stenosis.



Discrete Coronary Stenosis is a short segment blockage in the arteries of the heart due to presence of a lesion of size less than 10mm. This abnormality can be caused due to, but not limited to a number of factors such as high cholesterol, smoking, etc. *As per a study conducted by Aster Hospitals in 2018, this blockage is seen to develop earlier in age amongst Southeast Asian patients as compared to patients from the West.



A patient of Aster Clinics, Dubai was referred to Dr Naveed Ahmed, Specialist Interventional Cardiologist at Aster Hospital, Mankhool. At the time of admission, the patient was experiencing chest pains and discomfort for a few days before arriving at the hospital. He had a past history of smoking and hypertension for the last one year.



His reports sent from Aster Clinics along with tests and an angiogram conducted at the hospital, showed that the patient was suffering from severe 90% Discrete Coronary Stenosis. This indicated that he had a 90% blockage in one of the 3 major arteries of the heart. Further tests conducted, showed a 3.5mm non-branched lesion which qualified him for treatment using a bio-absorbable stent to fix the artery blockage in his heart.



Dr Naveed Ahmed, Specialist Interventional Cardiologist, lead doctor of the case said: We have used one of the latest innovations in cardiac stents called Magmaris a self-dissolving stent for the procedure. Patients suffering from Coronary Stenosis usually require procedures to be done throughout their lifetime and the younger the patient is, the more procedures they will need. Keeping in mind the age of the patient, we have used this particular stent as it will dissolve within one year of the surgery allowing for more procedures to be performed in future, without any complications.



Sherbaz Bichu, CEO Aster Hospitals and Clinics stated: Patient safety and welfare is key at Aster Hospitals. Our aim is to provide the best procedures to our patients that allow them to have a good quality of life in the long run. We are constantly upgrading our procedures and technologies used, so that optimum solutions can be offered to our patients with quicker recovery and fewer complications.



The stent used in the procedure has been proven to have better recovery rates as compared to its predecessors. Post-surgery, an Angiogram showed good results of the artery blood flow. The patient was discharged the next day with recommendation of close follow-ups.  TradeArabia News Service


Neset Consulting Services, now doing business as NESET, has been dipping a toe into the wind energy sector, part of a strategy to both diversify the companys portfolio of services and keep highly skilled oil field workers in the state amidst a pandemic-induced downturn in oil and gas.

Its going to get a little bit of help with these efforts from the North Dakota Smart Restart Technical Skills Training Grant, which awarded it $48,265 from a North Dakota Department of Commerce grant program, set up with federal funding from the CARES Act, for accelerated workforce retraining.

NESET was already working with Lake Region State College to stand up an accelerated wind academy when the grant program was announced.

We started this having no idea whether there was any grant coming, said Joe Griffith, operations manager for NESET. We were about halfway through when the grant program was announced.

The 50-50 matching grant included work going back to June 1, and the grant details seemed tailor-made for the intent of NESETs efforts.

We felt we were just doing the right thing when this grant just seemed to land on top of us, Griffith said. Sometimes, good things can come to you.

Griffith said that NESETs recent flirtation with wind does not mean the oil and gas services company is shifting away from fossil fuels.

We would not want anyone to forget that, at this moment, 100% of our revenue comes from oil and gas, Griffith said. But it doesnt mean we cannot help another part of the energy sector.

Theres a wind boom in North Dakota  indeed for all intents and purposes, the wind boom is evident right in Tiogas backyard  making this an obvious extension for companies like NESET to explore.

We already have lease operators who do something very similar to what wind technicians do, Griffith said. Thats being in pickups with specific tools for monitoring and repairing production wells. That is what a wind tech would do as well. Go out in a NESET truck and monitor the wind turbines for any faults.

Griffith said the company had been approached during North Dakotas oil boom, back when the Lindahl Wind Farm was being built, about the possibility of one day providing maintenance contracts to wind farms.

At that time, the company was fully extended. But, in a downturn like this one, theres a lot more time to think about the future. And, too, in the March/April timeframe, the company also had to let five to six of its lease operators go.

We want to keep North Dakota employees and oil field workers in North Dakota, Griffith said. We dont want to give them any motivation to leave the state. They might not come back.

That prompted NESET to revisit the whole idea of providing services to wind farms, and ultimately spurred a visit to Lake Region State College.

You need special training to do this work, Griffith said, adding, Lake Region has the best wind tech training program in the state.

At first, due to the pandemic, the colleges program wasnt sure what it could do to help. The college was not only shut down due to COVID-19, but it also doesnt normally have a summer wind technician program.

Through some brainstorming, however, and a few back and forth conversations, a handshake deal was ultimately struck. They would relocate certain equipment to Tioga temporarily, for an accelerated summer training program offered to seven individuals, six of whom were sponsored by NESET and one of whom was sponsored by ENEL. Then the equipment would go back to Devils Lake for the regular programs during the regular school year.

For this temporary relocation, NESET installed anchors, beams, and other infrastructure that wouldnt make sense or would be impossible to move. That now gives the Lake Region State program a perfect platform it can rotate into for an accelerated summer academy in western North Dakota.

Griffith said the program could be offered again next summer, depending on whether there is enough demand, and a qualified instructor available.

NESET will meanwhile work on developing contracts for this type of work. That could help create demand for a summer training program in the West, while also helping NESET diversify its portfolio and keep more workers going despite downturns in oil and gas.

NESET sponsored six individuals for the initial program this year and ENEL sponsored one, for a total of seven.

Six of the seven graduated and are now actively seeking or already work with wind farm owners in the state, helping retain at least a few highly qualified oil field workers in North Dakota who might otherwise have left the state.

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Belarusian foreign minister and President Alexander Lukashenkos ally Vladimir Makei has warned that foreign interference and increased sanctions would only have an opposite effect and would be harmful to everyone. He also called on partner countries to demonstrate wisdom, restraint and impartiality. Belarus citizens, who have been protesting against the dictator have garnered international support and sympathy in the recent weeks.

Regional pressure

Last month, three Balkan states imposed strict sanctions on Lukashenko and other officials accused of rigging elections. Meanwhile, Germany has refused to recognize Lukashenko as the country's leader. In addendum, spokespersons from the United Kindom and the European Union have revealed that they were preparing to sanction Belarusian individuals for their alleged involvement in Human Rights violations.

Regardless, Mekei, speaking at the United Nations General Assembly virtually asserted that there have been increasing attempts by some western countries to abuse international platform and take advantage of the situation in Belarus for their political interests. We note with regret that increasing attempts by a series of countries to abuse international; platform including the Security Council, to further their own narrow political interests. This includes some western nations focusing their attention on the situation on the situation in Belarus he added.

Elaborating further he said that statements brimming with cynicism have been made by series of western countries about their alleged concern about Belarusian sovereignty and well being. But they are nothing other than attempts to bring chaos and anarchy to our country, to make Belarus lose many years of development., he added.

Read: Belarus Tells UN Sanctions Would Be 'harmful For Everyone'

Read: UK To Sanction Lukashenko Regime Over Alleged Human Rights Abuse Of Belarus Protestors

'Last dictator of Europe'

Known as the last dictator of Europe, Lukashenko has been facing mass protests and numerous accusations since the results of Presidential vote were first announced. The elections, which were held on August 9, saw a competition between Alexander Lukashenko, who was contesting for a sixth term and Svetlana Tikhanouskaya, who joined the race after her husband was jailed.

Belarusians, who were already wary of the country's deteriorating economy and Lukashenko's repression of the opposition coalesced in and around the capital city of Minsk to show their opposition to the leader. The protests snowballed and hundreds of thousands of residents took to streets to oppose the draconian leader. However, Lukashenko engaged in a robust crackdown of the protests and deployed violent methods to curb the protests. Not only did he exiled and thwarted the opposition leaders but also asked his long time ally Vladimir Putin to interfere if protests escalated.

Read: Germany Refuses To Recognise Lukashenko As Belarus President After Secret Inauguration

Read: Belarus: Alexander Lukashenko Sworn In For Sixth Term In A Secret Ceremony
He was seen enjoying a spa date earlier this weekend with his girlfriend Isabel Pakzad.

But James Franco was enjoying the company of other friends on Sunday as he joined a group of his pals for lunch in New York City.

The Disaster Artist star was dressed casually for the encounter while rocking a stylish black leather jacket.

Having a bite: James Franco, 42, enjoyed the company of friends on Sunday as he joined a group of his pals for lunch in New York City

James indicated that he was a Deadhead based on his pale yellow tie-dye Grateful Dead T-shirt, and he matched his jacket with a pair of black jeans that were rolled up above his ankles.

He added a weathered pair of brown boots with red laces to give himself a rugged look, as well as a black toque.

The Spring Breakers star was joined on the way to the restaurant by one of his friends, who wore a blue graphic T-shirt for Utah's Zion Canyon, along with brown pants and black and white trainers.

James wore an intriguing tube-style black mask with a white illustration, while his friend stuck with a black and white bandana covered in skulls to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Too cool for school: James wore a cool black leather jacket and indicated he was a Deadhead with is yellow Grateful Dead T-shirt. He also wore black jeans and weathered brown boots

Franco looked as if he might have business to discuss at the lunch, as he brought along a large black notebook that was stuffed with pens.

Seemingly missing from the meeting was his much younger girlfriend Isabel Pakzad, 27.

The couple, who tend to keep to themselves, have reportedly been dating since November 2017, though they didn't make their red carpet debut together until July 2018.

Isabel, a Penn State graduate, previously was at the University of Southern California for a Master's degree in Integrated Design, Business, and Technology.

Franco also previously taught film courses at USC.

His girlfriend has only had a few film and television roles, but her largest parts to date include a small role in the comic book film Birds of Prey and a role in Franco's acclaimed HBO series The Deuce.

Work lunch: Franco looked as if he might have business to discuss at the lunch, as he brought along a large black notebook stuffed with pens

MIA: Seemingly missing from the meeting was his much younger girlfriend Isabel Pakzad, 27. The couple enjoyed a spa date on Friday

The aspiring actress seems to have been unfazed by accusations of inappropriate or sexually exploitative behavior leveled against the actor in January 2018.

A Los Angeles Times report quoted five women on their experiences with him.

Some described him allegedly trying to pressure women on the set of his project to show their breasts and fuming after no one volunteered, while another woman claimed that he removed protective covers from her and other actress genitals during a scene of simulated oral sex.

One woman described being allegedly pressured into performing oral sex on the actor in a car, though she later continued a consensual relationship with him.

Going strong: The couple keep a low profile, but they've been dating since November 2017. She was previously a grad student at USC, where Franco once taught; shown September 2019

Chilling allegations: The Pineapple Express star was accused of pressuring actresses into doing nude scenes and pressuring one romantic partner into performing oral sex in January 2018; pictured in April 2019

Last year, Franco became entangled in Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's ongoing legal action over their own alleged abuse.

His testimony was sought after elevator security footage showed him next to Heard a day after a fight with Depp that allegedly left her bloodied and bruised.

Depp's attorney's wanted the Pineapple Express star to give his assessment of Heard's condition following the alleged attack.
I've written about the Latino vote for 30 years, and I've been a Latino voter for longer than that.

So lately I've been asked why Joe Biden has such a big problema with Latino voters, as well as why President Donald Trump is poised to do well with people that he often mistakes for pinatas.

Both trends make sense to me, even as a Latino Never Trumper. In fact -- although many commentators have recently noted that Biden's Latino support is falling, while Trump's stock with Latinos is on an uptick -- I saw this hurricane coming a few months ago. Back in May, I wrote about how many Latinos don't like the former vice president or consider him their amigo.

Latinos are all about relationships. Biden doesn't have one with us, and he never has. Even with his half century in elective office, it's difficult to name a single piece of legislation that Biden has authored that specifically benefited Latinos.

Latinos' apathy toward Biden has been hard to miss -- even before they were largely left off the agenda last month at the virtual Democratic National Convention.
Brazil is known for its extremely favorable conditions for the production of energy through photovoltaic (PV) systems. Notably, per a report by Clean Energy Latin America (CELA), the countrys lowest solar irradiation is better than most of Europes highest.



As a result, throughout 2019, solar stood out as the most competitive energy source among all renewables in the nation.

Recent Solar Developments in Brazil

Considering the abundant prospects of the Brazilian solar market, companies across the globe have identified the nation as a lucrative hub for investments. Evidently, the Brazilian PV sector has attracted more than BRL 16.15 billion in cumulative investments since 2012, while generating about 182,000 jobs in the country.



These investments along with falling PV costs and surging power prices are boosting the solar installation rate in Brazil, thereby expanding its solar footprint. In July 2020, Brazil surpassed the 6-gigawatt (GW) mark for installed solar power, according to the latest data from the Brazilian Association of Photovoltaic Solar Energy (ABSOLAR).



Earlier, in March 2020, Brazil welcomed its largest solar plant, the Atlas Casablanca solar plant with an installed capacity of 330MW, equipped to produce enough energy to supply a city of 1.4 million inhabitants.

Whats Ahead?

In June 2020, the Brazil's Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) said it expects more than 8,000 MW of solar capacity to be added over the next 10 years, courtesy of a new protocol for the issuance of green debentures. Further, the installed Solar PV capacity in Brazil is expected to reach to 14GW in 2026 and 125GW in 2040.

Stocks in Focus

Lets take a look at a few solar companies that have already forayed into the Brazilian solar market and are expected to expand footprint in the time to come.



Canadian Solar CSIQ, a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company, signed two private power purchase agreements (PPA) in June 2020, with Braskem S.A. and COPEL Energia for a total of 274 MWp in solar power projects in Brazil. This was the first PPA signed directly between Canadian Solar and an industrial customer in Brazil and sets another landmark for Canadian Solar in this market. Both these projects will use Canadian Solar's high efficiency bifacial BiHiKu modules. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.



JinkoSolar JKS and Aldo Solar announced a long-term partnership in January 2020, which was beneficial for the former, as its mono perc Cheetah half cell 400 W solutions will be marketed and distributed by Aldo Solar throughout Brazil. Following the deal, the companys operations in Brazil began in 2012 and the Zacks Rank #3 company has already built a strong position in the country.



Renesola SOL, a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company, had supplied its solar PV modules to a solar PV project in southern Brazil in December 2019.



In August 2019, SolarEdge Technologies SEDG, a Zacks Rank #3 company, announced expansion in the Brazilian PV market with the introduction of its residential and commercial DC optimized inverter solutions. SolarEdge also introduced its residential PV portfolio to the Brazilian market, which includes its single-phase inverters with HD-Wave technology, smart energy suite and EV charging single-phase inverters.

Story continues

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 >>



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Zacks Investment Research
Make-out scenes look a whole lot different on the set of Riverdale these days.

Fans don't need to worry: There will still be plenty of kissing in the upcoming season, including between KJ Apa's character Archie and Camila Mendes' Veronica.

But KJ, 23, revealed on Instagram this week that in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the stars of the show are washing their mouths out before every take.

Behind-the-scenes: KJ Apa, 23, shared an Instagram video showing how different kissing scenes are on set these days

Smooching partners: KJ plays Archie on Riverdale, while Camila Mendes plays Veronica

On Wednesday, KJ shared a video recorded on set before a scene he filmed with Camila.

'Our new normal is washing our mouths before every take of a makeout scene...' he wrote.

In the clip, the two are handed identical tiny cups filled with liquid. He doesn't specify what's inside, though it is presumably mouthwash or alcohol to kill germs.

The two make a game of it, crossing their arms to pour the cups into their mouths at the same time.

Then, they swish. For a full minute, the pair keep the liquid in their mouths, as a woman off camera tells them how much time they have left.

'Our new normal is washing our mouths before every take of a makeout scene...' he wrote

Swish swish! In the clip, the two are handed identical tiny cups filled with liquid. He doesn't specify what's inside, though it is presumably mouthwash or alcohol to kill germs

Spit: For a full minute, the pair keep the liquid in their mouths, as a woman off camera tells them how much time they have left

Finally, when the time is up, they spit into plastic bags that can easily be disposed of.

The video has had quite a few comments, including from some of KJ's fellow Riverdale stars.

'That s*** burns,' wrote Lili Reinhart.

'Spit don't swallow,' wrote Skeet Ulrich.

Some fans, though, expressed disbelief that the actors weren't doing this before the pandemic, while costar Bernadette Beck asked that it become standard for kissing scenes.

Hollywood has found a few ways to operate safely during the pandemic.

Bold & the Beautiful producer Bradley Bell told Insider in June that the actors' real-life romantic partners are stepping in for smooching scenes these days.

Wait a minute! Some fans expressed disbelief that the actors weren't doing this before the pandemic

'So if you see hands touching faces in close proximity from a wide shot, instead of a stunt double we'll have a love-scene double, where it will be the husband or the wife doing the actual touching,' he said.

'Then when we edit it together, it will look like our couple on screen.'

As for sex scenes, they're using blow-up dolls in wigs and makeup.

'When we were reviewing the scripts, we started taking out all the romantic scenes and [the scripts] just fell flat,' he told the New York Post. 'We put our heads together trying to figure out a way to make these scenes work without breaking the eight-foot [distancing] rule...and we brought out a doll we used years ago as a corpse.'
The House on Tuesday voted 406-3 in favor of a bill to ban products made with forced labor in China's mass detention camps.

Why it matters: The U.S. has ramped up pressure recently on China to address human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region, where the Chinese government has engaged in a campaign of cultural and demographic genocide against Uighur Muslims and other ethnic minorities.

The legislation comes after Customs and Border Protection banned some imports of cotton, apparel, hair products, computer parts and other goods from the region earlier this month.

The importation of products made with forced labor is already illegal under U.S. law. This bill, if passed into law, would put a greater onus on companies to proactively prove that their products are not made with forced labor in Xinjiang.

Details: The bill, introduced by Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) with a companion bill in the Senate by Marco Rubio (R-Fl.), requires corporations to prove with clear and convincing evidence that products from China's Xinjiang region "are not made with forced labor."

Under the bill, the Secretary of State will be required to determine within 90 days whether the forced labor in the region is widespread and systematic and therefore constitutes atrocities.

The president would have to "identify and designate" visa or financial sanctions against any foreign person who knowingly engages in the forced labor in the region.

What they're saying: Uyghurs around the world take hope from this vote, said Uyghur Human Rights Project executive director Omer Kanat. The Senate must also act, and all governments must enact measures to counter the Chinese governments mass atrocities, committed on a scale not seen since World War II.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. High 44F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear. Low around 25F. Winds light and variable.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the 69th episode of Mann Ki Baat today, urged people not to forget 'Do Gaj Ki Doori'. India continues to record the maximum number of coronavirus cases across the world, with the tally nearing 60 lakh. The Prime Minister said the coronavirus crisis period has served in fostering bonding among family members, bringing them even closer. The Mann Ki Baat is aired on the last Sunday every month.

Here are the key highlights of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat speech.

History of stories is as ancient as human civilisation itself, said PM Modi. "Where there is a soul, there is a story," he added. In India, there has been a rich tradition of storytelling, he said, adding that Indians are proud to be denizens of land that nurtured the tradition of Hitopadesha and Panchatantra. "I urge all storytellers to include all inspirational stories from the period of foreign rule as we are going to celebrate 75 years of independence. Especially between 1857 and 1947. We can introduce our new generation to them in the form of stories," he added.

PM Modi talked about people who are working in the direction of story-telling. "I got to know about websites like gaathastory.in, which is run by Amar Vyas along with others. Vyas did his MBA from IIM-Ahmedabad and went abroad to work. He came back and lives in Bengaluru," said the PM, adding that Vyas takes time from his schedule and works in the field of telling stories. "He has also done efforts to popularise stories from rural India. People like Vaishali Vyavahare Deshpande are also popularising Marathi language across the world," the PM said.

PM Modi requested people to take time for story-telling. "This will be a wonderful experience. The same way, highlight stories relating to the great women and men who have made India proud," he said.

PM Modi said India is proud of its farmers. "It's a well-known saying in India that those who are connected to roots emerge stronger during tough times. During these tough times of coronavirus, India's farmers have shown the way and their true potential."

Farmers are playing a major role in the efforts to build India 'Aatma Nirbhar Bharat'. "India's agriculture industry, farmers and villages are the basis of India's Aatma Nirbhar Bharat dream. If they are strong, only then India's foundation will be stronger, says PM Modi." Many farmers keep telling me how they are adopting new farming techniques and the agriculture industry is changing, he said.

In recent times, the agricultural sectors have freed themselves from many shackles, said the PM. "Attempts were made to bust many myths. Farmers tell me how new dimensions are being added to agriculture, how farming is changing. I want to share here what they have shared with me," he added.

Giving examples of progressive farmers from Haryana, PM Modi said a farmer named Kanvar Chauhan from Sonipat, Haryana, told him how the exclusion of fruits and vegetables from the APMC Act in 2014 helped them sell the harvest to anyone they wished. This helped the entire area to flourish. "Today, the village farmers are earning Rs 3 lakh/hectare by doing sweet corn and baby corn farming. Not only this, the village people are using the net house and poly house to produce different varieties of tomato and cucumber to earn Rs 10-12 lakh/hectare."

PM Modi said that had we followed the essence of Bapu's economic philosophy, we would never have to be working to build an Aatma Nirbhar Bharat now. "It would have happened much earlier," he added. "Bapu's life tells us that we should work in such a way that it benefits even the poorest of people in the country," said Modi.

PM Modi also paid tributes to freedom fighters and India's great leaders who served the nation, including Vijayaraje Scindia, Loknayak JP, Nanaji Deshmukh and Bhagat Singh.

Also read: Mann Ki Baat Highlights: PM Modi hails farmers' resolve during COVID-19; pushes for self-reliant India

Also read: Mann Ki Baat: PM Modi pushes for a self-reliant India, urges startups to make toys locally
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- At a time when funding for government services is being drained by efforts to curb the overall economic impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the opioid crisis is an issue that still needs to be addressed, said Rep. Max Rose (D-Staten Island/Brooklyn).

Speaking at a press conference Sunday outside a Staten Island addiction recovery center in St. George, Rose laid out two pieces of legislation aimed at providing more access to opioid addiction treatment, while reducing the influence of big pharmaceutical companies in Washington.

Said Rose: This has touched and impacted too many lives and too many families both here at home and across the country. Giving up is not an option.

PENDING LEGISLATION

Roses END the Epidemic Act would establish a tax of 1 cent per milligram of opioids produced or manufactured, generating an estimated $2 billion to be used for opioid addiction treatment, recovery, prevention and research.

It is the least these companies can do, Rose said. If it was up to me, theyd all be in handcuffs.

He also touted legislation that would ban opioid manufacturers' corporate PACs from donating to politicians, while continuing a push to end the corrupt influence corporations and their political action committees play in politics.

I will never take a dimenot one centfrom these criminals," Rose said.

AN ONGOING CRISIS

Over this past summer, it was reported that drug overdose deaths in America -- which in 2018 dropped for the first time in a quarter-century -- surged to record numbers in 2019 and were continuing to climb into 2020.

Rose was joined Sunday by a Mariners Harbor woman who has three sons. One of them is a sergeant in the Army, one works for the city, and the other became addicted to heroin.

When I first found that needle in my house, my soul left my body, said Sidra Cardieri. I could never imagine myself in this predicament.

After being told by treatment centers that either there wasnt a bed available, or they didnt accept the familys insurance, that son currently is serving five to 10 years in prison for armed robbery, Cardieri said.

A CONTINUED EFFORT

The press conference was held outside the Staten Island Justice Center at 60 Bay Street, where several public services offer what Rose described as a one stop shop" in treating addiction and preventing addicts with criminal records from falling back into the lifestyle.

One of the services offered is a 24-hour Drug Recovery Center, which Rose said he was involved in establishing as Chief of Staff at Brightpoint Health.

But we have a lot more to do, Rose said. First and foremost, we need to be doubling and tripling down on funding to combat the opioid epidemic.
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For the past month, a group of volunteer teachers have been offering free English lessons atop floating rafts in Can Tho City, allowing locals of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to practice English with foreigners.

The tuition-free class runs twice a week on a fish farming raft atop Con Son (Son Islet), just off the coast of Binh Thuy District, Can Tho City, where more than 20 students each session are given the chance to hone their English skills with the aid of native speakers.

Each of the students who attend the class has their own reason for being there. Some are orchard owners hoping to turn their business into a tourist draw, while others are delivery workers and boat captains.

What they all have in common, however, is a desire to learn English so that they can keep up with Con Sons rise in popularity as a popular ecotourism draw.

A class for everyone

Each class begins with students and teachers arriving at the floating classroom on sampans, followed by simple greetings between the learners and their hosts.

Le Thi My Luong, one of the students, shared that her English has come a long way since she first began studying on the raft. She is now able to introduce herself and describe her family and hometown with ease.

Everyone can join as long as they have spare time. I think I had a much more difficult time picking up the language than some of my classmates, but Im thrilled that I can put full sentences together now, Lung, a grandmother in her late 50s, shared, adding that she spends her free time practicing the language with her children and grandchildren.

Tran Khanh Phuong, another student in the free class, was also eager to share how far she has come since she began studying on the raft.

Its great to be here. I never skip class, even on days when I dont feel well. I may not be able to make a long conversation with tourists, but at least I can give them a warm greeting in English, Phuong said.

Well aware of their students mixed abilities, the class instructors work hard to ensure that each individual is taught at a pace they can follow and that lessons are tailored to their specific needs.

That the teachers are all unpaid volunteers from nearby Huyen Le English Center does not seem to affect their dedication to delivering meaningful, well-planned lessons.

A floating classroom

On the 50-square-meter raft where classes are held, the students chairs are arranged in a U shape. This arrangement ensures all the students are able to see their teacher and facilitates student-student interaction, said Duong Quoc Tong, one of the volunteer teachers.

And just as the students are happy to be there, so are the teachers.

I find the job very meaningful. Im glad I can help local residents speak English and communicate more effectively with foreign tourists, said Barry White, one of the foreign teachers on the raft.

When difficulties arise, the teachers help the older students looking up words on their smartphones before showing them how to use the new vocabulary in real life.

Ta Minh Khoi, director of Can Tho-based Huyen Le English Center, shared how proud he is of his staff helping the local community improve local tourism services through more effective English communication.

More than 70 percent of the students are able to quite introduce themselves in English and also talk about food. Its really exciting, he said, adding he plans to increase the difficulty of the classes as the students become more experienced.

The teaching staff have also set up an online group to boost the students exposure to English and improve their speaking skills.

This English class may not run forever, so the online group will help the students review what they have learned and allow them to interact by raising questions and receiving answers from the instructors, Tong explained.

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Jerry L. Burton is a spiritual, deep-thinking guy wholl never give up on mankind: Every life is like being a piece of a puzzle  these pieces have value.

Its doubtful Burton even has time for puzzles; hes up by 5 every morning, tends to his and wife Lauras three horses, has breakfast, does some yard maintenance and then  before tending to the horses again in the early evening  spends his days writing and/or researching for his writing, taking an estimated eight to 10 hours daily.

If his surname sounds familiar, its because his wife, Laura Burton, is the associate director of business operations for the University of New Mexicos Health Sciences Rio Rancho Campus.

Writing and his love of history are his real fascinations, he says.

He combines the two in his new book, Clouds of War: Past, Present and on the Horizon (Xlibris, 2020), sharing with readers the life and experiences of a longtime friend and comrade in arms, 96-year-old Bill Drumm.

Drumm, a happy-go-lucky guy, is fascinating, Burton says. He uses his fellow retired US Air Force lieutenant colonel as he makes history, analyzes past events and identifies clouds of war on the horizon that are warnings to humanity.

With the famed Flying Tigers, Drumm piloted a B-24 heavy bomber, hauling over 2,200 gallons of explosive aviation fuel, from India into China  through thunder and lightning storms over the worlds highest mountains  hailed by some as the one of the most-dangerous missions of World War II. Yes, even more dangerous than U.S. bombing raids over Germany or Japan, Burton points out.

Drumm also shares his experiences of Cold War crises during his 28 years in the military, one year short of Burtons 29 years. And, on the books final page, the nonagenarian Drumm tells readers, My job was to do the job assigned to me to the best of my ability. And I did. Every flight made was another pilot and crew just doing their job to preserve the freedoms we enjoy as a nation.

Then, looking ahead, Drumm adds, If we are to continue as one nation, under God, then every true American needs to step up  now. Like me, you will just be one person. But if you work, others will work, and together, we can save our way of life for generations to come.

What I enjoy doing is giving context  what really makes a person what he is, Burton said, adding that he and Drumm spent 3 years putting the 256-page book together.

Drumm also examines events of the last few years, identifying the enemy within and the threats posed to this constitutional republic.

Behind the scenes, so to speak, Burton identifies the clouds, hence its appearance in the title, of war on the horizon before World War I and years following.

His book, Burton said, is meant to evoke a reaction  a mission from the reader.  The reader is challenged to act on this information and to become the central figure in the final, unwritten chapter of the book. This book ends, but the story goes on.

And Burton goes on as well: He not only has submitted numerous scientific papers, but is now working on the first of what will be a three-volume study guide of the Bible, which he said hes read twice, and, not surprising after chatting with this 29-year resident of Rio Rancho, Im also an ordained minister.

I cant quit reading, Burton, 77, said. Historys a passion.

He obviously cant stop writing, either: I have over 300 story lines, he says.

Hes never literally observed history in the making, although hes lived in myriad places in the U.S. Born and raised in San Angelo, Texas, his family later moved to Clovis, N.M., and back to San Angelo  after his father joined the military and his mother wanted to return to where family members lived  and then back to Clovis; plus Wellington, Kan., where his zest for reading began, and Cincinnati.

Ive been around a lot of great people, he said.

Following his days in the Air Force  during their stints in the USAF, Drumm and Burton spent time at Kirtland Air Force Base  and then the Air National Guard, Burton held executive positions in several international corporations. His background includes science, religion, business and teaching, and he has advanced degrees and practical experience in all these areas.

He worked for 10 years at Hope Christian School in Albuquerque. And, he added, he is a former chairman of the Sandoval County Republican Party.

Burtons new book is available at amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.
The coronavirus recession has bent but not broken the federal budget, one of the nation's chief forecasters believes, as economists urge Treasurer Josh Frydenberg not to scrimp on stimulus measures despite facing a deficit of $200 billion.

As Mr Frydenberg spent the weekend working on the finishing touches to his budget speech, to be delivered to Federal Parliament on October 6, Deloitte Access Economics said it expected the Treasurer to unveil a deficit of at least $198.5 billion.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg (left) and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann will deliver the largest deficit on record next week, but economists say they should not scrimp on spending. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Deloitte's forecast, which does not take into account any extra stimulus spending announced on budget night, also points to ongoing issues.

It is expecting a deficit of $45.1 billion in 2021-22, which is likely to be an election year. The following year, the deficit is tipped to be $25.6 billion.
Marchers gather at the National Mall for the Washington Prayer March 2020 led by Evangelist Franklin Graham, in Washington on Sept. 26, 2020. (Michael A. McCoy/Getty Images)

Thousands March in Washington to Pray and Show Support for Trump

Thousands of people packed the National Mall in downtown Washington on Saturday to pray and show their support for President Donald Trump.

The march, which stretched from the Lincoln Memorial to the U.S. Capitol, was held just hours before Trump announced the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.

Few in the crowd wore masks. Some sported red caps with the words Lets Make America Godly Again, a play on Trumps signature MAGA, or Make America Great Again, caps.

Vice President Mike Pence, speaking from the steps of the memorial, said he came to extend Trumps greetings and gratitude and asked them to pray for the new Supreme Court nominee.

Abraham Lincoln, before whose monument we stand today, said during his time in the White House, I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. And President Donald Trump has observed many times that America is a nation of believers, Pence said. So on the presidents behalf, I want to say thank you for your prayers.

When the president and I travel around the country, the sweetest words we ever hearand we hear them a lotis when people reach out and simply say, Im praying for you,' he added. And so we want to urge you on. Pray for all of those with public responsibilities in the executive branch. Pray for all of the members of the Congress of the United States. Pray for all of our justices on the Supreme Court, including the remarkable woman that the president will nominate to fill the seat.

Followers of Franklin Graham march from the Lincoln Memorial to Capitol Hill, during the Prayer March at the National Mall, in Washington on Sept. 26, 2020. (Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo)

People pray at the base of the Washington Monument as they march from the Lincoln Memorial to Capitol Hill, during the Prayer March at the National Mall, in Washington on Sept. 26, 2020. (Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo)

Marchers gather at the National Mall for Prayer March, in Washington on Sept. 26, 2020. (Michael A. McCoy/Getty Images)

Pence also noted that he has a son serving in the U.S. Marines and asked for prayer for members of the military as well as law enforcement officers.

Attendees told Breitbart News that they traveled to Washington from other states, including Florida and Ohio, to participate in the march.

Its great for the country. Were at a point in the country where division is ripping apart the nation, and we feel its time for God to help bring the nation together, one said.

Many in the crowd appeared to be students of Liberty University in Virginia.

The march was organized by the Rev. Franklin Graham, a prominent conservative evangelical and Trump supporter.

Graham said people prayed for people who work at the U.S. Capitol, for religious freedom in America and abroad, and for racial reconciliation in our country, and for healing of the divisiveness were experiencing, among other topics.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Find all of the most important pandemic education news on Educating N.J., a special resource guide created for parents, students and educators.

It was a stressful week at Stockton University. Students were arriving on campus to move into dorms for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Professors were preparing to start fall courses with a mix of in-person and online classes.

And Interim Provost Michelle Craig McDonald was facing tough questions from her faculty and staff. Why was the 9,900-student public university in Galloway reopening at all? And why was the largely white faculty given the choice to teach from home while many of Stocktons support staff, with a larger portion of minorities, were told they must report to work in person?
By PTI

BERLIN: Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is recovering from the suspected assassination attempt last month faster than expected, one of his aides said Sunday.

Navalny, who collapsed on a plane from Siberia to Moscow on Aug.

20 and spent nearly three weeks in a coma, was discharged last week from the Berlin hospital where he was being treated.

His doctors said that based on Navalny's progress a "complete recovery is possible."

"He is doing much better, I would say unexpectedly better," Leonid Volkov, Navalny's chief of staff, told German broadcaster RTL.

"I think the recovery is really faster than expected, and of course this is good news that makes us very happy."

Navalny, a longtime foe of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is still receiving outpatient treatment and remains under close protection, Volkov said.

"I personally don't think that another attack can happen in Berlin, but we can see that the personal security has a different opinion," he said.

"He is guarded quite heavily."

Germany authorities have said Navalny was poisoned with a powerful nerve agent and called on Russia to investigate the attack that occurred on its territory.

The presence of the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok in Navalny's samples was corroborated by labs in France and Sweden.

But Russia has resisted international pressure to launch a criminal investigation, saying its own tests found no trace of poisonous substances in the opposition leader's system.

The poisoning "had so many negative consequences for the Kremlin, said Volkov, adding that in his opinion the attempted assassination couldn't have occurred without Putin's approval.

Navalny has said that he intends to return to Russia to resume his work.

"He understands the risks quite well, and we are supposed to think somehow how he can continue living in Russia," Volkov told RTL.

"It will not be so easy and many things will change, for sure, to reduce the probability of a second attack."
Tyler Clementi has been gone for 10 years, but for his mother, his physical absence can feel so new and at other times, excruciatingly long.

I seem to be held captive by dates and this is one date that really always knocks me, Jane Clementi said of the anniversary of her sons death. It has been 10 years, but in some respects, it seems really quick.

In February, Clementi packed up 31 years of memories from the family home in Ridgewood, New Jersey, to prepare for a move. It was the home where she and her husband Joseph raised Tyler and his two brothers, Brian and James.

Jane Clementi with her three sons - Brian, James and Tyler - and husband Joseph. (Tyler Clementi Foundation)

While she had never read some of Tyler's writings, Jane put them in a box to bring to the family's new home. A few weeks ago, she decided to read the anguished words Tyler wrote shortly before he died.

"There is nothing in this world that I love or at least nothing I allow myself to love," he wrote. "I just want to go home. I just want to be deleted."

Tyler Clementi took his own life on Sept. 22, 2010, after learning his roommate secretly recorded him having a romantic encounter with a man. It was less than a month after he started his freshman year at Rutgers University. Tyler had also only recently come out to friends and family before he moved into his dorm room, eager to start the next chapter of his life.

Mostly, it seems like an eternity for me. A really long time, Jane said. It seems like forever since I held Tylers hand or kissed him goodnight or said goodnight. Its just really difficult to think in those terms. And I try not to focus on that, but when these dates come up, you cant just help but think about them and how long it has been.

Tyler Clementi (Tyler Clementi Foundation)

Tyler's death sparked global attention and ushered in policy changes, laws and efforts, such as the It Gets Better movement to help put an end to bullying and support LGBTQ youth. In 2011, Jane founded a foundation in her son's name, an organization aiming to end bullying in schools and workplaces. Ten years after his death, the work of the Tyler Clementi Foundation is still moving ahead full force.

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The organization has a Million Upstander Movement, which empowers people to stand up when they see bullying. The "Day 1" campaign also serves as a template for leaders to speak out on the first day of a team practice, class, work or meeting to make it clear everyone is welcome and bullying will not be tolerated.

Related: After a rash of LGBTQ teen suicides a decade ago, a grassroots movement started to spread a simple but profound message: It gets better.

But there are still new ideas being launched to help further the organization's mission.

One new initiative, writing letters to strategic pastors in the Southern Baptist Convention to bring awareness to church messages that harm LGBTQ youth, was inspired after Jane read some of her son's writings and realized Tyler did not hear affirming messages from the family's faith community.

He was obviously in a lot of pain and suffering loneliness and much of that was because of the teachings he had been hearing, she said. "I do think that having messages of condemnation that illicit those feelings of shame or fear even is a form of bullying and that is why we need to stop it."

Jane said the letter writing campaign hasn't received a response from the pastors, but she's determined to make they "see and know" the harm of not preaching equality and creating an inclusive church.

Its not only creating safer spaces for those in the LGBTQ community, but also hearing those condemning messages, straight youth will go back to their schools and playgrounds and the cyber world and use those messages to harm other people," she said.

Personal letters from Jane and other leaders, including Alphonso David, president of the Human Rights Campaign, are posted on the Tyler Clementi Foundation's website, which adds that "true faith doesn't discriminate."

It's something Jane has personal experience with as she navigated being in a "fog" for years after her son's death and then realizing she needed to make a change and find a church that supported and loved her entire family.

"Unfortunately they couldn't support my older son, who is also gay, and many people who were coming into my life at that point who were part of the LGBTQ community," she said. "It was a blurry, foggy time, but as I was waking up, I saw the need to be an upstander. I didn't have words at the time because I was so foggy and empty inside, but I did have the ability to move, so I removed myself from that space."

She spent time trying out new churches and even commuting to Manhattan where she had more anonymity. "Wherever I went, people knew everything about me, it seemed," she said. "I just needed some space personally for myself."

Jane found a new church she loved, but with her move and the coronavirus, she said she is now enjoying "church surfing" online and finding services that support her in her faith.

While the coronavirus has drastically changed the way people can get together and connect, Jane is also busy planning an Oct. 15 virtual fundraiser for the Tyler Clementi Foundation featuring the cast of "Queer as Folk." The event will replace the annual in-person October fundraising event.

"The most difficult part for us is the fundraising aspect. It certainly has been a challenging time for that," she said. "This will still be a fun evening. It's very different than what we usually do."

The night aims to fund the organization's mission to end bullying, which may be needed now more than ever. A sobering survey released in July 2020 said 2 in 5 LGBTQ youth in the United States have "seriously considered" suicide in the past year,

The survey, the largest of its kind, polled 40,000 LGBTQ people between ages 13 and 24 and found that 68% of the respondents reported symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, 55% reported symptoms of major depressive disorder and 48% reported engaging in self-harm. In addition, 40% say they have seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.

If you are an LGBTQ young person in crisis, feeling suicidal or in need of a safe and judgment-free place to talk, call the TrevorLifeline now at 1-866-488-7386.
WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's deputy justice minister on Monday questioned the independence of judges in the Netherlands after a Warsaw court ruled that a couple should not be extradited to the Netherlands.

Poland has been embroiled in a long-running row with the European Union about judicial reforms which critics say increase political control over the courts. In July, a Dutch court refused to extradite a suspect in a drugs case to Poland citing doubts about the independence of judges there.

On Monday, the Warsaw District Court, accepting a request from the prosecutor, refused to extradite the couple who had fled to Poland from the Netherlands with their autistic son, who had been taken into care by the authorities.

The couple had been subject to a European Arrest Warrant, which usually ensures transfers of EU citizens, if requested, throughout the bloc, although there are some limited exceptions.

"The court paid a lot of attention ... to the issues of the independence of the Dutch judiciary and the independence of judges in the Netherlands," Deputy Justice Minister Michal Wojcik told Reuters.

"... the Dutch system is disproportionately politicised in relation to the Polish system ... in the Netherlands, politicians play a very strong role in the process of judicial appointments," he said.

The Dutch Justice Ministry could not immediately be reached for comment.

Polish state news agency PAP reported that the judge also noted that in the Netherlands euthanasia was legal after the age of 12, which could pose a threat to the boy's life.

"We are going to take our time to study this ruling," Dutch prosecution spokeswoman Martine Pilaar said. "We were not planning euthanasia for this boy, but were concerned about his wellbeing, his health and his development."

(Reporting by Alan Charlish and Alicja Ptak in Warsaw, Anthony Deutsch in Amsterdam; Editing by Alison Williams)
Ankara: Violence flared up between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh region on Sunday (September 27, 2020) and both the countries have accused each other of launching the attack and of claiming to have an upper hand in the war. While the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that the enemy started an attack and the military of Karabakh region is responding, the Defence Ministry of Azerbaijan argued that Armenia has attacked them and it has begun a counterattack operation.

The Armenian Defence Ministry has claimed about gunning down two Azeri helicopters and destroying three tanks and the Azeri government has asserted about destroying troops, military objects, and equipment of the Armenian military.

The current war is being seen as an outcome of the Turkey-Russia conflict, with Turkey supporting Azerbaijan and Russia aligning with Armenia.

The violence was triggered by the Turkish aggression as it began attacking Russian forces along the Syrian border and in July 2020, instigated Azerbaijan to attack the Armenian forces in the Tovuz region  the junction point of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia  to give a message to Russia. Just a couple of days after the conflict, diverging from covertly supporting Azerbaijan, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan openly declared that Turkey shall support Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia.

Armenias Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan accused Turkey of attempting to increase instability in the region in an interview with the Russian news agency Interfax.

Today Turkey is trying to export this policy of destabilization to the South Caucasus region. This is a serious concern. Turkey is pursuing an unconstructive and dangerous policy. And Turkeys actions continue to pose a threat to the security of Armenia, Mnatsakanyan said.

Turkey has been deploying terrorists from Syria and Libya to Azerbaijan to help it fight the war with Armenia. It is also supplying Azerbaijan arms and widely famed Turkish drones. the war broke-off between both the countries, Turkish President came forward to state that by attacking Azerbaijan, Armenia has proved once again it is the biggest obstacle to peace and stability in the region.

Armenia, which has added a new one to its attacks on Azerbaijan, has once again proven that it is the biggest threat to peace and serenity in the region. The Turkish nation continues to stand by its Azerbaijani brothers and sisters with all its means, as it has always done, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a statement on his Twitter account.

Both the countries have been a part of the erstwhile USSR and root of the conflict lies in the disintegration of the USSR. With the disintegration of the USSR and formation of independent countries, the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh became a breakaway territory between Azerbaijan and Armenia and went through intense violence.

The majority Armenian community began demanding to integrate the territory with Armenia, which was supported by a popular vote of regions legislature. Though a ceasefire was declared in 1994, the region has been going through violence between Armenian community and Azeri armed forces till date. The last major clash between both the countries over the region was in 2016.

Though the UNSC has recognised the region as a part of Azerbaijan, Armenia is currently controlling the territory through the self-declared Republic of Artsakh  an administration controlled by ethnic Armenian community. Armenia also controls a significant amount of territory surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh.

The escalated tensions between both the countries have been built over the past few months and as soon as the tensions began to escalate, Turkey deployed Syrian fighters in Azerbaijan to fight Armenia. Several media reports from last week highlighted that cadres of the Hamza Division  a terrorist group trained and sponsored by Turkey arrived in Azerbaijan. The Hamza Division is a prominent part of the Turkey sponsored Syrian National Army (SNA).

A United Nations report released in the current month highlighted that Hamza Division and the entire SNA were involved in war crimes in areas under their control since Turkish forces took the control of Kurdish cities Afrin and Ras al-Ayn in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

The report added, SNA members also looted and destroyed cultural property, in violation of international humanitarian law.

Credible reports have emerged that Turkey is transferring its militant proxies based in northern Syria to Azerbaijan as tensions & skirmishes with Armenia rapidly increase.Greek City Times reported.

Erdogan is famed to exploit terror outfits to his advantage and has also used the SNA in Libya to fulfil his geopolitical objectives and desire of becoming the self-declared Caliph of the Muslim Ummah. The group has led to innumerable casualties in Libya. However, with Libya moving towards peace and stability, Erdogan has now shifted the terrorists of the group to Azerbaijan.

It is also believed that Erdogan has directly deployed Turkish troops along the border region to fight with the Armenian community soldiers in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Turkish armed forces have also been conducting joint exercises with the Azeri forces and helping them in capacity building as well.

Turkey has since long been extending its full-fledged support to Azerbaijan. In fact, this support is stemmed in the deep-rooted hatred of the Armenian community by Turkey. Subsequent Turkish governments have ensured the ethnic cleansing of Armenian community staying in Turkey and the consequent demographic change.

The Turkey sponsored attack in Nagorno-Karabakh has worsened the human rights situation in the region, which already had a fragile human rights condition. An attack during the COVID-19 pandemic has added to the woes of the Armenian community of the region.

The instigations by Erdogan are costing the regional peace and existence of an entire community. The back to back provocations to attack Armenians are similar to efforts of Hitler to cleanse Jews. If the global fraternity doesnt come forward to stop Azerbaijan backed by Turkey, then the world could very soon see the Armenian community moving towards endangerment.
More than 300 names from across the nation were read aloud Saturday at Italian Lake to honor those who have lost their lives in police-involved shootings.

You never heal, said Rafiyqa Muhammad. Youre constantly depressed. Youre constantly hurting. Youre constantly in pain. It hurts.

Muhammad was one of nearly two dozen speakers who read the names of people of color of all ages killed in recent years at the Say Their Names event. The events organizer, Floyd Stokes, said the people recognized were either killed by a police officer or suffered from racialized violence.

Stokes, the founder of the African American Memorial Fund, said he organized the event to support families. As a new nonprofit in the area, he said he hopes to obtain his 501c3 tax-exempt status from the state soon so he can start raising funds to offer counseling services and possibly help pay for burial costs.

We exist to support the families that have unarmed loved ones who were killed by the police, Stokes said. We have a couple of different ways we want to partner with families. We want to get them counseling, set up scholarships for the children who are left behind, and eventually, we want to assist with burial costs.

Stokes, and several speakers, said theyd rather not participate in events like Say Their Names.

There are only a few of us here, who know what Im talking about, Muhammad said. Im not a preacher, but Im telling you one thing, if we dont get our act together, were going to be dealing with this again, and Im tired. The system done failed us. And, we failed the system. Weve got to make a change here today. I dont want to continue doing this.

Muhammed lost her son to a police-involved shooting in January 2013. Ishmael Muhammad was the first person shot and killed by an officer on the Dauphin County Crisis Response Team in two decades.

Former Dauphin County District Attorney Edward M. Marsico, Jr. and Susquehanna Township Police Chief and CRT Team leader Rob Martin said the police were justified in responding to a situation where Ishmael was high on drugs and took people hostage, while his family said the shooting wasnt necessary.

Muhammad made an impassioned plea to the over 70 people who attended the 6 p.m. reading to hold law enforcement locally accountable.

Speakers read the persons name who was killed, the day they were shot, and their age.

Not only should we say, Black Lives Matter, but also I want to add believe in black people, said Dauphin County Democrat state Rep. Patty Kim. Believe black people when they say they were too hard on me, they mistreated me, they mistreated in prison, they mistreated me when I was arrested. Believe in black people. How many more people have to die until we realize we have a problem?
For example, after the first phone call, word gets around pretty quickly that The Sun-Herald and Sunday Age are working on a piece about "the moderates under Morrison". Enthusiasm to participate varies. The left side of the Liberal Party has had a lot of monikers over the years. In the Hawke-Keating years they were generally known as the "wets", and supported a greater amount of economic intervention than the free market "dries". Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, Goldstein MP Tim Wilson and Mackellar MP Jason Falinski in Parliament in 2019. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer These days the moderates have embraced economic and social liberalism. They are less likely than their conservative cousins to support the government "picking winners", such as underwriting a new gas-fired power station in the event the market does not deliver. At the last election, a handful of progressive Liberals experimented with their branding, dubbing themselves "modern Liberals" on corflutes and other paraphernalia. Tim Wilson, Dave Sharma and Jason Falinski adopted the term.

It was a reflection of the party's image problem in progressive urban seats. After a term of tearing themselves apart over marriage equality and climate change, the MPs wanted to signal they were worlds apart from the conservative rump. But it's a different world now, and a different party room. The destructive era of Turnbull versus Tony Abbott is long gone. There are no towering, divisive social issues like marriage equality on the agenda. Climate change and energy remain challenging but the heat, so to speak, appears to have been taken out of the debate. Under Turnbull, every sign of discontent was a possible canary in the coalmine for a leadership showdown. The threats came mostly from the right, although a gang of up to half a dozen "rebel" moderate MPs tried to maintain the impression they might go feral if something wasn't done to legalise same-sex marriage. Morrison's majority in the lower house is barely bigger than Turnbull's, but politically there is more room for MPs to stick their necks out - within reason - on issues they care about. Senators Andrew Bragg and James Patterson, plus Wilson and Falinski, are leading a ginger group to try to stop the superannuation guarantee increasing to 12 per cent from 9.5 per cent. North Sydney MP Trent Zimmerman has backed a target of net zero emissions by 2050, and last week made a quiet intervention on media policy when he called for the government to compel streaming services such as Netflix to create Australian content. He told The Sun-Herald and Sunday Age those services should have to spend 10 to 15 per cent of the revenue they earn in Australia creating Australian productions.

Sharma, a former ambassador to Israel, has latitude to speak on China and has been critical of the government's travel ban during the COVID-19 pandemic, calling it a "pretty extraordinary restriction on people's liberty". Liberal MP Dave Sharma says Scott Morrison doesn't feel the need to enforce strict discipline on his MPs. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The freedom to freelance is not absolute. Earlier in the year Morrison and Payne summoned a group of MPs including Sharma and Wilson, and conservatives Andrew Hastie and Craig Kelly among others, for a gentle reminder about the need for sensitivity when discussing China. "Even when he's had to sound a note of caution, it's always been in a respectful rather than a disciplinary sense," says Sharma. "He's quite secure enough in his own leadership not to feel the need to enforce strict discipline on people's views." That wasn't always the case. After Morrison won the 2019 election, he put his foot down. In July of that year he confronted party room unrest over superannuation and the Newstart payment, bluntly telling MPs to air their grievances through internal processes rather than in public.

"You go outside of those processes, it's showing disrespect to those you're sitting next to, it's showing disrespect to your other colleagues," Morrison warned. Politics has since mellowed. Wilson, the Liberal MP for Goldstein since 2016, says it's a different ball game to when he entered Parliament under Turnbull. "When I first arrived a lot of policy debates were proxies for leadership and personality," he says. "Now policy debates are about policy." Energy policy is the obvious example: Turnbull was ultimately rolled using the National Energy Guarantee as a precursor. Plenty of moderate Liberals still believe the NEG was great policy, even "perfect", but are happy to settle for Morrison's "good" alternative, including his "gas-led recovery". Some hate the PM's plan to build a gas-fired power station in the Hunter Valley if AGL does not replace its Liddell coal plant. But the detractors aren't jumping up and down because they don't think it will actually happen. One MP says gas is the perfect halfway house for Morrison, who is always going to look out of place on a solar farm. At least with gas, the MP says, "you can still turn up to industrial plants, wear high-vis vests and knock about with tradies".

Wilson says Morrison's strength is he "has respect for principled liberal policy, but understands how it is received by the punter, which makes for a more sustainable lens for progressing values to policy outcomes". "Every day I become happier I voted for him to be PM. There's no buyer's remorse," says Wilson. "We're given clearer parameters about the freedom to differ, which means we are free to debate issues so long as we understand the responsibility to keep the team united." In agreement: Senator Andrew Bragg and Liberal MP Tim Wilson. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Moderate MPs who speak to The Sun-Herald and Sunday Age are keen to emphasise the policy leadership coming from their side of the fence. It is true they have been ferocious authors since the election; Bragg wrote a book on super, Bad Egg, and is working on another one outlining the conservative case for backing the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Wilson wrote a book on liberalism called The New Social Contract, for which Morrison penned a glowing foreword. Bragg believes his policy activism has been "valued and appreciated" by the PM. "I'm trying to make the boat go faster," he says. "Everything I'm advancing around getting a better super deal or getting a better deal for Indigenous affairs is consistent with our policies."

Loading And if the liberal side of the party is deliberately active, the conservative side is in something of a funk. Peter Dutton was bruised by his failed leadership tilt, as was Mathias Cormann, who will leave politics by year's end. "Cormann has been physically present but not mentally present," says one MP. "Dutton is not the force that he was. The people under him - [Michael] Sukkar, [Zed] Seselja and [Tony] Pasin - are not bringing the same political skills that Abbott brought. The fact [Alan] Jones is no longer on morning radio talking to large sections of NSW and Queensland is also having a huge impact." Whether all the books, opinion pieces and policy contributions amount to anything will be made clear come the inevitable reshuffle once Cormann departs. Other ministers have arguably under-performed and there would be plenty of scope to elevate new talent, should Morrison choose. Tom Harley, the Liberal moderate and former party vice-president who founded the Black Hand dinner with Brandis, says he has every confidence Morrison will maintain factional balance in a future frontbench.
Joe Biden said last year that he kicked off his academic career at Delaware State University, a historically black university, but the institution has now denied that claim.

Biden made the declaration before the South Carolina Democratic primary - which he won by a landslide - during an October 2019 town hall event at Wilson High School in Florence

'I got started out of an HBCU, Delaware State  now, I dont want to hear anything negative about Delaware State. Theyre my folks,' Biden told the crowd.

But a spokesperson for Delaware State University has now denied that the Democratic presidential nominee was a student at the school, The Washington Times reported

'Vice President Biden did not attend DSU,' Carlos Holmes, Director of News Services, told the publication.

'However he was the Commencement keynote speaker in 2003 and [2016], and during the former he was awarded an honorary doctoral degree.'

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Joe Biden (pictured) said at a October 2019 town hall event that he 'got started out of an HBCU' in reference to Delaware State University

Delaware State University is one of 107 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) open in the US and is ranked No. 11 on the US News & World Report HBCU rankings.

The institution sits about 50 miles south of the University of Delaware, where Biden graduated in 1965 after he double majored in political science and history.

The high school was founded in 1866 by the Freedmen's Bureau for black children seeking an education after The Civil War's resolution.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Delaware State University for further comment.

Delaware State University (pictured) spokesperson: 'Vice President Biden did not attend DSU. However he was the Commencement keynote speaker in 2003 and [2016], and during the former he was awarded an honorary doctoral degree'

This month, Biden and his VP pick Kamala Harris appointed Delaware State University President Dr. Tony Allen to serve on the Advisory Council of the Biden Transition Team.

Allen, a former speechwriter in Biden's Senate office, would help 'to ensure the continuity of the government should the former Vice President win the November presidential election.'

In a statement shared to Delaware State University's website, Dr. Allen said he began working for Biden 23 years ago.

Delaware State University President Dr. Tony Allen (right) was brought onto the Advisory Council of the Biden Transition Team

'We met in 1997 when he took a chance on a young, single father completing his graduate studies and asked me to come work in his Senate office, as a speechwriter and a liaison to the City of Wilmington.

'What I didnt know then was that he would become one of the primary catalysts to my life in public service.'

Dr. Allen added that working with on the Advisory Council was a privilege.

'I could not be more honored and humbled by his invitation to offer counsel and perspective in an unprecedented moment in our nations history.'
Julie Miller trainee Venerate stormed through the stretch to nail 4-5 favourite Donna Soprano and win the inaugural edition of the Mohawk Million, which went for a purse of $1,320,000, on Saturday (Sept. 26) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Starting from the second tier, Venerate floated into position to race seventh as Altar emerged on top of a five-horse blitz to the front before a :27 first quarter. Driver Andrew McCarthy tipped Venerate off the pylons entering the backstretch in a flow developing.

On A Streak cleared command from Altar off the first turn and led the field to a :56.1 as Insta Glam readied a first-over charge from fifth. Donna Soprano loosely followed that cover and soon raced uncovered to three-quarters with Insta Glam setting the speed.

Opening her lead to three-quarters in 1:24, Insta Glam began to tire in the stretch while Donna Soprano surged to the lead. Venerate tipped off his cover and challenged Donna Soprano into the eighth pole, drawing to equal terms and then downing the Peaceful Way champ in the final sixteenth of a 1:53.2 mile. On A Streak held third with Insta Glam taking fourth.

I was hoping I got out of there a little closer, McCarthy said after the race, but after scoring him down I knew I couldnt make him accelerate too fast, so I just wanted to get out of there upright. I knew hes a very strong horseIve seen that. I figured Id have to get through that first turn and worry about where Im going from there. It worked out where the speed was pretty tough early, so it worked out where I could end up getting a pretty good trip.

A colt by Love You out of the Muscle Hill mare Peaceful Kemp, Venerate won his fourth race from seven starts, earning $848,766. The colt competes for the Pinske Stables and Andy Miller Stable Inc. and raced in the Mohawk Million under the slot purchased for $110,000 by Brad Grant, whose $1.1-million yearling Maverick did not make the race.

We really believed in this race when we bought our slot, Brad Grant said after the race. What Woodbine Mohawk has done is something new. I think its greatit had a buzz to it all night long. Its unfortunate our colt [Maverick] didnt get here but [we] talked to Julie Miller and one quick conversation we had a deal done. Just wonderful people to work with. Im happy it worked out for them and Im really happy it worked out for us.

Venerate paid $6.80 to win.

The Mohawk Million was one of the handful of major stakes events on the Saturday card at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Recaps from the other races are available at the following links:

To view the results from Saturday's card of harness racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Trans-Tasman bubble between the two countries could be open by December

Comes as Australia's worst-hit state - Victoria - recorded just 16 new infections

Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham said plan needs strict airport protocols

Plan would involve separating flyers from those from other parts of the world

Kiwi government said Australia needs 28 days without community transmission

A trans-Tasman bubble allowing travel between Australia and New Zealand could be open as early as December - but the states and territories will have to meet a high bar before the plan becomes reality.

Victoria, the Australian state worst-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, recorded just 16 new cases on Sunday - renewing hopes travel between the two countries could be on the horizon in the coming months.

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Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham said the plan to re-open travel was possible as long as strict protocols keeping arrivals from New Zealand away from other international travellers were put in place.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has previously said she would not consider a bubble unless the whole of Australia goes 28 days without community transmission.

'That would just be a great step and it would prove the work that is being done to make sure this can be done, again, in a safe way,' Mr Birmingham said.

'We're making sure we have all the work done - all the preparations there - so we can safely achieve that bubble with New Zealand.

'It's up to them as to whether they choose to open up to Australia, but we're certainly making sure that we're prepared and I'm hopeful that could be this year.'

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The tourism minister added 'corridors' and 'clearances' in airports in Australia and New Zealand would help separate travellers between the two countries and those from other parts of the world who would need to quarantine.

Mr Birmingham's comments come as the coalition government announced it was providing $250 million to boost tourism and infrastructure in Australia's regions.

The October 6 budget will set aside $50 million for a regional tourism recovery initiative to assist businesses in regions heavily reliant on international tourism.

Hopes travel between Australia and New Zealand could be on the horizon have been renewed by falling infection rates in Victoria

Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham said the plan to restart travel between New Zealand and Australia could go ahead with strict airport controls separating flyers from the two countries with other travellers

Earlier on Sunday, it was reported travellers could be allowed to fly from New Zealand into New South Wales without quarantining as early as November.

The federal government will reportedly initially only allow New Zealand residents to fly in.

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NSW residents will then be allowed to travel across the Tasman by Christmas, The Sunday Telegraph reported.

Transport and Tourism Forum chief executive Margy Osmond hopes flights between Sydney and Auckland will resume by November.

'It would be fair to say that on both sides of the Tasman, work has been progressing at pace to make sure that when the health requirements are right, we are ready to go,' she told the publication.

Under the plans, which were crafted by the tourism restart task force, holidaymakers from across the Tasman would avoid hotel quarantine (Pictured are passengers at Sydney International Airport on September 18 after flying in from Auckland)

'It would be a mistake to think that because there's been a bit of a hiccup on their side and our side that work stopped  it hasn't.'

NSW treasurer Dominic Perrottet added: 'NSW is home to Australia's only truly global city, and its economy is the engine room for the nation, so there's no doubt our state should be a part of any trans-Tasman bubble.'

NSW is now allowed to take an additional 500 returned travellers a week in relaxed restrictions introduced on Sunday as the state recorded zero new coronavirus cases for the first time in four months.
I see what happened differently  as a demonstration of the community's implicit belief in the political process, a willingness to do the right thing by ourselves and each other, which is what good societies do. Sure, there are those who've fought against the restrictions, but they're a tiny minority. This adherence to  and in most instances, support for  the restrictions has been remarkable, especially since the faith Australians have been showing in the political system is not reciprocated by far too many of our politicians. Illustration: Jim Pavlidis Credit: As I see it, the cynicism within the political world is much worse than in the community. The political class's cynicism was on vivid display last week. The Victorian government expects Victorians to believe its horrendous hotel quarantine policy came out of thin air. The audacity of it all is breathtaking. Meanwhile, the federal government went into reverse on the NBN and on debt and deficit.

At a cost of $4.5 billion, the Morrison government will roll out fibre to the premises, which was a key part of the Rudd Labor government's original plan for the NBN. When the coalition took office in 2013, it dismissed fibre to the premises as wasteful and unnecessary. Seven years later, it's a wonderful thing. Loading Similarly, the government now presents record levels of debt and monumental budget deficits as signs of virtue. You don't have to have an especially detailed memory to recall that when the Rudd government borrowed heavily to stave off a recession during the global financial crisis, this was portrayed by the coalition as a catastrophe. The Liberals and Nationals voted for Rudd's first stimulus package but not for a second one and then stumped the country decrying Labor's fiscal recklessness. The truth is that the coalition opposed Labor on these issues back in the days of Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard not so much on the merits but overwhelmingly because it was a way to bring down a government. Labor had to be opposed because, well, that's what you do in politics. Somehow, just a few years down the track when there's a brazen volte face, we're not supposed to notice or care.

I think that in the final analysis, many of us do because it unnecessarily tests our faith and trust in politicians. We cannot afford too much of that. Australians deserve to be understood and genuinely represented by their parliamentarians and political parties. That's the way to engender and enhance respect. Loading If we want to see what can happen to a democracy when respect and understanding falls away, look at America where in 2016 struggling blue-collar communities in the mid-west deserted the Democrats, handing power to Donald Trump because they felt they were no longer understood by the Democrats. Four years later, as the presidential election approaches, America's democracy is at a crossroads. There is a widening gap between today's politicians and the people they exist to serve. As politics has become professionalised and parties have become corporate shells rather than mass-based organisations, politicians have become more distant from larger numbers of voters and their lives. Perhaps that is the problem, the thing that drives the cynicism. That gap can entice them to see what they can get away with. As we look to climb out of what is hopefully the worst of the pandemic, it would be a great lost opportunity for the country if our leading politicians, having, with the exception of those atop Victoria's Andrews government, got the job done, doubled down on their cynicism.
New Delhi, Sep 27 : The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has urged the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for a relook on its last month's circular on opening of current accounts in banks and suggested changes.

The industry body has written to the RBI and also submitted a detailed note with its recommendations.

"While the RBI guidelines are of appropriate intent, they are likely to disrupt the ongoing servicing of clients by banks, NBFCs, HFCs and is expected to lead to a manifold increase in operational workflows, inefficiencies, delays, inconveniences and costs for delivery of products and services to clients in addition to potential operational risk issues," a CII statement said.

The RBI revised guidelines on the 'opening of current accounts' by banks were aimed to ensure discipline in view of concerns emanating from the use of multiple operating accounts by borrowers, both current accounts (CA) and cash credit (CC) or overdraft (OD) accounts.

The CII suggested modifications to the circular to ensure that the RBI intent does not go in vain and operations of corporates and lending institutions can continue without much hurdles, it said.

The industry body has recommended increasing the threshold limits from Rs 5 crore to Rs 25 crore, and Rs 50 crore to Rs 100 crore to ensure minimal impact on the banking sector without compromising the principles articulated in the circular.

It also said that a decrease in the banking exposure limit from 10 per cent to 5 per cent for clients availing cash credit of overdraft will ensure limits consistent with Tier-1 capital base to 15 per cent of the bank's capital to provide for a wider lender consortium.

The CII has also recommended exclusion of certain categories of borrowers, including mutual funds, insurance companies, exchange brokers, NBFCs and housing finance companies, from the scope of the circular, on the basis of credit worthiness in terms of external ratings, risk management, and governance standards.

It has also urged the central bank to set up a central framework to facilitate information-sharing among the banks for fund flows of customers, as it has done for exposures, so that all lending banks are fully cognizant of the fund flow and can take timely action when required.

"Such a framework will address the risk of diversion of cash flows and negate the need for operational controls mentioned in the circular," the CII said.

For implementation of the circular, the CII has urged the RBI to consider allowing additional timeline till April 1, 2021, considering the current state of readiness of corporate borrowers and likely operational challenges to be faced while adopting a measured and smooth transition.
By Suleiman Al-Khalidi

AMMAN (Reuters) - Jordan on Sunday resumed its land border traffic with Syria, following a more than month-long closure, after applying new rules to prevent truck drivers spreading the novel coronavirus into the kingdom, officials and businessmen said.

They said authorities imposed back-to-back handling of goods to ensure Syrian, Lebanese truck drivers and others entering the kingdom maintain a social distance from Jordanian customs officials.

Officials said in mid-August they had to close the crossing, the main gateway for goods from Lebanon and Syria to the Gulf, after dozens of infections among border officials linked to a spike in cases in neighbouring Syria.

Before the decade-old conflict in Syria, the Nasib-Jaber crossing was also a transit route for hundreds of trucks a day transporting goods between Europe and Turkey and the Gulf in a multi-billion dollar annual trade.

The closure hit trade that had already shrunk because of the impact of COVID-19 and the Caesar Act - the toughest U.S. sanctions yet that came into force in June and prohibited foreign companies trading with Damascus.

"We have had millions of dollars of losses as a result of the closure," said Mohammad al Daoud, the president of the Jordanian Truck Owners' Association that represents over 17,000 trucks.

The country's other land crossings with Saudi Arabia, Israel and the Palestinian territories have been only open for commercial goods since a lockdown in March to stem the pandemic.

Syrian authorities said 70 trailers carrying, mostly fresh produce, entered Jordan on Sunday, including transit cargo heading to Gulf markets and Iraq.

While the crossing was closed, Syria's only normally operating frontier crossing had been with Lebanon, which itself has no other functioning land borders.

Lebanon was also hit hard by the closure. It relies on the crossing for overland connections to all other countries because its only other frontier is with Israel, with which it has no ties.

"This crossing is an economic lifeline for all our land exports," said Ibrahim al Tarshishi, the head of the Lebanese farmers' association.

(Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; editing by Barbara Lewis)
Donald Trump; Police; Tear GAs; Portland

DOnald Trump | Police tear-gassing protesters in Portland, OR Getty Images/Salon

Roughly a month before Minneapolis police officers murdered George Floyd, a 42-year-old man named Michael Ramos was killed by police in Austin, Texas.

The blazing Texas heat was beginning to let up on the evening of Friday, April 24, when eight police officers cornered Ramos in an apartment parking complex. The officers were responding to a call about possible drug use, and they arrived on the scene with guns drawn.

Body camera footage later revealed a terrified Ramos trying to comply with every demand, all while telling officers he does not know what he had done wrong. When a policeman hit him with a so-called "less lethal" projectile, Ramos took shelter inside his car. A few seconds later, he tried to drive out of the parking lot. Ramos was shot and killed, and no gun wass found in or around his car.

Throughout the Austin-based protests against police brutality, Michael Ramos's name became a rallying cry alongside George Floyd's. On August 13, Austin's progressive city council voted unanimously to cut the city's $434 million police budget by one third. That figure includes $20 million in immediate cuts, and a year-long process to transition an additional roughly $130 million out of the police budget. The Republican outcry was swift.

Ken Paxton, the state's attorney general, chalked up the move to another example of "cancel culture." Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas) accused the city council of shirking their duties to uphold public safety. But he didn't stop there.

Abbott recently unveiled a "Back the Blue" pledge, promising not to defund the police. He urged candidates and voters to sign it. The pledge reads, in part, "Defunding our police departments would invite crime into our communities and put people in danger. That is why I pledge to support any measure that discourages or stops efforts to defund police departments in Texas."

Story continues

As the November elections approach, Abbott is one of hundreds of GOP leaders and lawmakers focusing on "law and order." Echoing President Trump  the self-styled "law and order" president  Republicans are using threats, histrionic pledges and legislation to scare cities considering police reform.

In Austin, City Councilman Greg Casar has not minced words about Abbott's recent posturing.

"He doesn't miss a political opportunity to punch down at movements for civil rights," Casar says. "The governor is trying to hurt the Black Lives Matter movement and attack the civil rights movement for his own political benefit."

Casar drafted the city council's three-tiered proposal to reform the Austin Police Department, which calls for a "Reimagine Public Safety" fund that would allocate more money toward mental health initiatives. People with mental illness are 16 times more likely to be killed by police officers. A recent survey by the Police Executive Research Forum discovered that the average police officer spends only eight hours in "Crisis Intervention Training," a mental health initiative often criticized for being ineffective or improperly implemented. Meanwhile, that same research study found that new police recruits spend 60 hours learning how to use guns.

When it comes to access to mental health care, Texas is the worst state in the nation. It's also one of the states with the highest incarceration rates, and currently, Texas' largest cities spend more money on policing than anything else. Yet Abbott has vehemently opposed any budget cuts and has recently threatened Texas cities who are considering police reform.

Shortly after the city council's vote, Abbott said he plans to introduce legislation that would freeze property tax revenues for any city that cuts police budgets. Abbott has also threatened to employ the Texas Department of Public Safety, a state police force, to help "stand in the gap" and defend Austin residents, even as that department has come under fire for spending hundreds of hours tracking and arresting police brutality protesters. Attorney Jessica Pishko, who has extensively researched policing, says both of the governor's proposals are, at best, unrealistic.

"The fact is cities are going to have to reduce budgets this year," Pishko says, citing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. "But [police] unions exert a lot of power, and chiefs and sheriffs don't like their budgets cut."

Indeed, the Austin Police Association has taken to Twitter to repeatedly rail against the city council's budget proposal. But Pishko says the dialogue about defunding the police is about much more than reform. While some polls show that Americans do not favor eliminating police forces, the majority of them support some level of police reform and the Black Lives Matter movement, two facts that Pishko says scare Republicans.

"The Republican Party as led by Trump has made it quite obvious that their goal is white supremacy and racism, and the idea that there are white people out there who don't support that is pretty scary to them," she says. "So, you're seeing politicians start to posture, and be more aggressive in their rhetoric. They're essentially taking on a Trumpian tone."

That "Trumpian tone" is apparent in two new legislative proposals, one from Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Florida), and one from Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri).

On September 22, DeSantis called for a new law that would give felony penalties to protesters who block traffic without a permit, while also prohibiting grant and state funding to any municipality that "slashes" its police budget.

Hawley's legislation is similar. His bill would authorize $15 billion for the U.S. attorney general to fund more police officer hiring and salary increases for state and local law enforcement. Any city that votes to defund the police would not have access to those funds for new hires or raises.

"[A]s violence and rioting sweeps across American cities big and small, our courageous law enforcement officers are more vital now than ever," Hawley writes in the proposed legislation. "Democratic politicians are bending to radical activists who want to defund the police. We should do just the opposite. Our officers deserve a raise, not defunding."

Similar rhetoric can be found in practically every corner of the U.S. A separate pledge, simply entitled "The Police Pledge," has already received hundreds of signatures from federal, state and local officials. The pledge was initiated by Heritage Action For America, a policy advocacy organization known for funneling millions of dollars into Republican congressional campaigns.

"A lawful society  free from mob rule and violent insurrection  is not possible without Law Enforcement," the pledge reads. When signers etch their names onto the document's growing list of devotees, they promise to "stand with America's Police and pledge to oppose any bill, resolution, or movement to "Defund the Police." Those devotees include former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Gov. Brian Kemp (R-Georgia), as well as Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Rick Scott (R-Florida).

Jim Henson, director of the Texas Politics Project, believes Governor Abbott's focus on policing is both a political ploy and an intended distraction. Texas has been ravaged by COVID-19, as have many of the states whose politicians have signed "The Police Pledge."

"It's also an opportunity for Republican elected officials to shift the public agenda, or at least attempt to shift the agenda of public discussion, away from the slog of trying to contain the pandemic," he told local television station KXAN.

Author and former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich has accused President Trump of the very same thing.

"Trump muzzled the federal government's most prominent and trusted immunologist, Dr. Anthony Fauci, while the White House tried to discredit him," Reich wrote in a recent blog post. "But the Trump campaign ran fictitious ads portraying cities as overrun by violent leftwing mobs, and Trump's shameless Fox News lackeys have consistently depicted protesters as 'rioters' and the 'armed wing of the Democratic party.'"

While Pishko acknowledges the enduring legacy of "law and order" rhetoric, she claims widespread pledges, threats to freeze funding and bills targeting cities are more "aggressive" than pro-police proposals of the past.

"And I think we have Trump to credit for that," she says. "People are tying their fates to him."

While hundreds of Republicans continue to voice their fervent opposition to police reform, Michael Ramos's mother is grieving her son.

Brenda Ramos has struggled to eat since her son was killed, she said in an interview aired on Austin's NPR station, and the stress of recent months has taken a physical toll. She's suffering from intense back pain, and hoping some change can result from Michael's death. She wants the officer who killed her son to be prosecuted  which the Travis County district attorney has thus far failed to do  and she wants some of the city's police funds to be re-allocated for after-school programs in Austin. Yet her greatest wish is that police violence ends.

"[The violence] got to be stopped," she said. "It's been happening way too long, and we all need to come together and make a change."

Copyright  Truthout. Reprinted with permission.

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One of Abu Dhabis most prestigious hotels, Etihad Towers, will be rebranded on October 1 following the signing of a management agreement between Hilton and Sheikh Suroor Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan.

The property will be known as Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers and be the first of Hiltons luxury portfolio to operate in the UAE capital.

Jochem-Jan Sleiffer, Hiltons President for the Middle East, Africa and Turkey, said: Abu Dhabi is a world leading destination and remains a historic city for Hilton as a location where we began welcoming guests in the UAE almost 50 years ago. We are proud to be working with HH Sheikh Suroor Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan to bring this iconic hotel to our portfolio and look forward to providing luxury Conrad service at Etihad Towers.

Sheikh Suroor commented: Etihad Towers is the embodiment of modern and sophisticated luxury and I am delighted to be partnering with Hilton to open Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers. Abu Dhabis global reputation will be further enhanced with the presence of the luxury Conrad brand - a suitable addition to the world-class retail and dining options available at this landmark development.

One of five towers which form the Etihad Towers complex, the hotel features unique venues for social activities, including 12 dining concepts, luxurious spa, private beach, three swimming pools, and outstanding conference and event facilities. Its 576 guest rooms, suites and residences offer incredible views of the Arabian Gulf  while also providing easy access to one of the worlds most exclusive retail collections at The Avenue at Etihad Towers.

Nils-Arne Schroeder, Global Head for Conrad Hotels & Resorts, said: The debut of Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers in the capital of the UAE marks a significant milestone for the brand as we grow our portfolio in iconic locations around the world to better meet the needs of discerning travellers everywhere. This hotel is perfectly placed to offer guests a truly inspired stay with personalised connections to the local cultural and artistic experiences for which Abu Dhabi is known, all anchored by Conrads signature intuitive guest service.

Conrad Hotels & Resorts combines contemporary design, sophisticated amenities, and personalised service to provide exceptional travel experiences at destinations such as New York, Dubai, London, Istanbul, and Hong Kong. - TradeArabia News Service
We used to say, dont rain on my parade.

Now we say, dont yuck my yum.

Francesca taught me that expression.

Stick with me, Im cool.

I wont yuck anybodys yum.

Im no yum-yucker.

However, there are things I dont really understand.

For example, I was reading the other day that in Brunei, Taiwan, Japan, and Australia, people have been getting on planes that go nowhere and then returning home, to the same spot. The plane tickets are being bought by people who said they missed flying.

This, I dont understand.

I dont miss flying.

The only good thing about quarantine is that I dont have to fly anywhere.

In fact, I would buy a ticket not to fly anywhere.

What could anyone miss that much about flying?

The plane could crash and they could die.

Hello, were in a global pandemic. We could die at any moment. We dont even have to leave the ground. Just walk outside and take a nice, deep breath.

Heres my advice:

Save your money.

For your heir.

By breathing air.

By the way, the airlines call this the flight to nowhere.

Thats the perfect metaphor for my second marriage, if you pretend that the plane crashed, burst into a billion pieces, then the pieces exploded and turned to metallic dust that sprayed in peoples eyes, blinding them in agonizing pain.

Also imagine that I was the only one on the second-marriage plane.

I was both the pilot and the only passenger.

Plus my bank account.

Which also exploded.

But to return to point, Royal Brunei Airlines calls these flights a dine and fly program, because they serve local cuisine.

OK, I have another idea.

Stay home and eat.

Thats why they call it local.

Its home, not 38,000 feet in the air.

Thirty-eight thousand feet up is the exact opposite of local.

Heres a good rule of thumb for local: If a jet engine is involved, its not local.

But I dont want to yuck anybodys yum.

If it makes you happy to fly around in an airplane, I say, good on you.

Qantas Airlines has even instituted a seven-hour flight that would depart and land in Sydney. Honestly, I get that, only because I like koalas. I have an irrational goodwill toward Qantas because they have a koala in their commercials. I flew to Australia for the Sydney Writers' Festival and was happy for endless hours on the plane because there was a koala on the side.

So theres a koala exception to all things.

Dont yuck my koala yum.

According to the article, one of the passengers said they miss looking out the window and seeing the clouds.

Funny, I can look out the window and see clouds from where Im sitting.

So can you, but you have to tilt your head up.

You cant turn your head directly sideways.

Maybe no one told them that, about the tilting.

And another passenger reportedly said that they just wanted to drag their bags through the airport and go check them in.

Say what?

OK, heres what I do all day:

I sit in my chair in front of a computer until evening, then I sit in another chair and do needlepoint until bedtime, when I go lie down.

I lead the most consistently boring life ever in the history of boring lives.

But I have never been bored enough to want to drag my bags through the airport and go check them in.

Some of these flights are marketed as scenic, and I get that, in principle. The plane flies over pretty things, and you look down and see them.

But Ive never gotten a charge from seeing things from a plane.

Im never close enough to the window, so Im always craning my neck or I miss the scenery.

Once I jumped out of my seat to see the Grand Canyon.

I bumped my head and all I saw was beige.

Some people are really angry about the flights to nowhere, as bad for the environment. Reportedly the airlines are purchasing carbon offsets, but I dont understand how that works.

How much good air do you have to buy to offset bad air?

And how do you get the new air up in the old air?

These are questions for smarter people than I.

People who fly nowhere.

Look for Lisas first historical novel, Eternal, coming on March 23, 2021. Also look for Francescas debut novel, Ghosts of Harvard," on sale now.
New Delhi, Sep 27 : A Delhi court on Sunday sent freelance journalist Rajeev Sharma, Chinese woman Qing Shi and Nepalese citizen Sher Singh to judicial custody in connection with the espionage case against them.

According to Sharma's advocate Adish Aggarwala, the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of Patiala House Court sent the trio to jail after they were produced at 9.45 p.m. at the end of their police custody.

On September 14, the Delhi Police's Special Cell had arrested 61-year-old Sharma, who was allegedly working for Chinese intelligence.

During a search of his house in the Pitampura area, a laptop, some confidential documents related to Indian defence and some other incriminating papers were reportedly seized.

During his police remand, Qing and her Nepalese partner Sher Singh alias Raj Bohra were also arrested as they were found supplying Sharma with huge amounts of money, routed through hawala channels, for conveying sensitive information to Chinese intelligence, DCP Special Cell Sanjeev Yadav had said.

The DCP said that an input was received from an intelligence agency that Sharma 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), 4 (Communications with foreign agents) and 5 (Wrongful communication of information) of the Official Secrets Act was registered on September 13 and Sharma arrested the next day.

"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," 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.
The concept is simple.

In an active shooting situation, you have to make sure the killing is stopped first, Lopatcong Township police Chief Jason Garcia said last week, after a shooting scenario began to play out with gunfire at Lehigh Valley Mall in Whitehall Township.
Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden gives a speech on the Supreme Court at The Queen Theater, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in Wilmington, Del. Read more

WILMINGTON, Del.  Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden wants voters to see Republicans push for a speedy Supreme Court confirmation as an end-run of Congress and the 2010 health care law.

In remarks on Sunday, the former vice president sidestepped any talk of expanding the court to counter conservative gains should he defeat President Donald Trump in November and Democrats regain a Senate majority. Biden called that scenario a distraction from the practical effects that Trumps nominee, conservative federal Judge Amy Coney Barrett, could have if she succeeds the late liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

They see an opportunity to overturn the Affordable Care Act on their way out the door, Biden said, speaking near his Delaware home. The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court right now, as I speak, to eliminate the entire Affordable Care Act.

Biden repeated his calls that the Senate delay confirmation proceedings until after the Nov. 3 election, moving ahead then if Trump wins another term or awaiting a nomination from Biden if the Democrat prevails.

The focus on health care reflects the Democrats' larger strategy in recent days. They tacitly concede Republicans are likely to confirm Barrett, giving conservatives a 6-3 court majority. So, rather than fight a losing battle, as they did with Justice Brett Kavanaughs 2018 confirmation, Democrats want to raise the pressure on Republicans by focusing on how a conservative supermajority of justices might affect Americans everyday lives.

Justices are scheduled on Nov. 10, a week after Election Day, to hear another challenge of the 2010 health care law. Biden noted the court has twice upheld the law, a signature achievement of President Barack Obamas and Biden's White House tenure. But those were divided rulings, with Ginsburg in the narrowest of majorities.

President Trump could claim all he wants that he is going to protect people with pre-existing conditions. But the fact is hes already fighting to take those protections away, Biden said, later reading from the administrations brief before the court.

He listed several common conditions, including heart damage and other effects from the coronavirus that is still spreading, that could keep millions of Americans from qualifying for coverage if the law is gutted completely.

On Barrett, Trump on Sunday told reporters that it's going to be hard for Democrats to dispute her qualifications or anything about her.

Like Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi declined to criticize Barrett directly earlier Sunday on CNN's State of the Union.

Later in the day, Bidens only direct critique of Trump's nominee referred back to her writings as a University of Notre Dame professor, before she ascended to the federal bench in 2017.

Prior to going on the bench, she publicly criticized Chief Justice Roberts opinion upholding the law, Biden noted.

Barrett questioned John Roberts reasoning that Congress constitutional power to tax gave it authority to pass most of the law's provisions, especially the IRS penalty on individuals who didnt buy health insurance. Conservatives insist the legislation was not reasonably a taxation bill. Congress has since, while under Republican control, scrapped the tax penalty, hoping to undercut Roberts' hook that upheld much of the statute.

Some progressives want Biden to threaten Republicans with scrapping the Senate filibuster altogether and expanding the Supreme Court with a slate of liberal appointees. Republicans have tried to use the issue in competitive Senate races and against Biden. He declined Sunday to take the bait on court expansion.

What Im not going to do is play the Trump game, which is a good game he plays to take your eye off the issue before us, Biden said. I am focused on making sure the American people understand that they are being cut out of this process  in order to take away the ACA and your healthcare in the midst of a pandemic.

__

Barrow reported from Atlanta. Associated Press Writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.
Republican Bronwyn Haltom and Democrat Christine Morse are facing off to represent the 61st District in the Michigan House of Representatives.

Morse is a current Kalamazoo County commissioner representing District 9. She has a bachelors degree from Michigan State University and a law degree from Wayne State University Law School.

Christine is Michigan native, former attorney, Kalamazoo County Commissioner, public school parent of 3, breast cancer survivor, and spouse of a Navy Veteran, she said in her responses to the Vote411.org voter guide from the League of Women Voters.

Haltom Attended Kalamazoo Valley Community College and transferred to the University of Michigan, where she earned a bachelors degree.

I was born here, educated here, and own a small business here. I believe in our community and am committed to serving our neighbors to move Michigan forward, Haltom said in responses to the League of Michigan Voters voter guide.

Haltom defeated Tom Graham in the August primary election. Morse was unopposed in the Democratic primary.

The 61st District contains the city of Portage, Oshtemo, Texas, Prairie Ronde and Schoolcraft townships and the villages of Schoolcraft and Vicksburg in Kalamazoo County. Current GOP state Rep. Brandt Iden is term-limited.

MLive Media Group has again partnered with the League of Women Voters of Michigan Education Fund to provide candidate information and other voting resources to our readers. Each candidate was asked to answer a series of questions about their policy stances.

All responses in the voter guide were submitted directly by the candidate and have not been edited by the League of Women Voters, except for a necessary cut if a reply exceeded character limitations. Spelling and grammar were not corrected. Publication of candidate statements and opinions is solely in the interest of public service and should NOT be considered as an endorsement. The League never supports or opposes any candidates or political parties.

Information on all state and federal races and many of Michigans county and local races will be available at Vote411.org.

Heres a look how both candidates responded to questions from the League of Women Voters candidate survey:

EDUCATION: What is your position on the role of public funding of education in Michigan? What measures do you support/propose to improve educational outcomes and accessibility for all Michigan students?

Morse: As a public school graduate and parent, public education funding is my top issue. Teachers are vastly underpaid and class sizes are unreasonably high. In addition to rectifying the disinvestment weve seen over the last couple of decades, we are 50th in the country in reading growth. I believe we need to invest seriously in our public education - both through skilled trades programs, retraining, and higher education if we want our kids to be able to build a life here in Michigan. We also need to reevaluate our testing standards and make sure to involve educators in the process of rewriting.

Haltom: Public education is the most important investment the State of Michigan can make in our future, and I support robust education funding that prepares Michigan students for the jobs of tomorrow. The legislature must find long-term solutions to address Michigans third grade reading levels that bring together parents, teachers, administrators and students. I support measures to expand opportunities that empower parents and guardians to make decisions that best fit their students educational needs. We must also promote and invest in skilled trades and vocational learning as an additional path to career readiness.

ECONOMIC SECURITY: What policies do you support to increase jobs and help Michigan residents improve their economic positions, in general and given the pandemic?

Morse: We need to go back to being a state that fully supports the labor unions that helped build us. We need to restore Prevailing Wage, repeal Right to Work, and pass a bill equivalent to One Fair Wage. I support retraining programs like Michigan Reconnect and Going Pro, and believe we need to implement New Deal-like programs similar to the Conservation Corp and the Works Progress Administration to sustainably bring people back to work.

Haltom: Now more than ever, Michigan must have an economic climate that encourages growth and investment and brings families and good-paying jobs back to our state. I support policies that encourage companies to innovate, expand, and hire a Michigan workforce without burdensome regulations and high taxes. I believe the Governor should work with the legislature to produce a plan that allows our economy to re-open safely, while supporting small businesses that have been hit the hardest by this pandemic.

ELECTIONS: What state policies do you support regarding Michigan elections, voting and campaign funding? Do you support mailing ballots to all eligible voters?

Morse: I support campaign finance reform including requiring public reporting for all campaign contributions. I do support mailing ballots to all eligible voters and adding ballot drop-off locations at grocery stores and libraries with the assistance of local clerks.

Haltom: I support efforts to promote civic engagement and assist all who are eligible exercise their right to vote. Transparency is crucial in ensuring the integrity of Michigans campaign finance system, and giving voters access to timely and accurate funding sources holds elected officials accountable to those they represent.

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY: What actions or policies do you support to protect Michigans water, air and land for current and future generations? What is your position on energy efficiency and renewable energy?

Morse: Kalamazoo County has been dealing with flooding issues for many years. As a member of the Texas Township Flooding Taskforce, I believe we need more collaboration between state and local governments to protect our water resources - especially in the face of climate change. We have also had three instances of PFAS contamination in our district. I support state action to address PFAS contamination including reinstating Polluter Pay and extending support to fire departments to change the kind of firefighting foam they use. I support increasing Michigans Energy Efficiency Standard to 25% by 2025.

Haltom: Protecting Michigans precious natural resources is essential - I support current state laws that protect our lands, air and Great Lakes from pollution, and policies that promote environmental stewardship and energy innovation. Modernizing Michigans energy infrastructure with sustainable solutions and allowing the renewable energy sector to thrive will create new jobs and reduce our environmental impact.

SOCIAL JUSTICE: How would you address the racial, economic, health, education, etc. inequities, including Michigans 20% of children and 17% of seniors living in poverty?

Morse: Increasing access to quality education, housing, and healthcare are the most important ways we can address poverty and move our community toward justice. As a breast cancer survivor I want to prioritize working to pass a bill guaranteeing healthcare for Michiganders with preexisting conditions. No family should go bankrupt because of a medical diagnosis. I believe we can also do more to change state zoning laws so that municipalities can prioritize affordable housing development.

Haltom: Addressing these will require meaningful bipartisan legislation specific to the issue at hand, though increased funding for early education, skilled trades programs and vocational learning will provide greater opportunity for communities impacted by generational poverty and institutional inequities. I would also oppose policies - such as a 45-cent gas tax - that disproportionately burden the poorest communities in our state.

GUNS: Do you believe that Michigan has a gun violence problem? If so, what measures would you support to alleviate this problem?

Morse: I am proud to have received the Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate Distinction for 2020. I believe we need to pass universal background checks, close the gun show and boyfriend loopholes, and pass red flag laws to make sure that domestic abusers do not have access to a firearm.

Haltom: Our community has felt the devastation of gun violence first-hand. I support common-sense measures to prevent criminals and those wishing to do us harm from acquiring deadly weapons. Increased funding for mental health programs and school security officers will help deter preventable tragedies and keep Kalamazoo safe.

Click here for more of MLives Election Day coverage from across the state, or here for full coverage of Kalamazoo-area elections.

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Kalamazoo County clerk, drain commissioner not seeking reelection in 2020

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Petitioners say it has 500K signatures collected to strip Whitmer of emergency powers
A week after nine al Qaeda operatives were arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for allegedly planning to carry out major terror strikes, another arrest was made from West Bengal on Saturday.

Samim Ansari, the tenth operative of the terror group, was arrested by the NIA in association with the state polices Special Task Force (STF) from Murshidabad.

Ansari will be produced before the special NIA court in Delhi, the agency said.

On September 19, nine operatives - three from Kerala and six from West Bengal - were arrested after the agency learnt that they were planning lone wolf attacks as human bombs.

The suspects, according to the agency officials, acquired large quantities of weapons, country-made firearms, locally fabricated body armour, jihadi literature, and literature used for making explosives. They were planning attacks at numerous locations including Delhi-NCR, Kochi and Mumbai.

In a statement released after the arrest of the nine suspects last week, the NIA had said, As per the preliminary investigation, these individuals were radicalised by Pakistan-based al Qaeda terrorists on social media and were motivated to undertake attacks at multiple places including the National Capital Region. For this purpose, the module was actively indulging in fundraising and a few members of the gang were planning to travel to New Delhi to procure arms and ammunition. These arrests have pre-empted possible terrorist attacks in various parts of the country.
Nigerians who want to immigrate to Canada have over 100 economic-class pathways to choose from.

Immigrate to Canada from Nigeria with these immigration programs

Immigrate to Canada from Nigeria with these immigration programs Nigerians who want to immigrate to Canada have over 100 economic-class pathways to choose from.

Immigrate to Canada from Nigeria with these immigration programs Nigerians who want to immigrate to Canada have over 100 economic-class pathways to choose from.

Immigrate to Canada from Nigeria with these immigration programs Nigerians who want to immigrate to Canada have over 100 economic-class pathways to choose from. Shelby Thevenot Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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Every year thousands of Nigerians immigrate to Canada, and the numbers have been growing in recent years.

In 2019, about 12,595 Nigerians got Canadian permanent residence, and about 11,985 pursued their education in Canada. This is up considerably from the 4,090 who came to Canada in 2015. There were about 42,430 Nigerians living in Canada in 2016, according to Statistics Canada.

Canada offers over 100 economic-class immigration programs for Nigerians to choose from. The best program for each person will depend on their individual circumstances and goals. Here is an overview of some of the immigration programs that Nigerians can pursue to get permanent residence in Canada.

Immigrate to Canada from Nigeria. Start now by filling out a free assessment form.

Nigeria is #2 source country of successful Express Entry candidates

Canada invites interested candidates to apply for permanent residence. The most direct path to get invited to apply for Canadian immigration is to submit a profile to the Express Entry system.

In 2019, Nigeria was the 2nd leading country of citizenship of successful Express Entry candidates, ranking only behind India.

The Express Entry system manages applications for three Canadian immigration programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class.

Eligible candidates are given a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on their age, work experience, education, and official language proficiency.

The highest-scoring candidates are invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence through Express Entry draws which usually take place every two weeks.

Candidates do not need to have a job offer to be selected from an Express Entry draw.

Despite the coronavirus pandemic, Canada is still holding Express Entry draws. The past two draws have been among the largest that the immigration department has ever held. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is also giving candidates extra time to submit documents that they are not able to get due to COVID-19 closures and service disruptions.

The government of Canada aims to process applications for Express Entry candidates in six months. If a profile stays in the pool for more than one year, candidates can simply submit their profile again to re-enter the pool.

If a Nigerian candidate is not eligible for Express Entry they may also be able to immigrate to Canada through one of the Provincial Nominee Programs.

Provincial Nominee Programs

Canada also offers the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) for Nigerian candidates who wish to work and settle in a specific province or territory.

PNPs allows Canadian provinces and territories to nominate economic-class immigration candidates who support their labour market needs.

Most Canadian provinces and territories (except for Nunavut and Quebec) have at least one provincial nomination stream that is linked to Express Entry.

Are you Nigerian? Get a free assessment for Canadian immigration.

When a PNP is aligned with the Express Entry system they are known as enhanced streams. Candidates who receive provincial nominations through enhanced streams receive an additional 600 CRS points, which practically guarantees that a candidate will be invited in a subsequent Express Entry draw.

Depending on the program, an enhanced stream may issue invitations based on either provincial expression of interest scores or the CRS points.

The other type of PNP is called a base stream, which means it is not connected to the federal Express Entry system. These streams support the provinces individual objectives, and may or may not use a scoring system to select candidates.

Candidates who may not qualify for the Express Entry pool, but who fit the required skills needed in a specific province may be eligible for a provincial nomination through a base stream.

People who want to immigrate to Quebec must go through the provinces own economic immigration program. Skilled workers may go through Quebecs Regular Skilled Worker Program which operates on an expression of interest system.

Immigrate to Canada from Nigeria. Start your journey now.

Study in Canada to get permanent residence: Nigeria among top 10 countries

Studying at a Canadian post-secondary institution is one way that Nigerian immigrants can gain Canadian experience to support their applications for permanent residence.

Nigeria is the 9th leading source country of international students in Canada.

Having Canadian study experience opens up the door to apply for permanent residence through the Canadian Experience Class, certain PNPs, as well as the Quebec Experience Program for those who study in Quebec.

After their studies have ended, Nigerian international students may be able to obtain a Post-Graduation Work Permit that will allow them to work in Canada for up to three years.

Having Canadian study and work experience is a highly valuable combination in terms of the CRS. It may also help candidates be eligible for certain PNPs.

In wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Canada is allowing students to use online studies toward a Post-Graduation Work Permit.

Immigration vital to economic recovery in Canada

Despite the travel restrictions and service disruptions around the world that make immigration difficult during the pandemic, the federal government has said that immigration is part of Canadas economic recovery strategy.

This means that the government still recognizes the importance of immigration to the Canadian economy. As such, Nigerians will continue to have many opportunities to immigrate to Canada.

Find out if you are eligible to immigrate to Canada from Nigeria.

 2020 CIC News All Rights Reserved
ALTON  Replacing Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg could come quickly, according to two local political science experts.

Ginsburg died Sept. 18, leaving a seat vacant on the court which currently sits at a 5-2 conservative majority with Chief Justice John Roberts as the median.

President Donald Trump is expected to announce his nominee to replace Ginsburg on Saturday, according to the Associated Press. 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.

Whoever is selected could change the future ideological balance of the court, according to Brian Roberts, chair of the Political Science Department at Principia College in Elsah. Ken Moffett, Chair of Political Science at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, said the changes in majority could put many policy priorities on the table that may have not been on the table.

As the process unfolds, both professors are letting their students know what to watch for.

As an educator, the main goal is to help them understand how this process work, Roberts said.

Moffett is telling his students to keep an eye out for anything that would come up about a candidates background which could be considered disqualifiers, citing Justice Brett Kavanaughs confirmation as an example.

Moffett believes that a nominee will be chosen before the Nov. 3 election. He said the big challenge comes with the FBI background check for the nominee. Under regular circumstances, that process takes about 30-45 days  but Moffet does not believe that will happen in this case.

I see the accelerator pedal getting hit, Moffett said.

Roberts believes that the reason for this acceleration is because of the upcoming election on Nov. 3, particularly the Arizona U.S. Senate race. The contest between Republican Martha McSally and Democrat Mark Kelly will fill the remainder of the vacancy of the seat previously held by the late Sen. John McCain, a Republican

If Kelly wins (he is currently leading in the polls), he could potentially be officially sworn in to the Senate by the end of November, creating a partisan composition of the Senate of 52 Republicans and 48 Democrats, Roberts said. Currently Republican hold a 53-47 majority.

This possibility  combined with statements by Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska saying they oppose voting on Ginsburgs replacement before the election  could lead to the Senate to a vote 50-50 vote.

At the moment it is looking like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, absent some change of position on the part of a Republican senator or two, has the votes he needs to move forward, Roberts said. But I do think the Arizona U.S. Senate race looms large in McConnells decision about the precise timing of the confirmation vote.

Moffett also believes the race is a major deciding factor.

If many Republicans had their way, this process would get completely done by the time the election takes place, Moffett said.

Roberts said the passing of Ginsburg was tragic, adding she was a remarkable person.

Justice Ginsburgs tremendous contributions to U.S. jurisprudence and womens rights cannot be overstated, he said. The strength of her character is also to be greatly admired.
Rochester, N.Y.  A Rochester man previously arrested during a protest over Daniel Prudes death is now accused by federal prosecutors of posting incendiary messages and instructions to make a Molotov cocktail.

The U.S. Attorneys Office in western New York on Friday charged Ryan Howe of Rochester with intending to incite a riot by making provocative Facebook posts earlier this week. The posts came after a grand jury in Louisville declined to charge police officers in the killing of Breonna Taylor.

The charges come as U.S. authorities aggressively pursue federal charges against protesters. President Donald Trump has vowed to use federal powers to crack down on unrest.

Two other men face face federal civil disorder charges related to protests in Rochester since video was released this month of Prude handcuffed and naked with a spit hood over his head as police restrained him. Prude was taken off life support a week after the March 23 incident.

Prosecutors cite Facebook postings Wednesday and Thursday in charging Howe with trying to incite a riot. One post mentioned burning things to the ground.

Prosecutors said Howe had been arrested by Rochester police for inciting a riot and resisting arrest on Sept. 2, the day Prude video was released.

Howe was being held pending a detention hearing Wednesday. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

His federal defender declined on Saturday to comment on the charges.

The complaint said that when FBI agents showed Howe the Molotov cocktail post, he said it was a mistake and deleted it. He said he wanted law enforcement to be defunded and ultimately abolished, but he did not want to see anyone harmed.
MANZINI  Has the financially unstable government chosen to prioritise saving money at the expense of the lives of emaSwati?

This is one of the possible questions that could cross ones mind after learning how civil society organisations, including trade union movements, have taken a swipe at government following the announcement of about E30 million savings on fuel.

Early last week, the Minister of Finance, Neal Rijkenberg, made a submission that government had realised about E30 million worth of savings on fuel in the past three months. The minister made this submission before the Finance Sessional Committee, through a report that was tabled by the Chairperson, Thandi Nxumalo, who is a Member of Parliament (MP) for Manzini South Constituency.

shocking

In their reaction to the ministers submissions, the civil society organisations said it was shocking that government could declare savings in terms of fuel yet lives had been lost because of poor service delivery by the administration due to shortage of fuel.

Their argument was that many peoples lives were at risk because of the shortage of fuel, amid the ongoing disagreements between government and the Central Transport Administration (CTA) over the organisations Trading Account. In fact, they argued that the about E30 million savings was announced at a time when government departments, including those that were responsible to deliver essential services to the nation, were grounded because of shortage of fuel.

In that regard, the Coordinating Assembly of Non-Governmental Organisations (CANGO) Communications Officer, Nkosingiphile Myeni, said they noted that government had financial challenges which were worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

drained

He said they also noted mismanagement of fuel which had drained taxpayers over the years.

We also noted the action taken by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport to decisively deal with the mismanagement of fuel at CTA. However, we are concerned that government has mentioned that it was able to make a particular saving on fuel, because we feel it was done at the expense of citizens, the communications officer said.

He said while there were issues of mismanagement of fuel among other things at CTA, government should make it a priority that critical government services such as police, healthcare and all basic human rights, were properly taken into consideration.

declaration

In that regard, he said the minister of Finance could not therefore make a declaration to have made savings as the cost to human lives in accessing health service suffered and lives of patients were placed at risk.

He said a recent relevant case was that of a bus accident which took place at Hhelehhele, along the Manzini  Mafutseni Public Road, MR3 Highway. He said there were no ambulances to attend to the accident and as a result, injured passengers were rushed to hospital by good Samaritans, who used their private cars.

It is worth noting that a police officer, who was one of the injured passengers, died while being treated in hospital.

The importance of ambulances in accidents is that the patients can get a proper first aid treatment at the scene and along the way to hospital. This situation is worrisome and cannot be ignored, Myeni said.

Therefore, Myeni said they urged the government to propose a national plan on the refuelling of cars and strengthening any loopholes to misuse of tax payers monies. He said the public deserved to know how government planned to implement positive control measures.

serious

On the same note, the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) President, Bheki Mamba, said it was confusing and damaging that government was facing serious challenges of fuel shortages, yet it had announced about E30 million savings on same.

He said the ongoing shortage of fuel was directly affecting the delivery of health services.

As a result, patients are dying because ambulances are grounded and there is a lack of drugs as they cannot be delivered to facilities, the nurses union leader said.

He claimed that in some facilities, managers were using their little earned cash to fuel ambulances in hospitals to try to save the situation as patients lives were at risk.

The announced savings were acheived at the expense of peoples lives. We condemn this in the strongest possible terms, Mamba said.

He also added that they believed that the much talked about post COVID-19 economic recovery plan would be of no use if a human face was not put on it.
JERSEY CITY  Rostafa stood in the middle of a local park Sunday morning with an American flag wrapped around his neck, hanging off his back, while a woman stood behind him with an African flag that read Black Lives Matter.

Rostafa, a member of the Black and Brown organization, was one of a dozen people who rallied at the Audobon Park at 11 a.m., an hour ahead of the first annual Kemet Festival, which kicked off at Berry Lane Park. Attendees said they took the 30-minute march to Berry Lane for one main thing  to be heard.

It aint about the size, its how you use it, Rostafa told The Jersey Journal.

Rostafa, who did not provide a last name, is a local community activist. He said theres systematic racism within law enforcement not just in Jersey City, but nationwide.

And for him, he said coming together as a community is one solution, but law enforcement needs to listen to the people.

Rachael Lynch was one of the first few people at the Sunday morning rally. Lynch, of Sparta, said she came to Jersey City just to be there for her community.

Lynch added that bridging the relationship between police and communities must start on a local level before it can be fixed on a national level.

Prior to the march, Rostafa referred to the Bostwick Avenue incident, which involved a chaotic confrontation between Jersey City police officers and civilians on May 5, just two weeks before the tragic death of George Floyda in Minneapolis. Lynch said hearing about the incident made her want to cry.

It makes me sad that this still happens, she said.

At the time, Jersey City Police Chief Michael Kelly said his officers acted appropriately and showed restraint.

Margo Chaly, a West Side Avenue resident, said at the rally that the problem is the continual disconnect between the public and law enforcement.

What happened to George Floyd gave (the BLM movement) a microphone, Chaly said.

And attendees said Sunday that they want to continue holding the microphone to speak on issues that happen within their communities by having a Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB), but the proposal has been generating more questions than support.

This is a human rights issue, Rostafa said. Were all in this together.
In a surprising development, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut met former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis at a hotel in Mumbai on Saturday (September 26). The meeting between the two leaders lasted for around 2 hours.

The meeting between Fadnavis and Raut set political circle abuzz in Maharashtra with some claiming that something big is going to happen in Maharashtra politics soon. BJP Maharashtra spokesperson Keshav Upadhye, however, tweeted that the meeting between two senior leaders was not political in nature. He added that the former Maharashtra CM met Raut - Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana's executive editor for an interview.

According to Upadhye, during the meeting, Fadnavis told Raut to air the interview unedited. The BJP leader said that the date for the interview has been been fixed and Raut and Fadnavis are now discussing the format of the interview. It is expected that Fadnavis would sit for the interview wiith Raut after the Bihar polls are completed by November. Notably, Fadnavis is the BJP incharge for Bihar Assembly poll. Fadnavis will become only the second non-Shiv Sena leader after NCP supremo Sharad Pawar to be interviewed by Saamana.

Live TV

Raut has been one of the most vocal critics of BJP ever since the two former allies parted ways over a variety of issues like - Ram mandir, Metro car shed, NRC, CAA, Farm Bills, COVID-19 handling, Sushant Singh Rajput's death probe and Kangana Ranaut's attack on Mumbai police.

It is however, to be noted that Raut had praised Fadnavis for carrying out his role as a Leader of Opposition effectively. Fadnavis too has slammed Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray for failing to handle the COVID-19 crisis effectively, scrapping gram panchayat polls amid the pandemic and several other issues.
Gulf nations led by Saudi Arabia have been putting on a brave face and touting the strength of their economies, claiming they can withstand any scale of shocks during the oil crisis. Unfortunately, a growing body of evidence suggests pretty much the opposite: the Gulf economies are in dire straits thanks to their overreliance on oil. With oil prices stuck at $40/barrel, S&P Global Ratings has estimated that GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) central government deficits will reach about $490 billion cumulatively between 2020 and 2023 while government debt will surge by a record-high $100 billion in the current year.

Budget deficit

Source: Reuters

Whereas Saudi Arabia, the region's largest economy, has some of the lowest production costs anywhere in the world, the harsh reality is that $40 oil is far from what the kingdom needs to balance its books. Indeed, the IMF has estimated that Saudi Arabia needs oil prices at $76.10 to achieve fiscal breakeven in the current year with the current oil price leaving the country with a huge budget deficit of 11.4% of GDP. Oil accounts for roughly 87% of Saudi budget revenues, 90% of export earnings, and 42% of GDP.

For perspective, the United States had a fiscal deficit of 4.2% of GDP in 2019 but will see the figure reach 13.1% in FY 2020 due to the adverse effects of Covid-19. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), however, estimates the U.S. budget deficit in FY 2021 will return to normal levels, clocking in at 4.1% of GDP and grow steadily to reach 8.7% of GDP by 2049.

Interestingly, Saudi Arabia has denied being in austerity mode and says it will stick to its earlier budget announced in December. The country has, nonetheless, tripled its value-added tax, announced spending cuts in non-priority areas and suspended the cost of living allowance.

Other GCC countries are not much better off.

In the current financial year, the UAE has a fiscal breakeven oil price of $69.10/barrel; Kuwait's is $61.10 while Bahrain and Oman need oil prices of $95.60 and $86.80, respectively, to balance their books.

Only Qatar, with a fiscal breakeven oil price of $39.90, will be able to book a budget surplus.

The situation is not expected to improve any time soon.

Although Goldman Sachs ranks among the more bullish oil prognosticators out there with predictions of oil prices reaching $65 per barrel by Q3 2021, other analysts are far less sanguine. For instance, a recent Reuters survey forecast a modest uptick with Brent averaging $50.45 per barrel in 2011

That would still be far from covering most Gulf countries' deficits, with Saudi Arabia needing oil prices at $66/barrel next year to balance its books.

Depressed economies

Source: Reuters

Tighter fiscal measures by GCC have begun to weigh heavily on economic activity, with business conditions deteriorating particularly in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Depressed economic activity is also taking a heavy toll on the region's banks, forcing a wave of mergers as they scramble to survive.

The National Commercial Bank, Saudi Arabia's largest lender by assets, has lined up a $15.6 billion takeover bid for rival Samba Financial Group. The $15.6B tab represents a nearly 30% premium to Samba's valuation before the deal was announced, while the potential deal will create a $210 billion (assets) behemoth.

The Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority, the kingdom's central bank, has unveiled nearly $27 billion in stimulus packages to support its flagging banking system suffering from years of weak private sector loan growth.

In January, Dubai Islamic Bank, United Arab Emirates' biggest Islamic lender, completed a deal to buy smaller rival Noor Bank in an all-share deal. The combined entity now holds more than $75B in assets. The giant bank has since then stolen its competitors' playbook by courting more international investors and raising its foreign ownership cap to 40%.

Related: The Secret To Survival For Canadas Oil Sands Although the UAE has one of the most diversified economies in the region, it remains extremely reliant on oil, with the exception of Dubai. The UAE is the world's 8th largest oil producer, pumping 3.1 million b/d with oil exports accounting for about 30% of GDP.

In June, Qatar's Masraf Al Rayan QSC and Al Khalij Commercial Bank PQSC kicked off initial negotiations to merge their operations. The potential merger could create a combined entity with more than $45 billion in assets as well as one of the largest Shari'a (Islamic) compliant banks in the region. The deal follows the 2018 tie-up between the country's Barwa Bank and International Bank of Qatar that saw the proposed three-way merger with Masraf Al Rayan abandoned.

Qatar is the world's 17th largest producer of oil, pumping 1.5 million barrels of the commodity per day. The country's economy is heavily reliant on oil, with petroleum and natural gas accounting for more than 60% of GDP, 85% of export earnings, and roughly 70% of total government revenue.

Meanwhile, the Oman Arab Bank has finalized plans to acquire local competitor Alizz Islamic after Omnivest, one of Oman's largest investment funds, sold its 12% stake. The combined entity will become a wholly-owned unit of Oman Arab Bank with assets of $8.4B.

Oman pumps a million barrels of crude per day, making it the world's 19th largest producer just ahead of Libya. Like most Middle East countries, Oman is heavily dependent on oil and gas resources for 68% of GDP and 85% of government revenue. The country is expected to record one of the biggest budget deficits in the current financial year at nearly 20% of GDP.

Debt market

The only recourse that GCC countries have to cover their huge budget deficits is by paying a visit to the debt markets.

Related: Iraq Ships More Crude Oil Despite OPEC Output Cut Pledge

Luckily, most still enjoy plenty of goodwill and are having little trouble getting huge loans.

GCC countries have been pretty successful locking-in long-term, low-rate debt in the recent past, having already raised nearly $50 billion in the international debt markets in the current year.

Dubai visited the public debt market this month for the first time in six years, managing to raise $2 billion in a tightly priced deal, a good sign that the markets remain open for the region despite the downturn.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com



More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
News

Washington, DC - Wednesday, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to nominate the following individual to a key position in his Administration:

Allen Robert Souza, of North Carolina, to be Inspector General of the Intelligence Community.

Allen Robert Souza is currently the Principal Deputy Senior Director for Intelligence Programs at the National Security Council (NSC). In this capacity, Mr. Souza helps coordinate the intelligence programs of the United States Government, focusing on intelligence collection activities and covert action programs, and advises senior White House and NSC officials on intelligence and intelligence-related activities.

Prior to his service at the NSC, Mr. Souza served as Minority Staff Director and General Counsel of the House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Mr. Souza led a team of professional staff members in conducting oversight of the United States Intelligence Community, investigated a number of sensitive matters for the Committee, drafted critical pieces of national security legislation signed into law by the President, and worked directly with Members of Congress.

Mr. Souza was also previously a lawyer at the National Security Agency (NSA), where he provided legal advice and oversight on signals intelligence operations conducted pursuant to Executive Order 12333 and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and provided legal support to NSAs Office of Congressional Affairs. Mr. Souza has also served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Maryland.

Mr. Souza hails from North Carolina and is an Eagle Scout. He earned his LL.M. in National Security Law from the Georgetown University Law Center, his J.D. from the Charlotte School of Law, and his B.A. in Political Science and History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Today, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key positions in his Administration:

David Thomas, of New York, to be a Member of the Presidents National Infrastructure Advisory Council.

Perry Guillot, of New York, to be a Member of the Committee for the Preservation of the White House.

Miguel Gonzalez, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Presidents Advisory Commission on Hispanic Prosperity.

Timothy Harleth, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Adams Memorial Commission.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Artsakhs Defense Army is neutralizing the Azerbaijani attacks with powerful blows, President Arayik Harutyunyans spokesperson Vahram Poghosyan said.

The situation is fully under the Presidents supervision. We advise the population to remain calm and stay in bomb shelters. The ballets continue at the entire length of the line of contact. The Defense Army is stopping the adversary actions with powerful blows, he said.

On early Sunday morning the Azerbaijani military launched a massive cross border artillery attack on Artsakh. The Azerbaijani bombardment also targeted civilian settlements, including Stepanakert city.

Earlier the military said that Artsakhs army shot down two attacking Azerbaijani helicopters, three UAVs, and three tanks.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
The sides accuse each other of provocation.

New hostilities between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces have begun over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

As News Armenia reported, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced Azerbaijan had launched an air and artillery attack in the direction of Artsakh. Martial law and total military mobilization were later declared.

"The Defense Army is successfully resisting the attack. The situation is developing rapidly, information will be summarized and provided as necessary," the Prime Minister said on his Facebook.

Alleged video of Armenian strike against an Azerbaijans tank.



Reports state that 3 helicopters and 3 tanks have been destroyed by the Armenian side.



Azerbaijan is currently conducting a counter attack and we should hear reports soon. #Azerbaijan#Armeniapic.twitter.com/pFpKjNDQDS  MiddleEastWatch (@MiddleEastWatc1) September 27, 2020

Russia's Interfax news agency reported the Human Rights Ombudsman of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (Artsakh) Artak Beglaryan told reporters about civilian casualties.

In particular, a child and a woman were killed in Martuni Province, schools in Stepanakert were under attack.

Read alsoDonbas warzone update: Three Ukrainian soldiers wounded in booby-trap blast

News.am later reported that Secretary of the Security Council of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (Artsakh) Samvel Babayan had informed journalists in Stepanakert that the Armenian side had lost 10 soldiers.

"There are wounded among the civilian population, even children. By the end of the day, there will be clearer figures. We are not hiding anything  this is a war," Babayan said.

The head of the unrecognized territory, Arayik Harutyunyan, also declared martial law in the disputed region and announced mobilization of persons over 18 years old, his press secretary Vahram Poghosyan said on Facebook.

According to media reports, the power supply was cut off in the town of Shushi in the disputed region; residents are now hiding in shelters, there is no panic.

At the same time, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense accused Armenia of large-scale provocations along the entire length of the front.

"At about 06:00 a.m. on September 27, the armed forces of Armenia, having carried out large-scale provocations, launched intensive shelling of positions of the Azerbaijani Army along the entire front line and our settlements located in the front-line zone, using large-caliber weapons, mortars and artillery systems of various calibers," it said.

The troops of the Azerbaijan Army launched a counter offensive operation along the entire front.

"To suppress the combat activity of the armed forces of Armenia and ensure the safety of the civilian population, the command of the Azerbaijani Army decided to launch a counter offensive operation by our troops along the entire front," Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry also announced the destruction of 12 OSA anti-aircraft missile systems in Armenia.

The ministry also reported the loss of one of its helicopters. "A combat helicopter of the Air Force of Azerbaijan was shot down in the Terter direction, the crew members are alive," it said.

War in Nagorno-Karabakh: Past developments
Is extreme heat making India unlivable? 2020 is on track to becoming one of the hottest years ever recorded globally. But nowhere is extreme heat and humidity as much a threat as in India

In the summer of 2015, an intense series of heatwaves swept across much of India. Over a period spanning nearly two weeks between end-May and early June, northwest India, the Indo-Gangetic plain and eastern coastal India sweltered as temperature spikes were recorded all through the region. Among others, Hyderabad recorded 46 degrees Celsius on 21 May, Delhi 46.4 degrees Celsius on 25 May, Palamau 47 degrees on 29 May, Allahabad 47.8 degrees on 9 June and Bhubaneswar 44 degrees on 10 June.

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But the individual temperature spikes were just the tip of the problem, as heatwave conditions persisted throughout this period. In Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal, high heat turned lethal in conjunction with high humidity: 1,735 people died in Andhra Pradesh, 585 in Telangana, while the total number of deaths recorded in the country was over 2,400. Daily death tolls were high, like on 26 May, when 74 people died in Telangana. On 25 May, taxi unions in Kolkata refused to work between 11am-4pm after two drivers died of heat stroke. According to the International Disaster Database, it was the fifth deadliest heatwave ever recorded.

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The 2015 heatwave is the fifth deadliest heatwave ever recorded globally.

But 2015 wasnt an isolated phenomenon. The next year, on 19 May, Phalodi in Rajasthan, on the India-Pakistan border, hit 51 degrees Celsius, a new record for the highest day-time temperature in India. This spike was part of a heatwave where the temperature hovered within 1 degree of that value for three consecutive days. July 2019 was the hottest July ever recorded in India, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), while a heatwave swept across much of north and central India in May and June, killing over 180 people in Bihar alone. There were also reports of elderly passengers dying in train compartments owing to the heat. That summer, Delhi set a new maximum record of 48 degrees Celsius, while Churu in Rajasthan hit 50.8 degrees Celsius. On 26 May this year, Delhi hit 47.8 degrees Celsius, while Churu again recorded a high of 50 degrees Celsius as another heatwave swept through north and central India.

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Rising Heat And Heatwaves

India knows heat. Although the country is vast enough to host a variety of regional climates, for much of the subcontinent, summer heat is a way of life. But even by Indias standards, cases of extreme heat, and overall heat stress, are rising at an alarming rate. In June, the Union ministry of earth sciences (MoES) published Indias first national climate change report, Assessment Of Climate Change Over The Indian Region. The report said Indias average temperature had risen by 0.7 degrees Celsius from 1901-2018.

This rise is primarily due to global warming caused by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In a business-as-usual world of current GHG emissions, the assessment says, Indias average temperature will rise by almost 4.4 degrees Celsius by 2100, compared to the recent past (1976-2005). Whats more, the frequency of summer heatwaves is projected to increase by two-three times, while the duration of these heatwaves is expected to double (both relative to the baseline period of 1976-2005).

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One of the authors of the assessment report is physicist and climatologist Chirag Dhara from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune. He says that one of the reasons India is very susceptible to climate change impacts when it comes to heat is because the countrys temperatures are already very high. "You take any system, and when you are already on the edge and you stress the system some more, the impacts are much higher. Indias baseline temperatures are already very high. And particularly in the coastal areas and in the Indo-Gangetic plains, the humidity also being high, even a slight jump over there is much worse than the same quantum of jump in an area with a much lower baseline temperature," he says.

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Humidity is an important part of this equation. For example, the 2015 deaths in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were due to high temperature and high humidity. This is reflected in the heat index (HI), a measure of how hot it feels when relative humidity is factored into the air temperature. Another measure is the wet-bulb temperature, which measures heat stress as a combined effect of temperature and humidity on the human body. Human beings, even those who have adapted to high heat, find it difficult to carry out normal activities in a wet-bulb temperature of 32 degrees Celsius. The survivability threshold of the human body is reached at the wet-bulb temperature of 35 degrees. At that level, even if a human being is in the shade, the results are fatal. This comes down to the human bodys cooling system: sweating.

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"The higher the temperatures, the more the body sweats. But then that sweat needs to evaporate to actually cool the body. So when sweat evaporates readily from our skin, it is grabbing a lot of heat from our skin and transferring it into the atmosphere," says Dhara. "When theres already very high relative humidity, the water cannot evaporate efficiently from the skin. So the heat just stays there, its unable to dissipate." Dhara says that global warmingwhich increases not just the temperature but also near-surface humiditymakes hot, humid days more frequent and intense, which in turn makes the bodys heat control mechanism less efficient. Thats heat stress. And this is the kind of thing that increases the risk of heat strokes.

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This lethal combination of heat and humidity has emerged as a major source of worry in South Asia. In August, the McKinsey Global Institute published a paper titled Climate Risk And Response In Asia: Research Preview, which looks at a nearer time-frame of 2030-50. Referring to wet-bulb heatwaves, the report says that "large cities in parts of India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan could be among the first places in the world to experience heat waves that exceed the survivability threshold". Another study, The Emergence Of Heat And Humidity Too Severe For Human Tolerance, published in May in Science Advances, identifies north-west India, the Indo-Gangetic plain and eastern coastal India as a global heat hot spot, where wet-bulb temperatures of 31 degrees Celsius are already common. The McKinsey paper further says that by 2050, 500-700 billion people in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh could be living in regions which would have a 20% probability of lethal wet-bulb heatwaves every year. Since wet-bulb temperatures severely affect the ability to work, the three South Asian nations could see a hit to their GDP to the tune of 13%.

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According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), India lost 3.6% of daytime working hours due to heat in 2015. The International Labour Organization (ILO), in its 2019 report Working On A Warm Planet, says India is projected to lose the equivalent of 34 million full-time jobs in 2030 due to heat stress, with agriculture and construction being the worst-hit sectors. In 2019, a study conducted by the University of Chicago's Climate Impact Lab and Tata Centre for Development highlighted the fact that an additional 1.5 million people may die in India each year due to extreme heat by 2100. According to an interactive map on the Climate Impact Lab website, a high emissions scenario would see mortality costs for India rise to 4% of the GDP by 2080.

Migrant workers walked through the intense summer heat in north India during the covid-19 lockdown. (Photo: Ajay Aggarwal/Hindustan Times)

While heatwaves could have high, concentrated impacts, theres also the impact of chronic heathigh heat conditions that last for extremely long periods of time. To understand this, I spoke to adaptation and water resources specialist Christian Siderius. In 2019, he co-wrote a policy brief for the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) titled Cities, Climate Change And Chronic Heat Exposure. In the paper, the authors employed the measurement value of wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT), which takes into account temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle and solar radiation (whether there is any cloud cover). In a WBGT of above 30 degrees Celsius, any physical activity is dangerous.

In the LSE brief, Siderius and his co-authors show that three Indian citiesDelhi, Mumbai and Kolkatahave daytime WBGT approaching 30 degrees Celsius. The heat stress indicators for these cities fall in the "Very Hot (danger)" range. A fourth city, Bengaluru, falls in the "Warm (Caution)" range. The paper states that though this is based on the three hottest months of the year (April, May and June), the danger of heat exposure doesnt really diminish till early October. In a climate change scenario where the world heats up by 3-4 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by 2100, the number of days with dangerous, constant heat could rise to between 100-250.

"The main thing is that of course there is this extreme level above which people really cant physically survive for a very long period. And we are coming closer to that threshold," says Siderius. He says heatwaves are already more regular, but that the period over which the weather is very hot will also be much longer. "Because individual heat events start to merge all together, and you get a very long hot season, and that will grind down peoples health. It will also be costly." He says that as average temperatures go up, "you see more extremes, and the extreme is also in the length of heat exposure".

The 2015 heatwave was so intense that roads in Delhi started melting. (Photo: Getty Images)

One person who has studied both the 2015 and 2016 heatwaves in great detail is climate scientist Krishna AchutaRao, from the Centre for Atmospheric Sciences at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. In a 2018 paper that he co-authored, Extreme Heat In India And Anthropogenic Climate Change, AchutaRao and his co-researchers noted two findings. The first is that the 2016 Phalodi high of 51 degrees Celsius is likely to become more frequent due to climate change. According to climate models, the return period of such an event is once every 7-10 years in our warming world. As a counterfactual, in a world with no climate change, such an incident would take place once every 20-30 years. The other thing they found was that a strong concentration of aerosols in the atmosphereIndias high pollutionreduces surface solar radiation and thus keeps temperatures low by counteracting the warming due to GHGs. High soil moisture due to irrigation also adds to this cooling effect, though it increases the humidity.

"We were trying to understand why there hasnt been a dramatic shift (in Indias extreme temperatures). It is a shift, but very subtle. And thats where we hypothesized that both pollution and irrigation might be masking this," he says.

Look at it this way: Indias temperature may have risen by just 0.7 degrees Celsius in a century but take away the pollution and we could be looking at a much higher increase in temperature. This is a fact that the MoES assessment report too suggests. Ironic as this may be, AchutaRaos paper makes clear that atmospheric pollution actually exacerbates health risks during a heatwave.

Urban Heat Traps

India is urbanizing at a rapid rate. According to the 2018 UN World Urbanization Prospects report, 20% of Indias population lived in cities in 1950. By 2018, that figure had increased to 34%, with 461 million urban dwellers. The country is forecast to add a further 416 million urban dwellers by 2050. By 2030, India will add Ahmedabad and Hyderabad to its existing five megacities (cities with populations of over 10 million) of Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Mumbai.

This is a level of urbanization unprecedented in human history. And it is in this same period that climate change impacts will be really felt in the country. Already, the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect is playing a major role in heating up urban areas. Siderius and other scientists studied the heat stress of three South Asian cities, including Delhi, in 2019. While the city has seen a temperature increase of 1.2 degrees Celsius between 1981-2019, UHI temperatures in parts of the city have gone up by as much as 8 degrees Celsius.

The researchers found that the amount of heat faced by urban dwellers depended on income levels. Higher-income neighbourhoods possess favourable conditions like shading from trees and open green spaces, which reduces the chances of heat getting stored over the day and turning nights warmer. On the other hand, low-income neighbourhoods are densely-built, which means greater heat exposure and greater amounts of stored-up heat. A typical house in an informal neighbourhood in Delhi could be 8 degrees Celsius hotter than the outside temperature at night.

"If its very dense, if theres less green space and less shade, the UHI effect is higher," says Siderius. "During the night, because of all the concrete and the built-up material, it stays very hot and you will have difficulty sleeping. And if that continues for a long period of time, for a couple of weeks, of course then that affects your health." He adds that as Indian cities develop rapidly and densely, they are losing their green cover. "There are few parks, few places with enough shade to accommodate a number of people in a city. In light of the changes in the future, that makes it questionable how liveable cities will be if adjustments arent being done," he says.

Minal Pathak is a senior scientist with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and a member of faculty at the Global Centre for Environment and Energy at Ahmedabad University. Earlier this year, she co-authored a report for the National Institute of Urban Affairs titled Climate Change, Heat Waves And Thermal ComfortReflections On Housing Policy In India. The study focused on low-income neighbourhoods in Ahmedabad. "The more you build, the more concrete you add in urban areas, even with minor climate change the UHI effect is a significant problem. And now, both of these problems are at their peak. So you have rapid urbanization where we are building over green spaces, open spaces, blue spaces. Thats adding to the heat burden, and the other problem is global warming," says Pathak. She adds that lower-income houses also suffer from poor ventilation, a higher density of people living in cramped spaces, and no ownership of cooling appliances, in some cases even fans.

"This is also going to affect middle-income households because of rising energy costs. Because (with rising heat) air conditioning doesnt become a luxury, but a necessity. And people are compelled to buy air conditioners and the rising cost of paying for those electricity bills is also an equity issue," she says. Nor is a rise in the use of air conditioning desirable, for it adds to the UHI by shifting greater localized heat outdoors.

According to urban planner and architect Lubaina Rangwala, who works with research organization World Resources Institute (WRI) Indias Sustainable Cities Centre, lack of awareness of the impacts of heat hampers community action. "In India, we worked in Surat where heat stress is one of the bigger climate stresses for the city. We realized that communities dont consider heat as a life risk or as a health risk. They see it more as a nuisance," says Rangwala.

She says that unlike flooding, which is a visible stress and therefore motivates people to act as communities to demand action, heat isnt a rallying point for people to ask for increased green areas, or heat shelters. "We have to make those connections and understand the costs that cities and families and people are incurring by not acting. We have coastal cities with wet, humid conditions. But unless the temperature goes above 40 degrees Centigrade, cities are not even taking it seriously. So you dont even capture the extent of exhaustion because of the wet-bulb temperature," she says.

This is a point echoed by Siderius. "Actually when we started this research only a couple of years ago, the reply we often got was that in India we are used to this. Not such a big issue," he says. "There wasnt really that much interest, and it was only in 2015-16, with heatwaves really becoming more prominent, that interest grew." Indians do know how to deal with heat, he says, but there needs to be a recognition that conditions are a lot more severe than in the past.

Planning For A Hot Future

The 2015 heatwaves prompted the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to publish guidelines on preventing and managing heatwaves a year later. It acknowledged the fact that heatwaves are not listed as a "disaster" under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. However, it urged cities and states to prepare Heat Action Plans (HAPs) that focus on early warning systems, training healthcare professionals, raising public awareness and encouraging collaboration with NGOs and civil society. The NDMA highlighted the Ahmedabad HAP, which was launched in 2013, as a model to follow. Since then, many Indian cities, including Delhi, Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar and Nagpur, have developed HAPs, while some states like Maharashtra and Odisha have formulated state-level HAPs as well. The NDMA identifies heat-prone states every year, and for both 2019 and 2020, this number was 23.

However, despite some progress on this front, analysts say HAPs are still not implemented properly. "The Ahmedabad HAP is among the best in the country, and we really have a foolproof programme, but the implementation has not reached the desired level," says Pathak. She says such plans need to go beyond just early warning systems. "I think the HAP needs to expand way beyond that. You are telling a person that its going to be really hot. But then where will he or she go? I think shelters or cooler spaces where people could stay in the afternoon, like community shelters, are really needed." She also highlights the fact that there is no respite for the poorest, like pavement dwellers. "People on the pavement just have a plastic sheet protecting them. What kind of sustainability would that be?" she says.

Rangwala says the invisible risk of heat has to be made visible. "Cities like Ahmedabad and Hyderabad, which are cities in the hot and arid areas of the country, now have HAPs and theres a significant amount of capacity building and awareness in these cities," she says. Although still marginal, Rangwala says the heat factor has begun to influence some labour laws and certain aspects of building regulations. However, the amount of concrete being poured into cities as they develop actually hamper any attempts by HAPs to counter heatwaves. "We need to break the notion of this kind of materiality that comes with the vision of growth. We need to be able to employ more passive design and green building methods," says Rangwala.

"Theres no single magic bullet that will solve it," says Siderius. According to him, it comes down to accumulating small gains from individual steps. "If you are able to organize your city in such a way that there is airflow, that there is shading at street level, that not everything is concrete or built up, that lowers maybe the outer temperatures at night by a couple of degrees," he says. Creating safe and comfortable green spaces where people would like to go in the evenings, would help. Painting house roofs in a light colour that reflects heat, and then maintaining it, or planning for proper home ventilation, helps too. "But the main thing is that once you have a better temperature range outdoors within your neighbourhood, because you have a better organized city, then its also easier to take effective measures indoors," he says.

One way to help plan the process is to use the heat maps for cities. Raj Bhagat Palanichamy is a data analyst and a Geographic Information System (GIS) and remote sensing analyst at WRI Indias Ross Center for Sustainable Cities. Some of his work focuses on preparing heat maps for use by city planners. He uses thermal infrared bands from satellite images for surface temperatures and air temperature data from IMD and local agencies to plot heat for a city. "The maps try to figure out the hot spots in a city. Surface temperature is very helpful in figuring out our interactions with hot bodies. For example, a tar road is hotter for the human body than the shade under a tree," he says.

According to Palanichamy, the hottest spots turn up in massive "tar-concrete" complexes like bus depots or industrial areas. This is followed by areas with low-income houses. "Bengaluru is our most studied city. For example, if you are looking at Kalasipalayam, which is more dense, its the old town, and in those sections it is very hot. And if you are looking at a somewhat planned layout like Jayanagar or Langford Town, it is cooler because of the amount of vegetation that is there. You have a proper gridded street network with tree-lined avenues," he says, adding that solutions for urban resilience have to be very local.

A 3D heat map of Bengaluru with the hottest parts of the city marked in red. Densely built-up areas like Kalasipalayam tend to be hotter than planned areas like Jayanagar and Langford Town (shaded light green). The map was created by data analyst Raj Bhagat Palanichamy using surface temperature data from thermal infrared bands from LandSat (USGS/NASA) satellite.

AchutaRao too says that solutions have to be local. For example, he says, if heat waves begin earlier, then a heat-stressed state might have to shift the entire school year, so that children are not subjected to them. "Its one thing to deal with a heatwave forecast by IMD. Its a different thing altogether if you expect heatwaves to become more frequent. If every year you are going to end up with a hotter peak, you will have to change all your activities. If you are planning on pre-monsoon construction, do you want to put your labour out there in a heatwave?" he says.

There are any number of sectoral impacts with heat, says AchutaRao, but they will be specific to different geographies. "There are regions in India which have almost no incidents of heatwaves. Lets say, in the future, these regions start experiencing heatwaves. It could potentially change a lot of things that are specific to that region, whether it is human or agricultural or natural systems."

Indias situation with regard to climate change is unique, since the impacts of global warming on the country are going to be multifaceted. Whether its sea-level rise, extreme weather events, melting glaciers or an unpredictable monsoon, there are multiple threats for the country to adapt to. But the most worrying impact remains extreme heat. When I ask Pathak about her perception of this challenge, her answer is emphatic. "I always hesitate to use the word worried because I think if I started using it then my work wouldnt mean anything. But if I had to point the finger at one top climate or environmental challenge, I would say that would be the impact from heat."
New Delhi, Sep 27 : After the announcement of Bihar election, the Grand Alliance is racing against time to seal the seat sharing deal this month as the smaller partners are looking for a larger share.

The Congress being the national party wants all the allies to be together to keep a united front against the NDA.

Congress state in-charge Shaktisinh Gohil refused to comment on the status of the alliance but said it will be done soon. Sources say RJD is not willing to concede more seats to the smaller parties.

There are differences within the alliance on who will lead it as RJD is consistently pushing Tejashwi Yadav as the CM face but RLSP led by Upendra Kushwaha is not ready for it.

RJD which is the largest party in the state does not want to give seats to the smaller parties like CPI-ML, RLSP and VIP, but these parties are demanding more seats than their strength and capability, said an RJD leader.

Congress which has 27 MLAs also wants to contest on 70 seats as during the last election it had contested 41 seats, but in 2015 RJD and JDU contested on 100 seats each with RJD winning 80.

But RJD is asserting that only its vote is transferable and no other party can transfer its votes.

Gohil on Friday had said, "There is no harm in any party propagating its leaders name for the Chief Minister but we will sit and decide on the issue that which way we will go with CM face or no face." RLSP is upset over delay in seat sharing agreement and has conveyed to the Congress leadership. Gohil said that there is no problem within the alliance and everything is smooth.

But sources say that there is major hiccup within the alliance as RJD is claiming all the seats which could be won by the alliance and leaving seats which are tough to win to the smaller partners.

The fate of the alliance depends on how fast the final agreement is reached on both the issues as already HAM leader Jitan Ram Manjhi has joined NDA citing differences.

Congress, RJD, RLSP, VIP and Left parties are set to challenge NDA in Bihar if things go on track.

In 2015 Bihar Assembly elections, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) emerged as the largest party by winning 80 seats while the ruling Janata Dal-United won 71 seats and the Congress won 27. The BJP managed to win 53 seats, followed by two seats by the LJP and one seat by Jitan Ram Manjhi-led Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular, others won 10 seats in the state The BJP despite winning only 53 seats got the maximum percentage of vote share with 24 per cent, followed by the RJD with 18 per cent and JD-U at 17 per cent. The Congress managed to get seven per cent vote share and LJP got around 4.8 per cent vote share.
New York Citys only freeport, an ultra-high tech facility named Arcis after the Latin word for fortress, recently announced its unceremonious closure after less than two years. The precipitous shuttering of the $50 million facility isnt surprising -- no amount of bling and retinal scanners could overcome the fact that Arcis was based on a defective model pioneered by scandal-hit Swiss art dealer Yves Bouvier, or that New Yorks hefty state taxes defeated much of the purpose of the facility.

Freeports nevertheless have significant potential as engines of economic growth and job creation. Boris Johnson has made a network of ten new freeports one of the cornerstones of his economic policy, taking advantage of greater post-Brexit regulatory freedom to revitalize disadvantaged communities and become a more competitive trade partner.

Republicans would be wise to follow suit and make a sustainable freeport model a pillar of their vision for how to return the American economy to health after the coronavirus pandemic. Democrats recently rolled out their THRIVE Act, a classic big-government agenda that banks on their cherished Green New Deal as the primary driver of job creation -- despite the fact that the U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research has determined that green policies are likely to have limited effects on employment. Well-designed freeports, in contrast, have a proven track record of creating thousands of good manufacturing jobs and sparking genuine growth.

Flawed from the get-go

Freeports have existed for centuries in their simplest form -- warehouses in which tariffs are suspended to ensure that goods in transit arent excessively taxed. Arcis, with its James Bondesque bells and whistles and its focus on high-end artwork, was a particular breed of freeport pioneered by freeport king Yves Bouvier.

Bouvier founded a $100 million freeport -- dubbed Asias Fort Knox -- in Singapore in 2010 and followed it up with Le Freeport Luxembourg in 2014. The facilitys grand opening, in fact, sparked American entrepreneurs Kenneth Cayre and Tom Sapienzas interest in opening a Luxembourg-style freeport in Manhattan.

In retrospect, Yves Bouvier wasnt the best entrepreneurial role model. His own freeports are in dire financial straits after his snowballing reputational problems -- the Swiss entrepreneur is being pursued by a former client for allegedly conning him out of over $1 billion, investigated by Swiss tax authorities for apparently hiding $360 million in profits, and accused of hiring a call girl to blackmail a tax inspector -- spooked clients and investors.

But there was another problem that crushed Cayre and Sapienzas freeport dreams. Freeports essential appeal is the ability to store -- and even buy and sell -- goods without incurring taxes as long as they remain in the facility. The Manhattan freeports clients, however, were still on the hook for New York State taxes -- often pretty substantial, since New York is one of the most tax-happy states in the country. Arciss developers loudly trumpeted the freeports proximity to major auction houses, but this only served to highlight the facilitys fatal flaw. A client could pick up an Old Master at Christies and have it delivered straight to Arcis -- and still get hit with a bruising tax bill for the short journey uptown.

A smarter kind of freeport

Given that the American Legislative Exchange Council recently rated New Yorks economic outlook as the worst in the entire country, in part due to its love of taxation which is making it an increasingly unattractive place to do business, the Empire State could have used the boost which a properly-designed freeport could provide.

The facilities real value, though, is not in becoming another cog in the economic machinery of Americas biggest city, but in revitalizing areas that have been left hung out to dry. Shannon, Ireland, enjoyed a surge in prosperity in the early 20th century as commercial aviation took off -- flights would stop there to refuel before venturing across the Atlantic. Once expanded-range allowed planes to fly directly from Europe to North America, Shannon risked being left behind -- until the airport which once hosted Charles Lindbergh on his jaunts across the Atlantic was converted into an industrial freeport.

Unlike Arcis and Yves Bouviers freeports, the Shannon free trade area wasnt simply a black hole for luxury goods -- the area took advantage of the tax cuts and lack of red tape to set up factories inside the free zone, making everything from pianos to textiles. The freeport employs more than 7000 people and generates 3.3 billion in trade -- a remarkable success story for a city which once seemed like it had lost its economic lifeline.

Boris Johnson is hoping to replicate Shannons boom by dotting freeports around the UK in areas such as Teesside, where 170 years of proud iron and steel-making tradition collapsed when a Thai-owned firm went belly-up, leaving 3000 people unemployed. There are countless areas of the United States in a similar situation, as decades of cheap products flooding in from China have left American workers out of luck.

A network of the right sort of freeports -- not gilded vaults like Arcis, but back-to-basics facilities where the focus is on the right cocktail of tax policies rather than $1000-a-bulb lighting -- could turn the tide and make American-made products more competitive on the global scale. Take Americas ailing auto industry, for example. Taxes on individual car parts, like radios -- mostly manufactured in Asia -- are often higher than on the finished car itself, making domestic car manufacturing less competitive. Freeports could offer a workaround, allowing manufacturers to import car parts tax-free, manufacture the car in the United States and then pay a lower fee when the car is sold on. A similar effect could be seen in any number of industries which often have very global supply chains, such as pharmaceuticals and chemicals.

Arciss collapse was inevitable given its narrow focus and New Yorks sky-high state taxes. The facilitys closure, however, should draw renewed attention to the broader concept of freeports, which if implemented properly could give the U.S. economy the shot in the arm it needs after damaging lockdowns this spring. It would certainly do more for the Rust Belt than pie-in-the-sky dreams of a Green New Deal.

Image: Oaktree b


Pyongyang warns Seoul against violating western sea border to search for missing official



By Yi Whan-woo



North Korea, just days after its leader's rare and swift apology, is putting the Moon Jae-in administration in trouble again over the killing of a South Korean fisheries official in North Korean waters.



On Sunday, the North warned the South not to cross its maritime boundary in the West Sea to search for the body of the official shot dead by North Korean troops while adrift early last week.



Pyongyang said its own search is underway and that the body, which has not been recovered, will be handed over to Seoul if recovered.



The North's move is seen to be an uncooperative gesture toward Cheong Wa Dae's call for a joint investigation into the death of the official and the whereabouts of his remains.



Both Koreas are on the same page when it comes to the death of the 47-year-old official, identified by his surname Lee.



But they presented conflicting scenarios over why Lee drifted into North Korean waters and also whether his body was burned by the North Korean maritime guards under "shoot-to-kill orders" to prevent the spread of COVID-19.





In an emergency meeting with security-related ministers Sunday evening, President Moon Jae-in renewed his calls for a joint investigation. He underlined the importance of retrieving the remains of the dead official and his belongings in a humanitarian perspective.



"The Moon administration may have thought it was saved by the bell when Kim made an apology, said Shin In-kyun, president of the Korea Defense Network. "It turns out the apology was not sincere at all and merely calculated to avoid backlash from the international community."



The Moon government was facing internal criticism over its intelligence community's questionable interim investigation results and failure to protect its citizen, before Kim made an apology and diverted public attention.



The intelligence authorities alleged Lee was shot dead while attempting to defect to the North.



In a letter delivered to the South, Friday, the North confirmed the killing and that its leader Kim Jong-un feel "very sorry to give big disappointment" to Moon and the South Korean citizens.



In the same letter, however, the North argued its troops killed him because he refused to fully identify himself and then sought to escape.



Regarding the whereabouts of the official's body, the South said the North Korean troops set it on fire with oil and burned it.



Amid fierce criticism over the suspected inhumane act, Pyongyang said it burned the floating object that the official was holding onto, not himself, and that it does not know where the body went.



"The North is only concerned about angering the international community, especially the United States, and possible tougher sanctions," Shin said. "Accordingly, it does not want the South to look into the case and find out that Lee's body was defiled in a horrific manner."



Kim Dong-yeop, a research professor at the Kyungnam University Institute for Far Eastern Studies, pointed out that Kim did not mention who is responsible for the death of the official.



"If he was truly sorry, he should have given details about follow-up measures, including who will be held accountable and what punishment will be given," he said. "Against this backdrop, it is no surprise the North is being uncooperative with the South's call for a joint investigation."



Kim reckoned the North's warning of the South not to violate the maritime boundary is another uncooperative gesture.




BELLAIRE, MI - Theres so many great ways to see fall leaf color in Michigan. You can take a hike on a forest trail, drive down winding country roads - or get a 360-degree view of all those blazing reds, oranges and yellows by taking to the sky.

Shanty Creek Resort will once again host its Scenic Chairlift Rides on the first three Saturdays of October - Oct. 3, 10 and 17. The resort is calling it a great way to do your leaf-peeping up high while still social distancing.

Visitors will enjoy the fresh, crisp fall air and spectacular 360-degree views of the kaleidoscope of color from Shanty Creeks blue chairlift high atop Schuss Mountain, resort staff said.

Tickets are $25 dollars for the entire chair - it seats up to four people. Rides are available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on those Saturdays. To purchase tickets online, check here.

For additional information on Shanty Creek Resort and other fall activities, visit www.ShantyCreek.com or call (866) 695-5010.

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The big shareholder groups in Austal Limited (ASX:ASB) have power over the company. Generally speaking, as a company grows, institutions will increase their ownership. Conversely, insiders often decrease their ownership over time. Companies that used to be publicly owned tend to have lower insider ownership.

Austal isn't enormous, but it's not particularly small either. It has a market capitalization of AU$1.2b, which means it would generally expect to see some institutions on the share registry. Taking a look at our data on the ownership groups (below), it seems that institutional investors have bought into the company. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner, to discover more about Austal.

View our latest analysis for Austal

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Austal?

Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing.

As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Austal. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Austal's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Austal. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is enX Group Limited with 9.0% of shares outstanding. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 6.1% and 4.9%, of the shares outstanding, respectively. In addition, we found that David Patrick Singleton, the CEO has 0.7% of the shares allocated to his name

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After doing some more digging, we found that the top 18 have the combined ownership of 51% in the company, suggesting that no single shareholder has significant control over the company.

Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future.

Insider Ownership Of Austal

While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

I can report that insiders do own shares in Austal Limited. In their own names, insiders own AU$27m worth of stock in the AU$1.2b company. Some would say this shows alignment of interests between shareholders and the board. But it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling.

General Public Ownership

With a 42% ownership, the general public have some degree of sway over Austal. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Public Company Ownership

We can see that public companies hold 9.2% of the Austal shares on issue. It's hard to say for sure but this suggests they have entwined business interests. This might be a strategic stake, so it's worth watching this space for changes in ownership.

Next Steps:

I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Austal (1 is potentially serious) that you should be aware of.

If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.



Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com.
Martial law is being declared at a time when there is a real threat of attack, but if I state the possible directions now, it will mean that I am disclosing our information, and this will depreciate the information. This is what Prime Minister of Armenia NikolPashinyan said during a discussion on the declaration of martial law and conduct of general mobilization held as part of todays special parliamentary session, responding to a question from deputy of the Bright Armenia opposition faction Ani Samsonyan.

The deputy had particularly asked if there is information that Azerbaijan is planning attacks in other directions as well.

Allow me to not answer that question because the situation is extremely tense and unpredictable, Pashinyan said.

Today, the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan, in gross violation of the norms of international humanitarian law and the logic of the process of peaceful negotiations for the settlement of the conflict, the Azerbaijani armed forces launched an offensive along the entire length of the line of contact through the use of missiles and aircraft, targeting the military posts of the Defense Army and the peaceful settlements of Artsakh.
A Treasury Minister has given banks the all-clear to turn down borrowers who took loan repayment 'holidays' during lockdown.

In a letter seen by the MoS, John Glen has said a payment holiday may impact a lender's 'willingness to provide credit'  even though Ministers previously promised that borrowers would not be affected.

More than three million people  many of whom are being paid by the Government's furlough scheme  used payment holidays having been assured it would not affect their creditworthiness. Business secretary Alok Sharma said in March that 'it shouldn't affect your credit score'.

In the red: More than three million people used payment holidays having been assured it would not affect their creditworthiness

But the MoS has revealed that customers are now being turned down for mortgages because they took a payment break. The City watchdog has allowed banks to inspect account data to work out if someone took a holiday on repayments.

In a letter to Labour MP Siobhain McDonagh, Glen said: 'When considering whether or not to accept new loan or credit applications, lenders will look at a range of factors beyond a borrower's credit file. This could include asking the customer whether they have taken out a payment holiday as well as assessing income, expenditure and future ability to make repayments.' McDonagh, who sits on the Treasury Select Committee, said: 'Yet again the Government is backing up the banks in bad behaviour.

'People were clearly misled by the Government and the banks that if they requested a payment holiday it would have no impact on their future ability to borrow.

'They've used a sleight of words  they've said it won't affect your credit scoring, but it can still be taken into account.'

Film editor Dave Wilson, 44, said he was unable to move his Santander mortgage to a new property because he took a payment holiday. He is trying to move to a new house to make room for his third child with wife Jane.

He said: 'When the Government said we could take a penalty-free holiday, I thought it wouldn't be a bad thing to do. Our biggest bugbear is that we were not told at the time that it would have an effect on our ability to remortgage.'

A Santander spokesman said it is reviewing Mr Wilson's case. It said a payment holiday should not impact a customer's request to port a mortgage to a new property.
The Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, said members of the public leaving Ireland on a flight may need to take a Covid-19 test before going to the airport to get their plane.

Finalised details on the government's plans for airport testing are due in the next two weeks and Mr Ryan said not every passenger who travels through airports would be tested as capacity needs to be retained for the public health service.

"You have to be careful that you don't take from the testing capacity that we need in the State within our public health system," said Mr Ryan, "more likely it [testing] would apply where you would take a test a period of time before flying, because that is what other countries are doing.

"I think it meets some of the public health concerns, that you are not missing people at the airport."

Mr Ryan said this testing regime is necessary for travel to be sustained as there is certain personal and business travel that people "do have to do".

Mr Ryan said: "We don't want it interrupting or getting in the way of other public health testing but we do need it because we do need a certain amount of [...] there is certain business or other travel needs, personal travel needs, that people do have to do.

"It will be limited in terms of, as I said it won't be for every person flying.

"But we will need some in my mind. I think it is more likely to be in advance rather than at the airport."

Rapid airport testing had been considered as part of the government's 'Living With Covid' plan published earlier this month but was not confirmed.

Ireland's Green List now only makes up four countries; Cyprus, Finland, Latvia and Liechtenstein.

Germany, Poland, Iceland and Lithuania have been removed from the list earlier this week and the changes come into effect from midnight tonight.

The list is updated on a weekly basis to include EU/EEA countries with a 14-day cumulative number of Covid-19 cases per 100,000 of 25 or less.
A Government science adviser today said coronavirus lockdowns 'defer the problem' rather than solve it as he warned it is 'doubtful' there will be a vaccine ready for mass roll-out in six months.

Professor Mark Woolhouse from the University of Edinburgh also said a third wave of infections next year is 'entirely possible'.

Prof Woolhouse, who sits on the Government's Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (SPI-M), suggested the UK will have to live with the virus until 'some kind of cavalry' comes to the nation's rescue in the form of a vaccine or rapid testing.

He said that while people involved in the creation of a Covid-19 jab believe one may be ready by March it is likely to take longer for it to become widely available.

Boris Johnson last week announced fresh coronavirus restrictions to slow the spread of the disease as the Prime Minister said the new crackdown could be in place for six months.

Prof Woolhouse told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that the Government's strategy appeared to be to try to 'stick this out' until there is a vaccine.

But he urged caution on the timeline for when scientists could be in a position to roll out a jab.

The Governments strategy is to stick this out for another six months, that is what we are told, and implicitly in that the expectation is after six months something will be different and the obvious something is for there to be a vaccine available,' he said.

I have to say that most people I have talked to who are involved in vaccine development think that we may have a vaccine in six months but it is doubtful that we will have been able to roll it out on a mass scale by that time.

So we are in a difficult situation for some months to come I am afraid.

Ministers have not ruled out imposing another national lockdown but Prof Woolhouse said that would simply 'defer the problem'.

Asked if the Government had modelled anything other than a nationwide shutdown at the start of the pandemic, he said: Basically no and that is a worry because when we started modelling this way back in March, before the first lockdown, it was very apparent from the work that my group did and many other groups did, that all a lockdown ever did is defer the problem.

'It solves an immediate crisis because it reduces transmission quickly, but it doesnt actually solve the problem in the long term. It doesnt make the virus go away.

Prof Woolhouse suggested until the 'cavalry' arrives the UK will have to live with the disease.

Asked if there could be a third wave of infections, he said: That is entirely possible. A scenario I mentioned earlier does actually include this possibility and this is just another demonstration of what I was saying earlier that lockdown doesnt solve the problem, it defers it.

That is why we need some kind of cavalry on the horizon or alternatively if we think that vaccine is not going to be available in six months or 12 months or two years or whenever it may be that we do need alternatives.

Boris Johnson's 10pm pubs and restaurants curfew came into force on Thursday last week. Pictured is Bristol city centre on Saturday night

The PM's latest coronavirus restrictions have sparked fears that panic buying could return. A supermarket in south east London is pictured today

The alternatives that have been mentioned so far are things like the moonshot programme on mass testing and there may be others on the horizon too.

Announcing his latest coronavirus crackdown on Tuesday last week, Mr Johnson said the measures could be in place for six months.

He told MPs in the House of Commons: 'We will spare no effort in developing vaccines, treatments and new forms of mass-testing.

'But unless we palpably make progress, we should assume that the restrictions I have announced will remain in place for perhaps six months.

'For the time being, this virus is a fact of our lives and I must tell the House and the country that our fight against it will continue.'
Government's telecom standard body Telecom Engineering Centre is providing free access to all technical documents to stakeholders with a view to easing manufacturing and public procurement hassles, an official source said on Sunday.

Domestic telecom gear maker body TEMA appreciated the development, saying this was a long-pending demand of the players.

"The access to Generic Requirements (GRS), Interface Requirements (IR), Essential Requirements (ERs) has been made free. Now anyone can download it from TEC and use it to meet their regulatory requirement," a TEC official told PTI.

Telecom gear makers are required to follow the technical standards set by TEC for supplying telecom equipment.

Every player was required to purchase GRs, IRs and ERs for getting their product tested and also submit the same to meet the tender requirement of the public sector telecom firms.

It used to take 10-15 days for industry players to procure required documents.

"TEMA thanks Secretary Department of Telecom Anshu Prakash and Senior DDG TEC, UK Srivastava and welcomes the historic decision of providing free access to specifications and technical documentations framed by TEC," TEMA said in a statement.

Telecom Equipment Manufacturers Association of India (TEMA) said providing free access to the most valuable technical standards shall be useful in accelerating the promotion of the knowledge of telecom technology as well as domestic manufacturing along with public procurement preference to

"Innovation is the key to self reliance. This decision of TEC goes well with PM's Mission of Atma Nirbhar Bharat, Make in India, as industries would be able to use the specifications, ER, GR, IR etc. freely to fasten the innovation and R&D projects," TEMA, Chairman Ravi Sharma said.

TEC is also a certifying authority for conformance to essential requirements of the information and communication technology equipment being used in Indian Territory. TEC is also making standards for new technologies like AI, M2M, IOT, smart cities etc.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Photo credit: The Washington Post - Getty Images

From Esquire

So, at the heel of the hunt, a vacant seat on the United States Supreme Court came down to a choice between a judge in Florida who doesn't believe ex-convicts should vote, and a judge from Indiana who believes that ex-convicts should be free to build arsenals. The guns-for-crooks judge, Amy Coney Barrett, was announced as the winner on Saturday, but I would like to commend the conservative legal community on its simple humanity and for bestowing a choice like this on a vulgar talking yam of a president*.

I was lucky enough to clerk for Justice Scalia and given his incalculable influence on my life, I am very moved to have members of the Scalia a family here today, including his dear wife. I clerked for the justice more than 20 years ago but the lessons I learned still resonate. His judicial philosophy is mine, too. A judge must apply the law as written. Judges are not policymakers and they must be resolute in setting aside any policy views they might hold.

That was the only worthwhile passage from either the president* or the nominee during the Saturday afternoon event. (Although we did learn that Judge ACB is also a "room parent" and a "car-pool driver," the latter of which apparently is now a requirement for Supreme Court nominees.) That was something that every nominee says and everybody else pretends to believe until the day on which 25 million Americans discover their healthcare is gone, or the day on which women discover that their right to privacy has a gaping new loophole, or the day when you discover that the ex-convict next door is laying in AKs in case MS-13 moves in down the block.

The truth of the matter is that Amy Coney Barrett would not have been nominated for the Supreme Court if she weren't, by and large, a safe vote in the bag. Roe v. Wade is a dead precedent walking. The Affordable Care Act is hanging by a thread. In The Nation, Elie Mystal ran down the bill of particulars on a number of issues beyond the obvious ones, and, in The New Yorker, Jeffrey Toobin provided a good survey of Judge ACB's deference to American corporate power and the conservative power elite that it has bankrolled for going on 50 years now, and that has been a vital force in her entire career.

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The judge has described herself as a textualist and an originalistthe same words of legal jargon that were associated with Scalia. (She believes in relying on the specific meaning of the words in statutes, not on legislators intent. She interprets the Constitution according to her belief in what the words meant when the document was ratified, not what the words mean now.) But these words are abstractions. In the real world, they operate as an agenda to crush labor unions, curtail environmental regulation, constrain the voting rights of minorities, limit government support for health care, and free the wealthy to buy political influence.

And if all of that isn't unnerving enough, in Washington Monthly, Professor Garrett Epps brings down both the hammer and the gavel on the nominee's attitude toward existing legal precedent.

Scalia, who did more than any jurist to popularize the idea of originalism, embraced stare decisis even if, at some points, a precedent conflicted with his preferred view of the issue. In that, he implicitly contrasted himself with Justice Clarence Thomas. I am a textualist, I am an originalist, he said in 2008. I am not a nut. A judge who does not acknowledge stare decisis is a nut, and, worse, a nut with a hammer. Thomas is one, and he has set his sights on overturning precedents in areas like freedom of the press and the right to counsel in criminal cases. And Amy Coney Barrett may very well provide another vote for Thomas-style radicalism. That is reason enough to oppose her.

I base this fear in part on a 2017 article, Originalism and Stare Decisis, published in the Notre Dame Law Review. In it, she explains that she, as a committed originalist, believes in precedent as much as the next judge. But thenin a move familiar to anyone who ever took Intro to Philosophyshe supports that claim by simply changing what precedent means. Originalism can be understood as a quintessentially precedent-based theory, she wrotealbeit one that does not look primarily to judicial decisions as to its guide. The picking of pockets begins there, and progresses thus...

Photo credit: The Washington Post - Getty Images

...Originalism thus places a premium on precedent, and to the extent that originalists reject the possibility of deviating from historically-settled meaning, one could say that their view of precedent is particularly strong, not weak as their critics often contend. One could say that, but one would be grievously wrong, on the principle once cited by Abraham Lincoln, that a cow has only four legs no matter what you call the tail. To a judgeone who is trying to serve as a judgeprecedent denotes decisions on the same or similar issues by prior courts, coupled with government practices in areas where there have been few actual cases. It does not mean The Federalist, Gammer Gurtons Needle, or The Letters of Heloise and Abelard. Historical materials can inform discussion of what precedent meansbut they arent law.

Call me a cockeyed optimist, but I am less worried about the Supreme Court's meddling in a contested presidential election than a lot of other people are. First of all, that's not the way these things are supposed to work; both the intervention of the Court in 2000 and the establishment of the Election Commission in 1876 were jerry-rigged ad hoc mechanism to short-circuit the Constitution. Neither worked out very well. I can envision Chief Justice John Roberts's little institutionalist alarm bell ringing at the prospect of a Court under his direction producing a Bush v. Gore that keeps this particular president* in office for four more years.

Quite honestly, I am surprised that any person of actual integrity would take this job from this president* under these circumstances. In fact, simply by accepting the nomination, Judge ACB is also accepting the widely held public conviction that she is something of a conservative automaton. (No More Souters! has been a rallying cry for two decades now.) That cannot be a comfortable position to be in if you care about, you know, justice. The problem with being known as the safe one in the bag is that, if you rule against expectationsif, say, Judge ACB were to recuse herself from any case involving the electionyou face the wrath of the True Believers and, if you rule in in keeping with what is perceived to be your judicial philosophy, you don't get any intellectual credibility out of the deal.

Not that any of this matters. Being an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court is a sweet lifetime gig, and Judge ACB is as sure a thing as any nominee ever has been. When I first started writing about politics in the late 1970s, the long march of the conservative movement was just gaining steam. (My guide was Sid Blumenthal's vastly underrated The Rise of the Counter-Establishment.) Lewis Powell, who later sat on the Court himself, sent out his famous memo in 1971 that eventually would become the basis for what is now the vast network of lavishly financed conservative institutions that have worked their dark magic on every institution of government. The Federalist Society is one of those institutions, and this president* outsourced his judicial choices to it. The quest has been a long one, but the federal judiciary is now shot through with larval Scalia's, including Judge ACB, who counts the late justice as a mentor. And now, very soon, there will be a 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court for decades. It has been a very long quest and Judge Amy Coney Barrett is the Holy Grail.

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New Delhi: A first-year college student has been arrested by the cyber cell of the Delhi Police for sending obscene messages and harassing women on Facebook.



The student, Kafil, was arrested on the basis of a complaint lodged by a woman at the Mehrauli Police Station who alleged she received obscene and abusive messages on her Facebook account from a person called Karan.

Accordingly, a case under relevant sections of the IPC was registered at Mehrauli and investigation was entrusted to the Cyber Cell.

After obtaining details of the user of the alleged account, sleuths of the cyber cell arrested the BA first-year student, who allegedly sent inappropriate messages online. The accused confessed to having created a few fake accounts on the social media to lure and impress girls.

Further he said that previously, he used to stalk another resident in Mehrauli through the same fake profile in the name of Karan.


  ..................................................Select your country................................................ Australia Canada Chile Czech Republic Denmark Finland France (FR) Germany Ireland Mexico Netherlands New Zealand Norway Portugal Spain Turkey United Kingdom

  Czech Republics educational context Students: The Czech Republic performs above the OECD average in science in PISA 2012, with performance in mathematics and reading around average. Performance has remained unchanged in reading and science across PISA cycles and has decreased in mathematics. The impact of socio-economic background on students academic performance is around the OECD average, and student performance varies highly between schools. Early childhood and care (ECEC) usually starts at age 4, and efforts to improve equity include improving enrolment in ECEC to reach the OECD average for 3-4 year-olds. Different approaches to student selection, such as school choice, academic streaming and early tracking (at age 11), and differentiation of educational pathways can hamper equity if not managed carefully. Upper secondary attainment rates in the Czech Republic are above the OECD average. Enrolment in upper secondary vocational education and training (VET) is one of the highest among OECD countries, while students in the apprenticeship track do not feel well prepared for the labour market. In addition, tertiary attainment rates are below the OECD average. Literacy skills are high among 16-65 year-olds compared to other countries participating in the Survey of Adult Skills, and even higher among 15-24 year- olds. Unemployment is below the OECD average. Institutions: Czech compulsory (basic) schools have one of the highest levels of autonomy among OECD countries in allocating resources, such as hiring and dismissing teachers, and in the use of curriculum and assessment. Lower secondary education teachers in the Czech Republic undergo five years of pre-service training. The organisation of a teaching practicum is at the discretion of training institutions. Teaching time is above the OECD average in primary education and below the OECD average in secondary education. Conditions for teachers have been improving, with class size below the OECD average. With the economic crisis, the teaching profession has become a more attractive alternative for tertiary-educated people looking for employment, although teachers still earn less than the OECD average at primary and secondary levels, and about half of the average salary for an individual with tertiary education in the Czech Republic. A lower proportion of teachers in the Czech Republic than the TALIS average consider that the teaching profession is valued in society and would choose to work as teachers if they could decide again. Schools are evaluated through well structured, evidence-driven external inspections. System: Governance of the education system is shared between central authorities and schools. The government sets priorities and defines national programmes and reforms, while municipalities are responsible for organising pre-primary and compulsory education. At the lower secondary level, schools have great autonomy, with most decisions taken at the school or local level. Fourteen regional governments steer upper secondary and tertiary professional education and its objectives within their region. Expenditure in education is lower than the OECD average, despite spending increases on tertiary education, and the financial crisis has affected education funding, particularly for non- teaching staff in small schools. Expenditure on educational institutions as a percentage of GDP (for all educational levels combined) is one of the lowest among OECD countries, with a higher share of funding from public sources than the OECD average.  Selected indicators compared with the average Click here to access the underlying data Note: For each indicator, the absolute performance is standardised (normalised) using a normative score ranging from 0 to 180, where 100 was set at the average, taking into account all OECD countries with available data in each case. See www.oecd.org/edu/policyoutlook.htm for maximum and minimum value countries. Source: The Czech Republic Snapshot was produced combining information from Education Policy Outlook: Australia, (OECD, 2013) with OECD data and the countrys response to the Education Policy Outlook Snapshot Survey (2013). More information on the spider chart and sources is available at www.oecd.org/edu/policyoutlook.htm.  Key issues and goals Students: The Czech Republic faces the challenge of raising overall student performance and reducing the proportion of those who are underperforming. Almost one in four students underperformed in PISA 2012 and did not achieve the level considered necessary to participate effectively in society (Level 2). To better prepare students for the future, it is key to help students effectively develop the skills needed in the labour market. This requires focusing on improving the quality of the education provided at tertiary level, rather than only increasing enrolment. Institutions: Progress can also be hampered by a lack of systemic support to ensure the capacity of teachers and school leaders to address diverse student needs and to provide more inclusive education, and also by a lack of clarity to guide schools. Another issue is the introduction of a career progression system for teachers and leaders associated with pay levels, as well as integration of an evaluation and assessment framework including developing national standardised tests, while limiting their undesired effects. System: The Czech Republic considers its key issues to adopt and implement its strategy for 2020 priorities and making better use of existing information about the impact of policy changes for the improvement of education outputs. Developing professional capacity across the education system (e.g. teaching, leadership, evaluation, and assessment) is also seen as important to foster education quality, along with improving the efficiency of overall school funding and transparency of the system, and promoting better financing of the education of disadvantaged students.  Selected policy responses The Long-Term Plan for Education and the Development of the Educational System (2011-15) aims to improve the quality and efficiency of the education system by targeting a wide array of areas, including ECEC, VET; and evaluation and assessment. The Innovation of the Framework Educational Programme of Pre-Primary Education (2012) puts emphasis on care and education of 2-year-olds in nursery schools (materske skoly) and the interrelation with the Framework Educational Programme for Primary Education that deals with preparedness of children for primary education. A National Institute of Education (NUV) has been created (2011) to guide and provide support to schools. Selected policy initiatives aim to promote more inclusive education, address diverse student needs, improve the teaching profession and better align education qualifications to those in the labour market. The Strategy Czech School Inspection (2014-20) aims to strengthen external evaluation for school improvement. Standardised tests in grades 5 and 9 (2011) of basic education have been implemented in three curricular areas: Czech language, foreign languages and mathematics. The Czech Republic aims for the tests to provide feedback to students, inform parents and teachers on student learning and school quality and evaluate the work of schools. Results will be published at the school level to allow between-school comparisons, and monitor the performance of the Czech school system as a whole and across regions. Test results might serve as a basis for enrolment in a higher level of education. With the Operational Programme Research, Development and Education (Operacni program Vyzkum, vyvoj a vzdelavani, 2014-20), the Czech Republic aims to contribute to a structural shift in the economy towards one based on an educated workforce and to produce high- quality research. The four priority areas of this programme are: 1) strengthening the capacity for quality research; 2) developing higher education institutions and human resources for research and development; 3) promoting equal access to quality pre-school and primary and secondary education; and 4) providing technical support. Spotlight: Tackling equity in education The Czech Republic has made decreasing the inequality in the education system one of its three key priorities in the Education Policy Strategy of the Czech Republic for 2020 (2014). Czech authorities and policy makers aim to focus on equal access to education as well as to ensure that students personal or social circumstances do not hinder their educational achievement. The government has also introduced multiple policies to support students, particularly those who might be at risk of low performance. Inclusive Education Support Centres (2009-10), a follow-up to a 2006 programme, aimed to assess the conditions for inclusive education in compulsory education and provide support to schools to better address individual learning. As part of the Education for Competitiveness Operational Programme (2007-13), school counselling centres were developed to manage school choice, to strengthen support for students in compulsory education, and to help them when deciding on an educational pathway.
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The Indian population is still "far away" from achieving herd immunity against COVID-19 and everyone should continue following "COVID-appropriate" protocols, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on September 27.

"Indian population is still far from achieving herd immunity against COVID-19 as shown by ICMRs second sero-survey. Hence, all of us should continue following COVID appropriate behaviour," Vardhan said.

The health minister's statement comes on a day when the World Health Organisation (WHO) said in a statement that herd immunity against coronavirus is "not an option".

Follow our LIVE blog for the latest updates of the novel coronavirus pandemic

Vardhan, who was interacting with his social media followers, also said that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is also "investigating and researching" reports of COVID-19 reinfections across the country. While the number of reinfection cases are "negligible", the government is "fully seized of the importance of the matter", the Health Minister said.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

Vardhan cautioned that the sero-survey report should not create a sense of complacency among the people. He also stressed that masks be worn even in places of worship.

The first sero-survey of May 2020 had revealed that the nationwide prevalence of the novel coronavirus infection was only 0.73 percent.

The health minister also dispelled fears regarding the phased opening of schools, and reiterated proper protocol to be followed while visiting salons and hair spas.

On the wide usage of investigational therapies such as plasma therapy and Remdesivir drug for combating COVID-19, Vardhan said the government has issued regular advisories regarding their rational usage and private hospitals have also been advised against routine use of these therapies.

(With inputs from PTI)

Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here
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
The House of Representatives on Sunday waded into the crisis between the Federal Government and the organised labour over the recent hikes...

The House of Representatives on Sunday waded into the crisis between the Federal Government and the organised labour over the recent hikes in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) and electricity tariff.

The workers, however, insisted on starting industrial action on Monday until their demands are met.

The Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress had jointly declared their readiness to embark on a nationwide strike and protests to compel the Federal Government to reverse the hikes. The hikes had generated nationwide criticism.

The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Sunday met with President of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba; and his TUC counterpart, Quadri Olaleye, among others.

Also at the meeting were the Deputy Majority Leader, Peter Akpatason; and Chairman, House Committee on Labour, Ali Muhammed.

The opening session began at 10:30am and ended at 10:52am. The meeting went behind closed doors and lasted almost one hour.

Emerging from the meeting, Wabba dismissed the various court rulings barring the workers from industrial action.

He said, We have had a useful discussion with the leadership of the House of Representatives. We have shared our concerns and challenges with him (Gbajabiamila), especially the very challenges of the implication of the hike in the tariff of electricity and the (petrol) pump price. We also told him how the discussions with the Federal Government went and how the meeting was adjourned.

He has also promised to try to intervene at his own level, to see to it that we dont inflict more pains on Nigerians. And in the course of the discussion, we have also realised that the House of Reps has done a lot on this issue, including recommendation to government which we have shared mutually.

But the bottom line is that we want this burden that has now been shifted to Nigerians as consumers to also be lifted so that we can have a decent life.

Responding to a question on court injunctions barring workers from embarking on strike, Wabba accused the Federal Government of also disregarding a subsisting court pronouncement against electricity tariff hike.

The NLC boss said, Are you not aware also that there is a court judgment stopping the tariff? This is a valid judgment from the High Court stopping the tariff increase and that judgment is still subsisting. Are you not aware of that? And on the issue of the court judgment, we have not been served.

As I said, in good faith, youll recall that we were on the negotiation table up till late Thursday night. Therefore, our expectation is that we should be able to, in good faith, continue to dialogue, not to try to ambush because we have not received the order as of today and we dont know the details of any order. Clearly speaking, we cannot speak on something that is not before us.

The reality is that, on the issue of electricity tariff, we have a court judgment, not court order, that has nullified the increase in tariff and, therefore, we believe that the rule of law must always prevail. And in this case also, we want the right thing to be done.

When asked if the organised labour would still go ahead with the strike as planned, Wabba said, If the issues are not addressed  youre aware that weve given a notice and that notice will certainly expire by tomorrow  all the actions we have pronounced will certainly take effect.
NEW YORK, Sept. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Turnbridge Equities (Turnbridge), a vertically integrated real estate investment and development firm, announced that Michael Gazzano will oversee new acquisition and development opportunities on the West Coast, as the firm expands its investment footprint throughout the country.

Michael Gazzano, Turnbridge Equities

Gazzano, who joined the firm in 2019 as a Managing Director, has been supporting other projects in the Turnbridge portfolio throughout the U.S. over the last year. In his new role, he will now focus his efforts on identifying new investments for Turnbridge on the West Coast, with target markets that include the entire Southern California region in addition to Seattle, Portland, and Phoenix.

Gazzano will oversee West Coast acquisitions for ground-up development and value add initiatives, as well as distressed note acquisitions, across various asset classes including multifamily, mixed-use, office, and industrial. Gazzano will be based in Los Angeles.

"Our focus on identifying and securing new opportunities throughout the West Coast marks the next phase of Turnbridge's long-term national expansion," notes Andrew Joblon, Managing Principal and Founder of Turnbridge. "Since its inception, Turnbridge has implemented successful investment strategies in emerging markets throughout the country and the decision to increase our presence on the West Coast was a logical next step in our business growth plan. We're pleased to have Michael lead our West Coast efforts and bring our vertically integrated real estate investment platform to markets across the region."

"Turnbridge has a well-earned reputation as a strategically focused real estate investor with a history of sourcing and executing investments nationwide and I look forward to continuing the firm's winning track record by building its West Coast portfolio," Gazzano adds.

Turnbridge continues to be an active investor and developer across the U.S., and most recently announced the recapitalization of the Bronx Logistics Center, a Class-A industrial property the firm is developing in a joint venture with Dune Real Estate Partners. The development is in the Hunts Point submarket of New York City and is expected to be one of the largest multi-story, last mile distribution facilities in the region when complete.

About Michael Gazzano

Gazzano has over two decades of real estate investment and development experience. Prior to joining Turnbridge, he served as Vice President of Development for Caruso, one of the largest privately-held development companies in the country. During his time at Caruso, he oversaw acquisitions, entitlements, design, leasing, construction, and financing of various projects, including Palisades Village, Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort, 333 La Cienega, 8500 Burton Way, San Vicente, and The Americana at Brand. Prior to that, Gazzano worked in the Global Real Estate Group for The Walt Disney Company and started his career with C.W. Driver, a large General Contractor, where he worked on several projects in Southern California.

Gazzano holds a Master's Degree in Real Estate Development from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning and a Minor in Civil Engineering also from the University of Southern California. He is a member of ULI and a Board Member for the USC Price Real Estate Advisory Board as well as Co-Chair of the USC Price Real Estate Alumni & Affiliates.

About Turnbridge Equities

Turnbridge Equities, founded in 2015 by Andrew Joblon, is a privately-held, vertically-integrated real estate investment and development firm with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Miami, and Austin. Turnbridge is an SEC registered investment advisor, Turnbridge RE Fund Management Company I LLC, with assets under management in excess of $1.7 billion. Turnbridge's full-service platform and extensive relationships enable the company to acquire, develop, reposition, and operate real estate and generate value for its investors and partners. Turnbridge and its principals seek to bring high levels of creativity and thought leadership to drive the results of each of its investments. With a track record of implementing successful investment strategies, Turnbridge has capitalized on emerging trends and monetized value in advance of market shifts.

Contact :

Great Ink Communications, Ltd.  212-741-2977

Tom Nolan

Francisco Miranda

[email protected]

SOURCE Turnbridge Equities
By Carl Bildt





STOCKHOLM  EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen offered an upbeat assessment in her first annual policy report ("state of the union" address) to the European Parliament this month. Clearly, the agreement this summer on an unprecedented 750 billion ($879 billion) recovery fund and renewal package has given the European Union a new sense of strength.



But now is not the time for complacency. While Europe can take pride in leading the world toward carbon neutrality and a "green recovery," COVID-19 cases on the continent are spiking again, and the region remains at serious risk of falling behind in the global technology race.



In terms of the broader economy, there is now talk of a "K-shaped" recovery in which some sectors decline sharply while others boom, often by seizing on opportunities created by the crisis itself. The EU has every reason to worry that its economy comprises more sectors in the first category than in the second, which invariably centers on information and communication technology (ICT).



The pandemic has accelerated the digital transition. China, for its part, has stepped up its efforts to achieve technological dominance in artificial intelligence (AI) and other key sectors of the future. And companies like Zoom have gone from being non-entities to household names in the space of just months. ExxonMobil, once the most valuable company in the United States, now doesn't even make it into the top 30, having been surpassed by companies like Netflix. Despite a recent correction, U.S. tech giants' combined market capitalization now exceeds that of all companies listed in Europe.



But even though hundreds of millions of people's daily lives during the pandemic have been mediated by U.S. tech companies' products and services, the U.S. cannot afford complacency, either. Chinese giants like Huawei and TikTok are enlarging their global market share by the day. According to Eric Schmidt, a former executive chairman of Google and Alphabet and chair of the U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Innovation Advisory Board, "China is on its way to surpass us in many, many ways ... we need to take them seriously." Otherwise, he warns, China will "end up with a bigger economy, more R&D investments, better quality research, wider applications of technology, and a stronger computing infrastructure."



There was a time when Europe could proudly claim to have helped launch the era of mobile communications. But now that the world is on the verge of upgrading from 4G to 5G, Europe's technological contributions are notably absent. A new report from the European Round Table for Industry finds that the EU trails the U.S. by three years, and China by nearly as much, just when it comes to implementing 4G, which is already yesterday's technology. Needless to say, it is lagging even further behind in its rollout of 5G base stations, even though it is home to major ICT companies like Ericsson and Nokia.



Europe's slow adoption of 5G will have far-reaching implications for its future competitiveness. Many of the industries that 5G could revolutionize are those in which Europe has traditionally demonstrated strength: manufacturing, design, and health care. Now, there is a high risk that China, through digitalization, will achieve dominance in these industries.



And 5G is just one technology. Even more important is AI, where the situation for Europe is particularly grim. According to a 2019 study by the Center for Data Innovation, the U.S. leads the global AI race "in four of the six categories of metrics" examined (talent, research, development, and hardware), and China comes out on top in the remaining two (adoption and data). The EU commands primacy in none, though it is close behind the U.S. in terms of talent.



This last observation is crucial. Europe's problem is not a scarcity of talent but rather a lack of appropriate institutional arrangements and leadership in this critical domain. Fractured, old-fashioned governance frameworks are hampering the rollout of 5G infrastructure. Insufficient funding for basic research is hampering innovation. And the absence of deep capital markets is making it difficult for start-ups to get the financing they need to grow and scale up, leaving them to be snatched up by deep-pocketed U.S. companies.



The results of these failures are clear to see in the rankings of the world's unicorns (start-ups valued at $1 billion or more). According to one recent index, six of the ten largest are from the U.S., three are from China, and one is from Singapore. Other indices give China the biggest share of major unicorns; but none show European start-ups anywhere near the top.



Though many start-ups eventually will fail, at least some of today's highly valued companies will go on to become the giants of tomorrow's digital economy, dominating our lives as much as today's Big Tech firms do. It's no use complaining about Chinese state support or less-regulated U.S. markets. The companies that succeed will be built on innovative business models that deliver what customers want.



Late last year, to lend new momentum to the transition to a carbon-neutral economy, the European Parliament declared a "climate emergency." That is a perfectly understandable objective to prioritize. But Europe also needs to declare a domestic "digital emergency," lest it continue falling behind in the industries that will be necessary for achieving all other development goals  including a green economy.





Carl Bildt is a former prime minister and foreign minister of Sweden. This article was distributed by Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org).


People sit in Alamo Square overlooking the city skyline in San Francisco on March 26, 2020. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Greg Tribulato is having trouble getting buyers interested in two extensively renovated condominiums he's trying to sell in San Francisco's Mission district. They've been on the market for three months. The one with two bedrooms is going for $1.5 million, and the four-bedroom unit costs $2.3 million. He said he and his father, Gary, are talking with the seller about renting out the homes or lowering their prices. "We did everything under the planet that's humanly possible," he said. They staged the homes, they created websites with custom domain names, videos and 3D digital tours, and they sent out flyers and emails to get people's attention. The coronavirus pandemic and corresponding recession have shaken the dynamics of the second-most expensive city to buy a home in the U.S. (The Silicon Valley city of San Jose boasts the highest median home sale price, according to data maintained by Zillow). Brokers say many people simply no longer wish to live in densely populated areas, especially apartment buildings where they have to share common areas such as elevators. People are looking for enough space for a home office or two. They want their own outdoor space, and some people even want garages because they expect to buy cars in order to commute safely when they have to return to work. Plus, some people who have lost their jobs have been flocking to less expensive places. Technology companies with extensive real estate in the region, such as Facebook and Google, have been adding to the upheaval. Many have told employees they can keep working from home for months. A few companies, such as Atlassian, Okta, Slack, Square, Twitter, VMware and Zillow, have gone further, declaring that many or all employees can stay remote permanently. But while San Francisco's infamously red-hot housing market has cooled, houses are still selling -- they're just sitting on the market for longer, and not receiving as many bids as they did in recent years.

To the suburbs...and beyond

In August the number of home listings in San Francisco reached the highest point in at least four years, at 1,483. Price cuts are also more common than they've been in at least four years, according to data from the National Association of Realtors. The median listing price of a San Francisco home in August, at below $1.4 million, was the lowest since February 2019.

Two renovated condominiums in San Francisco's Mission district have sat on the market for three months. Jordan Novet | CNBC

The inventory of available homes in San Francisco is the highest it's been in six or seven years, said Patrick Carlisle, chief market analyst for the Bay Area at Compass, a venture-backed real estate brokerage company. Buyers have become more picky. Homes are getting two, three or four bids, instead of eight before the virus hit, said Robert Collett, an agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Drysdale Properties. Part of the reason for the high inventory is because people held off from listing San Francisco homes in March and April  normally the spring home buying season  after Mayor London Breed announced the city's shelter-in-place order. As a result, more homes than usual have come up for sale in the following months. But there's also a lifestyle shift, suggested by the red-hot market in the suburbs. Many of the things people love about the city, including its clubs and museums, are unavailable at the moment. Consequently, the densest parts of the Bay Area, typically the most in demand, are currently the softest, said Carlisle. "More rural and suburban counties and markets have gone absolutely nuts  Sonoma, Monterey, Marin," Carlisle said. "I've heard Tahoe is absolutely out of control." Lake Tahoe is a getaway spot several hours northeast of the city where people historically keep vacation homes. One broker there, Breck Overall, said he and his partner Jeff Hamilton did a year's worth of transactions in two and a half months. Normally the busiest time of the year is the Fourth of July, when traffic from the town of Truckee to the lake is bumper to bumper. "That's what it's like almost every day," Overall said. "It's not letting up." People are also moving to Marin County, which San Franciscans can reach by crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. Rick and Victoria Dade, who had lived in the city for more than two decades, recently abandoned a newly constructed home in the Marina District for Marin. As playgrounds shuttered and parks limited occupancy across San Francisco, their living situation proved untenable for an elementary- and middle school-kid eager for open space. Rick owns a commercial general contracting company, called R3 Builders, that services San Francisco and other parts of the Bay Area, including Oakland. Victoria works for a video technology company, Sonic Foundry, based halfway across the country in Madison, Wisconsin. While their children's age was the primary driver behind the move, the Dades said their family was after a lifestyle change. "We had always thought that we would possibly move to Marin, and we just hadn't been ready to do it," Rick Dade said. "And, as you see reports about people leaving the city for the suburbs, it can almost become a self-fulfilling prophecy." CNBC spoke with several former San Francisco homeowners who have moved out of the city in recent months. Like the Dades, the majority did not cite the Covid-19 pandemic as a key factor in their decision-making, but rather pointed to the pandemic as an accelerating force. In other words, people who were already planning to move to the suburbs simply expedited their plans. Those trends dovetail with recent data. In a survey of 1,350 people conducted between January and June by moving company Hire A Helper, only 15% said they had relocated because of Covid-19. Andrew Miramontes, who works in sales for European wine importer Weygandt Metzler, had been renting in San Francisco since 2015. When the calendar turned to 2020, he and his wife Erin started looking for homes outside the city to better suit their family's needs, including their young daughter's quest for more room to walk. The Miramontes extolled the city's arts and culinary scene, but said that once the pandemic hit, the city's deteriorating infrastructure, coupled with shutdowns for the foreseeable future and an uncertain economic recovery, accelerated their plans. "Unfortunately, San Francisco, and the space that we had, was not going to allow for what we saw for ourselves," Miramontes said. "We were forced to put eyeballs outside of the city." A few months after San Francisco enacted its shelter-in-place order, Miramontes and his wife honed their search, focusing on Marin and Sonoma counties. In five days they met with a realtor, viewed five homes, and submitted an offer on the home they would eventually buy in Novato  about 30 miles north of San Francisco in Marin County.

Andrew Miramontes and his family left San Francisco for a new home about 30 miles north of the city in Novato, Calif. Courtesy Andrew Miramontes

"It happened that fast," Miramontes said. "When we were looking, if there was an appealing property, it seemed to be pending sale in less than a week." His real estate agent said some clients were closing on homes based based solely on pictures. Some long-time San Francisco residents are going farther than the suburbs. Christin Anderson, a senior account executive at Seattle-based sales management software start-up Outreach, had lived in San Francisco for 20 years before the pandemic hit. After spending three months at her home amid shelter-in-place restrictions, Anderson decided to rent a place outside of the city to "ride out the summer" and settled on Park City, Utah. Six weeks into her stay there, Anderson made the move more permanent. Many tech companies, including hers, were not requiring employees to be back in the office until 2021, at the earliest. Anderson bought a town house in Park City and began renting out her condo in San Francisco's Nob Hill neighborhood. Silicon Slopes  the moniker given to a stretch of cities along the Rocky Mountains in Utah, from Ogden in the north to Provo in the south, with Park City and Salt Lake City in between  has emerged as a hotbed of tech entrepreneurship in recent years. "There are a lot of great business opportunities here," Anderson said. "If things return to normal, I can come back to San Francisco. And that was a big part of my decision calculus. But, right now, no one knows when this will end and what the tech industry will look like on the other side." For his own part, Collett, the agent with BHHS Drysdale, said that for the first time in 12 years, he's ready to give up his apartment and his view. "I think it'll take years for the city to come back, and it'll never be the same," he said. "Cities will never be the same. They must evolve. It will take at least five years to forget the fears. And so everything needs to be retooled  the use of the buildings, the ventilation systems, public transit, business logistics."

'San Francisco is very resilient'
National Green Tribunal has directed all states and union territories (UTs) to address gaps in generation and treatment of sewage or effluents by ensuring setting up functional Effluent ETP and STP. NGT bench was headed by its chairperson Adarsh Kumar Goel.

The National Green Tribunal has directed all states and union territories (UTs) to address gaps in generation and treatment of sewage or effluents by ensuring setting up of a requisite number of functional Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP), Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) and Common and Combined Effluent Treatment Plants (CETP). The National Green Tribunal bench headed by its chairperson Adarsh Kumar Goel observed that the timeline for commissioning of all STPs fixed by the Supreme Court, March 31, 2018, has long passed and the top court directed that the State PCBs must initiate prosecution of the erring Secretaries to the Governments, has also not happened.

The NGT, which was directed to monitor compliance and in the course thereof, said: We direct that compensation may be recovered in the manner already directed in earlier orders, which may be deposited with the CPCB for the restoration of the environment. The NGT also directed that the unutilized capacity of the existing STPs may be utilized expeditiously and the states/ UTs may ensure that the CETP, ETPs and STPs meet the laid down norms and remedial action be taken wherever norms are not met.

The NGT said that it must be ensured that no untreated sewage and effluent is discharged into any water body. The tribunal said that wherever action plans have not yet been finalized in respect of polluted river stretches or polluted coastal stretches, the same may be completed within one month from today. The execution of action plans may be overseen in the manner already directed in another matter by River Rejuvenation Committees (RCCs). In the coastal areas, the said Committees may be known as River/Coastal Rejuvenation Committees.

Also Read: 21 States, UTs report more recoveries than new COVID-19 cases: Health Ministry

The action plans must have provision for budgetary support in the manner laid down by the Supreme Court or otherwise which aspect may also be monitored by the Central Monitoring Committee (CMC), the tribunal said. The tribunal said that the CMC may consider the development of an appropriate App to enable easy filling and redressal of grievances with regard to illegal discharge of sewage and effluents.

It added that the monitoring by the CMC may have the target of reduction of pollution loads and improvement of water quality of rivers and coastal areas. The CMC may also monitor the setting up of the bio-diversity parks, constructed wetlands and other alternative measures to reduce pollution load. The CMC may also monitor demarcation of flood plain zones, the tribunal said adding that the treated sewage water may be duly utilized for secondary purposes by preparing appropriate action plans and reports in this regard to be filed with the CPCB periodically.

The NGT direction came while hearing proceedings in the matter, which was a follow up of the judgment of the Supreme Court dated February 22, 2017, in Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti Vs. Union of India, which mandates the establishment and functioning of requisite ETPs/CETPs/STPs. The Tribunal has been mandated to monitor compliance.

Also Read: Johnson and Johnson covid vaccine shows strong immune response in early trials
The Executive Body of the Republican Party of Armenia has issued the following statement:

Dear compatriots,

This morning, the Azerbaijani armed forces launched a large-scale military offensive along the entire length of the line of contact with Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), firing at peaceful civilians as well.

Four years after the Four-Day Artsakh War in April 2016, once again, the Azerbaijani authorities are showing their essence of being destructive and aggressors and are imposing a war on the people of Artsakh who want freedom. The official Baku bears full responsibility for the military aggression.

At this crucial moment, the Executive Body of the Republican Party of Armenia calls on all of our compatriots to be in solidarity and stand united as one, reaffirming its willingness to stand with the homeland, state and Armenian soldiers.

It is our duty to assess the created situation soundly and stand with our army and be the strong rear, regardless of political discord since the homeland is the most precious thing, and homeland defense is above everything else.

The Republican Party of Armenia is investing its entire potential, including experience and diplomatic contacts to support the sacred struggle for the independence of the people of Artsakh.

Artsakh will never be a part of Azerbaijan! May God be with our people and the just struggle.
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After over six months of working from home -- To make WFH permanent or not  is a debate that is raging in the IT sector that employs close to 50 lakh people in the country.

Clearly, the jury is divided.

Back in April, Indias largest IT services provider TCS said that the company is making WFH permanent for its employees. The IT major said that by 2025, it is looking at 75 percent of its employees working from home. So it means that only 25 percent of its workforce will have to come to office by 2025.

That took the entire industry by surprise as companies and their clients were getting used to the model.

In July, companies such as Infosys, HCL Tech and Tech Mahindra said that they are looking at hybrid model where some employees will be working from home and others from office.

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

Now in September, views are still changing with more executives sharing the opinion that WFH cannot be permanent for its employees and they want them back in their office.

This includes banking major JP Morgan & Chase CEO Jamie Dimon and Netflixs CEO Reed Hastings. In India, Bengaluru-based IT firm Wipro's chairman Rishad Premji said in a recent event that he wants employees to come back to office as well.

There are reasons why there are takers for both WFH and return to office.

An industry watcher pointed out that clients are now quite comfortable with the WFH model and would like the IT vendors to continue to do the same. Productivity has increased as well for employees, who are working longer than they would in offices.

But for vast majority of those who want employees back, they say it has to do with nurturing company culture and innovation.

As people worked from home, informal conversations with colleagues became a casualty at the back of COVID-19. According to Premji, these conversations are indeed important to build and nurture employees and organisations.

Premji in a recent event said that it is important that employees return to work at least 3-4 days a week where people can connect face to face. Watercooler chats and gossips are in a way important for them and also the organisation to grow.

For, these informal conversations, according to him, are necessary for innovation.

I think it's powerful for people to come together. Oftentimes, innovation happens in the downtime when you don't expect something to come about and something comes about. So for those two reasons, I think it's important that people come back," a TimesNow article quoted Premji.

This is precisely why JP Morgan wants its employees back in office too, at least of them. A Bloomberg report on the company's move said that, WFH lifestyle seems to have impacted younger employees, and overall productivity and creative combustion has taken a hit.

There is another impact of prolonged WFH and not widely discussed  stickiness factor.

A staffing executive pointed out that longer the employees WFH, shorter the stickiness factor. If you look at it, employees who joined new firms in the middle of a pandemic never met their colleagues, he said. In the event that they hardly meet them at all, there is neither a bond with the team nor the company. This stickiness factor is important for retaining talents and employees, he added.
Vitamin D can reduce the risk of infection and the impact of Covid-19, new research in the US has found.

Scientists are urging individuals to take vitamin D supplements to reduce the risk of complications from the virus.

Vitamin tablets have been used in a number of countries to treat coronavirus patients but new research bolsters the claim that the supplement and coronavirus are linked.

Both studies claim that patients with sufficient levels of vitamin D are less likely to experience fatal complications from Covid-19.

A different study has found that it also works to reduce infection rates.

The researchers claim that vitamin D sufficiency is linked to a significantly decreased level of inflammatory markers and higher blood levels of immune cells.

The study, headed by Dr Michael Holick from Boston Universitys school of medicine, took blood samples from 235 patients admitted to hospitals with Covid-19 and measured their vitamin D levels.

Patients were monitored for severity of infection, loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing or if they fell fatally ill.

The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, found patients older than 40 who had sufficient levels of vitamin D were more than 51 per cent less likely to die from the virus.

Dr Holick has recently published a further study, which found sufficient vitamin D can reduce the risk of catching Covid-19 by 54 per cent.

It concluded that patients who had a daily dose of vitamin D were less likely to experience complications.

There is great concern that the combination of an influenza infection and a coronal viral infection could substantially increase hospitalisation and death due to complications from these viral infections, Dr Holick said.

He added that vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency is widespread in children and adults in the US, particularly during wintertime.

It is prudent for everyone to take a vitamin D supplement to reduce the risk of being infected and having complications from Covid-19, Dr Hollick said.

During the pandemic, the link between vitamin D and coronavirus has lacked qualification.

In June, UK health officials said there is no evidence to suggest that vitamin D supplements can prevent or treat Covid-19.

They commented in response to research from Ireland and the US that suggested coronavirus patients with high vitamin D levels were more likely to survive the disease, which led to increased calls for supplementation.

Unsubstantiated reports claimed that mega doses of vitamin D can ward off the virus.

At the time, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), which examined five studies on vitamin D, concluded there were no grounds to evidence that taking supplements could reduce the threat of Covid-19.

Meanwhile, during lockdown, Public Health England recommended individuals take vitamin D supplements to counteract the effects of remaining indoors.

Vitamin D is essential for bone, muscle and teeth health and is mainly gained from sunlight.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

Trend:

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has today signed a Decree declaring martial law.

According to the Decree, due to the occupation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and surrounding districts of the Republic of Azerbaijan by the armed forces of the Republic of Armenia, armed attacks against the Republic of Azerbaijan and regular military provocations, martial law is being declared throughout the country starting from 00:00 on 28 September 2020.

The Decree states: In the interests of martial law, the measures provided for in the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On martial law" shall be implemented.

During the martial law, curfew shall be introduced from 21:00 to 06:00 in Baku, Ganja, Sumgayit, Yevlakh, Mingachevir, Naftalan, Absheron, Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Aghjabadi, Beylagan, Aghdam, Barda, Tartar, Goranboy, Goygol, Dashkasan, Gadabay, Tovuz, Shamkir, Gazakh and Aghstafa. The following restrictions shall be applied in the territories where curfew has been introduced:

- To prohibit persons from being on the street and in other public places without special permits and identity documents;

- To apply a special entry-exit regime and take measures to restrict the movement of vehicles.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan shall ensure the implementation of measures arising from the application of curfew.

Measures envisaging partial and temporary restriction of the rights and legitimate interests of departments, enterprises and organizations during martial law regardless of their ownership and organizational-legal status, as well as the rights and freedoms of citizens, shall be applied within the limits of the situation and in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, international conventions to which the Republic of Azerbaijan is a signatory and laws of the Republic of Azerbaijan
A Nigerian national has been sentenced to 36 months in prison for his role in a computer hacking and identity theft scheme that defrauded vendors of nearly $1 million of office products after stealing e-mail login information from US government employees.



Olumide Ogunremi alias Tony Williams, 43, previously pleaded guilty before the US District Judge Susan B. Wigenton in Newark, New Jersey federal court to an indictment charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.



The sentenced which was announced by US Attorney Craig Carpenito was imposed by Judge Wigenton on September 23 by video conference.



According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court, from at least July 2013 through December 2013, Ogunremi and others perpetrated a computer hacking and theft scheme on U.S. government agencies email systems and General Services Administration vendors.



The ring employed phishing attacks, which used fraudulent e-mails and websites that mimicked the legitimate e-mails and web pages of U.S. government agencies including the US Environmental Protection Agency. Unwitting employees of the agencies visited the fake web pages and provided their e-mail account usernames and passwords.



Ogunremi and his conspirators used these stolen credentials to access the employees e-mail accounts in order to place fraudulent orders for office products, typically printer toner cartridges, in the employees names from vendors who were authorized to do business with U.S. government agencies. Ogunremi and his conspirators directed the vendors to ship the fraudulent orders to individuals located in New Jersey and elsewhere to be repackaged and ultimately shipped to overseas locations, which were controlled by Ogunremi and his conspirators. Once the orders were received in Nigeria, Ogunremi and his conspirators sold the toner cartridges to another individual on the black market for profit.



Ogunremi had been scheduled to enter a guilty plea to an information charging him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in March 2018, but fled to Canada. He was extradited from Canada to New Jersey on Sept. 26, 2019.



On June 10, 2014, Abiodun Adejohn, alias James Williams, 36, of Nigeria, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud conspiracy and was sentenced in 2015 to three years in prison.



In addition to the prison term, Judge Wigenton sentenced Ogunremi to two years of supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution of $68,618.



US Attorney Carpenito praised special agents of the Environmental Protection Agency  Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher Gaffney; General Services Administration  Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jamie Willemin; Department of Commerce  Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Duane Townsend; Department of Defense Cyber Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffery Thorpe; and the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. in Newark, with the investigation leading to Ogunremis sentencing.















Source: Graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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UP Polls: Amit Shah to conduct door-to-door campaign in Kairana on Saturday

Northeast can become major centre of tourism: Amit Shah

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Sep 27: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said the country''s Northeastern region with its rich natural beauty, culture and art can emerge as a major centre of world tourism.

Inaugurating the ''Destination North East-2020'', a four-day event showcasing the region''s rich heritage, diversity and tourism potentials, Shah said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Northeastern region will emerge as one of the favourite tourism and business destinations of India.

"Northeast, rich in natural beauty, folk culture and art, is fully capable of becoming a major centre of world tourism," he said.

The home minister said the ''Destination North East-2020'', which will continue till September 30 here, aims to introduce various cultures of the country to each other along with the tourist destinations of the Northeast and through this the whole of India will also get familiar with the vibrant and diverse culture of the region.

Shah said he has seen the tourist places of many states and countries but the beauty of the Northeast is unparalleled.

MHA calls high-level meet to discuss 3 key issues related to Assam; Shah, Sonowal to attend

"Northeast is the jewel of India and without it the Indian culture is incomplete," he said.

Inviting the next ceremony to be organised in his constituency Gandhinagar, Shah said it will familiarise the people of Northeast with the culture of Gujarat while the people of Gujarat will be introduced to the culture of the Northeast.

The home minister said peace in the Northeast is very important for economic development, promotion of tourism and employment in the region.

The Northeast, which was once in the news due to terrorism, blockades, violence, is now known for development, tourism, organic farming, industry and start-ups and this has been possible due to Modi''s leadership in the last six years, he said.

Shah said a lot of work has been done to establish peace in the Northeast under the leadership of Modi.

The land boundary agreement with Bangladesh, end of blockade in Manipur, signing of the Bodo agreement and the surrender by 641 cadres of eight militant groups were among the notable achievements of the Modi government, he said.

The home minister said after becoming the prime minister, Modi has visited the Northeast more than 30 times - most by any prime minister since Independence.

He said development is not possible without proper funds and earlier plans were made for the development of the Northeast but the amount allocated for the region was very less.

The 14th Finance Commission increased the allocation for the Northeast by 251 per cent to Rs 3,13,375 crore, whereas the previous government through the 13th Finance Commission had given only Rs 89,168 crore, he said.

Shah also said adopting an all-inclusive and all-encompassing model of development, the Modi government has decided to spend 21 per cent of the budget of the Northeastern Council on the backward districts, villages and deprived communities.

The home minister said the Modi government has made a huge effort in the direction of linking the Northeastern states amongst themselves and connecting the region with the rest of India by rail, road and air links.

Under this, he said, six railway projects worth Rs 15,088 crore have been completed, Rs 553 crore will be spent on the development of airports and about Rs 10,000 crore has been allocated on 19 road projects of 869 km length.

Shah said during the coronavirus pandemic, the Modi government has provided all health facilities to the people of the Northeast including medicines and treatment through teleconference by AIIMS doctors.

He called for making the Northeast a hub of tourism, industry, IT and organic farming to increase the Northeast''s participation in the country''s GDP by 2024.

After independence, he said, the region''s share in the country''s GDP was about 20 per cent which has come down now.

Union Minister for Development of Northeastern Region Jitendra Singh and Chief Ministers of the eight Northeastern states were present on the occasion.

''Destination North East'' is a calendar event of the Ministry of Development of Northeastern Region conceptualised with the objective of taking the region to other parts of the country and bringing them closer in order to strengthen national integration.

For ''Destination North East 2020'', the theme is ''The Emerging Delightful Destinations'' which speaks of the tourism destinations emerging stronger and more attractive when the sector picks up momentum.

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Story first published: Sunday, September 27, 2020, 21:42 [IST]
The is set to retreat from parts of north India in the next two days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday, even as fresh floods hit Assam affecting 2.25 lakh people in nine districts.

Incessant rains in the last few days has triggered this year's third wave of floods in the state, claiming one life in Nagaon district on Saturday, said the Assam State Disaster Management (ASDMA).

The fresh fatality has pushed the number of deaths in flood-related incidents in Assam this year to 118, it added.

Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 36.2 degrees Celsius, which is two notches above the normal, while the minimum temperature was 23.2 degrees Celsius.

The capital's air quality improved marginally on Sunday due to high wind speed, while favourable ventilation conditions are likely to keep it in the "moderate" category for the next three days, a government forecasting agency said.

The city registered a 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) of 117 on Sunday, an improvement from 165 on Saturday. An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.

Sporadic farm fires were observed on Saturday around Punjab and border regions but its impact has been negligible so far due to unfavourable wind direction and speed, the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) said.

However, it said that late withdrawal of monsoon and associated stagnant winds are likely to influence Delhi's air quality negatively by the weekend.

In neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, light rains and thundershowers occurred at isolated places, with the meteorological department predicting mostly dry weather in the state on September 28 and September 29.

The maximum and minimum temperatures in Punjab and Haryana hovered around 35 degrees Celsius and 21 degrees Celsius respectively, with parts of both the states witnessing overcast conditions.

In the northeastern state of Assam, the districts of Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Morigaon, Nagaon, Majuli, West Karbi Anglong, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia have been affected, the ASDMA said in its report.

Nagaon is the worst-hit district with 1.51 lakh people affected, followed by Morigaon (32,711), Dhemaji (16,792) and Dibrugarh (10,622), it said, adding over 10,000 hectares of crops have been submerged.

The mighty Brahmaputra river is flowing above the danger mark at Neamatighat in Jorhat district and Tezpur in Sonitpur.

Road connectivity has been affected in Morigaon, Nagaon and West Karbi Anglong districts while 43 relief camps have been set up in three districts so far, the ASDMA said.

Meanwhile, the weather department said, "Conditions are becoming favourable for withdrawal of monsoon from west Rajasthan and adjoining areas from September 28."



Data suggests the country has received 9 per cent more rainfall than normal until September 26 and the rainy season is most likely to end on an above-normal note.

Mahesh Palawat, the vice president of private forecaster Skymet Weather, said, "The withdrawal of monsoon from west Rajasthan is likely to start from tomorrow (Monday). It looks like monsoon will withdraw on an above-normal note."



Rainfall in the range of 96 to 104 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA) is considered as 'normal', while precipitation in the range of 104 to 110 per cent of the LPA is 'excess'.

Nine states have received excess rainfall, while 20 states have recorded normal precipitation, the data shows.

The official rainfall season in India is from June 1 to September 30. Monsoon arrived over Kerala on June 1, its normal onset date.

June recorded 17 per cent more rainfall, while July saw 10 per cent deficiency. However, there was an excess rainfall in August -- the month recorded 27 per cent more rainfall than normal.

Parts of north India -- Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir -- have recorded deficient rainfall. The Union Territory of Ladakh has recorded high deficiency of rainfall this year.

Large parts of the country in the west and south India, including Gujarat, Goa, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, have received excess rainfall. Sikkim is the only state to have received large excess rainfall.

Rain and thundershower were observed in at most places in Andhra Pradesh, coastal and north Karnataka in the south, and some northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura as well as sub-Himalayan West Bengal. Parts of Bihar, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu received rains.

Most of Telangana also received rains with Dandepalle in Mancherial district recording 11 cms of precipitation followed by six cms in Sarangapurnrl in Nirmal district and five cms in Sangareddy.

Heavy rains had lashed several parts of the state on Saturday resulting in massive flooding and waterlogging in low-lying areas.

(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.)
Tehran, Sep 24 : The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has warned against any possible attempt by the US to inspect Iranian vessels in international waters.

Any US move of the kind will be responded "decisively" by Iran, Xinhua news agency quoted Lieutenant Commander of the IRGC Ali Fadavi as saying on Wednesday.

"Iran will not just retaliate any US attempt to inspect the Iranian ships in international waters,.we will give a powerful response to any US folly, a response that the enemy can't imagine," he added.

Despite the objection of its European allies and other world powers, the US administration on September 19 announced reimposition of full range of sanctions against Iran, which the UN had suspended after the signing of a 2015 nuclear accord.

The US unilateral sanctions would reportedly allow "inspections of ships" linked to the Iranian trades in international seas.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

Trend:

Noting the dramatic increase in violence along the line of contact today and reports of civilian casualties, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Albanias Prime Minister and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Edi Rama, called for urgent de-escalation of the situation, Trend reports with reference to the OSCE.

I urge all involved to immediately return to the ceasefire before the human toll of this conflict increases any further, Rama said.

Rama noted that the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and the Personal Representative of the Chairperson-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, have been in close contact with the sides. Rama fully supports their efforts to stabilize the situation on the ground and reiterated that there is no alternative to a peaceful negotiated solution of the conflict. He underscored his support for the Co-Chairs efforts to resume substantive negotiations without preconditions, as soon as possible.

The Chairperson-in-Office also offered his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this latest round of violence.
Jaswant Singh, former Union minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee cabinet who held the crucial portfolios of external affairs, defence and finance, died after a prolonged illness on Sunday morning.

Having joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as one of its early founding members after serving in the Indian Army, Singh had a bitter falling out with his party in 2014 when he was denied a Lok Sabha ticket of his choice from Barmer in Rajasthan. He contested the 2014 general election, which was his last as an independent, but lost.

Singh -- considered close to Vajpayee and veteran BJP leader LK Advani -- was twice expelled from the party; in 2009, the parliamentary board of the BJP expelled him after his book Jinnah - India, Partition, Independence was published. He rejoined the party after 10 months, but faced a second expulsion in 2014 when he defied party orders and challenged the BJPs decision of not fielding him as a contestant from Barmer.

Watch | Former Union Minister Jaswant Singh passes away, PM Modi pays tribute

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled his death on Sunday, tweeting that Singh served the nation diligently, first as a soldier and later during his long association with politics. During Atal Jis Government, he handled crucial portfolios and left a strong mark in the worlds of finance, defence and external affairs. Saddened by his demise, the PM wrote. In separate tweets, he also said true to his nature, Jaswant Singh fought his illness with immense courage for the last six years.

Jaswant Singh Ji will be remembered for his unique perspective on matters of politics and society. He also contributed to the strengthening of the BJP. I will always remember our interactions. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti, PM Modi said tweeted.

Singh -- a four-time member of the Lok Sabha and elected to the Rajya Sabha five times -- was the external affairs minister during the Kandahar hijacking case, and had escorted Mulana Masood Azhar and two other terrorists in lieu for the release of hostages on board Indian Airlines IC-814 that was hijacked on December 24, 1999.

After India conducted the nuclear tests in 1998, and the US imposed sanctions on India, Singh was the lead negotiator for talks with the then US deputy secretary of state, Strobe Talbott. The two-year negotiations paved the way for the visit of the then US President Bill Clinton, considered to be a turning point in India-US relations.

Singh had been ill after a fall at his home in August 2014 and was admitted to the Army Research and Referral Hospital in the national capital. He had been in and out of the hospital and was re-admitted in June this year. At 82, he died of a cardiac arrest on Sunday morning.

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Oman Air, the national carrier of Oman, will return to scheduled service on October 1 with service to 18 cities in 12 countries including 2 flights per week connecting Muscat and Dubai, along with 2 flights per week connecting Muscat and Doha.

All flights will depart and arrive on Thursdays and Saturdays. These schedules are valid from October 1 to October 14, 2020.

Oman Air will maintain its comprehensive safety programme 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 Oman's 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. 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.

Guests who are planning to travel to Muscat should visit the Civil Aviation Authority website, paca.gov.om, to ensure they are prepared to comply with requirements to enter the Sultanate, the airline said.

Guests travelling to Dubai or Doha should ensure they are aware of official requirements to enter or transit through those nations, it added.  TradeArabia News Service
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 18:44:28|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese soldiers (L) prepare to receive coffins containing remains of Chinese soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War during a repatriation ceremony at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Sept. 27, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Jingqiang)

The Chinese side is ready to deepen friendly cooperation and exchanges between the two countries and bring more remains of the martyrs back to their motherland as soon as possible.

INCHEON, South Korea, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- South Korea on Sunday returned 117 more remains of Chinese soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War.

The seventh repatriation ceremony was held at the Incheon International Airport, west of the capital Seoul, to hand over the remains of 117 Chinese People's Volunteers martyrs killed in the war.

During the ceremony, South Korean troops delivered the coffins to Chinese soldiers, and the Chinese ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming covered the coffins with China's national flag before the coffins were carried onto the airplane.

It was the seventh repatriation ceremony. In the previous six repatriations, South Korea had returned the remains of 599 Chinese People's Volunteers martyrs killed in the Korean War, including 437 in 2014, 68 in 2015, 36 in 2016, 28 in 2017, 20 in 2018 and 10 in 2019 each.

Chinese soldiers carry to a plane coffins containing remains of Chinese soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War during a repatriation ceremony at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Sept. 27, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Jingqiang)

At this year's ceremony, Chinese Vice Minister of Veterans Affairs Chang Zhengguo said China and South Korea have jointly carried out handover of the remains of the Chinese People's Volunteers martyrs in South Korea for seven consecutive years and returned in total 716 remains to their motherland, following humanitarian principles and in the spirit of friendship and practical cooperation.

Chang noted that against the backdrop of the COVID-19 outbreak this year, both sides have made more efforts in order to successfully complete the handover.

The Chinese side appreciated the efforts made by the South Korean side and is ready to deepen friendly cooperation and exchanges between the two countries, promote the protection of the remains of the Chinese People's Volunteers martyrs in South Korea and bring more remains of the martyrs back to their motherland as soon as possible.

Chinese soldiers prepare to carry to a plane coffins containing remains of Chinese soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War during a repatriation ceremony at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Sept. 27, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Jingqiang)

In 2014, South Korea agreed with China to repatriate the remains of fallen Chinese soldiers according to international law and humanitarian spirit, the Seoul defense ministry said.

China and South Korea have consulted every year on the repatriation of the Chinese soldiers' remains found in South Korea.

The Chinese People's Volunteers fought alongside the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) army in the Korean War against the South Korean army and the United States-led UN forces between 1950 and 1953.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New York Citys principals union on Sunday called on Mayor Bill de Blasio to hand over control of city schools to the states Education Department amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Council of School Supervisors and Administrators (CSA) unanimously passed a vote of no confidence in de Blasio on Sunday, just days before many public schools are set to reopen for in-person instruction in a blended learning model.

Over the last month, both de Blasio and Chancellor Richard Carranza have twice delayed the reopening of city public schools, citing a teacher shortage.

Mark Cannizzaro, CSA president, said at a news conference on Sunday that the city simply doesnt have enough teachers to staff city schools.

School leaders want school buildings reopened and have been tirelessly planning to welcome back students since the end of last school year, he said.

They must now look staff, parents, and children in the eye and say that they have done all they can to provide a safe and quality educational experience, but given the limited resources provided them, this is becoming increasingly difficult. During this health crisis, school leaders have lost trust and faith in Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Carranza to support them in their immense efforts and provide them with the guidance and staffing they need. Quite simply, we believe the City and DOE need help from the state Education Department, and we hope that the mayor soon realizes why this is necessary, added Cannizzaro.

Said Miranda Barbot, a Department of Education spokeswoman: For the past six months, weve worked with our labor partners to navigate completely uncharted waters and accomplish our shared goal of serving students this fall. Well continue this work to guarantee a safe, health and successful opening for all. This week, more kids will be safely sitting in New York City classrooms than in any other major American city  a testament to city leadership and our educators' commitment to their students, and the importance of in-person education.

New York City students in blended learning programs at K-5 and K-8 schools will begin the return to their school buildings for in-person instruction on Tuesday, Sept. 29, as part of the citys phased-in school reopening plan -- marking the first time these students are back in their classroom since the coronavirus outbreak shuttered school campuses in March.

Public school students were initially supposed to return to school buildings on Sept. 21 for in-person learning -- a delay from the Sept. 10 start date. But Mayor Bill de Blasio later announced that kids would instead return in phases, with preschool and special education students going back for in-person learning first on Sept. 21.

The 2020-2021 school year still began for all New York City public school students on Sept. 21 -- for both blended and remote learners until their phased date for in-person instruction.

And now, schoolchildren in kindergarten to fifth-grade schools and kindergarten to eighth-grade schools will be able to return for in-person learning starting Tuesday, Sept. 29.

Middle and high school students are slated to begin returning on Thursday, Oct. 1.

Under the blended learning plan, put into place to cut down on the number of students at school at one time, students will return to their classroom one to three days per week, learning virtually the rest of the time. Students also have the choice of learning remotely full-time.

*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 07:26:48|Editor: huaxia

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Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen (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. 26, 2020. The General Debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly entered the fifth day on Saturday. (Evan Schneider/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)
TAIYUAN, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- China has successfully launched two environmental monitoring satellites from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern Shanxi Province on Sunday.

A Long March-4B rocket carrying the HJ-2A and HJ-2B satellites took off at 11:23 a.m. (Beijing Time), according to the launch center.

They will replace the HJ-1A and HJ-1B, the previous generation of environmental monitoring satellites, to provide services concerning environmental protection, natural resources, water conservancy, agriculture and forestry, according to the satellite developer China Academy of Space Technology (CAST).

The HJ-2A and HJ-2B are 16-meter optical satellites with high mobility, precision control and stability, as well as strong load adaptability and long lifespans.

The satellites can provide 16-meter multispectral, 48-meter hyperspectral and infrared image data.

They will support the monitoring of natural disasters and land utilization, regulation and protection of water resources, dynamic monitoring of crop areas and assessment of yield, as well as quake emergency rescue.

The HJ-1A and HJ-1B were launched in 2008 and provided remote sensing data for disaster relief during the 2008 earthquake in Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province, the 2010 earthquake in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Qinghai Province and the 2010 mudslide in Zhouqu County, Gansu Province.

Sunday's launch was the 348th by the Long March rocket series.
Express News Service By

NEW DELHI: The All India Democratic Womens Association (AIDWA) condemned the naming of CPI (M) member Brinda Karat in the Delhi Police charge sheet. The naming falsely and preposterously seeks to make her also responsible for the communal violence in North East Delhi.

"This has been based on two supposed disclosure statements which have been procured by police, who are well known for their coercive tactics, under 161 CrPc and are anyway in law inadmissible in evidence. Intellectuals, academicians, journalists and politicians are being systematically falsely implicated through so-called disclosure statements, said the AIDWA statement.

Instead of implicating those who started the riots, like the BJPs Kapil Mishra who openly indulged in hate speech and incited violence, it sets up a false narrative that there was a conspiracy to organise riots by the anti-CAA protestors, it said.

The AIDWA said this was a false narrative with the government was clamping down on their exercise to their democratic right of freedom of speech and expression in a peaceful manner. Disagreement with the policies of the government is not a crime and the right to dissent is a constitutionally guaranteed right. The BJP government cannot stop this dissent by misusing the law, it said.
Guillaume Faury, chief executive officer of commercial aircraft at Airbus SE. Photo: Christophe Morin/Bloomberg

The boss of European planemaker Airbus (AIR.PA) told French radio station RTL that it cannot guarantee that it will not resort to compulsory redundancies as it needs to shed 15,000 jobs across the world.

The crisis is existential. Our life as a business is potentially at risk if we dont take the right measures. We are taking them, Faury said to RTL.

The situation is so serious, and we are faced with so much uncertainty, that I think no one can guarantee there wont be compulsory redundancies if were to adapt to the situation, especially if it evolves further.

On the other hand, what I say clearly is that we have a lot of work to do, we will do everything we can to avoid arriving at that point. There are lots of measures we can take between voluntary redundancies and compulsory redundancies.

In June this year, Airbus announced that it would cut 15,000 jobs within a year as the COVID-19 pandemic brought air travel to a standstill.

READ MORE: TUI aims to reduce costs permanently by 30%

At the time, Francoise Vallin of the CFE-CGC union said it's going to be a mighty battle to save jobs.

Airbus revealed that it was likely to cut 5,000 posts in France, 5,100 in Germany, 900 in Spain, 1,700 in the UK, and 1,300 elsewhere by mid-2021, for a core total of 14,000.

The broader tally includes another 900 job cuts planned before the crisis at its Premium AEROTEC unit in Germany.

At the end of June, Faury said that he expects production at the European aircraft manufacturer to be down by 40% this year and next year. In April, Faury told employees in a memo seen by media outlets including Reuters and Bloomberg that the company is bleeding cash and needs to rapidly cut costs in order to survive the impact from the coronavirus pandemic.
President Donald Trump on Sunday tweeted that he was "strongly demanding" Democratic nominee Joe Biden take a "Drug Test" either before or after Tuesday's first presidential debate.

"Naturally, I will agree to take one also," the president tweeted. "His Debate performances have been record setting UNEVEN, to put it mildly."

Trump has previously speculated, without evidence, that Biden had taken drugs to improve his performance at the Democratic Party's primary debates.

In 2016, Trump also floated the unfounded accusations that then-Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton had used drugs to improve her performance at a debate.

Sign up here for our free live event Tuesday to get the inside track on the race for the White House with Business Insider's DC Bureau.

President Donald Trump on Sunday suggested, without evidence, that former Vice President Joe Biden utilized drugs to enhance previous debate performances. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images; Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

Related: Trump agrees to extra debate if Joe Rogan moderates

President Donald Trump on Sunday said is "strongly demanding" the Democratic nominee Joe Biden take a drug test ahead of this week's first presidential debate.

"I will be strongly demanding a Drug Test of Sleepy Joe Biden prior to, or after, the Debate on Tuesday night," Trump tweeted Sunday. "Naturally, I will agree to take one also. His Debate performances have been record setting UNEVEN, to put it mildly. Only drugs could have caused this discrepancy???"

The Biden campaign did not immediately return Business Insider's request for comment on Sunday.

The president has previously accused the former vice president of taking performance-enhancing drugs. In an interview with Fox News earlier in September, Trump also offered similar unfounded speculation that Biden had taken drugs to improve his performance at the Democratic Party's primary debates.

"I think there's probably  possibly  drugs involved," Trump told Fox News host Jeanine Pirro. "That's what I hear. I mean, there's possibly drugs. I don't know how you can go from being so bad where you can't even get out a sentence.

"You saw some of those debates with a large number of people on the stage," Trump added. "He was, I mean, I used to say, 'How is it possible that he can go forward?'"

Story continues

In an August interview with the Washington Examiner, Trump likewise suggested  without evidence  that Biden's debate performance was influenced by drugs and that he would require Biden take a drug test prior to the first debate.

"Nobody thought that he was even going to win," Trump told the conservative news outlet. "Because his debate performances were so bad. Frankly, his best performance was against Bernie. We're going to call for a drug test, by the way, because his best performance was against Bernie."

He added: "It wasn't that he was Winston Churchill because he wasn't, but it was a normal, boring debate. You know, nothing amazing happened. And we are going to call for a drug test because there's no way  you can't do that."

In 2016, Trump made similar accusations against then-Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, also suggesting both he and Clinton take a drug test ahead of the final debate before the 2016 election.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Bindi Irwin has shared a moving quote written by her late father, Steve Irwin.

In an Instagram post on Sunday, the 22-year-old beamed as she cuddled up to a koala, adding a moving caption.

She wrote: 'Where I live if someone gives you a hug, it's from the heart.' - Dad (Steve Irwin)'.

Deep thoughts: Bindi Irwin (pictured) has shared a moving quote written by her late father, Steve Irwin. In an Instagram post on Sunday, the 22-year-old beamed as she cuddled up to a koala, adding a moving caption

Steve Irwin died in September 2006 at the age of 44 after being pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while filming a wildlife documentary in Batt Reef, Queensland.

In the photo, Bindi, who is pregnant, glowed as she held the koala in her arms while wearing her Australia Zoo uniform.

Last week, Bindi revealed she and her husband Chandler Powell are expecting a daughter.

She wrote: 'Where I live if someone gives you a hug, it's from the heart.' - Dad (Steve Irwin)'

Tragic: Steve Irwin died in September 2006 at the age of 44 after being pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while filming a wildlife documentary in Batt Reef, Queensland. Bindi is pictured as a child with her father Steve and mother Terri in 2002

On Tuesday, the mother-to-be shared a photo of herself cuddled up to an Aldabra tortoise at her home in Australia Zoo, Queensland to Instagram.

In the image, Chandler, 23, posed alongside her behind a pink floral display, as he held up a photo of the sonogram showing their baby.

Bindi wrote in the caption: 'Baby girl, you are our world.'

'Our beautiful daughter is now about the same size as a hatchling Aldabra tortoise and is as healthy as can be.

'Baby girl, you are our world!' Pregnant Bindi revealed she and husband Chandler Powell (left) are expecting a daughter in an Instagram post on Tuesday

'We can't wait for her arrival next year,' the Wildlife Warrior added.

Chandler also shared the same photo sweet photo, and wrote in the caption: 'Our little girl and my beautiful wife are my entire world.

'I'm so excited to meet our daughter when she's born next year and to see the incredible person she will grow up to be.'

Baby Wildlife Warrior due in 2021: Bindi and Chandler revealed their baby news last month on Instagram, with the pair holding up a baby sized Australia Zoo khaki uniform

Bindi and Chandler revealed their baby news last month on Instagram, with the pair holding up a baby sized Australia Zoo khaki uniform.

'Baby Wildlife Warrior due 2021,' she excitedly announced in the caption.

They also shared their baby's first sonogram with their followers on Instagram while cuddling a wallaby joey and koala at Australia Zoo.

The young couple were married on March 25, in a makeshift ceremony at Australia Zoo, just before Covid pandemic lockdown.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 28

Trend:

US Department of State urges both sides of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to cease hostilities immediately as the situation escalates, Trend reports citing the department's statement.

"The United States is alarmed by reports of large scale military action along the Line of Contact in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone that has resulted in significant casualties, including civilians. We extend our condolences to the families of those killed and injured. The United States condemns in the strongest terms this escalation of violence. Deputy Secretary Biegun called the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, and the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, to urge both sides to cease hostilities immediately, to use the existing direct communication links between them to avoid further escalation, and to avoid unhelpful rhetoric and actions that further raise tensions on the ground. The United States believes participation in the escalating violence by external parties would be deeply unhelpful and only exacerbate regional tensions. We urge the sides to work with the Minsk Group Co-Chairs to return to substantive negotiations as soon as possible. As a Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, the United States remains committed to helping the sides achieve a peaceful and sustainable settlement to the conflict," the statement said.
Hudbay should be concerned about a number of things. They have all along tried to pacify Green Valley and Sahuarita that this would not be a problem for them, because Rosemont wont be visible west of the mountains, said Gayle Hartmann, president of the opposition group Save the Scenic Santa Ritas. Its now going to change.

In Lauzons Green Valley News interview, he said it will be difficult to see the drill rig with the naked eye from Sahuarita, but it might be visible with the aid of binoculars on a few locations, particularly those at higher elevations.

Mining on the west slope of the Santa Ritas will require additional water, which Hartmann said will put more pressure on the aquifer near Sahuarita, where the mining company already plans to pump for groundwater for Rosemont.

Its a precarious groundwater situation now. If they proceed on mining on the west side, it is going to deplete that water table even more, Hartmann said.

At the same time, opponents most likely cant do much to stop the company from mining its private land if it chooses to operate only there.
The farm reforms introduced by the central government during the monsoon session of Parliament are benefitting farmers across the country and the agriculture sector is key in leading the country towards self-reliance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday, days after nationwide protests were held by farmers groups and opposition leaders against the controversial new legislations.

In his monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat on Sunday, Modi cited the examples of several states to underline how farmers had benefitted when they were allowed a choice to sell their produce directly in the market.

Also read: With tweet on Covid-19 vaccine, Rahul Gandhi takes a jibe at PMs Mann ki Baat

It is said that the one who is rooted to the ground, is equally firm during the course of the biggest of storms. In this difficult period of corona [pandemic], our agricultural sector, our farmers are a living testimony to this, Modi said adding that the sector has been freed from restrictions.

Parliament has passed three bills that the Modi government says are aimed at unleashing reforms in agriculture. While some experts have hailed the move, farmer bodies and opposition parties allege that the laws will benefit only the corporate sector and traders.

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 agricultural 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 MSP, whereas the government maintains that MSP will remain in place and the bills will ensure higher remuneration for farmers.

I keep receiving letters from these farmers who narrate how new dimensions are getting added to agriculture, the Prime Minister said.

Citing the example of Kanwar Chauhan in Haryanas Sonepat district, and others who are selling directly in Delhi, Modi said: What is different that these farmers have? They have the strength to sell their produce where they wish. Now the other farmers of the country have also got this strength. They have got the freedom to sell their produce, not just vegetables and fruits, where they want to.

The agricultural sector of the country, our farmers, our villages are the very basis of Atmanirbhar Bharat, a self reliant India. If they remain strong then the foundation of Atmanirbhar Bharat will remain strong, the PM said, referring the governments Atmanirbhar Bharat [self-reliant] initiative.

Modi also spoke about paying tribute to freedom fighter Bhagat Singh on his birth anniversary on Monday, saying: Can you imagine that an [British] Empire, which ruled over a huge chunk of the world... was terrified of this 23-year-old. Shaheed Bhagat Singh was as much a fighter as he was a scholar, a thinker.

In the coming days, we will remember many great personalities who have contributed to the making of India, Modi said, adding that the country will remember its two great sons Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri on October 2.

The Prime Minister began his address by talking about the art of storytelling and its role in the Indian society. Storytelling is as old as civilisation...I urge all storytellers to include all inspirational stories from the period of foreign rule as we are going to celebrate 75 years of independence, he said.
An artist from the Netherlands created a 'photograph' of Alexander the Great using artificial intelligence. Bas Uterwijk, a professional photographer for the last 14 years with a background in Computer Generated Images (CGI) and special effects used the AI software Artbreeder to create the picture of Alexander the Great and showed the world what he could have looked like when he was alive.

Read: Scientists Develop Artificial Intelligence To Identify Individual Birds, Read Details

Uterwijk has used the software, which utilizes a neural network trained on photographs and paintings of thousands of human faces, to create several fictional and historical figures such as Queen Of England Elizabeth I, Napoleon, Caligula, David Bowie, and George Washington. Uterwijk shared the picture of Alexander the Great on Instagram and captioned it with a quote by the ancient Greek ruler himself, "I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion."

Read: Scientists Develop Artificial Intelligence That May Predict Survival Of Planetary Systems

Who was Alexander the Great?

Alexander the Great ruled the Greek kingdom of Macedon from 336 to 323 BC and was known for his military campaign and for leading one of the largest empires of that time. Alexander was born on July 20 or 21 in 356 BC and was thought by the great philosopher Aristotle until age 16. Alexander invaded Persia, India, northeast Africa and remained undefeated in battle throughout his reign to become one of the greatest military commanders of all time.

Read: Artificial Intelligence Lab Set Up In GMRIT Andhra To Equip Students For AI Technologies

Read: IIT Delhi 2020 Starts School Dedicated To Artificial Intelligence; Admissions Open In 2021


ANKARA, Turkey - Turkeys foreign minister on Friday accused US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of blatant ignorance over her comments that questioned U.S. President Donald Trumps commitment to democracy and his alleged admiration of Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other leaders accused of authoritarian rule.

Pelosi criticized Trumps refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses elections in November, and called on the U.S. president to honour his oath of office and the U.S. Constitution.

We do know who he admires. He admires (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, he admires Kim Jong Un, he admires Erdogan in Turkey, Pelosi said.

She added: But I remind him, you are not in North Korea, you are not in Turkey, you are not in Russia, Mr. President.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu took to Twitter to admonish Pelosi over her remarks.

(Pelosis) rise to become Speaker of the House is what is truly worrisome for American democracy, given her blatant ignorance, Cavusoglu wrote. You will learn to respect the Turkish peoples will.

Trump has been fanning 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.

Despite troubled relations between Turkey and the United States over a series of issues, Trump has frequently praised Erdogan and their bond has helped to keep ties between the NATO allies afloat.
Eleven new positive cases and two more COVID-19 deaths were reported in Webb County on Sunday. Over the course of the pandemic, now 292 people have died due to the novel coronavirus in the Laredo area.

The 291st death was a woman in her mid-70s who passed away Saturday. The 292nd death was a woman in her late 50s who also died Saturday.

The new cases reported Sunday bring the total number of confirmed cases over the last six months to 13,697, only 498 of which are active, per City of Laredo data.

Over 1,000 new tests were reported from Saturday to Sunday, although it is unclear how many of these are pending results since the city no longer reports that data point. Without it, its difficult to calculate the accurate positivity rate in the community and the pending test results are assumed to be negative.

Stipulating this issue, the percentage of positive cases compared to total tests over the span of the pandemic is about 25.1% in Webb County. The rolling average over the past seven days is 8.8% positivity.

Hospitalizations continue to decrease gradually following the virus peak in early August. Ninety people remain hospitalized with COVID-19 in Laredo, 43 of whom are in intensive care.

Gov. Greg Abbott is allowing communities where fewer than 15% of their hospitalized patients are being treated for COVID-19 to reopen businesses further. However as of Sunday, 25% of Laredos hospitalized patients have the novel coronavirus, according to the city.

Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 or jwallace@lmtonline.com
San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin has made a decidedly political choice for his new chief of staff, bringing in fellow progressive and former Supervisor David Campos, who is also chairman of the Democratic County Central Committee.

As DCCC chair, Campos oversees fundraising for the local Democratic party and the endorsement processes for local races, including ballot measures and those for mayor, Board of Supervisors and district attorney.

Campos said one of his goals will be to help Boudin bring together the citys various communities to support the call for criminal justice reform.

How Campos will balance the two roles remains to be seen, but former Ethics Commission President Peter Keane  himself a former chief assistant public defender  said the mix of political and prosecutorial roles could pose a problem.

David will probably make a very good chief of staff, but doing both is not a good idea, Keane said. It doesnt raise any direct conflict-of-interest, but he could find himself dealing with things that could have the appearance of improprieties, because the DCCC takes positions on candidates and people who Chesa might be in rivalry with.

To which Campos replied, The office has strict ethical guidelines and procedures that must be followed, and which I will follow as I have throughout my legal and professional career.

One thing is for sure, Campos isnt taking the job for money.

The job comes with a $50,000 pay cut from his $290,000-a-year job as Santa Clara County deputy executive.

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.

On the other hand, coupled with his stint as a high profile supervisor and the administrative experience he picked up in Santa Clara County, the move could make Campos an attractive progressive candidate should City Attorney Dennis Herrera decide to move on.

Campos is scheduled to start his new position on Oct. 19.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Phil Matier appears Sundays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KGO-TV morning and evening news and can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call 415-777-8815, or email pmatier@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @philmatier
This year is undoubtedly leaving its mark on the world and, while nowhere has been left unscathed, Australia and New Zealand have been fortunate to have some of the lowest case numbers in the world. But while the two countries have managed to escape the worst of the infections, there is a note of caution about the future.

Australia is 71st on World Health Organisation data table of coronavirus cases and New Zealand is 147th, but they are not out of the woods yet, with some second-wave cases occurring across both countries. Both have closed their borders to all except for citizens, residents, and immediate family members, while 14-day quarantine measures are strictly enforced.

Australians had been slowly emerging from Covid-19 lockdowns since May but a recent second wave has seen some restrictions and closures between States. In New Zealand, which had been Covid free for over 100 days, a recent wave has seen Auckland go into lockdown and the rest of the country is on level two restrictions. So, most companies are continuing to work remotely and enforce social distancing where possible.

Australia is now experiencing its first recession in nearly 30 years thanks to the economic fallout from coronavirus, bushfires, and drought.

The New Zealand economy is poised to contract severely for the first time in over a decade - again due to the coronavirus. However, sizeable fiscal and monetary stimulus in both counties have helped to mitigate the impact.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) recently released its forecasts for the quarter ending in December 2020: an unemployment rate of about 10pc, a gross domestic product contraction of around 6pc, a decline in household consumption of approximately 7pc, and a 17pc drop in business investment. Although severe, these projections show the Australian economy is in a better position than other developed economies.

So, even though both countries have large tourism, hospitality, and education industries which have been severely hit by the near elimination of international travel, activity remains robust in other areas of the economy with construction and financial services leading the way.

Irish companies have shown remarkable resilience and adaptability in the face of these challenges, with the Antipodean market being no exception.

We have found multiple opportunities for Enterprise Ireland clients as all sectors of the economy are increasing their digital transformation. In fact, some clients have brought forward their entry into our markets due to demand, particularly across digital health, educational and financial technology. In medtech and life sciences, Irish companies have scaled rapidly to meet new demand for products and have accelerated their market entry here.

Since March, 20 Enterprise Ireland clients have established a presence in Australia and New Zealand. This is a clear sign that both countries are open for business and they act as the gateway into the wider Asia-Pacific region. Irish companies are showing the strength, determination, adaptability, and resilience to win business 17,000km from home.

There is light on the horizon for companies doing business here and for those planning their market entry.

David Eccles is Enterprise Ireland manager for Australia/New Zealand. Anyone interested in learning more about Irish innovation and its application in the Australian market can visit www.irishadvantage.com.au
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 19:51:29|Editor: huaxia

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YANGON, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar authorities seized a large haul of controlled chemicals in Shan state, according to a release from the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC) on Sunday.

Acting on a tip-off, the seizure was made by the joint anti-narcotic police in Muse township on Saturday.

A total of 2,000 stimulants worth 2 million kyats (1,526 U.S. dollars), 750 kilograms of tartaric acid powder worth 3.75 million kyats (2,862 U.S. dollars), 11,500 kilograms of theophylline powder worth over 465 million kyats (355,534 U.S. dollars), 2,400 liters of dimethyl carbonate worth 28.8 million kyats (21,984 U.S. dollars) and other drugs-related materials were confiscated from a warehouse and a truck along with one suspect.

The township police filed a case against the suspect and further investigation is underway under the country's Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law, the release said.

On the same day, a total of 4,800 liters of dimethyl sulfate worth 72 million kyats (54,961 U.S. dollars) and 1,875 kilograms of theophylline powder worth over 75 million kyats (57,967 U.S. dollars) were also seized in Namhkan township of the same state.

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 people were charged in connection with the cases as of Sept. 19 this year, since the formation of the Drug Activity Special Complaint Department in 2018. Enditem
The pops and trills of native birds that greet us as we enter lull us into a false sense of wellbeing amid the Victorian Alpine bush.

Angus Cerini's new play may ostensibly be a two-hander, with Hugo Weaving as Harry and Wayne Blair as Riggall, but this bush  together with the mountainsides to which it clings and the surrounding fickle weather  is a fully fledged third entity  and hostile.

Hugo Weaving (left) and Wayne Blair in Wonnangatta. Credit:Prudence Upton

Its heat, flies, blizzards, disappearing paths and treacherous ravines make or break its settlers, or as Riggall says, "Softly fall the snowflakes and the men."

Cerini's story tells of unsolved murders in Wonnangatta over a century ago  a time when other men who might have scratched a living there with cattle and sheep were dying in the mud of France.
Mike Pence at Franklin Graham's Prayer March: 'America is a nation of believers'

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WASHINGTON  Vice President Mike Pence addressed a crowd of tens of thousands from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial Saturday at one of two events in the nations capital calling on Americans to come together in repentance and prayer.

Pence spoke at evangelist Franklin Grahams Washington Prayer March, which began at the Lincoln Memorial and ended 1.8 miles away at the United States Capitol. In his speech, the vice president extended the greetings of President Donald Trump, whom he described as a champion for people of faith, for life, and religious liberty.

.@SecondLady and I were truly honored to join @Franklin_Graham and thousands of Believers for the #PrayerMarch2020 in Washington DC today. Thank you for your prayers, America. ???????? pic.twitter.com/p1l6J8Cp69  Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) September 26, 2020

Since the founding of our nation, the American people and our leaders have gone to prayer in challenging times, Pence said. George Washington prayed for the leaders and the people of our states what he called an earnest prayer that God would hold them and our states in his holy protection. Abraham Lincoln said during his time in the White House, I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.

Pence proceeded to highlight how the president "has observed many times that America is a nation of believers.

When the president and I travel around the country, the sweetest words we ever hear, and we hear them a lot, are when people reach out and simply say, Im praying for you.

We want to urge you all to pray for all of those with public responsibilities in the executive branch, pray for all the members of the Congress of the United States, (and) pray for all the justices on the Supreme Court, including the remarkable woman that the president will nominate to fill the seat, he said.

The crowd began to erupt into applause when he mentioned Trumps Supreme Court pick, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, who had yet to be formally announced when Pence spoke.

In the wake of a global pandemic, we urge you to pray for all of those who are struggling with loss and with serious illness, pray for our doctors and nurses, and all of those that are bringing America through these challenging times.

Pence closed his speech by predicting that: If His people who are called by His name will humble themselves and pray  Hell do like Hes always done, through much more challenging times in the life of this nation, youll hear from Heaven and Hell heal this land, this one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Also held at the National Mall was the event known as The Return: National and Global Day of Prayer and Repentance. Many in the crowd flew Israeli and American flags, as well as flags reading police lives matter.

The theme of the event was the need for repentance, with speakers calling on attendees to ask for Gods forgiveness and making the case that the failure of Americans to obey God has led to many of the problems engulfing the nation.

Speakers at The Return included well-known Christian television personalities, officials from Christian advocacy organizations, as well as outspoken Christian political figures.

Apathy has killed us, said Pierre Bynum, a chaplain at the Family Research Council, who was among speakers. Weve watched as prayer has been taken out of our schools. Weve watched as Bible reading has been taken out of our schools. Where were we? What were we doing? What were we thinking?

They took the Ten Commandments off the walls. They legalized abortion, they legalized same-sex marriage, defying the living God.  God has called us to be anything but apathetic, he stressed.

Our country is imploding upon us and its all because of us. If the church had done its job all these years, if we had spoken out about the issues that we should have spoken out on and stood for them and stood in the public square, we could have kept this thing from happening.

But now were in deep trouble and only God can save us at this point in time. Even our repentance is inadequate if its just human repentance. Weve got to have God intervene and deal with us, he declared.

Gordon Robertson, son of televangelist Pat Robertson and president and CEO of the Christian Broadcasting Network, made a televised appearance expressing concern about the sin of racism that is still in our land. Robertson strongly implied that the pandemic, riots, wildfires, and major hurricanes were punishments from God because we still have the curse of racism.

Robertson contended that despite all of the progress on the issue of race, American churches have a long way to go when it comes to reaching out to and embracing racial minorities. He lamented that 11 a.m. on Sunday mornings is still the most segregated hour in American culture.

Lets start a great revival where we can have Heaven right here on Earth. In Heaven, theres no racial divide. Every language, every tongue, every people are all gathered together worshipping the King of Kings, worshipping the lamb, he explained.

Robertson closed by urging churches across the U.S. to integrate and praying that the country becomes one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Bishop Harry Jackson, senior pastor of Hope Christian Church in Beltsville, Maryland, proclaimed that four major problems on the horizon in the U.S. illustrate a need to repent.

First is COVID, which is like a plague of the Old Testament, he said. Next, he listed racial division, the #MeToo movement, and a class problem as the other challenges facing the U.S.

God wants to heal Americas race problem and release us into a unity, the like of which weve never seen, Jackson maintained.

Dr. Ben Carson, secretary of Housing and Urban Development, told attendees that your history is what gives you your identity. Your identity is what gives you your beliefs.

I believe that this is a great time for us to reevaluate who we are as a nation, he said. It is time for us to bow our heads and return to God.

Leading the crowd in prayer, Carson said: We have moved far, far away from those Judeo-Christian values that encouraged us to be kind to our fellow man, to help the poor, to develop our God-given talents to the utmost so that we become valuable to the people around us.  We want to return to that once again. Its not necessary for us to be enemies and to be hateful and spiteful, but to be loving and kind as You are to us."

Carson acknowledged that the U.S. has made horrible mistakes over the years before asserting that we dont bury those mistakes, we learn from those mistakes. ... The New Testament makes a lot more sense when you understand the Old Testament.

The keynote speaker at The Return, Messianic Jewish Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, connected the turmoil unfolding in the U.S. to the challenges faced by ancient Israel when it rebelled against God: 400 years ago, another civilization was begun, formed and molded for the purposes of the creator.

After mentioning that the Mayflower Compact signed by Americas earliest settlers was written for the glory of God and the advancement of the faith, Cahn recalled how puritan leader John Winthrop issued a prophetic vision of the new civilization he would help to plant.

Winthrop envisioned the U.S. as a city on a hill, the eyes of the world would be upon it and if it followed the ways of God, then God would bless it and make it the most prosperous, the most powerful, the most secure, the most exalted of civilizations.

While Cahn explained that Winthrops vision came true, he spoke of a prophetic warning from the puritan leader that should the city on a hill turn away from the God of its foundation, then the judgments that fell upon Israel would likewise fall upon it.

Cahn recounted how the people of ancient Israel drove God out of their hearts, out of their government, out of their ways and lives, out of their education of their children, out of the public square, (and) out of their culture.

America has likewise fallen in the midst of our blessings and prosperity. We, too, have turned away from the God of our foundation. Weve estranged ourselves from him.  We drove God out of our hearts, out of our government, out of our ways, out of our laws, out of the education of our children, out of the public squares, out of our businesses, out of our media, out of our culture, (and) out of our lives.

Cahn used his address to decry the embrace of abortion and the LGBT movement. To shed the blood of an unborn baby is to murder a human life. ... Our collective hands are covered with blood.  60 million Americans have been murdered.

Instead of weeping over that fact, we go still farther, he said, citing the gruesome law passed in New York state that allowed abortions up until the moment of birth. Cahn concluded that the city on a hill has grown dark, its light has dimmed and is in danger of going out.

Cahn lamented the fact that the rainbow has come to represent the LGBT movement. The rainbow does not belong to man, the rainbow belongs to God.  It was not given as an emblem to the pride of man, it was given as a sign to the mercy of God.

The Word of God stands against all hatred, all oppression, and all injustice against any person, people, nation, color, race, or group, Cahn added. After signaling his agreement with the statement that black lives matter, he slammed those who say nothing of all the black lives killed in this land before they can even breathe their first breath and the abortion clinics strategically placed in black neighborhoods.
KIRKUK (Reuters) -- A car bomb killed at least eight people from a single family when it exploded in Iraq's disputed city of Kirkuk, police said.



Farhad Shwani, a police captain in Kirkuk, said the blast occurred near the home of a local pro-government militia leader in the eastern part of the city.



Other police and hospital sources said there were at least seven killed and two wounded in the attack in Kirkuk, an oil hub 250 kilometers north of Baghdad. At least one woman and a child were among the dead, they said.



Reuters television footage showed at least one building that had collapsed completely in the blast. Police and locals removed bodies wrapped in bed sheets from the rubble.



Kirkuk, home to a volatile mix of ethnic Kurds, Arabs, and Turkomans, is the scene of a bitter showdown between the Arab-led government in Baghdad and leaders in the largely autonomous Kurdistan region in northern Iraq.



Kurds, who claim Kirkuk as an ancestral homeland, aspire to make Kirkuk part of their northern enclave, an idea that is opposed bitterly by most of Iraq's Arabs.



The United Nations and the United States have been seeking to broker a compromise over control of Kirkuk, seen as a major threat to Iraqi security just as sectarian violence fades, to little apparent success so far.
Fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan broke out Sunday around the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the Armenian Defense Ministry said two Azerbaijani helicopters were shot down.

Ministry spokeswoman Shushan Stepanyan also said Armenian forces hit three Azerbaijani tanks.

Nagorno-Karabakh is an ethnically Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan that has been out of Azerbaijan's control since the end of a war in 1994. Both sides have heavy military presence along a demilitarized zone separating the region from the rest of Azerbaijan.

Stepanyan said the fighting Sunday began with an Azerbaijani attack, but Azerbaijan said the Armenian side attacked and that Azerbaijan launched a counteroffensive.

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It is one of those days at the end of the summer when the heavens have opened and the rain is falling straight and fast and heavy.

I am deep in the Cavan countryside, in a cabin in the woods, settled into a comfortable armchair next to a wood-burning stove. To my left, a glass of wine and a tray of Corleggy 'Cavanbert' cheese and crackers. To my right, my children, quiet for once, are reading on the couch. In front of me an enormous window is open to the great expanse of woodland and the sound of the downpour on the lake beyond. It is bliss.

Two hours beforehand we arrived at Cabu by the Lakes - a new destination in Killykeen Forest Park by the shores of Lough Oughter. It rained for the hour-and-a-half drive from Dublin, and it hasn't stopped since. At first, the kids were worried - they'd been promised swimming, kayaking, barbecues - but even they were won over when we arrived at this unique hideaway.

Cabu by the Lakes is a smartly designed complex of 28 log cabins and lakehouses on a 100-acre private site in Cavan's lakelands.

The setting is beautiful, with nature certainly to the fore, but there are touches of luxury that make this an experience that's very far from 'roughing it'.

Scattered in among the trees there are hot tubs and saunas for forest bathing; despite the weather we spy a few heads bobbing peacefully as the steam rises into the forest canopy.

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The cabins themselves are really quite glamorous, in a very considered way. Our kitchen is kitted out with stylish copper cookware and enamel and stone crockery; the seating area has cosy couches, quality blankets and a wood-burning stove - there's even a little cocktail bar area, and the smart TV and WiFi means you can keep up your Netflix habit if you're so inclined. Our cabin has two bedrooms and the beds (including bunks for the kids) are genuinely comfortable; the linen is top quality, there are robes for the adults, and Dr Bronner products in the bathroom.

A large balcony has outdoor seating and a barbecue - for when the rain hopefully stops.

After unloading the car, we kick off our shoes and snuggle down by the window and hours later, we haven't budged. This place is instantly calming. I could happily stay put and have a great break doing nothing else. The kids, however, have other ideas. Top of the Cabu list of Wilderness Ethics: "Be prepared - ensure you have correct clothing and footwear." We don boots and rain gear and go for a wander.

There are bikes for hire and, down by the lake shore, kayaks, paddleboards and boats. Coarse fishing and fly fishing are both popular and you can book a lesson or a guide to lead you to where the big fish are.

Cabu cabins are self-catering but there is a bar and restaurant on site (check in advance for Covid restrictions on opening) and the shop, Cabu Corner, is very well stocked with all sorts of essentials, and plenty of high-end treats too. All of the lovely furnishings, books, prints and kitchenware in the cabins are available to buy here too, which is a clever detail.

We get coffee, hot chocolate and pastries and retire to the Sitooterie - a large, comfortable, chill-out area that's technically outdoors but is covered and heated by a huge wood burner at the centre. There are board games and blankets and the tables are well spaced so it's easy to keep a safe distance from other guests.

The rain eases and the forest trails beckon but really we're quite comfortable where we are. The activities can wait.

The next morning the clouds have cleared and we set out along a trail into the middle of Killykeen Forest Park, delighted to spot several frogs hopping about in the mud. Lough Oughter is a special area of conservation and the red squirrels rule here. Until now, our kids have only ever seen the cheeky, grey urban type - their excitement is properly heart-warming.

As we walk the trails around Killykeen the sun comes out in force and the lake is starting to look very tempting. From the hilltop we can see boats and paddleboards dotted about the water and the children are anxious to get their feet wet.

In the afternoon we book four kayaks and head out ourselves. The youngest, age eight, has never done it before, but the staff at the boathouse quickly put him at ease and soon he's flying ahead of the rest of us, zipping through the calm waters, turning with ease.

As the sun gets hotter, the lake gets busier, so in good weather it's advisable to book kayaks and paddleboards in advance to avoid disappointment.

Appetites nicely primed, we spend the evening at a barbecue in the Sitooterie. We are lucky enough to get one of the grill tables where, after munching burgers, hot dogs and baked potatoes, our own personal campfire is lit in the centre of the table and the kids are presented with marshmallows for toasting. It's a really nice touch.

Cabu is a clever set-up that I can see working for loads of different situations. The site is not too big so, even though you're 'away from it all', everything you might need is within easy reach. With just 28 cabins, it feels intimate and safe - great for families (there are no cars allowed, except to load and unload at the beginning and end of your stay) - but the cabins are well spaced out and it works for a romantic getaway too. It would be a good place to come with a group, giving everyone space to do their own thing with comfortable areas for socialising together in the evening. Covid restrictions permitting. Staff are plentiful, friendly and quietly attentive, and the whole place has a very relaxed vibe.

Get there

Cabu by the Lakes is open all year around and - as we discovered on our short break - it works in any weather.

175 for a one-night stay in a two-person cabin - two night minimum stay. www.holidays.cabu.co.uk @cabucabins

It's advisable to book activities such as fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, as well as hot tub and sauna, well in advance to avoid disappointment.




Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of HomeServe plc (LON:HSV) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Before you think you won't be able to understand it, just read on! It's actually much less complex than you'd imagine.

We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

Check out our latest analysis for HomeServe

Crunching the numbers

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 Levered FCF (, Millions) UK111.8m UK150.4m UK186.9m UK243.5m UK285.6m UK321.2m UK350.4m UK374.0m UK392.9m UK408.3m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x5 Analyst x6 Analyst x5 Analyst x1 Est @ 17.28% Est @ 12.46% Est @ 9.09% Est @ 6.73% Est @ 5.08% Est @ 3.92% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 7.8% UK104 UK129 UK149 UK180 UK196 UK204 UK207 UK205 UK199 UK192

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = UK1.8b

Story continues

After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (1.2%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 7.8%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2030  (1 + g)  (r  g) = UK408m (1 + 1.2%)  (7.8% 1.2%) = UK6.3b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= UK6.3b ( 1 + 7.8%)10= UK2.9b

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is UK4.7b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of UK12.6, the company appears about fair value at a 9.7% 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

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at HomeServe 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 7.8%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.956. 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. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For HomeServe, we've put together three additional elements you should assess:

Risks: For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for HomeServe that you should be aware of before investing here. Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for HSV'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 British 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.
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - A Chinese drug trafficker under death sentence escaped from jail on the outskirts of Indonesia's capital Jakarta by tunnelling through the sewage system, police said on Monday.

Cai Changpan, 37, who was convicted of methamphetamine smuggling, dug a hole from his cell at the prison in the Tangerang area into waste pipes and on to a road outside, Jakarta police spokesman Yusri Yunus told reporters.

According to a cell mate, he had planned the Sept. 14 escape for five to six months using tools from a construction project in the prison kitchen, Yunus said.

Indonesia Directorate General of Prisons spokeswoman Rika Aprianti told media the trafficker, who also uses the name Cai Ji Fan, had timed his escape to the changing of the guards.

According to Indonesian news website detik.com , he was sentenced to death in 2017 for trafficking 135 kg of crystal meth. A police investigation found 70 kg of meth hidden in chicken coop cleaner equipment.

Cai, police said, had previously broken out of a Jakarta police detention centre in 2017 by breaking a hole in a bathroom wall. No lawyer or representative for Cai was immediately reachable for comment.

Police put him on their most wanted list.

(Reporting by Fanny Potkin; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
By Lee Kyung-min







KB Financial Group has officially renounced its carbon-heavy investment plans, in a group-wide directive toward taking the initiative to tackle climate change, it said Sunday.







The move is part of a last-ditch effort to win a four-year contract to handle a state fund of 10 trillion won managed by Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education.







In the neck-and-neck race are KB Kookmin Bank, the group's bank subsidiary, and NongHyup Bank, which has been the handler of the education office's fund since 1964.







The education office said the two will be evaluated on their degree of corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributions to education as well as anti-coal campaigning efforts. The winner will be announced soon.







The move is also part of the environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) drive, defined by the three central factors in measuring the sustainability and societal impact of an investment in a company or business.







An ESG committee under the holding firm of Kookmin Bank convened Sept. 25 decided to forgo new investment projects related to coal-powered business models financed via project financing or corporate bond purchases.







The committee said investments will instead be directed to finance low-carbon and renewables initiatives, to better comply with the Paris Agreement, signed in 2016 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, known best by its long-term temperature goal of keeping the increase in global average temperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius.







The group will factor in green drives in identifying new business investment plans, while rearranging its current investment portfolio to put greater weight on eco-friendly shipbuilding and carmaking. Efforts will continue to issue a greater volume of ESG bonds.







"KB has become the first financial firm in Korea to publicly renounce the coal-powered energy industry, in line with the group's commitment to fulfill corporate responsibility on environmental and social issues," a KB official said.


























By Fu Ying

The year 2020 marks the 15th anniversary of the release of the September 19 Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks in 2005 about the Korean peninsula nuclear issue. Although the peninsular situation has undergone a lot of changes in the past 15 years, the goals, principles and concepts set in the Joint Statement are still playing a significant guiding role today.

In February 2003, Secretary of State Powell of the administration of George W. Bush visited China trying to convince it into mediating the Korean nuclear issue. It was a new proposition at the time as the Bush administration was so embroiled in anti-terrorist wars that it needed Chinas cooperation and help in Asia-Pacific security affairs. The Korean nuclear issue provided a new opportunity for Beijing and Washington to cooperate in major international issues.

Two years later, the September 19 Joint Statement was released at the second-stage meeting of the fourth round of six-party talks. In 2007, the third-stage meeting of the sixth round of the talks reached the February 13 Agreement, outlining the initial actions for the implementation of the Joint Statement.

As we look back now, that important progress could be made then was because the related parties reached a consensus on two matters of principle. First, they realized the need to avoid another war on the Korean peninsula. On this premise, all parties showed basic trust and were willing to remain at the negotiating table. Second, to make sure the negotiations could be sustained, the parties realized the need to find a compromise between their own bottom lines and the concerns shared by other countries.

The September 19 Joint Statement is important because it has not only specified the common goal of peninsular denuclearization and the common and separate obligations of each party, but also put in place the basic principle of "commitment for commitment, action for action". This is a valuable diplomatic legacy and the crystallization of collective wisdom. It has been the fundamental framework for handling the Korean nuclear issue even after the six-party talks came to a de facto halt.

Unfortunately, the consensus reached in the Joint Statement hasnt been fully implemented in reality. The DPRK believed the US had failed to honor its commitment to providing energy assistance and didnt abandon its hostile policies toward Pyongyang, while the US reckoned that Pyongyang had been secretly developing nuclear weapons. American intelligence agencies imposed sanctions on the DPRK for its so-called overseas money laundering and missile part trafficking. In the end, the six-party talks came to a de facto halt in 2010.

In retrospect, the deep-rooted reasons why the six-party talks came to a standstill fall on Washingtons reluctance to acknowledge Pyongyangs legitimate security concerns and its unwillingness to let go of its obsession with changing DPRKs political system.

The global situation has changed dramatically since then, and its much harder to create favorable conditions for negotiations from nowhere today. One important change lies in the general atmosphere and the nature of China-US relations. The US is pushing hard for strategic competition between the two countries. Although the outcome could be anyones guess, the cooperative momentum between Beijing and Washington on major international and regional issues will definitely be affected.

However, I think things remain unchanged in two aspects. The first is that all parties are still committed to denuclearizing the Korean peninsula and safeguarding peace and security in Northeast Asia. No one wants or dares to start war on the peninsula. It is said that in his early days in the White House, President Trump did consider resolving the issue by force, but eventually gave up the option after assessing its risks and consequences. The second is that DPRK needs a peaceful and secure external environment so that it can focus on developing the economy and improving peoples lives.

The Korean nuclear issue has been chronically trapped in a downward spiral of nuclear test - sanction - dialogue - test again - sanction again. On the other hand, it has also revealed no matter how pointed divergences are, dialogue always holds the key to resolving complicated international issues, and diplomacy always finds a way to unlock deadlocks.

The peninsular issue has dragged on for more than 60 years, so its impossible to resolve it any time soon. All parties need to show kindness, patience and perseverance and avoid throwing out demands that are impossible to become reality in the current stage. A certain leeway should be left to make every party feel comfortable and keep the process going forward. That would be a marvelous step forward. It is hoped that all parties can make efforts in parallel to promote peninsular denuclearization and establish a peace mechanism for it, so as to eventually set up a security frameworkmore inclusivein the region that accommodates and reasonably guarantees the security needs of all countries.

For Chinas part, the six-party talks that have generated the important outcome of September 19 Joint Statement is an important platform where we exert our role as a constructive and responsible major country. It is a breakthrough in Chinas efforts to mediate regional hot spots, carry out multilateral diplomacy, shape a secure surrounding and expand the cooperation with the US, and it offers much experience for future reference. The six-party talks havent been resumed yet and a relapse of Korean nuclear issue is still possible. As a direct stakeholder in the region, China cannot allow a war on the peninsula or give up the initiative in coordinating peninsular affairs.

(The author is director of the Center for International Security and Strategy, Tsinghua University)

Disclaimer: This article is originally published on thepaper.cn, and is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.
Mr Charles Buabin, Tema Regional Director, Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), says tourism plays a crucial role in promoting and fostering sustainable rural development.















He said rural tourism could be stimulated and enhanced further to contribute immensely in income generation and job creation for a diversified rural economy.



The Regional Director was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Tema over the weekend to commemorate this year's World Tourism Day on the global theme: Tourism and Rural Development.



According to him, rural tourism was increasingly becoming important, contributing to the development of communities and the sustainability of rural populations and economy generally.



Whiles responding to the relationship between local tourism and rural development, he explained that rural tourism helps to boost domestic economy as local residents position themselves to own small businesses along the value chain to improve their livelihoods."



He said tourism brings technology transfer to the rural areas that may impact positively on the livelihood of rural dwellers to make valuable contribution to rural economies and further stated that tourism had a positive correlation to development in rural settlements with the ability to preserve and promote natural and cultural heritage, cutting down rural-urban migration.



He cited the Volta Estuary in Ada, the Beachfront of Prampram and beaches along the Accra-Tema beach road at Sakumono, hotels and hospitality facilities as some tourism sites that were significantly impacting the lives of the local people through the provision of jobs.



He informed that plans were afoot to establish a Paragliding Training School uplands around Osuwem, in the Shai-Osudoku with the aim of giving local Ghanaians the needed skills to fly revelers, during the Kwahu Easter paragliding festival, hosted by the GTA annually.



Speaking on the expected impact the Tourism Regulations, 2019 Legislative Instrument (LI 2393) had on rural development, the Regional Director mentioned the provision of training for tour and site guides and indirect certified and licensed jobs for people engaged in support services, such as tour guides, escorts and tour guards.



He indicated that, the Covid-19 Pandemic had immensely impacted the tourism sector, and said tourism is a major pillar of the economy, providing incomes and jobs for over 275,023 direct and 388,000 indirect jobs in 2019 with a record of 1.13 million arrivals and a contribution of some 3.3 billion dollars in foreign exchange  27.9 per cent over the previous year.



The sector posted a growth of 18 per cent, well above the global rate of growth of five per cent. There was an increase in the registration of tourism enterprises by 29 per cent,  he noted, adding that expectation was to leverage on the 2019 performance to further boost the sector beyond the year of return when the crisis Covid-19 pandemic struck.



In the immediate aftermath of the pandemic, Mr Buabin stated that the Tema Regional Directorate of the GTA provided; Personal Protective Equipment, thermometer guns, hand sanitizers, nose mask, soaps, Veronica buckets, information materials among others, to 98 establishments which were still operational in Tema.



He said besides aggressively marketing the country as the preferred tourism destination in West Africa, The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, had launched the Beyond the Return initiative, spanning 10 years, aimed at further energizing the momentum gained during the year of return in 2019.



The focus on rural tourism, with the coming into force of LI 2393  Tourism Sites Regulations (2019) gives this years commemoration an even bigger twist of creating possibilities for the rural community, their respective district assemblies and resource owners to define ways to oversee attractions according to the regulations specified in the act 2393.



As part of activities lined up for this years commemoration of World Tourism Day in Tema, he said the Authority hoped to visit one of its Coconuts Plantation Projects at Tema New Town Beach and the Community 22 Polyclinic to better nurture them.

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
President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday gave his approval to three contentious farm bills, even as protests by opposition and farmer groups continued.

Parliament had recently passed 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, amid massive uproar from opposition parties. The bills were awaiting presidential assent.

Soon after the Presidents assent to the bills, the Maharashtra government announced that it would not implement the anti-farmers" law in the state. The Bills passed by Parliament are anti-farmers. So were opposing it. Maha Vikas Aghadi will also oppose it and not implement it in Maharashtra. Shiv Sena is also with us. Well sit together and form a strategy," Mahrashtra revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat said.

Shiromani Akali Dal, who formally broke ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA a day ago, announced a Kisan March on October 1. Kisan March will begin on October 1 from the three Takhts and go to Mohali. We will give a memorandum to the Governor and the President that these Ordinances should not be given assent and the Centre should take these back," party president Sukhbir Singh Badal said minutes before the presidents approval came.

Later, he said it is sad to see that president failed to pay heed to farmers cries. Extremely sad that @rashtrapatibhvn refused to heed farmers & Punjabis cries & has signed #FarmBills and J&K bill excluding #Punjabi as official language. Hopes that President will act as nations conscience & return Bills to Parliament dashed. Dark day for democracy & farmers," Badal tweeted.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh termed the move as unfortunate and distressing". He said that his government is exploring all options, including possible amendments to the state laws, to protect the interests of the farmers.

Singh said that his government was already in consultation with legal and agricultural experts, and all those impacted by the central governments calamitous" legislations, will decide on the future course of action.

Kovinds nod to the farm bills comes days after Opposition parties met him and requested him to withhold his approval to the Centres contentious farm bills. They had also boycotted Parliament in protest against the way the Centre passed the bills.

President gives his assent to the three #FarmBills :Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2020 pic.twitter.com/PmjG4jNopC All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) September 27, 2020

Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the bills had been passed in an unconstitutional manner. There was no division of votes, no voice voting," he said. Constitutional procedures were flouted in the temple of democracy."

The members of Opposition parties protested against the bills and called it a murder of democracy".

Farmers under the banner of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee have also been protesting on the rail track near Devidaspura village in Amritsar since September 24. Sitting on the rail track, the bare-chested protesters shouted slogans against the BJP-led central government on Saturday and demanded that the farm bills be withdrawn.

The committee had announced on Friday to extend its three-day rail roko agitation from September 26 till September 29. The rail roko agitation had started on Thursday, forcing the railway authorities to suspend the operation of special passenger trains in the state.

Farmers 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 Centre, however, defended the passage of the farm bills and accused the opposition parties including Congress of doing politics. Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad assured farmers that they will not have to sell their produce at less than MSP.

He rejected all the protests, saying they were all being sponsored by those who will be hit, the Congress and the Opposition. But our commitment to farmers remains, and once people realise the reality, the Opposition will be exposed," the Union minister said.
It seems everything this year can be linked back to the COVID-19 pandemic.

More performers are out of work than ever before due to the bans on large gatherings at indoor venues, and the AFL Grand final was moved to Brisbane to avoid the difficulties involved in running a major event in Melbourne during the second wave of infections.

And now, as senior culture writer Nathanael Cooper reports, the AFL and an entertainment company are caught in a furore over a call-out for performers who will not be paid.

Last year hitmaker Tones and I was part of the AFL grand final entertainment. Credit:Getty

Dance schools in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast were invited by email to have dancers apply to participate in a "large scale performance" on October 24 that was looking for "strong performers" over the age of 15.

The event is the half-time entertainment at the AFL Grand Final, which will take place at The Gabba this year, with a dance ensemble of 300 people. Those who were successful began rehearsals on Sunday.

The dance community said the AFL Grand Final was an example of performers being exploited.

"If they wanted people to volunteer they would have put out a public advertisement and invited every man and their dog to take part," Melbourne dancer Elijah Ziegeler said.

"They have asked for specific, professional skills. They wouldn't ask AFL footballers who have been training their whole lives to play for free. It is quite galling to see our services being exploited in such a way."

Read more here.
Wellington, Sep 26 : New Zealand reported two new coronavirus cases on Saturday -- one in managed isolation and the other detected during contact tracing, taking the overall tally to 1,475, according to the Ministry of Health.

In a statement, the Ministry said the case in managed isolation is a man in his 30s who arrived in New Zealand from Russia via the United Arab Emirates, reports The New Zealand Herald newspaper.

The second case was a passenger on a charter plane from Christchurch to Auckland.

Three other people on that flight have already tested positive, the Ministry added.

It further said that there were 32 people isolating in the Auckland quarantine facility from the community, including 15 people who have tested positive and their household contacts.

There are now two people in hospital with Covid-19, down one from yesterday. Both patients are in isolation on a general ward.

Currently there are 61 active cases in the country.

As of Saturday, New Zealand's death toll stood at 25.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
NO-GUTS PAT

This is a decision that should be made with the maximum input of the American people, and thats achieved by allowing the next president to make this decision, stated Pennsylvanias Republican Sen. Pat Toomey when President Obama attempted to place Merrick Garland on the Supreme Court in 2016, 237 days before the election.

Now, in fear of what Moscow Mitch and President Pathological Liar might do to him, our lapdog senator pulls a 180 degrees flip-flop! No guts, no glory, Sen. Toomey.

BILL FROM BROOMALL

NOT ON FOX

Attention to Fox for the Facts in regarding the Republican investigation by Ron Johnson into Hunter Biden. The facts that investigation just released still found that he wasnt guilty of anything and that it just didnt look good when the U.S. was trying to stop corruption in Ukraine. Interestingly, that investigation implicated former Secretary Perry in a corrupt scheme to pressure the Ukrainian government to change the board of Naftogaz to accept his associates Robert Bensh and Michael Bleyzer. You probably wont find that out on Fox News.

NOTHINGBURGER IN PA.

The discarded ballots kerfuffle in Luzerne County, a Republican-controlled county, is confusing. A newly hired seasonal postal worker apparently mishandled these pieces of mail. It was a mistake. They were not stolen. Ballots were not thrown in a ditch anywhere in Pennsylvania. That was Wisconsin. Pennsylvanias election is not rigged. Mail-in ballots are legal and secure in the Keystone State. What is clear is that one presidential candidate is trailing in the race. His only hope is to sow confusion and doubt. Since the attempted sabotage the USPS has been exposed, politicizing every little thing is his best strategy to dispute the result. Be prepared for five more weeks of stunts, and then some sour grapes.

PAULY FROM PROSPECT

KNOCK IT OFF

Id like to Sound Off about going up the Mass Saturday night up at St. Kevins in Springfield and come back out. Stuck in my cars windshield was this flier that said no Catholic should vote for Joe Biden. and went on and on about several things, you know the Little Sisters of the Poor and some nonsense. I go to Mass the warship my higher power, not to have some knuckle-dragging moron tell me about what I should do in the voting booth. If thats the case, I guess a quarter of a million dead Americans are okay from the virus while this bozo was asleep at the wheel. Im a lifelong Republican voting for Joe Biden.

VOTE BLUE

NOT TRUE!

To all you people who drink the Democrat Kool-Aid calling in and saying Donald Trump said that the soldiers and military people of America are suckers and losers, that is a complete lie dreamed up by off the fake news media again. Check it out. Check it out for yourself. It is not true.

SCRATCHING MY HEAD

WERE NOT SAFE

Donald Trump commercials just keep getting more and more ridiculous. His latest one talks about how he has kept America safe. Our country is less safe now than it has ever been in history. Thanks to Donald Trump we have domestic terrorists, like skinheads neo-Nazis and white supremacists running around all over the place with impunity because of Donald Trump. Anybody who believes our country is safer with Donald Trump in charge just proves their total lack of intelligence.

LAUGHING AT MY TV

PRICED OUT

You always asking for people to adopt an animal, especially dogs, but they make it so expensive  the cost the vet visit needles et cetera. Why dont they come down a little bit in price so that more dogs and cats can be adopted? Do you have a very real good expensive racket going on? So the people are asking just to lower the prices a little bit for vet visits to be able to purchase a little dog or a cat. Its too expensive. Youre adopting an animal, not a baby.

ANIMALS ARE NOT HUMANS
The six-month follow-up medical observation for China's first batch of COVID-19 vaccine volunteers ends on the weekend, as the volunteers complete the final blood sample collection to see antibody levels.

The research team is planning to give volunteers a second dose on a voluntary basis to boost their immunity against the novel coronavirus, the Global Times learned from the research team. Other Chinese vaccine candidates entering the late-stage trials all require at least two doses to maximize immune response.

China's earliest group of 108 volunteers started to get their injections on March 17 in Wuhan for Phase I clinical trials of the Recombinant Novel Coronavirus Vaccine (Ad5-nCoV), co-developed by Tianjin-based biotechnology company CanSino Biologics Inc and military infectious diseases expert Chen Wei.

"We took about 35 millimeters of blood samples this morning. The second dose may be given in the following two days. I did not experience any adverse reactions, no colds, no fevers, over the past six months," Zhu Aobing, 28, one of the first group of volunteers, told the Global Times on Saturday.

The vaccine candidate is originally designed for single-dose injection, estimated to stay effective for two years and should be stored at a temperature of 2-8 degrees Celsius.

But now the research team intends to extend it to two doses in order to bring better protection to volunteers, a researcher participating in the clinical trials in Wuhan told the Global Times on Saturday. If an extra dose of the vaccine is given, the team will start a new six-month period of medical follow-up observations.

No severe adverse effects from Ad5-nCoV have been discovered so far, Zhu Tao, CanSino's chief scientific officer, said over the last weekend at a conference.

The vaccine's effectiveness has been called into question due to tests showing low antibodies in previously published Phase 1 and 2 trial data. However, Zhu said that the neutralizing antibody of the vaccine may have been seriously underestimated, and that a single dose of it can achieve the equivalent immunity effect of two doses of inactivated vaccine. He also stressed that different testing methods can seriously affect antibody testing data.

The data show that the Ad5-nCoV vaccine is no less effective than the same-typed Ad26 vaccine already approved in Russia, Zhu added.

Other three Chinese-developed vaccine candidates also take two doses of injection including two inactivated vaccines developed by China National Pharmaceutical Group Sinopharm in Beijing, and another inactivated one developed by Sinovac Biotech Ltd.

A 28-day interval between two doses is a normal scheme, while a 14-day interval is acceptable under emergency situations, Yin Weidong, CEO of Sinovac Biotech Ltd, told the media.

Whether a third dose is necessary is still under observation now, but the team has already designed a third dose in its Phase II clinical trials and will report the results soon, said Yin. He suggested not to worry too much about a decrease in antibody level over time because the extra shot can consolidate the immune effects.

Chinese vaccine companies have signed cooperation agreements with institutions in several countries to promote final-stage clinical trials, Wu Yuanbin, director-general of science and technology for social development with the Ministry of Science and Technology, said at a briefing held by the State Council Information Office of China on Friday.

Sinopharm's two inactivated vaccines have entered Phase III clinical trials in the Middle East, with more than 35,000 people vaccinated and no serious adverse reactions. Sinovac Ltd is smoothly running its Phase III clinical trials for its inactivated vaccine in South American and Southeast Asian countries. Volunteers for the late-stage trials of the Ad5-nCoV are also starting injections in a few countries in Eurasia, Wu briefed.


The return of university students was thrown into doubt last night amid a growing row over coronavirus lockdowns on campuses.

As thousands prepared to start the new term, the president of the National Union of Students said the Government was 'gambling' with students' lives.

Labour even called for a delay to the start of the English term until the chaotic testing system can meet soaring demand.

In Manchester, it emerged that 1,700 students under lockdown are unable to even find out if they have Covid-19.

Labour's shadow education secretary Kate Green last night called on ministers to stop students from returning to university until the chaotic testing system could meet soaring demand

First year students at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) stand behind a fence after undergraduates self-isolating for a fortnight were told they could not leave the campus

The undergraduates self-isolating for a fortnight at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) have been told they cannot leave the campus to visit the local testing centre, leading to fears the outbreak will spread.

The Manchester outbreak is just one of at least 36 at universities across Britain.

Labour education spokesman Kate Green last night called on ministers to stop students from returning to university for the start of the academic year  affecting 2.3 million in the UK.

She said they should either delay the start of term or 'pause' the return of students to university campuses where courses had not started.

Manchester Metropolitan Students speak behind a fence following an outbreak of the virus

A group of students from MMU question what their university fees are going towards

Students at Manchester Metropolitan University remain in isolation following an outbreak of the virus

Backing Miss Green, NUS president Larissa Kennedy told The Guardian the union was demanding 'a functional test-and-trace system in place on campuses and adequate funding to tackle the student mental health crisis'.

She added in a tweet: 'Government and universities are gambling with students' lives.'

Pressure to refund tuition By Emine Sinmaz and Daniel Martin for The Daily Mail Pressure is mounting on universities to refund tuition fees as thousands of students face lockdowns, online-only courses and the prospect of Christmas confined to their halls. Tory MPs said it was 'madness' that the country's universities were charging the same fees for 'second-rate' learning. As students face the prospect of being confined to their halls of residence over Christmas because of Covid-19 outbreaks on campuses, 3,000 students have already been locked down in their rooms after cases at 36 universities, including Glasgow, Manchester Metropolitan and Edinburgh Napier. Last night Robert Halfon, the Conservative chairman of the education select committee, said students must be compensated for the lack of face-to-face learning. The Department for Education said students who wanted refunds should appeal to their universities. Mr Halfon told the Daily Mail: 'If we have 3,000 students in lockdown now, it could be 6,000 next week, so ministers need to come up with a plan on testing and tracing. 'And we need to ensure students are back by Christmas, because a lockdown over Christmas would cause anguish for them and their families. 'The Government needs to seriously consider a discount, because when you pay for a product you should expect to get that product, and if not, you should get some money returned.' Tory MP George Freeman said yesterday it was 'madness' that students were locked in halls of residences by universities 'still happily taking their money'. He said on Twitter: 'How do I think universities make up the losses from offering student discounts? Well, not from fleecing students! Maybe from vice-chancellors' 300,000 salaries?' Advertisement

But outgoing University of Buckingham vice-chancellor Sir Anthony Seldon said: 'We must have a sense of perspective. Universities have gone to huge lengths to plan for this and many are coping.'

And the Department for Education rejected Labour's call, insisting it was 'working closely with universities to support them to keep staff and students as safe as possible'.

The 1,700 MMU students in lockdown yesterday complained of feeling abandoned  with some already plotting their escape.

After 127 positive tests for Covid-19 on Friday, the shocked students  many of them freshers living away from home for the first time  were ordered to self-isolate in their halls of residence for a fortnight.

Desperate undergraduates said supplies of food and toiletries were low and complained of students holding all-night parties likened to 'prison riots'.

Some tried to ease the boredom by putting up signs in their windows with slogans including 'send drink' and 'f*** Boris'.

As some students in lockdown likened the university to a prison by labelling it 'HMP MMU', with security guards blocking them from leaving, legal experts claimed their incarceration could amount to false imprisonment.

Adam Wagner, a human rights barrister at Doughty Street chambers in London, wrote on Twitter: 'False imprisonment is detention without lawful authority.'

Hours later, university vice-chancellor Professor Malcolm Press conceded it could only 'expect' students to follow the self-isolation rules  designed to avoid spreading the infection to their home towns.

While many students pledged to stick it out, others were preparing to flee the city.

Tilly Thompson, 19, said she felt like a 'caged animal' and was waiting for her mother to take her home to Wolverhampton.

Students claimed some of those under restrictions had been ignoring the rules and throwing parties. One boasted the quarantine would be 'a two-week p***-up', saying he had '200 cans of lager' and 'it's going to get messy'.

A student called Tom told BBC Radio 5 Live that people had been running past their flats shouting: 'Open your doors, we've got coronavirus, we want to give it to you.' He added: 'It was insane... parties going on everywhere, loud music... It was like a prison riot.'

Martyn Moss, of the University and College Union, said he had warned MMU chiefs that their plans for the 'mass return of students would inevitably see institutions become Covid incubators'.

He added: 'Universities should have spent the summer following the science and preparing properly for this inevitable crisis.'
Queensland researchers are looking at how phones and other internet-connected devices are being used for domestic violence.

Professor Heather Douglas said the problem was growing as access to smart internet-connected devices increased.

Queensland researchers are trying to find out the scope of technology-enabled abuse. Credit:istock photos

A lot of women are in the situation where their partner helped them set up their computer systems and they have shared passwords, so there are access issues there, she said.

Were also increasingly seeing smart homes and how those might be being accessed by ex-partners.
Closing pubs and restaurants at 10pm in Northern Ireland will have unintended consequences for the hospitality sector, it has been claimed.

Colin Neill, from Hospitality Ulster, called for any altered closing times to be aligned with the Republic of Ireland, which currently has an 11.30pm curfew.

He warned that shutting pubs and restaurants earlier would have an impact on jobs.

Bars which do not serve food opened their doors again on Wednesday for the first time in six months, but it is expected the Assembly will be told about possible curfews on Monday.

Mr Neill said Stormont should revisit the new legislation and scrutinise it to protect jobs, adding that the new laws were established within hours.

In England people go for a pint and then go home, here we go out late and the rural communities and farmers go out for a beer just to socialise Colin Neill, Hospitality Ulster

It is important that we go back and scrutinise it and get clarity and try and work to see how we protect the health of everybody, but then protect jobs and work together, he told BBC NI.

Just picking a random time will have unintended consequences, and it will if its 10pm.

We have made the case that it should be 11pm for last drinks and everyone out for 11.30.

If we need a curfew, which everyone at this stage thinks, people have been talking about 10pm, and England has 10pm, but we have a totally different culture than England.

In England people go for a pint and then go home, here we go out late and the rural communities and farmers go out for a beer just to socialise.

In the Republic of Ireland everyone has to be out by 11.30pm, so we hope its the same here.

In Northern Ireland, off-licences and supermarkets can sell alcohol until 11pm most days.

How does contact tracing for #COVID19 work? You will be contacted by the team on (028) 9536 8888 if you have received a positive result or have been identified as a #closecontact We will never ask for financial or social media details. Check out https://t.co/lSisoZ0qep for info. pic.twitter.com/eLjulPP1Fb  Public Health Agency (@publichealthni) September 26, 2020

Ultan Power, professor of molecular virology at Queens University in Belfast, warned that longer opening hours could lead to people not abiding by social distancing rules.

He said: I do agree to a certain extent that people do need to react to various conditions, depending on the safety.

All of that hinges on being able to identify where outbreaks are happening and this comes back to the tracking, tracing and testing systems.

If you have longer opening hours, obviously the longer it is the more people are gong to be drinking, the more they drink the less the social inhibitions come in to play and the more people will interact. Therefore not respecting, as much as they should be, the social distancing that we need to have in order to get the numbers down.

In this period now we have to be extraordinarily careful how we proceed and we must be incredibly reactive.

If the numbers keep going up we must be reactive at an early stage because it takes a period of two to three weeks before we see some serious indications, in terms of hospitalisations and eventually deaths, and this is something we must be very careful of.

A further 187 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in Northern Ireland in the last 24-hour reporting period, the Department of Health has said.

It brings the total number of infections to 10,729.

There were no further deaths recorded by the department.
First, the proposed ordinance contains no new property maintenance standards whatsoever.

It only creates a list of property owners to allow enforcement of existing habitability law.

It is true that owners that are in violation of those basic existing codes will be required to expend the cost to make repairs. Legitimate property owners bear the cost of property maintenance every day and are able to offer competitive, affordable rents. If slumlords attempt to raise their already high rents further when they are forced to repair their property, they will not be able to compete with legitimate law-abiding landlords.

Thus, the cost of complying with existing law will, necessarily, come from the slumlords profits, which they have boosted for years by ignoring the law and the health and safety of their tenants.

As to the cost of the business license: It totals essentially $2.55 on each $1,000 of gross income; that is, $1.28 on a $500 monthly rental bill. It is already paid by every other business operating in the city, including by many legitimate and well-established realtor firms that manage rental properties for others.
Climate change is not the most urgent issue facing Canadians at this moment and Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson can live with that  for now.

Were in the middle of a pandemic. Were not at the end of it, and were probably going to be in this for some time, Wilkinson said in an interview this week. That has to be the governments first priority.

Wilkinson sat down to talk to me a day after his governments speech from the throne and a day before the global day of climate action, which was a major event during last years federal election. But 2020 is not 2019, not even for the minister in charge of wrestling with that other global crisis hanging over Canada.

If Canada wasnt sitting at the precipice of a second wave of COVID-19, Wilkinsons climate-change plans would likely have been front and centre of the governments agenda as it was laid out this week. He is still busy working on those plans, he says, but all the talk of a green recovery  still a hot topic as recently as last month  was basically too much, too soon in the context of a pandemic.

All that green-recovery talk, says Wilkinson, got a little bit ahead of the Canadian public in terms of where we were at.

Being an environment minister is all about choosing your battles, even in non-pandemic times, and Wilkinson says nothing has changed or wavered in terms of his governments commitment to meeting its climate-change goals.

Although the throne speech didnt contain any immediate measures to lower the temperature of the planet, Wilkinson believes its possible to lower the temperature of the debate in Canada over climate change  even in Alberta and Saskatchewan, where antipathy to Justin Trudeaus government runs high.

I do believe that there are pathways to engage Alberta and Saskatchewan in a more constructive conversation around climate and how that can work for them from an economic perspective, he says. While theres certainly economic anxiety in those two provinces around the energy issue, I do think that there are opportunities for better conversation than perhaps weve been having.

Wilkinson doesnt spell out exactly how that will work, but this isnt his first time at the centre of federal-provincial tension. Long before he was a minister in Trudeaus government, he worked in the government of Saskatchewan, as a special adviser to premier Roy Romanow during the intense days of constitutional negotiation in the 1990s. This is actually where our paths crossed many years ago, when I was covering those talks as a reporter on that long-running national-unity drama.

That full immersion in federal-provincial tension has made Wilkinson a little skeptical about all these claims, revived by Conservatives this week, that Canada has never been so divided. He remembers the 1992 Charlottetown accord, which he helped negotiate, as a pretty divisive and polarizing moment in the nations history.

People who think that in Canada, theres ever been a time where everybodys happy, the provinces are always happy with the federal government and vice versa . I dont remember any time like that, he says.

What he does regret is how political debate since then has become even more binary, always reduced to either/or choices. Action on climate change is a perfect example  always pitted against the resource industry as a binary choice. Now, in 2020, its climate change versus the pandemic, as though government cant walk and chew gum at the same time, as Wilkinson puts it.

He does believe there are ways in which the pandemic may have made Canadians more acutely aware of their vulnerability to big global forces, and how their own behaviour and choices are connected to the overall health of the nation and planet. I asked Wilkinson whether the government had learned anything during the pandemic about how to nudge the citizenry. Just as we are wearing masks and washing our hands in 2020, could another kind of individual citizen action take root  this time to combat climate change  once the pandemic has passed?

Yes, Wilkinson said, though he didnt get specific. There will be elements of the (climate-change) plan that will provide choice for Canadians about taking action in their own daily lives.

While it might be a stretch to call that a silver lining to the pandemic, there is a way to see this crisis as a training ground for another one looming in the not-so-distant future. Wilkinson doesnt mince words when asked to compare COVID-19 to climate change in that respect.

We know climate change is sitting out there. It is not going farther away, its coming closer, he said, and without some action, it will be far more significant than the effects that weve seen from COVID-19.

But first we have to get through the pandemic.

Susan Delacourt is an Ottawa-based columnist covering national politics for the Star. Reach her via email: sdelacourt@thestar.ca or follow her on Twitter: @susandelacourt

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When voters went to the polls last weekend for early voting in Fairfax, Virginia, they were met by a group of President Donald Trump supporters, waving campaign flags and chanting four more years.

As they waited their turn to cast ballots, some voters had to walk around the supporters to get to the building.

Some voters, and elections staff, did feel intimidated by the crowd and we did provide escorts past the group," said Gary Scott, the general registrar of Fairfax County.

The president and his supporters have expressed concerns about voter fraud, with Donald Trump, Jr. on Twitter encouraging able-bodied people to create an election security army.

These politically charged times have raised worries about voter intimidation  across the nation and in New Jersey, voting rights activists say.

In a year when every active registered voter in New Jersey will get a mail-in ballot, some may question whether voter intimidation will be a big issue.

But some people will choose to vote in person using a paper provisional ballot, while others will hand their mail-in ballot to a poll worker or drop it in a ballot box. So voters will certainly be around polling places on Election Day.

The law says you cant interfere with or obstruct entrance to a polling place, nor can you obstruct or interfere with any voter, or loiter in or near the polling place, or, with the purpose to obstruct or interfere with any voter or to unduly delay other voters from voting.

Electioneering within 100 feet of a polling place is a third degree crime, and those who solicit support for any candidate, party or public question within 100 feet of a polling place are subject to a disorderly persons offense.

The national worry about voter intimidation has its roots in something that happened in New Jersey nearly 40 years ago.

In 1981, off-duty police officers wearing service revolvers, walkie-talkies and armbands that read National Ballot Security Task Force were hired by state GOP officials and stationed at polling places in largely minority communities including Newark, Trenton and Camden.

National Ballot Security Task Force flyer scared many voters away, came with armed law enforcement officers at Black and Latino polling places.

The incident prompted a federal lawsuit by the Democratic National Committee charging the National Ballot Security Task Force violated the 1965 Voting Rights Act through illegal harassment and voter intimidation.

That led to a consent decree that barred the Republican National Committee and the New Jersey Republican State Committee from ballot security activities in minority communities where a purpose or significant effect of such activities is to deter qualified voters from voting.

The ban enforced by the consent decree lasted 35 years.

In 2016, the Democratic National Committee went back to court asking for the ban to be extended, saying candidate Donald Trumps calls for election observers to monitor minority communities to ensure the election isnt rigged was a violation of the order.

The request was denied, as a judge ruled the consent decree had not been violated prior to its expiration. Republicans said concerns about voting activities were baseless.

Former Gov. Jim Florio, who lost that 1981 election by a mere 1,787 out of more than 2.3 million votes, said it could happen again.

Now they have the circumstances that they can utilize the power of intimidation. I dont think anyone who is minimally objective thinks its beyond the Trump people to do something of the sort, Florio told NJ Advance Media.

Its easy to do. Hire people to show up on election day to intimidate people not to participate, and then they dont participate, he said.

Florio said he worries that in other areas of the country, such as Detroit and Milwaukee, there are pretty well-organized militias, and having even small numbers of voters being intimidated can change the outcome of the election.

One New Jersey lawmaker says voters can also be intimidated by something else: the presence of law enforcement near polling places. Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, D-Mercer, has introduced a bill to keep police away from polling places on Election Day.

Police should not be involved in the voting process unless there is an actual emergency or disturbance at a particular location, said Reynolds-Jackson. They should only remain there to deal with that situation and that situation only. Our voting process does not need to be scrutinized by law enforcement.

Reynolds-Jackson also said ballot boxes that have been placed outside of police stations should be relocated.

Citizens going to the polls to cast their vote should be entering a comfortable and welcoming environment, she said. This legislation allows them not to be nervous, it allows them not to feel intimidated and it allows everyone the ability to exercise their constitutional rights without any interference.

New Jersey Republicans, however, say mail-in ballots, not voter intimidation, are the real problem.

Governor Murphy needs to end the Democratic Partys practice of political pandering and their radical war on police officers, said Doug Steinhardt, chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee.

If Assemblywoman Jackson was sincere about taking steps towards protecting peoples right to vote she would call for in person voting and vetting the states antiquated voter rules, rather than deepening the divide between police and the 9 million New Jerseyans they serve and protect, he said.

Reynolds-Jackson said she supports Murphys decision for mail-in voting.

We have lost over 200,000 lives due to COVID-19. We are still in the middle of a public health crisis, she said. Vote-By-Mail is the safest way to conduct this election.

Voter groups support the bill.

Without a law preventing intimidation, voters could be greeted by challenges and confused and, perhaps, threatened with false information or allegations from depositing their ballots, said David Goodman of RepresentUs/New Jersey. Theres enough news screaming our way today to know this is not an idle concern.

The League of Women Voters of New Jersey said a police presence at polling stations would absolutely be intimidating to voters and have a chilling effect.

Often, just the mere threat of voter intimidation tactics can be enough to keep voters home on Election Day, said executive director Jesse Burns. Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jacksons legislation assures voters that they are free to vote without fear or intimidation and that reassurance is particularly crucial in our current charged political environment.

Florio said voters dont head to the polls expecting something bad could happen, but they need to be prepared. And those who intimidate need to know theres a price to pay, he said.

I think its a serious problem. It can be done almost surreptitiously, and you wont know it happened until its over, he said.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Karin Price Mueller may be reached at KPriceMueller@NJAdvanceMedia.com.
A man accused of shooting at three undercover Philadelphia narcotics officers last week turned himself in Friday, police said.

Jeffione Thomas, 28, allegedly shot at the three officers on Sept. 18 while he was riding a bike on the 1400 block of Sharpnack Street in the Cedarbrook section of East Mount Airy. After Thomas fired, police said, two officers got out of their unmarked vehicle and shot back.

Thomas, who is facing charges of attempted murder, fled the scene, police said, as did another man who also allegedly shot at the officers. His name has not been released.

One officer was hit by the gunfire but police said his ballistics vest stopped the bullet. Another officer had cuts on her left leg from flying fragments of either bullets or glass. Both were in stable condition after being taken to Einstein Medical Center that night. The third officer was not injured.

Last Saturday, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, the union that represents Philadelphia officers, offered a $10,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of the shooters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will get a glimpse of the unique culture and traditions of Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti districts during his brief five-hour visit to the hill state on October 3 to inaugurate the strategic Atal Tunnel in Rohtang.

As per the reception plan, approved by the cabinet, Modi will be accorded a grand welcome upon his arrival at four points as per the traditions of the districts. The PM, who will return to New Delhi the same day, will be accompanied by Union defence minister Rajnath Singh and Union minister of state for finance Anurag Thakur.

The PMs helicopter will land at the Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) helipad in Manali at 9am where will be welcomed by Himachal chief minister (CM) Jai Ram Thakur, Himachal assembly speaker Vipin Parmar, urban development minister Suresh Bhardwaj, rural development and panchayati raj minister Virendra Kanwar. Alternate arrangements have been made in case the helicopter fails to land at the SASE helipad.

Jal shakti minister Mahendra Singh Thakur, technical education minister Ramlal Markaday and social justice and empowerment minister Sarveen Chaudhary will greet the PM at the south portal of the tunnel.

Industries minister Bikram Singh Thakur and forest minister Rakesh Pathania will be stationed at the north portal while deputy speaker Hansraj will oversee the arrangements at Bhunter.

The 9.2 kilometre-long tunnel under the Rohtang Pass has been named after former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who had announced the project on June 3.The Atal tunnel is the worlds longest tunnel above an altitude of 3,000 metres. It will reduce the distance between Manali and Leh by 46 kilometres and reduce travel time by 4.5 hours. It will also speed up movement of troops to the border areas.
Part of insurance broker network Steadfast Group, Gardian has close ties to the mining and resource sector  an industry that, according to Phillips, is having to contend with very high limits for professional indemnity. The MD called it extremely difficult to find capacity beyond $10 million.

He noted: You got to go outside the market and get excess layers for that, which is basically another insurance policy on top of the primary policy which can be quite high.

When asked what he thinks the culprit is, Phillips pointed to the other side of the planet.

I think basically its got a lot to do with the professional indemnity insurance market in London, he asserted. Theyve had, obviously, some big losses and theyve basically just overhauled their policy on it. And theres now a limited number of insurers that actually are providing insurance for a particular industry, such as the engineering space or civil design and construction space.

The broking boss added that, aside from the capacity issue, coverage itself is becoming limited as well. Now this is where the value of Steadfasts contractual liability review service comes in, and Gardian is making sure it takes advantage of the free benefit.

Phillips explained: What we do with our clients is we try to get an in-depth knowledge of their contractual requirements, first and foremost, and we use our resources at Steadfast who have numerous legal resources through Meridian Lawyers. So Steadfast engaged them to do contract reviews on behalf of Steadfast brokers.

So we engage them, we give them what our clients policies cover and give them a copy of the contract  make sure that there are no gaps in coverage. And if there is, then well identify them and negotiate draft changes to the contract so the current insurance meets the requirements of the amended contract.

If the draft changes arent agreed to, Gardian secures excess coverage to ensure that clients meet their contractual indemnities. While stressing the importance of obtaining legal advice, the managing director said brokers should be making their clients well aware that they shouldnt be signing contracts without them being reviewed.

If the insurer hasnt agreed to some of those indemnities and theyre outside the scope of their insurance, then theyre going to have a gap in their coverages, he declared.

I think for those brokers out there that arent providing that particular due diligence and that advice, the ramification of that is theyre going to have clients that are underinsured and potentially put their own professional indemnity insurance at risk as well.
Northern Ireland has been chosen as one of the regions to take part in a major UK trial of a potential vaccine to help in the fight against Covid-19.

Health officials are seeking 350 volunteers from Northern Ireland to participate in the trial, which is expected to start by the end of the week.

Health Minister Robin Swann urged the public to participate.

The importance of finding a vaccine to help in the battle against this virus cannot be overstated, he added.

Despite the magnificent efforts of our health service and the amazing response of society as a whole we remain on a knife edge as we seek to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

As we continue to put in place all possible measures theres never been a more important time for health research studies into the development of a Covid-19 vaccine.

Currently there are over 30 vaccine trials taking place around the world in an effort to discover as soon as possible which will be safe and effective.

It is vital that Northern Ireland joins this important worldwide effort.

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A Northern Ireland Covid-19 Vaccine Research Delivery Group, led by the HSC research and development division of the Public Health Agency, has been set up to deliver Covid-19 vaccine trials in Northern Ireland.

The trial is being run by Novavax.

The trial will take place in sites across the UK and it is anticipated that the first participants will be recruited in Northern Ireland at the start of October.

Dr Janice Bailie, assistant director of the research and development division, said: Covid-19 vaccine trials are essential to identify which vaccines are both safe and effective, so that wide scale vaccination can start as soon as possible.

There are different types of vaccines, and we dont know which one will work best to protect people from catching Covid-19.

It might be that different vaccines are needed for different groups of people, and its only through vaccine trials we will find this out.

Up to 350 participants in Northern Ireland will be recruited from the UK Vaccine Registry, which was launched in July.

Potential participants who have signed up to the Vaccine Registry to be approached to take part in a vaccine trial, will be invited to undergo an assessment to determine whether they are eligible for the trial.

The study aims to recruit adults from all parts of society, especially those who are more likely to benefit from a vaccine including those over the age of 65, those from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds (BAME), and those who have face to face contact with the public at work including healthcare workers, delivery personnel, transport workers, and those in retail.

If you are from one of these groups, and interested in participating in the Northern Ireland trial you can sign up at nhs.uk/researchcontact.
Shia LaBeouf recently dropped out of his role in Olivia Wilde's upcoming film, on which he was replaced with Harry Styles.

But the former Disney Channel star is keeping busy with other projects, when he's not isolating at home.

He showed off his toned legs Saturday in some skintight black Nike leggings, as he enjoyed answered a call, while taking a jog through his Pasadena neighborhood.

Leggy display: Shia LaBeouf showed off his toned legs Saturday in some skintight black Nike leggings, as he enjoyed answered a call, while taking a jog through his Pasadena neighborhood

The 34-year-old complemented the leggings with a printed white t-shirt and a pair of black trainers with white socks.

He was all smiles, as he stopped in the street to laugh with a friend during their impromptu phone call.

LaBeouf dropped out of Wilde's Don't Worry, Darling earlier this month over scheduling conflicts, according to Deadline.

He was replaced by Styles, who joins Dakota Johnson, Florence Pugh and Chris Pine in the cast of the psychological thriller.

Activewear chic: The 34-year-old complemented the leggings with a printed white t-shirt and a pair of black trainers with white socks

Good chat: He was all smiles, as he stopped in the street to laugh with a friend during their impromptu phone call

Dropping out: LaBeouf dropped out of Olivia Wilde's Don't Worry, Darling earlier this month over scheduling conflicts (pictured in February, 2020)

Leading man: It comes after his film Pieces of a Woman premiered earlier this month at the Venice Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival

The Honey Boy actor is keeping busy with a drive-in play, produced by Slauson Rec Theater Company, which he co-founded.

Entitled 5711 Avalon, the original COVID-based drama chronicles a day at a testing site in Los Angeles.

The play premieres October 4 at 5711 S Avalon in Los Angeles, with performances every weekend in October.

It comes after his film Pieces of a Woman premiered earlier this month at the Venice Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival.

LaBeouf also stole the show last week, when he joined Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston for a virtual charity read of the 1982 teen comedy Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
The Executive Director of the National Service Scheme and Parliamentary candidate for the Yagaba/Kubori Constituency of the North East region, Hon. Mustapha Ussif called on the Region to deliver all 6 constituencies to the NPP.

Speaking at the inauguration and handing over of a new party office constructed by him, he admonished party executives and supporters to vote massively for the New Patriotic Party come December 7 in appreciation for the significant developments in the region and also for the opportunity given them to have their own region.

He said, for many years, the Mamprugu Kingdom has been pursing a region and this was only granted by this government. This I believe is a sign of good faith and prioritizing the need for Ghanaians. So nothing but an overwhelming endorsement on December 7 will only be a gesture of gratitude and appreciation.

He also called on all party faithful to join the campaign team members in taking the oath for all of them are in one way or the other members of the campaign team.

The National Youth Organizer, Henry Nana Boakye also admonished the campaign team to exhibit absolute dedication and commitment towards the work ahead and leave no stone unturned.

I have worked with Mustapha Ussif as his deputy before I became a national executive. His desire to leave a mark is unmatched. He was able to transform National Service and revived all projects within a short time in office. He has what it takes to be a minister if voted as the MP in the next NPP government to be able to continue with the wonderful work his done so far. Give him the opportunity and you will never regret it.

The delegation then paid a courtesy call on Yizei Rana, Naa Balingu Iddrisu Bukari of Yizeisi traditional council where Nana B was enskinned as the Naachina Saha Naa representing the Youth Chief of Luck. Naa Baliugu thanked the delegation for the visit and gave them his blessings for the mini-rally.

He also thanked the NPP government for the numerous interventions in the community such as the provision of water, the 3 classroom block, extension of the maternity wards, and a provision a public toilet for the community all within 3 and half years in power. My people will be ungrateful if they dont reward such a hardworking government for such projects.

At the rally grounds, several speakers called on the crowd to do their possible best by supporting the campaign team and party executives in their various areas to spread the gospel of the government and Hon. Mustapha. They were admonished not to be complacent as every indication proves the seat would be won by the NSS boss.

A group of defectors were introduced to the crowd and officially ushered into the NPP party.

Hon. Mustapha won the seat for the 1st time for the NPP in 2012 and lost it in 2016 to his predecessor, Hon. Ibrahim Abdul Rauf Tanko, a loss which he largely attributed to his inability to match his predecessors resources as he was the Chairman of the HAJJ PILGRIMS AFFAIRS - Office of Ghana at that time.

Speaking to the media after the rally, he indicated that his constituents have now realized what has been lost and wasted. They can now see the difference I made within my tenure as an MP compared to the 12 years of my opponent. The crowd here and everywhere we go is enough indication that my people want a change. A change for a better representative who would prioritize the welfare of the Constituency and not his personal benefit. My records as a 1 term MP far outweighs that of my opponent and that can never be disputed, he added.

The ace northern entertainer, Sharifa Gunu also called on the crowd to vote for the Tumadaana Hon. Mustapha before entertaining the crowd with series of hit songs including a track she specially made for Hon. Mustapha Ussif.
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:
No charges will be laid against the operators of a backyard slaughterhouse at Koo Wee Rup after the Department of Agriculture closed its investigation into reports of cruelty and biohazard breaches.

Footage of sheep being butchered in a garage on the outskirts of Melbourne surfaced last month, sparking complaints from animal welfare advocates.

The footage showed four people and animals, including rats and kittens, coming and going from the makeshift slaughterhouse floor as one sheep appears to take more than five minutes to die, thrashing its tethered legs as it lay on its back in a metal cradle without first being stunned.

Video footage of the Koo Wee Rup property earlier this year

The animal's head hangs over a plastic bucket, then the carcass is hung from the ceiling and butchered as a young child runs past.
More and more evidence are forthcoming to show that the Virus though attributed to the bats in the Wuhan wet market, had actually come/leaked from the Wuhan Laboratory.

by Dr. S. Chandrasekharan

On 23rd September,Xi Jinping spoke at the United National General Assembly (virtual) meeting. His speech mostly covered the Covid 19 Virus and how China is actively involved with the international fight against Covid 19 and how China has contributed its share for upholding global public health security.

Having unleashed the Corona Virus from Wuhan, Xi was playing the role of a victim. He said that China will continue in sharing their epidemic control practices as well as diagnostic and therapeutics with other countries and actively participate in the global research on tracing the source and transmission routes of the Virus.

What we need to know from China is not to learn control but  how to cover up and spread the virus surreptiously and ceratinly not to help as to how to trace the source of the Virus but cooperate with international Scientific organizations to trace it.

We cannot trust the WHO to do the job as it is getting clearer day by day that this organization was suspected to be involved in the cover up. It is like making use of the accomplice to find out the thief!

As Dr. Jonathan Latham, Director of Bio Sciences Resoures Process said that the Chinese Government has access to samples and information that could prove or disprove the lab origin of the Virus and that the Government should provide access to all the materials in the laboratory for an objective and impartial enquiry into the origin of the Virus.

Dr. Jonathan Latham also alleged that the WHO team which China approved for investigation has reportedly not investigating the other narrative of a Laboratory escape possibility of the Virus.

Since the previous Corona Virus pandemics SARS 2002-2003 and MERs (2012) both probably came from Bats and could have transmitted to humans via an intermediary animal, the Wuhan wet market was conveniently used as the source though there is no evidence so far of the Virus having originated from that market.

More and more evidence are forthcoming to show that the Virus though attributed to the bats in the Wuhan wet market, had actually come/leaked from the Wuhan Laboratory.

As early as May 3rd, US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo declared that enormous evidence exists of the possibility of the Virus having originated from a Laboratory in China.

Dr. Li Meng Yan, who was a doctoral fellow in Virology and Immunology in the Hongkong School of Public Health said that the Corona Virus was developed in a Government Laboratory in Wuhan and that the WHO is very much a part of the cover up. She said that the mention of the Wuhan wet Market was a smokescreen. She claimed that she was in Wuhan to investigate a pneumonia outbreak and stumbled upon the in formation about the deadly Virus.

Four PhD scholars including Dr Men Yan( the others are Shu Kang, Jie Guan and Shan Chang Hu) have published a report giving an alternate narrative to the origin of the Virus as man made( meaning modified by researchers) Virus variation. The article is titled Unusual Features of the Sars Cov. 2 Genomes suggesting sophisticated Lab modification rather than evolution and delineation of its probable synthetic route.

The 26 page report says-

Sars Cov 2 shows biological characteristics that are inconsistent with a naturally occurring Zoonotic virus.

The report further describes a gnomic structural, medical and literature evidence which considered together strongly contradicts a natural origin theory. The evidence shows that SARS Cov.2 should be a Lab product created by using bat Corona Viruses ZC45 and ZXC21 as a template and that a lab induced variety can be created within six month.

The Virus thus produced may have accidentally leaked as the Wuhan Virological Research Lab is notorious for not adhering to strict safety standards although it is declared to be of P4 status.

Dr. Giuseppe Tritto an internationally known expert in bio technology and Nano technology in his book on China- Covid 19 believes that the CCP is behind the spread of the Wuhan Corona Virus 19.

Dr. Shi Zheng Li who is still living in China has forcefully ruled out the possibility of the Corona Virus escaping from the Laboratory. We can only sympathise with an outstanding Scientist like her as she cannot but mouth the official stand of the CCP.

One should recall the fate of the Real Estate Tycoon Ren Zhiqiang who has been sentenced to 18 years in jail. His fault was in criticising the Government in handling the Coronal virus in an Essay in which he referred to the clown stripped naked who still wants to be an Emperor. Though this refers to Xi Jinping but not named, Ren Zhiqiang who had very close connections within the party had to pay a heavy price for his indiscretion!

In China offering to cooperate and join other countries to find the source of the Wuhan Virus, I am reminded of a Turkish proverb. An axe that is responsible for denuding the forests claimed solidarity with the forest as it had a wooden handle.

I recall another saying of blog by Gajalakshmi Paramasivam who said - I quote Once we are true to ourselves - Truth does the rest. But will Xi Jining and his CCP come out with the truth ever about the pandemic that has led to immense loss of a million lives and we are still counting?




Sophie wears jacket and trousers, The Fold

Shes tidying her way to nearly four million followers and counting. But behind the perfectly polished posts, MRS HINCH found herself plagued by terrifying anxiety.

Just after Christmas Sophie Hinchliffe, aka Mrs Hinch, the cleaning sensation with 3.7 million Instagram followers, found herself outside her GPs office, steeling herself to ask for help with anxiety. It was terrifying; its a big step telling someone you need help, she says. But my stomach was in knots morning and night and I knew I wasnt OK. It had got to the stage that my family were worried. Something had to change.

For months Sophie postponed making the appointment, fearing the GP, like many others, might ask: What on earth has she got to be anxious about? On the surface, her life appears to be a blissful merry-go-round of uploading videos of herself cheerily mopping, walking her spaniel Henry and playing with her 15-month-old son Ronnie.

Her @MrsHinchHome account, dedicated to showing how to make your home sparkle (known as Hinching), started two years ago and has netted her over 1 million. Shes gorgeous, has a loving family and an adoring husband Jamie, 41, whos on a break from his sales manager career, to support her.

Certainly, Basildon-born Sophie, who met Jamie when they both worked in sales, is grateful for everything her unexpected Hinching career has brought. But there have been downsides she never anticipated. Worst is the trolling from websites where people gather to attack Sophie for her looks, her parenting and  most shockingly  little Ronnie.

They message saying, Your baby should be moving more, he should have more teeth. Theyre even horrible about my dog! It turns my gut and takes my breath away; it makes me want to scream and cry.

I know I should ignore them, but when you get told the same thing over and over again  Your voice is horrendous, Your face is wonky, Your hands are disgusting  theres only so many times you can ignore it without wondering if its true, Sophie continues, her voice quivering. So I look at my hands and think, Maybe people dont want to see them, and put on rubber gloves when I dont need to.

Often the messages arent just cruel, theyre downright threatening, meaning the police have occasionally been involved. Thats so I feel safe, she says, now trying to hold back tears. At Christmas, vile comments about an Instagram story  a form of short video  of her wrapping Ronnies presents sent her into a full-blown panic attack. I was hysterical, struggling to breathe  it felt like I was dying, she says. Everything was whizzing past at 1,000 miles an hour.

I make sure to do my gratitude check-ins a lot, she says. I remind myself of the amazing things to set me back on the right track. Those pinch-yourself moments include when Hinching was mentioned on Coronation Street and EastEnders, or when her teenage crush Lee Ryan from 90s boy band Blue sent her a message. I was swaying with shock. If only I could tell my younger self this would happen!

But at the same time, this naturally withdrawn woman cant help reminiscing about her life two short years ago, when shed just moved in with Jamie and was training to be a hairdresser. Now everything I do gets put under a microscope and is open to scrutiny. Its overwhelming. Im a normal person, who was leading a boring life which I loved.

Sophie with husband Jamie, son Ronnie and their spaniel Henry

A friend who lives a similar life to me said as much as you love the opportunities your new life brings, you cant help but feel sad about the life youve left behind, she continues. Even if I was to come away from Instagram tomorrow, Id never get my old life back and that can feel like a grieving process.

Sophies talking over Zoom from her spotless, naturally, Essex home (though she insists shes not obsessive about cleaning and can happily leave a pile of dirty dishes in the sink). Were here to talk about her new memoir This Is Me. Shes published three books already  all huge bestsellers. They briefly mentioned Sophies anxiety, helped by her cleaning (It keeps my mind off things and helps me switch off) and the terrible health problems that followed gastric-band surgery which helped her lose eight stone. But largely, they were guides to keeping a tidy home.

In contrast, This Is Me is a gut-wrenchingly honest account of how fame has transformed her life, not necessarily for the better. This book isnt about dust-busting, its myth-busting, she laughs. Writing it, with the help of a ghostwriter, was, she says, like therapy. It was so good to open up, even though it was difficult. Often my life seems like a dream thats happening to someone else, so to tell the truth on my terms was amazing.

It was a relief to counter the bonkers theories about Sophie that flood the internet. One rumour is she employs a cleaner. A paparazzo was waiting outside for the cleaning van that was supposed to turn up.

I said, Youll be waiting a long time. I dont want anyone cleaning my toilet; I enjoy cleaning my toilet! Others say she fakes her anxiety to gain popularity points  that amazes and saddens me  and that shes the puppet of a management company who concocted the Mrs Hinch phenomenon. If this could be created and designed then everybody would be doing it, Sophie exclaims.

In fact, it would be impossible to invent such a bizarre trajectory as Sophies. Initially, she set up her Instagram account to share cleaning and decorating tips. Within six months she had a million followers; by the end of 2018, two million  a tally thats since nearly doubled. I still dont know how it happened. I havent even left the house, she says.

She and Jamie live in the same house as always, shop at Morrisons and were shocked when a spontaneous decision to breakfast in a central London hotel cost them 45. How come the hash browns were three times the price of McDonalds? A potatos a potato!

She refuses most freebies and turns down scores of invitations to events. I decline nearly all TV appearances. I hide away. Im probably the worst person for this to have happened to because Ive always been such a worrier.

You may wonder why she doesnt walk away  after all, moneys no longer a worry. It sounds as though at some point shell start winding things down a touch. Things come and go, it could all be gone tomorrow, who knows? she says. I need a more manageable balance. People think I stay at home and photograph cloths, but there are lots of meetings with management, with brand partnerships its daunting. Having said that I am aware of what an amazing opportunity this is and how lucky I am; I love what I do.

Sophie wants more children and to be able to devote her time to them. Id love more kids  its finding the right time but then again, there never is a perfect time. Watch this space!

But Sophies bond with her followers is so close, shed never quit Hinching entirely. Im not going to say, Goodbye, so long any time soon. Wherever I go Ill be taking my followers with me. Were part of each others lives.

They help me more than they know. The love outweighs the hate a million times over. In return, she feels enormous responsibility for them. Recently, a GP told her several patients had come off their anxiety medication after becoming Hinchers (the name Sophie has given to her army of fans), because Sophie had helped them find a positive focus in cleaning. She said, If we could bottle you, wed prescribe you, Sophie says. I still cant get my head around it.

Dress, Sorapol London. Picture director: Ester Malloy. Stylist: Sasha Barrie at A&R Creative, Assisted by Meg Edmond. Hair: Carl Bembridge at Carl Bembridge Hair using Colorwow, Dyson Hair, GHD. Make-up: Mikey Phillips using Fenty Beauty, Nars, Laura Mercier, Bobbi Brown and Rodial

She felt especially duty-bound to cheer up Hinchers during lockdown. I counted my blessings but I was struggling. It was difficult to be away from my friends and family, but I wanted to keep my Instagram a positive space, where my followers could switch off.

She tightly controls her Instagram: no one else is allowed to post and she often leaves random Hinchers surprise voice notes or chats with those who have messaged her. She wont delegate those jobs  theyd sense if it was coming from someone else. But since her panic attack a friend screens direct messages, blocking hateful comments. Some slip through, but I cannot explain the difference screening has made to my mental health. My friend says she pities these people, they cant be OK.

Sophie is attempting to employ the same mindset. I try not to look at their attacks as personal, but think so many people are fighting battles that we know nothing about and acting out can be a reflection of whats going on in their lives. But sometimes I cant help wondering if they have a heart. Why dont they stop watching when they clearly cant stand me? They could be doing more with their lives: spending it with their family, their friends, putting that effort into a career.

Many people aspire to be the next Mrs Hinch; a survey showed 52 per cent of children would like to be a social-media star (just 13 per cent want to be a doctor or nurse). Sophie is shocked by this. When I was at school people wanted to be a vet or a teacher. My niece is 12 and she wants to be a dance teacher, but if shed ever said she wanted to be an influencer wed be having a serious chat. Shes seen the darker side. I think its crucial we dont let likes and followers and comments consume our childrens lives. They need to know theyre living their best lives right now. My life isnt all its cracked up to be. I advise anyone wishing to join this industry to make sure they do it with their eyes wide open, knowing exactly what theyre letting themselves in for. It can be really tough.

So what was the outcome of Sophies visit to the GP? Im not ashamed to say that I was put on anti-depressants and they have taken some of the edge off during the day, but I still struggle at night  Im not quite there yet, she says. Its important to talk to someone when you arent feeling yourself. Make sure you get the help you need. We wouldnt think twice about going to see someone if we hurt our leg, but for some reason we dont treat our heads the same. Im proud of myself for going and Im starting to feel better. People say to me, Sophie, your positivity gets me through the day. And those words keep me going. I want people to know that Im not perfect. I never said I was. Im just like everyone else.

Being a mum is amazing, but terrifying! An exclusive extract from Mrs Hinchs new book This is Me

Jamie and I planned to start a family as soon as we were married, so when it didnt happen straight away, I started to panic. I knew how much Jamie wanted to be a dad  what if I couldnt give him the one thing I knew was so important? I was waiting for something to go wrong, like I always do.

However, after being in hospital with a blood clot in my leg, we decided to put the baby plans on hold because of the stents Id had fitted in my iliac vein. We were advised it wasnt a good idea to get pregnant and so I put it to the back of my mind.

But one evening in October, I went to my mums house for a cup of tea and she was oddly concerned about my behaviour. She looked me straight in the eye and said: Do a pregnancy test, Soph.

I laughed and told her I wasnt pregnant because Id just had my period. But when I got home, I couldnt get what shed said out of my head, so I got a test from the cabinet. A few minutes later I was staring at the word pregnant on the screen. I couldnt believe my mum knew before even I did!

I handed Jamie the positive test. He looked at it and then burst into tears.

WERE HAVING A BABY! he cried.

It was the final stages when it went south.

I was seven months gone and had a rare day at home as it was bang in the middle of my book tour. I had this horrendous pain in my back and groin. I dont know where it came from, but I fell to the floor in agony.

An ambulance took me to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, where I was kept in for three days. No one has ever given me an explanation. Maybe it was my bones moving preparing for the baby, but it felt like they were breaking. It was more painful than Ronnies actual birth.

I have to be thankful that happened, though, as while the doctors were investigating, they discovered another potentially more dangerous complication.

In 2011, Id had a gastric band fitted that helped me lose eight stone, but also caused a series of issues. If Id known how one operation would turn into such a nightmare, I would never have gone through with it.

By the time I was pregnant, the band had long been unclipped, but as Ronnie grew and my stomach got bigger, the band moved and caused what the doctors described as similar to a kink in a hosepipe. No food could go into my stomach and whatever nutrients were going in came from liquids. As a result, I was losing weight. I was getting hurtful comments at the time for appearing malnourished and thin, but people didnt know what was really going on.

Ronnie was growing fine, and that was what I was most concerned about. I was the one who had been getting weaker.

Sophie has nearly 4 million followers on Instagram

We were told I would have to have an operation under general anaesthetic. The band was inactive, but needed to be moved. I was shaking out of fear and as I was being put to sleep, I held on to my stomach thinking: Please, please, just let him be OK.

When I woke, all I cared about was my baby. As the midwife tried to find his heartbeat, Ill never forget the moment she said: I can hear him. Hes there. I broke down. That was when I realised how being a mother is the most amazing, but terrifying, thing in the world.

I ended up staying in for ten days and had the general anaesthetic plus three blood transfusions without my followers knowing. People asked what was wrong, but I just said it was a check-up and we were fine. I knew there were people with worse to deal with.

For all the complications I had, my birth was absolutely textbook. I had my sister, my mum and Jamie in the room. There was no way I was having my baby without all three of them. For some reason, it was my sister who I needed the most. I was constantly looking for her and kept saying I couldnt do it. But Soph, shed say, you ARE doing it!

After just two hours and a few excruciating pushes, Ronnie was born and they put him on my chest. After he was weighed and they brought him back, thats the first time in my life I can say I felt really proud of myself. Theyre my boys, I thought. My gorgeous boys. I couldnt wait to start our new life together.

I want dads and mums to know theres no shame in admitting you havent got a clue. Nobody does! All new parents have to start somewhere and learn together. Jamie found it hard accepting that for once he wasnt able to make everything OK. He struggled being dropped in at the deep end. We both did.

I really wanted to give breastfeeding a go because I knew it had lots of benefits and was great for bonding. I tried to persevere, but my confidence was knocked when Ronnie lost weight and I felt like a complete failure. I kept doubting my ability. At least with the bottles I could see the amount hed had and in my head that made things better.

After a few weeks, the health visitor told me it was OK to stop breastfeeding. It was like she was giving me permission and that was what I needed. A weight had been lifted. But the mental situation I was finding myself in was far greater than just one issue and I was starting to seriously struggle.

Before you give birth, you imagine being in this magical bubble, but the truth is youre on edge and exhausted and a newborn changes everything. Add in the raging hormones, anxiety and recovering from labour, and I definitely lost myself for a while.

I felt like a different person. And then Id hear Ronnies cry and think: Thats my baby.

I cant believe thats my baby. It was as if it was all happening to someone else.

Id hesitate before labelling what I went through as postnatal depression, but I showed a lot of signs. I felt guilty for feeling so down when I should have been happy and grateful to have a healthy baby. Ronnie was a very much wanted baby, so why couldnt I lift myself out of this lowness I was feeling?

Dress, Nadine Merabi

I found myself waking up with my stomach feeling like it had dropped. I couldnt manage everyday routine. Ronnie started refusing milk and I told myself it was because I was feeding it to him. I looked in his eyes and felt I wasnt making him happy. It broke my heart.

I love Ronnie so much, but knowing his survival depended on me was huge pressure. I couldnt help worrying that he could have a better life if it wasnt me who was his mummy.

Looking back, I know now those thoughts were irrational, but I was on a hormonal rollercoaster and I couldnt help it. Jamie struggled to understand. But words couldnt help. You cant just snap out of it. The midwife came to see me, and I poured my heart out. I felt better for having spoken about it so I left it, thinking everything would be OK. But after a couple of days I started spiralling.

I just wanted to go back to feeling like my old self. I couldnt imagine feeling relaxed again. Is he sleeping OK? Does he need feeding? Is his nappy changed? Is he too hot? Too cold? You feel like for the rest of your life youre going to be anxious and its exhausting.

It was putting a strain on my relationship. Things came to a head when Ronnie was eight weeks old. I think the two-month mark is where it hits you: this is real life now, no going back. Jamie had taken our dog Henry out for a walk while I was trying to get Ronnie to sleep. I found myself crying uncontrollably.

I was distraught. Jamie came back and looked at me and said: Youre acting crazy. He made me feel like Id lost my marbles and I felt a huge rush of anger. Dont EVER use that word! I shouted. I dont know why Im crying myself, Jamie! Let alone being in a position to explain it to you! I collapsed on the bed, my body heaving with sobs. He put his arms around me and apologised. I told him to read up on postnatal depression and mental health. And thats exactly what he did.

Jamie started to understand how seriously this was affecting me and that I couldnt control how I was feeling. And once I felt he understood, I started to feel more relaxed and supported. We started to talk honestly about how we were feeling. We had been trying without any success to get Ronnie into a routine, but I found it was putting more pressure on an already stressful situation. For us it worked better to let it happen naturally. Ronnie found his own routine. We all did. When I accepted that I wasnt failing when something didnt go according to The Plan, thats when I could enjoy things more.

Everyone is different, all babies are different. Id tell myself: Hes OK and he loves you. The more I said it, the more I believed it.

Dress, Nadine Merabi

To all the people bringing up little ones, Id like to say: its OK to have good and bad days. Its normal to feel like youre getting it wrong. Dont feel guilty if youre finding it tough. We all do. Youre never alone, so talk about how youre feeling, ask for support and dont be too proud to accept help. Take advice from trusted sources  your mum, your best

friend, your health visitor  and ignore the busybodies who will say youre doing it wrong. Mothers are warriors and weve got this. We are all enough, exactly as we are.

This Is Me by Mrs Hinch will be published by Michael Joseph on 1 October, 16.99. Order a copy for 8.49 until 11 October at whsmith.co.uk by entering code YOUHINCH at checkout. Book number: 9780241454305. terms and conditions: whsmith.co.uk/terms.
HATHRAS: A 19-year-old woman who was allegedly gangraped by four men in Hathras in Uttar Pradesh, is struggling for life in an Aligarh hospital where she has been put on a ventilator, officials said on Saturday.

Hathras Superintendent of Police Vikrant Vir said that the four accused named in the rape case, which took place on September 14, have been arrested. He said the teenager has been admitted to J N Medical College hospital in Aligarh where she has been put on a ventilator, the SP said.

Giving details of the incident, the SP said that the woman had gone to the fields with her mother on the fateful day and had gone missing soon after.

She was later found brutally injured, with her tongue having a serious cut as she bit it while the accused attempted to strangulate her, he said.

The SP said initially they came to know that Sandip (20) had tried to kill her following which he was arrested the same day.

Later in her statement to the magistrate, the victim said that besides Sandip , Ramu, Lavkush and Ravi had raped her and when she resisted their attempts, they tried to strangulate her, leading to the cut in the tongue, the official said.

Later, Luvkush and Ramu were also arrested and the fourth accused was arrested on Saturday, the SP added.

Meanwhile , a report from Aligarh said the condition of the girl was "critical".

The girl who was gangraped on September 14 was brought to the Aligarh hospital the next day. She has injuries on the neck and is on ventilator, a JN Medical Hospital spokesman said.

Hathras Additional Superintendent of Police Prakash Kumar told reporters that originally the accused were charged under section 307 (attempt to murder) of the IPC but after receiving more inputs they were charged under section 376 D (gangrape).

He said that the legal process of trying the case under a fast track court has also been initiated.

Senior Congress leader Sheoraj Jiwan accused the Hathras police of gross negligence in the case and alleged that the woman was shifted to Aligarh only after her condition turned serious.

Jiwan, who met the woman's family members, alleged that the police tried to shield the accused. He demanded that the victim's family be urgently provided security and should be given a sum of Rs 20 lakh as financial assistance.
I am usually pretty upbeat and positive  a glass-half-full person. But even I was knocked back by the Governments new restrictions and the prospect of another full lockdown.

Just as we started meeting friends and venturing back into the office, boom! We seem to be careering back to square one. Its so disheartening, I felt quite bereft.

Every patient I have seen since the new rules were announced feels the same. There has already been a rise in the number of patients visiting my clinic, and the prospect of a further lockdown is only going to make it worse, especially in winter. So what can we do to stay positive?

Dr Max Pemberton (pictured) shared his advice for boosting our moods, after the Government announced new restrictions

As a doctor, I often prescribe medication when people are low  but I am also a great believer in the power of the mind and how the small things we do in our lives can boost our mood and sense of wellbeing. So here are six things we can all do to beat the blues...

Shop local

I live in Central London and have been shocked to walk around once-bustling streets that are now dead. Its easy to feel overwhelmed with anxiety about the prospect of a recession.

But one of the key lessons of CBT  cognitive behavioural therapy  is to focus on what we can change, not what we cant. So, rather than worrying about the death of the British High Street, Ive promised myself Ill shop local.

Dr Max said he has been buying his lunch from a local deli to give them a boost and is reminded that he's doing what he can whenever he hears about the economy (file image)

I have started buying my lunch from a small deli round the corner and my morning coffee from a small independent shop on the way to work.

I also told the owners I was doing this, which gave them (and me) a little boost.

Now, every time I hear about the economy, I remind myself that Im not the Chancellor but Im doing what I can.

Limit social media

Dr Max recommends limiting how much time you spend online and unfollowing those who post negative material (file image)

It has been dubbed doom scrolling  when people look through social media for bad news. And thats understandable from a psychological perspective  when we are worried, we tend to seek out negative stories as a way to validate our feelings. In fact, we just make ourselves even more anxious.

So limit how much you are online and mute or unfollow people who post negative material. Try to find light-hearted things that make you smile. You are more in control of your mood than you think.

Binge on a writer

The NHS psychiatrist said he's often recommended to his patients that they immerse themselves in a book (file image)

The amazing thing about the mind is that, while it can trap us with negative thoughts, we can also use it to escape. The fashion for bingeing on box sets is passive and doesnt use the brain to its full extent. Instead, Ive often recommended to patients that they immerse themselves in a writers world by reading everything they have written. Im currently doing all of Dickens  reading everything someone has written is quite different from just picking up their books occasionally. You really start to know the writer and inhabit their world. By the end, they feel like a friend.

Get a pot plant

Dr Max said one of the occupational therapists at his work has suggested those who live in a flat should fill their lounge with plants (file image)

There is something incredibly relaxing and therapeutic about looking after another living thing.

While several of my patients got pets during the pandemic in order to have a bit of company and, in the case of dogs, a reason to leave the house each day, that is not practical for everyone.

One of the occupational therapists at work suggested to a patient who lived in a flat that they should fill their lounge with plants, and it struck me what a good idea this was.

Seeing a plant grow and looking after it is immensely rewarding. If they flourish, take cuttings and send them to friends, which will boost your mood even further.

Dr Max revealed he's a great fan of writing lists and believes they can be helpful when you're feeling overwhelmed (file image)

Compile a list

My heart swelled with pride to see Brits volunteering in the worlds first Covid-19 vaccine challenge trial. While they receive medical monitoring, this is still an experimental treatment and could have serious health implications, not least from the virus itself. Each deserves a medal.

Im a great fan of writing lists, as it helps stop thoughts or worries whirring round your mind. If ever you feel overwhelmed, make a list, then an action plan for how youre going to tackle things  but turn this into something special by investing in a lovely notebook.

The additional benefit of writing things down is that you can look back a few months later and see how most of the things you were worried about never happened.

If you are unsure how to go about tackling your list, there are some good notebooks and work books that take you through this step by step. MyndMap is good (myndmap.co), while MindJournal (mindjournals.com) is especially designed for men.

Several of my patients have given them to husbands who find it hard to talk about how they are feeling.

Small things matter

Dr Max said joy is all around us but we have to learn to look for it, one of his pleasures has been treating himself to a luxury liquid soap (file image)

Joy is all around us, sitting in the everyday and mundane, if we only learn to look for it.

A few things have brought me particular pleasure over the past week, and the first was treating myself to some lovely luxury liquid soap  it makes continually washing my hands a delight.

Ive found an amazing one from Noble Isle that smells of rhubarb and is so good, I cant wait to use it each time.

Youre so vain -- but men are, too

Its long been assumed women worry more about their clothes and appearance, while a mans beauty routine involves little more than giving himself a squirt of aftershave. Of course, this is complete nonsense. Ive often thought men are far more vain than women  they are just better at hiding it. Last week, research showed that a huge proportion of men believe they aged more in lockdown  and almost two million of them are considering having a cosmetic procedure. Some may see this as men taking pride in themselves but Im not so sure.

Underpinning it is a lack of self-esteem and self-worth that I dont think we should be celebrating. Men are taking on the insecurities about appearance that have dogged women for years. It might be equality but its not progress.

Research showes that a huge proportion of men believe they aged more in lockdown and are now considering cosmetic surgery (file image)

Researchers have warned MPs that the country is letting down white working-class children. White pupils eligible for free school meals are half as likely as their peers from ethnic minority backgrounds to achieve strong GCSE passes and this group, particularly boys, are routinely left behind. Why?

I think its because they are unfashionable  it is seen as nationalistic to stand up for them. If any other group had to struggle in this way, there would be an outcry. How grotesque that they are ignored because they fail at the identity politics gripping our education system.

Dr Max prescribes... the worry (less ) book

Dr Max recommends this cartoon book for helping children to tackle stress

Perfect for children who are predisposed to anxiety, this cartoon book explains anxiety in an accessible, straightforward way and gives simple, evidence-based techniques for tackling stress. I particularly like how it differentiates between normal worries and anxiety. I gave this to my godson who was worked up about going back to school. It worked a treat.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the oldest ally of Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), parted ways on the issue of farm bills which were recently passed by Parliament.

The BJP government at the Centre has said that these landmark legislations will make farmers self-reliant.

Also Read: All must unite against Centre, says SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal

The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill seeks to give freedom to farmers to sell their produce outside the notified APMC market yards (mandis). This, the government says, is aimed at facilitating remunerative prices through competitive alternative trading channels.

The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 seeks to give farmers the right to enter into a contract with agri business firms, processors, wholesalers, exporters, or large retailers for the sale of future farming produce at a pre-agreed price. And the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill seeks to remove commodities like cereals, pulses, oilseeds, onion, and potato from the list of essential commodities and will do away with the imposition of stock holding limits.

The SAD had sought from the BJP-led central government not to bring the bills in Parliament till all reservations expressed by farmers are duly addressed.

But when the Centre did not pay heed, the Akali Dal asked it to send these farm bills to a select committee which was also not accepted.

Thereafter, Harsimrat Kaur Badal resigned from the Union Cabinet in protest against the bills.

Also Read: No morality, just political compulsion, says Punjab CM on SADs exit from NDA

Earlier, the SAD had been maintaining that the Centre had assured that these ordinances would have no bearing on the existing crop procurement policy.

The issue had become a thorny one for SAD. According to Hindustan Times Hindi language publication Hindustan, staying with the government would have sent a wrong message to a big chunk of votebank in Punjab - the farmers. SAD has a grip on the Malwa region of Punjab, which is dominated by farmers. And it doesnt want to risk the 2022 Assembly elections.

The Akalis formed the government in Punjab twice before 2017. But in 2017, they only got 15 seats out of 117. Looking to come back to power, the Akalis do not want to antagonise the farmers, according to Hindustan.

SAD was part of the NDA since 1997. Akali stalwart Parkash Singh Badal used to describe ties with the BJP as nau-mass da rishta (ties like nail and flesh).
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

Trend:

Statement by the European External Action Service (EEAS) High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell made a statement on the latest developments within the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Trend reports with reference to EU.

"On 27 September 2020, fighting erupted along the Line of Contact in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone, regrettably causing military and civilian casualties. The European Union calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities, de-escalation, and for strict observance of the ceasefire. The return to negotiations of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, without preconditions, is needed urgently," the statement said.

On September 27, at about 06:00, the armed forces of Armenia, committing large-scale provocations, have subjected to intensive shelling from large-caliber weapons, mortars, and artillery mounts of various calibers of the positions of the Azerbaijan Army along the entire length of the front and Azerbaijani human settlements located in the frontline zone.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
The UK has already lagged behind its European peers in tackling the virus in terms of a rebound in GDP. Photo: Getty

Economists have warned that the UK economy has very little momentum, ahead of a key economic data release.

How quickly the UK is recovering from the coronavirus will be laid bare on Wednesday, as gross domestic product (GDP) data for the second quarter is published.

Near-real-time data, such as Google Trends on online search volumes, point to a renewed decline in consumer services spending in mid-September, according to an analysis by Pantheon Economics.

The firm says this is partly in response to the sharp rise in confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The UK has already lagged behind its European peers in tackling the virus in terms of a rebound in GDP.

Credit: Pantheon

In July, the data showed GDP had plunged 11.7% below its January peak. A marked improvement from the 25.6% shortfall in April.

Pantheon estimate that it has likely increased further by about 4.5% in August and 2.0% in September, leaving it close to 5% below its pre-Covid level.

But activity in August was boosted by households spending some of the enforced savings that they accumulated during the lockdown, as well as a sharp decline in overseas travel with people staycationing.

Most of the further predicted increase in GDP expected in September is linked to the reopening of schools.

Long-run estimates made by KPMG in September show that overall GDP could fall by 10.3% in 2020, leaving the economy about 6.4% smaller by the end of this year than before the pandemic struck.

KPMG have hedged their estimate on a significant likelihood a coronavirus vaccine will become available from April next year.

While in this scenario the economy continues to partially recover until then, business closures and redundancies will also continue to rise, they said.

A delay in rolling out the vaccine of just three months could therefore mean that GDP growth next year could fall to 7.1%, even with a Brexit deal.

READ MORE: What you need to know about the economy, jobs and the 'Winter Economy Plan'

Alongside shaky expectations for GDP, the downturn in the labour market is set to deepen in spite of a new employment scheme that was announced on Thursday.

Story continues

Payroll employee numbers in August already were 2.5% below Februarys peak, but surveys indicate that firms are pushing through more redundancies ahead of the closure of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme at the end of October.

Pantheon predicts that the new Job Support Scheme starting in November will not prevent layoffs.

The scheme requires firms to make up one third of the shortfall in wages for staff employed on reduced hours, with the government contributing a further third.

Firms enduring weak demand are better off employing some workers full-time and firing the remainder, than keeping on all staff part-time and topping up their pay, even though they would pay less national insurance and would receive a larger Job Retention Bonus in January, which is 1,000 ($1,300) per head.

READ MORE: Markets to focus on Brexit talks, US presidential debate and UK final GDP
Pelosi: "I believe we can come to an agreement" on Covid-19 relief bill

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the top Democrat in Congress, said on Sunday she thinks a deal can be reached with the White House on a coronavirus relief package and that talks were continuing.

"We are having our conversations. And when I have a conversation with the administration, it is in good faith," Pelosi said on CNN. "I trust (Treasury) Secretary (Steve) Mnuchin to represent something that can reach a solution. And I believe we can come to an agreement."

Formal talks between Pelosi, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows aimed at hammering out a relief package broke down on 7 August with the two sides far apart. Pelosi and Mnuchin have since spoken by phone.

With formal Covid-19 relief talks stalled for weeks, HouseWays and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal on Thursday said Democratic lawmakers were starting to draft a bill totaling at least $2.2 trillion.

Pelosi on Sunday said it was "definitely a possibility" that she would offer legislation in the coming days if the impasse with the Trump administration continued but said she would rather have a deal with the White House than a "rhetorical argument."
Phronesis Partners announces that Federico Bonelli will join the company on 1st October 2020 as an advisor to the board. Mr. Bonelli will assist Phronesis Partners in continuing to develop and strengthen its position as a leading provider of research and advisory services to brands, private equity firms, magazines and publications in the luxury and fashion sectors. Mr. Bonellis extensive consulting background and prior experience with luxury brands will be invaluable to support Phronesis clients.

Commenting on the appointment Binayak Choudhury, Partner at Phronesis Partners said Mr. Bonellis diverse experience and proven track record will be of great value to our clients. This appointment is very timely as the fashion & luxury sector faces multiple unprecedented challenges as a result of the pandemic Commenting on the appointment Federico Bonelli said I have worked with Phronesis on many occasions as a client and had the chance to appreciate and leverage their insights to support my business and clients' growth. Data driven insights are now more important than ever and in particular for fashion and luxury brands that must re-think their growth strategies to embrace new digital and market trends.

About Phronesis Partners:

Phronesis Partners is a research and analytics provider. The company's mission is to "simplify growth" for its clients through unique data and actionable insights. Over the years Phronesis Partners has been empowering the growth of some of the world's largest consulting, publications, private equity and fashion and luxury brands by providing them with clear and decisive recommendations. The company takes great pride in its unique approach that enables to cuts through the noise, identify the right issues to focus on and help clients identify growth opportunities.

About Federico Bonelli

Federico Bonelli is Senior Advisor to DAMAC Holdings and Deputy Executive Vice President of Roberto Cavalli and was appointed to assist the company in reshaping and relaunching its business. Before Roberto Cavalli, he was the General Manager at Pinko, an Italian luxury womenswear brand with global retail footprint of more than 200 Directly Operated Stores. Mr. Bonelli has also worked for various management consulting firms and most notably for EY Transaction Advisory Services and EY Parthenon, where he was an Equity Partner and Head of the Fashion & Luxury practice.

For more information, please contact Jose Jimenez email: jose.jimenez@phronesis-partners.com Mobile +44 (0) 7779 933346 or visit our website http://www.phronesis-partners.com
San Francisco, Sep 27 : The California State University Long Beach (CSULA) has placed all its on-campus students under quarantine after five pupils tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to officials.

"Late yesterday (Friday), we became aware of a number of students who have not heeded our guidance related to Covid-19 precautions and congregated socially off campus earlier this month," NBC Los Angeles quoted CSULB President Jane Close Conoley as saying in a statement on Saturday.

"Five of these students have now tested positive for the illness. Four students live on campus in the residence halls, and one lives off campus," she added.

In the statement, Conoley added that all students living on-campus will be tested for the virus, and in-person classes have been cancelled for the next two weeks, reports CNN.

The quarantine will impact about 1,000 students who are living on campus for the fall semester and an estimated 3,000-4,000 students who attend in-person classes, according to the university's safety measures.

A CNN tally conducted earlier this month revealed that across the US over 40,000 coronavirus cases have been reported among students, faculty and staff at colleges and universities.
Spokesperson of the President of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Vahram Poghosyan posted the following on his Facebook page:

The situation is entirely under the control of the President of Artsakh. We call on the population to keep calm and stay in their hideouts. The battles continue along the entire length of the line of contact. The Defense Army is suspending the adversarys operations with powerful blows.

According to Vahram Poghosyan, the enemy started shelling actively along the entire length of the line of contact. The enemy is also shelling peaceful settlements, including the capital Stepanakert. In her turn, spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia Shushan Stepanyan stated that the Armenian side has shot down two helicopters and three UAVs of the adversary. The battles continue.

Commander of the Defense Army of Artsakh Jalal Harutyunyan made a call for battle, stating that, currently, the subdivisions of the Defense Army are successfully disrupting the adversarys plans by making the adversary suffer a large number of casualties.
live bse live

nse live Volume Todays L/H More 

(Note: This is an updated version of a story, published on Moneycontrol on September 26, incorporating the update by the bank to stock exchanges confirming our news break)

Shareholders of Lakshmi Vilas Bank (LVB) have rejected the proposal to appoint seven directors on the board of private sector lender including the Managing Director and CEO S Sundar, the lender said in an exchange communication on September 26.

The shareholders also voted against the re-appointment of statutory auditors (P Chandrasekar LLP, Chartered Accountants) and branch auditors. Branch auditor is appointed in consultation with the statutory auditor.

These resolutions were taken up at the annual general meeting (AGM) on September 25, which was held through videoconferencing. Other directors whose appointments were not cleared by shareholders are N Saiprasad, Gorinka Jaganmohan Rao, Raghuraj Gujja, KR Pradeep, BK Manjunath and YN Lakshminarayana Murthy.

Since the appointment of statutory auditor is opposed, the appointment of the branch auditor is also opposed.

Moneycontrol first reported this story on Saturday evening that said a section of shareholders has voted against the appointments of seven directors and auditors.

The shareholder vote reflects the unhappiness with respect to the way this management has been conducting the operations of the bank, said one of the institutional investors at LVB on condition of anonymity.

Deepening crisis

Shareholders have rejected the appointment of directors at a time the bank is going through a major financial crisis on account of deterioration of asset quality and lack of capital. LVB has been in dire need of capital and has been scrambling to find a buyer.

The private lender is in talks with Clix Capital for a merger and secure the much-needed capital. On September 15, LVB gave the first confirmation to its investors that the bank may be past the worst phase and this time a deal may happen.

The latest development at the AGM adds to the banks woes.

Why did the shareholders oppose?

According to the March quarter figures, LVB has a capital adequacy ratio (CAR)  a measure of the financial stability of a lender  of just 1.12 percent as on March 31 as against the RBI requirement of 8 percent. Similarly, the Tier I and II components of CAR stood at a negative 0.88 percent and 2 percent, respectively.

Gross non-performing assets (NPAs), or bad loans, as on March 31, stood at 25.39 percent compared with 23.27 percent a year ago.

In the absence of an immediate capital infusion, there is no way the bank could have survived, said a senior banker with a private bank. He didnt want to be named.

In the March quarter results notes, under the head 'material uncertainty related to going concern', the banks auditors had outlined the severe financial situation the company is going through and indicated that any chances of survival depend on capital infusion.

Weak balance sheet

LVB has been incurring losses for the past 10 quarters and the RBI initiated Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) in September 2019, which inter alia prescribes the bank to bring in additional capital, restrict further lending to corporates, reduce NPAs, and improve the Provision Coverage Ratio to 70 percent.

The distressing finances require the bank to take effective steps to augment its capital base in 2020-21. We were informed that the bank routinely evaluates its capital raising options, the auditors said.

LVBClix merger

On the proposed merger with Clix, LVB informed the stock exchanges that the two companies have substantially completed the mutual due diligence for a merger. Both companies are now on to the next stage of discussions. The news enthralled the investors who rushed to buy the share of the bank on September 16 morning.

LVB looked to merge with Indiabulls Housing Finance last year but the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) opposed the deal without offering a reason.

But with Clix, investors are hopeful because the deal has progressed past the due diligence. Clix Capital, founded by Pramod Bhasin, who previously headed BPO company Genpact, has deep pockets and boasts a track record in financial services that is sufficient enough to impress the regulator.

Clix Capital offers various types of loans. Bhasin acquired the business in 2016 from GE Capital. Private equity firm AION Capital Partners is a significant shareholder in the company.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said the government is resolved to replant all cocoa farms affected by the swollen shoot disease to help improve the yield per hectare for cocoa farmers.

Speaking at the launch of the governments Cocoa Rehabilitation Programme at Sefwi Wiawso in the Western North Region last Thursday, he stated that it is important to note the significance of paying compensation to farmers and landowners, alike, where tenancy arrangement exists. This has never happened before.



The event occurred on the first day of the Presidents three-day tour of the region.



Survey



Addressing the gathering, the President stated that a survey of the countrys cocoa farms in 2017 revealed that out of the total national cultivated cocoa area of 1.95 million hectares, about 17 per cent of the cocoa tree stock was affected by the cocoa swollen shoot virus disease (CSSVD), while 23 per cent was overawed.



To that end, the President stated: My administration came to meet a cocoa sector which had about 760,000 hectares, being either unproductive or unable to guarantee the sustainability of the industry.



Because of the neglect of the recent past, the disease has spread to cover every COCOBOD-delineated cocoa region in the country  Western North, Western South, Central, Eastern, Ashanti, Bono, Ahafo and Volta. Two-thirds of the blighted cocoa area in Ghana, representing some 214,000 hectares, was found in the Western North Region alone,he added.



According to the President, so much cocoa farmland had been lost to the disease that the Western North Region, which produced over 330,000 tonnes of cocoa in 2010/2011, was now producing below 150,000 tonnes.



Response



In response to this challenge, the President said his administration took a bold and pragmatic step for COCOBOD to secure a $600 million receivable-backed syndicated loan facility.



More than two-thirds of the amount, he said, would go directly into the rejuvenation of diseased and overage farms and productivity enhancement activities, including pruning, hand pollination and irrigation of cocoa farms.



He said the remaining amount would go to support local processing and value addition, and promotion of local consumption of cocoa products.



Government sees the swollen shoot virus and spread as a national disaster, so if today, our cocoa farmers are being confronted by the ravages of the virus, then it is right and just that the entire country rises up to the occasion to support them back onto their feet. This is my conviction, and this is exactly what I am doing, the President said.



Appreciation



President Akufo-Addo expressed the appreciation of the government to the consortium of Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), led by the African Development Bank (AfDB), for supporting the governments productivity enhancement programmes.



I am aware that the programme has created thousands of jobs for the youth in the beneficiary communities who have been engaged in disease spotting, cutting of diseased trees, replanting, weeding and technical assistance. In all, 50,000 youth are being recruited for the programme, which is going to run for the next five years, he added.



Assurance



Thus far, President Akufo-Addo indicated that 11,564.28 hectares of swollen shoot-affected farms in the Western North and Eastern regions had been treated and planted with cocoa, plantain and economic trees.



Additionally, 7,358 out of 8,904 affected farmers had been fully compensated.



Government assures our cocoa farmers that not a single farmer will be left out in the ongoing compensation exercise. Every farmer, whose farm has been affected by swollen shoot, will be paid fully. The next phase of the rehabilitation programme will cover 154,400 hectares of diseased and overage cocoa farms, the President added.













Source: Graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Why do new insurance products take so long to hit the market? The gaps can be obvious, the risks well known and the market open, yet insurers will still drag their feet to address the situation. From a brokers perspective, it can be intensely frustrating to see business walk out the door simply because a product doesnt exist or cant be tailored to customer demand.

But theres change on the horizon. With the right tools, insurers will be able to develop and release new products at a far more rapid rate, and increase innovation within the insurance industry  which should mean better business for brokers. By embracing SaaS and effective use of data, theres the potential to secure coverage for more clients than ever before.
Relatives of the victims continue to arrive in Kharkiv region.

The identification of the victims of an An-26 plane crash in Chuhuiv, Kharkiv region, will take from two to three weeks.

This was announced by Kharkiv Governor Oleksiy Kucher.

"Based on my communication with pretrial investigation agencies, Collecting [DNA] samples will begin tomorrow [September 28]. Tests for all 25 individuals will take place in Kharkiv. This will take from two to three weeks," he said.

According to him, a list of persons whose DNA will be used for the tests to identify the victims has already been drafted.

The official also said that relatives of the victims continued to arrive in Kharkiv region; contact has been established with all of them.

Read alsoFather of cadet killed in An26 crash died in plane downing in Donbas warzone in 2014

An-26 accident in Chuhuiv: Background
Greece's government has cautiously welcomed a plan from Brussels to reform the EU's shaky asylum system, but charity groups working with refugees on the ground have blasted a continued "outrageous containment policy".

The "New Pact on Migration and Asylum" was unveiled on Wednesday and calls for a tougher stance on returning migrants who do not have the right to stay in the EU, and ratcheting up border controls.

Such moves are music to the ears of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' conservative government, which has been operating a harsh migration policy since taking power over a year ago.

The only flaw from Greece's perspective is the Commission giving up on quota-based redistribution of asylum seekers among EU countries -- a plan first mooted during the migration crisis of 2015 but which foundered on opposition from several member states.

Wednesday's pact "goes in the right direction, our main positions are included, but we're disappointed on redistribution, we'd have preferred a different model," Greek asylum service secretary Manos Logothetis told ERT public television.

Mitsotakis himself has reiterated calls for a "balanced asylum policy" and highlighted "the need to share responsibilities in a fair way".

- 'Enough is enough' -

Like Italy and Spain, Greece's position on the EU's southern edge makes it one of the major points of arrival in the bloc for migrants.

Its geography has made it a relentless defender of the idea that asylum seekers -- who arrive almost daily on the country's Aegean Sea islands from neighbouring Turkey -- should be shared out fairly.

The Greek government has long struggled to manage overcrowding in camps on the five islands most affected by the arrivals, especially since the Moria camp on Lesbos burned down on September 8 and 9.

Half of the 24,000 migrants packed into Greek camps remain on Lesbos.

Authorities rushed to set up a provisional site for those left without shelter by the blaze, but charity groups are already incensed at conditions there.

"The Commission promised "no more Moria', while building a new containment camp in Lesbos, where conditions are dire," tweeted the Legal Centre Lesbos, which provides legal information and assistance to migrants on the island.

Other groups working with migrants on the ground pointed out the arduous lines people must stand in to receive one meal per day, the lack of mattresses and the impossibility of respecting coronavirus infection control measures like social distancing.

"We have continuously exposed the human cost of this outrageous containment policy to leaders in European capitals, to commissioners in Brussels and to citizens through the media, but nothing seems to lead to a desperately needed radical policy change," Doctors Without Borders (MSF) president Christos Christou tweeted.

"Enough is enough. No more lies," he added.

MSF is one of only a few organisations allowed by Greek authorities to come to the aid of asylum seekers left to sleep by the side of the road after Moria was destroyed.

So far almost 9,400 people have moved into the new temporary camp on Lesbos, the Greek section of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said.

Spokeswoman Stella Nanou told AFP authorities must "put an end to the precarious situation for thousands of refugees in the Greek islands and... accelerate their safe and orderly transfer to suitable accommodation in the mainland."

- Under pressure -

Greece has already transferred thousands off the islands since early 2020, but the camps remain under intense pressure.

On Wednesday, Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi said a camp hosting 1,000 vulnerable refugees on Lesbos would be closed, as well as a volunteer-run accommodation known as Pikpa.

The Pikpa camp was founded in 2012 by migrant champion Efi Latsoudi, a joint winner in 2016 of the UNHCR's Nansen Refugee Award.

It currently hosts around 100 people, offering refugees access to medical care, education and legal assistance.

"Such alternative accommodation facilities should be maintained until a more viable solution is secured," UNHCR spokeswoman Nanou said.

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Georgian film "Beginning" dominated awards at Spain's San Sebastian film festival, taking the top Golden shell prize for best movie while Dea Kulumbegashvili won best director for her debut film.

The Franco-Georgian production centres on a community of Jehovah's Witnesses in remote rural Georgia, and tracks the growing psychological torment of its leader's wife -- played by Ia Sukhitashvili who picked up the best actress award -- in the wake of an extremist attack on their place of worship.

The movie, which had been set to premiere at the Cannes films festival earlier this year, which was called off due to the pandemic, also won the best screenplay prize at an awards ceremony late on Saturday.

"I want to thank the jury for this fantastic, incredible day. It means a lot to me, it's a great honour," said Kulumbegashvili, 34, at the ceremony.

The 68th edition of the festival held in the northern Spanish seaside resort, the biggest such event in the Spanish-speaking world, saw 13 films in competition, fewer than usual.

With Covid-19 cases rising again in Spain, a strict safety protocol was put in place requiring the use of face masks and limiting screenings to 40 percent to 60 percent of seating capacity.

The festival was originally intended to honour Spanish language films but has established itself as one of the most important film festivals in the world.

It hosted the world premiere of Alfred Hitchcock's spy thriller "North by Northwest" in 1959 and Woody Allen's "Melinda and Melinda" in 2004.

Egyptian director Sameh Alaa has among the participants of the festival with his Cannes' selected short film 'I Am Afraid to Forget Your Face'

For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture

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From his birth in rural Jasol in 1938, the six years he served as minister of all portfolios with the first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government and his eventual seperation from his own party, Jaswant Singhs life encapsulated the evolution of todays India. However, Singh strode through these years with a gentlemanly demeanour that disarmed even his worst adversaries.

Singh served as foreign, defence and finance minister during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. They were among the most tumultuous periods in Indias recent history, encompassing the Pokhran II nuclear tests, the Lahore peace process and Kargil, 9/11 and the war on terror. Singhs most lasting legacy was to use the shock of the nuclear tests to force Washington to hold a dialogue with New Delhi, and then use those talks to turn around decades of contentious relations between the two countries.

It helped that the Americans were impressed with him. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who cold shouldered Singh over Pokhran II, told him later, A masterly handling of the Kargil crisis, You did not put a foot wrong.

Singh saw the Vajpayee regimes purpose as ending Nehruvian stagnation, being prepared to take bold and risky steps. His transformation of the US relationship has proved to be an overwhelming success  a generation of Indians barely remember how estranged the two capitals once were. However, his repeated attempts at finding some common ground with Pakistan left little impact, though this can be blamed more on Islamabads flawed nature.

Those who worked with Singh say he was a minister with a genuine sense of the strategic, who sought to derive first principles from long studies of history and the experience of power. He would say that for every problem -- military, diplomatic or domestic  there was a core that had to be identified and addressed. Singh felt independent Indias lack of a territorial consciousness, an easy willingness to accept undemarcated and undefended borders, was an invitation for trouble with neighbours like China.

Singhs personal study of history, independent of the sangh parivar, led him to conclude it was the common Indians faith that had allowed Indic society to survive for so many millennia. The BJP had to be a proponent of a self-confident Indian nationalism, though one with pronounced emphasis on the civilizational and cultural identity of India as being Hindu. But his view of Hindutva was civilizational more than religious, one that encompassed everyone who claimed Indian origin.

Some of this derived from his early life on the Rajasthan border, a place where Muslims were, just as much our kin as any other. A sense further strengthened by his nine years in the Indian army and his enormous appetite for reading, a habit he took up in earnest while at Mayo to bolster his English but was to be lifelong passion. The Babri Masjid demolition and the loss of state control in Godhra were, for him, two black marks on the BJPs record. He found it difficult to reconcile all this with Narendra Modis rise and precipitated his break with the BJP.

Another set of experiences, including the humiliation of watching India being defeated by China in 1962 even as his tank regiment was stranded south of the Brahmaputra, led him to sour of Congress rule. Ironically, for a man whose first government job was deputy chairman of the planning commission, he despised five-year plans and their ilk. As finance minister, he sought to free the productive capacities and the creative genius of India from quibbling bureaucratic tangles. He told the then Reserve Bank of India governor, YK Reddy, that he wanted to start the process of a reverse economic imperialism and the central bank needed to support Indian businessmen conquer the world.

Singh could not avoid responsibility for a number of the Vajpayee governments worst moments, including the failed Agra summit and the freeing of terrorists to rescue the passengers of the hijacked Indian Airlines Flight 814. He permanently kept a small field binocular from Kandahar on his mantel to remind himself of the humiliation. In his post-political life, Jaswant Singh often wrote and spoke about the need to redress what he saw as the weakest point of Indias national security: the decision going back to 1947 to reject the centrality of strategic culture.
Bloomberg News, which is published in the Washington Post, put out an amazingly shoddy article on why the vast majority of Venezuelan-Americans are planning to vote for Donald Trump. It was little more than talking points to boost Joe Biden. Which pretty much left the Venezuelans out of it. All that was left was an ad for Joe Biden's socialism.

The Bloomberg article ran the Washington Post headline of:

Floridas Venezuelan Diaspora Sees Trump as Best, Flawed Hope

Flawed. Oh really? Right there you know there are going to be a lot of wet noodles.

Yet that doesn't explain the gargantuan pro-Trump rallies have blown through in Doral, Florida's Little Venezuela, or the rising support from Latinos drawn to Trump that has put Biden to shame. Instead of interview those Venezuelans for their reasons why, all the Bloomberg reporter could bring himself to do was quote the tiny number of Venezuelan expatriates who didn't like Trump, or who were grudgingly voting for Trump, as if it was a bitter pill, allowing them scads of column inches to carp about all the reasons Trump was supposedly bad.

It was nothing but an in-kind campaign contribution. And as for the socialism-scarred Venezuelans who favor Trump by a big margin? Well, 'socialism' got a brief mention as an aside, way down near the bottom.

To read that piece, you'd think Venezuelans simply hated Trump but for some reason were conducting these big Trump rallies and voting for him en masse and somehow had a nickname in Doral -- 'MAGAzolanos' for who knows what reason.

Who cares about them? Hey, let's talk about the few Democrats among them who aren't, or the Trump voters who are holding their nose. The biased reporter, with zero interest in his topic, had a narrative to get out, directed by someone, probably someone above. And don't think that Bloomberg and Bezos don't take a significant interest in what runs on their wires and pages.

This is Mike Bloomberg's newswire, after all, and its pieces are running in Jeff Bezos's paper, promoting essentially a defense of socialism and a campaign ad for Joe Biden because they hate Trump. Two billionaires who just can't get enough of the socialism Because Trump, so the views of Venezuelans were to be ignored, even when they were the topic of the story.

How bad was it? Well, look at the three Venezuelans quoted.

First, the one who claims Trump is the same as Chavez:

Its not that Im happy with my candidate, Camejo said. Many times I see him on television and its like watching Chavez: Its crazy, but its entertaining.

Here's Mister Lukewarm:

Di Geronimo said that after enduring rampant food shortages in Venezuela, he sees Americas troubles as relative, even in a pandemic year. And he said choosing Biden would be a gamble. At least I know Trump, he said.

There's also this one, apparently claiming that roving, looting, rioting Republican mobs are the problem:

Venezuelans who dont like Trump are afraid to say it publicly because of the things they lived through back home, said Andressen, who supports Biden. Many are scared.

The Bloomberg man also quotes an egghead political scientist to say that both Venezuela and the U.S. have lost democratic freedoms, so no huge difference, really.

Since Bloomberg and Bezos don't want the truth to get out as to why Venezuelan-Americans are going wholesale for Trump, and prefer to put out the Joe Biden talking points instead, here's the reality from the Venezuelans I know:

Number one, Venezuelans hate socialism. When Trump says 'America will never be a socialist country,' he's won their hearts right there. Because anyone who lives with that hellish setup, now being promoted by the most important Democrats advising Biden, knows that it's way worse than advertised and that it never ends well. Socialism fails every time it's tried, and for those who experienced it firsthand, it's the most creeping baleful thing in the universe. Here is my own description of what life was like in Venezuela in late 2005, when I went there.

Far from Trump resembling Chavez, it's Democrats who resemble Chavez.

Who's promoting socialism by name, for one? Democrats. Look no further than Bernie Sanders, de facto author of the Biden party platform, and green energy advisor Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, both of whom pointedly refused to condemn Nicolas Maduro as a corrupt dirty dictator..

Who's promising all the free stuff, the way Hugo used to do? Democrats. Free education, free washing machines, free medical care, free student debt. That's right, just like Hugo.

Who's delivering blackouts, out in California for starters, just like they have in Caracas? That's right, Democrats. Google 'blackouts, and sure enough, two places pop up today: Venezuela and California.

Whose plan to 'correct' capitalism is to offer subsidies? That's right, Democrats, just as Hugo used to do.

Who's idea of further correcting the supposed flaws of capitalism is to pick winners and losers over free markets? That's right, Democrats, following in the footsteps of Caracas.

Who's all big for rigging elections so that just one party can get elected, the way it goes in blue states? The party of destroying the electoral college, harvesting ballots, keeping ballots from being secret, and stacking the courts? Like Hugo, Like Democrats.

Who's in favor of one set of laws for the socialist ruling elites and another for the little people? Maybe Nancy Pelosi at the beauty parlor can explain that one.

Who's big on destroying history?

A few months ago, a Venezuelan-American woman issued her warning to voters about the toppling of statues, a pet cause of the Democrats and their Antifa and BLM allies. Remember her? Twitter seems to have banned her video but there's still a transcript:

ELIZABETH ROGLIANI: Why do I even worry about some silly little statues coming down or some silly little street names changing? Why do I care?



It is because the last time I didn't care about this, I was a teenager. I have already lived through this thing when I was living in Venezuela. Statues came down -- Chavez didn't want that history displayed. And then he changed the street names. Then came the [school curricula]. Then some movies couldn't be shown, then certain TV channels, and so on and so forth.



You guys think this can't happen to you, I've heard it so many times. But always be on guard. Never believe something can't happen to you. You've got to defend your country and your society or it will be destroyed.



We didn't believe it could happen to us. Most Venezuelans --Cubans warned us-- and we were like, "This is Venezuela, we know about freedom. That's not going to happen here." Yet it happened. And there are literally a lot of people wanting to destroy the U.S.

Venezuelans know that socialism in reality, despite its pretty promises, leads to poverty, disrespect for rule of law, criminals with no fear of arrest running rampant, food and everything other good shortages, dry faucets, zero freedom of ideas, no secret ballot, no electricity, political prisoners, turba mobs, torture, impunity, massive corruption, nomenklaturas, cronyism and flight. That's why they want nothing to do with Democrat promises, been there, done that. They know that riots are a socialist technique.

Oh, and it probably hasn't escape a lot of them that the founders of Black Lives Matter, which is out there rioting on behalf of Democrats, in a bid to blackmail Americans into voting for them, seem to have gotten some of their Marxist training ... in Caracas.

Been there, done that.

The fact of the matter is, Democrats are the Hugo Chavez plagiarizers, and billionaires playing propaganda games are their enablers. If someone could go out and interview some real Venezuelans for what they think, they could put this dishonest reporting to shame.

Image credit: James Duncan Davidson, via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 2.0
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Shops have brought in extra stocks of flour to see fans of The Great British Bake Off through potential outbreaks of lockdown panic buying.

The return of the popular TV programme is expected to inspire a new wave of enthusiasm for home baking.

But fears of further lockdowns have raised the prospect of a shortage of ingredients such as flour and eggs, as happened when many turned to home baking during the spring.

However, retailers and millers say they have worked to ensure good supplies.

Tesco has taken pre-emptive action by introducing a purchase limit of three packs of flour per customer.

Shops have brought in extra stocks of flour to see fans of The Great British Bake Off through potential outbreaks of lockdown panic buying

The return of the popular TV programme is expected to inspire a new wave of enthusiasm for home baking

Fears of further lockdowns have raised the prospect of a shortage of ingredients such as flour and eggs, as happened when many turned to home baking during the spring

Waitrose is also expecting demand to surge. The supermarkets home baking buyer Natalie Breslin said: With current restrictions on gatherings and the return of the Bake Off, were expecting the biggest year ever for sales of our baking ingredients.

Show sponsor Aldi has launched a series of cut-price baking essentials.

It comes as the executive director of Waitrose has slammed panic buyers saying their actions 'inevitably mean someone else will go without'.

Panic buying across the UK has resumed amid fears of a second wave of coronavirus and another lockdown with shoppers reporting queuing for 20 minutes to enter shops before similar further delays at checkouts.

And online customers found it near-impossible to get delivery slots from Asda, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury's and Tesco - some didn't have free slots for up to two weeks.

Restrictions on items which vanished most quickly during the country's first lockdown, such as flour and eggs, have been put in place.

However, shops have insisted that bare shelves once filled with toilet paper and pasta will be quickly restocked.

One indignant customer wrote on Twitter: 'Brilliant job @Morrisons Thamsmead. No queues outside the store.

David Dowle added: 'But aisles are packed inside. No social distancing, and queues 40 deep at the tills! Place is mobbed, and still people are being allowed to come in!'

The executive director of Waitrose has slammed panic buyers saying their actions 'inevitably means someone else will go without'. Pictured: Empty shelves at a Sainsbury's in Wandsworth

Panic buying across the UK has resumed amid fears of a second wave of coronavirus and another lockdown with shoppers reporting queuing for 20 minutes to enter shops before similar further delays at checkouts. Pictured: Empty shelves at a Sainsbury's in Wandsworth

And online customers found it near-impossible to get delivery slots from Asda, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury's and Tesco - some didn't have free slots for up to two weeks. Pictured: Empty shelves at a Tesco in Cambridge

And restrictions on items which vanished most quickly during the country's first lockdown, such as flour and eggs, have been put in place. Pictured: Empty shelves in the Asda Superstore in Barnes Hill, Birmingham

However, shops have insisted that bare shelves once filled with toilet paper and pasta would be quickly restocked. Pictured: A sign limiting three items per customer is displayed in a supermarket in Manchester

An Asda in east London had its shelves stripped bare of essentials like toilet paper

The same Asda also had barely any fresh produce in the fruit and vegetable aisles

The executive director of Waitrose, James Bailey, told The Sunday Times that there was 'enough food to go round'.

He added: 'But if one person fills their house will all the packs of pasta they can get their hands on, it inevitably means somebody else will go without. They could be the most vulnerable or key workers.'

It comes after Tesco became the latest supermarket to impose rationing on food and household goods.

In a bid to avoid the bulk buying which left shop shelves across the UK almost bare in March, the supermarket giant will limit items such as flour, dried pasta, toilet roll and anti-bacterial wipes to three per customer.

It comes after Morrisons on Thursday announced rationing would be introduced on certain items in its stores up and down the country.

The restrictions come as supermarket chiefs look to avoid a over repeat of the stockpiling panic seen in stores at the start of the pandemic in March.

Pictures from supermarkets across the UK have already shown empty or rapidly emptying toilet roll shelves, just days after the government announced tighter restrictions in a bid to stave off a second coronavirus wave.

Pictures from supermarkets across the UK have already shown empty or rapidly emptying shelves, just days after the government announced tighter restrictions in a bid to stave off a second coronavirus wave. Pictured: An east London Asda

It comes after Tesco became the latest supermarket to impose rationing on food and household goods. In a bid to avoid the bulk buying which left shop shelves across the UK almost bare in March, the supermarket giant will limit items such as flour, dried pasta, toilet roll and anti-bacterial wipes to three per customer

Empty shelves littered with a few rolls of toilet paper in the Asda Superstore in Barnes Hill, Birmingham

A sign limiting three items per customer is displayed in a supermarket on Saturday in Manchester

Tesco (pictured: a nearly empty toilet roll shelf at Tesco in Cambridge) has become the latest supermarket to impose rationing on food and household goods, as panic buying returns to the UK amid fears of a second wave of coronavirus

In a bid to avoid the bulk buying which left shop shelves across the UK almost bare in March, the supermarket giant will limit items such as flour, dried pasta, toilet roll (pictured: A sign at Tesco in Cambridge limiting toilet roll to one per customer)

It comes after both Aldi and Morrisons yesterday announced they would impose rationing in stores up and down the country. Pictured: A woman leaves a Tesco in Steatham, London, with two packs of toilet rolls on Wednesday - before restrictions were announced

More than a quarter of the UK population are living under extra coronavirus restrictions with new measures on socialising coming into force in parts of the country this weekend.

A ban on households mixing in each other's homes came into effect at midnight on Saturday in Wigan, Stockport, Blackpool and Leeds. Cardiff and Swansea locked down from 6pm on Friday, taking the number of people under stricter rules to 17million.

A Tesco spokesperson said: 'We have good availability, with plenty of stock to go round, and we would encourage our customers to shop as normal.

'To ensure that everyone can keep buying what they need, we have introduced bulk-buy limits on a small number of products.

'To help our customers shop safely, we will also have colleagues at the entrances of our larger stores to remind customers about the safety measures we have in place, including the legal requirement to wear a face covering.'

On Thursday, bosses at Morrisons 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.

More than a quarter of the UK population are living under extra coronavirus restrictions with new measures on socialising coming into force in parts of the country this weekend. Pictured: An east London Asda

Toilet roll shelves in an Asda in east London have been stripped bare today

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: 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

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 include a call to work from home where possible.

The new restrictions could last for up to six months.

Ahead of Friday's announcement, Tesco supermarkets 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.

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

The superstore has also but limits on flour, dried pasta, baby wipes and anti-bacterial wipes. There are additional limits for a small number of products online, such as rice and canned veg.

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.

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 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.'

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

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.

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

Shares in online retailer Ocado have jumped over the past week due to 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.'

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.

Costco wholesale stores across the UK saw a surge in shoppers this week, leading to long queues (pictured: Costco store, Leeds)

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

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.

A Tesco spokesman said: 'We have good availability, with plenty of stock to go round, and we would encourage our customers to shop as normal. To ensure that everyone can keep buying what they need, we have introduced bulk-buy limits on a small number of products.'

Asda is not applying any restrictions on customer purchases.

More voters are now worried about the impact of the coronavirus crisis on the economy than over the health of the nation, a Mail on Sunday poll shows

By Glen Owen for The Mail on Sunday

Voters are now more worried about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy than they are over the collective health of the nation, a Mail on Sunday poll has found.

The Deltapoll survey suggests that a majority of people  51 per cent  think the impact on the economy is the greatest problem facing the UK over the next year, compared to 42 per cent who worry about the effects on health.

When asked about the impact over the next five years, the gap widens, with 66 per cent citing the economy and just 28 per cent mentioning health.

The Deltapoll survey suggests that a majority of people  51 per cent  think the impact on the economy is the greatest problem facing the UK over the next year

And an overwhelming 89 per cent are concerned about the impact of Covid restrictions, such as the 10pm curfew on business, with just 8 per cent saying they are unconcerned.

The results suggest there is growing support for the position of Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who has argued in Cabinet against doves such as Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove who want more stringent restrictions. Mr Sunaks ratings continue to soar, with an approval rating of plus 37. Boris Johnson, by contrast, receives a rating of minus 17. Tory strategists will also be alarmed by the scores for Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who is given a score of plus 19 when people are asked how well or badly he is performing.

In total, 48 per cent of people think the Government is doing the wrong thing over Covid while 38 per cent think it is doing the right thing.

The results suggest there is growing support for the position of Chancellor Rishi Sunak

Worrying, nearly one in five people  19 per cent  say they will not take a Covid vaccine if it becomes available.

The poll puts the Conservatives on 42 per cent, four points ahead of Labour.

Deltapoll co-founder Joe Twyman said: Six months after the coronavirus lockdown first began, public support for Boris Johnson and his Governments approach has diminished.

It is clear from Deltapolls results the impact the Covid-19 restrictions will have on the British economy both nationally and locally are key concerns. The Prime Minister must hope that the Jobs Support Scheme and similar initiatives go some way to address peoples fears or the decline in support for the Governments position is likely to continue.

Deltapoll interviewed 1,583 British adults online on September 24 and 25. The data have been weighted to be representative of the British adult population as a whole.
A man holds a glass under a running tap. Getty Images

Communities in Texas were warned not to use tap water for anything other than flushing toilets after a rare brain-eating amoeba was found in the public water supply.

The microbe, naegleria fowleri, is found in fresh water and soil, and if it gets up the nose can cause a potentially fatal brain illness.

The advisory was issued after a six-year-old boy died of the illness caused by the microbe.

Late Saturday the notice was lifted, but a water boiling notice remains in place for the city of Lake Jackson where officials are decontaminating the local water supply.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Residents of a Texas city were advised not to drink tap water after a rare brain-eating amoeba was found in the public water supply.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) had warned local water supply companies Friday that the rare amoeba called naegleria fowleri had contaminated local water supplies.

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (@TCEQ) September 27, 2020

The amoeba  or single-cell organism  is found in freshwater, but if it gets up the nose can cause a rare and fatal brain illness called primary amebic meningoencephalitis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

It notes that most deaths from the illness occur after swimming in freshwater, but "in very rare instances, naegleria infections may also occur when contaminated water from other sources (such as inadequately chlorinated swimming pool water or heated and contaminated tap water) enters the nose."

Symptoms include seizures, vomiting, and hallucinations  with people dying within a week of contracting the illness, says the CDC.

Late Saturday, the TCEQ announced that the advisory had been lifted for all but one of the eight communities in the area, Lake Jackson, a city of 27,000 residents that remains under a notice to only use tap water if boiled.

Story continues

In a statement posted on Twitter late Saturday, the TCEQ said it was working with the city to "flush and disinfect the entire system."

The original notice had advised against using tap water for anything other than flushing the toilet.

Officials started conducting tests on the city's water system after a six-year-old boy, Josh McIntyre, died after contact with the microbe, reported local media outlets. A sample of water from the hose bib at the boy's home had been among those confirming the presence of the amoeba.

According to the Associated Press, deaths from the illness in the US are very rare. A person killed in southern Louisiana in 2011 and another in 2013 after coming into contact with naegleria fowleri from the public water supply.

Contaminations of public water supplies by the microbe had also been found in Australia and Pakistan.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Brunswick locals have reacted angrily to a Bunnings proposal to build a warehouse off Lygon Street with 250 underground parking spaces, in what the hardware giant says would add 50 local jobs.

Under the $21 million plan, the Chamton building on Glenlyon Road would be demolished and replaced with a two-storey shop that backs onto Pitt Street for truck access.

Andrea Bunting and fellow Brunswick locals are opposed to the Bunnings plans. Credit:Chris Hopkins

Moreland Council has received more than 350 objections to the proposal, which would have a maximum height of 15.4 metres and taper down to 14.2 metres. It would include a cafe on the ground floor and have an outdoor nursery on the first level.

Local woman Andrea Bunting has organised with around 70 of her neighbours to fight the development, which she said is almost completely surrounded by homes and would overshadow them in winter.
When it comes to health care, there is a deep divide between the policies of President Donald Trump and Joe Biden. But the distinction isnt so much Trump vs. Biden as it is the American people vs. special interest groups.

When the first debate is held, the theme of the night will be domestic policy, and health care is sure to be hotly debated  as it should be; its a top issue for American families. Biden will be touting the Affordable Care Act, adding a public option to appease the large contingency of his party that still demands Medicare for all.

For his part, Trump has consistently resisted a government takeover of medicine and is looking to create an environment where patients can be in charge of their health care decisions.

Yet polls show that both parties are unhappy with their candidates positions and with Congress for failing to address the issue, regardless of who is in the majority.

Biden and members of his party are resurrecting the campaign ads about pre-existing conditions as the proverbial bogeyman to compel voters through fear. Though many solutions exist to address this problem, the left is continuing to tout the failed government takeover of health care known as the Affordable Care Act, or ACA. The hard truth is that the ACA, or Obamacare as some call it, doesnt protect people who have underlying conditions.

The promise to protect people with underlying conditions may have worked on paper, but, according to a study, the reality is the ACA did not decrease bankruptcies related to medical bills, nor did it result in better health outcomes, which are measured in mortality rates among the nonelderly. Obamacare may have provided an insurance card in more Americans wallets, but what matters to families is that it decreased access to affordable care.

A clear example of how the law contributed to the increase in health care cost is the movement by insurance companies, middlemen and hospitals toward consolidation. Consolidation in the hospital industry alone created an increase in incentives to move patient care from inpatient to outpatient care. This resulted in hospitals going on a buying spree of outpatient facilities and physician practices to secure referrals for services based in the hospital.

Hospitals commonly argue that consolidation would reduce costs but fail to explain that the savings in costs go to the hospital, while patients often see an increase in their out-of-pocket expenses due to the consolidation.

Rather than building on the support for special interests, Trump has issued a large number of executive orders that have focused on patient care, health care price transparency, and affordability of services and medications.

The common theme has been to put the patient  not government and certainly not insurance bureaucrats  in charge of decision-making. Trumps first health care plan, the Choice and Competition report, allowed for options that have been readily accepted by many who are priced out by the exchange plans.

In addition to creating a more competitive market, another executive order focused on health care price transparency has rattled the industry by mandating that all negotiated prices between hospitals and insurers be disclosed. This transformative principle has an approval rate of nearly 90 percent of Americans on both sides of the political aisle, according to a July poll. As loved as this order has been by the American people, it has been equally despised by the special interests that benefit from the hidden nature of prices in health care.

Perhaps another distinction between these plans is in where they are focused. Biden, in his commitment to broadening the ACA, is focused on benefiting the insurance industry and its lobbyists. The direction of the presidents policies is more in line with helping the patient by focusing on making things affordable. Obamacare didnt do anything to bring down the cost of care; in fact, it did the complete opposite.

As you watch the debate, make sure you pay attention whenever you hear the words health care. And ask yourself this question: Are they talking about health care or health insurance? How you answer may tell you exactly who the candidate is trying to help.

David Balat is the director of the Right on Healthcare campaign at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
But what about Black-on-Black crime?

Its a question that poet, playwright and professor Claudia Rankine has been fielding ever since she toured the country for her 2014 bestseller Citizen: An American Lyric. And she expects it for her latest work.

It was never from a white person but always a South Asian guy trying to distance himself from me to show that hes not Black, Rankine said. I understand. Theres a level of anxiety associated with Blackness because of the violence and the history of degradation that comes with that. They want to have a chance to live.

Her new book, Just Us: An American Conversation, fearlessly addresses historic and contemporary examples of white privilege and supremacy.

Like Citizen, it employs poems, essays and visual images. The mixed-media interface of photos and text, of the past surfacing in the present, makes Just Us almost like an art installation in book form. Published by Graywolf Press, it completes a trilogy that started with Dont Let Me Be Lonely, her 2004 meditation on solitude in a media-saturated world.

For Rankine, who teaches at Yale, the book is not just a matter of scholarly curiosity. She writes because her life depends on it.

We caught up with her recently for a conversation that has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Q  Youve brought back the multigenre book, mixing your essays with poetry and photography, not to mention putting the footnotes right next to the subject matter.

A  I wanted to come up with a structure where the form and content were allied to each other. For me, (it captures) the nature of conversation: Something is going on in your head, so you have an internal dialogue with an external interaction.

Q  As I read and looked at the images, I was surprised at how familiar they were, including the chart of evolution that populates classrooms across the country.

A  Right. We see that chart where man evolves from ape to the highest form, which takes the form of a white guy. It does a thing on the psyche. When you have children who are 3 years old saying the smartest person is a white person, that is what theyve come to learn, not what they know. How did that happen? White supremacy is constructed.

Q  You talk about Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson  deified figures with huge blindsides on race.

A  Youre doing the research and you get startled. And youre like, Wait, et tu, Abraham? Et tu, Thomas  I thought you had a Black quote-unquote mistress and Black children? The more research you do, the more you realize that the Jeffersons and Lincolns are just as committed to the eradication of Black people as everyone else.

Whats interesting to me is that we have all of these renowned historians who were happy to give you the one side and to leave out all the rest of it. So, that means that all of these people are intentionally, consciously committed to the fiction of white superiority and white benevolence.

Q  Does that also raise a question of manners?

A  The social contract is that you dont bring any of this up. There has been a kind of collusion to buy into this idea that to bring it up is to go against civility, to go against norms and make people uncomfortable. Whats so ingenious about the whole construct is that if you do bring any of these inconvenient things up, youre an angry Black woman. And thats very unattractive, OK? Meanwhile, a whole segment of the population is being asked to deal with the constant threat of death, but dont bring it up.

Q  And the cost of this silence?

A  Some of it is in the news. The constant death of Black people, whether its through over-policing, racial profiling, shooting somebody seven times in the back or kneeling on their necks till they die.

The morbidity rate for Black newborns is higher than everybody elses. A Black child at birth is three times more likely to die if the resident doctor is white. My neighbor is a pediatrician; I shared that with her. And she couldnt believe it. I said, lady, believe it. Thats the cost that we bear.

When we begin to think about African Americans being more vulnerable to COVID-19, what youre really saying is that our closeness to precarity is a step away. Just add one more stick to the fire and were out.

Q  People talk about white fragility  is that part of whats holding us back?

A  Robin DiAngelo (author of the book White Fragility) has gotten a lot of flak lately, and its curious to me. What the woman did was name dynamics we all know exist. And we should be thankful for that. And I think white fragility, white defensiveness, all of those things are being negotiated not just by African Americans in relation to white people but white people amongst themselves, by Asian Americans in relation to white people, by African Americans in relation to Asian people, inasmuch as they are aspirationally white.

Q  This is not just national but global, right? In the book, you call out whitewashing in Japan.

A  Declaring that people from China or Japan or Korea are also invested in whiteness is not an outlandish claim. We see the whitewashing that goes on in the media. We know that people are willing to poison their own bodies in order to move away from Blackness. And if they can take that chance, theyre gonna take it. And if that means using whitening cream or employing the same racial profiling that whites employ against African Americans, they might do it.

Q  And life is always giving you more to write about.

A  I was thinking about something recently and accidentally took the dog on a walk without turning off the alarm. I came back home, and the place was surrounded by police because the alarm was going off. I open the door and put in the alarm code, and the policeman says, Do you live here? and I say, Yes. This is my house. I just forgot to turn off the alarm.

My husband, who is white, happens to drive up at that moment, and the policeman turns to him and says, This woman says she lives here. (Rankine burst into laughter.) What kind of burglar knows the code and has the dog? This woman says she lives here. You wanna tell us whats going on?
The immediate past governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, inadvertently raised a question recently over former president Goodluck Jonathans contribution to the development of a coastal community in the state.

Mr Jonathan was Bayelsa governor in 2005 before he later became president in 2010.

Mr Dickson, in a heated telephone conversation with Furoebi Akene, his former commissioner for Lands and Survey, said he built a road in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area where Mr Akene hails from.

The former governor, while fending off Mr Akenes remarks that Southern Ijaw has remained undeveloped and abandoned, asked the former commissioner why Mr Jonathan and other past governors did not find it necessary to construct the road.

Why didnt (Diepreye) Alamieyeseigha do that road? Why didnt (Goodluck) Jonathan do that road? Why didnt (Timipre) Sylva do that road? Mr Dickson said in the conversation which was recorded and released to the public about a week ago by Mr Akene.

Mr Dickson, apparently, was saying he did more for Southern Ijaw, compared to other past governors of Bayelsa State.

Mr Dickson made the phone call to Mr Akene to complain about an article the latter wrote about Bayelsas increasing debt burden.

He said Mr Akene indicted him in the article.

Mr Akene, in the article, said successive administrations in Bayelsa, including that of Mr Dickson, have not done much to develop the oil-rich state, despite taking big loans.

It is on record that the eight (8) years of Seriake Dickson-led administration received revenue worth over N1.7trn while the seven months old present administration has received over N140bn, the former commissioner said in the article.

He said Yenagoa, the state capital, has remained as a glorified village slum.

Na waoh! Mr Dickson exclaimed when Mr Akene admitted he was the author of the article which was published in some newspapers.

You would write that thing even after the last discussion you came here to have with me? You would write that thing, casting aspersion and indicting me?

And you were part of the government? You mean to say you were not aware of the development we brought, even in the government you served? Mr Dickson said.

Mr Akene defended the article as being factual. He said he got his data from Nigerias Debt Management Office (DMO).

When I served the government, I was sidelined till I left, Mr Akene said to the former governor.

It is our state. Some of us worked and we were pushed away, we are empty, whereas others carried everything.

You think so? Mr Dickson asked him.

Not, I think so, Mr Akene responded.

I have told you that as a serving commissioner, I sold land to pay childrens school fees, whereas others are building mansions everywhere.

I am just stating the fact. I dont tell lies, if anybody is disputing it, let him go and dispute it with the DMO  I wrote it from the figures I got from the DMO.

The argument between Mr Dickson and Mr Akene went on back and forth.

Mr Dickson said he never took any foreign loan during his tenure as governor and that Bayelsa was the least indebted state in the entire South-South. He said Mr Akenes writing was influenced by bitterness.

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If it were possible-eh, I would have just made people like you a governor of that state one term and you would run away!

I took you as my own person You think that you are holier than thou. The problem is that you think you are the cleanest, you think that you are the most patriotic, Mr Dickson said.

Mr Dickson told Mr Akene he was planning to facilitate a meeting between him and the current governor of the state, Douye Diri.

But the former commissioner, in the phone conversation, rebuffed his remarks, saying Mr Diri was his close friend who chose to keep so much malaise and hatred against me.

He said he was not interested in serving the Bayelsa State government.

The former commissioner has subsequently released two audio recordings where he explained why he made public his private phone conversation with Mr Dickson.

Actually, that was something I deliberately sent out. He said he is going to tell his boys to search the ministry (which I was commissioner) and make their own write-ups against me, he said in one of the audio clips.

Mr Akene told PREMIUM TIMES he released the audio clips so that when Mr Dicksons boys would begin to do articles against him (Akene) people would understand why.

PREMIUM TIMES asked Mr Akene how he took Mr Dicksons comment on the former president.

I know that he was just trying to insult the man, he said.

Mr Akene said Mr Jonathans tenure as governor was just about one year and that he built a bridge from Yenagoa to the other side.

The total cost of that bridge, which is over one kilometre, is higher than the little Dickson did along the road that he is claiming he did the road, he added.

Mr Dickson is not known to have a cordial relationship with the former president.

Mr Dickson is currently a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in a scheduled bye-election for a Senate seat in Bayelsa, while Mr Akene, who resigned as commissioner in 2015, is into private practice as a surveyor in Abuja.

Mr Akene left PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and supported the APC candidate, David Lyon, in the 2019 governorship election in Bayelsa.

Mr Lyon won the election but was eventually disqualified by the Supreme Court on the basis that his deputy governorship candidate used false academic credentials.
If you are a regular user of the Internet, theres a possibility you may have seen videos of robot dogs called Spot. From managing sheep to helping people maintain social distance, the clips are many. While the videos are amazing, they can also creep some people out, often all at the same time. Just like Nathan Kanasawe, who felt both the feelings in equal parts when he spotted a robot dog roaming around a street in Ontario, Canada.

The video, which is just a few seconds long, shows the dog walking on what seems like a sidewalk. Kanasawe told Hindustan Times that he was driving with his friend when they spotted the dog. The sight left them so surprised that they decided to get down and capture the incident on camera. He asked the person who was operating the dog for permission and recorded the clip.

We were driving down the street and saw the robot first, since the yellow stood out more, then as we slowed down, saw the operator behind the robot. My friend and I were equal parts amazed and creeped out, Kanasawe told Hindustan Times.

He also shared it on Twitter, and the post went all kinds of viral with many retweeting it. However, presently Kanasawe has made his Twitter profile private because of the overwhelming response he received on the post.

The robots are called Spot and are designed by a robotics company named Boston Dynamics.

Take a look at the video:

Kanasawe said he also asked the operator why he had the robot and he vaguely replied that its for work. So, Kanasawe didnt press the matter further, thanked him and drove away.

I think we were just really surprised to have even seen a Boston Dynamics dog in our area, casually walking up the street, expressed Kanasawe. He also said, Its the kind of thing you would maybe see at a convention in Toronto, but up in northern Ontario? Super weird!!

What do you think of the video?

Also Read | Robot dog manages flock of sheep. Video sparks uneasy thoughts among people
MBABANE  At last! After waiting for five years for the final distribution of an estate, children of the late millionaire, Calvin Ndlovu, will share E6 million cash, which is expected to be received by their mother, Siphiwe.

The deceased was the owner of KK Supermarket and is the father to Liqoqo member Hlobisile Ndlovu. Hlobisile has 10 other siblings born from her mother. Her father died on February 17, 2001.

Initially, it had been reported that the estate was worth E31.6 million, but the first distribution was conducted in 2015, where only immovable assets were distributed. The upcoming distribution was recently advertised in this newspaper.

APPROVED

The Times SUNDAY has also seen documents dated August 10, 2020, that state that the office of the Master of the High Court has since approved the liquidation and distribution of the estate.

In terms of the enclosed letter, the Master has, after numerous and lengthy correspondence, approved the liquidation and distribution account, which we have now advertised as lying open for inspection. The account is available for inspection at the office of the Master, the letter reads.

It was forwarded by Nxumalo from Robinson Bertram Attorneys to M.B Magagula Attorneys.

It is reflected that available cash amounts to E6 million.

Collected

According to the documents, an amount of E593 086.82 has been collected as rentals from Buzzby Services. The rentals were collected from February 13, 2018, to January 2019. It is also stated that rentals collected from Shoprite U Save in Piggs Peak from January 2, 2018, up to February 2019 amount to E662 936.40.

The document states that an amount of E4 577 843.65 is kept at the Standard Bank, Market Fund with Stanlib Mbabane as per a letter dated March 4, 2019.

Another sum of E244 051.80 is said to be held by Nedbank call account No.02000055097 as per a statement dated January 7, 2019.

In total, cash to be distributed is E6 077 918.67. The executor of Ndlovus estate is seasoned lawyer Knox Nxumalo.

The Ndlovu family has, however, shared their concerns regarding the amount to be distributed.

Khibika Ndlovu has argued that they were expecting more than what would be distributed. He said according to invoices in the possession of the family, they believe an amount of E15 million cash should be available in the trust account. Khibika explained that this amount would be in respect of collected rentals for the years that have allegedly not been included. Making an example, he said Shoprite U Save was paying E50 000 per month as rent.

If you multiply the E50 000 by 12 months the total becomes E600 000. This amount is just rentals for one year. If you check the distribution account, you will notice that other years have not been included. The question would be where the money for the other years is? Khibika wondered.

We have our own invoices and we know what is due to the family. In fact, we are not fighting anyone, but are just raising concerns regarding the distribution account, he argued.

Khibika mentioned that the family wanted closure in the estate issue so that life can continue.

The Times SUNDAY has established that the cash would be awarded to Siphiwe, who will then share it with her children. The children include Hlobisile, Gcebile, Khibika, Siphetfo, Seth, Bright, Qondile, Mancoba, Mduna and Ncobile.

In 2006, according to a judgment posted by the Swazi Legal Information Institute (SwaziLi), the executor in the deceased estate of one Calvin Ndlovu, Knox Nxumalo brought an application to the High Court for a declaration that the marriage of Nellie Siphiwe Ndlovu and the deceased entered into by civil rites at Piggs Peak on 19 August 1966, was bigamous and, therefore, invalid by reason of a number of pre-existing customary marriages between the deceased and three other women.

counter application

In 2009, Siphiwe, in turn, brought a counter application for a declaration that the will and codicils of the deceased should be declared pro-non-scripto, that the deceased be declared to have died intestate, and that the estate is administered intestate in terms of the Administration of Estates Act 1902.

In fact, the two applications were consolidated and heard by Judge Agyemang, who concluded that the civil marriage was a lawful one, in the community of property, and that the deceaseds will was null and void.

Agyemang argued then that the appeal was against those orders.

The court recorded that it was common cause that the deceased had executed his last will and testament on February 28, 1994 and had later executed four codicils.

At the time of his death, divorce proceedings were pending between him and Siphiwe, and he had other children born from three women, whom he had married by Swazi Law and Custom before his civil marriage to the respondent in 1966.

The court also noted that the executor drew up a liquidation and distribution account to which Siphiwe lodged an objection. In her view, she was entitled to half the estate, having been married in community of property to the deceased, and she contended that the account did not reflect her half share.

half-share

During the case, the appellant testified that in attempting to find a middle ground, he drew up a second account, taking funds from a notional residue to make up the difference between the half share claimed by the respondent and what had been bequeathed to her under the will.

Both in his founding affidavit and in his evidence, the appellant made it clear that he had been concerned about the legality of the respondents claim to a half-share since Section 24 of the Marriage Act No.47 of 1964 seemed to him not to permit it.

He was not aware of any endorsement on the marriage certificate of the respondent and the deceased showing an election to have their property governed by common law as opposed to Swazi Law and Custom.

Most importantly, he had taken the view that the civil marriage was bigamous and, therefore, invalid since the deceased had been previously married to three other women in terms of Swazi Law and Custom, before his attempt to resolve the impasse as set out in paragraph 6.8 of his founding affidavit, which allegations are not denied by the respondent in her answering affidavit.
The suspect, who said he was born in the Pakistani city of Mandi Bahauddin and is 18-years old, 'takes responsibility for his action,' a source close to the investigation told AFP

Paris, France: A Pakistan-born teenager has admitted to stabbing two people with a meat cleaver outside the former Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo magazine, investigators said Saturday, with nine people now detained over what the government condemned as "Islamist terrorism".

The 18-year-old, named by investigators as Hassan A said he wanted to avenge the republication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed by the satirical weekly, which in January 2015 was targeted in a massacre carried out by Islamist gunmen.

The attack on Friday came three weeks into a trial in Paris of suspected accomplices in the January 2015 attacks on Charlie Hebdo, a policewoman, and a Jewish supermarket that left 17 people dead.

A source close to the investigation told AFP that "everything points to (the suspect) acting alone", adding that he was not flagged for suspected radicalisation, speaks a little French, and had planned to start training as a builder.

But eight other people are now also under arrest following two more detentions Saturday.

The two new individuals arrested were the suspect's younger brother and another acquaintance, a judicial source said.

A, who said he was born in the Pakistani city of Mandi Bahauddin and is 18-years-old, "takes responsibility for his action," a source close to the investigation said.

The man said during questioning he places his actions "in the context of the republication of cartoons" of the Prophet Mohammed in Charlie Hebdo on the eve of the trial opening.

Charlie Hebdo targeted

The people wounded were employees of prize-winning TV production agency Premieres Lignes, whose offices are in the same block in central Paris that used to house Charlie Hebdo.

The man mistakenly believed Charlie Hebdo's offices were still in that building and wanted to attack journalists from the magazine, a source close to the inquiry told AFP.

Charlie Hebdo moved offices after the 2015 attack and its current address is kept secret for security reasons.

The two victims were badly wounded but their lives are not in danger.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said Friday the attack was "clearly an act of Islamist terrorism". Anti-terror prosecutors have opened an investigation.

Five of the individuals detained were in an apartment in Pantin in the northern Paris suburb of Seine-Saint-Denis, the last presumed address of the suspected attacker.

The suspected attacker, who arrived from Pakistan three years ago, was believed to have last lived in a small flat in a four-story building in the district.

"He was very polite. I often saw him sitting on the landing with his telephone," said one neighbour, who identified herself as Josiane.

Police late Friday released another man who was detained close to the scene of the attack but whose lawyer said had actually been chasing the attacker.

The Algerian man, who has been living in France for a decade, "behaved heroically" said his lawyer Lucie Simon, complaining there had been no need to arrest him and keep him detained for hours.

'Could have done better'

Prime Minister Jean Castex on Saturday hailed the "efficiency" of the security forces following the attack during a visit to police headquarters, and said the "enemies of the Republic will never win".

Twelve people, including some of France's most celebrated cartoonists, were killed in the attack on Charlie Hebdo's offices by Islamist gunmen on 7 January, 2015.

Charlie Hebdo angered many Muslims around the world by publishing cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed in 2006, and in a defiant gesture reprinted some of the caricatures ahead of the trial.

On trial are 14 alleged accomplices of brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi, the perpetrators of the 2015 attack on Charlie Hebdo that was claimed by a branch of Al-Qaeda.

A female police officer was killed a day later, followed the next day by the killing of four men in a hostage-taking at a Jewish supermarket by gunman Amedy Coulibaly.

The trial has reopened one of the most painful chapters in France's modern history, with harrowing testimony from survivors and relatives of those who died.

The magazine received fresh threats from Al-Qaeda this month after it republished the controversial cartoons.

President Emmanuel Macron's centrist government has in recent weeks begun using increasingly tough rhetoric on domestic security issues in what analysts see as a shift to the right.

Darmanin admitted that the risk of an attack around the former offices had been "underestimated".

"...it is obvious that we could have done better," he said.
Supermarket giant Sainsbury's is extending delivery times in a move that will mean it has almost doubled capacity for online grocery orders in just six months.

The company is extending early morning orders by half an hour to 6.30am and by up to an hour in the evening to 11.30pm 'in most places over the next month'.

Sainsbury's group ecommerce director Nigel Blunt said it was aiming to hit 700,000 orders a week by the end of October.

Just a click away: The company is extending early morning orders by half an hour to 6.30am and by up to an hour in the evening to 11.30pm 'in most places over the next month'

Blunt has added almost 200 'click and collect' locations and deployed hundreds of new vans to cope with the surge in demand since the Covid-19 crisis began.

He said the chain has been able to grow the business more rapidly than some of its rivals.

Almost all of Sainsbury's online delivery and click and collect orders are picked by staff from within stores, with the exception of one warehouse in London.

Its major rivals  Tesco, Waitrose and Morrisons  use a mixture of store picking and 'online only' warehouses. Marks & Spencer began using Ocado's automated distribution centres this month, replacing Waitrose.

Blunt oversees more than 6billion of online sales at Sainsbury's, including Argos. He said: 'We've doubled the size of the business and we see that playing right through Christmas.

'This is the result of the investment we've made in developing our picking from stores model. It shows the flexibility of the model that allows us to sweat the assets that we have, versus that static centralised operation others might have.'

He added that the business regularly considered other models but for now, 'the core and the heart of the business will remain pick from store which gives us flexibility and growth.'

Blunt said: 'We've been able to redeploy colleagues from other parts of the business into online during the crisis and we've been able to add in hundreds of vehicles  and we're adding on a daily basis.'

He said Sainsbury's relaunched its delivery pass in August  where customers pay a one-off fee for up to 12 months free delivery. The company saw the sign-up rate more than double, suggesting customers are hunkering down to order more food online over the coming year. During the spring lockdown Sainsbury's began picking groceries from shelves in its stores at 2am, two hours before it normally would, to cope with the rising demand.

It then introduced another shift for staff in the afternoon to begin collecting groceries for evening orders.

Blunt said: 'We're gearing up now across the business to expand further, particularly getting to 700,000 orders a week. We see that as a springboard for serving up a brilliant Christmas for our customers.'
As you might know, Premier Investments Limited (ASX:PMV) recently reported its annual numbers. Premier Investments beat revenue expectations by 3.4%, recording sales of AU$1.2b. Statutory earnings per share (EPS) came in at AU$0.87, some 7.1% short of analyst estimates. This is an important time for investors, as they can track a company's performance in its report, look at what experts are forecasting for next year, and see if there has been any change to expectations for the business. So we gathered the latest post-earnings forecasts to see what estimates suggest is in store for next year.

View our latest analysis for Premier Investments

Taking into account the latest results, the consensus forecast from Premier Investments' eight analysts is for revenues of AU$1.30b in 2021, which would reflect a credible 5.5% improvement in sales compared to the last 12 months. Per-share earnings are expected to climb 14% to AU$0.99. In the lead-up to this report, the analysts had been modelling revenues of AU$1.26b and earnings per share (EPS) of AU$0.87 in 2021. So it seems there's been a definite increase in optimism about Premier Investments' future following the latest results, with a solid gain to the earnings per share forecasts in particular.

Despite these upgrades,the analysts have not made any major changes to their price target of AU$19.19, suggesting that the higher estimates are not likely to have a long term impact on what the stock is worth. The consensus price target is just an average of individual analyst targets, so - it could be handy to see how wide the range of underlying estimates is. Currently, the most bullish analyst values Premier Investments at AU$22.13 per share, while the most bearish prices it at AU$16.00. This shows there is still a bit of diversity in estimates, but analysts don't appear to be totally split on the stock as though it might be a success or failure situation.

Looking at the bigger picture now, one of the ways we can make sense of these forecasts is to see how they measure up against both past performance and industry growth estimates. We can infer from the latest estimates that forecasts expect a continuation of Premier Investments'historical trends, as next year's 5.5% revenue growth is roughly in line with 5.9% annual revenue growth over the past five years. Juxtapose this against our data, which suggests that other companies (with analyst coverage) in the industry are forecast to see their revenues grow 5.3% per year. It's clear that while Premier Investments' revenue growth is expected to continue on its current trajectory, it's only expected to grow in line with the industry itself.

Story continues

The Bottom Line

The most important thing here is that the analysts upgraded their earnings per share estimates, suggesting that there has been a clear increase in optimism towards Premier Investments following these results. They also upgraded their revenue forecasts, although the latest estimates suggest that Premier Investments will grow in line with the overall industry. There was no real change to the consensus price target, suggesting that the intrinsic value of the business has not undergone any major changes with the latest estimates.

With that in mind, we wouldn't be too quick to come to a conclusion on Premier Investments. Long-term earnings power is much more important than next year's profits. We have forecasts for Premier Investments going out to 2025, and you can see them free on our platform here.

However, before you get too enthused, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Premier Investments that you should be aware of.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.



Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com.
A bogus overseas Vietnamese, usually called as Viet Kieu, has been arrested in the central Vietnamese city of Da Nang for allegedly committing land fraud to appropriate approximately VND23 billion (US$990,800).

Local police confirmed on Saturday they had apprehended Doan Thi Vy, 52, when she was hiding in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

Vy was later brought to Da Nang to assist the investigation.

Preliminary information showed that Vy introduced herself as a wealthy Viet Kieu who wanted to invest in many projects in Vietnam in order to earn trust from her victims.

She then established the Da Nang-based Thanh Dat Real Estate Investment and Construction JSC and asked Ngo Thi Cuc Hoa, a housekeeper at the hotel where she was staying, to be the legal representative.

After the firm was formed, Vy started selling land lots within the Vina Universal Paradise Son Tinh commercial and service zone in central Quang Ngai Province, even though legal procedures regarding the sale were not complete.

The woman was also aware that the project was likely to have its investment certificate revoked due to sluggish progress.

She was able to sell multiple land lots to the central branch of Loc Son Ha Real Estate Company and pocketed VND23 billion.

Several others people were also tricked into purchasing land inside the project.

People who fell victim to Vys scam have been asked to contact local authorities to provide information and support their investigation.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Bamako, Mali (PANA) - The Press Centre, in collaboration with the UNESCO office here, Friday launched the "Promoting the safety of women journalists in Mali" project for the promotion of freedom and safety of women journalists, reliable sources told PANA Saturday
By William Schwartz | Published on 2020/09/25

A recently aired television documentary about the popular drama "Coffee Prince" has drawn much attention from fans of the drama as the documentary has reunited the cast to discuss their experiences. Chief among these is Gong Yoo, the "Coffee Prince" cast member who has seen the most dramatic career elevation due to the project. Gong Yoo has had much to say about "Coffee Prince" looking back.

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Gong Yoo described the experience as strange, as being similar to recalling one's first love. Gong Yoo discussed how he hesitated about appearing in the documentary in part because he was unsure how it would affect his memories of "Coffee Prince" going forward. Gong Yoo strongly denied any notion that he was embarrassed by the old role. Gong Yoo admitted that he was embarrassed by other dramas, but insisted that his acting in "Coffee Prince" was quite good and nothing to be ashamed of.

Gong Yoo contextualized this in part by discussing how "Coffee Prince" was his final drama before mandatory military service. Gong Yoo also noted how for some of the drama's more iconic scenes, he made sure to put his all into a kiss or a hug, feeling Yoon Eun-hye's character throughout his whole body. Yoon Eun-hye generally confirmed Gong Yoo's observations. Other actors also agreed with the generally personal feelings engendered by the drama.

Gong Yoo also discussed past and present at length with his former co-star Yoon Eun-hye. When the actress asked why Gong Yoo hadn't gotten married, Gong Yoo said that this wasn't deliberate he just hadn't had the time. Yoon Eun-hye also admitted that she also needed to make more effort in this regard, to which Gong Yoo responded by comparing Yoon Eun-hye to her character on "Coffee Prince", who chose studying overseas before love.

Gong Yoo also made a point of personally thanking Yoon Eun-hye, as he believes it was her character that truly made "Coffee Prince" the famous standout work it is now known as, stating that her enthusiasm filled him with humility enough to make him determined to better improve himself. Yoon Eun-hye nervously asked if he was joking. The "Coffee Prince" TV documentary is not yet finished, with the second part to air on October 1st on MBC.

Written by William Schwartz
When the shofar is blown Monday at Congregation Ahavath Torah to commemorate the conclusion of Yom Kippur, the Jewish calendars holiest day of the year, its end will be covered with a mask affixed by a rubber band, a peculiar visual to accompany a ritual meant to command awe.

The feeling is that a shofar, like a trumpet or something else, is a super spreader (of the coronavirus), Chaim Poupko, rabbi of the Englewood synagogue, told NJ Advance Media.

Along with masked shofars, New Jerseys Orthodox Jewish community will be forced to make a series of drastic changes to worship so that they can still gather in-person despite the ongoing threat of the coronavirus. Unlike Reform and Conservative Jews, less devout denominations who were able to turn to digital alternatives for services, Orthodox Jews will file into spaced-out synagogue sanctuaries, outdoor tents and lay-led backyard services when the holiday begins Sunday evening.

The slew of accommodations and alterations denote a dramatic change for a movement so grounded in tradition.

For Modern Orthodox Jews especially, who hold fast to Jewish law while participating in secular American society, the High Holidays represent an opportunity to showcase a synthesis between tradition and modernity.

Its the fact that we are so engaged in the world around us, even with regards to science and technology, that weve been able to find that right balance between adhering to our traditions and being safe and respecting the science, Poupko said.

But even for ultra-Orthodox communities like Lakewood, hit especially hard by the coronavirus due in part to large religious gatherings, there exists an overwhelming attitude among religious leaders that High Holiday services must be carried out safely.

This year, everything is changed, from the prayer books, to the seating Id say almost every detail, Rabbi Andrew Markowitz of Shomrei Torah in Fair Lawn told NJ Advance Media.

Many Orthodox synagogues have reduced their capacities and found ways to accommodate all in the community who wish to pray in-person, adhering to the states newly expanded guidance that says 150 people or 25 percent of a rooms capacity, whichever is lower, can gather for religious services.

Orthodox services contrast with Conservative and Reform synagogues, many of which held virtual services over Zoom and with the help of video crews for Rosh Hashanah. The Conservative movements religious authority ruled in March that remote participants could count towards a minyan, a ten-person-quorum needed for activities like reading from the Torah.

Orthodox Judaism has released no such guidance, as technology like video-conferencing is not permitted during the holidays.

So that left Orthodox Jewry with a conundrum: how to create worship opportunities for droves of people without them being able to participate virtually from home?

For Poupkos temple, it meant creating 11 different services and utilizing its spacious facility to serve 1,500 worshippers during Rosh Hashanah. Congregants were spread out in five different sanctuaries, five outdoor tents that held up to 200 people each and six backyard services serving 50-100 people each.

Poupko and two associate rabbis circulated between each service, delivering 5-minute sermons, as opposed to a normal lengthier one. Like many other Orthodox synagogues, Poupko looked for ways to shorten the service, eliminate much of the singing and stick to the essential elements.

Some people felt like we could have sung more, we could have had a longer service, were outdoors, everybodys wearing masks, Poupko told NJ Advance Media. But part of physical distancing is also to minimize the time that were exposed to each other.

Other synagogues, like Netivot Shalom in Teaneck helped coordinate backyard services as well, eager to create worship opportunities for those who might not have felt comfortable participating in a much larger service. Congregants volunteered their yards to host others in the community with a layperson leading services.

Not everybody is a skilled hazzan or a skilled cantor, but it will be, like so many things this year... as good as it can be, Netivot Shalom Rabbi Nati Helfgot told NJ Advance Media.

Additionally, many services, backyards or otherwise, require advance registration so social distancing can be facilitated.

You have to register for each minyan, Helfgot said. Nobody can just walk in, which is sad because you want to be an open and welcoming community, but you also need to protect everybody.

Chabad in Medford, which Rabbi Yitzchok Kahan said usually has an open, come-on-in policy, made the same requirement. But, Kahan will do his part to bring the Yom Kippur service to his community, offering to roam town with his shofar and travel to peoples homes within a two-mile radius, so all can fulfill the commandment of hearing the instrument blown.

Other shofar-blowers will likely follow Ahavath Torah in masking their shofars, as advised by the Orthodox Union, the main religious authority associated with the Modern Orthodox movement.

In some congregations, only one person will read from and touch the Torah, from behind plexiglass-covered podiums. Of course, anyone gathering indoors must wear masks and bring their own prayerbooks and prayer shawls.

And Tashlich, another annual High Holidays ritual, has seen adaptations too. Congregants typically gather at a flowing stream of water, before Yom Kippur, to throw bread as a symbolic casting off of sins.

Congregants of Shomrei Torah of Fair Lawn participate in a Yom Kippur ceremony at Great Falls in Paterson on Sunday, September 27, 2020John Jones | For NJ Advance Media

Some synagogues held self-guided Tashlichs, allowing people to stay away from others while partaking. For those who still held communal Tashlich services, participants were masked and spaced-out, like at Shomrei Torah, where families gathered at the Great Falls of the Passaic River on Sunday.

Even though it means adapting rituals, shortening services and re-orchestrating building floor plans, Orthodox communities have placed renewed focus on the significance of physical gathering.

The meaningfulness this year is from something that I think maybe we took for granted in the past: and that was that the synagogues were just full, every high holiday service, Markowitz said. That was a given. This year, were going to look around the room and its going to be emotional, its going to be special.

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Josh Axelrod may be reached at JAxelrod@njadvancemedia.com.
Himanshi Khurana has tested positive for coronavirus, she revealed via social media post on Sunday. Himanshi urged everyone who came in contact with her over the last few days to take precautions and get themselves tested for the infection as well.

Revealing her coronavirus diagnosis, Himanshi wrote on Twitter, I want 2 inform u all dat i hv been tested positive 4 covid-19 even after taking proper precautions. As you all know that i was the part of the protest day before yesterday & d area was crowded so i thought to get d test done before i go for my shoot today evening (sic)."

She added, I jst wanted to inform people who came in my contact to get ur test done & please take proper precautions in d protest. Its my request to all the people protesting to not forget that we are going through pandemic so please take proper care (sic)."

I want 2 inform u all dat i hv been tested positive 4 covid-19 even after taking proper precautions .As you all know that i was the part of the protest day before yesterday & d area was crowded so i thought to get d test done before i go for my shoot today evening. Himanshi khurana (@realhimanshi) September 27, 2020

Himanshi had put out pictures of protesting farmers and volunteers supporting them on social media earlier in the week. She also joined a group of farmers in Punjab. Sharing the images, she wrote they are all with farmers during this time.

Great to see @realhimanshi supporting the farmers of Panjab ! Thank you young lady  https://t.co/5GSveTH192 ravinder singh (@RaviSinghKA) September 25, 2020

Himanshi was last seen in Allah Khair Kare music video
White House staff discussed the issue of President Donald Trump refusing to accept the results of the upcoming election were he to lose power in November, according to a former aide Vice President Mike Pence.

Olivia Troye, former counterterrorism and homeland security adviser to the vice president and an ex-member of the White House coronavirus response task force, warned Americans to take the president at his word when he did not commit to a peaceful transition of power during a press briefing last week.

You know, the president, when he's joking  if he says that he's joking, he's telling you a half-truth and in there is something fairly frightening and scary, Ms Troye told CNNs Wolfe Blitzer in an interview on Friday. What you see is what you get  you should trust that. He doesnt hide it.

Its actually frightening to me because, to be honest, during my tenure at the White House I had conversations behind closed doors with White House staffers and other government officials  including people in the intelligence community  where weve actually discussed what if, she added. What if he loses and refuses to leave, or or better yet, what if his plan is four more years of Donald Trump should he win, and will he even leave after that?

Her comments come after the president stirred controversy during a White House press briefing on Wednesday in which he said were going to have to see what happens when asked whether he would commit to a peaceful transition of power if he were to lose the election.

Mr Trump appeared to then reignite his unfounded conspiracy theories surrounding mail-in voting, a point the president has hammered home as critical battleground states across the country expand absentee and mail-in voting options due to the coronavirus pandemic.

You know that I've been complaining very strongly about the ballots and the ballots are a disaster," the president said. "Get rid of the ballots and you'll have a very a peaceful  there wont be a transfer, frankly, therell be a continuation.

The presidents statement caused a firestorm of backlash, prompting White House staff and Republican leaders in Washington to release statements reassuring the public the November election would result in a peaceful transition of power  a foundation of the United States government that has withstood centuries.

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, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement posted to Twitter.

A day after the president made the controversial comments, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters: The President will accept the results of a free and fair election.

The White House has also sought to undermine new interviews featuring Ms Troye, who has begun speaking out against the administration and sharing her reported experiences about what happened the West Wing under Mr Trump as she saw it.

Retired General Keith Kellogg, who previously served as Ms Troyes boss in her post at the White House, claimed she was a disgruntled former employee who he personally scored out of her her offices on the White House campus after she was fired from her job.

Ms Troye shot at back those claims, instead telling CNN that she resigned and was asked to stay in her role by multiple colleagues.

"I'd love to see the video footage of this video tape where he supposedly escorted me out," she said. "I know a lot of the Secret Service people on the campus, and I would love to see that footage."
The Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) has started mobilising its members at the port to ensure compliance with the strike called by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

The NLC recently announced its plans to embark on a nationwide strike to protest the hike in petrol pump price and electricity tariff.

The industrial action is scheduled to start tomorrow September 28.

The union said the increase in the prices of petrol and electricity is ill-timed and counterproductive, as it came at a time when citizens are struggling to cope with the economic challenges caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

Usually reliable sources in the Maritime Workers Union said the leadership had instructed all its branch, district and unit heads to ensure total compliance with the NLC directive.

We are part and parcel of the NLC so we will comply fully with the directives. The seaports all over the country will be shut totally from Monday morning and our officers have been mobilized to ensure compliance. This is a fight for the wellbeing of Nigeria and Nigerians and there is no going back, an official of MWUN, who did not want his identity disclosed because he was not authorized to speak on the matter said

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has warned workers in its employment not to join the planned strike by labour unions across the country.

Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan, in a statement on Friday, said the Federal Government was in talks with the unions towards ensuring that all agitations by the workers are resolved.

She, however, added that the workers cannot embark on the industrial action because there is a court injunction restraining them from doing so.

Sequel to the call by the labour unions for workers to embark on industrial action from Monday, 28th September, 2020, the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) wishes to inform all public servants that the Federal Government team is currently engaging with the Labour Unions with a view to resolving all contentious issues and avert the planned industrial action.

Furthermore, it is important to note that there is a court injunction granted by the National Industrial Court (Suit No. NICN/ABJ/253/2020) on 24th September, 2020, restraining the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria from embarking on any form of industrial action pending the hearing and determination of a Motion on Notice.

Accordingly, all officers on Grade Level 12 and above and those on essential services are hereby strongly advised to be at work to perform their official duties, she said.

In two separate rulings on Thursday and Friday, the National Industrial Court had restrained the labour unions from embarking on the strike.

In addition to the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN), other unions including the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE), the Joint Action Front (JAF), Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), and aviation unions, among others, have declared their interest to join in the strike.
Most distribution industries are fragmented; its the nature of the business with local markets being served by local distributors.

But ours is even more fragmented than most. So, even though we were the largest distributor in our industry, we were really just a large regional player.

My plan, from the start, was to make Cook & Boardman the first billion-dollar distributor in our industry and a true national player.

Realistically, the only way to do that is through a combination of organic growth and M&A activities.

Q: Which markets  in terms of geography and product mix  have been the most pivotal to date? In which directions is the company planning to expand next?

Answer: All of our acquisitions are strategic, whether its a large market like Chicago or Atlanta, or smaller ones in Pennsylvania, Ohio or Alabama.

We have a professional team that evaluates acquisition candidates in key areas like culture, reputation, strength of management teams and dedication to associates. All of these factors are considered before starting the process.
A total of 13 militants were killed in clashes between the Lebanese army and an armed group in Wadi Khaled of northern Lebanon, Elnashra news website reported on Saturday, Trend reports citing Xinhua.

The Lebanese army raided on Saturday the armed group in Wadi Khaled leading to severe clashes between the two sides near the Syrian border.

On Friday, the Lebanese army arrested a member of the Islamic State (IS) group in the north of the country for his involvement two weeks ago in al-Beddawi area in a battle that killed four army soldiers and a leader of a IS group.
WASHINGTON - Ahead of the first debate between President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger Joe Biden, each campaign is promising a stark contrast in policy, personality and preparation.

Trump has decided to skip formal preparation, though he said Sunday that former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and his former 2016 primary rival, Chris Christie, are helping him.

We had a little debate prep before we came here, Trump told reporters as Giuliani and Christie looked on in the press briefing room at the White House.

And while Bidens team believes the significance of the debate may be exaggerated, the Democratic nominee has been aggressively preparing to take on the president.

Bidens campaign has been holding mock debate sessions featuring Bob Bauer, a senior Biden adviser and former White House general counsel, playing the role of Trump, according to a person with direct knowledge of the preparations who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal strategy. Bauer has not actually donned a Trump costume in line with Trump stand-ins from previous years, but he is representing his style and expected strategy.

Im sure the president will throw everything he can at (Biden). My guess is that theyre preparing for that  bombarding him with insults and weird digressions, said Jay Carney, a former aide to Biden and President Barack Obama.

Trump and Biden are scheduled to meet on the debate stage for the first time Tuesday night at Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. The 90-minute event, moderated by Fox News host Chris Wallace, is the first of three scheduled presidential debates. Vice-President Mike Pence and California Sen. Kamala Harris, Bidens running mate, will debate in October.

For some, the debates represent the most important moments in the 2020 campaigns closing days, a rare opportunity for millions of voters to compare the candidates policies and personalities side-by-side on prime-time television. Trump has been trailing Biden in the polls for the entire year, a reality that gives the president an urgent incentive to change the direction of the contest on national television if he can.

Others, including those close to Bidens campaign, do not expect the debates to fundamentally change the race no matter what happens, given the pandemic and the economy. They also point to high-profile debates in past elections that were thought to be game-changing moments at the time but that ultimately had little lasting effect.

Those with knowledge of Bidens preparations suggest he will not take the fight to Trump if he can avoid it. But on Saturday, at least, he was on the attack when he discussed his strategy on MSNBC.

Im prepared to go out and make my case as to why I think hes failed and why I think the answers I have to proceed will help the American people, the American economy and make us safer internationally, Biden said, arguing that Trump wont convince voters with broadsides because the people know the president is a liar.

He also compared Trump to Adolf Hitlers propaganda minister, Joseph Goebbels, saying, Hes sort of like Goebbels. You say the lie long enough, keep repeating, repeating, repeating, it becomes common knowledge.

While Biden has said he will try to be a fact checker of sorts on stage, the Democrat is being advised to avoid direct confrontations and instead redirect the conversation to more familiar campaign themes of unity and issues that matter most to voters: the economy, health care and the pandemic.

Arguing over facts, litigating whether what hes saying is accurate, that is not winning to Biden, said Jen Psaki, a former Obama aide who is close to Bidens team. This is an opportunity to speak directly to the American people. His objective should be to speak directly to them, but not be pulled in by Trump. That is hard.

Trump aides and allies, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal strategy, said heading into the weekend that Trump had not been in formal preparations. The president offered mixed messages Sunday with his confirmation that Giuliani and Christie were prepping him, essentially combining to play the role of Biden. Yet Trump downplayed the sessions.

Sometimes you can go too much in that stuff, Trump said, noting that he defeated Hillary Clinton four years ago despite her extensive debate preparation.

The president added that he takes far more questions from the White House press corps than Biden takes from the reporters covering his campaign, arguing those sessions with reporters are a form of debate prep.

Trump offered a preview of his approach when mused that Bidens previous debate performances were influenced by medication. Hes offered no evidence. First in a tweet and later at the White House, Trump said he would demand that Biden take a drug test and that he would take one as well.

Trumps message seemed to be an attempt at both tripping up Biden and preemptively offering an explanation to his supporters if the Democratic nominee has a strong performance.

Biden, in Delaware on Sunday, laughed and declined to comment when asked about Trumps baseless assertions.

Privately some aides and allies are worried that Trumps lack of formal preparation will lead him to fall into the same hubris trap as other incumbents in their first general election debate. Obama, for example, famously struggled in his first matchup against Republican Mitt Romney in 2012.

But other Trump backers are confident that the president is ready to handle any tough questions or pushback from Biden.

The debates matter, said Lara Trump, a senior adviser to the campaign and the presidents daughter-in-law. Donald Trump certainly did a great job on the debates (in 2016) and I think this will be no different.

Lara Trump also seemed to simultaneously raise and lower expectations for Biden.

Joe Biden spent a lot of time in his basement to study up. Hes been in this game for 47 years. I assume hell do OK, she said. Quite frankly, the bar has been lowered so much for Joe Biden that if he stays awake for the whole thing its like maybe he won.

The mixed messages were in line with those of Trumps allies who spent much of the year raising questions about Bidens physical and mental strength, while in recent days trying to cast him as a strong and experienced debater facing a relative neophyte in Trump.

A former reality show star, the president is keenly aware of the power and pitfalls of live television. Aides say that he is acutely mindful of the power of moments to define how a debate is perceived and that he intends to make his share of them happen.

Terry McAuliffe, the former Virginia governor and onetime national Democratic chair, said Biden must fashion a succinct, debate-stage version of his message since the spring: Draw a straight line from Trumps personal deficiencies to his handling of the pandemic, its economic fallout and the national reckoning on race and then explain why a Biden presidency would be different.

Trumps just looking for a Hail Mary here, McAuliffe said. He knows hes in trouble.

___

Peoples reported from New York. Barrow reported from Atlanta.
The mobile operator Three says that an outage that affected its own customers, as well as those of several other operators, has been fixed.

Several of the countrys mobile operators experienced customer outages today after an unexplained problem hit Threes network.

Customers of Virgin Media and Tesco Mobile, as well as Three, took to social media platforms to complain to the operators about a loss of data connectivity.

Three carries 68pc of the countrys mobile data and is the base network used by four other operators  Tesco Mobile, Virgin Mobile, Lycamobile and 48.

We're aware Three customers are experiencing difficulty with loss of service today, we're working to get this fixed as quickly as possible, the operator told customers who complained online.

After 6pm, Three issued a statement saying that the problem had been resolved, without saying what the source of the outage was.

We have resolved the issue that was causing some customers to experience service disruption today, said a spokesperson. Mobile traffic is returning to normalised levels. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Patients as young as 15 are being given hip and knee replacements because they are so overweight, shocking new NHS figures have revealed.

Statistics exposing the dire state of Britains obesity crisis also show that patients under 25 are undergoing heart bypasses because of their weight.

Data shows that the number of obesity-linked operations is rising year by year for all ages, with younger generations having to battle conditions usually associated with ageing.

The figures, published by NHS Digital, show that in 2019/20, one man aged between 20 and 24, received a coronary bypass, with obesity given as one of the main reasons why he needed it.

Patients as young as 15 are being given hip and knee replacements because they are so overweight, shocking new NHS figures have revealed (stock image)

Two men and one woman in their early 20s were given coronary stents  tubes that increase the blood supply to the heart  for the same reason last year.

A total of 30 people under 30 have needed knee replacement surgery in the last five years because of obesity, with the youngest aged between ten and 14.

Three girls under 15 received hip replacements because of their weight last year, with a total of 31 people under the age of 25 having the operation for that reason.

Across all ages, the number of patients needing heart bypasses because of obesity has nearly doubled from 1,570 in 2014 to 3,020 last year.

The new figures come just weeks after the Government launched an obesity strategy proposing a ban on TV adverts for food high in fat, sugar and salt before 9pm

The new figures come just weeks after the Government launched an obesity strategy proposing a ban on TV adverts for food high in fat, sugar and salt before 9pm.

Other measures include scrapping buy one get one free deals on unhealthy foods and displaying calorie counts on restaurant menus.

Even alcoholic drinks could be forced to declare the number of calories they contain.

Duncan Stephenson, deputy chief executive of the Royal Society of Public Health, said: Sadly, these worrying statistics tell a familiar story  when we fail to take on the root causes of obesity, the bill just gets picked up further down the line.

'And yet, prevention services have been gutted of funding in recent years, with a 50 per cent cut to local obesity services since 2015.

If the Government is serious about empowering people to live healthier lives, it first needs to get serious about prevention.

The obesity strategy announced this summer sets out clear action in key areas such as tackling junk food advertising, but we also need to see clear financial backing in the forthcoming spending review with a long term funding package for public health.
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Driven by pure self-interests, the United States has once again spread its "political virus" in front of the international community, exposing its desperate blame-shifting intrigues amid its epidemic crisis.

What Kelly Craft, the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations, said at a summit-level debate of the UN Security Council was nothing fresh but parroting previous China-smearing rhetoric by other Washington politicians. Her accusations are as groundless as they are brazen.

Washington cannot expect to beat the novel coronavirus through such practices. On the contrary, by stoking confrontation and division, the United States has seriously disrupted the international community's joint efforts to fight the pandemic.

Since the onset of the pandemic, the United States, with the world's most advanced medical technologies and system, has largely failed to contain the pathogen, as the country is tragically leading the world in terms of both COVID-19 caseload and death toll, leaving its global image tarnished.

To shift blame for their hellish pandemic response, those politicians have left no stone unturned to smear China and the World Health Organization (WHO). Washington's overbearing bullying has prompted the world to see clearly their political scheme behind the trick of blame-shifting.

The timeline of China's response to COVID-19 outbreak is clear. The Chinese people have stood together and made huge efforts and sacrifices in combatting the disease. China's contribution to the global battle against the pandemic has been widely recognized by the international community, including the United Nations and the WHO.

"The United States should understand that blaming others will not solve its own problems. All countries have their problems along the way of development. And these problems should first and foremost be solved through one's own efforts. By shifting responsibilities, or 'lying, cheating, stealing,' one will not solve any problem, but only drift further down the wrong direction," said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, in his response to Craft.

As a major country in the world, the United States should set a good example for the 193 members in the UN family. However, its behavior is utterly rejectable.

It is the United States that has time and again undermined the international order by departing from international institutions and treaties at will.

It is also the United States that has stirred up unilateralism and exceptionalism at a time when the global community faces so many threats and challenges that need to be tackled together.

As the world marks the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, those U.S. politicians should seriously revisit the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and thoroughly reflect on the fundamental reasons why the law of the jungle was universally rejected by the international community after World War II.

Those U.S. politicians should stop their self-designed "political show" and instead shoulder due responsibilities for the world.
Parents whose sons attend the private school embroiled in a Year 12 Muck Up scandal have jumped to their defence on social media.

Shore School on Sydney's lower north shore was forced to go into damage control after a document detailing a muck up day scavenger hunt circulated among Year 12 students was leaked to the public earlier this week.

Titled the 'Triwizard Shorenament' - a reference to Harry Potter - students were encouraged to participate in a series of activities such as spitting on a homeless man, breaking into Taronga Zoo and taking drugs.

Mothers who send their sons to the $33,000 a year school have since taken a stand by uploading photos of their boys in private Facebook and Instagram groups.

Parents who send their boys to Shore School (pictured) have taken a stand to stick up for their sons on social media after the school was embroiled in controversy this week

Photos were tagged with hashtag #ProudShoreMums, along with blue and white heart emojis to represent the school's colours, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The posts were in response to the social and media attacks their boys have been under since the muck up antics were exposed.

Parents claim their sons as young as primary school-aged are being harassed by the media for interviews for interviews and abused by the public on their way to and from school.

'So many boys have been getting verbally abused, screamed at by the public. They are all happy it's school holidays,' one primary school mother told the publication.

Parents have also been forced to stick up for their sons in Facebook groups following the backlash facing the school.

'I wanted to remind people that not all of the year 12 boys at Shore were involved in this and that it's unfair to generalise,' one parent posted, according to the Herald.

'I think the way decent boys are being spoken about is unfair and actually could harm their attitudes to women.'

The hashtag has since sparked backlash and further debate on social media, with many blaming the parents.

Doting parents posted photos of their sons in Shore school uniform, along with blue and white heart emojis and the hashtag #ProudShoreMums. Pictured are students in school uniform

'These Shore School mothers show the reason why there's a problem with kids, these kids are allowed to get away with anything including plans that involve spitting on the homeless, rape and drug taking. Society is already paying for a lot of s*** parenting,' one person wrote on Twitter.

Another added: '#ProudShoreMums are not in the best position to identify the corrosive effect of the privilege they instill in their children and pay for by sending their them to private school. To say that this blight extends right across the North Shore is absolutely correct and no excuse.'

Another asked how parents plan to fix this 'appalling, entitled, privileged behaviour?'

'Teach humility?' the man added.

Shore headmaster Timothy Petterson said he was aware of parents concerns of the their of sons being identified as Shore students in public along with 'disturbing comments' on social media.

He addressed the muck saga in a letter to parents last week, saying the student involved in preparing the document 'appear to be a small number, not representative of the wider year group'.

Students were also filmed (pictured) in a TikTok video mocking western Sydney suburbs, such as Blacktown and Mount Druitt, as being full of 'druggos'

The #ProudShoreMums hashtag has sparked further outrage and debate on social media

The exclusive school has been hit with fresh claims of systemic abuse, bullying and homophobia in the wake of the muck up day scandal.

Former students have come forward, claiming a 'hyper masculine' culture has been brewing for years that serves students, teachers and parents with 'elitist' values.

Matt Godden told Daily Mail Australia the culture among the teachers allowed years of student bullying to go undetected as he was punched and called homophobic slurs such as 'f****t'.

'There was verbal abuse, pushing, shoving, messing up, or grabbing and pulling around by the hair,' he said.

'Things that might seem inconsequential, that if you were to complain might be dismissed with some platitude about hardening up, or standing up for yourself.

'The teachers' attitudes, were, in my opinion, contributors to it.'

Mr Godden said in a series of tweets he had graduated in 1992 and the trauma from the bullying had led him to have a mental breakdown and almost drop out of school two weeks before sitting the Higher School Certificate.

'Constantly hunted in corridors, and grabbed by the hair, and hurled around, and against walls, labelled a 'f****t', for the crime of a haircut,' he tweeted.

'Yes, apparently, there are 'gay' haircuts.'

Mr Godden said he did not identify as a homosexual and that something as small as his haircut was enough to draw unwanted attention from students and teachers alike.

He claimed one teacher openly disliked him and would make condescending comments about his appearance.

'He pointed at my haircut, which so offended him, and said, 'Next year, I'm going to get you. Next year, you're mine!''.

Mr Godden said one boy regularly pulled him by the hair and threw him to the ground and shoved him against the wall.

After a particularly bad beating, Mr Godden says the bully was given a soft punishment.

'The sum total of repercussions he received was a 3 hour Saturday Detention, which some other students implored me to plead that he be allowed to forego,' he said.

Mr Godden claimed teachers often overlooked the bullying over fears of repercussion.

'Gay teachers had said nothing, had watched the abuse, and done nothing, for fear of their own careers,' he tweeted.

Mr Godden also claimed there were even some teachers who took part in the bullying culture.

'We had an insane teacher,' he said.

'He would punch the desk hard enough to make the windows rattle to get the class's attention.

'If he caught a boy not paying attention, he would creep up to them, like a ninja, and physically lift them out of their seat by the hair where sideburns (that were not allowed) would grow.'

Mr Godden said the experience forced him to skip school just so he would avoid the bullies.

'I probably had higher than average absenteeism,' he said.

Younger students from Shore School (pictured) have been harassed by the media and abused on their way to and from school

Students were also filmed in a TikTok video mocking western Sydney suburbs as being full of 'druggos'.

In the now deleted TikTok interview, a group of four Shore School students were asked to name the worst suburb in Sydney.

'Blacktown,' the four boys answer in unison.

When asked to elaborate one said 'because its Blacktown', before another answered 'druggos'.

Another pair of mates were asked the same question, with one replying: 'The worst is Bankstown... too many 'eshays' who'll roll you'.

An eshay refers to a Sydney subculture of young criminals who tend to wear bumbags and sneakers, and are usually considered to be from battler suburbs.

The exception among the group was one boy who said the worst suburb 'is Mosman because all the rich kids live there'.

Shore headmaster Timothy Petterson has addressed the scandal in a letter to parents

The 'rule book' - detailed by students in a PDF documents - reveals plans to meet at a park on the lower north shore on the night before the traditional celebrations.

Year 12 students would be split into teams of five or six before carrying out a series of tasks to gain the most points.

Some challenges are illegal, such as 'snort a line' (of cocaine) or 'rip a cone on the Harbour Bridge' (smoke cannabis out of a bong).

Others dare students to 'break into Taronga Zoo', 'spit on a homeless man', and 'sh** on a train'.

Some involve assaulting total strangers by hitting them in the genitals while they are walking past.

The list of challenges also denigrates women, urging students to have sex with a woman over 80kg or hook up with an unattractive women deemed '3/10 or lower'.

Others tasks include getting mullet haircuts and waxing armpit hair.

Instructions written into the rule book advise students they must document their completed tasks on Instagram.

But they are also warned not to upload any potentially incriminating evidence of illegal behaviour including 'inappropriate or sexual advances'.

The scavenger hunt limits Year 12 students from competing in the tournament outside Sydney's CBD and the city's lower north shore (pictured)

The 'official rule and challenge book' - created by students in a PDF document - revealed they planned to meet between 5 and 6pm on Wednesday at Waverton Park for the series of 'treacherous' challenges

The 'rule book' - detailed by students in a PDF documents - reveals plans to meet at a park on the lower north shore on the night before the traditional celebrations

'If anyone gets caught by a teacher/cops they will say that they were just having fun between the 5/6 of them and won't mention the tournament,' the instructions state.

A stern warning has since been issued to students and parents.

'As soon as the school became aware of the document police were informed and an urgent communication was sent to all year 12 parents instructing that under no circumstances are Shore boys to participate in the activities specified,' a school spokesman said.

'Consequences for any boys who do participate will be severe and could include the loss of their place at the school.'

Daily Mail Australia contacted Shore School for comment.
An African Response to the Revised Draft Treaty on Business & Human Rights

On 6 October, CALS and ACCA will be hosting a webinar to formulate an African response to the current draft of the Binding Treaty on Business & Human Rights

On 6 October 2020, the African Coalition for African Accountability (ACCA) and the Centre for Applied legal Studies (CALS) will host a webinar on the binding treaty on business and human rights. The purpose of this webinar is to unpack the second revised draft treaty from an African perspective. The webinar will be an opportunity for Africans to discuss the draft, highlight its strengths and weaknesses and reflect on the prospects of galvanising state support for its adoption. Bringing together government representatives, academics and civil society activists, the webinar will provide a platform to discuss the draft treaty and make recommendations in anticipation of the next session of negotiations.

Background

In June 2014, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted resolution 26/9, sponsored by the governments of South Africa and Ecuador, in which it decided to establish an open-ended intergovernmental working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights, whose mandate shall be to elaborate an international legally binding instrument to regulate, in international human rights law, the activities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises. The call and the resultant draft treaty have found support in the global south, which is the host to the majority of multinational enterprises.

It is of utmost importance that a binding treaty on business and human rights that adequately accounts for the African experience is adopted. While the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human rights (UNGPs)  the so-called Ruggie Principles  are an essential international framework to advance corporate accountability, they do not fully reflect the experiences and concerns of African civil society and are currently failing to change lived realities on the ground. It is therefore crucial that African civil society embraces the treaty process and builds collective power by advocating both at the regional and international level for the adoption of a legally binding instrument on Business and Human rights.

On 6 August 2020, the Second Revised Draft of the treaty was released. After a zero draft in 2018 and a first revised draft in 2019, the current draft will mark an important step in the negotiations and hopefully will pave the road towards the adoption of a legally binding treaty on Business and Human Rights. The next session of the intergovernmental negotiations will take place in Geneva on 26-30 October 2020.

Agenda for webinar to formulate an African response to the BHR Treaty

Welcoming remarks: Tshepo Madlingozi, Director of CALS, member of Steering Committee the African Coalition Corporate Accountability

Moderator: Abiodun Baiyewu, Co-Chair of the Steering Committee of the African Coalition for Corporate Accountability, Executive Director of Global Rights Nigeria

Panelists:

Reflection on the Second Revised Draft of the Treaty on Business and Human Rights

 Professor David Bilchitz, Professor of Fundamental Rights and Constitutional Law at the University of Johannesburg and Director of the South African Institute for Advanced Constitutional, Public, Human Rights and International Law (SAIFAC)

Assessing the Second revised draft from an African civil society perspective

 Arnold Kwesi, Project Coordinator at the Uganda Consortium on Corporate Accountability (UCCA), Member of ACCA Working Group on the Treaty

The Second revised draft from a gender perspective

 Felogene Anumo, Building Feminist Economies at the Association for Womens Rights in Development (AWID) and Feminists for a Binding Treaty (#F4BT)

Pushing for the adoption of a binding treaty: The Balance of forces that have a bearing on the treaty process and prospects for adoption

 Professor Githu Muigai, Associate Professor of Law at the University of Nairobi and Member of the United Nations Working Group on the issue of Human Rights and Transnational Corporations and other Business Enterprises.

Pushing for the adoption of a binding treaty: the role of African governments in the treaty process and prospects for adoption

 Gladice Pickering, Deputy Executive Director, Ministry of Justice, Republic of Namibia.

For more information, please contact:
Connecticut State Police are asking for help to identify and track down at least three men who are suspects in the double homicide of a 20-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man who lived in Western Massachusetts.

The three men, who are believed to be from Springfield or the surrounding area, were seen inside a 2016 black Ram 1500 truck that was recorded on video camera parked overnight between Aug. 1-2. The truck was parked at the Pride Gas Station on East Columbus Ave. in Springfield, police said.

The men are suspects in the shooting deaths of Gregory Scott, 24, of Western Massachusetts, and Jennifer M. Hicks, 20, who is from Texas but was living in Chicopee with her fiancee, a U.S. Marine, according to the Journal Inquirer.

The two were shot at about 2 a.m., Aug. 2, while sitting in a vehicle at the Buckland Street public commuter lot in Manchester, Connecticut. There was a gathering of about 200 people in a pop-up meet which may have involved illegal drag racing. Scott died at the scene. Hicks was taken to the hospital and died there later in the day, police said.

The three suspects were in the truck the night of the homicides. The registered owner of the truck is not a suspect in the shooting, but police did not explain why the other men were in the vehicle without the owner.

It is believed that two of the suspects are Black males and at least one additional suspect is a male of unknown race. Information strongly suspects that the suspects reside in Springfield, police said.

Anyone who can identify the suspects or has any information about the homicides is asked to call State Police Det. Michael Grabowski at 860-209-1301. Information can be shared anonymously, police said.

Related Content:
Chinese Farmers Seek Help as Rice Crops Ruined by Flooding

After severe flooding in central and southern China ruined rice crops, many farmers have been left struggling.

Following heavy rainfall in the past half-month, some rice crops began to sprout, meaning they can no longer be harvested.

More rain is expected in central, southern, and southwestern China for the next couple of days, with some anticipated to be more severe, Chinas National Meteorological Center warned.

Sprouted rice cannot be produced into rice grains  I really want to cry, but my tears are all dried up, said Chen, a farmer in Poyang county, Shangrao city in eastern Chinas Jiangxi Province, told the Chinese-language Epoch Times in a phone interview.

Chen and his fellow villagers plant rice, cotton, and sesame. Their adult children are migrant workers in major cities, but have been unable to earn enough money due to many factories closing during the CCP virus pandemic, he said.

Farmers in Jiangxi typically have two planting seasons: one before May, to harvest in July, and another before August, to harvest in October. However, the first seasons crops were ruined by flooding.

But while farmers planted another round of crops, hoping to harvest in September, the second harvest season also has been disrupted.

A lot of rice fell into the [storm] water. Some rice sprouted. The other crops that still stand in the field are wilted, Chen said. We cant harvest enough rice.

Elsewhere, rice crops in Guizhou Province also sprouted before farmers could harvest them, a local netizen posted on Chinese web portal NetEase on Sept. 20.

Chen planted cotton and sesame after the floodwaters receded. However, these crops didnt grow well.

Cotton really needs sunshine. Without sunshine, we cant have a good harvest, he added.

The disruptions have caused the price of rice and other staple foods to rise sharply, especially pork. Meanwhile, villagers whose homes were destroyed by the flooding havent received any assistance from the local government, Chen said.

Chens friends and relatives living in the city are also having a hard time because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year is very tough.  My friends who operate porcelain businesses are all in bad shape, Chen said. At least half the stores in Jingdezhen city were closed.

For more than 1,000 years, Jingdezhen has been known for producing Chinas finest ceramics.
Argentina's Juan Imhoff said his try which sent Racing 92 into the European Champions Cup final with a 19-15 win over title holders Saracens on Saturday was "extraordinary".

Winger Imhoff crossed with five minutes to play after a Finn Russell chip and centre Virimi Vakatawa's pass against Sarries who will be relegated from the English Premiership for breaching the league's salary cap.

The Parisians will travel to either Toulouse or Exeter Chiefs, who play later in England, on October 17 for a chance at a first European crown.

"We found it hard to break the defensive line. We won with something extraordinary which breaks the system," Imhoff said.

"It's now 80 minutes, anything can happen. We're where want to be," he added.

Sarries director of rugby Mark McCall praised Russell and Vakatawa's combination.

"They have this moment of magic in them. Finn Russell has a great relationship with the 13. I'm incredibly proud of this bunch to back up last week with a performance," McCall said.

A maximum of 1,000 spectators were allowed into the 32,000-capacity La Defense Arena under new coronavirus restrictions that came into effect earlier in the day.

France winger Teddy Thomas made his first appearance since February's Six Nations victory over Wales.

The visitors named an unchanged side from last weekend's success at Leinster as Alex Goode continued to deputise for England captain Owen Farrell who has been banned for a dangerous tackle.

Iribaren opened the scoring with an 11th minute penalty goal before Goode, who scored 19 points in Dublin, brought the sides level at 3-3 with his own effort after 25 minutes.

Neither side managed to claim the ascendancy in an error-strewn opening and Iribaren and Goode slotted two further penalties for a 6-6 scoreline with both efforts kicked in eerie silence.

The first glimpse of brilliance from Racing's international-filled backline came with two minutes of the first half to go as Scotland fly-half Finn Russell cleaned up a Sarries kick inside his own 22m.

Story continues

He passed to Thomas out wide who ran free to chip ahead into open space and along with Imhoff forced full-back Elliot Daly to run the ball into touch.

Racing won a penalty after pressure from the resulting lineout and Iribaren claimed a 9-6 lead at the break.

Goode was successful with two further penalties inside the opening 10 minutes for a 12-9 advantage.

With half an hour remaining the hosts played a lineout quickly and Russell fed Simon Zebo on his 22m but the Ireland full-back knocked the ball on after a smothering tackle from Dominic Morris, a first-half substitute for Scotland centre Duncan Taylor.

Racing were pinned at the following scrum and Goode opened up a six-point gap.

Iribaren was replaced by 38-time France scrum-half Maxime Machenaud afterwards and despite pressure inside the Sarries half, the home side failed to find gaps in the disciplined away defence.

Machenaud closed the gap to 15-12 with a little over 10 minutes to play after Donnacha Ryan won a superb penalty at a ruck as Racing sensed victory and a place in the final.

But with five minutes to play they found the breakthrough as Sarries' defensive line faltered.

Vakatawa broke up field from a Russell chip to find Imhoff for the decisive try and Machenaud converted as Racing claimed a spot in the final, a third in the club's history after 2016 and 2018.

iwd/lp
Authorities in Boston are investigating the Sunday morning fatal shooting of a man in Dorchester.

Officers responded to a radio call around 1:15 a.m. Sunday for a report of a person shot in the area of 16 Hubbardston Road in Dorchester, Boston police said in a news release.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found an unresponsive man who had been shot. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

No further details about the victim were released.

The death remains under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Boston Police Homicide Detectives at 617-343-4470.
Discussions have been rife as to whether Okada (Motorbikes) business should be legalized, and this has certainly thrown people to different sides of the debate. Varied opinions have been shared by many as to whether the business should be legalized and regulated or the ban on it should still be in place. The controversy surrounding this delicate matter has compelled me to add my voice to the already voiced ones regarding this matter.

Just like all elections years, the year 2020 is no exception. Ghanaians will be going to the polls in December to elect Members of Parliament (MPs) and an Executive President to steer the affairs of this country for the next four years per the provisions of the 1992 Constitution. As usual of election years, politicians tend to promise heaven and earth in a bid to garnering votes from the masses to win elections. It is often said that in an election year, politicians will go any length to promise heaven and paradise to the people but after clinching electoral victory, citizens have hell and misery to deal with. Often, these politicians find some populist and opportunistic campaign promises which seems to resonate with the electorates without any proper feasibility studies and thinking through approach. Theirs is to promise and get the votes of the masses or electorates. It is not surprising that electorates are lured by this 'sugar-coated' approach by politicians.

The Okada debate and how it started. John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of arguably the largest opposition political party in Ghana, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) speaking to supporters at Kpando in the Volta Region during his tour of the area is quoted by Classfmonline.com saying Ive been seeing young people who have finished school and they cant find a job, and, so, they are looking for something they can do, and many of our young people are riding motorcycles and transporting people from place to place and we call them Okada. But in our law, it says Okada is illegal, Okada is a reality, it has come to stay, you cant stop it and so, Ive suggested and I say when we come into office, we will legalize Okada but we will regulate it. We will regulate it and we will give them training so that they can do their business safely without causing the lives of people, they must obey all the traffic regulations so that they be allowed to pursue their profession.

This statement made by the former President has consumed more time on radio and television as a major topic worthy of discussion. The argument has been made by many that this is an attempt intended at winning votes from Okada riders. Others have also lauded the idea, as they claim it will create a lot of job opportunities for people.

It comes as no problem when a presidential candidate promises to create employment for people, and certainly one will say that the Okada business is an avenue which is currently employing the teaming unemployed citizens. Again, it comes as no problem when there is a promise to legalize and regulate the Okada business if it is intended to create jobs for the people. However, the irony of the matter is that it is this same John Mahama during his tenure as President in the year 2012 that saw Parliament enacting the law that banned the operation of this Okada business. Section 128 (1) of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 provides as follows:

The licensing authority shall not register a motorcycle to carry a fare-paying passenger."

One would be right in saying that there were no proper feasibility studies and proper thinking through before the enactment of this law. Many have said that people sat in the comfort of the Flag Staff House and advocated for the ban on Okada without any proper research. This is very typical of our leaders. They create the problems and when they want to fix it, they want us to clap for them. Its a pity! Several questions begging for answers include whether when the bill that eventually became law banning Okada was proposed, were stakeholders in the transport sector which includes Okada riders contacted to solicit their views? Where was the science and data to back the ban then? Assuming the science and data was available the next question is whether there has been a change in the science and data necessitating the legalization of the Okada business now? If these stakeholders were properly consulted and engaged, Ghana as a country would not have been entangled in this fuss.

According to the available data, motorcycles killed 440 out of the 1,141 commuters who perished in road traffic crashes between January and June 2020. Also, out of 2,553 motorcycle crashes within six months, 440 of the victims died, whilst 8,604 car crashes killed 701 during this same period. The data from the Motor Traffic Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service further indicates that fatalities involving bus occupants reduced by 20% between 2001 and 2018, but that of motorcycle-related fatalities increased by 1,170%.

The data above shows that even though motorcycle has a low occupancy rate, it has more fatality rate than vehicles which have a high occupancy rate. A question to be asked is which areas have become hotspots for these fatalities? Is it the rural areas or the urban communities? This question needs to be answered and analyzed before there is thought about the legalization and regulation of the Okada business.

It, therefore, comes as no surprise that the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has kicked against the legalization of the Okada business. From the medical point of view, motorcycles are more dangerous as compared to vehicles. It is noteworthy that some economists support the idea of the legalization and regulation of the Okada business because to them, this will create more employment for the youth. This is a dilemma which needs a lot of consultation and consideration.

Is the Okada business a reality? From my point of view, I believe that the Okada business has come to stay and the earlier we act as a country the better and thus no argument can supersede the legalization and regulation of the business because of the immeasurable help that it provides to the people in the rural communities and an extent the urban areas. We can base the argument on whether it should be legalized in the urban or rural areas by looking at the data of fatalities. The Vice President of Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, is said to have stated that the current government will or intends to roll in measures to help the Okada riders graduate from Okada riding to the driving of small cars. It is a notorious fact that there are some places in Ghana that cars are unable to access due to the deplorable roads and how these roads turned deathtraps have been neglected for years.

The business may seem very dangerous in Accra and other cities, but very safe and convenient for people living in rural areas who do not have good roads. This aside, the employment opportunities this business has created for the youth has not been considered. If the government insists on making the Okada business illegal leading to the enforcement of the ban already existent, it will be prudent if the government helps to migrate the people engaged in this business onto better employment programs so such persons can fend for themselves and their families but to ban the business without making rooms for alternative means of livelihoods is a non-starter!

Look at the clamours and excitement to which this statement was greeted with by riders and the beneficiaries of this Okada business. It was massive. Hence, if democracy is government of the people, by the people and for the people then it is about time the government rethink about this law and make it flexible for the riders.

The operation of the Okada business in our cities also shows how we have failed as a country to manage the traffic on our major roads. People living in the cities such as Accra, Kumasi and many others go through a great deal of hell just to commute to and from work. A journey which ordinarily should take 15 minutes to be completed ends up being a two-hour journey because of vehicular traffic on our roads. It becomes very disturbing and stressful going through this hell every day. Its about time we did the needful. John Dramani Mahama and the NDC should give us the blueprint on how they will legalize and regulate the Okada business if they win political power come December 7. The citizenry does not want another U-turn from him again on this matter. He, stating that the next NDC government will legalize and regulate the Okada business clearly shows that his government in 2012 didnt do any proper research and studies before the outlawing or banning of the Okada business.

I must reiterate that even though I support the legalization and regulation of the Okada business because of the enormous help it gives to people, the government should engage wisely with all the necessary stakeholders who matter in this issue and bring finality to it. This should also serve as a guide to our leaders that anytime a law is to be enacted, citizens particularly stakeholders on the matter at hand should properly be engaged before such laws are passed. Let prudence guide us as we think through this issue again.

Ghana must work again. Ghana will work again. YOUNG POSITIVIST a concerned citizen of Ghana.

Author: Sampson Boamah (0548690091/ [email protected] twitter @YPOSITIVIST)
Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, Minister for Employment and Labor Relations has said Government would ensure job security for workers of the communication sector.



He said the communication sector workers continued to endure unstable jobs and poor working environments despite their significant roles in development and especially in the ongoing fight against the coronavirus pandemic.



Mr Awuah said these in a speech read on his behalf at the opening of the Seventh Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Ho.



The Minister said the sector contributed considerably towards the economy although constituting a wee fraction of the nations workforce, and appealed to the management of institutions within the sector to consider the relevance of communication workers and to stay true to laws governing employment.



In spite of the significant roles played by workers in this sector, decent work standards seem non-existent for them. Poor working conditions, exploitation and abuse of workers rights such as freedom of association, unfair termination of contract of employment among others continue to be rampant and these do not auger well for the pursuit of decent work for all.



Challenges of this nature limit the full realisation of the potential of the communications sector, he said.



Mr Awuah added that concerns of the sector remained top priority and that the Ministry would promote and deepen management-union relationships at all times.



He advised sector workers to seek peaceful means of addressing disagreements with management, and also said the Ministry was available to receive all complaints.



Dr Yaw Baah, Secretary-General of the TUC commended the peaceful outlook and aspirations of the CWU.It takes Unions like this to bring about peace. The TUC will support you to keep the peace that you have in the Union, he said.



He said media unions emerged as one of the groupings most affected by industrial transformations and encouraged members to explore new methods.



He advocated grassroot participation and announced that the TUC would be converting its guesthouse into a wing of its soon to be established labour college.



Dr Baah said the TUC was persistent on ensuring that all pension claims were faithfully honored by trustees, and asked those affected not to despair.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Hermann Tilke has become a third high-profile expected attendee who is in fact not present at the Russian GP this weekend.

We reported earlier that Russian president Vladimir Putin and Bernie Ecclestone - both regular attendees at the event in Sochi - are not present in 2020.

Another notable absentee is Will Buxton, a popular broadcaster who is among seven cases of coronavirus detected by Formula 1 testing in the past week.

Also absent is Hermann Tilke, the F1 circuit architect who was in charge of the design of the Sochi layout around the Olympic Park.

"Unfortunately, I could not fly to Sochi," the German told Russian news agency Tass.

"I was going, and had the visa, a hotel, plane tickets, but at the last moment everything fell through. I am currently in quarantine," Tilke said.

"I would very much like to be in Sochi, but I think that after the coronavirus there will be a calmer period again as before and I will happily come back. I love this city," he added.

(GMM)
SPRINGFIELD  Illinois lawmakers may soon consider legislation to lower the states compulsory attendance law to include 5-year-olds, a measure advocates see as a way to expand access to early childhood education opportunities, especially among Black and low-income families.

That was just one of the issues discussed Thursday during a virtual joint hearing of the Illinois Senate Education and Higher Education committees, and its one that has the strong backing of the Illinois State Board of Education.

We firmly believe that lowering the compulsory school age to five will ensure that all children have a better opportunity to receive a strong foundation of literacy and reading skills that will set them up for success in all aspects of their lives, Brenda Dixon, ISBEs chief research and evaluation director, said during the hearing that was conducted via Zoom.

Currently, Illinois only requires children between the ages of six and 17 to attend school, which effectively makes kindergarten optional. Currently, Dixon said, about 130,000 children attend kindergarten in Illinois public schools, but lowering the compulsory attendance age to five could boost that number by as many as 3,000, or 2.3 percent.

We believe lowering the compulsory school age to five will support more equitable educational opportunities for our youngest learners, and build on the states investment in early childhood education, Dixon said. Kindergarten for all will strengthen the learning continuum for Illinois students.

Thursdays hearing was just one in a series of hearings that the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus has called to discuss issues surrounding racial inequities. Earlier this month, the ILBC said it was developing a legislative agenda for racial equity that would be based on four pillars.

Besides education and workforce development, which was the subject of Thursdays hearing, the other pillars include criminal justice reform; economic access, equity and opportunity; and health care and human services.

Dixon noted that students who dont start school until the first grade are at an immediate disadvantage with their peers who went to kindergarten, and they rarely get the opportunity to catch up.

There is no catch-up time built into our school calendar for children who enter the public school system underprepared, she said. Once established, gaps in school readiness skills are difficult and costly to remedy, leading to pronounced gaps in achievement. We firmly believe that lowering the compulsory school age to five will ensure that all children have a better opportunity to receive a strong foundation of literacy and reading skills that will set them up for success in all aspects of their lives.

Christopher Span, a researcher and associate dean at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaigns College of Education, said that for most of Americas history, Black children were specifically excluded from access to public education, even after the landmark 1954 U.S. Supreme Court case Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education.

One thing that I was able to kind of show in my research is that as schooling became more compulsory, you saw African Americans close the gap in what we call gaps of achievement in school communities, he said. And we also see it with regards to the closing of the gap in terms of educational attainment  so, gaining access to high school, gaining access to college degrees.

While there appeared to be broad support among educators for lowering the mandatory school age in order to expand access to kindergarten, there was much less support for the one of the other proposals being considered  a requirement that students be held back in the third grade if, by the end of that year, they still are not meeting state standards for reading and math skills.

It is often said among educators that from kindergarten through third grade, students learn to read, and from fourth grade on, they read to learn. That means students who enter fourth grade without the reading skills needed for fourth-grade work are likely to fall further and further behind for the rest of their time in school.

But Dixon and others said mandatory retention policies have been shown to do more harm than good.

In fact, studies have long shown that mandatory retention increases dropout risk, Dixon said. Now, while there are some recent studies that associate mandatory retention policies with short-term academic gains, those effects disappear by middle school, again suggesting that there are no lasting positive impacts of mandatory retention policies.

Dixon said if that policy were in place today, based on the most recent state assessments, 85,000 to 90,000 third graders, or 72 percent, would be held back from going on to fourth grade. Of those, roughly 80 percent are Black and brown students, and 85 percent are from low-income families.

What is most important when it comes to the policy on third grade retention is what we do the years preceding third grade, Dixon said.

The two committees are scheduled to hold another joint hearing on Wednesday, Sept. 30. The subjects of that hearing will be COVID-19 responses in K-12 education and equitable funding.
A general view of Apple European headquarters at Hollyhill industrial estate in Co Cork. The Facility employs 6000 people manufacturing and distributing iMac computers.

The Irish government said it will consider the legal grounds of the European Commissions appeal over a court decision not to order Apple to pay back 13 billion euros (11.6 billion) in taxes to Ireland.

The countrys finance minister said that Ireland has always been clear that the correct amount of Irish tax was paid and that Ireland provided no State aid to Apple.

The EUs General Court in Luxembourg ruled in July that the commission wrongly declared in 2016 that Apple was given illegal state aid when it struck a low tax rate agreement with Irish authorities.

On Friday, the European Commission said it respectfully considers that in its judgment the General Court has made a number of errors of law.

Executive vice president Margrethe Vestager said for this reason, the Commission is bringing this matter before the European Court of Justice.

We have decided to appeal before the @EUCourtPress the General Court's judgment of July 2020 on the Apple State aid case in Ireland, which annulled the Commission's decision of August 2016 finding that Ireland granted illegal State aid to Apple through selective tax breaks.  European Commission  (@EU_Commission) September 25, 2020

An appeal to the blocs highest court must be on a point, or points, of law.

The appeal process could take up to two years to complete.

Irelands Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, said he notes the European Commissions decision to lodge an appeal.

Mr Donohoe added: Ireland has not yet been served with formal notice of the appeal.

When it is received, the Government will need to take some time to consider, in detail, the legal grounds set out in the appeal and to consult with the Governments legal advisers, in responding to this appeal.

The 13.1 billion euro is being held in an escrow account, meaning the proceeds cannot be released until there has been a final determination in the European courts over the validity of the commissions decision.

The EU Commission had ordered Apple to pay for gross underpayment of tax on profits across the European bloc from 2003 to 2014.

The Government will need to take some time to consider the legal grounds set out in the appeal and to consult with the Governments legal advisers Paschal Donohoe

The commission said Apple used two shell companies in Ireland to report its Europe-wide profits at effective rates well under 1%.

Irelands open economy is based on low corporate taxation and other incentives to attract multinationals.

In Apples case, it was significantly below the standard 12.5% imposed on corporations.

Apple said that, from 2003 to 2014, it paid 577 million US dollars (504.6 million euro) in tax on profit generated in the country, in line with the tax laws in Ireland.

Apple said the case was never about how much tax it pays but where it is required to pay.

The company said: The appeal will not alter the factual conclusions of the General Court, which prove that we have always abided by the law in Ireland, as we do everywhere we operate.
When Robert Harris sets out to write a novel, he likes to build the foundations on historical facts. An idea comes into his head from a real incident and a real character and he then develops a story around it, blending fact and fiction and building layer upon layer.

This is what happened with his latest thriller, V2, which tells the story of two principal characters involved in the German bombing of London by rockets launched from the coast of the Nazi-occupied Netherlands.

On one side is the German engineer Rudi Von Graf, who is involved in launching the utterly terrifying rockets that killed nearly 3,000 people in London in the final year of the Second World War.

On the other side is Kay Caton-Walsh, an officer in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF), sent to liberated Belgium to pinpoint where these missiles are coming from, so that the Royal Air Force can bomb the launch sites.

Speaking on a Zoom line from his book-lined study in Berkshire, Harris says the idea for V2 came into his head when he read an obituary of Eileen Younghusband, a WAAF officer, who actually had been dispatched to Belgium to help find out where the V2 launch sites were.

"I thought that would be a wonderful story," he says. "You have an idea and it lurks in the back of your mind. Then I needed to find out who would be firing these rockets. When I am writing a novel, I read everything I possibly can about the subject."

The germ of the story came in 2016, the same year as the UK voted to leave the EU, and Harris believes that the mood of Brexit helped to shape the story.

"It is staggering that, within living memory, one European country was occupying another to fire ballistic missiles at the capital city of a third."

Harris is contemptuous of Brexiteers and their willingness to cut themselves off from Europe. "They are self-indulgent bomb-throwers, who have been indulged like schoolchildren, spoilt by decades of peace," he says.

Politics and writing have been Harris's twin passions ever since he was an eight-year-old boy growing up on a council estate in Nottingham.

"My father was a printer and he used to work on Saturdays and he would often take me with him. He would sit me next to a big Heidelberg press with an exotic pile of paper. The smell of ink and the smell of paper got into me. I used to doodle and draw maps of imaginary countries.

"One of the first things I bought was a typewriter. I had a paper round and then I started producing my own newspaper. At school, I wrote plays and I was given a lot of freedom to express myself."

Early on, Harris was drawn to journalism and, after graduating from Cambridge, he worked for the BBC, making documentaries for Panorama with his friend Jeremy Paxman.

Harris says he learned how to structure a story on Panorama. "You had to make five or six million people interested in a story and hold their interest for 50 minutes," he says.

He moved into print journalism and wrote non-fiction books. Then, he had a sudden notion that would shape his entire career as a writer.

"I had this idea about writing a book about what the world would have been like if Hitler had won the war.

"At first, I wanted to write it like a guidebook, then I wanted to write about what happened to the people. I invented a character and a story.

"Suddenly, I was through the looking glass into another world from which I have never returned, because I found it such a liberation."

The result was Harris's first novel, Fatherland, the ultimate what-if story involving Germany winning the War.

It has sold three million copies and has been translated into 25 languages. "I had hit on something that combined all my interests - storytelling, history, research and politics."

Since then, Harris has written 12 bestselling books, but he says he has relied on his experience as a journalist to get them written.

"I love working on deadlines and adrenalin," he says. "I believe writing works best when you don't know what you are going to say.

"You sit down in a panic and something comes and it's generally more original and interesting than if you had spent days thinking about it."

Harris says he started one of his novels, An Officer and a Spy, on January 15, 2013 and it was in the shops by September of that year. He says it is perhaps the novel of which he feels most proud.

It was based on the notorious Dreyfus affair in France, where a Jewish artillery captain, Alfred Dreyfus, was falsely convicted of passing military secrets to the Germans.

The novel has been turned into a film by the director Roman Polanski. Harris co-wrote the script with Polanski, their third collaboration on a movie. The film has won awards, but has not yet been put on general release, because of the controversy surrounding the director.

Harris defends his involvement with Polanski, who fled the US in 1978 after pleading guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl.

"In 2007, when I started working with him, everyone wanted to work with him," he says. "My involvement with the film ended six years ago and I never thought it would be made.

"It was a very different mood, even six years ago. It was pre-#MeToo and all of that.

"The book was only written because he had the idea and he wanted me to do something about the Dreyfus affair."

Harris asked Polanski if he could write the novel first and the director agreed to that before a screenplay was eventually written.

"I owe him some loyalty for that.

"Of course, it puts me in an exquisitely difficult position, but in the end for me loyalty is a virtue," Harris says.

"I am sorry that, in the English language world, he is so unspeakable that the film cannot be released."

V2 by Robert Harris is published by Hutchinson, priced 20
Venezuelans came to South Florida to put the troubled nation behind them. Preparing to cast the first votes of their new lives as American citizens, theyre faced with a wrenching decision: whether to support Donald Trump, the U.S. president who has been the most vocal against their former tormentors, despite having strongman qualities of his own. Many of them are.
BRIDGEPORT  Two people were fatally shot within a few hours of each other in Bridgeport early Sunday, bringing the citys homicide total for 2020 to 18.

And police encountered what they called a hostile crowd early Sunday at the second of the two deadly shootings.

Shortly after midnight, officers responding to a Shotspotter activation near 74 Worth Street found a man identified as Daron Jones, 31, unresponsive on the porch of a nearby house.

Bridgeport Police Capt. Brian Fitzgerald said Jones suffered a single gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at the scene by medics.

Fitzgerald said detectives are trying to establish a motive, and ask anyone with information to contact Detective Heanue at 203-581-5242.

Around 2:20 a.m., a man identified as 21-year-old Nyair Nixon was shot multiple times inside a bar on Barnum Avenue, according to Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald said Nixon stumbled outside after being shot, and then was allegedly struck by a vehicle that fled the scene.

Arriving officers were confronted by a large hostile crowd that were interfering with their ability to secure a crime scene, and additional assistance was necessary to control the crowd, Fitzgerald said in a press release.

Stratford Police were called to assist, and remained at the scene for several hours, Fitzgerald said.

Nixon was transported by medics to Bridgeport Hospital where he died from his injuries, according to police.

Detectives were expected to be on the scene for several hours Sunday morning. Police asked anyone with information about the Barnum Avenue incident to contact Detective Winkler at 203-581-5224.

Information on either case can also be called to the Bridgeport Police Tips Line at 203-576-TIPS.




We're a family of seven living in Georgia where Andrew's working as a professor at GSU. You can read more about us here
After a brief reprieve from a record-breaking month of bad air quality from wildfire smoke, the Bay Area kept an uneasy eye on the sky Sunday as the Glass Fire raced across several thousand acres in Napa County and triggered evacuations, along with two other fires near St. Helena later in the evening.

A Spare the Air alert was extended through Monday for the Bay Area in response to the smoke. Increasing ozone levels from a developing heat wave also contributed to the alert, which indicates unhealthy air quality is expected and bans wood burning, officials said.

The air quality was worst closest to the Glass Fire in the North Bay, with some areas at unhealthy levels, said Tina Landis, spokeswoman for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. The rest of the Bay Area generally had moderate or good air quality at midday Sunday.

Due to offshore winds, the smoke is currently being transported out over the ocean and not settling in other parts of the bay, Landis said. Northern Napa County is so far the only place being affected.

National Weather Service meteorologist Rick Canepa said satellite imagery showed the smoke plume was generally blowing to the southwest with no clouds around, so he said the smoke might be lofting and fanning out laterally as it moves away from the fire, instead of mixing and moving to the ground level.

Noah Berger / Associated Press

However, by early evening, air quality was creeping into the unhealthy for sensitive groups level in the East Bay, San Francisco and the northern Peninsula, including the coast as far south as Half Moon Bay.

The air districts forecast for Monday showed air quality levels expected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups in the North Bay, inland East Bay and Santa Clara Valley, with moderate levels along the coast and central bay.

Because of the heat wave, Landis said ozone pollution was likely to build up on Sunday and Monday in the East Bay and Santa Clara Valley.

North winds had been expected to carry smoke from the August Complex fire in Northern California to the Bay Area, but Landis said the winds have shifted, so that is no longer a threat.

That fire was one of many in California, Oregon and Washington that smothered the Bay Area with smoke and filthy air for weeks starting in mid-August, causing a record 30 Spare the Air days before finally starting to clear a week and a half ago.

Temperatures through Monday in the Bay Area were expected to reach into the 90s with some areas creeping into triple digits in parts of the East Bay and North Bay, Canepa said. The temperature was expected to peak at 93 on Monday in San Francisco, and reach the 80s along the immediate coast.

The National Weather Service on Saturday extended a red flag warning through 9 p.m. Monday for the North Bay, East Bay hills and interior valleys. The warning indicates critical fire weather conditions are likely due to gusty winds and low humidity.

North and northeast winds of up to 50 mph are forecast at higher elevations, adding to the challenges for crews battling the Napa County fires.

JOSH EDELSON / AFP via Getty Images

More air quality resources:

Fire Tracker Follow wildfires across the state Latest updates on wildfires burning across Northern and Southern California

 The Bay Area Air Quality Management District collects and posts searchable AQI readings from air monitors around the region. You can also sign up for air quality alerts and get information about health and safety.

 Airnow.gov, a partnership run by the EPA including federal, state and local air monitoring agencies, offers a one-stop source for air quality data, including interactive maps with local, national and world views. It also offers a Fire and Smoke Map with current fire conditions and air quality data including readings from the crowdsourced PurpleAir network.

 The Chronicles California Air Quality Map lets you zoom in to see readings in your area. It draws from the PurpleAir network and is updated every 10 minutes.

 This Chronicle guide explains different ways to look up the air quality in your microclimate.

 This explainer helps you assess when its OK to go outside if its smoky in the Bay Area, and what level of activities you can safely engage in.

 This explainer details the dos and dont of dealing with smoky air in your Bay Area home and car.

Kellie Hwang is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kellie.hwang@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @KellieHwang
Employees of a Hamilton-based security company say they havent received the pandemic top-up pay for essential workers that was mandated by the provincial government.

Star Security obtained a contract from the City of Toronto to provide security guards to about a dozen temporary homeless shelters and respite centres. The companys head office is located on Main Street East near Wentworth Street.

Eligible front-line workers in Ontario were to receive an additional $4 per hour from April 24 to Aug. 13, plus an extra $250 per month for each month they worked more than 100 hours.

According to the provinces Treasury Board, which administers the pandemic pay program, security guards working in such places as temporary shelters, respite centres, and hotels and motels used as overflow homeless sites are eligible for the top-ups.

But one of Star Securitys guards told The Spectator he hasnt received a penny of the nearly $5,000 in top-up payments he is owed. The guard requested anonymity because he fears repercussions for speaking out on the issue.

Pretty disappointed, said the guard. People are sort of at a loss of what to do.

This was sort of the first time in 16 years of my working experience that somebody has said, You know what, we value your work. And that was the province in giving us that additional pandemic pay, saying, Thank you for your hard work, thank you for risking COVID-19 to make sure that other people who are at risk are safe, said the guard.

And now our employer is essentially stealing that thank you from the province from us.

The guard said he tried with no success to get answers from his supervisor, the human relations department and the companys owner about when the money would be paid.

I was led to believe verbally from my supervisor and the head of HR that the money has been received by Star Security, the guard said.

Jimi Bonotti, president and believed to be the owner of Star Security, told The Spectator in an email that his company is working directly with our clients to determine whether our security guards are eligible to receive pandemic pay from the province.

Star Security intends to flow through any and all money it receives from its clients for pandemic pay to its employees after it calculates the correct amounts each employee is entitled, Bonotti stated.

As of today, Star Security is still working with its client to determine the necessary level of funding required to meet its pandemic pay obligations.

The guard said he believes Star Security is providing about 300 workers to the Toronto sites, where anywhere from two guards to more than a dozen guards are employed per 12-hour shift.

Another guard at Star Security said she is owed more than $5,000 in pandemic top-up pay.

Not only that, (the owner) said he prepaid us, which is hilarious, said the guard, who also requested anonymity because she fears repercussions for speaking out.

She said she was told that the guards pay rate was already raised to cover the provinces top-up bonus. But she said her pay rate was established in March  before the province had even implemented the top-up program, which started April 24.

Hes implying that by raising the hourly wage for all of the people that he employs, that gives him the right to take our $4 and our bonuses, said the guard, who has worked with Star Security for more than five years. I dont think so.

You cant increase the pay rate before even knowing the government was going to release the funds, she added. Its ridiculous.

The government guidelines stipulate that eligible workers will receive $4 per hour worked on top of your existing hourly wages, regardless of how much you already make.

In his email, Bonotti stated some security guards working at the temporary shelters and respite centres are being paid an increased amount per hour which has a pandemic pay increase attached.

Notwithstanding this, Star Security is still in active conversation with its client to determine its eligibility to receive pandemic pay funding, Bonotti stated.

Since Star Security does not have a direct contractual relationship with the province, it needs to work with its clients to determine its eligibility to receive any funding from the province for the pandemic pay.

We understand that this is the case for other similar contracted service providers in the province who do not have a direct contractual relationship with the province, Bonotti stated. We also understand that this may be frustrating for our employees.

A spokesperson for the Treasury Board told The Spectator that the pandemic top-up pay would flow to the City of Toronto, which in turn would pass the money to contractors, such as Star Security.

The Treasury Board confirmed Star Security is listed as an eligible employer and that security guards working in respite centres and temporary shelters are eligible for the pandemic pay.

The City of Toronto have flowed funds in September to Star Security and those funds should flow to their eligible employees immediately as per employer payroll cycles, stated Sebastian Skamski, press secretary for the Office of the President of the Treasury Board.

Last week, The Spectator reported that personal support workers at care homes in Hamilton operated by the Martino families had not received their pandemic top-up pay.

A spokesperson for the Martinos said the homes had submitted the necessary applications to the government but not received any of the top-up funding, with the exception of one partial payment to one facility that is still waiting to be distributed.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The $300 a week in supplemental unemployment benefits being made available for a limited time arent for everyone, but people out of work because of COVID-19 and on unemployment in Ohio last month should qualify.

Ohio is providing six weeks of benefits - $300 a week for $1,800 in total - through the limited federal program to those out of work for the weeks ending Aug. 1 through Sept. 5. Per federal rules, however, this money is only due to people out of work because of COVID-19.

If you you were on unemployment during that period, and havent received the extra money, check your online account or call the unemployment office at 877-644-6562. You will have to self-certify that the unemployment was coronavirus-related. Benefits beyond Sept. 5 could become available if the Federal Emergency Management Agency provides more money.

The current edition of Thats Rich! - the personal finance column published on cleveland.com and in The Plain Dealer - addressed a number of the lingering questions. Check it out at this link - Answers to qualifying for unemployment, the $300 payments and disputed Ohio claims - Thats Rich! Q&A

Here are other previous Thats Rich! columns on a variety of topics.

Earlier unemployment stories from Thats Rich!

Ohio begins issuing $300 supplemental unemployment benefits

How to get $300 extra in unemployment, 13 weeks in extra benefits, and more: Q&A

Wheres my $300 extra for unemployment? How about my missing stimulus check? - Q&A

$300 Ohio unemployment benefit to be retroactive, other updates on unemployment, stimulus checks

Other topics covered recently

Is your budget tight during coronavirus? See these tips to help you cope, now and in the long run

How to avoid scams; newest fraud tricks; can payment be stopped?

Organize your financial records in case you get sick - a reader Q&A

Explaining Ohios maze of city income tax rates and credits, and why you should log where youve been working

With mortgage rates at historic lows, should you join the rush to refinance? - Thats Rich!

Ohio has $3.2 billion in unclaimed funds; find out if some of that money is yours - Thats Rich!

Roth retirement plan or traditional IRA and 401(k) plans? Is this the time to adjust your thinking?

Taking college classes online this fall? Heres how students can save a lot of money

Does it make sense to pay off your mortgage early? Heres what to consider

CARES Act makes this ideal time for a student-loan payment checkup

Coronavirus and taxes: Revised filing deadline nears; IRS not yet processing paper forms

What you need to know to get an unemployment check in Ohio

Rich Exner, data analysis editor, writes cleveland.coms and The Plain Dealers personal finance column - Thats Rich! Follow on Twitter @RichExner.

Email questions and suggestions to rexner@cleveland.com. Include your hometown and first name for publication. And to help me sort through the clutter of my email box, try to remember including Thats Rich! in the subject of the email.
Your arrangements will take care of all': Adar Poonawalla praises PM Modis vaccine vision

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Sep 27: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address at the UN General Assembly, assured the world that India's vaccine production and delivery capacity will be used to help humanity in the COVID-19 crisis, the CEO of the Pune-based pharma company Serum Institute of India (SII) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Adar Poonawalla said SII also shares and applauds his vision.

"Quick question; will the government of India have 80,000 crores available, over the next year?" Poonawalla asked in a tweet. "Because that's what @MoHFW_INDIA needs, to buy and distribute the vaccine to everyone in India. This is the next concerning the challenge we need to tackle. @PMOIndia," the CEO of the world's largest manufacturer of vaccines by volume tweeted.

"We share and applaud your vision Narendra Modi ji, on providing vaccines to the global community. It is a proud moment for India, thank you for your leadership and support. It is clear that all your arrangements for India will take care of all needs for the Indian people," Adar Poonawalla tweeted on Sunday.

We share and applaud your vision @narendramodi ji, on providing vaccines to the global community. It is a proud moment for India, thank you for your leadership and support. It is clear that all your arrangements for India will take care of all needs for the Indian people. https://t.co/b57TH8fDSB  Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) September 27, 2020

In his address to the 75th session of the UN General Assembly on Saturday, PM Modi said India's vaccine production and delivery capacity will be used to help all humanity in fighting the ongoing pandemic.

"As the largest vaccine producing country of the world, I want to give one more assurance to the global community today. India''s vaccine production and delivery capacity will be used to help all humanity in fighting this crisis," Modi said in a strong assurance to the international community that is battling the devastating coronavirus pandemic.

Modi told the 193-member UN General Assembly that in India and the neighbourhood, "we are moving ahead with phase 3 clinical trials in India."

He further assured that India will also help all the countries in enhancing their cold chain and storage capacities for the delivery of the vaccines.
TikTok will survive Donald Trump, US users say TikTok users in the US say they believe the social network will survive Donald Trump

"I never thought I would have a voice, but this app has given me one and people have been listening," said Rebecca Fisher-Tringale, explaining her love for social network TikTok, adding, "I never thought it would be possible."

The aspiring political scientist said she has no doubt TikTok will survive -- despite the Sword of Damocles that President Donald Trump has been dangling above the social network.

Under her screen name @theprogressivepolicy, Fisher-Tringale comments on current events several times a day in short videos lambasting Trump for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic or his immigration policies.

In early August, the president signed an executive order to force China's ByteDance group to sell or spin off the platform to an American company in the name of an alleged threat to "national security" by TikTok.

Trump has claimed, without giving evidence, that Beijing can use the hugely popular app to spy on Americans.

But Fisher-Tringale shrugs this off; she is not overly worried about TikTok's survival, despite its importance in her life.

"I joined the app kind of as a joke in 2019 to watch videos and be entertained," she said. "Then I started to make videos about my dog, then I made one about Trump, and it blew up," she told AFP from her house-share in Boone, North Carolina.

With more than 80,000 followers, the 21-year-old college student said she hopes to bring "different perspectives" to young people of all backgrounds, many of them not yet of voting age.

"So many people have texted me saying we wouldn't be involved in politics if it wasn't for you," she added.

- A viral rebellion -

In one of her most viral episodes, Fisher-Tringale posted an ironic quiz for those who push back against anti-racist "Black Lives Matter" protesters by insisting that "All Lives Matter."

"Who was brought to America in chains at the bottom of ships?" she asked, before offering these options: "A. Black Lives; B. All Lives."

Story continues

In June, she joined thousands of other TikTok users in registering online to attend a Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma -- while planning all along not to go.

The rows of empty seats seen in the televised event represented a humiliating setback for the Republican candidate's campaign, but a source of pride for young TikTok'ers.

"I think it made him angry," Fisher-Tringale said of Trump; she believes that partly explains his antipathy to the platform.

TikTok, which went global in 2018, is completely separate from its Chinese version, Douyin, which serves only the Chinese market. It now has some 100 million monthly users in the United States, half of them using the app every day, according to company data.

It has built its rapid success on its format -- parodies, messages and dance or comedy performances of 15 to 60 seconds, set against popular music -- along with an algorithm that determines which content is most likely to interest each user.

"There's that virality component that TikTok has been able to take over, better than Facebook and Instagram," said Saadia Mirza, who owns a marketing agency in Houston, Texas.

"What Trump doesn't like is this virality component, and that he can't control the narrative on TikTok -- it's something he doesn't understand, so he's afraid of it."

- A question of priorities -

Mirza turned to TikTok early in the coronavirus pandemic -- out of boredom, she says. She quickly recognized its potential and began posting political videos, urging fellow users to vote or explaining public policies while playing popular songs.

Her motivation?

"The wonderful thing is seeing young people or even my age group sharing ideas," said the thirty-something Mirza. "I'm learning from other people."

After a series of diplomatic twists, and despite negotiations involving several companies, the network -- which now has some 700 million monthly users worldwide -- could disappear from the US if Washington and Beijing, along with concerned companies, fail to reach agreement.

Many of TikTok's creators and influencers say they will migrate to rival platforms -- like Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts and Triller -- if need be.

But, said nanny and part-time stand-up comedian Brittany Tilander, "I don't think anything's gonna happen with TikTok. I don't think it's going anywhere."

The 29-year-old from Kansas City has taken her humor to TikTok since the pandemic prevented her from appearing on stage.

She, Fisher-Tringale and Mirza say they think the president's position on TikTok will not stand; that other US institutions will protect the platform where they feel most free to express their opinions.

Trump, said Tilander, is attacking the app as "a really nice distraction" from what she says is his poor job handling other issues.

"With the pandemic going on, the wildfires, unemployment as high as it is, the civil rights movement -- in an election year (TikTok) should be really low on his priorities," she said.

juj/jul/lo/els/bbk/st
As the country reflects this week upon the extraordinary, barrier-breaking life and career of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died of metastatic pancreatic cancer on Sept. 18, there are a slew of themes being highlighted as pillars to who she was, and to what her legacy will be  fierce independence, bravery, and a strong belief in not only womens rights but human rights, and that nobody should be constricted by gender-based expectations.

But as Ginsburg explained to MAKERS in a 2014 interview  to the delight of Gen-X women everywhere  the best way to succinctly capture her view of feminism is a song that Marlo Thomas [produced]: Free to Be You and Me.

Then-nominee to the Supreme Court, Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, smiled at her husband Martin during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, July 20, 1993. (Photo: REUTERS/Gary Hershorn)

That, of course, was the title track on the same-named 1972 childrens album and TV special (in 1974)  a collaborative effort between Thomas and the Ms. Foundation for Women, with artists including Diana Ross, Carol Channing, Cicely Tyson and Alan Alda  that celebrated second-wave feminism. Meaning, Ginsburg went on, that you were free to be, if you were a girl, a doctor, lawyer, Indian chief, anything you wanted to be. And if youre a boy, and you like teaching, you like nursing, you would like to have a doll, thats OK, too.

The notion, embraced by the Ginsburg, was that we should each be free to develop our own talents, she said, whatever they may be, and not be held back by artificial barriers  man-made barriers, certainly not heaven-sent. And it was one that the eventual feminist icon fully embodied, even way back in 1956, when she was one of only nine women to enter Harvard Law School, and when women accounted for less than three percent of the U.S. legal profession.

Marlo Thomas is seen as a guest on the Captain Kangaroo TV show in 1974 with her book  a companion to the record album, song and TV special of the same name  Free To Be You And Me. Ruth Bader Ginsburg credited the song with providing her outlook on feminism. (Photo: CBS via Getty Images)

How fortunate I was to be alive and a lawyer when, for the first time in United States history, it became possible to urge, successfully, before legislatures and courts, the equal-citizenship stature of women and men as a fundamental constitutional principle, Ginsburg wrote in a 2016 Op-Ed for the New York Times. Feminists, caring men among them, had sought just that for generations. Until the late 1960s, however, society was not prepared to heed their plea.

Story continues

So, she went on to ask, What enabled me to take part in the effort to free our daughters and sons to achieve whatever their talents equipped them to accomplish, with no artificial barriers blocking their way?

It started with her mother, she frequently noted, including in the 2018 documentary RBG, and in her interview with MAKERS, in which she notes, She was one of the smartest people I ever knew. Though she lost her early  her mom died at 47  she still had time to soak up her advice.

She had two messages for me in my growing up years, Ginsburg said, and the first was, to be a lady. Dont be distracted by emotions like anger, envy, resentment. These just sap energy and waste time. And the other, she recalled, was to be independent. Yes, she hoped I would meet Prince Charming and live happily ever after, but she stressed the importance of being able to manage on my own.

Although, Ginsburg also admitted, its not like she never heard sexist messaging at home. My family thought it would be a good idea [for me] to be a teacher. The notion was, its interesting work, its a good steady income, and women are welcome, she said. I will confess that my family was not entirely happy with  my decision not to pursue a career as a high school teacher and instead go to law school  until I married my dear husband Marty. Because the idea then was, well, Ruth wants to be a lawyer, she has a husband who can support her, so its OK. 

Little could anyone have predicted that, in the 50s, she would meet a man who was such a feminist that she frequently credited him for allowing her to thrive. Ginsburg (nee Joan Ruth Bader) met the love of her life, Martin, early, while the two were still in college at Cornell University  she was 17 and he was 18. And rather than hold her back, she said, he valued her independence.

When they met, she told MAKERS, we each had a significant other someplace else, and so thats how we started out as best friends. Then I came to appreciate that Marty was really interested in what I thought, she added. Most boys at that time really didnt care if a girl had a brain. In fact, it would be better if she didnt.

Then, at every stage of their life together, Ginsburg says, her husband supported career goals. I come to law school, she recalled, about attending Harvard at the same time as Marty, Im a little concerned about how I will fare, with a 14-month-old child. Marty is bragging to all the people in his class that his wifes going to be on the law review. Thats how he was.

Further, when Ginsburg got her first good D.C. job, on the U.S. Court of Appeals, so many people thought I was commuting back and forth to New York, she recalled. They couldnt imagine that Marty wouldve left his very successful practice in New York to come to Washington D.C. so that we would have our life together here. On top of that, she explained, her husband was a fabulous cook, while Ginsburg was famously challenged in the kitchen. My daughter Jane, who is herself a very good cook today, in her high school years noticed a tremendous difference between mommys cooking and daddys cooking, and decided that mommy should be phased out of the kitchen altogether.

And so she was, and Marty would helm a nightly routine while she was off at work, she recalled, as he would start to call around 7 oclock and say, Its time to come home for dinner. Then hed call at 7:30, say, Its getting late, 8 oclock, Come home. He was always there when I needed him he was a remarkable man.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg shows the many different collars (jabots) she wears with her robes, in her chambers at the Supreme Court building in Washington, U.S. June 17, 2016. (Photo: REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst)

So remarkable, in fact, that Daniel Stiepelman, the screenwriter for the RBG biopic, On the Basis of Sex, recalled that when folks in Hollywood would read his script, theyd tell him to change the idyllic relationship between Ruth and Marty, finding it far-fetched. It came up a lot, Stiepleman told the New York Times. I remember at some point saying in a meeting, Theres a 5,000-year history of narrative, of men coming home from battle, and their wives patch them up and boost their egos and send them back out to fight again. You write one supportive husband, and everyones like, such a creature could never exist!

But he did, said Ginsburg, who told MAKERS, He was so comfortable about himself that he never regarded me as being any kind of a threat. On the contrary, I think he figured out, well, hes so good, so the person he picked to be his life partner has got to be the cats meow.

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WA Health Minister Roger Cook has moved to reassure the Pilbara community the virus won't slip through containment measures after infected crew members from the iron ore bulk carrier Patricia Oldendorff were transferred to a makeshift hotel quarantine facility in Port Hedland.

On Thursday Mr Cook revealed that two crew members of the ship had tested positive to the virus.

The vessel remains at anchor off the coast of Port Hedland. Credit:vesselfinder.com

That number jumped to nine on Saturday and Mr Cook expects testing due tomorrow on the remaining ten crew will return more positive results. Those 10 crew are at the Port Hedland hotel while nine remain onboard the ship.

A rapid response team was flown to Port Hedland on Friday, with 12 crew members brought ashore and taken to the Hedland Hotel.
SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian-Chinese cooperation in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic reflects the strength and durability of the two countries' relations, said Egyptian Minister of State for Information Osama Heikal.

"In such circumstances, countries need to cooperate with each other in a way that demonstrates solidarity and reflects strength in relationships ... Egyptian-Chinese cooperation is a good example," the minister told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Egypt-China relations are strong and deeply-rooted, and will gain a greater momentum in the coming years, he said.

The minister praised China's handling of the pandemic, saying that every country has dealt with the crisis according to its own circumstances.

"I believe that the Egyptian government has succeeded in taking the necessary measures to manage the crisis ... infections are significantly declining after they reached their peak in July," he added.

The minister also said that Egypt has greatly benefited from other countries' experience and expertise of handling COVID-19.

Egypt has so far registered 102,625 COVID-19 infections, including 93,531 recoveries and 5,853 deaths.

The most populous Arab country resumed international flights in early July and has reopened restaurants, cafes, theaters and cinemas, as well as hotels, museums and archeological sites, all with limited capacity.
The remains of a downed helicopter following heavy fighting in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region back in 2016. (AP)

Armenia declared martial law and mobilised its male population on Sunday after clashes with Azerbaijan over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region in which sources on both sides reported fatalities.

Authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh, a mainly ethnic Armenian region inside Azerbaijan which declared independence in 1991, also announced martial law and mobilised the male population after clashes which the two sides blamed on each other.

Armenia said Azerbaijan had carried out an air and artillery attack on Nagorno-Karabakh, but Azerbaijan said it had responded to Armenian shelling.

Armenian human right activists said two civilians, a woman and a child, had been killed by Azeri shelling. Baku said an unspecified number of Azeri civilians had been killed and six wounded, and Nagorno-Karabakh said 10 of its military staff had been killed. The reports could not be independently confirmed.

Russia's foreign ministry, a mediator in decades of conflict between majority Christian Armenia and mainly Muslim Azerbaijan, urged both sides to cease fire immediately and hold talks.

The two countries have long been at odds over Nagorno-Karabakh, which broke away from Azerbaijan in a conflict that broke out as the Soviet Union collapsed.

Though a ceasefire was agreed in 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia frequently accuse each other of attacks around Nagorno-Karabakh and along the separate Azeri-Armenian frontier.

The conflict has worried Western and regional countries in part because it could cause instability in the South Caucasus, which serves as a corridor for pipelines transporting oil and gas to world markets.

FREQUENT SKIRMISHES

Armenia's defence ministry said its troops had destroyed three tanks and shot down two helicopters and three unmanned aerial vehicles in response to an attack on civilian targets including Nagorno-Karabakh's capital, Stepanakert.

"Our response will be proportionate, and the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan bears full responsibility for the situation," the ministry said in a statement echoed by the foreign ministry.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan wrote on Twitter: "We stay strong next to our army to protect our motherland from Azeri invasion."

Azerbaijan denied the Armenian defence ministry statement, saying it had "complete advantage over the enemy on the front", and accused Armenian forces of launching "deliberate and targeted" attacks along the front line.

"We defend our territory, our cause is right!" Azerbaijan's president, Ilham Aliyev, said in an address to the nation.

Azerbaijan's defence ministry said some civilians had been killed but gave no death toll.

At least 200 people were killed in a flare-of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in April 2016. There are frequent skirmishes and at least 16 were reported killed in clashes in July.
The First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has apologised to both Emmanuel Omale, the General Overseer of the Divine Hand of God Ministries, and the suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, over N573 million mistakenly credited into Mr Omales account.

According to the letter seen by PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday, the bank published its apology in three national newspapers, The Guardian, Daily Trust and BusinessDay.

The letter was a sequel to a N5 billion suit filed by Mr Omales lawyer, Gordy Uche, against FCMB over the banks report to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit of an alleged payment.

Mr Omale also accused the bank of negligently breaching the fiduciary duty of care in its banker-customer relationship with his client.

According to the suit, the court also summoned the bank to enter appearance either personally or by a legal representative within 30 days after the service of the writ.

It added that failure to appear before the court, judgement may be given in its absence.

Mr Omales suit was in relation to a presidential committee report that audited the EFCC between 2015 and 2020, which claimed that Mr Omale was used as an instrument for the embattled EFCC boss to launder money.

The Presidential Committee on Audit of Recovered Assets said Mr Omale had received N573 million to purchase a property in Dubai for Mr Magu.

Mr Magu was investigated by the panel headed by Ayo Salami, a former president of the appeal court, over allegations of corruption and insubordination. The allegations were made by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

The bank had earlier said the N573 million could not have been accessed by Mr Omale as its system promptly corrected wrong credit without any amount being accessed.

Regrets

In the letter dated September 11, titled Re: Bank Negligence Occasioning Unique Investigation And Defamation To Our Client, and signed by both legal counsel to FCMB, Adewale Fati and Olugbenga Elemide, the bank said it regrets the error and has accordingly published a public apology in three national newspapers as demanded by the senior advocate on behalf of Mr Omale.

The letter reads in part, Please be informed that in line with the undertaking contained in our aforementioned letter, we have published in three national newspapers (The Guards newspaper, Daily Trust newspaper and Business Day newspaper) on September 11, 2020. Please find attached herewith copies of our public apology to Divine Hand of God Ministries.

It is our hope that the public apology has assuaged the grievances of your client, having seen that the error was indeed not borne out of any malice towards them. Kindly extend our good wishes to your client, whilst assuring you of our warm professional regards.
Berlin: Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is recovering from the suspected assassination attempt last month faster than expected, one of his aides says.

Navalny, who collapsed on a plane from Siberia to Moscow on August 20 and spent nearly three weeks in a coma, was discharged last week from the Berlin hospital where he was being treated. His doctors said that based on Navalnys progress a complete recovery is possible.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and his wife Yulia pose for a selfie in Germany. Credit:Instagram

He is doing much better, I would say unexpectedly better," Leonid Volkov, Navalnys chief of staff, told German broadcaster RTL. "I think the recovery is really faster than expected, and of course this is good news that makes us very happy.

Navalny, a longtime foe of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is still receiving outpatient treatment and remains under close protection, Volkov said.
Just a little over two weeks before the start of early voting, a U.S. district judge in Laredo ruled Friday to reinstate straight-ticking voting in Texas, sending local officials scrambling ahead of whats expected to be a record-high turnout election.

U.S. Southern District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo wrote that she made the decision with the pandemic in mind. Harris County officials and others across the state have warned that a long ballot would cause voters to take 15 minutes or more to make their picks, extending wait times because of the lack of a straight-ticket option, which allows voters to select candidates of one party across all races.

This was to be the year when that option ceased to be offered to Texas voters, under a 2017 state law.

By creating mass lines at the polls and increasing the amount of time voters are exposed to COVID-19, HB 25 will cause irreparable injury to plaintiffs and ALL Texas voters in the general election, wrote Marmolejo, who was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2011.

TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

The suit was brought by the Texas Alliance for Retired Americans, the national senatorial and congressional committees of the Democratic Party, and Sylvia Bruni, chair of the Webb County Democratic Party.

Marmolejo sided with the plaintiffs, who argued that time constraints caused by lack of straight-ticket voting would illegally impede Texans right to vote and disproportionately impact African-American and Hispanic voters, who tend to use the method more than non-minority voters.

Upon hearing news of the ruling late Friday, Bexar County Election Administrator Jacque Callanen said she was speechless.

For us right now to have to stop what were doing and reprogram and retest, and with the early start of early voting  oh my God, Callanen said. It's unbelievable. I can't say we won't do it, but it's going to take everything in us, and we're going to have to throw as many people at it as we can.

She added that even just adding three Green Party candidates to the ballot, per a court ruling earlier this month, caused a one-week delay in preparation plans.

Marmolejo said her injunction only related to in-person, not mail-in voting, but if Bexar County were to have to reprint ballots and mail them out, it could add at least a week of work.

The office has already been working seven days a week to prepare for the Oct. 13 start of early voting, Callanen said. Gov. Greg Abbott pushed forward the start date of the early voting period by a week to create a safer voting environment during the pandemic, though that decision is being challenged at the Texas Supreme Court in a pending case.

Attorney General Ken Paxtons office, which represents state agencies, did not respond to a request for comment.

The state, which has aggressively fought against and successfully warded off multiple lawsuits by Democrats this year attempting to overturn voting restrictions, is likely to seek emergency relief from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. The Fifth Circuit is considered one of the most conservative federal appellate courts in the nation.

Joseph R. Fishkin, a University of Texas law professor who studies election law, said the Fifth Circuit could intervene on an emergency basis, but its hard to say whether it would and how long such an appeal might take.

It is certainly not a situation where I would say that You can take this to the bank. It wont be changed before the election, Fishkin said. Far from it.

Fishkin said the Fifth Circuit, if it intervenes, is likely to reference the Purcell principle, a Supreme Court precedent stating that courts should not change election rules too close to an election to avoid voter confusion and election administration problems.

The irony is, Fishkin said, as you keep fighting about it, the election only gets closer. Fishkin added that last-minute rulings with profound impacts on upcoming elections are becoming more common nationwide as Democrats and Republicans clash over issues of voter access.

Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa applauded the decision by the district court Friday.

Time and time again Republican leadership has tried to make it harder to vote and time and time again federal courts strike it down, Hinojosa said in a statement. Texas Democrats will have to continue to win at the ballot box to protect the right vote. Until the new Texas majority wipes out these out-of-touch Republicans, Texas Democrats will never stop fighting for Texans in court.

The decision Friday is a 180-degree turn for Marmolejo, who had tossed out the case in June, calling the arguments by plaintiffs speculative. But she said Friday that several developments have since bolstered Plaintiffs' arguments, citing the number of confirmed infections at 7 million and deaths at over 200,000 nationwide. That alone warranted a rehearing, she said.

The July primary runoff provided a window into some of the possible problems that can be anticipated in November, such as a lack of poll workers and fewer polling places available. Texas has done little to address those concerns since, she said.

In the 44-page ruling, she acknowledged the burden that the decision may put on election officials who have already begun preparing ballots and programming voting machines. But she said the potential for harm to voting rights outweighed any resulting inconveniences.

House Bill 25, passed in 2017 on mostly partisan lines and favored by Republicans, put Texas in line with the majority of states that do not offer straight-ticket voting; just six states continue the practice, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Regardless, Marmolejo said Texas voters have come to rely on it as part of their voting experience.

IN-DEPTH: With straight ticket option gone, Harris County worries voters will need much more time in booth

The straight-ticket option was discontinued after the 2018 general election. It had previously been in place for almost 100 years.

While the method had been key to helping Republicans become the majority party statewide, as Texas demographics have changed, Democrats have begun to benefit more in the last decade. In 2018, more than two-thirds of voters used straight-ticket voting. That year in Harris County, the straight-ticket vote was 77.2 percent of the total vote, and that vote split 55.3 percent for Democratic candidates and 44 percent for Republican candidates.

State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, said he has no doubt when the case goes to the Fifth Circuit, the straight-ticket law will be upheld. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has a history of upholding Texas election laws, he said, and he expects nothing different in this case.

I strongly believe it will be overturned, Bettencourt said.

Staff writer Jeremy Wallace contributed to this report.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, September 27, 2020 14:15 482 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4780d11 1 National COVID-19,Tegal,Central-Java,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,dangdut,concert,health-protocol,Ganjar-Pranowo,police,circumcision Free

The head of police in South Tegal, Central Java, Joeharno, has been dismissed from his position after giving permission to Tegal Council Deputy Speaker Wasmad Edi Susilo to hold a dangdut concert on Wednesday.

"The [South Tegal] Police chief has been dismissed and is currently being questioned by internal affairs," National Police spokesperson Ir. Gen. Argo Yuwono said in a written statement on Saturday as quoted by kompas.com.

Argo said police were also investigating Wasmad for allegedly violating Article 93 of the 2018 Health Quarantine Law and Article 216 of the Criminal Code, which stipulates a maximum punishment of four months and two weeks of imprisonment for those found guilty of obstructing the work of law enforcement.

"Authorities have questioned 10 witnesses as well as Wasmad Edi Susilo," Argo said, adding that officers had also collected evidence.

Read also: Tegal deputy speaker hosts crowded dangdut concert, flouting virus protocols

On Wednesday, Wasmad held a dangdut concert at South Tegal Field to celebrate a marriage and a circumcision in his family.

Thousands of people gathered in front of a stage equipped with a large sound system and big screens, kompas.com reported. Audience members did not maintain their distance, and many were not wearing masks.

Joeharno claimed that, when applying for the permit, the organizer said the event would only have a small stage and a limited number of guests.

He said he soon revoked the permit after learning that the event had attracted a big crowd, but he did not disband the event.

We couldnt get close to the site because we did not have enough personnel. Besides, we felt it would be unethical to go on stage to forcibly stop them, he said after the concert.

Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo said he had called Tegal Mayor Dedi Yon Supriyono to reprimand him for holding the event and that Dedi had apologized. (nal)
A mass roll-out of a Covid-19 vaccine could be delayed by up to two years because of Government 'failures' to bring in vital items needed for the supply chain, according to reports.

Experts claim the Government has so far failed to secure enough medical-grade glass vials to store the vaccine, as well as organise enough refrigerated lorries and aircraft to transport it, once it is ready to be rolled out to Britons.

Insiders working in the logistic and medical sectors also say other items such as pallets to pack the vaccine and PPI to administer it are also in short supply, reports The i.

Chief executive of logistics advisory group 7Bridges, Philip Ashton, who is involved with the delivery of the Oxford Vaccine Group (OVG) candidate vaccine, told the website that paper that Government is yet to contact the group, or its manufacturing partner AstraZeneca, to ensure supply chain procedures are in place should the vaccine gain approval.

He told The i: 'I am not aware that the Government has spoken to the OVG about the logistics of getting a vaccine to the entire population yet.

A mass roll-out of a Covid-19 vaccine could be delayed by up to two years because of Government 'failures' to bring in vital items needed for the supply chain, according to reports. Pictured: A doctor administers a test Covid-19 vaccine to a volunteer

'We may not get the mass vaccination on the timeline we think.'

Mr Ashton added: 'Vaccinating the entire population is a real challenge.'

Another source told The i that the issue was of particular concern as countries such as China were already 'hoarding' some of the items.

The OVG vaccine, if approved at the end of this year or at some point next year, would require a controlled temperature during transportation or would be rendered useless.

That temperature is around 35-46F and requires refrigerated lorries to keep it at that level.

Chief executive of logistics advisory group 7Bridges, Philip Ashton, who is involved with the delivery of the Oxford Vaccine Group (OVG) candidate vaccine

However Mr Ashton suggests that the UK does not have enough refrigerated trucks for transporting the vaccine, even if the doses are ready next year.

Some scientists believe the entire UK population needs two doses - one initial and one booster - for the vaccine to be effective. This means more than 120 million doses.

The Government meanwhile says it has already secured early access to 340 million vaccine doses with six separate vaccine developers - though there still may be prioritisation based upon pre-existing medical conditions and age groups.

MailOnline has tonight contacted the Department for Health and Social Care for comment.

The reports come after a top professor warned a third wave of coronavirus is 'entirely possible', with lockdowns only deferring the problem.

Mark Woolhouse, professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh, said that while strict measures stop the immediate crisis and quickly reduce transmission, they do not make the virus go away.

Speaking on BBC One's The Andrew Marr Show on Sunday he said that modelling had previously shown it was 'entirely possible' that a second lockdown would be needed in September.

When asked if there could be a third wave of coronavirus he said: 'That's entirely possible.

'The scenario I mentioned earlier does actually include this possibility and this is just another demonstration of what I was saying earlier that lockdown doesn't solve the problem, it defers its.

'That's why we need some kind of cavalry on the horizon or alternatively, if you think that vaccine is not going to be available in six months or 12 months or two years or whenever, it means that we do need alternatives.

Pub industry chiefs blast 'shambolic' 10pm curfew as revellers pour out into streets Pub industry chiefs have blasted the government's 'shambolic' 10pm Covid curfew after revellers were seen pouring into city centre streets and crowding into stations at kick-out time on Saturday night - as social distancing appeared to go out the window. It comes after shocking pictures showed hoards of revellers flocking to the streets in their droves last night after bars and pubs kicked them out at 10pm. Now bosses at the British and Beer and Pub Association, a trade association which representing brewers and pub companies across the UK, have urged ministers to review the government-imposed curfew - which they say they were not consulted about prior to the announcement. They have urged ministers to give venues more flexibility on closing times to allow customers to stagger their exits. Emma McClarkin, CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association, who described the curfew as 'another devastating blow to the beer and pub sector, said: 'As we have seen this weekend, the hard 10pm curfew has led to the consequence of customers leaving venues and filling the streets en masse. 'We would like to see the hard 10pm reviewed to allow us flexibility on doors closing time and allow customers to stagger their exits.' Her comments come after Sacha Lord, night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, said the curfew was 'ill-thought-out'. He wrote on Twitter: 'It's very clear, across the UK, that this ill-thought-out 10pm curfew, has pushed everyone out of venues with socially distanced measures, into the streets, into off-licences, supermarkets, overcrowded public transport and house parties. 'Every operator predicted this. Shambolic.' Advertisement

'The alternatives that have been mentioned so far are things like the Moonshot programme of mass testing.'

Prof Woolhouse, who is a member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (Spi-M), a subgroup of Sage, said that while a vaccine could be available in six months it was unlikely that it could be rolled out at a mass scale in that time period.

He said that Sweden had shown that the virus could be controlled without a 'strictly enforced lockdown' and that restrictions needed to be sustainable in the long-term.

He added: 'I'm afraid I don't see a way through this in the coming months and even years where we don't have some restrictions in place. This is the new normal.'

When asked if the Government had modelled any other options to a national lockdown at the start of the pandemic, Prof Woolhouse said 'basically no'.

His comments come as a further 5,693 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK today - a 46 per cent rise on last Sunday's total - with Wales' lockdown set to grow to 60 per cent of the country's population.

The increase brings the UK's total cases to 434,969 while another 17 people died of the disease, according the Government's Covid-19 UK dashboard.

Today's death toll - which covers deaths in hospitals, care homes and the wider community - brings the total fatalities during the pandemic to 41,988.

Last Sunday saw 3,899 people diagnosed with the bug, significantly fewer than this week's total - which is the highest Sunday figure since April.

But many experts say the daily totals for testing are not comparable to the same totals at the peak of the pandemic when the country's testing programme was much smaller.

More than 100,000 people are believed to have been catching the virus every day at the peak of the pandemic.

Today's figures follow the news that 60 per cent of the Welsh population will be put under coronavirus lockdown from tomorrow after three more council areas are added to the government's list.

Neath Port Talbot, Torfaen and the Vale of Glamorgan will be covered by the rules, which mean people will not be able to enter or leave the areas without a reasonable excuse from 6pm on Monday.

Residents will not be able to meet indoors with anyone they do not live with, with extended households suspended.

Some 344 people tested positive in Scotland, where one further death was reported.

The announcement comes just hours before local lockdown restrictions come into force in Cardiff and Swansea, Wales' two biggest cities, on Sunday evening.

Neath Port Talbot, Torfaen and the Vale of Glamorgan will be put under coronavirus lockdown from tomorrow

A woman wearing a face covering walks through Cardiff, south Wales, on September 27 before the lockdown kicks back in

Further measures were also introduced in Llanelli, in Carmarthenshire, on Saturday evening.

Restrictions are already in place in Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Newport, and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

It means more than 1.8 million people in Wales - nearly 60 per cent the population - will be under local lockdowns from Monday night.
By rights, the argument on aid spending should be over. We won. That is, we the people who might be called, or like to be called, nice or progressive. A few obstreperous types attempted to block the Bill that obliges future British governments to spend 0.7 per cent of national income on aid, but they were seen off in December, crushed by the weight of cross-party consensus. And here we are, a week into the new world, with the aid law fresh on the statute books. Britain can hold its head high: one of the few rich countries to make good on a promise made back in 1970. Time for the forces of progress (thats us) to move on?

Not if, as I am, youre part of the splinter group of Nice and Progressive People who harbour misgivings about aid, especially the kind that is given out in a hurry. I suspect there are many politicians who would count themselves in such a party, but dont speak up about it for fear it would hurt the Niceness cause, and play into the hands of Nigel Farage, Jacob Rees-Mogg and various other totemic Nasties who simply  and let it be said, erroneously  believe that Britain shouldnt reach into its pockets for anyone beyond the English Channel.

Well, the law has passed. Theres nothing Little Englanders can do about it. But the wrong response to the new certainty on levels of aid money would be to assume that the same certainty applies to how that money is spent. That two parliamentary reports out this year have been titled Beyond Aid makes you think, indeed, that the current mode of operation (Stuck in the Middle of Aid?) doesnt convince Westminsters developmentati either.

A few things are not in doubt. Lives (thousands of them) are saved, children (millions of them) are schooled thanks to British taxpayers money. This deserves more than a passing nod. An unfortunate element of development work is that good news makes for predictable copy: it writes white. Everybody has heard the story of the family and the malaria net, and doesnt really want to hear it again, despite the fact that it is  still  one of the most important around. This may give a distorted picture of aid, in that the mistakes  British aid is funding Al-Shabaab was a choice headline from 2013  are more naturally newsworthy, while the successes reverse the telescope and appear smaller than they actually are.

Even so, reeling off formulations like lives saved and children schooled makes the business of development sound simpler than it is. You cannot just put money in one end and have those results turn out the other. Nobody should be under the illusion that the hashtag used to encourage MPs into Westminster to vote through the aid Bill  #TurnUpSaveLives  goes for aid spending too. Not without the corollary #TurnUpMakeAGhoulishMessOfThings (see Ethiopia in the 1980s, Goma in 1994, even much of Afghanistan today, where in one province, for example, 80 per cent of the 740 schools included in Western success story statistics are reportedly not operating).

There are those who feel that  even outside warzones  aid too often aims in one direction but ends up walking in the other, like a geopolitical version of Dr Dolittles pushmi-pullyu. What is there to make leaders of aid-recipient countries pay attention to their own people if they only have to play nice to Western donors to fill government coffers  and perhaps more beside  with cash? (I offer a possible parry to this thrust: spend vastly more than the current tenth of a per cent of aid on helping poor countries build functioning tax bureaux).

The Department for International Development (Dfid) ought not to be tasked with pondering its own existence. What it can do is everything possible to stop other people doing the same, by spending that 0.7 per cent of national income smartly. Here, it is not off to a particularly auspicious start. MPs reported this weekend that the newly flush Dfid is pumping British money into multilateral organisations  into the global purse-for-good  because, despite these organisations less than perfect track record, it had to get hundreds of millions off the books before the end of the financial year. Spend, spend, spend is not, one imagines, a voguish phrase in todays Whitehall.

Besides jealousy among the mandarins, one possible consequence of the International Development Bills passage should be guarded against. That is, the idea that doing good for the worlds poor now begins and ends with how 0.7 per cent of British national income is spent. In all likelihood, the remaining 99.3 per cent  and British policies on trade, migration, security and the climate  will matter as much or more. Weve allocated the money for doing good already, you can picture a Damian McBride successor saying, so when someone moans about asylum-seekers, or migrants in the Med just point them in the direction of that 0.7 per cent Governments love to be thought of as joined up. We should endeavour to hold them to it.
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has widened its crackdown on a massive drug nexus that has emerged in Bollywood in connection with Sushant Singh Rajputs death case. Numerous A-listed actors including Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan have been grilled by the agency following the arrest of Rhea Chakraborty, while producer Kshitij has been arrested and remanded to 7 days custody.

Amid the ongoing drug investigation, Republic Media Network on Sunday interviewed an insider who has attended the parties organised by Bollywood stars where she alleged that several famous actors and producers from the industry were seen consuming and dealing in a heavy amount of drugs on a regular basis.

READ | Karan Johar's 2019 Bollywood Party Video 'authentic & Unedited'; NCB To Chart Next Step

Revealing the bitter truth about Bollywood mafia, the witness said, that during movie shootings and success parties, many actors & producers procure and consume huge quantities of drugs, ranging from MDM, cocaine, LSD, CBD Oil, weed, tablets and other narcotic substances that are injected. She also revealed that certain big Bollywood personalities and their partners who have been working in movies since the 90s are engaged in the sales of drugs at their own houses.

The witness further stated that a big director and producer who lives in Bandra often gives out his Mumbai villa for organising these drug parties. She also said politicians join these parties and make use of ambulances for supplying drugs there.

READ | Sara Ali Khan Follows Shraddha Kapoor; Denies Drug Consumption In Hours-long NCB Grilling

Sushant refused to consume drugs

Making another massive claim about Sushant Singh Rajput, the witness said the actor was famous for his work but was outcasted by the Bollywood biggies because he did not consume drugs. She said Sushant had visited Goa with his friend some years ago, where he was offered drugs but the actor refused to take it.

The witness also made a stunning revelation about an actor who is currently under NCB scanner after being named in several drug chats that recently surfaced online. I was at the party in Goa, a few days ago. I came to know that she has also arrived there and she was taken to a hotel for quarantine. A close friend of mine later revealed that the actress was actually undergoing 'body detox' at the hotel, she told Republic TV.

READ | Deepika Padukone Denies Using Or Asking For Drugs; NCB Seizes Her Phone; Verification Next

READ | Bollywood Drug Probe: NCB To File Status Report In 3 Days; Will Send To DG Rakesh Asthana
Photo credit: Chris Nelson - Car and Driver

From Car and Driver

On the fourth day of our trip, moments after crossing the Utah-Wyoming border, all five of the wheel studs on the right axle of our 17-foot-long camper sheared off completely. "Oh, what the heck is that?" my girlfriend Mallory said as she watched the camper's wheel skip alongside our 2020 Jeep Gladiator Sport at 60 mph before hopping a barbed-wire fence and prancing through a field of prairie grass like a black doe.

We scraped to a stop on the shoulder of the two-lane highway, and I slowly walked along the fresh gash in the pavement, searching for a clue about what had happened. I made it back to the sign that had just welcomed us to Wyoming, now beckoning us back to Utah, and there I found a single lug nut with a snapped stud stuck in its threads. I showed it to Mallory, and she showed me the gash on her arm she got from the barbed wire when she collected the runaway tire. Then she opened the cooler, cracked a beer, and kissed me.

Photo credit: Chris Nelson - Car and Driver

If plans tend to fall apart, stop making them. There was a time when I enjoyed planning and especially enjoyed planning road trips, but eventually I accepted that the open road cares not for day-to-day agendas, premeditated stops, or expectations of any sort. At some point on every trip everything goes awry, which is why at the beginning of our two-week, 5000-mile road trip through the West, I turned to Mallory and asked, "Where to first?"

Not long after COVID-19 reached the United States, Mallory was exposed to the virus during a nursing shift at a local hospital, and for 14 days we only imagined the sun on our skin as we quarantined in our living room and started puzzles that remain unfinished. A few days into our quarantine, the airline called to say it canceled her much-anticipated, three-week summer vacation to Africa. That's when Mallory made it clear to me that she still needed a summer adventure, virus be damned.

I always dreamed of going on a long trip with a tow-behind camper. Having a home wherever we parked seemed most sensible during a pandemic, so I reached out to Happier Camper, a Los Angeles-based company that builds fiberglass travel trailers. I wasn't alone in thinking a camper was the way to go. According to the RV Industry Association's monthly survey of manufacturers, recreational vehicle shipments in July were up 53.5 percent over July 2019. That was led by traditional travel trailers. Shipments of those, totaling 39,160 units, were up 56.6 percent over last year.

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Photo credit: Chris Nelson - Car and Driver

Happier Camper launched five years ago with the adorable 13-foot HC1, which weighs about 1500 pounds, fully loaded. Recently, the company released its 2500-pound Traveler. The one we borrowed cost $49,950 and came fully equipped with a sink/shower with bamboo floors, a dry-flush toilet, a dual-burner propane kitchenette, air conditioning, a water heater, a mini fridge, a crank-operated awning, and a roof-mounted solar power system.

When I picked up the trailer from Happier Camper's office in the hip Los Angeles neighborhood of Silver Lake, my Jeep Gladiator was one of four in the parking lot. One of those belongs to company founder Derek Michael, who gave me a tour of the Traveler and told me that his team finished building it a few minutes before I arrived.

Photo credit: Chris Nelson - Car and Driver

For two weeks Blue, our sausage-bodied six-month-old basset mutt, Mallory, and I cohabitated peacefully and nested comfortably in our camper, and by the bitter end of our trip we hated to give it back. While we experienced issues with build quality throughout the trip, we had a pleasant, spacious camper that allowed us to experience the West.

We laughed as Blue chased lizards and bighorn sheep through Zion National Park. In Moab we went off-roading on a jagged red two-track. In Yellowstone we came uncomfortably close to a grizzly bear. In Rocky Mountain National Park we saw a dozen moose and climbed to 12,000 feet on a one-way dirt road with tight switchbacks. At a remote campsite an hour outside of Boulder we hiked to a trio of trout lakes, then ate psychedelic mushrooms and stared deeply into the stars. In Taos, New Mexico, we camped on the outskirts of a funky compound of vintage trailers, ate green-chili burgers and s'mores, and watched as huge, black, thundering clouds rolled toward us from every direction. With no plans and no real bearing, we ended up in places that neither of us would have planned to visit. We were saved from the stresses caused by the unexpected. We were saved by a tow truck, too.

Photo credit: Chris Nelson - Car and Driver

It arrived a little more than two hours after the wheel separated from the trailer, and while the driver dragged the fiberglass carcass onto his flatbed, he told me about his Jeep Gladiator on 33-inch swampers and whooped as he said that instead of re-gearing his truck he installed a Magnuson Roots-type supercharger.

Everywhere we stopped, someone wanted to talk and usually about the Gladiator and about how long they waited for Jeep to release a new pickup. If they didn't ask about the Jeep, they either wanted to pet Blue or know more about the Traveler. Compliments about the camper rolled in at gas stations, campsites, and RV parks, where most of the vehicles are frowning, slab-sided metal boxes painted in a shade beige or gray. Ours stood out.

We kept moving forward and appreciated the detours and delays as the little adventures they were, not as plans falling apart. Mallory got the summer vacation she so badly needed, we didn't have to worry about air and hotel travel in the midst of a pandemic, and, for the first time, Blue saw the world beyond the streets of our neighborhood. We planned nothing and got everything we wantedand more.

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While many of the worlds aircraft have been grounded throughout the pandemic, local airlines have found ways to support Vietnams agricultural export businesses in the wake of sky-high freight charges.

Local airlines combine repatriation flights with low-cost deliveries of agricultural products to support local producers

With that, and some creativity and ambitious plans to establish domestic cargo transport for international routes, hopes are high that the countrys fruit and vegetables can soon be delivered to consumers overseas.

The fact that only a few airlines, such as Cathay Pacific and Slovak Airlines, can currently fly from Vietnam to international markets like the United States has pushed the prices of global agricultural exports up, increasing the burden on local businesses seeking to sell off their produce.

Ngo Thi Thu Hong, general director of Ameii JSC, which prepared a shipment of late-ripened longan for sale to the Czech Republic, Sweden, and Italy, is worried about the transportation costs. The price for 1kg of longan has increased to over $4 from $1.6 before the pandemic, and generally transport fees make up a huge share of these prices, making it difficult for companies like Ameii to compete with other export markets like Thailand and China.

Moreover, since the pandemic has limited air traffic in many regions of the world, simply finding a plane to deliver goods can already be a problem.

We have received more than 20 new orders from the EU for our fruit and vegetables. However, though we can still export some of our wares, the overall volume has decreased significantly, Hong said.

The persisting limitations in air traffic only add up to the general issue of high delivery fees. At Vina T&T  a company specialising in agricultural exports to the US, Canada, Australia, South Korea, and China  the need to transport their produce by air to guarantee quality and freshness makes up around 30 per cent of the companys costs.

Furthermore, Vina T&T expects its transportation costs to spike in 2020 to thrice the amount before the pandemic. For instance, the fees for shipping 1kg of dragon fruit to the US has increased from $3 to $7. Unable to change anything about these fees, Vina T&Ts general director Nguyen Dinh Tung could only describe the situation as one with many difficulties, especially in competing with other regional exporters to the US.

Last year, Tungs company made around $43 million for exporting its fruit to the US, accounting for more than 50 per cent of Vietnams fruit output to this market. This year, however, exports are only about 150 tonnes per week, reflecting a decrease of 30 per cent to before the pandemic.

While Vina T&T can sell some of its products to the local market, this channel only accounts for around 5 per cent of the companys output, and dragon fruit sells for just $1-2 compared to $10-11 per kg in the US. However, shipping to the US brings us about 1-2 per cent profit now, and we have been meeting additional hurdles in guaranteeing the freshness and quality of our goods due to the lockdowns. We will lose both prestige and a lot of money if the quality is not right, Tung said.

Improvements necessary

In general, the increasing connectivity between countries has created good conditions for Vietnams export development, and despite the pandemic, goods transported through the countrys airports are set to reach 1,300 tonnes in 2020, just 2 per cent less than in 2019. However, the amount of agricultural products being transported by air remains modest, accounting for only about 5 per cent of all air-shipped wares.

According to Do Xuan Quang, vice general director of Vietjet, the fact that foreign airlines make up for nearly 90 per cent of international aviation is one reason why Vietnamese airlines had been reluctant to invest into developing their cargo fleets. Currently, Vietnams aviation stands about 10 years behind the development of China with an annual growth rate of around 10 per cent, noted the International Air Transport Association.

However, Vietnams infrastructure lacks specialised logistics that connect sea, air, rail transport effectively. In addition, the countrys airport and warehouse systems are already overloaded. By the end of the year, experts predict demand for cargo transported through Hanois Noi Bai International Airport exceeding one million tonnes  much more than its current capacity of 300,000 tonnes.

Forecasts state that air transport of agricultural goods will increase as soon as the pandemic eases, especially since Vietnam signed many free trade agreements which will further boost exports of this commodity. Besides this, several large domestic corporations, like THACO, Masan, and Vinamilk, are planning on expanding their investments in agricultural exports.

The government has approved reopening international routes from last week  good news, said Tran Thanh Hai, deputy director of the Agency of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. However, the current reduction of air-shipped freight remains an urgent issue for the industry, Hai went on, especially with regards to growth momentum and expected export increases.

Finding alternatives

COVID-19 gave Vietnams aviation time to rethink approaches and restructure entire business lines. As such, the development of freight carriers through the skies may help to reduce local airlines risks rather than putting all eggs in the passenger transport basket.

Both major urban centres, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City aim to become freight hubs for Southeast Asia, and domestic airlines could grab the chance to outmanoeuvre regional competitors in this sector as direct contenders, such as Thailand and Malaysia, currently have only one major transportation hub each.

Meanwhile, instead of being bound to the ground, some local airlines use their passenger craft in alternative ways, offering freight transports and reducing the cost burden for agricultural firms.

We are using our 787s to transport cargo, each with around 20-25 tonnes per flight, said Vu Tien Dung, head of Bamboo Airways Cargo Department. In some cases, we have even been using passenger compartments, such as for flights to Germany and South Korea, with an increased payload of 38 and 40 tonnes, respectively.

For October, the airline plans another 10 flights to South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, and the US to pick up overseas Vietnamese and bring them back home. As our outgoing flights will have no cargo, we are happy to cooperate with agricultural export companies to deliver their goods, suggested Dung to help reduce these businesses transportation costs.

Nevertheless, taking advantage of these outgoing no-load flights is not easy. We have talked with Vietnam Airlines about shipping our goods to the US and Canada on repatriation flights. However, the carrier refused, stating that these countries pandemic prevention measures were too tight, Vina T&Ts Tung said.

Aware of the agricultural sector hurdles in exporting their goods, Vietjet is planning to convert three of its passenger craft into cargo transports during the third quarter of this year. Vietjets Quang said, We have already renovated three aircraft and want to add another four in this quarter to carry goods.

In October alone, the airline will launch cargo flights to Los Angeles and Chicago from Hanoi, using its Boeing 747s while offering decent price policies, Quang said.

The government should support the establishment of dedicated cargo airlines to help boost local agricultural exports, he suggested, adding that Vietnam could learn from Thailands example, which reduced taxes, petrol fees, and other expenses for those airlines that transport produce and similar freight.

Thailands incentives and large-scale operations have so far enabled the nation to stay ahead of its regional competition and even deliver goods throughout the pandemic at cheaper costs than Vietnam. VIR

Export turnover of the agro-forestry-fishery sector in August amounted to around $3.63 billion, bringing this years total export value for the first eight months to about $26.2 billion, down 0.9 per cent over the same period last year. Among these, agricultural exports amounted to $12 billion, down 3.2 per cent, livestock was at $250 million, down 25 per cent, and seafood came out at $5.2 billion, down by 5.3 per cent. Meanwhile, forestry exports reached $7.83 billion, an increase of 10.3 per cent. Source: Agro Processing and Market Development Authority of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

Hai Van
New Delhi: The Indian and Japanese navies on Saturday (September 26, 2020) began their three-day-long maritime exercise that took place in the North Arabian Sea. The fourth edition of the Japan India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX) between the Indian Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) saw them carry out extensive Maritime Ops.

The JMSDF ships Ikazuchi and Kaga led by Rear Admiral Konno Yasushige and the Indian Navy ships Chennai Tarkash and Deepak led by Rear Admiral Krishna Swaminathan were also seen in a close formation.

Watch:

#JIMEX-2020#JMSDF-#IndianNavy ships in close formation.

Mutual #interoperability, trust & confidence of operating in close formation on display.

3 Dimensional Adv tracking ex, weapon drills & seamanship evolutions underway to build on joint #Maritime ops capabilities.@JMSDF_PAO https://t.co/FbTNx9DUaB pic.twitter.com/p0SmvLZ6TX  SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) September 27, 2020

#JMSDF ships Ikazuchi & Kaga led by Rear Admiral Konno Yasushige, CCF2 & #IndianNavy ships Chennai Tarkash & Deepak led by Rear Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, FOCWF carry out extensive #Maritime Ops during the 1st day of 4th Edition of #JIMEX-2020 (1/2).@SpokespersonMoD@JMSDF_PAO pic.twitter.com/w8XptCQdbu  SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) September 26, 2020

The bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian and Japanese navies off the West Coast of India from September 26 to September 28 includes advanced exercises, tactical manoeuvres and a wide spectrum of maritime operations that will further enhance the naval cooperation and maritime interoperability.

Notably, this is the first military exercise after the two countries signed a landmark agreement on September 9 that will allow their militaries to access each other's bases for logistics support.

It is reportedly being conducted in a 'non-contact at-sea-only format', in view of the COVID-19 restrictions.

The JIMEX series of exercises commenced in January 2012 with a special focus on maritime security cooperation. The last edition of JIMEX was conducted in October 2018 off Visakhapatnam coast.

Earlier on September 23 and September 24, the Indian Navy also undertook a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in the East Indian Ocean Region. The exercise involved the participation of the HMAS Hobart from the Australian side and the Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri and Karmuk. In addition, an Indian MPA and helicopters from both sides also participated in the exercise.

The exercise was aimed at enhancing interoperability, improving understanding and imbibing best practices from each other, and involved advanced surface and anti-air exercises including weapon firings, seamanship exercises, naval manoeuvres and Cross Deck Flying Operations.

PASSEXs are regularly conducted by the Indian Navy with units of friendly foreign navies, whilst visiting each others ports or during a rendezvous at sea.

Live TV

Meanwhile, the senior officials from India's Ministry of External Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade of Australia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and Department of State of the United States of America held a video conference on September 25 for consultations on regional and global issues of common interest.

The officials reportedly exchanged views on ongoing and proposed practical cooperation in the areas of connectivity and infrastructure development, and security matters, including counter-terrorism, cyber and maritime security, with the objective of promoting peace, security, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

The officials reaffirmed their commitment towards a free, open, prosperous and inclusive Indo-Pacific region based on shared values and principles and respect for international law.

This comes in the backdrop of growing concerns over China's military activity in the Indian Ocean region as well as in the Indo-Pacific.
New Delhi: NCDC on Sunday sanctioned 19,444 crore in first instalment for MSP operations support to three states during Kharif season 2020-21.

National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), the apex financing organization of Union Agriculture Ministry has sanctioned as first instalment, funds amounting to 19,444 crore to the states of Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Telangana for Kharif paddy procurement under Minimum Support Price (MSP) operations.

These amounts have been sanctioned to assist the States/ State Marketing Federations in undertaking paddy procurement operations in a timely manner through their respective cooperative organizations. Chhattisgarh gets the highest amount to the tune of 9,000 crore. Haryana has been sanctioned 5,444 crore and Telangana 5,500 crore.

"This proactive step by NCDC during the COVID pandemic will give the much needed financial support to farmers of these three state who account for nearly 75% of production of paddy in the country. The timely step will help the state agencies start procurement operations immediately. It will provide the much needed support to farmers to sell their produce at the government notified minimum support price," said Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare in an official release.

Sundeep Nayak, Managing Director, NCDC, said that in response to the clarion call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, NCDC was ready to assist more states in carrying out MSP operations for giving fair value to farmers in the light of historic farm related legislations.





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Kathmandu, Sep 27 : The Nepali Army (NA) has reported a second fatality due to the novel coronavirus, while the number of infected personnel stood at 2,197, the media reported.

In a statement on Saturday, NA spokesperson Santosh Ballav Poudel said the victim was a 20-year-old soldier posted in Kathmandu valley, reports The Himalayan Times.

The victim, who had also been suffering from epilepsy, was admitted to the Chauni based Birendra Hospital on September 22 after suffering from a seizure attack, Poudel said.

Two days later, he tested positive for the coronavirus.

"Doctors had then transferred him to the Covid-19 section for treatment, but he succumbed to the virus late Friday evening," the NA spokesperson was quoted as saying.

Paudel claimed that although they did not know that the victim was carrying the coronavirus, they had taken all kinds of precautionary measures against the virus, The Himalayan Times reported.

He added they were working on contact tracing.

Of the 2,197 infected NA personnel, 1,656 have been undergoing treatment at various hospitals.

So far, Nepal has reported a total of 71,821 coronavirus cases, while the death toll stood at 467.
Photo: The Canadian Press In this photo provided by the Azerbaijan's Presidential Press Office provided on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev gestures as he addresses the nation in Baku, Azerbaijan. Fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan broke out Sunday around the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the Armenian Defense Ministry said two Azerbaijani helicopters were shot down. Ministry spokeswoman Shushan Stepanyan also said Armenian forces hit three Azerbaijani tanks. (Azerbaijani Presidential Press Office via AP)

YEREVAN, Armenia - Fighting erupted anew Sunday between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the disputed separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh and a top territorial official said 16 people were killed and more than 100 wounded, while Azerbaijans president said his military has suffered losses.

Armenia also claimed that two Azerbaijani helicopters were shot down and three Azerbaijani tanks were hit by artillery, but Azerbaijans defence ministry rejected that claim.

Heavy fighting broke out in the morning in the region that lies within Azerbaijan but has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since 1994 at the end of a separatist war. It was not immediately clear what sparked the fighting, the heaviest since clashes in July killed 16 people from both sides.

Nagorno-Karabakh authorities reported that shelling hit the region's capital of Stepanakert and the towns of Martakert and Martuni. Armenian Defence Ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan also said Azerbaijani shelling hit within Armenian territory near the town of Vardenis.

Artur Sarkisian, deputy head of the Nagorno-Karabakh army, said that 16 people were killed and more than 100 wounded. It wasn't immediately clear if the figure included both soldiers and civilians. Earlier, the Armenian human rights ombudsman said a woman and child had been killed in the shelling.

Another Armenian Defence Ministry spokeswoman, Shushan Stepanyan, said the Armenian side shot down two helicopters and hit three tanks.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev ordered martial law be imposed in some regions of the country and called for a curfew in major cities.

In a televised address to the nation, Aliyev said that there are losses among the Azerbaijani forces and the civilian population as a result of the Armenian bombardment, but didn't give further details. He also claimed that many units of the enemys military equipment have been destroyed.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is conducting intensive contacts in order to induce the parties to cease fire and start negotiations to stabilize the situation, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, chairman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, called on the sides to stop fighting. The long-unsuccessful negotiations for resolving the territory's status has been conducted under OSCE auspices.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on Sunday said the country could reexamine whether to recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as independent. Such a move would likely obstruct further negotiations.

The news was harshly received in Turkey, a close ally of Azerbaijan.

Turkeys ruling party spokesman Omer Celik tweeted: We vehemently condemn Armenias attack on Azerbaijan. Armenia has once again committed a provocation, ignoring law. He promised Turkey would stand by Azerbaijan and said, Armenia is playing with fire and endangering regional peace.

Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin also condemned Armenia.

Armenia has violated the cease-fire by attacking civilian settlements ... the international community must immediately say stop to this dangerous provocation," Kalin tweeted.

Mostly mountainous Nagorno-Karabakh  a region around 4,400 square kilometres (1,700 square miles) or about the size of the U.S. state of Delaware  lies 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the Armenian border. Local soldiers backed by Armenia also occupy some Azerbaijani territory outside the region.

At the Vatican, Pope Francis said Sunday that he was praying for peace between the two countries, urging them to them to accomplish concrete deeds of goodwill and fraternity to reach a peaceful solution through dialogue.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had recently approved a proposal to set up the Film City in 1,000 acre of land along the Yamuna Expressway, near Noida.

Shooting at the film city in Noida's Gautam Buddh Nagar can begin in three to four months from now, senior government official Awanish Awasthi said Sunday, according to BJP MLA Dhirendra Singh.

Additional Chief Secretary (Home) and Information Awanish Awasthi inspected the site in the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority's (YEIDA's) Sector 21 and instructed officials to submit a detailed project report (DPR) soon.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had recently approved a proposal to set up the Film City in 1,000 acre of land along the Yamuna Expressway, near Noida.

Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department Awanish K Awasthi, inspected a portion of land for the proposed

Filmcity in Gautam Budh Nagar today. CEO and OSD of Yamuna Authority were also present. pic.twitter.com/VnfVlC3Zqq  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 27, 2020

Jewar MLA Dhirendra Singh tweeted in Hindi, Additional Chief Secretary to UP government Awanish Awasthi toured the proposed film city site in Sector 21 of Yamuna Authority. He said that shooting will begin at this location in 3 to 4 months.

YEIDA's officer on special duty Shailendra Bhatia said Awasthi observed the road connectivity and development adjacent to the site and in the areas nearby. He also instructed YEIDA to prepare the DPR for the film city.

Asked as to by when a DPR could be submitted, Bhatia told Press Trust of India: As soon as possible.

Awasthi, also the chairman of Film Bandhu, the nodal agency of the state government for cinema-related activities, was joined by YEIDA CEO Arun Vir Singh during the site inspection.

Samajwadi Party president and former UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on 22 September had alleged the Yogi Adityanath government was trying to take credit for the film city project initiated by his regime.

Two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed in 2015, when the Samajwadi Party was in power, for setting up as many film cities in the state.

While one was proposed along the Lucknow-Agra Expressway by Purple Seas group, with technical support provided by the Government of Japan, the other was to be developed in Trans Ganga Hightech City Scheme near Unnao by Bhojpuri film star Ravi Kishan, now a BJP MP.

An investment of Rs 650 crore was estimated to be made in the two projects.

(With inputs from Press Trust of India)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed the nation through the 69th edition of his monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat where he talked about the importance of storytelling, the values of Indian family system and hailed the passage of farm bills.

PM Modi started his address with highlighting the art of storytelling. He said that the coronavirus disease pandemic has served in fostering bonding among family members, bringing them even closer.

But there are issues with some of the families. Some families have lost touch with their values, he said, adding that stories can help reinvigorate such families.

There has been a thriving tradition of telling stories in India. There is an important tradition of storytelling in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It is called Villu Pattu, said PM Modi, talking about the various forms of storytelling prevalent in India.

He then spoke to people involved in this field. It included a group of women who run Bengaluru Storytelling Society and even asked them to narrate a story.

I urge all storytellers to include all inspirational stories from the period of foreign rule as we are going to celebrate 75 years of independence. Especially between 1857 & 1947. We can introduce our new generation to them in form of stories, he further said.

He then moved on to farm bills, which was passed by Parliament recently. He said that these bills will empower farmers and give them freedom to sell their produce.

PM Modi then talked about the farmers who have benefitted by the policies of his government since 2014. However, the issue has been controversial with the government facing the heat from the Opposition as well as its allies. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the oldest ally of BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), quit the alliance over the issue.

The Prime Minister also hailed the courage, bravery and valour of soldiers who carried out surgical strikes in 2016.

Four years ago, around this time, the world witnessed the courage, bravery and valour of our soldiers during surgical strike. Our brave soldiers had just one mission and goal - to protect the glory and honour of mother India at any cost, he said.

Mann ki Baat is a radio programme, aired on All India Radio on the last Sunday of every month, through which the Prime Minister interacts with the nation.
San Francisco, Sep 27 : California Governor has signed a law to allow trangender inmates to be places in prison cells according to their gender identity.

According to the law signed on Saturday, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) will now house inmates based on their gender identity rather than their sex assigned at birth, The Hill news website reported.

Officers will be requited to ask inmates privately during the intake process if they identify as transgender, non-binary or intersex.

After this, the inmates can request to be placed in a facility that houses either men or women.

In a statement, Newsom said: "California has some of the strongest pro LGBTQ+ laws in the nation and with the bills signed today, our march toward equality takes an additional step forward.

"These new laws will help us better understand the impacts of Covid-19 on the LGBTQ+ community, establish a new fund to support our transgender sisters and brothers and advance inclusive and culturally competent efforts that uphold the dignity of all Californians, regardless of who you are or who you love." Similar laws for the protection of trangender inmates have been implemented in Rhode Island, New York City and Massachusetts.
In a bid to a roll out a green carpet on the uplands and arid terrain, YSR Jala Kala will be launched by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy here on Monday which would drill bore wells to benefit small and medium farmers who have no open-source of water for irrigation. The Chief Minister will launch the YSR Jala Kala scheme under which bore wells will be drilled free of cost for the needy farmers bringing in an estimated five lakh acres under cultivation through groundwater irrigation.

During the 3,648 km padayatra, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has met farmers whose fields were parched due to lack of any water source, as their farms are in uplands or they were arid or dry for want of water. They poured their woes out on how they were being pushed into debts for drilling a bore and the difficulties in watering the crops. After seeing their distress, he then promised to provide bore-wells to farmers having fields in uplands and has included in the Navaratnalu, the drilling of bore-wells which has taken the name of YSR Jala Kala. With the launch of the scheme, one more election promise translates into reality and joins the long list of promise kept by the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government.

About three lakh farmers will be benefitted from YSR Jala Kala and bring in five lakh acres under cultivation with an estimated cost of Rs 2,340 crores in four years. The Government plans to drill about two lakh bore wells to enable groundwater irrigation to the upland farmers and those in arid areas depending on the availability and the level of the water table. All the eligible farmers can avail this initiative by applying either online or through the village secretariats, which will be scrutinized after Hydro-geological and geophysical surveys.

Also Read: Senior Kerala Congress leader CF Thomas passes away

The State has already identified drilling contract agency one each for every parliament constituency. The farmer or a group of farmers with a landholding of 2.5 to 5 acres can apply for the scheme. The drilling of bores will be started based on the feasibility in terms of the level of the water table. Once the application is filed, the technical team will assess the groundwater level and gives the clearance to the drilling contractor who completes the job.

The state government has also developed a software application to monitor and implement the programme. The farmers can apply online or through Village Secretariats and the status of their application can be monitored at every stage. They will get text messages about their status. The commitment of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government for the welfare of farmers is being demonstrated time and again from YSR Rtyhtu Bharosa onward and the latest initiative, YSR Jala Kala will make the best use of groundwater resources for agriculture.

Also Read: 10 States, UTs account for 76% recovered cases: Health Ministry
Amid reports that people once cured of Covid-19 are not free from the threats of contracting the virus again, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan said the issue of reinfection is under investigation, though its not a serious issue at this moment. The Union minister was addressing his weekly programme Sunday Samvaad.

Some cases of reinfection are being reported from across the world, not only from India. At the moment, the subject is still under investigation and doesnt appear to be serious issue. However, each and every aspect of Covid-19 is being actively studied and researched. Reports are being examined, although the number of reinfection is negligible, the health minister said.

Recently, the Deenanath Mangeshkar hospital in Pune has claimed a resident doctor has tested positive for Covid-19 a second time in a three-month period. The doctors samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) for a genome sequencing and antibodies test.

The doctor had tested positive in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, on June 12 through the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test. During discharge on June 22, he was tested again and he was negative. The test was repeated 24 hours later, and he tested negative again. All these tests were RT-PCR. After that, the doctor continued his work. However, a few days ago, the doctor felt uneasy and complained of body ache. We tested him through an antigen test on Friday and he tested positive for the infection,Dr Parikshit Prayag, the consulting doctor for Covid-19 at Deenanath Mangeshkar, said.

Some hospitals in the national capital in August reported they were seeing recovered coronavirus patients returning to them with recurrence of the infection.

According to Dr BL Sherwal, medical director of the Delhi government-run hospital, unless the virus is cultured or gene sequencing is done, it will be difficult to determine whether it is a different strain of the virus that has infected the person the second time.

There can be a relapse. The virus can be isolated from the body particularly from the sputum. We have the evidence that after ninth or tenth day the virus becomes non-infectious and the patients are not tested again. However, the virus has been reported to be living in patients who have recovered around 39 to 40 days back, he added.
Lucknow, Sep 27 : TV actor Anupam Shyam Ojha, who wooed audience with his stellar performance in "Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya" has expressed his gratitude to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for providing financial assistance for his medical treatment when he was facing a financial crunch.

The actor, a resident of Pratapgarh, has been undergoing treatment for kidney ailment in Mumbai and the Chief Minister had provided him an assistance of Rs 20 lakh, to bear the cost of treatment.

In an emotional letter, the actor said that he would like to meet Adityanath and personally thank him when he recovers.

The actor also congratulated the Chief Minister for announcing the construction of a Film City in the state.
We've lost count of how many times insiders have accumulated shares in a company that goes on to improve markedly. Unfortunately, there are also plenty of examples of share prices declining precipitously after insiders have sold shares. So before you buy or sell Ausmex Mining Group Limited (ASX:AMG), you may well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling.

Do Insider Transactions Matter?

It is perfectly legal for company insiders, including board members, to buy and sell stock in a company. However, such insiders must disclose their trading activities, and not trade on inside information.

We would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing. But logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares. For example, a Harvard University study found that 'insider purchases earn abnormal returns of more than 6% per year'.

Check out our latest analysis for Ausmex Mining Group

Ausmex Mining Group Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by insider Wayne McCrae for AU$126k worth of shares, at about AU$0.097 per share. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at above the current price of AU$0.048. Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares. Generally speaking, it catches our eye when insiders have purchased shares at above current prices, as it suggests they believed the shares were worth buying, even at a higher price.

Ausmex Mining Group insiders may have bought shares in the last year, but they didn't sell any. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

Story continues

Ausmex Mining Group is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying.

Does Ausmex Mining Group Boast High Insider Ownership?

Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. It appears that Ausmex Mining Group insiders own 36% of the company, worth about AU$9.4m. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders.

So What Do The Ausmex Mining Group Insider Transactions Indicate?

The fact that there have been no Ausmex Mining Group insider transactions recently certainly doesn't bother us. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. Overall we don't see anything to make us think Ausmex Mining Group insiders are doubting the company, and they do own shares. So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. For example, Ausmex Mining Group has 5 warning signs (and 1 which is a bit unpleasant) we think you should know about.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies.

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.
Bank of New York Mellon (BNY Mellon) has been accused of playing a central role in the $4 billion Ponzi scheme OneCoin, just days after the publication of the so-called FinCEN Files.

Accusing it of turning a blind eye and laundering approximately $300 million for the scheme, investors Donald Berdeaux and Christine Grablis have added one of Americas oldest banks to an existing class-action lawsuit seeking damages against OneCoin and its key figures, including founder Ruja Ignatova, who disappeared in late 2017.

The plaintiffs, who together invested approximately $1 million into OneCoin, say that while BNY Mellon processed payments for OneCoin in May 2016, and even referred to it as a possible Ponzi/pyramid scheme in an internal investigation that December, it didnt file a suspicious activity report (SAR) with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) until February 2017.

Related: Nevada Woman Charged in Bitcoin Murder-for-Hire as a Mystery Hacker Again Turns Tipster

Accordingly, BNY Mellon knowingly participated in, or was complicit in, laundering OneCoins criminal proceeds, the filing reads.

Plaintiffs accuse BNY Mellon on one count of aiding and abetting fraud, as well as one count of commercial bad faith.

In a statement, a BNY Mellon spokesperson said the bank took its role in protecting the integrity of the global financial system seriously but, by law, would not comment on any SAR it may have filed with the U.S authorities.

The bank declined to comment on the allegations.

Related: SoluTech to Burn its Tokens Under Terms of SEC Settlement; Co-Founder Fined

See also: US Moves to Seize $400M From Convicted OneCoin Money Launderer

The amended suit comes days after news source BuzzFeed released thousands of normally secret SARs reports flagging suspect transactions with the authorities.

One particular transaction in 2016 saw $30 million wired from an account belonging to a British Virgin Islands-based company, to BNY Mellon, who then credited it to an account in Hong Kong. While the transaction was allegedly a loan for the purchase of an oilfield, emails seized by the authorities show the loan was never repaid and that $10 million was actually withdrawn by one of the OneCoin founders.

Story continues

U.S. authorities have already testified, in a separate case, to say that they believe this loan was an example of proceeds from the OneCoin sale being laundered.

David Silver, the founder of Silver Miller, the law firm acting as lead class counsel, told CoinDesk that the FinCEN Files showed BNY Mellon could have and should have taken action much sooner than it did. The allegations in the lawsuit expose information that Bank of New York knew about the highly-suspicious nature of those OneCoin transactions but failed to act accordingly, he said.

Ignatovas brother, Konstantin, was dropped from the class-action filed by Berdeaux and Grablis last month after the two sides reached a settlement.

Read the amended complaint below:

UPDATE (Sept. 25, 12:40 UTC): This article has been updated with comment from David Silver, the founder of Silver Miller, the law firm acting as lead class counsel.

Related Stories
A teenage girl who could not afford to throw a party for her 15th birthday was shot and killed when she went with her brother to a friend's gathering to celebrate instead.

Maria Paula Castaneda Callejas, who is from a low-income family, had decided to celebrate at another party in the Nueva Castilla neighbourhood in Ibague, in the Tolima department, located in the central-occidental area of Colombia, local media reported.

She had been accompanied by her 21-year-old brother to a party organised by other friends, which they joined about 5pm.

The teenager was reportedly shot by another woman who arrived three hours later at 8pm.

Maria Paula Castaneda Callejas was shot dead at a party after being unable to afford to celebrate her 15th birthday. Source: Newsflash/Australscope

It is unclear who the other woman was and whether she knew the teenager before shooting her.

Maria was taken critically injured to the hospital where medical staff confirmed her death.

Luisa Fernanda Garzon, one of the victim's sisters, told local news outlet El Nuevo Dia the family was still in the dark as to who would have wanted to shoot Maria or why.

Ms Fernanda Garzon said that due to the pandemic and other factors, the family did not have the resources to celebrate the girl's 15th birthday and that was why she had gone to another friend's party.

It was unclear who organised the party.

Her brother took her to another party to celebrate the birthday instead. Source: Newsflash/Australscope

Marias sister added the first the family knew of the tragedy was when her brother, who had not been identified, called their mum, Edith Castaneda Cardenas, to ask for the teenagers identity card so she could get treatment.

He said she had been injured, but did not say she had been shot and said he was travelling with her to the hospital.

By the time the family arrived at the hospital, they were told the girl had died.

The Metropolitan Police of Ibague reported the investigation was now in the hands of the Public Prosecutors Office.

No one has been arrested over the shooting and the investigation continues.

 Australscope

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
A retired lawyer was quoted 502,586 by BT to install a reliable broadband connection at his rural Cumbria home.

David Roberts, 65, had requested a broadband service fast enough for making uninterrupted video calls to his family and to watch All Creatures Great and Small.

He currently pays 70 every month for a 0.9Mbps download speed and had to wait three hours to download a 20-minute video his cousin sent him of a holiday in Germany.

The speed is well below the UK average of 64Mbps. This means he struggles with viewing standard web pages - while a Zoom meeting or a Netflix subscription is completely out of the question.

David Roberts, 65, had requested a broadband service fast enough for making uninterrupted video calls to his family and to watch All Creatures Great and Small and was given a quote of 502,586 by BT

Mr Roberts, who lives in the hamlet of Isel, near Cockermouth in Cumbria, hoped for improvement when the government announced a 'Universal Service Obligation' scheme, which gives people a legal right to 'decent and affordable' broadband.

It obliges the government to contribute up to 3,400 towards each installation.

However, he would still be left to foot a bill of 499,186.

Last August he co-ordinated a group of the 29 households in the hamlet to fulfill their WiFi dreams

He was quoted 380,000 for the whole 29 houses to be supplied when he inquired last year.

Mr Roberts, who lives in the hamlet of Isel, near Cockermouth in Cumbria, hoped for improvement when the government announced a 'Universal Service Obligation' scheme, which gives people a legal right to 'decent and affordable' broadband

But this year, he was staggered to get a quote back from telecoms giant BT of 502,586.40 for just his house.

Mr Roberts, who has lived in the village with his wife for 33 years, said: 'I laughed out loud when I saw the quote. It is just ridiculous. Nobody is going to pay that.

'The annoying thing is that the village next to us, Blindcrake, just one and a half miles away, had BT fibre broadband installed two years ago completely free of charge.

'This is a real problem for us here, it is not just a case of wanting to be able to watch old movies on TV, but having the real need to be connected.'

The hamlet where Mr Roberts lives doesn't have a shop, pub or post office, meaning its residents are already cut off from the outside world.

He said: 'With fibre-optic broadband, rural areas are being left out in the cold.'

A BT spokesperson said: 'We're sorry for the disappointment the quote has caused Mr Roberts'

Their current broadband connection hangs by a thread as the cable is often damaged by farm machinery and has had to be repaired countless times, weakening the strength even further.

The coroner, who presided over the deaths of those killed by serial killer Derrick Bird in a shooting spree 2010, said: 'The government's scheme clearly isn't working.

'Local people don't have that kind of money to splurge on broadband.

'Nobody has explained to me why Openreach quoted me a figure of 380,000 to supply 29 properties with broadband and yet when it was a quote to supply just me the figure came out as just over 500,000.'

Local councillor Ron Munby and his wife Helen live nearby. Mrs Munby, 69, said: 'We have broadband but it's pathetic.

'We've lived at Isel for 24 years now and the phone-line has always caused problems.

'Now, of course, the broadband is carried along the same lines and the phone line was condemned years ago by Openreach engineers who say it's been fixed so many times it's exhausted its lifespan.'

Workington MP Mark Jenkinson was sympathetic to the affected residents and vowed to continue fighting to bring affordable broadband to Cumbria.

He suggested that the issue was linked to there being a broadband 'infrastructure monopoly'.

The spokesman added: 'His property is several kilometres away from our nearest usable network, which means significant civil engineering, build and cabling work is needed to provide a connection.' Pictured: Lake District

A BT spokesman said: 'We're sorry for the disappointment the quote has caused Mr Roberts.

'His property is several kilometres away from our nearest usable network, which means significant civil engineering, build and cabling work is needed to provide a connection.

'Mr Roberts could reduce the cost by exploring other opportunities such as joining up with other homes nearby and seeing if a Community Fibre Partnership is viable - they could also use Government vouchers for this to further reduce the cost.

'Ninety-five percent of UK homes already have access to Superfast Broadband of 30 Mbps and above and we're working closely with Government to find other solutions for the very hardest to reach.'

Residents of Michaelston-y-Fedw, near Newport in Wales, banded together to raise money to boost download speeds from 8Mbps to 940Mbps - among the fastest speed in the UK.

David Schofield, 56, a retired repairer of electronics, headed the group. He told The Sunday Times: 'We did everything ourselves, all the cabling, digging up the roads and connecting the cables to a Newport hub.'

They started digging in February 2018 and had their first connection in June that year. They now have about 240 customers who each pay about 30 a month.
As the campaigns for the October 10 governorship election gain momentum, there is a renewed hostility between a former governor of the state, Olusegun Mimiko, and his successor and incumbent governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.

At a campaign rally on Saturday, Mr Mimiko described Mr Akeredolu as a disappointment in office, having failed to lift the people up from their state of poverty.

The former governor is the strongman behind the deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi, whose candidacy at the Zenith Labour Party,has further stained the relationship between both leaders.

Mr Ajayi, who is still the incumbent deputy governor in spite of his difference in political affiliation with the governor, is viewed by many as having a brighter chance to upstage his principal in the coming election given his acceptance in the large voting southern senatorial district.

READ ALSO:

His cards in the central zone have also received a boost following Mr Mimikos influence across the district.

Mr Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is hanging on the power of incumbency and dominance in the northern zone of the state to win the election.

Mr Mimiko, who was speaking at Ile-Oluji in Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Local Government Area during the campaign tour of Mr Ajayi, said the policies of the current administration were anti-people following the cancellation of free health services which he (Mimiko) instituted and as well as the increase in tuition fees paid by tertiary institutions in the state.

The former governor, who is now the national leader of the ZLP and worked with three governors before becoming governor for eight years, said that Mr Akeredolus government had failed the people of the state in all critical sectors affecting the well-being of the people.

There is no person that will say he has performed. But how do we differentiate performance? Any government that has not democratised education is a bad government, Mr Mimiko declared.

This government that hiked school fees is a bad government. Akeredolus government is an enemy of the people. Anybody that votes Akeredolu is selling his childrens future.

Any government that does not make health free is your enemy. Akeredolus government is an enemy of the people by cancelling mother and child and free health for children.

Any time they come here to campaign for votes ask him, where is our shuttle buses? Where is our abiye? The government that cancelled trauma centre is your enemy.

Mr Mimiko said the utterances of the incumbent governor clearly showed that he is not part of the state as he had vowed to go back to his base in Ibadan, if not voted for.

The former governor lamented what he said was the failure of his successor to build on the successes recorded in the health and education sectors during his tenure as Governor.

But in a swift reaction, the governor, through his spokesperson, Olatunde Olabode, said Mr Mimiko would be remembered for sacking 10,000 workers in the state during his tenure, and did not have the standing to call another government anti-people.

He said that the current government has not sacked anyone in the state workforce since his assumption of office as governor.

Those lectures that were sacked unjustly at the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo and Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko are still alive to bear witness to the anti-people government of Mimiko in this state, said Mr Olabode.

These workers were only reinstated by Governor Akeredolu. Because of politics, Mimiko killed the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa (OAUSTECH). Whats more anti-people than the actions of Mimiko in abandoning the various projects left behind by the late Olusegun Agagu?

The Akeredolu administration came and realised Mimiko only had two mother and child hospitals in the whole of the state. Governor Akeredolu has now expanded from two to seven and they are now across the three senatorial district of the state.

As we speak, work is ongoing at the Teaching hospital both in Ondo and Akure. Arakunrin Akeredolu has introduced the Contributory health scheme which has also brought about free health care service for children under the age of Five and pregnant women.

So, on health, Governor Akeredolu has surpassed Mimiko in achievements, just as the Akeredolu administration has recorded significant stride in education and peoples welfare.
(Natural News) As you might recall, weve been reporting on Trumps plans to invoke the Insurrection Act after the election, deploying military troops on the streets to halt the extremist left-wing political coup attempt thats expect to be activated shortly after the election. Now, fascinating news has emerged that confirms US federal intelligence officials have, for months, been quietly identifying the participants and leaders of both Antifa and BLM terrorist organizations, including wealthy donors who are funding these operations.

It turns out that Trumps DHS has been using sophisticated phone cloning hardware to impersonate the phones of Antifa and BLM extremists in order to eavesdrop on their phone calls and texts. Through this technology, they have assembled a complete organizational structure and hierarchy map of the leaders involved in todays left-wing terrorist operations. More importantly, this information is being readied for a nationwide takedown of illegal insurrectionists once the Insurrection Act is activated.

All this is being confirmed by numerous media investigative efforts, including those of anti-Trump publisher The Nation, which reported:

While in Portland, an interagency task force involving DHS and the Justice Department used a sophisticated cell phone cloning attack  the details of which remain classified  to intercept protesters phone communications, according to two former intelligence officers familiar with the matter.

Indy media outlet News Thud further reports that the collection of this information points to an October surprise during which left-wing terrorists may face sweeping arrests:

So the DHS and the FBI have been listening to Antifa and they know who in the media and in politics they have been talking to. You can tell by reading the report from The Nation, the left is getting real nervous about this because it is the number one report on their website as of the writing of this post.

Trump promises to designate both Antifa and the KKK as terrorist organizations

Further confirmation of all this emerged from Trumps own words, uttered just two days ago, when he promised to designate both Antifa and the KKK as terrorist organizations. Reporting via The Epoch Times:

President Donald Trump is slated to announce a measure that designates far-left movement Antifa and the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) as terrorist organizations, calling for lynching to be made a federal hate crime.

Attorney General William Barr in August said Antifa is a revolutionary group that is bent on establishing communism or socialism in the United States.

They are a revolutionary group that is interested in some form of socialism, communism. Theyre essentially Bolsheviks. Their tactics are fascistic, Barr said in an interview with Fox News on Aug. 9.

Kyle Shideler, director and senior analyst for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism at the Center for Security Policy, told The Epoch Times that Barr and other federal officials need to treat the group as the subversive and insurrectionist force it is.

These developments are crucial to note for several important reasons:

#1) Both Antifa and the KKK are creations of Democrats

While Trump may be appearing to balance terrorist designations by pairing Antifa with the KKK  which many Americans incorrectly believe would balance left-wing vs. right-wing  in truth the KKK is a creation of the Left. The KKK could best be described as the Antifa of the 1950s. It was the militant wing of the Democrats, just like Antifa is today. In effect, this designation by Trump is a double declaration against the terrorism of Democrats.

#2) Once Antifa is officially designated a terrorist organization, mass arrests can begin immediately

The official designation of Antifa as a terrorist organization will unleash federal law enforcement resources to wage mass arrests across Oregon, Washington, California and New York, among other states. The entire Antifa leadership will be taken down very quickly, removing from the left-wing coup masterminds their militant troops that they hope will carry out their color revolution against America.

#3) Any corporations who funded Antifa will be complicit in financing domestic terrorism, which is a felony crime

The designation of Antifa as a terrorist organization will also ensnare all those US corporations that have donated money to Antifa over the last four years. Those corporations will suddenly find themselves guilty of financing domestic terrorism operations, and they will be subject to arrest and seizure of assets. (I have no doubt much of the funding will be traced back to Big Tech.) This is how Trump fights back against left-wing corporate giants funding illegal insurrection activities to try to overthrow the United States.

#4) Arrests of Antifa terrorists will lead US authorities directly to globalist donors like George Soros

Finally, once the arrests of Antifa begin, investigations will lead authorities directly to the funding sources of this coup attempt. These money men include George Soros and other wealthy globalist persons and corporations  even nations like China  that are trying to destroy the United States of America.

Trump has a plan to take out the left-wing terrorists and save America

The good news in all this is that Trump has a plan to disrupt the color revolution coup attempt of the radical Left, which is being run by the CIA against America. This same type of revolution has been plotted and carried out in many other nations around the world, following the same playbook. Even Glenn Beck got it right with his coverage of this topic:

As Ive previously explained in podcasts, left-wing rioters are going to be charged with sedition once Trump invokes the Insurrection Act and activates the US military across 50 cities, all of whom are being put in place under the cover story of Operation Warp Speed which claims the military is needed to distribute vaccines. See my previous story: ANALYSIS: Trumps military deployment of vaccines on Nov. 1 is a clever cover story to prepare for Insurrection Act invocation, mass arrests using military police.

Here are more details on the Operation Chaos plans of the Democrats, who are all treasonous actors who must be arrested, prosecuted and executed if found guilty of treason:

How to get prepared and stay informed

1) Watch all my how-to survival and preparedness videos at PrepWithMike.com, which includes videos on firearms, how to make emergency medicine, off-grid survival skills and more.

2) Join Brighteon.social and monitor the live stream of breaking news there by clicking on Live Stream in the left column, after you log in. This will show you all the messages from the nearly 10,000 members now, many of whom are live tweeting breaking news on the riots and the attempted revolution against America. My channel there is @HealthRanger

3) Watch new free speech videos as they are posted to Brighteon.com, the free speech alternative to YouTube. Thousands of users are uploading analysis videos to Brighteon.com, with new videos appearing every few minutes. You can also post your own.

4) Be ready for severe disruptions, including power grid failures, communications takedowns and fighting in the streets of Americas cities. Have extra food, water, medicine, firearms and other off-grid survival gear at the ready. Expect extreme disruptions as left-wing revolutionary forces attempt to pull off a kinetic coup against the United States, anywhere from Nov. 3rd through the end of January. Read Survival.news for daily information on survival skills and survival gear.

Keep reading this website to stay informed. Pray for divine protection and be willing to defend your nation against the radical left-wing insurrectionists who are trying to destroy it.
A man faces up to 15 years in prison for assault after a police officer broke his hand when he punched him in the face. (iStock)

A Missouri man faces up to 15 years in prison for assault after a police officer broke his hand when he punched him in the face.

Officer Trevor Spencer was injured as he defended himself in a fight with Matthew Calhoun, according to reports.

Calhoun, a 48-year-old probation offender, is accused of starting a fight with the cop when he tried to arrest him during a stop in Branson, Missouri, in December.

A preliminary court hearing this week heard Calhoun was pulled over in a convenience store car park for speeding, and when the officer pulled his records it showed he was wanted for violating probation in a drugs case.

During the pairs struggle the officer, who works for the Ozark Police Department, said he had to punch Calhoun two or three times in the face, breaking his hand in the process.

Calhoun was eventually taken into custody with the use of a Taser.

His lawyer said the charges were ridiculous and absurd.

Are we supposed to feel sorry for Officer Spencer because he broke his hand on my clients face? said Stacie Bilyeu, according to the Springfield News-Leader.

Christian County assistant prosecutor Janette Bleau told the court that Calhouns aggressive behavior put the officer in a position where he had to defend himself and suffer the injury.

The case was moved to a trial court.
In this Aug. 25 photo, Kyle Rittenhouse carries a weapon as he walks along Sheridan Road in Kenosha. Read more

WAUKEGAN, Ill.  A 17-year-old in Illinois accused of killing two protesters days after Jacob Blake was shot by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Friday fought his return to Wisconsin to face homicide charges that could put him in prison for life.

Kyle Rittenhouse surrendered to police in his home in Antioch, Illinois, a day after prosecutors say he shot and killed two protesters and wounded a third on the streets of Kenosha on Aug. 25. His attorneys have said Rittenhouse acted in self-defense and have portrayed him as a courageous patriot who was exercising his right to bear arms during unrest over the police shooting of Blake, who is Black.

Rittenhouse attorney John Pierce said during a hearing Friday that he intends to fight extradition. Judge Paul Novak gave the defense 14 days to review papers and file pleadings ahead of an Oct. 9 hearing.

Pierce asked for a month to prepare arguments challenging extradition that he said involve issues of some complexity, frankly that have not arisen in the country for some time.

We intend to challenge extradition by writ of habeas corpus, Pierce said.

He didnt provide further details at the hearing about the basis for the challenge. The delay in returning Rittenhouse to Wisconsin is the second in the case.

Mike Nerheim, the Lake County states attorney, said after the hearing that Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker had signed a warrant to return Rittenhouse to Wisconsin after a request was made by Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, a fellow Democrat. Rittenhouses attorney asked for a chance to review the warrant, which Nerheim said he had received Friday morning.

Nerheim said he didnt know on what basis Rittenhouse would challenge extradition.

Were ready to proceed, he said.

David Erickson, a former state appellate judge who teaches at Chicago Kent College of Law, said challenges to extradition are rare. When challenges do occur, he said there are generally two arguments: that no crime was committed in the other state or that the defendant was not the person who committed the crime.

But Rittenhouses attorneys' stated plan to pursue a habeas corpus challenge, which is generally defined as an argument that there are legal grounds for a defendants release, is even further outside the norm, Erickson said.

Its going to be some unique kind of theory, thats for sure, he said. Its not the standard two of it aint me or theres no crime, he said.

Rittenhouses attorneys and fundraising team have publicly framed him as a defender of liberty, rightfully carrying a weapon amid rioting.

When extradition is challenged, a judge will hold a hearing to consider arguments and witness testimony, Erickson said. If the court doesnt rule in Rittenhouses favor, he could appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court, but Erickson said he doubts it would take up such an appeal because the likeliest reason to overturn an extradition ruling would be a judge abusing his or her discretion.

Novak seems to be approaching the case with caution by giving Rittenhouses team weeks to prepare their arguments, Erickson said.

Rittenhouse attended the hearing via a video feed and did not speak other than to say, Good morning your honor to the judge. He wore a blue face mask and a black sweatshirt.

Pierce also requested that he be allowed to bring a laptop into the juvenile detention facility in Vernon Hills where Rittenhouse is being held, despite a ban on electronic equipment, so they could review video evidence together from the night of the shootings. The judge said he would consider it.

Rittenhouse, who is white, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the killing of two white protesters and attempted intentional homicide in the wounding of a third. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of underage firearm possession for wielding a semi-automatic rifle.

If convicted of first-degree homicide, Rittenhouse faces a mandatory life in prison sentence.

To some, Rittenhouse is a domestic terrorist whose very presence with a rifle incited the protesters in Kenosha. To others  who have become frustrated with demonstrations and unrest across the country  hes seen as a hero who took up arms to protect businesses, including some that were damaged during unrest the previous two nights.

According to prosecutors and court documents, Rittenhouse shot and killed 36-year-old Joseph Rosenbaum, of Kenosha, after Rosenbaum threw a plastic bag at Rittenhouse, missing him, and tried to wrestle his rifle away.

While trying to get away in the immediate aftermath, Rittenhouse was captured on cellphone video saying I just killed somebody. According to the complaint filed by prosecutors, someone in the crowd said, Beat him up! and another yelled, Get him! Get that dude!

Video shows that Rittenhouse tripped in the street. As he was on the ground, 26-year-old Anthony Huber, of Silver Lake, hit him with a skateboard and tried to take his rifle away. Rittenhouse opened fire, killing Huber and wounding Gaige Grosskreutz, of West Allis, who was holding a handgun.

Rittenhouses extradition might not be an issue at all if he had been arrested in Kenosha the night of the shootings. Cellphone video that captured some of the action shows Rittenhouse afterward walking slowly toward a police vehicle with his hands up, only to be waved through by police. He returned to his Illinois home and turned himself in soon after. Police later blamed the chaotic conditions for not arresting Rittenhouse at the scene.

The killings happened two days after a white Kenosha police officer shot Blake seven times in the back, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down and sparking outrage after video of the shooting was posted online. A Wisconsin Department of Justice investigation into that shooting is ongoing. The three responding officers are on administrative leave.

Rittenhouses legal team includes Los Angeles-based Pierce and Lin Wood, a defamation lawyer who represented falsely accused security guard Richard Jewell in the 1996 Olympic Park bombing case in Atlanta and is a lawyer for Sean Hannity, the Fox News host with close ties to President Donald Trump.

Pierce has described Rittenhouse not as a vigilante, but as a model citizen who 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 burned two of his other buildings.

Pierce and Wood did not respond to messages ahead of Fridays hearing.

_____

Bauer reported from Madison, Wisconsin. Associated Press writer Ed White in Detroit contributed to this report.
Republican Dan Maymin is challenging Democrat Matt Blumenthal this year for the 147th District seat.

On his campaign website, he says that Connecticut in its worst shape in years and lags many other states in economic growth.

Maymin also says that current elected bureaucrats running the legislature in Hartford are dishonorable (pro-spending, pro-illegals, pro-unions, pro-Deep-State) and are turning CT into a Socialist Democrat Paradise.

His priorities include lower taxes, school vouchers and being responsive to constituents concerns, according to his website.

A resident of North Stamford who lives with his wife and nearly 2-year-old son, Maymin has 11 years of experience as a trader, fund accountant and analyst.

Maymin earned a bachelors degree in economics from the University of Connecticut and is now enrolled in a masters program in business analytics at Fairfield University.
The General Manager of Axis Pension Trust, Mr Paa Kofi Ankomah, has said that the company is well positioned to pay all the retirement benefits of its customers who will retire within this year and next year.



He said at the beginning of the year, the company was expected to pay retirement benefits to 1,854 customers of 106 employers from.



He said the employees were from 28 different schemes and as at July 2020, it had paid GH21.9 million to 764 retirees from 78 employers.



He said the highest amount the company paid to an individual was GH600,000 and was confident of paying the rest of the retirees as and when their benefits were due.



Mr Ankomah was speaking at the 2020 Axis Pension Pre-Retirement Seminar which was held on the theme: Empowering the Axis retiree to retire in style.



At the beginning of the year, we were expected to pay retirement benefits for 1,854 members of 106 employers from 29 different schemes and as at July 2020, we have successfully paid out GH21.9 million for 764 retirees from 26 schemes made up of 78 employers.



We are privileged to have served these retirees and are optimistic they are already enjoying the first few months of their retirement. In 2021, we expect to pay out retirement benefits of additional 1,200 members and we want to assure them as they approach retirement that we are confident of your retirement prospects and we will speedily ensure your benefits are processed and paid on time, he stated.



He said that was very fundamental to the objective of the National Pensions Act which stated that we should ensure that every worker receives retirement benefits as and when its due.



Pre-retirement seminar



The 2020 Axis Pension Pre-Retirement Seminar was organised to enable members who were nearing retirement to prepare adequately.



The event, which was held virtually, assembled experts in their fields to lead sessions on health, what to expect at retirement, accessing your benefits from the various schemes and how to make your retirement income last you longer.



Mr Ankomah said the event had come to stay on its calendar as a business and it was in line with its mission to empower the Ghanaian worker to retire with dignity.



It is our aim to empower you to become the axis retiree, distinguished in every aspect from any other retiree out there, he said.



Calculating retirement benefits



The Head of Corporate Client Relations, Mr Emmanuel Ntreh, also took the participants of the seminar through how to calculate their retirement benefits and the necessary steps retirees needed to take in order to access their retirement benefits when it was due.



It is very important to engage the designated institutions mandated to pay your retirement benefits to ensure that records are up-to-date in order to avoid any challenges, he stated.



A financial planner at Axis Pension Trust, Mimi Anane-Appiah, also introduced participants to the Axis Retirement Annuity Plan as a viable option to manage retirement income to last throughout the years of retirement.



She said the Axis Retirement Annuity Plan was a financial product that grew an individuals lump sum amount and provided a monthly cash flow.



She emphasised the need for such a solution to manage shortfalls in retirement income.







Source: Graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Patna, Sep 27 : Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday promised that if his party returned to power after the Bihar Assembly elections, over 10 lakh government vacancies in different departments would be filled within two months.

He also accused the Nitish Kumar government of neglecting the youths of Bihar.

"As a result, job scarcity is at its highest in state. He is unable to fill 4.5 lakh vacancies in different departments. Besides, vacant posts of supporting staffs are even more," the Leader of the Opposition in Bihar Assembly told the media here.

"If we calculate, over 10 lakh posts are lying vacant in various departments. Besides, opportunities to create jobs in industries and unorganised sectors are also possible," Tejashwi said.

"As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), one doctor is required for every 1,000 people. Accordingly, 1.25 lakh doctors are required for 12 crore people of the state. Besides, around 2 lakh support staff like nurses, lab technicians and Group D employees are needed. As many as 50,000 posts of teachers and 75,000 Junior Engineers will be filled. In Bihar police, over 50,000 posts are vacant," he added.

He also claimed that law and order in Bihar was at its worse. "When the RJD was part of the state government for 15 months, I was the Deputy CM... the crime graph had gone down during that period." Playing the regional card, Tejashwi said that he had earlier advocated the implementation of the domicile law in Bihar but the Chief Minister did not agree.

"Neighbouring Jharkhand has a domicile law; Madhya Pradesh has 100 per cent domicile law, and so do others. Why has he not implemented this law in Bihar? Does he have any explanation?" The RJD leader also took a dig at Nitish Kumar's claims on 'sushasan' (good governance), asking if he was denying that 60 scams had taken place during his rule. "Srijan scam, paddy scam, Saat Nischay scam etc took place... I want to ask Nitishji about the recovery of money from offenders. How much money did he manage to recover from scamsters? Does he have the guts to reveal the amount in public domain?" Tejashwi said.
TANZANIA, Tanzania - Syrias foreign minister accused Turkey on Saturday of being one of the main sponsors of terror in his country and the region, and said it is guilty of a war crime and a crime against humanity for cutting water to more than a dozen towns that resisted Turkish occupation.

In unusually harsh language, Walid al-Moallem said the Turkish regime reigns supreme when it comes to sponsors and financiers of terrorism.

He said in a prerecorded speech to the first-ever high-level meeting of the U.N. General Assembly held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic that the cutoff of water supplies endangered civilian lives, especially during the coronavirus crisis.

The nine-year Syrian conflict, which initially began as a civil war, later became a regional proxy fight. Turkey, which now controls a zone in northern Syria, has backed opposition fighters against Syrian President Bashar Assad, Syrian Kurdish fighters and the Islamic State extremist group.

Al-Moallem also accused Turkey of moving terrorists and mercenaries  referred to by some as `moderate opposition -- from Syria to Libya, violating Iraqs sovereignty, using refugees as bargaining chips against Europe and laying claim by force to energy resources in the Mediterranean.

The current Turkish regime has become a rogue and outlaw regime under international law, the Syrian minister said. Its policies and actions, which threaten the security and stability of the whole region, must be stopped.

Turkeys U.N. Mission said it rejects Syrian regimes delusional statement, ridden with ludicrous allegations, in its entirety.

It s shameful and unacceptable that the murderous Syrian regime which lost its legitimacy long ago continues to misuse (the) U.N. General Assembly general debate to distort the facts, said a mission spokesperson, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Syrian regime is responsible for death, mutilation, abduction, starvation and enforced disappearance of millions of Syrians, the spokesperson said. Its crimes against humanity, violations of international humanitarian law and the war crimes have been documented in countless U.N. reports.

Al-Moallem declared that the Syrian government will spare no effort to end the occupation by all means possible under international law of American and Turkish forces.

U.S. troops are deployed in the country to fight the Islamic State group.

The actions of these forces, taken directly or through their terrorist agents, secessionist militias, or manufactured and illegitimate entities, are null and void, with no legal effect, he said.

Al-Moallem, who is also deputy prime minister, denounced U.S. sanctions, saying they are blocking the delivery of life-saving medicine and equipment during the pandemic.

He called the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act passed by the U.S. Congress an inhumane attempt to suffocate Syrians, just like George Floyd and others were cruelly suffocated in the United States, and just like Israel suffocates Palestinians on a daily basis.

Floyd, a handcuffed Black man, died May 25 after a white officer used his knee on Floyds neck to pin him to the ground. The officer has been charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter.

Al-Moallem called on all countries affected by unilateral sanctions and those that reject such measures to close ranks against them and alleviate their impact on our peoples ... through co-operation, co-ordination, and concrete political, economic and commercial means.

On the political front, he said Syrias government hopes a committee given the responsibility of drafting a new constitution for the country will succeed. But, he said, this will be possible only if there is no external interference whatsoever in its work and by any party.
A court in Kazakhstan has detained a pro-Russian blogger for two months pending trial on suspicion of inciting ethnic hatred.



Ermek Taichibekov was previously sentenced to 4 years in prison in 2015 on charges of inciting ethnic hatred by placing "inflammatory" materials on Facebook and supporting the idea of Kazakhstan uniting with Russia. He served less than two years of that sentence and was released in October 2017.



Taichibekovs lawyer told RFE/RLs Kazakh Service on September 26 that an investigative court held a secret trial in which his client did not receive a proper defense and was threatened.

Defense lawyer Galym Nurpeisov said Taichibekov refused to be represented by a state lawyer but that the trial went ahead anyway. He said he has filed an appeal against the investigative court ruling detaining his client for two months.



Taichibekov, an ethnic Kazakh, was apparently detained on September 23 for comments he recently made to Russian state media Rossiya Segodnya.



Taichibekov told his brother that he was detained for an interview with Ukraina.ru, a website tied to Rossiya Segodnya that covers Ukraine from a pro-Russia perspective.



In a video published on the YouTube channel of Ukraina.ru in May, Taichibekov talks to the presenter against the background of the black-yellow-white flag of the Russian Empire and claims that the Kazakh authorities are pursuing a Russophobic policy.



Several Kazakh citizens have been sentenced to prison since 2014 for inciting separatism and/or ethnic hatred through the Internet amid heightened Kazakh government concern sparked by Russias support for separatists in parts of eastern Ukraine and Moscows illegal annexation of Crimea.
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 a school year unlike any other, districts have to be mindful of a new sort of attendance problem  digital truancy.

Though many school districts opted for hybrid or in-person learning models, most have at least some students learning remotely. There are a total of about 161,645 fully remote students, according to the state Department of Education. That means nearly 32 percent of the students enrolled in Connecticut schools are learning from home.

And while many officials said the year is off to a relatively smooth start, most also reported that at least some digital learners have been disconnected during the initial few weeks. The problem seems particularly pervasive in New Haven, one of the districts that opted to go fully remote to start the year.

In the first week, 14,762 students were marked present at least one day, while 5,446 were absent at least one day, district officials said. The numbers improved a bit during the second week with 18,208 present and 2,004 absent.

The number of absent students has been further reduced to about 1,500, according to Keisha Redd-Hannans, New Havens assistant superintendent for instructional leadership. Redd-Hannans said each school has an attendance team, which is comprised of an administrator, social worker, school psychologist, school counselor, teachers and dropout prevention workers to address issues that are causing students to be absent.

This team is focused on identifying students that did not report to school and they made phone calls or home visits to these children, Redd-Hannans said. We plan to continue these efforts to identify the remaining students through the ongoing efforts of our school-based attendance teams and the Office of Youth, Family & Community.

In Danbury, where schools also started remotely due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the city, about 90 percent of students were logging on to the remote learning system, Superintendent Sal Pascarella said.

Pascarella said school staff members have followed up with families to resolve issues with students who were not logging in for classes.

Its being diligent and responsible and reaching out and finding out why folks arent engaged, he said.

For those who need it, the district has provided technology, including hotspots for families without internet.

Connectivity is good, Pascarella said. Technology is not getting in the way.

The state Department of Education defines attendance in distance learning as spending at least half the normal school day doing one or more of the following activities  synchronous virtual classes (live classes streamed in real time using a videoconferencing platform); virtual meetings with a teacher, counselor or someone else using a videoconferencing platform; staying logged in to the electronic/virtual learning system; or completing or submitting assignments.

Last June, the state conducted a survey of 170 of the 201 potential districts to determine participation when all schools went remote due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the survey responses, about 74 percent (391,000 students) were fully participating in the remote learning offered by their district. Another 14 percent (approximately 76,000 students) were partially participating, 8 percent (about 40,000) were minimally participating, and 4 percent (21,000) did not participate.

But Peter Yazbak, spokesman for the state Department of Education, said he expects this year to be different since everyone should be more prepared for online learning.

In March 2020, districts, educators and students were abruptly forced to move to remote learning, causing many issues due to barriers to greater participation in remote learning, such as lack of access to a device in the home, lack of internet access in the home, and family, health and trauma issues, he wrote in an email.

Yazbak said state and local officials have studied lessons learned from last spring and (taken) several tangible action steps to be better prepared to deliver hybrid and remote learning this fall.

For instance, he said, to help address access issues, the state has provide 82,000 devices  including Chromebooks and Windows laptops  for families that need them, and the Partnership for CT donated another 60,000 laptops. Most of the devices will be targeted primarily to high-need districts and their students, Yazbak said.

The state also implemented new weekly and monthly forms of data collection on student attendance. The weekly method required districts to report the total student enrollment; the learning model for each grade (in-person, hybrid or remote); the number of students who were fully remote; and the number of fully remote students who did not connect on a single school day during the week.

The monthly collection method asks districts to provide student-level membership and attendance data for those who were enrolled on the last day of the month.

In many districts, officials said they are optimistic about maintaining the attendance of digital students.

In Ansonia, for example, Superintendent of Schools Joseph DiBacco said about 3 percent of remote learners were disconnected the first week of school. However, that improved the second week, when 1.5 percent of remote learners (about 34 students) were disconnected.

We have been very lucky because the teachers that are teaching students that opted in to remote learning are engaging and excited for this new experience, DiBacco said. Nothing is perfect and we have work to do but the community and staff are willing and the support of the community and staff makes this journey doable.

In nearby Derby, 347 of the districts 1,200 students have been engaged in distance learning, Superintendent of Schools Matthew Conway said. Of the 347 students, he said, 13 are disengaged, meaning they are not attending regularly. Attendance is taken daily and reported as required to the state every week.

Overall, its been very positive, Conway said. We have provided laptops, Chromebooks and, when needed, hotspots to every student.

He said he did this because things can change any day.

We are prepared to convert to a hybrid schedule or full distance learning, he said.

Other districts have reported mostly good attendance among their distance learners. Brookfield Superintendent John Barile said there has been over a 99 percent attendance rate for the districts 494 students who have been learning completely from home.

To ensure students maintain good attendance, we reach out to families and students as soon as we notice any drop in attendance, whether the student is in a remote learning model or attending in person, Barile said.

Darien Superintendent Alan Addley said distance learning is going well in the district, where about 255 students have been participating in full distance learning.

(We) had to respond to a few cases where students are meant to be in class and they logged on remotely, Addley said, adding thats not unexpected to start.

Staff writers Julia Perkins, Katrina Koerting, Michael P. Mayko, Susan Schultz and Brian Zahn contributed to this report.
Milaha, one of the largest Maritime and Logistics Organisations in the Middle East, has entered into a formal agreement to cooperate with leading American oilfield services firm, Schlumberger Limited.

The Offshore & Marine pillar of Milaha signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will support value building projects while jointly driving Tawteen initiatives for Qatar.

Led by Qatar Petroleum, the Tawteen programme aims to localise the energy sectors supply chain and create new investment opportunities to retain economic value in Qatar.

Signed as a five-year joint development project, it will include a Qatar-owned, Qatar-flagged and Qatar-operated Oil Well Stimulation Vessel. The first of these vessels will be designed and outfitted in the country, creating the inaugural FLEXSTIM platform, which will be modified, owned and operated locally.

Pre-engineering for this significant scheme has already begun and will evolve during the final quarter of 2020.

The resulting Qatar-owned value chain will be a joint service that enhances the expertise of a global multinational service firm like Schlumberger as well as the leading Qatar-based multi-disciplined local service company like Milaha.

With over 70 years of presence in Qatar, Schlumberger supplies the petroleum industry with several key services such as seismic acquisition and processing, well testing and directional drilling, artificial lifts, well completions and groundwater extraction. -- Tradearabia News Service
3-Year-Old Boy Shot in Head Days After Birthday, Grandmother Witnesses Death

A 3-year-old boy was shot in the head just days after celebrating his birthday in Florida, according to family members and officials.

Daquane James Felix Jr. was struck and killed by gunfire in Pine Hills near Orlando, officials said, describing the attack as a gang-related incident. The child died at the scene, they told Fox News.

Please help us find the killer or killers of 3-year-old Daquane Felix Jr., tragically struck by gunfire from a drive-by shooting on 9/22, said the Orange County Sheriffs Office in Florida. Someone knows who is responsible for little Daquanes death. Help us take them off the streets. Call @CrimelineFL. You can remain anonymous.

Felix Jr.s grandmother, Veronica Felix, said she witnessed the attack and saw her grandsons death.

I just see him in my head laying on the ground right there and I wasnt able to save him, Felix told FOX 35. It hurts bad. It hurts so bad.

Orange County Sheriff John Mina told news outlets that over the past week, four drive-by shootings have been reported. Two teens were shot several miles away on Glendale Avenue in a separate drive-by incident, officials said.

Each one, we believe, or detectives believe, is an act of gang retaliation, he said of the incidents There are some very violent gangs here at work in Orange County. They are heavily armed and not afraid to use violence. They dont think twice about who they kill.

Mina said that the shooting of Daquane and the teens may be tied to a feud between a gang known as 438 and another called All Family No Friends, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

Authorities in Florida last week raised the reward for the slayings to $20,000. Anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible will be eligible for the money.
It may be shocking but hardly surprising that there is a collapse in morality (Collapse in morality behind SAS war crimes, September 26-27). While soldiers are battle trained, its doubtful they spend much time studying the morality, philosophy and ethics of war. The aim of soldiering is to dehumanise the enemy so that questions such as necessity and proportionality are easily ignored. If you train individuals to kill, you should not be shocked when the concept of an enemy expands to include the civilian population. Even in a justifiable war, such as World War II, the indiscriminate bombing of civilian targets by both sides would not qualify as morally acceptable conduct. The first casualty of war may be truth, but it is only marginally ahead of morality. - Trevor Somerville, Illawong

One can only concur with the headlines attributing many killings of unarmed Afghans by SAS soldiers to a collapse in morality. The planned and grossly inappropriate muck-up activities of privileged students from prestigious schools could be similarly classified. Added to the mix are politicians of every shade increasingly involved in corrupt activities. Fabrications are now taken for granted, and lying, even under oath, is commonplace. There is a plethora of scams which exploit the ignorant and the vulnerable, a growth in the well-funded lobbying industry and an outrageous lack of respect for our fellows, especially on social media. Our recent health and environmental catastrophes alone should urge us to reflect on what makes for a decent, principled and humane society, for when it loses its moral compass, we all lose, and the unthinkable becomes possible. - Bernard Moylan, Watsons Bay

Major-General Sengelman writes of a collapse of morality in sections of the revered Australian Special Forces. Perhaps it all starts at home. It is interesting to learn that not only boys schools are responsible for compilation of illegal and what many people still regard as immoral undertakings to be attempted by school leavers as a way of celebration or rite of passage (More schools caught in criminal muck-up day challenge scandals, September 26-27). The revelation that pupils at an all girls school have been involved rebuts the assertions of many letter writers that this is a problem symptomatic of boys of privileged background, but supports the piece by Kerri Sackville (Shore scandal: Boys parents should be ashamed, September 26-27) that says parents have prime responsibility for such behaviour by their children. It points to a general laissez-faire attitude towards aberrant behaviour, or worse, a condoning of it by a swathe of modern parents. - Bill Higgins, Cammeray

There may be explanations for the alleged unjust conduct on the part of service personnel. There is no excuse for a country being involved in an unjust war. Australian participation in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq was neither moral or legal. The long-term interest and reputation of the nation would be best served by the commentariat focusing on this to ensure it does not happen again rather than on conduct of those we put in harms way. - Graham Cochrane, Balmain

Finkels support for CCS ignores fundamental flaws
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

Trend:

Armenia is responsible for destabilizing the situation in the region, the Turkish presidential administration told Trend.

"By its destructive position, Armenia continues to ruin all efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict peacefully," the Turkish presidential administration said. "The world community must act immediately, condemn Armenias actions and impose sanctions against the aggressor. Turkey once again confirms its full support to Azerbaijan and no matter what decision Azerbaijan will make, Turkey will support a fraternal country."
Human Rights Defender of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Artak Beglaryan took to his Facebook to report the following:

As a result of Azerbaijani shelling, there are victims and injured persons among civilians.

A woman and a child died and 2 people were injured in the Martuni region. Data regarding other settlements are being specified.

Schools have also been shelled, including schools in Stepanakert.

There are also large-scale damages of civilian infrastructures in several settlements.
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."
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

Trend:

Kazakhstan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed concern over the escalation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, Trend reports with reference to the statement.

"The Republic of Kazakhstan expresses its deep concern over the escalation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict that occurred on September 27, 2020 in Nagorno-Karabakh. We call on the friendly Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia to take all measures to stabilize the situation, abandon the use of force and start negotiations," the MFA said.

"We stand ready to assist in seeking peaceful ways to settle the conflict on the platforms of international organizations. As the current Chairman of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), we suggest using the existing package of confidence-building measures of the Conference," the ministry said in a statement.
A 62-year-old man, whose car went out of control on I-75 and wrecked on Thursday, has died.

A 12-year-old boy who was in the car with him was also seriously hurt.

On Thursday at approximately 3:10 p.m. Chattanooga Police Traffic Division responded to a serious injury crash at 870 Interstate 75 South.

It was found that a Nissan Sentra was entering I-75 South from the on ramp when the vehicle hydroplaned and crossed multiple travel lanes. While crossing lanes, the Nissan was struck by a Mack tractor trailer.

The driver and passenger of the Nissan were taken to a local hospital by Hamilton County EMS with serious injuries. Police were notified on Saturday that the man had died.
ALBANY  State lawmakers, from either party, are never keen on having to cut spending for popular programs, like education or health care.

Now, though, months of indecisions await key answers: Does the State Assembly and Senate reconvene soon to deal with the revenue falloff that has created at least an $8 billion deficit in the current state budget? And will the solutions involve cutting spending or tax hikes, or both?

There is an obstacle to the answers. Its Nov. 3: Election Day.

It would be extraordinary for the Legislature to reconvene to take up a fiscal package so close to its own elections that could result in things like cuts to K-12 classroom programs or benefits for low-income Medicaid beneficiaries.

In fact, no one in the Legislature is publicly suggesting any of those kinds of cuts prior to Election Day. Nor is Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo in any seeming rush for lawmakers to return.

In fact, under one possible scenario being discussed, lawmakers are mulling passage of tax-raising ideas, targeted at wealthy New Yorkers, and then leaving Cuomo to make the call about what gets cut and by how much.

Still, scheduling a session so close to Election Day is potentially risky business, even if Democrats have a lock on the Assembly and even if it would take a political miracle for the Republicans to take back control of the Senate they lost in the last round of elections two years ago. But neither Democratic majority in the two houses like to lose Democratic colleagues in a general election, no matter their comfort levels of overall domination of Albany.

Fiscal always means taxes," Hank Sheinkopf, a longtime Democratic political consultant said of budgetary exercises at the State Capitol. Therefore, coming back to Albany to do anything fiscal always presents a potential danger, and politicians are risk-averse, particularly those in marginal seats."

Choices: none good

The Covid-19 pandemic has driven a stake into the heart of state finances. Pre-virus, the budget was on shaky ground, including big out-year deficits. Cuomo has estimated this years overall revenues will be short $14 billion of what was expected thanks to Covid; fiscal watchers say that number is bloated, but all agree the problem is bad.

Cuomo and lawmakers are still waiting on Congress to bail out New York. It has been a long waiting game, and now Cuomo has suggested the fiscal solutions for the state could wait until after the presidential election determines whether the White House is occupied by someone who will be open to a supersized bailout plan for states like New York.

Even some Republicans are willing to wait a bit more before having to possibly see a session that, they fear, will drive up state taxes at a time when the economy can ill afford to. We dont have a full picture," said Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, an Oswego County Republican.

Im still optimistic they will come up with a deal," Barclay said of federal lawmakers and President Trump, who have been stalled since the spring on whether Washington should be giving a big, unrestricted aid package to help balance state budgets.

Republicans like Barclay dont want to see mid-year education aid cuts by Albany. Further, they don't want tax increases, including on wealthy residents who are important drivers of state income tax revenues in New York. Thats especially so because, Republicans say, it would be well into next year before Albany could even collect such taxes.

Election clouds fiscal picture

Lawmakers always like to put some road between Election Day and tough fiscal choices. Its why legislative pay increases always used to get talked about every couple of years or so  a legislative term lasts two years  in the month of December, after voters had their say.

In 2008, for instance, in the midst of the financial sector meltdown, then-Gov. David Paterson on Oct. 3 called for lawmakers to come back into special session to deal with a $1.5 billion deficit. The Democrat, however, gave lawmakers a long leash: He didnt call them back until Nov. 18, after legislative elections that year.

In 2020, with a pandemic still well underway, Republicans say publicly that Democrats will push for tax increases and little else if they call a session before the election. Privately, Democrats don't disagree.

I dont feel they will find the political courage to come back in October," Senator Minority Leader Rob Ortt, a North Tonawanda Republican, said of Democrats in control of Albany.

But if we do go back, Ive seen nothing in their rhetoric that theyll do any cuts. Theyll leave that to the governor, blame him and focus solely on tax increases."

The No. 2 Democrat in the Senate offered no apologies for such a stance, and many Democrats were buoyed when New Jersey last week agreed to increase taxes on the wealthy. Cuomo has opposed the idea.

I can only speak for myself. I certainly would favor taxing the wealthy before cutting schools and hospitals and other important priorities," said Senate Deputy Minority Leader Michael Gianaris, a Queens Democrat. He said Republicans have misplaced priorities.

A deepening crisis

Rank-and-file Assembly Democrats are following the states decaying finances. Assemblywoman Monica Wallace, a Lancaster Democrat, said Washington has an obligation to provide funding to New York given the long imbalance of payments from state taxpayers to the federal government compared with federal payments to New York. I think its completely irresponsible," she said of Washingtons failure to already act.

But if no federal help comes, Wallace said state lawmakers are looking at some difficult decisions that will involve an array of spending cuts, borrowing, early retirement offerings for public employees and tax increases  but not taxes on the middle class people struggling now, but on the people able to afford it, the wealthy millionaires."

Lawmakers in both parties were quick to point out the power they gave Cuomo to unilaterally reduce spending throughout the fiscal year during the pandemic without the need for approval by lawmakers.

The power has given Cuomo the opportunity to more nimbly react to spending problems , but has also provided political cover to lawmakers who dont have to vote on cuts to cities, schools and nonprofit providers. Cuomo made those cuts on his own this past summer, and more are likely this fall.

The Cuomo administration says those reductions are not cuts, but temporary withholdings of state aid that will be restored if Washington backs a state bailout plan. If not, everyone realizes those cuts will become permanent.

When asked about the Legislature reconvening, Gianaris referenced the temporary withholdings that the Cuomo administration uses to define real spending reductions that have already taken place this summer. The urgency will occur when deferments from the state get manifested in real cuts," Gianaris said.

We would all hope for Washington to come save the day, but this version of Washington is obviously not going to do that," Gianaris said, adding that officials want to ensure the state has enough revenue to fully operate until, Democrats believe, former Vice President Joe Biden defeats Trump and supports a state bailout package after Inauguration Day.

So a pre-election day session in Albany is off?

I wouldnt say that. Were evaluating that every day," the powerful deputy Senate leader said. Schools seem to have momentarily dodged massive cuts, but there are other expressions of pain as a result of what we are going through.

Tax the wealthy?

The state has avoided any furloughs or layoffs of state workers. Legislators, instead, have been eyeing an early retirement incentive package to reduce the workforce, especially higher-paid employees near retirement age.

Left-of-center Democrats are singularly focused on tax increases as a solution if Washington fails to financially rescue New York. As they have been all year, they want everything from an income tax on the wealthiest, increased taxes on stock transfers and a tax on second homes owned by rich people in New York City.

Democrats say that private polls show that voters across New York have no problem taxing rich people during the Covid pandemic if it means avoiding cuts to schools and other popular programs. Republicans say it will cause an exodus of people who not only run companies that employ lots of middle-income people but who also pay a lot in state taxes now.

The old Republican trope that taxing the wealthy to help working people is bad is no longer applicable," Gianaris said last week.

If Democrats call the Legislature back into session, and if they raise taxes or cut programs near and dear to voters, Republicans are ready to pounce.

Raising taxes would be the worst thing the state Legislature could do. Businesses and families are teetering as it is," said Rob Astorino, a Republican running in a lower Hudson Valley race to try to eject a first term Senate Democrat, Pete Harckham.

The Senate and the Assembly should come back into session to talk about a massive state restructuring thats been needed for years. Theres enough money in Albany, even with the shortfall, to run an efficient and responsive government," added Astorino, the former Westchester county executive who lost to Cuomo in the 2014 gubernatorial race.

.

Ortt doesnt believe a fiscal session will happen before Election Day. Theyve certainly been willing to sit and let the governor make all the hard decisions in the budget. Thats why they gave him this power," Ortt said of Democrats in the two houses.

Sheinkopf, the Democratic consultant, said lawmakers should tread carefully about a pre-election session.

It would be a recipe for problems to come back to discuss taxes or anything fiscal," he said.

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New information has been publicly released regarding the late apologist Ravi Zacharias and an alleged online sexual relationship that was first reported in 2017.

In a three-part installment last week from The Roys Report, the website of independent investigative journalist Julie Roys, new testimonies and emails were released suggesting an alternative version of events than those that were represented nearly three years ago when allegations emerged that Zacharias had been involved in an illicit online sexual relationship with a Canadian woman. Around this same time, the famed apologist's academic credentials and resume were also scrutinized amid questions he had inflated and misrepresented them.

Zacharias, who died in May after a battle with cancer, said in a Christianity Today article published in December 2017 that the woman had sent him unwanted, racy photos of herself and that it was part of a plot to extract millions of dollars from him and his ministry.

Some have maintained that his words to the magazine were in violation of the settlement agreement he reached with the Canadian woman, Lori Anne, and her husband, Brad Thompson, which included a nondisclosure agreement forbidding both parties from speaking about it.

According to Boz Tchividjian, an attorney and founder of Godly Response to Abuse in a Christian Environment (G.R.A.C.E), who represented the Thompsons, his clients "made the very difficult decision to abide by the legally binding agreement even though Zacharias had apparently decided to do otherwise."

Christian counselors Jerry and Denise Basel, who helped Thompson in October 2016, spoke to Roys about the emails exchanged between Zacharias and Lori Anne. They believe the online communication reveals an abusive power dynamic given the 30-year age difference between the two and that it was tantamount to grooming.

"In many ways, she was kind of like a child in regard to him because of his age," Jerry Basel told The Roys Report in part 1 of her series, which was published on Sept. 14.

"It just followed a pattern that we are familiar with in regard to abuse."

Denise Basel added, "It was just this slowly drawing Lori into something deeper. It seemed more innocent at the beginning, but it kept increasing."

The Christian Post reached out to RZIM on Monday for comment on The Roys Report article, specifically to inquire about Basel's words and other issues raised in Roys' investigative report. In a letter sent to CP Friday night, the RZIM Board of Directors said:

"In April 2017, Ravi Zacharias received a letter from an attorney representing Bradley and Lori Anne Thompson of Ontario, Canada, presenting allegations and threatening litigation by the Thompsons against Mr. Zacharias. The letter threatened that litigation was forthcoming, or, 'in the alternative of protracted and public litigation, the Thompsons will sign a release of you and your church and ministry in exchange for a certified check in the amount of $5 million dollars made payable to the Bryant Law Center, Lori Anne Thompson and Bradley Thompson within thirty days of today's date and mailed to the above address.'

"In response to this demand letter, Ravi notified the board of the Ravi Zacharias International Ministries and personally filed a lawsuit under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act in August 2017. The Thompsons, through their attorneys, then requested to enter into mediation

to resolve the matter without going to trial. In November 2017, Ravi consented to resolve his lawsuit and the matter through mediationa process that resulted in a resolution agreed to by both parties.

"In addition to these legal proceedings and the investigations underlying them, this matter was independently and rigorously investigated in 2018 at the initiative of the denomination that issued Ravi's ministerial credentials, the Christian & Missionary Alliance. That investigation included multiple

interviews with the parties and a review of all available documents and records. The denomination concluded, '...the available evidence does not provide a basis for formal discipline...'

"As is widely known, Ravi Zacharias died May 19, 2020. Subsequently, some have called on his family and/or ministry to release the Thompsons from the confidentiality agreement they entered into with Ravi some two-and-a-half years prior to his death. Since RZIM was not a party to the agreement, it is unable to alter it, and his family does not feel it proper to alter it without Ravi's knowledge or consent. Before he died, however, Ravi addressed allegations that he solicited inappropriate photos from Lori Anne Thompson or otherwise engaged in communications of a sexual nature with her in an 800-word public statement in December 2017. In that statement, he denied any sexually or romantically inappropriate conduct. He stood by that statement until his death. His denial is consistent with the character of the man we knew and worked alongside for years.

"Also since his death in May, allegations by Mrs. Thompson against Ravi have resurfaced in the public domain. This prompted calls for RZIM and/or the Zacharias family to conduct further investigation into this matter. In light of these developments, we, the Board of RZIM have reviewed the matter again and conclude the following:

1) Ravi Zacharias was never physically alone with Mrs. Thompson nor did he send her photos of himself.

2) There is no evidence that he solicited photos of heran allegation Ravi vehemently denied in his public statement in December 2017. Furthermore, no evidence to the contrary has ever been presented.

3) Ravi addressed his communication with Mrs. Thompson in his December 2017 statement and we agree with him that it was wrong to have engaged in ongoing communication of a personal nature with a woman other than his wife.

4) We believe Ravi should have immediately disclosed the fact that Mrs. Thompson sent inappropriate photographs to him.

5) We have long had policies regarding physical safeguards to protect both our team members and leaders as well as those they come in contact with to prevent interactions that could ever prove harmful to either party. In 2018, we implemented electronic communication safeguards and policies for that purpose as well. We regret not having put the electronic communication safeguards in place sooner.

"We respect that there are those who disagree with us about this process and our current disposition. Finally, we reaffirm our commitment to the mission and work of RZIMto reach and challenge those who shape the ideas of culture with the credibility of the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

The online relationship began after the Thompsons met Zacharias at a 2014 luncheon in Canada he was speaking at. Brad had been invited to sponsor a table there as he had sponsored the airtime for Zacharias' radio program on UCB Canada, according to The Roys Report.

According to letters that Lori Anne wrote and sent to third parties before the NDA, Zacharias was the one who suggested that the couple keep in touch with him though the apologist has said that Lori Anne made the suggestion. They began emailing each other and while Brad did not follow through, Lori Anne and Zacharias continued to communicate online. She shared details about her past, including stories about abuse by her father, and grew to trust the apologist as a fatherly figure.

Their communication turned sexual in 2016 after Zacharias professed his love to her, Lori Anne wrote.

It wasn't until her sister, Tamara Batiste, and later her counselors called the relationship "grooming" that Lori Anne said she realized he engaged in "predatory" behavior.

When Thompson told Zacharias that she could no longer continue their relationship as she had come to believe it was a sin against God and told him that she had to tell her husband about their online activities, the apologist implored her not to do so and appeared to threaten suicide.

"You promised you wouldn't Lori Anne. If. You betray me here I will have no option but to bid this world goodbye I promise," he wrote.

The Basels then sent an email to Zacharias that same evening, informing him that they were counseling Thompson and that she only intended to share what had transpired between them with her husband and no one else.

"We need some assurance from you that you will not harm yourself. Otherwise, we will find it necessary to contact 911 in your location. We await your prompt response. Thank you," the counselors wrote to Zacharias.

He replied moments later: "I am fine Thank you. I am just concerned about her. Thank you please tell her I am praying for her. She is very much in my prayers."

The Roys Report also obtained documents, invoices of gifts from Zacharias to Thompson, and phone records appearing to show their conversations, all of which substantiated Lori Anne's version of events. Roys obtained these from her sister, who had received them before the Thompsons signed the nondisclosure agreement that forbade them from speaking publicly.

Batiste shared the documents with Roys because she wanted to see her sister "freed from the shame and the torment of being painted as the perpetrator in this scenario."

Lori Anne has maintained that they signed the NDA under great duress and there is nothing she and her husband have that they do not wish to be disclosed. On May 21, she released a video two days after Zacharias died, asking Zacharias' family to release her from the NDA.

In 2017 when the allegations first surfaced, the apologist released a statement, saying he did not elicit any photos or messages and "clearly instructed her to stop contacting me in any form; I blocked her messages." He maintained that he never engaged in "any inappropriate behavior of any kind" during his marriage to his wife, Margie.

In Zacharias' lawsuit against the Thompsons, he claimed that Lori Anne had coaxed him into an illicit online affair and that the Canadian couple was attempting to extort money.

This particular claim was bolstered by a previous lawsuit Brad filed against Maranatha Christian Reformed Church, his former church in Belleville, Ontario, several years earlier, asking for $1 million in damages. Brad alleged in that dispute that Pastor John Visser had abused his position of influence in a counseling relationship in order to advance his and his family's business interests through obtaining loans and investments from him.

When reporting on the allegations against Zacharias in 2017, Christianity Today reported that Visser "was temporarily suspended, but his church and denomination ultimately stood by him."

While Visser was permitted to return to pastoring after a 90-day suspension, it was only after he agreed to find outside oversight for his counseling ministry.

The governing body of the denomination said in its conclusion of an investigation it had conducted in 2012 that Visser was "guilty of abuse of the office of a minister" and had, regarding the Thompsons, "abused his office for inappropriate ends and/or self-interest by soliciting and/or allowing a counselee ... to invest in companies that (Visser) and his family owned."

Brad loaned approximately $355,000 to Visser's two companies over the course of several years and one of those companies reportedly went bankrupt, according to The Roys Report, which verified the financial transactions. Upon realizing he was not going to be paid back, Brad filed a lawsuit against Visser and the church to try and recoup his money, asking for $1 million, at his attorney's suggestion.

Contrary to what was alleged in Zacharias' lawsuit, Brad and Visser never arrived at a settlement agreement. Brad told Roys he ultimately scrapped the lawsuit since Visser went bankrupt.

In the legal dispute against Zacharias, the Thompsons sent a demand letter  convinced that was the only way to be taken seriously  for $5 million to RZIM, allegedly at the recommendation of their lawyer.

Though Brad is reportedly a successful businessman and had no financial need for the money, his attorneys thought that the higher amount was reasonable since Zacharias' ministry had so much money that he could likely find a donor who could pay $1 million. At the time, the #MeToo movement was exploding and prominent mass media figures and Hollywood moguls were paying out especially large sums to alleged victims.

"As Lori Anne and I found out more about predation and grooming and the amount of victims that predators have ... we knew we had a moral responsibility, or a godly responsibility, before the Lord, not to do nothing," Brad told Roys, explaining his reasons for sending the letter demanding a $5 million settlement.

"We both felt a burden. We knew it could possibly kill us to come forward. But it could possibly kill someone else if we stayed silent."

In 2018, after reviewing the accusations regarding his credentials and relationship with Lori Anne, the Christian & Missionary Alliance (which ordained Zacharias) decided not to discipline him, saying "available evidence does not provide a basis for formal discipline under the C&MA policy."

Courtesy of The Christian Post
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The reviewers havent been especially kind to Gregor Jordans adaptation of Tim Wintons novel Dirt Music since it debuted at the Toronto Film Festival last September, in that far-off time before COVID. The film about Georgie (Scottish actress Kelly Macdonald) and Lu (American Garrett Hedlund) and their illicit, guilt-ridden affair in remote coastal Western Australia "plays like Wake in Fright meets The Notebook" wrote the reviewer for rogerebert.com, and "shamelessly marinates" in "contrivances and coincidences" that "are preposterous". Variety dismissed it as "a fine-looking romance that never finds the right key", populated by characters "who act without much by the way of logic". Despite much early promise, the Chicago Tribune opined, the film "stalls out in a rotation of meaningful looks and tearful whispers and gazing at ocean vistas". Ouch. Director Gregor Jordan working behind the scenes on the film Dirt Music. The thing is, Jordan  who burst onto the scene with his brilliant crime caper Two Hands in 1999, and reteamed with star Heath Ledger for his take on Ned Kelly in 2003  kind of knows all this. He knows the story demands the viewer take some big leaps. He knows it probes a mysterious and not-immediately-filmable connection between people and land. He knows its not for everyone. But, honestly, he tried. "I did it as well as I could have," he says. "Whether it's good enough, I don't know. It works for me, and I know there are people who've seen the film and it works for them and they love it, and I know that there's other people it's not going to work for."

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Jordan shot the film in late 2018, and finished tinkering with it after its Toronto bow and some test screenings  "an interesting process," he says, "it's sometimes hard to gauge what's the best thing to do afterwards"  late last year. But hes been living with the story much longer than that. He was one of a group of filmmakers to whom the book was sent in proof form before it was published in 2001; David Wenham  who plays Georgies partner, crayfishing kingpin Jim Buckridge  was another. "He dug out his original unpublished copy and showed it to me." Jordan says the book, which won the Miles Franklin Award and was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2002, blew him away. "But it also kind of overwhelmed me as well. I just really had no idea how you would turn something that expansive, with that number of abstract ideas, into a movie." So he passed, while Phillip Noyce (Rabbit Proof Fence, Patriot Games, Dead Calm) took it on, with Russell Crowe attached as Jim and Heath Ledger in mind for the role of Lu, a musician wrecked by grief over the death of his brother, sister-in-law and young niece in a car accident, and wracked with guilt for surviving it. Director Gregor Jordan with Kelly Macdonald. Credit:Universal But that too came to nothing, with Noyce saying in 2014, "I could never get a script that I thought captured the poetry of the novel, and theres the problem. A poetic novel is just difficult to translate into a movie." It was Sam Neill who brought the story back into Jordans life a few years ago, when he asked if he could bring producer Finola Dwyer, a fellow New Zealander, along to a dinner the director was hosting in Cape Town.

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"And we got talking, and she let me know she had optioned the book and had a script and would I be interested in reading it," Jordan recalls. "So it was sort of a weird piece of serendipity." The script was by Jack Thorne, the hugely successful English writer for screen (Skins, Shameless, His Dark Materials) and stage (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), and Jordan was hooked. "There was just such beauty in his writing, what he'd taken from the book was so elegant and clever, and there was an element of invention, too. He made imperceptible changes that captured the spirit of the book so beautifully and presented it in a way that I could see could be makeable as a film. I mean, all those strange abstract ideas are still there, but I just thought 'this is doable'." Ah, those strange abstract ideas. This is, you suspect, where Jordan and the reviewers part company. In bare narrative terms, Dirt Music is relatively straightforward. Georgie has fallen out of love with Jim and is instantly attracted to Lu. They begin an affair. But the depressed Lu is also a poacher, nabbing crayfish that, by the terms of his monopoly licence, ought to belong to Jim. Trouble brews. Its the "abstract ideas"  of music as a conduit to memory and the emotions, of dirt as the site of rootedness and identity  that make Wintons book so complex and filming it so challenging.

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The movie asks us to take seriously, for example, the idea that Lu is so stricken with grief that his dead family literally haunts him. And it asks us to accept that Lu would deal with that grief by heading off to a remote chain of islands Georgie had once mentioned to him to hunt and fish and live and, in all likelihood, to die alone. Its picturesque as all get-out, and for Jordan, who has been known to sleep on a plank on a remote island in the Philippines just to chase the surf, it might even be plausible. But he readily admits its a big leap to ask of most audiences. "The idea that he would essentially live like a caveman in order to try and exorcise the demons that are haunting him  that's a pretty out-there concept," he says. The lead characters are deeply embedded in the landscape. Credit:Universal Jordan had trouble enough finding actors who would follow him on this journey "literally to the end of the world". Hes not joking about that. Base camp for the two weeks of shooting the final act, set in the fictional Coronation Gulf, was a compound of tents at the far end of the Dampier Peninsula. Getting there involved a three-and-a-half hour flight from Perth to Broome, followed by a three-and-a-half hour drive along dirt roads. Getting to set each day meant yet more trekking  a boat trip followed by wading through waist-deep water, with gear held overhead, to uninhabited islands accessible only with the permission of local Aboriginal people.

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"You've gotta be pretty gung-ho to go to that kind of place and shoot," he says. "It was really a question of finding the best actors who are really right for those roles, who are the right ages, who are available, who are happy to travel to far north-west Australia and live in tents and go through the hell we went through to shoot it." A rather self-limiting field, in other words. Lu (Garrett Hedlund) and Georgie enjoy a rare carefree moment in Dirt Music. Credit:Universal Pictures He didnt set out to cast non-Australians, he adds, though having stars with the cachet of Macdonald and Hedlund does make international sales easier. "But there were certain actresses, Australian or not, who were very interested, and then they just sort of went, 'Hang on, I've got to fly to where?' They just couldn't wrap their heads around it. Also a lot of actresses have young children, so they just can't take them to those kinds of places." Casting is always "a strange business" anyway, he says. "You're not completely in control. It's like the universe almost provides you with the actors that you need." And the ones it provided him are "fantastic", he adds. The real star of this film, though  indeed, of any adaptation of a Winton story  was always going to be the landscape. Thats the appeal for filmmakers, but its also a serious hurdle to overcome when youre ostensibly making a great sweeping love story with a couple of humans at its centre. "The connection Lu and Georgie have is quite primal and visceral in that they are people who are from the earth and from the sea," Jordan notes. "These big visceral elements are a part of their love story, which sounds weird, I know, but it is what Winton created brilliantly. Trying to communicate that visually and aurally via the film was an important part of the challenge.

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The $2.6 Trillion US Latino market is the largest and fastest-growing in the American economy.

Co-Founder of L'Attitude, to a panel of world re-known economists and journalists, Sol Trujillo, said that the U.S. Latino market is "growing GDP at 8.6%, faster than China, faster than India, and nobody talks about it."

In 2018, the size of the U.S.Latino market measured by the GDP was $2.6 trillion, almost 9% up from $2.3 trillion in 2017, as per the recently published 2020 LDC U.S. Latino GDP Report. The market would be the 8th largest economy worldwide and the largest Latino market in the world if the U.S.Latino market were in its own country. The market would be larger than Brazil and more than twice Mexico's market.

The Latino community grew 4.5 times faster in terms of GDP when compared to the non-Latino U.S. cohort. This implies most of the U.S.growth from the Latino population. According to Forbes, if not for strong growth in the U.S.Latino market, the American economy would have contracted between 2017 and 2018.

Latino employees that enter the labor force offset declines amid the outgoing Baby Boomers. The growth in the U.S.economy is driven by an educated and young Latino labor force. The 78% of the net are Latinos' responsible from the new jobs in the labor force since the Great Recession, Latino Donor Collaborative reports.

Besides, in 2010-2018, Latino household growth was 23.2% compared to 3.8% for non-Latino households. This demonstrates the importance of the Latino community, not just today, but also in the economy's future, given the higher population of Latinosrelative to non-Latino demographics.

Despite the growth and size of the U.S.Latino market, it continues to be a big blind spot for many lawmakers in c-suite positions. Most Americans do not understand the potential and current contribution of the Latino market in the U.S. For example, the big misconception of the narrative involved education and Latinos, as per Fidel Vargas, the President, and CEO of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. Vargas explains that most Americans respond that there are three Asian Americans in one Latino in college. But it is 2.5 Latinos for every Asian American, in reality.

Latinos are the most under-resourced and undercapitalized in the U.S. For instance, Latino businesses were disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic and 50% less likely to receive relief from the government under the Payment Protection Program (PPP), unlike White-owned businesses, according to a report published by the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative.

Beatriz Acevedo, CEO and Co-Founder of Suma Wealth, says, "We know that Latinas start the most companies, but imagine what they could do if they had the support, the access, the, capital and the mentorship."

Check these out:

Amy Coney Barrett: Nomination Praised by Religious Conservatives

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The Minister of European Funds, Marcel Bolos, sent a message on Sunday to voters to go to the polling stations and vote for those who are good managers and know how to take advantage of the historic chance that Romania has of investing 79.9 billion euros worth of Europe funds, money which must be invested in raising the living standard of each of us, according to AGERPRES.

"Today's vote is atypical and with many necessary protection measures. But it is even more important for Romania of the future! I urge you to go to the polls together with those close to you to choose the managers of your community. Local and county managers who will be able to use the locomotive of economic development called 'European funds.' Vote for those managers who know how to take advantage of the historic chance that Romania has due to the 79.9 billion euros in Europe funds now available to it and which we must invest in raising the living standards for each of us!" reads the message of the Minister of European Funds, according to a press release sent to AGERPRES.

Romania has obtained almost 80 billion euros for the development of European projects, the money coming through the Multiannual Budget 2021-2027 and through the EU Economic Recovery Fund.
A Students' Union leader at Durham University has described herself as a man-hater.

Nailah Haque's Twitter profile until recently included the declaration: 'Misandrist till I die.' A misandrist is a person who despises men.

While the social media account is now defunct, Miss Haque, 21, was elected as undergraduate academic officer in February.

Her appointment comes as it was revealed that Durham Students' Union is viewed with 'hatred' and 'mistrust' after it axed funding for an award-winning university newspaper.

The international relations student from East London has encouraged union staff to detail which personal pronoun they use in their emails, and lobbied for the introduction of 'pronoun badges' for students and staff to wear.

Durham Student Union leader Nailah Haque's Twitter profile until recently included the declaration: 'Misandrist till I die.' A misandrist is a person who despises men

In July she presented a manifesto to Durham bosses on how to 'decolonise' the university.

She has also called on the university, which has an extensive collection of artwork, to 'sell a Picasso and fund the work people of colour have been asking you to do for years'.

Miss Haque and the union did not respond to requests for comment.

The damning report, unearthed by The Mail on Sunday, adds that the union is 'undemocratic' and gripped by a 'toxic culture'.

Last week we revealed how the union  which is run by a politically correct cabal of radical students  has pulled the plug on the print edition of Palatinate, the university's respected student newspaper.

Durham Students' Union is viewed with 'hatred' and 'mistrust' by students following bitter infighting and an election scandal earlier this year, the report unearthed by The Mail on Sunday reveals

Palatinate, which is handed out for free, was once edited by Fleet Street legend Sir Harold Evans, who died last week, and was a training ground for BBC broadcasters Jeremy Vine and George Alagiah.

Union chiefs blamed funding pressures and the Covid-19 crisis, but many students believe the decision was politically motivated and claim freedom of speech is being stifled.

The move, which will save just 4,000 this term, is the latest in a string of controversies that has seen the union increasingly pitted against students.

Jeremy Vine spoke out earlier this week to vent his frustration at the axing of the print edition of the paper.

For me  as a doubt-racked teenager  seeing my byline was like finally finding evidence I actually existed. The thrill never went, writes Jeremy Vine

The broadcaster wrote: 'You never stop being grateful to the first publication that puts your name in print.

'Palatinate did that for me. The 72-year-old student paper is in the news itself now because Durham Students' Union, which funds it, wants to stop the cash for its print edition.

'To me, this is like telling a farmer he cant keep any sheep but he can keep pictures of them. I am all for online news, but a paper needs printing or its not a paper.

'The editors of the ink-starved publication contacted me with a private message on Twitter. To support them, I posted a gentle tweet.

'''The student newspaper has been printed for 72 years. Now the team have been told there is no budget for paper and ink. This is wrong, wrong, wrong''.'

He added that the current 'indignation' from students upset about the axing was also fuelled by a the belief that 'the sound of a newspaper being printed is the sound of freedom'.

Mr Vine also recalled how in the 1980s when he was studying English literature at the university, the tension between the newspaper and the union was 'so real you could smell it'.

He added: 'It became clear to me the students union was full of people who were basically doing a full-time degree in hating Mrs Thatcher.

'Student politics was never very grown-up, and I kept out of it.

'When I was editor, we ran regular exposes on the people who ran the students union  ardent Left-wingers who all seemed to become management consultants on graduation'. Jeremy Vine is pictured far left with student journalists at Durhams Palatinate newspaper in 1984

Palatinate, which is handed out for free, was once edited by Fleet Street legend Sir Harold Evans (pictured while editor of The Sunday Times in 1975), who died last week

'The problem comes when a student newspaper is funded by a student body. When I was editor, we ran regular exposes on the people who ran the students union  ardent Left-wingers who all seemed to become management consultants on graduation.

'On one occasion they had been angry at the university authorities and resigned en masse. When I declared this was ''not a big story'' and relegated it to an inside page, they were furious. The penny dropped. They thought we only existed to tell the rest of the university how good they were.'

The union is led by five student officers who are elected each year, but an election in February was rocked by a revolt, with more than 2,000 students  58 per cent of those who voted  refusing to back any candidates and instead voting to 'reopen nominations'.

Defiant student journalists have raised over 3,500 to get their newspaper's presses rolling again Student journalists have managed to raise more than 3,500 in an attempt to get their newspaper's presses rolling again. The fundraising campaign was launched after The Mail on Sunday revealed last week how Durham Students' Union had axed the 4,000 budget to print the fortnightly paper Palatinate this term. A GoFundMe online campaign, led by a former student, has raised 1,245 and more than 2,250 has been given in private donations  enough to pay for four editions of the paper, each with a print run of 2,000 copies. Despite the windfall, uncertainty remains as the union has not signed off on a health-and-safety risk assessment that is required before the free newspaper is distributed. 'We have confidence that we are financially secure enough to print Palatinate,' joint editors Imogen Usherwood and Tash Mosheim said. 'However, we are yet to have confirmation that we will be allowed to go to print next week  freshers' week.' Advertisement

Their ballot papers were disqualified by the union, a decision that provoked fury, with the university's Labour club saying it was 'nothing less than election rigging'.

Weeks after the fiasco, the union quietly published a damning report into how it makes decisions. MiraGold, a higher education consultancy firm, was paid 2,000 to interview a dozen people working for or linked to the union about its democratic processes.

'It's the culture around it, it's actually quite toxic,' one of the anonymous respondents said.

'The level of hatred towards the student body has been a slow burn but [issues] have created this mistrust and irreparable reputation damage,' said another.

'So much toxicity has already been brought into our procedures, it's baked into the cake,' said a third.

The report prompted the union to commission a 'full-scale democracy review', which will cost up to 7,000  3,000 more than the cost of funding Palatinate for a term.

The decision to halt publication of the newspaper was taken at a board meeting of the union's trustees in July, without the two joint editors of the newspaper being present.

That same month, Palatinate revealed that just 29 per cent of Durham students who responded to a national survey said the union effectively represented their academic interests  the lowest score across all 137 UK universities.

The union said there were 'no political influences' on the decision to 'temporarily' halt the print production of Palatinate, which was established in 1948.

Among the complaints of those who protested in the February election is that the union's assembly  where clapping is banned because some students may be sensitive to noise  passes 'politically divisive' motions and fails to engage with the 'real issues' facing students.

Motions passed over the past year include calling for a boycott of Barclays bank because of its holdings in fossil fuel companies and declaring the university 'institutionally disablist'  suggesting it discriminates against disabled people.

And recently the union's Women's Association renamed itself Durham's Womxn's Association. Woke organisations claim that 'womxn' is more inclusive of trans and non-binary women.

Seun Twins, the president of the union, has hailed Jeremy Corbyn 'the white king' and has committed the union to 'unravelling the unfair power dynamics which permeate into a culture of privilege'.

The union said there were 'no political influences' on the decision to 'temporarily' halt the print production of Palatinate, which was established in 1948

Recently the union's Women's Association renamed itself Durham's Womxn's Association. Woke organisations claim that 'womxn' is more inclusive of trans and non-binary women

One student, who asked not to be named, claimed the union's chief executive Gareth Hughes, a former Labour student activist who describes himself as a socialist on social media, is the 'driving force' at the union and that the student officers are 'in thrall' to him.

'He's the person setting the agenda and calling the shots,' the source said.

James Parton-Hughes, a former member of the Durham University Conservative Association, said: 'The union is like a private club with a cancel culture and political correctness. I don't think there is a single student who would say it should suspend printing of the newspaper. The union should be open to being held to account.'

The union said it could not comment on the MiraGold findings because it was too busy preparing for freshers' week and dealing with the impact of Covid-19.
The mainstream media has been exceptionally kind to the Missouri Guv after he tested positive for coronavirus along with his wife this week. HOWEVER, one of our favorite Missouri bloggers shares an important "gotcha" moment with his readers that offers a scathing rebuke of the Guv's pandemic policy.



Take a look:
Activists from groups such as LA Animal Save, Slaughter Free Los Angeles, and Direct Action Everywhere gathered to demonstrate outside the Farmer John slaughterhouse/packing plant in Vernon, an industrial city five miles south of downtown Los Angeles on Sept. 14, 2020. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

Activists Cited for Break-In, Attempted Pig Rescue at Farmer John Plant

VERNON, Calif. (CNS)Seven animal rights activists were cited for trespassing while trying to rescue a pig from the Farmer John slaughterhouse in Vernon, police said on Sept. 26.

Police received a call at about 4 a.m. on Sept. 25 from officials at Smithfield Foodsowner of Farmer Johnto report that some trespassers were on the premises at 3049 E. Vernon Ave., according to Vernon Police Sgt. Daniel Onopa.

Two subjects were determined to be inside the livestock yard and five subjects fled on foot, Onopa said.

They [the five subjects] were then detained by officers nearby. Due to the pandemic, they were cited at the scene and released.

The activist group DXE Los Angeleswhich planned to host a 48-hour vigil in front of the slaughterhouse beginning Sept. 27posted a video on its Facebook page showing activists wearing hardhats inside the facility.

The group places a pig on a gurney and attempts to leave, but police are shown outside and a voice is heard saying, Theyre locking the doors, guys.

It was unclear how the activists gained entry to the plant.

I dont know the exact details about that, Onopa said. Theres still pending, further investigation that I cant comment on.

Matt Johnson, spokesman for Direct Action Everywhere, said the group was unable to rescue the pig. The seven activists involved in the action were identified as Emek Echo, Lewis Bernier, Alicia Santurio, Rachel Hosler, Zoe Rosenberg, Robert Franklin, and Alexandra Paul. Paul is an actress best known for a starring role in the 1983 horror film Christine and a role on the TV series Baywatch from 19921997.

Smithfield will do anything to keep making money, from torturing pigs to endangering its workers lives, she said. We took nonviolent direct action because lives are at stake.

A worker finishing his shift carries a cooler past activists from groups such as LA Animal Save, Slaughter Free Los Angeles, and Direct Action Everywhere gathered to demonstrate outside the Farmer John slaughterhouse/packing plant in Vernon, an industrial city five miles south of downtown Los Angeles, on Sept. 14, 2020. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

The company responded on Sept. 25 with the following statement: A Smithfield facility in Vernon, Calif., was recently targeted by an extremist animal rights group that has no regard for the law. In this instance, after a criminal break-in, the activists endangered the safety of personnel and violated standards of animal care.

These tactics are aimed at forcing a vegan agenda on Americans in a smear campaign that disregards facts, relies on a false narrative and promotes a slanted agenda aimed at eradicating animal agriculture. This criminal behavior is despicable.

The activist group said the seven entrants managed to retrieve a hidden camera previously planted in the facility with 81 hours of footage of the slaughter line, the first time public footage has been obtained from inside the slaughterhouse.

Thousands of pigs are trucked into the facility each day, where they are slaughtered for use in Dodger Dogs, as well as the ham, bacon, sausage, and hot dogs sold under the Farmer John label.

A DXE-led coalition of dozens of organizations are calling on California Gov. Gavin Newsom to issue an executive order prohibiting the construction of new factory farms and slaughterhouses in the state.

Organizers said on Sept. 26 that they expected dozens of arrests at the Sept. 27 vigil.

Earlier this year, the Farmer John slaughterhouse experienced a large COVID-19 outbreak in which 153 workers tested positive for the disease.

In May, the union that represents some 1,300 Farmer John employees called for an immediate closure of the plant.

Working conditions inside the plant are similar to what we are seeing nationwide in Smithfield plants, said John Grant, president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 770.

Workers are still too close together on the line, in the breakroom, the bathrooms, and other such hubs. Smithfield has not provided full information about what is really going on inside the Vernon plant.

Without information we cannot make an informed decision about workers health and safety. Therefore, we are calling for Smithfield to continue paying workers while they close the plant for a complete and thorough investigation and cleaning and to ensure the company is complying with Cal/OSHA and Department of Public Health guidance.

Virginia-based Smithfield Foods said it had implemented stringent new health protocols to protect against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

Our Smithfield family members are crucial to our nations response to COVID-19. We thank them for keeping food on Americas tables, and have implemented aggressive measures to protect their health and safety during this pandemic, the company said in a statement.
Pope Francis addresses worshippers from the window of the Apostolic palace during the weekly Angelus prayer at St. Peter's Square in The Vatican, Sunday. AFP-Yonhap



VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis appealed to Armenia and Azerbaijan on Sunday to resolve their differences through negotiations following clashes over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region.



"I pray for peace in the Caucasus and ask the parties in conflict to make concrete gestures of goodwill and brotherhood that can lead to the resolution of problems not with the use of force and weapons but through dialogue and negotiations," he said.



Francis, who was speaking at his Sunday noon blessing in St. Peter's Square, visited both countries in 2016.



The pope said he was worried about the reports of fresh clashes, in which sources on both sides reported fatalities. He asked the crowd to pray in silence together with him for peace in the region.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia has issued the following statement:

The official Tbilisi has responded to the escalation of the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, expressing willingness to help de-escalate the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia in any way.

We are following the subsequent military tension between Azerbaijan and Armenia with concern which, according to information, has already led to deaths and destruction. We hope the sides succeed in reaching an agreement on ceasefire, start negotiations and prevent large-scale military operations which have an extremely negative impact on security in the entire region.

Georgia calls on the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and international role-players to gear all of their efforts towards the prevention of escalation and the restoration of constructive dialogue.

On our part, we declare that Georgia is ready to contribute to de-escalation and the establishment of peace in the region in any way, Georgia News reports.
A majority of people in France are overwhelmingly in favour of a new nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus, a new poll shows. However, roughly the same amount question the governments handling of the crisis.

A new opinion poll published in the Sunday weekly Journal du Dimanche has revealed that the publics anxiety surrounding Covid-19 remains high while confidence in the governments ability to respond to the crisis has never been lower.

According to the survey, 72 percent of French citizens would be in favor of a new nationwide lockdown for a period of at least 15 days in a bid to contain the surge of coronavirus cases.

The findings appear to corroborate calls for a second lockdown, led notably by French-American economist and Nobel prize winner Esther Duflo.

She and fellow laureate Abhijit Banerjee told Le Monde that a lockdown before the Christmas break would help avoid new contaminations.

Declining government trust

The government this week announced stricter measures to curb the spread, shutting bars and restaurants in Marseille and its surrounding region, while limiting the maximum capacity of gatherings to 1,000 from 5,000 in Paris.

Not everyone though is convinced. Only 36 percent of citizens who were polled said they had faith in the government's response to the Covid-19 crisis, compared to 44 percent during the March-May lockdown.

The figures were slightly higher regarding the state's handling of the economic fallout of the pandemic. Forty-four percent said they trusted the government to help businesses recover. Six months ago however, that number was over 50 percent.

About 14,500 people have been found to be infected in the past 24 hours, with health officials warning that the situation is worsening.
CAIRO  The failure of Egypt's largest Salafi party to win any seats in the recent Senate elections raises questions about the prospects of the party as well as the future of political Islam in the country.

Al-Nour, founded following the 2011 uprising against autocratic President Hosni Mubarak, fielded 12 candidates who ran as independents in nine out of Egypt's 27 provinces.

Eight candidates lost in the first round of the elections, which took place Aug. 11-12.

Four other candidates secured a place in the election runoff, which was held Sept. 8-9.

However, they lost too, pointing to what some analysts describe as a "drastic" change in voters' moods.

"There is a noticeable change in the mood of the voters who are no longer ready to accept political parties with religious backgrounds," Cairo University political scientist Akram Badreddine told Al-Monitor. "Ordinary people view the Salafists as representing the same political brand as the Muslim Brotherhood."

Egypt's Salafists have come a long way since the 2011 uprising, demonstrating a high degree of pragmatism.

They stayed away from politics for decades before the uprising, preferring to focus on religion and inviting people for prayer.

They have a strict interpretation of Islam and many have a low view of non-Muslims and see women as being subservient.

The Salafists have a strong following in the Nile Delta. They have their stronghold in the northern coastal city of Alexandria, where they control most mosques.

Come the 2011 uprising, the Salafists found a chance to advance their agenda in the new Egypt that was evolving then, like other Islamists did, including the Muslim Brotherhood, the movement of the late President Mohammed Morsi.

They formed several political parties, including Al-Nour, the political arm of the Salafi Invitation, by far the most important umbrella organization of the nation's Salafists.

Having organized themselves into political parties, the Salafists had to tailor their strict worldview to realities on the ground.

They had to answer questions on issues taken for granted in developed countries, but still under debate in Egypt, such as the status of women and non-Muslims in society and whether visiting antiquities is a sin. The Salafists were debating whether visiting ancient sites was against the Islamic religion. Some Salafi figures called for covering the faces of ancient statues with wax. Others called for destroying them, considering them deities that date back to pre-Islamic times.

Salafi politicians tried to attune their answers to these questions to what the media in Cairo liked to hear.

Nonetheless, answers to the same questions by some Salafi sheikhs divulged a wide chasm between the new political class and moderates.

In 2012, a Salafi sheikh called for the destruction of the Great Pyramids of Giza. Another said Muslims should not congratulate Christians on Christian religious occasions.

Such views gratified a number of Egyptians, especially conservative ones. And many voters backed the Salafi parties in the elections that followed the 2011 uprising.

The Salafi parties Al-Nour, Construction and Development and Al-Asala won 128 seats in the first post-Mubarak parliamentary polls between November 2011 and January 2012 (112, 13 and 3 respectively) out of a total of 498 seats).

This made the Salafists the second-largest political force in parliament after the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party  now outlawed  which won 222 seats.

Al-Nour also won 45 seats in the Senate elections in January 2012, coming in second to the Freedom and Justice Party, which won 105 seats, out of a total of 270 seats.

"The Islamists saw their political heyday after the 2011 revolution because they were the most organized political force then," Muneer Adeeb, a specialist in political Islam, told Al-Monitor. "The lack of strong secular parties and prevailing security and political conditions made the rise of the Islamists inevitable."

The Salafists were allied with the Muslim Brotherhood all through the one year of Morsi's rule.

Adeeb said, however, "This honeymoon ended because the Brotherhood wanted to exclude everybody else in its pursuit for fully dominating the political stage."

This was why the Salafists welcomed the army-backed popular uprising against the Muslim Brotherhood and Morsi in 2013.

They even backed the post-Muslim Brotherhood authorities and President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi  who formally came to power in mid-2014  apparently to evade the fate of the Muslim Brotherhood and to secure a continued presence on Egypt's political stage.

Sisi, who has a hard line against political Islam in general and the Muslim Brotherhood in particular, also courted the Salafists in his bid to discredit Muslim Brotherhood propaganda about his hostility to the Islamic religion, analysts said.

Nonetheless, the Salafists' courtship of the post-Muslim Brotherhood authorities failed to help the Salafists maintain their popularity, let alone attract new fans.

In the 2015 House of Deputies elections, Al-Nour, the only functional Salafi party, won only 12 seats out of a total of 596.

"This result should have acted as an early warning for the Salafists," Badreddine said.

The failure of Al-Nour to win any seats in the recent Senate elections appears to be yet one more indicator of the collapse of the Salafists' popularity.

This does not augur well for the party, especially with the nation's political parties preparing for the House of Deputies elections in October.

It also gives insights into the looming demise of political Islam as a whole in Egypt, especially with the ongoing crackdown by the authorities on the Muslim Brotherhood, analysts said.

"My belief is that political Islam is on the way out, given the changes happening in this country," Badreddine said.

The Senate elections were the first for the body to be held in Egypt since 2012. The upper house of the Egyptian parliament was dissolved in November 2013 and then excluded from the 2014 constitution. However, it was reinstituted by a package of constitutional amendments in 2019.

Nonetheless, the Senate elections were untimely for the Salafists. They were held after months of suspension of services at the nation's mosques, the main sphere of activity for the Salafists, because of the coronavirus.

The Salafists were also negatively affected by hostile propaganda from the Muslim Brotherhood, which is angry about their cooperation with Sisi.

Voter turnout in the Senate elections and the runoff was also very low, 14% and 10.25% respectively, according to the independent elections commission.

"This voter turnout, along with the practices of the other parties participating in the elections, reduced our chances of success," said Salah Abdel Maaboud, a senior Al-Nour official who ran as an independent in the Senate elections in the Nile Delta province of Menoufia.

Abdel Maaboud and his colleagues said they have started preparing for the House of Deputies elections in October.

He told Al-Monitor that the party has prepared lists of its potential candidates amid hopes of making up for some of the losses in the Senate elections.

"We hope we can achieve positive results in the elections," Abdel Maaboud said. "This is possible if we communicate better with voters."
Covid spread from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Kerala, J&K was more vigorous

Tourists take pictures at the Taj Mahal which reopened on September 21, 2020. A study has found that much of the spread of Covid-19 was traceable to travel from Dubai and UK. (Representational image: (AFP)

New Delhi: Much was blame was laid at the doorstep of the Tablighi Jamaat but a study by IIT Mandi has found that travellers from Dubai and the UK were the primary sources of COVID-19 import into India.

While the research, which has been published in the Journal of Travel Medicine, has found that the international travel was the main channel through which COVID-19 came to India, the main routes were from Dubai and the UK.

The study also found that infected cases from Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh played a lesser role in spreading the disease outside their communities, while those from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Kerala, Jammu & Kashmir, and Karnataka played a significant role in local transmission. Some of them caused interstate transfer too.

The study tracked the diffusion of the coronavirus from the global to national level and identified a few superspreaders who played a central role in the transmission of the disease in India. According to Sarita Azad, an assistant professor at IIT Mandi, COVID-19 spread in phase one (Jan-April), traced by the travel history of patients, was mostly local transmission.

"The research team used the travel history of infected patients from January to April as the primary data source and a social network was created depicting the spread in the early phase of the pandemic. The research found that the maximum numbers of connections were established from Dubai (144) and the UK (64)," she added.

Azad explained that statistical metrics calculated from the data revealed that Dubai and the UK played a crucial role in spreading the disease in Indian states and were the primary sources of COVID-19 importations into India.

"Dubai's eigenvector centrality was the highest, which made it the most influential node. The statistical metrics calculated from the data revealed that Dubai and the UK played a crucial role in spreading the disease in Indian states and were the primary sources of COVID-19 importations into India.

"Based on the modularity class, different clusters were shown to form across Indian states, which demonstrated the formation of a multi-layered social network structure. A significant increase in confirmed cases was reported in states like Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh during the first phase of the nationwide lockdown, which spanned from March 25 to April 14," she said.

"The modularity class of states such as Tamil Nadu, Delhi, and Andhra Pradesh was low. Hence, it is likely that infected cases from these states played less of a role in spreading the disease outside their communities. Whereas states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, and Karnataka played a significant role in the local transmission, and some of them caused interstate transfer too," she added.

Azad, who conducted the analytical study, along with her student Sushma Devi, said, "When a pandemic like COVID-19 subsides, a good research work serves as a record for the future. In this work, we have used real time data and demonstrated how the disease got diffused from the global to national level from January 30 to April 6. This will be an important contribution to understanding the disease transmission in India during the early phase of the pandemic."
BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- In the face of global challenges, China upholds multilateralism as embodied in international institutions such as the United Nations, pledging to promote a community with a shared future for mankind.

The UN was founded 75 years ago as a mechanism designed to promote peace, cooperation and stability worldwide. From the 75 years since its founding, China has always been a staunch builder, defender and practitioner of multilateralism.

"We should stay true to multilateralism and safeguard the international system with the UN at its core." Chinese President Xi Jinping said at the general debate of the 75th session of the UNGA.

China was the first country to sign the UN charter, and has long adhered to global peace and development.

This is demonstrated by, among other things, the contribution of Chinese peacekeepers to UN peacekeeping missions worldwide over the last 30 years. China is the second largest contributor in terms of both peacekeeping assessment and UN membership fees.

As observed from the COVID-19 pandemic, global problems require global solutions. In response to the UN global humanitarian response plan against the pandemic, China twice donated funds to the World Health Organization (WHO) amounting to 50 million US dollars in total and is currently working to set up a global humanitarian response depot and hub in China to ensure operation of supply chains amid the pandemic.

As Chinese President Xi Jinping has stated at the 2019 BRICS summit in Brasilia, the essence of multilateralism is that international affairs should be addressed through extensive consultation rather than decided by one country or by a few.

Countries should go forward together in a spirit of multilateralism, consultation and shared benefits. Also in this spirit, it is important that developing countries are given an increased voice in major global institutions.

According to Ruan Zongze, executive vice president of the China Institute of International Studies, President Xi's speeches at recent UN high-level meetings pointed out the necessity for the international community to join together to meet common challenges. Ruan said, in this new era of interconnectivity, countries should solve problems through solidarity and cooperation, and work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind, which is the very essence of multilateralism.

In the face of rising unilateralism and protectionism, as the only developing country which holds a permanent seat on the security council, China will continue to uphold multilateralism and promote a community with a shared future for mankind.
European alternative asset manager EQT and Temasek promoted O2 Power and CDC Group Plc-backed Ayana Renewable Power have emerged as the front-runners to acquire 305 MW solar assets of NYSE-listed Azure Power Global, said two people aware of the development.

The potential deal is valued at about $200 million, with the sales process for International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Canadian pension fund Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ) backed Azure Power assets being run by Avendus Capital.

This comes against the backdrop of EverSource Capitals plan to buy out the entire 167 MW solar rooftop portfolio of Azure as reported by Mint earlier, in what may rank among the largest solar rooftop deals in India.

Investors interest in Indias green energy space continues, with the countrys electricity demand catching up with pre-covid levels. Also, an expected strong electricity demand growth trajectory, due to efforts such as leveraging power for cooking, are attracting investors. India aims to have 175 GW of clean energy capacity by 2022, including 100GW from solar projects.

Mint earlier reported about private equity investors KKR and Actis Plc in talks to acquire these solar assets, with others such as Ayana, O2, Brookfield and Edelweiss also having shown interest in the same.

Nathan Judge, head of investor relations, Azure Power, in an emailed response declined comment.

Shivanand Nimbargi, managing director and chief executive officer of Ayana Renewable Power declined comment.

Queries emailed to an O2 Power spokesperson on late Thursday evening remained unanswered.

An Avendus Capital spokesperson in an emailed response , As a matter of policy, we do not comment on queries of this nature."

Azure Power has a 7 GW portfolio. The World Banks private sector development arm International Finance Corporation (IFC) and German development finance institution Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG) are among the other investors in Azure Power, Indias first renewable energy company to list on the US stock market.

O2 Power and Ayana are the final ones left, with the deal expected to be announced shortly. The deal is expected to have an enterprise value of upwards of $200 million," said one of the two people cited above requesting anonymity.

O2 Power is a $500-million renewable energy platform in India that is targeting around 4 GW of solar and wind assets. Founded by former ReNew Power executivesParag Sharma, Peeyush Mohit, Rakesh Garg and Nimish AgrwalO2 Power has already bagged a 1 GW portfolio.

Actis isnt interested in these (Azure Power) assets now," said a second person cited above who also did not want to be named.

Ayana focus areas are the Indian states of Bihar, Odisha and Assam, and South Asian countries such as Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. It recently placed the third lowest bid of Rs2.38 per unit each during an auction conducted by state-run Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd (Seci) that saw Indias solar power tariffs hitting a record low of Rs2.36 per unit. According to information available on its website, it has an 800 MW solar portfolio in Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan.

The deal activity in Indias clean energy space continues unabated despite being impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and issues such as power procurement curtailment, tariff-shopping by distribution companies (discoms) and unavailability of lenders. Also, payments delay and transmission and connectivity related challenges persist.

Some of the deals in play as reported by Mint include Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Actis Llp and Brookfield Asset Management Inc. looking to buy Japans SoftBank Group Corps stake in SB Energy Holding, that has a 7.7 GW Indian solar portfolio.

Also, in what may rank among the largest green energy deals in India, Acme Solar Holdings Ltd. is looking to sell 4.84 GW of solar projects. Malaysias state-run oil and gas company, Petroliam Nasional Bhd, or Petronas, is also looking to acquire around 10% stake in Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd, in addition to investing in Tata Power renewable energy infrastructure investment trust (InvIT).

Japans ORIX Corp. recently made the single-largest foreign clean energy investment announcement of $980 million in India for buying a 17% stake in Greenko Energy Holdings.

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BRANFORD  With patriotic music wafting through the air, some 500 rallied at Branford Point to show support for President Donald J. Trump ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

As nearly 150 power boats, yachts, day sailers, kayaks and dinghies boats, adorned with Blue Lives Matter, Trump 2020 and American flags, passed by the Branford Point fishing pier, supporters on land blew air horns, shouted support and waved their own flags.

It went very well, said Branford resident Todd Petrowski , organizer of the Boaters for Trump and Blue Lives Matter Boat Parade.

The parade came early in the day, before Trump nominated Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Petrowski, who is not a boat owner, participated on a friends vessel, a 27-foot fishing boat.

I think we had a very good showing and we had plenty of people on land for support, I think it was a very good turnout, he said.

Police estimate there were about 200 individuals on the pier, while another 250 participated in a car parade.

The reports that I got back was that it was without incident, Branford Police Chief John Mulhern. There were no issues.

Supporters of presidential candidate Joe Biden who arrived at the event with Biden for President signs were met with taunts  but political conversations also took place.

About half a dozen women from Guilford and Madison gathered on the pier, among the Trump supporters, carrying Connecticut loves Biden and Harris signs.

Madison resident Leah Snyder said vulgar comments were directed at her and other Biden supporters.

I honestly feel very disgusted by the amount of people that are supporting him and the policies that he supported so far and the people that are yelling at us for exercising our right to peacefully protest and them comparing us to other protesters, its completely incorrect, said Snyder.

.

Trump supporter Alice Palumbo said she was not upset about the half a dozen Biden supporters as they stood on the pier with their signs.

They have a right to do what they want to, but I have a right to say what I want to, also, she said.

She noted that she is surprised by the number of people who are supporting Trump in the state of Connecticut.

Its such a Democratic state, she said. I actually believe theres a lot of people for Trump, but because theres so many things that happen if you say that youre a Trump supporter...I love the police, myself.

Branford resident Tracey Hawkes was thinking the same thing as she joined the rally.

I think its really exciting, the 58-year-old Branford resident said. Traditionally, Connecticuts a very blue state and I think that to have people come out and support their candidate is really important.

There were cordial exchanges between Trump and Biden supporters; among topics they discussed were separation of church and state, climate change and positive discourse.

It was a peaceful conversation, said Barbara Chupp, of a conversation with a Trump supporter. He was very reasonable.

Of the handful of people that we met todaythere were two people who actually asked to engage us in conversation, said the 56-year-old Guilford resident. I feel like we really, really need more of that, she added.



David Cruz, who had patriotic music playing, including Whitney Houstons rendition of America the Beautiful, and Bruce Springsteens Born in the U.S.A, said he was there to support Trump, as well as Blue Lives Matter.

My brothers a cop, he said. I support all police officers and I think we need to do that.

Petrowski said this was an important message from the event.

We wanted to get the point across that the Branford police are a fantastic organization and so is East Haven, so we just wanted to show support for them, he said. I think thats the most important thingthey did a wonderful job.
By Express News Service

BHOPAL: A 22-year-old unemployed girl from Uttar Pradesh was allegedly gang-raped by two railway employees at the VIP lounge of the Bhopal station. The accused duo has been arrested and booked by the Government Railway Police (GRP).

The girl, who has studied up till Class 12, was asked to reach Bhopal on the promise of a job, by one Rajesh Tiwari. According to the superintendent of police (SP Railways Bhopal) Hitesh Chaudhary, she was called to Bhopal by Tiwari, who is posted as a security counselor and disaster management in-charge at the divisional railway office (DRM-Bhopal) office.

The girl reached Bhopal by train on Saturday morning, after which she was provided a room in the VIP Lounge on Platform No. 1 by Tiwari with the help of his colleague Alok Malviya, a senior section engineer in West Central Railway (WCR-Bhopal Division).

Subsequently, both Tiwari and Malviya allegedly gang-raped the jobless young girl in the same room.

The young girl later gathered courage and reported the matter to the police. We lodged a case of gang rape against both the railway employees on Saturday evening and arrested them in the night, SP (Rail Bhopal) Hitesh Chaudhary told The New Indian Express.

The two have been suspended by the WCR-Bhopal following their arrest in the case.

Rajesh Tiwari has been arrested in the past in an assault case, a GRP-Bhopal source said.
NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio 

Suspected marijuana, gun, cash found: Country Club Boulevard

An officer at 1:19 p.m. Sept. 19 spotted a vehicle on Country Club Boulevard occupied by four men, and the officer learned the listed owner of the vehicle had a suspended drivers license.

Police attempted to stop the vehicle, but it entered I-480 westbound, changed lanes without signaling, and began driving at approximately 73 mph. An officer observed a passenger throw something out the window. The vehicle was swerving and changing lanes without signaling, according to a police report.

Officers caught up to the suspects' vehicle as it got stuck behind a stopped truck at a toll booth leading to the Ohio Turnpike. A cruiser slid into the back of the suspects' vehicle while trying to stop and disabled the suspects' vehicle, according to the police report. No one was injured.

The driver said the vehicle belonged to his brother, but the driver said he fled because he didnt have a drivers license. He admitted to having marijuana in the car, but he couldnt tell officers where it was, according to a police report. Police charged the driver with failure to comply.

Officers recovered a 9mm handgun from the glove box of the vehicle with no magazine. Police believe the magazine was thrown out the window of the vehicle during the chase. One of the passengers said the gun was his, and police charged him with having weapons under disability. He had a prior aggravated robbery conviction from 2017.

Another of the passengers was found to have two large bags of suspected marijuana with one of the bags containing 24 smaller, individually wrapped bags of marijuana. The suspect also had $1,715.82 cents in his pocket. The passenger denied owning the marijuana found in his pockets. Police told the man that depending on lab results on the suspected marijuana, he could be charged with drug trafficking in marijuana.

The fourth vehicle occupant was released without any charges being filed.

Drug abuse instruments: Country Club Boulevard

Officers at 10:15 a.m. Sept. 14 stopped a vehicle for traveling 45 mph in a 25-mph zone and discovered a woman driver and a man in her car who said he didnt have identification with him.

Police, using the mans Social Security number, learned the man was wanted on a theft warrant from Lakewood police and took him into custody. Police cited the driver for speeding and obtained her permission to search the vehicle.

Officers recovered a box containing a hypodermic needle and a rainbow-colored spoon with burnt residue. The male suspect, meanwhile, was dozing in and out of sleep in the rear of a police cruiser. He told officers the box and its contents were his.

The female driver was released, and officers charged her male passenger with possessing drug abuse instruments.

Petty theft, failure to comply: Brookpark Road

Police at 1:36 p.m. Sept. 14 responded to Walmart regarding a suspected male shoplifter who pushed a shopping cart filled with items out of the store without paying for the merchandise. The man ignored calls to stop and got into a black SUV while leaving the merchandise behind.

Police arrived as the SUV was leaving the parking lot and chased it at slow speeds until it stopped on Country Club Boulevard near the JCPenney store entrance. The SUV stopped, a male passenger got out and began to run until a pursuing officer said he would release a K-9. The fleeing man then stopped and began screaming that he was a mental patient and needed to go to a hospital, according to a police report. Officers took the man to a hospital but also filed a petty theft charge as a Walmart employees description identified him as the shoplifting suspect.

The driver of the SUV took off, but she was stopped by other officers. She is charged with failure to comply. Another male in her vehicle was released with no charges.

Petty theft: Great Northern Mall

Police at 1:24 p.m. Sept. 16 arrested a suspect for petty theft after an off-duty police officer working as a security officer for Dillards department store said he saw the suspect walk out of the store with two packages of underwear hidden in his jacket.

The off-duty officer saw the suspect get into a rental car and flee, and other officers stopped the car outside a nearby hotel and arrested the suspect.

OVI: Lorain Road

Police at 1:08 a.m. Sept. 19 responded to Taco Bell regarding a driver at the take-out window who appeared to be intoxicated.

Officers spoke with the man and noted he smelled of an alcoholic beverage. He slurred his words, had trouble finding his wallet, and then he had trouble finding his drivers license inside his wallet. He also had difficulty following instructions when asked to perform a field sobriety test. Officers recovered a glass bowl with marijuana residue from inside the car.

One at the police station, the man refused to provide a breath sample.

Officers charged the man with operating a vehicle while intoxicated and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Read more from the Sun Post Herald.
Shainu Mohan By

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state governments much-trumpeted Covid Brigade initiative to intensify the fight against the pandemic is turning out to be a farce. Though over 10,600 people -- including 2,286 doctors -- registered to join the brigade, the government has given the nod to recruit only 65 doctors across the state from the pool.

This is happening when every district is demanding more healthcare staff to manage Covid at tertiary care hospitals and second-line and first-line treatment centres.

Health Minister K K Shailaja had launched the initiative last month with much fanfare. But statistics show that the government has deployed, besides 65 doctors, only 169 staff in other categories for Covid duty so far. According to sources with the health department, they are getting repeated calls from those who have registered with the Covid Brigade but the authorities concerned are unable to depute them as the government is hesitant to give approval. While there are 367 modern medicine doctors in the Covid Brigade, a majority of those who have registered are ayurveda practitioners.Dr Rajmohan, an ayurveda specialist from Pathanamthitta who used to work in Bali, Indonesia, registered with the special pool around a month back.

When the coronavirus outbreak happened, I returned home. After quarantine, I decided to join the Covid Brigade. I wanted to do my bit. Since then, I have been in touch with the authorities regularly, requesting to be allotted duty. But I am yet to receive a call-up, Dr Rajmohan said.

A senior official with the Government Medical College Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, which is reeling under severe staff shortage, said the hospital authorities have been requesting for recruitment of more doctors from the Covid Brigade for quite some time. People are willing to join but we dont know why the government is not giving the permission to recruit more hands, the official said.

Meanwhile, Dr Mohammad Asheela member of the states Covid-19 task forcesaid the Covid Brigade is a reserve pool and deployments would be made when the situation arises. He claimed the government has posted around 400 professionals from the Covid Brigade pool, which is not reflected in the statistics available.

In some districts, we are unable to deploy people from the Covid Brigade because there are applicants who were shortlisted before the launch of the initiative, Dr Asheel said. Health department sources also claimed that some of the modern medicine doctors registered with the Covid Brigade expressed unwillingness to join when contacted.

At the same time, Kerala Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA) general secretary G S Vijayakrishnan demanded the government deploy more healthcare workers immediately. There is no point in delaying recruitment. The pandemic situation is worsening by the day, and in the coming week, the cases may double. Hospitals are struggling with staff shortage, he said.
China has shifted from a 'wolf warrior' diplomacy to calling for the implementation of three points on dialogue, cooperation and dispute control, as Politburo member Yang Jiechi and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said recently. They are:

- Stability of China-US relations is conducive to world stability.

- China does not stand still watching some American politicians with prejudice and hostility against China.

- China always maintains a high level of stability and continuity in developing relations with the US.

Chinese pilots and officers have been ordered to exercise restraint in increasingly frequent confrontations with US aircraft and warships. The Defense Ministers of the two countries had a phone call as suggested by the US side.

The two countries and 19 other countries have joined the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES) with a standardized protocol for safety procedures.

A new-style Cold War

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He during trade talks. Photo: Bloomberg

Like the Covid-19 pandemic, the US-China competition has no vaccine yet, and living with it is unavoidable. Governance of competition to prevent conflict is a prerequisite that both need to work towards.

The tension between the US and China is not the old-fashioned Cold War between the Soviet Union and the US because it still has dissident monitoring and control mechanisms. A hot war is not inevitable because history shows that power shifts do not always cause war. The US-China competition is "a new type of cold war, with cold and hot times" and under control.

Some actions are "in the plan". The US will try to increasingly use a combination of economic and legal diplomacy measures to limit China's excesses.

This war affects international cooperation in solving regional and global issues. The two sides' retaliation measures cannot help but affect countries in the East Sea region.

Visa restrictions and a ban on 24 Chinese companies that "helped the Chinese military build and militarize internationally condemned artificial islands in the East Sea" have made countries in the region not only happy, as international law violations are gradually punished, but also worried, as the US is pressing countries to take similar support measures, as these Chinese companies have a great influence on their economic projects.

ASEAN Declaration

China was condemned for the militarization of artificial islands in the East Sea

Facing activities at sea as well as statements to promote the policies of the US and China, on August 8, at the request of Vietnam - as the Chair of ASEAN - and Indonesia, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers issued a Joint Declaration on the Importance of Maintaining Peace and Stability in Southeast Asia on the occasion of its 53rd anniversary.

ASEAN emphasized that countries inside and outside the region need to respect international law in order to ensure peace and stability in the region, emphasizing ASEAN's "neutral" position, ASEAN's central role, "multilateralism", "no use of force", and "international laws". The only right choice for regional countries in the US-China competition is national interests and international law.

On August 26 and August 31, responding to Chinas maneuvers, firing of real bullets and ballistic missiles in the East Sea, Vietnam said: "Vietnam's consistent view is that all activities in Vietnams Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands and Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands without Vietnam's permission are in violation of Vietnam's sovereignty over these two archipelagos, and this is not conducive to peace, stability, order, security, safety and free air and maritime navigation in the East Sea."

On August 26, the Vietnamese government issued a decree on sanctioning illegal exploitation in Vietnam's waters. Given the complex context in the East Sea, Vietnam's choices are national interests and international law.

Nguyen Hong Thao
Over 96 % students appeared in the Joint Entrance Examination- Advanced 2020 conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi on Sunday. The exams were conducted in 222 cities and 1001 exam centers across the country amid strict health safety norms keeping in mind the continuing spread of the COVID-19 pandemic

According to information shared by IIT Delhi, the organizing institute, over one lakh fifty one thousand candidates appeared from paper one and one lakh fifty thousand students appeared for paper two.

JEE Advanced 2020 LIVE Updates

After the conduct of JEE (Main) exam by the National Testing Agency (NTA) earlier this month, the JEE(Advanced) exam was conducted for selecting students who would make to the coveted IITs.

JEE (Advanced) 2020 was conducted successfully across the country on September 27th by IIT Delhi, the organising institute. Out of total registered fee-paid candidates, 96% candidates appeared for the exam, a statement released by IIT Delhi said.

Read More: JEE Advanced 2020 Paper analysis

JEE- Advanced 2020 witnessed the largest number of nodes ever provided by TCS-iON for an exam in the country (approx. 3.4 lakh nodes) to accommodate everyone while complying to social distancing norms, the statement added.

#JEEAdvanced2020 official press note from @iitdelhi. Special thanks to all the 23 IITs, @DrRPNishank and @EduMinOfIndia for the successful conduct of this massive task. With 3.4 lakh nodes, probably qualifies for the highest ever nodes for any online exam in the country. pic.twitter.com/v0uU55u8dl  V.Ramgopal Rao (@ramgopal_rao) September 27, 2020

As per the manpower and infrastructure, due to COVID-19, conducting the exam was a major challenge readily accomplished by IIT Delhi, said Organizing Team members of JEE (Advanced) 2020 in the statement.

Prof V. Ramgopal Rao, Director IIT Delhi, on behalf of the organizing team, expressed his gratitude to the Education Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, officials in the Ministry, the state governments, all the IITs and the candidates for their support in making the JEE Advanced 2020 successful.
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Linkedin (Reuters) Hong Kong  Sun, September 27, 2020 09:03 482 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c477396f 2 Environment activist,environment,Hong-Kong,beach-cleanup,Lance-Lau Free

Lance Lau, an 11-year-old Hong Kong climate activist, has been called the Chinese territory's answer to Greta Thunberg.

Before his school shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lau would get to school an hour early every Friday to take time to talk to fellow pupils and their parents about what he describes as an irreversible climate crisis.

Outside the school gates, the bespectacled student would discuss issues including Australia's recent bushfires to melting icebergs.

This week he was back after the school reopened, taking a stand outside the building before organizing a beach cleanup as part of broader climate action by young people around the world.

"If we don't take action now, humanity is just not going to exist very soon," he told Reuters.

On weekends Lau goes to shopping malls with his mother to speak to residents and advocate for change.

"No one is too small to make a difference. We can all start taking action now."

On a marshy beach opposite the city's international airport, groups of students wearing masks chanted and waved banners with "school strike for climate action".

While the government has relaxed some coronavirus measures, all public beaches remain shut and gatherings are limited to four people.

Masks remain compulsory in most circumstances, and a surge of discarded pieces around the city has led environmental groups to warn of a growing threat to marine habitats and wildlife.

In October, teams of outdoor enthusiasts will embark on the "Adventure Clean Up Challenge" in the former British colony that will see them swimming, climbing and kayaking around the island to collect the trash.
Ireland In Frame exhibition launch

News

Ireland In Frame

Ireland In Frame

On Friday 18 September, under the stewardship of Ms. Candice Gordon, the recently appointed Head of Cultural Affairs at the Embassy of Ireland, the embassy was proud to host the opening of the Ireland In Frame exhibition.

The exhibition, launched to coincide with Ireland's long running and prestigious Culture Night, presented the work of a number of photographers whose works in this series, predominantly focussed on street photography, thus bringing the urban landscapes and people of Ireland, to the streets of Berlin.

Showcasing a broad spectrum of real Irish life, as captured through the lenses and writings of a number of highly talented artists, including Eamonn Doyle, Birte Kaufmann, Jeanette Lowe, Lorcan Finnegan, Kenneth O'Halloran, Laura Jean Zito and Aosdana poet, Gabriel Rosenstock, the exhibition is physically installed in a number of locations across Berlin and viewable on the dedicated website www.irelandinframe.com

Speaking at the socially-distanced launch of the exhibition that will run until 02 October, Ambassador Nicholas O'Brien said that photographs are a wonderful way to communicate directly from the subject to the viewer and they are an immediate line of connection that both allures and intrigues, ultimately deepening bonds and understanding.

Ambassador Nicholas O'Brien speaking at the opening

Head of Cultural Affairs, Ms. Candice Gordon hosting the online engagement with the artists.

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Oh really Nick. The thought that Sally Capp and Nicholas Reece have the time to trawl through Instagram for damaging titbits to use against you is laughable. Arron Wood, maybe. Picking up the bar tab At the Victorian Bar it's still all sturm und drang. The Bar's 2192 fee-paying members (of which 314 are silk) are feeling the squeeze, with COVID-19 shutting the courts, leaving many barristers out of work. Thus continuing unhappiness over Bar expenditure. A dinner hosted by outgoing Victorian Bar president Matt Collins QC at his South Yarra home back in November, first reported by CBD, is continuing to cause ructions. One lawyer, in an attempt to discover the cost of the function, attended by Attorney-General Christian Porter, termed it an "exclusive banquet thrown for Matt Collins in his efforts to get a judicial position". Ouch.

Now barristers are frustrated by equally futile attempts to uncover the cost of a study trip to London earlier this year by Bar president Wendy Harris QC, chief executive Katherine Lorenz and a junior barrister. Barristers are exchanging emails about the "fact-finding mission", accompanied by dark mutterings of "business-class" expenditure. Then there are two reports, one by consultancy firm Nous into the Bar Readers Course, the other by consultancy firm Adept Research, into the Bar's hospitality venue, the Essoign Club. Barrister Graham Robertson of Owen Dixon Chambers West has been leading the charge, describing chief executive Lorenz as having an "addiction to consultants". President Harris has sharply returned fire, telling Robertson in an email that Lorenz found the "persistent denigration" of her management of the Bar "distressing, offensive and hurtful".

"She has weathered the challenges in a way which fills me, and my Bar Council colleagues, with admiration and respect. But the unnecessary personal nature of the criticism levelled at her, and management of the Bar office, cannot help but take a toll." Harris told Robertson to back off. "I would ask respectfully but firmly that in your future communications you desist from personal denigration of the CEO and the team that she leads. I have no doubt that you can convey your views to your readership without doing so." Robertson wrote back that he didn't accept the characterisation of his recent emails. "On that we shall have to agree to disagree." Over before it began Mat Hilakari is either brave, crazy brave, or just plain crazy. The low-key Socialist Left convenor, is the senior adviser to former mental health minister Martin Foley, just promoted to the post of health minister after the weekend dramas. Hilakari, who happens to be the brother of Trades Hall secretary Luke, is the only bloke so far to announce he is a candidate to replace fallen health minister Jenny Mikakos in her upper house seat.

But problems abound. Not only do senior party officials want a like-for-like replacement for the former health minister, who fell on her sword and resigned from Parliament after the hotel quarantine inquiry. But pressure group Emily's List has come out forcefully against any man replacing Mikakos, pointing out that the last vacancy was filled by a man, and that the ALP caucus representation would fall to 46.6 per cent if another man replaced Mikakos, which is in no way equal. But this may be the clincher. Hilakari owns a home with partner Cassie Farley, the Australian Services Union organiser. That home is in Seaford, a mere 60km from the southern-most fringe of Mikakos's Northern Metropolitan Region electorate. Sounds like his candidacy is dead in the water. Eccles escape option Chris Eccles prefers to operate behind the scenes. But Victoria's top public servant couldn't avoid the spotlight during the hotel quarantine inquiry last week. The Department of Premier and Cabinet secretary, known in wonkish circles as the "Surfing Mandarin" for his favourite hobby, was revealed as the recipient of text messages from Victoria Police chief Graham Ashton pointedly asked about the policy to guard hotel quarantine guests.

Eccles' fate after the inquiry hands down its findings is an unknown unknown. Whatever occurs, he has the character-building experience of his time working for the NSW government to fall back on. Eccles was NSW's most senior public servant under Liberal premier Barry O'Farrell. He left the job early when O'Farrell resigned after that problematic bottle of Grange in 2014. Incoming premier Mike Baird made no effort to keep him. Eccles left and took home a $343,095 payout. In an interview, he admitted he referred to himself as "Mr Wolf" in conversations with government staff (a reference to Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction). "When I was explaining to people some part of what the role involved, there was a proportion of the job which was just cleaning up stuff," he helpfully explained.
The latest coronavirus news from Canada and around the world Sunday. This file is no longer updating. Click here to read the latest. Web links to longer stories if available.

9:30 p.m.: The Toronto District School Board said Sunday that public health officials have declared an outbreak at Mason Road Junior Public School, in Scarborough, and ordered that it be closed until Friday, Oct. 2, while they investigate. It is the first school to be closed in Toronto due to a COVID-19 outbreak.

Torontos first school outbreak was declared at Friday at Glen Park Public School, where two students tested positive. As of Sunday evening, a total of 37 public schools across Toronto were reporting infections among students or staff, or both.

7:00 p.m.: As authorities sought to contain COVID-19 outbreaks at British universities Sunday, some students complained they were being imprisoned in their dormitories and politicians debated whether young people should be allowed to go home for Christmas.

Students at universities in Glasgow, Manchester and Edinburgh  who have returned to campus in the past few weeks  are being asked to self-isolate in their residence halls, with security guards at some schools preventing young people from leaving their buildings.

While students at Glasgow University greeted the lockdown with humour, posting signs asking passersby to send beer, those in Manchester had a darker message, taping HMP MMU in their windows, suggesting the dormitory had become Her Majestys Prison Manchester Metropolitan University.

The lockdowns come as more students headed back to campuses across the country, and some observers criticized the governments decision to reopen universities despite forecasts that this would lead to virus outbreaks. The government defended the decision, saying it had put clear guidelines in place to protect students and staff.

5:13 p.m.: The latest numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Canada as of 5:09 p.m. EDT on Sept. 27, 2020:

There are 153,124 confirmed cases in Canada.

Quebec: 71,901 confirmed (including 5,825 deaths, 61,129 resolved)

Ontario: 49,831 confirmed (including 2,839 deaths, 42,796 resolved)

Alberta: 17,343 confirmed (including 261 deaths, 15,585 resolved)

British Columbia: 8,641 confirmed (including 230 deaths, 7,036 resolved)

Manitoba: 1,880 confirmed (including 19 deaths, 1,272 resolved)

Saskatchewan: 1,878 confirmed (including 24 deaths, 1,710 resolved)

Nova Scotia: 1,087 confirmed (including 65 deaths, 1,021 resolved)

Newfoundland and Labrador: 272 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 267 resolved)

New Brunswick: 200 confirmed (including 2 deaths, 191 resolved)

Prince Edward Island: 58 confirmed (including 57 resolved)

Yukon: 15 confirmed (including 15 resolved)

Repatriated Canadians: 13 confirmed (including 13 resolved)

Northwest Territories: 5 confirmed (including 5 resolved)

Nunavut: No confirmed cases

Total: 153,124 (0 presumptive, 153,124 confirmed including 9,268 deaths, 131,097 resolved)

2:46 p.m.: Public Health officials in Newfoundland and Labrador are reporting one new confirmed case of COVID-19 and are urging anyone who shared his flight out of Toronto last week to get tested.

The new case, announced Sunday, involves a man between 20 and 39 years of age who had recently returning home to the province from Manitoba, which announced 51 new cases on Sunday for an active total of 589. Newfoundland now has two active cases.

Officials say the man has been self-isolating since arrival and following Public Health guidelines.

However, the Department of Health and Community Services is asking people who travelled on WestJet Flights 306 and 328 departing Winnipeg and Toronto for St. Johns on Monday, Sept. 21, to call the 811 non-urgent health line to arrange for COVID-19 testing.

They say the request is out of an abundance of caution.

1:34 p.m.: A King Street East restaurant, Reyna, revealed Sunday on Instagram that it has temporarily closed after one of its staff tested positive for COVID-19.

We are saddened to announce that one of our Reyna on King team members has tested positive for COVID-19. This person last worked at Reyna on King on Wednesday, Sept. 24th, 2020 and is currently self-isolating  we decided to immediately close Reyna on King and neighbouring Reyna Bazaar until further notice. While closed, these actions will be take: 1) Reyna on King and Reyna Bazaar will be professionally sanitized and deep cleaned to ensure all surfaces are clear of any contamination. 2) The entire Reyna on King and Reyna Bazaar team, as well as anyone from Bar Reyna who came in contact with the infected employee, has self-isolated and is required to get tested for COVID-19 in the next 24 hrs. Nobody will be permitted to return to work without proof of negative COVID-19 test results.

Reyna, on King Street East, is some distance from the three King Street West restaurants shuttered by Toronto Public Health over the weekend for COVID-19 rule violations. Further down King Street West, an outbreak at Regulars Bar was revealed on Sunday.

1:15 p.m.: Provincial police remain on the scene Sunday in Wasaga Beach where hundreds of modified cars descended this weekend for stunt driving, racing and more.

The town saw a large influx of car enthusiasts starting Friday for what police called an unsanctioned car rally. Late on Saturday, OPP officers set up at the entrances to town and began turning away motorists who were not Wasaga Beach residents.

There was an overall disregard of any kind of rules at all, so they made the decision in the interest of public safety to shut down the town, for lack of a better word, said OPP Sgt. Jason Folz.

Folz said there was a lack of physical distancing and complete disregard for the limits on outdoor social gatherings (25 people), which were implemented to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Folz said some vehicles were seized and tickets were issued under the Highway Traffic Act and the Reopening Ontario Act.

Folz said the car take-over continued on Sunday and that police maintained an active presence throughout the duration.

OPP were assisted by a helicopter, which Folz said was used to track people fleeing from police, monitor gatherings, and collect evidence. Police from York Region and Peel Region also assisted.

Folz said information on the number of tickets and charges handed out over the weekend was not available yet.

12:05 p.m.: Toronto Public Health stated on Sunday that its notifying staff and patrons who visited the Regulars Bar on King St. W. between Sept. 13 and 22 about a potential exposure to COVID-19 after three bar employees have tested positive.

TPH says it has followed up with all known close contacts, who have been asked to self-isolate for 14 days and to go for testing. If you were at Regulars, 668 King St. W., at Bathurst, during this time but havent been contacted by TPH, you are not identified as a close contact and are viewed as low risk, but as a precaution, TPH asks you to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms for 14 days after their visit.

TPH estimates approximately 600 people may have been at the venue during this time.

11:27 a.m.: Quebec is reporting 896 new cases of COVID-19 today, the highest single-day tally since May.

Health officials say four additional deaths were also reported: two in the past 24 hours, and two that took place between Sept. 20 and 25.

Authorities say hospitalizations went down by one in the past 24 hours for a total of 216.

Of those, 41 people are in intensive care  a drop of four from the previous day.

The province has now recorded a total of 71,901 COVID-19 cases and 5,825 total deaths attributed to the coronavirus.

Health Minister Christian Dube says the increase in cases is primarily due to community transmission of the virus, and the province is asking Quebecers to limit their contact with others over the next few weeks.

11:21 a.m.: The Correctional Service of Canada says it is suspending visits to federal prisons in Quebec to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19.

The agency says temporary absences and work releases from institutions and community correctional centres in the province are also suspended. Quebec has seen an increase in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, reporting 896 new cases on Sunday.

CSC says health services in its Quebec facilities will continue and temporary absences will be allowed on medical and compassionate grounds. For now the restrictions do not apply to facilities in other provinces.

The agency says there are no active cases of COVID-19 among inmates in its 43 institutions across Canada.

10:21 a.m.: Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott stated on Twitter on Sunday that the province is reporting 491 new cases of COVID-19 after more than 42,500 tests were completed. Locally, there are 137 new cases in Toronto with 131 in Peel, 58 in Ottawa and 58 in York Region.

Two more deaths were recorded on the provinces tracking site, and 289 more recoveries. The net result is that Ontarios active case total climbed by 200 to 4,196. The most recent numbers from the City of Toronto put the local active-case count at 1,421.

The number of Ontarians hospitalized increased by 12 to 112.

The provincial new-case number  the highest since May 2, during the first wave  compares to 435 new cases reported on Saturday and 409 on Friday. Ontarios death toll stands at 2,839.

10:13 a.m.: Canadian ski resort operators planning for a season that begins in about two months are being forced to balance profits with protecting the health of their guests in view of the pandemic. Although medical experts agree theres little chance of infection while flying through the powder on a steep double-black-diamond ski run, they say the risk increases dramatically when riding a packed gondola to the top of the hill or enjoying an apres-ski cocktail in a jammed resort bar.

Resorts say skiers and snowboarders will have to wear masks on lifts and gondolas and when indoors and social distancing will be encouraged by removing tables and chairs in bars and restaurants. They are vowing more frequent cleaning and sanitizing.

But few are actually restricting the total number of skiers they allow on the hill, a prospect that worries Dr. Stephen Freedman, a researcher and professor at the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary. The ski hills have a responsibility to control the number of people that are on the hill and that number cannot be as high as it was pre-COVID, he warned.

Gondola loading is particularly tricky for Sunshine Village ski resort in Banff National Park, where the only way for guests to get from the parking lot to the main ski area is by taking a 17-minute ride in an eight-person gondola car.

As the gondola is our main lifeline, when it is busy we will be loading it to capacity, said spokeswoman Kendra Scurfield in an interview. We tried limiting capacity in the spring prior to being closed for COVID and we found the lineup was more of a hazard. People werent social distancing in line, it backed onto to the road, it just became more dangerous than loading people up.

Meanwhile, at destination resort Whistler Blackcomb, 120 kilometres north of Vancouver, no formal limits have been placed on the number of guests allowed on the hill but the expectation is that numbers  which can reach 35,000 people on busy days  will be 10 to 20 per cent lower, said spokesman Marc Riddell.

8:02 a.m.: CERB payments will begin to wind down starting this weekend. In its place is employment insurance, which the government says the majority of people will go on, and a new suite of benefits that wont exist unless approved by Parliament.

As of a week ago, the CERB had paid out $79.3 billion to 8.8 million people, or roughly two in every five members of the nearly 20.2 million-strong labour force in August.

Benefits were paid up front, which wont be the case for those in the first wave of being transferred to the new system: The government says the first payment will come the week of Oct. 11. About 80 per cent are expected to receive payments by Oct. 14; a further 10 per cent within the first two weeks.

The $500-a-week floor on benefits in EI, or $300 per week floor for new parents using the extended-leave option, will be taxable. Jobless benefits through this EI program will be available for at least 26 weeks, and claimants will be allowed to earn more than they did under the CERB, up to $38,000 annually, before being completely cut off.

Employers will also be allowed to use supplemental unemployment benefits to top up EI payments.

The threshold to qualify for EI has been reduced to 120 hours of insurable work for those coming back into the system that has been nearly dormant since March.

The government says 2.8 million people will qualify for EI as of Monday. But many may not do so automatically.

7:37 a.m.: A former Lebanese foreign minister and son-in-law of President Michel Aoun has tested positive for the coronavirus, his office said Sunday.

The statement from his office said Gebran Bassil, who also heads the Christian Free Patriotic Movement party, will isolate until he recovers, adding that the infection level is still low and acceptable.

The announcement comes amid an alarming surge in coronavirus cases in Lebanon, with record numbers registered almost every day for the past week.

The Health Ministry confirmed Saturday 1,280 new coronavirus cases, bringing the overall number of infections in Lebanon to 33,162. The government has recorded 317 deaths from COVID-19 since the first case was reported in late February.

Sunday 7:34 a.m.: There are 151,671 confirmed cases in Canada.

Quebec: 71,005 confirmed (including 5,821 deaths, 60,660 resolved)

Ontario: 49,340 confirmed (including 2,837 deaths, 42,507 resolved)

Alberta: 17,343 confirmed (including 261 deaths, 15,585 resolved)

British Columbia: 8,641 confirmed (including 230 deaths, 7,036 resolved)

Saskatchewan: 1,863 confirmed (including 24 deaths, 1,705 resolved)

Manitoba: 1,829 confirmed (including 19 deaths, 1,265 resolved)

Nova Scotia: 1,087 confirmed (including 65 deaths, 1,021 resolved)

Newfoundland and Labrador: 272 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 267 resolved)

New Brunswick: 200 confirmed (including 2 deaths, 191 resolved)

Prince Edward Island: 58 confirmed (including 57 resolved)

Yukon: 15 confirmed (including 15 resolved)

Repatriated Canadians: 13 confirmed (including 13 resolved)

Northwest Territories: 5 confirmed (including 5 resolved)

Nunavut: No confirmed cases

Total: 151,671 (0 presumptive, 151,671 confirmed including 9,262 deaths, 130,327 resolved)

See Saturdays coronavirus coverage.

Correction (Sept. 27): This article has been corrected from a previous version. The 1:34 p.m. news item mistakenly said that Bar Reyna in Yorkville was temporarily closed. In fact, only Reyna on King Street East and the neighbouring Reyna Bazaar are temporarily closed for cleaning after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19. Bar Reyna in Yorkville is not affected.
This March 2020 photo provided by the family shows Ming Wang in Sydney, Australia. The 71-year-old was sickened in March on a cruise from Australia with his wife, a break after decades of running the family's Chinese restaurant in Papillion, Neb. In the 74 days he was hospitalized, doctors desperately tried various experimental approaches, including enrolling him in a study of an antiviral drug that ultimately showed promise. Ming died on June 8. "It was just touch and go. Everything they wanted to try we said yes, do it," said his daughter, Anne Peterson. "We would give anything to have him back, but if what we and he went through would help future patients, that's what we want." (Lu Wang via AP)

The nearly 1 million people around the world who have lost their lives to COVID-19 have left us a gift: Through desperate efforts to save their lives, scientists now better understand how to treat and prevent the diseaseand millions of others may survive.

Ming Wang, 71, and his wife were on a cruise from Australia, taking a break after decades of running the family's Chinese restaurant in Papillion, Nebraska, when he was infected. In the 74 days he was hospitalized before his death in June, doctors frantically tried various experimental approaches, including enrolling him in a study of an antiviral drug that ultimately showed promise.

"It was just touch and go. Everything they wanted to try we said yes, do it," said Wang's daughter, Anne Peterson. "We would give anything to have him back, but if what we and he went through would help future patients, that's what we want."

Patients are already benefiting. Though more deaths are expected this fall because of the recent surge in coronavirus infections in the U.S. and elsewhere, there also are signs that death rates are declining and that people who get the virus now are faring better than did those in the early months of the pandemic.

"Some of the reason we're doing better is because of the advances," Dr. Francis Collins, director of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, told The Associated Press. Several drugs have proved useful and doctors know more about how to care for the sickest patients in hospitals, he said.

We're in the "stormy adolescence" phase of learning what treatments workbeyond infancy but not "all grown up either," Collins said.

THE AWFUL TOLL

The nearly 1 million deaths attributed to the coronavirus in nine months are far more than the 690,000 from AIDS or the 400,000 from malaria in all of 2019. They're trending just behind the 1.5 million from tuberculosis.

Wealth and power have not shielded rich countries from the awful power of the virus. The United States "has been the worst-hit country in the world" with more than 7 million coronavirus infections and more than 200,000 deaths, reflecting "the lack of success that we have had in containing this outbreak," Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease specialist, told a Harvard Medical School audience earlier this month.

More than 40% of U.S. adults are at risk for severe disease from the virus because of high blood pressure and other conditions. It's not just old people in nursing homes who are dying, Fauci stressed.

Dr. Jesse Goodman, a former U.S. Food and Drug Administration chief scientist now at Georgetown University, agreed.

"Nobody should make a mistake about this" and think they're not at risk just because they may not personally know someone who has died or haven't witnessed what the virus can do firsthand, he said.

OPTIMISTIC SIGNS

Although cases are rising, death rates seem to be falling, said Dr. Cyrus Shahpar, a former U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scientist now at the nonprofit group Resolve to Save Lives.

The virus's true lethalitythe infection fatality rateisn't yet known, because scientists don't know how many people have had it without showing symptoms. What's often reported are case fatality ratesthe portion of people who have tested positive and then gone on to die. Comparing these from country to country is problematic because of differences in testing and vulnerable populations. Tracking these within a country over time also carries that risk, but it can suggest some trends.

"The U.S. cumulative case fatality rate in April was around 5%. Now we're around 3%," Shahpar said.

This December 2016 photo provided by the family shows, from left, Lu Wang, Ming Wang and Anne Peterson. Ming Wang, 71, was sickened in March 2020 on a cruise from Australia with his wife, a break after decades of running the family's Chinese restaurant in Papillion, Neb. In the 74 days he was hospitalized, doctors desperately tried various experimental approaches, including enrolling him in a study of an antiviral drug that ultimately showed promise. Ming died on June 8. "It was just touch and go. Everything they wanted to try we said yes, do it," said his daughter, Anne Peterson. "We would give anything to have him back, but if what we and he went through would help future patients, that's what we want." (Anne Peterson via AP)

In England, researchers reported that case fatality rates have fallen substantially since peaking in April. The rate in August was around 1.5% versus more than 6% six weeks earlier.

One reason is changing demographics: More cases these days are in younger people who are less likely to die from their infection than older people are.

Increased testing also is playing a role: As more people with mild or no symptoms are detected, it expands the number of known infections and shrinks the proportion that prove fatal, Shahpar said.

BETTER TREATMENTS

It's clear that treatments also are affecting survival, many doctors said. People who have died from COVID-19, especially ones who took part in studies, have helped reveal what drugs do or do not help.

Dexamethasone and similar steroids now are known to improve survival when used in hospitalized patients who need extra oxygen, but might be harmful for less sick patients.

An antiviral drug, remdesivir, can speed recovery for severely ill patients, shaving four days off the average hospital stay. Two anti-inflammatory drugs, one used in combination with remdesivirthe drug Wang helped testalso have been reported to help although results of those studies have not yet been published.

The jury is still out on convalescent plasma, which involves using antibody-rich blood from survivors to treat others. No large, high-quality studies have tested this well enough to know if it works.

The value of rigorous, scientific studies to test treatments has become clear, Goodman said. "We certainly see what happens" when treatments are widely adopted without them as hydroxychloroquine was, he said. "That exposed a lot of people to a potentially toxic drug" and delayed the hunt for effective ones.

Aside from drugs, "the case fatality rate is actually improving over time as physicians get more adept at taking care of these very sick patients," said Dr. Gary Gibbons, director of the U.S. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

In hospitals, doctors know more now about ways to avoid using breathing machines, such as keeping patients on their bellies.

"We've learned about how to position patients, how to use oxygen, how to manage fluids," and hospitals have increased their surge capacity and supplies, Dr. Judith Currier, a University of California, Los Angeles physician said at a recent webinar organized by the American Public Health Association and the U.S. National Academy of Medicine.

THE FUTURE

The best way to avoid dying from the coronavirus remains to avoid getting it, and experience has shown that the simple measures advocated by public health officials work.

"Prevention is the most important step right now as we're waiting for a vaccine and we're improving treatment," Goodman said.

Wearing a face mask, washing hands, keeping at least 6 feet apart and disinfecting surfaces "clearly are having a positive effect" on curbing spread, Fauci said.

If more people stick with common-sense measures like closing bars, "we should improve our ability to manage this" and prevent more deaths, Shahpar said. "It should take longer to get to the next million if it ever happens."

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.
Indian National Lok Dal leader Abhay Chautala on Saturday accused the Haryana government of turning a blind eye to the plight of farmers and demanded a judicial enquiry into the lathicharge on farmers at Kurukshetras Pipli a few days ago.

Chautala, who led a protest of the INLD against the three agriculture legislations, said the bills passed by the Centre are anti-farmer and will benefit the big corporation houses. He also demanded an investigation into the lathicharge on farmers during the Pipli rally on September 10.

The farmers were not allowed to express their views on the bills and the government used police force on the protesters. The government is not even ready to admit that the farmers were lathicharged, he said, while demanding that the government should immediately withdraw the cases registered against the farmers for holding peaceful protests.

Also read: Snapping over two-decades-long ties, SAD pulls out of NDA over farm bills

He said the Union government should not impose its laws on farmers and ensure that they get the benefit of the minimum support price. He said the government should talk to the farmers and address their grievances instead of ignoring their concerns. Chautala also demanded that the government should implement the recommendations of Swaminathan commission as per C2 formula.
It is left with barely three months to the general election which comes with an expectation that the campaign from political parties, especially the two main political parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress(NDC), would gather momentum for people to feel the fever that characterises every general election.

Probably, the election fever is not catching up much in the Volta Region compared to previous years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.That notwithstanding, both the NPP and the NDC are working hard on the ground to win the various constituencies in the region.



The Ho Central Constituency continues to be one of the highly populated constituencies in the Volta Region with more than 100, 000 voters and like many constituencies in the region,it remains a strong hold for the NDC as it had won all the parliamentary seats since 1992.



This years election may follow similar pattern of previous years with the NDC having a firm grip of the constituency.



However, what is normally of interest is whether or not the NPP can pull a surprise by increasing its votes to, at least 20 per cent of total vote cast.



Past performance



Statistics from previous elections showed that the NPP candidates had always polled votes between eight and 10 per cent, while the NDC candidates polled not less than 88 per cent.



The NDC Parliamentary Candidate, Mr Benjamin Kpodo, who was contesting for the second time in 2016, however, lost significant votes of more than12,000 when he polled 47,330 votes representing 79.48 per cent compared to the 60,129 representing 88.51 per cent he garnered in 2012.



The NPP similarly lost over 700 votes in 2016 when Mr Ernest Gaewu, as candidate, polled 6,031 as compared to Dr Yao Archibald Letsas votes of 6,758 votes in 2012, representing 10.13 per cent and 9.95 per cent respectively.



The reduction in votes in 2016 was attributed to the level of apathy, especially against the NDC which described the Volta Region as its strong hold.



As the elections draw closer, few posters and billboards of the parliamentary candidates and party flags are seen at vantage points.



This year, the Chief Executive of the Ho Municipal Assembly, Mr Prosper Pi-Bansah is contesting as a parliamentary candidate on the ticket of the NPP.



Though an old hand in the NPP in the region, this is his first time to hit the political limelight as an MCE and parliamentary candidate.



Residents believe that as a native of Ahoe, a division of Ho, Mr Pi-Bansah stands the chance to increase his partys votes in the Ho township but may not perform well outside of Ho which happens to be the strong areas of the incumbent , Mr Kpodo, a native of Tanyigbe-Anyigbe who is contesting for the third time.



With sentimental voting pattern which characterised elections in the Volta Region, the NPP parliamentary candidate would have a tough task as a new candidate and may not pull much surprise.



Views of residents



Residents who spoke to the Daily Graphic were not really enthused about the achievements of the NPP in the constituency, especially when the major concern of the youth in the constituency has been unemployment. Also, they claimed the regional capital was underdeveloped.



According to them, one major project which could open the capital up was the operationalisation of the Ho Airport which to them had been abandoned by the current government.



The NDC s achievement in Ho, they claim, remains tall with the mentioning of developmental projects such as Ho aerodrome under construction, Ho market project, University of Health and Allied Sciences, schools, health facilities and asphalting of Ho road prior to the 2016 election.



A resident, Mr Delali Goka, said he had not felt much from the NPP in respect of development in the regional capital.



Apart from national policies such as school feeding, planting for food and jobs, NABCO ongoing in every part of the country, not much development has come to Ho.



He said the only project he saw in Ho was the Sokode-Ho dual carriage and even with that, he complained had unduly been delayed.For him, a factory or two could open up the area for development.



Dissenting views also argue that the current government had performed better, especially with its policies which have benefitted Ghanaians and if given more opportunity, would do more.



One of such residents, Mr Dziedzorm Yevu, said he was not looking at development only in Ho but what the government had done for the citizens which required Ghanaians given them four more years.



He ,however, conceded that it would be difficult for the NPP parliamentary candidate to win the seat but I can say he may perform better than his predecessors.



Targets of candidates



The NPP Ho Central Parliamentary Candidate, Mr Pi-Bansah says he will pull a surprise in the constituency with his 50,000 votes target as he woos his constituents with policies such as giving credit facility to market women to expand their businesses, capacity to traditional rulers to mobile resources for development of their communities, assistance to teachers and nurses in constituency to further their education.



Meanwhile, the NDC is increasing their target from 80,000 votes in 2016 to 90,000 votes this year with its operation all the vote mantra.



According to an executive member of the Ho Central Constituency, Mr Stanley Nelvis Glate, the target was achievable because the people have been disappointed as the government could not fulfil its promises, especially the $1 million per constituency and the one-district one-factory policy.



The people wanted a factory and had swayed towards the NPP and in the case of Ho Central, not coming out in their numbers to vote. But where are the factories? I can assure you that this election is Sankofa and ,therefore,the NDC will achieve its target for the constituency.



For the other parties in the constituency such as the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), the Progressive People Party (PPP) and the National Democratic Party (NDP), they are for now only in to make up the numbers as not much is seen or heard of them in the constituency..#GhanaVotes2020#









Source: Graphiconline.com









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Mumbai: Gajraj Rao credits his middle class upbringing for inspiring some of his most celebrated roles, but the actor says despite having a rich bank of observations he never feels too self assured. Starting out with minor roles in acclaimed films like Bandit Queen, Dil Se, Black Friday, Rao gained popularity with The Viral Fevers series Tech Conversations with Dad in 2018.

The actor got widespread acclaim with the National Award-winning Badhaai Ho! which released the same year, playing the middle aged man Jeetendra Kaushik grappling with unexpected parenthood. Rao said a habit that has stayed with him since his stage play days is feeling nervous before a performance. I never get overconfident with my work. Even during theatre, I would remember all my lines but just before the show, Id go to the washroom, wipe my sweat. Even today, I get anxiety a day before the shoot about how things would unfold, he told .
A 16-year-old girl from Amritsar recently received an invitation from NASA after she topped the International Space Olympiad (ISO) 2020. Hissaa, who is a class X student of DAV Public School, got invited to visit the John F Kennedy Space Centre in the US as she came first in the senior category of ISO. According to The Tribune, the Amritsar resident scored 78.75 marks collectively in the preliminary, intermediate and final test conducted by the International Space Olympiad.

Hissaa is the first student from India to secure a prestigious position in the senior category. While speaking to the media outlet, the 16-year-old said that the official confirmation was a dream come true.

READ: NASAs $23 MN Toilet With Improved Efficiency For Space Missions Is All Set For Launch

The student from Amritsar, who aims to be an astrophysicist, reportedly said that she competed with students from Singapore and Switzerland, besides those who applied from the different places of India. Currently, Hissaa is waiting for the COVID-19 situation to get favourable so that she could visit her dream destination.

Hissaa informed that she registered for ISO in September last year, however, due to the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic the first round of the competition was pushed to January. The second round of the contest took place in June and the final round was held in August.

READ: US Election 2020: NASA Astronaut To Cast Ballot From Space Station In Nov Polls

The 16-year-old credited her father Savrajinder Pal Singh, who is an engineer with the MC, and her mother Kamalpreet Kaur, who is an English teacher in a government school, for her success. While speaking about their contribution, Hissaa reportedly said that her father, with his engineering background, helped her with science lessons. Her mother, on the other hand, ensured that Hissaa had a thorough understanding of astronomy.

About ISO

International Space Olympiad is an international Quiz competition on space and technology and students from classes 5 to 12 can participate in the contest. ISO aims to attract and encourage talents in the fields of space science and technology and enhance the aptitude of children in space science. It was first conducted in the year 2015 and since it has honoured genuine talents with amazing prizes and laurels.

(Image: AP)

READ: NASA Shares An Intriguing Image Of Jupiter's Violent Stormy Atmosphere; See Here

READ: NASA Spacecraft To Touch Down On Asteroid Bennu's Surface In Historic Mission

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.
In Maharashtra, the epidemic is spreading fast in Gondia, Yavatmal, Wardha and Nagpur while Karnataka's Kodagu and Kalaburagi have seen their doubling times increase over six weeks

By Nidhi Jacob

On 1 June, 2020, 41 percent of Maharashtras COVID-19 cases were outside of Mumbai. As the lockdown has opened and testing has increased, COVID-19 cases in the rest of the state have grown. By September 23, 85.7 percent of Maharashtras cases were outside of Mumbai.

As the fourth phase of opening the lockdown proceeds apace, some districts that currently have few cases of COVID-19 should brace for a surge, experts warn.

An analysis of data from the three states with the most active COVID-19 cases shows that almost all of their districts are at risk of a surge, based on test positivity rate and doubling time.

We analysed COVID-19 testing data over six weeks to 20 September for 36 districts across Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Only two districts had the epidemic somewhat under control as seen from their positivity rates and doubling times.

The total lockdown that started 24 March has been lifted in phases: the first phase of the unlock began on 1 June. Since then, more and more districts have reported COVID-19 cases.

In May, 523 districts were affected by the virus and as of September 20, 636 of 637 districts for which data are available have been affected, with Lakshadweep being the only exception.

This is like a forest fire; wherever sparks fall the fire will start and then spread. Eventually most towns and villages will be affected, except remote ones with little or no contact with other communities, T Jacob John, virologist and professor emeritus of Christian Medical College, Vellore, told Indiaspend.

Where case detection and isolation/quarantine is effective, the speed of spread will be slow.

Across the country, cases have increased nearly 30-fold from 182,143 confirmed cases on 31 May, the last day of complete lockdown, to 5.56 million on September 22.

It took nearly six months to cross 1 million COVID-19 cases on 17 July and less than two months thereafter to cross the five million-mark on 16 September.

Currently, India has 975,861 active cases and the highly infectious disease has caused 88,935 deaths, data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) show.

Of the active cases in the country, 57 percent are from Maharashtra (275,017), Karnataka (95,354), Andhra Pradesh (74,518), Uttar Pradesh (64,164) and Tamil Nadu (46,495), the ministrys data show.

Active infections in other states have also increased, such as Kerala (39,354), Chhattisgarh (37,927) and Odisha (34,033), the next three states with the most COVID-19 cases.

Which districts could become hotspots?

Any district with a high population density is at equal risk, Giridhar Babu, head of Life Course Epidemiology at the Public Health Foundation of India, told IndiaSpend. All it takes is a susceptible population and the introduction of infection.

Cities and states with international airports such as Kerala, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Mumbai were the first hotspots in India, due to imported infection, he explained. Hotspots are determined by the number of people in the community, their social mixing pattern and the introduction of infection, and with each unlock, as movement of people within and across states increased, the virus spread in more districts.

Many are worried only about the rise [of COVID-19 cases] in certain cities but are not paying attention to the silent areas that are high in population. These areas are more dangerous and are likely to become future hotspots. Babu said. It is only a matter of time.

Take, for instance, Maharashtra. In April, the MoHFW identified 11 districts as hotspots in the state. As of 20 September, 27 municipal corporations under 20 districts fell under red zones categorised as hotspots, as per an analysis by the Medical Education and Drugs Department of the Maharashtra government.

Indias Central health ministry says that a hotspot is classified based on total active cases, doubling time of confirmed cases and testing and surveillance feedback.

We analysed data to identify which districts have a high spread of the disease in the population and are at danger of a surge in cases. We used the test positivity ratio (TPR), the proportion of positive samples in all tests done until that date, and the doubling time of COVID-19 cases in six weeks to 20 September to categorise districts as hotspots.

We used data from COVID-19 India, a crowdsourced database of COVID-19 data, and data from MoHFW. Data on doubling time are available for all districts while data on testing were available for 16 districts in Maharashtra, seven in Karnataka and for all 13 in Andhra Pradesh. Even these 36 districts have patchy testing data with data missing for one or several days. Further, we excluded districts with a gap of seven consecutive days or more.

Overall, India had an average TPR of 8.52 percent and a doubling time of 48 days as of September 22. An areas COVID-19 TPR should be below five percent in the last two weeks for it to be deemed to be controlling the virus, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

If a district consistently has a TPR greater than 5 percent or a TPR that is increasing, it is likely that the virus is spreading and the district is not testing enough people, said Gautam Menon, professor of physics and biology at Ashoka University in Haryana.

Because the district is not testing enough, COVID-19 cases are not identified and isolated in time, which will result in more cases in the future.

On 6 March, the WHO said that 80 percent of COVID-19 infections were either mild or asymptomatic, which might make these cases difficult to catch, unless there is extensive testing. Unlike the test positivity rate, doubling time does not have an official definition or a cut-off number.

A short doubling time means that cases are increasing exponentially and could burden the healthcare system. The districts most at risk are those that have a high or increasing TPR as well as a short doubling time.

Of the 36 districts analysed, none has a TPR below 5 percent and three districts have doubling times less than 20 days, our analysis shows. Many other factors help discern a hotspot but these two indicators are a good measure of a district's success in controlling the epidemic. A doubling time under 20 suggests that the district is vulnerable, said Menon.

Only four districts: Wardha (9.4 percent) in Maharashtra, Kodagu in Karnataka (6.3 percent), and Krishna (5.7 percent) and Srikakulam (9.3 percent) in Andhra Pradesh have a TPR under 10 percent, but the rate is rising in all of them.

Gondia (14 days), Yavatmal (15 days) and Wardha (16 days), all in Maharashtra, have a doubling time of less than 20 days. Of these, Gondia also has a high TPR of 17.5 percent. This is a worrying trend. Any district with a TPR close to 20 percent and a doubling time below 20 days needs immediate attention, said Menon.

Kodagu in Karnataka has a low TPR of 6.3 percent and a high doubling time of 41 days. Similarly, Krishna in Andhra Pradesh has a TPR of 5.7 percent and a doubling time of 36 days.

The third scenario we found was when a district with a long doubling time, such as Pune, Mumbai and Thane, also has a high TPR. One of the reasons for this could be that these districts are testing more, including those who might not have been tested under earlier guidelines, and are likely picking up more asymptomatic cases than before, said Menon.

This would, in the long term, reduce the stress on the healthcare system as even asymptomatic cases can be isolated and prevented from spreading the infection further, he explained. But he cautioned that testing in India is yet to reach the level where most cases can be found in time. If the TPR is consistently high, these districts too should be considered as hotspots, said Menon.

Maharashtra

All 19 districts in Maharashtra for which data are available are hotspots, based on TPR and doubling time.

Pune has the most active cases (74,768), higher than all confirmed cases in Portugal (68,577), as of 20 September. Its TPR has consistently been higher than 20 percent and has increased from 23 percent on August 10 to 25 percent on 20 September.

Mumbais doubling time has decreased from 83 days on August 10 to 64 days on 19 September, while its TPR has remained high at 18 percent. This is a worrying trend, Menon said.

The influx of COVID-19 patients to Mumbais hospitals from outside the city and state had strained the availability of hospital beds, Gautam Bhansali, general medicine and infectious diseases specialist at Bombay Hospital, and the chief coordinator between the citys civic body and its private hospitals, told IndiaSpend.

All of Maharashtras districts have a TPR above 10 percent, except Wardha (9.4 percent). Raigad has the highest (32.2 percent). The epidemic is spreading fast in Gondia, Yavatmal, Wardha and Nagpur, where the doubling time is low and the TPR high and increasing.

Karnataka

Although Bengaluru Urban is the second-worst affected district in the country, based on the number of active cases (41,754) on 20 September, the spread of the virus seems to be slowing in the city, its TPR declined from 18 percent on August 10 to 14 percent on 20 September while its doubling time rose from 27 days on 10 August to 38 days on September 19 (three-day average). The city remains a hotspot because the TPR is over 5 percent.

Six of the seven districts analysed in Karnataka have a TPR above 10 percent. Kodagu (6.3 percent) and Kalaburagi (11.7 percent) have the lowest TPR in the state, but the rate is increasing even as their doubling times have increased over six weeks to 19 September (three-day average).

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh is the only state to report more than 20,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in every district. East Godavari has the highest TPR which increased from 13 percent to 17 percent between 10 August and 20 September. Over the same period, its doubling time has increased from 18 days to 45 days on 19 August.

The district of Krishna has the least TPR (5.7 percent), rising from 4.3 percent on 10 August. Over the same period, its doubling time increased from 23 to 36 days.

While the doubling time of Kurnool has increased from 23 to 124 days between 12 August and 19 September, its TPR has remained constant between 10 to 12 percent. This shows that the district is managing to keep the epidemic under control, especially if the TPR drops in the coming month, said Menon.

How can districts prepare for a surge?

Containing spread is ambitious but it can be done if initial infections are detected and contact-tracing and quarantine are aggressive and efficient, John said.

Chains of asymptomatic transmission, which seems to be the major mode of spreading the infection, can mean that it can be a while before the disease surfaces, especially in the absence of widespread testing, explains Menon. This means that on the individual level, physical distancing has to continue and will likely be the new normal for a while to come, he added.

Communities with elderly populations must be protected by reverse quarantine at home, John said.

This means that those who are vulnerable to serious COVID-19 infections, such as the elderly and those with comorbidities, should stay at home as far as possible and reduce contact with the general population, such as the youth, who are more likely to contract the disease because they are a larger part of the workforce.

As many as 57 percent of 15,962 COVID-19 deaths by 2 July were of those with comorbidities, reported ThePrint based on an analysis by the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP).

Of those that died, 52 percent were above 60, the report said.

Each district should have a task force consisting of the district magistrate or collector, the chief medical officer and chief of police as well as representatives of businesses, institutions and non-governmental organisations, said John. The task force would plan for clinical management, screening and treatment of COVID-19 and share lessons from its COVID-19 response across the state, John said.

The state government and district task forces should be prepared to check for symptoms, such as fever, cough and declining oxygen saturation, of those in rural areas, as rural communities near semi-urban areas are vulnerable to COVID-19, said John.

Healthcare institutions in urban and semi-urban areas should be ready to take in any symptomatic persons from villages and small towns, he added.

Districts can also prevent a rise in cases by making testing more broadly and easily available, encouraging self-isolation wherever possible and ensuring that treatments for other chronic diseases and immunisation programmes are not neglected, said Menon.

Better medical infrastructure including additional oxygen beds in hospitals and a larger health workforce would help provide the care people need, said Babu of PHFI. Every district needs a workforce for identification of cases and immediate isolation. This is the only way we can prioritise saving lives.
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More than 1,500 people participated in a pro-Trump motorcade that drove through the city of Des Moines on Saturday.

About 500 vehicles started in the suburbs south of Des Moines before heading downtown and ending at the State Capitol.

Images of the event showed supporters of President Donald Trump waving American flags while others held Trump 2020 flags.

Some supporters carried signs that read 'Women for Trump' and 'Keep America Great'.

Organizers said the parade stretched for three miles, according to KCCI.

Supporter Gary Leffler told the network: 'This is the people rising up, getting together and saying, "Hey, we are no longer the silent majority. We are tired of the status quo and we are working hard to get President Trump re-elected".'

Trump will face Democratic nominee, Joe Biden, on Tuesday for the first presidential debate ahead of the November 3 election.

More than 1,500 people participated in a pro-Trump motorcade that drove through the city of Des Moines on Saturday

About 500 vehicles started in the suburbs south of downtown, Des Moines before heading downtown and ending at the State Capitol

A woman in a pro Donald J. Trump motorcade gives a thumbs up as the truck she's riding in crosses the Court Avenue Bridge on Saturday

Some supporters were seen riding on tractors during the motorcade on Saturday

A member of Women for Trump is seen holding a sign in support of Trump on Saturday

People supporting the reelection of Trump are seen in the parking lot in the Iowa State Capitol

Trump was seen playing golf Sunday, at the Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia

A woman is seen wearing an anti-Joe Biden t-shirt outside the Iowa State Capitol on Saturday

A person wearing a large President Donald Trump mask wave to people in a motorcade supporting the president's reelection

Gary Leffler, an organizer of the motorcade supporting Trump's reelection, high fives people in the motorcade as it passes the Iowa State Capitol

Leffler was also seen pointing and waving to people in the motorcade as it passes the Iowa State Capitol

A car festooned with pro-Trump flags in the motorcade supporting the reelection of Trump

People even brought their dogs out for the motorcade. This pooch was wearing red 'doggles' and a shirt during the event

People drive through Des Moines on their way to a motorcade supporting Trump's reelection

A man is seen holding a flag as he hangs out the window of a truck during the motorcade on Saturday

A Donald Trump Supporter is seen wearing a shirt that reads: 'Trump 45. It ain't a mistake snowflake'

A man is seen holding a banner outside of a truck as it passed the Iowa State Capitol on Saturday
Filmmaker Vishal Bharadwaj rubbished the claims of Hindi film industry being a toxic workplace, and said this is all a 'made-up phenomenon'

Bollywood director Vishal Bhardwaj has rubbished claims that the Indian film industry has a toxic working culture or an insider-outsider divide, saying some people having "vested interest" are trying to malign its image.

Bhardwaj says he believes that people in the industry are always there to support each other and for somebody like him, who doesn't belong to any film family, it has been a cherishable experience.

The death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput has triggered a lot of debates including one of "outsider vs insider", with many targeting the showbiz for ill-treatment of people who don't have any links within the industry. There is also talk about the alleged drug-nexus.

Rajput was found dead at his Bandra residence here on14 June.

During a virtual press conference of Screenwriters Association (SWA) Awards on Friday, Bhardwaj in response to a question posed by the Press Trust of India said, "I don't personally feel there is toxic work culture. I believe there is so much love in our work culture. The film unit becomes like a complete family. There is such a beautiful work culture (here)."

The Haider director said there are people who have "vested interest" and they are trying to project cinema as a "toxic" workplace.

"I believe all this is rubbish about toxic working culture. Ours is a beautiful industry... jo barbad kiya jaa raha hai aajkal uske vested interest kis tarah ke hai sabko malum hai (Ours is a beautiful industry, which has been ruined due to vested interest and we all know about this).

"And we also know why it is happening. So please forgive us, leave us on our own. We are doing good," he added.

"It has nothing to do with insider or outsider. All this is banai hui bakwas (All this nonsense has been made up). We are like a family. I never felt like an outsider in the industry. Whatever little I have felt, that might happen in any other profession (as well).

"The emotional support that you get here, that you might not get in any other work culture. It is a beautiful industry, there is no toxic culture," he said.

The director, however, is optimistic about the industry regaining its glory as soon as the cinema halls open.

"This is one side bowling happening. We are yet to get to the ball because our theatres are closed. Those who are abusing are the ones who go and purchase tickets to watch films. Let our Friday come," he said.

Theatres across the country have been closed since March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Washington: US President Donald Trump has nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, capping a dramatic reshaping of the federal judiciary that will resonate for a generation and that he hopes will provide a needed boost to his reelection effort.

Republican senators are already lining up for a swift confirmation of Barrett ahead of the November 3 election as they aim to lock in conservative gains in the federal judiciary before a potential transition of power. Trump, meanwhile, is hoping the nomination will serve to galvanise his supporters as he looks to fend off Democrat Joe Biden.

President Donald Trump walks with Judge Amy Coney Barrett to a news conference to announce Barrett as his nominee to the Supreme Court. Credit:AP

Trump told reporters as he left the White House for a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday evening that its going to go fast and argued it would be difficult for Democrats to take issue with his pick as he praised her credentials.

He says, I think this will be done before the election, and said that would send a great signal to a lot of people.
Beirut, Sep 24 : The International Support Group for Lebanon has asked political leaders of the country to support the formation of a new government, while also calling for reforms.

In a joint statement after a ministerial meeting on Wednesday, the members of the group urged Lebanon's leaders to unite in support of the timely formation of a government able to meet the legitimate aspirations expressed by the people and committed to addressing the country's multiple and acute challenges, reports Xinhua news agency.

The International Support Group for Lebanon brings together the UK, China, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and the US, the UN, European Union and the Arab League.

They also urged the leaders to undertake critical reforms and welcomed the agreement reached earlier this month by all of Lebanon's political leaders on a comprehensive roadmap of reforms with an implementation timetable in line with their prior commitments.

They urged Lebanon to speedily implement measures to restore economic stability, improve the delivery of public services and the credibility of the financial sector, resume effective talks with the International Monetary Fund and prioritize key governance measures, and provide support for the most vulnerable communities in Lebanon.

The members also urged the caretaker government and political leaders to fight corruption, combat tax evasion to guarantee transparency and accountability.

They called on all actors to maintain the peaceful character of the protests, by avoiding violence and respecting the right to peaceful assembly and protest.

Wednesday's meeting was co-chaired by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 26)  Tropical Storm Ondoy, which spawned huge floods that killed over 400 people exactly 11 years ago Saturday, was a "game changer" as it drove the Philippines to strengthen disaster preparedness measures for effective response, an official said Saturday.

Nasubok nitong bagyo ang ating mga sistema kaya sinigurado natin na post-Ondoy, mayroon na tayong linkages and systems para masigurado iyong response activities, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council spokesperson Mark Timbal told CNN Philippines Newsroom Weekend.

[Translation: Ondoy challenged our systems that is why we made sure that post-Ondoy, we formed linkages and systems to ensure response activities.]

Ondoy pummelled through Metro Manila, Central Luzon and southern Luzon, killing at least 464 people, and hurting 529 others.

The floods caused by the storm also damaged around P11 billion worth of agriculture and infrastructure, including schools, day care centers and health facilities, according to government data.

Timbal noted that since Ondoys onslaught, flood control programs have been accelerated, and waterways clearing operations have been continuous to prevent clogging.

Kita niyo po, successful na ang easement ng Pasig River at saka ng Marikina River pati iyong ating mga esteros sa Kamaynilaan ay na-decongest na. Na-relocate natin ang informal settlers sa safer areas, Timbal said.

[Translation: As you can see, easements of both the Pasig River and Marikina River have been successful. Estuaries in Metro Manila have also been decongested. We have also relocated informal settlers into safer areas.]

He added they also continue to train and assist local governments on disaster response.
LOWER SWATARA TWP., Pa. President Donald Trump took a central Pennsylvania stage with a fresh, major achievement to tout: his hours-old pick of Amy Coney Barrett to fill the seat of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the U.S. Supreme Court. If shes confirmed, Republicans will realize their long-running goal of a conservative-dominated court. A large monitor above the audience read: FILL THAT SEAT!

Then, Trump pivoted to his primary theme for Saturday night, bashing Democratic opponent Joe Biden.

After referring to Barretts stellar academic record, Trump said, Thats a little better than Joe Biden, wouldnt you say? She should be running for president.

Thousands attended the outdoor rally at Harrisburg International Airport near Harrisburg. A drizzle began falling shortly before Trump began; he stood under it unsheltered in a blue suit. Even in the dreary weather, Trump still spoke for more than an hour.

The night was also plagued by poor volume, with Trumps words often faint. Neither problem dampened the enthusiasm, with the crowd frequently breaking into chants, shouting out their love for Trump and hurling insults at CNN reporters.

Trump focused on familiar themes, telling the crowd police departments would be crippled under Biden, people would lose Second Amendment rights to own guns, and that Biden will ban fracking.

He wants to eradicate all that youre doing, all that youre doing to bring money into your state. Its a disgrace, he said.

Biden has said he has no plans to ban fracking and doubts its even possible. Rather, he has cited goals of eliminating power plant emissions in 15-30 years, eliminating subsidies for gas and coal, and banning only new oil and gas permits, fracking included, on federal land.

RELATED: Here are Trumps, Bidens positions on fracking, police, other issues that could decide Pennsylvania

The majority of people who packed the hangar area at Trump's rally at HIA Saturday wore no face mask.

Trump accused Biden of changing his position on fracking after receiving the nomination. Thats what you call a really dumb, dishonest politician, Trump said.

While Biden has also pushed for universal background checks for firearms purchases and other measures to curb gun violence, he has said he has no plans to abolish the Second Amendment.

Hours before the rally, Biden issued a statement Saturday, saying Trumps refusal to take strong, swift action has worsened the COVID-19 pandemic that has claimed 203,000 American lives, including 8,000 in Pennsylvania.

Were it not for President Trumps failed leadership, thousands of Pennsylvania families would not have suffered such horrific loss and countless others would not be faced with economic hardship, including the nearly 20,000 people out of work in Dauphin County today, Biden said.

Trump on Saturday night said the fatality rate for COVID-19 has fallen significantly and promised a safe vaccine in record time.

Gov. Tom Wolf criticized Trump for holding the rally, saying, His decision to bring thousands of people together in a tight space in the midst of a global pandemic caused by an airborne virus is flat out wrong. No matter what party you support, all Americans should be very concerned that the president has put headlines and publicity above the health and safety of our families and communities.

On Saturday night, people spent hours packed tightly together, with many not wearing masks or with their mask hanging below their chin.

The event underscored the critical importance of Pennsylvania in the presidential election, as many analysts have said the winner here will win the White House. Trumps rally at HIA marked his second public event in Pennsylvania in less than a week. On Tuesday, Trump held an event at Pittsburgh International Airport that drew a large crowd. Trump has now been to Pennsylvania five times this month.

Biden has also made several Pennsylvania appearances in recent weeks. Showing hes paying attention to central Pennsylvania as well, Biden spent part of Labor Day in Harrisburg and Lancaster.

In 2016, Trump won Pennsylvania by just 44,292 votes  a difference of 0.7% out of about 6 million votes cast. The 2020 outcome could be similarly close, with political analyst G. Terry Madonna this week saying Pennsylvania is up for grabs.

The latest polls show a tightening race with Biden appearing slightly ahead. A Franklin & Marshall College poll this week showed Biden with a 6-point lead; a Great Lakes Poll found Biden leading by 2.7 percentage points. However, both polls were within the margin error.

At HIA on Saturday night, people began arriving in the morning and the crowd far outnumbered available seats three hours before Trump was scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. It was hard to find anyone who expects a close race.

I think its going to be landslide. Look at this place, said Bob Belinger, 62, of Reading. Asked what Trump has done to put himself in such a strong position, Belinger said, promises made, promises kept. He named building that wall as his favorite Trump achievement.

Heather Meyer of Lenhartsville in Berks County said, I dont believe the polls.

I just think he understands the people of this country, the 51-year-old said of Trump. Biden is out of touch.

Jamie Erb of York said Trump is one of the best presidents we ever had, maybe second only to Abraham Lincoln.

Erb, who has young children, said Trump has greatly improved education by opposing the common core educational standards.

She also named health care as one of Trumps top achievements, even with Erb and her children covered by Medicaid, which is a central part of Obamacare, and could disappear if Trump succeeds in overturning the Affordable Care Act.

However, Erb said a divorce created a complicated health insurance for herself and her children and she likes the available options, including Medicaid coverage for one of her children who had brain surgery.

Theres a lot out there that we didnt have before, said Erb, 45.

At one point on Saturday night, Trump invited Patrick Yoes, national president of the Fraternal Order of Police to the stage. Before the cheering crowd, Yoes told Trump the organization was endorsing the president.

We went from public servants to public villains overnight  you sir, have never turned your back on Americas law enforcement, Yoes said.

Trump, who spoke for about 70 minutes, said Biden and Democrats would bring about socialized medicine, and declare the death penalty unconstitutional for even the most depraved mass murderers. He predicted the worst Depression in history, worse than the 1930s, if Biden is elected.

He detailed alleged incidents of voter fraud. That included nine mail-in ballots from members of the military, with seven favoring Trump, found in the trash in Luzern County. Luzerne officials said it resulted from a mistake by an independent contractor who was immediately fired. They said it wasnt an attempt at fraud, and the fact it was caught and immediately brought to the attention of federal authorities shows the system is working.

FBI director Chris Wray told a U.S. Senate committee this week, We have not seen historically any kind of coordinated national voter fraud effort in a major election, whether its by mail or otherwise. Wray added that fraud has been found at the local level from time to time.

Trump urged the crowd at the rally to vote on Election Day, telling those in attendance to make sure their families, friends and co-workers cast their ballots as well.

The only way they can win Pennsylvania, frankly, is to cheat at the ballot box, Trump said Saturday night.

Trump also touted his measures to bolster Americas energy independence and his withdrawal from the Paris climate accord.

I was elected to fight for Pennsylvania, not for Paris," he said.

More from PennLive

Most at Trumps HIA rally are repeat customers. But for a president who needs to grow his base, there are a few first-timers.

Packed shoulder to shoulder, few people at Trumps HIA rally are wearing masks

Pa. officials react to President Trumps Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett
Thousands of registered voters across mid-Michigan are receiving their ballots for the November general election. Municipal clerks started mailing out absentee ballots Thursday, with this years Nov. 3 election  already one of high interest  the first major election since Michigan voters enshrined the right to vote absentee without a reason into the state constitution.

Requests for absentee ballots in Mt. Pleasant is a little under three times what they were in 2016, said Mary Ann Kornexl, the citys deputy clerk. Kornexl and Chris Saladine, the citys interim clerk, are handling the election for the city this year. Jeremy Howard, who was the citys long-time clerk, left for the job as Clare city manager last month.

In 2016, 1,314 people requested absentee ballots, she said. This year, that number is 3,353. Its not expected that all of those voters will push up turnout, its expected that many of them are voters who would ordinarily go to the polls in person.

Last week, the state Legislature passed legislation allowing municipalities with more than 25,000 people to do some of the absentee ballot processing the day before in-person voting on Nov. 2. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer hasnt signed the bill, but she is expected to sign it.

The law would allow clerks in those places to open ballots and verify them the day before in-person voting, but would prohibit clerks from actually tabulating the votes until Election Day.

Municipalities with more than 25,000  and Mt. Pleasant is one  have until 20 days before the election to decide if they want to do this. Kornexl said city officials are waiting to see how absentee voting goes before making any decision.

Mt. Pleasant is the only municipality in Isabella, Gratiot or Clare counties affected by the law.

Requests for absentee ballots are up everywhere, however.

In Union Township, 286 absentee ballots were requested in 2016. This year, Township Clerk Lisa Cody says theyve received 1,854 requests for absentee ballots and sent out 330.

Outside the Mt. Pleasant/Union Township population center, the other 15 townships have seen increases as follows:

Broomfield, 37 in 2016 to 375 this year, said Candy Recker, township clerk;

Chippewa, 2 in 2016 to 750 this year, said Fran Ash, township clerk;

Coe, 76 in 2016 to 545 this year, said Patti Sandel, township clerk;

Coldwater, 0 in 2016 to 107 this year, said Kim Flaugher, township clerk;

Deerfield, 106 in 2016 to 903 this year, according to state records;

Denver, 15 in 2016 to 145 this year, said Tammy Prout, township clerk;

Fremont, 30 in 2016 to 154 this year, according to state records;

Gilmore, 0 in 2016 to 206 this year, according to state records;

Isabella, 25 in 2016 to 154 this year, according to state records;

Lincoln, 12 in 2016 to 206 this year, according to state records;

Nottawa, 50 in 2016 to 420 this year, said John Schimmelmann, township clerk;

Rolland, 1 in 2016 to 58 this year, according to state records;

Sherman, 148 in 2016 to 742 this year, said Denise Livermore, township clerk;

Vernon, 29 in 2016 to 222 this year said Julie Cole, township clerk; and,

Wise, 1 in 2016 to 195 this year, said Doris Methner, township clerk.

In Gratiot Countys, based on state records, requests for absentee ballots have increased from 2016 as follows:

Alma, 52 in 2016, to 1,363 this year;

Arcada Township, 58 in 2016 to 340 this year;

Bethany Township, 25 in 2016 to 209 this year;

Elba Township, 0 in 2016 to 184 this year;

Emerson Township, 23 in 2016 to 12 this year;

Fulton Township, 62 in 2016 to 459 this year;

Hamilton Township, 6 in 2016 to 12 this year;

Ithaca, 111 in 2016 to 522 this year;

Lafayette Township, 0 in 2016 to 69 this year;

Newark Township, 9 in 2016 to 73 this year;

New Haven Township, 1 in 2016 to 13 this year;

North Shade Township, 0 in 2016 to 85 this year;

North Star Township, 37 in 2016 to 131 this year;

Pine River Township, 29 in 2016 to 482 this year;

St. Louis, 38 in 2016 to 506 this year;

Seville Township, 0 in 2016 to 410 this year;

Sumner Township, 49 in 2016 to 67 this year;

Washington Township, 7 in 2016 to 124 this year; and,

Wheeler Township, 20 in 2016 to 304 this year.

Finally, in Clare County, based on state records, requests for absentee ballots have increased from 2016 as follows:

Arthur Township, 10 in 2016, to 84 this year;

Clare city, 122 in 2016 to 584 this year;

Franklin Township, 0 in 2016 to 47 this year;

Freeman Township, 135 in 2016 to 344 this year;

Frost Township, 3 in 2016 to 197 this year;

Garfield Township, 134 in 2016 to 370 this year;

Grant Township, 6 in 2016 to 591 this year;

Greenwood Township, 61 in 2016 to 38 this year;

Hamilton Township, 61 in 2016 to 346 this year;

Harrison, 0 in 2016 to 379 this year;

Hatton Township, 24 in 2016 to 173 this year;

Hayes Township, 148 in 2016 to 845 this year;

Lincoln Township, 131 in 2016 to 514 this year;

Redding Township, 22 in 2016 to 9 this year;

Sheridan Township, 11 in 2016 to 138 this year;

Summerfield Township, 0 in 2016 to 95 this year;

Surrey Township, 285 in 2016 to 807 this year; and,

Winterfield Township, 0 in 2016 to 87 this year.

READ MORE:
New York: US President Donald Trump paid no federal income taxes in 10 of the past 15 years, according to a blockbuster report in The New York Times that provides the most detailed view yet into his tax history.

Trump, who is the only president in modern times not to make his tax returns public, paid $US750 ($1000) in federal taxes the year he was elected, 2016. He paid the same amount again in his first year in office, the Times reported.

President Donald Trump gestures at a news conference at the White House, on Sunday. Credit:AP

American workers with incomes of between $US20,000 and $US50,000 ($28,000 and $70,000) pay an average of $US1871 in federal income taxes annually  twice that paid by Trump in 2016 and 2017, the Times said.

Trump was able to minimise his tax bill by reporting heavy losses across his business empire. The Times reported Trump claimed $US47.4 million in losses in 2018, despite claiming income of at least $US434.9 million in a financial disclosure that year.
Hundreds of people gathered in Portland, Oregon, for dueling rallies, one held by far-right group Proud Boys and the other counter demonstration by leftwing groups. There were few arrests and citations, although police said they were searching for a suspect believed to have assaulted a person live-streaming the events.

CBS Portland affiliate KOIN reported there were about 200 people, many wearing militarized body armor, at the Proud Boys rally, along with a heavy police presence. There was a much larger crowd of counter-protesters at another park.

"I think where the line has to be drawn and there should be zero tolerance is when people commit acts of violence on other people because of their political views," Enrique Tarrio, the chairman of the Proud Boys, told KOIN. He traveled from Miami to Oregon for this because he feels "like Portland is the epicenter for all the issues we're having across the country."

Carol Leek of Oregon Women for Trump told the crowd they had to fight against "Black supremacy," KOIN reported. "This is a war folks, and we have got to fight back," she said.

A right-wing demonstrator, right, gestures toward a counter protester as members of the Proud Boys and other right-wing demonstrators rally on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, in Portland, Ore.About 200 people gathered in Portland, for a right-wing rally, dozens of them wearing militarized body armor. It was far fewer than the thousands expected to appear. / Credit: John Locher / AP

The event began around noon and dispersed by 3 p.m. Oregon Governor Kate Brown had declared a state of emergency ahead of Saturday's event. The Proud Boys are a designated hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

"As we head into the weekend, we are aware that white supremacist groups from out of town, including the Proud Boys, are planning a rally on Saturday in Portland," Brown said in a statement Friday. "Significant crowds of people are expected to join  some people will be armed, with others ready to harass or intimidate Oregonians. Many are from out of state. These types of demonstrations in the past have often ended in fistfights, and sometimes escalated to bloodshed."

Counter-protesters, meanwhile, told KOIN they wanted to stand against white supremacy and fascism and to show Portland is a peaceful city.

Story continues

"I mean, I'm non-violent. I don't want to fight anybody," Gerry Foote said. "I thought maybe some people like me should come out and just say what I need to say."

In a statement late Saturday afternoon, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler thanked the police and law enforcement partners for making sure "the demonstrations have remained largely peaceful throughout the day. It's testimony to the collaborative planning and preparation Portland Police did with our local, state and federal partners.  As the evening unfolds, I urge people to remain peaceful. We will do everything possible to hold those who break the law accountable. Violence is not welcome in Portland."

The confluence of ideologies is nothing new for Portland, which has been host to continuous protests against police violence and systemic racism since the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police in May. Nevertheless, Governor Brown said the state is deploying a special law enforcement plan to handle this weekend's expected tensions.

"The Proud Boys and Patriot Prayer groups have come to Portland time and again, from out of town, looking for a fight, and the results are always tragic," Brown said. "Let me be perfectly clear: We will not tolerate any kind of violence this weekend."

The governor's plan allows Oregon State Police and the sheriff in charge of public safety in Portland to use tear gas if lives are at risk, and allows dozens more officers to be deployed in their effort to keep the groups apart and avoid bloodshed, KOIN reports. Brown said her intention is to "keep the peace and protect free speech."

"In America, we have the right to peacefully assemble, and everyone in Oregon has a right to express themselves freely  even those who the vast majority of Oregonians would deeply disagree with," she said. "However, the First Amendment does not give anyone license to hurt or kill someone because of opposing political views."

"When free expression is fueled by hate, and coupled with an intention to incite violence, then I need to do everything I can as Governor to ensure the public safety of Oregonians."

The governor added, "we will not tolerate that violence and tragedy this weekend. Violence is never the answer. Violence never brings anyone over to your side. Instead, violence only deepens divisions."

Portland has seen protests against police violence for months, marking 100 consecutive nights of protests in early September. The situation there has drawn attention from Mr. Trump, who sent federal agents to the city over the summer.

City officials said the nightly demonstrations were dwindling when the Department of Homeland Security decided on July 4 to increase its presence around Portland's federal courthouse after a small group of people shattered a glass door at the federal building.

The law enforcement escalation  at one point ballooning to include at least 114 federal officers  was followed by an increase in arrests and violence in the city. Dozens more protesters, journalists and federal agents were injured.

Portland never requested federal help. Mayor Ted Wheeler wrote in an open letter to President Trump on August 28 that the city condemns any looting, arson and vandalism, but said sending in federal officers "made the situation far worse."

"We don't need your politics of division and demagoguery," Wheeler wrote to the president. "Portlanders are onto you... we know you've reached the conclusion that images of violence or vandalism are your only ticket to reelection."

Caroline Linton contributed to this report.

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Akshay Kumar, who is currently in Scotland with his family, has shared an adorable picture with his eight-year-old daughter Nitara on the occasion of Daughters Day. He can be seen holding her and a dog shes playing with her in the cute picture.

You are my definition of perfect! And I love you so much more than just to the moon and back #HappyDaughtersDay my baby girl, he wrote for the child.

Akshay had recently shared a heartfelt note on Nitaras 8th birthday on Friday along with an adorable picture from their playtime together. He wrote, As much as everyone would like to see the back of 2020, I wish this moment, this year, this chance to spend so much time with my kids would last forever, these opportunities are my Silver Lining to 2020. Happy 8th Birthday to my Princess, my Happiness, my Reason to still be a Big Kid. I love my baby girl more than I knew was possible.

The Mission Mangal actor is currently shooting for Bell Bottom in Scotland. He has also been accompanied by his wife Twinkle Khanna and kids Aarav and Nitara.

Akshay recently broke his cardinal rule of working only eight hours a week and recommended the team Bell Bottom to pull off a double shift. Currently being shot in the beautiful highlands of Scotland, it happens to be the first Bollywood film post the pandemic to fly a massive large cast and crew in a chartered plane to Scotland.

Also read: Daughters Day 2020: Neha Dhupia calls daughter Mehr a chatter box, Angad Bedi shares video from their playtime

Aware of the precious time lost to the initial 14 days of quarantine after landing in Scotland, Akshay realised the financial hit the producers would have to take, given the huge size of the unit. Akshay surprised everyone by recommending a double shift -- two simultaneous units shooting to ensure that the shoot goes on the fast track and save the producers their money.

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In May, Corey Clarks gym, Bodystrong Fitness became the mecca of workout facilities in Massachusetts. While hundreds of fitness centers remained closed due to Massachusetts COVID-19 guidelines, Clark ignored Gov. Charlie Bakers order and reopened his gym in Chatham.

Visitors from as far west as Fall River and as north as Boston would trek to Cape Cod to purchase day passes.

As one of the only open gyms in the state, Bodystrong Fitness would see about 250 visitors per day. The business also received fines of about $1,000 on the local and state levels. When the state moved into Phase 3 in early July, allowing for gyms to reopen, the number of visitors regressed to the mean of about 150 per day.

Still, Clark estimates between 20,000 and 30,000 visitors - many of them repeat customers - have signed in at the gym in the five months since reopening. Not a single client has tested positive for COVID-19.

Weve had zero people get sick, Clark said. So what were doing has obviously worked.

Bodystrong Fitness in Chatham reopened amid coronavirus pandemic.

Whats been a struggle is financial sustainability. Even with two extra months over other gyms, Clark finds himself in the same position as facilities across the country. Membership is down. People are still hesitant to return to indoor facilities and owners have had to pivot into new ways to attract members.

It is a completely different world than its ever been, Director of Sales for Worcester Fitness Andy Sharry said. This does not look anything like the world pre-COVID. Basically, weve become an appointment-based gym.

Get a virtual tour of Worcester Fitness and see what protocols gyms in Massachusetts must follow in order to reopen. Posted by MassLive Worcester on Thursday, July 9, 2020

Worcester Fitness has 1,200 members. About 50 members canceled membership but the fitness center allowed clients to freeze their accounts for three months. Their memberships will continue in October.

Conca Sport and Fitness in West Springfield normally operates with about 160 members. It will enter October with about 115.

Its not the end of the world, owner of Conca Sport and Fitness Stephen Conca said. I dont want to say we were thriving [pre-pandemic], but we were doing OK. Business was profitable and we were paying our people. Now were kind of in survival mode. Were hanging on.

The methods of survival take different forms depending on the gym.

Clark has transitioned to providing at-home personal training. An idea that began with a handful of house-calls transformed into Clark outfitted a custom-built trailer that allows him to bring gym equipment to clients' homes.

I was reluctant to do it in the past but then I was busy where I had back-to-back appointments all day, Clark said. If you go to someones house you have to charge them basically double and I really dont like doing that. But people were like, well pay you double to come to the house.

Person-to-person training has also drawn the most consistent interest at Worcester Fitness. Sharry said the first members to return in July were looking to rekindle the relationships they had with personal trainers or massage therapists.

The high-interest classes extended to youth swimming classes, which experienced an uptick in attendance during the pandemic. Sharry believes the popularity is because so many families installed pools over the summer.

The people who come in and ride the bike, lift weights, theyve taken a little bit more hand-holding and caressing to make sure that they are comfortable here, Sharry said. Those people who have a really tight relationship with a massage therapist or swim instructor or personal training, Boom. July 6, they were banging down the door.

Worcester Fitness located on Grove Street in Worcester reopened for the first time in 110 days on Monday.

At Conca Sport and Fitness, West Springfield allowed the facility to use the parking lot of vacant schools during the warm weather to conduct workout classes.

As temperatures chill, Conca expects to reinvest in its digital classes. Members will gain access to a private Facebook group where members can access training videos.

Conca also introduced Zoom workouts, which provide virtual workout classes, but with a social atmosphere too.

Everybody would see each other. It was great to see each other, Conca said. That was part of the community involvement. Facebook Live is great, but you cant interact with anybody. So Zoom was good because were in our own virtual gym together.

Inside the Zoom workouts, sweat dripped, calories burned and jokes flew across virtual walls. The competitive banter that existed inside Conca Sport and Fitness came alive again.

Initially, the workouts were held to help allow members to continue their physical training, but the emotional lift from the class became apparent.

If youre doing a virtual workout by yourself, youre thinking what the hell else can I be doing? Conca said. If youre working out with a bunch of other people on Zoom, it holds you accountable. They know youre supposed to be there at 6 in the morning. If you dont show up, youre going to get a text.

Members of Conca Sport and Fitness in West Springfield work out amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Its a rapport that can be lacking in gyms amid the coronavirus pandemic due to Massachusetts guidelines and social distancing.

Theres no mingling. Theres no time [for water cooler talk], Sharry said. Its in, get your work done and go. Thats why we think of it as almost appointment-based fitness now.

The stringent guidelines by the state and enforcement by the gyms are what attract most members to return each gym said.

Each gym has seen membership slowly rise as the state becomes more entrenched in Phase 3 of Massachusetts' reopening plan.

Each gym that MassLive spoke to said new members flocked to their facility after feeling uncomfortable at another.

Were doing everything that were told to do and then five other things, Sharry said. Weve done that all along and thats why people are coming back here and thats why people are joining.

Worcester Fitness located on Grove Street in Worcester reopened for the first time in 110 days on Monday.

September normally represents an increase in membership at gyms as the summer winds down, children return to school and schedules become more structured.

Soon after September, December and January also usually coincide with a boom in membership.

Worcester Fitness, which opened in Worcester more than four decades ago, is disregarding all previous norms during an unprecedented time.

Thats the strange thing about this. All these cyclical gym norms that weve known forever, Sharry said. Im not sure if COVID is going to change that completely. I dont know. I want to say yes, that when it gets dark and cold, people will come in here, but Im not sure. Thats one of the scary unknowns of this.

The uncertainty is expected to linger well into 2021. Earlier this month, the director of the CDC said a widespread vaccine isnt likely until mid or late 2021.

For Clark, that means hell continue providing home visits. Worcester Fitness will double down on personal training and Conca Sport and Fitness may utilize school parking lots again.

To remain open amid a pandemic, they have no other choice.

I think we can survive, Conca said. I think we have some good things in place and I think people are realizing now, this is the way its going to be. What are your alternatives?

MassForward is MassLive's series examining the journey of Massachusetts' small businesses through and beyond the coronavirus pandemic.

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In a narrow aisle of the Megacenter in Willowbrook, Hillary Marek throws up the sliding door to a storage unit. The sheer volume of objects in the 5-by-10-foot space is overwhelming. Cardboard boxes, storage containers, bags, books, shelves, frames, artwork, a mannequin.

Everything is layered in a seemingly precarious and messy way, yet somehow it all fits. Marek jokes her years of playing Tetris paid off. This is one of three storage units.

The bursting-at-the-seams space holds Mareks life  past and present. Toward the back, she keeps items related to her second-hand luxury store, Hillarys of Houston. She moved it online-only during the pandemic, and business has slowed significantly. Pre-coronavirus, Marek scoured estate sales for bargains and bought inventory from stores purging designer clothing from two or three seasons ago. The aim was to make luxury more accessible to people, for that job interview or special event.

Everything gets a second life. Theres nothing in our store that wasnt rescued, says Marek. Theres nothing in my life pretty much that wasnt rescued.

Marek has since repurposed her work-filled days into helping people. She does this in gestures big and small  delivering flowers to nurses and fast-food workers; handing out water, masks and hand sanitizer to those who need it; and giving food to the local homeless community every night.

Marek is bubbly and gregarious, yet shies away from the spotlight. But when her 10-year-old son, Ryan Jr., participated in a class activity in which he pretended to be a newspaper delivery boy, he was inspired to send the Houston Chronicle a 1,500-word email about his mother.

My mom is the most giving person in the world, Ryan wrote. She has a store on Poshmark and she doesnt make much money from it because shes always giving away the things she should be selling to people who she thinks need it more.

Ryan says Marek is known as the flower girl of north Houston. She asks florists and stores if she can buy flowers theyre about to throw out for a discount or for free. She and Ryan distribute bouquets to underappreciated workers in emergency rooms, and  during the pandemic  fast-food workers.

A lot of the people were so happy that they cried, Ryan wrote of a recent fast-food flower drop. Like this one girl, her name is Heather, and she works at Whataburger and she was so choked up.

He goes on: His mom donated hundreds of masks and gloves to senior homes and childrens outreach programs. She also made dozens of kids masks when they were scarce at the beginning of the pandemic. (Ryans feedback: Ill be honest with you, they werent that cute because my mom doesnt have a sewing machine, and I dont think she ever sewed anything before this.) She sewed 20 heart-shaped pillows for coronavirus patients to hold when they cough, to make it less painful.

Whats needed is that human connection, Marek explains. By giving someone a glass of water, by giving them flowers, it gives you permission to be vulnerable for a minute.

At the Megacenter, Marek mentions the pillows and says she plans to give some to a burn unit in Galveston. Her storage lockers are overflowing with many yet-to-be-completed benevolent projects. She pulls out a white metal case she intends to turn into a Little Free Library. She gripes about a huge plastic bag full of ties. Her neighbors often give her donations, sometimes in the form of clothing for homeless people. Nobody on the streets needs ties! she exclaims. But shell turn it into something, to be determined.

For todays project, she gathers candy she bought on discount and containers full of chicken collected from a friend at Boston Market, and sets off for a homeless camp nearby.

She parks in front of a small forested block just off Tomball Parkway, where a sprawling settlement stretches deep into the woods. A massive blue tarp covers the main area, which is blanketed with a collection of items so vast and varied it looks like a tornado hit a neighborhood garage sale.

Jacob! Jacob, Marek yells out as she walks farther inside. No ones home. During the daytime, she says, many homeless people are out in the community. She typically comes here at night to give them food.

Marek doesnt just feed her homeless neighbors. She also helps them establish camps by donating helpful items; she recently gave a gazebo and an inflatable pool to one woman, who later disappeared. This is hard for Marek. She befriends people, then one day, theyre gone, and she doesnt know where they went or if theyre safe. She spends days cleaning and preparing camps for the next person.

Marek swings by her apartment to pick up a cooler, ice and Ryan, who is wrapping up Zoom classes. A Gifted and Talented student at the School of Science and Technology, Ryan has a face that projects both boyishness and precocious wisdom. Together, they head to Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve to hand out ice waters to passersby. Its a triple-digit-degree day, and sweaty parkgoers gratefully accept bottles.

The water giveaway is a simple gesture, but its important to Marek. Years ago, her friends father, a construction worker, died of dehydration after a long, hot day working on a roof.

At Kickerillo, Marek and Ryan feed the turtles, who often end up at the end of fishermens hooks; she hopes giving them food will make them not hungry enough to take the bait. As they sprinkle popcorn across the lakes surface, dozens of turtles appear, bopping their heads out to grab the treats.

This is part of Marek and Ryans daily mindfulness check-ins. In the before times, they were held in a rush in the car on the way to school. Now, they come here, once in the morning, and then again in the evening for a wrap-up of the day.

Its not the usual what did you learn in school today discussion. Marek wants Ryan to share what he learned about life and about himself. And she wants him to examine whether he helped someone that day.

What didnt you like about today that you can change for tomorrow to be better, says Marek. What can you not change that you need to let go of?

emma.balter@chron.com

twitter.com/EmmaBalter
Jaswant Singh (Image: PIB)

Former Union Minister Jaswant Singh passed away on September 27 aged 82. A retired Indian Army officer and one of the founding members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Singh held key portfolios, including finance, defence and external affairs, in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.

In a political career spanning more than 30 years, Singh also found himself embroiled in controversies that saw him being expelled from the BJP twice, with the final beak coming in in 2014.

One of India's longest-serving parliamentarians, Singh was first elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1980 and he stayed in Parliament till 2014, either as a member of the Upper House or the Lok Sabha. Singh also served as the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission from 199899.

He was entrusted by Prime Minister Vajpayee to lead talks with US deputy secretary of state Strobe Talbott after America slapped sanctions on India following nuclear tests in 1998. The negotiations paved the way for US President Bill Clinton's India visit, regarded as a turning point in bilateral relations.

Read: Jaswant Singh passes away: Condolences pour in for the veteran leader

The next year, he came in for criticism over the handling of the Kandahar hijacking in 1999. As the foreign minister, Singh had escorted Masood Azhar, Omar Saeed Sheikh and Mushtak Ahmad Zargar to Kandahar in Afghanistan after the Vajpayee government released the three terrorists to save the lives of 176 passengers and 15 crew members onboard Indian Airlines flight IC814.

Despite being a founding member, Singh was expelled from the BJP twice.

On August 19, 2009, the BJP ousted Singh after he allegedly praised the founder of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah in his book JinnahIndia, Partition, Independence. Singh reportedly claimed that the centralised policies of Jawaharlal Nehru were responsible for Partition.

Singh, however, was back in the party-fold in June 2010 only to be expelled again in 2014.

Miffed with the BJP's decision to not field him in the 2014 Lok Sabha election, Singh decided to contest as an independent from his constituency of Barmer in Rajasthan.

After he refused to withdraw from the contest, Singh was expelled from the BJP on March 29, 2014 and he also lost the election to the party candidate Col Sonaram Choudhary.

On August 7, 2014, Singh suffered a serious head injury and had been in and out of hospital ever since. He died of a cardiac arrest at Delhis Army Research and Referral Hospital.

Singh is survived by son Manvendra Singh, a former Member of Parliament and an Indian National Congress (INC) leader. Manvendra left the BJP to join the Congress, citing the "ill-treatment" of his father by the party.

Remembering Singh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, Jaswant Singh ji served our nation diligently, first as a soldier and later during his long association with politics. During Atal jis government, he handled crucial portfolios and left a strong mark in the worlds of finance, defence and external affairs. Saddened by his demise."

Jaswant Singh ji will be remembered for his unique perspective on matters of politics and society. He also contributed to the strengthening of the BJP. I will always remember our interactions. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti, he added.
Judge Amy Coney Barrett speaks after being nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court by President Donald Trump in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, on Sept. 26, 2020. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

Senate Democrats Vow to Oppose Supreme Court Nominee Amy Coney Barrett

Senate Democrats quickly promised to oppose President Donald Trumps Supreme Court nominee shortly after she was announced, with some saying they wouldnt even meet with her.

Trump nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the vacant seat on Saturday.

Over a dozen Democrats in the Senate said they will vote against Barrett, increasing the likelihood that none cross the aisle for her confirmation.

I will not vote to confirm Judge Coney Barrett or any Supreme Court nominee before Election Day on November 3rd, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), the only Democrat to vote for Trumps last Supreme Court pick, said in a statement.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) was among those who promised not to meet with the nominee.

I will refuse to treat this process as legitimate & will not meet with Judge Amy Coney Barrett, he said in a statement on Twitter.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) speaks in Washington on July 21, 2020. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

I will not be meeting with her. I will take the opportunity to question her under oath, Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) added during an appearance on CNN.

Democrats are upset that theres little they can do to stall the nomination process and want Republicans in the Senate to hold off on voting for a nominee until after the presidential election, pointing to what happened in 2016.

When then-President Barack Obama, a Democrat, nominated Merrick Garland to a Supreme Court vacancy, the GOP-held Senate refused to consider Garland, saying it should be up to voters to decide who they wanted to nominate the next justice.

Voters chose Trump, who picked Neil Gorsuch.

Republicans note that the party-split that existed then doesnt now, with both the presidency and the Senate in their hands.

Precedent exists for election year Supreme Court nominations and several have gone through in the time that lefts before Nov. 3.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has committed to holding a vote on Trumps nominee, but its not clear yet if it will happen before or after the election.

Democrats alleged that if Barrett is confirmed, the chances of Roe v. Wade being overturned, and the Affordable Care Act being dismantled, would heighten.

Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) listens as Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee during the third day of his confirmation hearing to serve as Associate Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court at the Capitol in Washington on Sept. 6, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

We need to be clear-eyed about whats at stake. President Trump pledged that his nominee will strike down the Affordable Care Act, and just one week after the election, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case that seeks to do just that, Sen. Chris Coons (D-Conn.) said.

Americans need Supreme Court Justices who will protect the rights of all Americans, and deliver equal justice for all, added Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.). Judge Barretts record of opposing the Affordable Care Act and reproductive rights for women is why I oppose her nomination to the Supreme Court.

Others promoted the reported remarks Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg made on her deathbed. Ginsburg, who died at age 87 last week, allegedly said she preferred for the next president to nominate her replacement.

Im going to do all I can to fulfill Justice Ginsburgs last wish, and I call on people in Washington state and across the country: raise your voice against this nomination so powerfully that President Trump and his party will have no choice but to listen, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) added, Justice Ginsburgs dying wish was that she not be replaced until a new president is installed. Republicans are poised to not only ignore her wishes, but to replace her with someone who could tear down everything that she built. This reprehensible power grab is a cynical attack on the legitimacy of the Court.

Asked about the alleged dying wish this week, Trump said he wasnt sure it was legitimate, but even if it was, it wouldnt matter.

Well, I dont know that she said that or was that written out by Adam Schiff and Schumer and [Nancy] Pelosi, he said on Fox & Friends.

I would be more inclined to the second, OK? You know that came out of the wind, it sounds so beautiful. But that sounds like a Schumer deal or maybe a Pelosi or Shifty Schiff. So that came out of the wind, lets see. I mean maybe she did or maybe she didnt.

Look, the bottom line is we won the election, he added. We have an obligation to do whats right and act as quickly as possible.
Daniel Andrews had two messages: Melburnians could hope a measure of freedom is not far away; but those daring to break the rules in the meantime will face the wrath of the state.

His approach could be distilled to a smallish carrot and a big stick: the 9pm-to-5am curfew was over, but if you dared to take liberties by holding a house party or a gathering in a car park, youd be hit with a $5000 fine.

Daniel Andrews gives yet another daily briefing on Sunday. Credit:Getty Images

Still outstanding is the question of how big a stick will be applied to Andrews and his government for the circumstances that caused the latest crippling lockdown of Melbournes economy and society.

In the wake of a nightmare few days, during which the Premier gave frustratingly vague evidence to the quarantine inquiry that ended the political career of his health minister, Jenny Mikakos, Andrews might have been tempted to leaven his burnt image by announcing substantial easing of the restrictions he has imposed on Melburnians.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, are set to meet on Tuesday for their first debate, a highly anticipated event in a highly unusual election year.

The campaign has been divisive on a historic scale. Trump was impeached for trying to pressure Ukraine to investigate Biden and his son and has repeatedly tried to cast doubt on Bidens mental acuity, going so far as to say the former vice-president doesnt know hes alive. For his part, Biden has said of Trump, If we were in high school, Id take him behind the gym and beat the hell out of him.

Against that backdrop, the two are set to face off for the first time as presidential nominees in Cleveland in a debate moderated by Chris Wallace of Fox News Channel.

Here are some of the most memorable moments in presidential debate history:

THE FIRST TELEVISED DEBATE

The 1960 presidential election offered the countrys first televised debate. Its remembered less for what was said than for what viewers saw.

Democrat John F. Kennedy, the handsome young Massachusetts senator, looked tan and relaxed. Republican Richard Nixon, who had been sick and in the hospital, looked hollow-eyed and had a five oclock shadow. Kennedy paired his tan with a blue suit, offering a nice contrast on black and white TVs. Nixon was wearing a gray suit, which blended into the gray studio background.

Many considered the debate a turning point in Kennedys campaign.

NO SOVIET DOMINATION

Republican President Gerald Fords insistence that there is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe during a 1976 debate against Democrat Jimmy Carter was such a blunder that the questioner asked whether he really meant to say that.

Im sorry, could I just follow  did I understand you to say, sir, that the Russians are not using Eastern Europe as their own sphere of influence in occupying most of the countries there and making sure with their troops that its a Communist zone?

Ford said he did. Years later, Ford acknowledged, Theres no question I did not adequately explain what I was thinking.

TURNING AGE INTO A PLUS

Republican Ronald Reagan, then seeking to become the oldest president to win reelection, used humour to address questions about his advanced age at a 1984 debate against Democrat Walter Mondale.

When a questioner asked Reagan if he had any doubts whether he had the strength for the job at his age, the then-73-year-old was quick to respond: Not at all. I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponents youth and inexperience.

Even Mondale, 56, had to laugh at that.

THE KIDS ARE OFF-LIMITS

Democrat John Kerrys response to a question about homosexuality during a 2004 presidential debate against Republican incumbent George W. Bush caused a fight between him and Vice-President Dick Cheney. I think if you were to talk to Dick Cheneys daughter, who is a lesbian, she would tell you that shes being who she was. Shes being who she was born as, Kerry said. The Cheneys blasted Kerry for bringing up their daughter, and the vice-president described himself as an angry father.

BINDERS FULL OF WOMEN

During a 2012 presidential debate between Republican Mitt Romney and Democratic incumbent Barack Obama, Romney was asked about pay equity in the workplace for women. He talked about how he had pulled together a list of candidates for administration positions when he was Massachusetts governor.

I went to a number of womens groups and said, Can you help us find folks? And they brought us whole binders full of women, Romney said.

The comment drew ridicule almost immediately and was held up as an example of Romneys dissonance on womens issues.

SURPRISE PRE-DEBATE NEWS CONFERENCE

The second 2016 presidential debate was two days after the release of the 2005 Access Hollywood tape of Trump boasting about grabbing women by the genitals, and Trump was determined to change the narrative.

He called a surprise news conference hours ahead of the debate against Democrat Hillary Clinton, and reporters walked in to find Trump sitting at a table alongside three women who had accused Clintons husband, former President Bill Clinton, of unwanted sexual advances decades earlier. The women detailed their allegations against the former president as Trump watched, his hands folded in front of him.

The women later joined him at the debate as his invited guests.

THE 2016 LOWLIGHT REEL

The 2016 debates were filled with moments that in any other election year would be the most notable. In the first debate, Trump questioned U.S. intelligence findings that Russia had hacked the Democratic National Committee: It could also be somebody sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pounds, OK?

In the second debate, Trump loomed behind Clinton as she spoke, seeming to follow her around the stage. Clinton didnt react in the moment but later wrote in her memoir, What Happened, that she wishes she had said, Back up, you creep, get away from me.

Trump referred to Clinton as the devil and said his administration would appoint a special prosecutor to investigate her use of a private computer server as secretary of state. Its just awfully good that someone with the temperament of Donald Trump is not in charge of the law in our country, Clinton replied. Trump retorted: Because youd be in jail.

In the third debate, Trump waded into uncharted territory for Americas democracy by refusing to say if hed accept the results of the election if Clinton won. I will tell you at the time, he said. Ill keep you in suspense.

___

Follow Thomas on Twitter at https://twitter.com/thomashley
In Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Albuquerque MMA welterweight Diego Sanchez (30-13) lost by lopsided, unanimous decision to Australias Jake Matthews (17-4) Saturday on UFC 253. All three scorecards read 30-26.

Matthews won the first two rounds decisively. In the first minute of the third, he dropped Sanchez with a right hand and gave the Albuquerquean a bloody beating on the ground for more than four minutes.

Sanchez came close to securing an arm bar at one point, but the opportunity, and the fight, slipped away.
Here is an outrage that should anger not only every member of the American Legion but every veteran and American in the United States. After a peaceful demonstration was held for Black Lives Matter, on May 30, rioters attacked the police station in La Mesa, Calif., then ended up on the grounds of American Legion Post 282.

There, they proceeded to paint graffiti all over the exterior walls, destroyed all they could and broke most of the windows. Then they continued to the Vietnam War Memorial. There they lowered the American flag and the POW-MIA flag, set them on fire and cheered as the burning flags were again raised. What is going on when the revered memorials to our war dead are desecrated and no one is held responsible?

We legionnaires are outraged at this shameful deed. The problem is that these despicable acts will continue until something is done to stop this anti-American movement. And to all you Defund the Police activists, I hope it is our dedicated law enforcement officers that do the job.
Prime Minister Ludovic Orban said that if the National Liberal Party (PNL) hadn't entered the partnership with the Save Romania Union (USR) - the Liberty, Unity and Solidarity Party (PLUS) Alliance, it would have been much more difficult to remove the Social Democratic Party (PSD) "octopus."

At the same time, he gave assurances that the Government would support the projects of the Bucharest administration, such as the green ring road of the Capital or the rehabilitation of the heritage buildings.
Even in 2020, filling a Supreme Court vacancy is not a constitutional crisis. Our nations founding document directly addresses our present situation in spite of our divisive political climate.

The controversy in filling an election-year vacancy stems directly from Senate Republicans refusing to so much as hold a hearing for Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland in 2016. In blocking Garland, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell took a risk that didnt seem likely to pay off. Most polls suggested Hillary Clinton would win the election, and a Republican Senate majority was far from certain.

If blocking Garland backfired with voters, an even more progressive jurist would have replaced Justice Antonin Scalia.

President Donald Trump won the election. Republicans held the Senate.

After the confirmation of Justice Neil Gorsuch, voters had another opportunity to respond in the 2018 midterm elections. They added to the Senates Republican majority.

As a result, Republicans are in the drivers seat to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Republicans shouldnt gloat. Two elections swinging slightly the other away would have led to a radically different Supreme Court.

Presidential candidate Joe Biden recently noted, The voters should pick a president, and that president should select a successor to Justice Ginsburg.

Hes correct. Voters did pick a president. He should select a successor to Ginsburg. It just isnt Biden. Trump was elected to a four-year term. It isnt over, and theres a Supreme Court vacancy to fill.

Elections are Americas check on political power. Among other issues, voters hold the president and senators accountable for how and whom they put on the Supreme Court.

Thats why Republicans Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska may not support Trumps nominee this close to an election. Collins, for example, is in a tough election fight, so shes paying close attention to the preferences of Maines electorate. If Alabamas Sen. Richard Shelby or Tennessee Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn declined to consider this election-year nomination, voters would try to toss them out of office before their terms were up.

Electoral accountability works just fine. Both Democrats and Republicans are doing precisely what most of their constituents want them to do.

But what about precedent?

Did Republicans say in 2016 that the Senate shouldnt consider a nominee in an election year when it came to filling the Scalia vacancy? Yes. Did Democrats argue the exact opposite position? Yes. Are both sides reversing course now? Absolutely.

If you want to throw hypocritical senators out of office, be my guest. Just make sure youre not simply interested in tossing the hypocrites you disagree with. That would make you a ... well, you get the idea.

No matter how much spin pundits put on it, political doublespeak doesnt prevent the Senate from holding an election-year confirmation vote any more than it demands it.

For the better part of the last decade, Democrats and Republicans have been ignoring Senate precedent whenever its politically expedient. If voters punish Republicans at the polls in November, its not going to be because Republicans ignored a rule that Democrats actively opposed.

Republicans shouldnt expect Democrats to sit quietly during the process. Going into the 2016 election, Republicans faced a probability that the Supreme Court would be shaped by progressives for a generation. The opposite occurred. Its hard to blame Democrats for being angry or depressed.

As passionate as we are about our politics, were not in a constitutional crisis. In fact, the Constitution is quite clear about the roles of the president and Senate regarding federal judges. It explains how our elections work, and it even details a process for amendment if we decide the Constitution doesnt meet our modern needs.

President Barack Obamas famous quote from 2008 sums up the present moment perfectly: Elections have consequences.

Smith is CEO of the Triptych Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Triptych Foundation engages media, business, and public policy to lay the foundation for a better cultural trajectory. He was recently executive director of the Republican Policy Committee in the United States House of Representatives. You can reach him at cameron@smithstrategies.org.
Notice of third quarter 2020 results and conference call

Luxembourg, September 25, 2020  Millicom will announce its third quarter results on October 30, 2020 at approximately 11:00 (Stockholm) / 10:00 (London) / 06:00 (Miami) via a press release.

The company will host a conference call for the global financial community on October 30, 2020 at 13:00 (Stockholm) / 12:00 (London) / 08:00 (Miami).

The conference call will be webcast at millicom.com

Dial-in information:

Please dial in 5-10 minutes before the scheduled start time to register your attendance. Dial-in numbers for the call are as follows:

Sweden: +46 (0) 8566-19361 Luxembourg: +352-2786-6996

UK: +44 (0) 2031-070289 US: +1-914-987-7208

The access code is: 4064116

Replay information:

A replay of the call will be available for 7 days from October 30, 2020 at:

US: +1-404-537-3406

The replay passcode is: 4064116

For further information, please contact

Press:

Vivian Kobeh, Corporate Communications Director

+1-786-628-5300

press@millicom.com











Investors:

Michel Morin, VP Investor Relations

+1-786-628-5270



investors@millicom.com







Sarah Inmon, Investor Relations Senior Manager

+1-786-628-5303



investors@millicom.com

About Millicom

Millicom (NASDAQ U.S.: TIGO, Nasdaq Stockholm: TIGO_SDB) is a leading provider of cable and mobile services dedicated to emerging markets in Latin America and Africa. Millicom sets the pace when it comes to providing high-speed broadband and innovation around The Digital Lifestyle services through its principal brand, TIGO. As of December 31, 2019, Millicom operating subsidiaries and joint ventures employed more than 22,000 people and provided mobile services to approximately 52 million customers, with a cable footprint of more than 11 million homes passed. Founded in 1990, Millicom International Cellular S.A. is headquartered in Luxembourg.

Attachment
As President Donald Trump seeks his third appointment to the high court, justices are readying to tackle big legal issues

WASHINGTON (AP)  If Congress confirms President Donald Trumps nominee to succeed Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Supreme Court would become more conservative, and also perhaps more ready to tackle certain hot-button issues like abortion and guns. Chief Justice John Roberts would also likely become less able to steer the outcome in divisive cases.

Ginsburg, who died Sept. 18 at 87, was the leader of the liberal wing of the court, which had been split 5-4 between conservatives and liberals. Roberts had, on occasion, sided with the liberals. But if Trump fills Ginsburgs seat, there will be six conservative justices, three of them appointed by him.

Here are several big issues that are poised to come before the justices where a more solidly conservative majority could make a difference:

Pro-life activists stage a protest in front of the U.S. Supreme Court June 25, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael A. McCoy/Getty Images)

HEALTHCARE

A week after the presidential election, the court will hear arguments in bid by the Trump administration and Republican-led states to overturn the Obama-era health care law. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, coverage for more than 20 million people is at stake, along with the laws ban on insurance discrimination against Americans with pre-existing medical conditions.

A more conservative court might be seen as more sympathetic to striking down the Affordable Care Act, but the court might still choose not to. The justices have less drastic options. For example, the court could invalidate Obamacares now toothless requirement that most Americans carry health insurance, and leave in place core provisions such as subsidized health insurance, Medicaid expansion and protection for people with medical problems.

Now that former President Barack Obamas landmark law is more than 10 years old, its many provisions are fully baked into the health care system. Unwinding it would be a colossal undertaking, fraught with political risks.

Story continues

Trump promised, but never delivered, a replacement.

ELECTIONS

Trump has said he wants Ginsburgs replacement 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. The 2016 election was conducted with only eight justices on the bench, however, after Republicans refused to hold hearings on Obamas nominee to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia.

(Photo credit should read PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP via Getty Images)

Its possible that an election-deciding case lands in the justices laps, as one did in the 2000 election between Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore. And liberals worry that a court with three Trump appointees would favor him in a dispute with Joe Biden.

But even if an election-deciding question doesnt arrive at the justices doorstep, they have already weighed in on election changes states have made in response to the coronavirus pandemic. And more pre-election challenges are likely coming. So far this year the court has stopped other courts from altering election rules close to the election.

ABORTION

Abortion rights advocates would seem to face insurmountable odds winning at the Supreme Court without Ginsburg.

Earlier this year, a divided Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana law regulating abortion clinics, reasserting a commitment to abortion rights. It was the first big abortion case of Trumps presidency.

The 5-4 outcome turned on the vote of Roberts, who joined his four more liberal colleagues, including Ginsburg. The court addressed a law requiring doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. The justices ruled that the law violates the rights established by Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that established a nationwide right to abortion.

READ MORE: Ginsburgs death puts Roe v. Wade on the ballot in November

But Roberts vote had to do with following court precedent rather than support for abortion rights. If a Trump nominee replaces Ginsburg, Roberts vote on the issue would likely become less decisive. And the addition of another conservative vote would likely spur states to test the boundaries of regulation.

Already, cases are headed to the court that would provide an opportunity to overturn or weaken Roe. v Wade. Those cases involve sweeping bans on abortions after six weeks or eight weeks of pregnancy.

GUNS

The Supreme Court has for years been reluctant to take on new guns cases, but that could change under a more conservative court.

Last year, with two Trump justices aboard, the Supreme Court took on its first major gun rights case in nearly a decade. But the case ended with the justices sidestepping any major decision.

Fotolia

Gun rights advocates had hoped the court might use the case from New York City to expand on landmark decisions that established a right under the Second Amendment to keep a gun at home for self-defense. Instead, the justices ultimately threw out the case, citing changes in city restrictions and state law.

Three members of the court dissented, however, expressing concern that lower federal courts are not properly applying the courts two big gun rights decisions from 2008 and 2010. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was among the justices who agreed the case should be thrown out, shared that concern, saying the court should address the issue soon.

ENVIRONMENT

After the president started pulling America out of the Paris climate accord, more than a dozen mostly Democratic governors were among those taking up the fight against climate-changing fossil fuel emissions themselves

A more conservative Supreme Court could doom those ongoing efforts, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said this week. Newsom said hes deeply anxious about what a 6-3 ideological majority on the court may mean to this conversation.

READ MORE: Fox News host Tucker Carlson says only liberals believe climate change and systemic racism are real

But the outcome of the presidential election matters in this area too. A Biden administration could undo many of the dozens of Trump administration rollbacks weakening or eliminating many protections for the air and water and for people and wildlife.

Federal courts so far have rejected many of the rollbacks. Lawyers for environmental groups say if Trump were to win a second term and the makeup of the Supreme Court shifts significantly, they could be less likely to win if cases ultimately land there.

____

Associated Press writers Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, David Crary, Ellen Knickmeyer and Mark Sherman contributed to this report

Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now!

The post Supreme Court could become more conservative on guns, abortion and other key issues appeared first on TheGrio.
Netanyahu has also called for an end for public demonstrations against him, saying they are a public health risk. Thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets in recent months, calling on Netanyahu to resign while he is on trial for corruption charges and because of what they say is a failed response to the coronavirus crisis.
Photo: Pexels

The survey of the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on seniors will be ending soon.

The provincial seniors advocate is running the survey to learn more about how restrictions have affected seniors. In particular, the provincial office is looking at how visitation restrictions impacted residents of seniors homes.

"We want to know what type of activities you did during the visits and what the health and well being of residents was like. We want to know a little bit about your experience when the visit restrictions were mandated," states the Office of the Seniors Advocate British Columbia online. "How did you find out, what did you do during the first few months. We also want to know what your visits look like now."

Feedback will help guide policy in the future. Of particular importance is the lived experience of people who the restrictions impacted.

The survey ends Sept. 30 at 11:59 p.m.

For more information click here or call 1-877-952-3181.
New Delhi, Sep 27 : A soft-spoken man, former BJP leader Jaswant Singh was one of the founding members of the Bharatiya Janata Party and a leading light of the party when Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Lal Krishan Advani helmed it through the tumultuous period of Indian politics. And with his demise, another party stalwart of that era has passed into eternity.

Given that he had retired as a Major-rank officer from the Indian Army, it was no surprise that he was very punctual in his meetings with different people.

The veteran politician passed away at the age of 82 early Sunday morning at the Army Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi following a cardiac arrest.

Even though he was from an Army background, he not only handled the porfolios of defence, but also finance and external affairs in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee governments. He was one of the key Ministers who were in the forefront when Vajpayee's government was in power at the Centre at different points in time.

Jaswant Singh, who hailed from Rajasthan, first served as the Union Finance Minister in the shortlived Vajpayee government in 1996. He became the External Affairs Minister in the next Vajpayee-led government (1998-2002). Later, he was again given the charge of finance in 2002. The veteran leader was also Deputy Chairman of then Planning Commission at one point in time.

The BJP leader was made the Defence Minister following the resignation of George Fernandes after the latter's name cropped up in a defence scam.

An astute politician, Jaswant Singh hogged media limelight the world over when he was tasked to hold talks with the Taliban for the release of passengers of an Indian Airlines flight hijacked in December 1999. He even escorted three terrorists, accused of various crimes that included the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, to Afghanistan to swap in lieu of the safe release of 190 passengers.

After the 1998 nuclear tests by India, Jaswant Singh was deputed by then Prime Minister Vajpayee to engage the US in strategic talks.

After the BJP party lost power at the Centre in 2004 to the United Progressive Alliance, Jaswant Singh served as Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha from 2004 to 2009.

The veteran leader stirred a controversy after the BJP suffered its second successive defeat in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections by circulating a note to demand a thorough discussion on the poll debacle.

He again faced a backlash in 2009 from certain quarters after a book authored by him on Pakistan leader Muhammad Ali Jinnah, entitled 'Jinnah: India-Partition-Independence' was released. He had written sympathetically about the founder of Pakistan. Later, the BJP leader was marginalised within the party and subsequently expelled.

He was reinducted into the party later on, but parted ways in 2014. Jaswant Singh even contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections as an Independent from Barmer in Rajasthan after failing to get a BJP ticket but lost to the party nominee Colonel Sona Ram.

Soon after the general elections in 2014, Jaswant Singh slipped in the bathroom of his residence on August 7 that year, and suffered a serious head injury.

Condoling the death of the veteran leader, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he served the nation diligently -- first as a soldier and later during his long association with politics.

"During Atalji's government, he handled crucial portfolios and left a strong mark in the worlds of finance, defence, and external affairs. Saddened by his demise," the Prime Minister said in his message.

"True to his nature, Jaswantji fought his illness with immense courage for the last six years," Modi said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that Jaswant Singh would be remembered for his intellectual capabilities and stellar record in service to the nation. "He also played a key role in strengthening the BJP in Rajasthan. Condolences to his family and supporters in this sad hour. Om Shanti," the Minister said.
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Laredo City Council resolved to urge federal authorities, the president, Texas senators and Laredos representative on Monday to reopen more northbound lanes at Laredos international bridges so that people can cross more safely.

Off and on throughout the pandemic, Mayor Pete Saenz has spoken about the need to reopen the bridges to tourists from Mexico in order to support Laredos business community.

In March, the Department of Homeland Security closed ports of entry on the U.S.-Mexico border to all but essential travel. This meant that most of the Nuevo Laredoans who usually cross over to shop on a tourist visa could not travel to Laredo.

The Trump administration has extended these restrictions for every month since, most recently last week.

Saenz said that now finally feels like the right time to open the bridges to non-essential travel again. After experiencing weeks of extremely elevated hospitalization and positivity rates over the summer, Laredo is now on a downward trend.

Its now worth taking the risk of eliminating these travel restrictions, Saenz told council, so the local business community can begin to recover.

We can coexist. If we follow these preventative guidelines, it works. We can have health and we can have commerce as well. Its worth the attempt and its worth the risk, the mayor said.

READ MORE: Appeals court affirms conviction in murder of 16-year-old Laredo girl

Laredo Health Director Dr. Victor Trevino said if these restrictions are lifted, the bridges can be monitored and the city can conduct voluntary testing.

But people are already crossing the bridge, at times, thousands per day, Trevino said. The cross-border infections have always existed since the very beginning because Nuevo Laredo and Laredo are intertwined communities, with or without the pandemic.

However, council did not make a motion to petition the federal government to end the travel restrictions. Instead, Councilman Mercurio Martinez noted that when the government restricted the number of northbound lanes at the bridges, it clumped travelers  especially pedestrians  together. Most of these people are essential workers.

Councilman Alberto Torres noted that wait times in the pedestrian lane can be two hours long right now. These travelers are crowded, breathing on top of each other, and then coming into Laredo.

Opening up more northbound lanes would go a long way in helping to curb the virus, Martinez said. So he made the motion for council to ask federal authorities to allow for this.

Councilwoman Nelly Vielma asked that they accompany the letter with a video that shows the conditions at the bridges and in their downtown, where so many businesses have closed.

The people making these decisions at the federal level have no earthly idea how its affecting us at the bridge, she said.

Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 or jwallace@lmtonline.com
Airline employees are far from the only workers suffering as the pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the U.S. economy. But their situation is particularly dramatic because the industry is concentrated in a few very large and very visible companies, and there is a bright deadline on the calendar. Airline industry employees may not come to mind when many Americans think of essential workers. But employees say they have risked their health to keep planes in the air during the pandemic, transporting those who had to travel and moving essential goods, including medical supplies. Some 45 to 50 percent of freight typically moves in passenger jets.
Offaly people are among the most law-abiding citizens in the country, according to new figures released by the Irish Prison Service.

The figures show that 7,170 people were imprisoned nationally in 2019, an increase of 10.5% on 2018 figures. Just 64 of these prisoners in 2019 were from Offaly.

The highest rate of imprisonment last year occurred in Limerick, with 219 people jailed for every 100,000 of its population. Our Midlands cousins in Longford had the second-highest rate at 203 per 100,000, while Laois also recorded a high rate above the national average of 132.

Offaly's rate of imprisonment was among the lowest in the country at just over 83 per 100,000 population. The lowest rate recorded in the country in 2019 was Donegal at 51 per 100,000.

A total of 64 people were imprisoned from Offaly last year; seven women and 57 men. This was a slight decrease on the 67 people from Offaly jailed in 2018; two women and 65 men.

The numbers going to prison from Offaly has been falling for a number of years. 306 people from the county were jailed in 2015, 189 in 2016 with 77 in 2017, revealing a marked downward trend.
Manali, Sep 27 : Amid the heightened border tension with both China and Pakistan in the Himalayas, road infrastructure projects have been given a push with completion of a marvel of engineering motorways -- the Rohtang Pass highway tunnel.

Officials say the focus now is on constructing the strategic 13.5-km-long Shinku La tunnel, the shortest, safer and the third alternative corridor for the armed forces for forward areas of Union Territory of Ladakh.

Experts told IANS the 9.2 km-long horseshoe-shaped single-tube, two-lane tunnel -- the world's longest motorable tunnel at over 3,000 metre above the sea level -- is a key step in the Defence Ministry's attempt to make the 475-km Manali-Keylong-Leh highway, used mainly by the armed forces to reach forward areas in Ladakh bordering China and Pakistan, motorable round-the-year.

The Rohtang tunnel -- a dream of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and named after him posthumously -- is going to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his day-long visit on October 3.

The tunnel has been completed after 10 years of sheer hard work by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) with an outlay of over Rs 3,200 crore.

"The Rohtang tunnel alone is not enough to provide the Manali-Keylong-Leh axis an all-weather link as the tunnel is going to help only civilians of Keylong," an official of the BRO, which constructs roads along the international border, told IANS.

"Other three high-altitude mountain passes that lie between Keylong and Leh still remain snowbound for at least six months in a year that make the highway totally standstill," he said.

According to the official, the all-weather road to forward areas of requires more tunnels like Rohtang Pass, either at Shinku La or at least three passes located on the original 475-km Manali-Leh road for round-the-year connectivity.

From Keylong, the district headquarters of Lahaul-Spiti, the road travels further to Leh via Darcha, some 170 km from Manali.

From Darcha, where the BRO has just completed the 360-m long longest steel truss bridge, one road bifurcates towards Shinku La (pass), the shortest route that traversing the remote Zanskar region towards Padum, some 30 km from Leh, and another towards the windy Manali-Leh highway.

The 297-km long Darcha-Nimmu-Padum road has been identified as the third strategic alternative to Ladakh in wake of the threat from Pakistan and China. The double lane road is under construction and likely to be completed by 2023, officials said.

The BRO is also studying the feasibility of constructing a tunnel beneath the 13.5-km-long snow avalanche-prone Shinku La like the Rohtang tunnel to avoid the majestic pass.

"The tunnel beneath Shinku La will further drastically reduce the distance between Manali and Leh," an official told IANS.

The Manali-Leh route is 475 km, while the Manali-Darcha-Padum-Leh road is 444 km.

Currently, the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corp Ltd is preparing the detailed project report of the Shinku La tunnel that will link Himachal Pradesh with Ladakh.

Officials admit with the completion of the Rohtang Pass tunnel, the focus of the Indian government now shifts towards the construction of the Shinku La tunnel owing to the strategic significance of the third route to Ladakh, a shorter one.

Currently, the troop movement towards Ladakh is by two routes -- the 434-km Srinagar-Kargil-Leh via Zojila Pass and the 475-km Manali-Leh that passes through the Rohtang Pass. But they remain cut off from the rest of the country for over six months due to heavy snowfall.

For Kargil, the troop movement from Manali is via Leh that is 700-km long.

With the construction of the Darcha-Nimmu-Padum road through the Shinku La tunnel, the distance between Manali and Kargil will be reduced to 522 km.

Officials admit the construction of the Shinku La tunnel alone is more viable in comparison to construction of at least tunnels beneath the Baralacha (16,020 feet), Lachlungla (16,620 feet) and Tanglangla (17,480 feet) passes that lie on the operational Manali-Leh link.

On completion of the Shinku La tunnel, the Manali-Kargil highway will remain open throughout the year, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said in a statement last week.

The strategic importance of the Manali-Leh link was realised by the government when Pakistan tried to cut off the Srinagar-Leh road during the 1999 Kargil conflict, in a bid to restrict road access to Ladakh.

However, the movement of armed forces to the forward areas in Ladakh from Manali side, that doesn't fall in the firing range of Pakistan forces, is feasible only from June to mid-December.

With a round-the-year road link to tribal areas, the region will witness a huge influx of tourists not only for nature-based activities but also for visiting ancient Buddhist monasteries, admit state officials.

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in)
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians today had a meeting with Pope Francis I, as reported Head of the Information Center of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Priest Vahram Melikyan.

During the meeting, His Holiness Karekin II and Pope Francis I touched upon the close ties between the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church and the Roman Catholic Church and the partnership in various sectors.

During the conversation, the parties particularly touched upon the operations unleashed by Azerbaijan along the entire length of the Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact which have also caused the deaths of peaceful civilians.

The Catholicos of All Armenians attached importance to the voice of the Sister Catholic Church and its pontiff for an end to the hostilities and a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Condemning Azerbaijans aggression, His Holiness Karekin II affirmed that only with respect for the rights of the people of Artsakh and the proclamation of justice will it be possible to reestablish peace and stability.

Both pontiffs said a prayer for the restoration of peace.
Surfer and photographer Doug Falter lost his beloved surfboard while riding the waves of Hawaii in February 2018 and it resurfaced in August in the Philippines

Primary school teacher Giovanne Branzuela purchased it from a local fisherman, who found it in August 2018

The pale blue board turned a yellow hue after traveling across the Pacific

He reached out to board maker Lyle Carson who put him in contact with Falter

'As bummed as I was when I lost it, now I am happy to know my board fell into the hands of someone wanting to learn the sport,' Falter said

A man who lost his surfboard while riding the waves of Hawaii has revealed that his beloved board has resurfaced more than 5,000 miles away in the Philippines.

Doug Falter, a photographer and surfer, lost his board in Waimea Bay, Oahu, Hawaii in February 2018 during a day out in the water.

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'After catching so many waves I finally wiped out on one and my @lylecarlsonsurfboards board floated away after the leash came off my ankle at around 6:00 pm,' he said recalling losing his board on February 3.

'Having never heard from anyone I figured it was lost at sea,' Falter added.

But a couple weeks ago he was dumbstruck to discover the surfboard manufacturer shared a post about a man finding the very same board more than 5,200 miles away in the Philippines.

Surfer and photographer Doug Falter lost his beloved surfboard (left in October 2015) while riding the swells in Hawaii in February 2018. It resurfaced six months later in August 2018 in the Philippines where Giovanne Branzuela purchased it from a local fisherman. Branzuela pictured right at Sarangani Island in the Philippines in 2020. The board turned from a pale blue to a yellow color in the long journey across the Pacific Ocean

The board traveled more than 5,200 miles from Hawaii to the Philippines

The new owner was Giovanne Branzuela, a 38-year-old primary school teacher in the southern Philippines, who bought the board for $40 from a local fisherman, who found it in August 2018  six months after it vanished from Falters sight.

Branzuela purchased the board to learn how to surf and contacted Hawaii-based board-shaper Lyle Carson as his name was etched on the board. Carson then told Falter about the incredible discovery.

The board had turned from a pale blue to a yellowish hue in its long voyage across the Pacific Ocean.

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Giovanne Branzuela pictured posing with Falter's board that traveled across the ocean

'It was my first big wave surfboard custom shaped for myself. I surfed it on the biggest days I've ever surfed in my life,' Falter said to AFP on his board.

'This is 5,200 miles away! Apparently he bought it from a fisherman to learn how to surf. As bummed as I was when I lost it, now I am happy to know my board fell into the hands of someone wanting to learn the sport,' Falter shared on Facebook.

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'It turned out its a surfboard from Hawaii. I couldnt believe it myself. Its been my dream to learn to surf and ride the big waves here,' Branzuela said to AFP.

'For now I can use his surfboard. I told him I will take good care of it,' he added.

Falter said if it werent for travel restrictions he would have visited Branzuela.

Falter shared this notice when he first lost his board asking for help locating it

Falter shared this Facebook post on August 16 announcing his beloved board was found

'I could teach him how to surf and hopefully a few of his 144 students,' he said.

Now hes raising money to send out some surfboards, surf gear and books and magazines for Branzuelas students to learn English.

'It's an excuse for me to go to the Philippines and visit and basically complete the story. I think it would be a great ending to ... teach him how to surf,' Falter added.
BERLIN, Sept 23 (Reuters) - German carmaker Volkswagen will pay about 36 million reais ($6.5 million) in compensation to more than 60 former employees who were persecuted during Brazils 1964-1985 military dictatorship, media reported on Wednesday.

Volkswagen is due to sign the settlement deal in Sao Paulo on Thursday, according to a report by German broadcasters NDR, SWR and the daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung. Volkswagen was not immediately available to comment.

A government-appointed commission investigating abuses during Brazil's dictatorship found evidence that companies including Volkswagen secretly helped the military identify suspected "subversives" and union activists on their payrolls.

Many of the workers were then fired, detained or harassed by police, and were unable to find new jobs for years afterward, a Reuters investigation https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/brazil-dictatorship-companies showed in 2014.

The German media report said Volkswagen's Brazilian subsidiary would pay a large part of the compensation to an association of former employees and their surviving dependents.

Historian Christopher Kopper from the University of Bielefeld, who was commissioned by Volkswagen to look into the case, said Thursday's settlement would be historic.

"It would be the first time that a German company accepts responsibility for human rights violations against its own workers for events that happened after the end of National Socialism," he told NDR, SWR and SZ. ($1 = 5.5505 reais) (Reporting by Emma Thomasson; Editing by Jan Harvey)
People / Students / 2020-2021

Arun graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 2020. There, he led the NASA-funded Telerobotics Lab researching the robotic deployment of a radio interferometer on the lunar farside as part of the FARSIDE mission concept. This experience sparked a desire to learn the intricate details of robotic hardware and software influencing him to enroll at Northwestern. Arun strives to advance the human condition by developing robots that facilitate a sustainable human-lunar presence. For now, he is accumulating the skills and network to realize that goal.
While their focus certainly remains on what happened to 29-year-old Jacob Blake, shot last month by Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey, that doesnt mean a decision by a Kentucky grand jury this week didnt draw plenty of attention as well.

Speaking during a march for Blake on Thursday that ended at Grace Lutheran Church, several of his supporters, including his uncle, Justin Blake, expressed concern for the outcome in the death of Breonna Taylor.

Taylor was shot and killed during a botched raid at her Louisville apartment March 13. The grand jury announced that no charges would be filed against two of the officers who fired shots, and none of the three were charged for causing her death.

The grand jury did indict former Louisville officer Brett Hankison for wanton endangerment. Hankison was the only one of the three who was fired following the shooting.

Justin Blake blamed Kentucky law, which states officers had a right to return fire once Taylors boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired one warning shot that struck one of the officers in the femoral artery.

We pray for Breonnas family, Blake said. What happened wasnt just, but its by the laws in Kentucky. If its by the law in Kentucky that a black woman can die in her house ... then we need to vote to change the damn laws.

Speaking to reporters outside the church after the event, Blake reiterated his view on the Taylor case.

And by the letter of the law, he said, the decision by the grand jury didnt come as much of a surprise.

Its very unfortunate, but if you read the letter of the law the way it was written, the man had the right to defend himself in his own home, and the police officers had the right to shoot back, Blake said. However, they didnt shoot the person who was shooting. They shot another person. So its really hard to fathom how they werent indicted for (shooting Taylor). ... Somebody else died in their pajamas.

Others who spoke at the church had similar thoughts on the events in Louisville.

Local activist Porsche Bennett said the decision not to charge was disappointing, but doesnt change the groups focus here.

The Blake supporters have long called for Sheskeys immediate firing, indictment, charging, conviction and imprisonment for his role in the shooting.

(Were) in solidarity, not only for Jacob Blake, but also Breonna Taylor, Bennett said. We all know we have a main common issue, and thats wanting justice for Jacob, because we all the outcome of what Breonna Taylor was given (Wednesday), and we all know we did not like that outcome.

... We stand in solidarity with Louisville, Kentucky, in the case of Breonna Taylor, because we do not agree with what happened down there. That is why were going to continue this fight, to make sure we dont get the same exact treatment.

Grace Lutheran Pastor Jonathan Barker said he was a young man when the Rodney King case sparked protests in California, and that he sees similarities between that 1991 incident and whats happened, not only here, but in other cities in the United States.

All four officers charged in Kings beating were acquitted.

What we saw this week has felt horrifyingly familiar to me, Barker said. ... (The King case) seared in my mind that there is no guarantee of justice in this country if you are Black.

And 29 years later, little has changed, Barker said.

Year after year after year, we see the same outcome, he said. Our Black neighbors being brutalized and killed by police officers. We dont see indictments, charges. It goes on and on and on.

24-hour rally planned today

After the event Tanya McLean, Blake family friend and co-founder/COO of African Emergency Relief Foundation/Peace on the Streets, announced that a Justice for Jacob  Seize the Day 24-hour rally will be held Sunday starting at noon at Civic Center Park.

The rally, presented by the African Emergency Relief Foundation, will run through noon Monday. The event will include speakers from around the country, along with entertainment.

We want the community to come out and just be heard, McLean said. We just want a day of communion and being with each other. Thats what this is about, unity.

Blake said the message continues to be one of unity.

This isnt a Democratic or a Republican issue or a Black or white issue, he said. This is about human beings, and us expressing the justice that we want for human beings who helped build this country.

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WASHINGTON  If Congress confirms President Donald Trumps nominee to succeed Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Supreme Court would become more conservative, and also perhaps more ready to tackle certain hot-button issues like abortion and guns. Chief Justice John Roberts would also likely become less able to steer the outcome in divisive cases.

Ginsburg, who died Sept. 18 at 87, was the leader of the liberal wing of the court, which had been split 5-4 between conservatives and liberals. Roberts had, on occasion, sided with the liberals. But if Trump fills Ginsburgs seat, there will be six conservative justices, three of them appointed by him.

Here are several big issues that are poised to come before the justices where a more solidly conservative majority could make a difference:

Healthcare

A week after the presidential election, the court will hear arguments in bid by the Trump administration and Republican-led states to overturn the Obama-era health care law. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, coverage for more than 20 million people is at stake, along with the laws ban on insurance discrimination against Americans with pre-existing medical conditions.

A more conservative court might be seen as more sympathetic to striking down the Affordable Care Act, but the court might still choose not to. The justices have less drastic options. For example, the court could invalidate Obamacares now toothless requirement that most Americans carry health insurance, and leave in place core provisions such as subsidized health insurance, Medicaid expansion and protection for people with medical problems.

Now that former President Barack Obamas landmark law is more than 10 years old, its many provisions are fully baked into the health care system. Unwinding it would be a colossal undertaking, fraught with political risks.

President Donald Trump promised, but never delivered a replacement.

Elections

Trump has said he wants Ginsburgs replacement 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. The 2016 election was conducted with only eight justices on the bench, however, after Republicans refused to hold hearings on President Barack Obamas nominee to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia.

Its possible that an election-deciding case lands in the justices' laps, as one did in the 2000 election between Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore. And liberals worry that a court with three Trump appointees would favor him in a dispute with Joe Biden.

But even if an election-deciding question doesnt arrive at the justices' doorstep, they have already weighed in on election changes states have made in response to the coronavirus pandemic. And more pre-election challenges are likely coming. So far this year the court has stopped other courts from altering election rules close to the election.

Abortion

Abortion rights advocates would seem to face insurmountable odds winning at the Supreme Court without Ginsburg.

Earlier this year, a divided Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana law regulating abortion clinics, reasserting a commitment to abortion rights. It was the first big abortion case of Trumps presidency.

The 5-4 outcome turned on the vote of Roberts, who joined his four more liberal colleagues, including Ginsburg. The court addressed a law requiring doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. The justices ruled that the law violates the rights established by Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that established a nationwide right to abortion.

But Roberts' vote had to do with following court precedent rather than support for abortion rights. If a Trump nominee replaces Ginsburg, Roberts' vote on the issue would likely become less decisive. And the addition of another conservative vote would likely spur states to test the boundaries of regulation.

Already, cases are headed to the court that would provide an opportunity to overturn or weaken Roe. v Wade. Those cases involve sweeping bans on abortions after six weeks or eight weeks of pregnancy.

Guns

The Supreme Court has for years been reluctant to take on new guns cases, but that could change under a more conservative court.

Last year, with two Trump justices aboard, the Supreme Court took on its first major gun rights case in nearly a decade. But the case ended with the justices sidestepping any major decision.

Gun rights advocates had hoped the court might use the case from New York City to expand on landmark decisions that established a right under the Second Amendment to keep a gun at home for self-defense. Instead, the justices ultimately threw out the case, citing changes in city restrictions and state law.

Three members of the court dissented, however, expressing concern that lower federal courts are not properly applying the courts two big gun rights decisions from 2008 and 2010. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was among the justices who agreed the case should be thrown out, shared that concern, saying the court should address the issue soon.

Environment

After the president started pulling America out of the Paris climate accord, more than a dozen mostly Democratic governors were among those taking up the fight against climate-changing fossil fuel emissions themselves

A more conservative Supreme Court could doom those ongoing efforts, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said this week. Newsom said hes deeply anxious about what a 6-3 ideological majority on the court may mean to this conversation.

But the outcome of the presidential election matters in this area too. A Biden administration could undo many of the dozens of Trump administration rollbacks weakening or eliminating many protections for the air and water and for people and wildlife.

Federal courts so far have rejected many of the rollbacks. Lawyers for environmental groups say if Trump were to win a second term and the makeup of the Supreme Court shifts significantly, they could be less likely to win if cases ultimately land there.

____

Jessica Gresko of The Associated Press wrote this story. AP writers Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, David Crary, Ellen Knickmeyer and Mark Sherman contributed to this report
If somebody hits you, youve got to hit em back five times harder than they ever thought possible, Donald Trump said in a speech outlining his philosophy on business in 2012. Youve got to get even. Get even.

Which raises the question: Whatd New York ever do to you, Mr. President?

Has any other president ever shown such animosity toward the place he came from, or used the authority of his high office to exact revenge on the city that built his career?

Kathryn Wylde, president and chief executive of the Partnership for New York City, a business group, said Mr. Trumps approach to New York feels personal. Its a vendetta, she said.
Photo: Contributed

September is World Alzheimer's Month and British Columbians are encouraged to take part in an online discussion series while also participating in the Climb for Alzheimer's hiking challenge.

This month is a time to push the global conversation surrounding Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. It is estimated that 70,000 B.C. residents are living with some form of dementia and it is likely that most people in the Okanagan have some sort of connection to the disease. This includes family members, friends and neighbours.

The Alzheimer Society of B.C. aims to create a province were those living with dementia are welcomed, supported and included, but there is still work to be done.

Those who are impacted by dementia are invited to take part in 'Demystifying advocacy,' a two-part series on Sept. 28 and 29, between 1 and 2 p.m.

This free series gives residents the opportunity to listen to dementia advocates as they share their stories while having real conversations about what it takes to make change happen.

Part one of the series is called 'changing your situation.' This explores advocation for ones self and members of their family.

Part two is called 'changing the system' which explores how advocates can raise their voices to enforce policy and practice change.

Building a dementia-friendly province would be impossible without the tireless efforts of dementia advocates, says Alzheimer Society of B.C.s CEO Maria Howard. We want to celebrate their leadership and give people a chance to learn from them.

Community fundraisers are vital for the Alzheimer Society of B.C.'s activities. People across the province can sign up to participate in the Climb for Alzheimer's hiking challenge until Sept. 30. Hikers can take to their local hiking trails in support of the society.

By taking part in the Climb for Alzheimers, youll be supporting thousands of British Columbians on the dementia journey  and helping ensure that no one has to climb that mountain alone, says Howard.

To learn more about dementia, call the First Link Dementia Helpline at 1-800-936-6033 from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
BRIDGEPORT  According to federal investigators, during the 2018 search for a permanent head of the police force, the consultant hired for that process witnessed some of the alleged efforts to make then-Acting Chief Armando Perez a finalist.

Mayor Joe Ganim in November 2018 ultimately chose Perez from a list of three names for a five-year contract.

Now, after Perezs arrest Sept. 10 on charges of conspiring to ensure he got the top cops job, the Bridgeport City Council president and budget committee heads want to know whether the consultant had any knowledge of the scheme and, if so, whether the city is owed money for a tainted search?

If she felt this was not right, then she should have blown the whistle, said Council President Aidee Nieves.

Whether we deserve a refund or not I dont know, said Councilman Scott Burns, a budget committee chairman.

We have discussed it and are looking at her role and does she owe the city money in this? said Burns co-chairman, Councilman Ernie Newton.

All three were talking about Randi Frank, whose Kentucky-based human resources consulting firm was hired by then-Acting Personnel Director David Dunn and paid $17,022 to help him conduct a national search for Bridgeports permanent police chief.

Frank has not been accused of wrongdoing and her name is not mentioned in the 25-page federal complaint detailing the case against Perez and Dunn, who was also arrested Sept. 11. Both men have since resigned. Their probable cause hearings in federal court, originally scheduled for Thursday, have been rescheduled, though no new date has been set.

The federal document frequently refers to Consultant-1 ... who runs a company that specializes in executive searches for municipalities and other government entities (and) was retained to conduct the purportedly open and competitive examination to select the citys permanent Chief of Police.

Frank, who declined to comment for this story, was in 2018 the only outside professional publicly identified by Dunn and Ganims administration as working with Dunn to recruit, interview and narrow down a pool of candidates for chief to forward to the mayor. As such she visited the city on a few occasions for both private and public meetings, including with the council. And Ganims office released Franks contact information to the public for anyone who wished to offer feedback on the search.

She was the only consultant we had in this process, Nieves said.

The federal complaint paints a picture of Perez as desperate to be appointed permanent top cop but frustrated with his inability to fill out the necessary paperwork and answer exam questions. So, allegedly, Dunn assisted Perez by providing him with the test questions in advance and two unnamed police officers helped Perez write his application and test responses.

However, the complaint also states that Dunn gave some unusual instructions to Consultant-1 and alleges that those instructions would only benefit one candidate: Perez.

For example, around May 2018, when Consultant-1 was preparing to advertise the minimum qualifications for police chief, Dunn, the complaint alleges, instructed that there should be no requirement that a candidate possess a bachelors degree, or any penalty for candidates who did not have one.

In Consultant-1s experience, it is unusual for a police chief not to have a bachelors degree, reads the complaint. Armando Perez ... does not have a bachelors degree and was the only applicant without one.

Ganim promoted Perez, who campaigned for his election in 2015, from captain to acting police chief in March 2016. Perez had publicly stated he never completed college after initially taking some courses with plans to pursue a banking career. Critics of the 2018 search at the time publicly complained that eliminating the college education requirement was done to help Perez.

Cities across America require (college degrees), retired Bridgeport Police Lt. Ron Bailey had said in 2018. So why is it we have to settle for less?

Later in the chief search, according to the complaint, Dunn asked Consultant-1 to make certain changes to the (written exam) scoring system ... all of which benefited Perez. Those allegedly included awarding more points for duration of law enforcement experience and forgoing penalties for not living in Bridgeport  Perez resides in Trumbull  and for not having a bachelors degree.

All of these changes benefited Perez and in some cases Perez alone, the federal complaint states. Moreover, at the request of Dunn, Consultant-1 also agreed to award extra points to Perez for his service as acting police chief.

Lastly, the complaint claims that Dunn phoned and sought to influence one of five outside law enforcement and human resources professionals  Panelist-1  convened by the city to interview the candidates.

Dunn stated that the mayor wanted Perez to be in the top three, reads the complaint. Panelist-1 understood Dunn to be asking Panelist-1 to score Perez higher and/or to influence other panelists to do the same. Panelist-1 ... found Dunns statement to be totally inappropriate (and) reported Dunns call and comments to Consultant-1 shortly after the panel interviews concluded.

When The Connecticut Post first reported that the FBI was probing the chief search in April 2019, Frank in a brief interview at the time said, It was a professional process. Its the only way I do my work.

Ganim, who has denied any involvement in the alleged effort to make Perez permanent police chief, referred to Franks work in a Sept. 13 interview with News12. The mayor said had his administration been alerted to any improprieties, we would have stopped the (search) process immediately.

The mayors office on Thursday said when asked if the administration was considering seeking a refund from Frank: The City Attorneys will review that at the appropriate time.

Councilwoman Maria Pereira, who has called for Ganim to resign over the probe, had a different view.

I dont think anybody should lay the fault at her feet, Pereira said. I know the flags were being raised. I can see that. ... (But) it seemed everything she was doing was through David Dunn. Why would she think David Dunn isnt the highest level of authority on this particular matter?

Pereira has instead been focused on trying to convince the council to recoup hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of legal fees the city has spent on other consultants and on attorneys hired last year by the Ganim administration to respond to federal subpoenas related to the federal investigation.
Canberra, Sep 27 : While virtually addressing the 75th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that members of the world body have a "moral responsibility" to share an effective Covid-19 vaccine.

He made the remarks on Saturday via video-link.

"Whoever finds the vaccine must share it. This is a global responsibility, and it's a moral responsibility, for a vaccine to be shared far and wide," Morrison was quoted as saying by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in a news report.

"Some might see short-term advantage, or even profit. I assure you to anyone who may think along those lines, humanity will have a very long memory and be a very, very severe judge." The Prime Minister pledged to share with the world any discoveries made in the country's three local Covid-19 vaccine trials.

"If we find the vaccine we will share it. That's the pledge we all must make," he said.

Australia has spent A$6 million to help fund the research and development of potential vaccines from the Doherty Institute, the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the University of Sydney.

Meanwhile, Morrison also said there is a "clear mandate" for Australian-led efforts to push for an international probe into the origins of the coronavirus, which was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019.

"Australia strongly advocated for this review to identify the zoonotic source of the Covid-19 virus and how it was transmitted to humans," the ABC news report cited the Prime Minister as saying.

"This virus has inflicted a calamity on our world and its peoples. We must do all we can to understand what happened for no other purpose than to prevent it from happening again."
During National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, rapper Travis Scott helped one fan celebrate his birthday which sparked the fan's uncle to create a GoFundMe page to support treatment costs.

Jonah DeToro, who marked his 20th birthday at the Childrens Hospital of Wisconsin, tweeted his favorite musician while enjoying a birthday treat of the recently released Travis Scott Meal from McDonalds. DeToro tweeted, No better way to fight cancer than having a #TravisScottmeal on my birthday, and Scott shared the message far and wide, earning hundreds of thousands of retweets and well wishes.

https://twitter.com/trvisXX/status/1303568488573710337?s=20

Scotts message spurred the creation of the GoFundMe site to help family pay for the treatment of DeToros brain and spinal tumors.

September is designated Childhood Cancer Awareness Month to bring greater attention to pediatric cancer and to help treat and defeat cancer. Every day, 43 kids in the United States are diagnosed with cancer yet survival rates continue to grow as new treatments are developed.

During this month dedicated to awareness and treatment, Jonah got the ultimate birthday surprise from his favorite rapper, said DeToros uncle, Adam Greenspan, an integral part of Team Jonah and has helped with fundraising for hospital costs. We are so grateful for the outpouring of support from friends and strangers alike and want to continue to shine a light on the need for research, treatment and care for kids facing challenging circumstances at a young age.

DeToro previously overcame a brain tumor on his pituitary stalk, and is now preparing to undergo a four- to six-week hospital stay for additional chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.

I want to give another shout out to Travis for making a difference and send some love to everyone who is going through this, DeToro said. There is nothing easy about a cancer diagnosis, but it definitely helps to have family and friends  not to mention Travis Scott fans from all over the world  who contribute in so many ways.

For more information or to contribute to DeToros GoFundMe, please visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/jonah-detoro.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic leaving around four lakh global seafarers, including thousands of Indians, stranded on ships, India's oldest union of merchant navy officers MUI has collaborated with the United Nations to assist these sailors.

The Seafarers Crisis Action Team (SCAT) has been established by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), a specialised UN agency and a global standard-setting authority of safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has put seafarers around the world in precarious situations. Some 4 lakh seafarers from across the globe, including thousands of Indian seafarers, are now stranded on ships and continuing to work but unable to be relieved in a deepening crew change crisis which threatens trade and maritime safety," said the Maritime Union of India (MUI).

Travel restrictions mean some cannot leave their ships or be repatriated home, or even get urgent medical assistance, it said and added that others have seen their contracts unilaterally terminated or have been quarantined onboard ships for more than 14 days, without getting paid.

Despite multiple pleas to governments across the globe to designate seafarers as essential key workers and to facilitate their travel, the number of seafarers whose contracts have been extended by several months has continued to increase, the MUI added.

"Some seafarers have now been at sea for around 18 months without a break, well beyond the 11-month limit set out in the Maritime Labour Convention. Besides, the four lakh seafarers stuck at sea, another four lakh are unable to join ships," it said.

The body said that under the circumstances, India's oldest union of merchant navy officers has announced to "collaborate with the UN to help resolve individual cases of Indian seafarers through SCAT established by the IMO".

"Over 37,000 seafaring members of MUI will, fortunately, get benefitted by the UN's SCAT mechanism as our Union is affiliated to London-headquartered International Transport Workers' Federation which closely works with the IMO," Amar Singh Thakur, General Secretary, MUI, told PTI.

Thakur added: "Apart from providing assistance to the Indian seafarers under IMO's SCAT mechanism, MUI will also closely liaise with the Ministry of Shipping of India and Indian embassies and consulates across the globe for offering assistance to Indian seafarers during difficult times.

" Expressing serious concerns over some seafarers stuck at sea for about 18 months without a break, Thakur said this threatens the fundamentals of ship safety standards which the IMO has worked to develop for the past six decades.

"Overly tired and mentally exhausted seafarers are being asked to continue to work aboard over 60,000 cargo ships across the globe. The safety of navigation is in peril, unfortunately," Thakur emphasized.

In the prevailing scenario, the MUI through the SCAT mechanism will provide round-the-clock advice, counseling, and assistance to Indian seafarers and their family members, he said.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson abandoned his plans for a second national lockdown over fears Rishi Sunak could quit, a senior MP said as rift claims deepen.

Mr Sunak is said to have warned the economic impact caused by a second national lockdown would make his job near impossible.

He argued to keep Britain open to protect millions of jobs and businesses despite medical and scientific experts wanting tougher restrictions to stop the spread of the virus, The Sun reported.

The Chancellor has introduced a number of measures to save jobs and businesses throughout the pandemic, including the Job Retention Scheme and Eat Out To Help Out.

The claims emerged as Mr Johnson faced a growing Tory rebellion over demands from Conservative backbenchers to give Parliament a vote on new coronavirus restrictions before they are imposed.

Tory rebels have warned that 'liberty dies' when governments are allowed to 'exercise draconian powers without parliamentary scrutiny in advance' ahead of a potential vote on the issue on Wednesday.

But Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden defended the Government's current approach of imposing rules without parliamentary votes as he said the concerns of Tory rebels were 'slightly overblown'.

Rishi Sunak argued to keep Britain open to protect millions of jobs and businesses despite medical and scientific experts wanting tougher restrictions to stop the spread of the virus

A senior MP told The Sun: 'There were fears he would find it difficult to carry on if he was ignored.

'It was all down to the Chancellor that we avoided delivering a hammer blow to the economy and took a more balanced approach instead. Rishi saved the day.'

Yesterday, Mr Sunak's deputy swatted away suggestions of a rift between the Chancellor and Mr Johnson over the Government's coronavirus strategy.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Stephen Barclay insisted both men were working 'in tandem' and denied Numbers 10 and 11 were adopting different approaches.

On Thursday Mr Sunak said the nation needed to learn to 'live without fear', just days after the Prime Minister tightened coronavirus laws amid a steep rise in cases.

Unveiling his Winter Economic Plan, the Chancellor said 'our lives can no longer be put on hold', which was widely interpreted to contradict the message from Mr Johnson.

Chief Medical Adviser Professor Chris Whitty and Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance have been pushing for tighter restrictions.

Mr Sunak and Professor Whitty, along with Mr Johnson, are trying to balance the need to protect the economy and lives, with the two men in a 'bidding war' over what would cause the least damage, The Sun reported.

Chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee Sir Graham Brady has led the opposition to Ministers 'ruling by decree' over Covid regulations.

Mr Sunak is making increasing objections from within the Cabinet to the restrictions.

Unveiling his Winter Economic Plan, the Chancellor said 'our lives can no longer be put on hold', which was widely interpreted to contradict the message from Mr Johnson (pictured)

Mr Johnson was forced to mediate between Mr Sunak and the pro-lockdown lobby led by Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove in the run-up to his decision last week to impose a 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants.

At a Covid quad meeting on September 18  Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is the other member  Mr Sunak effectively blocked Mr Johnson when he proposed a two-week circuit-breaking lockdown.

Mr Sunak's Winter Economy Plan includes a scheme to top up the pay of people who can only work part-time in 'viable jobs'.

It replaces the furlough scheme, which sees the Government top up the wages for employees who cannot work.

It also involves further VAT cuts for the hospitality and retail sectors and the extension of emergency loan schemes for struggling businesses.

MPs will be granted a vote on Mr Johnson's controversial 'rule of six' on October 6, in a win for more than 40 Tory rebels MPs.

Downing Street insisted there is no rift at the top of Government, but Tory MPs are growing increasingly uneasy over the Government's move to impose sweeping restrictions without Parliament voting on them.
Uttarakhand police have so far arrested seven out of the eight prisoners who had escaped last Tuesday from a makeshift prison while being in mandatory quarantine in Haridwar district.

According to SIIDCUL police station in-charge Lakhpat Butola, the seventh absconding prisoner, Shubham Pawar was arrested from Bahadarpur, Selaqui area in Dehradun district late on Saturday evening.

Shubham Panwars arrest took the tally of the arrested absconding prisoners to seven and now only Nipul, resident of Mangalore, is left for whose arrest, a search operation is being carried out. Monitoring of suspects houses, relatives, close aides and other hideouts are being done. Hopefully, we will be able to arrest him soon as his other seven accomplices have been already apprehended, said Butola.

A cash reward of Rs 2,500 has been announced for the police team which nabbed Shubham, while the same reward has been announced for Nipul by the district police.

Meanwhile, district magistrate of Haridwar C Ravi Shankar has set up a probe into the escape of the eight prisoners from the temporary jail in Roshnabad with additional district magistrate (Sadar) Gopal Singh Chauhan to submit the report to him in a fortnight.

A probe is being carried out in this incident with ADM (Sadar) Gopal Singh Chauhan to submit the report in fifteen days time. After the report is submitted, action will be taken on the basis of the report, said Ravi Shankar.

In a separate development, eight Covid-19 positive prisoners in the district prison have been put up in a separate barrack.

According to district chief medical officer Dr Shambhu Nath Jha, of the three hundred prisoners whose reports have been received so far, eight have tested positive for Covid-19.

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After President Donald Trump on Saturday announced that Judge Amy Coney Barrett is his choice for the Supreme Court, members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation went to social media with messages of disappointment.

Barrett, 48, is a judge on the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Shes a devout Roman Catholic and has been hailed by religious conservatives and others on the right. She also clerked for the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

Republican senators are looking to confirm Barrett ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

After the announcement, some members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation wrote on social media that they fear a confirmation of Barrett could jeopardize the Affordable Care Act in the middle of the pandemic, among other concerns.

Rep. Jim McGovern noted on Twitter that Barrett could cast the deciding vote to overturn the ACA.

Rep. Lori Trahan in a Tweet shared a quote from Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, writing, "As Mitch McConnell said in 2016, The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice.

Rep. Ayanna Pressley wrote in a statement that she is urging her Senate colleagues to abstain from voting until after the election.

First of all, there should be no nomination and absolutely no confirmation until after the Presidential inauguration. This is a rushed process and any candidate will no doubt be inadequately vetted and unqualified for a lifetime appointment to the highest court. Barretts long history of anti-choice, anti-LGBTQ, and anti-immigrant statements and decisions make her fundamentally unfit to serve on the Supreme Court, Pressley wrote in the statement.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren tweeted, Amy Coney Barrett will work to gut Roe v. Wade and the ACA, taking away health care coverage from millions of Americansincluding those with pre-existing conditions. And make no mistake: Trump is counting on her to swing the Supreme Court in his favor when he loses this election.

Amy Coney Barretts long history of anti-choice, anti-LGBTQ, and anti-immigrant statements and decisions make her fundamentally unfit to serve on the Supreme Court.



Here's my full statement: https://t.co/LHTjyooZ0n pic.twitter.com/Qt7IssuXPm  Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (@RepPressley) September 26, 2020

Amy Coney Barrett would cast the deciding vote to overturn the ACA.  Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) September 26, 2020

More than 130 million Americans live with pre-existing conditions, including COVID-19.



This nomination puts their access to health care in jeopardy.



As Mitch McConnell said in 2016, The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice.  Congresswoman Lori Trahan (@RepLoriTrahan) September 26, 2020

Amy Coney Barrett will work to gut Roe v. Wade and the ACA, taking away health care coverage from millions of Americansincluding those with pre-existing conditions. And make no mistake: Trump is counting on her to swing the Supreme Court in his favor when he loses this election. pic.twitter.com/cTpOHgintZ  Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) September 26, 2020

Material from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Tunis  Sun, September 27, 2020 19:09 482 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c478b05c 2 News Tunisia,tourism,travel,destination Free

Tunisia's tourism sector has collapsed, officials warned Saturday, with earnings plunging 60 percent and swathes of hotels at risk of closing permanently.

The sector, a major employer that accounts for 14 percent of the North African nation's GDP, has been hit hard by restrictions imposed to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus.

"There has been a drop in tourism activities of 60 percent, and we could reach 70 percent by the end of 2020," Tourism Minister Habib Ammar told reporters.

Tunisia's income from tourism this year has totaled just 1.56 billion dinars (US$563 million), officials statistics showed.

Total bed nights -- the number of nights visitors stayed in hotels -- dropped by 79.5 percent.

Read also: Tourism recovery could take three to five years: Singapore Tourism Board chief

"The current tourism situation is very bad -- if not catastrophic," said Khaled Fakhfakh, president of the Federation of Tunisian Hotels.

"Sixty percent of hotels have not opened this year and they risk not reopening, mainly because of COVID-19."

Tunisia was already battling high unemployment before the start of the pandemic.

The small Mediterranean country, with a population of around 11 million, has recorded 191 deaths from the novel coronavirus out of 14,392 cases.

Topics : Tunisia tourism travel destination
Mr Harry Anthony Attipoe, Registrar of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs has reacted to a story circulating on the social media that, he has runaway with two vehicles donated by the Vice President Dr Alhaji Mahamadu Bawumia to the Oti Regional House of chiefs.

According to the Registrar, the said story was fabricated to tarnish his integrity. He has therefore entreated the general public to disregard it.

Mr Attipoe while speaking to the media, clarified that he was invited by the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to come for the vehicles which were meant for the Oti Regional House of chiefs.

He also indicated that the vehicles were in his custody for two weeks before the inauguration of the Oti Regional House of chiefs.

Four days before the inaugural ceremony he sent one of the vehicles which was the Landcruiser to the Oti Regional Minister, Hon Kwesi Owusu Yeboah at Dambai the Capital of Oti. And the vehicle was kept at the Regional Ministers residence for safety reasons whiles the keys were with him.

Mr Attipoe continued that on the day before the inaugural ceremony, he added the second vehicle to the Landcruiser. After the event, the Vice President Dr Mahamadu Bawumia handed over the keys of the two vehicles to him.

Mr Attipoe continued that on the day before the inaugural ceremony, he added the second vehicle to the Landcruiser. After the event, the Vice President Dr Mahamadu Bawumia handed over the keys of the two vehicles to him.

The registrar decided to keep the two vehicles with him and would send them back on the 12th of October when the election would be conducted to elect the leaderships of Oti Regional House of chiefs. Because the Landcruiser was to be used by the president of Oti Regional House of Chiefs and the pick up for administration purpose.

He also said he wasnt directed as to where the vehicles were to be kept. The Registrar further explained that to his surprise on his way from Dambai to Accra, the driver of the pick-up vehicles called him that he has been stopped by some policemen claiming that the Oti Regional Minister has ordered them to come for the vehicles.

He spoke with the Policemen and asked the driver to release the vehicle to them, he also asked them to come for the Landcruiser by then he had gotten to Nkwanta. Few minutes after, the Divisional Commander of Nkwanta, Superintendent of police by the name Lartey Lawson came in, that he has been instructed by the Oti Regional Minister that he should come for the Landcruiser.

He then took his particulars and made him sign after which he gave the vehicle to him. He again said the publication which was on social media that he has bolted away with the vehicles donated by the Vice President doesnt make sense to him because those vehicles were kept in his custody for two weeks before the inaugural ceremony.

Mr Attipoe said to his best of knowledge the two vehicles are now kept in the custody of the Oti Regional Minister Hon Kwesi Owusu Yeboah at Dambai. He concluded that he would never steal State-owned vehicles, hence the publication against him was just meant to tarnish his reputation.
Seaman 1st Class Luther James Luke Isom was among Alabamas and Americas first casualties of World War II.

The 20-year-old Navy enlistee from Madison County was aboard the USS Arizona on Dec. 7, 1941, when bombs rained down from Japanese aircraft in the surprise attack that sunk the Arizona and drew the U.S. into the war.

In the following days, Luthers parents surely clung to the hope that they would hear that their son somehow survived the attack, wrote Madison County amateur historian and genealogist Bob Fuerst. They were notified by the Navy Department on 23 December that their son was missing, and the very next day received the dreaded telegram informing them that he was officially declared killed in action.

Were it not for Fuerst, an engineer for NASA in Huntsville by day, few people would know Isoms story.

Fuerst began this summer writing profiles of all 211 World War II casualties from Madison County, as part of a nationwide volunteer effort called Stories Behind the Stars.

The aim of the project is to recruit people to write the stories of all American service members who lost their lives in the World War that ended 75 years ago this year.

More than 16 million Americans answered the call to serve their country during World War II.

Tragically, over 400,000 of these young men never came back, said Stories Behind the Stars founder Don Milne. Instead, their families were sent a banner with a Gold Star to hang in their window.

Three quarters of a century later, this nationwide volunteer effort hopes to keep the legacies of the fallen alive, to tell the stories behind the stars.

They are being forgotten and their stories need to be told. They need you to research. They need you to write and share their stories, Milne says in a video on the Stories Behind the Stars website.

Dont worry if you dont think you know how to research or write profiles. The organization can train you. If you just dont have the time, you can donate money to the effort at storiesbehindthestars.org/.

Once created, the national database will be linked to World War II memorials, and the soldiers' gravesites, so anyone with a smart phone can scan a code and read their stories.

Since starting in July, Fuerst has written 58 of the 211 profiles of Madison County casualties, drawing from various online sources. Eventually, all 400,000 profiles will be hosted on Fold3.com, a site dedicated to military research and memorials.

Hes happy to write all 211 himself, but hed also welcome some help. Moreso, hed like to see other amateur genealogists and historians take on the task in other Alabama counties, so all of Alabamas 5,114 fallen World War II soldiers can be remember.

You can take on profiles from all of the soldiers in your city or county, as Fuerst has, or you can do one profile of a soldier that you have a connection with. Milne and Stories Behind the Stars just want soldiers honored.

Hes asking people to contribute as little or as much as they want, Fuerst said.

Fuerst has created a Facebook page to share the profiles hes written and has about 300 followers.

Hes hoping that news coverage on AL.com and its affiliated newspapers -- The Huntsville Times, Birmingham News and Mobile Press Register -- will increase that number, and perhaps inspire others to write profiles of other Alabama World War II casualties.

Theres no advertising on the site, and no pay for the research and writing, Fuerst said.

Im not doing this for the money, just out of a deep sense of respect for the sacrifices that were made by the Greatest Generation on our behalf, said Fuerst.

Through his Facebook page, Fuerst has already made connections with family members of seven of the 50 people he has profiles.

My hope is that Ill be able to add missing information on the fallen through these connections, he said.

Shelly Haskins writes about points of pride statewide. Email your suggestions to shaskins@al.com, or tweet them to @Shelly_Haskins using #AlabamaProud
Their journey spanned five countries and almost 3,000 miles but ended with the Border Force having to rescue them from a flimsy dinghy in the English Channel.

Now, having been placed in one of Britain's first migrant camps, the four Sudanese asylum seekers say: 'We wish we had stayed in France.'

They had been held at a taxpayer-funded hotel but were moved last week to a former Army barracks in Folkestone, Kent, now being used to house migrants as their asylum claims are processed.

This site and a second near the village of Penally in Wales have been heralded by some as a sign that Britain will no longer be a 'soft touch' for people traffickers.

The four Sudanese asylum seekers on the beach near the Folkestone camp where migrants began arriving last week

Private security guards have started watch duties at the Napier barracks outside Folkestone

Pictured is a migrant camp in Penally, near Tenby in Wales, which attracted anti-immigration protesters

But human rights groups and migrants have criticised the camps as being like 'prison', while locals have raised concerns about the large influx of young men in their areas.

One of the four Sudanese asylum seekers, Amin Adam, said residents of the Kent camp  which has a 10pm curfew  were 'kept like animals in pens'.

He added: 'The food is no good. There is only one toilet. I should have made my application [for asylum] in France.

A group of protesters are seen outside the migrant camp in Penally, Wales

The Napier Barracks (pictured) in Folkestone, Kent, will be temporarily used to house refugees

A group of men sit outside with their face masks at the Napier Barracks in Folkestone

Pictured is an aerial view of the converted army barracks in Penally, Wales

Pictured is a general view of Napier barracks in Folkestone, Kent, that is being used as a makeshift migrant camp

'We have more rights here [in the UK] than in France. I want to go to school in England and work. But this place [the barracks] is no good.'

The four, who said they are in their 20s and 30s, all fled the war-torn Darfur region of Sudan.

They first made their way to Libya, before travelling by boat to Malta, then Sicily, and on through Italy to arrive at the remnants of the notorious Jungle encampment in Calais, northern France, at the beginning of the year.

Enforcement officer numbers plunge The number of immigration enforcement officers has fallen dramatically  just as the Channel migrant crisis escalates. Figures from the Home Office show it employed 4,774 of the officials  who oversee deportations  at the end of March, down 550 on 2014-15. It means that there are now fewer staff to track illegal immigrants and enforce the UK's immigration laws. The number of fines issued to employers for hiring illegal workers also dropped to 1,849 last year from more than 3,000 in 2016. A Home Office spokesman said: 'Immigration enforcement has become more efficient over the years through the use of mobile technology, automated processes and streamlined functions which has meant a reduction in the number of officers required. 'This has enabled us to deliver better value whilst still remaining committed to tackling those who abuse our hospitality by committing serious crimes.' Advertisement

They said they met for the first time in Calais and spent around seven months sleeping rough before attempting the Channel crossing in a dinghy they found on the beach.

Adam, Mohammed, Hussain Abu-Bakr Mohammed and Yassin Mohammed were plucked from the water two months ago by a Border Force patrol as water cascaded into their vessel.

After being processed, they were sent to a hotel in Slough, Berkshire, to await the results of their asylum applications.

Last week they were among the first to be placed at two Army facilities that will temporarily be used to house migrants.

The Home Office said the use of sites such as former barracks could save taxpayers up to 50 per cent of the cost of hotel placements.

It comes amid an influx of Channel crossings  almost 7,000 this year alone  and a lack of space as a result of the pandemic.

Both camps have attracted protests from far-Right groups, while the Stand Up To Racism West Wales campaign said a former military facility is a 'completely inappropriate' place to house those who had fled war.

Another asylum seeker moved to the Folkestone camp said he was given 30 minutes' notice to leave his accommodation at a hotel in Chiswick, west London.

'I haven't slept for five days,' the former computer engineering student added. 'There is too much stress. It's like a prison.'

He said he feared there would soon be hundreds in the camp and 'I am worried about Covid'.

There were clashes between far-Right and counter-protesters at the camp in Wales last week but yesterday messages of support were tied to the barracks and clothes left at the entrance.

A government spokesman described the camps as 'contingency accommodation', adding: 'We have worked tirelessly to provide asylum seekers, who would otherwise be destitute, with suitable accommodation.'
RTHK: Armenian PM says Turkey should stay out of Nagorno

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan called on the international community on Sunday to ensure that Turkey does not involve itself in Armenia's conflict with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, trading barbs with Ankara.

Turkey, an Azeri ally, had earlier sharply criticised Armenia after clashes between Armenian and Azeri forces broke out in the morning, saying Yerevan was an obstacle to peace and vowing to continue its support for Baku.

Pashinyan said Turkey's behaviour could have destructive consequences for the South Caucasus and neighbouring regions. (Reuters)

This story has been published on: 2020-09-27. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation (Cabot or the Company) (NYSE: COG) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, and docketed under 20-cv-02827, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons other than Defendants who purchased or otherwise acquired Cabot securities between October 23, 2015, and June 12, 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 Cabot securities during the class period, you have until October 13, 2020, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

Cabot is an independent oil and gas company that explores, exploits, develops, produces, and markets oil and gas properties in the U.S.

Cabot primarily focuses its oil and gas efforts on the Marcellus Shale located in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. Cabots gas procuring activities in Pennsylvania have been the subject of controversy for over a decade, with the Company repeatedly denying any responsibility for environmental damage observed in the state.

The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Companys business, operational, and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Cabot had inadequate environmental controls and procedures and/or failed to properly mitigate known issues related to those controls and procedures; (ii) as a result, Cabot, among other issues, failed to fix faulty gas wells, thereby polluting Pennsylvanias water supplies through stray gas migration; (iii) the foregoing was foreseeably likely to subject Cabot to increased governmental scrutiny and enforcement, as well as increased reputational and financial harm; (iv) Cabot continually downplayed its potential civil and/or criminal liabilities with respect to such environmental matters; and (v) as a result, the Companys public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

On July 26, 2019, during intraday trading hours, Cabot filed a quarterly report on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission, reporting the Companys financial and operating results for the quarter ended June 30, 2019 (the 2Q19 10-Q). The 2Q19 10-Q disclosed that the Company had received two proposed Consent Order and Agreements (CO&As) related to two Notices of Violation (NOVs) it had received from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PaDEP) back in June and November 2017, respectively, for failure to prevent the migration of gas into fresh groundwater sources in the area surrounding Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.

Following the release of the 2Q19 10-Q, Cabots stock price fell $2.63 per share, or 12.07%, to close at $19.16 per share on July 26, 2019.

Then, on June 15, 2020, during pre-market hours, following a grand jury investigation, the Pennsylvania attorney generals office charged Cabot with fifteen criminal counts arising from its failure to fix faulty gas wells, thereby polluting Pennsylvanias water supplies through stray gas migration.

On this news, Cabots stock price fell $0.67 per share, or 3.34%, to close at $19.40 per share on June 15, 2020.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com.
Taiwan has warned the democracies of the world about a possible invasion from China and has urged them to pay more attention to the developing situation in the region. Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, while speaking to German broadcaster DW News, said that China has substantially increased its military presence and is regularly sending its fighter jets across the median line.

Read: Chinese Stooge Threatens 'just War' With US If Its Soldiers Return To Taiwan

Wu further added that China is trying to export its authoritarian-based order, adding that if it succeeds in taking over Taiwan, democracies across the world will feel the heat. Wu said that China is expanding outwards and Taiwan is on the frontline of that dealing with the Communist state day in and day out. Wu urged all free-thinking countries to do something to limit China's aggression before its too late.

Read: China Threatens Retaliation, Says Support For Taiwan's Independence 'doomed To Fail'

Chinese aggression

The Chinese Army on September 18 and 19 sent 37 fighter jets, including H-K bombers across the median line of the Taiwan Strait as a top United States diplomat was visiting the self-governed island for the funeral of the former president of ROC. China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has, on several occasions, expressed its willingness to annex Taiwan by force using its military might.

Read: Cued At Taiwan's Tsai, China Threatens 'relative Individuals' After US Diplomat Visit

According to the US Department of Defence, China had not crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait for two decades from 1999 to 2019. However, last year in March, Beijing for the first time in many years maneuvered across the line and since then there have been multiple instances of such violations by the Communist State.

Read: Taiwan Leader Visits Military Base After China's Violation, Commends Air Force


The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has pleaded with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to shelve its planned strike and participate in broad consultation with various stakeholders.

The governors made the call in a communique issued after dialogue between representatives of the forum and union which took place in the Abuja residence of the Governors Forum Chairman and Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti on Saturday.

The meeting was held to resolve the impasse occasioned by the threat by workers to embark on industrial action if the Federal Government did not rescind the decisions to increase the pump price of petroleum product and electricity tariff.

The meeting was attended by the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba; accompanied by the TUC President Quadri Olaleye and the NLC General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboajah as well as the Director-General of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Asishana Okauru.

Mr Fayemi said that the governors forum decided to join the ongoing negotiations with a view to broadening consultations and assisting to bring the impasse to an end, hence averting the impending strike.

He said that the timing of the action was inauspicious and could aggravate an already worsening situation if not averted.

No one conversant with the prevailing situation in the country would disagree with labour and its demands, he said.

He, however, pleaded that the governors forum be given time to consult more broadly with the various stakeholders, including the secretary to the government of the federation, the vice president and the president.

He said that the consultation would be top priority for the governors forum, as he promised to immediately visit the presidency after the meeting.

Mr Fayemi expressed hope that the gesture from the governors would also energise the leadership of labour to put a hold on their planned action.

Government and labour are not that far apart in the negotiation and the differences are not irreconcilable.

Our President who is always on the side of workers will not be averse to the issues being raised and I am hopeful for an amicable settlement on the issues highlighted, Fayemi said.

On his part, the NLC President, Mr Wabba, while commending the efforts by Mr Fayemi at ensuring that sanity returns to the negotiation table, said the Federal Government violated the time-tested global process of dialogue.

Mr Wabba said that when the cost of PMS rises, the cost of everything in the country rises with it.

I praise you for showing a good grasp of this matter.

I believe that if they had widened the mechanism for consultation and involved people like you, we wouldnt have come to this pass, Mr Wabba said. (NAN)
Nagorno-Karabakha, a mostly mountainous region around 4,400 square kilometers, lies 50 kilometers from the Armenian border

Yerevan: Fighting erupted anew Sunday between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the disputed separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh and a top territorial official said 16 people were killed and more than 100 wounded, while Azerbaijans president said his military has suffered losses. Fighting erupted anew Sunday between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the disputed separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh and a top territorial official said 16 people were killed and more than 100 wounded, while Azerbaijans president said his military has suffered losses. Armenia also claimed that two Azerbaijani helicopters were shot down and three Azerbaijani tanks were hit by artillery, but Azerbaijans defense ministry rejected that claim. Heavy fighting broke out in the morning in the region that lies within Azerbaijan but has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since 1994 at the end of a separatist war. It was not immediately clear what sparked the fighting, the heaviest since clashes in July killed 16 people from both sides.

Nagorno-Karabakh authorities reported that shelling hit the region's capital of Stepanakert and the towns of Martakert and Martuni. Armenian defense ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan also said Azerbaijani shelling hit within Armenian territory near the town of Vardenis.

Artur Sarkisian, deputy head of the Nagorno-Karabakh army, said that 16 people were killed and more than 100 wounded. It wasn't immediately clear if the figure included both soldiers and civilians. Earlier, the Armenian human rights ombudsman said a woman and child had been killed in the shelling.

Another Armenian defense ministry spokeswoman, Shushan Stepanyan, said the Armenian side shot down two helicopters and hit three tanks.

Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev ordered martial law be imposed in some regions of the country and called for a curfew in major cities.

In a televised address to the nation, Aliyev said that there are losses among the Azerbaijani forces and the civilian population as a result of the Armenian bombardment, but didn't give further details. He also claimed that many units of the enemys military equipment have been destroyed.

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov is conducting intensive contacts in order to induce the parties to cease fire and start negotiations to stabilise the situation, foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

Albanian prime minister Edi Rama, chairman of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, called on the sides to stop fighting. The long-unsuccessful negotiations for resolving the territory's status has been conducted under OSCE auspices.

Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinian on Sunday said the country could reexamine whether to recognise Nagorno-Karabakh as independent. Such a move would likely obstruct further negotiations.

The news was harshly received in Turkey, a close ally of Azerbaijan.

Turkeys ruling party spokesman Omer Celik tweeted: We vehemently condemn Armenias attack on Azerbaijan. Armenia has once again committed a provocation, ignoring law. He promised Turkey would stand by Azerbaijan and said, Armenia is playing with fire and endangering regional peace.

Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin also condemned Armenia.

Armenia has violated the cease-fire by attacking civilian settlements ... the international community must immediately say stop to this dangerous provocation," Kalin tweeted.

Mostly mountainous Nagorno-Karabakh  a region around 4,400 square kilometers or about the size of the US state of Delaware  lies 50 kilometers from the Armenian border.

Local soldiers backed by Armenia also occupy some Azerbaijani territory outside the region.

At the Vatican, Pope Francis said Sunday that he was praying for peace between the two countries, urging them to them to accomplish concrete deeds of goodwill and fraternity to reach a peaceful solution through dialogue.
Corrections & clarifications: An earlier version of this story misspelled the name of the chief program officer at Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. Her name is Becky Sobelman-Stern.

Yom Kippur, which is observed from sundown Wednesday to sundown Thursday, is considered the holiest day of the year in Judaism. Its a high holiday that follows Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

But its not exactly a happy holiday. So dont tell someone Happy Yom Kippur.

This isnt a day of raucousness and partying, says Becky Sobelman-Stern, the chief program officer at the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. Yom Kippur is not about being happy. Its about thinking. Its about self examination.

Yom Kippur translates from Hebrew to English as Day of Atonement. Traditionally, Jews spend the holiday fasting and reflecting on sins committed over the past year.

Even if youre not Jewish, you can acknowledge the holiday, and it is indeed respectful to share well wishes to your friends and colleagues who do observe.

So, what should you say or write? There are some options.

Hebrew greeting for those celebrating Yom Kippur that reads "G'mar Chatima Tova."

The traditional Yom Kippur greeting

Gmar chatima tova is the customary greeting on Yom Kippur. In English, it means May you be sealed in the Book of Life.

According to Jewish tradition, one's fate is decided on Rosh Hashanah and sealed on Yom Kippur.

"Our lives are in the balance between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur depending on how we act," says Rabbi Andrea London of Beth Emet synagogue in Evanston, Illinois.

"The fully righteous are inscribed (in the Book of Life) for the year, the wholly evil are not inscribed and the rest of us need to work to make amends and make sure we have more good deeds than bad, if we want to be sealed for another year of life, she adds.

Rabbi Sarah Krinsky of Adas Israel Congregation in Washington, DC, says "not many moderns hold this literal theology." She's among them, but that doesn't stop her from sending the message "g'mar chatima tova" for Yom Kippur.

Story continues

Of note: The ch sound in chatima is not pronounced like the English word chat. Instead, it should sound more like guttural utterance from the throat because it comes from the Hebrew letter Chet. Gmar hatima tov is also acceptable to say.

A simple Yom Kippur greeting

"Have an easy fast" might sound like an odd thing to say, but it's "very much appreciated," says Sobelman-Stern.

That is what the holiday is all about: Taking away all pleasurable things for the day so you can repent and take account of yourself," she says.

You can also wish someone a meaningful fast. Traditionally, people who observe Yom Kippur neither eat nor drink for 25 hours, with the exception of children and those for whom fasting is dangerous. Once the period of fasting ends, it's time to break the fast, often with breakfast foods such as bagels and eggs dishes.

Yom Kippur greeting that works through October

Lshana tova or shana tova, which means have a good year, is a proper greeting on the Jewish New Year and also fitting to say on Yom Kippur and through the holiday Sukkot, which goes from Sept. 20 to 27.

You may notice that the words tova and chatima are sometimes written tovah and chatimah. Those spellings with H's, which are English transliterations of the Hebrew words, are also correct and take account of the Hebrew letter Hei, which can have an H sound or be silent at the end of Hebrew words.

Sukkot: The Jewish holiday celebrated in huts outside is almost pandemic-friendly

Make sure you message at the right time

Orthodox Jews and many other observers of Yom Kippur avoid using technology during the holiday. So if you want to share a message or make a phone call thats answered ahead of the day of fasting, send it before Wednesday evening or after sundown Thursday, after the fast has been broken.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Yom Kippur greeting: What to say to someone observing holiday
President Donald Trump doubled down on his demand that Joe Biden take a drug test before the first presidential debate on Tuesday

'I will be strongly demanding a Drug Test of Sleepy Joe Biden prior to, or after, the Debate on Tuesday night,' Trump tweeted Sunday morning

He added: 'His Debate performances have been record setting UNEVEN, to put it mildly. Only drugs could have caused this discrepancy???'

The reupped demand comes as a new national poll shows Biden 10 points ahead of Trump just two days before the first of three debates

Donald Trump again pressured debate organizers on Sunday to administer a drug test before the first face-off with Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee continues to surge in polls just two days ahead of the event.

Trump insisted that the Democratic nominee could only perform well at the debate if he takes narcotics.

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'I will be strongly demanding a Drug Test of Sleepy Joe Biden prior to, or after, the Debate on Tuesday night,' the president tweeted Sunday morning.

'Naturally, I will agree to take one also,' Trump continued. 'His Debate performances have been record setting UNEVEN, to put it mildly. Only drugs could have caused this discrepancy???'

Click here to resize this module

Trump and Biden will participate in three in-person debates ahead of the November election  the first, moderated by Fox News' Chris Wallace, is taking place Tuesday in Cleveland, Ohio.

A new ABC News/Washington Post poll released Sunday shows Biden with a 10-point lead against Trump. The 54 per cent to 44 per cent margin matches the last poll taken in mid-August.

President Donald Trump doubled down on his demand that Joe Biden take a drug test before the first presidential debate on Tuesday

President Donald Trump

Former Vice President and Democratic nominee Joe Biden

When considering voters who say they will cast their ballot for a libertarian or Green Party candidate, Biden's lead slips to a 6 per cent margin of 49 per cent to 43 per cent.

When it comes to both enthusiasm for his candidacy and the economy, however, Trump dominates.

Trump leads Biden by 20 per cent among likely voters who say they have 'strong enthusiasm' for their preferred candidate. Fifty-nine per cent of those polled who do not support Trump say his reelection would be a 'crisis' for the country.

On the other hand-, 50 per cent of those not backing Biden say his election would cause a crisis in the U.S.

The economy, one of the six issues that will be discussed during Tuesday's debate, is in Trump's favor.

Last month only 31 per cent of Americans said the U.S. economy was in good shape, compared to the 40 per cent who say it's in good shape now in the poll taken September 21-24.

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One in four voters say the economy is their top issue in the 2020 election and of those voters a whopping 62 per cent favor Trump to Biden.

At the debate Tuesday Trump and Biden will also be asked to discuss their government records, the Supreme Court, the coronavirus pandemic, race and violence and election integrity.

Although Trump has conceded Biden may perform better at the debates due to his near-debate of experience in Washington, he also claims the 'low energy' candidate could only do well if medicated.

Trump said last month of Biden's previous debate performances against then-primary competitor Bernie Sanders: 'Nobody thought that he was even going to win. Because his debate performances were so bad. Frankly, his best performance was against Bernie.'

Trump made the comments during an interview with the Washington Examiner.

'We're going to call for a drug test, by the way, because his best performance was against Bernie,' Trump continued.

He added: 'It wasn't that he was Winston Churchill because he wasn't, but it was a normal, boring debate. You know, nothing amazing happened. And we are going to call for a drug test because there's no way  you can't do that.'

Biden participated in 11 debates during the primary season, as plans for the 12th debate were never finalized in the midst of the evolving coronavirus pandemic.

This is not the first time Trump has accused his competitors of being on drugs.

After the second presidential debate in October 2016, he claimed that Hillary Clinton did better because she had taken drugs.

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'I think we should take a drug test prior to the debate. We should take a drug test prior because I don't know what's going on with her,' Trump said at the time  and no drug tests were administered during those debates.

Trump's two other debates against Biden will take place October 15 in Miami, Florida and October 22 in Nashville, Tennessee. They will be moderated by C-SPAN's Steve Scully and NBC's Kristen Welker, respectively.
London, Sep 27 : The UK's Prince Charles on Sunday highlighted the impact of the global coronavirus pandemic on young people, saying it was a "particularly difficult time to be young".

"For anyone, this is a difficult time - but it is a particularly difficult time to be young," the BBC quoted the Prince of Wales as saying in an article published in the Sunday Telegraph.

He compared the current situation to "other times when hope was scarce", citing concerns over youth unemployment in the 1970s that prompted him to set up his charity, the Prince's Trust which helps people aged between 11 and 30 seek employment opportunities and life skills.

"This year, we celebrate the fact that over the last nearly 45 years, we have helped a million young people to change their lives for the better," he wrote in the article.

"Over all these years since the trust was launched, there has never been an easy time.

"However, there has never been a time as uniquely challenging as the present, when the pandemic has left perhaps another million young people needing urgent help to protect their futures.

"The task ahead is unquestionably vast, but it is not insurmountable," he was quoted as saying.

Prince Charles, who had tested positive for the virus earlier this year, has set up the Young People Relief Fund to provide extra support to young people affected by the impact of the virus.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, September 27, 2020 13:37 482 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c477ef2d 4 Lifestyle Milan-Fashion-Week,fashion,Maquinn-Couture Free

Fashion house Maquinn Couture presented its latest collection at Milan Fashion Week 2020 on Saturday as the only representative from Indonesia.

As reported by kompas.com, the brand's creative director Janice Setyawan considered the opportunity "something unexpected" and described the pilgrimage-themed collection as an acculturation of Indonesian and European styles.

The house chose Batik Pekalongan to highlight Indonesian culture and has used cotton and silk as the main materials and employed traditional techniques in the motifs and finishing process.

"We aim to bring batik one step forward and mix it up with modern culture from other countries," Janice told a virtual press conference on Saturday.

Indonesian Ambassador to Italy Esti Andayani praised the concept as "very original."

"We're proud of the effort done by these two young people [Janice and Benita Setyawan] from Maquinn Couture. We're also looking for other young talents to introduce more Indonesian wastra [traditional fabric] to the world," said Esti as quoted by kompas.com, adding that the Indonesian Embassy was ready to support the designers in entering the Italian market.

"For Janice and Benita, do continue to create and innovate and follow the trends without leaving behind our own culture," Esti said. (kes)
When Boris Johnson dreamed as a boy of becoming 'World King', he must have thought that power would bring him pleasure.

Now he knows that this is rarely so.

His arrival in office was swiftly followed by a crisis that has offered nothing but hard choices, bad news and heavy responsibility.

He is bowed down by hard work, strain and worry.

Everyone of goodwill must wish him well and offer him solidarity and support in these stressful times.

It is hard not to sympathise with a man who has so rapidly exchanged a carefree life of popularity, mirth and admiration for a grim, austere post of duty where he is incessantly brought news of deaths and infections.

It's hard not to sympathise for Boris Johnson, pictured during a constituency visit to Uxbridge on Friday, as he is left, more or less alone, to decide which advice to take

And it is impossible not to feel for him as he is left, more or less alone, to decide which of two increasingly conflicting sets of advisers he must heed.

His own scientific counsellors appear to want the country locked down again, or something very close to it.

Other scientists often take very different views about the level of danger and the best way of tackling it.

But they are still excluded from the heart of decision-making.

Meanwhile the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, and several others high in Government, warn that more severity will have catastrophic effects on the economy - effects that will themselves cost lives.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak and several others have warned of the catastrophic events further lockdown measures could bring

The Prime Minister does not have to weigh a simple choice between saving lives and preserving the economy.

The economy is life. If it seizes up, the NHS shrinks, creaks and fails.

If it does not prosper, jobless misery destroys the health of those who suffer it.

If it weakens, all our First World luxuries of good housing, clean air, pure water and high food standards will vanish.

Various hysterical sections of the media, especially the BBC, continue to act and speak as if the extirpation of the virus - probably impossible - justifies practically any stringency.

The Scottish Government, always anxious to demonstrate its ability to act separately from London, pushes repeatedly for policies much more severe than anything Mr Johnson has done or wishes to do. But by acting in this way it increases pressure on him to steer towards lockdown rather than away from it.

The London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, is also urgently demanding tighter restrictions on household mixing.

It is very hard to tell quite how he thinks such things will help the battered, half-deserted capital.

It is as if there was a competition to see who could make life as wretched as possible.

These zealous lobbyists of lockdown should pause for a moment and ask whether the measures that Mr Johnson announced on Tuesday are actually doing any good.

Sadiq Khan has also urgently demanded tighter restrictions on household mixing in London

So far the evidence suggests that they have crammed people more closely together than before, and may have done actual harm.

There are, even so, hopeful signs. Downing Street has been seeking the views of a wider pool of experts, as The Mail on Sunday urged two weeks ago.

This is in itself a good development, as it was always a mistake to believe there was only one scientific response to the virus.

If taken seriously and continued, such a response offers what is almost certainly the best way back to the world we used to know.

If Boris Johnson can confidently cite high-powered advice from eminent experts, which suggests a different, less economically damaging course of action, then he can steer the country away from fear and austerity, and towards freedom and prosperity.
To the Editor:

Re Eviction Moratorium Wont Cover the Rent for Tenants or Landlords (The Upshot, Sept. 4):

A recent evictions moratorium from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a temporary and incomplete remedy that only delays the devastating problems for both tenants and landlords. The American Bar Association is urging Congress to pursue a three-step approach to address the problem: by enacting a moratorium on evictions and by providing rent relief to tenants and mortgage help to landlords.

Addressing housing instability with an eviction moratorium is critical. But ignoring rent relief and mortgage assistance would leave tenants saddled with back-rent payments and require landlords to shoulder significant financial expenses. Individual investors own about 22 million out of 48 million rental units in the housing market. These mom and pop landlords primarily own single-family rentals and small apartment properties and are still incurring the costs of upkeep on their properties.

We are asking Congress to appropriate the $100 billion in rental assistance needed to prevent housing instability. The need is urgent, and relief is overdue.
Photo: Elections BC

There are only a few hours left for British Columbians to register to vote by phone or online for the upcoming election.

British Columbians can register by calling 1-800-661-8683 until 8 p.m. today.

The cutoff for online registration is Saturday night at 11:59 p.m, here.

Elections BC says people will still be able to register to vote or update their information when they vote in person, but it will be more time consuming. Ensuring information is up to date prior to voting will speed up the process and help support physical distancing.

After tonight, voters can still request a vote-by-mail package online or by phone. However, those who are not registered or have out-of-date information will need to take additional steps like providing approved forms for identification.

For more information visit the Elections BC official website.
MBABANE  As the debate surrounding the new law on import cars rages on, one of the countrys parastatals stands to lose big.

Rated as one of the best railway companies in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Region in terms of transport services for import and export commodities as well as transit cargo, the Eswatini Railways (ESR) stands to lose a lot if government goes ahead with the Used Vehicles Import Permit Specification Notice, 2020, which stipulates that import vehicles would no longer be permitted to enter into the country if they are more than seven years old.

This is because more than 70 per cent of Eswatini Railways trains transport import cars containers.

Transported

Businesspeople in the import cars industry reportedly procure from 500 up to 1 000 automobiles per month, which are then transported into the country through the ESR.

This publication has gathered that there were instances where an ESR train would carry 44 containers, with 40 of them being import cars.

Also gathered is that to transport a vehicle from Durban to Eswatini through a rail costs about E1 600 per container.

Each container reportedly carries between four to six cars.

Eswatini Railways is a parastatal that provides transport services for import and export commodities as well as transit cargo.

According to its website, it links main industrial centres with the railway systems of South Africa, Mozambique and other SADC countries that trade with overseas markets.

The parastatal owns and maintains the infrastructure, rolling stock and operates a 301km rail network.

Concerns

Several members of the public, including politicians and those experienced in the transport sector, have raised concerns about the parastatal, saying the new law would be a big blow to its revenue.

One of those who raised a concern was Siphocosini Constituency Member of Parliament Mduduzi Matsebula.

While the issue was recently debated in the House of Assembly, only a few MPs got a chance to make their opinions known.

In actual fact, only three MPs were able to make submissions and this is despite the fact that over 20 of them had stood up signalling their interest to have their views known.

This was due to the fact that the MPs unanimously voted for the passing of the motion calling for the Minister of Finance, Neal Rijkenberg, to review the seven years to 12 years.

This publication sought an interview with Matsebula to hear his opinion on the matter and he made it clear that Eswatini Railways would be one of the major casualties.

There is a need for our government to make a lot of changes to maximise our share of SACU receipts and domestic taxes. Instead of prioritising restrictions on import vehicles, government should focus on creating more taxable jobs and creating a more conducive environment for investors by reducing barriers to trade. Government should also review the types of loans that we get, it looks like most of them come with unfavourable conditions such as being required to purchase more than 60 per cent materials from the country giving us the loan and I believe that alone has contributed immensely to the decrease of SACU receipts in recent years, said the legislator.

He mentioned that government needed to consider the negative effects the new policy would have, especially on parastatals like Eswatini Railways.

Matsebula said government also needed to consider that everyone would like to drive a new car from the local dealers, but unfortunately, most of emaSwati could not afford.

Import

So it goes without saying that even if you stop the import of the grey cars, they will still not afford to buy the local cars, he said.

Asked on how government could have best handled the issue, the MP said before enforcing such changes, it (government) was supposed to institute an investigation on tax-on-profit before drawing a conclusion that the changes would bring more revenue for the country. Furthermore, he said government needed to listen to the public outcry on credit given to emaSwati and issues of mileage being allegedly reversed on the aforementioned vehicles.

Also, the MP said there was a need to consider that neighbouring South Africa was one of the major suppliers of the so-called grey cars in the region through its bonded warehouses in Durban.

Another MP, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he was also worried about entities like Eswatini Railways.

Firstly, we need to bear it in mind that we are in a time where government is trying to revive the economy. The same government is encouraging parastatals to sustain themselves and not rely on subventions. You cannot expect Eswatini Railways to sustain itself if you implement laws that will not boost its revenue. So this law needs to be reviewed, otherwise the country will continue to struggle, he said.

Eswatini Railways Corporate Communications Manager Sive Manana confirmed that the parastatal would be affected by the new law.

ESR is very much aware of the reasons government wants to implement some changes in the importation of grey cars. We are confident that they are very important for the survival of government and its capacity to deliver public services, he said.

Manana said ESR was the biggest transporter of import cars through containers destined for the Matsapha Inland Clearance Depot.

About 70 per cent of import containers are made up of grey cars. Changes will indeed affect revenue if they result in the reduction of volumes. ESR is hopeful though that the sector will not collapse and we will continue to use our service. ESR always supports government initiatives aimed at growing the economy of Eswatini, he mentioned.

Communications Officer in the Ministry of Finance Setsabile Dlamini said, The ministry is not in a position to comment on the issue of Eswatini Railways unless the parastatals business was 100 per cent transporting second-hand motor vehicles from outside SACU. A bigger chunk is transported by road.

Target

This publication had asked her if government had considered business entities and parastatals like the ESR when implementing the new law. This publication also asked her to state governments target in terms of percentage of intra-SACU trade and she said; Our current intra-SACU imports is currently just below nine per cent and the aim is to improve our share. On another note, asked whether government would consider the submission by MPs for a review to at least 12 years instead of the seven years when it comes to import cars, she said the response to the motion would be presented in Parliament.

It should be noted that the ESR is currently working on the Eswatini Rail Link Project, which is a collaborative effort with Transnet Freight Rail and to construct an approximately 146km railway line which will run from Lothair in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa to Sidvokodvo.

This is expected to be the biggest rail infrastructure between Eswatini and South Africa at a cost of about E17 billion.

The new law came into force through a notice issued on August 28, 2020 and it revoked Legal Notice No. 80 of 2012 and signatory to it is the Minister of Finance, Neal Rijkenberg.

Its implementation resulted in import car dealerships being denied import permits to bring into the country automobiles they had procured prior to the pronouncement of the new legislation.

Meanwhile, during the debate in Parliament, mover of the motion, Siphofaneni MP Mduduzi Simelane, submitted that the Import Control Order of 1975, which gave the minister powers to change the law was clear that whatever the minister did should be in the public interest.

He wondered if Rijkenberg had the publics interest at heart when he removed the capped years from 15 to seven years.

He further asked the minister if he was aware that 63 per cent of the people in the country lived below the poverty line.

An economist, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said should Eswatini Railways lose 70 per cent of its business, it could be forced to shed off its staff.

Its a given that once an entity has less business and minimal revenue, it is then forced to retrench. We could see this happening if the new law is not reviewed, he said.






This quarantine has been witness to netizens flooding social media with throwback travel pictures amid lockdown and even Bollywood diva Preity Zinta could not hold back her nostalgia. Currently in Dubai to support her team Kings XI Punjab at the Indian Premier League 2020, Preity Zinta set fans relating as she shared a cool throwback picture from her earlier ski trip.

Taking to her Instagram handle, the actor gave fans a sneak-peek into her adventure trip in the old normal when flocking the snow-capped mountains and being cosy together did not have health repercussions. The picture features the 45-year-old star in sub-zero temperatures of a mountain with sunlight filtering through the trees and making the snow behind her sparkle.

Dressed in all black ski suit including ski jacket, a pair of salopette or ski pants, a pair of ski gloves, a helmet and ski goggles, the Kal Ho Na Ho star completed the look with a pair of sturdy shoes. Holding on to ski bindings and ski poles, Preity flashed her million dollar smile for the camera as she posed from below the snow-capped mountain slope.

She captioned the picture, This crazy heat is making me miss my ski trips. Cannot wait for winter #flashbackfriday #snow #ski #smile #ting (sic).

Keeping fans regularly updated with her test results from the hotel, Preity finally ended the mandatory quarantine in Dubai where she is attending IPL 2020 as co-owner of the team Kings XI Punjab. She wrapped up the quarantine only after she was tested negative thrice for coronavirus.

Earlier, Preity had shared how it felt so strange to watch the match in an empty stadium.

Despite it being a home game, the thirteenth season of the league is being hosted in the United Arab Emirates following all protocols amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

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The Associated Press checks out some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. None of these are legit, even though they were shared widely on social media. Here are the facts:

CLAIM: Why such an invasive test for COVID-19 if it is so easily transmitted through droplets? A mouth swab would suffice if this was as deadly as they claim it to be. Someone is lying again.

THE FACTS: As the U.S. coronavirus death toll surpasses 200,000, posts online are questioning the invasiveness of nasal tests.

The answer is simple: Nasal swabs allow for a sample to be taken where the respiratory virus lives.

Saliva tests for the virus have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and are also available. How the virus spreads and fatality rates is not what drives testing methods.

Dr. Steven Woloshin, co-director of the Center for Medicine and Media at The Dartmouth Institute, told The Associated Press that the tests are designed to tell whether a person is carrying the virus.

Nasal swabs are also used for respiratory infections like the flu, noted Neysa Ernst, nurse manager in the Department of Medicine at Johns Hopkins Hospital. They are used to collect cells from an area in the back of the nose and throat known as the nasopharynx, where respiratory viruses live.

For years we have done respiratory specimens from the nasal swab so that was always considered to have the highest sensitivity, Ernst said.

The FDA has given emergency use authorization for several saliva tests, an alternative to nasal swabs tests, which are prone to shortages. Doctors said saliva tests also help break down barriers to testing.

If you can find ways to make it more convenient, less invasive and less painful people are more likely to do it, Woloshin said.
Catch up on some of the local news you may have missed this past week:
Robert Sprowls has been the CEO of American States Water Company (NYSE:AWR) since 2009, 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 American States Water.

See our latest analysis for American States Water

Comparing American States Water Company's CEO Compensation With the industry

At the time of writing, our data shows that American States Water Company has a market capitalization of US$2.7b, and reported total annual CEO compensation of US$5.0m for the year to December 2019. Notably, that's an increase of 66% over the year before. While we always look at total compensation first, our analysis shows that the salary component is less, at US$796k.

For comparison, other companies in the same industry with market capitalizations ranging between US$2.0b and US$6.4b had a median total CEO compensation of US$3.4m. This suggests that Robert Sprowls is paid more than the median for the industry. Furthermore, Robert Sprowls directly owns US$9.3m worth of shares in the company, implying that they are deeply invested in the company's success.

Component 2019 2018 Proportion (2019) Salary US$796k US$772k 16% Other US$4.2m US$2.2m 84% Total Compensation US$5.0m US$3.0m 100%

Speaking on an industry level, nearly 31% of total compensation represents salary, while the remainder of 69% is other remuneration. American States Water pays a modest slice of remuneration through salary, as compared to the broader industry. If total compensation is slanted towards non-salary benefits, it indicates that CEO pay is linked to company performance.

American States Water Company's Growth

American States Water Company's earnings per share (EPS) grew 7.1% per year over the last three years. In the last year, its revenue is up 3.5%.

We would argue that the improvement in revenue is good, but isn't particularly impressive, but the modest improvement in EPS is good. Considering these factors we'd say performance has been pretty decent, though not amazing. 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 American States Water Company Been A Good Investment?

We think that the total shareholder return of 58%, over three years, would leave most American States Water Company shareholders smiling. 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.

To Conclude...

As previously discussed, Robert is compensated more than what is normal for CEOs of companies of similar size, and which belong to the same industry. But shareholder returns have been positive for the last three years. On the other hand, EPS growth  over the same period  is not as impressive. We'd ideally want to see higher EPS growth, but CEO compensation seems to be within reason, given high shareholder returns.

While it is important to pay attention to CEO remuneration, investors should also consider other elements of the business. We did our research and spotted 1 warning sign for American States Water that investors should look into moving forward.

Important note: American States Water 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.
The police officer who shot Jacob Blake in the back seven times last month has told investigators he thought Mr Blake was trying to abduct one of his own children and opened fire because he started turning towards the officer while holding a knife, his lawyer has said.

Brendan Matthews, the lawyer for Officer Rusten Sheskey and the Kenosha police union, told CNN that when Mr Sheskey arrived at the scene on August 23 in response to a call from a woman who said Mr Blake was at her home and should not be there, he heard a woman say: Hes got my kid. Hes got my keys.

Mr Sheskey saw Mr Blake put a child in the SUV as he arrived, but he did not know that two other children were also in the backseat, Mr Matthews said.

Expand Close Jacob Blakes sister Letetra Widman, centre, and uncle Justin Blake, left, march at a rally for Mr Blake in Kenosha in August (Morry Gash/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Jacob Blakes sister Letetra Widman, centre, and uncle Justin Blake, left, march at a rally for Mr Blake in Kenosha in August (Morry Gash/AP)

The lawyer said Mr Sheskey told investigators he opened fire because Mr Blake held a knife in his hand and twisted his body toward the officer, and that he did not stop until he determined Mr Blake no longer posed an imminent threat.

Mr Matthews said if Mr Sheskey had allowed Mr Blake to leave and something had happened to the child, the question would have been why didnt you do something?'.

Mobile phone video captured by a bystander and posted online shows Mr Sheskey and another officer follow Mr Blake with their guns drawn as he walks around the front of the parked SUV, opens the drivers side door and lean into the vehicle. Mr Sheskey, who is white, then opens fire, hitting the black man seven times and leaving him paralysed from the waist down, according to his family members and lawyer.

The shooting sparked outrage and led to several nights of protests and unrest, including a night in which authorities say an Illinois 17-year-old shot and killed two protesters and wounded a third.

Ben Crump, a lawyer for Mr Blakes family, did not immediately respond to Mr Matthewss interview but he has previously said that Mr Blake was only trying to break up a domestic dispute that day and that he did nothing to provoke police, adding that witnesses did not see him with a knife.

Mr Blakes uncle, Justin Blake, said on Saturday that the allegation that Mr Blake was attempting to kidnap his own child was false, the Kenosha News reported.

Expand Close Jacob Blakes father Jacob Blake Sr speaks at a news conference in Louisville (Darron Cummings/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Jacob Blakes father Jacob Blake Sr speaks at a news conference in Louisville (Darron Cummings/AP)

Thats ridiculous, Justin Blake said. Its gaslighting. Outright lies.

The bystander who recorded the shooting, 22-year-old Raysean White, said he saw Mr Blake scuffling with three officers and heard them yell, Drop the knife! Drop the knife!, before gunfire broke out. Mr White said he did not see a knife in Mr Blakes hands.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice, which is leading the investigation, previously said in a news release that a knife was found in the vehicle, but it did not say whether Mr Blake had been holding it at any point during the confrontation or whether police knew it was there before Mr Sheskey shot him.

In a statement previously released by Mr Matthews on behalf of the police union, the lawyer said Mr Blake was armed with a knife but that officers did not see it until Mr Blake reached the passenger side of the vehicle. As Mr Blake opened the drivers door of the SUV, Mr Sheskey pulled on Mr Blakes shirt and then opened fire. Three of Mr Blakes children were in the backseat.

The mother of the three children, who called police that day, filed a complaint against Mr Blake that had led to charges being filed in July accusing him of sexually assaulting a woman in May. Mr Blake, who was wanted on a warrant for those charges when police arrived at the scene on August 23, pleaded not guilty to the charges earlier this month via video from from his hospital bed. A trial date was set for November 9.

Mr Sheskey and the other two officers who were at the scene were placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
New Delhi, Sep 27 : Delhi Police has arrested a graduation student on charge of sending obscene messages to a woman on Facebook, a senior officer said on Sunday.

Mobile phones used in the commission of crime have been seized from the accused, he added.

Accused Kafil confessed to his crime and told police that he was fond of proposing friendship to young women on the social media and sending them obscene messages.

"For this purpose, he used to create fake IDs to impress women. He used hotspots or Wi-Fi of other users to forge FB IDs and send obscene posts to evade detection," said DCP (South) Atul Thakur.

Kafil earlier used to harass a young woman living in Mehrauli after creating a fake profile on Facebook in the name of Karan and posing as a gym trainer.

A case under Sections 419, 354D, 509, and 506 of the IPC was registered at Mehrauli police station.
Stacker explores the 50 most important moments in the history of man's chief partner in the animal world, from prehistory through today.
He was in the senior commanding cadre among the revered elite jihadist corps in the Islamist terrorist group, Boko Haram. As a Qaid, the Nigeria Army equivalent of a Brigadier-General, he was high in the sects pecking order. Two years ago, Musa, (not his real name) took residence in Hayin Rigasa in Kaduna among ordinary people.

Musa was joined by his family, his wife and three children. He lived discreetly, with a keen interest in the minutest information about his neighbours and the neighbourhood. He avoided conversations with people and only ventured out when it was necessary.

He had a medical issue. HumAngle was informed that Musa frequently treated piles but his stubborn refusal to submit himself for professional medical attention and prescription, plus the absence of any medical records stocked whispering campaigns that matter could very well be much more serious. Some even hinted at the possibility of HIV.

A few months ago, Musa gave up the ghost at the peak of the scourge of the coronavirus pandemic. Without any known friends or relations that his widow could run to, she took her children and returned to Maiduguri to join her family. Musa was among the numerous ex-Boko Haram fighters who have made some of Nigerias major cities their homes since 2016. Unconfirmed figures believe their number could be well over 3000.

Musas family, as well as that of his wife, had no idea of their whereabouts for years. A member of the family told HumAngle: After the death of her husband, she had nowhere else to go, so she returned home to us in Maiduguri. That was when we knew they were no longer in the Lake Chad precinct but were living in Kaduna for over two years.

HumAngle tracked 15 ex-fighters of Boko Haram who have deserted the battlefronts and have taken up residence in major cities in parts of northern Nigeria. Their neighbours and colleagues at work know nothing about their violent past. Security agencies seem to have no clues about the trend either.

Our investigations show that as many as 3,000 Boko Haram ex-fighters have been living in major cities across northern Nigeria undetected between 2016 and 2020. They work to eke out a living as daily paid labourers in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna and other major cities in northern Nigeria.

Many among them also work as taxi drivers, domestic workers in peoples homes, wheelbarrow pushers in markets and motor parks, traders, and security guards for individuals and organisations.

One of such ex-fighters that we tracked is Aliyu (not his real name) who created for himself a new life in one of the slum neighbourhoods in Kaduna. He moved into Kaduna three years ago and started a modest tailoring business. He soon attracted many clients to his shop.

Aliyu drew praise from his clients, impressed that he delivers their work on time showing skill and diligence. In no time, he started a relationship with one of his clients, and it resulted in a marriage that was consummated in Kaduna on September 11. Aliyu had always contemplated a more sedentary life, now in excitement of being married to someone from Kaduna state, he reasoned that this has been finally resolved, giving him the liberty to claim the state as his state of origin, overcoming undue official scrutiny.

Keeping track of some of them, however, is a major challenge. Unlike Aliyu, who has established himself as a tailor, most of the ex-fighters live in constant fear. And lifes creed for them, it appears, is trust no one! This came to test, in the reporting for this article, as some of them that we spoke with mysteriously vanished into thin air when we sought a follow-up. Their phone numbers became dead, inoperative. This was our experience with four of them. Three others were no longer in the physical locations in which they had been met, a practice that security sources told HumAngle was standard operating practice for members of criminal gangs who suspect that their cover had been blown. Offenders rarely take chances even with those they seem to trust or with their family members, a security official told HumAngle.

One of the ex-Boko Haram fighters we spoke with confided that some among them in Abuja were recently involved in theft and were apprehended by the police. They are still in police custody as common criminals. But the police have no idea about their recent past. No history, no data that links the suspects to a much bigger crime like terrorism. The ex-fighter was HumAngles go-between and facilitated most of the meetings with other members of the terror group. Another ex-fighter who only wants to be identified as Sanusi told HumAngle that he was a rajal (soldier) from 2014 when he was barely 15 years old. I fought and nearly became a Naqib, he said, referencing the equivalent of a sergeant in a regular enforcement institution, before he fell out with his commanders.

He was thrown into detention for months. The prison is not different from the ones in the land of Kufr (referring to secular societies). We were crammed in the same cells and used the toilets as others watched, revealing our private parts. I was glad when the opportunity to escape came, and I fled, Sanusi recounted.

He escaped in the confusion and desperation that followed a particular military bombardment of their camp. After his escape, Sanusi lived in four different towns working as a daily labourer. Now 21 years old, he sees himself as a promising bricklayer and has vowed never to go back to violence.

I dont need to be deradicalised. My deradicalisation happened when I was imprisoned and treated like an animal by my brothers, Sanusi said. He did not say precisely what put him at odds with his commanders that led to his imprisonment.

He told HumAngle that an ex-Boko Haram fighter who deserted before him accommodated him in Gombe, the Gombe State capital, and introduced him to daily construction labour. They had to flee when one of them who was addicted to phone calls attracted security surveillance in their direction.

Four of them ran to Kudu, referring to the southern parts of Nigeria, but Sanusi moved to a modest neighbourhood in Abuja. Two other ex-fighters that HumAngle tracked currently work in the Apo mechanic village, an auto repair and spare parts market in Abuja.

According to them, it was easy for them to blend into daily city life because they received training in the Boko Haram camps as panel beaters. They told HumAngle that while in the camp, they fabricated weapons and other metalwork for use in the insurgency.

I was among the few lucky ones. I was not only taught how to handle weapons, but I learnt a skill that I am using to feed myself and my family today.

Some of them believe it was safer to live and work in local government areas than in cities. The chances of someone who may know you from Maiduguri or who knows your affiliations are higher in the cities than if you are in smaller towns or villages, said an ex-fighter.

All that is required is one contact who will give you a place to stay, and if you are not lazy and you engage in any kind of work, it is easy to reintegrate and be accepted in your new community.

This scenario fitted with the experience of Mustapha Modu, an ex-Boko Haram fighter who moved to Kano. I started washing caps two years ago when I arrived in Kano. I grew up in a family in Bama, Borno state that makes caps for a living. I started fixing loose threads on the caps brought to me to wash, and when people began to see that their caps are not only washed but fixed, I became the favourite of many, said Modu.

Among those that patronise Modu are businessmen and sometimes security officials who could jump at the opportunity to arrest him if they knew his true identity. Several others like Modu have sold items on the streets to people who may think they have never met a Boko Haram fighter in their lifetime.

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The Boko Haram ex-fighters, according to our findings, are careful to avoid seeking refuge in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. Mohammed Kyari, a community worker in Maiduguri who also works as a fixer for many visiting journalists, gave an insight.

According to him, people are required in Maiduguri to report to the ward heads even when they have visitors and those seeking to rent houses are investigated by the ward heads and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force before moving in.

No ex-Boko Haram fighter wants to expose himself to such risk. The checks have made Maiduguri and Damaturu unattractive for Boko Haram ex-fighters. They prefer the ensuing anonymity of cities like Kano, Kaduna, Yola and Abuja, reasoned Kyari.

Insiders who are conversant with activities in the Boko Haram camps told HumAngle that fighters are steadily breaking ranks and moving into cities. They further reported that several of the fighters who were deserting the camps were wary of the Federal Governments Safe Corridor programme designed as a rehabilitating window for terrorists.

HumAngle was further informed that the ex-fighters would usually pick their ways quietly to cities such as Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, Jos or as is becoming more evident, move to Lagos or some other towns in southwest Nigeria.

Each of the ex-fighters we spoke with knew dozens more who were living in one city or another. Several of their members are also living in countries outside Nigeria. These ex-fighters estimate that thousands of them have been living in one town or another between 2016 and now.

HumAngle was able to narrow the figure down to over 3,000 by closely monitoring and documenting the desertion of at least six Qaids and over 10 Munzirs, mid-level commanders alongside their respective fighters, often running into several hundred from 2016 to date.

Outside this estimate, a separate set of about 1,000 of the ex-fighters is believed to have fled to other countries within the Sahel region.

There is almost a consensus amongst the 15 ex-fighters that more than 3000 of their members fled the front lines to different parts of the country, for several reasons, in the past four years alone. This number is growing by the day, said Adamu Gwange, a vigilante and veteran of the Boko Haram war, supporting the Nigerian military to prosecute the war.

Our investigation also found out that some families whose members had joined the terror group have succeeded in convincing them to escape and after that support them to settle in some locations far away from where they are known.

Multiple sources told HumAngle that Kano metropolis is host to about 50 per cent of ex-Boko Haram fighters living in cities across Nigeria. Other choice locations for them include Kaduna, Suleja in Niger state where several hundreds of the ex-fighters reside, Dutse and Hadeija in Jigawa State, some satellite neighbourhoods in Abuja, Lagos and Ibadan in Oyo State count among their preferred cities.

Our investigation further found out that several of the over 3,000 ex-fighters who are living in different cities across Nigeria stand better chances of returning to the sect than those going through the governments Safe Corridor programme.

Most of the ex-Boko Haram fighters withhold the view that the government programme is full of uncertainties. Sanusi told HumAngle that one stood a chance of returning to the sect if he did not go through the deradicalisation window.

It is not as easy as people think for people to return to the war after going through the programme. I was imprisoned with some of the returnees from the governments deradicalisation programme. If you are not detained, you will always be under watch. Some have been killed on account of their involvement, said Sanusi.

The governments Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC) has released 852 ex-fighters since its inception in June 2016. There are other 100 ex-Boko Haram fighters under different programmes similar to the OPSC. The total number of ex-fighters freed under the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) programmes in Lake Chad, according to official records, is less than 1000.

In effect, HumAngle investigations reveal that the official programme graduated what constitutes less than 35 per cent of the total ex-fighters that have deserted the group.

Speaking to this paper, Kabir Adamu, a security consultant and Managing Director of Beacon Consulting, emphasised the need to deconstruct the membership structure of the typical terrorist organisation. This structure does not only include commanders and fighters but also makes room for informants, sympathisers, and collaborators. The latter group of members often make up sleeper cells who support the formalised group without necessarily embedding themselves and are located in various places outside the hotspots of insurgency.

Sometimes, it will just take the commanders to release a statement online, and then the sleeper cells will be activated, and sometimes they are waiting to be weaponised, he explained.

Former active members, on the other hand, the security expert continued, may either join existing sleeper cells, become itinerant while maintaining contact with the leading group, or join forces with armed bandits in the region. He stressed that both deserters and collaborators living in the larger society constitute a viable threat and may attack at any point in time.

Several of the ex-Boko Haram fighters who spoke with HumAngle maintain that they still share the ideology that forbids any association with civil authority and western education. They contend that the only reason they left the battleground was the incessant leadership feud.

They were not fleeing the camps because they had disavowed violent criminalities. For instance, one of them told HumAngle: I was driving a commercial taxi and felt like plunging into a ditch with all the passengers because the commuters were saying derogatory things about Islam and Muslims.

I nearly shoved the car in the ditch for all of us to die, but I remembered my wife and kids at home waiting for me and having nowhere else to go in my absence.

Mr Adamu advised the government to prioritise intelligence gathering on terrorist membership as a way to lessen security threats from ex-jihadi combatants significantly. How come we do not have a comprehensive database of members of Boko Haram? he asked. Having such information through the collaboration of all security agencies will enable the government to monitor the insurgents movement effectively.

We had the chance at the beginning when the group was organised before Mohammed Yusuf was killed, but we never had that database. And till date, ten years into the campaign, we still do not have it.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the community of these ex-fighters were locked in a debate as to whether it was ideologically appropriate for them to take the palliatives from the government or not. The lockdown and social distancing measures had affected most of them who relied on daily wages to survive.

One of them, Tijani Abba, shared his particular experience and dilemma with HumAngle: It was challenging for me, I left the forest in February and escaped to Cameroon, ended up in Cross River before settling down in Jos with my cousins.

The long, risky and expensive journey for this deserter lasted for two months, and when he was about to settle down, the COVID-19 lockdown unleashed hunger and starvation on him. I have to beg for food for weeks before I finally found my relatives, he told HumAngle.

This investigative report is a partnership between HumAngle Media and the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism under the media and terrorism programme.
We looked at every confirmed COVID-19 case in Canada. Here's what we found

Canada's first known case of COVID-19 was detected eight months ago this week. As of Sept. 22, the coronavirus has been confirmed in 146,663 people across the country.

CBC News has dug deep into the data collected by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to examine how COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus, affects the young, the elderly, men and women in order to better understand what's most likely to land you in hospital  or worse.

The data contains details on 121,795 cases up to the first week of September. See the methodology at the bottom to learn more.

Here are our findings.

Who is getting the virus?

In the early days, people over 80 years old made up the largest group getting sick as long-term care homes were hit hard, resulting in more older people getting tested.

But CBC's analysis reveals that since mid-August, infections among young people (under 30) have surged and now, after a summer of provincial reopenings and expanded testing, cumulatively outnumber the elderly.

CBC News

COVID-19 infections are also on the rise among the very youngest (under 20) as schools, colleges and universities reopen.

How is the virus affecting us?

Symptoms can vary by age group from youngest to oldest. Chills, sore throat and runny nose were reported more frequently among those under 50.

PHAC only has symptom data on seven per cent of cases in the detailed data as not every province records this. The way symptoms are defined and recorded may also vary across jurisdictions. But the 9,000 cases that do list those details suggest that people with COVID-19 suffer differently depending on age and symptoms.

CBC News

*Other symptoms can include loss of taste and smell.

Who's being hospitalized?

Close to 10 per cent of people who tested positive for coronavirus ended up in hospital, according to the cases tracked by PHAC.

Two per cent of cases landed in intensive care units (ICU) across all ages but mostly among people over 50.

In people admitted to hospital, shortness of breath and fever were more common symptoms while headaches, sore throat and runny nose were seen more often in less severe cases.

Story continues

CBC News

In fatal cases, shortness of breath and fever were also more common.

CBC

"Keep in mind that mortality is often through respiratory distress," said University of Ottawa epidemiologist Raywat Deonandan.

"It's not surprising that those showing an early symptom of that distress [shortness of breath] would be on a shorter path to death."

Deaths and serious illness

More than 9,200 people have died in Canada with COVID-19.

Of all confirmed infections in Canada, six per cent, or 9,274 cases, have been fatal, with the elderly hit the hardest. Only two people under 20 are known to have died from the disease so far.

The age gap in deaths is so wide that the chart below had to be stretched for the younger victims to be visible:

More women in Canada have died from COVID-19, especially in the 80+ age group where they outnumber men. Outside that age group, more men are dying from the virus.

Deonandan says differences between men and women's health might be affecting COVID-19 outcomes.

"Older men are more likely than women to have serious heart disease. COVID-19 might be expressing mortality through these disproportionate vulnerabilities that already exist," he said.

But more men have been hospitalized or ended up in an ICU with COVID-19.

Recovery

By Sept. 22, of the 146,663 confirmed and presumptive cases in Canada, 126,905 had recovered.

Canada's public health data only shows recovery times for about 10 per cent of cases.

Older people tend to suffer longer (based on this small sample), not surprising given the greater presence of other medical conditions among the elderly.

Some COVID-19 cases took as many as 11 weeks to resolve, though the average recovery time is two to three weeks.

"Older people are more likely to be hospitalized and need more intensive interventions, which in turn are associated with longer recovery periods," said Deonandan.

Similarly, more severe cases that required hospitalization had longer recovery times.

The future

The fall return to school has health officials bracing for a rise in exposures and new infections, particularly among young people.

The data shows that, while cases among 20-somethings rise, the youngest cohort, age 19 or younger, is also making up an increasing share of Canada's overall cases and by early September had overtaken people in their 70s.

METHODOLOGY

The main data source for this article is the detailed preliminary information on confirmed cases of COVID-19 compiled by the Public Health Agency of Canada and published by Statistics Canada.

The data is based on a case report form that provincial authorities send to PHAC for each confirmed case.

Provinces might define a confirmed case, symptoms and recovery time differently, so that must be taken into account when interpreting the data.

WATCH | Older Canadians still at risk even as more young people get COVID-19:

Not every province reports symptoms and recoveries, and those that do don't report them for every case. Only about 9,000 cases out of 121,795 in the data contain symptom information, and only about 12,500 cases contain the recovery date.

Symptom onset and recovery dates are noted only with the week of the year. Recovery times were calculated by subtracting the recovery week from the diagnosis week and do not account for possible variations in days.

In some cases, details are excluded or modified by Statistics Canada if there is a risk of identifying a patient in the data. For example, the data does not show any fatal cases under 50 years of age, even though there were nearly 80 such cases in the daily epidemiological report from PHAC, which contains the most recent confirmed numbers. CBC used the daily epidemiological data for the chart on deaths by age and gender.

The data analysis was done in Python. Questions about how it was done? Contact data journalist Roberto Rocha at roberto.rocha@cbc.ca.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Sunday extended its support to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which exited the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance late on Saturday, in its protest against the Centre over the three contentious farm bills.

We support Sukhbir Singh Badal and Akali Dals stand with the farmers. Fighting for farmers is part of Trinamool DNA, TMC lawmaker Derek OBrien said.

The Rajya Sabha MP, who was suspended from the Rajya Sabha over the ruckus last week along with seven other members during the passage of the bills, said his party will contest the farm bills passed by both the Houses as it has a direct bearing on states role, minimum support price, public distribution price and procurement.

Also read | SAD quits NDA: How farm bills ended friendship between oldest allies

In 2006, Mamata Banerjee risked her life on a historic 26 day fast for farmers rights. We oppose #FarmBills2020 as they endanger States role, MSP, PDS and procurement, OBrien tweeted.

The TMCs support for NDAs former ally comes after the SAD exited coalition saying that the legislation will destroy the agriculture sector. SAD member and former Union minister in the BJP-led government Harsimrat Kaur Badal had exited the Cabinet on September 17 over the bills which the party has been bitterly opposing.

SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal has said the decision to quit the NDA was taken because of the Centres stubborn refusal to give statutory legislative guarantees to protect assured marketing of farmers crops on MSP and its continued insensitivity to Punjabi and Sikh issues like excluding the Punjabi language as an official language in Jammu and Kashmir.

Parliament had 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.

Also read: All must unite against Centre, says SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal

The SAD is the third major NDA ally to pull out of the alliance after the Shiv Sena and the TDP.
Over 270 Vietnamese citizens were flown home from Russia on a repatriation flight of Bamboo Airways on September 26 as a joint effort of competent authorities of both nations.

The passengers included children under 18, the elderly, people with illnesses, pregnant women, workers whose contracts have expired, and students without accommodation due to dormitory closure.



The Vietnamese Embassy in Russia sent staff to help the citizens with pre-departure procedures at the airport in Vladivostok.

Security, safety and hygiene measures were rigorously taken during the flight to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Upon their arrival at Can Tho International Airport in the city of the same name, all the crew members and passengers were given medical checkups and put under quarantine in line with regulations.

In the time to come, more repatriation flights will be arranged to bring Vietnamese citizens home, depending on their demand and domestic quarantine capacity.

VNA
On 19 August 2020, the South African Banking Risk Centre (SABRIC) announced a data breach at consumer, business, and credit information services agency Experian.

Experians major clients include several South African banks with the company holding highly sensitive financial and personal information of local citizens and businesses.

According to SABRIC, personal banking-related information of 24 million South Africans and 793,749 businesses were exposed following the data breach.

Following the SABRIC announcement, Experian issued a statement saying it was not hacked and that the number of leaked records were overstated.

Experian South Africa CEO Ferdie Pieterse said the data breach actually exposed the personal details of 23.4 million South Africans and 607,000 businesses.

He said the security breach occurred when an individual in South Africa, purporting to represent a legitimate client, fraudulently requested services from Experian.

The perpetrator used social engineering techniques to put himself forward as a known customer and convinced Experian, in the normal course of business, to provide him with the records of 23.4 million individuals.

According to Pieterse, the fraudster already had the names, surnames, and ID numbers of people and Experian only provided contact information to the fraudster  telephone numbers and addresses.

While Pieterse downplayed the severity of the breach, security experts highlighted that it poses a big security risk to individuals and businesses.

J2 Software managing director John Mc Loughlin said this is a serious data breach which should concern people.

He highlighted that the information breach already happened in May and the data has been out there for months.

We live in a digital world. That data can be absolutely anywhere, and that is the information which hackers need to target people for identity theft, SIM swaps, and other fraud, he said.

This highly valuable and rich data set provides fraudsters with the means to launch attacks against people.

Data available online

It was not long before this data found its way to the Internet.

Earlier this month, the Information Regulator of South Africa raised concerns that data from the Experian data leak was found on the dark web.

It said the data includes the cellphone numbers, home numbers, work phone numbers, employment details, and identity numbers of individuals.

Company data available reportedly includes the names of companies, as well as their contact details, VAT numbers, and banking details.

Last week, MyBroadband received information from an anonymous source that the Experian data breach file is now widely available online.

The Experian data breach file is all over the web. I have managed to locate the file at a number of locations, he said.

With the help of security experts, MyBroadband verified that the data is indeed available through a simple download link online and not only on the dark web.

This means the anyone with a browser and Internet connection can download the data, which is contained in multiple CSV files.

MyBroadband also verified the accuracy of the data by contacting businesses whose details are contained in the leak.

Responding to questions about the data leak, Experian said their global security teams have not observed evidence to suggest that these files are circulating on the Internet.

Given this, we do not feel compelled to respond to misleading and unsubstantiated further claims, Experian said.

Additionally, the numbers you quote are factually inaccurate and we would direct you to our website which provides a comprehensive Q&A that deals with the known facts as of this date.

The data which is available online

Orange Cyberdefense analysed the data and provided an overview of the data which is now freely available online.

There are 25,055,050 total records contained in numerous CSV files.

There are 21,263,393 unique records. 2,736,752 records are listed two or more times.

The latest record date is 2 May 2020.

There are 1,263,435 unique email addresses contained in the leaked data.

It is currently not clear if the financial and personal data which is now available has been enriched from other sources since the first leak.

What is clear is that the data contains in-depth personal and financial data about millions of South African citizens and businesses  a treasure trove for criminals.

To date, South Africans have not been clearly informed as to what data is online. MyBroadband created two tables to clearly show what the leaked data looks like.

Here is a summary of the data which is available online. The data has been changed to not expose personal details about the business or individual.

Individual Data Leak Field Information RSAID 6705216150082 Forename1 John surname Doe CS_File_number 1 CS_CST_HomeAffairsRSAIDVerf Y CS_CELL_PHONE_1 0791234567 CS_CELL_PHONE_2 0841234567 CS_CELL_PHONE_3 0831234567 CS_HOME_PHONE_1 0111234567 CS_HOME_PHONE_2 0111234567 CS_HOME_PHONE_3 0111234567 CS_OTHER_PHONE_1  CS_OTHER_PHONE_2  CS_OTHER_PHONE_3  CS_WORK_PHONE_1 0111234567 CS_WORK_PHONE_2 0821234567 CS_WORK_PHONE_3 0811234567 CS_EMAIL  CS_EMAIL_RANK  CS_Employer Motor Sales Sandton CS_OCCUPATION  CS_Date 18/07/2008 00:00 CS_EMP1_EMP_NAME Toyota CS_EMP1_DATE_CREATED 20200430 CS_EMP1_OCCUPATION Manager CS_EMP2_EMP_NAME Toyota SA CS_EMP2_DATE_CREATED 20200331 CS_EMP2_OCCUPATION Manager CS_EMP3_EMP_NAME Toyota SA CS_EMP3_DATE_CREATED 20200331 CS_EMP3_OCCUPATION Manager CS_Address1_Line_1 5 Ribbok Street CS_Address1_Line_2 Zwartkop Ext 4 CS_Address1_Line_3 Centurion CS_Address1_Line_4  CS_Address1_Town Centurion CS_Address1_PostCode 0157 CS_Address1_Province Gauteng CS_Address1_Update_Date 20190531 CS_Address2_Line_1 2 Bridget Street CS_Address2_Line_2 Northworld CS_Address2_Line_3 Randburg CS_Address2_Line_4  CS_Address2_Town Randburg CS_Address2_PostCode 2188 CS_Address2_Province Gauteng CS_Address2_Update_Date 20160831 CS_Address3_Line_1 17 Chris Street CS_Address3_Line_2 Birchleigh North CS_Address3_Line_3 Kempton Park CS_Address3_Line_4  CS_Address3_Town Kempton Park CS_Address3_PostCode 1618 CS_Address3_Province Gauteng CS_Address3_Update_Date 20090131

Business Data Leak FIELD INFORMATION Kim# 1229 Debtor Name ACME Motor Holdings Vat Matched Flag N Legal Name ACME Motor Holdings (PTY) LTD Alt Name Type Trading As Alt Name ACME Motors Name Change Type Conversion Name Changed Name ACME Motor Holdings (PTY) LTD (2012/134123/08) Entity (Pty) Ltd Company Status Active Reg Number 1997/005111/28 Report Date 20171002 Enquiry Amount 100000 Enquiry Terms 30 Days Bank Code C Bank Code Date 20200213 Sicc Source K Sicc 63121.01 Sicc Description Retail sale of new motor vehicles Employees 185 Holding Company  Turnover Range 300 000 000  500 000 000 Import/Export  Fleet 68 Score 68 Score Comment Older than 18 months Judgements N R/D Cheques N Adverse References N Telephone (011) 871 9000 Postal Address P O Box 1234, Alberton, 1450 Street Address 20 Voortrekker Road, Alberton, 1449 Province Gauteng Principals 1 Branches  Liquidation  Premises Leased VAT Number 4930104558 Ultimate Holding Company  Last JU Date 0 Auditor Pieter De Beer Fax (011) 871 9001 E-mail [email protected] Bankers SA ABSA Account# 4012345678 Branch 632005 BEE Y NCA No

Information Regulator of South Africa Statement

Experian South Africa statement

Now read: Personal information of millions of South Africans exposed in banking data breach
The Executive Director of Jatikay Centre for Human Security and Peace Building, Adib Saani says the last Friday's disturbance by the Western Togoland secessionist group in Volta Region is a dress rehearsal

Mr Saani predicted that the group may start targeting critical infrastructure like the Adomi bridge and the dam which are high value targets.

His comment follows the attack and blockade to all major entry and exit points into the Volta region by members of the secessionist group.

Two police stations were attacked, officers beaten and kidnapped, and 10 AK47 rifles stolen.

A joint police and military operation led to the arrest of 31 members of the group who were subsequently handed over to the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) for questioning.

This, Mr Saani said the group has the capacity and geographical advantage (forest cover and international border) to engage in asymmetrical warfare that could be hard to win.

"Soon, we might go beyond condemning their actions to asking them what their demands are. With a heavy heart, I predict they might start targeting critical infrastructure. They have the capacity and geographical advantage (forest cover and international border) to engage in asymmetrical warfare that could be hard to win," he said in a statement.

The security Analyst blames this on what he described as an intelligence failure. According to him, despite the presence of the intelligence officers, they have largely failed to gather actionable intel in real-time.

"Unfortunately, over the past few years, they have become more audacious and brazen and we can only expect more. They are able to make strong political statements and control the narrative. They seem to be succeeding into bullying government into submission. They have succeeded in disrupting lives and holding the nation hostage," he intimated.

He is asking National Security Minister Albert Kan-Dapaah to resign for failing to lead an action on the early warning signs to curb the activities of the militant group.

Read full statement below:

National Security Minister Must Resign For failure to heed to warning signs

When this Togoland issue started, some of us within the security space did not spare any moment or mince words, raising serious concerns about their activities and the existential threat they posed to the security of Ghana.

Unfortunately, over the past few years, they have become more audacious and brazen and we can only expect more. They are able to make strong political statements and control the narrative. They seem to be succeeding into bullying government into submission. They have succeeded in disrupting lives and holding the nation hostage.

Soon, we might go beyond condemning their actions to asking them what their demands are. With a heavy heart, I predict they might start targeting critical infrastructure. They have the capacity and geographical advantage (forest cover and international border) to engage in asymmetrical warfare that could be hard to win.

We ignored the early warning signs and thought this was all a joke. We arrest and release, re-arrest and release again. Despite the presence of intelligence officers, they have largely failed to gather actionable intel in real time.

Going forward, the over 100 kilometer Accra  Atimpoku  Juapong stretch is very crucial and needs permanent detachment stationed within that enclave. The Adome bridge and the dam are high value targets that we cannot trade off.

Let us invest in human security because largely, these secessionists have some level of Community support.

Let us collaborate more effectively with Togolese authorities so the group doesnt engage in cross border activities and the trafficking of weapons to oil their seeming war machine.

Adib Saani

Security Analyst/Executive Director

Jatikay Centre for Human Security and Peace Building

0244985099
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Minister of Defense Davit Tonoyan held a phone conversation with Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk and informed him on the latest Azerbaijani military attack, Defense Ministry spokesperson Shushan Stepanyan said in a statement.

The adversary has launched aerial and missile attack in the direction of Artsakh. The entire responsibility falls on Azerbaijanis military-political leadership. The Armenian side has shot down two enemy helicopters and three UAVs. The battles continue, Stepanyan said.

The Azerbaijani military launched artillery bombardment across the entire length of the line of contact in Artsakh. Azerbaijan is also targeting civilian settlements, including Stepanakert city.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
European airlines cutting fares to woo back passengers - source: eurocontrol.int

Travel restrictions adopted by many countries to stem the spread of the disease have clobbered airlines, bringing air traffic to a near halt in the spring. And while traffic picked up during the summer, it is now falling off again.

According to Eurocontrol, which coordinates air traffic in Europe, traffic has been slowing over the past couple of weeks, and is now 54 percent below its comparable level last year.

A European airline trade association has put August traffic even lower, at just 30 percent of 2019 levels.

Eurocontrol is now more pessimistic about a recovery for the sector.

In the spring it had expected traffic to be 30 percent below 2019 levels in October, but it now sees a 57-percent drop.

While the pandemic has left airlines starved for cash, they have begun to cut fare prices.

According to ForwardKeys, a company which analyses the tourism market, airlines trimmed fares from Britain, France, Germany and the Netherlands to destinations in southern Europe by 15 percent in August compared with the same period last year.

In a study released Thursday it found that prices on some routes were down by more than one third.

- 'Entice travellers' -

"You have to entice travellers to return to flying and price is a factor," said Reginald Otten, deputy managing director for France at budget airline easyJet.

He said the airline had managed to reopen some routes during the summer and the planes it flew were nearly full.

"But we are nevertheless around 30 percent of capacity, which is a very, very low figure, and the summer is the most important, most popular (time) for people to travel," he told AFP.

Lower prices also stimulate traffic, according to Eddie Wilson, head of Ryanair DAC, one of the two firms which operate flights under the Ryanair brand.

Ryanair, which has used a low-cost model to become one of Europe's biggest airlines, this week launched a brief buy-one-get-one-free promotion.

"At some stage you can't sit there and look out of the window and hope that things will be alright and wait for the politicians to do something," he said.

Beyond cutting prices, airlines can and are focusing on their most profitable routes.

But the reimposition of travel restrictions and tighter quarantine and testing measures could quickly undo their planning and efforts.

European airlines earlier this month urged national capitals to coordinate measures to limit the spread of the virus, saying the current patchwork of restrictions is hobbling a return to regular travel around the EU.

Airlines are responding to the drop in demand for travel "with the tools they have in hand: reducing capacity and promotional offers, but they have no control over the evolution of the pandemic and policies on restricting travel," said Oliver Ponti, vice president of ForwardKeys.

"The effect of low prices will thus be limited, especially as consumers remain worried about their plans being disrupted and rapid reimbursement of their tickets in case of cancellation," he added.
For 5-year-old Beckett Boznanski, Camp Okizu was the first place he didnt have to explain to his peers why he was bald. Thats because other campers were also going through chemotherapy. He wasnt alone.

Beckett was diagnosed with leukemia in February 2019. It wasnt until the Boznanski family spent a summer weekend at Camp Okizu in Berry Creek (Butte County) that they were able to let their son run wild without worrying about his emotional state.

The camp was a safe haven, a magical place where children werent defined by their cancer diagnosis and could instead just be kids  swimming or boating in one of the three lakes on the 500-acre property  under the supervision of experienced staff.

But on Sept. 9, the camps staff was notified by firefighters that a wildfire caused significant damage to the camp and destroyed the lodge where the campers ate their meals and had Friday night dances, as well as the infirmary, where oncology patients received chemotherapy treatments and other medication. The camp has insurance, but staff members wont know how much of the damage will be covered until they can assess it.

Wildfires throughout the state have caused catastrophic loss as people and firefighters mourn destroyed homes and institutions. In addition to Camp Okizu, the CZU Lightning Complex fires in the Santa Cruz Mountains destroyed Camp Kern, which offered year-end programs to thousands of children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The losses are hard to accept for many who rely on such programs to provide a sanctuary for their family.

I cried, said Erica Boznanski, Becketts mother. Its really sad because its a healing place and its so tranquil. The grounds are just magical. Its such a transformative experience that Okizu offers.

Camp staff has been unable to see the grounds in person because its still not safe to access. The camp was already closed in April, well before the flames hit  because of the pandemic, the camp shut down and moved its year-round programs online.

Courtesy Department of Forestry via Sarah Uldricks (Okizu Foundation)

The flames were from the North Complex Fire, which started Aug. 18 and has burned more than 298,000 acres through Plumas, Butte and Yuba counties. The fires, which have killed 15 people, were 78% contained as of Saturday, but continue to threaten 10,000 structures.

Camp Okizu is the only camp of its kind in Northern California that offers support programs for children battling cancer, as well as their parents and siblings. Nearly 800 children attend the camp each year. Okizu is a Sioux word that means unity, to come together, to heal from a hurt, to make whole, according to the camps website.

Okizu is a nonprofit that relies on grants and donations, which enables it to offer children and families free attendance. Its budget has shrunk from $2.5 million a year pre-pandemic to about $1 million now.

Its programs include a weeklong overnight camp for kids who have cancer from throughout the state, but with an emphasis on Northern California patients, and the sites infirmary allows children to continue their treatments. It also has a program for siblings of children who have cancer and a weekend program for the entire family. Camp Okizu started operating in 1982 at various locations and moved to Berry Creek in 1998. The camp works with hospitals throughout Northern California, including California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek and Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, Roseville and Santa Clara.

Children can ride zip lines, learn archery and go boating and swimming at the camp.

Doug Hanigan and his wife have worked at the camp as nurses for nearly 20 years.

Hes 71 and is nicknamed Otter Pop because he loves otters and as one counselor teased, hes old enough to be a pop. He also often gives ice pops to kids at the infirmary, where he works. His other jobs at the infirmary include administering medication and first aid.

I hang around the infirmary a lot, or what used to be the infirmary, he trails off. The infirmary was one of the buildings destroyed by the fire.

Hanigan said his favorite part of camp is watching how the kids open up during their support groups, some of which he runs. He asks the kids how they found out their sibling had cancer and how they remember deceased siblings.

It can be inspiring when kids share their vulnerability, Hanigan said.

CourtesySarah Uldricks (Okizu Foundation)

When Beckett first attended the camp last summer, his parents also signed up his 8-year-old brother, Dylan, to attend the siblings camp. Dylan doesnt have cancer.

Okizu is just a very comforting place because everyone gets what youre going through, said Erica Boznanski. Okizu just gave us this gift of being normal.

Fire Tracker Follow wildfires across the state Latest updates on wildfires burning across Northern and Southern California

The only person at the camp grounds when the fire drew closer was the site manager, who evacuated as soon as he received the order, said Hanna Malak, a board member.

My heart sank to the ground, Malak said. He did a video interview with a TV reporter who was at the camp after the fire and saw the destruction.

Its so hard to see. There are so many happy memories there, and to see it completely destroyed is really tough, he added.

Malak first attended the siblings camp when he was 8 years old and his brother had leukemia. When he turned 18, he started volunteering at the camp. Now at 30, hes been a board member for five years.

Malak said the staff is still waiting to see the camp in person before deciding how to rebuild.

Our program is way too important to not continue, he said. Its just a matter of what does that look like? Weve joked before that camp is about the people. We can be in an abandoned warehouse or we could be in a parking lot and the magic of camp can still happen.

For Michael Leeder, 50, the camp was beneficial for his children and helped him and his wife after his 11-year-old son was diagnosed with leukemia in 2018.

This is the first time I could talk to somebody that could really relate, that is actually in our same shoes, Leeder said. Its one thing to speak to your medical team, and of course, your medical teams are very knowledgeable  but the fact is that they dont have the disease.

Neither Leeder nor Boznanski has told their children that the wildfire destroyed their beloved camp. And for now, with everything going on from the pandemic to distance learning to cancer, they dont plan to.

I just dont have the words frankly, Boznanski said.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
Egypt has expressed concerns over increasing tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh border region, the foreign ministry said on Sunday.

Fighting between the two countries broke out on Sunday around the separatist region, with both countries claiming civilian casualties.

In its short statement, Egypt called on the two countries to exercise self-restraint.

Egypt urges all parties to engage in talks to reach a peaceful settlement based on international resolutions and the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the ministry statement read.

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As the world continues to grapple with coronavirus and the economic catastrophe of lockdown, a disturbing new theory has emerged.

As the global community continues to grapple with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic  and the economic catastrophe caused by the associated lockdowns imposed by governments around the world  a chilling new theory has emerged.

People dance inside a nightclub in Wuhan, China, on September 18. Picture: Getty Images



It goes like this  China, in an enormous disinformation campaign spread via social media and through compromised voices in Western politics, science and medicine, aggressively pushed for other nations to follow its lead, with the goal of intentionally destroying their economies.

Thats according to Michael Senger, a lawyer and researcher based in Atlanta, Georgia. In an article for Tablet Magazine, Senger has laid out a disturbing timeline of evidence that, if true, hints at what could be the most effective and devastating psy-op ever carried out by a world government.

By promoting fraudulent data, aggressively deploying disinformation, and flexing its institutional clout, Beijing transformed the snake oil of lockdowns into science, crippling rival economies, expanding its influence and sowing authoritarian values, Senger writes on Twitter.

The science of lockdowns is far from settled.

Sweden, which infamously rejected calls to shut down schools, bars and restaurants through the pandemic, has, according to some experts, largely been vindicated. Despite recording more than 5800 fatalities, one of the worst near the start of the crisis, the countrys daily rolling death toll is now negligible.

Other experts, however, including Professor Peter Collignon from the Australian National University, caution against the Swedish model.

When the CCP first moved to place Wuhan  the city of 11 million people in the eastern Hubei province where COVID-19 first emerged  under mass house arrest in late January, the World Health Organisation (WHO) described it as unprecedented in public health history and new to science.

A month later, WHO enthusiastically endorsed Chinas lockdown strategy as a framework for governments around the world to follow. Copy Chinas response to COVID-19, Canadian WHO official Bruce Aylward said on February 26.

In the meantime, social media had been flooded with terrifying leaked videos appearing to show apocalyptic scenes from the virus epicentre  bodies stacked in hospital hallways, people collapsing in the street.

The New York Times first revealed in June that Twitter had removed tens of thousands of fake accounts that were being used in a co-ordinated effort to spread the CCPs message, with a particular focus on Italy  the European nation with the closest ties to China.

Life in the former virus epicentre has returned to normal. Picture: Getty Images

Senger described The New York Times piece, which showed how vast networks of suspicious accounts first began touting the benefits of Chinas response in early March, as a smoking gun on the genesis of the coronavirus lockdown.

The fact that CCPs disinformation campaign focused on Italy is crucial, Senger wrote. The rest of the world followed Italys lead.

On March 9, Italy became the first country outside China to implement the WHOs advice. Chinese officials who visited Italy a few days later advised the lockdown was not strict enough and that there are still too many people and behaviours on the street to improve.

At the same time, Italy was bombarded with Chinese propaganda  one analysis of tweets from March 11-23 found that nearly half of all posts using the hashtag #forzaCinaeItalia (go China, go Italy) and more than one third of those with the hashtag #grazieCina (thank you, China) came from bots.

And it wasnt just Italy. The New York Times noted how one Twitter user, @manisha_kataki, posted a video on March 12 of Chinese workers disinfecting streets. At this rate, China will be back in action very soon, may be much faster than the world expects, the tweet said.

The relatively benign video was shared hundreds of thousands of times, with quote tweets in various languages using nearly identical phrasing to complain about being told by governments to merely wash our hands, in contrast to Chinas strict lockdowns.

Twitter deleted more than 170,000 accounts linked to the activity, flagged by an Israeli analytics company Next Dim as likely state-sponsored  but Senger shows how hundreds of similar examples can still be found with a simple search.

This what the UK should be doing. Not just washing our hands, one tweet from March still reads.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson this week announced a host of new coronavirus restrictions expected to last for six months.

Senger notes how Mr Johnson, who imposed a lockdown on March 23, appears to have been targeted after initially opting to follow Swedens herd immunity strategy.

On March 13, suspicious accounts began storming his Twitter feed and likening his plan to genocide, he wrote. This language almost never appears in Johnsons feed before March 12, and several of the accounts were hardly active before then.

But Chinas propaganda efforts went far beyond social media.

In July, FBI director Chris Wray revealed American politicians had been explicitly approached by the CCP to endorse Chinas strategy.

We have heard from federal, state and even local officials that Chinese diplomats are aggressively urging support for Chinas handling of the COVID-19 crisis, he told the Hudson Institute.

Yes, this is happening at both the federal and state levels. Not that long ago, we had a state senator who was recently even asked to introduce a resolution supporting Chinas response to the pandemic.

Last month, Australia announced a sweeping inquiry into Chinese infiltration of the university sector, after revelations by The Australian newspaper that dozens of the countrys leading researchers had been co-opted into the CCPs secretive Thousand Talents program.

In the US, leading science and medical research institutions including the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and Harvard University have been rocked by revelations of undisclosed financial ties to the Chinese government.

Back in May, Richard Horton, editor-in-chief of the esteemed medical journal The Lancet, told Chinese state TV that Chinas lockdown was not only the right thing to do, but it also showed other countries how they should respond in the face of such an acute threat.

As citizens in the US, Australia, the UK and other Western countries struggle through various degrees of lockdown, China, it seems, may be having the last laugh.

Last month, thousands of people were seen crammed into a water park for an enormous summer pool party in the original epicentre of Wuhan  where there has reportedly been no community transmission since May.

This week, young revellers were photographed packed together on the dancefloor in a Wuhan nightclub.

The key question in all this is why China went to such extreme lengths to spread propaganda about the success of its lockdown strategy  and why it was so keen for other countries to follow its lead.

The most benign possible explanation for the CCPs campaign for global lockdowns is that the party aggressively promoted the same lie internationally as domestically  that lockdowns worked, Senger wrote.

And then theres the possibility that by shutting down the world, (Chinese President) Xi Jinping, who  envisions a socialist future with China at its centre, knew exactly what he was doing.
Biography

Beverly Jenkins is the Director of Student Enrichment and Academic Outcomes at the University of Dayton. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, a Marianist Service Award recipient, co-leads a new program on campus called Flyer Promise, and is a mother, wife, and overall, a phenomenal woman. In her 38 years at UD, she has made it her personal mission to support the academic experience of all students.

Beverly was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. During her childhood, education was looked at as a key to help her open doors to opportunities and success. At the center of her future plans, her parents emphasized the importance of education. Growing up, Beverlys family encouraged her and her siblings to hold education at a high priority. Her high school was overcrowded and undefended, so she was lucky to have experienced Upward Bound, a federally funded education program that works to provide support to students during college entrance. Joining Upward Bound changed her life completely. Jenkins took summer trips to Earlham College in Indiana and got her first taste of the college experience. Throughout her entire process, Beverly was encouraged to reach her full potential by keeping her head in her books and working hard. What she didnt know was how much the support she received during high school would impact her future aspirations.

Initially, Beverly wanted to be a teacher. She found joy in being a resource and role model to children. In 1982, Beverly accepted a position at UD. In this position, she would end up being one of the first faces students would see after deciding to attend the institution. Though the position was a deviation from her original plan of teaching, Beverly found herself enjoying the position and decided to permanently remain at UD.

As the University evolved, so did Beverlys role, but her passion never wavered. Connecting with students and their families while ensuring they took advantage of the resources that UD provided remained the focus of her career. Jenkins has been committed to providing the same kind of support that was given to her and her family as a college student.

Even now as she reflects on her time at UD, she cant begin to imagine what life would be like as a retiree. I dont look at my career as a job because I love what I do. Its evident that her position at UD has brought long lasting relationships in her life. The recognition of her accomplishments, and accolades humbles Beverly but the relationships that shes built with students over the past 38 years have ignited a fire that will never dim. Needless to say, Beverly Jenkins personal experience pre-college has given her the tools to reach thousands of students and create long lasting relationships that have altered so many lives for the better. The impact that shes had on this campus is undeniable and theres no sign of that changing anytime soon.
The choir sings during the 10:45 service at The Church of Grace to Fujianese in Philadelphia, Pa. on Sunday, September 27, 2020. The pastors of this church, and some congregants, use WeChat to communicate with family in China, and to host bible study sessions during the pandemic. Read more

For many local Chinese Americans and immigrants from China, the social media app WeChat is a lifeline to government services, community events, friends, and family living on the other side of the Pacific.

If the Trump administration has its way, itll be taken away.

"We are so disappointed, not just because hes making this hateful language as calling it [the coronavirus] the Chinese flu or the China virus, said Wei Chen, civic engagement coordinator of Asian Americans United, a Philadelphia organization focused on fighting discrimination against the Asian community, "but banning WeChat is a hateful action he takes, trying to attack Chinese or China.

The app serves not only as a connection with family overseas, but as the foundation of networking, organizing, and communication for many of the more than 35,000 Philadelphians who are Chinese immigrants or of Chinese descent through the U.S. Census as of 2015, with another 38,326 in the surrounding Pennsylvania and New Jersey suburbs. A ban would prevent the app from being downloaded and bar people who have it from accessing routine upgrades to keep it functional.

If this disappears for the Chinese residents of my district, their ability to communicate and interact with friends, neighbors, businesses, family, will be cut off and they will be bereft, said state Rep. Jared Solomon, whose Northeast Philadelphia district includes one of regions largest populations of Chinese Americans.

The threat of a ban announced in an August executive order has caused a run on the app, with more than 389,000 downloads reported so far in August and September, according to Apptopia, a mobile app intelligence company. Thats about 40,000 more downloads than in the previous two months.

WeChat, owned by the Chinese tech giant Tencent Holdings, combines features of Facebook, Venmo, Google Drive, Twitter, Zoom, and text messaging in one app for smartphones and desktops. The Trump administration is concerned data gathered on WeChat and TikTok, another Chinese-owned social media app that has become hugely popular in the United States, could end up in the hands of the Chinese government.

 READ MORE: She arrived as a teenage refugee  now shes the voice of Northeast Phillys growing Chinese community

The U.S. Commerce Department was supposed to enforce the ban on Sept. 20, but a federal judge delayed it after a group of WeChat users sued, saying the executive order infringed on free speech. WeChats threat to national security was modest, the judge said. The Commerce Department has said it will challenge the injunction.

Due to the Chinese governments own digital restrictions, WeChat is one of the few social media apps accessible in both China and the United States. During the COVID-19 pandemic, its been a balm for people worried about loved ones thousands of miles away.

They want to see our faces," said Tong Su, a pastor at the Church of Grace to Fujianese, a Protestant church in Northeast Philadelphia, who has used the app to have weekly family video chats with siblings in the United States and his parents in China. If they see the face, its easier for them to feel comfort that were OK.

Chelsea Zhang, 23, a recent graduate of University of Pennsylvanias masters program in city planning and a native of Shenzen, China, says she has been using WeChat since she was a teenager. Frequent, free communication through the app soothed her parents' fears about her health.

I was able to call my parents every single day, she said. I would say compared to earlier generations, its really useful to us because we dont need to pay to call our parents at home.

Between 3.6 million and 3.7 million people on mobile devices in the United States were active on the app in each of the first four months of this year when COVID-19 was surging in China, then in this country, according to App Annie, a mobile data and analytics provider. In August, the most current data available, the app had about 3.3 million users in the U.S.

 READ MORE: Deal on new rail cars embroils SEPTA in U.S. suspicions of China manufacturer

WeChat is also deeply embedded in the fabric of life for Chinese Americans, the rare digital tool embraced across generations.

When the pandemic made meeting in person impossible, Su used WeChats video function to host Bible studies. Chen found it invaluable for discussing incidents of discrimination faced by Philadelphias Asian communities as the coronavirus began spreading in the United States.

Its hurtful for us, even more hurtful for immigrants, he said. They know people are staring at them and they have no idea how to respond.

Zhang and her grad school friends share a list of daily and monthly goals on the app, and use it to check in on one anothers progress. The accountability helped give her motivation to finish an online business course.

WeChat has proven essential to the Northeast Philadelphia Chinese Associations efforts to prevent immigrants who arent confident speaking English from missing out on city services and being left out of the citys civic life, said Mingchu Pearl Huynh, the organizations president and founder. Through WeChat, she can reach as many as 10,000 people in the region. On any given day, she said, her organization can participate in disseminating to Philadelphias Chinese-speaking population information on COVID-19 tests, gun safety, kung fu lessons, and voter registration. Losing the app, she said, would force her to rebuild a contact base it took her three years to assemble.

I do my community business, all relying on this, she said. Imagine if I lost this service?

This isnt the first time Chinese tech has drawn concern from the U.S. government. Tensions exacerbated by the trade war between Washington and Beijing, but with some legitimate concerns about how the Chinese government could use data culled from apps. Federal authorities have blocked or opposed Chinese companies' efforts to acquire a money transfer company, the dating app Grindr, and a mobile marketing firm, Reuters reported.

WeChats users are aware that what they put on there could be subject to government surveillance and said they act accordingly. Su, the minister, said he doesnt share anything private. Chen noted the U.S. government monitors social media as well. He didnt think anything he shared on WeChat would be of interest to the Chinese government.

A lot of people know that its kind of a problem, but we also sort of live with it because it seems like theres no messaging app that doesnt have any privacy issues, Zhang, the former Penn student, said. We just bear with the idea that we have to live with it.
The Ghana AIDS Commission has expressed worry over the increasing prevalence of HIV among adolescents.

It said out of the 20,068 new infections recorded in 2019, 5,613 representing 28 per cent were between the ages of 15 and 24.



Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Director-General of the commission, Mr Kyeremeh Atuahene, said the indication was that those young persons were being infected by older persons.



Raising awareness among this age group has become critical because our analysis indicate that these young people are not being infected by their peers but older persons, giving an indication of inter-generational sex, he said.



Mr Atuahene said the commission, with support from its partners, was intensifying education and sensitisation among the youth to empower them to make informed decisions regarding their sexual lives.



He appealed to the media to use their wide reach to advance the sharing of accurate educational information with the public to help reduce stigma and new infections and encourage behaviour change.



He pointed out that the annual average of infections had remained at more than 20,000 although new infections had reduced by about five per cent between 2015 and 2019.



If this trend, is allowed to continue, 200,000 more newly infected Ghanaians will be added to the HIV population over the next 10 years, the Director-General said.



Determination



However, Mr Atuahene said the commission was more than determined to end the epidemic as a public health threat.



He said achieving the 90-90-90 HIV national and global targets was possible but added that it was a shared responsibility.



He, therefore, called on the general public to apply caution with their sexual lives by either sticking to one partner or avoiding unprotected sex with non-partners or people whose status they were not sure of.



We emphasise on sex because HIV is basically a sexually transmitted disease and other contributory factors for transmission is negligible, he said.



The 90-90-90, which is the United Nations (UN) policy on ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic, requires all member countries to ensure that by the close of 2020, 90 per cent of people who are HIV infected will be diagnosed, while 90 per cent of people who are diagnosed will be on antiretroviral treatment, and 90 per cent of those who receive antiretroviral will be virally suppressed.



Viral suppression is when a persons viral load  or the amount of virus in an HIV-positive persons blood - is reduced to an undetectable level.



That, Mr Atuahene said, meant the virus would be present in the body but could not be shared.



However, he warned that once a break occurs in the taking of medication, the virus would become active again, multiply quickly and make the infected person sick and might cause death.



He said the National and Sub-National HIV Estimates and Projections were done yearly to generate HIV data on prevalence and the population of persons living with HIV (PLHIV), among others, for purposes of planning, management of national programmes and global reporting.



He added that HIV had no cure but there was a scientifically proven therapy to suppress the virus, which is the anti-retroviral (ART) that worked when taken diligently.



Youth empowerment



Adding to the concerns of the Ghana Aids Commission, the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) and the National Population Council (NPC) have also maintained that adolescents and the youth should be consistently empowered with information on sexual reproductive health to enable them to protect themselves from the ramifications such as sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions.



The Country Representative of the UNFPA, Mr Niyi Ojuolape, said considering the fact that the country had a youthful population, such empowerment was needed to harness the countrys economic potentials to enhance development.



He said if the youth were not having unwanted babies, not infecting themselves with sexually transmitted diseases, and avoid unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions, they would be in a better position to maximise their potentials and contribute to national and global development.



They need to have access to information and family planning commodities such as condoms to be able to do that, he said.



Reality



The Executive Director of the NPC, Dr Leticia Appiah, said although stakeholders believed in, and were preaching abstinence, it was obvious that many of the youth and adolescents were sexually active and vulnerable.



We can deceive ourselves and keep pretending as though our young persons are abstaining, but the truth is that they are having sexual intercourse and we need to protect them from the ramifications of such activities, she said.



Based on that, she said, it was important that education was intensified, as well as access to family planning commodities such as condoms.



The NPC and its partners are committed to safeguarding the hard-fought gains and ensuring that Sexual Reproductive Health Rights and services stay on the local agenda to enlist societal and political will in maintaining the momentum towards achieving the SDGs by 2030 and develop Ghana beyond Aid, she said.

Source: Graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Doctors told investigators the officers may have been given a

Police are investigating whether three off-duty officers were poisoned after they fell ill during a night out in Florida.

The group started sweating and vomiting after visiting four downtown bars and restaurants in the city of Sanford for dinner and drinks on 16 September, according to a police report quoted by the Orlando Sentinel.

Two of the officers were taken to hospital, with one being put on a ventilator to assist with breathing.

All three, who were members of the Orlando Police but were not in uniform, have since recovered and left hospital.

They described how the symptoms included muscle pain, profuse sweating and vomiting that appeared "all at once out of nowhere".

The police report stated that a medic told went in and out of consciousness and appeared to be having the symptoms of someone who may be overdosing."

Health care staff told Sanford police that one officer may have been drugged" with Rohypnol or GHB, it is claimed.

A doctor who treated one of them at a Seminole County hospital also said the officer might be experiencing the effect of being drugged or poisoned, according to the police report.

Investigators are now awaiting the results of toxicology tests.

Read more

Florida to fully lift coronavirus restrictions in restaurants and bars, despite bump in cases
Former White House counsel Don McGahn, who was a key witness in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe, told CBS' "Face the Nation" Sunday he believes Donald Trump deserves four more years as president.

The big picture: McGahn's relationship with Trump soured in 2018 before he ultimately resigned from his position. McGahn would go on to appear in 66 pages of Mueller's 448-page report as part of the volume on Trump's possible obstruction of justice.

The report describes a moment in which McGahn refused to comply with an order to have the Justice Department fire Mueller.

What he's saying: McGahn said Trump deserved another four years because of his record pace appointing judges to the federal bench and because the economy is "going wonderfully."

"He made a number of promises on the campaign trail, one is his judicial selection, which he's done. He's had a record number of judges out there  on the circuit courts."

Worth noting: McGahn did not specifically say that he is voting for Trump.

Between the lines: "Despite calling Trump 'King Kong' behind back for unnecessary destruction and having to serve as chief witness against him in Mueller investigation, McGahn believes so much in mission of remaking federal judiciary that he says Trump deserves 4 more years," tweeted NY Times' Michael Schmidt.
MONTREAL - Demonstrators gathered in downtown Montreal on Saturday to protest planetary warming on the Global Day of Action for Climate Justice.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 26/9/2020 (482 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two children participate in a climate change protest in Montreal, Saturday, September 26, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

MONTREAL - Demonstrators gathered in downtown Montreal on Saturday to protest planetary warming on the Global Day of Action for Climate Justice.

The coalition behind the event is calling for net zero emissions by 2030 as part of a broad slate of demands that also includes Indigenous self-determination, migrant rights and defunding the police.

Lylou Sehili, co-spokeswoman for the Student Coalition for an Environmental and Social Shift, said combining divergent social issues into a single movement strengthens their message.

"We cannot exclude social justice from the climate fight," Sehili said, pointing to a legacy of colonialism she said manifests itself in areas ranging from resource extraction to police brutality.

Activists gathered at Place du Canada around 1 p.m. to kick off the march, which went east on Sherbrooke Street from the intersection of Peel Street and Rene-Levesque Boulevard.

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 group of parents set up an installation showcasing scores of children's shoes to symbolize the carbon footprint current generations are leaving for their kids.

"Young people will be disproportionately impacted by climate change. The Quebec government must act now to ensure their safety," said Dr. Genevieve Ferdais, a family doctor and member of the group For Our Kids Montreal.

The demonstration follows the Liberal government's throne speech Wednesday, which singled out clean technology and green jobs as cornerstones of an economic rebound.

The address, which outlined the government's priorities for the new session of Parliament, did not change its emissions goals of net zero by 2050 and a one-third reduction by 2030.

Saturday's event also comes a year after hundreds of thousands put foot to pavement for the Montreal Climate March, which featured teen climate activist Greta Thunberg as the keynote speaker.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 26, 2020.
The Shimla ridge at seven thousand odd feet above sea level is the perfect altitude where the two can co-exist. Lovely deodars and moss coated oaks.

After a torrential downpour in the last week of August in 2009, the sunshine washed the valley below as a steady cool gale climbed up through the dense foliage. A steady stream of cavalcade entered the Peterhoff, the abode for seven Viceroys and Governor Generals in pre-independent Indias winter capital, and later converted to a government hotel.

Top BJP leadership had all gathered at the hill station to dissect the cause and implications of the debilitating defeat in the 2009 Lok Sabha.

However, one senior leader of the party waited in his room in Hotel Cecil, waiting for further instructions from the then President Rajnath Singh. A few hours into the meeting, Jaswant Singh was informed by the BJP not to drive up to the meeting venue as he had been expelled by the party for his book on Jinnah.

The expulsion was swift and without any glitches, and everyone agreed to it, including LK Advani, who was Singhs close friend.

Some felt the expulsion was triggered more out of political compulsions  that a section of the BJP leadership wanted to down play the fact-finding report on the partys debacle and Singh was a mere scapegoat.

Singh, the former External Affairs, Finance and Defence Minister of India, had one regret as he left Shimla for Delhi. Party did not give him even an opportunity to present his case.

It was also the beginning of the end of Vajpayee-Advani era in the BJP. When the gen-next leaders were jostling to position themselves as claimants of real power.

It was not the first time that the former army officer turned politician would have a run in with the hardliners in the BJP. A close aide of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Singhs appointment as finance minister was once vetoed by the RSS  when the former RSS Joint Secretary Madan Das Devi walked into 10, Race Course Road, seeking a more swadeshi FM to suit the RSS agenda.

From Jasol in Barmer district of Rajasthan, Singh entered Rajya Sabha in early eighties. He was said to be close to former Vijaya Raje Scindhia. With partys rise in national politics, he became a key figure in drafting partys policy on foreign policy and defence. He carried mantle after BJP was catapulted to power in late 90s serving as defence, finance and foreign.

Post Pokhran tests, he remained the key negotiator when economic sanctions were imposed on India. His personal rapport with former US assistant secretary of state, Strobe Talbott, helped redefine Indias relationship with the US in the post-Cold War era.

Singh continued to represent Darjeeling LS seat till 2014. He was denied ticket by the party in the next general elections so he decided to contest as an independent. He lost the election to the BJP candidate.
Prue Leith, star of The Great British Bake Off , has recounted the story of a bad acid trip she experienced in the 1960s.

The octogenarian chef opened up about the appalling experience while speaking to politician Ruth Davidson in an interview scheduled to air on LBC radio tonight (27 September).

As quoted in The Sun on Sunday, Leith said: It was the Sixties, there was a lot of drugs around. We used to smoke a bit of pot, not all the time and not a lot, but we did.

And one day, we did take acid, only once, and I must tell you, it was the most appalling experience Ive ever had.

According to Leith, she suffered horrific hallucinations while taking the psychedelic with her first husband, writer Rayne Kruger.

I couldnt look at him because he turned into a kind of monster, and my arms, the flesh dripped off them. There was just bones left, she said.

Leith claimed that the trip left her suffering bad dreams until she was in her Sixties.

Id have nightmares, she said. "And when I woke up, nothing would look like I knew it ought to look.

It would be wobbly or strange or growing and sinking and shrinking and expanding.

The Great British Bake Off airs on Tuesdays on Channel 4 at 8pm.
She will be celebrating her second wedding anniversary with her husband Justin Bieber in the coming days.

And Hailey Bieber was showing off her natural brunette tresses as she stepped out during Milan Fashion Week on Sunday.

The model went makeup free along with her black face mask as she posed for pictures in front of a large billboard of her fronting a Versace perfume campaign.

Natural beauty: Hailey Bieber, 23, was showing off her natural brunette tresses (pictured right with blonde hair in 2018) as she stepped out during Milan Fashion Week on Sunday

Hailey donned a knee-length black leather coat for the outing which she wore over a black top and matching trousers.

The beauty added height to her frame with a pair of open toed heels while she put safety first with a face mask.

Hailey also wore a pair of gold necklaces and matching hoop earrings for the outing along with a pair of sunglasses.

The model, who is the daughter of actor Stephen Baldwin, completed her look by styling her locks into a sleek up-do.

Looking good: Showcasing her modelling chops, Hailey opted for an all black look for the day

Outfit: Hailey donned a knee-length black leather coat for the outing which she wore over a black top and matching trousers

Billboard: The model put on a stylish display as she posed for pictures in front a large billboard of her fronting a Versace perfume campaign

Fashion: The beauty added height to her frame with a pair of open toed heels while she put safety first with a face mask

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.

Already several well-known models have been seen in the city, with Irina Shayk and Brad Pitt's girlfriend Nicole Poturalski walking in the BOSS show on Friday.

The Biebers are gearing up to celebrate their official second wedding anniversary on September 30 following an informal picnic on September 13 to celebrate the day they got their marriage license in New York.

Model: Hailey, who is the daughter of actor Stephen Baldwin, completed her look by styling her locks into a sleek updo

Event: 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

Romance: Hailey and her husband Justin are gearing up to celebrate their official second wedding anniversary on September 30

The Christian couple - who met at the 26-year-old pop star's 2009 concert meet-and-greet - are now moving into the $25.8M seven-bedroom Beverly Park mansion they bought in August.

Justin recently debuted the wholesome music video for his new song Holy featuring Chance The Rapper, which references his whirlwind romance with Hailey.

'Running to the altar like a track star / Can't wait another second / 'Cause the way you hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me / Feels so holy,' Bieber sang.

'They say we're too young and / The pimps and the players say, "Don't go crushin" / Wise men say fools rush in / But I don't know.'
Since heated battles are taking place as we speak, we cant present specific concluding data regarding the casualties of the Armenian side. This would be irresponsible on our part because it is very likely that we may be wrong. This is what representative of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia Artsrun Hovhannisyan told reporters today.

Since the battles are very intensive, it would be wrong to say that the Armenian side wont suffer or hasnt suffered casualties at all, he added.

Secretary of the Security Council of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Samvel Babayan has already announced the deaths of 10 servicemen.

Touching upon the situation on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, Hovhannisyan said the following: There is tension along the entire length of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. During the shelling by Azerbaijani armed forces which were mainly targeted at Artsakh, there were also strikes in the direction of Vardenis in Armenia. The strikes were not too intensive, and there is no such situation in other places.

Harutyunyan added that Azerbaijan used all of its resources, except for the missiles of the largest calibers. The country also used the armys air forces, meaning air bombs, drones, planes, helicopters, UAVs and more.
An undergraduate has revealed his shock after arriving at his new university halls to be greeted with a stained mattress and an iced-up freezer full of out-of-date food.

Josh Dawson, 19, from Peterborough, shared on Twitter his disappointment at the standard of cleanliness at Derwent Hall at the University of York when he moved in this weekend.

He posted images of a single blue-and-white-striped mattress with a sizeable brown stain on it, and a freezer where the top two shelves were packed full of ice, and the bottom shelves had food dating back to February in them.

The student said 'to be given a mattress like this in normal times would be disgusting, but in the Year of the Rona, this is just abhorrent.'

Scroll down for video

Josh Dawson, 19, from Peterborough, shared images on his Twitter account of his accommodation at Derwent Halls at the University of York, saying: 'to be given a mattress like this in normal times would be disgusting, but in the Year of the Rona, this is just abhorrent.'

Negligent: The undergraduate slammed the University halls, which he says he's paying 6,000 to live in during his first term. Pictured: an iced-up freezer that greeted Dawson when he arrived at York University

He added: 'I can only assume that Uni of York dont care about the health and safety of their students' and wrote that he was paying 6,000 to live in the accommodation.

In another tweet, an unimpressed Dawson wrote: 'They haven't checked the rooms for hygiene and they clearly haven't checked the kitchens either. What the f*** are they playing at?'

The University's Twitter account pointed the student to his 'College team' to report what he'd experienced and while he said staff at the university had been helpful, he added: 'This is negligence and I expect better, especially when Im paying you 6k to live here.'

MailOnline contacted the University of York for comment. A spokesperson said: 'We have taken immediate action to rectify the problem and have apologised for the distress caused.

'We take cleanliness and hygiene extremely seriously in all our halls of residence and across campus and we are sorry we have not met our usual high standards on this occasion.'

Nearly 1,000 people have since liked Dawson's tweet, with many saying the University should apologise.

@drpaulbuckley commented: 'Why should the onus be on someone walking into that appalling disgrace? It should be cleaned and inspected before students walk in. Utter failure, now compounded by washing your hands of responsibility. #LancasterIsBest'

@planespotter1 posted: 'Josh...whst a disgrace. As for the Uni...they should be falling over themselves to sort this out. All you hear on the radio at the moment is Uni staff harping on about how hard it all is for them....and they can't even look after their students. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED!'

On Friday, Manchester Metropolitan University revealed that students at two accommodation sites in the city have been instructed to self-isolate for 14 days following a spike in coronavirus cases.

Manchester Metropolitan University (pictured, Cambridge Halls) students at two accommodation sites in the city have been instructed to self-isolate for 14 days following a spike in coronavirus cases

The immediate measures have been introduced at the Birley campus and Cambridge Halls after 127 students tested positive, meaning about 1,700 are now shut away.

It comes as students trapped in a spate of campus Covid outbreaks have slammed universities for opening halls of residents when coronavirus means they're studying from their rooms.
In a year of cataclysm, some world leaders at this weeks annual United Nations meeting are taking the long view, warning: If COVID-19 doesnt kill us, climate change will.

With Siberia seeing its warmest temperature on record this year and enormous chunks of ice caps in Greenland and Canada sliding into the sea, countries are acutely aware theres no vaccine for global warming.

We are already seeing a version of environmental Armageddon, Fijis Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said, citing wildfires in the western US and noting that the Greenland ice chunk was larger than a number of island nations.

This was meant to be the year we took back our planet, he said. Instead, the coronavirus has diverted resources and attention from what could have been the marquee issue at this UN gathering. Meanwhile, the UN global climate summit has been postponed to late 2021.

That hasnt stopped countries, from slowly sinking island nations to parched African ones, from speaking out.

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

In another 75 years, many ... members may no longer hold seats at the United Nations if the world continues on its present course, the Alliance of Small Island States and the Least Developed Countries Group said.

The main goal of the 2015 Paris climate accord is to limit the rise in global temperatures to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times, but scientists say the world is on track to soar past that. A new study found that if the world warms another 0.9 degrees Celsius (1.6 degrees Fahrenheit), the West Antarctic ice sheet will reach a point of irreversible melting. It has enough water to raise global sea levels by 5 meters (16 feet).

The Pacific island nation of Palau hasnt had a single COVID-19 infection, but President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr. warns its the rising seas that will bring the country down.

The momentary drop in (carbon) emissions this year cannot be allowed to generate any complacency about global progress, he said, referring to the sparkling skies that followed lockdowns to slow the spread of the virus around the world. Pollution has crept back up as restrictions ease.

World powers cannot shirk their financial commitments to fighting climate change during the pandemic, Remengesau said, even as economies are battered.

But few pledges have emerged at the UN gathering, aside from Chinas announcement that it aims to have carbon dioxide emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.

The pandemic has muted the UN meeting, with world leaders speaking not from the podium in New York but via video from home. That has sapped the urgency of diplomacy and left nations wondering just how many people are listening.

Amid concerns that the world is distracted, it was perhaps no surprise that the student-led movement Fridays for Future returned to the streets this week for the first major demonstrations for climate action in months.

Still, island nations have seized on the unusual circumstances to show off whats at stake.

The prime minister of Tuvalu, Kausea Natano, delivered his UN speech with a vista of turquoise waters and swaying fronds behind him that instantly fired the imaginations of house-bound viewers.

But the prime minister quickly shattered any dreams. While Tuvalu is free of the coronavirus, the pandemic struck as the island nation was recovering from a pair of tropical cyclones  storms that scientists say are likely to become wetter as the planet warms.

Tuvalus highest point is just a few meters (yards) above sea level. The pandemics effect on the movement of goods exposed food insecurity as local agriculture becomes more difficult with rising sea levels, Natano said.

While COVID-19 is our immediate crisis, climate change remains the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and well-being of the Pacific and its peoples in the long run, the prime minister said.

From the Marshall Islands, also free of COVID-19, President David Kabua used the viruss example to plead for more help now.

Change relies on protecting the most vulnerable, because those on the frontline  whether healthcare workers battling the pandemic or small island nations sounding the alarm on climate change  are critical to the survival of us all, he said.

Small island and atoll nations like mine do not have time for paper promises, Kabua added.

Urgent pleas also came from Africa, which contributes least to global warming but stands to suffer from it the most.

In favoring solutions based on the respect for nature, were also preserving the health of our peoples, said President Issoufou Mahamadou of Niger, part of the Sahel region south of the Sahara desert where temperature increases are expected to be 1.5 times higher than the world average.

Our global home that was teeming with millions of species of God-given creatures, both great and small, is slowly dying, said Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who last year noted that his country was the only one in Africa to reach the goal of making renewable energy 75 percent of its energy mix.
On the afternoon of Sept. 19 in Cairo, Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly and Housing Minister Assem El Gazar visited China State Construction Engineering Corporation's (CSCEC) Central Business District (CBD) project in Egypt's new administrative capital.

Madbouly extended President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's high concern for the progress of the CBD project and emphasized its significance and social impact. He said the quality and progress of the CBD project are crucial to the official opening of the new administrative capital. Madbouly called on all parties concerned to work collaboratively to overcome the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure the progress of construction. He added that the Egyptian government will provide full support for the project.

At present, CSCEC's CBD project has ensured uninterrupted operation and construction, and made progress in an effective and orderly manner, whilst implementing various pandemic control and prevention measures. As of Sept. 19, all sections of the project have accelerated their construction of the main structures. Large-scale installation of curtain wall units began in late June, the process of which has also been sped up. The construction team will make every effort to guarantee that all the exterior materials are delivered by the end of the year.
The union representing New York Citys principals said on Sunday that it had lost confidence in Mayor Bill de Blasios plan to reopen schools and called on the state to seize control of the school system from the mayor  a drastic move that raised new obstacles to the citys fraught reopening effort.

The mayor has twice delayed the start of in-person classes, and the vast majority of the citys 1.1 million students have already started the school year remotely. Hundreds of thousands of students are set to report back to classrooms this week, with elementary schoolchildren expected to start in-person classes on Tuesday, followed by middle and high school students on Thursday.

But Mark Cannizzaro, the president of the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators, said the city still does not have enough teachers to staff its schools, and that last-minute deals hammered out between the teachers union and the city had further undermined principals trust in the mayor and their confidence in the reopening plan.

Still, Mr. Cannizzaro said that principals would report to buildings as scheduled this week and were not considering a strike. I think parents should be confident that any child that arrives at a building will be given the utmost care, Mr. Cannizzaro said.
LONGVIEW, Texas (AP)  An East Texas county commissioner and three other people have been indicted on charges that they fraudulently solicited mail-in votes from able-bodied voters by claiming they were disabled, often without the voters knowledge or consent.

Gregg County Commissioner Shannon Brown and three paid workers of Browns 2018 Democratic primary campaign  Marlena Jackson, Charlie Burns, and DeWayne Ward  were charged in a 35-page, 134-count indictment returned last week with multiple counts of election-related fraud and record tampering.

The case arises from the Precinct 4 commissioners primary race between Brown and his opponent, Kasha Williams, a race that drew more than 2,000 votes. According to the Gregg County District Attorney Tom Watson, more than 360 mail-in ballots were requested claiming voter disability. By comparison, fewer than 15 mail-in ballots were requested for the Precincts 1, 2, and 3 commissioners' races combined due to voter disability. In live voting, Williams led Brown by more than 20 percentage points. However, 74% of the mail-in ballots were for Brown and gave him a four-vote victory

In a statement, the Texas Attorney General's Office said Brown's group, to increase the pool of ballots needed to swing the race in Browns favor, targeted young, able-bodied voters to cast ballots by mail by fraudulently claiming the voters were "disabled, in most cases without the voters knowledge or consent. Under Texas election law, mail ballots based on disability are specifically reserved for those who are physically ill and cannot vote in-person as a result.

Penalties for the various violations range from up to 99 years in prison for first-degree felony engaging in organized election fraud alleged against Brown, Jackson and Ward to up to two years in state jail for election fraud and records tampering counts faced by the four.

All four defendants have been released on $25,000 bond each. Court records listed no attorneys for the four on Saturday. Brown has no published telephone number and could not be reached for comment, and telephone numbers for the other three were not accepting calls.

Story continues

The prosecution comes amid an ongoing campaign by Republicans, in Texas and the nation, to portray voting-by-mail as vulnerable to fraud.

Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton has been waging ongoing court battles to limit voting by mail, and President Donald Trump has tried to fan skepticism of mail voting, baselessly claiming that its widespread use will lead to fraud.

Trump has warned that mail voting could lead to so many people voting that youd never have a Republican elected in this country again. That is despite assertions by experts, including from FBI Director Christopher Wray, that no evidence exists that voting by mail was fraud-prone. Now, we have not seen, historically, any kind of coordinated national voter fraud effort in a major election, whether its by mail or otherwise, Wray told the Senate. We have seen voter fraud at the local level from time to time,
New York

At a University of Maryland lab, people infected with the new coronavirus take turns sitting in a chair and putting their faces into the big end of a large cone. They recite the alphabet and sing or just sit quietly for a half hour. Sometimes they cough.

The cone sucks up everything that comes out of their mouths and noses. It's part of a device called "Gesundheit II" that is helping scientists study a big question: Just how does the virus that causes COVID-19 spread from one person to another?

It clearly hitchhikes on small liquid particles sprayed out by an infected person. People expel particles while coughing, sneezing, singing, shouting, talking and even breathing. But the drops come in a wide range of sizes, and scientists are trying to pin down how risky the various kinds are.

The answer affects what we should all be doing to avoid getting sick. That's why it was thrust into headlines a few days ago when a U.S. health agency appeared to have shifted its position on the issue, but later said it had published new language in error.

The recommendation to stay at least 6 feet apart  some authorities cite about half that distance  is based on the idea that larger particles fall to the ground before they can travel very far. They are like the droplets in a spritz of a window cleaner, and they can infect somebody by landing on their nose, mouth or eyes, or maybe being inhaled.

But some scientists are now focusing on tinier particles, the ones that spread more like cigarette smoke. Those are carried by wisps of air and even upward drafts caused by the warmth of our bodies. They can linger in the air for minutes to hours, spreading throughout a room and build up if ventilation is poor.

The potential risk comes from inhaling them. Measles can spread this way, but the new coronavirus is far less contagious than that.

For these particles, called aerosols, "6 feet is not a magic distance," says Linsey Marr, a leading researcher who is studying them at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. But she says it's still important to keep one's distance from others, "the farther the better," because aerosols are most concentrated near a source and pose a bigger risk at close range.

Public health agencies have generally focused on the larger particles for coronavirus. That prompted more than 200 other scientists to publish a plea in July to pay attention to the potential risk from aerosols. The World Health Organization, which had long dismissed a danger from aerosols except in the case of certain medical procedures, later said that aerosol transmission of the coronavirus can't be ruled out in cases of infection within crowded and poorly ventilated indoor spaces.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

The issue drew attention recently when the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted and then deleted statements on its website that highlighted the idea of aerosol spread. The agency said the posting was an error, and that the statements were just a draft of proposed changes to its recommendations.

Dr. Jay Butler, CDC's deputy director for infectious disease, told The Associated Press that the agency continues to believe larger and heavier droplets that come from coughing or sneezing are the primary means of transmission.

Last month Butler told a scientific meeting that current research suggests aerosol spreading of the coronavirus is possible but it doesn't seem to be the main way that people get infected. Further research may change that conclusion, he added, and he urged scientists to study how often aerosol spread of the coronavirus occurs, what situations make it more likely and what reasonable steps might prevent it.

Marr said she thinks infection by aerosols is "happening a lot more than people initially were willing to think."

As a key piece of evidence, Marr and others point to so-called "superspreader" events where one infected person evidently passed the virus to many others in a single setting.

In March, for example, after a choir member with coronavirus symptoms attended a rehearsal in Washington state, 52 others who had been seated throughout the room were found to be infected and two died.
SHANGHAI, Sept. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- InventisBio, a clinical stage biotech company dedicated to the research and development of innovative small molecule drugs, announced the recent completion of a $147 million series D financing which has attracted participation of many top biopharmaceutical and healthcare venture capital funds. This round of investment was led by Hillhouse affiliate GL Ventures, followed by Qiming Venture Partners, Janchor, AIHC Capital, Matrix Partner China, Dyee Capital, E Fund Capital and other investors. The existing shareholders including Lilly Asia Venture, OrbiMed Asia, Pudong Innotek, AdvanTech Capital, and CMB International continued their support. China Renaissance was the exclusive financial advisor of this transaction.

Currently InventisBio has three drug products in the mid- to late-stage clinical development, and one new product just entered global phase I clinical study. Among them, D-0502 is an oral selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD), which also acts as an estrogen receptor antagonist, with therapeutic potential for the treatment of hormone receptor positive breast cancer. Compared with other oral SERDs under clinical development worldwide, D-0502 has shown promising anti-tumor activity during phase 1 study with excellent bioavailability and tolerable safety profile. In addition, the company has independently developed a third-generation EGFR-T790M tyrosine kinase inhibitor BPI-D0316 and out-licensed China right to Betta Pharma. This product is currently in registration trials of first- and second-line treatment of EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer patients and the trials are progressing smoothly.

Dr. Yaolin Wang, Chairman and CEO of InventisBio, said: "InventisBio is committed to developing first- and best-in-class innovative drugs for cancer and other major diseases. We are grateful and honored to have Hillhouse's GL Ventures led this series D round and thankful to other top investment funds, as well as the continued support from the existing investors. This investment demonstrated the recognition of our strong pipeline and fully integrated innovative R&D platform by top healthcare investors. It also shows our strategic investors' confidence in the future success of our company as a key player in the global pharmaceutical market."

Funds raised in this round will be mainly used to support the company's current products into phase II clinical studies in China and the United States, including D-0502 trials in hormone receptor positive breast cancer and D-0120 trials in gout. This round will also support the company's global clinical development of other new drugs, enable further expansion of the company's product pipeline and team.

Michael Yi, co-chief investment officer of Hillhouse Capital and head of biomedicine and medical devices of Hillhouse's GL Ventures, said: "As a small molecule innovative drug research and development company, InventisBio has an in-depth knowledge of small molecules' structure activity relationship and integrated understanding and experience in the efficient and successful development of novel molecules. The founding members have more than 20 years of experience in drug discovery and development, thorough understanding of drug's mechanism of action and selection of lead candidate for development. Since its establishment, InventisBio has balanced innovation and druggability, and has effectively developed multiple assets for diseases with unmet clinical needs. With four drug candidates in various clinical stages and two clinical registration trials ongoing, InventisBio has established its pipeline in two major therapeutic areas of oncology and metabolic diseases. In addition, the company has maintained a leading position in the drug development of similar products in China. We look forward to developing deep collaboration with InventisBio, advancing its drug discovery and clinical development to bring innovative drugs to the market faster to benefit more patients."

About InventisBio

InventisBio is a fast-growing innovative biotech company, co-founded by Dr. Yaolin Wang and other senior scientists. The company's top management team members have an average of more than 20 years of experience in innovative drug discovery and development, and team management in multinational pharmaceutical companies such as Schering-Plough and Merck, and have contributed to the successful development of blockbuster drugs such as Keytruda and Temodar. The company focuses on the research and development of "best-in-class" and "first-in-class" innovative drugs to address unmet medical needs and to maximize clinical benefits for patients. Under the leadership of senior management team, the company has established a rich pipeline of competitive and proprietary small molecule drugs for the treatment of cancer and metabolic diseases.

http://www.inventisbio.com

About Hillhouse Affiliate GL Ventures

GL Ventures focuses on early-stage innovative companies in healthcare, software services, consumer Internet, emerging consumer brands and services. The GL Ventures team is passionate about partnering with visionary entrepreneurs to create industry leaders that stand the test of time. GL Ventures is the early stage affiliate of Hillhouse Capital, and we have been investing with innovators across the world since 2005. We were one of the earliest investors into some of the largest global companies today, including BeiGene, Zoom, Meituan, JD, Woowa Brothers and many more.



SOURCE InventisBio Shanghai Limited
President Donald Trumps crusade for Pennsylvania ratcheted up with Saturdays fly-in to Harrisburg International Airport, as he capped off one of the biggest days of his first term with a pitch to energize his truest believers for the fight to win a second one.

Trump did it in classic, pre-pandemic fashion, packing in hundreds of supporters - a minority of whom appeared to be masked-up for much of the evening - on the HIA tarmac, creating an outdoor theater in the round to give the base the red-meat performance that they craved.

Trumps appearance - as is often the case at these rallies - came at the end of a carnival-like day that saw supporters from New York to northern Virginia converging on central Pennsylvania for a chance to breathe the same air and lay eyes on the guy so many of them see as a political savior.

Outside the checkpoints, just like at a rock concert of old, you could get your fill of just about any kind of Trump souvenir you wanted: t-shirts, ballcaps, buttons and bumper stickers, flags, umbrellas, and - special for 2020 - face coverings.

Some of the shirts were G-rated. Others? Lets just say, Vice President Mike Pence probably wouldnt approve.

But hey. Thats what Trumps supporters love about him, right?

He is what he is and he says, or tweets, what he means, and if a certain segment of the population gets offended by it or finds it patently false, too bad for them.

And then, the main event.

It was the standard hour-plus blend of stand-up comedy, call-and-response chants, Biden / Radical Left attacks and recaps of policy achievements, much of which Trump delivered as if he was holding court at a cocktail party with his oldest friends. And, despite a light, misting rain - it seemed to leave everyone wanting more.

"Were all just regular folks that work day-in and day-out, and I think we all feel the same. We can relate to the message, and that is: Keep America Great.' said Dave Stewart, a 64-year-old resident of Fairview Township, York County who was attending his first Trump rally.

The question is: are enough people going to love Donald Trump enough to help him win the battleground state of Pennsylvania, which right now looks like it is squarely on the list of must-have states for both the Trump campaign and that of his Democratic Party opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden?

You couldnt get that answer here, tonight.

Most of Saturdays attendees were repeat customers for Trump, who voted for him in 2016 and are eagerly planning to do so again this fall.

The economy. The tax cuts. The business growth. The job growth - particularly before the coronavirus - was as good as the countrys seen in my lifetime. So why wouldnt we want more of that, said Don LaRocca, 45, of Valley Stream, N.Y.

Hed come to Harrisburg because, living in a solidly blue state like New York, he doesnt get Trump rallies up there these days.

Others represented the evangelical Christian voter base that has been a bulwark of Trumps support in the past.

Voters like Ron and Rhonda Martin of Ephrata, and their friend, Elva Hurst, of Lititz, who proudly identified themselves as members of the Reamstown Church of God in Lancaster County.

As has been reported elsewhere this year, they said they are staying in Trumps Army this year because they see him as a fighter for their values, values that they see as under direct threat from the progressive wing of the Democratic party.

Hes against abortion, said Ron Martin. And everything that we stand for, hes on our side.

That was evidenced a few minutes later, when the big screens beamed out to the waiting crowd Trumps announcement of Amy Coney Barrett as his nominee to fill the U.S. Supreme Court seat opened by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Barretts nomination is seen as one that could move the center of gravity on the court significantly to the conservative side of the spectrum.

The man does have his faults, Martin continued. But so do I. And Im still voting or him.

The pandemic, in case youre wondering, was largely a bit player in Saturdays theatre.

Yes, all attendees had to be temperature-checked, with signs stating that the everyone entering the rally space must do so understanding that there is a degree of medical risk, and that the Trump campaign is not taking any responsibility for what could happen.

Fresh packs of paper masks sat by the checkpoints, available to anyone that wanted them.

No problem for these folks, who, when asked, said they dont think any president could have dramatically changed the course of the coronavirus which - despite having infected more than 7 million Americans at this point, and leading to more than 200,000 deaths - they also believe has been blown out of proportion by Trumps opponents.

I dont get how you could blame any one person for it getting any worse or better, said Hurst. A virus is a virus, and it will do what it wants to do.

This is the most fun Im going to have had in six months, being around all these people," said LaRocca, the New Yorker. And honestly if you told me that half of these people had coronavirus, I still wouldnt be worried, because Im 45 and healthy.

But the people Trump really needs to rally by his side now were attendees like Donovan Newkirk, a 23-year-old Black man from Arlington, Va., who voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016, but has switched to Trump this year. Newkirks wife, Deja, did not vote that year.

Many political pundits believe that for Trump to repeat his win in Pennsylvania, he will likely need to attract some more voters to the coalition that helped him defeat Clinton four years ago, especially given Bidens Pennsylvania roots. Biden was born in Scranton and spent his most of his political career as a U.S. senator from Delaware, giving him enormous exposure in the Philadelphia media market.

Newkirk, as a Virginia resident wearing a mask with Trump 2020 on the front, wont have any direct impact on the race here. But he represented just the kind of bigger tent - Blacks and Hispanics who are disaffected with the Democratic Party and, of course, white conservatives who did not vote in 2016 - that the campaign is seeking.

In a year when Biden has caught flak for saying if youre voting for Trump, you aint Black, Newkirk said hes moved to Trumps corner for reasons of economic policy and strong support for law and order, and he said he doesnt mind being a minority of the minority.

I dont think politics should be predicated on tribalism, and I think thats a big thing the left tries to push for.

The ultimate question for Trump may be if there are enough of these newbies in his corner in the swing states like Pennsylvania. At present, public opinion polls show the president trailing Biden in the Keystone State.

Trump and Biden are scheduled to face off in a highly anticipated debate Tuesday night.

Supporters here on Saturday said they arent bothered by the poll. Trump supporters said they expect that just like in 2016, when Trump was widely expected to be defeated by Clinton in Pennsylvania, the pollsters will be proven wrong again.

I am not worried that Trump is headed for defeat, said Vicki Lightcap, the Republican mayor of Pennsburg in Montgomery County in the Philadelphia suburbs. As a mayor Im out talking to a lot of people, and the feedback I get is that the people want Trump. They want our country to remain a democratic country; a free country.

She pointed to the Republican Partys success in closing the Democratic Partys voter registration edge by about 160,000 net voters since the 2016 election.

We have not seen those kind of numbers switching as we have now in the state of Pennsylvania," Lightcap said. Thats why im not too concerned.

I see this as like Muhammed Ali going against Pee Wee Herman, opined Steve Mease, an attendee from Swatara Township, Lebanon County. Thats it. Its going to be a battle. And I think he (Trump) is going to wipe him (Biden) up.

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ACTING chief medical officer, Dr Ronan Glynn has delivered a stark warning that the "situation will continue to deteriorate" if the public does not play its part in tackling the virus, as Limerick records just six new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours.

That is out of 430 new cases nationwide, one of the highest daily increases since May. There are now 34,990 confirmed cases in Ireland.

No new deaths were recorded associated with Covid-19, leaving the death toll at 1,802 nationally.

Dr Glynn has asked every household "to sit together this evening and make a plan to reduce the number of people you meet this week.

We have absolutely no room for complacency. If every person, family, workplace and organisation does not play their part the situation will continue to deteriorate.

For people who live in Donegal and Dublin remember Government advice is to work from home unless it is essential to attend in person. For people living in these and all other counties, assume that COVID-19 is circulating in your community and act accordingly.

Of the 430 new cases in the past 24 hours, 212 cases are in Dublin, 54 in Cork, 23 in Donegal, 23 in Galway, 16 in Louth, 15 in Monaghan, 12 in Clare, 12 in Meath, 9 in Cavan, 8 in Roscommon, 7 in Wicklow, 6 in Limerick, 5 in Kildare, 5 in Tipperary with the remaining 23 cases in 9 counties.

The makeup of the new cases are 222 are men and 208 are women; 72% are under 45 years of age; 40% are confirmed to be associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case; 59 cases have been identified as community transmission.
The man accused of shooting two Louisville police officers amid protests over a grand jury's decision not to pursue murder charges against cops in the Breonna Taylor case has been held on $1million bail.

Larynzno D. Johnson was arraigned before a judge in Louisville, Kentucky, on Friday on 14 counts of wanton endangerment and two counts of assault on police officers.

It came after a grand jury decided only to pursue wanton endangerment charges against a single officer - Detective Brett Hankinson - over the police killing of Breonna Taylor, while state charges against other cops were dropped entirely.

On Wednesday, Johnson was among hundreds of emotional residents and supporters who flooded the streets on Wednesday. People chanted 'Black lives matter' as they sobbed and consoled each other over the decision.

Johnson, 26, allegedly opened fire on a group of officers that night, including Major Aubrey Gregory and Officer Robinson Desroches.

Larynzno D. Johnson (pictured) was held on a $1million bail on Friday after he allegedly shot and wounded two police officers in Louisville, Kentucky

Major Aubrey Gregory (left) was struck by a bullet in the hip, while Officer Robinson Desroches. (right) was hit in the abdomen

Desroches was struck in the abdomen and remained at a local hospital in stable condition this week.

Gregory took a bullet to the hip, but was released from the hospital and is recovering. He is the commander of the Louisville Metro Police Department's Special Operations Unit.

Police say Johnson was armed with a handgun and was identified by witnesses as the shooter. Johnson entered his not guilty plea to the judge on Friday.

NBC News reports that state prosecutors originally requested a $750,000 all-cash bond, but Johnson's attorney sought to reduce bail to as low as $142,000.

Attorney Zac Meihaus asked that Johnson be allowed to wait for his trial under home confinement instead of a detention center.

Meihaus argued that Louisville on Wednesday night was a 'war zone' and that made it difficult to place blame solely on Johnson.

'I don't know if we can truly pinpoint that he is the person who fired the shot 'heard around the world' so to speak,' he told the judge.

Protests over the killing of Breonna Taylor continued for the fourth day in a row Saturday in Louisville, Kentucky after a grand jury revealed no murder charges were drawn up against Brett Hankinson

Attorney Zac Meihaus argued that Wednesday night in Louisville resembled a 'war zone' and that made it difficult to positively determine Johnson was the suspect

However, prosecutors claimed there was evidence suggesting Johnson was the man responsible for the officer shooting, noting several witnesses and video footage.

Johnson's next court hearing is scheduled for October 5 with a public defender appointed to represent him.

Louisville authorities arrested 127 demonstrators related to the Breonna Taylor protests on Wednesday, and that number has grown to 150 as of Saturday night.

Protesters have been marching in Louisville and other cities after a grand jury decided to bring no charges against Louisville police for the killing of Breonna Taylor.

EMT Taylor was fatally shot by cops as they raided her home in the early hours of the morning, after officers returned fire when her boyfriend shot at officers thinking they were burglars breaking in.

New video footage from Wednesday's protest has revealed the moments right after Johnson allegedly shot at the officers.

The footage shows a man in a multicolored hoodie waving a handgun wildly, after reaching over the head of another protester and opening fire in a chaotic scene.

One witness to the shooting of the officers has now come forward, saying that police deployed a flash-bang to disperse the crowd, and another protester came up behind him and opened fire just feet away.

'I heard two gun shots right behind me, I turned around, this all happened within a second or two,' the witness, who asked not to be named, told WLKY-TV.

'I saw the shooter wearing a bright tie-dye hoodie. He was shooting directly at the police and fired about 2 or 3 shots while running then fired more shots then ran down the alley way 44,' he said.

The Jefferson County Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney tells DailyMail.com that it's possible the charges could be upgraded to attempted murder, if the facts support it.

On Friday night, the unrest over the grand jury decision in the Taylor case entered a third night in Louisville and other cities across the nation, with demonstrators in Louisville claiming 'sanctuary' at a church after a 9pm curfew went into effect.

The suspected gunman who shot two Louisville police officers is seen in the immediate aftermath of the shooting on Wednesday night. Police identified him as 26-year-old Larynzo D. Johnson

Police are seen taking Johnson into custody soon after the shooting. Cops say he was armed with a handgun, and was identified by witnesses as the gunman who opened fire and injured two officers

More than 100 people gathered at the First Unitarian Church, where clergy invited them to avoid arrest by using an exemption for churches in the city's emergency curfew order.

Some of the demonstrators chanted 'say her name, Breonna Taylor' and 'You can't stop the revolution.'

The stone Gothic-style church was built in the late 19th century and is known for its progressive ideology. A large Black Lives Matter banner hangs outside it.

Video from the scene shows church members preparing a sumptuous buffet for the crowd, as demonstrators mingled inside and outside the church.

A lone protester sits on the steps of a church Friday in Louisville. Breonna Taylor's family demanded Friday that Kentucky authorities release all body camera footage, police files and the transcripts of the grand jury hearings

Some of the Black Lives Matter supporters inside of the church were armed with tactical shotguns and AR-15-style rifles, video shows.

Shortly before midnight, police surrounded the church with guns drawn. A church leader said police had arrived after reports of an armed militia in the area, referring to the armed Black Lives Matter supporters.

Police withdrew after the clergy member advised them that the armed demonstrators had permission to be on church grounds.

After midnight on Friday, protesters had largely dispersed from downtown, with no major confrontations with police.
The country aims to achieve self-sufficiency by the end of 2023

Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi attended on Sunday the opening of a hydrocracking complex project in Qalioubiya, to the north of Cairo, which is part of the country's strategy to develop the refining industry, fill the local market's needs, and lessen the import of petroleum products.

The refinery project was established in cooperation between the state and the private sector, with investments worth $3.4 billion, and can produce 4.3 million tons of various high-value petroleum products annually.

El-Sisi said the complex's inauguration was delayed after the state of instability that followed the 2011 uprising.

"The project stopped for around 10 years because of the state of instability, and the country was deprived of economic gains," he stressed during the event.

"Lots of ventures collapsed or [endured] loses because of this," he noted, adding that "we are currently trying to get this problem sorted out."

El-Sisi stressed that stability and security are essential for attracting investments, whether in Egypt or throughout the world.

The inauguration was attended by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, a number of ministers, and parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Aal, as well as other officials.

The project is based on cracking low-value Mazut into high-value petroleum products such as gasoline and diesel, Ahmed Heikal, the head of the Egyptian Refining Company (ERC), said during the event.

Around $600 million to $1 billion is expected to be saved annually as a result of the anticipated production of the newly-opened complex, he added.

Petroleum Minister Tarek El-Molla said the country has a strategy for upgrading its petroleum-related infrastructure by launching several projects to bridge the gap between production and consumption in order to attain self-sufficiency by the end of 2023.

The minister said the country will pursue establishing projects to increase petroleum production.

Between 2013 and 2014, the capacity of Egyptian refining plants was 13.5 million tons yearly, while the consumption was 21 million tons, he said.

In 2016, Egypt imported 10 million tons of oil at a total cost of $4.5 billion, which dropped to only 3.5 million tons by the end of 2020.

He asserted that the decline was due to upgrade projects that were set up by the state, the economic reform program, and the decrease in consumption that was brought about by upgrading the countrys road network, which helped reduce the distance of trips.

On the sidelines of the event, El-Sisi inaugurated El-Tagned-Shubra Banha axis project via video conference. The project is part of the country's plan to upgrade the road network of East Cairo district to put an end to the traffic jams that are common in the area.

The new axes will link the Mostorod district, where the hydrocracking complex is located, to major roads in the eastern and western parts of the country.

At a total cost of EGP 22 million, up to 50 roads in east Cairo, expanding over 200 kilometres, have been upgraded, and 40 bridges have been built, Ehab El-Far, the head of the Engineering Authority of the Armed Forces (EAAF), said during the conference.

Sisi warns of destruction attempts

President El-Sisi stressed during the inauguration that the owners of expropriated properties are being provided with alternatives in decent areas.

"I know there are people whose entire goal is to intimidate you and to [sow] doubt [in the state's efforts]... they are fishing in troubled waters," he said, adding that the expropriations are not being implemented at the expense of citizens.

The president also said that the East Cairo revamping project does not only benefit the residents of Nasr City and Heliopolis, but is meant to serve all citizens.

He added that between 2 to 3 million vehicles operate on a daily basis on the roads of East Cairo, and that the project aims to alleviate traffic congestion, reduce fuel consumption and save time.

He also warned of those who "claim they want change, but their [true intention is to] destroy people and states with false claims."

"I will keep talking about this matter as long as I hold my post," El-Sisi stressed, adding that these forces aim to destroy states and turn their citizens into refugees.

He also called on the media and the educational institutions to contribute to raising public awareness about the matter.

More financial aid for irregular workers

On the coronavirus pandemic, the president assured that the state is dealing with the problem in a transparent way, and urged all citizens to adhere to preventative measures to avoid a potential second wave of the disease.

He instructed the prime minister to disburse the monthly allowance awarded to irregular workers affected by the pandemic until the end of the year.

Earlier, the Egyptian government allocated a three-month financial package for irregular workers in a bid to alleviate the consequences of the outbreak.

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New Delhi, Sep 27 : President Ram Nath Kovind has given his assent to the three contentious agricultural Bills that were passed in the Parliament amid protests by opposition parties.

The President signed 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, into law on September 24 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill on September 26.

The Law Ministry has notified all the three Bills which are now laws.

Many opposition parties including the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which was then part of the ruling alliance, urged the President not to sign the bills after they were passed by the Parliament.

After meeting the President on September 21, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said: "We have requested the President against signing the anti-farmer bills that were passed in the Parliament by force. We requested him to send back those bills to the Parliament." The Akali Dal, whose sole Minister in the Narendra Modi government - Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal - had resigned ahead of voting on the bills in the Lok Sabha, has also exited the National Democratic Alliance on this issue

At an emergency meeting on Saturday night, the party's highest decision-making body took the decision to sever their relations with the BJP and the alliance, because of the Centre's stubborn refusal to give statutory legislative guarantees to protect the assured marketing of farmers' crops at minimum support price (MSP).

On Friday, India saw nationwide farmers protests over the Bills with Punjab and Haryana also witnessing rail blockades.
Joint Entrance Examination- Advanced 2020 Paper 1 was concluded at 12 pm on September 27. Paper 2 exam will begin at 2.30 pm. This year around 1.6 lakh candidates are registered for the JEE Advanced. The examination was conducted amid strict protocols with full precautionary measures being taken in view of the coronavirus pandemic in the country. JEE Advanced is organised by the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT-D) which is being held across 222 cities and over 1,000 examination centres.

Heres what candidates across India said about the paper after the exam:

PATNA

Students find Physics tough, Paper lengthy

Majority of aspirants who took JEE Advanced exam in the first sitting on Sunday shared that Physics questions were difficult while mathematics questions were of moderate difficulty level.

Students shared that exam centres strictly followed Covid-19 norms including thermal screening, social distancing and alternate seating arrangements.

JEE Advanced 2020| Follow Live Updates

Rahul Kumar, a student of Super 30, who took exam at Bypass-based exam centre in Patna, said, Overall exam was good. I found Physics section difficult among all. Mathematics was average except few tough questions. I found chemistry the easiest.

He said, Exam centre was following Covid-19 norms. At entrance, fresh mask was given after thermal screening. Alternate seating arrangement was made inside exam hall.

Punit Kumar, who took exam at Kankarbagh-based exam centre said, Paper was lengthy. Physics was tough because of lengthy calculations. Six additional questions were added in maths which consumed extra time. I ran out of time in last. Chemistry section was easy as few questions matched with NCERT.

Kumar also shared that exam centre was following all safety protocols.

Another aspirant Astha, who took exam in Madhubani, said, Questions were difficult than expectation. Paper was time-taking as Physics numerical required long calculations. Few questions in mathematics were tricky. Chemistry was moderate. Tricky questions from Inorganic chemistry troubled me a bit.

(input by Megha in Patna)

JAIPUR

One JEE Advanced 2020 aspirant named Mayank Singh (18) from Jhalawar in Rajasthan said that the JEE Advanced morning session paper was moderate with easier questions in chemistry and relatively tougher questions of physics and maths.

Physics section was more based on numericals while chemistry questions had more questions on organic chemistry, he said.

Another aspirant from morning session named Prabhat Bagdi (18) from Satna (MP) said that all three parts of Physics, chemistry and maths were easy for him.

Questions were more related to electrostatics, magnetism and modern Physics, he said.

Aakash Educational Services Limited (AESL) Analysis:

Physics Feedback

Paper was little difficult and almost all questions from within the syllabus, though a little calculative.

Chemistry Feedback

Paper was easy to moderate and questions asked were within syllabus. Physical chemistry had little higher percentage of questions as compared to Organic & Inorganic chemistry. The questions were based on NCERT text books.

Maths Feedback

Paper was little calculative and lengthy. Algebra and calculus portion was higher, similar to last year.

Over all paper was little difficult as compared to last year.

Paper pattern

Total Question in PCM -54

No of question in each subject-18

Single choice question-6

Multiple correct answer- 6

Numerical/ integer -6

The analysis has been done by Ajay Kumar Sharma, National Academic Director (Engineering), Aakash Educational Services Limited (AESL). HT does not take responsibility for any decision taken on basis of this analysis)

DHANBAD

Rohit Kumar, who appeared at Dhanbad district based Barwadda centre, said, The first sitting of PCM (physics, chemistry & maths) were of moderate level. The physics paper was thougher than other sections, while mathematics questions were lengthy. Questions of chemistry paper were as usual.

LUDHIANA

Majority of the aspirants appeared in the JEE Advanced in the paper 1 found the physics section difficult. The paper comprises 54 questions, 18 in each subject.

A candidate Anurag Gupta, who scored 99.96 percentile in JEE (Main) said, I found the physics portion difficult as it took me plenty of time to answer all questions. The portion contains questions which were a little calculative. The chemistry section was balanced and the mathematics portion was a little lengthy.

In view of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, IIT Delhi has taken extra precautions to ensure the safety of students, said, Mukul Anand, a resident of Subhash Nagar who appeared in the entrance exam at TCS ION digital zone here today. He said, Of the three sections, I found the physics section tricky and mathematics calculative, lengthy and time-consuming. The chemistry section was easy and the physical chemistry had a little higher percentage of questions as compared to Organic and Inorganic chemistry.
An informed source at the finance ministry told Ahram Online that the issuance is expected to be carried out before the end of 2020

Egypt is set to issue sovereign green bonds, which will be the first of their kind in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait announced on Sunday.

An informed source at the finance ministry told Ahram Online that the issuance is expected to be carried out before the end of 2020.

The sovereign green bond programme will help us raise capital from investors who care for both environmental and financial returns. The issuance of international government green bonds in the global markets will enhance the environmental rating of Egypt in addition to increasing the confidence of foreign investors in the Egyptian economy and supporting its current and future growth levels, Maait stated.

In a statement, the minister said that to ensure the most efficient coordination and management, Egypts climate policies are managed by the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), which is chaired by Egypts prime minister, adding that the council provides strategic direction and ensures smooth coordination across all entities.

Accordingly, Egypts government is pursuing an ambitious plan to upgrade its infrastructure across all sectors and regions in the country for greater energy efficiency and resource conservation, said Maait.

He noted that Egypt has adopted a green bond framework for the issuance of sovereign green instruments, signalling its commitment to its environmental and sustainable development objectives.

We congratulate the government of Egypt for piloting this new sustainable financing solution, and we remain committed to supporting its environmental, social and economic development, said World Bank Country Director of Egypt Marina Wes.

Wes added that given that the global leader in sustainable finance, the World Bank was delighted to share its knowledge and experience with the government and looks forward to providing technical assistance for post-issuance allocation and impact reporting supported by the Government Debt and Risk Management Program funded by Switzerland through its State Secretariat for Economic Affairs  SECO.

We are honoured to have had the opportunity to support Egypt in structuring its Green Financing Framework in line with the current best market practices. Thanks to the efficient collaboration between all the ministries involved, this robust Green Finance Framework highlights Egypts leadership in sustainable development and sustainable finance in the Middle East and North Africa region, said Farnam Bidgoli, Head of Sustainable Bonds, HSBC, and Antoine Rose, Sustainable Banking CA-CIB.

"Egypts green bond framework is aligned with the International Capital Markets Association Green Bond Principles (2018) and sets out the processes that will be used to ensure transparency and disclosure about the use of proceeds and environmental impact, in keeping with international best practice," they added.

Vigeo Eiris, a Moodys Affiliate, has independently reviewed the framework and assessed it to be in line with Egypts strategic sustainability priorities, the ministry said in the statement.

Green bond proceeds will be used to support projects that reflect Egypts commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and aligned with the three dimensions of sustainable development: economic, social and environmental in Egypts Sustainable Development Strategy Vision 2030, according to the World Bank.

Egypt obtained a robust second opinion for the quality of Eligible green projects and its framework, said the World Bank.

Egypt has a portfolio of eligible green projects of $1.9 billion, of which approximately 16 percent for renewable energy, 19 percent for clean transportation, 26 percent for sustainable water and wastewater management, and 39 percent for pollution prevention.

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Two Republican-led Senate committees issued a politically charged report Wednesday alleging that the work Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's son did in Ukraine constituted a conflict of interest for the Obama administration at a time when Biden was engaged in Ukraine policy as vice president.

But the report said it was ultimately "unclear" what impact Hunter Biden's position on the board of a Ukrainian gas company had on Obama administration policy with regard to Ukraine. And it offered no evidence to support one of President Donald Trump's more incendiary allegations  that Joe Biden pressured Ukraine to fire its top prosecutor as a way to protect his son.

Bidens campaign immediately panned the report, released six weeks before the election, as an effort by an ally of Trump to damage his election opponent.

Trump has repeatedly drawn attention to Hunter Biden's work in Ukraine even as his own administration has warned of a concerted Russian effort to denigrate Joe Biden and asserted that a Ukrainian lawmaker who is involved in spreading anti-Biden claims is an active Russian agent."

Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, whose Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is one of the two panels that released the 87-page report, had acknowledged in interviews his goal of making the document public before the election, telling The Associated Press last month that the American people deserve the truth about his probe.

The investigation produced stark political divisions, with Democrats accusing Johnson of a politically motivated initiative at a time when they said the Homeland Security Committee should be focused on the coronavirus pandemic response and other, less partisan issues. Even before the report was released, the Biden campaign issued a detailed statement aiming to rebut point-by-point allegations that it said had long been debunked by media organizations as well as by U.S. and Ukrainian officials.

The Senate report examines Hunter Biden's dealings in Ukraine, where he held a paid seat on the board of gas company Burisma, and alleges that work posed a conflict of interest because Biden was vice president at the time and dealing with Ukraine policy.

It references a 2016 email from George Kent, the former acting deputy chief of mission at the Kyiv embassy, that described the presence of Hunter Biden on the Burisma board as very awkward for all U.S. officials pushing an anticorruption agenda in Ukraine. Kent testified about his concerns during the impeachment proceedings against Trump last year.

Another State Department official, Amos Hochstein, is described in the report as having raised concerns directly to Biden because he was concerned that Russians were using his son's role with the company to sow disinformation.

The report says that even though State Department officials regarded the head of the company, Mykola Zlokevsky, as corrupt, Biden did not confront him.

What the Chairmen discovered during the course of this investigation is that the Obama administration knew that Hunter Bidens position on Burismas board was problematic and did interfere in the efficient execution of policy with respect to Ukraine, the report says.

Moreover, this investigation has illustrated the extent to which officials within the Obama administration ignored the glaring warning signs when the vice presidents son joined the board of a company owned by a corrupt Ukrainian oligarch, it adds.

Even so, the Republican senators acknowledge that the extent to which Hunter Biden's role on the board affected Ukraine policy is unclear, and the report does not describe how, if at all, specific policy decisions were influenced by Biden's position.

Notably, the report makes limited mention of the claim by Trump and some supporters that Biden pressured Ukraine to fire its top prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, as a way to stymie an investigation into Burisma's owner. The allegations were central to the impeachment case against Trump after he asked Ukraine's president in a telephone call last year to investigate the Bidens.

The report includes only six references, including in footnotes, to Shokin and does not expose new information about any role Biden may have had in his ouster.

The Biden campaign pointed to news reports and public statements showing there was no active investigation into Burisma at the time of Shokin's ouster in 2016, and that the firing of Shokin was broadly sought by U.S. and European officials and reflected the official Obama administration policy.

There is no evidence of wrongdoing by the Bidens, and Hunter Biden has denied using his influence with his father to aid Burisma. But Republicans who came to Trumps defense in this years impeachment trial asked for further investigations of his activities. Johnson, a close ally of Trump, took the lead.

As the coronavirus death toll climbs and Wisconsinites struggle with joblessness, Ron Johnson has wasted months diverting the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee away from any oversight of the catastrophically botched federal response to the pandemic, a threat Sen. Johnson has dismissed by saying that death is an unavoidable part of life,'" Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates said in a statement.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro ignored pleas from the environmental watchdog to curb logging in a core koala habitat hit hard by last season's fires, instead demanding the state firm meet its contracts.

Documents reveal the Environment Protection Authority sought a voluntary halt to logging in the Lower Bucca and other state forests from March onwards. After initially supporting such a move, Forestry Corp rejected the request after intervention by Mr Barilaro, the papers show.

Forestry operations in the Lower Bucca State Forest, near Coffs Harbour, northern NSW. The EPA sought to limit logging in the forest after nearby bushfires but were overruled by John Barilaro, who is the minister in charge of forests. Credit:Kate Geraghty

The urgency to slow logging in state forests followed spring and summer bushfires that devastated large areas, including about three-quarters of some key koala habitat sites in northern NSW.

Lower Bucca, near Coffs Harbour, "has a high proportion of high-value koala habitat; it contains a koala hub, and is an important koala refugium in bushfire recovery", EPA document written as advice to Environment Minister Matt Kean in early April shows. The EPA regulates state forestry operations.
Gayle King has chastised Nancy Pelosi for calling Donald Trump's allies 'henchmen', telling the Speaker that it was 'insulting' and unhelpful.

King asked Pelosi about her previous remarks on Friday morning, after the Speaker said that Joe Biden should not participate in Tuesday's debate with Trump.

Pelosi said she stood by her comments, because she felt it was a pointless exercise.

'I just think that the President has no fidelity to fact or truth, and actually in his comments the last few days, no fidelity to the Constitution of the United States,' she told King.

'He and his henchmen are a danger with their comments, are a danger to our democracy.

Nancy Pelosi spoke to Gayle King on Friday morning for CBS's This Morning

King was a donor to Obama's campaign and has been friends with Oprah Winfrey for years

King took issue with Pelosi's use of the word 'henchmen' to describe Trump's inner circle

'I didn't want to give him, you know, why bother  you know, he doesn't tell the truth. He isn't committed to our Constitution, but Joe Biden is right '

King, who famously donated to Barack Obama's campaign, holidayed with the Obamas and is close friends with Oprah Winfrey, interjected, and called Pelosi out on her choice of words.

'But Speaker Pelosi, that's what people say is the problem,' she said.

'Your language to some is just as egregious as what they're saying by calling the president's people "henchmen".

'Some could say that's just as insulting as what he's saying about you.'

Pelosi brushed off King's criticism, saying Trump's attacks did not worry her and they actually helped her own political fundraising.

'Well, I don't care what he says about me,' said Pelosi.

'Every knock from him is a boost for me. If he wants to help me raise money, he can keep knocking me. But I'm speaking truth.'
DARIEN  Closing in on its 45th year of business, Johnnys Records is more relevant than ever as a center for peoples beloved vinyl.

On Saturday the second of this seasons three Record Store Day events took place. And while there werent as many people expected to turn out, given the limited number of titles, over 100 records fans still paid a visit to Darien to get some special pressings.

Its really busy, said John Konrad, who opened the store in October of 1975.

Normally its in April, he said, along with a Black Friday event the day after Thanksgiving.

Related: Looking for rare vinyl? Johnnys Records in Darien to join Record Store Drop Day

But owing to COVID-19 considerations, the initiativerepresenting a collaborative between record store owners and staffdecided to split the main event into threeAug. 29, Sept. 26, and Oct. 24, in order to reduce the traditional crowding that has earmarked the events since it began in 2007.

Normally theres a crowd going halfway down the block, said Konrad in between juggling orders and vinyl requests, and yet only allowing a couple of customers at a time into his store.

Records are becoming more popular now, noted customer Marc Stein, who comes regularly from Weston to shop at the store.

I like staring at the art on the walls and the photos, he said, also noting its the only store of its kind in the region.

Today he came to get the limited pressings of an alternate version of Fleetwod Macs Rumours album, as well as Paul McCartneys first solo album, McCartney, and a repressing of The Allman Brothers classic Fillmore West album.

I like the expense and the inconvenience, Michael Finkelstein of Greenwich joked about the joys of records.

But he added more seriously, Im an audio fan. I like the sound.

Many others agree, as the analog representation of recorded music through an LP is literally physically different than the computer-processed sounds of music run through a digital format, which actually breaks the recording into miniscule but separate pieces of information.

People also love the art on the albums themselves, as well as the hands-on experience of playing a record.

Theyre fun to collect and theres something about it not like a CD, said Catherine Mattera of Stratford. Its unique.

If you really like music, its just another way to connect you to it, she said.

She and her husband, Lucas, made the trip down to Johnnys at one in the morning to be early for the sale, which in the past they said has necessitated hours of waiting for late arrivals.

We got here at one in the morning and there was one person ahead of us, Lucas noted.

They and others signed up for the phone callor textfrom Johnnys staff in order to be admitted to the store, where they were able to get the Primus album they wantedSuck on Thisamong others.

The pressings themselves, they explained, are limitedonly 5,000 of the Primus album, for exampleso there was no way of knowing how many copies Johnnys might have to sell, or how quickly they would go.

Weve got to keep everybody in their cars, Konrad said, remaining concerned that everyone is safe with their shopping and maintains mask coverage.

He said he expects the October event to be even bigger, as there will be more titlesreally, really great titles, he said, noting that this months are far from bad but there just arent as many.

My boyfriend actually requested this, Kelly Troy of Norwalk said, having arrived at 7:45 a.m. to pick up his copy of Fillmore West.

Its a really cool vibe in there, she said of the store. Theyve got lots of vintage stuff in there.

Steve Bernard of Harrison, N.Y., is another loyal customer who makes regular trips to the storeat least he did pre-pandemicand was thrilled to get a favorite album by The Replacements.

Johnnys is a legendalways has been, he said.

I really havent done any shopping, he said. Only the essentials, but this was worth the trip.

It makes you feel slightly human for a while, he said, getting out and in the fray with his girlfriendanother record fan.

And well be here next month as well, he said.

For more information on Johnnys Records and upcoming events, visit https://www.facebook.com/johnnysrecordshop.
The government has been at the receiving end this past week, from farmers as well as from workers in Indias vast informal sector. It is no coincidence that allegations from both sets of protestors are similar: that the government has leaned towards corporates while abandoning interests of the underdog.

The first set of allegations stems from the sweeping changes made in the way farmers can now sell their produce; farmers have alleged that the new regime puts them at the mercy of powerful corporates and instead of raising their incomes, will depress their earnings.

The second set of allegations is emanating from the three new labour code bills passed by Parliament in the just-concluded Monsoon Session. These broadly relate to workers right to strike and have pre-defined working hours, employers right to hire and fire and provision of social security benefits to gig workers, among others. Here again, the fear of big, bad corporates is apparent.

Back-of-the-envelope calculations show that workers in small shops, bhattis, kirana stores and in other small enterprises together account for 9 in 10 Indians who are engaged in any kind of work at all. In short, these bills affect the working conditions of an overwhelming majority of working Indians.

These are the key highlights of the Labour Codes 2020:

Industrial

Relations Code

a) Government approval now needed for closure, layoffs and retrenchments for firms employing 300 or more people against firms employing 100 or more earlier. An analysis by brokerage Edelweiss notes that 16 states had previously raised the threshold to 300 employees anyway

b) The bill requires all employees to give a 14-day notice before a strike or lockout and this provision obviously dilutes the powers of trade unions

c) The definition of workers is now based on the wage he/she draws and anyone earnings up to Rs 18,000 is a worker here

d) Employer not bound to pay any retrenchment compensation to a fixed-term employee

Social

Security Code

a) Provision for firms to provide universal social security, including workers in the unorganised sectors and gig workers

b) The Centre to set up such a Social Security fund while state governments will also set up and administer separate social security funds for unorganised workers

c) Schemes for gig workers may be funded through a combination of contributions from the Centre, states and aggregators

d) For working journalists, the threshold of gratuity payment has been lowered from five to three years

Occupational

Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code

This code aims to consolidate and amend laws regulating the occupational safety, health and working conditions of persons employed in an establishment and related matters

a) Women can now work night shifts

b) Rights and duties for both, employers and employees, now laid down

Alok Prasanna Kumar, Senior Resident Fellow at Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, pointed out that there was a need to consolidate and harmonise labour laws at the central level, given that they have been made over a long period of time and need to be updated thanks to latest jurisprudence. The idea of a consolidated code is not per se bad if it harmonizes the legislation and removes conflicts. The present codes do that to some extent. However, simplification is not necessarily a good thing if it comes at the cost of workers rights.

On workers right to strike work, for example, Kumar said more procedural requirements had been placed in their path. This will make collective bargaining harder. Employees are necessarily at a disadvantage and industrial relations laws should look to remedy this imbalance of power and not aggravate it.

On the social security issue, he said concerns have been raised over the corporatisation" of the bodies in charge of social security (such as EPF and ESI). This, workers apprehend, could be putting the management of the funds at risk instead of guaranteeing them financial security. While these bodies were earlier government entities, the concerns seem to be around the fact that the boards have now become body corporates with a CEO raising questions as to how the body will be accountable to the millions of workers whose savings it will have control over.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hailed the passage of the labour code bills. He tweeted:

                    Labour Codes                  , ,             pic.twitter.com/KqFbuG0HMh  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 25, 2020

For decades, workers have been enmeshed in legal tangles but now this situation has changed. Through Labour Codes, effort has been made to extricate worker from the web of dozens of laws. Laws relating to their health, security, convenience and wages have been simplified.

The Working Peoples Charter, a collective of workers in the informal sector, has pointed out that social security has not been provided as a right and the code does not stipulate a clear date for enforcement either. This drives home the plight hundreds of thousands of informal sector workers suffered in the summer of 2020, when a harsh lockdown rendered them jobless and they were forced to return home without either food or transport.

The Collective has also pointed out instances where the Code falls short of being universally applicable: For PF, only establishments with 20 or more workers are covered, excluding the millions of micro and small enterprises from its ambit; existing employees could anyway be excluded. There is also no mention of how social security contributions would work for atypical arrangements where there is no clear employer and employee relationship  including home-based work, self-employment, piece rate work, etc.

So what should the government do to empower workers while also ensuring that ease of doing business remains for employers? Anirudh Chakradhar, Partner, Pragma Development Advisors LLP, said central and state governments should comply with the ILOs standard (such as those in Hours of Work (Industry) Convention 1919 and Hours of Work (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1930 (No.30) - 48 regular hours of work per week, with a maximum of eight hours per day) and consult Labour experts and institutions before trying to modify the rules and norms of various state labour laws.

The recent radical steps taken by states like Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttarakhand to modify the state labour laws to promote the economic activities have put the migrant workers at a precarious state.

Chakradhar said the focus has been on simplifying the labour law regime by bucketing existing legislation into four codes, rather than a comprehensive exercise to review and modernize them. In many cases previously, some of the major challenges were with respect to implementation and enforcement of existing laws. Once again, a focus on this aspect, with respect to how technology could enable the process, as opposed to modifying legal thresholds and safeguards, could have gone a long way in making protections robust, while also reducing employer burden.

Disclaimer: The author is a senior journalist. Views are personal
The new case came several days after the Montgomery County public school system said in response to an inquiry by The Washington Post that more than 60 employees have tested positive for the coronavirus between March and Sept. 10, and that eight school buildings and a maintenance depot have been closed for periods because of cases.
FAIRMONT CITY  With just days to go, the Latino Roundtable of Southwestern Illinois is No. 5 among 200 finalists seeking to receive a $25,000 State Farm Neighborhood Assist Grant to provide internet service in the community.

Though sitting just 20 minutes east of St. Louis, the Village of Fairmont City has limited internet access, said Katie Heaton who chairs the nonprofit organization. The only free WiFi in the village is at the local librarys hotspot. The town of nearly 3,000 is 80% Hispanic with 40% living at or below the poverty level.
JIMEX-2020, the 4th edition of India-Japan maritime bilateral exercise is being held in the North Arabian Sea from September 26 to 28.

Indian Navy and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) ships conducted operations in close formation at JIMEX-2020, the 4th edition of India-Japan Maritime bilateral exercise. It is being held in the North Arabian Sea from September 26 to 28. The 4th edition of India-Japan maritime bilateral exercise JIMEX, which is conducted biennially between the Indian Navy and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) will be held in the North Arabian Sea from 26 to 28 September 2020.

JIMEX series of exercises commenced in January 2012 with a special focus on maritime security cooperation. The last edition of JIMEX was conducted in October 2018 off Visakhapatnam, India. Naval cooperation between India and Japan has increased in scope and complexity over the years. Advanced level of operations and exercises planned during JIMEX-20 are indicative of the continued upswing in Indo-Japanese defence relations and continued efforts by both Governments to work closely for a more secure, open and inclusive global commons, in accordance with international regulations.

JIMEX 20 will showcase a high degree of inter-operability and joint operational skills through the conduct of a multitude of advanced exercises, across the spectrum of maritime operations. Multi-faceted tactical exercises involving weapon firings, cross deck helicopter operations and complex surface, anti-submarine and air warfare drills will consolidate coordination developed by the two navies.

Aerial clip of @JMSDF_PAO & @indiannavy ships conducting operations in close formation LOCATION: North Arabian Sea.

DURATION: 26-28.

SHIPS:

 JMSDF ships Ikazuchi & Kaga led by RAdm Konno Yasushige, CCF2.

 INS Chennai, Tarkash & Deepak led by RAdm K Swaminathan, FOCWF. pic.twitter.com/AWyFEp9LsQ  Ashish Singh (@AshishSinghNews) September 27, 2020

Also Read: We are not enemies: Sanjay Raut after meeting with Devendra Fadnavis

Also Read: LAC: Indian Army gear up for battling both China, harsh winters in Eastern Ladakh

JIMEX 20 is being conducted in a non-contact at-sea-only format, in view of COVID-19 restrictions. Indigenously built stealth destroyer Chennai, Teg Class stealth frigate Tarkash and Fleet Tanker Deepak, under the command of Rear Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet, will represent the Indian Navy. The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force will be represented by JMSDF Ships Kaga, an Izumo Class Helicopter Destroyer and Ikazuchi, a Guided Missile Destroyer, led by Rear Admiral Konno Yasushige, Commander Escort Flotilla  2 (CCF  2).

In addition to ships, P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft, integral helicopters and fighter aircraft will also participate in the exercise. JIMEX 20 will further enhance the cooperation and mutual confidence between the two navies and fortify the long-standing bond of friendship between the two countries. (ANI)

Also Read: BSF foils infiltration bid from Pakistani side at Samba International Border
Countrys political leaders and bureaucrats paid rich tributes to former Union minister Jaswant Singh who passed away after a prolonged illness in New Delhi on Sunday.

Jaswant Singh Ji served our nation diligently, first as a soldier and later during his long association with politics. During Atal Jis Government, he handled crucial portfolios and left a strong mark in the worlds of finance, defence and external affairs. Saddened by his demise, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In Jodhpur, Jaswant Singhs son Manvendra Singh lit the funeral pyre amid chanting of mantras. Singhs family members and relatives were present during the cremation at the farmhouse located near a civil airport. Singhs body was brought to Jodhpur from New Delhi by air and was kept in the farmhouse where people offered floral tributes. A wreath was also laid on behalf of the Indian Army.

Also read: Jaswant Singh, founding member of the BJP and former Union minister, passes away

Jaswant Singh was 82. He was one of the founding members of the BJP and a close associate of ex-prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday condoled the death of the BJP veteran saying he was a man of impeccable integrity, an able administrator and an excellent parliamentarian.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh said Jaswant Singh served the nation in several capacities and distinguished himself as an effective minister and parliamentarian.

Jaswant Singh ji would be remembered for his intellectual capabilities and stellar record in service to the nation. He also played a key role in strengthening the BJP in Rajasthan. Condolences to his family and supporters in this sad hour. Om Shanti, Singh said.

Also read: Jaswant Singh - A gentleman politician and Vajpayees globetrotting trouble-shooter

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi also expressed her condolences. Jaswant Singh was a man who lived his life with the utmost honour and integrity, whether as an Army officer, a politician or a cabinet minister who held the most crucial portfolios of external affairs, defence and finance, Gandhi said in a letter to Manvendra Singh.

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh also said that Singh was an able administrator and an outstanding parliamentarian. In his death, our country has lost a great leader who always worked for the betterment of the society, said the former PM.

In a statement, BJP leader Lal Krishan Advani described Singh as one of his closest colleagues and a dear friend. He said Singh was an outstanding parliamentarian, astute diplomat, great administrator, and above all, a patriot.

Advani noted that a very special bond was formed between Atal ji, Jaswant ji and myself while handling tenacious issues during those six years (1998-2004) in power.

As a person, Jaswant ji was a true gentleman and will be remembered as a soft-spoken, erudite and warm-hearted person. He was known for his sharp, analytical mind and was respected by people across the political spectrum, Advani said.

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday also expressed remorse on Singhs passing away.

My heartfelt condolences at the passing away of senior leader from Rajasthan and former union minister, shri Jaswant Singhji, Gehlot tweeted. Saddened at the passing away of former Defence Minister and one of Indias longest-serving parliamentarians, Jaswant Singh Ji. My condolences to his family and his many admirers, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also expressed pain. The Lt Governor said he was deeply saddened to hear about the passing away of the former Union minister. He said Singh worked dedicatedly for the welfare of the people while serving the country in various important capacities.
It is well documented that the market that hotels are looking to at the moment is completely changed. How has the Absolute Hotel reacted to this?

We did not re-open until July 23. What we were waiting for was a bit of demand. I did not want to open up just because everyone else was opening up. I wanted to make sure it was right for our business. One of the first things we did is we saw food delivery services were doing well, so we introduced a burgers and beyond service. That did well. It wasnt just about the revenue, it was also about being able to have a team on site every day. Sometimes, its important to have a routine, and its very demoralising to come in and have nothing to do. So that activity provided a focus. You had to prepare and do a service and you had to manage a service.

How have you changed your offering to hotel guests?

In terms of rooms, weve had to really focus on Irish domestic leisure. We have a local school, Gaelcholaiste Luimnigh using our meeting rooms, because there are no corporate meetings taking place at the moment. They are in there every day using the rooms as classrooms.

How about third level students?

Along that line, we are also aware people are coming to university and are looking for places to stay. Traditionally, accommodation is really expensive. So if you can manage it that you can come down for a couple of days, and stay with us, and manage it at a much lesser cost, that is another area. Youre always looking for the opportunities and where they exist. What we are providing is that we will take away all the hassle for mam and dad, so they dont have to put in the big downpayment. People can come down and stay here for their three or four days. We are really accessible along the beautiful tow-path to get out to the University of Limerick. We also have the local art college and Mary Immaculate College close by. We are on the edge of the city, so its very accessible to everywhere. The idea is a parent can be confident their precious child is being really well looked after and they can actually manage their finances as well.

What services do you offer to students?

Its a bed-and-breakfast option, and obviously they will be able to access food in the evening as well. Around us, there are some fabulous offerings like the Locke Bar, which has a big outdoor seating area. The idea is people will come here, be able to dine here, and now the restrictions have changed, sit down and have a drink.

What is the rate for students?

Its a really good rate that works out much better for a student than renting full time in Limerick. We had to keep that in mind when setting the price. We have quite a few students staying here with us over the next semester. If there were two people from a family, or a pod, they could share. Weve had a number of inquiries. While it wont fundamentally fill us, it is adding another string to our bow of business we can get in and look after. Our job is to identify and fulfil demand.

In terms of the leisure market, what are you offering?

We are offering three nights bed and breakfast and three evening meals from a total price of 299. This offer includes complimentary on-site car parking, and in your room, a Nespresso machine and free bottled water. You'd dine in our award-winning river-facing restaurant, where you'd enjoy a two-course meal, as well as a full Irish breakfast each morning.

How does it feel to be back open to the public after the Covid-19 lockdown?

Its absolutely brilliant, phenomenal. At a core, our function is to operate a hotel and look after guests. To generate revenue, but to look after people and be a business. But it is soul destroying when you are coming into nothing. To open again, to have guests again was amazing. It meant we could get back to our old routine. While we are nowhere near the level of business we were at, the routine of coming into work, wearing your suit, and looking after people for breakfast, lunch and dinner is still there. Just at a much smaller scale. It was beautiful to have guests back again. When youre closed, its hard to see where the future is going. When youre open, at least youre fighting for something.

Are you looking forward to welcoming your regular customers back?

Anything that makes it more accessible for people to get out and enjoy our services is really good for me. People who may not want to come out for a full meal will be able to go out for a walk along the river and come in here for a drink. We have people who come in for a pint, or a glass of wine. At least from now, as long as we stay at level two, people will be able do this. People have gone through a very tough time and they want to get back to their old lifestyles as much as possible, as much as the regulations will allow.

Youve had to think outside the box in the last few months

Innovation has always been spoken about in hotels, but often people havent practiced it because they havent needed to. Necessity is the mother of all invention and if your traditional markets and traditional activities are not generating income, then you have to innovate really quickly, and you must think of new ways of survival  otherwise you do not survive.

What has been the biggest challenge throughout this period?

Without a doubt, this is the biggest challenge of my career. Trying to lead and guide the business and the team during such severe uncertainty, and trying to provide that guidance where often there is none. Its been a big challenge. You generally look to your previous experience and apply it. But you cannot this time. What it comes down to is making the best decision at the time with the information you have to hand. The most critical is then being willing to change that decision when you get new information.

What are your goals for the next 12 months?

To keep as many of our team with me, and to be a positive influence on our team and guests. If I manage to do that, we will have been a success. A lot of businesses are going to close and people will be impacted at whats going on in the world. If I can provide stability and provide a place where people can come and just relax, then thats great.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

Trend:

The Azerbaijani armed forces continue to liberate the occupied territories and inflict heavy blows to the Armenian armed forces, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Head of the Department for Foreign Policy Affairs of Azerbaijans Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev said, Trend reports.

Hajiyev noted that the Azerbaijani armed forces act guided by international humanitarian law and not aiming at civilian objects, noting that at the same time the Armenian armed forces are trying to target civilian objects.

The Armenian armed forces have spread misinformation that, allegedly, battles are taking place on the border. This is an absolute lie, Azerbaijan is working to liberate its lands from the occupation," Hakiyev said.
Lebanon was left reeling Sunday without the slightest prospect of ending multiple crises, after its premier-designate stepped down following the failure of talks to form a government, despite international pressure.

Mustapha Adib's resignation on Saturday ended efforts to hammer out a reformist government in the wake of a colossal August 4 explosion in Beirut that killed 190 people, injured thousands and ravaged large parts of the capital.

Political parties had pledged in early September, during a visit to Lebanon by French President Emmanuel Macron, to form within two weeks a cabinet of independent ministers tasked with ending the country's economic malaise.

"As the efforts to form a government reached their final phase, it became apparent to me that this consensus... was no longer there," Adib said on Saturday.

Under the Lebanese constitution, the president must now hold further talks to nominate another prime minister to form a government, but it is a process that risks dragging out and even failing.

"I don't expect a government anytime soon," said Sami Atallah, who heads the Lebanese Centre for Policy Studies.

"There was a chance, there was a lot of pressure to form a government and it didn't happen," he said, adding there was a "bigger problem" of geopolitical tensions, especially between the United States and Iran.

Adib's efforts were hampered by the claims of two Shiite formations, the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement, and its ally Amal, led by parliament speaker Nabih Berri, who demanded the finance portfolio.

According to observers, the Shiite allies dug in their heels after recent US sanctions imposed on a minister of the Amal party and two companies affiliated with Hezbollah.

'Into the unknown'



Adib's decision to step aside 26 days after his appointment has left the people of Lebanon feeling as though they are back to square one.

"The page of Mustapha Adib has turned," the French-language L'Orient-Le Jour newspaper declared on Sunday.

It described the return to the drawing board as "a leap into the unknown, even a highway to hell".

Earlier this week, Lebanese President Michel Aoun warned the country was headed to "hell" unless all political parties stepped up and facilitated the formation of a government.

The Arabic-language newspaper Annahar warned of "grave repercussions", and said all eyes were on Macron, who is due to hold a news conference on Sunday evening.

Even before the devastating Beirut port blast, the country was already mired in its worst economic crisis in decades and mass protests that toppled and replaced the government.

Following the August 4 blast, the country's worst peacetime disaster, the government stepped down and Abid was appointed to form a new one.

Many are worried the country is headed from bad to worse.

On the night of Saturday to Sunday, two soldiers and an alleged "terrorist" were killed in the latest episode of a weeks-long manhunt over a murder last month.

The country's novel coronavirus infection figures are also on the rise, with more than 35,000 cases recorded since February, including 340 deaths.

The UN envoy to Lebanon, Jan Kubis, on Saturday reacted with disbelief: "Such a degree of irresponsibility, when the fate of Lebanon and its people is at stake!"

"Politicians, have you really scuppered this unique chance created by France?"

Analyst Karim Bitar said Lebanon was expected to have a rough patch ahead.

"Even if Lebanon is not hell-bound, we will probably witness... the weakening of public institutions, a worsening of the economic crisis... and a wave of emigration," he said.

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Port Thrift Shop in Port Colborne has recently completed a $350,000 expansion to allow an easier flow of donations coming into the downtown business.

It is the most significant investment made by the store at Charlotte and West streets in its 35-year history.

The renovation has added 90 square metres of space for sorting, preparation and storage, and a more convenient dropoff experience for donors, said manager Heather Stuart.

Together with its sister shop, New to You Thrift in Welland, it forms part of the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) network of more than a hundred shops across Canada and the United States. MCC is a registered charity.

This network raised $19.7 million in support of MCCs relief, development and peace efforts in Ontario and around the world in fiscal 2019 while also providing low-cost, gently used goods to many customers and local aid agencies, and diverting large quantities of goods from landfills, said a news release about the expansion.

Port Thrift Shop financially supports Port Cares, South Niagara Life Centre and the Broken Spoke program in the same neighbourhood, and is affiliated with Be In Christ churches in Niagara.

At the second-hand store there are 70 volunteers who help everything run smoothly.

They are the backbone, along with our donors, said Stuart, while noting items are brought in from places outside Port Colborne such as Dunnville and Fort Erie.

Construction presented some unique challenges for the shop.

The shop sits on land excavated during construction of the nearby Welland Canal. As it is prone to settling, the pilings to support the addition were sunk 20 feet to sit on bedrock.

Work began in February, but was interrupted for six weeks by COVID-19 before resuming and being completed in August.

Staff and volunteers did an incredible job continuing to operate the shop while contending with the noise and dust of a major construction project, while also adapting to all the new COVID protocols, said board chair John Williams.
Imagine someones head inside a crocodiles mouth. Imagine that person still surviving.

A snorkeler in Australia lived through a nightmare when he was bitten by a saltwater crocodile. It wasnt a bite on the arm or foot, but his whole head and neck. The incident happened near a remote island off the coast of Northern Queensland. He was rescued and taken to a hospital in time.

The identity of the man has not been disclosed but he is said to be 33 years old. He was attacked on Wednesday as he took a deep dive around 50 metres away of Lizard Island. It is believed that the attack happened in Anchor bay. The primary first-aid care was provided near the scene of the accident. He was later flown to Cairns Hospital and treated for his non-life-threatening injuries. As of now, the man is stable.

A member of the Royal Flying Doctor Service was reported as saying that the man was lucky to be alive. The extent of his injuries is not yet clear, but judging by the various media reports, it must be severe. After all, the mans whole head is presumed to be bitten.

As reported in The Independent, said crocodile attacks in north Queensland were rare. However, an animal of that nature and size can be devastating and deaths have happened in the past.

The island is no strangers to crocodiles as they are found in abundance there. Since 1985, there have been approximately 37 recorded attacks, 11 of those attacks resulted in a fatality.

According to The Conversation, crocodiles have a tendency to bite. The saltwater crocodiles can be anywhere between 1,000 to 2,000 kilos. They are said to have a strong bite. The highest bite-force ever recorded for any animal belongs to a 4.59 m long saltwater crocodile from Australia. Based on body mass, a crocodile can cause anywhere between 1,000 and 3,000 pounds force on its prey. Its a wonder that the victim survived the attack.
Guwahati, Sep 27 : The chairman of Assam State Level Police Recruitment Board (SLPRB) Pradeep Kumar quit the post on Sunday citing moral responsibility for the recruitment test paper leak that resulted in the cancellation of the written exam on September 20, even as a probe into the Sub-Inspector recruitment scam is underway.

"I apologise to the candidates and their families," Kumar, a former IPS officer, said in his resignation letter submitted to the government.

Following the direction of Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, the CID and the crime branch of Assam Police are probing the exam paper leak issue.

The investigating team has raided various locations including that of former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Prasanta Kumar Dutta, who is now on the run.

According to the police, so far 13 people, including a woman employee of the state irrigation department and one from the Special Task Force of Assam Police, have been arrested in connection the scam amid the investigation, which is being personally supervised by Assam Director General of Police (DGP) Bhaskarjyoti Mahanta.

On September 20, the SLPRB had cancelled the written test a few minutes after it had started following the leakage of the question paper in the social media.

Over 66,000 candidates had appeared in 154 centres in all the 33 districts for the written test for 597 posts of unarmed sub-inspectors in Assam Police.

There are reports that ex-DIG Dutta along with few political leaders have absconded to Nepal as the former police officer's daughter lived there.

Assam Police have already contacted the External Affairs Ministry to take appropriate action against the absconders.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 15:59:22|Editor: huaxia

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Afghan Army soldiers take part in their graduation ceremony at Kabul Military Training Center in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Sept. 27, 2020. A total of 959 newly graduated soldiers on Sunday joined the Afghan National Army (ANA), boosting the force amid an increase in the Taliban-led unrest, an army source said. (Photo by Rahmatullah Alizadah/Xinhua)

KABUL, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- A total of 959 newly graduated soldiers on Sunday joined the Afghan National Army (ANA), boosting the force amid an increase in the Taliban-led unrest, an army source said.

"It is a great day for Afghan National Army to have this reinforcement. I express my complete confidence that you will discharge your duty with a proud and great resolution to serve your nation and secure your country," Gen. Iqbal Ali Nadir, deputy to army's chief of staff, told a graduation ceremony held here.

The new graduates have received a three-month training period at the Kabul Military Training Center (KMTC) in the eastern part of the Afghan capital city Kabul.

The soldiers will be deployed in countryside to ensure peace and stability, the military official said.

"Please remember, no one wins on their own alone in the battlefield. Teams win battles, and if you can win the hearts and minds of people, the people will help you win all the battles," he said.

The latest graduation came as Taliban militants and Islamic State (IS) affiliates have escalated attacks during recent months and fighting has been continuing in half of the country's 34 provinces.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian addressed the Armenian people on September 27 on the occasion of the aggression launched by Azerbaijan against Artsakh, noting that consolidation is the unconditional guarantee of the victories of the Armenian people.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Office of the President, Sarkissian said, Dear compatriots in Armenia, Artsakh and Diaspora,

This is another military aggression by Azerbaijan, which is a war against the entire Armenian people. This war is directed against the right of the people of Artsakh to living freely, against having a dignified, peaceful life and future.

I feel deep sorrow for the victims of the large-scale military aggression by Azerbaijan, including a child and a woman, Armen Sarkissian said, emphasizing that the Defense Army of Artsakh again proved that its ready to swiftly reacting to any military operation.

President Sarkissian said that they are expecting adequate reaction from the international community, particularly the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair countries, international organizations and individuals.

By these steps Azerbaijan overtly shows to the international mediators and international community that it does not wish to settle Artsakh issue through negotiations and foster regional peace and stability, it continues to violate universal values, targets civilians, hospitals and communications.

We hope that the international community will initiate urgent measures to stop the war unleashed by Azerbaijan, the President said.

Dear compatriots,

The victory achieved in the Artsakh war (1994  edit.) is a result of our unity and consolidation, today the preservation of that victory is the sacramental duty of each of us.

The fate of our Motherland depends on us, our unity, solidarity and discipline.

We need to unite.

Consolidation is the unconditional guarantee of our victories. At this moment we have to put aside all the political disagreements and personal confrontations and become a strong back for our Armed Forces.

We have to act together, even if we have different thinking, worldview and ideas.

The capacities and potential of each of us in Armenia, Artsakh and Diaspora should be used for the sake of the Motherland.

God bless our army.

God bless us all. 

Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan
The domestic terminal of Gimpo International Airport is crowded by tourists, Sunday, ahead of the five-day Chuseok long weekend that starts Wednesday. Health authorities are bracing for a possible surge of COVID-19 infections during the holiday period as many movements of people across the nation are expected. / Yonhap



By Jun Ji-hye



The government is striving to prevent the upcoming Chuseok holiday from causing another COVID-19 outbreak, urging citizens to comply with anti-virus guidelines to stem the virus spread during the five-day holiday that starts Wednesday.



Health authorities said the holiday period may become a critical juncture in determining whether the country will experience yet another round of outbreaks or not, noting that they are staying vigilant over the possibility of additional virus patients emerging.



The number of new daily virus cases here has been tallied at around 100 for about a week amid continued sporadic group infections at offices, nursing homes and daycare centers in Seoul and its surrounding areas.



According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the nation added 95 more COVID-19 cases, including 73 locally transmitted infections, for Saturday, raising the total caseload to 23,611.



The number of daily coronavirus cases stayed below 100 for the second consecutive day, but concerns remain as untraceable infections have continued to rise.



Among 1,461 new infections that have emerged from Sept. 13 to Friday, transmission routes of 359 patients, or 24.6 percent, have yet to be identified, meaning that there could be many people unaware of their infected status and yet to be diagnosed, according to the KDCA.






Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on Sunday through his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat's 69th episode. Prime Minister, in his today's address, covered the importance of storytelling, Coronavirus measures that must be followed, farm bill, etc.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed the nation on 69th episode of Mann Ki Baat, his radio programme. He spoke to people on various topics like how significant storytelling and folklore are in the Indian culture, farmers, Atmanirbhar Bharat, etc. Mann Ki Baat was broadcasted on All India Radio and Doordarshan Network.

Prime Minister began his address by talking about the significance of folklore and storytelling in the Indian culture. He spoke to several storytellers from across India. He said that the history of stories was as ancient as the human civilization itself.

Highlighting the vital role that stories play in the Indian culture, PM said, where there is a soul, there is a story. He went on to say that there has been a rich tradition of storytelling in India. He said Indians were proud to be denizens of land that nurtured the tradition of Hitopadesha & Panch Tantra.

Also read: Former Union Minister Jaswant Singh dies at 82, PM Modi, Rajnath Singh extend condolences

Also read: BJPs oldest ally Shiromani Akali Dal quits NDA over farm bills

As India is close to celebrating its 75 years of independence, PM urged the storytellers to include inspirational stories from the period of British rule especially those between 1857 & 1947. He said that the new generation can be introduced to them through stories.

Prime Minister said that four years ago, approximately this time, the world saw the endurance, fearlessness and valour of Indian soldiers during the surgical strike, brave Indian soldiers had just one mission and goal and that was to protect the glory and honour of mother India at any cost.

He said that the Indian agricultural sector has shown its strength during Corvid-19 crisis. He called the farming sector, farmers, villages as the foundation of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. He said, If they are strong, then the foundation of Atmanirbhar Bharat would also be strong.

Addressing the Coronavirus pandemic, PM said that Covid-19 period had served in nurturing bonding within family members, bringing them even closer. He warned the citizens against being careless with the pandemic, he asked them not to go out without wearing a mask and follow Do Gaj Ki Doori. He said, Jab Tak Dawai Nahi Tab Tak Koi Dhilai Nahi.

Speaking further, PM Modi said that some of the farmers he spoke to were troubled by the mandis earlier. He lauded the farm bills that have recently been passed in the houses of Parliament. PM had earlier also reiterated his assurance about farm bills being in the favour of farmers.

PM had earlier asked countrymen to send in their suggestions for topics of discussion for todays episode of Mann Ki Baat through the Namo App, mygovindia website or by simply making a phone call at 1800-11-7800.

In the previous Mann Ki Baat episode that aired on August 30, 2020, PM Modi made a pitch for promoting and growing Indias toy industry and gave the slogan team up for toys. He said that India can become a hub of toy production for the entire world. He also stated that the month of September would be observed as Nutrition Month across India.

Recently, the Parliament also passed the farm bills, farmers across some states are protesting against the bills. On Saturday night, NDAs oldest ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) quit BJP-led NDA as they had been urging the centre to withdraw the Farm Bills.

Mann Ki Baat is a radio programme hosted by the Prime Minister himself. Prime Minister directly connects and interacts with the countrymen during this programme. Todays episode would be the 69th episode of Mann Ki Baat.

Also read: NDA no longer envisioned by Vajpayee Ji, Badal sahab: Harsimrat as SAD quits NDA
The United States condemns in the strongest terms this escalation of violence, Morgan Ortagus, the spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department, said in a statement.

She said U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun phoned Armenias and Azerbaijans foreign ministers to urge both sides to cease hostilities immediately, to use the existing direct communication links between them to avoid further escalation, and to avoid unhelpful rhetoric and actions that further raise tensions on the ground.

The United States believes participation in the escalating violence by external parties would be deeply unhelpful and only exacerbate regional tensions, added Ortagus.

It was not clear if she referred to Turkey, which has stepped up diplomatic and military support for Azerbaijan in recent months.

Ortagus also urged Baku and Yerevan to return to substantive negotiations as soon as possible. As a Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, the United States remains committed to helping the sides achieve a peaceful and sustainable settlement to the conflict, she said.

The two other Minsk Group co-chairs, Russia and France, also voiced concern at the most large-scale fighting in the Karabakh conflict zone in years. Similar statements were issued by the European Union.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke with his Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts by phone earlier on Sunday.
Over the last few weeks as the number of COVID-19 cases crept higher and higher in the city of Winnipeg, those of us living in Prairie Mountain Health assumed it was only a matter of time before Manitobas capital city felt the sting of a code orange.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 26/9/2020 (483 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Over the last few weeks as the number of COVID-19 cases crept higher and higher in the city of Winnipeg, those of us living in Prairie Mountain Health assumed it was only a matter of time before Manitobas capital city felt the sting of a code orange.

And on Friday afternoon, Manitobas chief medical health officer, Dr. Brent Roussin, made it official, announcing that people in Winnipeg and in several surrounding communities and municipalities would have a mandatory mask order as of Monday, and face increased restrictions on gatherings.

The city of Selkirk, the towns of Niverville and Stonewall, the village of Dunnottar, and the RMs of Cartier, Headingley, Macdonald, Ritchot, Rockwood, Rosser, Springfield, St. Andrews, St. Clements, St. Francois Xavier, Tache, West St. Paul and East St. Paul will all come under the same orange restriction as the city of Winnipeg for at least the next four weeks.

Before anyone living in Brandon and western Manitoba get a little too smug at this news, keep in mind that we have little reason to be so. We citizens of Prairie Mountain Health have already had to grapple with our own outbreak of coronavirus when our COVID-19 numbers grew too severe to be ignored by the province.

Weve had to deal with the fact that the virus began spreading throughout our community, and as a result our citizens and our business community had to deal with the stigma associated with the orange designation.

We have had the conversation about mandatory mask use, its effectiveness, and watched as the vast majority of us decided to follow the rules and don a mask  whether to avoid fines, go shopping, or for the more virtuous reason of trying to keep other people safe.

And thanks to the code orange there were several businesses outside of Prairie Mountain Health, including some high profile situations in Winnipeg, where Brandonites were not welcome.

In short, we have been in Winnipegs shoes, and it is not a pleasant experience by any means. Winnipeg is now in an even worse situation than it found itself in the spring when COVID-19 first entered the province, in part because provincial health officials cant entirely trace where new cases are coming from.

A report from the Winnipeg Free Press earlier this week noted that one young person with COVID-19 likely infected up to 36 people alone during a bout of bar hopping. Dr. Roussin says that in recent weeks, half of the new infections in Winnipeg have in fact been connected to bars, pubs and restaurants.

Now under an orange level restriction, Winnipeg is about to feel some pain. Weddings and funerals on city property will now be restricted to 10 or fewer people to fall in line with the new provincial orders, while cancellations for several city-led events and park bookings have already started. Winnipeg residents will also find themselves ostracized by other parts of the province, for no other reason than the fact that they live there.

Again, its easy to look down our nose at Winnipegs plight, as Prairie Mountain Health only counted two cases of COVID-19 yesterday, while Winnipeg notched 44. But as goes Winnipeg, so goes the rest of the province. Like it or not, much of Manitobas economy is based out of Winnipeg, and for our capital to be hobbled in this way is distinctly unhelpful.

And if the experience of other Canadian communities and cities is any indication, we are in for an ongoing COVID-19 roller coaster until public health officials can get this virus under control.

The rising case numbers in Ontario and Quebec, which tallied 409 and 637 new cases alone on Friday respectively, prompted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Canadas chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam to repeatedly plea for public vigilance during a joint press conference yesterday.

With cases surging in Ontario and Quebec hot-spots, Trudeau implored the public to adhere to public health guidelines, stressing that "what we do now will be critical for the weeks and months to come," according to a report from The Canadian Press.

"Local public health authorities cannot do this alone. Each of us must take action to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our communities," Tam said.

This is certainly true. But as we have seen in western Manitoba, the provincial restrictions brought about from a code orange are effective in bringing case numbers under control. That we in Prairie Mountain Health for the most part followed those health orders speaks well of us. However, it also suggests a course of action for health officials, not only in Manitoba, but nationally.

If we want to stop the unruly spread of the coronavirus and keep our nation healthy while helping our economy recover, mandating mask use along with the other necessary steps of social distancing and proper hand washing, may be the route we need to take. Whether the majority of Canadians would be on board with such an order is, of course, debatable.

At the very least, it could prove beneficial in Manitoba in preventing a potential slide backward in our neck of the woods.

With Winnipeg now under mandatory mask orders and with many business locations in Prairie Mountain Health still requiring masks on their premises, were already halfway there.
By John Chalmers and Gabriela Baczynska

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, declaring himself a "freedom fighter" for national sovereignty, rejected on Friday a plan that would force European Union member states to welcome asylum seekers.

In an interview with Reuters, Orban also denied charges that he flouts democracy and said he would continue to resist those who want an "empire-like" EU built around its institutions rather than its member states.

"When somebody says that democracy can be only liberal it's an oppression. I have to fight against it in the name of intellectual freedom," he said. "Sometimes in Brussels I have a feeling that I am still a freedom fighter."

Orban, 57, has crossed swords with other EU leaders over his moves to put the judiciary, non-governmental organisations, media and academics under more state control in his central European state.

Critics in the EU say he defends the rights of nation states and ethnic majorities at the expense of the generally accepted rules of civic behaviour in the EU.

But, speaking in an elegant Art Deco hotel in Brussels, Orban said he was still fighting oppression, more than 30 years after Hungary ended over four decades of Soviet communist domination.

Accusations that Hungary violates the rule of law were "simply blah, blah, blah," he said.

He stood firm on migration following talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on new proposals by the EU executive on how to deal with the large number of migrants coming to Europe, many of them fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa.

Brussels wants to step up the return of migrants, including by cracking down on visas for citizens of countries that refuse to take their nationals back, and bolster support for foreign states in stemming migration before people reach Europe.

But it would also de facto oblige member states, in exchange for EU budget funding, to host their share of refugees. Hungary and some others reject this.

Story continues

"Migration in Hungary is a national security issue," Orban said, while welcoming some aspects of Brussels' proposal.

"In Hungary, we are very strict that we would not like to have a parallel society, or open society or a mixed-up culture. We don't think a mixture of Muslim and Christian society could be a peaceful one and could provide security and good life for the people."

"VERY TOLERANT SOCIETY"

Orban, who kept on a coffee table a black protective face mask with the Hungarian flag which he wears during the pandemic, dismissed widespread criticism that Hungary's gay community faces mounting discrimination.

He said Hungary was "a very tolerant society" where gay rights are guaranteed by the constitution though homosexual couples cannot have legal status as a family and adopting children by them would, he said, "not be a good thing".

He said respect for the rule of law was used as a political weapon by fiscally conservative northern European countries that link it to disbursement of funds under an EU economic recovery plan for the new coronavirus.

Asked about findings by the EU's anti-fraud office that Hungary had by far the most financial irregularities in spending EU aid, Orban said: "I don't accept the point that Hungary is more corrupt than Austria or Germany or Denmark."

Orban praised Britain's exit from the EU as "a brave decision" that showed the nation's "greatness" but said Hungary was too closely economically integrated with the EU to leave.

Describing his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump as "exceptionally good", Orban said he was convinced Trump would be re-elected in November and that he had made no plans for any other outcome.

"The only reason why I'm sitting here after spending more than 30 years in politics is that I always believe in my plan A," he said.

He urged the EU to reverse sanctions on Moscow - imposed over issues including human rights and the annexation of Crimea - but also supported the creation of a European army to constrain Russia.

"If we would like to have an equal relationship with Russia, we need to have a strong military power in Europe," he said.

(Editing by Timothy Heritage)
Yash Raj Films head honcho Aditya Chopra on Sunday penned a note tracing the 50-year journey of the production house and thanked the entire industry. Today, September 27, also marks the birth anniversary of late Yash Chopra. Aditya Chopra, in his note, remembered how his father was a salaried employee of BR Films but quit the job to start a company of his own. All he had was a strong belief in his talent and hard work and a dream to be self-reliant. That conviction of a creative man backing nothing but himself and his art gave birth to Yash Raj Films.

Talking about the silver jubilee anniversary of YRF in the year 1995 and his directorial debut experience with the release of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, he said, In 1995, as Yash Raj Films (YRF) entered its 25th year, my directorial debut film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge released. The historic success of that film gave me the confidence to give wings to some crazy risky ideas that I had for the future of YRF. Besides the immense love that my father had for me, he now also had a lot of faith in my ideas because of the miraculous success of my film.

50 years of celebrating movies, 50 years of entertaining you. On this occasion #AdityaChopra pens down a heartfelt note. #YRF50 pic.twitter.com/Pfj182ylvy  Yash Raj Films (@yrf) September 27, 2020

On the occasion of the golden jubilee anniversary of the production house that is popularly known for its romantic dramas and colourful palette, Aditya said that the secret of YRF 50 are the PEOPLE and extended thanks to the entire industry. He noted, The ACTORS who bared their souls through their performances. The DIRECTORS who crafted the films to perfection. The WRITERS who created memorable stories. The MUSIC DIRECTORS and LYRICISTS who gave us songs that became part of our lives

Also Read: Sushant Singh Rajput death case LIVE news updates: Mobile phones of Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, others seized

Extending his gratitude, Aditya added, These PEOPLE are the secret of our 50-year success He further thanked every person ever associated with YRF and added that he would love to be part of Bollywood in his every lifetime. (ANI)

Also Read: Do not consume, promote or encourage narcotics: Karan Johar alleges malicious campaign
Named the Viettel Cyberbot, the platform aims to help businesses automate customer care processes on the basis of Vietnamese language processing technologies.

The Viettel Cyberbot applies artificial intelligence technology (AI) in order to be able to understand the message customers want to convey and automatically improve the system continuously from real situations.

The virtual assistant has outstanding ability in language processing and can help Callbot's voice reach a natural level, similar to 95% that of a real human voice.

The platform also helps businesses build an automatic switchboard system through interacting with customers by message (Chatbot) or by voice (Callbot).

The distinctive feature of Viettel Cyberbot is the combination of speech processing technologies with Vietnamese natural language processing technology at the same time.

Specifically, in each communication with users, the system can simultaneously handle speech recognition, guess customers intent, process information and answer customers, creating a complete solution that is fully applicable and flexible according to real situations.

Viettel Cyberbot is expected to help businesses optimise up to 40% of their customer care resources while improving the customers experience and satisfaction.

The developers are seeking ways to improve Viettel Cyberbot into a comprehensive Vietnamese virtual assistant platform to be deployed as an independent customer care switchboard system without the need for an internal switchboard.

The launch of Viettel Cyberbot is part of a series of events to introduce Make in Vietnam digital platforms in realisation of the National Digital Transformation Programme by 2025, with a vision to 2030, as approved by the Prime Minister.
A Statement By The Prominent Civil Rights Advocacy Group; Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) Strongly Backing The Action of Some Law Makers in The British Parliament That Dragged Nigeria To Commonwealth Seeking Nigerias Expulsion Due to Genocides Against Christians, Describing It As The Best International Action Against The Series of Failures by The President Muhammadu Buhari Government To Arrest And Prosecute Terrorists and Armed Fulani Herdsmen Killing of Christians And Locals.

THE ISSUE:

It has come to our notice that the ruling All Progressives Congress and the Presidential Media Aides have in the most embarrassing manner challenged the action of some concerned members of the United Kingdoms House of Lords, the British upper legislative chamber, who petitioned the Commonwealth over the persistence insurgency and heinous attacks by armed herders on Christian communities in Nigeria.

In most embarrassing respective statements, they attempted to distort and trivialize the violence in Southern Kaduna, some parts of the Middle Belt and other states of the federation that it could not be described as genocide.

The lawmaker had in a letter dated September 14, addressed to Patricia Scotland; Secretary-General of the Commonwealth noted that the failure of the Federal Government to protect Nigerians was a breach of its obligations under the Commonwealth Charter.

Those who signed the letter to the Commonwealth scribe include Baroness Cox, Lord Alton of Liverpool, Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws QC, Jim Shannon, MP, Lord Williams of Oystermouth ( a former Archbishop of Canterbury) and Lord Carey of Clifton, also a former Archbishop of Canterbury.

Others are Dr Christopher Cocksworth, Lord Bishop of Coventry; Philip Mounstephen, Lord Bishop of Truro; Lord Stoddart of Swindon; Lord Anderson of Swansea; Lord Cormack; Sir Geoffrey Nice, QC; Ayo Adedoyin of International Organization for Peace and Social Justice and Ewelina Ochab of Coalition for Genocide Response.

Mervyn Thomas, CSW; Dr Khataza Gondwe, CSW; Neville Kyrke-Smith of Aid to the Church in Need (UK); Dr John Eibner of Christian Solidarity International and Ann Buwalda of Jubilee Campaign also signed the letter.

Referencing a report by the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for International Freedom of Religion or Belief, the lawmakers observed that thousands of civilians have been killed and that elements of the Nigerian government may be complicit in violence.

WHY WE BACK THIS ACTION

This action by Some Law Makers in The British Parliament seeking Nigerias Expulsion from the Commonwealth due to genocides against Christians is the best international action against the series of failures by the Buhari-led government to arrest and prosecute terrorists and armed Fulani herdsmen killing Christians and locals for obvious reasons.

Contrary to the responses from the All Progressives Congress and the Presidential Media Aides evidence of orchestrated genocide against Christians abound. 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, the Christian Solidarity International on January 30, 2020, had issued a genocide warning for Nigeria, calling on the Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council to take action.

This year alone, especially in Kaduna State, North Central region of Nigeria, Muslim Fulani herdsmen have unleashed gruesome attacks and terrors on defenseless citizens all in Christian dominated communities of the state.

These attacks took place in Christian dominated communities in the southern part of the state some of these communities are: Kemari Rimi, Kallah, Gefe, Libere, Maraban Kajuru, Maraban Rido, Rafin Roro, Kawuwan Magani and Buda.

Muslim Fulani herdsmen have also unleashed heinous attacks on Zipkak community in Jamaa Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Gora Gan village, in the north-central states Zangon Kataf County, Kukum Daji, in Kaura County.

Other Christian communities captured by the menacing killer Fulani herdsmen are Katchia County, Chibuak, Kigudu, Anguwan Audu, Doka, Afogo, Kallah, Gefe and Libere, Ladugga, Maraban, Sabon Gari, Gusawa village and Kauru County.

In the midst of the scores of these gruesome attacks in Kaduna State, neither the President nor the governor has never made any sympathy visit to the communities, let alone take steps to alleviate their suffering by providing relief materials to the displaced. These threatened communities have consequently relocated to surrounding communities, thereby creating a very serious humanitarian situation.

This effort by these concerned UK Parliamentarians therefore highlights the urgent concerns about escalating violence in Nigeria, where attacks, led by Boko Haram, Fulani herders and other Islamist militia continue in northern and central-belt states, with reports of increasing violence in the South-East.

It also highlights the states failure to protect its citizens, which is a clear breach of its obligations under the Commonwealth Charter in respect of human rights.

OUR POSITION:

We are by this statement backing this action and condemning with deepest dismay the indefensible statements by the APC and the Presidential Spokespersons distorting and trivializing the orchestrated heinous attacks on Christians by armed Muslim Fulani herdsmen.

Why is the Federal and Kaduna State government so comfortable with this anomalous situation of ARMIES OF OCCUPATION in Christian communities even when by their oaths they swore to defend the constitution and the Constitution guarantees Rights to life, rights to own properties and other fundamental freedoms, yet the government seems to be actively encouraging these attacks.

The case of the constant harassment of Obadiah Mailafiya by the Department of State Security for raising alarm based on intelligence about the involvement of a certain governor in terrorism and the witch hunt of a Journalist in Plateau state by the DSS for disclosing a credible intelligence he got about impending Fulani attack are examples.

In the case of the Plateau state journalist, it was rather irrational that days after same armed Fulani herdsmen attacked the plateau communities and the DSS failed to stop these attacks but was more concerned about harassing the bearer of the credible intelligence. Is it that this current administration is sponsoring terrorism against Christians or what?

With the continuation of such hostilities by Fulani herdsmen even when various biased 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.

That the security situation of Nigeria is now a subject of debate in the Britsh Parliament is an indication from the international community that President Buharis pledge to deliver on security has failed.

Hence, we demand that the Commonwealth and the British parliament treat the complaints urgently because the killings are still going on. Pogroms of Christians are going as violent attacks by armed herders on predominantly Christian communities in the central and southern zones have escalated in recent years and are spreading southward, threatening the countrys security and stability.

*COMRADE EMMANUEL ONWUBIKO:

NATIONAL COORDINATOR:

Miss. Zainab Yusuf:

Director, National Media Affairs:

HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA).

SEPTEMBER 27TH 2020.


Unique Roman lead ingot discovered in Rossett now on display at Wrexham Museum

This article is old - Published: Sunday, Sep 27th, 2020

A unique Roman Lead Ingot discovered in Wrexham is now on display in the towns museum.

The pig was discovered near Rossett by local detectorist Rob Jones last year.

Rob immediately notified the local Finds Officer (NE Wales) for the Portable Antiquities Scheme in Wales (PAS Cymru) based at Wrexham Museum, allowing the object to be examined whilst it was still in the ground.

Steve Grenter, Heritage & Archives Lead, said: The pig has a fine moulded inscription which bears the name of Marcus Trebellius Maximus, the governor of the province of Britannia between 63 and 69CE, during the reign of the Emperor Nero.

No other inscriptions bearing his name have ever been found in the UK, which is why it has attracted so much excitement nationally.

The extraction of lead and silver was a significant reason for the invasion of Britain under the Emperor Claudius in 43CE. We know that the Romans exploited the mineral resources of Flintshire and possibly Minera, but we dont have clear evidence at the latter site.

It is not currently known where the lead in the Rossett pig came from although work to determine this is currently ongoing at the University of Liverpool. We await the results of their research.

Councillor Hugh Jones, Lead Member for People  Communities, Partnerships Public Protection and Community Safety added: Wrexham County Borough Council would like to acknowledge the support of the Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund, the Headley Trust, the Friends of Wrexham Museums and PAS Cymru in enabling the museum to keep the pig here in north-east Wales.

The Rossett lead pig is highly significant in the puzzle of the early history of our area and as the local councillor for Rossett it is great to see it on display where it can provoke and help answer questions about life here nearly 2,000 years ago.

The Rossett lead pig is on show in Gallery 1 at Wrexham Museum. Admission is free. Opening hours: MondaySaturday, 11am to 4pm.

For more information, call 01978 297460.
Business owners and industry groups say Victoria's new road map out of COVID-19 lockdown is still too slow and that the moving infection targets for lifting restrictions did not provide shops, restaurants and cafes the certainty they need to plan to reopen.

Under Victoria's revised plan for exiting lockdown announced on Sunday, non-essential retailers will be able to open after October 19 if Melbourne's 14-day average daily case rate drops below five.

Hospitality businesses can also open at that point provided they offer mostly outdoor service and have group limits of 10 and overall capacity limits in place. But other businesses including beauty salons and gyms will not open until there have been no new cases in the state for a fortnight.

Hospitality businesses can open at that point provided they offer mostly outdoor service and have group limits of 10 and overall capacity limits in place. Credit:Wayne Taylor

The news came as a blow to South Yarra gym Gript Studio managing director Drew Westfield, who said he was willing to work within limits set down by health authorities - like having one-on-one sessions - so they can start to open their doors again, but fears their concerns are falling on deaf ears.
Back in September 1960, millions of Americans tuned in for a real "TV first" this week. They watched a debate by the two major presidential candidates running for president in 1960.

Who won? Did the debates impact the vote?

It was super-close, and Senator Kennedy won by 114,000 votes out of 70 million cast that day. It was 49.72% vs. 49.55%.

The conventional wisdom is that JFK won "the video" and Nixon won "the audio."

Your guess is as good as mine. It's like losing the pennant by one game and arguing about which "one loss" made the difference.

What impact did it have? We will never know.

What do we remember from the 1960 presidential debates? First, Senator Kennedy looked better on TV than V.P. Nixon. Second, Cuba was an issue, but no one would have believed then that the U.S. would allow the USSR turning the island into a Soviet satellite. Last but not least, Senator Kennedy sounded awfully different from today's Democrats. I would encourage you to watch the video and see if there is any "JFK" in AOC!

Yet the biggest oversight was Vietnam. It was not an issue at all, but it consumed the nation in the 1960's. In 2000, Iraq was hardly mentioned, but we were in a war in 2003.

Presidential debates teach an important lesson. Debates are important, and we should continue the tradition. However, the reality of the presidency often overwhelms campaign promises or "tough talk" at the debates.

My guess is that something will be a hot issue over the next four years that won't be mentioned at all in the Biden-versus-Trump debates. Why? Because debates are about the past, and governing is about dealing with those surprises that happen to presidents.

This is what I plan to vote for President Trump. He's proven to be a strong executive capable of making decisions. These are the qualities I want in a president dealing with whatever hits the front pages over the next four years.

PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.
A series of papers, including chronological reference of what transpired in Rajya Sabha on Sunday, the 20th of September, has been put out by Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh after media reports emerged holding him in violation of rules of the House during the passage of farm bills in the Upper House.

A note released by Harivansh said, Would like to place certain facts to put the records straight. The statutory resolution disapproving the ordinance and the amendment for the reference of the bill to select committee moved by KK Ragesh were negated by voice vote by the house at 1.07 pm as Sri Ragesh was in the Well of the house and not on his seat in the gallery at that point of time. This can be seen from the video as after calling him to move his Resolution and amendment, I looked at the gallery, but he was not there."

The Rajya Sabha deputy chairman further said that Tiruchi Shiva demanded a division on his amendment for reference of his bill to select committee from his seat at 1.10 pm.

You will see from the same video that around 1.09 pm, one member was tearing the rule book and throwing on me. Besides, I was surrounded by some hostile members, who were trying to snatch papers from me," he said.

You will appreciate, that as per rules and practice, in order to have a division, two things are essential. Firstly there should be a demand for division and equally important that there should be order in the House. I hold a constitutional position and therefore, cannot issue a formal rebuttal. I am bringing these facts to your notice and leave it to your conscience for your judgment," Harivansh said, adding that a video footage of Rajya Sabha TV is being released with a detailed incident report.

The deputy chairman, however, occupying a constitutional position has chosen to keep silent on the issue other than what happened in the House. Sources close to Harivansh tell CNN News18 that since his name was repeatedly been dragged and aspersions were being cast on him, he decided to clarify the facts on record.

The government has been blaming the opposition for trying to create a false narrative around the issue to cover up for their failure of having requisite numbers.

Sources also tell CNN News18 that an option to move a breach of privilege motion against those trying to spread falsehood in the name of deputy chairman is also under consideration.

Prahlad Joshi, Parliamentary affairs minister, had spoken to CNN News18 on Friday and said, Opposition had planned this ruckus because they didnt have the numbers. We had over 100 while they had around 70. They called their MPs from galleries and other chambers to gather in the Rajya Sabha chamber to create this sort of scenario. Our people stood quietly because we knew the numbers were with us."
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Syria's foreign minister accused on Saturday of being one of the main sponsors of terror in his country and the region, and said it is guilty of a war crime and a crime against humanity" for cutting water to more than a dozen towns that resisted Turkish occupation.

In unusually harsh language, Walid al-Moallem said in a prerecorded speech to the first-ever high-level meeting of the U.N. General Assembly held virtually because of the pandemic that the cutoff of water supplies endangered civilian lives, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The nine-year Syrian conflict, which initially began as a civil war, later became a regional proxy fight. Turkey, which now controls a zone in northern Syria, has backed opposition fighters against Syrian President Bashar Assad, Syrian Kurdish fighters and the Islamic State extremist group.

Al-Moallem also accused of moving terrorists and mercenaries referred to by some as 'moderate opposition' -- from to Libya," violating Iraq's sovereignty, using refugees as bargaining chips against Europe and laying claim by force to energy resources in the Mediterranean.

The current Turkish regime has become a rogue and outlaw regime under law, the Syrian minister said. Its policies and actions, which threaten the security and stability of the whole region, must be stopped. Al-Moallem declared that the Syrian government will spare no effort to end the occupation by all means possible under law of American and Turkish forces.

U.S. troops are deployed in the country to fight the Islamic State group.

The actions of these forces, taken directly or through their terrorist agents, secessionist militias, or manufactured and illegitimate entities, are null and void, with no legal effect, he said.

There was no immediate response to an email to Turkey's U.N. Mission seeking comment.

Al-Moallem, who is also deputy prime minister, denounced U.S. sanctions, saying they are blocking the delivery of life-saving medicine and equipment during the pandemic.

He called the Caesar Civilian Protection Act passed by the U.S. Congress an inhumane attempt to suffocate Syrians, just like George Floyd and were cruelly suffocated in the United States, and just like Israel suffocates Palestinians on a daily basis.

Floyd, a handcuffed Black man, died May 25 after a white officer used his knee on Floyd's neck to pin him to the ground. The officer has been charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter.

Al-Moallem called on all countries affected by unilateral sanctions and those that reject such measures to close ranks against them and alleviate their impact on our peoples ... through cooperation, coordination, and concrete political, economic and commercial means.

On the political front, he said Syria's government hopes a committee given the responsibility of drafting a new constitution for the country will succeed.

But, he said, this will be possible only if there is no external interference whatsoever in its work and by any party.

(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.)
Jim and Joan Gardner with the grandchildren they have been raising since the kids' father died: April, 7, Kyleigh, 10, and Tyler, 13. The Lansdowne, Pa., grandparents are teaching the kids at home due to the pandemic closing schools in their Delaware County district. Read more

Jim and Joan Gardners son died from an addiction at age 33, so they adopted their grandchildren. Now, because of the pandemic, the 70 and 71-year-old retired Lansdowne couple also are teaching the children fully from home.

Its tough, yes. But if their local public schools ever do reopen physically, as many families are hoping will happen sooner than later after six months in suspension, the Gardners could be facing an even more crushing, life-and-death situation.

Their underfunded William Penn School District, facing a version of the same teacher shortages that have helped jettison a return to public school for children across the region, even in far more affluent communities, canceled its all-year virtual-schooling option for elementary-age kids.

It ran out of enough teachers.

 READ MORE: Zoom and gloom: Virtual schooling has begun, and it is unsustainable | Maria Panaritis

If schools do reopen, that means people like the Gardners will have no choice but to send their kids to classrooms where, they fear, they may pick up the potentially life-threatening virus.

What is happening here is a product of the disregard President Trump has for people who rely on public schools. We must vote out this man who despises ordinary Americans. We must remember, for years into the future if necessary, every current Republican enabler who allowed this anti-president to eviscerate our schools by doing little to send help this year. Because NEWS FLASH: They cant stand you or your kids.

The house that Jim, a well known local Scout leader, calls home is in a Philadelphia suburb not far from the city border. Every day except for Wednesday since virtual schooling began this month, Jim and wife Joan, a retired teacher, have been pulling a grueling routine similar to that of countless parents.

Seven-year-old April beams into second-grade class from a computer on the dining room table instead of walking a few blocks away to Ardmore Avenue Elementary School. Ten-year-old Kyleigh catches fifth grade from the kitchen. And 13-year-old Tyler keys into eighth grade from a room upstairs.

 READ MORE: What does in-person school look like in the COVID-19 era? Heres a look inside

Grandpa, a retired union electrician, is tech support. Only for high-level software malfunctions does he enlist the 13-year-old for real-time rescue missions.

Grandpa also runs the in-home cafeteria. He goes to the shuttered elementary school three mornings a week and picks up district-made lunches. He calls them a godsend. One less thing to have to juggle along with language arts, modems, and math, and meandering little minds staring into flat screens.

Its because so many households in his district are financially needy that the lunches are provided at all. He shows me that weeks paper menu: FREE lunch for ALL students! it reads.

So far, weve done a week and one day and its a challenge," Gardner said when we talked a few days ago. I have to sit here like a hall monitor. Tylers OK; hes up to the task. Kyleigh, a little bit. April is 7, shell get up and want to fidget, move around.

He signed the kids up for the districts cyber-learning option because Gardner is no dummy when it comes to science. He views Trumps blather about a forthcoming vaccine as a hustlers hustle.

In spite of the crap youre hearing from the White House, Gardner said, I dont think well all be immunized until at least next summer.

 READ MORE: Virtual schooling is a gamble that risks the long-term health of children and families | Maria Panaritis

However, just days after William Penn opened to all-virtual instruction this month as a supposedly temporary measure, it announced it was folding its full-year Cyber Academy option.

I am worried about my [grand]kids," he said, "but Im more worried about what they might bring home.

The virus, we all know, is especially dangerous to people in their 70s and older.

Many public schools have offered few details about the forces keeping their buildings closed after abrupt shutdowns in March. Is it due to space? Ventilation? Teacher resistance? A shortage of substitutes? A shortage of money to hire extra teachers and/or substitutes?

Ive heard complaints about a lack of transparency from parents as far west as Tredyffrin and as far east as Cherry Hill. Teacher shortages are whispered about, but seldom discussed head-on.

Gardner said he was told William Penn lost its cyber teachers when it recently changed course and told staff they could work from home if they chose. Previously, only teachers who committed to the cyber academy had been permitted to do so.

A couple of teachers who were gonna do the cyber school changed their mind, Gardner said. With 151 students enrolled but only four teachers left, the cyber academy folded.

I requested an interview with superintendent Eric J. Becoats. The district declined.

The William Penn School District Board approved an all-virtual, online learning platform for all students through the end of the first quarter in November. Before school started, we did offer the Cyber Academy as an option for all students  K-12. However, we had to change that option and offer the option only to students in grades 7-12 because we did not have the teaching staff to support K-12 with 100%, live-instruction learning, spokesperson Pamela Bookman replied in writing.

No action has been taken by the board regarding returning students for in-person learning, she added.

 READ MORE: As virtual school year begins, frustrated parents are pushing school boards to reconsider

Gardner feels for the teachers. His district also is chronically in need of more money than it collects each year from local taxes. But now, thanks in no small part to the pandemic mess that our negligent president has failed to respond to with urgency, public-school caregivers are now doubly squeezed.

First, Gardner lost his boy, Jimmy, to heroin. Now this.

Its rough on us, Gardner said.

Words to vote by in November.
Turkey sharply criticised Armenia on Sunday after clashes between Armenian and Zaeri forces, saying Yerevan was an obstacle to peace and vowing to continue its support for Baku.

Armenia declared martial law and mobilised its male population after the clashes, which Yerevan and Baku blamed on each other and in which both sides reported fatalities.

In a statement on Twitter following a phone call with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan called on Armenian people to stand against leaders who he said were dragging them to catastrophe, adding that Ankaras solidarity with Baku would increasingly continue.

Armenia, which has added another to its attacks against Azerbaijan, has shown once again that it is the biggest threat to peace in the region, Erdogan said, and added that international reaction to the conflict had been insufficient.

Turkey calls on the entire world to stand with Azerbaijan in their battle against invasion and cruelty, Erdogan said.

Armenia did not immediately respond to the criticism but has said Azeri forces fired first on Sunday.

Azerbaijan and Armenia have long been at odds over the mainly ethnic Armenian region of Nagorno-Karabakh which is in Azerbaijan but declared independence in 1991. A ceasefire was agreed in 1994, but both sides accuse each other of attacks.

Turkey has traditionally backed Muslim-majority Azerbaijan.

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said Armenia must immediately cease what he called hostility towards Azerbaijan that could throw the region into fire.

Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said Armenia had violated international laws by carrying out attacks and accused it of being reckless.

We believe this conflict can be resolved through peaceful negotiations, but the Armenian side has shown no interest so far other than continuing to occupy parts of Azerbaijan, he said.

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Hong Kong police are investigating the parties  including possible ringleaders  involved in arranging the escape of 12 wanted Hongkongers who were subsequently caught at sea while fleeing to Taiwan, as the force revealed for the first time details of their getaway.

The force also said on Saturday it was told by Guangdong authorities on Friday that the Yantian branch of the Shenzhen Public Security Bureau would submit the case for arrest approval, which meant the 12 could continue to be detained on the mainland.

We are also investigating which local smuggling syndicate provided a speedboat for the 12 suspects and arranged the smuggling route to Taiwan, a police source said.

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He noted it was unlikely that the speedboat used in the escape would have carried the group directly to Taiwan, saying a bigger vessel was probably waiting somewhere outside Chinese waters, waiting to pick them up and complete the journey.

Of course, it is possible some of the 12 suspects might also have helped organise the smuggling activity, he said. We will also look into this.

The source said police were investigating all possible clues in connection with this case.

He said officers from the forces liaison Bureau would also maintain close contact with their mainland counterpart.

The detention of the 11 men and one woman, aged 16 to 33, in Shenzhens Yantians district for a month sparked a diplomatic row between China and the United States after the group was captured at sea on August 23 while sailing to Taiwan to seek political asylum.

Most of the 12 were linked to the citys anti-government protests last year. One of them, activist Andy Li, 29, was arrested under the citys sweeping new national security law.

In a statement issued on Saturday night, Hong Kong police disclosed for the first time some key findings of initial investigations.

Story continues

Investigation revealed that the 12 persons boarded a speedboat arranged by a smuggling syndicate in the Po Toi O pier in Sai Kung, New Territories, Hong Kong at around 7am on August 23, the statement read.

The fleeing suspects were intercepted by the China Coast Guard. Photo: Weibo

The speedboat was driven by one of the suspects. They planned to flee to Taiwan via mainland marine waters in order to evade criminal responsibility in Hong Kong. They have paid the syndicate a certain fee before boarding the speedboat in Hong Kong for the smuggling arrangements.

Police said they received a reply from the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department on Friday, stating that the coastguard had intercepted a boat suspected of crossing the boundary illegally on August 23.

It was suspected that the speedboat  entered mainland waters through [the] southeastern side of the boundary of Hong Kong waters at around 7.30am on the same day. The speedboat in question later passed through the effective detection range of the systems, the force said.

The announcement issued by Guangdong Coast Guard stated that at around 9am on August 23, a speedboat suspected of crossing the boundary illegally was intercepted in marine waters under its jurisdiction.

The mainland authorities told police the 12 were arrested for the offence of crossing the boundary illegally. After initial investigation, the Yantian branch of the Shenzhen public security bureau detained the 12 suspects for further investigation.

Hong Kong police said they were investigating in the direction of whether someone organised or committed cross-boundary crimes in the case.

Ronny Tong Ka-wah, an adviser on the Executive Council, the city leaders de facto cabinet, said the smuggling syndicate could be investigated for organising or committing cross-boundary crimes.

If someone among the 12 advocated others in joining the escape, he or she could also be probed for organising cross-boundary crime, he said.

Tong said under the citys laws, there was room for the 12 to be sent back to Hong Kong. If mainland authorities approve their arrest and convict them, they can only come back after they served their sentence, he said.

Democratic Party lawmaker James To Kun-sun said he was not interested in what Hong Kong police officers were investigating.

I wont let that distract me from the fact that the 12 have no freedom to choose their lawyers in Shenzhen, To said. Hong Kong authorities should just disclose all relevant marine radar data and other images to back up what they said. Even murder suspects could be returned from the mainland to Hong Kong in the past, why cant they do the same this time?

Council Front lawmaker Eddie Chu Hoi-dick also said Hong Kong police should not be a mouthpiece of the Communist Party.

He added: Under mainland laws, arrest approvals must be applied for within 30 days of suspects arrest. But the 12 Hong Kong people have disappeared for 35 days already.

In a statement, the family members of the detainees also questioned whether mainland authorities were holding the 12 unlawfully.

Lu Siwei, a mainland human rights lawyer representing a female detainee, said he believed the case was sent to Shenzhen authorities for arrest approval after the 30-day limit expired on Thursday.

This article Hong Kong police investigating smugglers who may have helped 12 fugitives arrested at sea first appeared on South China Morning Post

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New Delhi: India's mustard seeds production is likely to rise while import of edible oil may reduce on account of the government's decision to ban blending of mustard oil with any other cooking oil with effect from October 1, according to leading industry players.

Adani Wilmar, which sells cooking oil under Fortune brand, and Mother Dairy that markets edible oils under Dhara brand, hailed the decision, saying it will benefit both farmers and consumers. "This is a good decision. Consumers will get pure mustard oil now. Mustard oil is being blended with rice bran, soyabean and palm oil," Adani Wilmar Deputy CEO Angshu Mallick told PTI. Now, an additional 5 lakh tonnes of mustard oil will be required to replace the other oils that were used for blending purpose, he said.

"To produce 5 lakh tonnes of mustard oil, we will require 12-15 lakh tonnes of extra mustard seeds," Mallick said. The decision will encourage farmers of Rajasthan and other states to increase area of coverage under mustard seeds, he said, adding that this would enhance farmers' income. The country's production of mustard seeds, which is grown in Rabi (winter season), stood at 91.16 lakh tonnes in 2019-20 crop year (July-June). India's overall vegetable oil imports could decline to around 134-135 lakh tonne in the 2019-20 oil year (November-October) from 149.1 lakh tonne in the previous year on lower demand because of COVID-19 pandemic. Mallick suggested that the food regulator will have to remain vigilant for ensuring compliance of this decision and stop blending illegally. A Mother Dairy spokesperson said: "This is certainly a positive development and in the best interest of consumers, farmers as well as ethical mustard oil players as consumers across large mustard oil markets such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh were misled with blended oil being sold in the name of pure mustard oil." Mother Dairy has always advocated for pure mustard oil, offering the right taste and aroma. oil, it disturbs the taste and properties of the oil, the spokesperson said.

"In addition, with mustard being an indigenous crop, this restriction will also help the farmers in getting remunerative prices," the spokesperson said. Recently, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) wrote a letter to the commissioner of food safety of all states and Union Territories, directing that "blending of mustard oil with any other edible oil in India has been prohibited with effect from October 1, 2020".

The edible oil manufacturers or processors, who have the license for production of blended edible vegetable oil with mustard oil, have been directed to sell their existing stocks of mustard oil/mustard seeds or any other edible oil as unblended cooking oils, the letter said. All such licensees have been asked to modify their FSSAI licenses. As per the FSSAI regulations, blending of two edible oils is permitted, provided the proportion by weight of any edible vegetable oil used in the blending process is not less than 20 per cent.

However, FSSAI said, "Now the government of India after due deliberations has directed FSSAI to prohibit blending in mustard oil and to facilitate manufacture and sale of pure mustard oil for domestic consumption in public interest". The FSSAI said a draft regulation in this regard has been prepared but it will take some time to finalise the rules after taking stakeholders comment.

"Meanwhile, to implement the said direction of government of India, it has been decided to operationalise these regulations with effect from October 1, 2020. No manufacturing of blended edible vegetable oil with mustard oil as an ingredient shall be allowed with effect from this date," the FSSAI said.

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Washington: Now that it's official  Donald Trump has selected Amy Coney Barrett as his Supreme Court nominee  the confirmation fight begins.

There is no precedent for a US Supreme Court vacancy to be filled so close to election day, and both Democrats and Republicans are going to try to extract an electoral advantage from this extraordinary situation.

Republicans want to turn the confirmation process into a grievance-fuelled culture war by portraying Barrett  a devout Catholic conservative  as a victim of left-wing bigotry. Democrats want to use the Supreme Court showdown to highlight the precarious status of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, and elevate it as an election issue.

Judge Amy Coney Barrett applauds as President Donald Trump announces Barrett as his nominee. Credit:AP

When Barrett was being considered for an appeals court position in 2017, Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee probed her on whether her religious views would influence her decisions.
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In 1996, the book was adapted by Warner Bros. starring Samuel L. Jackson, Matthew McConaughey, Sandra Bullock, Donald and Kiefer Sutherland (there was a 2-for-1 sale), and some guy named Kevin. And for this incredibly delicate subject matter, the studio hired the team behind the new Batman movies, Joel Schumacher and Akiva Goldsman, to accurately and sensitively portray the characters' nipples.

The movie did great, making thrice its budget and holding a 67% on Rotten Tomatoes, with Roger Ebert even calling it "the best of the film versions of Grisham novels" -- which becomes less of a compliment when you realize there weren't 600 of them yet. But so far, so boilerplate "this is fine" 90s popcorn movie. Where this Grisham adaptation radically differs was received in Europe, specifically France, to such extent that its Wikipedia page includes a "Reaction in France" subsection. And the reviews ... aren't good.

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The last thing you'd ever expect from a John Grisham story is it being controversial. But A Time To Kill nails the dictionary definition of that -- how else would explain a movie that was condemned by the French branch of Amnesty International, yet simultaneously nominated for an NAACP award? According to the rather extensive Wikipedia addendum, French critics were appalled at the idea that A Time To Kill was a tale of frontier justice that shows that black lives matter. Instead, as the French publication Liberte claims, the movie only "militates in favour of the black cause only to legitimize the mentally ill gesture of the avenging father."
Kumar, a former IPS officer and an MP from Jamshedpur in the 15th Lok Sabha, quit ahead of last year's Jharkhand Assembly elections after calling local Congress leadership 'corrupt'

New Delhi: Former Jharkhand Congress president Ajoy Kumar Sunday rejoined the party with its chief Sonia Gandhi approving his return to the party fold.

"Congress president has approved the proposal for re-joining of Ajoy Kumar, ex-MP and former president of Jharkhand PCC, to the Congress party," said AICC general secretary KC Venugopal.

Kumar announced on Twitter, "Driven by my conscience to speak up against injustice and institutional capture, I''ve been inspired by Shri Rahul Gandhi and decided to come back to Congress today,"

He also cited a quote of Mahatma Gandhi that "Silence becomes cowardice when occasion demands speaking out the whole truth and acting accordingly."

Amid a health, farmers, unemployment and economic crisis, it is Shri Rahul Gandhi & Smt. Sonia Gandhi who have been steadfast in their support for the people and idea of India. I really admire this tenacity and they have inspired me to come back to @INCIndia again, he said in another tweet.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh welcomed Kumar in the party through a tweet. You had never actually left as far as I was concerned.

Kumar, a former IPS officer and an MP from Jamshedpur in the 15th Lok Sabha, had quit the party ahead of the Jharkhand Assembly elections last year.

He was appointed JPCC president in November 2017, but resigned in August 2019 and joined the Aam Aadmi Party the next month.

He had then alleged that the local leadership in Jharkhand Congress was corrupt and had compared many of his colleagues as even worse than criminals.
Azerbaijani forces on Sunday captured from Armenian rebels in breakaway Nagorny Karabakh a strategic mountain that helps control transport communications between Yerevan and the Armenian-held enclave, Azerbaijans presidency said.

Azerbaijani forces have taken the 3,000-metre-high strategic" Murovdag peak in Karabakh, presidency spokesman Hikmet Hajiyev told journalists.

Meanwhile, an Azerbaijani family of five were reported to have been killed in shelling launched by Armenian separatist forces after new fighting in Karabakh led to civilian and military casualties on both sides.

As a result of artillery shelling (by Karabakh rebels) a family comprising five members was killed in (Azerbaijans) village of Gashalty," the office of Azerbaijans prosecutor general said in a statement.
At a height of 5,800 metres on the Finger Four mountainous spur, an endurance test is set to take place this winter, with Indian Army and the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) poised face-to-face, and the first short snow already falling on the Karakoram and Kailash ranges of Ladakh.

While the winter is expected to worsen after Diwali in November, the situation on all the friction points in the sector is a stalemate with the PLA accusing the Indian Army of upping the ante south of Pangong Tso on August 29-30, as a result of which its claimed withdrawal plans were scuttled. The Indian Army troops are geared for the winter with specialized Alaskan winter clothing being imported from the US to handle temperatures 25 degrees below zero celsius at these heights. At present, the day temperatures are around 10 degrees with sunshine, with the night temperatures dropping to minus 10-15 degrees celsius.

The situation along the 1,597 km Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh continues to be tense but under control with a small detachment of the Indian Army facing off a PLA detachment on Gogra-Hot Springs or patrolling point 17 A. The situation on the north bank of the Pangong Tso is that a small number of troops on both sides are at the Finger Four height with PLA stationed behind Finger Six and Indian Army on Finger Three. There is no PLA presence on ground level of Finger Four or Finger Five but it is on the dominating height of Finger Four.

On the southern bank of Pangong Tso, the Indian Army is dominating the Rezang la-Rechin La ridgeline on Kailash ranges with strong positions to defend the LAC despite PLAs presence on Black Top and Helmet with the Indian troopers in between the two at the saddle.

The situation is that both sides are defending their positions, but the ridgeline in the area is with the Indian Army, said a military commander familiar with the postures of the two armies.

Although the Indian Army will have a new Ladakh Corps Commander in Lt Gen P G K Menon in place of Lt Gen Harinder Singh in October, the former is a colonel of the Sikh Regiment who dishes out the choicest Punjabi cuss words despite being from Kerala. He has vast experience of the LAC as he was the brigade general staff (operations) of the XIV Corps in Ladakh before commanding a division in Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.

While the PLA has deployed a brigade strength of mechanized infantry around Tien-Wien Dien across the Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) near the LAC, Indian Army troops are patrolling the Depsang bulge area within the patrolling limits despite the Chinese efforts to block them. The PLA air activity in this area is more than in south of the DBO sector due to close proximity of the Hotan air base in Tibet.

As another round of Indian and Chinese military-diplomatic dialogue for total Ladakh disengagement will soon take place, the Indian Army commanders are prepared for the long winter ahead. From November onwards, it will be the endurance power of a volunteer army (India) against a conscript (PLA) army that will be on display. Sitting on the glaciated heights of the Saltoro ridge since 1984, the Indian Army will surely give a run for their money to the adversary.

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Okayama Prefectural Police have arrested a 66-year-old man over the alleged murder and robbery of his neighbor in the mountains of Takahashi City, reports the Asahi Shimbun.

Beginning at around 12:20 p.m. on July 16, Ryoji Miyaoka wrapped the face of 59-year-old Kaoru Kawakami with adhesive tape at the victims residence. He also used cable ties to bind his arms behind his back

Miyaoka dug a hole to a location about 20 meters from the residence. Sometime before July 18, he allegedly tossed Kawakami inside and covered him with soil in killing him.

Miyaoka is also alleged to have robbed Kawakami of 290,000 yen in cash contained in his wallet and a bank card.

Upon his arrest, Miyaoka, an employee in the construction industry, partially denied the allegations. I did not rob him, the suspect was quoted.

Kawakami, who needed a cane to walk, lived alone. An officer with the Takahashi Police Station found his body on July 22.

According to police, the cause of death is not known, but he is believed to have been suffocated by being buried alive.

The arrest is the second in the case. Police first arrested Miyaoka for allegedly using Kawakamis bank card to withdraw cash from a convenience store ATM in Kurashiki City on September 2.

During the course of the investigation, police learned that the suspect and victim had experienced financial trouble between one another.
New Delhi, Sep 27 : After announcement of a new team to run the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), there is eager anticipation of an upcoming Cabinet expansion in the Narendra Modi-led NDA government.

Sources believe that after clearing the role of the party leaders, it has become easier to decide on inclusion of probable faces in the government. While some leaders say that the Cabinet expansion will happen soon, other leaders believe it would take place after Bihar Assembly polls in October-November.

In case, the Cabinet is expanded post the Bihar polls, it would happen after November 10.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn-in for a second term on May 30, 2019. Sixteen months have passed since then but the Cabinet has not been expanded yet.

However in his first stint, Modi had expanded his Cabinet on November -- just six months after forming the government in May 2014.

After the announcement of the new 70-member BJP team on Saturday, speculations of the Cabinet expansion have intensified.

"After the resignation of two ministers, and the death of one minister, a total of three posts have become vacant within a year. In such a situation, the expansion of the Council of Ministers is necessary," a BJP leader, who did not want to be identified, told IANS.

"It cannot be said clearly as of now when the Cabinet would be extended but would happen soon," the party leader added.

Those outside the organisation may get a chance.

Many big faces have been left out of the party organisation. They include Vinay Sahastrabuddhe, who was national Vice President, and Anil Jain, Saroj Pandey, Ram Madhav, and P. Muralidhar Rao, all national General Secretaries.

There is speculation that party leaders, who are Rajya Sabha members, may get a place in the Modi-led Cabinet in the upcoming expansion.

Since Sahastrabuddhe, Jain and Pandey are Rajya Sabha members, it could be easier for the party to accommodate them in the Cabinet.

However, Ram Madhav and Rao are not MPs, and they can be made ministers only if the party arranges Rajya Sabha seats for them.

A total of 10 Rajya Sabha seats are getting vacant in Uttar Pradesh in November.

Since the formation of the Modi government for the second time in May 2019, three ministerial positions are lying vacant.

Shiv Sena leader Arvind Sawant resigned from the post of Heavy Industries Minister in the Modi government after his party quit the NDA in November 2019.

Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur, of the Akali Dal, resigned on September 17, opposing the farm Bills. Her party has also left the NDA.

Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi died of Covid-19 on September 23.

The Central government can have a maximum of 81 ministers, which is the 15 per cent of the total strength of the Lok Sabha.

However, since Prime Minister Modi insists on "Minimum Government, Maximum Governance", he worked with a team of 70 ministers in his first term.

On May 30, 2019, Modi was sworn in for a second term along with 57 ministers - 24 Cabinet Ministers, nine Ministers of State (Independent Charge) and 24 Ministers of State.

Currently, there are 54 ministers in the the council of ministers, and while there can be 27 more ministers, sources indicate that Modi would like to keep a maximum of 70 ministers in his Cabinet, the same number as during his first term.

(Navneet Mishra can be contacted at navneet.m@ians.in)
There have been days during Melbournes lockdown that Catherine Devine let her six-year-old water-loving son, Joshua, have half-a-dozen baths, just to keep him entertained.

Born without a thumb and large hole in his heart, and diagnosed recently with autism, Josh is in prep this year at St Paul's College in Balwyn, a school for children with special needs.

When schools closed, Ms Devine found herself trying to help Joshua and her son, Lachlan, 8, with schoolwork, look after four-year-old son Benjamin, and chip away at her part-time marketing job remotely while husband Michael worked from the office.

Catherine Devine and her boys Lachlan ( Lochie) grade 2 (in pink shorts) , Joshua ( Joshie) prep at special needs school ( in stripey jumper) and Ben (Benny) 3-year-old kinder. She's looking forward to them going back to school. Credit:Penny Stephens

The biggest issue was Josh, says Ms Devine. He loves water and spending time in the bath, so there were times when we did whatever was needed to get through the day.
President Trump has been practicing with flashcards and prepping with former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie before Tuesday's presidential debate.

Behind the scenes: Top aides tell Axios he's been testing his attacks on the campaign trail for weeks, seeing what ignites his crowds or falls flat. One of the biggest themes Trump plans to drive home is his "tough guy" persona, which advisers see as an advantage with voters in key states.

Joe Biden has blocked off portions of days for mock debate sessions ahead of the Tuesday debate in Cleveland.

Expect a big emphasis from Biden on the sad milestone the U.S. passed last week  the 200,000th U.S. death from COVID.

on the sad milestone the U.S. passed last week  the 200,000th U.S. death from COVID. While Biden plans to challenge Trump on any falsehoods, advisers say he won't spend the whole debate playing fact-checker.

Trump's team sees Judge Amy Coney Barrett as a vehicle to bait Biden into turning off centrist voters  if the president can goad Biden into attacking her.

That's something Biden advisers have already said they plan to avoid.

Biden advisers have already said they plan to avoid. But Trump's team notes during past Democratic debates, Biden lost his temper.

Biden will counter Trump on the Supreme Court by focusing on how a 6-3 conservative court could be disastrous for the Affordable Care Act.

Biden has had several long weekend sessions and some shorter weekday rounds.

several long weekend sessions and some shorter weekday rounds. The informal practice sessions included staff peppering him with questions and massaging his answers.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tells Axios it's important for Biden not to "demoralize" the base with a swipe at progressives:

"We're working really hard to try to turn out young people, and it's just not helpful to decry people like myself or Bernie Sanders."

The other side:

Here's what keeps the strategists up at night ...

For Trump:

Overconfidence. Many people close to the president say they're worried he hasn't taken the debates seriously or prepared enough.

"Presidents typically lose the first debate to a challenger," top Trump ally Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) tells Axios.

Trump sees Biden as someone he can bulldoze. But Trump's team has warned him that Biden is a seasoned politician.

Policy. One of Trump's big misses of the summer was his failure to lay out what his second-term agenda would look like. He did that during his convention speech, but this time he won't have a prewritten speech or teleprompter to rely on.

Trump has always struggled with policy debates, instead preferring to ramble and generalize. But Fox News moderator Chris Wallace is a seasoned Trump interviewer, and he knows how to force Trump to be direct.

Attacks on the moderator. Many Republicans still shudder at the memory of Trump's vicious attacks on Megyn Kelly, then of Fox News  something that stuck with viewers for months.

Downplaying the coronavirus. Trump's team recognizes that the president's biggest weakness is his handling of the coronavirus and the casual way in which he has seemingly minimized the number of people who have died.

This is the area in which they have tried to prep him the most. But Trump's refusal to admit he's done anything but a fantastic job presents a real problem.

For Biden:

Gaffes. Confidants believe the main risk for Biden is misspeaking, transposing numbers or seeming to lose his train of thought.

If Biden does have a verbal misstep, their plan is to compare it to whatever mistakes Trump makes.

Temper. In some of his interactions with voters on the trail, Biden has shown flashes of anger.

His challenge will be responding to Trump forcefully, without losing his cool.

Verbosity. Biden, who overcame stuttering as a child, well knows  and frequently chides himself  for going too long.

He also tends to take detours on his way to the point he is trying to make.

He's also a creature of decades spent in the Senate, and some of his parliamentary verbiage is better understood in the cloakroom than in American living rooms.

of decades spent in the Senate, and some of his parliamentary verbiage is better understood in the cloakroom than in American living rooms. He has seemed to meander in the past by mentioning old colleagues and mentors, like in a CNN town hall when he name-checked the late Sens. Mike Mansfield and Ted Kennedy.

Deference to the moderator  something Biden did during primary debates.

The danger is inadvertently ceding ground to Trump.

Taking the bait. Trump's preferred ways of getting under Biden's skin include suggesting he's lost a mental step because of his age (Biden is 77; Trump is 74) or going after Biden's son, Hunter.

Go deeper ... Debate commission co-chair: We don't expect moderators to fact-check candidates
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  South Korea said Saturday it will request North Korea to further investigate the killing of a South Korean government official who was shot by North Korean troops after being found adrift near the rivals disputed sea boundary while apparently trying to defect.

Seoul could also possibly call for a joint investigation into Tuesdays shooting, which sparked outrage in the South and drew a rare apology from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Kim was quoted as saying he was very sorry over what he described as an unexpected, unfortunate incident" in a message sent by Pyongyang's United Front Department, a North Korean government agency in charge of inter-Korean relations.

However, the North Korean message, which was announced by the office of South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday, largely passed the blame for the shooting to the South Korean official, claiming that he refused to answer questions and attempted to flee before North Korean troops fired at him.

South Korean officials during a presidential National Security Council meeting Friday evening concluded that further investigation was needed because the Norths account of the incident was different from what was gathered by South Korean intelligence, Moon's office said.

We have decided to request the North to conduct an additional investigation and also request a joint investigation with the North if needed, the Blue House said in a statement. It said the South will also swiftly take measures to further strengthen surveillance posture in waters off the countrys western coast to prevent similar incidents.

South Korea's coast guard was deploying dozens of vessels and hundreds of officers to search waters near the western sea border Saturday for the official's remains. The North's state media have yet to report on the incident or Kim's apology.

South Korea earlier accused the North of shooting the man, who was likely trying to defect, and burning his body after finding him on a floating object in North Korean waters. South Korean officials condemned what they called an atrocious act and pressed North Korea to punish those responsible.

But North Korea in its message said that troops first fired blanks after the man refused to answer questions other than saying hes from South Korea a couple of times. Then, as he made moves to flee, the North Korean troops fired 10 rounds. When they came near the floating object, they only found lots of blood but no sign of him. The troops determined he was dead and burned the floating object in line with anti-coronavirus rules, the message said.

North Korea has previously expressed regrets when it wanted to lower tensions triggered by incidents involving South Korean casualties, such as the 2015 front-line mine blasts that maimed two South Korean soldiers and the 2008 shooting death of a South Korean tourist in North Korea. But its rare for a North Korean leader to do so.
Armenias military-political leadership has full control of the situation, is managing the armed forces fully and completely, and it will use all the types of arms that are found appropriate for use during the military situation. This is what representative of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia Artsrun Hovhannisyan told reporters today.

According to him, Azerbaijan had pre-planned these military operations. Besides the operations, official Azerbaijani media outlets released statements as if the Armenian side had made a provocation and Azerbaijan was responding to that provocation, but Armenias specialists presented facts about the air communication between Turkey and Azerbaijan, and minutes after the operations that were launched this morning, Turkish and Azerbaijani media worked intensively from the area of the main military operations.

After that, Azerbaijan issued an official statement stating that it is making the transition to a counterattack operation after the Armenian sides operations. All this goes to show that Azerbaijan had planned this meticulously since its impossible to plan a counterattack operation in an hour. Our colleagues abroad and working for international organizations will gather the facts and show how Azerbaijan started all this, he said.
New Delhi, Sep 27 : An alleged conspiracy that resulted into full blown riots in the national capital earlier this year is said to have been a co-ordinated effort of many, however, the charge sheet filed in the case also highlights the fact that there were at times voices of dissent within the groups. These voices against violence though were crushed then and there.

According to the statement of one of the accused in the charge sheet, on the intervening night of February 16-17, a secret meeting was called at Chand Bagh after it was confirmed that US President Donald Trump was all set to come to India.

Apart from accused Athar, the meeting was also attended by Gulfisha, Natasha, Devangana, Salim Malik and some others. Though Owais Sultan was not called to the meeting, he still joined. Many of the attendees were collectively of the view that the government has to be brought down to its knees and for that they could do anything and everything, the charge sheet shows.

According to Athar's statement in the charge sheet, while the meeting was on, Gulfisha said that it was the right time to take the protest to a next level and the Chakka Jaam (road block) strategy shall be executed in the national capital. Gulfisha had said that first, Chakka Jaam would take place and then it would be taken to the next level i.e. violent protests.

Opposing that, Owais Sultan had said that this would cause problem to the people and would also result in violence and riots but no one paid heed to Sultan's words. In fact, the other attendees supported the violence and had said "Thodi bohot hinsa (violence) toh chalti hai".

It was also decided that the protestors would be directed to keep red chilli powder, sticks, stones etc, in the tent so that it could be used later as weapons. Sultan again opposed these but was overruled again.

He had made his objection public in the DPSG WhatsApp group but again overruled, the charge sheet said.

According to the WhatsApp messages of the Delhi Protests Support Group (DPSG) mentioned in the charge sheet, on February 17 afternoon, when Athar had posted about the meeting that took place the night before in Chand Bagh saying that it failed as some uninvited guests too attended the meeting, Sultan had said that he attended the meeting and the idea of roadblock was opposed by him and many others.

Another member of the group had supported the stand taken by Sultan and stated that "road block is the worst form of protest" and the same shall not be adopted. Following which Athar had deleted the message that talked about road block.

Sultan had questioned the deletion and said, "...some local people have evidence of what you were discussing last night about your plans of road block and the proposal to incite violence...So, don't play with fire...our protest will stay non violent." Sultan"had strongly said, "Itna samajh lo violence nahi karne denge tumhe aur tumhare doston ko." This was not the first time that Sultan had dissented, he also got in to an argument on the same WhatsApp group with filmmaker Rahul Roy.

The alleged conspiracy of the said violence is claimed to be prepared on around 10 WhatsApp groups including Muslim Students of JNU, CAB Team, Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC), Delhi Protest Support Group (DPSG) etc.

According to the police, two Facebook pages -- one of JNU scholar Sharjeel Imam and the other of Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC) too were used actively in the conspiracy not only to discuss the plans but also to disseminate information to larger masses and garner support.

The fresh charge sheet which runs into about 17,000 pages was filed in FIR 59/2020. The FIR invokes the Unlawful Prevention Activities Act (UAPA) against students and activists including Umar Khalid, a former JNU student activist, who is referred to as the main accused in the case.

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.
Irelands Minister for Health said that he and the acting chief medical officer are cautiously optimistic that the tighter restrictions in Dublin are working.

Stephen Donnelly said the vast majority of people in Dublin are following the public health restrictions put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Dublin and Donegal are currently subject to Level 3 restrictions under the Governments Covid-19 five-tier response plan, with the rest of the country at Level 2.

The stricter measures in place in the capital include a ban on indoor social gatherings; a requirement for pubs and restaurants to only serve food outdoors, while travel in and out of the county has been limited to work, education and essential purposes.

Mr Donnelly said public health experts tracking the spread of Covid-19 in Ireland need the seven-day rate of the virus to be less than half of the 14-day rate.

Dublins 14-day incidence rate is 147 positive cases per 100,000 population, while its seven-day rate is 78.

What we want to start seeing is the seven-day rate becomes less than half of the 14-day rate and that shows that it is plateauing, Mr Donnelly told RTE.

The chief medical officer (Dr Ronan Glynn) and I have have been speaking on exactly this point over the weekend, we will be cautiously optimistic as we must always be, but it is very early days.

We want to see that seven-day rate come down each and every day.

I have no doubt the people of Dublin have heard this loud and clear, and in the vast majority of cases people are doing what they are supposed to do, limiting their interactions.

He urged the public to halve the number of social contacts they have in a bid to reduce the R number, which is the number of people an infected person will pass the virus on to.

Mr Donnelly said there are no plans for the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) to call an emergency meeting this week, however he warned that could change.

There are four counties which are being looked at very carefully and they are Cork, Galway, Louth and Wicklow, he added.

On Sunday an additional 430 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed, the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) said.

There were no further deaths due to the virus, health officials confirmed.

Dr Glynn urged households to reduce their contacts.

He said: As we start into this new week, I am asking every household across the country to sit together this evening and make a plan to reduce the number of people you meet this week.

We have absolutely no room for complacency. If every person, family, workplace and organisation does not play their part the situation will continue to deteriorate.

For people who live in Donegal and Dublin remember Government advice is to work from home unless it is essential to attend in person.

For people living in these and all other counties, assume that Covid-19 is circulating in your community and act accordingly.

Earlier on Sunday Mary Lou McDonald warned the cut in the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) will lead to economic hardship.

The Sinn Fein leader called for the Government to reverse the reduction.

The 350 euro-a-week payments have dropped to between 200 and 300 euros, which has affected the 150,000 people still in receipt of the benefit.

The very reason to extend and maintain pandemic payments as they are is because we are still in the grips of a crisis. That money is supporting families and going straight back into the economy  it is literally paying bills and putting bread on the table  @MaryLouMcDonald #TWIP pic.twitter.com/Zs3PyYuUUA  Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) September 27, 2020

Ms McDonald said that Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe will have to reverse the decision, saying it was wrong to cut the payment particularly when Dublin and Donegal are facing tighter restrictions.

I think he will have to change his mind because theyve made a mistake, because what theyre doing is unfair, because what theyre doing will undoubtedly cause not just hardship, but what MABS (Money Advice and Budgeting Service) has described as a forthcoming tsunami of domestic debt, she told RTEs The Week In Politics.

Thats not a smart thing to do socially or economically so Paschal will have to change his position because its the wrong position.

Ms McDonald rejected Mr Donohoes claim that the Government cut the Covid-19 unemployment payments so the PUP could last longer for people.

I think the very reason to extend and to maintain the payments is the fact that we are still in the grips of a crisis, she added.

If we thought initially six months ago that this was a transient crisis, that we could tough it out for six months and then we could go all come back up and breathe air thats wrong.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin last week defended the decision saying that, while the rates have been reduced, the scheme had been extended until next April.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that bookings for hotels across Ireland plummeted by 67% in recent weeks, prompting a call by industry leaders for urgent action.

The latest survey from the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) reveals a collapse in hotel bookings following the tightening of Covid-19 restrictions in Dublin.

The IHF said that after the Government announced its medium-term six-month plan for living with coronavirus, the weekly rate of new bookings declined sharply.

IHF president Elaina Fitzgerald Kane said: It is now make or break time.

Urgent and unprecedented intervention from the Government is required to support tourism businesses and safeguard thousands of jobs throughout the sector, she said.

This must form a central plank of the Budget due to be announced next month.
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, struggling European countries addressed the United Nations General Assembly and said the failure to eradicate the virus was a collective burden. European leaders on Friday, September 25 urged the international community to come together and reinvent global cooperation.

Read: EU Council President Condemns China At UNGA Over Uighur, Hong Kong

Opportunity for new beginning

Months after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries are now facing a resurgence of infected cases. As per reports, hospitals and medical professionals in Europe are once again under enormous pressure in the face of COVID-19 second wave.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said, This emergency has, more than a thousand treaties or speeches, made us suddenly realise that we are part of one single world.

While the Italian prime minister said the pandemic has given the international community the opportunity for collective renewal, the EU Council President Charles Michel is reported to have added that the pandemic has revealed that nations are not as strong as they thought themselves to be and said that the world has been thrown into a battle against a single common enemy.

Read: US Pharmaceutical Giant Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 Vaccine Shows Strong Immune Response

However, the pandemic has also exposed multiple cracks within the European Union. EU leaders over the course of the last months have bickered over access to equipment and vaccines, erected barriers among neighbours to keep out virus infections, and struggled to agree on collective solutions to fight COVID-19.

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. The US has reported more than 7.2 million positive COVID-19 cases and a death toll of over 200,000.

(With AP inputs, Image: AP)

Read: EU Leader Lashes Out At UK Over Brexit

Read: Paris Attack: EU's Charles Michel Expresses 'full Solidarity' With People Of France
Kenosha Police Office Rusten Sheskey told investigators he shot Jacob Blake because he feared Blake was trying to kidnap one of his children, according to a CNN interview with Sheskeys attorney.

Attorney Brendan Matthews, the lawyer for Sheskey and the Kenosha Professional Police Organization, the union that represents Kenosha police officers, appeared on CNN Friday. In the interview, Matthews said Sheskey maintains that Blake held a knife in his hand and twisted his body toward the officer before Sheskey fired his service weapon seven times at Blakes back, leaving him paralyzed.

Justin Blake, Jacob Blakes uncle, said Saturday that the assertion that Blake was attempting to kidnap his own children was false.

Thats ridiculous, Justin Blake said. Its gaslighting. Outright lies.

According to Matthews, when Sheskey arrived at the call he heard a woman say hes got my kid. Hes got my keys.

Matthews said Sheskey saw Blake put one child in the car as police arrived but did not know the other two children were in the vehicle. The attorney told CNN if Sheskey had allowed Blake to leave and something happened to the child the question would have been Why didnt you do something? 

Kenosha Police were called to the 2800 block of 40th Street on Aug. 23 for a domestic call. A woman said her boyfriend was at that address and should not be there. The woman, the mother of Blakes three children, had filed a complaint against Blake in May that had led to felony domestic abuse charges being filed in July. Blake was wanted on a warrant for those charges.

Sources said the two had an on-again, off-again relationship, and that Blake had been using a car that was registered to the woman that day.

Although some media outlets have reported that the woman had a restraining order against Blake, there is no record of any restraining order being filed. Had she asked for a 72-hour no contact order at the time she made a complaint in May, that period had long since ended.

The shooting is under investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, which has previously released a statement saying a knife was found on the floor of the vehicle Blake was seen leaning into in the widely shared video of his shooting. That statement did not say whether Blake had ever been holding the knife or whether police knew it was there prior to Sheskey shooting Blake.

In a statement previously released by Matthews on behalf of the police union, Matthews stated that Blake had struggled with police and had been shot with a Taser twice before the shooting. That statement said officers saw Blake with a knife and ordered him to drop it, saying that Blake did not comply.

The bystander who shot the video of the shooting has said in interviews that he heard police yell drop the knife.

Blakes family has maintained that he was not armed and had been celebrating the birthday of one of his children the day of the shooting. A local gas station owner, interviewed the day after the shooting, said Blake was a regular customer and that shortly before the shooting occurred he had stopped in at the station with his son. The gas station owners partner gave Blakes son a birthday gift.

When the Justice Department investigation into the Blake shooting is complete, it will have a second review by a retired Madison police chief.

Matthews said in the CNN interview that Sheskey attempted to provide medical aid to Blake after the shooting.

He didnt go to work wanting to shoot anybody. He went to work trying to help people, Matthews told CNN. He absolutely did not want this to happen.

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In normal times, food trends often started in restaurants, with top chefs. Maybe they got written up in food magazines or blogs. After some time, you could find the trending ingredients on grocery store shelves.

These days, the pandemic is determining how and what we eat, from quick shortcuts to slow cookers. There's lots more home cooking, and many more family meals.

Even when people do eat restaurant food, they're often looking for familiar dishes, experts say.

In general, "the trend is looking backwards rather than forwards," says Esmee Williams, who looks at where home cooking is heading for Allrecipes.com, based in Seattle. Recipes from the 1960s and '70s like chicken Kiev, chicken a la king, cheese fondue and salmon patties have become more popular, she says.

"There's a lot of disappointment happening in our days, so nobody wants tears at the table. Let's treat ourselves to something we all will like," says Williams.

It's part of a nostalgia wave sweeping many industries, including decor, fashion and beauty.

Katie Workman writes regularly about food for The Associated Press. She has written two cookbooks focused on family-friendly cooking, "Dinner Solved!" and "The Mom 100 Cookbook." She blogs at http://www.themom100.com/about-katie-workman. She can be reached at Katie@themom100.com.
The federal government has called for a meeting, at 7 p.m. today, with labour leaders to avert tomorrows scheduled nationwide protest.

The labour unions, NLC and TUC, had fixed the march to protest the recent increase in the prices of petrol and electricity.

The protest is expected to herald a nationwide strike to protest the price increase.

Two earlier meetings held over the matter, including one held last Thursday, were unsuccessful.

After Thursdays meeting, the next meeting was initially scheduled to hold tomorrow.

The spokesperson of the labour ministry, Charles Akpan, confirmed the Sunday meeting in a phone interview with PREMIUM TIMES.

The meeting earlier scheduled for Monday 28th September 2020 is now scheduled as follows: Date: Sunday, September 27, 2020

Venue: Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa. by 7 p.m., he said.

Restraining order

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the National Industrial Court in Abuja granted an order of interim injunction restraining the NLC and the TUC from embarking on any strike.

The court also ordered the police and the State Security Service to ensure no one seeking to go to work on September 28 is prevented by the two labour unions.

Both the NLC and TUC have vowed to proceed with their protest despite the court order.

Also, in a circular dated September 25 published on the website of the Head of Service of the Federation, the head of the civil service, Folasade Yemi-Esan, warned federal government workers not to join the planned strike by labour unions across the country.

Accordingly, all officers on Grade Level 12 and above and those on essential services are hereby strongly advised to be at work to perform their official duties, she said.

Issues

PREMIUM TIMES reported how electricity distribution companies hiked their tariffs from about N30.23 to about N62.33 per kWh after the federal government said it would no longer subsidise electricity consumption.

The price of petrol also increased from about N145 to about N161 per litre due to the removal of subsidy with the federal government saying it does not have the funds to sustain the such subsidy.
The injured people were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries

YORBA LINDA, Calif. (AP)  Two people were struck by a car and injured Saturday during a Southern California demonstration involving members of Black Lives Matter and counter-protesters.

The incident occurred in the city of Yorba Linda, about 30 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles.

The injured people were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and the driver of the car was detained, said Carrie Braun, spokeswoman for the Orange County Sheriffs Department.

An unidentified woman is taken into custody after witnesses said she drove her car into a crowd of protesters in Yorba Linda, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. (Mindy Schauer/The Orange County Register via AP)

The incident occurred as members of Black Lives Matter demonstrated against police brutality and systemic racism.

READ MORE: Jacob Blakes uncle on Trump: We dont have any words for the orange man

Counter-protesters crossed six-lane Imperial Highway and confronted the BLM protesters, authorities said. The protesters also confronted each other in the parking lot of the Yorba Linda public library, Braun said.

A white sedan came went through the crowd in the parking lot or the exit of the parking lot at the public library, injuring two people, Braun said. People chased the car as it tried to drive away, and it was eventually stopped and was surrounded by police, she said.

The Register reported it was not known how fast the car was going. The back windshield had been broken out, and it had a flagpole sticking out of it. The front windshield was smashed, the Register reported.

Orange County Sheriff deputies keep protesters and counter protesters apart in Yorba Linda, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. (Mindy Schauer/The Orange County Register via AP)

The female driver of the car was detained, Braun said.

READ MORE: Police: 3 arrests at right-wing rally in Portland, Oregon

Braun said there were 300 people total and at some point it was declared an unlawful assembly and dispersal orders were given.

On Thursday night, a protester was struck by a pickup truck during a march in Hollywood and suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Los Angeles police said Friday the preliminary investigation found that the driver was attempting to maneuver through the crowd when protesters began beating the vehicle with sticks and attempted to open the door.

Story continues

The driver was attempting to drive away from the situation when he struck the protester. The driver stopped several blocks away and cooperated with officers. He was released pending the outcome of the investigation.

Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now!

The post Car injures 2 protesters during California demonstration appeared first on TheGrio.
London, Sep 27 : At least 16 people were arrested and nine police officers sustained injuries after violence erupted at an anti-lockdown protest in London's Trafalgar Square.

Thousand of people gathered in Traflagar Square on Saturday carrying a variety of signs, flags and placards to take participate in the "we do not consent" protest, the Metro newspaper reported.

Those in attendance were not wearing or were taking social distancing measures.

While some protesters accused the government of "tyranny" for implementing wide ranging restrictions in an effort to curb the virus spread, while others compared a potential Covid-19 vaccine to "cyanide".

Some even held placards with a quote by Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels, that said: "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, eventually people will believe it." The protest soon turned violent after the participants clashes with police officers.

Members of the crowd threw bottles at the police and chanted "pick your side", while officers used batons against them.

According to the Metropolitan Police, the arrests were made over a variety of offences including breaching coronavirus regulations, assaulting a police officer, public order offences and violent disorder.

Branding the protest as "not acceptable", London Mayor Sadiq Khan, stressed that large gatherings, including protests, were still banned to stop the spread of Covid-19.

"The reckless and violent behaviour of some protestors has left hard-working police officers injured and put the safety of our city, which is at a critical moment in the fight against this virus, at risk," the Metro newspaper quoted the Mayor as saying in a statement later in the day.

"This is totally unacceptable. We cannot let the sacrifices Londoners have made be undermined by the selfish behaviour of a small number." Saturday's protest comes after a similar anti-lockdown rally was held in Trafalgar Square last week which led to the arrest of at least 32 people.
Much as the celebrity cash-and-politics antics of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry disgust us, it appears they disgust Harry's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, even more.

Here's what Breitbart reported:

The decision by Los Angeles-based Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to wade into the upcoming U.S. election by offering voting advice was a violation of their Megxit deal with the Queen and could further jeopardise their links to the monarchy, it was claimed Sunday by senior royal aides. According to the Times newspaper, courtiers have been canvassing how the royal household could separate itself further from the pair. The distance is required after the couple called on voters in America to reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity in the most important election of our lifetime  comments widely interpreted as a swipe at President Donald Trump, as Breitbart News reported.

According to the London press cited, there's talk now of yanking titles. Or who knows, cutting them dead. Something. Some kind of sanction for this low descent to partisan politics. They've already signaled some kinds of displeasure by taking Harry's and Meghan's picture down as a backdrop during a state address from the queen, and then pointedly leaving Meghan out of birthday-greetings pictures sent to Harry on his birthday. Now they've really stepped in it and reports say the queen is mad.

Because there's no doubt about it, the whole political act was colossally obnoxious. The queen has good relations with President Trump and spoke with him last time he visited for more than an hour. That's more time than she gave to the visiting and solicitous Obamas.

It didn't take a genius to know whom that remark was directed to, and worse still, it was pure naked politics, under the rubric of not-politicking, just asking everyone to be nice, and everyone can see through it. Meghan's politics are no secret, she told us all about them earlier when she refused to stiff-upper-lip it and meet the leader of the free world on his first state visit to England, claiming the ailments of pregancy, but showing up at some event 24 hours later. No wonder President Trump has since said he's "not a fan" of Meghan's, and wished Prince Harry "lots of luck" now that he's stuck with her.

The queen's response shouldn't be surprising. The pair would be nothing were it not for their association with the queen -- Meghan would be a D-list actress, whose expiration date was rapidly approaching, and Prince Harry would be one of the low men on the totem pole of senior royalty, drawing all the boring open-the-hospital-in Yorkshire and smile assignments, were it not for the queen's favor.

But they've repaid that not with gratitude, but first by abandoning the "firm" which is to say business of being royal and winning the public's support without telling the queen last January, which up until now, was Not Done. The only reason they were famous at all and could make phone calls as to what they wanted was because of their association with the queen.

Then they decided to trade on the queen's name for profits, going into commerce, which is to say money-making in Hollywood, with deals such as the one they signed with Netflix. Money for me, but not for thee, Your Majesty.

Then they traded on the queen's name again to get press -- they're living the tabloid life of leaks and covers on the National Enquirer.

Then they traded on the queen's name to politick, for socialist partisan causes, as if socialist leftwingery has ever looked out for royals of any kind.That seems to have been the last straw. The royal family stays out of politics to avoid losing the support of the public. Now Harry and Meghan have decided that real royality is not in the queen, but in the Obamas.

What a shabby, shoddy picture. When the queen cuts them off entirely and yanks tiaras and titles, she'll win the public's applause.

Image credit: ET screen shot, via shareable YouTube.
President Donald Trump tweeted Sept. 21 that Michigan residents should request an absentee ballot and vote early.

But two days later, the president reiterated his frequent claim that mail-in voting is a scam" and suggested those ballots should not be counted.
Their connection with Trump is cultural and emotional as much as political, closely intertwined with their lives and identities. His enemies are their enemies, his grievances are their grievances. They live by the rules he lives by: that concepts such as White male privilege or structural racism and sexism are to be scoffed at, that the working class, Christians and Trump supporters have been victimized, that its okay to be moved to tears by a love for the country and its president but that liberals are crybabies and snowflakes. They pride themselves on being self-made and see Trump, whose life has been nothing like their own, as a once-in-a-lifetime leader.
Prayer for the Week

O God,

you declare your almighty power chiefly

in showing mercy and pity:

Grant us the fullness of your grace,

that we, running to obtain your promises,

may become partakers of your heavenly treasure;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God,

for ever and ever.

Amen.
Vineet Upadhyay By

Express News Service

DEHRADUN: After his successful Europe road trip for world peace, award-winning wrestler Labhanshu Sharma is all set to launch the longest bus journey of world from Rishikesh to London.

"This journey is for world peace and telling the people of the world about our amazing country. We have planned to give 15-minutes presentation about selected destinations of our country and our culture as a whole where a guest is treated as God," said Sharma.

It will be the longest bus journey in world covering 21000 km in 75 days across 20 countries scheduled to kick off in June next year from Rishikesh with total 20 passengers.

Sharma has received accolades by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and late President Pranab Mukherjee. Sharma and his brother Vishal Sharma have recently completed the journey from India to London by road as part of their World Peace Tour.

The main purpose of this journey is to spread Indian culture and learn about other countries to benefit our country added Sharma who has previously made Peace trips through 32 countries on international roads.

The journey will start from Rishikesh in Uttarakhand and will move towards Imphal through Lucknow and then will enter Myanmar. After this, they will reach Thailand, Laos, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan.

Later they will travel through European countries Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France and will reach England. This journey will not stop there, travelers will also be able to enjoy Wales and Scotland.
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Linkedin (Reuters) Lagos  Sun, September 27, 2020 09:26 482 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4774ddc 2 World Auschwitz,Nigeria,jail,blasphemy,Omar-Farouq Free

The head of Poland's Auschwitz Memorial has written to Nigeria's president offering to serve part of a 10-year jail term handed to a 13-year-old boy for blasphemy.

Piotr Cywinski requested a pardon for Omar Farouq, who was accused of making blasphemous statements during an argument and sentenced by a sharia court in Nigeria's northern Kano state last month.

If a pardon was not possible, Cywinski said he and 119 other volunteers would take on the boy's punishment and each spend a month in a Nigerian jail.

As the director of a memorial to a place "where children were imprisoned and murdered, I cannot remain indifferent to this disgraceful sentence for humanity," he said in the letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, posted on the Memorial's Twitter account.

Read also: Indonesians remain sensitive to perceived blasphemy: YLBHI

The director of @AuschwitzMuseum wrote the President of Nigeria and asked him to pardon 13-year old Omar Farouq sentenced for 10 years imprisonment.



He declares he is ready to share part of the sentence.



'I cannot remain indifferent to this disgraceful sentence for humanity.' pic.twitter.com/EzVBjCzgcY  Auschwitz Memorial (@AuschwitzMuseum) September 25, 2020

Two spokesmen for Nigeria's president declined to comment on the unusual intervention on Saturday.

The presidency has not commented on the sentence that was condemned by rights groups. The UN children's agency UNICEF last month said the sentence was "wrong" and went against international accords that Nigeria had signed.

A special adviser to the governor of Kano said he had seen the letter on social media.

"The position of Kano state government remains the decision of the sharia court," Salihu Tanko Yakasai told Reuters.

Baba Jibo Ibrahim, a spokesman for the Kano State Judiciary, said he had not seen the letter but added that the president had the power to pardon the boy.

Nigeria is roughly split evenly between the mostly Christian south and predominantly Muslim north. Twelve of Nigeria's 36 states apply sharia.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijani attacking forces have been repelled by the Artsakh Defense Army in several directions, Armenian defense ministry spokesperson Shushan Stepanyan said.

As Defense Army Commander Major General Jalal Harutyunyan earlier said, the Azerbaijani troops launched an offensive at the entire length of the line of contact at 07:10. The Azerbaijani troops attacks in several directions have been repelled. The adversary has suffered manpower and equipment loses, namely three tanks. The battles continue, she said.

Earlier Stepanyan said that Artsakhs military shot down two attacking Azerbaijani helicopters and three UAVs.

On early Sunday morning the Azerbaijani military launched a massive cross border artillery attack on Artsakh. The Azerbaijani bombardment also targeted civilian settlements, including Stepanakert city.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
The relentless march of Covid-19 has shone a new light on the healthcare sector.

Companies involved in developing vaccines or treatments have received most attention but the pandemic has highlighted the need for continued investment and innovation across the pharmaceutical industry.

Biotech companies fall fairly and squarely into this bracket. Established to create and develop new drugs, these firms are at the forefront of the fight against not just Covid-19 but a wide range of pernicious diseases.

Drugs fight: Trust gives investors access to top biotech firms

International Biotechnology Trust (IBT) offers investors exposure to some of the most exciting businesses in the field. The company has a long and impressive track record and it pays a dividend, unlike most individual biotech firms.

The shares are 7.86 and should move higher as the company invests in more winning businesses and sentiment improves towards the industry.

IBT was formed in 1994 to give British investors access to the global biotech market.

To reduce risk, the trust mostly invests in listed firms, ranging from large companies valued at more than $10billion (7.8billion) to smaller firms yet to generate a profit. Just over 10 per cent of the portfolio is allocated to unquoted firms, in the hope that these will deliver value when they are floated or sold to bigger operators.

Most firms in the portfolio are based in America. The UK is renowned for early-stage research but successful players generally migrate across the Atlantic once they reach a certain size, because the US is the biggest market for healthcare and most money for investment is found there.

IBT also invests in firms that treat a variety of problems, including cancer, Parkinson's and inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. Almost a third of the group's portfolio is dedicated to rare diseases, as this sector is growing particularly fast, with double-digit sales forecast for many years ahead.

The trust's top ten investments include several notable successes. Cancer specialist Immunomedics, the group's second largest investment, has seen its share price increase almost eightfold in six months, after it was snapped up by larger rival Gilead, also in IBT's portfolio.

And shares in the group's biggest investment Horizon Therapeutics have more than doubled in recent months. Earlier this year, the firm launched a new drug to treat a rare eye condition, Thyroid Eye Disease. Even though the development coincided with lockdowns in much of the world, sales have soared.

These gains count because IBT's dividend equates to 4 per cent of the value of all its holdings combined. The calculation is made at IBT's year-end, August 31, and dividends are paid twice a year.

Last month, IBT's assets were valued at 284million, equivalent to 7.39 a share, so a dividend of 30p is expected for the current year, divided equally between next January and August 2021.

Over time, the company should deliver both capital and dividend growth. The group's managers have more than 75 years' combined experience and include Kate Bingham, chair of the UK Vaccine Taskforce. Their ability to pick successful companies is based on rigorous stock selection and a deep network of industry contacts.

IBT also benefits from two major healthcare trends. First, there is more innovation in this industry than ever, meaning more new drugs coming to market and better treatments for people who fall seriously ill. Second, the population is ageing exponentially and over55s account for more than half of all healthcare spending, according to US research.

Midas verdict: At 7.86, IBT's share price has done well in recent weeks, moving in line with the value of its assets, now approximately 7.88 per share. Over time, the stock should continue to make good progress as its portfolio is diverse and managers are highly competent. Investors in the business should be rewarded with income, capital gains and the knowledge that they are funding companies whose work can make a tangible difference to people's lives. Buy.

Traded on: Main market Ticker: IBT Contact: ibtplc.com or 020 7421 7070
A Washington County Sheriffs deputy shot at a man who pointed a gun at him Saturday, after the man got into a dispute with his neighbor and ran into his home to hide from law enforcement, the sheriffs office said.

The man was not struck by the round and was ultimately taken into custody and treated for an unrelated injury, the sheriffs office said.

The deputys name hasnt been released.

Sheriffs officials say deputies were summoned to a pair of homes near Southwest Cascadia Street and Cascadia Court after one neighbor called to say that another neighbor, Breck Carter, 39, was on his property even though deputies had told Carter the previous day that if he returned to the property hed be trespassing.

As deputies arrived at about 10:30 p.m. and tried to talk to Carter, Carter ran into his home and pointed a gun at several deputies though a window, sheriffs officials said. Deputies backed away and called in a tactical negotiations team and crisis negotiations unit.

About 10 minutes later, a deputy saw Carter point a gun at him from inside the home, and the deputy responded by shooting through the window at Carter, the sheriffs office said.

Crisis negotiators ultimately made contact with Carter, and deputies were able to take him into custody about two hours after the shooting, sheriffs officials said. Carter is charged with harassment, unlawful use of a weapon and menacing.

-- Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 16:56:16|Editor: huaxia

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Pilot rice paddies in saline-alkali soil in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have achieved a theoretical yield of 548.53 kilograms per mu (about 0.07 hectare), researcher said on Friday. A public yield monitoring was conducted Friday by researchers on the rice paddies in Bayiawati Township, Yopurga County of Kashgar, which lies next to the western margin of the Taklimakan Desert in Xinjiang. The saline soil rice has been developed by the research team led by Yuan Longping, a pioneer in hybrid rice. Three years ago, the team launched a program of planting rice in saline-alkali soil in Yopurga County. Now the total area has reached 300 mu (20 hectares).
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Linkedin Ardila Syakriah and Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, September 26, 2020 11:05 483 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c475eb03 1 National COVID-19-death-toll,definisi-kematian-covid-19,health-ministry,East-Java,PAEI,PDPI Free

Indonesias coronavirus response has once again become clouded by confusion after the government attempted to rework the definition of COVID-19 deaths, evoking criticism that it was focusing on anything but the most essential efforts to contain the virus.

East Java Governor Khofifah Indah Parawansa has reportedly told the Health Ministry that deaths among patients with comorbidity factors should be categorized differently from the deaths of patients without preexisting conditions, which would affect the death toll.

Critics lashed out when an expert staffer on health economy, M. Subuh, one of the advisors to Health Minister Terawan Putranto, visited the province on behalf of the minister and appeared to back Khofifahs request.

[In order to get] a decline in the number of deaths, [we] must intervene by providing the correct operational definition; that is, death by COVID-19 or death from comorbidities, Subuh said as quoted on the ministry's official website on Sep. 17.

[This is done] in accordance with [World Health Organization] guidelines and supported by BPJS Kesehatan [Health Care and Social Security Agency] during the claims submission process for a patient who has died of COVID-19.

East Java remains among the nine Indonesian provinces hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic that President Joko Jokowi Widodo has specifically assigned central government officials to oversee in a bid to suppress death rates and boost recoveries within two weeks.

Read also: Stretched thin, Indonesia deploys medical interns to COVID-19 front lines

National COVID-19 task force spokesman Wiku Adisasmito said during a press briefing on Tuesday, however, that the government would stick to the current WHO guidelines for tallying COVID-19 deaths.

As of now, the government has no plans to make the change proposed by the East Java governor, he said.

COVID-19 deaths are defined as all deaths of people with confirmed or probable cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection, with exceptions made for unrelated causes of deaths, such as traffic accidents.

Probable cases refer to people who did not receive their test results before their deaths but who suffered from upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which clinically suggest COVID-19 infection.

Indonesia, though yet to include probable deaths in its death toll, saw the tally cross 10,000 on Thursday.

East Java logs the highest number of COVID-19 fatalities in the country with 3,084 deaths as of Friday, with a case fatality rate of 7.2 percent, much higher than the national rate of 3.8 percent. The figure is almost double Jakarta's recorded fatalities, even though the latter has more cumulative confirmed cases.

Khofifah, on the receiving end of criticism, took to her Instagram account on Tuesday to clarify an article reporting on her request to redefine COVID-19 deaths, saying that her administration had never made such a suggestion.

"On the contrary, East Java encourages honesty and openness in the recording and reporting of all information related to COVID-19 in a manner that is more detailed than the WHO guidelines, so this pandemic can be brought to an end quickly, the governor wrote.

Subuh said on Thursday that there was no plan to change the definition of COVID-19 deaths, but rather to add operational details on deaths related to COVID-19 by following the WHO International Guidelines for Certification and Classification (Coding) of COVID-19 as Cause of Death, published on April 16. The guidelines show doctors how to write down the cause of death on death certificates.

Subuh mentioned, for instance, that people who tested positive but died of an accident, cancer or heart attack should not be recorded as COVID-19 deaths. He said that any such categorization could only be determined in consultation with relevant doctors associations.

Masdalina Pane of the Indonesian Epidemiologists Association (PAEI) slammed the government's apparent emphasis on jargon in its COVID-19 response, calling instead for the focus to be shifted to systematic and comprehensive containment efforts. This means testing, tracing and isolating people right away.

"All the strategies are already in the guidelines, the Quarantine Law and the Health Ministry's regulation on large-scale social restrictions, but the problem is the task force had yet to seriously implement them from the get-go, she said.

Read also: Discourse: Indonesia must go back to basics for COVID-19 recovery: UN official

However, another expert staffer to the health minister, Mariya Mubarika, said ensuring doctors could separate "deaths from COVID-19" with "deaths with COVID-19" was important insofar that they are better able to deduce the particularities of the disease.

The latter definition refers to patients who tested positive for the virus but did not die of the disease it caused but rather of other identified reasons, such as trauma caused by accidents or severe diarrhea commonly found among children.

Mariya claimed that the current death toll announced by the government still included these deaths.

She said there could still be a possibility to revise the death toll, which would arguably result in a significant reduction in the number of deaths, but only with the explicit agreement of concerned doctors associations who have the final say in determining the cause of death.

But two doctors at different hospitals who were approached by The Jakarta Post and are members of doctors associations said people with COVID-19 who died of other reasons were not logged as COVID-19 deaths.

Even if there were such cases, the number would not be significant enough to guarantee a revised death toll, Erlina Burhan of the Indonesian Association of Pulmonologists (PDPI) said. She said doing so would be like "changing the school curriculum when only one student doesn't understand mathematics".

She expressed concerns that the death toll would otherwise not represent the true conditions.

Indonesian Forensic Doctors Association chairman Ade Firmansyah said doctors at his hospital had already provided further details on the COVID-19 death logs, such as comorbidity factors.

This would help them better study the effects of the disease and provide prompt services, he said.
Paris cleaver attack suspect says wanted to target Charlie Hebdo The attack on Friday came three weeks into a trial in Paris of suspected accomplices in the January 2015 attacks on Charlie Hebdo, a policewoman and a Jewish supermarket that left 17 people dead

A Pakistan-born teenager has admitted to stabbing two people with a meat cleaver outside the former Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo magazine, investigators said Saturday, with nine people now detained over what the government condemned as "Islamist terrorism".

The 18-year-old, named by investigators as Hassan A. said he wanted to avenge the republication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed by the satirical weekly, which in January 2015 was targeted in a massacre carried out by Islamist gunmen.

The attack on Friday came three weeks into a trial in Paris of suspected accomplices in the January 2015 attacks on Charlie Hebdo, a policewoman and a Jewish supermarket that left 17 people dead.

A source close to the investigation told AFP that "everything points to (the suspect) acting alone", adding that he was not flagged for suspected radicalisation, speaks a little French and had planned to start training as a builder.

But eight other people are now also under arrest following two more detentions Saturday.

The two new individuals arrested were the suspect's younger brother and another acquaintance, a judicial source said.

A., who said he was born in the Pakistani city of Mandi Bahauddin and is 18-years-old, "takes responsibility for his action," a source close to the investigation said.

The man said during questioning he places his actions "in the context of the republication of cartoons" of the Prophet Mohammed in Charlie Hebdo on the eve of the trial opening.

- Charlie Hebdo targeted -

The people wounded were employees of prize-winning TV production agency Premieres Lignes, whose offices are in the same block in central Paris that used to house Charlie Hebdo.

The man mistakenly believed Charlie Hebdo's offices were still in that building and wanted to attack journalists from the magazine, a source close to the inquiry told AFP.

Charlie Hebdo moved offices after the 2015 attack and its current address is kept secret for security reasons.

Story continues

The two victims were badly wounded but their lives are not in danger.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said Friday the attack was "clearly an act of Islamist terrorism". Anti-terror prosecutors have opened an investigation.

Five of the individuals detained were in an apartment in Pantin in the northern Paris suburb of Seine-Saint-Denis, the last presumed address of the suspected attacker.

The suspected attacker, who arrived from Pakistan three years ago, was believed to have last lived in a small flat in a four-storey building in the district.

"He was very polite. I often saw him sitting on the landing with his telephone," said one neighbour, who identified herself as Josiane.

Police late Friday released another man who was detained close to the scene of the attack but whose lawyer said had actually been chasing the attacker.

The Algerian man, who has been living in France for a decade, "behaved heroically" said his lawyer Lucie Simon, complaining there had been no need to arrest him and keep him detained for hours.

- 'Could have done better' -

Prime Minister Jean Castex on Saturday hailed the "efficiency" of the security forces following the attack during a visit to police headquarters, and said the "enemies of the Republic will never win".

Twelve people, including some of France's most celebrated cartoonists, were killed in the attack on Charlie Hebdo's offices by Islamist gunmen on January 7, 2015.

Charlie Hebdo angered many Muslims around the world by publishing cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed in 2006, and in a defiant gesture reprinted some of the caricatures ahead of the trial.

On trial are 14 alleged accomplices of brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi, the perpetrators of the 2015 attack on Charlie Hebdo that was claimed by a branch of Al-Qaeda.

A female police officer was killed a day later, followed the next day by the killing of four men in a hostage-taking at a Jewish supermarket by gunman Amedy Coulibaly.

The trial has reopened one of the most painful chapters in France's modern history, with harrowing testimony from survivors and relatives of those who died.

The magazine received fresh threats from Al-Qaeda this month after it republished the controversial cartoons.

President Emmanuel Macron's centrist government has in recent weeks begun using increasingly tough rhetoric on domestic security issues in what analysts see as a shift to the right.

Darmanin admitted that the risk of an attack around the former offices had been "underestimated".

"...it is obvious that we could have done better," he said.
What might be a significant milestone in space exploration, a China start-up is all set to send a space mining robot in November. According to a report by IEEE, Beijing-based private space resources company called Origin Space has even taken initial steps towards testing capabilities in a bid to identify and extract the off-Earth resources.

Weighing nearly 30 grams, the NEO-1 satellite is designed to enter a 500-kilometre-altitude sun-synchronous orbit and will be launch by a Chinese Long March series rocket as a secondary payload. Even though the tiny robot will not perform actual mining at the space it would be testing technologies.

An Origin Space co-founder, Yu Tianhong was quoted by the media outlet saying that the main goal of the entire venture is to demonstrate the several functions including spacecraft orbital manoeuvre along with intelligent spacecraft identification and control. Because such a mission has never been conducted before, the outcome or the potential progress still remains subject to several speculations. However, if successful, the space mining robot could reportedly give birth to a trillion-dollar industry.

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NEO-2 involves lunar landing

The 2017-established Beijing company is reportedly even eying 2021 or 2022 for a NEO-2 mission involving a landing on the Moon. Even though the Origin Space co-founder has informed that the project is still in process of completion, he assured that it would include a lunar landing through an indirect journey.

Apart from this, another mission Yuanwang-1 or Look up-1 which is nicknamed as Little Hubble is also scheduled to take place in 2021. The deal for the development of the satellite has been reportedly signed with a subsidiary of Chinas main state-owned space contractor CASC.

Meanwhile, NASA is also on its way to perform a separate historic mission on October 20 when its robotic OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will touch down on asteroid Bennus surface for a few seconds for collecting rock samples and dust. This is the first time NASA will attempt to grab pieces of an asteroid, which will be returned to Earth for study.

Read - US Election 2020: NASA Astronaut To Cast Ballot From Space Station In Nov Polls

Read - NASA Spacecraft To Touch Down On Asteroid Bennu's Surface In Historic Mission

Image: Unsplash
Armenian News - NEWS.am presents a digest of the breaking news as of 29.09.2020 amid the escalation in Karabakh:

Azerbaijan went into active shelling along the entire line of contact on Sunday morning, Artsakh president spokesperson Vahram Poghosyan wrote on his Facebook.

The authorities urge the population to hide.

According to him, civilian settlements, including the capital Stepanakert, are also under fire.

He added that all the responsibility for the situation lies with the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev.

In the meantime, Armenian defense ministry spokesperson Shushan Stepnyan added that the Armenian side shot down two enemy helicopters and three drones.

"The battles continue, " she added.

Stepanyan also noted that the Azerbaijani troops made an attack along the entire length of the line of contact.

"The adversary suffered human and technical casualties, particularly three tanks," she said.

Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan also took to his Facebook to comment on the news.

"Dear proud citizens of Armenia, proud citizens of Artsakh and Diaspora. The opponent launched an offensive in the direction of Artsakh. The Defense Army successfully resists the attack," Pashinyan said.

In the meantime, Armenian defense minister Davit Tonoyan held a phone talk with the personal representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office in the Karabakh conflict zone Andrzej Kasprzyk,

Tonoyan presented the situation at the border and said that Azerbaijan had begun another provocation.
The sparkly costumes and high-octane dance numbers have proved a winning formula for nearly two decades. But Strictly Come Dancing now faces the biggest cha-cha-change in its history.

Thanks to the pandemic, the shows bosses have brought in a socially distanced judging panel and contestant bubbles  as well as a rule that anyone who contracts Covid will be disqualified.

But it seems this years contestants have not let this put them off, with comedian Bill Bailey and former home secretary Jacqui Smith trying their best to get in shape ahead of the launch show  due to air on October 17.

Ballroom ready: Comedian Bill Bailey and former home secretary Jacqui Smith were seen trying their best to get in shape ahead of the Strictly launch show  due to air on October 17

Bailey, 55, has been photographed leaving a gym in west London, while Miss Smith, 57, went for a run with her two lurchers Ronan and Lori near her home in Worcestershire.

Bookmakers have named Bailey and Miss Smith among the celebrities most likely to leave the competition first  with each of them at 50/1 to take the Glitterball Trophy.

As the nation waits to see how the pair will fare with their dance partners, Strictly bosses have drawn up tough plans to deal with anyone  celebrity or professional  who falls ill.

Executive producer Sarah James said: Obviously according to government guidelines if you receive a positive test you have to isolate for two weeks and that would unfortunately rule them out of the show.

Workout: Bailey, 55, has been photographed leaving a gym in west London

Off we go: The star cut a casual figure in a black tee and navy shorts as he strolled

Refreshed:He enjoyed a sip of water as he left following his workout

This years series will be a pared down nine-week run with a very different look.

The 12 partnerships  three less than usual  will be unveiled via video link rather than in the studio and the annual trip to the Blackpool Tower ballroom is also off the cards.

Only three judges will be in the studio  with separate rostrums  and the dancers will sit in the audience rather than go upstairs to get their scores.

Cool: The star slipped on stylish shades as he left the gym after his workout

Nearly showtime : Jacqui enjoyed a walk with the dogs as she prepared for the live shows

Stroll: The politician added a splash of colour to her ensemble with a pink top and leggings

Veteran judge Bruno Tonioli has said he will be involved remotely and hopes to return full-time towards the end of the series as he is filming the US version of the show in Los Angeles.

With limited studio crew, big sets may not be built  so producers will use augmented reality, which adds computer-generated elements.

To ensure the contestants can work closely with their partners, they will bubble up and be regularly tested. The professionals spent two weeks in September isolating in a Buckinghamshire hotel so they could rehearse the group numbers.

Weeks to go: Jacqui joins a star-studded line-up for the popular show
Its an aviation geeks champagne-soaked dream: Qantas selling fully stocked bar carts from its 747s  the airlines most iconic fleet.

Unfortunately, they have now all been sold.

But for a brief few moments this morning, you could have got your hands on a piece of history, salvaged before the 747 fleet was retired and sent off to the Californian desert (the last 747 took off for the last time in July).

Stocked with a range of items (from champagne and Australian red and white wine to Tim Tams, PJs and an exclusive-to-Qantas First Class Sheridan throw) 1,000 of the bar carts recently became available for Australians to buy, with Qantas early this morning warning they were set to fly out the door (before confirming at 9:50am they had all been sold out).

However, even as Qantas Executive Manager of Product and Service, Phil Capps, said this was a unique opportunity for enthusiasts to own a physical piece of the 747 legacy, at a time when travel was out of reach for many, what he didnt emphasize, and what appears a hidden stroke of genius, is that this history-steeped sell-off should have enabled Qantas to offload some of the alcohol and amenities it has found itself sitting on this travel deprived year.

There has been huge demand for Qantas 747 memorabilia and Frequent Flyers have expressed keen interest to convert the bespoke inflight 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.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Qantas (@qantas) on Sep 23, 2020 at 3:01pm PDT

Mr. Capps added, We know people have been ordering Qantas Wine to enjoy at home and our Qantas iso care kits featuring the PJs sold out within hours. The bar carts offer the trifecta of wine, PJs and a piece of aviation history.

The 747 half bar cart features:

A Qantas 747 half bar cart

40 mini bottles white wine and 40 mini bottles of red wine & 1 bottle of Champagne from the Business class cellar

2 Qantas Business Class amenity kit featuring ASPAR Travel Essentials

1 Sheridan throw made exclusively for Qantas First Class made of 100% combed cotton

2 Qantas Business Class sleeper suits M/L & L/XL (suitable for most shapes and sizes)

Half bar carts will cost $974.70 including delivery (or 169,000 Qantas Points). A small number of full size carts will be available with double the items for $1474.70 including delivery (or 256,000 Qantas Points). Delivery to metro locations in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth only.

Whether you see this as a tipsy Trojan Horse or a savvy killing of two birds with one cart, this comes amid a number of other creative Qantas moves to generate income (and keep its relationship with customers ticking over) in one of the most challenging years in aviation history.

In August Antarctica Flights announced the recommencement of its Qantas operated Antarctica sightseeing missions, while Qantas announced the launch of a $25 business class care package, including PJs, an amenity kit, Tim Tams, nuts and teabags (for passengers who couldnt fly anywhere but fancied a taste of the pointy end experience).

In September Qantas announced 7-hour scenic flights to nowhere for $787 (economy) and $3,787 (business) a pop, as well as announcing it was considering moving its Sydney HQ to another state, in order to consolidate its offices.

Bligh Williams, Group Director at Workplace Services Australia, a specializing Workplace Services consulting company, told DMARGE he suspects the sale of the 747 carts would have no connection to the downsizing of the organization.

DMARGE understands Qantas suppliers have had to redistribute some of the airlines stock to cope with this years reduction in flights (and thus demand), while a lot has also been channelled through the Qantas Wine store, including the mini bottles that people are used to drinking in flight.

It would appear some will now be channeled via the pre-loved 747 bar carts, which served Qantas and its customers everywhere from London and Los Angeles to Singapore and Santiago, with each one averaging around 2,000 flights.

Australian airlines are facing years of reduced demand thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, which, at times this year, has stripped passenger numbers by up to 98 per cent, news.com.au reports.

Expect more inventive schemes as the months go by.

Read Next
Earlier, Siddaramaiah, alleging that the BJP government has lost the people's trust, had said that the BJP never had the mandate to rule the state

Bengaluru: Amid uproar for a brief while, the no-confidence motion moved by the opposition Congress against the BJP government in Karnataka led by Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa was defeated by a voice vote on Saturday night.

After a fierce debate for about six hours, the no-confidence motion moved by leader of the opposition Siddaramaiah was defeated by a voice vote.

"The motion is in favour of Nos.The motion is defeated by the voice vote," Speaker Kageri said as he wound up the current session of the Karnataka Assembly.

While initiating the debate on the no-confidence motion, Congress veteran Siddaramaiah launched a scathing attack on the BJP government, more specifically on Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa's family.

Alleging that the BJP government has lost the people's trust to continue in power, Siddaramaiah said the BJP never had the mandate to rule the state.

"You were short of enough numbers (in the assembly) but you came up with Operation Lotus.

Mr Yediyurappa is the father of Operation Lotus (a term used by the opposition to describe moves to lure legislators to BJP) in the country," Siddaramaiah said as he began the debate on the no-confidence motion. Siddaramaiah was referring to the fall of the Congress-JDS coalition government in July last year with some congress and JDS legislators resigning from the assembly and later joining the BJP.

Alleging that the government failed to provide relief to the flood affected people in 2019, Siddaramaiah said the government had sought about Rs 35,000 crore relief from the Centre whereas it got only Rs 1,662 crore.

On the law and order front, Siddaramaiah claimed the government failed as two people were shot dead in Mangaluru during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act/National Register of Citizens protests.

The former chief minister alleged that government failed to act on time during the violence in Bengaluru on 11 August this year during which Congress MLA R Akhanda Srinivasa Murthys house, his sister Jayanthi's house and two police stations were torched.

Alleging the involvement of Yediyurappa's family in corruption, Siddaramaiah said there were charges against one Vijayendra that he allegedly took bribe from a Bangalore Development Authority contractor to the tune of crores of rupees.

Vijayendra is an apparent reference to Yediyurappas son B Y Vijayendra, who is BJP state vice president.

Replying to the allegation, Yediyurappa challenged Siddaramaiah to prove the charge.

"If there is an iota of truth that my family is involved, then I will retire from politics. If it is wrong then you resign. You should be ashamed of making baseless allegations," Yediyurappa said.

When Siddaramaiah demanded that an inquiry should be ordered by a sitting Supreme Court judge or a probe by a special investigation team monitored by the High Court Chief Justice, Yediyurappa said, "Because you have made the allegation, the onus to prove the charge lies with you."

The Chief Minister rubbished other charges of Siddaramaiah and said despite the coronavirus pandemic, the state has done remarkably well. He also explained the various measures taken by the government for relief and rehabilitation of flood affected people. There was pandemonium for a while when Siddaramaiah levelled the corruption allegations with BJP and Congress members trading charges.

Replying to the allegation on Bengaluru violence on 11 August, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister JC Madhuswamy said the incident was pre-planned as all the access roads leading to the violence prone area were blocked by the vandals.

He said none of the 421 people arrested in connection with the violence were innocent. Concluding the debate,Speaker Kageri asked the members to take part in the voice vote "The motion is in favour of Nos.The motion is defeated by the voice vote," the speaker said. The JDS abstained from the no-confidence motion. With the numbers on its side, there was no threat to the stability of the BJP government because of the no-confidence motion. In the 225-member assembly, the ruling BJP has 116 members, Congress 67, JD(S) 33, BSP and nominated 1, independents 2, and Speaker (he has a casting vote).

Four seats Sira, Basavakalyan, RR Nagar and Maski  are vacant.
President Donald Trump, left, looks at Judge Amy Coney Barrett, during a ceremony announcing her nomination to the Supreme Court, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, on Sept. 26, 2020. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump Says Confirmation of Barrett Could Be Done Easily Before the Election

President Donald Trump on Sunday said the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court will be done quickly and easily before the November election.

There is a tremendous amount of time for her nomination, the president said on Sunday.

I think we could have it done easily before the election, he told Fox News, adding that they were going to try and have it done quickly, while saying, I think shell be confirmed.

The president unveiled Barrett as his choice for the Supreme Court on Saturday at the White House, coming about eight days after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died at age 87.

Democrats, in the interim, have strongly criticized Trump and GOP senators for trying to replace Ginsburg, saying that the winner of the next election should do so. GOP senators and the White House responded by saying it is Trumps constitutionally-mandated duty.

Barrett on Saturday said she would faithfully and impartially discharge her duties under the Constitution if she is confirmed to the Supreme Court. I pledge to discharge the responsibilities of this job to the very best of my ability, Barrett said. I love the United States and I love the United States Constitution.

She also praised Ginsburg, saying, should I be confirmed, I will be mindful of who came before me. Barrett also praised former Justice Antonin Scalia, whom she had worked for before his death in 2016, saying, His judicial philosophy is mine too: A judge must apply the law as written. Judges are not policymakers and they must be resolute in setting aside any policy views they might hold.

Judge Amy Coney Barrett speaks after being nominated to the Supreme Court by President Donald Trump, at the White House in Washington on Sept. 26, 2020. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

Democrats over the weekend began asserting in unison that Barrett would dismantle the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare.

She has a written track record of disagreeing with the U.S. Supreme Courts decision upholding the Affordable Care Act, Democratic nominee Joe Biden, the former vice president under President Barack Obama, said in a statement. She critiqued Chief Justice John Roberts majority opinion upholding the law in 2012.

President Trump has been trying to throw out the Affordable Care Act for four years. Republicans have been trying to end it for a decade. Twice, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the law as constitutional, he added.

Meanwhile, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Barretts confirmation could be done by the end of October.

So, 16 days from now, we will start the hearings on October 12. Monday will be introduction, opening statements, a statement by the nominee, Tuesday and Wednesday will be question days, and Thursday, we will begin the mark-up process, he told Fox News on Saturday.

A final vote could be held on Oct. 26, he predicted.

I hope to get her out of the committee by the 26th of October, he said. That will allow us to follow the normal rules of the committee, and that would be up to Mitch McConnell what to do after that. But well start on the 12th. Well have four days of hearings, then well hold over the nomination for a week, consistent with the rules of the Judiciary Committee. And hopefully, well come to the floor around the 26th, and that will be up to Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader.
On This Day The Day Gen. Aung San Visited His Future Assassin in Hospital

A Myanmar delegation including Gen. Aung San (center, front row) and U Saw (in sunglasses, center of second row) meet British politicians including Prime Minister Clement Attlee (front row, second from left) in London in January 1947.

YANGONOn this day in 1946, General Aung San and Thakin Nu visited opposition leader Galon U Saw, who was being treated for injuries to his eyes sustained in an assassination attempt six days earlier, at the Yangon (then Rangoon) General Hospital.

I dont like such political violence at all, said Gen. Aung San as he entered the special room in Yangon General Hospital where the former prime minister of British Burma was receiving treatment.

With his eyes bandaged, U Saw listened with a smile. Gen. Aung San said he had no idea who was behind the attempted assassination. U Nu, however, suggested communists were to blame.

Over the next few days, Gen. Aung San counseled comrades at the Peoples Volunteer Organization Headquarters against terrorism, saying political violence is not acceptable in countries like Myanmar, which was short of leaders.

According to political leaders at the time, however, U Saw firmly believed that Gen. Aung San and his Anti-Fascist Peoples Freedom League (AFPFL) had plotted the assassination attempt, which was never solved.

On July 19, 1947, 10 months after the attempt on U Saws life, Gen. Aung San was himself assassinated along with his AFPFL ministers, including Thakin Mya, at the Secretariat Building in Yangon in an operation orchestrated by U Saw. U Nu was one of the top targets, but escaped death as he was not present in the office due to illness. U Nu became the first prime minister of independent Myanmar after Gen. Aung Sans death.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko

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Some students take a class at their classroom, while others participate online at Hwarang Elementary School in Seoul, Sept. 21. / Yonhap





By Jun Ji-hye







Some politicians and teachers are raising calls for reducing the number of students per class to below 20 in a bid to create a better education environment and brace for the further prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.







On Sunday, Rep. Lee Eun-ju of the minor progressive Justice Party cited an OECD report which introduced a variety of countermeasures implemented by OECD member countries to stem the spread of the contagious disease at schools, such as a reduction in the number of students per class.







The report stressed the importance of social distancing at schools, Rep. Lee said, noting that the average class size in Korea was higher than the OECD average.







The number of students per class at elementary schools here stood at 23.1 as of 2018, compared to the OECD average at 21.1 or European Union average at 19.9.







At middle schools, the number in Korea was tallied at 26.7, compared to the OECD average at 23.3 or EU average at 21.







"The OECD report suggests that the number of students per class is an important factor to improve the education environment, carry out better anti-virus activities at schools and resolve the educational gap between students," Rep. Lee said.







Advocates for cutting of the number of students per class have cited growing concerns that prolonged remote teaching practices, which began following the COVID-19 outbreak, could result in a worsening educational gap between students, compared to when all students physically attend school.







Rep. Lee Tah-ney of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea submitted a bill recently to revise the Fundamentals of Education Act to set a limitation on the number of students per class to below 20 by law.







The bill also calls on the central government and local administrations to draw up and implement plans to cut off the number of students per class by stages.







The first-term lawmaker said many students have not been able to physically attend school since May even after schools reopened their doors, but all students of science high schools in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province have been able to attend in-person classes as the number of students per class at those schools was 15 on average.







"Once the bill is passed at the National Assembly, it will contribute to laying the foundations for future education," the lawmaker said.







For its part, the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union said it is planning to hold a signature-collecting campaign across the nation in a bid to appeal for support from citizens regarding a proposal to reduce the number of students per class.


The BBC is facing a major TV licence rebellion from pensioners who are steadfastly refusing to pay the fee  despite the threat of jail sentences.

The Mail on Sunday has been inundated with hundreds of emails and letters from those aged 75 and over voicing their fury at having just been ordered to pay 157.50 a year to watch television  many vowing they will not pay this 'disgraceful' tax. Previously, elderly people got a free TV licence.

They are also enraged that with an annual revenue from TV licences of 4billion, the BBC is 'squandering' much of this cash.

No entry: Toby Walne tried to deliver reader complaints to the BBC at its central London HQ

THEY WOULD NOT EVEN LET OUR MAN IN THE BUILDING Last week, The Mail on Sunday tried to deliver your complaints to the BBC. But if the Corporation was concerned about hundreds of pensioners saying they will refuse to pay the licence fee, BBC staff hid it well. Having been denied a meeting with new director general Tim Davie, we approached the BBC head office revolving door and asked if we could simply hand Mr Davie our file of 300 letters from MoS readers. A security man in a yellow jacket looked down on his list  as if scanning for VIPs allowed into an exclusive club  and point-blank refused. He pointed to a loading bay around the corner of the art deco building, revamped with an eye-watering 1billion of licence fee-payers' money a decade ago. It houses almost 20,000 staff including celebrity TV presenters on more than 1million a year and more than 100 bosses on 150,000 plus. Once at the tradesmen's entrance, the MoS pressed a button before the door clicked open. The courier slapped a note on our thick file of complaints  scribbling on it 'Tim Davey [Sic] DG'. Opposite on the wall outside was a grand statue of author George Orwell with his words 'If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.' Fine words  but apparently no one at the BBC was around to listen to our readers.

Their unwillingness to pay the licence fee is because they believe the BBC is serving its own interests by giving excessive salaries to star presenters and managers  while failing to broadcast the type of programmes older viewers want to watch. Some have also told us that they simply do not have the cash to pay for a licence.

Last week, I took a file of more than 300 reader letters (see below) from TV licence rebels to Broadcasting House in Central London. We had asked the BBC to arrange a meeting so we could hand the complaints dossier to new 525,000-a-year BBC director general Tim Davie.

We explained that he ought to know about a rebellion among fee-payers that could cost the BBC vast sums of money  and viewers. But our request was ignored.

Undeterred, we delivered the file, addressed to Mr Davie, to the Broadcasting House trade entrance. We had received no response from Mr Davie at the time of going to press.

Many believe it is wrong that the BBC can use the threat of prison to bully people into paying the licence fee. Non-payers face a fine of up to 1,000 if they watch television without a licence. Ignore the fine and you can be imprisoned.

Former pilot Kenneth Morris, whose letter was among those in our weighty file, says: 'The thought of being dragged off to prison for non-payment frightens many people half to death.'

The 83-year-old, from Cavendish in Suffolk, who built his own plane and has flown a Spitfire, adds: 'It is a form of propaganda punishment that is utterly disgraceful.'

More than three million pensioners will have to pay the full 157.50 for a TV licence.

If they refuse, it will leave a near 500million black hole in the BBC finances. Last year, 250,000 fewer people paid for a licence, with many younger viewers opting for online-only streaming subscription services instead.

Jan Shortt, general secretary of the campaign group National Pensioners Convention, says: 'The BBC boasts how it is all for equality and diversity but then it treats people differently when they get older.'

She adds: 'If it wants to take the elderly's money, it must better represent these viewers through its broadcasting.'

Tory MP Julian Knight, culture select committee chairman, described the licence fee as 'morally on the way out' earlier this month. Other critics believe it should be replaced with a subscription option.

Up to five million elderly people have been contacted in recent weeks by post telling them they must pay the licence fee from the start of August 2020  when the BBC cancelled the free TV licence for those aged 75 and over.

Included with the letter are details of how those on low incomes  typically individuals surviving on an income of less than 174 a week  might still get a free licence by claiming Pension Credit.

In theory, around two million should not have to pay due to their low incomes. But the National Pensioners Convention believes as many as 1.5million households are not claiming a Pension Credit they are entitled to.

For further details contact the Pension Service on 0800 731 0469. Others have been told how the bill can be paid in instalments. A TV Licensing spokeswoman says: 'Those aged 75 or over previously covered by a free TV licence can join our new 75 plus plan, allowing them to pay in equal weekly, fortnightly or monthly instalments without upfront payments.'

It's all rubbish and repeats...I'd rather give my money to the Gurkhas

Here are just some of the furious letters BBC staff refused to let us hand to director general Tim Davie:

Defiant: George Spence says he would get free TV if he went to prison

I would rather give the 157.50 to the NHS or Gurkha Welfare Trust. If we all turn up to court, we could enjoy that spell in prison  paying no council tax or utility bills, getting well fed, enjoy priority health and dentistry without queues  and free TV. Mr George Spence, aged 79, Glasgow

This is an attack on the most vulnerable in society where the bullying BBC believes it can frighten law-abiding elderly people into paying up. Well not me. It's time to stand up to the politically correct 'woke' unBritish Broadcasting Corporation. Mrs G. R., aged 76, Warwickshire

If everyone refused to pay, we might succeed. I am not destitute but have too many bills to pay already. It is wrong to be bullied this way. Mr P. B., aged 84, Suffolk

I simply cannot afford to pay their inflated wages and am treating the TV licensing letter as junk mail and believe others should, too. But rather than just throwing it in the bin, I redirect BBC mail to my MP. Mr J.M., aged 83, Surrey

Why should we foot a bill so it can promote its constant Left-wing propaganda? I have never funded a political party in the past and do not intend to start paying for the privilege now. Mr P.G., aged 88, Nottinghamshire

I refuse to pay for anything that I do not watch. It is like paying for a gym membership and never going. The BBC should be a subscription service. Mr G.C., aged 76, North Yorkshire

I shall not pay the BBC's licence fee until I see it making an effort to save money. This includes cutting obscenely high salaries, stopping sending celebrities on junkets and getting rid of all those layers of unnecessary management. Mr P. B., aged 84, Suffolk

I will go to prison rather than pay for the rubbish pushed out by the BBC. I recently started working again due to dwindling savings. But I cannot stay healthy forever or afford to waste money on the BBC. Mr J.C., aged 86, Essex

The BBC continues to take my direct debit payments despite requests for a refund. Once my contract ends in February, I will no longer pay. If they don't like it  bring it on. TV is free in jail. Mr T.D., aged 75, East Yorkshire

I am so angry and am prepared to go to prison for non-payment of the fee and fines. Yet this would simply impose a further drain on national expenditure and will cost far more than collecting a licence fee. Mr H.C.C., aged 83, Surrey

The BBC should economise before putting the onus on pensioners to subsidise such extortionate wages that only the broadcaster believes it deserves. I have written to the BBC asking if it wants to buy my TV set. So far no reply. Mr R.E., aged 81, West Midlands

As a widow on a limited income I refuse to pay. The BBC must pay its greedy managers less for creating this mess, not pick on pensioners. Mrs J.D.H., aged 80, Berkshire

'Disgrace': Former pilot Kenneth Morris with a Spitfire that he flew in 2000

The thought of being dragged off to prison for non-payment of the licence fee frightens many people half to death. It is a form of propaganda punishment that is utterly disgraceful. Mr Kenneth Morris, aged 83, Suffolk

Sadly, I know people now worrying over whether they should pay the gas bill or TV licence  heating the home over winter or watching TV on long, lonely nights. I am not paying. Mr D.C., aged 76, North West London

The BBC pays outrageous rising sums to its presenters and staff while pension income remains the same. I am not prepared to pay on principle. If this means going to prison, then so be it. Mr H.G., aged 77, Bedfordshire

I intend to rebel. I have received renewal notices  but have no intention of paying. What a liberty to ask when such a high proportion of the programmes are repeats. Mrs C.G., aged 76, Suffolk
Washington, Sep 27 : One person was killed and several others were injured after a shooting at a biker event in the US state of Iowa, officials said.

The incident took place on Saturday in Waterloo where about 100 people had gathered for the event, The Hill news website reported.

Addressing the media, Waterloo Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald said what appeared to be "some kind of confrontation" at the location had escalated into a shooting.

While eight of the injured suffered gunshot wounds, four other were injured by debris and glass as they fled the scene, he added.

One injured person remains in critical condition.

The police chief added that the gathering was unauthorised and a probe is on to locate the organisers.
Sharks are often harvested for squalene - a natural oil made in the liver of sharks

The ingredient is used as an adjuvant to increase the effectiveness of a vaccine

It is listed as an ingredient on a number of candidates for the Covid-19 vaccine

California-based group Shark Allies warns up to 500,000 sharks could be killed

Around half a million sharks may be slaughtered in an effort to make a Covid-19 vaccine, wildlife experts have claimed.

The top predators are harvested for squalene, a natural oil made in the liver of sharks, which is used medicine - including in current flu jabs.

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The ingredient is used as an adjuvant to increase the effectiveness of a vaccine by creating a stronger immune response.

It is used in some of the candidates for a Covid-19 vaccine.

If one of those vaccines is used world-wide, conservationist group Shark Allies believe around 250,000 sharks will need to be slaughtered to provide one dose for each person.

However some scientists believe two doses may be needed to immunise the population, meaning around 500,000 sharks would need to be slaughtered, according to the California-based group's calculations.

Stefanie Brendl, founder and executive director of Shark Allies, said: 'Harvesting something from a wild animal is never going to be sustainable, especially if it's a top predator that doesn't reproduce in huge numbers.

The top predators are harvested for squalene, a natural oil made in the liver of shark, which is used medicine.

'There's so many unknowns of how big and how long this pandemic might go on, and then how many versions of it we have to go through, that if we continue using sharks, the numbers of sharks taken for this product could be really high, year after year after year.'

In a Facebook post, she added: 'We are not trying to slow down or hinder the production of a vaccine.

Stefanie Brendl is the founder and executive director of Shark Allies, who have launched a petition against he use of squalene from sharks

'We simply ask that testing of non-animal derived squalene is conducted alongside shark squalene so it can be replaced as soon as possible.

'At billions of doses needed per year, for decades to come, it is critical that we don't rely on a wild animal resource. It can be detrimental to shark species that are hunted for their oil, and it is not a reliable supply chain.'

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The group has set up an online petition named 'Stop Using Sharks in COVID-19 Vaccine - Use EXISTING Sustainable Options'.

In the Change.or petition, which has attracted almost 9,500 signatures of its 10,000 target, the group says there are 'better alternatives' to using squalene in vaccines.

The group say squalene made from shark liver oil is used most commonly because it is 'cheap to obtain' and 'easy to come by'.

But they say the chemical structure of the squalene compound is identical in sharks and non-animal alternatives, meaning its effectiveness in vaccines should be identical regardless of its source.

The group say squalene made from shark liver oil is used most commonly because it is 'cheap to obtain' and 'easy to come by'. Pictured: A graphic showing the anatomy of a shark

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All plants and animals produce squalene as a biochemical intermediate, and it can be produced from non-animal based sources including yeast, sugarcane and olive oil.

What is squalene and why is it used in medicine? Squalene is a natural oil made in the liver of shark, which is used medicine - including in current flu jabs. The name comes from 'Squalas' - a genus of a dogfish shark. The ingredient is used as an adjuvant to increase the effectiveness of a vaccine by creating a stronger immune response. It is used in some of the candidates for a Covid-19 vaccine. According to estimates made by conservationists, around three million sharks are killed every year for squalene, which is also used in cosmetics and machine oil. However, all plants and animals produce squalene as a biochemical intermediate, including humans. Conservationist have called upon companies to use synthetic alternatives in the Covid-19 vaccine.

Shark Allies say one company, Amyris, one of the producers of squalene, based in California's Silicon Valley, uses a process that derives squalene from sugarcane.

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In their most recent statement, the company claims it can produce squalene for one billion vaccines in one month or less.

The company's synthetic squalene is not yet approved for use in vaccines.

However, its Chief Executive, John Melo, said he is in discussions with regulators in the US to allow it to be used as an alternative adjuvant in vaccines currently formulated to use shark-based squalene.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) there are 40 candidate vaccines for Covid-19 in clinical evaluation and 142 vaccines in preclinical evaluation.

Shark Allies say that, of these vaccines, 17 use adjuvants, and five of those adjuvants are shark-squalene based.

The group has also raised concerns over the areas in where sharks are slaughtered comes and say it often comes from countries that are 'poorly regulated in terms of fisheries and fish oil production'.

Squalene is often sourced from small private fishing operations in the Pacific Ocean from countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines, and processed in China.

They warn an increase in demand could increase pressure on populations of sharks in those countries, as well as in Europe and the US, while raising concerns over the already vulnerably gulper shark - which is rich in squalene.

According to estimates made by conservationists, around three million sharks are killed every year for squalene, which is also used in cosmetics and machine oil.

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Around 3,000 sharks are needed to extract one tonne of squalene.
Two more persons have been arrested from Andhra Pradesh in connection with the alleged gang rape of a woman in her twenties by five men in front in a room at Delhis Shangri-La Hotel on Ashoka Road-Janpath on September 18, the police said on Saturday. With the duos arrest, the investigating team has arrested all the six accused persons, including a 33-year-old woman, the police said.

Those arrested from Andhra Pradesh were identified by the police as Sri Niwas,50, who works as manager in a pharmaceutical company, and Shekhar Babu,55, who deals in real estate. The duo was caught on Thursday from their respective homes by a Delhi Police team that has brought them to Delhi on Saturday on transit remand, said senior police officers associated with the case.

The hotel room where the alleged gang rape took place was booked in the name of Niwas and Babu. The booking and payment was done by Niwas through a website. The duo had come to meet Manoj Sharma, the alleged prime accused in the case, to get personal loan from him. Like the duo, the rape survivor had also met Sharma for getting a loan of R18 lakh, said an investigator, quoting the duos disclosure statement and requesting anonymity.

According to the officer, Sharma was arrested on September 20, a day after the rape survivor filed a case against the five men and alleged that the woman who was in the room had instigated and provoked them to assault her. Two more men -- Sanjay Chaudhary,46, a bailiff in Saket Court, and Jagdeep Singh,60, a businessman  were arrested on September 21. The woman was caught a day later, the officer said.

The survivor, the officer said, in her statement to the police said she met Sharma in the first week of September through a common friend. She contacted Sharma on September 18 for a loan of 18 lakh.

The Delhi Police is currently looking into an incident which allegedly took place at the hotel. We are unable to provide any details as this is an ongoing investigation. The hotel is extending its full support to the authorities, a spokesperson for Shangri-La Hotel had said on Sunday.
Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, on September 27, the energy ministers of all the G20 states will convene a two days virtual meeting. The meeting will focus on topics like the energy market stability amid low oil and gas prices and lacklustre demand. The meeting will be directed by Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman Al Saud since Saudi Arabia holds the presidency in G20 this year.

Read: G20 Trade And Investment Working Group Meeting Goes Virtual Amid COVID-19

The G20 nations meet

G20 states including, Russia, the European Union, and the United States will be attending the meeting. Various issues like the promotion of sustainable energy systems using the Circular Carbon Economy Platform and the advancing of access to energy will be discussed. On the second day of the meeting, Saudi Minister Prince Al Saud will be addressing a press conference. Many countries that are not a part of G20 along with several international organisations will also be participating in the two days virtual meeting.

Read: UN Chief Guterres To Urge India, G20 Nations To Target Sustainable Transition Post-COVID

In a separate development, the third meeting of the G20 Trade and Investment Working Group was conducted on September 20. The meeting was held virtually in the presence of the G20 Trade and Investment Ministers presided by the Saudi G20 Presidency to discuss the trade policies investment policy cooperation for the sustainable economic growth of the nations worldwide. On September 19, the Saudi government announced in an official press release that the event will be held remotely due to the COVID-19. It added that the leaders would also draft policies towards reforms of the World Trade Organization to strengthen international investment and boost the operations by enhancing the competitiveness between the worlds Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs).

Oil prices have fallen into negative territory as the global coronavirus pandemic keeps people at home, destroying the demand for fuel. The price of US benchmark crude to be delivered in May fell below zero, hitting a historic low. Jim Burkhard, an oil industry analyst with IHS Markit said, "So we've had oil demand collapse. People are driving less. No one's flying anywhere. So we have a lot of extra oil supply that's simply not being used". He added, "If it's not being used, it has to go into storage. But there is a limit to how much oil the world can store and we're bumping up against the limits of storage capacity. And so today we saw the price of oil go negative".

Read: G20 Nations To Inject $5 Trillion Into Global Economy To Deal With Coronavirus Impact



Also Read: India Calls On G20 Nations For Concrete Digital Action Plan To Deal With COVID-19 Crisis

(Image Credit: Twitter/@G20Australia/ Representative Image)
Soldiers of the U.S. Eighth Army, which is stationed at the U.S. Forces Korea (USKF) Camp Humphreys base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, exit a helicopter during a combat training demonstration in this June 2019 photo. / Yonhap



By Kang Seung-woo



Despite the government's push to regain wartime operational control (OPCON) of South Korean troops from the United States by a self-imposed deadline of 2022, defense analysts believe that the time is not yet ripe for Seoul to achieve its "ambitious" goal that has been shelved on multiple occasions, advising it not to rush to meet a political timetable.



South Korea was scheduled to take wartime control by the end of 2015, but the allies agreed to seek a "conditions-based" transition in 2014 due to an intensifying North Korean threat, without setting a new deadline.



However, since President Moon Jae-in took office in 2017, his administration has raced against time to return the wartime OPCON within his five-year presidency, or by 2022, and his ambition is well highlighted by newly appointed military leaders, including Defense Minister Suh Wook, all of whom have promised a quick OPCON return in concert.



"The transfer of wartime OPCON is a good goal that can be done successfully, and represents another stage in the evolution of the ROK-U.S. alliance into more of a partnership. But it should be done carefully and not rushed to meet a political timetable," Naval War College professor Terence Roehrig told The Korea Times. ROK is an acronym for the Republic of Korea, South Korea's official name.



Leif-Eric Easley, an associate professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University, also told The Korea Times that the government's OPCON drive is based on its own political reasons, not the actual security situation.



"Because of the pandemic's disruption to training schedules, evolving threats posed by North Korea, and the need to update roles and institutions within the alliance, wartime OPCON transfer during the current administration may be overly ambitious," he said.



"Such a decision is ultimately political, but should be based on specified conditions and meeting functional criteria as much as possible."



Those conditions include the acquisition of necessary military capabilities for a South Korea-led combined defense, the securing of critical military response capabilities by the South to deal with North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, and the security environment on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.



Here, the OPCON transition is seen as the nation's restoration of military sovereignty, but Daniel Sneider, an international policy expert at Stanford University, said the South Korean military still depends on its U.S. counterpart in many areas.



"Most American defense analysts believe that none of these preconditions have been achieved. Reduction of tensions is not the same thing as denuclearization," he told The Korea Times.



"And while Koreans have made progress on some of the defense reforms and acquisitions, they are still heavily reliant on the U.S. forces particularly when it comes to command and control, communications, intelligence, and surveillance systems that are essential to operating combined forces in wartime. Koreans have made slow progress themselves on building the ability for their own forces to conduct joint and combined operations."



As part of an assessment of the South Korean military's OPCON readiness, the allies have been utilizing a three-phase verification process of initial operational capability (IOC), full operational capability (FOC) and full mission capability (FMC).



Last year, the two sides conducted an IOC test, but they failed this year to fully assess the FOC, in which a South Korean commander takes responsibility for the combined defense posture, as they had to scale back the summertime exercise due to the COVID-19 pandemic, raising speculation that the OPCON transition may again be delayed.



"It is also important to point out that there needs to be testing of whether this can be done with an ROK general in charge. For that, there needs to be large-scale joint exercises of the kind the two militaries used to carry out regularly," Sneider said.



"But no such exercises have taken place for the past two years  something the Moon administration has strongly encouraged in pursuit of its engagement strategy toward North Korea. So if the Moon administration really wants this OPCON transfer to take place, they need to change their view on holding large scale joint field exercises."





Defense Minister Suh Wook, left, bumps fists with U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Robert Abrams at the inauguration ceremony of new Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Won In-choul at the JCS headquarters in Seoul, Wednesday. Suh seeks to expedite Opcon transfer on the basis of a firm alliance with the United States. / Yonhap
The Assemblyman for Livim Electoral Area in the West-Mamprusi Municipality in the North East Region, Haruna Ibrahim, has commended the central government and Zoomlion Ghana Limited (ZGL).

He made the appreciation following the third phase of the disinfection and fumigation exercise in basic and senior high schools (SHSs) in the North East Region.

I must commend the government and Zoomlion for their effort to conduct another round of disinfection in schools in the region of which my electoral area has benefited, he expressed.

According to him, the exercise would allay the fear of Form Two students of both SHSs and basic schools who are scheduled to resume on October 5.

He said now that the schools had been disinfected what was left now was for the students and the teaching and non-teaching staff to observe all COVID-19 preventive measures.

The Assemblyman of Livim electoral area utilized the opportunity to plead with the government to help them with their deplorable roads in his area.

The first school that was disinfected in the region was Banawa L/A Primary at Kata-Banawa followed by Diani Primary/JHS.

Other schools were Janga Senior High Technical and Hamdara E/A JHS.

The District Manager of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, West-Mamprusi, Mohammed Abdul Razak, disclosed that in all about 138 basic schools and 7 SHSs were expected to be disinfected in the district.

He noted that his outfit was already prepared for the exercise and had deployed all the necessary logistics for it.

We are using four days to complete the disinfection exercise, he said.
New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday (September 27, 2020) approved the three farm bills that have triggered protests by farmers especially in Punjab and Haryana.

According to a gazette notification, the President gave his assent to the three bills: The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2020 on Sunday.

The President's assent comes amid severe criticism of the bill by the Opposition in the manner with which they were passed in the Parliament.

Also, since its approval in both the Houses, protests have erupted in many parts of the country against the three farm bills.

Live TV

Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal called it a dark day for India. "It's really a dark day for India that the President has refused to act as the nation's conscience. We were very hopeful that he would return these bills to Parliament for reconsideration as demanded by SAD and some other opposition parties," he told ANI.

The NDA's oldest ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has parted ways with the ruling party on this issue as farmers in Punjab and Haryana intensify their protest against the farm bills.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tried to allay the fears of the farmers, saying that the country`s agriculture sector has recently unshackled itself, in a reference to the farm bills. PM Modi stated that the farmers and the farm sector need to be strong to lay a strong foundation of "Atmanirbhar Bharat".

"One who is grounded stays firm even during the biggest storms. During these tough times of corona, our farm sector, our farmers are a living example of this. Even during this crisis, our agricultural sector has again shown its prowess. Our farmers, farm sector, villages, are the foundation of `Atmanirbhar Bharat`. If they are strong, the foundation of `Atmanirbhar Bharat` will be strong," he said.

The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 aims to permit the sale of agricultural produce outside the mandis regulated by the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees (APMC) constituted by different state legislations.

The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, provides for contract farming.

The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2020 deregulates the production, supply, distribution of food items like cereals, pulses, potatoes, onion and edible oilseeds.
As a lifelong devout Catholic, this letter is in response to John J. Aquinos Letter to the Editor on Sept. 21, 2020 stating that Catholics should not vote for Trump.

In it he claims we should disregard the churchs teaching that abortion is not only wrong, but a mortal sin, and vote for Biden. His rationale is that Trump and his supporters are destroying the country.

Last I checked, it is not Trump supporters burning churches, destroying Catholic icons and chanting FU Jesus in the streets. The Biden supporters are responsible for these atrocities, along with rioting, destroying property, burning the flag and terrorizing other American citizens who dont agree with them.

My rationale is that Biden and the Democratic Party are trying to create a country that our forefathers never envisioned.

(Rosemarie McNerney is a Meiers Corners resident.)
Image: Armenian Defense Ministry release via AP

Fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan broke out September 27 around the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the Armenian Defense Ministry said two Azerbaijani helicopters were shot down.

Ministry spokeswoman Shushan Stepanyan also said Armenian forces hit three Azerbaijani tanks. There was no immediate word on casualties.

Nagorno-Karabakh is an ethnic Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan that has been out of Azerbaijans control since the end of a war in 1994. Both sides have heavy military presence along a demilitarized zone separating the region from the rest of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan's defense ministry denied the claim that its helicopters and tanks had been hit. But President Ilham Aliyev said in a televised address to the nation that there are losses among the Azerbaijani forces and the civilian population as a result of the Armenian bombardment.

Stepanyan said the fighting Sunday began with an Azerbaijani attack, but Azerbaijan said the Armenian side attacked and that Azerbaijan launched a counteroffensive.

The news was harshly received in Turkey, a close ally of Azerbaijan.

Turkeys ruling party spokesman Omer Celik tweeted: We vehemently condemn Armenias attack on Azerbaijan. Armenia has once against committed a provocation, ignoring law. He promised Turkey would stand by Azerbaijan and said, Armenia is playing with fire and endangering regional peace.

Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin also took to Twitter to condemn Armenia. Armenia has violated the ceasefire by attacking civilian settlements ... the international community must immediately say stop to this dangerous provocation.

Mostly mountainous Nagorno-Karabakh  a region some 4,400 square kilometers (1,700 square miles) or about the size of the U.S. state of Delaware  lies 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the Armenian border. Local soldiers backed by Armenia also occupy some Azerbaijani territory outside the region.

International efforts to settle the conflict have stalled and fighting sporadically breaks out. In July, one of the most severe outbreaks of fighting in years left 16 people from both sides dead.
BEIRUT: Two members of the Lebanese Security Forces were killed in an exchange of gunfire with militants in the north of the country late on Saturday, the army said.

They were killed when militants opened fire on an army checkpoint in the northwest area of Araman, the army said in a statement. One militant was killed, while several fled.

In a separate incident, Lebanese security forces killed at least six militants during a heavy exchange of fire with an armed group in northeast Lebanon, close to the Syrian border, security sources said.

Three members of the Lebanese security forces were wounded in the clash, which began after Lebanese forces raided a house in the Wadi Khaled area, where the group that was suspected of planning attacks was holed up, the sources said.

The group included Syrians and Lebanese, the sources said, adding that the scale of the clash, in which militants fired rocket-propelled grenades, prompted the Lebanese army to cordon off the area.

The sources said the group included people linked to the militant, Khaled al-Talawi, who was killed this month in a shootout with security forces. Four Lebanese soldiers were killed in that clash.

Talawi was described as a former member of Islamic State and leader of a cell behind the killing in August of three people in north Lebanon.

(Writing by Edmund Blair and Raya Jalabi; Editing by Alison Williams and Nick Macfie)

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
KAMPALA  A CNN report by global research company Lancent published earlier this week ranked Uganda 10th and the 1st in Africa in combating the Covid-19 virus that has got the whole world on its toes.

This could be because of the stringent measures that the government put in place to control the spread of the virus in its initial stages when the country registered its first case.

The Permanent Secretary to the ministry of Health Dr Diana Atwine took to her social media pages to congratulate and thank her teams; the front line workers after Uganda got recognized as the best country in Africa for the efforts to suppress the COVID-19 epidemic.

The efforts ranging from the recent selection of Uganda in the top 10 countries to suppress the pandemic, the low mortality rate, containing the spread to the distribution of food relief to members of the communities, the PS celebrates the precision and comradeship of the entire medical and ministry staff.

The health minister and permanent secretary are known for having led their team with a philosophy of Go hard and Go early.

Communicating bad news is a difficult task but we constantly had to get out even when it meant risking demoralizing the nation but we have a duty to communicate with transparency. And that has proved the vital antidote to this risk, Dr Diana Atwine said recently at the Health Ministry.

The rapidity and scope of the COVID-19 crisis presented unexpected challenges for all leaders and Atwine wasnt left out as her leadership has called for decisive action and honest communication.

Judith Nabakooba the Minister of Information and Communications Technology also took to her social media platforms to applaud President and the health ministry for braving the fight and championing the battle against the deadly pandemic.

I congratulate His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng & your team at the Ministry of Health for the noble recognition by Lancet Covid-19 Commission data.

Thank you for providing strategic guidance and technical support which has enabled us to reach this level, she posted.

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As planning coordinator for the Fort Bend County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Caroline Egan leads her team in preparing for, mitigating against and responding to all types of disasters in Fort Bend County.

As recovery manager for Fort Bend Recovers, a long term recovery group with United Way, she works alongside nonprofits and other organizations to help disaster victims rebuild their lives.

Egan has been involved in the emergency management field since 2007. She began her career with the American Red Cross before moving to the Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management, which is now called the Fort Bend County Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Egan discussed her offices involvement in emergency preparation and response and outlined some of her efforts to help the community move forward after a disaster.

The term emergency management gets used a lot these days. Can you tell us a little bit about your office and what your job entails?

Emergency management is a process under elected leadership where communities manage complex emergencies and disasters. Essentially, our role in emergency management is to try to improve the outcome of a disaster, and this can be measured in trying to save lives, in reducing injuries or damages, decreasing disruptions, or having shorter recovery time from any type of disaster.

And it's not just natural disasters that we get involved in.We get involved in other types of disasters. COVID-19 is a public health disaster. If there were any terrorism type incidents, or wildfires or a chemical explosion- those are all cases in points of where we would get involved.

Related: SUNDAY CONVERSATION: McElwain Elementary opens for first time during COVID-19

What does emergency management do to prepare for a disaster?

We kind of have four phases of disaster. Before disaster, we really focus on the preparedness planning side of things for mitigation. We work with our government partners, our nonprofit partners, our community-based partners, our hospitals and our school districts to respond to any type of disasters. That way, we have those relationships formed, we know who to reach out to, and we know what resources are available for any potential response or recovery.

Its also making sure that we're doing outreach and education to our public, or going out into the community, or in the case of COVID-19, doing more virtual presentations. Were talking to our residents, to our students and to our neighbors about how they can be prepared for disaster.

Do you have a plan? Are you informed? Do you know what you're going to do if you had to evacuate? Or if, for example, like in COVID, your business has shut down- do you have a continuity plan in place? We do a lot of trainings and exercises during this preparedness phase.

Then we exercise those plans. We test them out. We actually do a mock scenario, and we work through that and try to work out the kinks ahead of time.

What do you do during a disaster?

For example, with Tropical Storm Beta that just moved through- we do what we call situational awareness. We need to know what is going on. And it's not just within Fort Bend County, but in our region or with our jurisdiction.

We make sure we prioritize our response operations. We work on things like alerts and warnings and keeping the public informed.

How does your office get involved in recovery?

Recovery is pretty much anything that happens starting immediately after the disaster, and it can extend into days, months, or even years after disasters.

With Tropical Storm Beta, we did get rain, and we did get some wind. We had flooding, we had trees down, but we managed to clear that up. So the recovery period with Beta was really kind of short, and it's not really that involved.

But if you think back to our flooding in 2015 or 2016, or even Hurricane Harvey, those recoveries can take a long time. We're more than three years past Harvey, and I'm still being contacted by residents who need help with their recovery.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Database: Search for coronavirus cases in Texas school districts

We also work with our partners to make sure we get information out to our public through community meetings or town halls or through outreach.

Well say, FEMA is here, and they're offering FEMA assistance or federal assistance- this is how you apply. Or, Here is a nonprofit that has programs available.

How did Fort Bend Recovers come about?

Fort Bend Recovers was founded in 2016. The Tax Day floods happened in 2016, and we had a number of homes that were impacted from that. They needed help recovering, whether just mucking and gutting their homes, repairing their homes or knowing how to better improve drainage in their neighborhoods.

As we were responding and recovering from the disasters, we formed Fort Bend Recovers. United Way and Fort Bend County Homeland Security and Emergency Management co-facilitate Fort Bend Recovers. Its our official long term recovery group.

It's comprised of a group of local nonprofit and local government agencies. Theyre not just the county departments, but also jurisdictions like cities.

Weve got a lot of nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, houses of worship, churches, mosques and synagogues that are involved. There are also some business partners in the community. Were a collaborative network.

What are some of the ways Fort Bend Recovers helps the community rebuild from a disaster?

We have a few main work groups. Disaster case management is essentially our entry point for residents into the recovery process to get any type of assistance. From there we can figure out what needs they have and what are the best resources to help meet those needs.

For example, if we find out someone has insurance, and their insurance is going to cover all of their damages,we can help them work through that insurance process through the claims. But if we find that their insurance isn't going to cover everything or they didn't have insurance, then what we do is disaster case management where our case managers will look to what organizations have capacity or funding to help after disaster and match a particular resident or client up with that organization.

Donations management is another group. A lot of times immediately after a disaster, you get a lot of people who want to donate cleaning supplies or do financial donations right away. But we're finding out that we also have donation needs months and even years down the road. While the disaster is on the public's mind, the donations management team tries to solicit as many donations as possible to have later on.

Also, if we get a lot of donations, we generally need to set up a donation warehouse. We find a place to store all of our donations, and we manage them from there.

Then we have a disaster behavioral health and spiritual health work group. To me, they're one of the more important of our work groups. Were seeing that there are a lot of mental health and spiritual health issues after a disaster. Unfortunately, there's a lot of stigma attached to that, and we are trying to encourage our residents to reach out for the help that they need. And it's not just our residents, but our responders and people who are helping in a disaster as well.

This particular work group does a lot. They help try to set up trainings or seminars to help people or even have one-on-one sessions with people. They make sure people get the help they need after a disaster or crisis.

claire.goodman@chron.com
By Trend

Entire responsibility for the current situation at the frontline and its further development rests entirely with the military-political leadership of Armenia, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Head of the Department for Foreign Policy Affairs of Azerbaijans Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev said, Trend reports.

"As it has already been reported by the Ministry of Defense, around 06:00 hours, on 27 September 2020, the armed of forces of Armenia have blatantly violated the ceasefire regime and, using large-caliber weapons, mortar launchers and artillery have launched an intensive attack on the positions of the armed forces of Azerbaijan along the frontline, as well as the villages of Qapanli of Terter district, Chiragli and Orta Garavend of Aghdam district, Alkhanli and Shukurbeyli of Fizuli district and Jojuq Merjanli of Jabrayil district.

The bombardment of densely populated civilian areas and installations situated along the front line by Armenia's armed forces has been deliberate and targeted.

There are reports of dead and wounded among civilians and military servicemen. Extensive damage has been inflicted on many homes and civilian infrastructure.

The armed forces of Armenia continue with the bombardment of our positions and residential areas along the frontline.

Armenia's deliberate targeting of residential areas and the civilians is a gross violation of the international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Convention of 1949. Targeting the civilian population is a tactic incorporated in the combat training of Armenia's armed forces, and the Khojaly genocide perpetrated in February 1992 has been a vivid testimony to that.

According to the international law, Armenian armed forces' strikes against the positions of Azerbaijan's army, against the civilians and civilian infrastructure, with the use of large-caliber weapons, are Armenia's yet another military aggression and an act of the use of force against Azerbaijan.

The armed forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan are undertaking necessary counter-offensive measures to prevent Armenia's another military aggression and ensure the security of the civilian population.

Azerbaijan has issued repeated warnings to the international community that Armenia is preparing for a new act of aggression and war.

Azerbaijan has repeatedly stated that Armenia's ongoing military aggression against Azerbaijan and the presence of the armed forces of Armenia in Azerbaijan's occupied territories have remained a significant threat to regional peace and security.

With the General Debate at the UN General Assembly's 75th Session underway and the world fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, Armenia's political-military leadership has resorted to another military adventure and a provocation. By doing so, Armenia's leadership demonstrated once again a flagrant disregard for the international law, UN Charter and the international community.

The responsibility for the present situation and future developments lie squarely with Armenia's political-military leadership," Hajiyev said.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 14:46:07|Editor: huaxia

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By Ndalimpinga Iita

WINDHOEK, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Bruised by COVID-19 outbreak, the Namibian tourism enterprises and traders are optimistic about business revival as the country open its borders to international visitors.

On Sept. 11, Namibia welcomed the arrival of Ethiopian Airline carrying 43 passengers at the country's flagship Hosea Kutako International Airport after a six-month stoppage.

The country opened up borders to tourist, which forms part of Namibia's Tourism Revival Initiative, geared towards reviving the sector. Subsequently, the Namibian government ended the six months State of Emergency on Sept. 17, initially put in place as a measure to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Upon hearing the news that the country has opened its economy and borders for international travel, players in the tourism and hospitality sector are planning their comeback.

Penny Nghifinwa sells hand-made crafts in the Namibian capital of Windhoek's central business district. Her business was driven to a slump by COVID-19 following lockdown measures and a ban on international travel.

"Between March and June, I could not trade due to restriction. But even after resumption of business, locals rarely buy arts and craft products," Nghifinwa said Friday.

Reliant on international visitors to generate a substantial income, she is looking forward to the arrival of tourists. She is even preparing new crafts.

"I added a unique element to crafts I recently made. The aim is to stand out and attract tourists to my stall. I also hope to get someone to market my products on social media. So we are eagerly waiting for the arrival of the tourists," she said.

Nghifinwa's approach is envisaged to revive her business, whose main clients were usually international tourists seeking to immerse in local culture and arts.

She is not alone. Gideon Iithete runs RAGGI Transfer Tours and Safaris Namibia. Like many enterprises in the sector, his business for the international market also came to a halt.

Despite enduring disgruntling months due to COVID-19 restrictions, Iithete is optimistic that, coupled with local travel, he will be able to re-build his venture.

"Namibian borders are open to international travel, and the business is ready to provide transport. Safety is our priority," he said.

Mufaro Nesongano, Namibia Wildlife Resort's manager for corporate communications and online media said that the organization has embarked upon robust marketing of special packages at various accommodation facilities and national parks. He also highlighted the need for the formation of strategic partnerships and harnessing the power of technology to accelerate sectoral growth.

Meanwhile, Pohamba Shifeta, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, said that COVID-19 hit hard some of the leading tourism source markets, particularly those dependent on international visitors.

"Apart from accommodation and general activities, other areas affected include the trophy hunting component, wrecked as the majority of the hunters come from abroad," Shifeta said.

In the interim, he said that through the targeted International Tourism Revival Initiative, tourism is set to gain momentum.

"We have prioritized issues of tourism. These entailed re-modelling and putting strategies and safety protocols in place to revive the sector," the minister said. Enditem
By Thomas Neuburger, an Oregon-based writer who publishes regularly at DownWithTyranny!

There are quite a few reasons to support Naked Capitalism (and if you have had a chance to do so, the Tip Jar is over there). These include

Aggressive coverage of CALPERS and its crimes. Someday the rot on that ship will sink it deep

Close coverage of BREXITat a time when no one this side of the ocean is paying real attention. The day of divorce, when it finally comes, will matter to most of us

That rare not-Trump, not-Dem voice and editors stance, a voice that in left-right times is hard to find. (Yes, Virginia, both Trump and Biden can be both wrong and right, and on the same issue.)

But the reason I want to ask for your support is more far-reaching than these. Put simply, the nation, already pre-revolutionary, could soon approach the point where it just unravels, starts to come apart, and inside I think we all know this. Perhaps in the end it wont; perhaps the republic, such as it is, will muddle through as it has. But its brought itself to the door of its demise, put hand to the knob, and could well open it.

George Floyd Meets Mario Savio

The signs of distress are everywhere. The George Floyd uprising and its offspring, the Battles of Portland and Kenosha, are bringing the radical to realize that protests arent enough, will never be enough, and are, in fact, a waste of time and work unless co-joined to Mario Savios injunction, pronounced from the steps of Sproul Hall in 1964:

Theres a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you cant take part! You cant even passively take part! And youve got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus of the machine, and make it stop. Youve got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people who own it  that unless youre freed of it, the machine will be prevented from working at all.

The George Floyd protesters are close to realizing this, but arent quite there. The next step is that knowledge. If they do reach Savios conclusion  and Im not sure how they can avoid it  well see the start of an actual revolt, a rolling civil war against murder by cop. That phase will be an escalation from the escalation weve already seen.

As every police murder is revealed, as the cultureof police murderis revealed  as the evil of their enabling system; the evil of their unions; their brutal exculpating laws; the evil of their enabling politicians, black and white, complicit in those laws  as all this rot is made to stand in the light, the phrase No more will present itself as the obvious next thing said.

The next act after that is allowno more, to grind the machine to a halt with bodies if need be, until the beast stops killing the people. Imagine how Biden or Trump, whichever you prefer, will deal with that.

Pre-revolutionary. Very much on the verge.

Its the Economy, Stupid

There are other fronts on which this war could be joined. Consider the economics of housing in the Trump-Covid era.

Put simply, housing for the many is going away fast. The comfortable are fine, those with two-laptop jobs and Uber Eats Visa accounts, but most of us arent comfortable. Housing insecurity is on the rise, and the streets are filling up with the tented homeless. (The streets outside this window where I writeare filled with the tented homeless; Im looking at them now.)

Trump has declared an eviction moratorium, to last only till after the election, with no debts forgiven and interest piling up. This puts enormous pressure on small landlords, those with debts of their own, who are certain to pass that pressure to rent-owing tenants in January. Ive seen no data on the state of homeowners, but if theyre out of work, they cant be doing well either.

The moratorium is help of a sort, but only of the sort that lengthens the fuse on the bomb. What happens come January when these forces collide  the force of the debt-demanding class, backed by police and other organs of force, and the retaliatory force of the class thats hanging by a thread?

The Covid Connection

Or consider just Covid itself  the disease, its treatment and the vaccine that will someday prevent it. (I say someday because despite all our dreams, the fastest vaccine development in history, the mumps vaccine, took four yearsto go from throat swab to deployment.)

Ive written quite a lot about the non-medical consequences of Covid treatment, for example here. To summarize, the vaccine should be free to all, and treatment should be free to all. Period.

But it wont be.

Under Trump, friend of Big Money, both vaccine and treatment will cost, perhaps exorbitantly. They will also cost under Biden, friend of Big Pharma, though because our Democrats are kinder, gentler predators, theyll cost a little less.

Will people stand for that, this new predation, after all theyve suffered through? Again, all treatment should be free, and all vaccine, the simple cost of the crisis. Folks are on their last legs now, both emotionally and economically. In these new times, if the only way to be cured is to pay for it, they just might say Enough.

Or maybe they wont; maybe theyll just bow and be grateful. But theyre getting to the point where they may have to pick a path. This time the spouse is cheating openly, and the nations heart is crying at the door. Will it just slink away, or ask to be let in knowing what its going to see if that door opens?

I wouldnt place a bet on how thatturns out.

And Now, the Election

Unless this election is won decisively, it will go to the courts, likely to many of them, for a decision. If that occurs, its almost certain that the losing side  whichever side that is  will not accept the outcome as valid, will hold that the office was stolen and say so with force. I think ultimately the final court decision will standand a new president (or an old one) will be sworn in. But the losers will burn for revenge for the next four years. No one on the wrong side of this decision will go quietly.

Now add this to the Covid questions  who suffers? who dies? who pays? who profits? who goes under? who gets a government ride?  a drama that itself will last for years, and compound all that with the fact that neither party wants a Sanders-like solution to anything involving money, that neither will heal the people of their pain, and we could find ourselves on a powder keg, this time a lit one.

Investing in the War Against the War Against the People

Which brings me back to Naked Capitalism. Sites like this one  sites whose editors see past right and left to right and wrong, see past anger to analysis  wont be important resources just for you. Sites like Naked Capitalismwill also be critical to others you encounter, to people who are not readers but who listen to you, to people awakened by pain and needing other voices in their ears besides CNN and its wealth-seeking brothers and friends.

As the nations frustration rises  as more and more people finally ask in earnest, What do we do about this?  voices like Yves and her writers will not just be helpful, but critically necessary to everyone exposed to them. If the war against the war against the people is actually joined, we need as many people as possible to understand why.

There are multiple waysto give to Naked Capitalism. The first is here on the blog, the Tip Jar, which takes you to PayPal. You can use a debit card, a credit card or a PayPal account (the charge will be in the name of Aurora Advisors).

You can also send a check (or multiple post-dated checks) in the name of Aurora Advisors Incorporated to:

Aurora Advisors Incorporated

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Mountain Brook, AL 35213

If you send a check, please also send an e-mail to yves@nakedcapitalism.com with the headline Check is in the mail to let her know its coming and to have your contribution included in the total number of donations.

As Matt Stoller wrote for a previous fundraiser: This isnt just giving, its a statement that you want a different debate, a different society, and a different culture.

And a statement, I might add, that you want to invest in one. Thank you.
Jedward twins, John and Edward Grimes, have revealed how they played Fleetwood Mac and held their mother's hand in her final days before she lost her five-year battle with cancer.

Their mother Susanna died in February 2019 and the 28-year-old twins described how they will 'always keep her spirit alive' on Saturday.

The Irish pop duo also described their heartbreak at the prospect of their late mother not meeting their children or attending their weddings.

Heartbreak: Jedward twins, John and Edward Grimes, 28, revealed on Saturday how they played Fleetwood Mac and held their mother's hand in her final days following a five-year cancer battle

Speaking to Ryan Tubridy on The Late Late Show, Edward said: 'We were there when she passed and we are thankful that we were there - we were able to hold her hand.

'We had some earphones listening to some music. We listened to some Fleetwood Mac and some of her favourite songs that she liked to play.'

His brother John added: 'It's very disheartening to think that she won't be at our weddings, she won't be there at the birth of our kids, but we always keep her spirit alive like have pictures of her around and tell stories.'

Special: Their mother Susanna died following a five-year battle with cancer in February 2019 and the 28-year-old twins described how they keep 'her spirit alive' on Saturday (pictured 2012)

'You just feel so disconnected to the world because the person that kept you anchored in the world and gave birth to you is gone and now you don't know where you should be, what you should be doing.'

The former X Factor stars performed a rendition of Everybody Hurts by R.E.M. dedicated to their mother.

Fans took to Twitter to share how they were 'in tears' following the tribute performance.

Emotional: Susanna passed away in February 2019 after she was diagnosed with leukaemia and kidney failure

One wrote: 'Wow it was such a beautiful performance, had me in tears through it.'

Another penned: 'What a great chat between John, Edward and Ryan Tubridy. I loved your version of #EverybodyHurts & the accompanying music. There were tears but very good tears here.'

Susanna passed away in February 2019 after she was diagnosed with leukaemia and kidney failure.

Support: Fans took to Twitter to share how they were 'in tears' following the tribute performance

Speaking on Loose Women in April 2019, Edward said: '[The cancer] had been ongoing for the past five years, and I feel now mum has passed, it just feels so weird, because its all weve ever known. We want to call her and theres no one there to call.

'Her opinion meant everything to us, she was always there to support us. We haven't really talking about its been really closed doors.'

The twins said it was comforting to them that they had one another to navigate their way through their grief.

Speaking to Ryan Tubridy on The Late Late Show, Edward said: 'We were there when she passed and were thankful that we were there we were able to hold her hand'

John said: 'That has been really, really good for me and Edward because were so open with each other, and were werent bottling it in.'

The boys paid tribute to Susanna in February, writing on Twitter: 'Rest In Peace Mammy You live on through us We will miss you and your smile...

'You shaped the character of who we are. Mammy lived with cancer for many years but was always full of life! You live on in our Memories and will always be alive in our Hearts'.




Haiti - Agriculture : Launch of the Exchange Program between fishermen's associations





As part of the project for the sustainable development of the fishing industry in Haiti, financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Ministry of Agriculture through the Artisanal Fisheries Project, launched this week a program of exchanges between fishermen's associations from the departments of the South, the South-East and Grand-Anse.



Held in the South-East department, this first series of exchanges was carried out for the benefit of 45 fishermen associations in order to allow them to share their experiences, discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the fishing industry, with the aim of provide solutions and benefit from the experiences of each, both methodologically and strategically.



The objective of this Program is to allow these professionals to make the best use of the potential of the sea and to become real development actors in their respective communities.



Agronomist Laurent Merisier, Coordinator of the Artisanal Fisheries Development Program, said he was satisfied with the initial results. He is firmly convinced that these exchanges will help associations to be more productive, but also to be able to have operating and management tools appropriate to their work. However, he says he is aware that there is still a lot to be done "There is still a long way to go" and he considers it essential that the Ministry, through its programs, help associations to pool their efforts in order to respond effectively to certain sector issues. He also informed the associations that the Ministry would take other steps to revive the sector, to the satisfaction of the participants.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Rakul Preet Singh was summoned by the Narcotics Control Bureau to interrogate her in the drug probe that started with the arrest of Rhea Chakraborty in Sushant Singh Rajputs death probe. The actress, along with Deepika Padukone, Sara Ali Khan and Shraddha Kapoor was called in for questioning to get information about the drug procurement and usage in the industry.

In the wake of the investigation, the media started to report about the summon a day before Rakul had even received the order. Her lawyer revealed, The petitioner had received no such summons from the NCB at either of her Hyderabad or Mumbai addresses and accordingly she remained in Hyderabad. The petitioner's father decided to take the morning flight on 24.9.2020 to Mumbai from Hyderabad to ascertain the truth of such reports. However, from the evening of 23.9.2020 itself, the media started running fake news to the effect that the petitioner, who was in Hyderabad, had supposedly reached Mumbai on the evening of 23.9.2020 for the NCB investigation.





Rakul received the official summons on September 24 at 11:20 am, which was dated for the day before. She was to appear in front of the NCB on September 24 and learnt about it through an email sent on the same day.





Following the events that have unfolded and the media coverage, Rakul sought a restraining order on the reports that are being published by several media houses. She approached the Delhi High Court to issue a restraining order to the Centre, Press Council of India and the News Broadcasters Association on the reports being published about her linking her to Rhea Chakraborty and the drug probe.

A hearing on the same plea is due next week.






Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 00:39:18|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Sept. 24, 2020 shows the NHS COVID-19 app displayed on a phone outside Westminster tube station in London, Britain. (Photo by Tim Ireland/Xinhua)

The coronavirus-related death toll rose by 34 to 41,971, the latest official data showed.

Graham Medley, an infectious disease modeling expert, warned that daily coronavirus death toll could rise to 100 in three to four weeks' time.

LONDON, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Another 6,042 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 429,277, according to official figures released Saturday.

The coronavirus-related death toll rose by 34 to 41,971, the latest official data showed.

Graham Medley, an infectious disease modeling expert, warned that daily coronavirus death toll could rise to 100 in three to four weeks' time.

Medley, who sits on the government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said, "We need to make sure transmission comes down now to prevent the figure increasing further."

"The treatments (for COVID-19) have improved, the way the virus is transmitting is going to be different, but nonetheless it is a dangerous virus and inevitably it will lead to some deaths," Medley told BBC Radio 4's Today program.

A woman enters Waterloo Station in London, Britain, on Sept. 23, 2020. (Photo by Tim Ireland/Xinhua)

The British government announced Friday that more cities, including Leeds, Blackpool, Wigan, Stockport, Cardiff, Swansea and Llanelli, will go into local lockdown as part of its efforts to curb the sharp rise in coronavirus cases. About a quarter of people in Britain are, or soon will be, living under extra lockdown restrictions, according to Sky News.

Meanwhile, 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.

People wearing face masks walk on Oxford Street in London, Britain, Sept. 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Han Yan)
Photograph: John Locher/AP

Joe Bidens election campaign on Tuesday unveiled a plan to address the economic inequalities facing Latinos in America amid financial turmoil caused by the coronavirus pandemic, which has disproportionately harmed communities of color.

The plan was introduced a day after the anniversary of the mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, that took the lives of 23 people and where the shooter is accused in federal court of deliberately targeting Hispanics.

It comes as Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee to face Donald Trump in November, attempts to build a bridge to Latino voters, who are poised to make up the largest share of US voters who are people of color in this election.

Senior campaign officials announced plans and commitments focused on investing in the economic mobility of Latinos, starting with education and healthcare, as well as a commitment to support the building of a Smithsonian Latino museum on the National Mall in Washington DC.

Biden had previously promised to introduce a sweeping immigration plan on his first day in office, including protecting recipients of the Daca program, affording protections and rights to qualifying, young, undocumented immigrants, known as Dreamers and also undoing the Trump administrations hardline international asylum policies.

The policies of [the Trump] administration amount to an onslaught of violence and fear against the community. That ends when Joe Biden is president, a senior campaign official said on a call with reporters on Tuesday morning.

Polling shows that while immigration remains a priority for Latino voters, so is healthcare, the economy and education. Young Latinos, like young voters across several demographics, say they care about climate change and racial justice.

Biden previously unveiled the Lift Every Voice agenda for African American communities, which included a call for the justice department to prioritize prosecuting hate crimes, and economic plans to help Black Americans affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Story continues

His Latino agenda also overlaps with Bidens Build Back Better plan, an economic agenda that includes manufacturing, climate and caregiving. The plan promises far reaching economic investment into Latino communities through a first time homeowner credit and investment into Hispanic serving educational institutions. Its healthcare component promises to tackle social determinants of health by building on the Affordable Care Act.

The campaign reiterated promises to reshape the legal immigration system that the Trump administration has steadily dismantled. As well as hiring more immigration judges for the overstretched system, the campaign said it will review Trumps decision to end temporary protected status (TPS), a longstanding program designed to prevent foreign nationals in the US from being deported back to countries devastated by natural disaster or civil unrest.

As president, Biden would create a path to citizenship for certain TPS recipients who have lived in the US for decades, the campaign said.

Since the primary, the campaign has moved left on immigration amid pressure from liberal activists. Still, Biden has resisted calls from progressives to eliminate Ice, the immigration and customs enforcement agency formed in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the US, or to decriminalize undocumented border crossings, a proposal some of his primary rivals supported.

The plan comes as polling shows Biden leading Trump nationally and in key battleground states, including Florida and Arizona, where Latinos will make up a decisive share of the electorate. Yet some polls show Bidens support waning among Latino voters, and particularly young Latinos who preferred his leftwing rival, Senator Bernie Sanders, during the primary.

With less than 100 days until the election, Bidens campaign has ramped up its efforts to reach these voters. In recent weeks, the campaign has made several high-profile hires, including Julie Chavez Rodriguez, the granddaughter of Cesar Chavez, and Matt Barreto, the founder of Latino Decisions, a top Democratic polling firm. It also announced a $1m investment in Spanish-language outreach.

In 2016, Trump won nearly 30% of the Hispanic vote, a margin that has remained largely consistent.

There are signs that may be changing as a result of Trumps handling of the coronavirus and his escalation of anti-immigrant sentiment and bigoted rhetoric. In the first months of 2020, 34% of Hispanics approved of Trump, according to Gallup. In the period from late May to June, that fell to 26%.

The cornerstone of the Trump campaigns Latino outreach is in Florida, a state critical to his re-election prospects. But the states Hispanic electorate  once dominated by conservative Cuban Americans  is changing with an influx of Puerto Ricans to central Florida. The Biden campaign says it is investing heavily in these voters as it tries to pry the state from Trump in November.

Meanwhile, the Biden campaign is looking to turn out Latinos in rust belt swing states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, that Trump won by the narrowest margins in 2016.

 This article was amended on 5 August 2020 to remove a term inconsistent with the Guardians style guidelines on references to race.
Protesters and police at a We Do Not Consent rally at Trafalgar Square in London (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

A protester on the ground in Trafalgar Square (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Police said 16 people had been arrested and nine officers injured following clashes at anti-lockdown demonstrations in central London.

Thousands of people massed in Trafalgar Square on Saturday carrying a variety of signs, flags and placards to take part in a we do not consent rally  with none appearing to wear face coverings or to social distance.

But officers clashed with protesters when police tried to shut the event down because crowds were not complying with social-distancing rules.

Bottles were thrown and police used batons against protesters, leaving some with visible injuries.

At least three protesters and one officer were treated by medical staff.

Scotland Yard said that 16 people had been arrested following the demonstration, which moved from Trafalgar Square to Hyde Park.

Arrests were for a variety of offences including breaching Coronavirus regulations, assaulting a police officer, public order offences and violent disorder, it added.

A total of nine officers were injured, two of whom required hospital treatment for head injuries, the force added.

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London Mayor Sadiq Khan, stressed that large gatherings, including protests, were still banned to stop the spread of Covid-19.

He added: The reckless and violent behaviour of some protestors has left hard-working police officers injured and put the safety of our city, which is at a critical moment in the fight against this virus, at risk. This is totally unacceptable.

We cannot let the sacrifices Londoners have made be undermined by the selfish behaviour of a small number.

Violence of this kind towards officers will not be tolerated and perpetrators will feel the full force of the law.

Crowds in Trafalgar Square have not complied with the conditions of their risk assessment and are putting people in danger of transmitting the virus.



This has voided their risk assessment and we have informed the event organisers they are no longer exempt from the regulations. pic.twitter.com/Pe6ODai9BB  Metropolitan Police Events (@MetPoliceEvents) September 26, 2020

The Metropolitan Police said the protest was stopped because crowds had not complied with social distancing and risked spreading coronavirus.

The force said demonstrators were asked to leave and warned that anyone who stayed could be subject to enforcement action.

Officers penned the crowd in Trafalgar Square and water was thrown at them by demonstrators, while crowds also chanted pick your side at the officers.

Police removed sound equipment from Trafalgar Square and several protesters were led away in handcuffs.

Another demonstrator was physically carried away from the scene by officers.

Commander Ade Adelekan said: As the crowds began to swell in Trafalgar Square, it became impossible for people maintain social distancing and keep each other safe.

Likewise, there appeared to be no efforts by organisers to engage with crowds and keep those assembling safe from transmitting the virus.

This lack of action voided the risk assessment submitted by event organisers the night before.

This is especially saddening in light of the injuries sustained by officers last weekend.

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Therefore, todays demonstration was no longer exempt from the Coronavirus regulations.

In the interest of public safety, officers then worked quickly to disperse crowds.

However, I am very frustrated to see that nine officers were injured during clashes with a small minority of protesters.

This is especially saddening in light of the injuries sustained by officers last weekend.

Earlier, police searched a man and confiscated a makeshift riot shield he was carrying.

The protest comes a week after a separate event which saw more than a dozen officers injured when a small minority targeted police and more than 32 arrests were made.

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The Met said it had been engaging with organisers throughout the week to remind them of their legal obligations and explaining the events could be in breach of coronavirus regulations.

While protests are exempt from the rule of six in England, organisers must submit a risk assessment and comply with social distancing.
EX-APPRENTICE star Grainne McCoy has finally realised her beauty business dream exactly four years on from the announcement of her stint on the BBC show.

The businesswoman, who made the semi-finals of Lord Sugar's competition in 2016, yesterday opened her own "one-stop-shop" beauty salon and store in her home town of Newry.

The business model was one the former teen mum had intended for Lord Sugar to invest in on the TV series but insisted the date of her new store opening was just a coincidence.

She told Sunday Life: "We've opened four years to the day since my name was announced in the papers about being in The Apprentice and that wasn't a date chosen on purpose, it's just coincidental.

"It has a nice kind of symmetry to it, that was my goal back then and has continued to be but I didn't realise it would turn around so quickly.

"It wasn't even planned to be this year but things had been going well, particularly the online store which I set up during lockdown, but I didn't think we would get here to a standalone retail store so soon, it's all come together almost by mistake through Covid-19."

The 35-year-old, who has also worked as a make-up artist for global stars at Cannes Film Festival, admitted that life since the show had been a mixed bag for her as the cash didn't come flooding in after The Apprentice as some viewers might believe.

"It's a bit surreal because over the last four years there have been ups and downs. The first year after the show was tough, people think you come off the show and you're getting all these job offers but I never got paid work until 2017," Grainne revealed.

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"People think you get all this money and paid gigs after the show but it's the complete opposite, you're literally grinding 10 times harder than you did prior to the show.

"In 2018 I broke my leg and was out for nine months as well so it hasn't been just smooth sailing over the last four years but I am excited and I can see it coming together.

"My plan was to open this store with Lord Sugar's investment, I didn't get it but I have pulled together the money myself and done it myself."

With the store just opened this weekend, the ambitious Newry woman already has plans to build a business empire.

"My plan is now to chain it, I don't want just one store, I have put all my money into this being something completely different, out there and quirky and I want it to be a huge success."

"I'm gonna be like a chain of McDonald's with the golden arches," she joked, adding: "There's no point having small goals.

"I'm planning on opening a make-up and beauty school in January in the same location upstairs as well, fingers-crossed.."

Give Us Beauty, on Monaghan Street, Newry, aims to be an "all-encompassing beauty emporium" - a retail store for cosmetics with a blow-dry bar, a make-up studio and beauty clinic - and Grainne said she could not have opened the store without help from family and friends.

She added: "I have had a lot of help, my whole family are supporting me, my mum Siobhan is doing all the marketing and my sister Bronagh is working in the store as a manager.

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"Also my stepdad did all the signs, my son Ryan has been in helping out, everybody has been hands-on.

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"It's very surreal but I'm so grateful for all the help. Whenever I took it on I said to my sister who was already in the beauty industry, 'Leave your job I need you to come and work for me full time' in the middle of lockdown.

"She told me not a chance, she would play very safe whereas I'm more of a risk-taker, but I managed to convince her and now she is loving life. There's been a lot of hard work and tears as well, I couldn't have dreamed we would get here so quickly."

The former Apprentice star, who became a mum at 15, said seeing her idea become a reality surpassed anything she had previously imagined, adding: "I've been extremely busy, I'll need a month's sleep after this, it's been non-stop but it's all going to be worth it I'm sure. Thankfully it's been going to plan up to now and has slowly come together, there has been stress and sleepless nights but that's all turned in to excitement now.

"I thought it would be nice, what I imagined in my head, but it's absolutely beautiful now in real life.

"This was my original business plan for The Apprentice, a one-stop-shop of a beauty salon and retail store selling different brands.

"During lockdown I started an online store called Give Us Beauty and it has progressed into this. Just over two months ago I saw a store for rent in Newry and just took it, not knowing it was going to break my bank balance.

"I'm very quick off the mark like that, I see it, I want it, I take it and think about it after. With this I have put all the money I have gathered up since The Apprentice into it so it better work."
Students are taught a lesson in an outdoor classroom at Lake Tahoe School in Incline Village, Nevada. Lake Tahoe School

Families from Silicon Valley and other wealthy locales are moving to mountain resort towns in droves.

In Tahoe, the average home price last month was $749,000, up nearly 25% since the same month last year, according to Redfin.

At some schools, the newcomers have created a boom in enrollment.

At a one-room-schoolhouse in Bear Valley, California, enrollment has multiplied.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

In Bear Valley California, a small ski town south of Lake Tahoe, Justin Savaso powers up the SMART Board in his one-room schoolhouse and gets ready to teach a lesson on Zoom. In the empty classroom, a small black pellet stove with a chimney awaits wintertime, when a deep layer of white snow will envelop the school and the surrounding mountains.

Many would consider being a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse to be a tough job, but Savaso, a warm 27-year-old who lives in a cabin nearby, takes it in stride. Last year, his student population was in the single digits: he started the year with seven students and ended the year with four: two kindergarteners, a first-grader, and a second-grader. He would move from one to another, teaching lessons and assigning independent work.

Normally, a travelling teacher would come in to give students a music lesson once a week, and an assistant teacher would pop in to do art lessons. When the local ski mountain opened, students spent PE taking ski and snowboard lessons on the slopes.

But this year, things are different, and not just because COVID-19 has forced his school to go online.

Savaso's student population has more than quadrupled since the end of last year, from four students across three grade levels to 18 students across seven grade levels. Only two of those 18 were returning students to Bear Valley School.

It's just one snapshot of a larger trend playing out across multiple western mountain resort towns, as families with means are pouring into locales like Lake Tahoe, California and Aspen, Colorado. Families who usually drive up from Palo Alto, Mountain View, and San Francisco to spend a weekend carving up powder around Lake Tahoe are snapping up properties and moving into their vacation homes full-time, looking to escape high rates of COVID-19.

Story continues

In Tahoe, the average home price last month was $749,000, up nearly 25% since the same month last year, according to Redfin. In Pitkin County, Colorado, where Aspen is located, the median sales price for a single-family home in 2020 was over $3 million, according to the Colorado Association of Realtors, up more than 14% over 2019.

As a result, many local schools, especially those offering in-person classes, have seen increased demand from new families  and as schools scale up to meet the demand, there's little certainty in how long the new students will stick around. The Colorado Sun called the phenomenon an "urban exodus," pointing to institutions like the Vail Mountain School, whose wait list is its longest ever, and Aspen school district, where enrollment has soared.

In Bear Valley, the rising numbers have proved a challenge.

"It feels like we are all back to our first year of teaching," Savaso, who has taught for five, told Business Insider. With so many students, lesson planning usually takes place the night before, and instructional time is limited to one hour and 15 minutes per age level, Savaso said. Kids spend the rest of the school day doing independent work.

Meanwhile, at private schools like Lake Tahoe School, a pre-K through grade 8 private school located just 25 minutes from Northstar ski resort, the influx has been a boon.

Lake Tahoe School's enrollment has hit 185 students this year. Lake Tahoe School

"For private schools, more students equals more tuition dollars," said Robert Graves, the head of Lake Tahoe School, in an interview with Business Insider. "I'm grateful for the numbers."

A year of middle school tuition at the institution clocks in at $26,000, and the school hit maximum enrollment at 185 students this year. Sister schools in Truckee and Reno, towns which also border Lake Tahoe, are also experiencing 10% to 20% bumps in enrollment, Graves said.

Not only are fuller classrooms more cost effective, but the bonus funding is even more essential given the costs of adapting to COVID-19. Graves estimated the school budgeted $100,000 to $200,000 for costs like outdoor classrooms, sneeze guards, cleaning supplies, and temperature checks.

Still, Graves knows the influx might be temporary.

"The overall enrollment increase is great, but if things clear up tomorrow, will they be staying?" said Graves.

To be sure, not all mountain towns have seen enrollment numbers balloon. In August, Teton County School District, which serves the children of famed resort town Jackson Hole, braced for a 100-student increase, said Charlotte Reynolds, who handles communications for the school district. Administrators are worried about implementing social distancing requirements at their middle school, which was already "bursting at the seams," according to Reynolds. An influx of new students would compound the issue.

But instead, a different trend emerged: many local parents decided to homeschool their children, and many newcomers decided to enroll their students for Teton County's hybrid learning. The net number of students decreased by 95, but the proportion of newcomers to locals has shifted, Reynolds said.

As for Savaso, his role as a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse is finally getting a little easier.

After more than a month of teaching solo, Bear Valley School hired another instructor so that Savaso could focus on third grade through fifth grade, rather than transitional kindergarten through fifth grade. He said he's excited about the prospect of being able to plan more units. So far, they've learned about Native Americans, climate change, and wildfires.

Still, his school may not have stopped growing. His school has a projected goal of reopening October 12, and he's already been contacted by a few families looking to enroll their students once classes return face-to-face.

If need be, "I'm sure we could get some more desks," he said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Hyderabad, Sep 27 : The Congress party's new incharge for Telangana, Manickam Tagore on Sunday urged the party leaders in the state to work together for victory in the ensuing by-elections to Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.

On his first visit to Hyderabad after being appointed as All India Congress Committee (AICC) incharge for Telangana, he held a series of meetings with party leaders on Sunday to review the preparedness for by-elections to one seat each of Assembly and Council.

Tagore also reviewed the party's preparations for the coming elections to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and also other urban local bodies in Warangal and Khammam.

He stressed the need for unity and discipline among the party cadre to win the coming electoral battles. He asked the party leaders to prepare a plan for massive campaigning in Dubbaka Assembly constituency, where by-elections are likely to be held next month.

Tagore suggested that an incharge be appointed for every two villages to ensure that all villages are covered during the campaign Manickam, who arrived here on Saturday to grand welcome by the party leaders, also held a meeting with core committee members including state Congress chief N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, working presidents A. Revanth Reddy, Ponnam Prabhakar and AICC secretaries Bose Raju and Sreenivasan.

The central leader wanted the state unit to actively participate in the protest against the new farm legislation. He also called for exposing ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), which supported all controversial moves of Modi government in the past and has now distanced itself from farm Bills.

The by-election to Dubbaka has been necessitated by the sudden death of TRS incumbent Solipeta Ramalinga Reddy. The ruling party is likely to field his widow Sujatha.

In 2018, Ramalinga Reddy had won the seat with a margin of 62,500 votes. Congress party's M. Nageshwar Reddy had finished second.

This time, TRS president and Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has directed his party cadre to ensure the party's victory by a margin of one lakh votes. TRS has already launched the campaign with finance minister T. Harish Rao reaching out to voters with extensive tours to villages.

The by-election to the MLC seat from Nizamabad Local Authorities is scheduled on October 9. The by-poll has been necessitated by disqualification of R. Bhupathi Reddy after he defected to Congress from TRS ahead of 2018 Assembly elections.
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- Kids across the U.K. and Europe have been masking up and heading back to school. For many its been a long time coming, and sorely needed, but understandably many carers and teachers are worried.

Evidence suggests school reopenings havent been the primary cause of flare-ups in local Covid-19 cases. The coming months will nevertheless bring some challenges.

At first glance, Norways experience indicates a return to the classroom isnt necessarily accompanied by a significant uptick in infections. Children there returned to school at the end of April, with strict new hygiene rules and smaller classes, before breaking up for the summer holidays two months later. The Nordic country managed to tame the pandemic in that period with travel restrictions, quarantine requirements and caps on private gatherings.

More recently, as fall term began, Norway has seen a rise in Covid-19 infections, but one driven by young adults. So far this month, the most common presumed places of infection, according to Norways contact tracers, are households, workplaces, universities and private events such as weddings.

In this back-to-school season, there has been an increase in infections elsewhere too, but, again, other factors are being blamed.

Take Scotland. Some virus clusters emerged in Glasgow after the term began in August. The government has said these were due to community transmission rather than the virus spreading in schools. After a cluster involving students from a couple of high schools in northern Glasgow and Lanarkshire, the countrys national clinical director told BBC Radio Scotland that house parties were a real concern and more needed to be done to encourage youngsters to follow social-distancing measures even in private.

In Germany, while some schools or classes have closed when a case of Covid was declared, an increase in infections has mainly been linked to people returning from vacations  as many as 40% of recent cases are thought to have been transmitted abroad. The others have mostly been traced to family gatherings and private events.

Story continues

The manner in which schools open, and other measures across society, appear relevant. Virologist Christian Drosten believes the lack of school-based Covid clusters in Germany is more down to there being relatively little virus transmission happening in the country, thanks to an early response and effective testing and tracing. If so, keeping schools open may be more challenging in countries where the infection rate is rising such as Spain, Italy and France.

In May, Israel inflamed its just-tamed epidemic by racing to open classrooms before there were proper social-distancing measures in place and without a robust contact-tracing system. By contrast, Denmark has been seen as a model for implementing reduced class sizes, near-hourly hand-washing and a blend of online and on-site learning to avoid overcrowding.

Of course, its still early in the school year, and Europes winter is coming. Colder, wetter weather will force school windows shut. And discipline around social distancing could become harder to maintain the longer its required.

Devi Sridhar, a professor at the University of Edinburgh, told Sky News that Scotlands testing system has been having to race to catch up with the demand of all the children coming home with coughs and colds and fevers.

Things will become even more challenging as we enter flu season. Countries clearly have a challenge to stay on top of the situation. But keeping schools open doesnt have to reignite the flames of a coronavirus epidemic.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Lara Williams manages Bloomberg Opinion's social media channels.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

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Mitratva Magga -Path of Friendship: Towards Growth and Prosperity

The following joint statement issued by the officials of India and Sri Lanka after the Virtual Bilateral Summit between Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa and Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi

Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa and Prime Minister of India, H.E. Narendra Modi held a Virtual Summit today in which they discussed bilateral relations and regional & international issues of mutual concern.

Mahinda Rajapaksa with Narendra Modi ( File photo)



Prime Minister Modi congratulated Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on his assumption of office of Prime Minister with a decisive mandate at the Parliamentary Election held in Sri Lanka in August 2020. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa expressed his gratitude for the good wishes and conveyed his keenness to work together closely with Prime Minister Modi.

Both the leaders recalled the successful State Visits by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to India in November 2019 and February 2020, respectively. These visits gave clear political direction and vision for the future of the relationship.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa commended the strong leadership shown by Prime Minister Modi in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic based on a vision of mutual support and assistance to the countries of the region. Both leaders agreed that the current situation presented a fresh opportunity to give added impetus to bilateral relations. Both the leaders expressed happiness that India and Sri Lanka worked very closely in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed Indias continued commitment for all possible support to Sri Lanka for minimising the health and economic impact of the pandemic.

To give a further impetus to the bilateral relationship, the two leaders agreed to:

Enhance cooperation to combat terrorism and drug trafficking including in the fields of intelligence, information sharing, de-radicalization and capacity building.

Continue the fruitful and efficient development partnership in accordance with the priority areas identified by the Government and people of Sri Lanka and to further broad base the island wide engagement under the Memorandum of Understanding for Implementation of High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDP) for the period 2020-2025.

Work together to expeditiously complete construction of 10,000 housing units in the plantation areas, which was announced during the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Sri Lanka in May 2017.

Facilitate an enabling environment for trade and investment between the two countries and to deepen integration of supply chains in the backdrop of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Work towards early realization of infrastructure and connectivity projects including in the sectors of Ports and Energy through close consultations as per the Bilateral Agreements and MoUs, and strong commitment towards a mutually beneficial development cooperation partnership between the two countries.

Deepen cooperation in renewable energy with particular emphasis on solar projects under the US$ 100 million Line of Credit from India.

Strengthen technical cooperation in the areas of agriculture, animal husbandry, science & technology, health care and AYUSH as well as skill development by increased training of professionals thereby realizing the full potential of the demographic dividend in both the countries.

Further strengthen people to people ties by exploring opportunities in the field of civilizational linkages and common heritage such as Buddhism, Ayurveda and Yoga. Government of India will facilitate visit of a delegation of Buddhist pilgrims from Sri Lanka to the sacred city of Kushinagar, which has recently been announced as an International Airport recognizing its significance in Buddhism.

Facilitate tourism by enhancing connectivity and by early establishment of an air bubble between the two countries to resume travel, bearing in mind threat posed by Covid-19 pandemic and to take all necessary preventative measures.

Continue engagement to address the issues related to fishermen through regular consultation and bilateral channels according to the existing frameworks and shared goals including the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Strengthen cooperation between armed forces of the two sides including through mutual exchange of personnel visits, maritime security cooperation and support to Sri Lanka in the spheres of defence and security.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa welcomed the announcement made by Prime Minister Modi of Indias grant assistance of US$ 15 million for promotion of Buddhist ties between the two countries. The grant will assist in deepening the people-to-people linkages between the two countries in the sphere of Buddhism including inter alia through construction/renovation of Buddhist monasteries, capacity development, cultural exchanges, archaeological cooperation, reciprocal exposition of Lord Buddhas relics, strengthening engagement of Buddhist scholars and clergy etc.

Prime Minister Modi called on the Government of Sri Lanka to address the aspirations of the Tamil people for equality, justice, peace and respect within a united Sri Lanka including by carrying forward the process of reconciliation with the implementation of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa expressed the confidence that Sri Lanka will work towards realizing the expectations of all ethnic groups including Tamils, by achieving reconciliation nurtured as per the mandate of the people of Sri Lanka and implementation of the Constitutional provisions.

Both leaders acknowledged the increasing convergence on regional and international issues of mutual engagement, including within the frameworks of the SAARC, BIMSTEC, IORA and the United Nations system.

Recognizing that BIMSTEC is an important platform for regional cooperation linking South Asia with South East Asia, both leaders agreed to work together to ensure a successful BIMSTEC Summit to be hosted under the Chairmanship of Sri Lanka.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the strong support received from the international community for Indias election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the term 2021-2022.
MOSCOW : President Vladimir Putin called on Friday for an agreement between Russia and the United States to guarantee not to engage in cyber-meddling in each other's elections.

In a statement ahead of the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 3, Putin called for a reset between Russia and the United States and said he wanted an agreement between the two countries to prevent incidents in cyberspace.

"(I propose) exchanging guarantees of non-interference in each other's internal affairs, including electoral processes, including using information and communication technologies and high-tech methods," he said.

Moscow's relations with Washington are at post-Cold War lows as the election looms.

U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election with the aim of tilting it in Donald Trump's favour, including by hacking into the campaign of his rival Hillary Clinton. Moscow denies that charge.

Trump is currently campaigning for re-election against Democrat Joe Biden.

"One of the main strategic challenges of our time is the risk of a large-scale confrontation in the digital sphere," Putin said in the Kremlin statement.

"We would like to once again appeal to the United States with a proposal to approve a comprehensive program of practical measures to reset our relations in the use of information and communication technologies (ICT)."

He proposed the two countries reach an agreement to prevent major cyberspace incidents, something he compared to a 1972 U.S.-Soviet treaty reached at the height of the Cold War to prevent incidents at sea and in the air from escalating.

He also called for the two countries to fully restore communication lines between their respective agencies to discuss key international information on security issues.

Russia has denied it is attempting to interfere in the 2020 U.S. campaign, despite evidence to the contrary.

Microsoft said two weeks ago that hackers linked to Russia, China and Iran were trying to spy on people tied to both Trump and Biden. Russia and China dismissed the allegations.

Reuters reported on Sept. 9 that Microsoft had alerted one of Biden's main election campaign advisory firms that it had been targeted by suspected Russian state-backed hackers. The Kremlin called the report "nonsense".





This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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On September 17, 2020, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) released a report, "Financing gaps in social protection", stating that developing economies (India is one) would need to invest "additional" $1.2 trillion or equivalent to 3.8% of their GDP to close the annual financing gap in 2020 due to the COVID-19 crisis.

This financial gap, it said, is the result of (i) healthcare services and "income security for workers who have lost their jobs because of lockdown and other measures" and (ii) reduction of GDP caused by the crisis.

Instead of providing better protections to its workforce fighting the pandemic induced health, job and income crises, India has reduced them further in three labour reforms - The Industrial Relations (IR) Code 2020, The Code on Social Security (SS) 2020 and The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSHWC) Code 2020.

Also Read: Rebooting Economy XXX: Rural India in far deeper crisis than what govt data claims

Here is how.

OSHWC Code 2020 to protect less than 0.7% of factory workers

The OSHWC Code 2020 promises to protect and expand coverage of workers' health and safety both in organised and unorganised sector by amalgamating 13 central labour laws, but it does the unthinkable.

It changes the very definition of "factory".

The new code defines "factory" as a manufacturing unit where 20 or more workers are working with the aid of power and 40 or more without the aid of power. Earlier, these thresholds were 10 or more and 20 or more, respectively.

How many workers would get excluded from this step alone?

The Sixth Economic Census, the last of its kind published in 2014 (conducted during January 2013- April 2014), data shows: 97.9% of total workers in manufacturing units (Code 06 or factories) employing up to 1-9 workers (less than 10), 99% of workers in units employing 1-19 workers and99.3% workers in units employing 1-29 workers.

This census does not say how many workers work in manufacturing units (factories) employing up to 39 workers.

Thus, this code will provide health and safety protection to muchless than 0.7% of workersin manufacturing units (factories) as against 1.1% earlier. Manufacturing units are the ones where workers face greater risks to health and life.

When it comes to establishments (a place where any industry, trade, business, manufacturing or any other occupation is carried out, and includes "factory"), the limit remains 10 or more workers and will protect only 1.7% of workers.

Though this threshold will not be applicable to an establishment where "hazardous or life-threatening activity is being carried out", what constitutes hazardous and life threatening is left for the central government to notify later.

The OSHWC Code 2020 also has Clause 127 with two provisions that represent a potential threat to anything good.

Clause 127 (1) says: "The appropriate Government may, by notification and subject to such conditions and restrictions, if any, and for such period or periods as may be specified in the notification, direct thatall or any of the provisions of this Code or the rulesor the regulations made thereundershall not apply to or in relation to any establishment or class of establishments."

Clause 127(2) says: "Without prejudice to the generality of sub-section (1), where the State Government is satisfied in the public interest that it is necessary to create more economic activities and employment opportunities, it may, by notification, exempt, subject to such conditions as it may think fit,any new factory or class or description of new factories from all or any of the provisions of this code...".

Taken together, Clause 127 says the government can exclude protections to workers in any establishment or factory.

Several years in the making, the code does not even provide minimum health and safety standards.

Also Read: Economy XXIX: Exposing farmers to unregulated market is more likely to harm them

Protection from hire-and-fire reduced to 10% of working factories

The IR Code 2020 expands the scope of hire-and-fire power of employers.

This is facilitated through Clause 28 which says the "Standing Orders" shall apply to industrial establishments with 300 or more workers - from 100 or more workers hitherto applicable.

"Standing Orders" are a mandatory provision under the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act of 1944, which requires employers to "define with sufficient precision the conditions of employment" (nature of employment like permanent, temporary or probationers; wages and hours of work; termination of employment and notice thereof, means of grievance redressal mechanism etc.) and "make the said conditions known to workmen".

The "Standing Orders" become critical to stop arbitrariness in hiring and firing workers because written contracts are not a legal requirement (except for fixed term employment incorporated in this code). The last Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) of 2018-19 says that69.5% of regular wage/salaried employeesin the non-farm sector "hadno written job contract". Not to talk of other workers.

Increasing the threshold for "Standing Orders" would leave a greater number of workers vulnerable to exploitation. Labour economist Prof. KR Shyam Sundar of the Xaviar School of Management, Jamshedpur, uses the Annual Survey of Industries 2017-18 data to show that around 90% of working factories and 44% of their workers will be left completely outside the purviewof new "Standing Orders".

Further, Clause 77 of the code increases the threshold for lay-off and retrenchment from 100 or more workers to 300 or more workers in industrial establishments for which no prior government approval would be needed. This would further expand the scope for hire-and-fire to more industries.

The compensation to workers, however, remains the same: 15 days of average pay for every completed year of continuous service (Clause 70). Clause 83 adds a "re-skilling fund" to which the employer will pay equivalent to 15 days' wages of a retrenched employee, which will then be passed on to the retrenched worker within 45 days.

Ironically, the fund is meant for "training of retrenched workers" without any training scheme or plan in place or even source of money for it, since the employer's contribution will be paid to the retrenched worker. The only other source of money for this fund will be "the contribution from such other sources asmay be prescribedby the appropriate Government" in Clause 83(2b).

Also Read: Rebooting Economy XXVIII: Is India poised for agriculture-led economic turnaround?

Big push for contractual work to raise precarity of workers

The new labour codes expand the scope of contractual work.

First, Clause 45 of the OSHWC Code 2020 (Special Provision for Contract Labour and Inter-State Migrant Workers Etc.) increases the threshold for health and safety protections to establishment having 50 or more contract workers- from 20 or more provided in the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act of 1970 - leaving a larger number of workers vulnerable in the process.

Though a contract worker is prohibited in "core activity" (defined as "any activity for which the establishment is set up and includes any activity which is essential or necessary to such activity...") in this code, it excludes works of "perennial nature" such as sanitation works, watch and ward services prohibited under the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act of 1970 (Section 10).

Second, Clause 57 provides enough flexibility to hire contract workers for "core activity" under different circumstances and its sub-clause 2 says the government retains the power to determine if "any activity of an establishment is a core activity or otherwise". Clause 47(2) allows "work-specific licence" to contractors to supply contract workers even when a contractor "does not fulfil the requisite qualifications or criteria".

Also Read: Rebooting Economy XXVII: Fiscal mismanagement threatens India's economic recovery

Third, the SS Code 2020 expands the number of contract workers by providing for "fixed-term employment", defined as "the engagement of an employee on the basis of a written contract of employment for a fixed period".

No contractor is needed to hire a "fixed-term" worker. The employer can do it directly. Such workers will get the benefits available to permanent workers but their work will be limited to the contract period and non-permanent in nature. Social security and other benefits will, thus, be restricted to their (written) contract period, which typically runs for 11 months in auto industries, for example.

What happens thereafter to workers' job or social security linked to it?

Fourth, the IR Code 2020 removes the distinction between "contractor" supplying contract workers and "employer" by including the former in the definition of the latter. And then, it does not even define "contractor". This is a license to "employer" to act as a "contractor" and hire workers on contract.

The other two codes also define "employer" to include "contractor". Labour experts say this will absolve "employer" from any violation of the labour codes, particularly relating to contract workers, except in the case of welfare facilities under the OSHWC Code 2020 which specifically mentions that "principal employer" will be liable for violations.

It is no secret that contractual employment increases the precarity of workers because it is not permanent and restricted to the period of contract after which they lose jobs automatically, if not renewed. They don't need to be given any advance notice, compensation or even be told the reason for non-renewal of their contracts. Good performance is no guarantee of renewal of contract.

Also Read: Rebooting Economy XXVIII: Is India poised for agriculture-led economic turnaround?

Prof. Sundar writes that even though an under-estimate, the share of contract labour in the organised factory sector increased from 13% in 1993-94 to 36% in 2016-17, as per the Annual Survey of Industries. No economy-wide contract labour data is available, even though it is widely prevalent across sectors, including in the government sector.

Dr. Ravi Srivastava, director of the Centre for Employment Studies, Institute for Human Development, says: "The pandemic has exposed and highlighted the precarity of Indian workforce and its implications not only for workers but the entire economy in terms of holding up demand. Instead of aligning the labour codes to reduce precarity and increase formalisation of workforce, the Indian government has chosen to do the reverse."

Dr. Srivastava avers that contract work has an adverse impact on long-term productivity and skill development in non-core areas for an employer.

Limited social protection for unorganised workers

Even though unorganised sector workers, like migrants, gig workers, self-employed, home-based and platform workers etc. find a place in the Code for Social Security 2020, the actual security cover remains vague, not universal in nature or a worker's right.

For example, all of the existing thresholds - in terms of workers in an establishment and their monthly incomes - for applicability of PF, ESI, gratuity and maternity benefits etc., remain intact, thereby severely limiting benefits, rather than expanding. Even for inter-state migrant workers (ISMWs), protections under the OSHWC Code 2020 are restricted to establishments employing 10 or more workers.

Also Read: Rebooting Economy XXVI: Derailment of economy is not 'Act of God', it is 'Art of Misdirection'

Given the fact that the labour codes have been introduced during the pandemic induced financial crisis when millions of workers have lost their jobs and income, there is no provision of "unemployment allowance".

For unorganised workers, the code (Clause 109) says the central and state governments "shall formulate and notify" welfare schemes for them. There is no concrete plan yet, no timeline or definitive funding architecture yet. Such provisions did exist in laws that are being amalgamated and replaced.

Seen in totality, the three new labour codes are heavily tilted in favour of businesses (employers), rather than workers, as it is being sold to them by the central government.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says this year's federal budget will be one of the most important since World War II and will centre on rebuilding the economy in the form of jobs.

Appearing on Channel 7's Spotlight, Mr Morrison said the budget  to be delivered by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on October 6  would reflect the global effects of the coronavirus pandemic, but also give Australians hope for the future.

He also said Australia would see a travel bubble with New Zealand before Christmas.

"What you'll see in the budget is a vote of confidence in the Australian economy. What you'll see in the budget is a vote of confidence in Australians and that they, working together, will lift our economy out of the heavy blow that it's suffered and that will give people hope," Mr Morrison said on Sunday night.




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MPOFU  Just like in a standard medical profession, traditional healers also undergo training, get tested, and then graduate.

The big question, however, is what does it take to become a traditional healer? On Saturday, two traditional healers at a Mhlanga homestead around Mpofu graduated. This was considered a big event in the area and several people gathered to witness it.

Traditional healer Bulawayo Mhlanga, who is also referred to as a Gobela around Mpofu, narrated what it took for one to become a traditional healer.

Gobela refers to a person whose duty is to train an inyanga. Other than just being a gobela, Mhlanga has a traditional healers consultation room referred to as an indumba. This is where she spends most of her time and treats her patients.

Graduation

Mhlanga, who has been a traditional healer for over 20 years, said such graduation ceremonies were not common.

This is not like a college where people register every year, she said.

Mhlanga said being an inyanga was not just an ordinary profession that one could just choose to join.

You cannot just wake up and say, you want to be a traditional healer. It is a calling, said Mhlanga. She revealed that such a process normally started of as an icurable ailment. Mhlanga said in her case, she had fallen ill such that even her skin developed dark patches. I developed patches like a leopard, she claimed. Mhlanga said she tried going to various health facilities but this did not help. I became weaker by the day, she said. She said her life changed when she had a dream in which someone appeared to her, telling her what she should do.

Mhlanga said it was then that she realised that she was being called to become a traditional healer. I then underwent kweftwasa, she said.

She said kweftwasa was a process where one underwent training to become a traditional healer. Mhlanga said only a person who had the calling for it should undergo training.

She revealed that she went for the process locally and in South Africa (SA) as well. When asked how one could tell if he or she was being called to be a traditional healer, Mhlanga said the most obvious way was when one developed an incurable ailment. You can go to the best doctors but you will never recover unless you undergo the kwetfwasa process, she said. Mhlanga said the sickness was a sign that someone had a lidloti or a connection with an ancestral spirit. She said it was this ancestral spirit which guided the person to do the things they did.

Ailments

She said her lidloti guided her in treating people and showed her which herbs ccould treat specific ailments.

Mhlanga said when she was called to be a traditional healer, she was given the name Bulawayo. She said this name connected her to her ancestral spirits. She said the spirits also warned about the future. They even told me about your coming here long before you arrived, she explained.

It is not only adults who qualify to become traditional healers, according to Mhlanga. She recalled how a nine-year-old boy was initiated at her homestead. Mhlanga said the boy was able to connect with his ancestral spirits, such that he could even locate hidden items.

Mhlanga also revealed that she was a registered traditional healer. She said this was good because there were times when she had to approach authorities if there were disagreements with clients. We can no longer operate informally, she said. Asked if she had ever had patients who suffered from COVID-19 who had been treated, Mhlanga said she was not able to treat COVID-19. Maybe other traditional healers can but I cannot, she said.

However, she said she normally treated illnesses which were flu-like using herbs. My home is like a hospital, said Mhlanga. She said patients of all ages usually flocked to her home for treatment. Meanwhile, Mhlanga warned that emadloti should not be referred to as demons. She said sometimes people who could communicate with emadloti or ancestral spirits were referred to as demon possessed. This is wrong, she said. Mhlanga said in some instances, one could become a traditional healer and continue attending church while others could not. She revealed that before becoming a traditional healer, she attended a Zion church.
Delhi HC refuses to stay release of movie 'Nyay: The Justice', purportedly based on Sushant Singh Rajput's lif

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Bollywood Drug nexus: NCB seizes mobile phones of Deepika Padukone, Sara Ali Khan and 3 others

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Sep 27: In the latest development, mobile phones of Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, Karishma Prakash, Rakul Preet Singh, Simone Khambatta and Jaya Shah have been seized by the the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).

On Saturday, actors Deepika Padukone, along with her manager Karishma Prakash- Shraddha Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan appeared before the NCB officials for questioning in connection to their role in Bollywood's drug nexus.

Bollywood Drug nexus: NCB arrests producer Kshitij Ravi Prasad

Actress Deepika Padukone was on Saturday questioned here for five hours by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) probing the alleged Bollywood-drug nexus linked to film star Sushant Singh Rajput''s death case, an official said.

Padukone was confronted with her manager Karishma Prakash during questioning, sources said.

PM Modi in Mann Ki Baat: Farmers playing big role in building Atmanirbhar Bharat | Oneindia News

Prakash's WhatsApp chats, including purported conversations about drugs with one ''D'', are on the radar of the anti-drugs agency, sources had said.

Padukone, who reached the NCB guest house in Colaba in south Mumbai around 9.50 am, left around 3:50 pm, a police official deployed outside the guest house said.

After questioning, both Padukone and Praksh were allowed to go home around 3.40 pm, NCB sources said.

Prakash first came out of the guest house, followed by Padukone.

They left in their cars separately, the police official said.

Media personnel were present in large numbers outside the barricaded area near the guest house.

There were reports that Padukone''s husband and actor Ranveer Singh had asked the NCB if he could also remain present during her questioning. However, the NCB had on Friday clarified that it did not receive any such request.

End-to-end encryption: How NCB retrieved chats in Bollywood drug case

The NCB is also questioning actresses Shraddha Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan at its office separately in connection with the alleged drug nexus.

The federal agency had arrested actress Rhea Chakraborty, her brother Showik, and some suspected drug peddlers, earlier.

Rajput (34) was found hanging in his apartment in suburban Bandra on June 14.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Sunday, September 27, 2020, 10:43 [IST]
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 27

By Elnur Baghishov  Trend:

As many as 3,362 people have been infected with the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the past 24 hours in Iran, said Sima Sadat Lari, spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Trend reports citing the ministry.

According to Sadat Lari, 195 more people have died from the coronavirus over the past day.

Sadat Lari added that the condition of 4,059 people is critical.

The official said that Iran's Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, East Azerbaijan, South Khorasan, Semnan, Qazvin, Lorestan, Ardabil, Khuzestan, Kermanshah, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Gilan, Bushehr, Zanjan, Ilam, Razavi Khorasan, Mazandaran, Chaharmahal, and Bakhtiari, Alborz, West Azerbaijan, Markazi, Kerman, North Khorasan, Hamadan, and Yazd provinces are considered 'red' zones.

So far, more than 3.93 million tests have been conducted in Iran for the diagnosis of coronavirus.

Iran continues to monitor the coronavirus situation in the country. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 446,400 people have been infected, and 25,589 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 374,100 have reportedly recovered from the disease.

The country continues to apply strict measures to contain further spread. Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease.

The Islamic Republic only announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19.

The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11 declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019.
By AFP

WASHINGTON: Judge Amy Coney Barrett, who was nominated Saturday to the US Supreme Court, is a darling of conservatives for her religious views but detractors warn her confirmation would shift the nation's top court firmly to the right.

A practising Catholic and the mother of seven children, including two adopted from Haiti and a young son with Down's Syndrome, Barrett is personally opposed to abortion, one of the key issues dominating the cultural divide in the United States.

As a federal appeals court judge since 2017, she has taken positions backing gun rights and against migrants, women seeking abortions and former president Barack Obama's signature healthcare reform that Republicans have been trying to dismantle for years.

At just 48, her lifetime appointment to the bench would ensure a conservative presence on the panel for decades, but her background -- the antithesis of the justice she would replace, Ruth Bader Ginsburg -- is a new flashpoint in an already polarized country.

President Donald Trump announced Barrett's nomination at the White House and predicted a "very quick" confirmation in the Republican-controlled Senate.

'Dogma lives loudly in you' -

After a childhood in New Orleans in the conservative south, Barrett became a top student at Notre Dame law school in Indiana where she later went on to teach for 15 years.

At the beginning of her legal career, she clerked for the renowned conservative Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia and took up his "originalist" philosophy of understanding the Constitution as it was meant to be read at the time it was written, as opposed to more progressive interpretation.

Praised for her finely honed legal arguments, the university professor nevertheless has limited experience of actually presiding over a courtroom, having only taken to the bench in 2017, after being appointed by Trump as a federal appeals court judge.

At the time, her Senate confirmation process was a stormy affair, with Democratic veteran Dianne Feinstein telling her, "The dogma lives loudly within you."

ALSO READ | Donald Trump nominates Amy Coney Barrett to US Supreme Court

That statement was used by supporters of Barrett to accuse Feinstein herself of intolerance, and only served to boost her standing among the religious right.

The conservative Judicial Crisis Network went as far as having mugs made with the judge's picture printed on them next to Feinstein's words.

Without losing her composure, Barrett responded that she could make the distinction between her faith and her duties as a judge.

But her critics were not convinced, and often cite the numerous articles she wrote on judicial matters while she was at Notre Dame, and point to her recent rulings as a judge which they say betray her ideological leanings.

In 2018, she was on the shortlist presented by President Trump for a seat freed up by the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy, a position ultimately filled by Brett Kavanaugh after a ferocious confirmation battle.

'Kingdom of god' -

Comments she delivered to students at Notre Dame, are frequently used to reprimand Barrett.

Presenting herself as a "different kind of lawyer," she said that a "legal career is but a means to an end... and that end is building the Kingdom of God."

"Amy Coney Barrett meets Trump's two litmus tests for federal judges," Daniel Goldberg, director of the progressive lobby group Alliance for Justice said previously.

"A willingness to overturn the Affordable Care Act and to overturn Roe v. Wade," the landmark legislation that legalized abortion in the US.

ALSO READ | How Amy Coney Barrett went from law professor to high court in 4 years

"This nomination is about taking health care away from 20 million Americans and eliminating protections for Americans with preexisting conditions. Barrett, who has even opposed ensuring access to contraception, would be a bane to reproductive freedom," Goldberg said.

At the same time, conservatives hail a woman they consider "brilliant" and "impressive", with fans online even posting memes of her dressed as Superman.
SEOUL, South Korea  South Korea called on Sunday for a joint investigation with North Korea in an effort to resolve key details over the killing of a South Korean official at sea that prompted a rare apology from the Norths leader, Kim Jong-un.

The South Korean official, whose name has not been released but who worked on a ship monitoring fishing boats near the disputed western sea border between the two Koreas, was shot by North Korean troops on Tuesday after he was found adrift in North Korean waters.

In an apology offered on Friday, Mr. Kim calling the events unexpected and unfortunate. But the two Koreas have differed over major details in their accounts of what happened.

South Korea insisted that the man had been trying to defect, pointing out that he had left his shoes on the boat and entered the water wearing a life jacket. South Korean officials told reporters, without elaborating, that they had special intelligence indicating that the man had conveyed his intentions to defect to North Koreans. They also accused North Korean soldiers of burning the officials body at sea.
LVMH Greater China President witnesses Shanghais growth as fashion hub

By:Zhao Chunyuan, Wu Qiong | From:english.eastday.com | 2020-09-27 14:06

What is the relevance between Shanghai and fashion? According to LVMH Greater China President, Andrew Yue Wu, being an international city of fashion is a prominent positioning of Shanghai.





(Andrew Yue Wu, LVMH Greater China President)

Fashion career in Shanghai

Wu loves to talk about fashion. For him, fashion has a subtle but positive impact on Chinese young people. After decades of exposure to fashion elements, young people will not necessarily become fixed consumers to certain brands, but as their aesthetic appreciation improves, they will become more confident. Plus, due to the economic growth, we have today what we call the Chinese fashion. Chinese youngsters are now chasing the trend together with all young people across the world.

Born in Shanghai, Wu moved overseas in his early adult years. In the spring of 1993, a speech given by Zhu Rongji (then vice premier of China) in Toronto impressed him, which spurred him to go back to Shanghai. That year, when Chinas high-end retail market started, he came to Shanghai to build Diors China team and direct retailing. Due to that opportunity, Wu witnessed the transition of Chinas luxury market from nothing to thriving. I still remember we rented a banquet hall as our office that summer to make plans for Diors retail outlets. Everything is difficult in the beginning, but we blazed the ground, said Wu.

As he believes, since China launched the reform and opening-up policy, Shanghai has played a crucial role in the countrys economic transformation. Wus career in fashion is also related to Shanghai. Since joining LVMH, he has encouraged his international peers to recruit more Chinese executives, cultivate Chinese talent, develop localized industrial models and sustainable businesses, thus improving the whole industry and the market environment. That has helped Shanghai to become a capital of fashion. Moreover, LVMH has directly created tens of thousands of mid and high-end jobs and significantly promoted the upgrading of surrounding industries and commercial supporting facilities.









(Andrew Wu is honored with the Shanghai Magnolia Silver Award)

As the first Asian top manager in the global luxury fashion industry, Wu has been conferred as one of the most influential Chinese in the global fashion industry by Forbes and The Business of Fashion. In September 2020, he was also bestowed with the Shanghai Magnolia Silver Award, which as he said should be owed to the past 27 years in Shanghai. The honor is for the whole industry, he added.

(Andrew Wus message after winning the award)

Confidence in China during epidemic

The COVID-19 epidemic has been a sudden hit to the economy and peoples life. On January 27, on behalf of its 160,000 employees around the world, LVMH announced its donation plan to the Red Cross Society of China.

It coincided with the Chinese New Year. Including myself and the international senior management team, during that weekend, we were studying the situation and kept in close communication, so the decision was fast. The quick move also promoted the subsequent participation of the international fashion industry. For Wu personally, during the week, he happened to be in Canada visiting some relatives. He was also wondering what he should do. At the beginning of February, Wu decided to return to his battlefield and bought a flight ticket to Shanghai in mid-February, though his decision was unwise in his friends and relatives eyes. Wu said he returned to Shanghai due to his sense of responsibility for his team, and his confidence in China and Shanghai. Having experienced SARS 17 years ago, he knew that China has learnt from past lessons. Impressed by the attention to information, knowledge and professional guidance during the COVID-19 outbreak, he is confident in Shanghais anti-epidemic reaction and measures.





Apart from sending supportive messages and donating masks, Wu and his company has made a brave decision: all brands under LVMH should maintain operational in large and mid-sized cities across China, except in Wuhan. As he recalled, Actually in February, there were no consumers in many shopping malls. But, except in Wuhan, our 40 brands were still open. As I put it, retailing is a citys face, which represents our confidence. At that moment, big companies must shoulder their responsibility to support society. In late February, LVMH sponsored a donation of medical supplies from France to Wuhan.

Starting from mid March, LVMHs brands took the lead in recovery by launching retail promotions in China. Dior became the worlds first leading luxury brand to open a heavyweight retrospective in Shanghai in late July. In early August, Louis Vuitton moved its latest products world premiere from Paris to Shanghai, as the worlds first leading luxury brand to do so.

Holding major events was no easy task. Starting from mid-March, especially in April and May, the epidemic was at its worst in Europe. Work and school were suspended in many places. International exchanges stopped. Many of our professionals are based in the French headquarters, none of whom could fly into China. It was our Chinese team that delivered the amazing task from planning to execution, said Wu.

Looking back, Wu said he made a wise decision to return to Shanghai during the epidemic. Shanghai, a metropolis with 25 million people, has made a quick recovery. No matter from a personal perspective, or as an international brand, I am honored and happy to be involved in the citys anti-epidemic fight.

International fashion turns eye on Shanghai

Over recent years, Shanghais aim of becoming a capital of brands, fashion and design has presented a great opportunity for itself. When asked why Shanghai is more favored by the international fashion industry, Wu said that it is because of the citys urban charm and the continuous communication and interaction between the enlightened government and enterprises. The advantages of Shanghais business environment have been highlighted once again during this epidemic. The government is constantly interacting with companies to understand the needs of the industry, providing effective help and continuously improving its ability and quality when serving companies.

The world is fluid, and the fashion industry is especially an industry that requires a double cycle. According to Wu, that cycle is to continuously promote the connection between China and the world, which is in line with the spirit of the CIIE. As he revealed, this year, LVMH Group will still be a participant of the fair but will showcase itself in the France Pavilion. For our industry, participation in the CIIE must first be displayed in the pavilion, and more importantly, we must promote the CIIE spirit to the entire Chinese market. More than 40 brands under LVMH Group have established direct contact with Chinese consumers, so the focus in the future is to study how to better serve Chinese consumers directly and satisfy their demands.

There is no doubt that Shanghai has become the headquarters of international luxury brands in China and is moving towards becoming the regional headquarters of the industry. Wu will keep doing his bit in contributing to Shanghai and Chinas ascent in the global fashion arena.

(Story/Zhao Chunyuan)

(Translation/Wu Qiong)
A 22-year-old police officer was arrested on Friday on suspicion of perverting the course of justice after allegedly providing a false statement related to a shoplifting case in April.

A force spokesman confirmed on Saturday that the officer, a member of Kwai Tsing police districts crime division, had been released on bail and was required to report back to the authorities in October.

The New Territories South Regional Crime Unit was investigating the case, the spokesman said, while the officer in question would be suspended from duty.

Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China.

The officer was detained over allegations related to a theft that happened on April 23, in which a 51-year-old woman was arrested over stealing about HK$1,800 (US$232) worth of food from a shop in Tsing Yi.

The woman was later released on bail pending further inquiries.

The force said on Saturday that the officer was suspected of having made a false statement in a document related to the case, and was arrested after police re-examined the incident.

The spokesman added that the force attaches great importance to officers discipline and integrity, and that they would seriously pursue any cases of staff breaking the law.

This article Hong Kong police officer arrested on suspicion of giving false statement in April theft case first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020.
The Morrison government and key Senate crossbencher Jacqui Lambie have been warned a bill to "ban" mobile phones in immigration detention will make it more difficult for refugees to pursue resettlement in Canada and other countries.

In a last-ditch appeal before the Senate votes next month, the Ads-Up Refugee Network wrote to ministers and Senator Lambie on Friday advising of the "significant, unidentified risk", arguing it could cost taxpayers millions in extra detention time.

Senator Jacqui Lambie will likely cast the deciding vote on the controversial phone ban bill. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Canada has emerged as a potential destination for hundreds of asylum seekers who cannot settle here or in the United States. Ads-Up is currently assisting 28 people lodge applications in Canada and expects to lodge many more in coming months.

The group told the government the Canadian process requires "a significant amount of detailed paperwork and identification documents", for which mobile phones are vital.
Trump Speaks on Black Economic Empowerment

In Atlanta, Georgia, President Donald Trump spoke to black Americans on what they can expect if he were to serve another term. Trump also talked about both parties relationship with the black community in the past.

The president said his administration built the greatest economy for African Americans in U.S. history, adding that the poverty rate in black America reached the lowest level ever recorded and had the largest job gains on record.
Erling Haaland chose Borussia Dortmund over RB Leipzig because the latter could not guarantee game time, according to the club's former sporting director Ralf Rangnick.

No guaranteed start for Haaland

Norway striker Haaland has been a sensation at Dortmund, scoring 18 goals across all competitions since joining from Salzburg in January.

Leipzig were also said to be in the running for Haaland given their links to the Austrian side but Rangnick acknowledged that at the time Dortmund had a spot in their line-up.

"From everything I know about him and his father, the main reason was that Dortmund could guarantee him a regular place," Rangnick told MDR.

"Which wasn't so difficult because apart from [Paco] Alcacer they had no central striker. Alcacer was half the size of Haaland and only half as fast and twice as often injured."

The likes of Naby Keita and Dayot Upamecano have made the move from Salzburg to Leipzig and Rangnick was disappointed to miss out on a player of Haaland's quality.

"What a shame for Leipzig, it would have been a perfect match for us, our team and our style of play," Rangnick added.

Leipzig do now have a Norwegian striker in the form of Alexander Sorloth, who failed to make an impact in the Premier League with Crystal Palace but starred on loan for Trabzonspor in Turkey.

"Maybe with Alexander Sorloth a Haaland two will come to RB Leipzig," Rangnick said.
Celebrated star Ghanaian actress, Nana Ama McBrown, has starred in an American feature film titled 'Coming to Africa'.



The movie, written and directed by American filmmaker Anwar Jamison, was shot in Accra and Memphis.



The Accra scenes in the movie were shot in 2019, during the Year of Return celebrations.



The romantic comedy is woven around a Black American man (Jamison) who lives in his comfort zone and refuses to criticise any social ills for the fear of upsetting his privileged life.



But when something happens and he visits Ghana (Africa), his perspective changes after he meets and falls in love with Akosua, a role played by McBrown.



A synopsis of the film on Imdb.com reads: "Adrian (Anwar Jamison), a philandering financial executive, has spent his entire life shunning Black consciousness and chasing corporate success. Adrians brother, Buck (Khalil Kain), is an activist who routinely holds community meetings in his barbershop. After a perfect storm of disappointment and discrimination, Adrian finds himself in Ghana on an amusing adventure where he meets Akosua (Nana Ama McBrown) and finds nourishment for his soul.



The movie was supposed to be released in cinemas earlier in 2020 but had to be postponed to October because of restrictions caused by COVID-19.



Ahead of the release, a trailer of the movie has popped up online showing McBrown in action.



Apart from McBrown, the trailer shows other Ghanaian movie stars including David Dontoh and Paulina Oduro.



The movie has also been selected for screening at the 23rd Annual Indie Memphis Film Festival down on the Mighty Mississippi River, Friday, October 23, 2020.



Jamison announced this on Instagram by sharing the selection poster.

Source: zionfelix.net









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Common mail-in voting mistakes

An unprecedented number of people are expected to vote in the Nov. 3 election via absentee mail-in ballot because of concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.

But simple mistakes can lead to those votes not counting. In this year's presidential primary, nearly 10% of N.C. absentee mail-in ballots were rejected, according data from the N.C. State Board of Elections. The main reason? The voter failed to sign the envelope used to return their ballot. That accounted for 5.2%, or 1,543, of rejected ballots that were mailed in, data show.

Here are issues that can affect whether a ballot is rejected or some votes don't count:

Improperly marking ballot

Make sure to completely fill in the oval. Don't use an X, check or circle to mark your choice. Use a black ink pen. (If you make a mistake you can request another ballot or vote in person instead.) Improperly marked selections "would not result in the rejection of the entire ballot, but it may cause the optical scanner not to record a vote in that contest," says Patrick Gannon, a spokesman for the N.C. State Board of Elections.

Not signing return envelope

Use the envelope sent with the ballot. Make sure to seal it and sign the back of the envelope. Witness needs to sign it, too. Dont put anything else in the envelope, including anyone else's ballot. Make sure it has a stamp. If someone helped you with the ballot, they must print their name and address, and sign the Voter Assistant Certification on the back of the envelope.

Ballots can be returned by mail, via commercial courier service (FedEx or UPS, for example), in person at the county elections board or at any open early voting site in the county.

Not fulfilling all requirements

Only one witness required this election. The witness must be 18 or older, can be pretty much anyone (including a spouse) but can't be a political candidate unless they are a near relative of the voter. The witness must sign the return envelope for the ballot.

Returning ballot too late

Signed ballots must be returned no later than 5 p.m. on Nov. 3. Those received after that time will be counted only if they are postmarked on or before that day and received by mail no later than 5 p.m. Nov. 6. (Although that deadline has been pushed to Nov. 12 due to a settlement in a lawsuit, pending a judge's approval.) Ballots without a postmark must be received by Nov. 3.

Elections officials recommend mailing completed ballots by Oct. 27.

Source: N.C. State Board of Elections, N&R research
She is a designer and businesswoman and the chief creative officer of her late brother's fashion empire Versace.

And Donatella Versace cut an elegant figure as she attended Milan Fashion Week in the Italian city on Sunday.

The fashionista, 65, donned a black jacket which she wore over a blue and red shirt and a black pleated skirt.

Wow; Donatella Versace cut an elegant figure as she attended Milan Fashion Week in the Italian city on Sunday

Adding height to her frame with black boots, Donatella also carried a purple handbag with a green strap.

The businesswoman put safety first with a black face mask while she also sported a pair of sunglasses.

Donatella completed her look for the day by letting her platinum blonde locks fall loose down her shoulders.

The mother-of-two took on the lead role at Versace following her brother Gianni's assassination in 1997, and she has previously spoken out about the pressure of taking over her brother's successful business.

Work it: The fashionista, 65, donned a blue and red shirt and a black pleated skirt, paired with vertiginous boots

Outfit: The fashionista donned a black coat which she wore over a blue and red shirt and a black pleated skirt

Although her first collection following his death was a success, the brand started to deteriorate before almost going under in 2004, and Donatella admitted at the time that she experienced 'tear-filled' nights for many years as she was plagued by nightmares.

Gianni Versace, aged 50, was gunned down on the doorstep of his lavish ocean-front Miami mansion by serial killer Andrew Cunanan on 15 July 1997.

The 27-year-old man had murdered at least four others in a three-month killing spree before turning up at the fashion designer's home.

Style: Adding height to her frame with black boots, Donatella also carried a purple handbag with a green strap

Cunanan was found dead in a Miami houseboat eight days later, apparently shooting himself with the same gun that killed Versace.

Twenty years on, it is not known whether the murder was planned or carried out at random, and Donatella spoke about the years following his passing as 'hell'.

Revealing that she felt forced to put on a front for the fashion world as well as her staff as she took over the business, she described herself as wearing a 'mask' to hide her insecurity and fear of failure.
It appears the virus can spread among children and teens, but how easily may vary by age. Research is still underway, but children under age 10 seem to be less likely than older kids to transmit the virus to other children and adults.

Children generally dont appear to get sick or experience symptoms as often as adults when theyre infected. Some evidence suggests that may be particularly true for younger kids. That might help explain why they appear less likely to spread the virus  theyre less likely to be coughing and sneezing.

Some of the latest evidence comes from a recent report that showed infected children in Utah day care centers and day camps spread the virus to family members, including siblings. That suggested very young children with no symptoms or very mild ones can spread infection, but that the rate of spread was low.

A large study from South Korea 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.

Spread among children was also suspected in an outbreak at a Georgia summer camp.

With other respiratory viruses, young children are the germ factories. In this case, its different and we dont really know why, said Dr. Sean OLeary of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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By ANI

HYDERABAD: In the backdrop of a suit filed in a Mathura court to "reclaim" the entire Krishna Janmabhoomi, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday said that the dispute between Shri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sangh and Shahi Idgah Trust was settled in 1968 and questioned the revival of the dispute.

"Places of Worship Act 1991 forbids conversion of a place of worship. The Home Ministry is entrusted with the administration of this Act, what will its response be in Court? Shahi Idgah Trust and Sri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sangh resolved their dispute in October 1968. Why revive it now?" Owaisi tweeted.

A suit has been filed in a Mathura civil court to "reclaim" the entire Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura claiming that "every inch of the land... is sacred for the devotees of Lord Shree Krishna and the Hindu community."

The civil suit, filed by advocate Vishnu Jain, sought to "reclaim" the entire 13.37 acres of Krishna Janmabhoomi land declaring that the 1968 compromise deed as "not binding" and the removal of Shahi Idgah Masjid.

The suit has claimed that Lord Shree Krishna was born in Karagar of King Kans and the entire area is known as 'Katra Keshav Dev'. The place of birth lies beneath the present structure raised by the Committee of Management of the Masjid Idgah Trust.

It blamed the Mughal ruler Aurangazeb for demolishing the Krishna temple in Mathura.

"It is a matter of fact and history that Aurangzeb ruled over the country from 1658-1707 AD and he being a staunch follower of Islam had issued orders for demolition of a large number of Hindu religious places and temples including the temple standing at the birthplace of Lord Shree Krishna at Katra Keshav Dev, Mathura in the year 1669-70 AD," the suit said.

"The army of Aurangzeb partly succeeded to demolish the Keshav Dev Temple and the construction was forcibly raised showing the might of power and said construction was named as Idgah Mosque," it added.

The suit sought the removal of the alleged encroachment and superstructure illegally raised by the Committee of Management of Trust Masjid Idgah with the consent of Sunni Central Board at Katra Keshav Dev city Mathura "belonging to deity Shree Krishna Virajman".

"The suit filed against UP Sunni Central Waqf Board as it granted approval to Committee of Management Trust Masjid Idgah to enter into the compromise on October 12, 1968, which was illegal and void for the reason that society Shree Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sangh had no right over the property involved in Civil Suit, decided by Civil Judge, Mathura at it was neither owner nor proprietor of the property involved in the suit situated at Katra Keshav Dev," the suit said.

"The Committee of Management of Trust Masjid Idgah entered into an illegal compromise on October 12, 1968, with the Society Shree Krishna Janamasthan Seva Sangh and both have played "fraud upon the court, the plaintiff deities and devotees" with a view to capture and grab the property in question," the suit added.

It sought that the Sunni Waqf Board, Trust Masjid Idgah and their men, workers, attorneys and every person working under them be restrained from entering into the premises of the property and that they be directed to remove the construction illegally raised by them without the authority of the law at the property in question.

The suit has been filed on behalf of deity Shree Krishna Virajman along with devotees to ensure that "darshan, pooja, rituals according to Vedic Sanatan Dharma, faith, belief, usages, traditions and customs guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution of India are performed at the actual birthplace and at any part of 13.37 acres of land."
New Delhi: Former Union minister Jaswant Singh passed away on Sunday (September 27) morning. Soon after the news of his demise Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief.

Taking to microblogging site Twitter, PM Modi said, "Jaswant Singh Ji served our nation diligently, first as a soldier and later during his long association with politics. During Atal Jis Government, he handled crucial portfolios and left a strong mark in the worlds of finance, defence and external affairs. Saddened by his demise.''

Jaswant Singh Ji served our nation diligently, first as a soldier and later during his long association with politics. During Atal Jis Government, he handled crucial portfolios and left a strong mark in the worlds of finance, defence and external affairs. Saddened by his demise.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 27, 2020

He added, ''Jaswant Singh Ji will be remembered for his unique perspective on matters of politics and society. He also contributed to the strengthening of the BJP. I will always remember our interactions. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti.''

Live TV

PM Modi later also expressed condolences by speaking to Jaswant Singh's son Manvendra Singh and said that Jaswant Singh was true to his nature, he fought his illness with immense courage for the last six years.

Meanwhile, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed shock over Jaswant Singh's death and said that the former BJP leader served the nation in several capacities including the charge of Defence Minister.

"Deeply pained by the passing away of veteran BJP leader & former Minister, Shri Jaswant Singh ji. He served the nation in several capacities including the charge of Raksha Mantri. He distinguished himself as an effective Minister and Parliamentarian," tweeted Singh.

Deeply pained by the passing away of veteran BJP leader & former Minister, Shri Jaswant Singh ji. He served the nation in several capacities including the charge of Raksha Mantri. He distinguished himself as an effective Minister and Parliamentarian.  Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 27, 2020

The Union minister said that nation will always remember Jaswant Singh for his intellectual capabilities and the role he has played for the welfare of the country.

"Jaswant Singh ji would be remembered for his intellectual capabilities and stellar record in service to the nation. He also played a key role in strengthening the BJP in Rajasthan. Condolences to his family and supporters in this sad hour. Om Shanti," noted Singh.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also condoled the death of former union minister Jaswant Singh. "My heartfelt condolences at the passing away of senior leader from Rajasthan and former union minister, shri Jaswant Singhji," Gehlot tweeted. He prayed for the peace of the departed soul and strength to his family members and supporters.

Born on January 3, 1938, Jaswant Singh was a retired officer of the Indian Army. He was one of the founding members of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Singh held defence, finance and external affairs portfolios in the Vajpayee government.
Some Breonna Taylor Protesters out Past Curfew, Fires Set

LOUISVILLE, Ky.A diverse crowd of hundreds marched in Louisvilles streets chanting Black Lives Matter on Saturday night, the fourth night of protests after a grand jury declined to charge officers in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor.

People in the crowd also chanted No justice, no peace as cars honked along a busy downtown artery in this Kentucky city that has seen more than 120 days of demonstrations over the death of the 26-year-old black woman in a police raid gone wrong.

A few police cars followed behind, with officers telling protesters to stay on the sidewalk and out of the street before the march ended. Many briefly ended up back at a downtown square that has been a focal point of protests.

But as a 9 p.m. curfew time approached, a police loudspeaker announced that anyone who remained in the park would be arrested for a curfew violation. The square emptied out as people departed, many dispersing though one group headed to a nearby church where protesters had found refuge on previous nights.

Black Lives Matter protesters march, in Louisville. Ky., on Sept. 25, 2020. (Darron Cummings/AP Photo)

As a crowd gathered outside the First Unitarian Church late Saturday, fires were set in a street nearby after 11 p.m. Police said fireworks burned a car, and windows had been broken at Spalding University and Presentation Academy buildings close by.

Some demonstrators were seen with makeshift shields made of plywood. Others took shelter inside the church, which closed its doors around midnight.

About 100 people remained inside the church into the early hours of Monday, Jud Hendrix, executive director of Interfaith Paths to Peace, told WDRB-TV around 1 a.m. Hendrix said he was working with police to determine if people could leave the church to go home without being arrested.

People inside the church were asked to remain there while police were conducting the investigation and securing the area, the police department said in a tweet, sharing aerial and ground video of the fires that were set, windows that were broken, and graffiti that had been spray painted.

As of the 2:20 a.m. tweet, 28 people had been arrested, the police department said. Later, police corrected the number of people arrested to 25.

Black Lives Matter protesters march, in Louisville. Ky., on Sept. 25, 2020. (Darron Cummings/AP Photo)

A previous protest on Friday night was peaceful though police arrested 22 people for curfew violations. A police spokesman said some also were charged with failure to disperse.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer had urged continued peaceful protests in an appearance at a news conference Saturday evening.

Im mindful that many in our community are hurting and angry about the decisions announced this week, Fischer said. The mayor said he supports protesters First Amendment rights to protest though we just ask you to do that peacefully please.

Taylor was shot multiple times March 13 after her boyfriend fired at officers who had entered her home during a narcotics raid by officers, authorities said. Taylors boyfriend said he didnt know who was coming in and fired in self-defense, wounding one officer.

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.

On Wednesday, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced a grand jury indicted one officer on wanton endangerment charges, saying he fired gunshots into a neighboring home during the raid that didnt strike anyone. That officer has been fired.

Cameron said the other officers were not charged with Taylors killing because they acted to protect themselves.

Taylors mother, Tamika Palmer, visited a downtown park on Friday with family and her lawyers, and called on Kentucky officials to release all body camera footage, police files, and the transcripts of the grand jury proceedings. Palmer said in a statement read by a family member that she felt the criminal justice system had failed her. Palmer marched at the head of Fridays protest march.

The grand jurys ruling weighed heavily on protesters like Amber Brown. A central figure in the downtown demonstrations, Brown said she was angry.

It feels like we went backward, she said Friday night. I think people are still in shock and were not sure how to move forward.

Brown criticized the police crackdown in the downtown area that has been in effect since early in the week.

People are afraid to exercise their First Amendment right, she said. Since when does protest have a curfew? Since when does freedom and civil rights have a curfew?

By Dylan Lovan. Epoch Times reporter Petr Svab contributed to this report.
The thing that James Comey will probably like best about The Comey Rule, if one believes its characterization of him, is that his name is in the title.

But he is not exactly the hero. He is not even, really, the star.

Comey (Jeff Daniels), the former F.B.I. director, gets more screen time than anyone else in Showtimes two-night, three-and-a-half-hour special. But the real lead is Donald Trump (Brendan Gleeson), in the same sense that, regardless of its minutes on camera, the true lead of Jaws is the shark.

Given how much it rehashes recent events, albeit with a fine cast, Im not sure what interest The Comey Rule will have beyond people whose copies of the Mueller Report are already well thumbed. (Theres more to be learned from Agents of Chaos, the chilling Alex Gibney documentary, which premiered on HBO this week, about Russias 2016 election influence campaign and its American enablers.)

But if you stick to the end, there is at least a lesson and a warning, if not the one that Comey  either the screen version here or the real-life one whos become a media figure  intended.
Former Dennys Restaurant employee Kimberlina Ruiz recently filed suit against Dennys Corporation and its franchisee Hye Quality Foods in Hanford, California, asserting claims for wrongful termination, retaliation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The case is Ruiz v. Hye Quality Foods, Kings County Case No. 20C-0245.

The lawsuit specifically alleges that Ms. Ruiz, a server at a Dennys Restaurant, witnessed Dennys covering up the fact that a fellow food server had a high fever [of 100.4 degrees] and instructing the sick employee back to work at the Dennys restaurant, potentially spreading [the] deadly and highly contagious [COVID-19] virus to hundreds of unsuspecting customers and co-workers.

The lawsuit further alleges that, after Ms. Ruiz raised concerns to her supervisors and blew the whistle directly to Dennys corporate headquarters, Dennys management berated her, threatened her, and, ultimately, wrongfully terminated her employment in retaliation for her complaints.
Students study in a library on the campus of California State UniversityLong Beach in Long Beach, Calif., on Oct. 19, 2012. (Jae C. Hong/AP Photo)

CSULB Issues Quarantine, Pauses Campus Instruction After COVID-19 Outbreak

LONG BEACH, Calif. (CNS)The California State UniversityLong Beach (CSULB) has placed all students who live on campus in quarantine after five students tested positive for COVID-19, including four who live at residence halls, university officials said Sept. 26.

Late yesterday, we became aware of a number of students who have not heeded our guidance related to COVID-19 precautions and congregated socially off campus earlier this month, according to a statement from CSULB President Jane Close Conoley.

Five of these students have now tested positive for the illness. Four students live on campus in the residence halls, and one lives off campus.

These are the actions we are now taking to protect the health and safety of our community:

We have placed all on-campus residents in quarantine and, in conjunction with Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, will be testing all of these students soon.

As we engage in contact tracing on campus, we will pause in-person instruction for two weeks and review the number of employees on campus. Those who have the need to be tested will have a test offered.

We will continue our partnership with public health officials to understand the ultimate scope of those who are impacted and assist with contact tracing in the broader community.

We will be cleaning and disinfecting facilities as needed.

We will be investigating related student conduct issues and addressing them appropriately.

San Diego State University issued a similar quarantine this summer. The university has reported at least 819 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since its campus reopened Aug. 24.

As you know, we took a conservative approach to the fall semester by vastly reducing the number of students in our residence halls and the number of classes offered on campus, Conoley said.

Unfortunately, even with our proactive efforts we need to adapt and respond to this new challenge. We will keep our community informed as we learn more.
One day in January, a pair of thieves in black ski masks drove into a restricted area behind a post office in Phoenix. They jumped out of their car, snatched several trays of mail that had just been dropped off and sped away.

Over six days in early April, thieves in New York City stole several bags of mail from a carrier cart, swiped packages from a Postal Service truck and made off with an entire pushcart filled with mail near the famed Grand Central station.

In a city outside Seattle, mail has been stolen so many times at a sprawling apartment complex that carriers avoid leaving unemployment and Social Security checks.

Its accelerated to the point where its insane now, Jack Huster, a post office supervisor in Federal Way, Washington, said of the regions mail theft problem.

The U.S. Postal Service has been under fire for months for a delivery slowdown spurred by changes brought by the new postmaster general, Louis DeJoy.

But the nations mail system has also been plagued by a previously undisclosed problem: It has no reliable system for tracking mail theft.

The Postal Services law enforcement arm acknowledged the shortcoming after NBC News, prompted by anecdotal accounts of an uptick in mail theft around the country, sought and received mail theft figures through a Freedom of Information Act request.

The Postal Inspection Service data showed that mail theft reports soared by 600% over the past three years, from about 25,000 in 2017 to roughly 177,000 through Aug. 24 of this year.

But when asked to explain the apparent explosion in mail theft, the Postal Inspection Service said the figures actually reflected multiple types of customer complaints, not just those involving theft. The agency said it couldnt provide figures on mail theft alone due to limitations in the internal system it uses to capture customer reports.

We discovered that the mail theft complaint numbers provided to you were overstated due to the fact they included a significant number of reported customer complaints unrelated to mail theft, such as mailbox vandalism, mail delivery issues, and matters unrelated to the mail or Postal Service, the agency said in a statement.

Story continues

The reporting system allows for an individual to label their complaint as mail theft, however, the system is not designed to automatically discern which of these are legitimate complaints of theft of U.S. mail.

In addition to including complaints beyond mail theft, the data provided to NBC News was misleading because the 2017 figures reflected only Aug. 23 through Dec. 31, the agency said. The Postal Inspection Service said it was planning to develop a system to better track mail theft complaints.

For fiscal year 2021, we are developing a plan to more effectively capture our internal review of these complaints in order to track and report mail theft complaint data, the agency said.

The disclosure of the agencys complaint data  and the revelation that mail theft is not being closely tracked  comes during a time of intense scrutiny of the Postal Services ability to manage and safeguard the influx of mail-in ballots expected for the 2020 presidential election.

To me, its rather startling, said Janet Lauritsen, a criminologist who has done extensive research on national law enforcement statistics. They are supposed to investigate these issues, so how can it be possible that they do not have the data necessary to do those investigations? I cant make sense of it.

Lauritsen said that despite the Postal Inspection Services explanation, the sharp spike in complaint numbers is troubling. The data provided to NBC News, which was shared with Lauritsen, showed a rise in complaints from 99,506 in all of 2019 to more than 177,000 through the first nine months of 2020.

The trend in the data still indicates something, and it seems that their statements are designed to minimize alarms over the state of the Postal Service, said Lauritsen, a professor of criminology at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

The Postal Service did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for the Postal Service Office of Inspector General referred questions to the Postal Inspection Service.

NBC News initially requested 10 years' worth of data on mail theft reports but was told the Postal Inspection Service only had records dating back three years. No further explanation was provided.

Without reliable figures, its difficult to say if the nation is facing an epidemic of mail theft. But interviews with postal inspectors, police officers and supervisors, as well as local police officials, suggest parts of the country are seeing spikes in the crime.

Its not even a question. Mail theft has gone through the roof, said one Postal Police officer who works on the East Coast and requested anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media. And thats only whats reported. If they steal mail that you dont know was coming, you dont report it.

Mail theft reports flow into the Postal Inspection Service through a variety of sources: postal officials, local police and customers who can file online or by phone.

When asked if data was available on reports from sources other than customers, the agency declined further comment.

Several mail theft victims previously interviewed by NBC News, as well as this reporter, never received any follow-up after reporting to the Postal Inspection Service that checks they mailed in Jersey City, New Jersey, were stolen, altered and cashed.

They said they would open an investigation and get back to me, said Corey Eisenberg, who filed a complaint after mailing two separate checks last year that were intercepted and cashed. But they never did and I stopped following up.

Thieves employ an array of strategies to steal mail, experts say, largely dictated by geography and population density.

In big cities, criminals often target the blue collection boxes that dot street corners and amass large amounts of mail. In suburban and rural areas, thieves often focus on residential curbside boxes, which tend to be far easier to break into.

The police department in Minnetonka, Minnesota, released a bulletin last month warning residents about a spike in mail theft and advising them not to leave outgoing mail in their residential boxes.

Capt. Andy Gardner said the alert was sparked by a flood of reports from people who suspected their mail was stolen and from neighbors who found several pieces of opened and discarded mail in their yards or curbside boxes.

That means the thieves had already gone through it to look for anything valuable, Gardner said.

No arrests have been made.

In scattered cities across the country, criminals have gone directly to the source  the post offices themselves  in an effort to steal mail.

Cases of post office burglaries have been reported in South Carolina, Minnesota and Florida  just last month alone.

Image: Plymouth Post Office (uspis.gov)

Mail theft is not a new crime.

But it has evolved in many parts of the country, experts say, as criminal gangs have grown more sophisticated and identity theft has grown more lucrative. In and around larger cities, thieves have been known to work with more organized criminal networks to steal, alter and cash checks and to amass personal information from stolen mail to commit identity theft.

In the Southwest, where mail theft has been rampant for years, it remains a crime largely fueled by drug addiction, according to Liz Davis, a postal inspector and public information officer based in Phoenix.

They arent mastermind identity theft scammers, Davis said. They are usually drug-addicted people who try to find things in the mail like gift cards and cash, so they can get their next hit.

Earlier this year, a more audacious pair of mail thieves began hitting the Phoenix area.

The thieves made off with a significant quantity of mail from the Daisy Mountain Post Office in January, snatching trays of letters from a back dock and speeding away in a silver Toyota Corolla  all in broad daylight, authorities said.

It was very brazen, and they were getting a lot of mail in one swoop, Davis said.

The coronavirus pandemic ushered in an uptick in mail theft, Davis said, likely because more people were experiencing financial hardship and the arrival of stimulus checks made an alluring target.

One of the suspects in the Phoenix post office caper, identified as Rodolfo Rodriguez, was arrested on Jan. 20 and charged with three counts of mail theft and four counts of robbery of mail, according to a criminal complaint filed in Nevada.

Federal prosecutors say Rodriguez stole mail from the Phoenix post office as part of a crime wave in which he and unidentified accomplices swiped mail from postal workers vehicles and robbed postal workers in Las Vegas, as well as stole letters from the dock of a Las Vegas post office.

Rodriguezs lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.

In several parts of the country, the postal service has replaced the blue sidewalk collection boxes with more secure models designed to combat a practice known as mailbox fishing, in which thieves pull mail out of the boxes using a wire or rope attached to an object slathered in glue or a sticky rodent trap.

The new boxes have cut down on mailbox fishing, but in New York City, thieves have merely changed tactics.

No longer able to fish mail out of sidewalk boxes, they began to target the carriers themselves, as well as their trucks.

The tamper-proof boxes just changed the mode of crime, said James Bjork, national business agent for the Postal Police Officers Association.

NBC News obtained internal Postal Police daily incident reports from late March to early May, four days in late May, mid-July to mid-August and a couple of days in early September.

The reports document 24 cases of thieves targeting carriers or their vehicles over 83 days  on average, one every 3 1/2 days.

Some are harrowing.

While delivering mail at a building in the Bronx, New York City, on April 22, a mail carrier observed an individual going through his mail cart, a report says. As the carrier approached, the individual pointed a gun at him and fled. The individual was later arrested by New York City Police Department officers, and the weapon was found to be a paintball gun, a report says.

Two weeks earlier, on April 9, a mail carrier had his arrow key taken from him at knifepoint in Brooklyn, a report says, documenting a crime with significant consequences. Arrow keys are used to open up a variety of Postal Service boxes in a given neighborhood. Stealing one gives an assailant access to an entire universe of mail.

When a thief gets these arrow keys, its huge, said the Postal Police officer who spoke on the condition of anonymity. They are basically skeleton keys and they open every collection box, every relay box and every cluster box in a given ZIP code.

A Postal Service Office of Inspector General report released in late August found that the Postal Service's management controls over arrow keys were ineffective.

Specifically, the number of arrow keys in circulation is unknown, and local units did not adequately report lost, stolen, or broken keys or maintain key inventories, the report says.

Earlier this month, Kevin Ronny Williams, of Brooklyn, pleaded guilty to stealing mail in upstate New York using a Postal Service key given to him by a rogue Postal Service employee.

Williams, 23, admitted to using the key to open mail collection boxes in Liverpool in early March, according to federal prosecutors. Williams didnt operate in street clothes: He wore a Postal Service letter carrier uniform and clutched a Postal Service mail satchel while committing the crimes, prosecutors said.

The former Postal Service employee who allegedly helped him has also been charged and is awaiting trial, prosecutors said.

In the Seattle suburb of Federal Way, located along the Puget Sound, thieves swipe mail from curbside boxes with alarming regularity, said Huster, the post office supervisor.

He suspects the citys location, surrounded by highways, is one factor that makes it a magnet for thieves.

We have incredibly easy access to I-5 and the Pacific Highway, Huster said. You can hit a place and literally vanish.

Every day it happens, he added. The amount is ridiculous.

Mail carriers know to avoid leaving easily identifiable government checks in the cluster boxes at a large apartment complex in Federal Way, Huster said, because mail has been stolen from them on a regular basis.

We leave a notice informing them to pick it up at the post office, Huster said. This complex has really been a thorn in my side.

Huster said the thefts in his area largely victimize people who are older and live on fixed incomes.

These are often low-income people, someones grandma and grandpa, he said. They are the core people we serve, and Im just left speechless. I feel awful for them.
The voters of Baroda constituency in Haryana on Sunday conducted a debate at Kathura village in which representatives of all parties, except the ruling BJP-JJP, participated and shared their vision for farmers and labourers if their candidate is voted to power in the upcoming bypoll.

The farmers had announced to boycott BJP-JJP candidate as their nominees did not favour the Kisan Mahapanchayat.

The polling dates for the Baroda constituency are yet to be announced by the election commission. The seat fell vacant after the demise of Congress legislator Sri Krishan Hooda.

Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) state president Nafe Singh Rathee, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Gupta, Meham MLA Balraj Kundu, son of demised MLA Sri Krsihan Hooda, Jeeta Hooda of the Congress took part in the debate.

INLD state chief Nafe Singh Rathee congratulated the people of Baroda for organising Kisan Mahapanchayat in which leaders of all political parties shared their plans before the public on a common platform. Our partys main agenda is to support the farmers against the three agriculture bills passed in the Parliament and aimed at destroying the farming community of the country. We will abide by the decision taken by the farmers on this issue, he said.

Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Gupta said his party had opposed the three farm bills in the lower and upper houses of the Parliament. I want to urge the farmers to stand united against these bills so that the Union government will have to amend these legislations. If the ruling party wants to benefit farmers, they should introduce a law which gives a guarantee of minimum support price (MSP). Our party is ready to support a panchayat candidate in the upcoming bypoll to teach a lesson to all political parties. I urge you to pitch a panchayat candidate, whose roots are connected to farming, he said.

Independent MLA from Meham, Balraj Kundu, slammed chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar and leader of opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda for failing to address the grievances of the farmers. Both have joined hands because Hooda did not speak against the three bills in the state assembly. Both the BJP and the Congress failed to undertake development works in Baroda. I request all voters to field a farmer candidate against the nominees of political parties in Baroda by election, he said.

Jeeta Hooda of the Congress said his father Sri Krishan Hooda had developed stadiums, new schools and undertaken other works during his tenure. The farmers were happy when the Congress was in power for ten years. The BJP government has failed to provide grants in the last six years, he said.
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Linkedin Warren Fernandez (The Jakarta Post) Singapore  Mon, September 28 2020

Over 120 newsrooms from around the world will come together today to mark World News Day, including journalists from Toronto to Taipei, Spain to Singapore.

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In the face of the COVID-19 outbreak, audiences have been turning to professional journalists like never before.

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Bad news for Virginia Democrats: Gov. Ralph "Coonman" Northam and his wife Pam have tested positive for COVID-19.

For those unaware, "Coonman" was the sobriquet listed in Gov. Northam's medical school yearbook. Northam's yearbook entry also included a photo of two people at a costume party, one in blackface and one dressed in Ku Klux Klan regalia.

Now, the governor has admitted to being in the photo, but we don't know whether he was wearing the black make-up or the white hood.

If KKK hoods are in fact the governor's thing, they certainly didn't protect him from the Wuhan flu. As someone responsible for public health in Virginia, the guv should've known to wear an N-95 mask under his Klan hood!

Now, I know what Northam's excuse would be: it's hot enough under those damn hoods already without wearing a mask, too! Someone should send Northam some all-cotton pillowcases to try out, being as cotton breathes so much better than those polyester blends. Cotton-based fabric is also easier to cut with scissors when it's time to make holes for the eyes and mouth.

A case can likewise be made that Gov. Northam was the one wearing blackface in that yearbook photo. Democrats have pushed the notion that COVID-19 discriminates against minorities. Perhaps the governor and his missus were just relaxing one evening, wearing a little blackface and sipping gin and tonics on the veranda, and the coronavirus mistook them for minorities and attacked. It could in fact be a case of mistaken identity politics.

Regardless of whether Dr. and Mrs. Coonman...er, Northam got COVID-19 from Klan hoods or wearing blackface, the issue now is how best to treat them.

Treatment with hydroxychloroquine is definitely out because President Trump recommends it. The Democrat couple will simply have to go with a more expensive and much less effective drug regimen, thereby risking their lives.

What should health professionals do if, God forbid, the governor and his wife become extremely ill? Why, they should just follow Dr. Northam's own advice for treating newborns who somehow survive abortion attempts. The Northam medical team should deliver Ralph and Pam to a nice private room in a hospital and keep them comfortable. Gin and tonics would be comforting, as would a big bowl of Sensimilla. A little Diazepam certainly couldn't hurt.

The couple may also be resuscitated if their parents wish for that, allowing time for the Northams' parents and caregivers to have an in-depth medical discussion and decide on a proper course of action.

Having seen and been absolutely mortified by Dr. Ralph's medical school yearbook, Northam's parents would no doubt opt to let Coonman die. The jury's still out on how Pam's parents feel about her.

But what if Ralph's and Pam's parents are already deceased? What then? There'd be no one to make that crucial life-or-death decision, and their case would undoubtedly end up in the Supreme Court.

Luckily for the Northams, the Supreme Court's becoming increasingly pro-life.
Srinagar, Sep 27 : Two terrorists have been killed in the ongoing encounter with security forces at Samboora area of Awantipore in south Kashmir's Pulwama district on Sunday, officials said.

The firefight between terrorists and security forces took place after forces cordoned off the area and launced a search operation on the basis of specific information about presence of terrorists.

As the security forces zeroed in on the spot where terrorists were hiding they came under a heavy volume of fire that triggered the encounter.

"Two unidentified terrorists have been killed in the encounter at Awantipore. Search is going on," police said.
One person died and three others sustained different degrees of injuries on Sunday following an accident involving two vehicles in front of Golden Gate, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Nosa Okunbor, Head, Public Affairs, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed this while speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Mr Okunbor said the accident was as a result of over-speeding by the drivers, saying,  the vehicles ran into each other at the intersection of the road

He further said that the crash involved an unregistered Ford Ranger SUV and a Nissan SUV with registration number KD 499 GE.

They had a head-on collision at the traffic stop junction of the road, our investigation shows that both vehicles were on top speed.

One person, a man, died while three others sustained various degrees of injuries, the LASEMA official said.

Mr Okunbor said that two of the injured persons were attended to by the LASEMAs paramedics before they were taken to the hospital.

He said that the affected vehicles had been moved to a police station.

(NAN)
British Prime Minister made a special reference to India's role in the manufacture and access to one of the most promising candidates currently undergoing trials during his address to the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.

In reference to the vaccine being worked on by the University of Oxford, Johnson stressed the importance of equitable access of any successful vaccine because the health of every country depends on the whole world having access to a safe and effective vaccine, wherever a breakthrough might occur.

"As I speak there are 100 potential vaccines that are trying to clear the hurdles of safety and efficacy, as if in a giant global steeplechase, Johnson said in a prerecorded speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday.

"The Oxford vaccine is now in Stage 3 of clinical trials, and in case of success AstraZeneca has already begun to manufacture millions of doses, in readiness for rapid distribution, and they have reached agreement with the Serum Institute of India to supply 1 billion doses to low and middle-income countries," he said.

Declaring that "humanity was caught napping" as the pandemic struck and has been "scrabbling to catch up" ever since, Johnson issued a spirited defence of the World Health Organisation as the one body that marshals humanity against the legions of disease and confirmed increased investment that would make the UK the largest state donor to the UN health agency if US President Donald Trump's exit from the multilateral body goes through next year.

He pushed for greater collaboration to fight a common enemy such as the virus and urged countries to reach across borders and repair "ugly rifts" and "heal the world".

"And after nine months of fighting COVID-19, the very notion of the community looks, frankly, pretty tattered. And we know that we simply can't continue in this way. Unless we get our act together," he said.

"That is why we in the UK global Britain are one of the biggest global funders of that organisation, contributing 340 million pounds over the next four years, that's an increase of 30 per cent," Johnson said.

The biggest single donor to the efforts of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness to find a vaccine and contribution of up to 571 million pounds to COVAX, a new initiative designed to distribute a COVID-19 vaccine across the world, were among some of the other UK initiatives Johnson sought to highlight in his address.

He also called for honesty to reach a joint understanding of how the pandemic began and how it was able to spread as a "moral imperative", indicating that he had no intention of finger-pointing at China.

"Not because I want to blame any country or government, or to score points. I simply believe as a former COVID patient that we all have a right to know, so that we can collectively do our best to prevent a recurrence," he said.

"And as we now send our medical detectives to interview the witnesses and the suspects bats, the pangolins, whoever we should have enough humility to acknowledge that alarm bells were ringing before this calamity struck," he said.

Describing the pandemic as an "immense psychic shock" to the human race, he declared it outrageous that such a "microscopic enemy" should have routed the unity of the human race as he condemned the perverse ranking of death tolls across different regions of the world.

"COVID-19 has caused us to cease other vital work, and I'm afraid it made individual nations seem selfish and divided from each other. Every day people were openly encouraged to study a grisly reverse Olympic league table, and to take morbid and totally mistaken comfort in the greater sufferings of others, he said.

"We cannot go on like that, we cannot make these mistakes again, he concluded.

(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.)
Disaster Declared After Brain-Eating Amoeba Found in Tap Water in Texas City

A Texas city was told not to drink tap water after a 6-year-old boy died from a brain-eating amoeba that was found in the water supply.

Residents of Lake Jackson, Texas, were informed of the development after the boy, identified as Josiah McIntyre, died of the amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, after playing in the water.

TCEQ and city officials are actively working on a plan to flush and disinfect the water system. Until the flushing and disinfecting process is complete, the city remains under the boil notice, the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ) said in a news release on Saturday. During this period of disinfection and flushing, boiling the tap water makes it safe for drinking and cooking.

The city subsequently issued a disaster declaration in response to the development, CBS News reported.

The City of Lake Jackson, County of Brazoria, Texas, is facing significant threats to life, health and property due to contaminated drinking water, the city said in its emergency request to Gov. Greg Abbott. The impact of this threat is severe. The potential damages include: sickness and death.

The boy got sick about a month ago, suffering from headaches, vomiting, and a fever, his grandparents told the Houston Chronicle. They later said doctors diagnosed him with the brain-eating amoeba infection.

We just want people to be aware that its out there, his grandmother, Natalie McIntyre, said on Saturday. If youve been exposed or possibly exposed and you experience those symptoms, get to a hospital and let somebody know.

The TECQ agency warned:

Do not allow water to go up your nose or sniff water into your nose when bathing, showering, washing your face, or swimming.

allow water to go up your nose or sniff water into your nose when bathing, showering, washing your face, or swimming. Do not jump into or put your head under bathing water.

jump into or put your head under bathing water. Do not allow children to play with hoses, sprinklers, or any toy or device that may accidentally squirt water up the nose.

allow children to play with hoses, sprinklers, or any toy or device that may accidentally squirt water up the nose. Do run bath and shower taps and hoses for 5 minutes before use to flush out the pipes.

run bath and shower taps and hoses for 5 minutes before use to flush out the pipes. Do keep small, hard plastic/blow-up pools clean by emptying, scrubbing, and allowing them to dry after each use.

keep small, hard plastic/blow-up pools clean by emptying, scrubbing, and allowing them to dry after each use. Do use only boiled and cooled, distilled, or sterile water for making sinus rinse solutions for neti pots or performing ritual ablutions.

use only boiled and cooled, distilled, or sterile water for making sinus rinse solutions for neti pots or performing ritual ablutions. Do keep swimming pools adequately disinfected before and during use. Adequate disinfection means:

Pools: free chlorine at 1-3 parts per million (ppm) and pH 7.2-7.8; and Hot tubs/spas: free chlorine 2-4 parts per million (ppm) or free bromine 4-6 ppm and pH 7.2-7.8.


Wiyaala is expected to receive the woman of the decade award at the 2020 Women's Choice Awards Africa in October 2 in Accra.

This is in recognition of her influence in the music industry, among others.

She will be honoured alongside eight other women who have been recognised for their impact in areas such as education, entrepreneurship, film and media.

They include Joy FM's veteran broadcaster Doreen Andoh, Theresa Ayoade, CEO of Charterhouse Ghana, and renowned actress Grace Omaboe.

Musicians up for awards at this year's event are eShun and Sefa.

Women's Choice Awards Africa is an initiative that identifies the efforts of women in their various fields and advocates women's rights.

In an interview with Music In Africa, the musician expressed gratitude for the award.

The woman of the decade honour means a lot to me because it recognises I have consistently stuck to the task of being 'Wiyaala'.

'Wiyaala' stands for recognising the talent God has given you, believing in yourself and being diligent in positively using that gift to make people feel happy or better about themselves. I thank the Women's Choice Awards for acknowledging my work, she said.

Wiyaala, who hails from Funsi in the Upper West Region, is a two-time VGMA winner and three-time AFRIMA awardee.

She is also a member of international female band GRRRL. She stated that her music career was greatly inspired by American pop icon Madonna.

As an activist, she has worked with various bodies to spread education and campaign on social issues such as child poverty, health and sanitation and child marriage.

In August 2020, she was named as a jury member of the Song Contest Against Child Labour, an initiative led by the European Union and the Ghana Employment & Social Protection Programme.

The 'Tuma' hitmaker admitted that she did not consider herself as an activist earlier in her career until she became a role model to some people.

It was not something I set out to do. It rather happened by default because getting public attention brings expectations. But with that realisation, it gave me a vision of the person I wanted people to see, especially the young girls and boys who come from a similar background like mine.

Other categories that are open for public nomination are journalist of the year, most promising corporate lady of the year, woman CEO of the year, entrepreneur of the year and discovery of the year.

The Women's Choice Awards Africa is organised by Global Ovations.

---Daily Guide
So as we know, the left is having a collective freakout over the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, and they seem to be in competition to see who can disgrace themselves the most, with the Barrett-Is-a-Racist-Because-She-Adopted-Black-Kids caucus off to a strong early lead.

And the left is extra mad at Harvards Noah Feldman, otherwise a liberal, for publicly praising Barrett. For this sin, Stanford Law Professor Michele Dauber called Feldman a worthless shitty white man on Twitter. Then the fun really began (better to read up from the bottom):

Attacked? So, calling someone A Stanford professor is an attack, but calling a Harvard professor a worthless shitty white man isnt?

Im also reminded of primary election night in New York in 1976, when Sen. James Buckley was informed that Daniel Patrick Moynihan had won the Democratic primary to challenge him in the general election. Buckley made a point of emphasizing professor Moynihan this, and professor Moynihan that. . . To which Moynihan gamely responded, Ah, the mudslinging has begun.

So I guess Dauber has a point, though Id love to see how she might react to being compared to Moynihan, who I am certain she also thinks was a worthless shitty white man.
JOHANNESBURG (AP) - In a year of cataclysm, some world leaders at this weeks annual United Nations meeting are taking the long view, warning: If COVID-19 doesn't kill us, climate change will.

With Siberia seeing its warmest temperature on record this year and enormous chunks of ice caps in Greenland and Canada sliding into the sea, countries are acutely aware there's no vaccine for global warming.

"We are already seeing a version of environmental Armageddon," Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said, citing wildfires in the western U.S. and noting that the Greenland ice chunk was larger than a number of island nations.

This was meant to be the year "we took back our planet," he said. Instead, the coronavirus has diverted resources and attention from what could have been the marquee issue at this U.N. gathering. Meanwhile, the U.N. global climate summit has been postponed to late 2021.

That hasnt stopped countries, from slowly sinking island nations to parched African ones, from speaking out.

"In another 75 years, many ... members may no longer hold seats at the United Nations if the world continues on its present course," the Alliance of Small Island States and the Least Developed Countries Group said.

FILE - In this Saturday, July 22, 2017, file photo, a polar bear stands on the ice in the Franklin Strait in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. In a year of cataclysm, some world leaders at September 2020's annual United Nations meeting are taking the long view, warning: If COVID-19 doesn't kill us, climate change will. With Siberia seeing its warmest temperature on record this year and enormous chunks of ice caps in Greenland and Canada sliding into the sea, countries are acutely aware there's no vaccine for global warming. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)

The main goal of the 2015 Paris climate accord is to limit the rise in global temperatures to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times, but scientists say the world is on track to soar past that. A new study found that if the world warms another 0.9 degrees Celsius (1.6 degrees Fahrenheit), the West Antarctic ice sheet will reach a point of irreversible melting. It has enough water to raise global sea levels by 5 meters (16 feet).

The Pacific island nation of Palau hasnt had a single COVID-19 infection, but President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr. warns its the rising seas that will bring the country down.

"The momentary drop in (carbon) emissions this year cannot be allowed to generate any complacency about global progress," he said, referring to the sparkling skies that followed lockdowns to slow the spread of the virus around the world. Pollution has crept back up as restrictions ease.

World powers cannot shirk their financial commitments to fighting climate change during the pandemic, Remengesau said, even as economies are battered.

But few pledges have emerged at the U.N. gathering, aside from China's announcement that it aims to have carbon dioxide emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.

The pandemic has muted the U.N. meeting, with world leaders speaking not from the podium in New York but via video from home. That has sapped the urgency of diplomacy and left nations wondering just how many people are listening.

Amid concerns that the world is distracted, it was perhaps no surprise that the student-led movement Fridays for Future returned to the streets this week for the first major demonstrations for climate action in months.

Still, island nations have seized on the unusual circumstances to show off whats at stake.

The prime minister of Tuvalu, Kausea Natano, delivered his U.N. speech with a vista of turquoise waters and swaying fronds behind him that instantly fired the imaginations of house-bound viewers.

But the prime minister quickly shattered any dreams. While Tuvalu is free of the coronavirus, the pandemic struck as the island nation was recovering from a pair of tropical cyclones - storms that scientists say are likely to become wetter as the planet warms.

Tuvalu's highest point is just a few meters (yards) above sea level. The pandemic's effect on the movement of goods exposed food insecurity as local agriculture becomes more difficult with rising sea levels, Natano said.

"While COVID-19 is our immediate crisis, climate change remains the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and well-being of the Pacific and its peoples in the long run," the prime minister said.

From the Marshall Islands, also free of COVID-19, President David Kabua used the viruss example to plead for more help now.

"Change relies on protecting the most vulnerable, because those on the frontline - whether healthcare workers battling the pandemic or small island nations sounding the alarm on climate change - are critical to the survival of us all," he said.

"Small island and atoll nations like mine do not have time for paper promises," Kabua added.

Urgent pleas also came from Africa, which contributes least to global warming but stands to suffer from it the most.

"In favoring solutions based on the respect for nature, we're also preserving the health of our peoples," said President Issoufou Mahamadou of Niger, part of the Sahel region south of the Sahara desert where temperature increases are expected to be 1.5 times higher than the world average.

"Our global home that was teeming with millions of species of God-given creatures, both great and small, is slowly dying," said Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who last year noted that his country was the only one in Africa to reach the goal of making renewable energy 75% of its energy mix.

He added: "Our world is yearning for us to stop its ruin."

___

AP Science Writer Seth Borenstein contributed to this report.

FILE - In this Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017, file photo, icebergs float in the Nuup Kangerlua Fjord after breaking off a glacier on Greenland's ice sheet in southwestern Greenland. In a year of cataclysm, some world leaders at September 2020's annual United Nations meeting are taking the long view, warning: If COVID-19 doesn't kill us, climate change will. With Siberia seeing its warmest temperature on record this year and enormous chunks of ice caps in Greenland and Canada sliding into the sea, countries are acutely aware there's no vaccine for global warming. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)

FILE - In this July 24, 2017, file photo, an iceberg floats past Bylot Island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. In a year of cataclysm, some world leaders at September 2020's annual United Nations meeting are taking the long view, warning: If COVID-19 doesn't kill us, climate change will. With Siberia seeing its warmest temperature on record this year and enormous chunks of ice caps in Greenland and Canada sliding into the sea, countries are acutely aware there's no vaccine for global warming. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)

In this image made from UNTV video, Kausea Natano, Prime Minister of Tuvalu speaks in a pre-recorded message which was played during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, at UN headquarters. (UNTV via AP)

In this photo provided by the United Nations, the pre-recorded message of Tommy Esang Remengesau Jr., President of Palau, is played during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday Sept. 23, 2020, at U.N. headquarters, in New York. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo via AP)

Young people take part in global climate protest in Warsaw, Poland, Friday, Sept. 25, 2020.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

A man, wearing a mask to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, holds a banner that reads: "United for climate" during a small climate change protest in downtown Brussels, Friday, Sept. 25, 2020. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
US Senate Republicans plan to fast-track the process to confirm Amy Coney Barrett, President Donald Trumps pick for the Supreme Court vacancy left by the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and have her on the bench in the final days of voting that ends on November 3.

Lindsey Graham, the top Republican on the senate judiciary committee that will conduct the confirmation process, said he plans to start the process on October 12, and be ready for a floor vote after October 26.

Barrett is widely expected to be confirmed because Democrats, who are opposing her nomination, are a 47-53 minority in the Senate and do not have the numbers to stop her.

Trump announced his pick at a White House event on Saturday, calling Barrett one of our nations most brilliant and gifted legal minds. On Sunday, he said the Senate will easily confirm Barrett before the election.

Barretts confirmation will give conservatives a 6-3 majority on the Supreme Court, tilting its ideological balance for generations. Democrats are worried and against it. Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential candidate, called for the Senate to not act on the nomination until after the American people select their next president and the next Congress.

He pointed out Barretts opposition to the Affordable Care Act, the Obama-era health insurance plan that Trump and Republicans have been trying to overturn. Democrats are using it as a rallying cry to drum up opposition to the nomination. Its about healthcare, healthcare and healthcare, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told CNN.

Barrett said in her speech accepting the nomination that her judicial philosophy was moulded by late Justice Antonin Scalia, her mentor: A judge must apply the law as written. Judges are not policymakers, and they must be resolute in setting aside any policy views they might hold.

Meanwhile, Biden held a lead over Trump, according to two polls. He had a 10 percentage point advantage over Trump in a poll by the Washington Post and ABC News and eight point lead in a survey by the New York Times and Siena College.

From professor to likely top court judge

Barrett, 48, will be the youngest justice on the current US Supreme Court if confirmed.

She was a judge on the seventh circuit court of appeals since 2017, also as a Trump nominee.

After graduating summa cum laude from Notre Dame Law School, she clerked for late Justice Antonin Scalia, practised as a trial and an appellate litigator in DC and taught law for 15 years. Based on her writings and rulings, experts said she is anti-abortion and pro-gun, and in favour of allowing non-violent felons to buy guns.

She is a hardliner on immigration and supported Trumps wealth test to keep poorer immigrants out of the US.
ATHENS, Greece: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is due to arrive in Greece on an official visit early Monday, has had a conversation on tensions in the eastern Mediterranean with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

Pleased to speak today with @NATO Secretary General @jensstoltenberg to discuss de-escalation of the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and reiterate the importance of NATO Alliance unity, Pompeo tweeted while en route to Greece.

Relations between NATO members Greece and Turkey, always tense, have further deteriorated this year over long-standing disputes, including maritime boundaries and energy rights. France has been vocal in its support for Greece and the latters call for European Union sanctions.

Pompeo is due to arrive in Thessaloniki, Greeces second-largest city, shortly after midnight Sunday on the first leg of a five-day trip to Europe, which includes visits to Italy, the Vatican and Croatia. This is is the first visit by a U.S. secretary of state to Thessaloniki.

According to State Department background briefings, Pompeo will meet with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias to renew the two countries shared commitment to advance security, peace, and prosperity in the eastern Mediterranean and celebrate the strongest U.S.-Greek relationship in decades.

On Monday, Pompeo will meet with Dendias, sign a bilateral science and technology agreement, as well as host energy sector business leaders for a discussion to highlight energy diversification and infrastructure projects in Greece. He will also join members of the citys Jewish community to commemorate Yom Kippur.

Pompeo will depart later Monday to visit the NATO Souda Bay naval base. He will tour the facilities Tuesday and have lunch with Mitsotakis at the latters nearby residence. The two will issue a joint statement.

The U.S. secretary of state will depart Greece early Wednesday for Rome.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
New Delhi: Asked to wear a mask and wait for their turn, a doctor was allegedly assaulted by a couple at the Delhi government-run Maharishi Valmiki Hospital. The hospital has filed a police complaint in the matter while the resident doctors' association at the hospital wrote a letter to the medical superintendent, demanding action under the Disaster Management Act.

"The incident happened on Saturday morning while I was in the minor operation theatre. The woman had swelling in her thigh and her attendant, who was not wearing a mask, wanted me to examine her before others," Dr Rahul Jain, the complainant, said. "He constantly kept pressuring me. I told him to wear a mask and wait for his turn, he claimed. The doctor alleged that the man entered the operation theatre and assaulted him. Jain claimed the man also threw a stool at him but he dodged it.

"When the hospital staff tried to intervene, the woman started accusing me of behaving inappropriately with her. Even after the police came, he continued to threaten me. I have bruises all over my body," he alleged. The doctor said the woman's allegations had caused him "immense mental stress".
Montreal, CA (H4T1V6)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun early followed by cloudy skies this afternoon. High -17C. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Variable clouds with snow showers. Low --20C. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 60%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said the Centre would settle the issues of Northeasts remaining rebel groups, which are outside the purview of peace process, by 2024.

In the past six years under (Narendra) Modijis government, several peace initiatives were taken in the Northeast. Agreements signed with eight extremist groups saw hundreds of rebels laying down weapons. The issues of remaining small number of groups will be settled by 2024 by taking along the chief ministers of the region, Shah said in his inaugural speech of Destination North East-2020 at a virtual conference.

The four-day event is aimed at highlighting the regions potentials in the fields of eco-tourism, culture, heritage and business.

Most rebel groups in the Northeast are lying low following their signing of peace agreements with the Centre. A small number of others are, however, still wielding the gun.

Elaborating on the peace initiatives, Shah said blockades in Manipur had become a thing of the past, the India-Bangladesh land boundary agreement was signed and the issues of the Bodos, and (displaced) Brus of Mizoram were resolved.

Stating that peace is a prerequisite for development, he said bandh and violence used to hit headlines but after Modi had first taken over as the Prime Minister in 2014, peace returned to the Northeast.

I have seen this region in great details and spent time in each state. Without it, India and Indian culture is incomplete. The culture of the Northeast is the ornament of India. I wonder if there is a region in the world that has so many languages and dialects. Every state in the Northeast has struggled for years to safeguard its culture, Shah said.

He said the Centre was focussed on the regions infrastructure development and this was manifested in the massive increase in allocation of Central funds under the Modi government.

There has been a 250% increase in funds allocation compared to the times of the Congress. The allocation by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) increased by 65% in 2019-20 compared to that of 2014-15, Shah said.

He said he was confident the Northeast would be worlds tourism hub in the near future given the infrastructure it got under the Modi government.

Wherever Destination North East was organised, it became a centre of attraction. I request DoNER Minister Jitendra Singh to have the next event in my constituency, Gandhinagar. We will introduce the cultures of the Northeast and Gujarat to each other, Shah added.
Honda has offered a look at its next electric vehicle, and itll be decidedly roomier than the E compact car. The automakers newly unveiled SUV E:concept is an unusual two-door utility that indicates the direction of a future production EV. The machine will include omnidirectional ADAS that uses 360-degree radar and a wide-angle front camera to offer driving assistance thats better aware of objects on your periphery.

Youll also get the next-generation version of the Honda Connect platform, including an AI assistant, phone integration, and over-the-air software updates.

The company is quiet about specifications, release dates or pricing, but says the production model will be its first EV destined for China. Its not clear if the street-ready version of the SUV E:concept will be limited to China, however. While we wouldnt expect a two-door version to reach many parts of the world, a four-door could be more appealing in an SUV-obsessed North America.

Honda has already committed to releasing two EVs in North America using GMs platform for the 2024 model year. We wouldnt count on them being directly related to this concept SUV, but it might hint at the design language for those future zero-emission rides.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 17:18:55|Editor: huaxia

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LAGOS, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has strongly condemned Friday's ambush on a convoy of government officials in the northeastern state of Borno, which killed 11 security men.

Nigerian police on Saturday confirmed eight policemen and three members of the government-backed Civilian Joint Task Force were killed when Boko Haram militants ambushed the convoy near Monguno town in the state.

The officials were on their way to Baga town, where hundreds of returning Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were to be received.

In a statement reaching Xinhua on Sunday, Buhari conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims, the people and government of Nigeria and wished those injured a speedy recovery.

He described the attack as an orchestrated sabotage against the long-planned return of displaced persons to their local communities, urging security and intelligence agencies to intensify efforts to check sabotage, sanitize the roads, venues and locations well in advance of returning IDPs while working closely with local communities.

Boko Haram has been trying to establish an Islamist state in northeastern Nigeria since 2009, extending its attacks to countries in the Lake Chad Basin. Enditem
She may been enjoying the moment, having just given birth to her second baby, but that won't stop Leighton Meester from looking towards the future.

On Friday, the Gossip Girl actress took to Instagram to share her views about the upcoming November election in a very bold way.

Leighton, 34, who originally hails from Texas, posted a video of herself singing Edelweiss from The Sound of Music that was ripe with political overtones.

Edelweiss: Leighton Meester, 34, took to Instagram to share her political views ahead of the November election. Singing 'Edelweiss' from The Sound of Music, Meester called President Trump a 'would-be-dictator' while urging her followers to vote him out

Posting a very poignant caption, she drew a scathing comparison between president Donald Trump and the Fascist regime that threatened the Austrian family in the movie, as she urged her 6.1M followers to vote.

'In The Sound of Music, Captain von Trapp sings 'Edelweiss' to his beloved country as its being taken over by fascism' she wrote providing a bit of back story.

She continued, 'Its my solemn duty and honor to join you all in voting this hateful, would-be dictator and all his enablers out of office on November 3rd.'

The very vocal starlette put her angelic pipes on display as she crooned into her microphone, using music as her outlet.

Crooner: The Gossip Girl star put her stellar pipes on display as she used music as her outlet to convey her political beliefs with her 6.1M followers

Sitting in a room surrounded by musical instruments, Leighton strummed her acoustic guitar in a grey tank top.

She sported a fresh face, leaving her natural brown locks down as she put on a show, dazzling her followers with her vocal abilities.

The video has amassed over 1.3M views and was quick to garner a slew of comments from various celebrity colleagues.

Fellow actor Justin Long commented 'I wish this had 20 more verses' and Everybody Loves Raymond star Brad Garrett added to the sentiment 'Thank you Leighton!!!!'

Celebrity support: Fellow actor Justin Long commented 'I wish this had 20 more verses' and Everybody Loves Raymond star Brad Garrett added to the sentiment 'Thank you Leighton!!!!'

Former Gossip Girls co-star Michelle Trachtenberg commented 'Beautiful, vote. Him. Out.'

Also taking to social media to talk voting this week was Leighton's husband Adam Brody, 40.

Adam appeared on an Instagram live to talk the importance of voting as he paired with Vote Forward, a movement that encourages voter turnout through a letter writing campaign.

Speaking on how he was doing The OC actor said, 'Its been this constant dichotomy of enjoying my life and freaking out and pulling my hair over the state of affairs of the world and our country right now.'

Vote forward: Leighton's husband, Adam took to Instagram live to encourage voting. He partnered with organization Vote Forward that aims to encourage voter turnout through a letter writing campaign

A few weeks ago Leighton and Adam confirmed that they had just welcomed their second child, a son, into the world after pregnancy rumors swirled in the spring as Leighton was seen boasting a baby bump.

The couple of nine years, first met back in 2011 on the set for their movie The Oranges, as the teen dream crossover between Gossip Girl and The OC became a couple.

They got engaged in 2013 and crossed paths again on the big screen in their 2014 film Life Partners.

The two now share a five-year-old daughter, Arlo Day Brody and their newborn son whose name has not been released.
opposition parties have decided to boycott a meeting of the country's parliamentary leaders convened by their National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser on Monday to discuss the impending elections in the military occupied region of (GB).

The decision to discard the meeting was "officially" announced by Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari following reports that Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had talked to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and discussed plans regarding the newly-formed alliance by the opposition, to oust prime minister Imran Khan, Dawn reported.

"The Speaker NA and the federal ministers have nothing to do with the elections in GB. We condemn the interference of the federal government with elections. My party will only be engaging with the Election Commission GB on our demands for fair elections," Bhutto-Zardari tweeted.

Last week, President Arif Alvi had announced that the polls will be conducted on November 15.

This move to change Gilgit Baltistan's status and turning it into province by giving it representation on all constitutional bodies is being seen as a "belated response" to India's moves to nullify Articles 370 and 35A in Jammu and Kashmir, according to the European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS).

In response to Pakistan's decision to usurp Gilgit Baltistan, India had responded strongly saying that "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 union territories 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 India's internal matters".

(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.)
Later, when Payton testified before a grand jury, he said he saw three, not two, assailants. For the first time, he implicated Burner in the murder. Payton again said he was in his parked car, but this time he placed himself closer to the location of the shooting. He told the jurors that Burner was among the group he saw kill Wilson and that he remembered seeing Burner become frozen in place when the shooting began. Burner was arrested a day later.
An American has been sued by an island resort in Thailand over a negative TripAdvisor review, authorities said Saturday, and could face up to two years in prison if found guilty.

Domestic tourism is still happening in Thailand, where coronavirus numbers are relatively low, with locals and expats heading to near-empty resorts - including Koh Chang island, famed for its sandy beaches and turquoise waters.

But a recent visit to the Sea View Resort on the island landed Wesley Barnes in trouble after he wrote unflattering online reviews about his holiday.

'The Sea View Resort owner filed a complaint that the defendant had posted unfair reviews on his hotel on the Tripadvisor website,' Colonel Thanapon Taemsara of Koh Chang police told AFP.

The Sea View Resort on Koh Chang Island have sued against Wesley Barnes over a number of 'unfair reviews' left on TripAdvisor

He said Barnes was accused of causing 'damage to the reputation of the hotel', and of quarreling with staff over not paying a corkage fee for alcohol brought to the hotel.

According documents shared online by Richard Barrow, a British expat travel blogger in Thailand, one review by Barnes in July said he encountered 'unfriendly staff' who 'act like they don't want anyone here'.

'Unfriendly staff, no one ever smiles. They act like they don't want anyone there. The restaurant manager was the worst...There are other hotels with better-friendlier staff.'

At least one review was posted in June on TripAdvisor accusing the hotel of 'modern day slavery' -- which the site removed after a week for violating its guidelines.

'Do not sleep here!' a review said. 'Don't support modern day slavery of Thai people! The staff are unfriendly because of their management...' part of the review read.

Reviews reportedly left by Barnes linked Sea View Resort to 'modern day slavery' and accssed staff of being unfriendly

Barnes, who works in Thailand, was arrested by immigration police and returned to Koh Chang where he was briefly detained and then freed on bail.

The Sea View Resort said legal action was only taken because Barnes had penned multiple reviews on different sites over the past few weeks.

'We chose to file a complaint to serve as a deterrent, as we understood he may continue to write negative reviews week after week for the foreseeable future,' the hotel said, adding that staff had attempted to contact Barnes before filing the complaint.

In a five-page statement shared to Barrow, the hotel claimed three main reasons for the lawsuit.

Richard Barrow, a British expat travel blogger in Thailand , shared statements from both Barnes and Sea View Resort following news of the arrest

Pictured: part of a five-page statement from Sea View Resort to Richard Barrow in regards to the Barnes' arrest

'He left fabricated stories on his reviews on TripAdvisor and Google that included xenophobic connotations, accusations of slavery and even comments that could mislead readers to associate our property with the Coronavirus.

'He had been posting reviews roughly 1-2 weeks apart with obvious defamatory intentions.

'Despite out multiple efforts to contact him to resolve this in an amicable way for well over a month, he chose to ignore use completely. He only replied to emails, messages on reviews sites, etc. once he had been notified of our complaint by authorities.'

But in another statement to Barrow, Barnes reportedly became upset with staff after they were allegedly unpleasant and because of a disagreement over pricing.

'The staff were unfriendly at every turn. The night progressed and we started drinking on the beach right outside the restaurant,' the statement said.

'To avoid drinking and driving, we decided to eat at the restaurant at the hotel. We had our bottle of gin and was told it would cost an extra 500 baht [$15.80] to have it there.

'We were shocked and complained a little to the server but my friend was willing to pay for it. The server told the manager we complained and he came over with an attitude. After having a little to drink and paying so much for the room, I got a little attitude back.

Pictured: Barrow shared statement made by Barnes on his Twitter count

Pictured: a statement from Barnes shared with Richard Barrow

'Eventually we were not charged. Before we left, my friend the peaceful one, wanted to tell the manager that he handled the situation wrong The manager got upset and tried to argue with my friend,' Barnes claimed.

Barnes did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Thailand's notorious anti-defamation laws have long drawn scrutiny from human rights and press freedom groups, who say powerful players use it as a weapon to stifle free expression.

The maximum sentence is two years in prison, along with a 200,000 baht ($6,300) fine.

Barrow noted in a Twitter post that 'In most cases, defamation laws are good as they are there to protect us. But it is sometimes abused.'

'To have someone arrested at their workplace for posting a negative review is surely a step too far. Does this now mean none of us should post one star hotel reviews in Thailand?'

Earlier this year, a Thai journalist was sentenced to two years in prison for posting a tweet referencing a dispute over working conditions at a chicken farm owned by the Thammakaset company.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Member of Chamber of Deputies of Italy, member of the Italy-Armenia friendship group Paolo Formentini calls on Azerbaijan to stop firing in the direction of Artsakh, as well as the targeting of the civilian population.

I strongly condemn today's attack of Azerbaijan against the Republic of Artsakh and call on Azerbaijan to stop firing as well as targeting civilian population, the Italian MP said on Twitter.

On September 27 early morning the Azerbaijani military has launched a massive cross-border artillery attack on Artsakh, including on civilian settlements. Peaceful settlements are also under bombardment, including the capital city of Stepanakert.

The Azerbaijani side suffered losses in its military equipment.

Dozens of civilians in Artsakh were wounded as a result of the Azerbaijani attack. A woman and a child were killed in the Azerbaijani attack.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Published on 2020/09/27 | Source

Statues discouraging people trying to jump to their deaths in the Han River are placed in Seoul's Mapo Bridge in the capital.

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Korea still has the most suicides in the OECD and their numbers are rising despite government efforts to reduce them.

According to Statistics Korea's 2019 data on causes of death released Tuesday, the country's suicide rate stood at 26.9 per 100,000 people last year, up 0.9 percent from the year before.

The rate fell from 28.5 in 2013 to 24.3 in 2017 but then rose again.

Suicide deaths increased from 12,463 in 2017 to 13,799 people last year or a daily average of 38. That made suicide was the country's fifth leading cause of death in all age groups but the leading cause among young people.

Meanwhile, the mortality rate of Alzheimer's disease, which accounts for the largest proportion of dementia cases, rose from the ninth leading cause of death or 12 per 100,000 in 2018 to seventh or 13.1 last year as the population aged.

For all kinds of dementia including Alzheimer's the death rate was 20.2 in 2019, nearly double the 10 years earlier of 11.8. The death rate among women was 28.2, 2.3 times higher than the rate among men.

Cancer remained the leading cause of death with a mortality rate of 158.2 in 2019, up 2.5 percent from the previous year.
The International Energy Agency and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries have both resumed cutting their forecasts for this years oil demand. In the past two months, the IEA has trimmed its forecast by 400,000 barrels a day, while OPEC has reduced its own by 500,000 barrels. And they may have further yet to fall. Neil Atkinson, the IEAs Head of Oil Industry and Markets Division, said at a Bloomberg event on Thursday that the agency is more likely to make a downgrade than an upgrade to demand forecasts in its next monthly report.
On Friday, the airline agreed a deal with the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) to avoid compulsory redundancies among its pilots. Photo: Getty

EasyJet (EZJ.L) has rejected claims made by a union representative that the company is hanging by a thread, as reported by the BBC.

Martin Entwistle allegedly said that the budget airline is in a really dire situation, after a meeting with easyJets chief financial officer Andrew Findlay, in a leaked recording obtained by the broadcaster.

However, easyJet denies that the recording reflects what easyJet or its CFO said.

The airline told Yahoo Finance: We have been clear the whole industry has been impacted by the pandemic, however easyJet has taken a prudent approach to capacity and the right actions on cash preservation. The airline continues to keep all liquidity options under review, but no decisions have been taken.

Winter flying is always significantly lower than summer and easyJet will continue with its prudent and dynamic approach to capacity over the winter. No decisions have been taken and we will update the market in due course.

As we said at our recent trading update, changing restrictions and quarantine requirements continue to impact consumer confidence to book travel so we continue to call on the UK Government for sector specific support.

In response to the claims, BALPA said: The crisis in aviation is well known and something we have been highlighting for months. A local rep was recorded giving his own impression of some of the difficulties that easyJet - like all airlines - are facing.

The union added that it has confidence in easyJet's business plan to get through this winter period and help power the UK's economic recovery in the coming months.

READ MORE: Coronavirus: EasyJet jobs at risk as bases close and Ryanair axes flights

On Friday, the airline agreed a deal with the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) to avoid compulsory redundancies among its pilots.

BALPA said 727 pilots were at risk of losing their jobs earlier this year and that 60 pilots left voluntarily, while 1,500 opted for part-time working, the unions general secretary Brian Strutton hailed it a remarkable achievement.

Story continues

Strutton said: This is a remarkable achievement which has only been possible because of three groups of people  the [BALPA] reps, easyJet management who have worked with us constructively during this process, but most of all the easyJet pilots themselves who have volunteered in record numbers for part-time work and voluntary redundancy to help save their colleagues jobs.

The COVID-19 pandemic saw passenger numbers dwindle as the global aviation industry was hammered by the impact of grounded flights, especially during the lockdown and quarantine measures.

In August, Britains biggest budget airline said that it had raised an additional 203m from the sale and leaseback of its aircraft, as it further bolstered its balance sheet in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. It was also hit by the UK governments decision to add France to the quarantine list, after it ramped up its summer flight timetables to meet demand despite heightened uncertainty about the measures.

At the time, chief executive Johan Lundgren said that bookings for the rest of the summer were higher than expected, prompting the airline to expand its schedule to about 40% of capacity in its fourth-quarter between July and September, rather than the 30% expected last month.

Also in August, easyJet confirmed three UK bases will close, with the airline expecting a slow recovery amid the pandemic and slashing costs.

While in May, it announced plans to slash around 4,500 jobs globally, after warning it did not expect demand to reach pre-virus levels for another three years.

In June, the low-cost airline announced that it had delayed the delivery of 24 Airbus (AIR.PA) aircraft until sometime between 2025 and 2027, noting that it had secured additional flexibility from the French plane-maker.
I can hardly wait to compare my cognitive capability to the cognitive capability of the man Im running against, Biden said earlier this year.

Im looking forward to it too. For one thing, I want to reassure myself. But I frankly find it hard to imagine that the Biden Ive been watching will crumble under Trumps jabs, no matter how far below the belt he hits.

Three additional points:

First, as a matter of pure political strategy, Trump may have set the bar too low. If voters expect a candidate who doesnt know where he is and belongs in a home, all Biden will have to do is walk unassisted onto the stage wearing his underwear beneath rather than over his pants  and he will have passed the test set for him.

Im not saying thats what we want in a candidate. Just that the bar is low.

Second, lets remember this isnt a referendum on Biden but a comparative race. Plenty of voters would vastly prefer an aging and even declining Biden to Trump operating at 100%. Biden has empathy, four decades of political experience, smart people around him  and Trump, even at his intellectual zenith, would have been an abysmal president.
The U.S. Department of Defense has given 25 mine-resistant vehicles to police agencies in New York state through a military surplus program.

Valued at about $650,000, the so-called MRAP is an ambush-protected vehicle like the ones used in war to protect soldiers from IED attacks.

The Syracuse City Police Department has one. Theyve also gone to agencies in Oswego, Jefferson and others across the state.

Local governments have also requested rifles, gun cabinets, knives and night vision equipment. More often, they request safety equipment and clothing, items like pulse oximeters and cold-weather overalls.

The program has come under question by activists who want to demilitarize police departments.

Earlier this month, the city of Syracuse posted a list of its surplus military equipment on the citys website. It was requested by an activist group called The Peoples Agenda for Policing.

Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard pulled the full list of items given to all New York agencies into a searchable database. Just hit search to see everything in order of the most expensive equipment. Or search for a specific agency.

Contact Michelle Breidenbach | mbreidenbach@syracuse.com | 315-470-3186.
Sometimes the legal thing feels like the wrong thing. Sometimes monstrously so.

A Black woman who had been asleep in her bed was gunned down by Louisville police in a botched raid in the wee hours of March 13 that never should have happened. Surely, thought many people following the case across the nation, the police officers who killed her should face criminal charges.

There was so much wrong with the way police served their warrant that night, abruptly banging on the door after midnight as Breonna Taylor, an emergency room tech, and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, lay in bed. Moments later, she was dead on the floor in her hallway, never even knowing why police were there. Americans who have grown angry and weary over a pattern of police shootings involving unarmed Black men, women and children cannot be blamed for assuming that justice, this time, would mean something more than what the long-deliberating grand jury handed down Wednesday.

The Kentucky grand jurys decision not to indict either of the officers whose shots killed Taylor, and instead charge only one officer with the obscure felony of wanton endangerment, has led to understandable heartbreak and outrage on the streets of Louisville.

But the grand jurors werent impaneled to decide the case on emotion, past injustices or media attention. They were bound to the facts and the law, which apparently did not support charges of murder or other crimes.

And thats the message that must get through in these days of rage and unrest.

Thats the hard part about criminal law sometimes, former prosecutor and leading criminal defense attorney Brian Butler told the editorial board. What happened to Breonna Taylor is a tragedy but that doesnt necessarily mean someone committed a criminal act.

That does nothing to lessen the pain of the outrageous events, nor the anger over the fact that the police should never have been ordered to conduct the raid in the first place.

Walker, roused from sleep, has said he called out to ask who was there, and when he did not hear a response assumed, as many of us would, that the home was being invaded. As the plainclothes officers, all white, broke through the door, Walker fired, striking the lead officer, Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, in an artery in his leg. As Mattingly fell, he fired back, as did the officer next in line, Myles Cosgrove. They missed Walker, but hit Taylor, who was standing next to him in the hallway, with six bullets. She collapsed and, according to a coroners statement to The Courier Journal, likely died within a minute.

A third officer, former Detective Brett Hankison, fired 10 shots through a sliding glass door and a window, both covered by blinds. His shots went through walls into a neighbors apartment, and Louisvilles police chief fired him weeks ago for violating department policy requiring officers to have a target in sight before firing, and for displaying an extreme indifference to human life.

The grand jury indicted Hankison on three felony counts of wanton endangerment, Class D felonies that each carry a maximum penalty of a $10,000 fine and five years in prison.

Walker was initially charged with attempted murder of a police officer, but the chief local prosecutor dismissed charges, citing his claims to self defense. Earlier this month, the city reached a $12 million settlement with Taylors family. A key factor in the grand jurys decision seems to be that Walker shot first, giving justification in the eyes of the law for the officers returning fire. The same Kentucky statutes that gave Walker the right to self defense gave the officers the right to shoot back when their own lives were in danger.

MASON TRINCA, STR / NYT

As the investigation into the officers dragged on for months, activists and Taylors family had grown increasingly frustrated by the slow response, by officials reluctance to release investigatory details, and by revelations of errors and misstatements by police.

For instance, the public has since learned that just before the three officers burst into Taylors home, police conducting a related raid elsewhere had already arrested the alleged drug dealer being sought: an ex-boyfriend of Taylors named Jamarcus Glover.

Errors in the initial police report inexplicably stated that officers had not used force to enter Taylors home and that she was not injured.

Leading up to Wednesdays announcement of the grand jury decisions by Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, a Republican elected last fall, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, a three-term Democrat, declared a state of emergency.

Camerons announcement that only Hankison had been indicted left many protesters in Louisville in tears, and Taylors mother enraged. They had been part of Louisvilles more than 100 days of protests, which had left large swaths of downtown boarded up as large groups converged and at times, armed confrontations arose. On Wednesday evening, protests grew as marchers moved out of downtown into more prosperous, largely white areas near the citys famed system of parks.

Two officers were shot overnight Wednesday. The police chief said they would recover, and officials were girding for continued protests through the weekend. The pain is understandable. But violence will do nothing to avenge Taylors death.

Energy is best spent trying to outlaw, once and for all, law enforcements use of no-knock raids, especially when their intended targets are lower-level drug dealers. Louisville voted to ban no-knock warrants in June.

Houston is painfully familiar with the consequences of such reckless tactics. In January 2019, Rhogena Nicholas and Dennis Tuttle were shot to death in a botched drug raid at their Harding Street home when they too tried to defend themselves. Former Houston police officer Gerald Goines was charged with murder after investigators found he had falsified an affidavit to secure the warrant for the raid. In that shooting, the victims were white and Goines is Black.

Steve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

No evidence in Taylors case has yet suggested that kind of outright fraud. An FBI investigation continues amid questions over whether Louisville police properly obtained warrants for Taylors home and other addresses the night of the shooting but the three officers who busted into Taylors apartment had nothing to do with securing the warrant. They had been just one of a handful of teams chosen to carry them out.

They werent indicted because they fired their guns with a legitimate fear of death. Thats the law.

So why does it feel so unjust? Because those officers should have never been authorized to storm into Taylors apartment as they did. Because it was monstrously bad judgment from their superiors to send them. Because no-knock warrants put the lives of innocent people, and officers, in needless danger.

Because the sickening failure of our leaders to respond to the never-ending pattern of police violence against unarmed Black people in this country has made it hard for some of us see the justice for the tragedy.

Correction: Sept. 25, 10:00 a.m. This editorial was updated to correct the spelling of Kenneth Walkers last name in two places.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 01:35:58|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday called for greater international cooperation in fighting COVID-19 and preventing future pandemics, saying that "everyone will lose" unless countries join hands to defeat the virus.

In a pre-recorded speech played at the annual general debate of the UN General Assembly in New York, Johnson said, "After nine months of fighting COVID-19, the very notion of the international community looks, frankly, pretty tattered. And we know that we simply can't continue in this way."

"Unless we get our act together. Unless we unite and turn our fire against our common foe, we know that everyone will lose," he said. "The inevitable outcome would be to prolong this calamity and increase the risk of another."

COVID-19 has "united humanity as never before", he said. "And yet the crisis has also been an extraordinary force for division."

Meanwhile, the prime minister described the World Health Organization (WHO) as "the one body that marshals humanity against the legions of disease" and announced a 30 percent increase in funding over the next four years, amounting to 340 million pounds (about 433.33 million U.S. dollars).

Johnson laid out a five-point plan to prevent future pandemics, including efforts to forge "a global network of zoonotic research hubs" to spot a new pandemic before it starts, to develop the manufacturing capacity for treatments and vaccines, to design a global pandemic early warning system, to have all the protocols ready for an emergency response, and finally to lift the export controls on the vital tools such as gloves, protective equipment, thermometers.

The Oxford vaccine is now in stage three of clinical trials, and in case of success AstraZeneca has already begun to manufacture millions of doses, in readiness for rapid distribution, he said.

Countries such as Britain, China, Russia and the United States are racing against time to develop coronavirus vaccines.

"The health of every country depends on the whole world having access to a safe and effective vaccine, wherever a breakthrough might occur; and the UK will do everything in our power to bring this about," Johnson added. Enditem
Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has said Government and security agencies have identified the sources of funding and key actors behind the Western Togoland secessionist group.



In view of that, he said, the security agencies had taken stringent measures to deal with it decisively and publish names of key actors on the watch list in the coming days, in order to forestall any future occurrence.



He said government considered the action by the group as purely criminal and infringement of the country's laws and, would, therefore, prosecute them accordingly.



Mr Oppong Nkrumah announced this at a news conference in Accra on Sunday, to provide an update on the Homeland Study Group Foundation's attack and road blockade of some major entry and exit points to the Volta Region, in the early hours of Friday, September 25.



The Minister refuted claims that the security agencies were not proactive to gather security intelligence about the group's intended action, saying the security agencies "did well by securing critical state installations such as Akosombo and Akuse dams, Adomi Bridge and Ho Central Market which the group had targeted to blast.



The secessionist group attacked two police stations at Aveyime and Mepe, and seized 10 AK47 assault rifles after breaking into the police armoury.



They ransacked the police stations, released inmates in custody, physically assaulted and injured police officers.

The group, subsequently, blocked major roads to the Region and burnt car tyres.



However, a joint police/military enforcement team rescued the police officers who were held hostage.

The security agencies have so far arrested 31 members of the secessionist group, airlifted to Accra and in the custody of the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service were being interrogated.



One person died and several others injured during the exchange of fire between the security agencies and the secessionist group.



The Minister acknowledged the condemnation of the group's action by the Council of State, National House of Chiefs and a section of the public and urged all well-meaning Ghanaians to rally behind the state in solidarity to prevent the whipping up of political or ethnic sentiments.



Mr. Oppong Nkrumah said the security agencies would prefer appropriate charges against them and arraign them before court for prosecution.



He also rubbished claims that the government was creating confusion in the opposition NDC party's "stronghold" ahead of the December 7 Election and used it as the basis to deploy soldiers to the place to intimidate voters.



The Homeland Study Group Foundation in May 2019 declared independence for Western Togoland, saying that they were no more part of Ghana.



This led to the arrest of a 78-year old Charles Kormi Kudzordzi, aka "Papavi", the Leader of the group and some other members of the group.



Some were later released, while others faced prosecution in different regions.

Source: GNA









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(CNN)  China's Ambassador to the United Nations said Thursday that the US has "created enough troubles for the world already" as the two nations continued to spar over the coronavirus pandemic during a tense meeting of the UN Security Council.

US Representative to the UN Kelly Craft criticized China over what she said was a "decision to hide the origins of this virus, minimize its danger, and suppress scientific cooperation." Craft claimed Beijing's actions "transformed a local epidemic into a global pandemic."

China's Zhang Jun swiftly rejected Craft's characterization of events.

"I must say, enough is enough. You have created enough troubles for the world already," Zhang said.

"Regrettably, we have once again heard noises from the US that are so at odds with the atmosphere of the meeting."

Zhang added that Beijing rejected the "baseless" accusations.

The spat came two days after US President Donald Trump used much of his pre-recorded video address to the General Assembly to blame China for the Covid-19 pandemic and for withholding information about the virus.

On Tuesday, Trump accused Beijing of "allowing flights to leave China and infect the world" and referred to Covid-19 as the "China virus" on Tuesday.

On Thursday, Zhang said the US had only itself to blame. Since January, the US has diagnosed more than 6 million coronavirus cases in its population, and lost more than 200,000 lives to the illness.

The Russian representative at the Thursday session also criticized Craft's accusations.

"We regret the fact that the representative of the United States chose this meeting and the platform of the UN Security Council to make unfounded accusation against one of the members of the Security Council," said Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia.

Covid-19 has loomed heavily over this year's summit, which was forced online due to the pandemic and the 14-day quarantine regulations in New York City.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has repeatedly pleaded for unity between member states and warned on Thursday that the relationship between the US and China was moving "in a very dangerous direction."

Thursday's Security Council meeting was held virtually.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "China says US has 'created enough troubles for the world' as UN spat continues"
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

Trend:

The Armenian armed forces carried out a large-scale provocation, subjecting the positions of the Azerbaijani army in the front-line zone to intense shelling by using large-caliber weapons, mortars, and artillery installations of various caliber on September 27 morning, the Azerbaijani Prosecutor General's Office told Trend on Sept. 27.

While continuing its provocative actions and grossly violating its obligations upon the Geneva Conventions, the military-political leadership of aggressor Armenia intensively fired the densely populated territories by using heavy weapons, thus continuing to commit crimes against civilians.

As a result of the intensive shelling by the Armenian armed forces of Gapanli village of Azerbaijans Tartar district, Chiragli and Orta Garvend villages of Aghdam district, Alkhanli, Shukurbeyli villages of Fizuli district, Jojug Marjanli village of Jabrayil district, several villages of Goranboy and Dashkesan districts, there are dead and wounded among civilians, as well as big damage was caused to most of the residential buildings and civilian facilities. Farms and vehicles were destroyed.

Some 14 wounded people have been hospitalized.

As a result of shelling by the Armenian armed forces, which targeted the civilian population, Jojug Marjanli village in Jabrayil district was de-energized due to an artillery shell hitting an electric power substation.

Presently, the representatives of the Prosecutor General's Office are taking all possible investigative measures in combat conditions, including appropriate expertise to determine the severity of the injuries of the victims, as well as assess the amount of damage caused to the civilian infrastructure, the message said.

The legal assessment on this issue will be given after the full investigation of all the details by representatives of the prosecutor's office, as well as the military prosecutor's office, the message said.

The appropriate work is being carried out to collect evidence and prepare documents to ensure the prosecution and punishment of the Armenian military personnel who have committed numerous war crimes within the international law," the message said.

The Azerbaijani Prosecutor General's Office also called on the media and users of social networks not to use the unofficial, unspecified, biased information.

The Armenian armed forces committed a large-scale provocation, subjecting the positions of the Azerbaijani army to intensive shelling from large-caliber weapons, mortars, and artillery installations of various calibers in the front-line zone on Sept. 27 at 06:00 (GMT+4).

The command of the Azerbaijani Army decided to launch a counter-offensive operation of Azerbaijani troops along the entire front to suppress the combat activity of the Armenian armed forces and ensure the safety of the civilian population.

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.
STYLE interviews a whimsical Tiwi Gondwe, a third-culture-kid with a passion for fashion and development.

She describes herself as a creative and an academic, who develops ideas and concepts for a living. Tiwi Gondwe is more than a blog; it is a journey and life style brand.

With her blogs and look books, you can expect to explore fashion, places and spaces, African fashion, art, events and much more.

She highlights that this season will be her personal journey shared with the world.

Inviting everyone to join her as she explores her authentic voice, she believes that blogging is personal and should be something that a person does from the heart.

Gondwe states that she has always seemed to make her comeback on the back of look books and why not?

different perspective

Look books are creative and innovative, giving me the outlet to express myself and in turn giving you the reader a chance to see vintage from a different perspective.

I was inspired by reflecting on my journey from the past to the present.

I started this brand because I love vintage, she tells STYLE.

The more vintage, the better for me and I felt like I was able to illustrate that through this look book.

My brand has grown I feel like I have lost a bit of that true vintage flare and I really wanted to bring it back, she says.

Formerly known as Tiwis Closet, Maverikz has been Gondwes baby and brainchild since 2010. Those who have followed her journey, know that Tiwis Closet started as a blog and a pseudo styling service. She shares that shes been operating in Eswatini since 2014.

Describing the brand, the stylist says Maverikz is a curated sustainable fashion brand.

I dont like to gender our clothing as I believe fashion is fluid.

We cater for quirky fashionistas who like to look different and our aim is to add unique pieces that fall in line with your existing style, she says and ponders a bit.

She adds that it is a 100 per cent bonus that the brand is environmentally friendly.

I feel like this look book is a milestone in my journey as a stylist and a fashion brand owner. I was able to fully express myself and really push the envelope with my ideas.

This look book is all about embracing true vintage and transforming it into something that can be worn in 2020.

It is also about making vintage editorial, embracing and celebrating all beauty, she explains.

Spring and summer for Gondwe is about regeneration and new growth. Spring is a time to reflect on beauty and femininity.

The Malandelas Guest House truly brought that element of the photo shoot to life.

self-proclaimed

According to the self-proclaimed creative, another major theme in all of our lives today is: Transition. 2020 has been all about wearing pieces that can transition from inside to outside and back again.

You will see a lot of slinky whimsical dresses and silky kimonos. The slinky dresses are a play of a silk night dress.

Self-proclaimed decadent and sexy coupled with the kimono.

I also took the idea of a house dress and transformed it into a beautiful piece of clothing that looks like it can be styled and worn in a number of ways, she thrillingly explains.






A stretch skirmish resulting in Scarlett Hanover hitting the line first landed Caviart Audrey in the winners circle of the $455,000 Shes A Great Lady Final on Saturday (Sept. 26) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Caviart Audrey, the 4-5 favourite, floated away fifth to a :26 first quarter set by Scarlett Hanover. Notorious Pink pulled off the pegs rounding the first turn and rushed to the front moving up the backside, maintaining her speed to a :53.4 half.

Notorious Pink forced Caviart Audrey to advance through a quick clip continuing around the final turn. Driver Yannick Gingras rolled Caviart Audrey uncovered from fifth to match strides with Notorious Pink by three-quarters in 1:21.3.

The three favourites stubbornly held their positions, with Notorious Pink locked to the pylons and Caviart Audrey to the outside as Scarlett Hanover struggled for room and swung wide into traffic before diving towards a seam opening at the inside. Scarlett Hanover hustled by tired horses late to hit the finish first, however her interference of Lady Arthur and stretch-breaker Twin B Sunkissed among others resulted in her disqualification from first to ninth.

Caviart Audrey, digging into Notorious Pink through the stretch, edged by in the final strides to take first in the placing. Paulas Bet Hanover rallied from the back for third with Best Head West finishing strongly but settling for fourth.

Now a five-time winner from six starts, Caviart Audrey has banked $354,237 for owner Caviart Farms. Nancy Takter trains the filly by Somebeachsomewhere who paid $3.70 to win.

The Shes A Great Lady was one of the handful of major stakes events on the Saturday card at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Recaps from the other races are available at the following links:

To view the results from Saturday's card of harness racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
For the first time ever, Nigeria experienced its own keke rally that kicked off on 7thAugust from the Stallion Auto Keke - Ijesha Showroom for Bajaj Kekes. The Stallion Bajaj Keke Rally has now completed a tough terrain of 5594 kms through 27 cities and 18 states in the West, East and North Central in less than 41 days.

The road trip was up of a team of 5 experienced riders and the Stallion Bajaj officials and security agents. Collectively the convoy covered more than 26000 Kms without any product issues.

Managing Director for the business, Mr. Manish Rohtagi stated that The Keke Rally really boasts on how the New Baba Bajaj is tough, strong, reliable, and well equipped for the Nigerian roads. Having covered almost more than 5000 kms the Kekes did not face any performance or maintenance challenges. It kept its brand promise of Runs Faster, Lasts Longer through every rider who was a part of this rally.

The rally was flagged off from Lagos and covered states like Ogun, Oyo, Kwara, Kogi, Benue, Enugu, Ebonyi, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Rivers, Anambra, Delta, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, to prove the durability of Bajaj Keke. It even spread the message of urging people of Nigeria to be responsible in maintaining hygiene to curb the spread of Corona Virus. The Stallion Bajaj Keke Rally visited celebrated cultural and historic sites in each state highlighting and sharing the Nigerian culture of host communities. The journey to these sites brought forth the stories around it to encourage connecting the youth to their rich heritage.

The vision from this rally was not only to take up the challenge of proving how credible the product is but also engaging in the stories of these riders that will go on to make the brand what it is. The alliance of Stallion and Bajaj will continue to improve lives by going an extra mile providing rider-training facilities, scholarship programmes, mechanic empowerment programmes, ease in financing, ease of spare part availability and differentiated customer service through its existing footprints within the auto industry.

Bajaj Auto Ltd. is a world leader in the intra city vehicle space. Loved in 70 countries the brand stands for integrity, dedication, resourcefulness, and determination to succeed and empower. It is a well-known brand for its durability, speed and manuverability and is the pioneer brand of tricycles in Nigeria loved by millions. Its a keke for the people engineered for a smooth journey and better livelihood.
Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Anna Naghdalyan has posted the following on her Facebook page:

The foreign minister continues to be in constant touch with his foreign counterparts.

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan has held phone talks with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Urmas Reinsalu and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides.

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan thoroughly presented the latest developments in regard to the situation created as a result of Azerbaijans aggression along the entire length of the line of contact of Artsakh.
File image

Former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday asserted that the BJP has no intention of joining hands with the Shiv Sena or to bring down the Uddhav Thackeray-led state government.

Talking to reporters, Fadnavis claimed people of the state are "unhappy" with the performance of the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government and it "would collapse due to its own inactions".

The senior BJP leader also said his meeting with Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Saturday, which prompted speculation in political circles, was regarding an interview for the Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

The Shiv Sena snapped ties with the BJP last year after the Maharashtra Assembly polls over the issue of sharing the chief ministerial post.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led party then joined hands with the NCP and the Congress to form MVA government in the state.

"We have no intention of joining hands with the Shiv Sena or to bring down the government. When it falls on its own, we will see," said Fadnavis, who is the leader of opposition in the state Assembly.

"My meeting with Raut had no political connotations. He asked me for an interview to 'Saamana', to which I agreed. But, I had put my conditions- like the interview should be unedited and I should get to put my own camera during the interview. So we met to discuss its nitty-gritties," he said.

Meanwhile, Raut, who also spoke to reporters separately, said he and Fadnavis are not enemies and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was aware of the meeting which was pre-planned to discuss the interview schedule.

However, Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam criticised Raut, alleging that he was in a hurry to grab headlines.

"When that happens, political careers end. This is not my ill-wish for Raut, but a reality," the former Mumbai Congress chief told PTI.

Nirupam, who has been sulking since his removal from the post of Mumbai Congress chief ahead of the Lok Sabha polls last year, said if the party is serious about opposing the new farm bills passed by Parliament, it should first ask the ruling Shiv Sena in Maharashtra to spell out its stand.

The Congress and the NCP say they will not allow implementation of the new laws in Maharashtra, while Chief Minister Thackeray hasn't uttered a word on it, he said.

"The Shiv Sena supported the farm bills in the Lok Sabha, while it staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha when other opposition parties were demanding a vote on it," Nirupam said, adding that farmers in Maharashtra are confused (over the state government's stand).

Sparking speculation in political circles after the Fadnavis-Raut meet, NCP President Sharad Pawar met Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray at his official residence at Varsha Bungalow on September 27. The meeting lasted for about 40 minutes, sources said. What transpired during the meeting could not be known immediately.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 21:29:15|Editor: huaxia

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BAGHDAD, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. embassy in Iraq announced on Sunday that it will conduct a series of emergency tests and drills after a recent series of attacks.

"Over the course of the next two days, the U.S. embassy will be conducting a series of tests and drills of our emergency procedures and equipment," the embassy said in a statement.

The statement did not give further details about the drills, but observers believe such drills are meant to enhance the protection of the embassy to prevent the landing of mortar rounds and rockets.

In the past months, unidentified militant groups have frequently fired mortar rounds and Katyusha rockets on the U.S. embassy located in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, where the main Iraqi government offices and some foreign embassies are located. Enditem
Latest news on the Azerbaijani aggression and Karabakh shelling:

A woman and a child died, and two people were injured in the Martuni region of Karabakh amid the Azerbaijani aggression. Data regarding other settlements are being specified.

Schools have also been shelled, including schools in Karabakh capital Stepanakert.

There are also large-scale damages of civilian infrastructures in several settlements.

The Defense Army of Artsakh said in a statement that at around 7:15 a.m. Azerbaijan used artillery and strike UAVs and made an attack along the entire length of the line of contact of the Karabakh-Azerbaijan forces, targeting also settlements in the deep rear, including the capital Stepanakert.

"Heated battles are taking place as we speak," the statement said.

UPDATE: According to the available data,10 servicemen were killed, Artsakh Security Council Secretary Samvel Babayan told reporters in Stepanakert.

Azerbaijan is attacking in different sectors of the line of contact with military aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, armored vehicles, and artillery.

The Ministry of Defense of Artsakh told Armenian News-NEWS.am that the frontline units of the Defense Army are successfully thwarting all the attacks of the adversary.

According to specified information, the Azerbaijani army has lost 2 helicopters, 14 unmanned aerial vehicles and armored vehicles.

President of Artsak Arayik Haroutyunyan convened a special session of the National Assembly Sunday and declared martial law and a widespread mobilization for citizens above the age of 18.

"We didnt want war. War was imposed on us, and it is our duty to defend our homeland and families," he said.

Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan in turn noted that the Republic of Armenia is declaring martial law and general mobilization.

"The decision will enter into force upon promulgation," he added.

President of Artsakh Arayik Haroutyunyan has addressed the people and note that early this morning, the enemy started shelling actively along the entire length of the line of contact and in the direction of several peaceful settlements. We call on the population to protect themselves and be calm.

"This is a battle for life or death, and we are accepting this as a nation and will achieve victory as a nation," he added.
Zellner said his Dems are, for the most part, still shunning indoor affairs in favor of outdoor and virtual versions.

People are coming up with creative ways to raise money, he said, citing Assemblyman Pat Burkes dunk tank event.

Say what you want about money in politics; it causes lots of problems. But its all part of running for office, and something can be said about affairs that have always brought people  even politicians  together.

 Its not like the good old days of 2000, when a couple thousand Democratic committee members spent half the night at Sheas Performing Arts Center battling it out for the party chairmanship. Or even more recent times, when remnants of former Chairman Steve Pigeons crew were still flexing their muscles. These days, Erie County Democrats choose their leaders calmly and peacefully, almost like (dare we say it?) Republicans.

Indeed, Zellner was slated to be re-elected chairman on Saturday in a gathering of Erie County Dems at Fontanas Grove during a walk-through event in which various leaders cast proxy votes.

Repubs, meanwhile, will erase Simmeths rookie status next Saturday when committee members vote mostly by proxy at the George Lamm Post in Williamsville.

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Parents are being kept away from their babies in intensive care as hospitals impose horrendous social distancing rules, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

One mother, Taylor Moss, told of her anguish at how visits to her seven-week premature baby, Tyger-Rose, were being restricted.

Her daughter was given less than a five per cent chance of survival and has been in intensive care for the past ten days.

But the hospital only allows one parent in at a time.

Ms Moss said: We had to pick alternate days to see our child. It made us feel horrendous, and me very vulnerable. It was horrible.

The campaign has today been backed by Stoke MP Jonathan Gullis, whose first child, Amelia, was kept in hospital for a week after she was born last month with a high temperature, and needed antibiotics. Pictured, Mr Gullis, partner Nkita and baby Amelia, now all back at home

Another new mother told how she was not allowed to hold her baby for more than 24 hours after giving birth. She said: I spent the whole day crying to see her.

Clinicians have raised alarm over the policies. One midwife told The Mail on Sunday the rules could damage a babys chances of survival.

This newspaper is campaigning to end the scandal of lone births which leaves women at half of NHS Trusts without support, flying in the face of the Government guidelines.

The campaign has today been backed by Stoke MP Jonathan Gullis, whose first child, Amelia, was kept in hospital for a week after she was born last month with a high temperature, and needed antibiotics.

Mr Gullis was only allowed to see her for an hour a day while she was in hospital. I felt like Id missed out on a really big bonding opportunity, he said.

One mother, Taylor Moss, told of her anguish at how visits to her seven-week premature baby, Tyger-Rose, were being restricted (file image)

It is essential that parents be able to access their child, especially where it could be the difference between life and death

Joeli Brearley of campaign group Pregnant Then Screwed, said: It is unimaginable that a parent would be prevented from touching and holding their own baby after birth, particularly when the baby is sick and requires intensive care.

A poll commissioned by The Mail on Sunday from Deltapoll has found nearly two-thirds of people support our campaign.
The Minister of European Funds, Marcel Bolos, on Sunday, after he cast his vote at a polling station in Oradea, said that he stamped the ballot papers with the thought of modernizing the local communities and for the people to have a better life, according to AGERPRES.

"I voted for the future of local communities, for their modernization and for people to have a better life. I believe in the process of modernizing local authorities, I believe in the unique opportunity they have to change people's lives for the better and I believe that those who will be elected now can do a lot of good for the future of their fellow citizens, for their living standards, for the well-being of the people, with one condition: to care about the people," Marcel Bolos told AGERPRES.
TORONTO (Reuters) - Canadian police have arrested a man on suspicion of lying about having joined Islamic State and committed execution-style killings, charging him with "hoax-terrorist activity", authorities said late on Friday.

Starting in 2016, Shehroze Chaudhry, made social media posts talking about his role with Islamic State and also gave several media interviews but a Royal Canadian Mounted Police investigation found the 25-year-old had no links to the group.

"The charge stems from numerous media interviews where the accused ... claimed he traveled to Syria in 2016 to join the terrorist group ISIS and committed acts of terrorism," the RCMP said in a statement.

The RCMP said the interviews and podcasts that featured on a television documentary raised public safety concerns amongst Canadians. Chaudhry will appear in an Ontario court on Nov. 16.

"Hoaxes can generate fear within our communities and create the illusion there is a potential threat to Canadians, while we have determined otherwise," the RCMP said.

Many other Canadians have been charged with terrorism offences for joining Islamic State.

(Reporting by Denny Thomas; Editing by Alison Williams)
Battery-powered Teslas are loaded onto carriers at the company's electric car plant in Fremont last May. (Associated Press)

To the editor: Over the last few years we've been complaining that President Trump has acted like a dictator. But Gov. Gavin Newsom became an actual dictator by signing an order requiring all new cars sold in California to be zero emission by 2035.

Or did I miss a special election with that as a ballot measure?

Next week he will have to sign another executive order requiring the sun to shine 350 days a year (allowing for 15 rainy days, of course). Currently there are rolling blackouts on hot days; soon we will have blackouts on cold days, because in our all-electric future, there will be no natural gas.

Imagine blackouts every day when millions of electric cars plug in to recharge on the same day. We would all be better off if Newsom issued an executive order prohibiting the coronavirus in California.

Arnie Sklar, Beverly Hills

..

To the editor: Our goal is to completely kill off the internal combustion industry. This technology served us well for more than a century, but electric vehicles offer all the convenience with none of the massive external costs associated with burning oil.

All existing car companies that want to be in business 20 years from now need to ramp up their offerings of EVs and train their dealers on how to sell them. I know people don't like change, but it is existentially important that we get this right.

No thinking person should ever buy a new gas-burning car again. Impress upon your friends, family, co-workers and neighbors the importance of going gas-free.

When shopping for a new car, our new mantra should be "no plug, no deal."

Paul Scott, Santa Monica

The writer is co-founder of the electric vehicle advocacy group Plug-In America.

..

To the editor: Where are we going to get all the electric energy to charge up all these battery-powered cars? Even hydrogen-fueled vehicles require an enormous amount of energy to convert water into hydrogen, and the process is very inefficient.

During the recent heat waves when brownouts occurred, the owners of electric vehicles in some areas were told not to charge their cars until 2 a.m. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti wants to shut down the city's natural gas-powered generating plants, further reducing the availability of electric energy to charge all these vehicles.

Story continues

A gallon of gasoline can produce an enormous amount of energy, and when battery-powered cars take over, this energy has to be replaced by electricity. Where are we going to get it?

Larry Pearson, Burbank

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 09:51:31|Editor: huaxia

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KATHMANDU, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Dr. Dibya Singh, Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's personal physician, has been infected with COVID-19, Nepali officials said.

Dr. Singh, who is also dean at the Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University (TU) which runs the TU Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, was confirmed to be infected with coronavirus on Friday.

"She was tested positive after coming into contact with hospital staff infected with the virus," Dr. Shanta Kumar Das, coordinator of COVID-19 Management Committee at the TU Teaching Hospital told Xinhua on Saturday evening.

"Five days after coming into contact with the staff infected with the virus in a meeting, she developed symptoms of COVID-19 and was tested positive."

According to him, other participants in the meeting, who have shown no COVID-19 symptoms, are currently in home quarantine.

Dr. Das said there is little risk for the prime minister to get infected as Dr. Singh has not visited the prime minister for more than two weeks.

Prime Minister Oli's Press Advisor Surya Thapa told Xinhua on Saturday that Dr. Singh has not visited the prime minister for long as he does not need regular check up at the moment. "So, I find little risk to the prime minister for Dr. Singh being tested positive for coronavirus," Thapa said, adding that he was unaware if Prime Minister Oli would avoid meeting after his private doctor got infected.

Several Nepali lawmakers at the federal parliament have also been tested positive for COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, according to a senior doctor assigned at the Nepali parliament.

Dr. Puspa Raj Rijal, in-charge of the medical team assigned at the Nepali parliament told Xinhua on Saturday that all those lawmakers who were infected with coronavirus have recovered.

"Amid risks to the lawmakers from the pandemic, we have made necessary arrangements of health workers, isolation room, oxygen, ambulance at the parliamentary secretariat and we can take any COVID-19 patient to nearby hospitals within five minutes," said Dr. Rijal.

As of Saturday, Nepal confirmed 71,821 COVID-19 cases while the pandemic caused the death of 467 people, according to Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population. Enditem
If youve paid attention to Houstons tech community for any length of time, you likely know the name Grace Rodriguez. A self-professed serial entrepreneur and social-media presence, shes been starting businesses here since she helped launch a DJ collective known as the Kracker Nuttz in 1999.

At 46, shes still at it. Most recently, Rodriguez is co-founder and chief executive of the Houston branch of Impact Hub, an international network of startup accelerators with outposts in more than 100 locations in 50 countries. Impact Hub focuses on helping founders from underrepresented communities, and each operates differently.

Prior to starting Impact Hub Houston, she co-founded Station Houston, one of the citys highest profile tech startup accelerators, now owned by Austin-based Capital Factory, where she still serves as a mentor to its startup cohorts. She also serves as an adviser at the TMC Innovation Institute.

Oh, and she also co-owns a bar, Deans Downtown, where  when its not closed under pandemic-related orders from the governor  its a meeting spot for Houstons tech and social-media communities.

GREENTOWN LABS: Old Fiesta store gets new life as green-energy accelerator

The Chronicle spoke with Rodriguez about Impact Hubs mission in Houston, inclusion and diversity in the citys growing tech community and the challenges it faces as the coronavirus pandemic drags on. The interview was edited for length and clarity.

Q: If you were to explain Impact Hub to somebody who knew nothing about it, what would you say?

A: Impact Hub is a global network of individually owned and operated hubs around the world that operates something like the United Nations, as a federation of hubs. For instance, Impact Hub Houston is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, but Impact Hub Madrid is for-profit. Each one opts into the protocols of the network and the guidelines and pays a fee to be a part of the network. Impact Hub, the company is based in Vienna, Austria.

Q: Whats the mission?

A: Impact Hub itself commits to the mission of supporting entrepreneurial solutions towards the United Nations sustainable development goals.

Some people call those types of ventures social enterprises, social ventures, impact entrepreneurship or social entrepreneurship. (The ventures goals) range from no hunger, no poverty, gender equality to industry innovation and infrastructure.

We have found that we need to do a lot more education on those topics. which means we are more program-driven versus space-driven. The vision of Impact Hub is a just and sustainable world where business and profit are in service of people and planet.

Q: Do you operate like other accelerators, where you work with specific entrepreneurs and have startups grouped into cohorts?

A: Some Impact Hubs do.

APP FOR THAT: Apple touts H-E-B as 'app economy' example

Then there are some Impact Hubs that are primarily co-working based. We are kind of a hybrid of where we had just recently launched this Accelerate membership, which is not cohort based. It is more ongoing support, but with an accelerator model. We would like to get to the point where we are partnering with, whether it's a diversity fund or a platform where people can raise funding through, to provide them with capital as well, because we understand that's one of the biggest challenges for diverse entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs.

So it's kind of like a hyper-local approach to global change.

Q: Whats an example of an Impact Hub success that you've been proud of?

A: One thing is making sure that more diverse people are on (tech conference) panels. And that our diverse organizations are included in the ecosystem.

If you want a specific example for a startup, theres Amazing Bond. Varina Rush is a cofounder of Amazing Bond and they support seniors who need care. She came to Impact Hub at the beginning of their journey. They didn't know exactly how to structure the organization, how to grow it, what kind of tech tools that they needed to use.

And through the course of being engaged with Impact Hub, they were tapped into the Acumen Academys social entrepreneurship curriculum. We've provided her with a few mentoring sessions, and I would say weve given her confidence.

Q: Do you think in general that Houston's technology and innovation community, as is the case with a lot of others around the country, has a diversity issue? Do startups with founders from underrepresented communities get left out of funding?

A: Well, I don't think it's intentional. I've never thought it was.

IN HOUSTON: Addidas, Impact Hub partner to mentor founders

When we first started Station and I was talking with Bob Harvey from the Greater Houston Partnership, he was explicit that we want to make sure that we have a diverse community, that we are supporting diverse people and startups and organizations, but he didn't know where they were.

It's just hard to find because a lot of it is underground or a lot of it's community-driven. It's by relationships. If you think about a lot of the corporate executives or a lot of the leaders in this space and their networks, those networks probably don't look like Houston, because that's just how they grew and that's no fault of their own.

I spoke on a panel in Austin for the Black Leadership Forum and you had dozens of Black-centered and (Black-)led organizations at this forum.

I said: I challenge every organization in Houston that wants to support entrepreneurs to specifically seek out an organization that is Black-led and Black-centered, and then see how you can partner on something. So with the African American Lawyers Association, how can we work together to hack solutions towards, you know, public safety?

Release Notes: Get Dwight Silvermans weekly tech newsletter in your inbox each Monday

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

I think that's what I would challenge a lot of the organizations that exist in Houston where there is a lack of diversity in their leadership.

Q: So what have you done to address that?

A: It's not just checking off a box, it's really, What about supporting people in this community? Impact Hub Houston is actively working with Baker Ripley because they have great Spanish-language programs for entrepreneurs.

We actively work with the Urban League because they specifically have a program for Black entrepreneurs. We work with the East End district because the majority of the businesses in their district, are Hispanic or Latinx owners.

If we can role-model it and we can show other organizations how to do it, I am finding that other organizations will do it, they just didn't know how to start. And I think that we're now we're at a good place where we're actually going to see a tsunami of support.

Q: How has the pandemic and everything going virtual affected both your efforts at Impact Hub as well as the ongoing growth of Houston's technology community?

A: One of the things that was a driving rubric for how we decide on what and how we sell our programs, how we do events for Impact Hub Houston has been: How do we meet people where they are? And that is psychologically and physically.

That's one of the reasons why we partnered with (co-working space) The Cannon, to make sure that we could do programs in places around the city where the candidate locations are. Thats also why we partnered with Baker Ripley, so we can do programs at all of the different Baker Ripley community centers around the city.

Houston has always had this problem of sprawl. And I feel like one of the opportunities that the pandemic presented was now people have to learn how to use virtual, online programs so that they can connect and they can work together and have meetings and learn.

There are a lot of people who don't know how to use tech tools and now they have had to. And one of the benefits of the pandemic has been that we don't have to focus so much effort on doing so many programs a week because now other Impact Hubs around the world are doing programs that we can offer to our members.

Q: How has that worked out?

A: It has definitely hurt all of the happy hours and the social events, which is a big part of Houston's culture, you know? I'm a partner in a bar and we hosted a lot of the Houston tech meetups and it's kind of sad that we can't get together right now, but we can do virtual happy hours.

We just have to rethink how we operate in virtual spaces. How do we still feel connected? It does feel different, but until we can be in spaces together and in ways that are safe for everybody, I don't want have a super-spreader event, right?

So until it is safe to convene in physical space, let's get better at doing virtual connections. And if Houston can lead in that, then we will help solve our sprawl problem. And then we can also be a role model for how other large cities like ours or large regions like ours deal with this problem.

dwight.silverman@chron.com

twitter.com/dsilverman

houstonchronicle.com/techburger
Venus Williams said she was "not looking forward yet" to 2021 after suffering a third successive first round exit at the French Open on Sunday with a loss in straight sets to Slovakia's Anna Karolina Schmiedlova.

The 40-year-old Williams, runner-up at Roland Garros to sister Serena in 2002, lost 6-4, 6-4 to an opponent who snapped a 12-match Grand Slam losing streak.

It marked Williams' third first round defeat in a row at a Slam after exiting the US Open and Australian Open at the same stage.

"It's been a very long year of quarantine. Now I'll get to rest. So I'm looking forward to that," said Williams, insisting she would not play again this season.

"I'm going home from here. I'm done. If there is somewhere to play, I won't be there."

Williams dropped serve six times in cold, blustery conditions in Paris as Schmiedlova registered her first main-draw victory at a Slam since the 2015 US Open.

Her reward is a second round tie against two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka.

Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, has not been past the third round at a major since 2017. She has lost eight of nine matches on tour this year.

"I just stepped off the court. So even though it hasn't been a ton of tournaments, it's still been a very long year. So, yeah, I'm not looking forward yet," she said.

Williams in 2011 revealed she had been diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome, an auto-immune disease whose symptoms include joint pain and fatigue.

Everyone at this year's French Open, including players if they are not in action or in practice, is masked amid surging rates of Covid-19 infections in the country. Those competing are holed up exclusively in two hotels.

Despite being at a higher risk at the tournament, Williams said she had learned to live with the situation.

"I think at this point I have accepted that anyone can get it at any time, so I try my best not to," she said.

"I think, in the beginning, I was definitely a lot more nervous, but now I'm a little more accepting that it could happen and these are the risks you take when you leave your home."

mw/dj/pb
Jaishankar told Times Now in an interview that there is also a need to have trust in the ability of the system, both military commanders and the diplomatic channels, in negotiating with the Chinese

New Delhi: Amid the border standoff with China in eastern Ladakh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said it was an ongoing issue, and "we need to have trust in our armed forces and their ability to secure our interests".

Jaishankar said there is also a need to have trust in the ability of the system  both military commanders and the diplomatic channels  in negotiating with the Chinese.

Asked about the situation at the border in eastern Ladakh, Jaishankar told Times Now in an interview: "You know this is going to play out. There will be things which China has done. There will be responses that India has made...There are actually negotiations on the way."

"I understand the compulsions on media to know everything yesterday, unfortunately, real life is a little bit different. So, this is about national security. This is a very complicated ground situation out there," he said.

"We need to have trust in our armed forces and their ability to secure our interests, and frankly in the ability of the system, I mean both military commanders and the diplomatic channels, in negotiating with the Chinese," he said.

"Don't call out a match before it is halfway through," the external affairs minister added.

During the interview, Jaishankar also extensively discussed his recently released book ''The India Way''.

The situation in eastern Ladakh escalated manifold after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in clashes in the Galwan Valley on 15 June. The Chinese side acknowledged suffering casualties, but it is yet to divulge details.

The situation further deteriorated following at least three attempts by soldiers of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to "intimidate" Indian troops along the northern and southern banks of the Pangong lake area in the last three weeks where even shots were fired in the air for the first time at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in 45 years.

As the tensions escalated further, Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi held talks on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meet in Moscow on 10 September 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 Ministry of External Affairs.

The agreement that 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.
File photo: Xinhua

While Facebook denied reports that it would shut down the European business over a data transfer ban, it appears to be facing similar challenges as its Chinese peers amid the growing regulatory scrutiny over data security.

According to media reports, the US tech giant filed an application this week - which suggested the possibility of it quitting Europe - for a judicial review of a preliminary suspension order from the Irish Data Protection Commission (IDPC) that oversees Facebook's data practices in Europe. Under the IDPC order issued in early September, Facebook is supposed to suspend the transfer of data about its European users to the US or it may face a fine up to 4 percent of its global revenue for violating local data protection rules, according to media reports.

At a time when the Trump administration is citing ungrounded charge of data security to force TikTok to sell its American businesses, it is ironic to see US tech giants still openly send local user data back to the US.

Unlike in the past when governments around the world may have not paid enough attention to the legislation on safeguarding data privacy, countries now share overwhelming concerns over data security. So it is conceivable that other US internet giants, not just Facebook, could also face similar operational and legal challenges in the future.

It is already common to see the US government play up national security risk and dangerous access to personal information to suppress foreign companies, and Chinese companies are one of the biggest victims of such attack even though the US side cannot provide any solid evidence to support its accusation. It is under the politically motivated crackdown that Chinese companies have encountered great difficulties doing business. For instance, US oil company Chevron told its staff worldwide to delete WeChat off their work phone, despite the fact that the ban on the app hasn't officially come into effect due to the blocking by a federal court, according to media reports.

However, such a wrong approach to stifle Chinese companies' operations may backfire. And Facebook's European challenge could be emblematic of a global boomerang effect of its government. When internet data security increasingly catches the public attention, American tech giants will inevitably bear the brunt of regulatory scrutiny under the bad precedent set by the US government. That's because it is clear to everyone as to who is the real big threat to the world's data security. Other than the so-called national security risk, the US has no evidence to justify its crackdown on Chinese tech firms, while some American companies are those who really have the track record of misusing user data and even political manipulation.

Internet companies have access to data that includes not only personal information, but also business secrets and defense intelligence, so national security risk posed by network data is real. But digital iron curtains falling around the world to turn internet into separated local area networks is not what we want to see.

Thus, it is time to call for joint efforts from all parties to work out a fair and objective solution, which will safeguard data security while maintaining the open and stable supply of global internet products and services.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The military political leadership of Azerbaijan bears full responsibility for the consequences of their aggression, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia said in a statement today.

Early this morning, the Azerbaijani side launched missile attacks along the entire line of contact targeting also the peaceful settlements, including the capital Stepanakert.

We strongly condemn the aggression of the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan against the Republic of Artsakh. The Armenian sides will act confidently with all their capacities to ensure the security of the people of Artsakh and to deliver appropriate military and political response. The military-political leadership of Azerbaijan bears full responsibility for the consequences of their aggression, the statement says.

The Azerbaijani military has launched a massive cross-border artillery attack on Artsakh, including on civilian settlements. Peaceful settlements are also under bombardment, including the capital city of Stepanakert. The population of Artsakh was advised to seek shelter. Official Stepanakert announced that the response will be proportionate and the entire responsibility of the situation falls on Azerbaijans military-political leadership and personally Ilham Aliyev.
TOPEKA, Kan. - A state university president in Kansas whose decision in June to cancel a virtual speech by Ivanka Trump angered donors and others resigned Friday, after less than a year in the job.

The Board of Regents, which oversees Kansas higher education system, did not say why Wichita State University President Jay Golden stepped down, offering no details on what led up to it. The university received national attention  and plenty of criticism  for dropping a virtual speech by President Donald Trumps elder daughter for its technical school graduation.

The Board is thankful for his service, a statement from Bill Feuerborn, the regents chairman, said. We are appreciative of his hard work and dedication to the university and are grateful for his commitment to serving students. We wish him well in all his future endeavours.

Wichita State referred questions to a Board of Regents spokesman who did not return a telephone message from The Associated Press. A home phone number for Golden could not be found.

Regent Jon Rolph, a Wichita restaurateur, told The Wichita Eagle that Goldens resignation was not related to the Ivanka Trump controversy.

Being a part of the conversations around accepting Jays resignation today, that was clear, he said.

However, Rolph said state privacy laws prohibit him from discussing the circumstances of the resignation, but added that there was no impropriety.

Golden cancelled Ivanka Trumps speech after students and faculty protested.

Steve Clark, a former Kansas regent from Wichita, sought Goldens ouster in June and sent a letter then to board members saying Goldens decision to cancel the speech by Ivanka Trump threatened a multimillion-dollar relationship with Koch Industries, the vast conglomerate led by billionaire and conservative political donor Charles Koch.

Clark said Friday that Golden, who previously served as vice chancellor and professor of engineering at East Carolina University in North Carolina, wasnt a good cultural fit for our Midwest values here.

I dont think he was very good at balancing the interests of all the university stakeholders, the students, alums, faculty and donors and considering all things, Clark said. I think its better for him and much better for the university.

Clark is the chairman and CEO of a Wichita investment firm and served as chairman of search committees for both Golden and his predecessor, John Bardo. Golden became president in January, after Bardo died in March 2019.

Clark told the regents in June that cancelling Trumps speech damaged the schools reputation with high-profile donors and relationships could be restored only if Golden left.

There were numerous issues, Clark said Friday. There were a lot of people upset at the Trump decision. He had his own agenda and he appeared to maybe not take, as I said, all stakeholders interests into consideration.

But Kansas House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, a Wichita Democrat, said the announcement caught him by surprise and that Golden appeared to be popular with students.

I certainly hope it has nothing to do with the Trump thing, he said. I would be disappointed if somebody would lose their job over that.

Wichita State has 14,000 students, including some 3,000 at its technical school and is home to a national institute on aviation research. Parts of Wichita and its suburbs are politically conservative, and Donald Trump carried the county in 2016 by 18 percentage points. Ivanka Trump visited WSU Tech last year to promote its training programs.

The regents statement said Wichita State Provost Rick Muma will serve as acting president while the board considers options for an interim president.

-

Associated Press reporter Roxana Hegeman contributed to this report from Belle Plaine, Kan.
Footage released by the Armenian defence ministry showed an Azerbaijani military vehicle being destroyed - Armenian Defense Ministry via AP

Armenias Prime Minister on Sunday called on citizens to defend our sacred homeland after heavy fighting with Azerbaijan brought the arch enemies to the brink of all-out war.

The clashes erupted on Sunday morning in the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabkh, an ethnically Armenian zone within the official borders of Azerbaijan but outside of its control.

Tensions have been rising for months over the disputed territory, which was seized by Armenian separatists in 1991 in one of the bloodiest wars that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Both sides, former members of the Soviet bloc, on Sunday denied being the aggressor, while reporting 24 military and civilian casualties that included at least one child.

Russia has a military base in Armenia and a fully-fledged war could draw it into conflict with Turkey, the other key power in the region, which backs Azerbaijan.

In an attempt to prevent a major conflagration, Moscow called for a ceasefire and negotiations, along with France, Germany and the EU.

Ankara blamed Armenia for "hostility that will send the region into fire" and offered Baku its full support.

Civilians leave their villages after Border clashes broke out after Armenian forces opened fire on Azerbaijani civilian settlements - Anadolu Agency /Anadolu

At just past 8am local time, Azerbaijan launched an air and artillery offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh, according to Armenia's defence ministry.

In response, the army downed four Azerbaijani helicopters and 15 drones.

Officials in Nagorno-Karabakh said that 16 of the breakaway region's soldiers were killed in fighting with Azerbaijani troops, with a further 100 wounded.

They said Azerbaijan was bombing the front-line including the main city of Stepanakert. A woman and a child were killed, according to Armenian rights activists.

Azerbaijan instead claimed it began a "counter-offensive" in the region "to protect the population" after Armenian shelling violated a cease-fire agreement.

Azeri forces had captured seven villages in the fighting, the defence ministry claimed, though that was denied by Yerevan, the Armenian capital

Story continues

In a televised address to the nation following the clashes, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev vowed victory over Armenian forces.

In a televised address to his people, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev vowed victory over the Armenian forces - -/Azerbaijan's Presidential Press Office

Our cause is just and we will win, Aliyev said, repeating a famous quote from Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin's address at the outbreak of World War II in Russia.

Karabakh is Azerbaijan, he said.

Armenia on Sunday declared martial law and mobilised its male population, with prime minister Nikol Pashinyan telling citizens to get ready to defend our sacred homeland in a Facebook post.

Nagorno-Karabakh announced the same steps.

The South Caucasus, where the fighting is taking place, is a corridor for pipelines transporting oil and gas to world markets.

According to the Turkish defence ministry, the Russian and Turkish defence ministers discussed the clashes over the phone on Sunday.

People attend a meeting to recruit military volunteers after Armenian authorities declared martial law and mobilised its male population following clashes with Azerbaijan - MELIK BAGHDASARYAN /REUTERS

Russia announced "snap combat drills" in Armenia in July, following a smaller flare up on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border - hundreds of miles from Nagorno-Karabkh - in which at least 17 soldiers from both sides were killed.

Turkey also launched large-scale Turkish-Azerbaijani military exercises at the time, according to the Atlantic Council.

France, Russia and the United States have previously shepherded peace negotiations in the region as the "Minsk group", but the last push for a deal collapsed in 2010.

The European Union called Sunday for a halt to fighting and an immediate return to negotiations.

Political observers said global powers should intensify talks to stop the conflict.

"We are a step away from a large-scale war," Olesya Vartanyan of the International Crisis Group told AFP.

"One of the main reasons for the current escalation is a lack of any proactive international mediation between the sides for weeks," she added.
Google on September 25 informed advertisers in an email that it will block advertisements related to the United States Elections 2020, on all its ad-serving platforms such as YouTube and Google Ads, from November 3.

The tech giant told advertisers they would be unable to run ads referencing candidates, the election, state or federal office-holders, candidates, or political parties, as well as ads running on election-related search queries, or its outcomes given that an unprecedented amount of votes will be counted after Election Day this year, Reuters reported.

The delay in vote count would be due to increase in mail-in voting amid the COVID-19 pandemic, experts said.

A spokeswoman for Google said the ban would be in place for a minimum of a week, but date of lifting the ban is not decided. The ban is a part of the companys sensitive events policy and they will thus consider factors such as the time taken for vote count and whether there was civil unrest.

Googles move comes as social media companies face mounting pressure to control dishonest political ads. Facebook in September said it will stop accepting new political ads in the week before elections and reject those which claim victory before official results are out.

Notably, some COVID-19 ads have also been banned for lack of sensitivity towards public health emergencies or natural disasters under Googles sensitive events policy.
Dwayne The Rock Johnson has endorsed Democratic candidates Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the forthcoming US presidential election.

The actor and former wrestler made the announcement in a video shared on his social media accounts, in which he is seen interviewing the candidates over video chat.

The clip begins with Johnson saying that this is arguably the most critical election [the US] has seen in decades.

[Endorsing] is something that Ive certainly not done in the past, so Im gonna go big, he said. You guys know me: if I go, I go big.

As a registered independent for years now with centrist ideologies, I do feel that vice president Biden and senator Harris are the best choice to lead our country, and I am endorsing them to become president and vice president of our united states.

This short clip of Johnson addressing the camera is followed by a sit-down with Biden and Harris, which the actor described as a great and extremely productive conversation.

Johnson also quoted his late father, Canadian wrestler Rocky Johnson, who died of a pulmonary embolism earlier this year.

You know, this past January, he said, approximately nine months ago, my old man died. And I didnt get the chance to say goodbye to him.

But he always said that respect is given when its earned. So you gotta get out there and you gotta earn it, with your own two hands.

Johnson also suggested that he would continue to discuss politics in the months to come.
Where Mali Stands Now

On August 18, after months of protests against the Malian government, officers in Malis army abducted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse. Hours later, Keita resigned and dissolved the national assembly as his military captors looked on. The military junta, calling themselves the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP), claimed to be protecting the interests of the Malian people by removing the unpopular leader.

Early hopes for a swift return to democracy soon faded as the junta announced a three-year transition and then were negotiated down to accepting a two-year transition.

After negotiations with ECOWAS, the West African regional body, the CNSP released their updated roadmap for the transition, which foresees an 18-month transition. An interim presidential selection committee selected former minister of defense and retired Colonel Bah Ndiaw as president of the transition and Colonel Assimi Goita, the leader of the CNSP, as vice president. The people of Mali are waiting to see if security will deteriorate further, if mediation efforts will be successful, and if and how the CNSP can be persuaded to restore an elected civilian government.

A Counterproductive Approach to Security Sector Assistance

As the dust settles on the coup, it is safe to say that security sector assistance contributed to the conditions that led to it. The media was quick to note that coup leaders had recently received tactical training from the United States, France, and Russia. But the problem here is more complicated than training a few individuals.

Mali depends on foreign assistance to provide basic services, particularly in the security sector. As one observer noted, The cost of replacing all foreign security support, from France, the United Nations and European Union, would amount to 75 percent of current government revenue. But that security assistance is earmarked to advance donors interests. For major donors, including France and the United States, this means achieving the military defeat of extremists by increasing the capacity and lethality of the Malian military.

By contrast, those same donors have made only nominal investments in security sector governance to improve accountability to civilian authority, increase transparency and legitimacy, and ensure responsiveness to public needs. In 2020, Mali received nearly $79 million in U.S. foreign development assistance. Of this, only 1 percent was for democracy, rights, and governance, and only 5 percent for peace and security programming that is not direct aid to the security services, such as peacebuilding or conflict diversion or mitigation, despite the ongoing civil war. As the military got stronger over the past eight years, parliamentary oversight remained weak and Malian civil society lacked the access and expertise to be an effective watchdog.

Meanwhile, resources funneled so heavily to the Malian security sectordue to donor pressure on the Malian government to increase its own investment in military and police solutions to the nations challengeseroded state legitimacy in the eyes of the public. Since a 2012 coup, Mali has more than doubled its military spending as a percentage of its GDP, even as insecurity hampered economic growth. Those increases in security spending left the government less able to provide badly needed public services like food, water, education, and economic development.

Foreign security assistance allowed, and in some cases encouraged, the government to pursue a security strategy that aligned with donors priorities, investing in driving out extremists or stopping illicit trade over protecting the Malian people. This order of priorities is nowhere more apparent than in the militarys increasing use of violence against civilians in the fight against extremists and in the lack of political will to hold security forces accountable. Large amounts of foreign security sector assistance weaken accountability between the government and its people and create opportunities for corruption. In the months of protests leading up to the coup, the lack of basic services, the governments poor handling of the conflict, and corruption were among the most prominent grievance cited by leaders of the protest movement.

All of this led to an erosion of the strength and legitimacy of the civilian government in the eyes of the public, as well as impunity for alleged crimescommitted by security forces such as torture, forced disappearances, and killings. Without popular support for the government, and in the absence of strong checks and balances or effective oversight and accountability of security forces, coup leaders were able to seize power without fear of resistance from the public or from other government institutions. Government dysfunction and low popularity of leaders also provided the CNSP the cover to the claim that they were acting on behalf of Malians.

Malis Coup is a Warning

The coup in Mali shows the risks of poorly considered security sector assistance from big donors. Research shows that strengthening military effectiveness without reinforcing governing institutions makes coups more likely to occur and more likely to be successfuland it can increase the possibility of civil war.

This is especially true in fragile, violent contexts like Mali, demonstrating why a security sector reform strategy needs to focus heavily on enhancing governance as well. Malis coup is a clear demonstration of what happens when security sector reform is driven by donors security interests rather than those of local communities.

The Global Fragility Act (GFA), passed late last year, committed the U.S. government to rethinking its approach to security sector assistance and cooperation. The GFA recognized that in failing to address the drivers of fragility, including improved security sector governance, the U.S. is in fact working against its own interests in fostering stable, democratic states. This new policy approach emphasizing the importance of governance is welcome; USIPs Justice and Security Dialogues project in the Sahel and Maghreb reflects this investment in governance and accountability. (USIP has adopted a security sector reform strategy, which will share with policymakers lessons learned to ensure states are providing accountable, effective, responsive, and inclusive security.) Despite these commitments and some small investments in security sector governance, U.S. and French security assistance in the Sahel remains dominated by training and equipment transfers.

In neighboring Niger, the EUs focus on preventing migration and France and United States focus on counterterrorism has distorted the nations security strategy in a similar manner to Mali. And in Burkina Faso, which also shares a border with Mali, a focus on counterterrorism has prevented a holistic security response to the violent extremism fueled security crisis and loss of government control of large portions of the country. With limited attention to peacebuilding and underlying grievances such as security sector abuse, land tenure disputes, and widespread cattle theft and banditry, trust in the Burkinabe government continues to erode.

Meanwhile, the Sahel at large has been experiencing democratic backsliding. Governments in Niger and Burkina Faso have made decisions that threaten to disenfranchise large portions of the population in the upcoming November elections and the presidents of Guinea and Cote dIvoire are currently seeking illegal third terms.

The region is extremely fragile with overwhelming governance and security challenges. The United States, France and the EU need to reconsider how to support stability in the region, and to move beyond improving the tactical capability of security forces. Despite a growing body of evidence underlining the need for change and clear guiding principles, international partners continue to make policy choices reacting to the hard security imperative at the expense of long-term peace. Ironically, by doing so, international donors contribute to continued instability, undermining their own security objectives and committing them to providing further security assistance to fragile states.

Instead, they should invest in strengthening governance, especially security governance and security force accountability. The coup in Mali provides an opportunity for the United States to shift to a long-term peace and security strategy focused on governance and supporting the Malian people to make security decisions and hold their government accountable for its actions. This approach would require a rebalancing of priorities from military training to diplomacy, and from tactical security assistance to supporting Malian-led efforts to strengthen security governance.
BLM Co-Founders Ties to Pro-Communist China Group: Mike Gonzalez

The Chinese Communist Party, or CCP, has long sought to subvert America. While a number of the groups involved in recent riots have ideological ties to Beijing, what are the deeper connections?

Heritage Foundation senior fellow Mike Gonzalez discovered that the Black Futures Lab, closely linked to the Black Lives Matter Global Movement, is being funded by an openly pro-CCP group, the Chinese Progressive Association.

In this episode, Gonzalez reveals exactly what he found, why recent fact-checks of his work have proven inaccurate, and why he believes identity politics is undermining the very foundations of America.

This is American Thought Leaders , and Im Jan Jekielek.

Jan Jekielek: Michael Gonzalez, such a pleasure to have you on American Thought Leaders.

Michael Gonzalez: Jan, the pleasure is all mine.

Jan Jekielek: Youve written a very, very interesting book, just out recently: The Plot to Change America: How Identity Politics is Dividing the Land of the Freea topic weve covered quite a bit on American Thought Leaders, broadly speaking.

Before we go there, I want to talk to you about this recent article that youve written, finding connection between the Black Lives Matters founder and pro-Chinese Communist Party groups in America. This is pretty fascinating because there have been people alleging these kinds of connections. Theres some ideological overlap, but this is the first time a kind of financial connection was discovered.

Mr. Gonzalez: Yes, the overlap is ideological, definitely. One has to realize that this founder, Alicia Garza, sits atop a worldwide revolutionary network. Its really a holding company for revolutionary sales. One of the main ones, which she founded, is the Black Lives Matter Global Network.

Now, I have to make clear that nobody is against the sentiment of black lives matter. In fact, I think all Americans adhere, at any rate should adhere, to the fact that black lives, of course, do indeed matter. Were talking about the organizations.

Alicia Garza is one of the founders of these organizations. In 2018, she founded yet another one, called the Black Futures Lab. The Black Futures Lab, if you go to the donate button, says that the money you give will go to the Chinese Progressive Association [CPA] of San Francisco.

The Chinese Progressive Association of San Francisco is an organization that has pushed the Beijing line in San Francisco, that has taken some actions that would benefit the Peoples Republic of China, but the main thing is that many of its leaders are members of LeftRoots.

LeftRoots is an organization of the hard Left, in which a lot of peoplethe Chinese Association, the Chinese Progressive Association of Boston, and its leadersare also members of LeftRoots. I think thats where the ideological overlap is with Alicia Garza and the Black Lives Matter organization because Alicia Garza is a Marxist, has said that she needs to smash capitalism, has said this several times.

I just viewed a video this morning of the two other founders, Opal Tometi and Patrisse Cullors, chanting, We have nothing to lose but our chains, which is obviously straight out of The Communist Manifesto. So I think the overlap, the Venn diagram overlap between the Black Lives Matters organizations, Alicia Garza, in groups like CPA San Francisco is this.

Mr. Jekielek: Its very interesting. So you actually found that theres a financial connection between the CPA and this new organization that Alicia Garza found.

Mr. Gonzalez: Yes, so the Blacks Futures Lab is a fiscally sponsored project of the San Francisco CPA. I think that a lot of the Black Lives Matters organizations are fiscally sponsored projects of one thing or another because that gives them a degree of flexibility in how opaque they can be in how they spend their money. Thats what the critics have said.

For example, the Black Lives Matter Global Network used to be a fiscally sponsored project of Thousand Currents. Thousand Currents is another funder of the hard Left. It emerged in Julybecause of research that was done by people here in Washingtonthat the vice chairman of the board of Thousand Currents is Susan Rosenberg, who used to be a member of the Weather Underground, which the FBI identified as a domestic terrorist organization.

She spent time in prison. Susan Rosenbergs sentence was commuted by Bill Clinton on his last day in office, and here she is sitting on the board of Thousand Currents. So after this emerges, Black Lives Matter Global Network, which is very media-savvy, became a fiscally sponsored project of the Tides Center, which is also a funder of the hard Left, but at least it doesnt have Susan Rosenberg on its board.

Mr. Jekielek: So Michael, you mentioned a couple of different organizations. You mentioned a San Francisco CPA and a Boston CPA, obviously, different organizations, what actually ties these groups to the Chinese Communist Party?

Mr. Gonzalez: Well, there were both created by I Wor Kuen. I Wor Kuen was a hard-Marxist, militant organization in the 1960s, which created the San Francisco CPA in 1972. Then some of the IWK people created the CPA in Boston in 1977. Theyre separately registered and separately run. Its members are connected through organizations such as LeftRoots, which is a Marxist organization.

The CPA in Boston has done events with the Chinese Consulate in New York, but the events have taken place in Boston, and the CPA in San Francisco has taken steps to defend the Peoples Republic of China. For example, they were part of an organization in 1977 that urged the Department of Justice not to investigate Chinese spying in America, this spying by China. And they used the specious pretext that this was racial profiling.

I must say that in this particular instance, [they] combined with a group that was for affirmative action, which shows that theyre not really working in the interests of Chinese-Americans. Chinese-Americans are one of the groups that is worst affected by racial profiling in university admissions. In fact, Chinese-American parents are very activated all across the country, in fact, trying to fight racial preferences.

Mr. Jekielek: You mentioned to me when we were speaking offline that you had three lines of evidence that show the connection.

Mr. Gonzalez: I have [what] I just mentioned. Now then there was the fact that Alex Tom was part of an excursion organization trying to bring people in China and the United States together. I looked at it, and it looked like he was trying to find leftist Americans, trying to put them together with the most leftist elements within the Peoples Republic of China.

And then there was the third instance in which the CPA San Francisco joined a letter to the Biden campaign, saying we want you to beat President Trump in the election, but we urge you not to engage in any China-bashing. And if you engage in any China-bashing, this is going to cost you at the polls. The letter actually said that. I have no idea why an organization such as this would go to bat for the Peoples Republic of China, telling a candidate not to engage in criticism of China.

Mr. Jekielek: Thats really, really interesting. Theres been a fact-check of sorts that was published recently about your article, which as it became popular, as it gained some traction on social media, [exposed] that there is this connection. What is your response to that?

Mr. Gonzalez: The New York Times is very eager to hide the Marxist roots of the Black Lives Matters organizations and its founders. What I said is, look, its no surprise. The New York Times covered for communists in the Soviet Union in the 1930s when they denied the genocide in Ukraine. The New York Times also covered for communists in Cuba when Herbert Matthews went down there and described the rebels as democrats who were not Marxists in the least.

The New York Times is now engaging in the same practice here in the United States by trying to describe Black Lives Matter as a movement that is not Marxist at all.

This is parsing issues here because, obviously, the people who turn out to demonstrate, people who are outraged by the manner in which George Floyd died, are not Marxist. Theyre just outraged by the death of a fellow American. So they go out and demonstrate,  but the way theyve been manipulated by these organizations is the issue here.

These organizations, as Ive said in The New York Times, cannot deny this as much as [they want] to. Alicia Garza and Patrisse Cullors especially are Marxists. They say that themselves. Patrisse Cullors, for example, trained at the Labor Community Strategy Center, which was founded by Eric Mann, another former member of the Weather Underground. He calls that center a center for revolutionaries, a center where he trains revolutionaries. She trained there for many years.

Alicia Garza also has said many times that capitalism has to be smashed because capitalism is racist, which is the opposite of the truth, obviously. Capitalism is just a fancy word for I bought something, I have bought this cup with the sweat of my brow, and you want to buy it; we both agree on a price and both walk away happy.

In other words, [capitalism is] another word for freedom, right? Its actually a Marxist word for freedom. Its color-blind. Its the least racist thing at all. It lifts up all people.

But yet Alicia Garcia says this, and as I said earlier, I believe theres a video of Opal Tometi and Patrisse Cullors chanting, We have nothing to lose but our chains, which is out of Karl Marx.

Also, all three of them praise JoAnne Chesimard, who now goes by the name of Assata Shakur, who is number one on the FBI wanted list, who is a fugitive for having killed a cop, who fled prison and has been given asylum in communist Cubawanted by the U.S. They praise her all the time, all three of them.

Jan Jekielek: Given what youve told me already about the connection between the CPA and BLM, what is The New York Times trying to say here?

Mr. Gonzalez: The New York Times is trying to obfuscate the fact that the CPA in San Francisco, which has taken pro-China stands, is the fiscal sponsor of a BLM organization because theres an ideological overlap.

LeftRoots is not just left of center; LeftRoots is a very hard lefty organization that groups people around the world who want world revolution. When you publish in LeftRoots, when you meet at LeftRoots, when you speak of LeftRoots, youre a bona fide charter member of the hard Left.

Mr. Jekielek: In this article [about] fact-checking the fact-checker, you actually cite our columnist Trevor Loudon, who I think describes the CPAs as Maoist organizations. Can you speak to that? What does that mean?

Mr. Gonzalez: I mean from the beginning, thats one of the main things. So the CPA was founded by I Wor Kuen in 1972. We have to remember 1972 was the height of the Cultural Revolution. The Cultural Revolution lasted in China between 1966 and 1976; 1972 was more or less a halfway point.

This organization was founded to support the PRC in the United States, especially in San Francisco, obviously in San Francisco and its very large Chinatown, to convince the American public to switch recognition of China from Taiwan to the communist Peoples Republic of China. They were inspired by the revolution.

Again, at the height of the craziness of the Cultural Revolution, they found inspiration in this. Its coincidental, or perhaps not, that many people are comparing what were seeing in our streets today to the Red Guards of that time of the Cultural Revolution. Theyre saying that were going through the same type of cultural revolution, and were seeing this, for example, with the struggle sessions that are being held in Maoist Cultural Revolution terms.

We now we have the same things in the anti-racism trainings, which are nothing but struggle sessions, in which people must confess their sins. People must be made to atone for things they havent done, for sins they havent committedthe idea of collective sin or the sins of ones ancestors, carrying the sins of ones ancestors.

Anybody who understands anything about religion understands that you do not commit the sins of your grandfather. You do not carry them with you.

But Im very happy to note along those lines that President Trump has banned the struggle sessions at least from the federal work force although I heard the State Department persists in going ahead with one of the struggle sessions.

Well see whether the administration is able to stop them. I think that they should be gone. Especially corporate America has embraced these things in a rush to show good intentions, as have other elements of our society. These are things that are straight out of the Maoists playbook.

Mr. Jekielek: You mentioned this idea that the sin is actually tied to identity in this construct, basically the color of your skin youre born with, what gender you are. Lets jump to your book now because your book actually speaks directly to these things. Its not surprising that youre writing on this topic. Tell me about your book.

Mr. Gonzalez: I call it The Plot to Change America as a title, How Identity Politics Is Dividing the Land of the Free, because that is the tool that is used to change America, right?

Identity politics is a tool. Identity politics divides the country into groups that are based on either race or ethnicity, or sex, or sexual orientation, or gender identity, or even disability status, anything that confers a claim of victimhood.

Then you can use this victimhood to demand attention, respect, dignity, but reward, compensatory justice, restitution, all these things. This does two things. First, it puts victimhood on a hamster wheel, where the hamster never tires. The hamster keeps running because if you derive everything that is goodrespect and attention, rewardsfrom your degree of victimhood, you dont want to do anything to solve your victimhood.

Number two, though, and thats the important thing to the people who want to change America. This is the number two thing: The important thing is these grievances become a catalyst to change society because the promises hold that the victimhood will end when these collectives change the country.

They say the country is structurally racist, institutionally racist, systemically racist, and therefore all the structures, all the institutions in the systemthe system being a word for the way everything workshave to be changed.

So its not a coincidence that all these people despise capitalism, despise freedom. They despise all of, most of our natural rights. The right to, free speech is connected to how much money you have. Now that they did the right to property, they especially dislike that one, you know. The right to freedom of conscience is another one they go against.

So what they want to do is take us from a country that is based on natural rightsthe rights of legitimacy from natural rights and the belief that governments are instituted among men to protect their natural rightsinto one where the collectivities replace the individual as the agents of social change, as the agent of everything.

What they want to do is take us into central planning, central planning being where the government really decides everything for us. If you dont have your own property, if you dont have your individual agency, the government becomes the one that orders society.

Thats really at the end of what they want: to take us to a model that is completely un-American in the sense that nothing that the founders conceived allows for such a thing.

Mr. Jekielek: So individual agency has no place in this.

Mr. Gonzalez: No individual agency. In fact, they are very specific about this. Robin Diangelo, whos one of these who wrote White Fragility, one of these anti-racism training [texts]her book is on the bestseller listbut all of them emphasize it from the beginning.

By the way, this is a feature of the system that they say, yes, the individual can improve his lot. They accept this. The individual through hard work, in the application of his faculties, will improve his lot, can change his status, can go from working class to middle class, can even become rich.

But that is not what they want. They dont want the individual to become better, to improve his lot in life. What they want is to change society through collective action.

Mr. Jekielek: Run that by me again.

Mr. Gonzalez: So they say, specifically, in seven different ways, but Ill give you a version of this: It doesnt matter if the individual can improve his lot in life through hard work. They accept that that is the case.

Mr. Jekielek: Okay, but they dont care.

Mr. Gonzalez: They dont want this because that is the individual joining the system they dislike. I explained this in my book thoroughly and in many of the chapters. When the individual improves his lotAntonio Gramsci wrote about this as the theory of cultural hegemony.

Gramsci came to understand that even though Marx and Engels had promised that the working class would be revolting everywhere and overthrowing the bourgeoisie, this never came to happen because the worker had accepted the cultural givens of his oppressor, had accepted religion, had accepted the economic system and accepted the family structure, had accepted religion.

The workers had accepted all these things. They had false consciousness, in the words of the communists, so they had to go through consciousness-raising struggle sessions.

Again, struggle sessions: This is what we see. Its about changing your consciousness. Its about replacing all these ideas that you have accepted. When the individual joins the system and improves his status and improves his family status, is no longer poor, becomes middle class or even wealthy, the individual has then joined the system.

All these people, from Gramsci to Marcuse, to Angela Davis, to Robin Diangelo, to [inaudible], to Patrisse Cullors, they all say that they accept the individual can do this, but they dont want this. They dont want the individual joining the system. They want the individual to join the collective to overthrow the system.

Mr. Jekielek: I think you mentioned earlier that a lot of the people who are participating, who have participated in the Black Lives Matter protests are not people who understand what theyre actually getting behind with this.

Mr. Gonzalez: I would imagine that. I dont know because many, many young people today say they actually dont mind Marxism. I dont know if they understand what Marxism really means. I think they think its Denmark or Sweden, which its not. These are capitalist countries, filled with billionaires.

I would imagine that the vast majority of the people joining the protests are just outraged, as I said, by the video they saw, by the idea that this could happen to an American. They didnt like what they saw, and rightly so, rightly so, right? That was it. That was a very harrowing video. Anybody would be outraged by it. I dont think they understand what these organizations and their leaders say they want to do.

Mr. Jekielek: What you described earlier, accepting the existence of agency but basically denying it and saying, we cant have any part of thatthats very counterintuitive, and its an abstract concept.

Mr. Gonzalez: They dont want to deny agency. They want to transfer agency from the individual to the group. So you stop being an individual, and your relevance is as a member of a group, as a Hispanic, or as an African-American, or as an Asian-American.

Lets not forget, by the way, and [I] devoted several chapters to this in my book, that Hispanics and Asian-Americans had two categories that were created by these activists. They came into being, and these activists really intimidated the bureaucracy in the 70s.

[As] I described in my book The Plot to Change America, they intimidated the bureaucracy into creating, officializing, these categories, putting them so they finally get the big win: OMB, the Office of Management and Budget, issues Directive number 15.

The old government offices will then have to categorize people as either Hispanic or Asian-Americans, and you create what is known in the industry as the ethno-racial pentagon: whites, blacks, Hispanics, Asian-Americans, and Native Americans. Then they put them on the census in 1980.

But lets think about who Asians are. Asians are people as varied as Americans, with ancestors in China or India or Sri Lanka or the Philippines or Korea or Japan or Indonesiapeople with very different backgrounds, very different histories, very different everything, very different cultural habits, very different cultural indicators.

The same thing for Hispanics: You have people who are Mexican or Cuban or Argentine or Dominican, people who can be of African descent, people who can be of European descent, people who can be of Native American descent or a mix thereof, according to the country, the society they come from, and with very different cultural givens.

So these categories are artificial to begin with. Never mind the sexual categories, the 57 that  the city of New York recognizes, apparently. No, I think New York [has] 37. So membership in these victimhood categories has the agency now, rather than the individual acting on his own, as an individual, a member of his family, a member of his community, and an American.

Mr. Jekielek: How is it that this very theoretical idea actually came into the mainstream?

Mr. Gonzalez: Antonio Gramsci, the founder of Italys Communist Party, is thrown into prison by Mussolini in the 1920s, as a prosecutor says, to stop his brain from working.

Thats a really awful idea. We know from the example of St. Paul and many other people that you do a lot of hard thinking and good writing in prison. So Gramsci comes up with this idea of cultural hegemony. The worker buys, so we have to change the consciousness of the worker.

Then the next step is the Frankfurt School. Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno write a book in 1937, which comes up with the idea of critical theory.

Critical theory becomes the tool by which you effect the change in the cultural hegemony with the counter hegemony because critical theory is nothing but an unremitting attack on all the norms and traditions of the West, everything from the family, everything that Gramsci had discovered the worker had adhered to.

Then critical theory criticizes all this. They pretend that they criticize everything, that they also criticize communism, but as Martin Jay, who wrote a very sympathetic history of the Frankfurt School, as he himself notes in his book, no, they dont really criticize the Soviet Union, even though its at the height of the purges, at the height of the genocide and the famines. They criticize, really, only the West.

Then people like Herbert Marcuse, who is a critic, whos also of the Frankfurt School, comes to the United States. He noticed that hes despairing also [of] the American worker, right? The American worker is a boob who just likes his hi-fi, likes his split-level home, and his refrigerator, and is never going to revolt.

But then he notices the riots that are happening in the 60s. Many hundreds of riots took place between 65 and 71, and he says, ah, its with these identities, with people of other colors, that were going to have the agents of change. He then introduces this idea, so these will be the new agents of change.

Then you have the other activists that are very influenced by these writings, demanding the creation of categories. Now you may say, well, who reads Gramsci these days? Well, critical theory is taught at all levels at the university today. It has different versions: critical race theory, critical legal theory; ethnic studies are part of this.

Angela Davis has called black studies, African studies, the intellectual arm of the revolution, and she knows what shes talking about. She knows that this is how you change minds. Let me just do some genealogy here, by the way. Angela Davis was directly taught by Marcuse. Marcuse was a professor. Marcuse was taught by Martin Heidegger.

Martin Heidegger was a member of the Nazi Party in Germany, and his major subject was Nietzsche. He was a friend of Nietzsches sister. In fact, Nietzsches sister makes him the curator of the Nietzsche archives in the 1930s.

Nietzsche is the one who invents this idea that there is no truth, there are only narratives, that what is good is what the master class lights in front as beautiful, and what is bad is what the master class finds ugly and bad, and they impose this on the lower class, whom they have a right to rule.

So this is a direct line from Nietzsche to Heidegger to Marcuse to Angela Davis. And who do Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi and Alicia Garza claim as one of the most important mentorsAngela Davis. You should see how effusively Alicia Garza thanks Angela Davis, in a video, for the work that she has done to influence her thinking.

Angela Davis spent time in prison for her association with the killing of a cop. She was let out on a technicality in the early 70s. She toured Havana, where she was lionized. She was given the Lenin Peace Prize by East Germany, the most repressive regime behind the Iron Curtain.

So when I say theyre Marxists, Im not making any of this up. If Angela Davis goes to universities today, where she fills auditoriums, and she tells the students, Im a communist and I have always been a communist, they rise up and clap.

Mr. Jekielek: So basically, youre saying that what was once class struggle is now turned into race and many other categories of struggle.

Mr. Gonzalez: Class struggle has been left behind because it didnt work. You can change your class. The individual can change his class. That was the problem. Well, you cannot change your race, your country of originand get ready for thisyour sex. You cannot; these are immutable traits. So you put the locus of this in these immutable characteristics.

But then another important thing happens. Marcuse is mentor also to Rudi Dutschke, whos a German revolutionary, and hes the one that comes up with the idea of the long march through the institutions, which Marcuse blesses and says this is the right thing to do.

The long march is obviously a reference to Mao and Maos Long March with communist partisans in the 30s. They did end up defeating the nationalists in 1949, as you know.

But what Rudi Dutschke says is that were going to have a long march through the institutions that is peaceful. Were going to take over the institutions, the commanding heights of the cultural institutions, and therefore influence society.

The Left today is in charge of the academy. The Left today is in charge of the media, and the Left today is in charge of the entertainment business, with few notable exceptionsobviously, present company excluded. The Left has done a wonderful job of marching through the institutions.

Mr. Jekielek: I think the last chapter in your book talks about why all this matters.

Mr. Gonzalez: Thats the penultimate chapter. It matters because, first of all, this is not just alien to the American system. It is the antithesis of the American system. The American system, as I said, the founders of the country and the framers of the Constitution in 1787, base their ideas on people like William Blackstone, whom they quote, on John Locke, whom they quote, or Montesquieu, whom they quote, and their ideas of natural rights that we have gone overa few of them.

These are rights that are discoverable by us through our faculty of reason, that we can find in nature, that we know we have these rights, that when we think about them, that were born with them. In fact, Jefferson says in the Declaration that its God himself that has endowed us with these rights.

You dont have to be a Christian or a believer. You can just say theyre in nature, they precede government, theyre pre-political, and they base everything on that. They have from Montesquieu the tension, the division of power among the different branches. In the half from Blackstone, the idea that the law either ratifies or violates natural law, that mans law can either ratify or violate what is natural law, what is actually true.

So identity politics, Marxism, and all these theories that are disclosed in my book are the antithesis of this. They believe, they view with Kant, that man has rights that are given to him by the government. The government is the originator of rights. We speak of the Enlightenment as if it had been something that happened in the 18th century that was monolithic. You have several enlightenments.

America is based more on Anglo-Scottish ideas and Anglo-Scottish thinkers although they borrowed from Montesquieu, obviously, and what this is based on is more of the continental enlightenment, Kant and Diderot, thinkers who were either ambivalent about God or really, really hated God, hated religion. And then it goes through Hegelian dialectics, Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger, and all that. It is a very continental thing.

Even though they may not know it, theyre also following dead white men. These are all European ideas.

Mr. Jekielek: Fascinating. Your final chapter is actually Now What? if I recall correctly.

Mr. Gonzalez: Its solutions. Ill be frank with you. I see my main joband with my bookis exposing all of this, right? I expose what is happening. I say, look what has happened. The vast, overwhelming majority of Americans do not know this has happened.

And then I say, you know what kind of a problem this is? Is this a problem of a factory poisoning a river? Well, the first thing you need to do is shut off the factory, shut off the pipes. Theyre spewing these toxins into the river. And then after that, you go and you clean up the algae, you clean up the water.

The factory in this case is government. Government was forced to create these categories. Government, through the courts, created the racial preferences of affirmative action in everything from university admissions, to government contracting, to hiring, and so forth. We need to get rid of all these things that create and then encourage group creation if were going to get rid of groups in group-thinking.

Mr. Jekielek: When you say to get rid of groups, what do you mean exactly?

Mr. Gonzalez: Getting rid of the categories, the categories of identity politics. Sorry, I should have said categories. And by the way, this was completely what the civil rights movement demanded and was fought for, which was to have color-blind government.

Amazingly enough, [in] Kennedys executive order 10925, in 1961, the first mention of affirmative action, he instructs federal contractors to make decisions without regard to race, national origin, or sex.

And then within a few years, through alchemy by his successor, LBJ, it turns into making decisions that are based on race, national origin, or sex. So this is a complete reversal of Kennedys original idea in what the civil rights movement was about.

Mr. Jekielek: Today, we have a lot of people who are concerned, and concerned probably because theyre just learning about all this, for example, the president calling out critical theory in the federal government.

Critical theory is something that I think most Americans just havent been familiar with, myself included, until somewhat recently, in recent years. So the question is, what now? So we have to shut off the spigot?

Mr. Gonzalez: Yes.

Mr. Jekielek: But what can the typical person who has become concerned about this do?

Mr. Gonzalez: The typical person ought to know that even though he or she is not interested in critical theory, critical theory is interested in her. Critical theory has completely taken over all of the universities, is taught at different levels, and through many different ways. The anti-racism training, the struggle sessions that workers are forced into doing is a result of critical theory.

Everything that we see happening today is the direct result of critical theory. If you have a son or granddaughter in a university, theyre studying critical theory. The chances are great that they are. In fact, from now on, to graduate from the California State University system, you have to have taken a course in ethnic studies. Ethnic studies are a form of critical theory.

So everybody who goes through the California state system will have had to study critical theory. The individual should speak up. The individual should say, No, I dont want my children to be taught this just gaining understanding of this, rather than everybody wanting to show their good intentions, everybody wanting to be a good person.

What Americans need to understand is that virtue-signaling is not the thing they should aim for. Virtue-practicing is practicing real virtues. We have the moral virtues that we practicehard work, delayed gratification. All these things are really what is important, not virtue-signaling. That will not get you anything. That will not make you a better person. That will not make a better system. That will not give you a better society.

Mr. Jekielek: Before we finish up, you actually lived in Hong Kong for a number of years. You were the editor for The Wall Street Journal there.

Mr. Gonzalez: I was the editor of the editorial page.

Mr. Jekielek: Right.

Mr. Gonzalez: The Wall Street Journal in Asia. Yes, Im horrified by what has happened to this great city. I lived there four different times under two different British governors, Wilson and Patten, and then under the two Beijing-appointed rulers, CH Tung, and Danny Chang. I didnt think it would happen this quickly, that the communist government would start going back on its promise of one country, two systems that it would destroy.

So Hong Kong is a wonderful city. Hong Kong has a very high standard of living, higher than most American cities. Hong Kong is a free place where natural rights were respected. So the idea that anybody is going to tamper with this goose that laid the golden eggs for 150 years is horrifying.

And I guess this will drive home the point to anybody who had any doubts that you cannot trust the Chinese Communist Party. And the Chinese Communist Party is obviously in charge of mainland China, suppresses the rights of 1.2 billion Chinese, and is very busy now trying to suppress the rights of 7 million Hongkongers.

Mr. Jekielek: So is this what prompted you to research these possible connections between pro-CCP organizations and BLM?

Mr. Gonzalez: No, not really. I understand the nature of communism. I was a foreign correspondent for 15 years, living mostly in Asia and Europe. I have done some reporting in Latin America as well. I am very concerned about what is happening to our country, especially in the year 2020. And I want to make sure that everybody understands what is really at stake here, what is being done, by whom, and why.

Mr. Jekielek: So in one sentence, what is at stake?

Mr. Gonzalez: At stake is our freedom, our liberty. Are we going to continue living as Americans with the greatest prosperity and the greatest liberty ever known to man? Or are we going to trade this in and act passively and allow it to happen?

Mr. Jekielek: Michael Gonzales, its such a pleasure to have you on the show.

Mr. Gonzalez: The pleasure is all mine. Thank you very much.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

American Thought Leaders is an Epoch Times show available on YouTube, Facebook, and The Epoch Times website. It airs on Verizon Fios TV and Frontier Fios on NTD America (Channel 158).
Kolkata: Amidst the coronavirus outbreak, actor-turned Trinamool Congress Member of Parliament Nusrat Jahan on Sunday (September 27, 2020) left for London (UK) for her latest film shoot.

The actor reportedly will be shooting for her latest Tollywood film - Swastik Sanket.

Check out her pictures:

While leaving for London, she was seen sporting a mask with her initials on it - NJ. Interestingly, it also happens to be her husbands initials - Nikhil Jain.

Her airport look been styled by noted Stylist Chikky Goenka in an outfit by the label - Scribbology, said the release from her PR team.

The film will be Nusrat's 23rd film which will be directed by Sayantan Ghoshal and produced by Eskay Movies.

The movie is an adventure-thriller with other actors named Saswata Chatterjee, Gaurav Chakraborty and Rudranil Ghosh in the cast, said a release from her PR team.

Also read | TMC MP Nusrat Jahan files complaint with Kolkata Police after dating app used her pic without consent


ZURICH  Swiss voters on Sunday agreed to adopt a law mandating paternity leave, making it the last nation in Western Europe to do so and beating back strong conservative opposition to the proposal.

Fathers in the country had been allowed one day off for the birth of a child  the same time given for moving homes  but the new ruling will increase that to 10 days of paid leave.

And voters also separately rejected a referendum that would have blocked freedom of movement of European Union citizens into the country, an issue pushed by a right-wing party.

The paternity leave law was approved by Parliament last year, but a group of conservative politicians collected more than 50,000 signatures on a petition opposing the measure. In the Swiss system of direct democracy, that forced the issue to be put to a referendum before it could come into effect.
Actor Poonam Pandey hit the headlines in early September after her surprise wedding with Sam Bombay. Later that month, she filed a complaint of assault against Sam in Goa. However, Sam has now shared a happy picture from their wedding.

The picture is from their wedding and does not have a caption. Both are dressed in wedding finery.

Sam was arrested on Tuesday in Goa after she filed a complaint claiming he had molested, threatened and assaulted her, police said. The incident happened in Canacona village in south Goa where Pandey is currently shooting for a film, said an official.

Pandey filed a complaint late Monday night claiming her husband Sam Bombay had molested her, and threatened her with dire consequences after assaulting her. He was arrested, Inspector Tukaram Chavan of Canacona police station said.

Speaking to Spotboye, Poonam hinted that she may withdraw her case against Sam but also mentioned how badly she was beaten up. She was quoted as saying, I got beaten up very badly this time, it was a half murder. I dont know for how many days I was in the hospital.

Because he is just crying in front of me and I really dont know what to do? Every time he just beat me up and later starts crying saying sorry. This time also he did the same and promised it will not happen again and I will treat you good. But this is something he keeps doing always. Because of him I got a brain haemorrhage, she added.

(With PTI inputs)

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We dont need these gimmicks, said Brent Stephens, an indoor air quality expert at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. Ive got an air cleaner here that we use, and it has a weird little ultraviolet light on it. But I dont really trust it. I just turn it off and use it as a way to move air through the filter.
Inside Hook

What happens when a pair of automakers join forces to create a third brand  and then fold in a high-tech operating system? Thats the idea behind automaker Polestar, an automaker owned by Volvo and Geely. Polestar is quickly making a name for itself in the automotive world through a blend of sharp design and energy-efficiency.



The latest step forward for Polestar comes via news of their Precept  an electric sedan which had previously been unveiled as a concept car. Writing at The Verge, Andrew J. Hawkins described the Precept as a vehicle that blended performance with savvy design choices.



Hawkins noted that, at least in its concept car days, the Precept repurposed a host of materials, including interior panels and seat backs are made out of flax-based composites; seats that have been 3D-knitted from recycled PET [or polyethylene terephthalate] bottles; bolsters and headrests made from recycled cork vinyl; and carpets made out of reclaimed fishing nets.
BROOKFIELD  A committee set up to find and address the towns coronavirus needs has yet to receive a single reply after months of inquiries.

Its members and town officials though are upping their outreach to ensure that anyone who needs help is able to get it.

I think a majority of it is there is no need, but there could be someone out there who needs our help and isnt aware of it, said Mel Butow, who chairs the COVID-19 Long Term Recovery Committee.

The committee was established this summer at the states request as a way to connect people in need with the appropriate resources. This includes help finding a new job, getting food and financial assistance. Any money people would get comes from existing state programs, not the town, Butow said.

Our main goal is to take care of the Brookfield residents, Butow said, adding he wouldnt turn anyone in need away and could connect residents from other towns with the appropriate group there.

Most towns in Connecticut have these committees.

The committee has reached out to places of worship, the chamber of commerce and civic groups, such as the Knights of Columbus and the Lions Club, to try to identify the community needs.

We have not been getting any responses, Butow said.

He said it seems like people are already going to the food pantries, social services and the senior center for help.

Anyone in need can call 203-775-7317 and leave a message so someone from the committee can follow up. People can also email ltc@brookfieldct.gov.

Those reaching out should include their names, contact info and needs so the committee can help. The information will remain confidential within the committees six members.

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.

Butow said the biggest need he sees in town is helping seniors feel less isolated since they cant gather at the senior center due to the coronavirus restrictions. He said the senior center is trying to help with that though and calls its seniors to check in on them.

He hopes people in the community in need will reach out, but said the lack of responses could also be a good sign that there isnt a need in town.

Its a good thing and a bad thing, Butow said.

kkoerting@newstimes.com
Eight Texas cities near the Gulf of Mexico have been placed under a do not use water advisory

With unrelenting racial tensions, a devastating global pandemic and the threat of financial collapse hovering over the U.S., it would seem that 2020 couldnt get any worse.

But a new calamity has befallen several cities in Texas Greater Houston metropolitan area that are under a do not use water advisory due to fears that a deadly brain-eating amoeba is lurking in their tap water.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, is usually found in warm freshwater and soil. It tends to infect people when the contaminated water enters the body through the nose and then travels to the brain where it can cause a rare and debilitating disease called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).

Nageleria fowleri, more widely known as th brain-eating amoeba, can be found in lakes, rivers and soil and can cause a rare infection fo the brain. (via CDC)

Read More: Junior Olympian, 14, dies after contracting brain-eating amoeba

The infection is typically fatal and often occurs when people go swimming in warm freshwater places such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs in warmer parts of the country. Although it is rare, the CDC says that Naegleria fowleri infections may also occur when contaminated tap water and water from inadequately chlorinated swimming pools enters the nose.

water Black hand

On Friday night, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality warned the Brazosport Water Authority of the potential contamination of its water supply by Naegleria fowleri. It also issued an advisory warning people not to use tap water for any reason except to flush toilets in multiple cities south of Houston, including Lake Jackson, Freeport, Angleton, Brazoria, Richwood, Oyster Creek, Clute and Rosenberg, Forbes reports.

Read More: $600 million settlement reached in Flint water crisis

According the commission, the advisory will remain in place until the Brazosport authoritys water system has been thoroughly flushed and after tests show the systems water is again safe to use.

Story continues

The CDC reported that the first deaths from Naegleria fowleri found in tap water from treated U.S. public drinking water systems occurred in southern Louisiana in 2011 and 2013. The microbe was also found in 2003 in an untreated geothermal well-supplied drinking water system in Arizona.

Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now!

The post Brain-eating amoeba found in water supply of several Houston-area cities appeared first on TheGrio.
Unless youre Jewish you may not know what a shofar is, much less have owned or played one.

Papamoa man Steve Trim is the exception and can say yes to all three.

As a matter of fact, he makes them  lots of them  in his garage.

The recently retired Baptist pastor has a home workshop in which hes made 61 of the unusual looking instruments over the past ten years.

A traditional part of the Jewish religion the instruments are typically made from a large curved rams horn and used to celebrate occasions like Rosh Hashanah  also known as the Jewish New Year.

Steves variety are predominantly made from salvaged native timber like old totara fence posts, but in this kind of woodwork anything goes.

There are even a few pieces of an old power pole in the mix, he says.

His passion for shofars grew from an initial interest in traditional Maori instruments, or taonga puoro.

I started off by making a putatara, which is a shell instrument, after a friend gave me a suitable shell; then I moved on to making a putaea (a long straight war trumpet) out of wood.

At some point one of his putaea ended up with a few extra curves in it.

It was wavy and I thought it looked quite good. That led me to wonder if I could make a shofar, says Steve.

After months of experimenting he perfected a technique that enabled him to create the distinctive curved horn shape.

Thats when he created my first good one.

Steve then adds his own style of carving motif to each shofar and gives them a name which he inscribes into the wood in both te reo and Hebrew.

Its a particularly apt way of acknowledging the dual sources of inspiration behind his unique creations.

Listening to him play one of his shofroth, as theyre known in the plural, is a mesmerizing experience for both the eyes and ears.

Each instrument is different and capable of producing its own range of deep-toned notes, something that Steve uses to great melodic effect.

Making and playing taonga puoro (singing treasures) has experienced a resurgence around New Zealand in recent years, however Steve says as far as he knows no one else is making curved ones like the shofar.

Ive given most of mine away to friends or people Ive met whove shown an interest in them, says Steve.

A fully carved shofar can take him up to 50 hours from start to finish and involves making multiple individual 5cm sections before gluing and sanding them together into the final impressive shape.

A lot of my original ones were made from old totara fence posts off farms. Totara is a very good carving wood but posts are now hard to come by as people are keeping theirs, says Steve.

I dont call myself a carver because there are master carvers who just do everything with a chisel and they make beautiful work.

They do stunning work by hand whereas I cheat and use a rotary power tool similar to a piece of engraving equipment. Im not a carver, Im more of a decorator, he says.

Four of the 61 shofars Steves created were made during the COVID-19 lockdown. Together, with a number of large putatara they make an impressive sight in the lounge of his Papamoa home.

Fortunately his hobby has the blessing and support of his wife Marijan.

The Jewish New Year, or Rosh Hashanah, is one of the holiest days in the Jewish calendar. Its observed by prayers in synagogue and personal reflection, as well as hearing the shofar blown.

The biblical name for the holiday is Yom Teruah, which is literally day of shouting or blasting.

It was celebrated on September 18-20 this year.
EastEnders icon Shaun Williamson has revealed that he has a secret son after he fathered the child with a circus juggler more than 30 years ago.

The Barry Evans star, 54, described how he received an email in 2013 by a 32-year-old man named Gary living in Northern Ireland who claimed to be his son.

The actor, who has a daughter Sophie, 22, and son Joseph, 20 with ex-wife Melanie Sacre, told how the revelation was 'the most frightening but amazing discovery'.

Family: EastEnders icon Shaun Williamson, 54, has revealed that he has a secret son after he fathered the child with a circus juggler more than 30 years ago

Speaking to The Sun on Sunday, Shaun said: 'When I found out I had another son, I was stunned. I was shaking when I went to meet him.'

The actor added: 'He said he never thought in a million years that Barry from EastEnders could be his dad.'

The Celebrity Big Brother star told how he met Gary's mother, who remains anonymous, when he was working as a barman in 1987 aged 22.

Past: The star ended the relationship as he took up a job as a Pontin's Bluecoat before he was told by his ex-fiancee that she was pregnant

Shaun described how he was 'blown away' by the circus juggler and the pair went onto get engaged after six months despite having a 'fiery relationship'.

The star ended the relationship as he took up a job as a Pontin's Bluecoat before he was told by his ex-fiancee that she was pregnant.

However she later explained to her ex Shaun that her landlord's son was in fact the father and his name would be on the birth certificate.

In 2013 the former postman received an email out-of-the-blue stating it was 'Gary' from his 'circus days'.

The Extras star sent a paternity test to a centre in Canada which confirmed that he was his biological son with Shaun describing how it all 'fell into place'.

Shaun met his long-lost son Gary in a hotel in Belfast and described how the pair 'hit it off' from the start.

He said: 'It was a surreal experience. I could immediately see the similarity. We hit it off straight away.'

Bye Barry! Shaun became the eighth housemate to be evicted from the Celebrity Big Brother House in 2017

Shaun became a household name thanks to his role as Barry Evans on EastEnders from 1994 until 2004. His character was dramatically killed off by the evil Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks).

The actor has gone on to appear on the likes of current programme Mister Winner, Ricky Gervais' Extras and Scoop.

While in 2017, he appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and joked as he entered the house that he would have 'Barry from EastEnders' written on his gravestone.
Shawn Myers hosted two parties that attracted crowds as much as six times the gathering limits set by the governor to contain coronavirus

A Maryland man has been sentenced to a year in prison for throwing house parties in March that violated the states coronavirus protective orders.

Shawn Marshall Myers, of Hughesville, Maryland, was arrested that month after hosting the second of two large parties at his home and received his punishment on Friday. More than 50 people attended the first party and more than 60 attended the second party days later, which came after the governor issued a stay-at-home mandate prohibiting residents from unnecessary social gatherings and trips outside the home, Washington Post reports.

The emergency order prohibited gatherings of more than 10 people.

According to Charles County States Attorney Office, police went to Myers house during a party to inform him that he was in violation of the protective order. Despite being argumentative with law enforcement, he dispersed the party.

Despite this, Myers threw another house party on March 27, less than a week later. WTTG reports that this time more than 60 people were at his home and a bonfire was burning. After once again arguing with police, stating that he had a right to have the party, he was arrested after telling his guests not to leave and purposely violate the order.

READ MORE: Young Democrats of Maryland leader found dead in Washington

Myers posted bail in April and awaited his August trial. After his release, he stated that he didnt take the pandemic seriously and admitted that he behaved poorly with police.

Shawn Myers (via Charles County Sheriffs Office)

I definitely regret the way I handled it, Myers told reporters. I wish I had been more informed and given the opportunity to do it over again, I wouldnt do it the same way.

READ MORE: Police shut down Jersey Shore house party thrown by YouTube stars

On Friday, Myers was found guilty on two counts of failure to comply with an emergency order. Alongside his year-long prison sentence, he must also pay a $5,000 fine and serve three years of unsupervised probation.

Story continues

He will serve his term at the Charles County Detention Center.

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The post Maryland man gets year in prison for hosting large parties, ignoring gathering limits appeared first on TheGrio.
The Centre has directed deployment of about 30,000 central security force personnel for the conduct of the three-phase assembly polls in Bihar, officials said on Sunday.

The Union home ministry has directed that 300 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces and the Railway Protection Force will be deployed for "area domination to ensure peaceful conduct of assembly polls" in the state.

The maximum 80 companies, as per an official order, will be drawn from the Central Reserve Police Force followed by 70 from the Sashastra Seema Bal, 55 from the Border Security Force, 50 from the Central Industrial Security Force, 30 from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police force and 15 from the RPF.

A single company of these forces has an operational strength of about 100 personnel.

"A total of 300 companies or about 30,000 personnel of these CAPFs and the RPF have been ordered to be withdrawn immediately from various units including from the borders and training for deployment in Bihar polls," a senior officer said.

Polls for the 243-member Bihar assembly will be held in three phases -- October 28, November 3 and November 7 -- and counting of votes will be held on November 10.

The Election Commission, while announcing the poll schedule for the state on September 25, had said that the electoral exercise will be one of the biggest elections globally to be held during the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic situation.

"Border guarding forces like the ITBP, the BSF and the SSB have also been asked to withdraw their units and send for the Bihar elections pool. Although, the ITBP is heavily committed due to the current situation along the LAC and the BSF against Pakistan on the western front, these forces could not be spared (from doing poll duty) this time," a senior officer privy to the development said.

Officials have recently said that the home ministry is working on an "ambitious" plan to gradually remove border guarding forces -- the BSF, the ITBP and the SSB -- from internal security duties in order to strengthen protection at various frontiers of the country.

The internal security and conduct of elections task will increasingly be rendered by the CRPF that is designated as the lead internal security force of the country, they had said.

The home ministry, in the latest order, has said that the CRPF will be the nodal agency for the deployment of these central forces in the state and it will coordinate with the state agencies for moving these contingents in Bihar.

The EC had said voting will begin as usual at 7 am in Bihar but the period will be extended by one hour until 6 pm, except in the Left Wing Extremism affected areas, so that COVID-19 patients can vote in the last hour of the day.
Conservative Republicans want a 6-3 majority in the nations highest court. This will tilt the Supreme Court from center right to far righta terrifying prospect.

by Sonali Kolhatkar

In the hours after Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died, shocked Americans speculated about whether or not Republican Senator Mitt Romney would oppose a Senate confirmation vote just weeks before the election. After all, Romney had emerged as the highest-profile Republican lawmaker critical of the president and was the lone senator from his party who voted to convict Trump earlier this year in the Senate impeachment trial. Back then he had accused Trump of attempting to corrupt an election to maintain power and of being guilty of an appalling abuse of public trust. Yet, after Ginsburgs death, Romney did an about-face, lured by the prospect of a decades-long rightward tilt in the nations highest court. He remarked to reporters that my liberal friends have, over many decades, gotten very used to the idea of a liberal court, and that it was now appropriate for a nation which is center right to have a court which reflects center-right points of view.

Of course, this is not true. The nation veers center left on issue after issue, whether it is abortion, health care, gun control, immigration, or labor rights and unions. Cases centering on all the aforementioned issues are likely in the next several years to come before the U.S. Supreme Court, whose conservative justices will foist their views onto a nation that veers in the opposite direction.

Listening to Republicans, it is easy to imagine that the right and left ends of the political spectrum are equally weighted on moral grounds. But conservatives do not represent a balance to the fervent overreach of the radical leftists they repeatedly invoke. They literally want to conserve the status quo. They represent the horrors of past injustices and the extreme racial and gender inequality that marked earlier eras.

In contrast, the left hopes to make progress toward a better future, hence the moniker progressive. Throughout history, progress has happened because left-leaning radicals relentlessly fought for justice against the forces of conservatism. Todays conservatives pay lip service to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement. They denounce the horrors of slavery. But they are the ideological time-traveling cousins of segregationists and enslavers. Even President Trump loves to cite King, saying in his September 22 Executive Order on race and sex stereotyping that a belief in the inherent equality of every individual is what inspired Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to dream that his children would one day not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. Trump in his executive order used Dr. Kings legacy to denounce anti-racist and anti-sexist training programs with no hint of irony.

When Dr. King was alive, he was scorned by most white Americans. Are we to believe that were Trump a political leader at that time that he would have been among Kings champions? It is far likelier that he would have been leading calls to lynch the now-revered leader.

History will judge todays conservatives and especially those backing Trump (yes, Senator Romney, you too) with the same derision with which we now treat yesterdays forces of regression. Conservatives are social dinosaurs who signal that losing power to those who are less white, less wealthy, and not male is their nightmare scenario. Romney may have marched in a racial justice protest in June and tweeted that Black Lives Matter. But in backing a Senate vote for a Trump nominee to the Supreme Court, he ensures that a right-wing majority will result in Black Lives continuing to not Matter. Just the evisceration of the Affordable Care Actwhich is likely to be struck down in a conservative majority courtwill disproportionately impact African Americans. Other critical issues at stake include voting rights, affirmative action, workplace discrimination and more.

It is important to point out that while Republican lawmakers are to blame for the precarious situation we are in today, the Democratic Party is hardly innocent. Conservatives have been aided in their claims of morality by neoliberal Democratsthose centrists in the liberal party whose dissonance between liberalism and the inequalities wrought by capitalism have left them open to justifiable criticism and rightfully cast aspersions on liberal ideology.

The centrists have muddied the waters by pledging verbal allegiance to social justice issues while deftly working to preserve the status quo like their conservative counterparts. How else to explain that in city after city run by DemocratsLos Angeles, New York, Chicago, Minneapolisracist police violence continues to plague communities of color? Or that the party refuses to adopt a basic promise to provide government-backed health care for all, while it is all too happy to pour tax dollars into the military?

Even when Justice Ginsberg was alive, the Supreme Court was hardly the protector of liberal ideas that Romney implied. In examining the rulings over this past year, one constitutional lawyer concluded that the Roberts court remains a bastion of conservatism, because the rulings that helped preserve immigrant rights, abortion rights, and worker rights were limited and technical in scope, leaving them vulnerable to future courts. Meanwhile, conservative decisions on issues like religious freedoms were sweeping and likely to endure challenges. Lawyer and journalist Adam Cohen argued in his recent book Supreme Inequality that over the past 50 years, the Supreme Court has consistently ruled in favor of powerful interests over the rights of the vulnerable.

Now with Ginsburgs death and the imminent replacement of her seat with a younger, ultra-conservative justice, the court will tilt not from center left to center right. Rather, it will tilt from center right to far right. This makes the November 3 race even more critical. If Trump has had the chance to choose three Supreme Court justices in just four yearsfar more than his immediate predecessorsimagine what another four years would mean. But with barely a month before the election, the only bulwark against Trumpism is former Vice President Joe Biden, a centrist Democrat. Biden is by no means the radical leftist that Trumps Republican backers claim he is, and he is not nearly progressive enough. But in order to stave off a slide into fascism, backing Biden-ism as a path to ending Trumpism is the first step of a long journey toward beating back the forces of regression and returning the nation to its tenuous path of progress.

This article was produced by Economy for All, a project of the Independent Media Institute.

Sonali Kolhatkar is the founder, host and executive producer of Rising Up With Sonali, a television and radio show that airs on Free Speech TV and Pacifica stations.
The catastrophic wildfires raging up and down the West Coast should force a radical reversal of 30 years of disastrous government policies.

Instead, the politicians and environmental pressure groups who gave us these policies are using climate change as a smokescreen to avoid blame and to prevent the change of direction in management needed to restore health to our forests and thereby reduce fire risks.

We might be able to forgive those who, like Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, know nothing about what they are talking about when they blame the fires on climate change.

It is enough to point out that the big fires are occurring almost exclusively on public land  national forests, Bureau of Land Management forests and rangelands, and state forests  and not on privately owned forests.

But the Sierra Club, founded by John Muir in 1892 to protect Yosemite National Park and other wonders in Californias Sierra Nevada Mountains, should know better. The Sierra Club has led the campaign to end active management of our public lands and since 1996 has officially opposed commercial logging in all national forests.
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:
People at a park practice social distancing. There are many common myths and misconceptions regarding best practices regarding the coronavirus.
Decadent chocolates, chunky brownies and sinful cheesecakes  these are what sweet dreams are made of. Bringing these uber luxurious dreams to life, and your palate, is Crimsyn Patisserie, offering a selection of signature French desserts and indulgent treats. Co-founded by Le Cordon Bleu alumna, chef Salonika Bansal, the bakery is a one-stop destination for Atelier chocolates and artisan breads.

We use the best ingredients from around the world and single-origin chocolates, says Bansal. Some of their bestsellers include Tiramisu Geateux, Cherry Hazelnut Cheesecake, Caramelo, Gluten-free Brownie and Swiss Roll.

During these Covid-19 times, they are taking every precaution to ensure high standards of safety. The kitchen is sanitised five times a day. The temperature of the employees is monitored daily and hands are sanitised every 30 minutes, says Bansal. They are also giving hand sanitisers with every order and using sustainable packaging.

Enjoy it at home, order on Zomato and Swiggy or Call/Whatsapp on +91 9311591342, or log on to thecrimsyn.com



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With nearly 20 years devoted to supporting the UAE, Transguard Group has a well-earned reputation as the countrys preeminent business solutions provider present in all seven emirates. Transguard points to its business relationships in Abu Dhabi as particularly noteworthy examples of its client-focused approach.

Abu Dhabi has represented a significant portion of our activities for many years, with contracts across each of our divisions, including Cash, Security, Facilities Maintenance, Hospitality, Aviation and others, explains Managing Director, Greg Ward, Transguard Group.

Our country-wide footprint and sector expertise underscore our integration with our clients businesses, not to mention critical national infrastructure.

Transguards Cash Services division offers a particularly striking example of the significant presence of the business solutions provider in Abu Dhabi: Operating out of its dedicated cash centre in Musaffah (which was acquired in late 2018 following Transguards acquisition of G4S Cash), Transguard Cash services an impressive list of locations, including all banks in the emirate, most government and ministry offices, various universities and one of the UAEs leading airlines, as well as thousands of Smart Cash Deposit Machines and ATMs.

Likewise, Transguard Security Services (TGSS) has a significant presence in the nations capital, with more than 1,000 security guards and other trained personnel stationed in major bank as well as in established, high-end communities and properties. The Systems Integration division of TGSS has long provided the installation, expertise and know-how behind key CCTV operations and other control room requirements in the emirate.

One area of particular focus for Transguard in Abu Dhabi, especially of late, is facilities management: While Transguard employees have been a fixture in the capitals most significant malls and hospitals for years, our facilities management teams stepped up to the challenges presented by Covid-19 as they ensured exceptional sanitisation and decontamination services throughout the emirate.

In fact, a prominent shopping mall in Abu Dhabi was the first retail location in the UAE to utilise Transguards self-designed misting station, which relies on motion sensors to spray a highly effective sanitising solution on each visitor as they enter the mall.

Meanwhile, Transguards Manpower division experienced an increase in the countrys demand for warehouse staff, and in the past six months Transguard won two significant contracts in Abu Dhabi: one to service the UAEs largest hypermarket and the other to support a leading supermarket chain with its talented workforce. And with its experienced F&B, housekeeping and reception staff, Transguard Hospitality Solutions has not lost momentum as the provider of choice for Abu Dhabis impressive list of five-star hotels and resorts.

Finally, Transguards Aviation division enjoys a robust presence at Abu Dhabi International Airport as it continues to support one of the UAEs most prominent airlines with services that include ramp, baggage, cargo, aircraft cleaning and support for passengers with restricted mobility, among others.

Hailing from 116 countries, Transguards multicultural workforce reflects the face of and our passion for the UAE, concluded Ward. We take great pride in our country-wide support of the UAE, and our teams work tirelessly to provide proactive solutions that enable our clients to succeed, in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the Northern Emirates. -- Tradearabia News Service
Reacting to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) quitting the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) over the farm bills issue, the Congress on Saturday said it was the "victory" of farmers that the Akali Dal had to bow before their doorstep and break ties with the ruling coalition.

The SAD is the third major party to walk out of the BJP-led coalition in the last couple of years.

Reacting to the development, Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala hailed it as a "victory" of "farmers-labourers".

"Supporters of black laws, Akali Dal, had to leave NDA and break ties with the Modi government," he said.

Also read: Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal resigns from Modi Cabinet over 'anti-farmer bills'

"They had to bow at the doorstep of farmers-labourers," Surjewala tweeted, tagging an old clip of Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal defending the farm ordinances in an interview she gave when she was a Union minister.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said, "Clearly @Akali_Dal_ was left with no choice after @BJP4India exposed that @Officeofssbadal and his SAD were fully party to Anti-Farmer legislations."

"The end of the coalition is only an outcome of 3 months of deceit...of defending the indefensible and misguiding the Punjab farmer," he said.

SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal announced the decision to snap ties with the NDA on Saturday night, amid stepped up agitation by farmers in Punjab over the three legislations which were recently passed by Parliament amid Opposition protests.

Badal's wife and SAD leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal had on September 17 quit the Union Cabinet after he strongly opposed the bills in Lok Sabha, claiming these legislations will "destroy" the agriculture sector in Punjab.

Also read: Shiromani Akali Dal quits BJP-led NDA over farm bills
Maharashtra government has banned the sale of unpackaged loose cigarettes and beedis, making it the first Indian state to so. The move is aimed at ensuring that customers see the graphic, public health warnings mandated on cigarette packaging.

As per a notification issued by the state public health department on September 24, the state has imposed complete ban on the sale of single stick loose cigarette and beedis, The Times of India reported.

The decision is in sync with sub-section (2) of section 7 of Cigarette and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce Production, Supply & Distribution) Act, 2003, the order, signed by principal secretary (health) Dr Pradeep Vyas, said.

Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, cancer surgeon at the Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai told the paper the move would likely impact youth aged 16-17, who do not have the financial resources to buy full packets of cigarette or beedis, but fuel Indias tobacco epidemic and grown-ups who bought loose cigarettes and never felt the pinch of higher taxes imposed on tobacco goods.

Studies have shown that a 10 percent rise in taxes results in an 8 percent drop in the number of smokers. But if people are allowed to buy a single cigarette, they do not feel the effect of higher taxes, he noted.

Maharashtra has the lowest smoking rate in the country, data from the Global Tobacco Youth Survey 2016 showed.
LIMERICK City and County Council is to sell eight acres of land near Foynes Port for almost 200,000.

Members of the Adare / Rathkeale Municipal District have endorsed the proposed sale of the greenfield site at Corgrig, Foynes to ArgoSea services limited for 185,000.

The site, which is located just off N69 and is adjacent to the port, was acquired by the local authority in 1999.

However, it is no longer required by the council and the process to dispose of the lands began more than a year ago.

In a report to councillors, council officials say a number of bids were made after the sale was advertised and that the agreed sale price is above the guide price of 175,000.

No conditions have been attached to the sale and its understood the company plans to use the site to provide commercial storage facilities.

The proposed sale of the site will now come before a full meeting of Limerick City and County Council later this month.
Google Assistant's new workday routine aims to make your work from home experience better with reminders to drink water, take a walk and more.

Google earlier this week announced new features for Assistant that are optimised for your work from home life. The new features are part of Google Assistant Routines, and are available in English globally.

Its a new workday routine that makes Google Assistant remind you of things you may forget to do while working from home. The work from home culture is still something everyone is adjusting to as its quite different from working in an office. The new Google Assistant workday routine comes with pre-set routines that will activate according to the time scheduled.

To get started, you will need to have a Google Home smart speaker or smart display. Now follow these steps to enable the work day routine.

1. Open the Google Home app and select Routines.

2. Select workday from the list of pre-set routines.

3. Toggle on to enable the workday routine.

4. Youll see a list of routines which you can customise as per your preferences.

Google Assistant workday routine. (Google)

These routines include Google Assistant saying its time to stand up and stretch! at 10:00 am. Google Assistant will also suggest going for a walk at 2:00 pm, and remind you to drink water at 3:00 pm. It will also remind you to start wrapping work up at 4:45 pm. Google Assistant will also keep reminding you of the time throughout the day. These are pre-set routines and you can adjust the time according to your work schedule.

Some other ways you can make use of Google Assistant is to keep track of your meetings. You can ask Assistant to create an event by saying Hey Google, create an event. You can also ask Assistant about your schedule by saying Hey Google, whats on my calendar? or Hey Google, when is my next meeting?
Ex Union Minister Jaswant Singh died on Sunday due to a cardiac arrest. Prime Minister Narendra Modi mourned the demise of former Union Minister Jaswant Singh.

Former Union Minister Jaswant Singh passed away on Sunday morning due to a cardiac arrest. He was being treated at the Army Hospital for Sepsis with Multiorgan Dysfunction Syndrome and effects of Severe Head Injury old (Optd).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday mourned the demise of former Union Minister Jaswant Singh. The Prime Minister remembered the role played by Singh, which included his stints as the External Affairs and Finance Minister during the tenure of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

His tweet read that Jaswant Singh Ji served the nation diligently, first as a soldier and later during his long association with politics. He added that during Atal Jis Government, he handled crucial portfolios and left a strong mark in the worlds of finance, defence and external affairs, he was saddened by his demise.

Also read: BJPs oldest ally Shiromani Akali Dal quits NDA over farm bills

Also read: NDA no longer envisioned by Vajpayee Ji, Badal sahab: Harsimrat as SAD quits NDA

He added in a second tweet that Jaswant Singh Ji would be remembered for his unique perspective on matters of politics and society, he also contributed to the strengthening of the BJP. He said that he would always remember their interactions. He extended his condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti.

The Prime Minister also said he has spoken to Jaswant Singhs son and Congress leader Manvendra Singh and expressed condolences on the unfortunate demise of the leader. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh too paid tributes to the departed leader and remembered his service to the nation and the BJP.

Rajnath Singhs tweet read that Shri Jaswant Singh ji would be remembered for his intellectual capabilities and a stellar record in service to the nation. He added that he also played a key role in strengthening the BJP in Rajasthan. Singh extended his condolences to his family and supporters in the sad hour.  Om Shanti.

A veteran BJP leader, Jaswant Singh, had first served in the Indian Army before joining politics. He served as a member of both the Houses of the Parliament and held several important positions in the NDA Cabinet.

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar condoled the demise of former Cabinet Minister Jaswant Singh, who passed away on Sunday morning. Jaishankar said that Singh will be remembered for fashioning a foreign policy for a nuclear India.

Deeply saddened to learn of the demise of Shri Jaswant Singh. He will be particularly remembered for fashioning a foreign policy for a nuclear India. As foreign minister, he brought out the best in Indian diplomats, Jaishankar tweeted. His enormous erudition was matched by his extraordinary personal grace. My sincerest condolences to his family. Om Shanti, he added.

Several Chief Ministers, including Yogi Adityanath, Pramod Sawant and Ashok Gehlot, on Sunday condoled the demise of former Union Minister Jaswant Singh. The former Union Minister passed away today morning, due to a cardiac arrest, at the Army Hospital (Research and Referral), Delhi.

Got news of the demise of former Union Minister and senior leader Shri Jaswant Singhji. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to give space to the departed soul in his feet, and give the family members the strength to bear this loss. Om Shanti, Adityanaths tweet read.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also took to Twitter to convey his condolences. Gehlot, also hailed and remembered him as a senior leader from the State.

My heartfelt condolences at the passing away of senior leader from Rajasthan and former Union minister, Shri Jaswant Singh ji. May God give strength to his family members and supporters in this hour of grief. May his soul rest in peace, Gehlots tweet read.

Similarly, Goa CM Pramod Sawant tweeted, Saddened by the demise of Former Union Minister Shri JaswantSingh ji. Jaswant Ji handled key portfolios in the Government led by Vajpayee Ji. His immense contribution towards development of India will always be remembered. My condolences to the bereaved family. Om Shanti.

Birla remembered Singhs contributions to the nation both as an Army officer in his earlier years and as a politician.

I mourn the demise of former union minister Jaswant Singh. He served the country excellently both as an Army officer and as a skilled politician. During both these stints, his thinking brought the country out from difficult situations. My condolences to the bereaved family, Birlas tweet read.

Also read: PM Modi addresses UN General Assembly, makes strong pitch for Indias inclusion in UNs Security Council
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and President Donald Trump both spoke about the Jacob Blake police shooting and resulting protests on August 31, 2020. REUTERS/Leah Millis; REUTERS/Alan Freed; Insider

Joe Biden has compared President Donald Trump to Joseph Goebbels, who masterminded Hitler's Nazi propaganda machine.

"You say the lie long enough, keep repeating it, repeating it, repeating it, it becomes common knowledge" Biden explained.

The former vice president also compared Trump to Fidel Castro.

The Republican Jewish Coalition called on the former vice president to retract and apologize for his comments.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Donald Trump is like the Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels, Joe Biden has said, as he accused the president of deliberately spreading lies about him on the campaign trail.

The Democratic presidential nominee told MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle that the president was "sort of like Goebbels," referring to Hitler's propaganda machine's mastermind.

"You say the lie long enough, keep repeating it, repeating it, repeating it, it becomes common knowledge," he explained in reference to Trump's attempts to paint him as a socialist.

The former vice president said that Trump was attempting to distract voters from his failings, adding that the president himself had similarities with Fidel Castro.

"I think people see very clearly the difference between me and Donald Trump," Biden said in comments reported by Politico.

"Trump is clearing protests in front of the White House that are peaceful, you know, with the military. This guy is more Castro than Churchill."

The Republican Jewish Coalition called on Biden to retract his "egregious" comments and apologize.

"The rule in debate is that if your only argument is to call your opponent a Nazi, you have no argument at all. Instead of engaging in a debate on policy, Joe Biden has descended to name-calling and Holocaust references," they said in a statement on Saturday.

"There is no place in political discourse for Holocaust imagery or comparing candidates to Nazis. It's offensive and it demeans the memory of the Holocaust, the suffering of the victims, and the lessons we must learn from that terribly dark chapter of history.

"Joe Biden has been in politics long enough to know this. To diminish the horrors of Goebbels and the Nazis by trying to attack the President with that comparison is, as we say, a shanda. We call on Joe Biden to retract and apologize for that egregious comment."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Etah (UP):

Samajwadi Party president and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Monday alleged that the BJP has "copied" his party's poll's manifesto and accused the Modi government of "harassing" people by demonetisation.

Speaking about the alliance with Congress, he said, "Bicycle (SP's election symbol) had been strengthened by the cooperation of hand (Congress poll symbol)."

Addressing election rallies in Etah and Jaithra town Yadav alleged that BJP has "copied" his party's poll's manifesto and asked, "Where are the acche din (good days) and Rs 15 lakh in the bank account of people promised by BJP ahead of 2014 Assembly election."

"People can see that we have done a lot of progress in every sphere in the last five years... We started Samajwadi ambulance service. The dial 100 for emergency police service was introduced to curb crimes and provide safety to the people," Yadav said. On the demonetisation move of the Modi government, he accused the Centre of harassing the common people.

ALSO READ | UP polls: Akhilesh Yadav says BJP's 'Lotus' cannot compete with SP's 'Cycle'

"Poor people were harassed by forcing them to stand in long queues at banks, while the rich people did not face any problem at all," the Samajwadi Party leader alleged.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
T he government has ordered schools in England not to use resources from organisations that "take extreme political stances", including those which which have expressed a desire to end capitalism.

The Department for Education (DfE) issued guidance on Thursday for schools to set the relationship, sex and health curriculum.

The DfE categorised anti-capitalism as an extreme political stance", equating it with opposition to freedom of speech, anti-semitism and endorsement of illegal activity.

But former shadow chancellor John McDonnell told the Guardian that the measures effectively outlawed reference in schools to key events in British history.

John McDonnell has criticised the new guidance / PA

It comes as part of lengthy guidelines for implementing the statutory curriculum.

The guidance said: Schools should not under any circumstances use resources produced by organisations that take extreme political stances on matters.

"This is the case even if the material itself is not extreme, as the use of it could imply endorsement or support of the organisation.

It listed examples of extreme political stances as a publicly stated desire to abolish or overthrow democracy, capitalism, or to end free and fair elections.

Mr McDonnel has criticised the move / PA

It also included opposition to freedom of speech; the use of racist, including anti-semitic, language; the endorsement of illegal activity; and a failure to condemn illegal activities done in support of their cause.

Mr McDonnell said it symbolised growing authoritarianism within the governing Conservative party.

On this basis it will be illegal to refer to large tracts of British history and politics including the history of British socialism, the Labour Party and trade unionism, all of which have at different times advocated the abolition of capitalism," Mr McDonnell said.

This is another step in the culture war and this drift towards extreme Conservative authoritarianism is gaining pace and should worry anyone who believes that democracy requires freedom of speech and an educated populace.

Minister for school standards Nick Gibb said: Our new relationships, sex and health education (RHSE) guidance and training resources equip all schools to provide comprehensive teaching in these areas in an age-appropriate way.

These materials should give schools the confidence to construct a curriculum that reflects diversity of views and backgrounds, whilst fostering all pupils respect for others, understanding of healthy relationships, and ability to look after their own wellbeing.
Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad on Sunday evaded police to reach a hospital here to express solidarity with a 19-year-old Dalit woman who is battling for life in the hospital after she was gang-raped in a Hathras village.

After her gang-rape nearly a fortnight ago, the woman was admitted to the AMU's Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital, where authorities said, her condition continues to be critical. I have come to the hospital to express solidarity with my ailing sister," Azad told reporters at the hospital gate. He said he rode a motorcycle and later a bicycle and managed to reach the hospital despite efforts by the police to prevent him from reaching there.

Reports about Azad's proposed visit to the hospital had been circulating since Saturday. On a tip-off that the Bhim Army chief was on his way to Aligarh via GT Road, the police on Sunday made heavy deployment of its personnel on the Aligarh-Bulandshahr border near Khurja.

According to police, Azad's cavalcade was stopped at the Gabhana toll booth to Aligarh but he managed to give them the slip. Traffic SP Satish Chand told reporters some Bhim Army activists had tried to block traffic at the Gabhana toll both on the GT Road but police managed to defuse the situation and restore the traffic.

According to hospital staff, there was a commotion when Azad suddenly made an appearance at the hospital, triggering heated exchanges between the police and Bhim Army cadres at the hospital's entrance.
"Doctors started referring me patients doing chemotherapy, and that's how I built my business," she said. "I've always had a natural interest in it. I've always been playing with hair. It doesn't feel like a job. It comes very naturally."

She's glad to have carved a niche helping cancer patients who really need it.

"For women, their hair is part of their dignity and losing their crowning glory is hard to accept," she said. "I help them have fun, finding a short wig or a long wig. There's a wig for everybody. I tell them to take it in stride and that the diagnosis is a terrible thing but it's a privilege knowing they need to appreciate the time they spend with family and friends and that it is more important than ever. It's a precious gift knowing that."

In addition to wigs and hair cuts, she also does styling, coloring, perms and bonding. She has three booths and is looking for more stylists, including one to do extensions to complement what she does.

"I have thousands of wings in my inventory to help women through their cancer journey," she said. "I enjoy making the women happier and seeing brighter eyes that light up and sparkle."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 22:55:10|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Sixteen people have been arrested and nine police officers were injured during clashes at the anti-lockdown demonstrations in central London on Saturday, the Metropolitan Police have said.

Thousands of people massed in Trafalgar Square on Saturday carrying a variety of signs, flags and placards to take part in a "we do not consent" rally. None of the protesters appeared to wear face coverings or to maintain social distance, the London-based Evening Standard newspaper reported.

Officers clashed with crowds when they tried to shut the event down due to breaches of social-distancing rules. Bottles were thrown and police used batons against protesters, leaving some with visible injuries. At least three protesters and one officer were treated by medical staff, said the newspaper.

"As the crowds began to swell in Trafalgar Square, it became impossible for people maintain social distancing and keep each other safe. Likewise, there appeared to be no efforts by organizers to engage with crowds and keep those assembling safe from transmitting the virus," said Commander Ade Adelekan who led Saturday's police operation.

"This lack of action voided the risk assessment submitted by event organisers the night before. Therefore, today's (Saturday's) demonstration was no longer exempt from the Coronavirus regulations. In the interest of public safety, officers then worked quickly to disperse crowds," said Adelekan in a statement.

"Sadly, nine police officers were also injured while policing the event. Two of which required hospital treatment for head injuries," read the statement.

The London police said it had been engaging with organizers throughout the week to remind them of their legal obligations and explaining the events could be in breach of coronavirus regulations.

While protests are exempt from the "rule of six" in England, organizers must submit a risk assessment and comply with social distancing.

The anti-lockdown protest took place as London is being placed on the national COVID-19 "watch list" as an area of high concern "because of a spike in cases and hospital admissions".

Advisors of the British government had warned the capital's R rate, which refers to the number of people that an infected individual goes on to infect, may now be as high as 1.5 -- the same level seen in the North West, North East and the Midlands, which have all been stung by additional COVID-19 measures, the Daily Mail newspaper reported.

The warning 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 earlier 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
HONG KONG  Sixteen people who had been trapped in a coal mine in southwestern China died of carbon monoxide poisoning, local officials said on Sunday.

A total of 17 people were pulled from the Songzao mine in the city of Chongqing, the local government said on social media. One person was taken to the hospital, it added.

The deadly carbon monoxide levels were caused by the ignition of belts in the mine, the local government said, without providing details.

The mine had previously been cited for safety violations, according to the Chongqing Coal Mine Safety Administration. Regulators issued a fine just two weeks ago after inspectors found that the site, which is a subsidiary of the state-owned Chongqing Energy Investment Group, had not carried out monthly safety checks on equipment.
(Natural News) A professor from Marshall University in West Virginia was suspended after admitting she hoped that supporters of President Donald Trump would catch the coronavirus and die before the Nov. 3 presidential elections. The university placed assistant professor Jennifer Mosher on administrative leave and announced an investigation on the matter.

The move came after footage of Moshers comments, captured by a student in the online class, went viral on social media. Without naming them directly, the professor derided supporters of the president by saying: You cant argue with them, you cant talk sense with them. Professor Mosher mentioned during the lecture how she told another person the day before that her only saving hope was that they all die before the election, referring to supporters of President Trump.

Mosher, who was connected with the universitys biology department, also expressed frustration over the presidents supporters who attended his recent indoor rallies without wearing a mask. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has strongly encouraged wearing masks or face coverings and maintaining a considerable distance between other people as a way to protect ones self against the coronavirus. (Related: White House to finally recommend everyone wear a mask.)

At the end of the footage, Mosher reiterated that she should not be talking politics in here  a definite irony to what Marshall University called the overtly political statement she made just moments before.

Leftist academics are using schools as a platform to spread toxic ideas

Both Mosher and Marshall University faced backlash after the video became public.

A Twitter user said that the professors comments were representative of the university and condemned her wishing death on other people who disagree as evil. Another user urged the university to take appropriate action to discourage and extinguish behavior similar to what Mosher did, adding that it would be a black eye for the university if nothing were done.

People from Marshall University also put their two cents on the matter, according to a report by local station WOWK.

Freshman Christian Eddy said that Mosher should not have voiced her opinion  most especially on an online class in front of impressionable young men and women.

Meanwhile, Gabrielle McNab disagreed with firing Mosher, but mentioned that it was hard to say what the proper appropriate repercussions should be.

History professor Dan Holbrook was a little surprised that a faculty member would be explicit about their beliefs.

In a Sept. 18 tweet, the university said that it does not support or condone the use of any of its educational platforms to belittle people or wish harm on those who hold differing political views and announced Moshers suspension.

University president Jerome Gilbert issued a statement on Sept. 21 condemning Moshers hateful comments, saying that Marshall University believes in respect of all ideas and all people. Gilbert ended his statement by reassuring that he will take appropriate action after the investigation by the universitys chief academic officer Jaime Taylor.

Liberal left-leaning professors have been vocal in their hatred of President Trump and people who support him, even before Jennifer Moshers comments went viral.

Early in September, University of Rhode Island professor Erik Loomis insisted there was nothing wrong with murdering supporters of President Trump. He defended the killing of Trump supporter Aaron Danielson by Antifa member Michael Reinoehl, calling it an example of violence necessary in certain circumstances.

A case similar to professor Mosher was documented back in December 2016. Orange Coast College professor Olga Perez Stable Cox was secretly filmed by a student in her human sexuality class, where she referred to President Trumps 2016 victory as an act of terrorism.

The hatred expressed by left-leaning professors such as Mosher, Loomis and Cox are just the tip of the iceberg; expect similar comments from leftist academia as the November presidential election draws near.

Find out more news about anti-Trump sentiment from Mosher and other left-leaning professors at CampusInsanity.com.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

WOWKTV.com

Twitter.com

Marshall.edu

OCRegister.com
Morigaon: Flood-affected people attempt to rebuild their damaged hut at flood affected Laharighat Village in Morigaon district of Assam, on 21 July 2019. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Guwahati, Sep 27 : The ongoing third wave of floods in Assam further deteriorated on Sunday with 2.25 lakh people affected in nine districts, officials said.

Officials of Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said that around 10,000 hectares of crop land in 219 villages under nine districts have been inundated. "Hundreds of people have taken shelter in 43 relief camps mostly in Nagaon district," the officials said adding that the worst affected districts are Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Nagaon, Morigaon,Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, West Karbi Anglong and Sivasagar.

According to the officials, around 40,000 domesticated animals were also affected due to the flood, which also damaged many other assets, including road, bridges, embankments, government buildings and schools. The mighty Brahmaputra was flowing above the danger level at Neamatighat in Jorhat and Sonitpur district while two of its tributaries, Jia Bharali and Kopili crossed the danger mark in northeastern Assam's Sonitpur and Nagaon districts respectively.

Like previous years, Assam until the first week of August witnessed devastating floods that killed 118 people in 22 districts, while 26 others were killed in landslides since May 22. With a respite in monsoon rains, the situation significantly improved in the first week of August even as 57 lakh people were affected in 5,378 villages in 30 of the state's 33 districts.

Assam witnessed 12 per cent excess rainfall (actual 1644.2 mm against normal 1464.9 mm) in the current four-month (June -September) long monsoon period. In September, the state recorded 46 per cent excess rainfall (actual 367 mm against normal 251.1 mm).

A six-member Central team led by Sandeep Poundrik, Joint Secretary (Mitigation), National Disaster Management Authority, had visited Assam last month to assess the damage caused by the floods, which also killed domestic and wild animals in various sanctuaries and national parks, including the world-famous Kaziranga National Park, where 18 rhinos and 135 wild animals died due to the deluge.
140 People Arrested During US Marshals Operation Snake Eyes in Arizona

The U.S. Marshals Service announced the arrests of 140 violent fugitives during a gang enforcement sting in Phoenix, Arizona.

Between Aug. 10 and Sept. 17, the service said the 140 individuals were arrested in connection to gang violence as part of Operation Snake Eyes.

One issue that most people will agree with while debating police issues, is that those who intentionally and indiscriminately cause harm, murder, and terrorize citizens should be a priority of the criminal justice system. Operation Snake Eyes focused on gang members, violent criminals, and communities with a high degree of violent gun related crimes, said U.S. Marshal David Gonzales.

This evidence-based approach to violent crime has shown to be an effective strategy in reducing crime and helping in make our communities safer, he added.

Officials said that 51 people who were arrested are gang members, and meanwhile, some 130 firearms were confiscated as well as $145,000 in cash and 3,200 fake fentanyl pills.

I am proud of the men and women of the Phoenix Police Department for their dedication to our community, said Phoenix Police Department Chief Jerry Williams in a statement, according to AZFamily. Investigations like these bring so many partners together to address common crime trends in each of our cities. Working with intelligence driven information allow us to specifically target those individuals who are responsible for crimes which often result in violence.

Gonzales noted to KTAR News that police departments in the Phoenix area have noticed an uptick in gang presence, shootings and homicides before the operation was conducted. Operation Snake Eyes was an enforcement initiative to arrest some of the most violent gang persons committing a lot of crimes in certain communities.

They noted that crime spikes during the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus outbreak and George Floyd riots precipitated their operation.

Police officers are being used for demonstrations and protest duty and that leaves some neighborhoods short of police officers to investigate these crimes, he said.

Detectives, troopers, agents, prosecutors, and deputy marshals from the Phoenix Police Department, Glendale Police Department, Mesa Police Department, Tempe Police Department, the Department of Public Safety, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the United States Attorneys Office were involved in the operation.

It comes in the midst of several U.S. Marshals-led operations around the United States, which have mainly focused on human trafficking.

On Sept. 21, the service said that 35 children were rescued in northern Ohio as part of Operation Safety Net.

Of the 40 missing cases referred to the Marshals Task Force only five cases remain open. Members of the task force and its local partners will continue to work over the next several weeks to bring these five remaining children and other children to safety, the Marshals Service stated at the time.
<p>The European Commission launched plans on Wednesday intended to share the burden of migration, with member states either agreeing to resettle those granted asylum or else pay to return migrants denied the right to stay in Europe.</p><p>But the plan will face challenges.</p><p>Governments in eastern Europe - notably in Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic - have no desire to welcome refugees or spend money on supporting them.</p><p>And there are still outstanding questions about how migrants can be returned to their country of origin, or what further support will be given to the nations dealing with large-scale arrivals of migrants, such as in Italy, Greece and Malta.</p><p>In an exclusive interview, the foreign and European affairs minister of Malta, Evarist Bartolo, told Sky News he welcomed new proposals from the European Union to confront migration.</p><p>But he said "the issue is becoming tougher and tougher quickly".</p><p>"The social and economic consequences of COVID are going to get worse and that will mean more people deciding to search for a better life.</p><p>"Of the people who have made an unauthorised arrival here over the past year, only about a third are eligible for asylum. Two-thirds are economic migrants.</p><p>"When our economy was growing, at one point by up to 6%, we were creating jobs that could be filled by people arriving here. That is not going to happen now."</p> <p>Mr Bartolo said he knows migration causes "resentment" and the economic effects of the pandemics will only make this worse.</p><p>But he said the new plans would help countries to work together to help solve the issue.</p><p>"Some countries will take asylum seekers; others will help out with returning people," he said.</p><p>"Hungary and Poland - we know they feel strongly about not taking in asylum seekers, so they will have to support the return programme. Each country will do something different, but each country needs to do something."</p><p>Despite being a small nation with a population of around half a million, Malta has had to deal with thousands of unauthorised arrivals in recent years.</p><p>The government says 3,000 people have arrived in the past year, with around 4,000 more intercepted by the Turkish and Libyan authorities.</p> <p>Mr Bartolo wants a clearer pledge of solidarity from across Europe for those nations having to deal with homing thousands of migrants.</p><p>He pointed to a recent dispute with Denmark over whether it was responsible for 27 migrants taken from the sea by a Danish-registered vessel.</p><p>"When a country like Denmark says it cannot afford to take in just 27 migrants - well, how do you expect us to cope? A much smaller country with many times more people to look after?" he said.</p><p>"We must remember that we are talking about human beings, who have made a desperate journey and given a lot of money - maybe thousands of Euros - to human traffickers.</p><p>"But we have to be rigorous in how we assess arrivals. The economic migrants are choking the avenues that are open for the asylum seekers."</p> <p>Mr Bartolo said he would push for tougher border controls in countries such as Libya, as well as expanding the European Union's ability to intercept vessels.</p><p>But he also said that the EU needs to "work harder" to persuade people not to leave their country in the first place.</p><p>"We need a new relationship with African countries so we can help to create wealth where they are, so they do not risk their lives trying to get to Europe," he said.</p>
Johnson was trying to reconcile with his wife after years of acrimony. It was the first time their whole family had been together in four years, and it was not going well. Already susceptible to depression and alcoholism, he developed post-traumatic stress disorder after years of combat deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq. But he feared that getting mental health treatment would jeopardize his top-secret security clearance and his job in the National Counterterrorism Center. Instead, he turned back to alcohol, an addiction he had fought since his early teens.
Ankara has rushed to blame Armenia for attacking Azerbaijan. As spokesperson of the President of Turkey Ibrahim Kalin declared, Ankara supports Baku and condemns the latest actions of Armenia. Although Baku launched aggression against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), Ankara rushed to blame Armenia for attacking Azerbaijan.

Early this morning, the Azerbaijani side started actively shelling along the entire length of the line of contact, targeting peaceful settlements and civilians as well. As a result, there are victims and injured parties, a woman and child died. The Armed Forces of Artsakh shot down two helicopters and three UAVs and destroyed three tanks of the adversary.

We strongly condemn Armenias attack on Azerbaijan. Armenia has once again violated international law and shown that it has no interest in peace and stability. Turkey stands in full solidarity with Azerbaijan and unreservedly supports its right to self-defense, Kalin tweeted.
Former vice president Joe Biden has had a long, checkered, and inconsistent career in politics. As a senator in the 1970s, Biden vehemently opposed school desegregation bussing, stating in one interview that it is an "asinine concept." This, juxtaposed with the former vice president's more recent support of highly progressive racial policies, including legislation to study reparations for slavery, shows the inconsistency in his rhetoric and policies. Biden, it seems, will endorse any legislation or position he feels will best advance his political career, regardless of whether or not that position runs contrary to his previous attitudes and statements.

Biden, for example, authored the 1994 "tough on crime" law, a controversial piece of legislation meant to combat decades of rising crime. More recently, the Biden campaign has proposed several highly progressive criminal justice reform policies, including ending cash bail, ending "all incarceration for drug use," "abolishing private prisons," and eliminating mandatory minimum sentences.

Biden, despite framing himself as a moderate during the presidential primary, is in support of many strikingly progressive legislative and regulatory policies, such as repealing "right to work" laws; establishing a $15-an-hour minimum wage; creating a public health care option "like Medicare"; and what if enacted would be the highest tax increase in history, totaling nearly $4 trillion over the next 10 years.

These heightened taxes and stringent regulations have the potential to devastate the national economy and to considerably hinder economic growth. The Tax Foundation, for example, finds that Biden's tax plan would "reduce the economy's size by 1.51 percent in the long run" and would eliminate 585,000 jobs.

This is largely due to the fact that, as William McBride, a writer for the Tax Foundation, explains, higher "[t]axes on income and wages reduce the incentive to work. Progressive income taxes, where higher income is taxed at higher rates, reduce the returns to education, since high incomes are associated with high levels of education, and so reduce the incentive to build human capital. Progressive taxation also reduces investment, risk taking, and entrepreneurial activity since a disproportionately large share of these activities is done by high income earners." McBride added that higher taxes "reduce the incentive to invest and to build capital. Less investment means fewer productive workers and correspondingly lower wages."

Additionally, Biden's proposal of raising the federal minimum wage, while appearing largely beneficial, would, undoubtedly, have many unintended and profoundly negative repercussions. In 2019, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025 would result in a loss of 1.3 million jobs.

Larger corporations would compensate for the wage increase by investing in technology and automating their processes or, if possible, outsourcing the work overseas, displacing many low-level and unskilled employees. Other companies would likely attempt to pass on the additional labor costs to the consumer by raising prices. Still other businesses, largely small local businesses, unable to compensate for or pass on the added costs, would be forced to close down, resulting in additional job losses.

Biden's proposition for a public health care option "like Medicare" would have a devastating effect on the health care system. Medicare payments to hospitals are often much lower than payments made by private insurance companies. For example, a private insurance company will pay a hospital around $37,000 for a knee replacement surgery, while Medicare will pay only around $17,000 for the same procedure. In fact, The American Hospital Association found that for every $1 American hospitals spent caring for Medicare patients, Medicare paid hospitals only 87 cents.

The current system of partially government-provided health care works because the low payments made by Medicare are offset by the high payments made by private insurance companies, a sentiment echoed by Richard Anderson, the chief executive of St. Luke's University Health Network. Anderson, according to The New York Times, contends that "hospitals depend on insurers' higher payments to deliver top-quality care because government programs pay so little."

Offering a public health care option "like Medicare" would result in a steep decrease in revenue for hospitals and salaries for doctors, forcing hospitals to cut back on many of the services and expenses necessary for providing top-quality patient care and worsening the current physician shortage.

And, although Biden is not explicitly proposing universal health care, there is a concern that a generous public option, like the one Biden is proposing, could capture enough of the market share to force private insurance companies out of business. If this scenario occurs, then Biden's option would essentially become universal health care.

Joe Biden may have been a moderate in the past, but this is clearly no longer the case. The former vice president has elected to ride the wave of progressivism sweeping through the Democratic Party, endorsing dangerous and destructive policies.
Jaswant Singh (Image: PIB)

Former union minister Jaswant Singh passed away on September 27 at the age of 82.

A retired officer of the Indian Army, he was a founding member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and held key portfolios such as finance, defence and external affairs in Atal Bihari Vajpayees Union Cabinet.

Singh, who suffered from a prolonged illness, is survived by his son Manvendra Singh, a former Member of Parliament and member of the Indian National Congress (INC).

After the news, condolences for Singh's death began pouring in.

In a tweet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Jaswant Singh ji served our nation diligently, first as a soldier and later during his long association with politics. During Atal jis government, he handled crucial portfolios and left a strong mark in the worlds of finance, defence and external affairs. Saddened by his demise.

Jaswant Singh ji will be remembered for his unique perspective on matters of politics and society. He also contributed to the strengthening of the BJP. I will always remember our interactions. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti, he added.

The PM further said: "Spoke to Shri Manvendra Singh and expressed condolences on the unfortunate demise of Shri Jaswant Singh Ji. True to his nature, Jaswant Ji fought his illness with immense courage for the last six years."

Union Defence Minister and fellow BJP leader Rajnath Singh tweeted: "Deeply pained by the passing away of veteran BJP leader & former Minister, Shri Jaswant Singh ji. He served the nation in several capacities including the charge of Raksha Mantri. He distinguished himself as an effective Minister and Parliamentarian."

BJP National General Secretary, Ram Madhav tweeted: "Sh Jaswant Singh was a scholar-leader of great majesty, integrity and credibility. Made a mark for himself as d Foreign Minister n Defense Minister in Vajpayee govt. End of another stalwart of a glorious past era. My sincere condolences to Manvendra n family. Om Shanti." (sic)

While policy advisor Ashok Malik said: "One of the most remarkable political figures of our time . An extraordinarily skilful diplomat and EAM who helped navigate challenging waters after Pokhran II and then 9/11. Those privileged to have known him will always cherish the memories."
A night curfew will be lifted in Victoria and about 127,000 thousand people will return to work as the state winds back COVID-19 lockdown rules.

The changes were announced after the two-week rolling case average for new COVID-19 cases in Melbourne fell to 22.1, well under the aim of 30-50, on Sept. 27. The average is just 0.6 for regional Victoria.

Premier Daniel Andrews says the 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew will be lifted from 5 a.m. on Monday, but he urged people not to hold private indoor or outdoor gatherings, with those caught doing so liable for a $5,000 fine.

I know people want that fundamental connection with friends and family, I get that, I understand that, but I also understand, what I am completely clear about, the evidence is irrefutable: the home environment is one of the most risky environments, he said.

It is how people let their guard down, and there is a degree of informality, there is no distancing, there is not the cleaning at that kind of industrial level, that is when this virus gets away from you and one big family or small family visiting another and another and another does nothing but potentially spread this virus.

Lets not let that happen. We are so close. Were so close to defeating this thing.

From midnight on Sunday, about 127,000 workers will be allowed to return to work, which is 30,000 more than originally expected.

Year 12 students will be able to return to school for assessments on Oct. 3 with primary school students to return from Oct. 12.

A household or up to five people from two households will be able to gather outside, while the limit on one person per household going shopping once a day will also be lifted.

In hospitals, each patient will be allowed one visitor per day for a maximum of two hours, while for patients that are under the age of 18, two parents or carers can visit without any time limit.

However, exercise limits of two hours per day within 5 km will remain in place.

Weddings with a limit of five people, including the marrying couple and two witnesses will also be allowed in outdoor spaces.

Premier Andrews foreshadowed that full freedom of movement, Victorians leaving home without needing any reason, could come on Oct. 19.

He said there were 399 active cases in the state on Sept. 27, the first time there have been under 400 since June 30.

Its one measure among many of the amazing performance of the Victorian community  staying apart but sticking together, making sure that we defeat this second wave, Andrews said.

And thats why Im not only proud of the Victorian community, Im deeply grateful to the Victorian community for the amazing work. The sacrifice, the pain that they have endured, and will need to endure for a bit longer.

Earlier on Sunday, Victoria reported just 16 new COVID-19 cases and two deaths taking the states pandemic death toll to 784 and the national figure to 872.

By Marty Silk
KITCHENER  Everyone said it would be easy to learn how to ride a bicycle.

I can tell you, it was not.

Im 32 years old and am able to now confidently say: I can ride a bike! just like the four-year-old boy who lives across the street. But it took a summer of short but terrifying practice sessions to get to this point.

I never learned to ride a bicycle as a child. I never felt the desire to learn as an adult. But once I had children of my own, my feelings changed. And yes, it was a bumpy ride.

Maybe it was the pandemic lockdown we were all stuck in. Or the realization that I should probably know what Im talking about when it comes time to teach my two toddlers how to ride bicycles.

I just pictured this image: our family of four riding our bicycles along a scenic trail together with big smiles on our faces, like one of those photos you see on the cover of the citys Active Kitchener magazine.

Theres a pandemic. What better time than now to learn a new skill? My husband, Paul, an avid cyclist himself, was excited to help me.

The first day I got myself on a bicycle, a 25-year-old Coca Cola brand bicycle that belongs to my mother-in-law and was stored in our garage, my heart was racing. I was nervous and terrified. I have a fear of heights and sitting atop the worn-in bicycle seat made me feel like I was teetering from some fantastical height.

In the early days of the pandemic we were all stuck at home with no one to care for our toddlers. The only time we could practice was during the kids afternoon nap, the only place was on the sidewalk in front of our house.

I knew it wasnt an ideal situation, but I was determined to make it work anyway. It was a disaster, all caught on video for the world to see.

Paul pushed me along on our narrow sidewalk and let go, only for me to topple over or jump away from the bicycle in fear when I felt myself losing control.

But each time I hopped on that little red bike, I got a little bit better. I practised balancing on the bicycle in our grassy backyard while my kids played in their sandbox.

Once the kids were back in daycare, I was able to practice in other spots like the high school near our house. The wide driveway behind the school, and the field beside it, became my favourite place to improve my skills discreetly.

It turned out to not be all that discreet though as families looked for open spaces to enjoy the summer weather. One day a man walked through the field with his two kids. One swept by me on his bicycle while the other one walked his bicycle with his father. Both of them stared at Paul and me.

The man pointed at us and explained the strange scene to his son. Then he turned to me and said: Keep trying, you can do it!

It was a nice thing to hear at a moment when I felt utterly ridiculous. There I was, a grown woman awkwardly wobbling on a bicycle while panting heavily and trying to quiet the swirling thoughts in my head.

I soon learned the only way to quiet those thoughts, the ones telling me I couldnt possibly learn how to ride a bike and should just give up, was by repeating a few simple reminders out loud: weight on my feet, weight on my feet, not on my butt, weight on my feet.

These short phrases became my mantra, because learning how to balance your body on a bicycle is not instinctive. My entire body wanted to do the opposite of what it was supposed to do.

Then I would feel myself tilt slightly to the right and scream: Why am I tilting? Why am I tilting? That is when I would lose all faith in my abilities and jump off the bicycle to save myself from an embarrassing fall.

I would end each session sweaty, tired and shaking with fear. Paul was worse off from running beside me and holding my bike for balance. His favourite joke became: Look at me, Im a supportive husband.

Then I would stop and wonder out loud why it is socially unacceptable for adults to ride bicycles with permanent training wheels. Do adult-sized tricycles exist?

This is what its like to learn how to ride a bicycle as an adult.

I can only imagine how much easier this would have been as a carefree child. I grew up in a country that was hot all year and not safe for pedestrians and cyclists. I rode around on my first bicycle, with training wheels and pink, white and green streamers on the handrails, up and down the hallways of the apartment building my family lived in. As a result, my brother and I never learned to ride bikes without training wheels. My brother eventually taught himself as an adult. It has long been my turn to follow suit.

As an adult I found myself constantly paralyzed by moment-to-moment analysis, and most of it was contradicting: If I pedal faster, I will regain my balance. But if I pedal faster, Im going too fast for comfort.

I will give all you cyclists one thing: once you learn how to ride a bike you really dont forget. I finally understand this age-old saying that had always irked me as a non-cyclist. Even after six weeks of not practising, my body just knew what to do. It was up to me to silence the nagging paranoia and self-doubt in my head that was stopping me from pushing myself in the first place.

Earlier this week I was riding along a scenic trail in our neighbourhood (without assistance!) and I felt amazing. The cool air on my face was refreshing. I was gliding  no zooming!  past all the trees. I couldnt stop thinking to myself how wonderful it felt to bike down this trail on this crisp fall morning and then I saw it, a cat prowling in the middle of my intended path about 100 metres away. Can I dodge this cat? Will it move? Oh no, theres a big branch, too. I started to lose balance and decided to stop.

So Im not ready to ride the trails on my own quite yet. I still need a little nudge from Paul to help me get going. But with the wind in my face and my brake levers in my hands, I feel liberated from my inability and my fear.
ALBANY  Pay raises for an estimated 80,000 state government employees are being deferred 90 days a third consecutive time, through at least Jan. 1, according to the Civil Service Employees Association.

The first deferral was announced at the end of March by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's administration as the coronavirus pandemic was peaking in New York and the state began spending tens of millions of dollars on medical supplies and equipment  much of which remains in warehouses.

But the continued delay in pay raises has rankled many workers, including those on the front lines of the pandemic response, who have not been granted raises while high-ranking state officials, including Cuomo, have received pay increases.

"While we understand the state is trying to prevent furloughs or layoffs, and we dont want to see any state workers put out of work, the state has a legal obligation to comply with the terms of our contract and honor the commitment they made to our hard-working state employees who have helped get us through this time of crisis," CSEA said in a statement posted on its Facebook page.

In a message to its members in June, after raises were deferred a second time for 90 days through Oct. 1, CSEA had issued a more measured statement.

"The governor has said he is taking this measure in order to avoid the immediate need for layoffs or furloughs," CSEA wrote at that time. "CSEA continues to support full retroactive payment of the wage increase for all state workers, but we also recognize the dire financial position the state is in and have no desire to see members laid off or furloughed. ... We will do all in our power to make sure you get your increases."

The union is also pursuing a grievance filed earlier this year challenging the deferrals.

Earlier: Despite 'strict' freeze, Cuomo keeps hiring for his office

Pay raises for New York state workers deferred for another 90 days

Thousands of state workers at home, but no whisper of furloughs

In its own statement in response to the move  which has not been publicly announced by the governor's office  the state Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association blasted it as "a slap in the face to the brave men and women in law enforcement and those on the front lines who are tasked with keeping order in our states prison systems and our mental health facilities."

"We understand the dire fiscal crisis facing the state but they should honor the commitment they made to our members," NYSCOPBA said.

The fiscal crisis in New York  state officials estimate this year's deficit is nearly $14 billion  is continuing as Cuomo's administration and legislative leaders have blamed the state's ballooning debt on a gridlocked Congress that has been unable to agree on a new stimulus package.

Unfortunately, the ongoing failure of the federal government to deliver critical resources to states has left the state no choice but to implement tight spending controls, including freezing new contracts and hiring, and temporarily holding back portions of certain payments, which so far has reduced spending by more than $4 billion year over year," said Freeman Klopott, a spokesman for the Division of the Budget. "We must now continue the controls by delaying pay raises scheduled for April, July, and September for 90 days further, at which point we will reassess state finances and whether they can be implemented.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Legislation that would offer retirement buyouts to state and other government workers to help reduce the deficit has not advanced.

Will Waldron/Times Union

In some agencies and departments, workers were reporting three months ago that managers had floated the prospect of early retirement incentives being offered by September, which is what the legislation called for. But those bills, in the Senate and Assembly, did not received public support from the majority leaders. At some state-run colleges, employees are reporting that layoffs and buyouts are being discussed.

The legislation would also propose early retirement incentives be offered to school districts and local government entities that elect to participate in the program.

According to the Public Employees Federation, certain members or specific titles designated by management would be eligible for up to three years of additional service credit for an early retirement  with one month of extra service up to an additional 36 months of pension credit. It would also allow eligible members who are age 55 and have 25 or more years of service (rather than 30 years) to be eligible to retire without penalty during the time period they are offered.

Cuomo said in May that he was hopeful the state could avoid layoffs or furloughs. At that time more than 30 percent of the state's workforce had been doing their jobs from home, including many with diminished workloads. Although some agencies have allowed workers to return to their offices on staggered shifts, many employees are still working remote.

Figures provided to the Times Union by Cuomo's office four months ago had indicated that 59 agencies, departments, offices and commissions had 36,178 people working remotely out of 119,135 workers.

The state has declined to renew numerous service contracts and implemented a hiring freeze, but those steps are not enough to offset the deficit.
The rationale underlying all official policy on Covid-19 is that, if something isn't done about the rising number of positive tests, it will inevitably lead to a huge increase in deaths, and soon.

There are grounds to hope that this might not, in fact, occur, even without a second lockdown; but taking government and health authorities at their word, it surely behoves everyone who believes that deaths will rise exponentially alongside cases to learn from the experience of other countries. Those in charge of Ireland's response to the pandemic say that's what they're doing, but are they really?

On last Monday's Claire Byrne Live on RTE, Professor Anthony Staines, of the School of Nursing in DCU, pointed to five countries which had handled the pandemic well enough to save lives and protect their economies to some extent. They were: "China, very few cases; South Korea, very few cases; Vietnam, effectively no cases; Taiwan, effectively no cases"; and New Zealand, "almost no cases".

"So these are the places that are chasing it down?" emphasised Claire Byrne.

"Yes," replied Prof Staines, "and that is what we need to do." If we don't, his guess was that it would lead to a "Europe-wide lockdown of three months after Christmas because things will get so bad".

International comparisons are a blunt tool in the increasingly fractious Covid-19 debate. Not all countries face the same challenges. But it does seem well established that the five countries in question have things largely under control.

One thing that's rarely mentioned, however, and it certainly wasn't on Claire Byrne Live, is that those countries which best stemmed the flow of the virus all have one striking thing in common.

Vietnam has been closed to all foreigners, save for "a very small number of exceptions for diplomats on official business and certain high-skilled workers", since March 22. Borders with China, Cambodia and Laos are similarly closed except for the export and import of goods, and anyone required to quarantine on arrival must bear the costs themselves.

South Korea is open again to foreign visitors, but in the early days of the pandemic had extensive restrictions on foreigners visiting the country for "non-essential reasons", and continues to require all arrivals, regardless of nationality, to quarantine for 14 days. If they're Korean, or have Korean residency, they can do so at home. "All other foreign short-term travellers must quarantine at a government-designated facility for 14 days on arrival." They will be charged just over 70 per day for the service, and this stay may last over a month.

Travel to Taiwan remains severely restricted. Foreign nationals entering Taiwan must provide a negative Covid-19 test report completed within three working days prior to boarding their flight. On arrival in Taiwan, they are then legally required to self-isolate for 14 days. Local authorities monitor those who are self-isolating, and there are financial penalties for anyone breaching the law. You may also be asked to install a local SIM card in your phone to check your movements, and be required to provide temperature and health updates during self-isolation.

All foreign visitors to China are subject to health tests on arrival. You must then isolate for 14 days, with regular swabs taken throughout. Visitors are warned that facilities at quarantine sites may be basic - including having no fridge, no air conditioning, and no wi-fi. If no food is available, those in isolation must make arrangements to provide their own. Any breach of the restrictions can lead to a three-year prison sentence, including for foreign nationals.

Travel to New Zealand, meanwhile, is still closed to "almost all" arrivals. This would seem to suggest that countries which shut themselves off from the world are the ones that fared best in tackling the spread of Covid-19 - and yet travel bans have hardly featured at all in public debate in Ireland.

At the very least, it's meaningless to keep throwing the example of countries such as China, Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam and New Zealand at people in Ireland while not allowing a frank discussion of the full range of measures those countries implemented.

It could be that they, too, will experience a surge in Covid-19 cases once they open up fully again. But if they are "chasing it down", how can we pretend that we can, in the words of Claire Byrne, have the same outcome simply by "behaving ourselves and following the restrictions"?

This pick-and-mix approach cannot possibly work, but is there a single political party or health official who has ever suggested, or would dare suggest, closing the borders?

In the absence of such measures, the best we can hope for is tighter quarantine. In August, Prof Staines was critical of the measures Ireland had introduced for new arrivals: "Candidly, it is a joke. You give your name, you are supposed to isolate yourself and nobody seems to be following up." Still the emphasis is all on reducing internal travel within Ireland. That may be what the National Public Health Emergency Team's medical and scientific advice suggests needs to be done, but it's absolutely not what was done in China, Taiwan, Vietnam, South Korea and New Zealand.

Residents of South Korea have been able to travel without restrictions inside their own country since mid-May, and domestic flights have returned with full capacity. Vietnam has experienced a domestic travel boon.

The isolationist measures, which were taken elsewhere, may not be feasible in Ireland. There may equally be no political will for using draconian powers against rule breakers. But without even considering the range of measures put in place in the five countries being cited as models for action, surely we may have to accept that talk of moving to Zero Covid here is nothing but a fantasy?
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 21:38:27|Editor: huaxia

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SEOUL, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's presidential Blue House on Sunday called on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to conduct a joint probe into the killing of a South Korean civilian near the inter-Korean sea boundary.

Suh Choo-suk, deputy director of the National Security Office of the Blue House, told a press briefing that South Korea called on the DPRK to jointly investigate and rapidly reveal the truth of the incident.

Suh urged the DPRK to restore and reopen the inter-Korean military hotlines for communication, discussion and the exchange of information relevant to the investigation, saying that the two countries should make efforts to search for the missing body of the dead in their respective territorial waters.

The South Korean military said on Thursday that a fisheries official was shot dead by DPRK soldiers near the inter-Korean maritime border. The DPRK sent a notice to the Blue House Friday to explain the deadly shooting, according to the presidential office.

The DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency reported that Pyongyang was about to organize a search operation and considered the procedures of "handing over any tide-brought corpse to the south side conventionally" in case they found it during the operation. Enditem
New Delhi, Sep 27 : Air travel taking a backseat, combined with the opening up of many state borders to welcome tourists once again has led to the rise in demand for domestic leisure destinations, as a getaway from city life.

According to a data-backed predictive analysis, OYO predicts 'India's Next Destinations' that brings to light the country's upcoming leisure destinations for travellers. Here are the top destinations set to power the country's tourism industry back on track.

Jaipur, followed by Goa and Kochi are set to become India's top leisure destinations in October, November and December 2020 What's hot for the coming long weekend: With October 2 long weekend on the horizon, the report reveals that travellers are opting for staycations across India's beach destinations - with Goa topping the list, followed by the seaside resort town of Digha in West Bengal. Travellers are also opting for Jaipur, Pondicherry, Agra, Tirupati, among others.

Rise in pilgrimages: Interestingly, the report reveals that Indians will turn to faith during these tough times. The trend forecasts an upswing in demand for the alluring, holy cities of India, including Varanasi, Shirdi and Haridwar.

Road trips are here to stay: The data predicts that most leisure destinations to rule the roost in the latter half of the year are within a driving distance from mainstream cities, such as Jaipur and Udaipur for Delhiites, Goa and Shirdi for Mumbaikars, Mysore for Bangaloreans, among others.

Given the reality around Covid-19, leisure travel took a backseat to business or essential travel in the past couple of months, leaving little room for recovery of predominantly tourist destinations. However, on the brighter side, with each unlocking phase and the reopening of states, there's a positive upswing for consumers aspiring to travel in the next three months. As per OYO's consumer use cases, 56percent of consumers will be travelling for leisure while 43 percent would travel for business.

When asked about their next travel destination, most respondents opted for Kerala, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan. Amongst these, 45 percent of leisure travelers would prefer hill stations like Shimla, Mussoorie while the remaining 55 percent of leisure travelers would prefer non-hill station destinations like Goa, Agra, and Jaipur.

The data further highlights that 56 per cent of consumers would travel via private vehicles to nearby locations, with family or friends, preferably between the duration of 1-3 days.

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)
D anny Dyer has delighted the internet with a clip of him calling 1930s British fascist leader Oswald Mosley a "melt".

The video, shared widely online on Sunday, was part of a documentary that the actor presented on playwright Harold Pinter's childhood in east London in the 1930s.

Broadcast on Sky Arts, the programme included a section on the Battle of Cable Street, a confrontation in Shadwell in 1936 between Mosley's blackshirt thugs, anti-fascist Londoners and the police.

Mr Pinter, who was Jewish, lived in nearby Hackney and his surroundings inspired him to become an anti-fascist campaigner who regularly joined marches and demonstrations.

Dyer, who grew up in the nearby area of Silvertown, contrasted his childhood with the environment that Mr Pinter had to put up with as a boy.

My East End was full of love, but it sounds like young Harold lived with hate, he said.

"Everyone down here knows about the Cable Street riot in 1936, when Oswald Mosley and his blackshirts  not a boyband, but a bunch of fascist slags  came goosestepping down the street, he added.

Mr Dyer went on to show viewers a photo of Mosley, calling him a melt.

Harold Pinter / Getty Images

He added: Us East Enders, we wont stand for terrorism. Everybody came together and they gave the Nazis a good kicking."

The clip was shared widely on social media and was trending on Twitter for some time.

One person said: Petition for someone to commission a documentary about working-class histories presented by Danny Dyer."

Danny Dyer calling Oswald Mosley a melt is what I didn't know I had always wanted to see, another added.

Many consider Harold Pinter, who died in 2008, one of the greatest British playwrights of the 20th century. Some of his best-known works are The Birthday Party, No Man's Land and Betrayal.
Rain was in the air and the wind whipping up the clay on a deserted Court Suzanne Lenglen as Azarenka began her contest with Montenegrin Kovinic wearing a jacket.

After three games, which all went with serve, a chilly Azarenka sat down on her chair and demanded to see the supervisor.

She was asked to wait on court to see if conditions improved but refused,

calling the playing conditions a joke and ridiculous before adding:

Its eight degrees, I live in Florida.

After checking with Kovinic, who also said she did not want to wait, Azarenka

put on a bright pink puffer jacket and walked off court.

Play continued on the rest of the courts aside from Simonne Mathieu, where

Elise Mertens and Margarita Gasparyan refused to start their match, although they did subsequently get under way.
Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejcinovic-Buric has made the following statement concerning the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh:

I am gravely concerned about reports of military escalation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I call on our Member States Armenia and Azerbaijan to show responsibility and restraint by immediately stopping hostilities.

When entering the Council of Europe, both countries committed themselves to solving the conflict by peaceful means, and this commitment is to be strictly respected.

In these difficult times my thoughts go to the civilians  including children, women, and the elderly who once again feel more vulnerable than ever, as well as to all those suffering from the conflict.

On behalf of the Council of Europe, I call on the authorities of our two Member States to do everything possible to protect human lives and not to engage in military conflict. No efforts should be spared to stop the escalation.

In this respect, we reiterate our support for the OSCE Minsk group Co-chairs in their work to help our Member States find a peaceful solution to this conflict.
The principal lawyer leading a class action against the country's second largest bank has said the mammoth settlement agreement over its money laundering charges would spell good news for claimants.

Tim Finney, director of Melbourne law firm Phi Finney McDonald, said the $1.3 billion penalty agreement between Westpac and the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) would now put pressure on the bank to settle its other lawsuits.

"The size of the settlement with AUSTRAC indicates the value of the class action claim is substantial, very substantial relative to the normal size of these cases," Mr Finney said.

Class action lawyers say Westpac'c settlement with AUSTRAC will spell good news for claimants. Credit:Jessica Hromas

Thousands of Westpac shareholders had signed up through the open class action against the bank, and Mr Finney said Westpac's admission of wrongdoing as part of its Austrac settlement would also assist their case.
New Delhi, Sep 27 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday appealed to all Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) to come forward and make the residents in their localities aware of the measures to be taken to prevent dengue.

Marking the fourth week of the '10 Hafte 10 Baje 10 Minute Har Ravivaar Dengue Par Vaar' campaign of the Delhi government, Kejriwal appealed to the RWAs to talk to people in their respective colonies and increase participation by motivating them to join hands in preventing dengue.

"I appeal to all the RWAs to talk to people in their societies as well and motivate them to join this campaign... we have to defeat dengue together," the Chief Minister said after inspecting his house for signs of stagnant clean water at 10 a.m. for 10 minutes, draining and replacing accumulated water at various spots in his home and surroundings.

Taking to social media, Kejriwal tweeted: "Taking forward the campaign against dengue today on the fourth Sunday by replacing the water collected at home. In this way, we have to stop the breeding of dengue mosquitoes and protect our family and the entire Delhi from dengue." The Chief Minister sought the support of the RWAs in preventing the spread of dengue last year as well.

He had introduced a five-point plan for the RWAs to take measures to prevent the breeding of dengue mosquitoes in their areas.

Reiterating his appeal this year, Kejriwal said the participation from people from all walks of life and all organisations such as senior members of RWAs is necessary to prevent dengue.

This year, the Delhi government has also launched a telephonic helpline - 01123300012 and WhatsApp helpline - 8595920530 to assist the general public for dengue.
Veteran BJP leader L K Advani on Sunday described Jaswant Singh as one of his closest colleagues and a dear friend, saying he was an "outstanding parliamentarian, astute diplomat, great administrator, and above all, a patriot".

Jaswant Singh died here on Sunday following a long spell of illness. He was 82.

In a statement, Advani said as a member of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government, Singh singularly and deftly handled the three most important portfolios of external affairs, defence and finance.

He noted that a "very special bond was formed between Atal ji, Jaswant ji and myself" while handling tenacious issues during those six years (1998-2004) in power.

Expressing grief over the demise of Singh, Advani said he was at a loss of words.

"As a person, Jaswant ji was a true gentleman and will be remembered as a soft-spoken, erudite and warm-hearted person. He was known for his sharp, analytical mind and was respected by people across the political spectrum," Advani said.

Singh became one of the tallest leaders of the (BJP) and contributed greatly throughout his active years in the party, he said.

Advani (92) remains the longest serving president of the BJP.

Noting that Singh was also a great lover of books like him, the veteran BJP leader said they often shared notes about this common interest.

"I cherish my long association with him in public life and the bond shared between our families... His passing away is a huge loss to the nation and personally to me. May his soul rest in peace," Advani said.

Advani was instrumental in bringing Jaswant Singh back into the party's fold after he was expelled in 2009 for authoring a book that had words of praise for Pakistan's founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top BJP leaders paid rich tributes to Singh, saying that he served India diligently and will be remembered for his unique perspective on matters of politics and society.

(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 U.S. Commerce Department tightened its export restriction on the leading Chinese chipmaker Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC).

SMIC was given tighter export restrictions after it was concluded to pose an "unacceptable risk."

Reuters said in a report there were worries that equipment received by SMIC could be used for military purposes.

Exporting products to SMI could "pose an unacceptable risk of diversion to a military end in the People's Republic of China," The Wall Street Journal said in a report.

As for the export restrictions, U.S. computer chip companies will be blocked from exporting technology from SMIC without an export license.

A letter from the Commerce Department said suppliers of certain equipment to SMIC will now have to apply for export licenses.

Three sources told Reuters that the move was a shift from policy earlier this year. Back then, applicants seeking "military end user" licenses did not need to get licenses.

SMIC said it has not year received any form of official notice about the said restrictions. The company also said it has not ties with the Chinese military.

Tightening Exports to China

SMIC is the latest major Chinese tech firm to be put on the entity list, joining phone company Huawei that was added in 2019, The Verge said in a report.

In April, the administration tightened export restriction on shipping out goods to China. The reason said for this was to keep U.S. companies from selling products that could be used to strengthen the Chinese military.

But SMIC told Reuters that it makes products and provides services "solely for commercial end-users and end-uses."

They said they had "do not manufacture for any military end-users or end-uses."

Not Just TikTok

International trade lawyer Nicholas Klein said there was a lacking amount of news on the plight of Chinese companies with the entity list.

"There's been a lot of coverage on the Trump administration's actions regarding TikTok," he said.

The company said their names being put on the entity list could have some large effects. They said, from an economic standpoint, this could lead to ripple effects on supply chains all over the globe.

Klein said the actions from the U.S. government could cause a negative response from Beijing.

Placing SMIC in the entity list is not as severe as getting it blacklisted. But it makes the process of getting any export license approved a difficult task.

Earlier this month, Reuters said in a report that the Pentagon was working with other agencies to find out if SMIC had links to the Chinese military.

To ship certain goods to the Chinese firm, U.S. companies like Lam Research, KLA Corp and Applied Materials will now have to get their licenses.

It is not yet clear if these companies have received the letter from the commerce department. But usually, when they find that there is a risk of military diversion in trade deals, it sends that information out.

The department's Bureau of Industry and Security declined to comment on SMIC on Saturday. They said it was monitoring any possible threats to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests.

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The following is the full text of the message.

Your Excellency Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly,

Your Excellency Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations,

Ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to congratulate Your Excellency Volkan Bozkir upon your election as the President of the 75th United Nations General Assembly. I am fully confident that under your experienced and able leadership, our session will be a success.

Let me also voice my appreciation for the important contributions that His Excellency Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, President of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have made despite the tremendous challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr. President,

We are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the United Nations and entering the third decade of the 21st century in extraordinary circumstances.

For the first time in history, the Leaders of Member States are unable to gather at the UNGA General Debate . This, however, does not diminish our resolve and ability to deliberate and seek solutions for issues of common concern.

I echo the Secretary-General's assessment that we are facing the most formidable challenges since the birth of the UN, in particular, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, society, politics and, most of all, human life.

Mr. President,

Against this backdrop, I welcome the theme of our Session: The Future We Want, the UN We Need: Reaffirming our Collective Commitment to Multilateralism  confronting COVID-19 through effective multilateral action. Allow me to share some of my thoughts along that line.

First, global and regional multilateral mechanisms must be strengthened. We need a United Nations that is truly cohesive and inclusive, where every member, large or small, rich or poor, can have a voice in deciding matters of common concern. The UN must serve as the incubator for multilateral cooperation initiatives for peace, development and prosperity. Further reforms should be undertaken to transform the UN into a stronger and more effective organization that can fulfill its role of harmonizing the interests and behaviors of states in the face of the monumental changes of our time.

Second, the United Nations Charter and the fundamental principles of international law must be upheld and advanced as the norms of behavior for all countries in contemporary international relations. We must be resolute and perseverant in advancing cooperation and friendship to counter conflict and hostility. We must choose dialogue over confrontation, and peaceful settlement of disputes over unilateral acts of imposition. In this spirit, Vietnam calls for the removal of unilateral sanctions that adversely affect countries socio-economic development and peoples livelihoods, especially the embargo imposed upon Cuba.

Third, the COVID-19 pandemic serves as a stern warning to us all, requiring our stronger commitments and stronger actions to promote sustainable, inclusive and human-centered development. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development should continue to be the framework for our cooperation to overcome this pandemic for sustainable recovery. Our policies and actions should have the interest of our people at the heart, so that no one, and no country, will be left behind. Developing countries should receive financial assistance, technological and commercial facilitation to realize the Sustainable Development Goals.

Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong speaking at the UN General Assembly High-level General Debate. (Photo: UN)



Mr. President,

Seventy-five years ago, on 02 September 1945, President Ho Chi Minh delivered the Declaration of Independence that proclaimed the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam). Since those early days, President Ho Chi Minh, on multiple occasions, sent letters to the founding members of the UN, expressing Vietnam's desire to become a member of the Organization. While it was not until 1977 that this aspiration became reality, the long and tenacious struggle of Vietnam to win and defend national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity served as a concrete contribution to the worldwide movement for peace, democracy and social progress  ultimately the same noble goals to which the UN aspires. Let me take this occasion, on behalf of the Vietnamese people, to express our deepest gratitude to countries and international friends for your generous support towards our past righteous struggle for national independence and present national development.

Vietnam was once a poor and backward country ravaged by war, strangled by embargo. After thirty-five years of Doi Moi reform, Vietnam has emerged as a middle-income developing country and is aiming to be a high-income industrial country by 2045. In the fight against COVID-19, difficulties notwithstanding, Vietnam has recorded positive and noteworthy outcomes. We have successfully contained the pandemic while promoting social and economic development. Out of international solidarity and with the understanding that the pandemic is only defeated when we all win, Vietnam has engaged in cooperation and experience sharing with many countries, including support provided to those worst affected by the pandemic and to the common international efforts.

Vietnam pursues a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization and diversification of relations. As a reliable partner and an active, responsible member of the international community, Vietnam attaches importance to the work of the UN and has been expanding our comprehensive cooperation with the Organization. Vietnam will work with member states to make the UN more democratic, transparent and effective.

As a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the term 2020  2021, Vietnam promotes dialogue, de-escalation of tension and confrontation, and fair and reasonable solutions to regional and global peace and security issues. We champion multilateralism and the respect for international law and the UN Charter, and strengthen relations between the UN and regional organizations, especially ASEAN.

As the 2020 ASEAN Chair, Vietnam is working with fellow member states to build a region of peace, friendship and cooperation, in order to realize the vision of ASEAN as a politically cohesive, economically integrated and socially responsible community. Together with countries within and outside the region, we are committed to the maintenance and promotion of peace, stability, maritime security and safety and freedom of navigation in the East Sea (South China Sea), in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. We call on all concerned parties to exercise restraint, avoid unilateral acts that would complicate the situation, and settle disputes and differences through peaceful means with due respect for diplomatic and legal processes.

Mr. President,

Over the last 75 years, member states have painstakingly built a United Nations for peace, cooperation and development. We are duty-bound to strengthen and reinvigorate the worlds largest multilateral organization, particularly in face of the immense challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.

Thank you for your kind attention.
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.

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.

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
Game of Thrones stars Kit Harington and Rose Leslie are expecting their first child.

The news of Leslie's pregnancy was revealed on Saturday, when a photo of the actor taken for a magazine interview was shared on Instagram.

The picture, from digital publication Make Magazine, featured Leslie smiling with her hands placed on her hips as she showed off her growing baby bump.

Recommended Princess Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank expecting baby in early 2021

Sharing the image on her personal account, fashion editor Ursula Lake wrote: "A very special all woman team photographic shoot capturing Rose at this wonderful time as she prepares for motherhood for the first time!"

In the accompanying interview, Leslie spoke about the couples home in the English countryside, saying she was looking forward to raising a family there, after years of living in New York.

What a glorious thing to be able to run to the countryside and recoup, she said.

Its a great privilege to be surrounded by greenery, birdsong and hedgerows, and our delightful neighbours. Its so peaceful.

The couple played Ygritte and Jon Snow in HBO series Game of Thrones, in which they also had an on-screen relationship.

In the show, 33-year-old Leslie's character became known for the phrase: You know nothing, Jon Snow.

Leslie and Harington got married in 2018 after dating for six years.

The wedding took place at her familys castle in Wardhill, Aberdeenshire, with former co-stars Maisie Williams, Peter Dinklage, Emilia Clarke and Sophie Turner all in attendance.

The couple met on the set of the HBO series as the characters Jon Snow and Ygritte

The. couple took the traditional step of announcing their engagement in The Times.

The announcement said: The engagement is announced between Kit, younger son of David and Deborah Harington of Worcestershire, and Rose, middle daughter of Sebastian and Candy Leslie of Aberdeenshire.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry shared their opinion on the importance of voting when they had a joint appearance to discuss the coming U.S.election.

According to the Duchess of Sussex's close friend, Markle's political aspirations remain. The source told Vanity Fair, "One of the reasons she was so keen not to give up her American citizenship was so she had the option to go into politics. I think if Meghan and Harry ever gave up their titles, Markle would seriously consider running for president."

Another informant who works with Markle refuted the implication and said that Markle harbors no ambition to enter a career in politics herself while there's no denying that she is interested in politics as a topic. Markle and Prince Harry released a PSA for Time just days ago to encourage viewers to vote.

"Every four years, we are told the same thing; this is the most important election of our lifetime," Markle said. "When we vote, our integrity are put into action, and our voices are heard. Your voice is a reminder that you matter as you do, and you deserve to be heard," she added.

Meanwhile, Prince Harry agreed to his wife's sentiment by adding that when the bad outweighs the good for many, even if we realize it or not, it erodes the ability to have compassion and to put yourself in someone else's shoes.

Prince Harry added that the effect are felt exponentially because of buying into negativity online. "It's time to not just reflect but act as we approach November election, we must reject hate speech, online negativity, and misinformation."

According to GEO, Markle has her heart and mind to run for U.S. president in the future. The feminist icon Gloria Steinem sheds light on Megahn's motive behind moving back home, urging people to vote for Joe Biden.

Meghan harbors serious aspirations to run as the U.S. president in 2024, according to the latest report. Meghan is eyeing the White House, a source close to the former royal spilled.

The author Omid Scobie claims the same and said that Meghan has 'her eyes set in the U.S.presidency.' The biographer earlier told Vanity Fair, "Meghan is the embodiment of the American dream. One day we may see her become president."

The Duke and Duchess' political remarks released as part of their appearance for Time's 100 influential people did not sit well with the U.S.President Donald Trump. The President blasted the two and said that he is not a fan of Markle. On Wednesday, President Trump said at the White House that he wishes a lot of luck to Harry "because he's gonna need it."

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(Newser)  A man walks up to a squad car and opens fire on two sheriff's deputies sitting inside. Two police officers are shot after responding to sounds of gunfire during a protest. The shootingsone in Los Angeles and the other 2000 miles away in Louisville, Kentucky, less than two weeks laterare stark reminders of the dangers law enforcement officers face at a time when anger toward them in the wake of police killings of Black Americans, such as George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, has boiled over, the AP reports. "I think it's more than a suggestion that people are seeking to do harm to cops," Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown told reporters at a recent briefing. The suspect who shot the deputies in Los Angeles has not been caught, so its not known why he opened fire.

story continues below

It is unclear how many times officers across the country have been shot at or otherwise attacked this year. But the few statistics available, such as those compiled by the FBI, show so far this year 37 law enforcement officers in the US have been "feloniously killed" in the line of duty compared to 30 such deaths at this point last year. Chicago police say 66 officers there have been shot at thus far this year, compared to 17 at this point last year. In demonstrations following the deaths of Black Americans, police have both been criticized by those who saw their response in many cities as heavy-handed and the target of several violent attacks. Officers have been shot at, run over, blinded, and jeered at by angry crowds who have wished for their deaths. (Chicago's police suicide rate has also risen.)
The ruling Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yon on Sept. 26 meets residents of Uljin Harbor in Uljin County, North Gyeongsang Province, where a series of typhoons had dealt heavy blows and caused financial damages worth more than 15 billion won ($12.7 million) in early September. Yonhap



The leader of the ruling Democratic Party on Sunday urged North Korea to swiftly agree to a joint investigation with South Korea into the shooting death of a South Korean fisheries official in North Korean waters.



Rep. Lee Nak-yon made the remark in a Facebook posting, saying the North's account of what happened is different from South Korea's findings, including whether the body of the 47-year-old official was set on fire or not.



South Korea said the North shot and killed the fisheries official drifting in its waters before burning his body. But the North claimed that what it set on fire was a "floating material" the "intruder" was relying on and the official's body could not be found after he was shot.



North Korean leader Kim Jong-un apologized over the killing, saying an unfortunate incident that should not have happened has happened, and he was very sorry for giving President Moon Jae-in and the South Korean people a big sense of disappointment.






A Texas teacher was fired earlier this month for wearing a Black Lives Matter face mask during in-person workdays over the summer amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Lillian White, an art teacher at Great Hearts Western Hills, a public charter school in San Antonio, was fired on September 5 for refusing to stop wearing the mask after school officials asked her to stop.

The words 'Black Lives Matter' are written on one side of the mask while the other side reads, 'Silence is Violence'.

White, who said she started wearing the mask to show her support for black students and faculty, told CNN that no students were on campus during the in-person workdays over the summer.

Lillian White (pictured), an art teacher at Great Hearts Western Hills, a public charter school in San Antonio, was fired on September 5 for refusing to stop wearing the mask after school officials asked her to stop

The words 'Black Lives Matter' are written on one side of the mask while the other side reads, 'Silence is Violence'

She said that her first warning came two weeks after she began wearing the mask.

'Hey. can you start bringing a different mask on campus? We don't discuss the current political climate on campus. Parents will start coming around more now,' Heather Molder, the school's assistant headmaster, wrote in a text message to White, according to CNN.

White, who has been an educator for 10 years said that she 'immediately' knew it was time to make a decision.

'This is a human rights issue and I did it for my students who experience racial injustice in school. I refused to back down,' White told CNN.

'If you're scared about what parents are going to say because a teacher is supporting equal rights, you need to reevaluate the kind of people you're catering to. By staying silent, Great Hearts is only supporting racist parents.'

White spent a month speaking to officials about the matter, but she was fired on September 5 just days before students returned to campus.

White spent a month speaking to officials about the matter, but she was fired on September 5 just days before students returned to campus

Following her termination, White started a Change.org petition that demands Great Hearts 'implement an anti-racism action plan'

White was an art teacher at Great Hearts Western Hills public charter school (pictured)

She says she was told that her termination was a result of her refusing to wear a different mask.

In a statement, Great Hearts Texas Superintendent Daniel Scoggin explained that the school's policy forbids faculty from displaying messages on their face masks.

The policy was enacted amid two pandemics plaguing the US: racism and COVID-19.

'We stand with the Black community and all who are suffering. Great Hearts deplores bigotry and its crushing effects on all those subjected to it,' Scoggin told CNN.

'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,' he added.

Following her termination, White started a Change.org petition that demands Great Hearts 'implement an anti-racism action plan'.

The petition has been signed by more than 2,700 people as of Sunday morning.
Taxpayers will continue to underwrite major domestic routes for the rest of the year, as well as essential air services to regional and remote communities until March, under a further extension of support measures for airlines to be announced on Monday.

Qantas and Virgin Australia have been subsidised to operate a minimum domestic network to all capital cities and 36 larger regional centres across all states and territories since April, with the program having already been extended once.

State border closures and mandatory quarantine requirements from a second wave of COVID-19 in Victoria has meant the Morrison government will continue to fund the programs on a shortfall subsidy basis, with the Commonwealth paying for any costs not covered by airline revenues.

The government expects the extension could be worth "hundreds of millions of dollars" to underwrite the cost of the network.
President of India Ram Nath Kovind on September 27 gave ascent to contentious farm bills, passed by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, amid wide-spread protests against them across India.



President gives his assent to the three #FarmBills :

Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020

Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020

Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2020 pic.twitter.com/PmjG4jNopC

 All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) September 27, 2020

With this, the three bills are now a law.

Amid massive uproar by opposition members, Parliament had 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 Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), one of Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) oldest allies, had quit the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) late on September 26 night in protest against the contentious bills.

SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal had on September 20 urged the President not to sign the farm bills and also requested him that they be returned to Parliament for reconsideration.

Earlier, SAD leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal had resigned from the Union Cabinet in protest against the bills.
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American efforts to persuade more Arab countries to normalize relations with Israel before the November election are focused on Sudan, where negotiations have stalled over the amount of a financial incentive promised to Sudan in exchange for recognizing Israel, officials said Saturday.

But the campaigns most important target, Saudi Arabia, they said, is unlikely to recognize Israel this year.

President Trump has said that at least five or six countries are poised to follow the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in normalizing relations with Israel, one of the biggest foreign policy achievements of his administration. He said one could be Saudi Arabia, a breakthrough that would carry great weight in the Arab world.

But two high-ranking Israeli officials with knowledge of the talks said that while Saudi officials had been involved in negotiations to secure the recognition of Israel by the U.A.E. and Bahrain, they had no plans to do so themselves in the near future.
The total number of coronavirus cases in central police forces under the Ministry of Home Affairs have gone over 36,000 with 128 personnel succumbing to the pandemic, according to the latest data.

The cases pertain to the seven forces of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), National Security Guard (NSG) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

As per the latest data accessed by PTI, these forces have recorded over 36,000 COVID-19 cases till now, out of which, 6,646 are active while rest of the personnel have recovered.

The maximum cases at 10,636 have been recorded in the BSF, the country's largest border guarding force with about 2.5 lakh personnel.

This is followed by 10,602 cases in the largest paramilitary force CRPF and 6,466 cases in the CISF.

The BSF guards Indian fronts with Pakistan and Bangladesh, while CISF is the national civil aviation security force.

The ITBP has had 3,845 cases, SSB 3,684, NDRF 514 and NSG 250 coronavirus cases.

The ITBP guards the 3,488 km long India-China LAC, while the SSB mans open Indian borders with Nepal and Bhutan. The NDRF is the central disaster contingency force and NSG is the federal counter-terrorist and counter-hijack combat commandos force.

The data shows that in all these forces, the recoveries are much more than the active cases.

A total of 128 personnel of these forces have lost their lives to coronavirus infection.

The maximum 52 deaths have been reported in the CRPF, 29 in BSF, 28 in CISF and nine each in ITBP and SSB.

One death has taken place in NDRF.

These forces are on active duty and hence, the COVID-19 infection numbers are continuing. All those who join duty from leave are being put in mandatory quarantine and the infected are sent for medical care and isolation, a senior officer said.

These forces, with a combined strength of about 10 lakh personnel, render a variety of security duties, law and order management, border guarding, counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist operations and disaster rescue and relief under the command of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah on Sunday called up SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and praised him for taking a stand against the farm bills.

The NC chief also backed the Shiromani Akali Dals demand for inclusion of Punjabi in the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill.

President Ram Nath Kovind had earlier in the day, given his assent to the contentious farm legislations and the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill which provides for inclusion of Kashmiri, Dogri and Hindi in the list of official languages, in addition to Urdu and English.

The SAD on Saturday quit the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) over the farm legislations and the non-inclusion of Punjabi as official language in Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill. Praising the courageous and principled stand taken by the SAD, the NC chief said: In doing so, you are not only living up to the glorious legacy of your party but have also provided a ray of hope to the farmers and other beleaguered sections of society in the country.

According to a statement issued by the SAD here, Abdullah said that he was proud of his long association with the Akali movements as a regional party committed to the setting up of a genuinely federal structure in the country. No one in the country has fought for farmers like the Akalis always have and it is great to see you holding that flag aloft, said the statement quoting Abdullah.

Abdullah expressed complete support and solidarity with the SAD in its fight for justice for farmers and the status of Punjabi language in Jammu and Kashmir.

Badal thanked Abdullah for his support and blessings.
As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster, Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) muses near the start of Goodfellas, and in the autumn of 1990, when that film was released, it seemed that every filmmaker of note wanted to make a gangster movie. Martin Scorseses Goodfellas led the way that September, with Phil Joanous State of Grace and Abel Ferraras King of New York opening later that month. The Coen brothers Millers Crossing followed in October. And in December came what was expected to be the biggest title of them all: The Godfather: Part III, the long-awaited follow-up to the Francis Ford Coppola films that most audiences considered the gold standard of gangster pictures.

Such a wave of similarly minded movies hadnt been seen since the glut of rip-offs that followed the release of the original Godfather. The torturous time and effort required of any major production made their rollouts more coincidental than coordinated, although it seems safe to surmise that studios were hoping to ride the wave of interest in Godfather III. Yet that film, the most hotly anticipated and (initially) the most financially successful, was the least enthusiastically received  and left the smallest cultural footprint.

Instead, the other gangster movies of that fateful fall 30 years ago would prove far more influential: they combined to draw a map of the routes the crime movie, and movies in general, would take in the coming decade.

None made their mark more than Goodfellas, drawn from Nicholas Pileggis book Wiseguy and based on the real-life exploits of the New York mob underling-turned-informant Henry Hill. Scorsese was 47 when it was released, but he infused the picture with the furious energy and stylistic razzle-dazzle of a film school kid: elaborate camera movements, snazzy freeze frames, hard-boiled voice-over, non-chronological storytelling and tighter needle drops than a downtown DJ set.

The filmmaking is intoxicating because it makes Hills life of crime seem so seductive; it draws us into his world. So Scorsese crafts a subjective experience, often literally: in the shot introducing the various gangsters and hangers-on, all of whom speak directly into the camera (Im gonna go get the papers, get the papers), or the notorious May 11, 1980 sequence, which uses jagged cutting, jittery camerawork and battling music cues to put us directly into the head of the films coked-out, paranoid protagonist. Compared with the respectful distance of earlier gangster stories (even the Godfather movies), the immediacy of Goodfellas feels like an earthquake.

It left unmistakable fingerprints on some of the most important films and television shows to follow. Boogie Nights is very much Goodfellas, says Glenn Kenny, author of the new book Made Men: The Story of Goodfellas, who has also written for The New York Times. He also sees a clear connection to Quentin Tarantinos Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs  particularly the recurring motif of gangsters who hang out, talk trash and do their jobs like, well, jobs. Most gangster movies focus on the big bosses and godfathers; Goodfellas and its descendants are about the grinders, the middlemen, the working-class thugs.

Kenny also pinpoints the notion of mobsters having other aspects of their lives, everyday marital and familial woes, a key ingredient in David Chases subsequent groundbreaking series, The Sopranos. Chase has called the film his Quran, so to speak, drawing not only from the films tone and perspective for The Sopranos but also from its cast, which features several future Sopranos co-stars.

The hoods in State of Grace are, if anything, even smaller-time, expending their energies on nowhere hustles, petty theft and extortion. Foot soldiers for the Irish mob in Hells Kitchen, theyre scrappy street guys, and the relationship at the films centre is a direct descendant of Scorseses 1974 film Mean Streets; both pair a sensible, centred earner (Sean Penn here, Harvey Keitel in Mean Streets) with a dangerous, trigger-happy yet charismatic hothead (Gary Oldman, standing in for Robert De Niro). That dynamic would reappear in many an indie Nineties crime movie (most notably Nick Gomezs Laws of Gravity), while the ethnic and geographic sensibility of State of Grace is a clear influence on Little Odessa and The Yards, the early crime films of director James Gray.

Coppolas film was true to itself, and the artful approach to a disreputable genre that had made the series seem, 18 years earlier, so revolutionary

State of Grace is also noteworthy for its acknowledgement of the separation (and tension) between the Irish and Italian mob, expanding the insular Italian perspective typical of gangster narratives. Abel Ferrara would go even further in King of New York, which is in many ways a direct throwback to the traditional gangster movies of the 1930s, featuring a charismatic lead (Christopher Walken), a colourful cast of supporting players and a heady serving of social issues.

But King broke radically from norms in its racial makeup (its cast included future Nineties breakout stars Wesley Snipes, Laurence Fishburne and Giancarlo Esposito). Walkens underworld boss Frank White is, in fact, white, but his crew is mostly black. Post-Godfather blaxploitation movies like Larry Cohens Black Caesar were as strictly segregated as their mainstream counterparts, but here, Ferrara not only integrates the milieu but casts the films old world Godfather-style Italian gangsters as outright relics, barriers for his forward-glancing criminals to remove quickly and efficiently.

A video store favourite, King of New York would have a profound influence on Nineties hip-hop culture (The Notorious B.I.G. frequently referred to himself as the Black Frank White); it would also serve as the template for several black-led gangster movies of the decade, including New Jack City and Sugar Hill (both fronted by King co-star Snipes).

Like The Godfather, Joel and Ethan Coens Millers Crossing begins with a portly, moustachioed man asking a mob boss for a favour. But Millers is a beast of its own, filtering the conventions of the gangster picture through the Coens distinctive sensibility, and its full of their trademarks: ornate, flourish-filled dialogue delivered at a mile a minute; complex, often dizzying plotting; exhilarating camerawork; bellowing overweight men; John Turturro.

The tentative title for Millers Crossing was The Big Head, Adam Nayman, author of The Coen Brothers: This Book Really Ties the Films Together, explains by email. Other crime films have higher body counts, but Id wager there arent many with as much discussion about the intricacies of introducing a bullet into the brain.

The framing, staging and setting of a warehouse rough-up sequence are obvious prototypes for the notorious torture sequence in Reservoir Dogs, while a bloody shootout to the strains of Danny Boy lays the groundwork for the continuing convention of violence paired with incongruent musical accompaniment. Amidst all the stylised dialogue, contrapuntal music cues and deadpan-character-actor-casting, Nayman notes, Quentin Tarantino (and his imitators) were taking scrupulous notes.

By the time The Godfather: Part III finally arrived on Christmas Day, critics and audiences may well have simply burnt out on gangster movies. At the time, it was a massive, massive, massive disappointment, Kenny recalls, and its easy to see why (without even revisiting Coppolas decision to cast his daughter Sofia, an acting novice, in a key role). Its a decidedly old-fashioned movie, steeped in the classical style of its predecessors, laying out its story of gang wars, political wrangling, Vatican intrigue and personal redemption in studiously paced (sometimes pokey, even), exposition-heavy dialogue scenes.

To its credit, Godfather III is also quiet, introspective and emotional in a way that its flashy brethren arent. (Michaels weeping confession of ordering Fredos death is one of the most wrenching scenes in the entire trilogy.) But by the time the picture landed at the end of that pivotal year, it seemed downright quaint. Coppolas film was true to itself, and the artful approach to a disreputable genre that had made the series seem, 18 years earlier, so revolutionary. But by its third instalment, the Godfather series had served its purpose; the gangster movie had evolved yet again, into something even more grimy, eccentric and alive.

 The New York Times
The lack of criminal charges this week against Kentucky police officers for the shooting death of Breonna Taylor stems not from a unique quirk in that states law but from deeply embedded protections in the U.S. legal system for those who use deadly force to protect themselves.

Those protections mean law enforcement officers and civilians alike have been deemed justified in accidentally killing or injuring innocent bystanders in the course of self-defense.

In 2018, a San Antonio police officer responding to a report of an assault fatally shot one man when he meant to shoot another grabbing for a gun.

In 2017, a Philadelphia laundromat owner shot a bystander twice in the hand while firing on a fleeing man whod stolen $2,000 from his store.

In 2015, a Utah police officer shot and injured a man resembling a suspect who had fired a gun at him.

A Kentucky grand jury indicted one of the three officers who served a warrant the night of Breonna Taylor's death. The charges were not for Taylor's death but for wanton endangerment of her neighbors when the officer fired his weapon into a nearby apartment.

None was charged with a crime.

Youve got to have intent. And with Breonna Taylor, he (the officer) didnt intend to kill her. The officer returned fire and happened to get Breonna, said Scott Boudreaux, a Birmingham, Alabama, defense attorney who has represented clients in accidental killings. I think its self-defense.

In the early hours of March 13, Taylors boyfriend shot one of the three plainclothes officers. He said he mistook them for intruders when they broke down the door to her apartment, serving a search warrant for narcotics. Police said they identified themselves before entering the home. They returned fire and hit Taylor, who died in her apartment hallway. No drugs were found.

Photos of Breonna Taylor's apartment were included in a request for a no-knock search warrant made by the Louisville Metro Police Department.

Wednesday, a grand jury indicted one of the three officers, Brett Hankison, on charges of wanton endangerment of Taylors neighbors  not Taylor herself  as a result of firing his weapon into a nearby apartment. It declined to indict any of the officers for reckless homicide.

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron cautioned against a quest for revenge, which did little to quell unrest after the grand jury decision. Protests erupted across the country.

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"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," Ben Crump, an attorney for Taylor's family, wrote on Twitter.

The way the officers carried out the "no-knock" search warrant after midnight should be reviewed, said Dave LaBahn, president of the national Association of Prosecuting Attorneys. Crump suggested the officers knowingly used false information to obtain the warrant. If that can be proved, the dynamic of the case against the officers could change, and more charges could be brought.

The officers entered Taylors apartment legally, were shot at first and had a right to defend themselves, LaBahn said, calling the situation lawful but awful.

What Cameron described as vigorous self-defense laws in the state are part of a much broader trend in America toward forgiving people who claim self-defense.

Attorney Ben Crump says police should have been charged in Breonna Taylor's death.

Many U.S. states have statutes codifying the Castle Doctrine, which stems from an English court case finding in 1604 that a man has no duty to retreat from an assailant in his own dwelling, because a mans home is his castle.

More than half of U.S. states, including Kentucky, expanded on this concept by enacting stand your ground laws, which remove the duty to retreat for people attacked outside their homes  so long as they are in a place they have a right to be, arent committing a crime and didnt provoke the confrontation.

In Taylors case, LaBahn said, Kenneth Walker, Taylor's boyfriend, was justified in shooting at the officers, and they were justified in shooting back.

A true man fights back

After American colonies gained their independence from the British, the new states largely imported common law from England to use as judicial precedent for their own courts. In England, the law recognized very few civilian homicide defenses as valid.

English law forbade homicide except as a last resort, requiring those under attack to first flee the scene or retreat as far away as possible. Only then, with a wall at their back and nowhere else to go, did the state authorize them to kill their assailants. Even then, it was the killers burden to prove that using lethal force was necessary to save themselves from grievous harm.

Englands duty to retreat was a powerful means to produce a society of civility, wrote Richard Maxwell Brown in his 1991 book, "No Duty to Retreat: Violence and Values in American History and Society." Boiled down, it was a command to avoid physical conflicts, Brown wrote, barring fatal outcomes in most disputes and resulting in relatively low homicide rates.

Americans abandoned the English standard and adopted a fundamentally different attitude toward self-defense, primarily fueled by two state court decisions in the post-Reconstruction era.

In Ohio in 1876, the Supreme Court reversed the conviction of a man who shot and killed his son-in-law. The man said the son-in-law charged at him with an axe. The court found that the man was not at fault for provoking the confrontation and had acted as a true man, free to defend himself against his assailant.

The following year, the Supreme Court in Indiana took it a step further, ruling that a man who shot and killed an unarmed man in a riot on Election Day was justified because the unarmed man had instigated a fist fight with him.

Overturning the mans conviction, Judge William Niblack wrote that the tendency of the American mind seems to be very strongly against the enforcement of any rule which requires a person to flee when assailed.

In light of these decisions, courts across the USA began to broadly accept the view that fleeing amounted to cowardice and that cowardice was un-American, Brown wrote in his book. In the early 1900s, a Minnesota judge rejected the duty to retreat, saying it was an outdated law that did not take into account the influx of guns into societal life. Wisconsins Supreme Court the same year asserted mans divine right to stand his ground.

Cathy Makowski demonstrates against what she calls the abuse of Florida's "stand your ground" law in front of the Seminole County Courthouse in Sanford, Fla., after the shooting death of teenager Trayvon Martin in 2012.

Some states, including Florida, have gone so far as shifting the burden onto prosecutors to prove a homicide was not committed in self-defense. Such laws benefit the defendant in a phenomenal way and make prosecutors less likely to file homicide charges, especially in cases with no witnesses, said Denis deVlaming, a criminal defense attorney in Clearwater.

Prosecutors hate this new law, deVlaming said. Unless they can disprove the defendants version of events, either forensically or by a statement or contradiction, he gets a pass.

Laws especially protect police

In 2017, Birmingham, Alabama, resident Darrell Hutton shot at a man who pulled a gun on him, and one of the bullets struck and killed a 4-year-old girl. He was charged with murder.

Boudreaux represented Hutton and asked a judge for a hearing to consider whether Alabamas stand your ground law applied. He argued that Hutton was defending himself and didnt intend to kill the girl.

A judge agreed, dismissing the charges.

Law enforcement officers rarely face criminal charges or convictions as a result of fatal shootings because of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 1989 that their actions must be evaluated based on what a reasonable officer would do, given what was known at the time.

Because this is a hard concept for jurors to wrap their minds around, prosecutors often choose not to charge officers, said Philip Stinson, a criminal justice professor at Bowling Green State University in Ohio.

The role of a prosecutor is to seek justice, but as a practical matter, they're very concerned with whether they can obtain a conviction, he said.

Even when fellow officers testify that they didnt feel afraid, calling the accused officers reason into question, jurors defer to how the accused officer felt in the moment.

Jurors are very reluctant to second-guess the split-second, life-or-death decisions of a police officer in a potentially violent encounter, Stinson said.

Stinson found that since 2005, 121 officers have been charged with murder or manslaughter resulting from an on-duty shooting in the USA. Of them, 44 were convicted  most for a lesser offense, such as official misconduct, deprivation of civil rights, aggravated assault or reckless discharge of a firearm.

Of the seven convicted of murder, four of the convictions were overturned.

According to The Washington Post, police fatally shot nearly 1,000 people in 2019.

That 1989 Supreme Court ruling, Graham v. OConnor, was about officers using excessive force, not self-defense.

Labahn said there are questions about whether defense laws should be written as they are and whether no-knock warrants should be used the way the Louisville officers did.

This is why we have legislatures, LaBahn said. Unfortunately with many things in criminal justice, it takes bad results for people to pay attention.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Breonna Taylor's death raises questions about self-defense laws
A Swedish model used to mean Tiger Woods's wife, or Helena Christensen, for people who don't know one Nordic country from another. But in recent times, we've become obsessed with the Swedish model. Depending on the vagaries of Covid, the Swedes are either a salutary tale for all of us, or else a people to be envied. Just as the Swinging Swedes were traditionally felt to have a liberal attitude to sex and nudity, the general gist of the current stereotype is that they have a fairly liberal attitude to the old Covid, letting it rip to build up immunity, and sure, if a few extra people died, well it would all work out in the long run.

It was only a matter of time then before we called the Swedes in to tell us about their model. Not so much to see if there was anything we could learn from them, but more to convince ourselves that they are wrong, and therefore that we are not making a colossal error by destroying our economy, our society and our whole way of life.
A meeting between Shiv Senas Sanjay Raut and former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday has led to speculations in the political circles, especially at a time when the two parties are bitter in public over a range of issues. The meeting took place at a luxury hotel in the western suburbs of Mumbai.

However, Fadnavis on Sunday asserted that the BJP has no intention of joining hands with the Shiv Sena or to bring down the Uddhav Thackeray-led state government. Fadnavis claimed that the people of the state are unhappy" with the performance of the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government and it would collapse due to its own inactions".

The senior BJP leader also said his meeting with Sanjay Raut was regarding an interview for the Sena mouthpiece Saamana. We have no intention of joining hands with the Shiv Sena or to bring down the government. When it falls on its own, we will see," Fadnavis added.

Sanjay Raut confirming the meeting said that it was an interview for the Shiv Senas mouthpiece Saamana, which is headed by Raut, NDTV reported.

Devendra Fadnavis is not our enemy. We have worked with him. I met Fadnavis for his interview for Saamna. This was a pre-decided meeting. Even Uddhav Thackeray was aware of this," Raut said after the meeting.

The Shiv Sena and the BJP have recently locked their homes on a range of issues including the demolition of Kangana Ranauts office by the BMC and the Sushant Singh Rajput Case.

Is it a crime to meet Fadnavis, who is a former chief minister and now the Opposition leader in the state Assembly? We have ideological differences but we are not enemies," Raut added.

Raut reportedly said that he had interviewed NCP leader Sharad Pawar, and had announced taking interviews with Fadnavis, Rahul Gandhi, and Home Minister Amit Shah.

The meeting could be significant due to the heat over Sushant Singh Rajputs case and the bitter relationship of the BJP with CM Uddhav Thackeray. While others speculate that it is a message of the Sena allies- Congress and the NCP, that Sena has good relations with the BJP.
To nudge all sides toward agreement, the E.U. team, led by Enrique Mora, the blocs deputy secretary general for political affairs, and Javier Nino Perez, its leading diplomat on the Americas, met separately with Guaido and with senior representatives of Maduros government over the weekend. They proposed a suspension of the December vote for at least six months, during which time a European negotiating team would try to secure the minimum standards needed to allow E.U. monitors to observe and potentially lend international legitimacy to the vote.
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
ALBANY  The number of people testing positive in New York for COVID-19 has inched past one percent for the second time this week.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office in its daily report Sunday said 1.02 percent of people tested positive Saturday.

While the governor's office said Sunday the percent positives "remain relatively flat," Thursday was the first time since early August that the percent testing positive went above 1 percent. On Thursday, the number was also 1.02 percent.

The metric is being seen about two weeks after many children have gone back to school in-person for the first time since mid-March. School districts have been required to put in place distancing and cleaning guidelines, among other rules, to keep infection out of their buildings.

Schools across the state are reporting that students and staff are testing positive. Those with closest contact are being quarantined and tested. But most districts have kept schools open, citing the proactive steps they've put in place that will hopefully protect others from catching the virus.

On Sunday, the Bethlehem schools announced its first case, a person with ties to the high school. Bethlehem is using Monday's Yom Kippur holiday, when school is closed, to sanitize the high school. Albany County announced 19 new cases Sunday, eight of which are connected to the University at Albany.

Hadley-Luzerne's Stuart M. Townsend Elementary building will be closed this coming week after five positive test results in the Warren County school district.

New York's percent positive rate being below one percent was a matter of pride for weeks as part of the governor's office's daily communications; the last time the state had a percent positive rate above one percent was Aug. 4, when 1.05 percent of people tested positive.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Cuomo's office said in a release Sept. 16: "Having our infection rate come back down to 0.87 is great news for us - we don't want to see our infection rate go over one percent for any period of time. There is no margin for error: It's going to take all of us to keep wearing our masks, washing our hands and remaining socially distant."

Sunday the state reported that of 84,770 people who were tested, 866 came back positive. There were six deaths statewide, and hospitalizations again went up above 500 to 514.

"COVID-19 remains a force to be reckoned with throughout the country and around the globe, and we cannot drop our guard," Cuomo's office wrote Sunday. "While our numbers remain relatively flat, we continue to closely monitor the data daily as always."
At the height of 5,800 metres on Finger 4 mountainous spur a winter endurance test is set to take place this winter with both the Indian Army and Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) facing each other with first short snow already fallen on the Karakoram and Kailash ranges in the Ladakh region.

While the winter is expected to take the turn for worse after Diwali this year, the situation on all friction points is a stalemate with PLA accusing the Indian Army of upping the ante south of Pangong Tso on August 29-30 as a result of which their claimed withdrawal plans were scuttled.

The situation along the 1,597-km Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh continues to be tense but under control with a small detachment of Indian Army facing off a PLA detachment on Gogra Hot Springs or patrolling point 17 A. The situation on the north bank of Pangong Tso is that a small number of troops on both sides are at the Finger 4 height with PLA stationed behind finger 6 and Indian Army on finger 3. There is no PLA presence on the ground level of PLA four or five but on the dominating height of finger four.

ALSO WATCH | Ladakh: With tanks, combat vehicles, Indian Army ready to counter China amid tension

On the southern banks of Pangong Tso, the Indian Army is dominating the Rezang la-Rechin La ridgeline on Kailash ranges with strong positions to defend the LAC despite PLAs presence on Black Top and Helmet with the Indian troopers in between the two at the saddle. The situation is that both sides are defending their positions but the ridgeline in the area is with the Indian Army, said a military commander familiar with the postures of the two armies.

Although the Indian Army will have a new Ladakh Corps Commander in Lt Gen PG K Menon in place of Lt Gen Harinder Singh in October, the former is Colonel of the Sikh Regiment who dishes out the choicest Punjabi cuss words despite being from Kerala. He has a vast experience on the LAC as he was the brigade general staff (Operations) of the XIV Corps in Ladakh before commanding a division in Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.

While the PLA has deployed a brigade strength of mechanized infantry around Tien-Wien Dien across the Daulet Beg Oldi LAC, the Indian Army troops are patrolling the Depsang bulge area within the patrolling limits despite the Chinese efforts to block them. The PLA air activity in this area is more than in the south of the DBO sector due to the close proximity of the Hotan airbase in Tibet.

As another round of Indian and Chinese military-diplomatic dialogue for total Ladakh disengagement will soon take place, the Indian Army commanders are prepared for the long winter ahead. From November onwards, it will be the endurance powers of a voluntary army (India) against conscript (PLA) army that will be on display. Sitting on the glaciated heights of Saltoro ridge since 1984, the Indian Army will surely give a run for money to the adversary.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 18:54:20|Editor: huaxia

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KUNMING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese researchers have found that a similar mechanism may lead to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) behaviors both in humans and dogs.

Like excessive hand-washing in some OCD patients, domestic dogs also exhibit several OCD-like behaviors such as continuous circling. Researchers from Kunming Institute of Zoology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences screened two dog breeds, namely the Belgian Malinois (Belgian Shepherd Dog) and Kunming Dog, a hybrid dog usually trained for search and rescue.

The researchers analyzed the genetic sequence of 10 dogs presenting circling behavior and 10 normal dogs from each breed, and identified 11 candidate genes related to OCD-like behaviors. Further analysis showed these dog genes overlap significantly with genes identified in human OCD studies.

They also found that two OCD risk genes PPP2R2B and ADAMTSL3 affected the density and morphology of dendritic spines. A dendritic spine is a small protrusion from a neuron's dendrite, and dendrites are the segments of the neuron that receive stimulation in order for the cell to become active.

The researchers said that changes in the dendritic spine may underlie some common biological and physiological pathways shared between humans and dogs.

They noted that their study revealed an unprecedented level of convergence in OCD shared between humans and dogs, suggesting that domestic dogs can be used as a model species for the study of human diseases including OCD.

The study has been published in the journal Science Bulletin. Enditem
The Railways is considering linking its Kisan Trains with seasonal fruits and vegetables to benefit small farmers, senior ministry officials said Sunday, even as a political storm rages over the new farm bills that promise one nation one market.

First off the mark could be an Orange Special Kisan Train between Nagpur and Delhi and a Keenu Special from Punjab to West Bengal and Odisha during December and January, the officials said.

The Kisan Rail services were launched last month and have so far carried around 4,100 tonne of goods from to markets across the country.

The officials said they are still finalising details, but added that they have received feedback from zonal railways about the viability of running dedicated trains linking them with seasonal produce.

The Orange and Keenu special trains are likely to be the first ones to take off, a senior official told PTI.

We want to ensure that these trains are beneficial to small scale who are not able to book the entire train," he said. "They can book as little as they want and still avail these services.

Data available with the PTI show that the smallest consignment carried by Kisan Rail was a 3 kg pomegranate packet from Nasik to Muzaffarpur, and around 17 dozen eggs from Manmad to Khandwa on August 14.

Farmer in some states are protesting against three proposed legislations: The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020; The (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

They have been alleging that once passed, these bill would pave the way for dismantling of the minimum support price (MSP) system and leave the farming community at the "mercy" of big corporates.

The Shiromani Akali Dal, the oldest BJP ally, has quit the NDA over the bills, while Opposition have been vehemently demanding their withdrawal.

The government has, however, said the MSP regime would stay and called these bills as historic reforms. It has said the bills would allow farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country, fetching them better remunerative prices.

The Railways officials said that the three Kisan Rails in operation -- between Devlali-Danapur, Anantpur-Delhi and Yashwantpur-Nizamuddin -- are running on 85 per cent capacity.

Besides the Orange Special and the Keenu Special, on the anvil are also: Mango Special (Andhra Pradesh to Delhi between April to June), Onion Special (Nashik to Delhi, during March and December), Banana Special (Jalgaon to Delhi, during March and December); and Chiku Special (Surat, Valsad, Navsari to Delhi) between April-November.

Officials said that the farther the goods are sent, the cheaper the cost of ferrying them.

Within a distance of 0-500 km, the Railways services are expensive, but they are at par with the roadways for over 1,000 km distance, they said, adding that for over 2,000 km, the Railways is cheaper than the roadways by at least Rs 1,000 per tonne.

These Kisan Trains will be part of the zero-based time table that will be in effect soon, so even if regular services begin post-COVID-19, these trains will have dedicated routes and paths to operate on.

The government and the Railways are committed to rapidly increase the farm incomes, said the official quoted above. Ensuring that farmers are able to sell their produce across the country to get best possible remuneration for the produce is one of the important ways to do so.

Kisan Rails represent one such determined freight marketing effort of Railways and it is expanding fast, he said.

Earlier, farmers preferred to use trucks, now they have started using the Railways, he said, adding zonal teams are coordinating with the Ministry of Agriculture and actively pursuing local authorities to encourage farmers to use the national transporter.

They can bring us as little as they want and as much as they want of their produce and we will ferry them to their chosen destination, said the official.

(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.)
Stephanie Thomas photo

Stephanie Thomas, Democratic candidate for State Representative for the 143rd District, has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood Votes! and NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut. Planned Parenthood is the largest single provider of reproductive health services in the nation.

Thomas said she is pleased to receive this vote of confidence after incumbent representative Gail Lavielle received the endorsement in 2018.
Medza remembers the coastline of his native Senegalese town of Bargny as a place where he fished and played as a child before it became a festering rubbish dump.

The beach bordering the fishing settlement, about 30 kilometres (18 miles) south of the capital Dakar, is now permanently choked with plastic waste and rotten fish carcasses.

Wedged in by a motorway and industrial sites, Bargny typifies Senegal's jagged economic development -- as well as its seemingly endless struggle against pollution and trash.

The town borders one of West Africa's largest cement factories and a power plant, and a mineral port is being built nearby. But its 60,000 inhabitants have seen little in the way of beneficial development.

Residents tip out buckets of waste onto the beach for lack of disposal facilities. Local fishermen and industrial trawlers toss refuse overboard which washes back on the beach, according to Medza, whose real name is Medoune Ndoye.

"It shocks me. It can't continue like this because it's evil and it's shameful," Medza, a 29-year-old environmental activist, said.

For months, he and other local activists have been pushing to clean up the town.

On August 15 -- after raising money online for wheelbarrows, bags and shovels -- they spent three days clearing the beach.

But they were fighting a losing battle: after little over a week, the beach was freshly covered with plastic detritus and other waste.

"Everything is dirty again," Medza said, looking down at the scattered plastic bottles and pieces of old fish netting surrounding him.

"We feel as if our efforts are in vain".

- Pink canal water -

Much of the coast of Senegal, a poor nation of some 16 million people, is polluted.

The government has made attempts to tackle the problem -- such as banning single-use plastics this year -- but the impact on the ground appears limited.

Bargny's trash problem is particularly severe. The town has a spotty garbage-collection service, but no rubbish bins or sewage system.

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The deputy mayor of Bargny's town hall, Daouda Moustafa Diouf, told AFP that local authorities had begun to take the problem seriously.

"We made very serious investments last year because we became aware of what existed here, it was really in an indescribable state," Diouf said.

The town hall is designating rubbish collection points across town, which it hopes will discourage people from dumping on the beach.

Pape Ndoye, an unemployed father in his fifties, pointed to a lack of infrastructure as a driver of pollution.

"People come from distant neighbourhoods to put their garbage on the beach," he said, just as a girl nearby emptied a bucket onto the sand.

Bins can do nothing against trash floating in from the sea, however.

And Bargny's pollution problems stretch further than the beach. A detritus-filled canal leading to the sea is so polluted that its water sometimes turns pink, or green.

Medza, the environmental activist, said he remained determined.

"As long as the beach isn't clean, we won't give up," he said.
As European leaders grapple with the spikes, they have eschewed draconian lockdowns like those in the early weeks of the crisis, and resorted instead to more localized and calibrated responses. A major lesson of the pandemic is that governments can impose lockdowns only so long, testing peoples patience and pinching their economic welfare. Reflecting this, French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on Twitter, To protect our seniors, vigilance must not mean isolation. Social and family ties are just as vital. We must learn to live with the virus by adopting all the right reflexes. Also different this time is age distribution: The new wave appears to be concentrated in younger people, which may mean mortality will be lower, and more is known today about how to treat coronavirus patients.
The viruss true lethality  the infection fatality rate  isnt yet known, because scientists dont know how many people have had it without showing symptoms. Whats often reported are case fatality rates  the portion of people who have tested positive and then gone on to die. Comparing these from country to country is problematic because of differences in testing and vulnerable populations. Tracking these within a country over time also carries that risk, but it can suggest some trends.
Photograph: Evan Vucci/AP

It was a story that seemed tailor-made for Donald Trump: election officials in an important Pennsylvania county were caught discarding nine ballots from military voters that had been cast for the president.

Related: Could Republicans ignore the popular vote and choose their own pro-Trump electors?

Thats what federal prosecutors said on Thursday happened in Luzerne county, a key Pennsylvania county in the north-east of the state that Trump flipped in 2016. William Barr, the attorney general, personally briefed Trump on the matter. Trump and the White House hyped the announcement even before the justice department made the announcement. Afterwards, Trump seized on it to support their argument that voting by mail leads to fraud  a lie that several studies have disproved.

But the Pennsylvania story federal prosecutors initially released turned out to be misleading and incomplete. Hours after releasing the statement, the DoJ removed it from its website and issued a revised statement saying that while investigators had recovered nine ballots, they could only determine that seven of them were cast for Trump. Later, the department released a third statement detailing some of the early findings of its investigation. While the letter noted that officials had in fact discovered discarded ballots (it did not define the term), it suggested that administrative error may have played a role.

A half-baked public statement from the DoJ is extremely unusual, former department employees said, noting that the departments own handbook cautions prosecutors to minimize any impact an investigation could have on an election. Even when it does make a public statement in an election fraud investigation, DoJ officials do not typically say who ballots were cast for. The episode further raised alarms that the president could use perhaps the most powerful law enforcement apparatus in the country to support his re-election bid.

It is a violation of DoJ policy to confirm or deny the existence of an investigation. By making an exception to that rule, the US attorney is creating the appearance that he is using his office to advance the political agenda of President Trump, said Barbara McQuade, who served as a US attorney in Michigan during the Obama administration.

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In Pennsylvania, election officials are prohibited from opening mail-in ballots until election day. But overseas and military voters, who can use a different set of procedures to vote, can return ballot requests and ballots themselves in similar envelopes. Election officials in Luzerne county told investigators it can be difficult to distinguish between an actual ballot and a ballot request, so they opened almost all envelopes that arrived in their office to make sure they didnt miss any requests.

Our interviews further revealed that this issue was a problem in the primary election  therefore a known issue  and that the problem has not been corrected, David Freed, the US attorney for the middle district of Pennsylvania, wrote in his letter.

The US attorney is creating the appearance that he is using his office to advance the political agenda of Donald Trump Barbara McQuade

David Pedri, the county manager, said in a statement Friday that a seasonal contractor, hired on 14 September, was responsible for sorting the mail and had discarded the ballots into the office trash. Shelby Watchilla, the countys election director, discovered the problem on 16 September and brought it to the attention of county officials, who subsequently contacted law enforcement. Federal agents searched the trash for all three days the contractor was employed and elections officials did not know the for whom the ballots were cast until the DoJs Thursday announcement, Pedri said. The county is also offering additional training for employees and has a video camera to monitor activities in the office.

While the actions of this individual has cast a concern, the above statement shows that the system of checks and balances set forth in Pennsylvania elections works. An error was made, a public servant discovered it and reported it to law enforcement at the local, state and federal level who took over to ensure the integrity of the system in place, Pedri said in a statement.

The Luzerne county voters should be assured that the election will move forward with transparency and integrity. Every properly cast vote will be counted.

Freed publicly announced some of his investigative findings a little over a week after his office took over the probe at the request of the Luzerne county district attorney. Some of the preliminary findings on their face appear alarming  in addition to the nine military ballots in question, Freed also said his office found four apparently official, bar-coded, absentee ballot envelopes that were empty. A majority of the materials, he wrote, were found in a dumpster outside the office. Freed said in his Thursday letter he was disclosing the information based on the vital public importance of these issues.

While the investigation may be justified, there was no need to release a list of unconfirmed facts, said Justin Levitt, a former top official in the justice departments civil rights division.

Related: Revealed: evidence shows huge mail slowdowns after Trump ally took over

Minor mistake, fine for DoJ to follow up. Investigation seems unremarkable, said Levitt, a professor at Loyola law school in Los Angeles. Telling the White House is a problem. You dont tell the White House about a pending investigation because political folks might misuse that info (exactly as they did).

You dont do a press release on starting an investigation, you dont do a press release with partial (and unconfirmed) facts, and you absolutely 100% no question dont do a press release mentioning the candidate. Theres zero legit reason for that candidate information, he added.

Disclosing preliminary findings without a full picture, however, can sow doubt about the integrity of mail-in ballots, said David Iglesias, who served as a US attorney in New Mexico under George W Bush.

He added he couldnt think of any good law enforcement reason to publicly share the Luzerne finding so early, just political reasons.
More than 800 workers of Shop Vac Vietnam Corporation Ltd. in the northern province of Hai Duong have to stop working without any prior notification as the business owner, a Hong Kong man, has disappeared.

The provinces Industrial Park Management Board has cooperated with relevant authorities in working with the company, located in Phu Thai Industrial Park.

However, the firm failed to send a legal representative or an authorized staff member to the meeting, said a representative of the board on Friday.

Speaking with Nguyen Thanh Hung, deputy head of personnel and administration of Shop Vac Vietnam, local authorities learned that the company had authorized an attorney to represent it in solving necessary issues.

According to Hung, the firm had announced the suspension of 800 workers since September 19 to wait for manufacturing materials. However, the workers did not receive any written notice from the management board.

Shop Vac Vietnam had fulfilled wage payment until August, but it has still owed social insurance, health insurance, and unemployment insurance premiums since July.

The working group asked Hung to inform the person in charge that they would have to show up and work with authorities to ensure interests for workers.

At present, Nam Tai International Co. Ltd. is tasked with preserving all assets of Shop Vac Vietnam during the investigation, which is aimed at protecting employees and assisting the local government in dealing with the case.

Workers of the enterprise have gathered in front of the factory over the past few days to seek some information.

Shop Vac Vietnam, 100 percent owned by Hong Kong, received an investment certificate in May 2013 to build a factory producing vacuum cleaners and spare parts.

According to a representative of Nam Tai International, the developer of Phu Thai Industrial Park, Shop Vac Vietnam had been operating normally until September 19.

However, it has not paid rental since July and it still owes VND11 billion (US$473,874).

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Nawada:

A court in Nawada on Monday awarded life sentence to 14 people for hacking to death a man 18 years ago.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Prem Chandra Pandey found them guilty of the murder and sentenced them to life.

Rupa Rajbanshi was hacked to death following a land dispute and personal enmity at Sikandarapur village in Nalanda district in 1999.

The deceaseds son Karo Rajbanshi had lodged an FIR against the 14 people for killing his father.

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NH Investment & Securities CEO Jeong Young-chae, left, and Daishin Securities CEO Oh Ik-keun are two of the financial firm chief executives who were summoned to this year's National Assembly audit regarding the private equity fund fiascos. / Korea Times file



By Park Jae-hyuk



The COVID-19 pandemic has enabled financial group chairmen and bank CEOs to avoid standing as witnesses for the National Assembly audit next month, despite criticisms they face over major investor losses caused by mis-selling of private equity funds (PEFs) at domestic banks.



According to the National Policy Committee, Sunday, the chief executives of financial groups and banks were not on the lists of 19 witnesses and 12 people for references.



Only three financial firm executives were asked to attend the National Assembly audit regarding the PEF fiascos. They are NH Investment & Securities CEO Jeong Young-chae, Daishin Securities CEO Oh Ik-keun and Hana Bank Vice President Park Sung-ho.



Some lawmakers were initially eager to summon financial group chairmen and bank CEOs to grill them about the PEF fiascos. The ruling and the opposition parties, however, agreed to minimize the number of witnesses this year to prevent the possible spread of the coronavirus.



Rep. Kim Byung-wook of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea said he decided not to call any witnesses during the National Assembly audit this year, admitting that lawmakers have tended to summon CEOs in order to humiliate them. Other ruling party lawmakers in the committee  Rep. Yoo Dong-soo, Rep. Lee Yong-woo and Rep. Hong Sung-kook  did not summon any witnesses either.



Their decision has reassured financial holding companies which have hired major law firms to lobby lawmakers and to prevent their chairmen from being summoned to give testimony in the National Assembly audit.



Hana Financial Group Vice Chairman Ham Young-joo, Hana Card CEO Chang Kyung-hoon and Woori Bank Vice President Chung Chae-bong, all of whom were summoned last year, made repeated apologies to lawmakers' rebukes during the inquiry.



"Taking account of COVID-19 this year, lawmakers will likely focus more on government policies this year than on business management," a financial industry official said.



Other high-ranking financial firm executives summoned this year are Samsung Securities CEO Chang Seok-hoon and Woori Bank Vice President Kang Sung-mo.



Chang will be questioned whether his company conducted unlawful acts to help Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong's managerial succession from his father. Kang will face questions about his company's plans to compensate victims of the bank's recruitment scandal.



In addition, Hana Financial Investment analyst Choi Chung-uk was asked to stand as a person for reference. The opposition lawmakers will seek answers to the question of whether or not Cheong Wa Dae forced Choi's company to take down a report which criticized the government-led Korean New Deal Fund.


By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: With an eye on the next Assembly polls, the BJP national leadership has strategically targeted the main Opposition parties in both Telugu-speaking States in composing the national committee.

The idea of the BJP is to weaken the Opposition parties first in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, so that it will emerge as an alternative to the ruling parties before the Assembly polls.

With this strategy, the BJP national leadership included several new faces in the national committee.

The Kamma and Reddy communities as well as numerically strong BCs in both AP and Telangana are now looking towards the BJP, a party functionary felt.

The new committee would help strengthen Narendra Modis hands, said OBC Morcha chairman K Laxman.

I am sure that the BJP will come to power in Telangana in the next Assembly elections, said the new vice-president DK Aruna.

As most Reddys are rallying behind the Congress in Telangana, former Minister DK Aruna, a Reddy, was made national vice-president. Aruna moved to the BJP from the Congress just before the Assembly elections in 2019.

Interestingly, the BJP dropped general secretary P Muralidhar Rao from the national committee. The reason behind this is that he was unable to attract Velama community people into the party during his long stint as general secretary.

Currently, most Velamas support the ruling TRS in Telangana. As a BC leader and Karimnagar MP, Bandi Sanjay Kumar was elected recently as Telangana BJP president, his predecessor and BC leader K Laxman has been made national president of OBC Morcha. In Andhra Pradesh too, the spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao was dropped from the national committee and the party made Daggubati Purandeswari national general secretary.

The Kammas mainly support the Telugu Desam in Andhra Pradesh. Though, Purandeswari was TDP founder NT Rama Raos daughter, she had differences with the present TDP president and Opposition leader N Chandrababu Naidu. She is expected to attract Kammas into the BJP. Another leader from AP, Satya Kumar has been made national secretary.

Speaking to Express, OBC Morcha president K Laxman said that he would tour the entire country to draw weaker sections towards the BJP. He said that the population of BCs was 50 per cent in AP and TS and he would strive to get their support for the BJP in the next elections.

Vice-president DK Aruna exuded confidence that the BJP would capture power in Telangana in the next Assembly elections. She thanked Narendra Modi and BJP president J P Nadda for giving her the role.

However, dropping senior leader Muralidhar Rao from the national committee became a debatable point in the State BJP circles. Muralidhar Rao worked as in-charge for both Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. An RSS worker, he was deputed to BJP in 2009, when Rajnath Singh was BJP president.

He was made national secretary in 2010 by the then president Nitin Gadkari. He was elevated to general secretary in 2013. However, party sources feel that Muralidhar Rao may be given another major responsibility soon.

The Velama catch

It is believed that the BJP dropped P Muralidhar Rao as he was unable to attract Velamas (who mainly favour the TRS) into the party during his long stint as national general secretary.
During a meeting with journalists today, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Anna Naghdalyan said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working under a special regime, and Armenias ambassadors have already provided comprehensive information about the situation created as a result of Azerbaijani aggression to the ministries of foreign affairs of relevant countries and international organizations.

They have all been notified about the developments, as well as the Armenian sides evaluations. The foreign minister has been in constant touch with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship since this morning, and this was reported in the morning.

It is safe to say that we are in touch every minute, and every development is reported. The foreign minister is also in constant touch with his Russian and Georgian counterparts and the foreign ministers of several other countries, which are provided with information on a regular basis, she said.

Asked what the responses from those countries are, Naghdalyan only said the countries must immediately stop all operations and de-escalate the situation and weaken the tension. At this moment, we all fully understand that it is first necessary to take actions to reduce tension, she said.

Asked if Armenias recognition of Artsakhs independence is being considered, Naghdalyan noted that there are several issues on the agenda of the Security Council and cant say anything until the session ends.
When season two of The CW's Batwoman premieres in January 2021, Javicia Leslie will become the first Black actress to play the superhero in a live-action television series.

And now, with her debut now just four months away, the 33-year-old actress has been spotted in her full costume on Saturday.

During production in rainy Vancouver, Leslie looked every inch the leading lady while sprinting away from a sleek black vehicle with her long, fiery-red tresses.

Ready: Javicia Leslie was spotted in her full Batwoman costume for the first time on Saturday, just four months ahead of her CW series' premiere in January 2021

Between scenes, a woman held an umbrella over the star, who flashed a bright smile under the iconic Batwoman winged-mask.

Despite wearing the same cape and cowl Ruby Rose's Kate Kane wore in the first season, Leslie previously promised that her Ryan Wilder character will put her own personal touch on the Batsuit.

'Look out, Gotham, I'm suited up and ready to go,' the Maryland native wrote in the caption of her Instagram post on Friday.

Excited: Despite wearing the same cape and cowl Ruby Rose 's Kate Kane wore in the first season, Leslie promises that her Ryan Wilder character will put her own personal touch on the Batsuit

Heroic: As she shot scenes in rainy Vancouver, Leslie looked every inch the leading lady while sprinting away from a sleek black vehicle with her long, fiery-red tresses

DC Comics also shared the image of Leslie in costume on Twitter, writing: 'She's here to protect Gotham. Get a first look at @JaviciaLeslie as #Batwoman.'

In the promo photo, the heroine can be seen flashing a stern and focused look into the camera.

In season one, Rose's Kate Kane set out to overcome her demons and become a symbol of hope by protecting the streets of Gotham City as Batwoman, some three years after the disappearance of her cousin Bruce Wayne/Batman.

In the promo photo, the heroine can be seen flashing a stern and focused look into the camera

Teaser: Leslie promises that her Ryan Wilder character will put her 'own spin' on the Batsuit

Kane's disappearance will be written into the story in season two, which will portray Ryan Wilder as likable, messy, slightly goofy and untamed.

Like Kane, Wilder be an out and proud lesbian, with her own personal issues that includes being a drug runner who has crossed paths with the GCPD in the past.

Leslie, who's best known for her roles on God Friended Me and The Family Business, sounded proud and humble when she addressed some of the responsibilities that come with such a high-profile role as Batwoman.

Grateful: Leslie, who's best known for her roles on God Friended Me and The Family Business, sounded proud and humble when she recently addressed some of the responsibilities that come with such a high-profile role

'I am extremely proud to be the first Black actress to play the iconic role of Batwoman on television, and as a bisexual woman, I am honored to join this groundbreaking show which has been such a trailblazer for the LGBTQ+ community,' Leslie said in a statement in July.

Earlier this month, she gushed that when she 'read the character description' it was 'definitely' her.

'I loved the idea that it's like goofy meets bada** meets a person who doesn't like to be told what to do, a person who does not like to follow the rules,' she told EW.

Additionally, she revealed portraying a Black superhero has been her lifelong dream.
Former Union minister and BJP leader Jaswant Singh passed away at the age of 82 in Delhi today. Singh had been ill after a fall at his home in August 2014 and was admitted to the Army Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi. He had been in and out of the hospital and was admitted again in June this year.

"It is with profound grief that we inform about the sad demise of Hon'ble Major Jaswant Singh (Retd), former Cabinet Minister of Government of India at 0655 hours on 27 September 2020. He was admitted on 25 Jun 2020 and being treated for Sepsis with Multiorgan Dysfunction Syndrome and effects of Severe Head Injury old (Optd) had a Cardiac arrest this morning," the hospital said in a statement.

Despite the best efforts of the attending team of specialists to resuscitate him, he could not be revived and passed away, it added. His funeral will take place later today at Jodhpur in Rajasthan, family sources said.

A retired officer of the Indian Army and a former cabinet minister, Jaswant Singh was one of the founding members of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He served as a member of either of the Houses for almost continuously between 1980 and 2014. He served the nation through various roles, including as the defence minister.

Expressing condolences over Jaswant Singh's death, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he served the nation diligently, first as a soldier and later during his long association with politics. "During Atal Ji's Government, he handled crucial portfolios and left a strong mark in the worlds of finance, defence and external affairs. Saddened by his demise," Modi added.

Jaswant Singh Ji served our nation diligently, first as a soldier and later during his long association with politics. During Atal Jis Government, he handled crucial portfolios and left a strong mark in the worlds of finance, defence and external affairs. Saddened by his demise. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 27, 2020 The Prime Minister said he will be remembered for his unique perspective on matters of politics and society. "He also contributed to the strengthening of the BJP. I will always remember our interactions. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti," the PM added. Defence minister Rajnath Singh said he's deeply pained by the passing away of veteran BJP leader and former Union minister Jaswant Singh. "He served the nation in several capacities including the charge of Raksha Mantri. He distinguished himself as an effective Minister and Parliamentarian," Singh tweeted. He added that he would be remembered for his intellectual capabilities and a stellar record in service to the nation. "He also played a key role in strengthening the BJP in Rajasthan. Condolences to his family and supporters in this sad hour. Om Shanti," said the defence minister. Shri Jaswant Singh ji would be remembered for his intellectual capabilities and stellar record in service to the nation. He also played a key role in strengthening the BJP in Rajasthan. Condolences to his family and supporters in this sad hour. Om Shanti. Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 27, 2020

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also condoled Singh's death. "My heartfelt condolences at the passing away of senior leader from Rajasthan and former union minister, shri Jaswant Singhji," Gehlot tweeted.

With PTI inputs
JobKeeper payments which support an estimated 3.5million Australians are being reduced from today.

The federal government has extended the $86billion scheme until March but is gradually reducing the payments to wean the economy off government support.

From 28 September to 31 December, JobKeeper will be reduced to $1,200 per fortnight for full-time workers and to $750 for people working 20 hours or less per week.

JobKeeper payments which support an estimated 3.5million Australians are being reduced from today. Pictured: A cafe worker in Melbourne

From 28 September to 31 December, JobKeeper will be reduced to $1,200 per fortnight. Pictured: A cafe worker in Sydney

The payments will be made directly to companies that suffer a 30 per cent drop in revenue in the previous three-month period.

The companies then pass on that benefit in full to their workers and can also 'top-up' their wages if they chose.

Businesses with more than $1billion in turnover have to demonstrate a 50 per cent fall to get the payments.

From January to March, the full-time JobKeeper rate will be $1,000 and the part-time rate will reduce to $650.

In July the government estimated that 1.4million Australians will be on JobKeeper until December and 1million from December until March.

The federal government has extended the $86billion scheme until March but is gradually reducing the payments to wean the economy off support. Pictured: A tradie in Melbourne

The cost of extending the scheme from September until March is estimated at $16.6billion.

The government is reducing the payment to ease the burden on taxpayers - who have already forked out $70billion for the scheme.

It is also concerned that JobKeeper is propping up so-called 'zombie' firms that will not be viable even after the coronavirus pandemic.

Labor and unions have argued that the JobKeeper payments should be kept at $1,500 per fortnight.

Shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers said the cuts would strip $680million a fortnight out of the economy just when it is needed.

'It makes absolutely no sense for the government to be cutting support to workers, communities, businesses and local economies when the economy is still as weak as it is today,' he said.

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has promised the government will continue to support Australians through the pandemic, saying his October 6 budget will focus on economic recovery and creating jobs.

He said a new report by Deloitte Access Economics makes clear the government 'acted fast and well' and that JobKeeper and JobSeeker have been the 'standouts' cushioning the economy.

Treasury estimates that the JobKeeper scheme has saved about 700,000 jobs since March.

How are the support payments changing from September? JOBKEEPER * The $1,500 fortnightly wage subsidy will continue until September 27 - covering 3.5million workers * From the end of September to December 31, JobKeeper will be reduced to $1,200 for full-time workers and $750 for people working 20 hours or less - with 1.4million workers eligible * From January to March, the full-time rate will be $1,000 and part-time will reduce to $650 - with the scheme covering 1million workers * Businesses turning over less than $1billion will have to show a 30 per cent drop in revenue in the previous quarter * Businesses with more than $1billion in turnover have to demonstrate a 50 per cent fall JOBSEEKER * The elevated unemployment benefit will remain at $1,100 a fortnight until September 24 * From that date until the end of the year the $550 coronavirus supplement will be cut by $300 to make the overall fortnightly payment $800 * People will be able to earn up to $300 without having their payment reduced * The mutual obligation rules requiring people to search for four jobs a month will restart on August 4 * Penalties for people refusing a job offer will be reintroduced * Job search requirements will increase in September when the assets test will also return Advertisement

Mr Frydenberg on Friday gave his strongest hint yet that the JobSeeker payment will continue to be boosted next year.

In April the government doubled the fortnightly payment to $1,100 as thousands lost their jobs due to coronavirus restrictions.

The $550 boost has now decreased to $250 and is due to end at the end of December.

The treasurer said his government is 'leaning' towards extending the boost.

'As a government, later this year, we'll make a decision about further support for people in JobSeeker, but we're leaning in on continuing to provide support,' he told reporters on Friday.

Social Services Minister Anne Ruston has said the government would not make a call until it could see the impact of the reduction.

About 1.5 million Australians are on JobSeeker, including people on unemployment, sickness and bereavement benefits.

Labor wants the base rate of JobSeeker to be increased but will not say by how much.

Mr Frydenberg on Friday said the federal budget deficit hit $85.3 billion in 2019/20 as the government wrestled with the initial impact of the virus.

He said Australia had approached the pandemic from a position of economic strength, having in December forecast a $5 billion surplus.

'Yes, the hole in the Australian economy is significant. Yes, the road back will be long, bumpy and hard,' Mr Frydenberg told reporters in Canberra.
ALBANY  University at Albany saw 18 new COVID-19 cases last week, inching closure to the 100-case threshold that according to state guidelines would trigger a campus-wide "pause" and force classes to shift online.

Off-campus parties have been blamed for the spread of the disease, but strict sanctions against students who knowingly break safety protocols and widespread testing are only part of the solution, experts say.

Education and changing students' attitudes about the disease is a key component to managing any public health crisis, according to Dolores Cimini, director at UAlbany's Center for Behavioral Health Promotion and Applied Research.

"In the 1980s, when we did AIDS prevention, what we did was education and we gave people condoms and dental dams. During COVID-19, we doing education and we are giving people masks, sanitizer, and other things to protect themselves," Cimini said. "We distributed them not only to our long-term students but also to our neighbors."

Since May, Cimini and her team have been analyzing student behaviors and beliefs, particularly focusing on the relationship between substance use and COVID-19 transmission.

A survey of students conducted over the summer found that 96 percent of respondents wear a mask around others. The study also found that students who drank alcohol or used drugs were less likely to follow disease prevention rules like handwashing, mask-wearing and social distancing.

"In order for prevention to work, we have to work at the same time at several levels ... we need to do early intervention for students who are at risk and teach them skills they need to remain healthy," Cimini said. "If students are exposed, we need to get them referrals and the healthcare that they need."

To address risky behavior, Cimini is leading a COVID-19-specific social norms campaign that highlights the percentage of UAlbany students who are following rules and guidelines. Posters can be spotted around campus showing students modeling good behavior.

The college also offers virtual support group sessions and operates a student-run hotline to help students make healthy choices and gain skills to intervene when they see others violating the rules.

As of Friday, there were an estimated 83 on-campus infections diagnosed for the between Sept. 11 and Sept. 25, but due to a quirk in the way campuses are tracking cases, the 14-day clock reset for UAlbany on Saturday, and the number of cases counted toward the state's threshold for temporarily shutting down academic life dropped back down to zero.

Since the start of the semester, more than 130 on-campus UAlbany employees and students have been diagnosed with the disease, according to the State University of New York's COVID-19 tracker.

If a campus accumulates 100 cases within a two-week period, the school must pause classes for 14 days to get the outbreak under control, according to guidance from the state Department of Health. Many colleges have been counting cases over a static two-week period, rather than a rolling two weeks, as is used for most other reopening metrics, but the DOH guidance is not specific.

In some situations -- such as the case of SUNY Oneonta -- students may be sent home for the semester.

Cancel classes, or not?

Regardless of how cases are tallied, some disease control experts say canceling classes may not the best way to control the spread of COVID-19.

National public health officials like Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx have asked U.S. colleges to keep students on or near college campuses rather than send them home, where they can continue to spread the disease without showing symptoms.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Louise-Anne McNutt, an infectious disease expert who teaches at UAlbany, says based on her observations, the classroom may be the safest place for students.

UAlbany classrooms have ventilation systems to filter out coronavirus and are marked to keep students separated. Masks are mandatory and students wipe their desks and seats before class, she said.

"There is a real sense of cooperation," McNutt said. "The most I need to do is point at my nose if someone's mask has slipped a bit."

The classroom also provides an avenue to have conversations with students about their decision-making and coping skills. Pausing classes could be counterproductive since COVID-19 transmission has been linked to "unstructured" time, she said.

"The governor was correct to have an evaluation structure useful to determine when interventions at colleges and universities needed to occur. However, as colleges have opened we have a better understanding of the environment and risks," McNutt said.

SUNY on Friday announced uniform disciplinary action across the 64-campus system for students who break the COVID-19 rules that include mask-wearing and a ban on large gatherings. Students can be suspended or expelled for deliberately endangering their peers and the surrounding community or for failing to participate in health screenings and surveillance testing.

While the majority of students at the Albany campus follow the restrictions, there will always be a small number of people who will continue to defy them.

For those students, according to Cimini, "enforcement is the best strategy."
Kolkata, Sep 27 : The recovery of Maoist posters in West Bengal's Birbhum district sparked off tension among the villagers on Sunday.

The Maoist posters mentioning names of local Trinamool Congress leaders were seen at Batikar village in Parui. The local residents immediately informed the police about the incident.

Later, the police tore off all the posters and started an investigation into the matter.

A few days ago, similar Maoist posters were also found at Parui area near Illambazar in Birbhum.

Maoist posters were seen in Jhargram district earlier forcing the state administration to increase the number of security forces in West Bengal's notorious Junglemahal -- an imaginary belt comprising three western districts of Bengal.
Some notable quotes from Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, a former Notre Dame law professor and current judge on the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. President Donald Trump on Saturday announced he was nominating Barrett to fill the seat vacated by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

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ON JUDICIAL NOMINEES

However cagey a justice may be at the nomination stage, her approach to the Constitution becomes evident in the opinions she writes.  It would be difficult for a modern justice to avoid revealing her position on whether the original public meaning of the Constitution controls its interpretation.  2013 article in the Texas Law Review.

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We shouldnt be putting people on the court that share our policy preferences. We should be putting people on the court who want to apply the Constitution.  2016 speech at Jacksonville Universitys Public Policy Institute.

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ON ABORTION

If anything, the public response to controversial cases like Roe (v. Wade) reflects public rejection of the proposition that (precedent) can declare a permanent victor in a divisive constitutional struggle rather than desire that precedent remain forever unchanging. Court watchers embrace the possibility of overruling, even if they may want it to be the exception rather than the rule.  2013 article in the Texas Law Review, citing Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark ruling that recognized a womans right to abortion.

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I think it is very unlikely at this point that the court is going to overturn (Roe v. Wade).  The fundamental element, that the woman has a right to choose abortion, will probably stand.  2013 lecture at Notre Dame on the 40th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade ruling.

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I dont think abortion or the right to abortion would change. I think some of the restrictions would change  The question is how much freedom the court is willing to let states have in regulating abortion.  2016 remarks on how a conservative Supreme Court could alter current law on abortion, saying it wasnt likely to try and overturn Roe v. Wade. She said the questions the high court would be willing to address would be states restrictions on abortions, including how abortion clinics operate.

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ON FAITH AND POLITICS

(Catholic judges) are obliged by oath, professional commitment, and the demands of citizenship to enforce the death penalty. They are also obliged to adhere to their churchs teaching on moral matters.  1998 article co-written by Barrett in the Marquette Law Review on how some Catholic judges would feel torn on certain legal questions because of the teachings of their faith.

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If youre asking whether I take my faith seriously and Im a faithful Catholic  I am, 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.  Confirmation hearing in 2017 before the Senate Judiciary Committee considering her nomination to be a 7th Circuit appeals judge, after Sen. Dick Durbin asked her if she was orthodox Catholic.

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Never. Its never appropriate for a judge to impose that judges personal convictions, whether they derive from faith or anywhere else on the law.  2017 confirmation hearing.

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I totally reject and I have rejected throughout my entire career the proposition that, as you say, the end justifies the means or that a judge should decide cases based on a desire to reach a certain outcome.  2017 confirmation hearing.

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I would decide cases according to rule of law, beginning to end, and in the rare circumstance that might ever arise  I cant imagine one sitting here now  where I felt that I had some conscientious objection to the law, I would recuse. I would never impose my own personal convictions upon the law.  2017 confirmation hearing.

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I cant think of any cases or category of cases in which I would feel obliged to recuse on the grounds of conscience.  2017 confirmation hearing.

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A judge may never subvert the law or twist it in any way to match the judges convictions from whatever source they derive.  2017 confirmation hearing.

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ON PRECEDENT

In the Supreme Court, (adhering to precedent) is a soft rule; the Court describes it as one of policy rather than as an inexorable command.'  2013 article in the Texas Law Review.

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Leaving room for new majorities to overrule old ones allows changed membership to change what the Court says the Constitution means.  Texas Law Review.

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If the Courts opinions change with its membership, public confidence in the Court as an institution might decline. Its members might be seen as partisan rather than impartial and case law as fueled by power rather than reason.  Texas Law Review.

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A justice must think carefully about whether she is sure enough about her rationale for overruling to pay the cost of upsetting institutional investment in the prior approach. If she is not sure enough, the preference for continuity trumps.  Texas Law Review.

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Institutional features of Supreme Court practice permit all Justices to let some sleeping dogs lie, and so far as we are aware, no one has ever argued that a Justice is duty-bound to wake them up.  2017 article co-written by Barrett in the University of Pennsylvania Journal of Constitutional Law, arguing there often are pragmatic reasons not to attempt to overturn precedents even if a justice is convinced they were wrongly decided.
The Fault In Our Stars, Snowpiercer, North By Northwest.

Take your pick from tear jerking romance, high drama, outlandish SciFi and more as TopFilmTip brings you the best films on TV for Saturday 26 September.

Some films may require a Sky subscription.

Charismatic chameleon helps drought ridden townsfolk escape clutches of corruption in inspired, off-kilter kids western Rango 12:55am Film 4

Orphan pauper survives poverty in the Alec Guinness starring, David Lean production of the timeless classic Oliver Twist (1948) 1:05pm Talking Pictures

Kevin Costner makes Ashton Kutcher dripping wet, saves seamen and looks good in a wetsuit in marine rescue drama The Guardian 1:50pm Sony Movies

Young widow, stalked by her dead and overbearing Irish husband, capitulates to his morbid demands. Charming romcom P.S. I Love You 2:00pm Channel 5

High Noon, poster, Gary Cooper, 1952. (Photo by LMPC via Getty Images)

Forsaken by friends as killers approach, a lawman must fight for his life in revolutionary real-time McCarthyism allegory High Noon 4:20pm Paramount Network

Inappropriate social blurter / suncream squirter cheats his way to love and happiness in Richard Curtis romcom bonanza About Time 4:35pm Channel 5

Non stop excitement as a man is caught in an ever more complex web of spies and intrigue in Hitchcock's top thriller North by Northwest 4:50pm BBC Two

Time-slipped boy awakens years after disappearing to inventive engaging alien adventure: mercurial mystery Flight of the Navigator 5:00pm SyFy Universal

American actor Johnny Depp on the set of Edward Scissorhands, written and directed by Tim Burton. (Photo by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corpo/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)

Johnny Depp explores alienation, drenditic utensils and dirty dog grooming in Tim Burton's gothically iconic Edward Scissorhands 6:55pm E4

Babies and books, linguistic gymnastics and razor sharp wit in Oscar Wilde's incomparable comedy of manors The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) 7:10pm Talking Pictures

Working class heroes pelt environmentalists with balls before saving planet with a nuclear bomb. Bromantic action fun Armageddon 9:00pm Sony Movies

Framed for brother's death, driven driver thunders cross-country to clear name in grass-hopping, muscle car mayhem Need for Speed 9:00pm SyFy

Story continues

Aboard post-apocalyptic train, underclass revolt in bug jelly scoffing, hedonist haranguing, bonkers axe-melee fun Snowpiercer 9:00pm Film 4

Spiting the shadow of cancer, two young lives entwine in acerbic, astute tale of truthful, unblinking love The Fault in Our Stars 10:55pm Channel 4

The infamous 'Wazzup' scene in Scary Movie. (Dimension)

Drunk driving causes: death by penis, cinema mob murder, weed toking killers and rap battles in deconstructionist parody Scary Movie 11:30pm 5 Star

Space traveller crash lands on Vikings, proceeds to lead them against luminous alien-animal in medieval action fun Outlander 11:35pm Paramount Network

Against all odds, visionary tactician forever amends concept of human dignity and fate of millions in flawless masterwork Lincoln 11:35pm Film 4

Seeking battlefield graves of his sons, bereft widower turns his will against tempest of Turkish wars aftermath The Water Diviner 00:10am BBC One

Statuesque incest survivor reluctantly embarks on path of vengeance in blinding, surreal, nightmarish neon-noir Only God Forgives 2:30am Sony Movies

Watch: Everything new on streaming in September:

The films premiering on Sky Cinema and Now TV in September

The best new films coming to Disney+ in September

Everything coming to Netflix UK in September

Everything coming to Amazon Prime Video in September
One must try to stir up some fun, as much as one can (especially when teaching).

In 30 years, I never once stood accused of not having enough fun while teaching. In fact, I dare say rare was the hour that passed without my stirring up some fun of some type.

The Great White Ape

I once owned a Halloween suit that remarkably resembled a mountain gorilla (spray painted white). One year in my class sat a 5th grader named Jason who was nearly as big as me. Therefore, I deemed him the perfect size for a Great White Ape caper. I sneaked the suit to Jason and told him to go to the boys bathroom and get dressed, then walk back down the hall and into my classroom. I felt this was sure to stir us up some frightful fun near Halloween.

But as a couple of guys named Robert Burns and John Steinbeck once reminded us; the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray.

In a few moments I heard a blood-curdling scream bounce off the walls from down the hallway. It was a female scream. An adult female scream.

The Great White Ape came scrambling around the corner and into my classroom, Mr. Talley! it yelled. I think I may have just scared an old lady to death. She looks dead layin down in the hall!

I scrambled down the hallway and helped the good lady to her feet.

Upon further investigation, it seems that she was a representative from the state education office who was paying a surprise visit to our school that day. It just so happened her visit came at the very instant the Great White Ape came lurking around the corner of the hallway in her direction.

(Yes, I kept my job.)

Travis and the Mexican Hairless

My first few years teaching elementary school, I taught every subject. One of my favorite subjects was reading. I found the best way to inspire my students to improve on their reading skills was not by doing worksheets, decoding words or memorizing phonemes. I simply had them read.

Oh, and when they read, I read, too. Right there in front of them. Theres nothing better to mold childrens behavior than modeling good behavior for them.

Indeed, we set aside an hour a day to read silently, each on our own, whatever we wanted.

One day while reading Travis began to snicker. Then snickers became chuckles. Chuckles became snorts. And snorts became guffaws.

I asked Travis to show me what he was reading. It was a book about dogs. Look, Mr. T., this Mexican Hairless looks just like you!

I laughed hard, too, and agreed with Travis. Then I sent him back to read again. But he began again to go through a series of snickers, chuckles, snorts and guffaws in ascending order.

Travis, I said, I promise you are not in trouble. But if you dont mind going out in the hall and read there until were done in here.

So when recess time came, we walked out the door to retrieve Travis. But he was nowhere to be found.

In the room across the hall, however, I heard a teachers voice calling Travis by name. I quickly knocked on her door. There stood Travis, holding his book about dogs.

The good lady said, Mr. Talley, I walked by this young man and all he could do was point to his book and laugh. Hes not reading, so I had him vacation with me til you came and got him.

Maam, I said, I assure you he meant no disrespect. He just happened to find a pic of a dog that looks exactly like me.

Thats impossible! retorted my colleague, grabbing the book from Travis and asking him to point out the dog. (It must be noted that I had scarcely seen this teacher snicker when in front of children, let alone chuckle, snort or guffaw.)

The dear soul stared at the pic through the bottom of her glasses for a moment, then she looked up at me. Then she looked back down at the pic. Finally she exclaimed, It does look exactly like you! I can scarcely tell a difference.

Then she began to snicker. Then chuckle. Then snort. Then guffaw. As did we all.

Ben Talley is an inductee into the National Teachers Hall of Fame, a former Virginia Teacher of the Year, and a McGlothlin Award Winner for Teaching Excellence.
FOREVER rich, a plant from the cactus species that I got from a friend, got me thinking: How does one get to be rich forever? Wow! Unlimited sources of income?

My grandfather used to kid around when it comes to venturing of being moneyed. He said: You can either organize a labor union or establish a religion or rob a bank. Then he winked at me. Seriously, if you want to get rich, be a producer, not a consumer. If you want to be a millionaire, be a supplier not a buyer. Nowadays, if you want to be a billionaire, invent a computer program, an app or a video game.

In the Philippines, some Filipinos idea of getting rich is by dipping ones fingers in government coffers. It has been in the headlines lately. You have less chances of getting jailed if you steal big time. They became rich and famous. Are they behind bars? They are up and about putting on innocent faces.

Making a fast buck by manufacturing shabu will surely make you rich but you will end up in jail if not six feet below the ground level. Why take the illegal path when there are ways to improve your financial standing through legal means? Flex your muscles, pick your brain or be innovative with your hands.

It doesnt even matter if you have a handicap. There were persons with dyslexia who succeeded in what they did. Thomas Edison invented the light bulb. Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. Leonardo Da Vinci was a sculptor and painter. Tom Cruise is a popular and talented actor. There are several others who did not give up but rather proved that you are what you become by the choices you make.

One sick way of improving a countrys Gross National Product (GNP) is by spreading a virus, then inventIng the vaccine. In my opinion, spreading a virus is the most evil of all evils. Look at the devastation the pandemic has brought us. Is there a gold mine in the discovery of vaccines? A pharmaceutical intervention to prevent someone from getting infected? I would rather fix my gaze toward a panacea for greed. Greed started it all; the quest for power.

Is Covid-19 a test case scenario? I am not trying to scare anyone but biochemical weaponry is inevitable in the field of military arsenal. Should a single country in the world consider it an option, it will surely annihilate mankind.

As a Catholic, let us be assured that God, in His infinite goodness, will make everything to the advantage of those who love Him; even under the hands of those who strike us, we kiss His hands which heal.
For months census workers and local officials have been working toward Sept. 30, the nationwide deadline for residents to complete this ever-important decennial survey. On Thursday, with only a week left, households in every corner of Webb County still needed to respond.

Even in the parts of Laredo where the most residents have filled out their forms, its still less than 70% of households, according to census data reported Thursday. The census tract with the lowest self-response rate is the northern half of rural Webb County, where only 8.4% of residents have voluntarily filled out their forms.

County-wide, the self-response rate right now is 51.1%. In 2010, it was 62.2% by the deadline.

However, residents across the country have now been given another month to respond to the census. On Friday, a California federal judge barred the Trump administration from ending census data collection on Sept. 30 and pushed the deadline to Oct. 31. This was the original deadline the Census Bureau had requested after being set back by the COVID-19 pandemic and which they said would allow them to accurately collect the data.

In July, Kathleen Styles, the chief of decennial communications and stakeholder relationships for the Census Bureau, shared a memo with the Government Accountability Office explaining why they needed this extension in their schedule.

Curtailing census operations will result in a census that is of unacceptable quality, she wrote. Shortening the time period to meet the original statutory deadlines for apportionment and redistricting data will result in a census that has fatal data quality flaws that are unacceptable for a Constitutionally-mandated activity.

The judges ruling means the City of Laredo and Webb County now have another month to reach their goal.

Tina Martinez, community development director for the City of Laredo, said even before the pandemic disrupted this process, she knew the community would struggle to get up to a 60% self-response rate again this year. This is because the emphasis this time was to fill out the census online, and many Laredo households do not have a computer.

The Community Development Department operates almost entirely on federal funding which they redirect into the more impoverished parts of the community through various housing and redevelopment programs.

If the wealthier residents of the city responded to the census at a higher rate than the impoverished, the city would stand to lose out on this funding.

Ultimately, when the federal government cuts out the piece of pie and says, Laredo, theyre not as low income as we thought they were  potentially we can lose funding, Martinez said. ... Some areas are going to get undercounted. There is a concern that might equate to some funding decreases.

The city had envisioned hosting events at their libraries and recreation centers where computers would be available for people who didnt have them at home. This quickly became impossible once COVID-19 entered the picture.

So in the last few weeks, the City of Laredo and Webb County have undertaken several initiatives to incentivize Laredoans to fill out their census forms: pop up events in neighborhoods with free paletas, a competition between their respective employees to complete their questionnaires, and a raffle where people who have filled out their forms could enter to win a smart TV and other prizes.

The latter event was particularly successful as it gathered over 300 participants, Martinez noted.

But in order to get up to a 60% self-response rate by their deadline, around 4,000 more households will need to fill out their census forms.

However, for the past few months census workers have been operating behind the scenes, visiting households that have not filled out their questionnaires.

David Garza, a census representative for the Laredo area, said enumerators wear masks, sometimes gloves and face shields, and are not allowed to enter homes as they go from house to house to do their work. These workers carry tablets and fill out residents information for them as they speak, so there is no exchange of materials.

In Webb County, about 91% of households that have not voluntarily completed their census forms on their own have received a non-response follow-up visit, said Dalilah Garcia, media specialist for the census in South Texas.

Throughout the Laredo Area Census Office, which spans 30 counties, about 1,500 census takers were hired to help with this kind of work, Garcia noted. They are also working on projects like service-based enumeration, she said, which is the counting of the homeless.

Laredos Rep. Henry Cuellar was happy that the area office was headquartered in Laredo this year, which was not the case in 2010. And hes noticed a marked change in the Census Bureaus advertising efforts this time around, especially with regard to marketing materials in Spanish.

However, whether due to COVID-19 or the presidents insistence on a citizenship question  which did not make it on the form  the self-response rate in the Laredo area is still too low for Cuellar.

Am I concerned? Heck yes I am concerned, he said Wednesday, before the deadline was extended.

An undercount could cause a lot of challenges over the next 10 years, Cuellar noted. In 2010, Webb County was one of the most undercounted areas in the nation for children five years old and younger. And each person who isnt counted, regardless of age, loses thousands of dollars in federal funding for their city.

Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 or jwallace@lmtonline.com
WASHINGTON  Fresh from announcing his third pick to the Supreme Court, President Donald Trump lauded nominee Amy Coney Barrett as a brilliant legal mind and promised supporters in Pennsylvania late Saturday that she would defend your God-given rights and freedoms.

Taking the stage at a campaign rally amid a light drizzle, Trump reminded the crowd that he had just come from a White House Rose Garden ceremony where he nominated Barrett, a federal appeals court judge, to replace the late Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the nations highest court.

Trump boasted Barretts credentials for the job, which he sarcastically said are "a little better" than those of his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden.

"She should be running for president," Trump told cheering supporters at Harrisburg International Airport.

Right on cue, the crowd erupted into chants of "Fill that seat!"

Before Trump's arrival in Pennsylvania, a Jumbotron inside the rally area and another screen in the parking lot where people were waiting to get in broadcast live footage of the Rose Garden ceremony.

If confirmed, Barrett would become Trump's third justice on the Supreme Court and could consolidate conservative control of the court for decades. Trump warned that Biden would try to fill federal courts with judges handpicked by socialists" if he wins in November.

Hear more of our SCOTUS coverage by clicking 'play' below

Barrett's nomination, overwhelmingly popular among conservatives, comes as Trump trails Biden in most polls and gives him a chance to change the national conversation from the coronavirus pandemic, racial justice and a troubled economy.

Amy Coney Barrett: Talented judge, popular professor brings solid conservative credentials

President Donald Trump reacts to the light rain as he arrives at a campaign rally at Avflight Harrisburg at the Harrisburg International Airport on Saturday, September 26, 2020, in Middletown, Pa.

Trump's visit to Pennsylvania is his fifth visit to the battleground state this month and his second this week. On Tuesday, he rallied supporters at Pittsburgh International Airport in Moon Township, where his 90-minute speech focused on the economy, energy and predicting a win in Pennsylvania in November.

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Biden has traveled to the state four times this month.

Pennsylvania has emerged as a key battleground in this year's presidential race. Four years ago, Trump became the first Republican since 1988 to carry Pennsylvania, a major pick-up in his Electoral College victory over Hillary Clinton. His campaign is hoping to repeat that feat this year to offset potential losses in other states that he carried in 2016.

"We won Pennsylvania last time and we're going to win it by a lot more this time," he told the crowd.

Most polls show a tight race in the Keystone State this year. A University of Wisconsin poll released on Thursday gave Biden a four-point lead. A Fox News poll released the same day showed Biden ahead by seven points. The political website RealClearPolitics, which tracks polling, gives Biden a 4.3-point lead in its average of national polls.

Trump and Biden will face off in Cleveland on Tuesday during the first of three presidential debates.

Contributing: The Patriot-News; David Jackson of USA TODAY

Backing Biden: Joe Biden endorsed, Trump excoriated by nearly 500 retired top military, national security officials

A live feed of Fox News is broadcast on a screen as supporters of President Donald Trump line up to go into a campaign rally Saturday, September 26, 2020, at Harrisburg International Airport in Middletown, Pa.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump boasts that SCOTUS pick Barrett will defend 'God-given rights'
Chesterfield is welcoming back select K-12 special education students in the classroom Tuesday. These students will attend school in-person four days a week while future cohorts will be on a hybrid schedule.

Smith, the education association president, said that while she was unaware of the high number of resignations, she had communicated with a handful of teachers who have decided to leave the school system.

Most teachers no longer want to commute to Chesterfield after spending months at home working surrounded by families, Smith said.

One of the things I have noticed is that because of the pandemic and because of the shorter commute time to work, there is more time to spend with family, Smith said. Teachers are re-centering themselves and putting families first.

For the calendar year, 611 Chesterfield teachers have either resigned or retired as of Sept. 21, said schools spokesman Shawn Smith. The retirements may or not be related to COVID, Smith said.

Besides hiring, the school system has 112 certified employees, including Daugherty, who are eligible to substitute into classrooms if needed. So far, 15 employees have teaching assignments.
President Donald Trump has doubled down on comments refusing to commit to the peaceful transfer of power after the election. Getty

There are a "number of plans" to remove Donald Trump out of office if he refuses to leave the White House after losing the election, Senator Bernie Sanders has said.

Sanders said the Democrats had prepared a series of contingency plans if the president refuses to leave.

Trump doubled down on Friday, after refusing this week to commit to a peaceful transfer of power.

A former aide to Vice President Mike Pence said the possibility of Trump refusing to quit has been discussed in the White House.

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.

There are a "number of plans" to force Donald Trump from office if he refuses to leave the White House after losing the presidential election, Senator Bernie Sanders has said.

The former presidential hopeful told Bill Maher on Friday that the Democrats have prepared a series of contingency strategies if the president refuses to concede defeat in November.

"The bottom line is there are things that we have to do now to make sure that Biden wins," Sanders told Maher.

"And if Trump attempts to stay in office after losing, there will be a number of plans out there to make sure that he is evicted from office."

The president this week refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the election.

"We're going to have to see what happens, you know, but I've been complaining very strongly about the ballots. The ballots are a disaster," Trump told a White House briefing on Wednesday.

He later doubled down on the comments telling supporters on Friday that "We are not going to lose this, except if they cheat."

"We do want a very friendly transition. But we don't want to be cheated. And be stupid ... And we know that there were thousands and thousands of ballots that made the difference through cheating. We're not going to stand for it."

Story continues

A former aide to Vice President Mike Pence said this week that Trump refusing to leave office has been discussed in the White House.

"It's frightening to me because, to be honest, during my tenure at the White House, I've had conversations behind closed doors with White House staffers and other government officials, including people in the intelligence community, where we've actually discussed what if, what if he loses and refuses to leave," said Olivia Troye, a former aide to Vice President Mike Pence who served on the coronavirus task force.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Analysis of data on Presidential election results from 1992 to 2016 reveals that the NDC has been losing votes in Ashanti Region and their stronghold, Volta Region, according to the Governance Research Bureau.



A statement issued in Accra by the Bureau said in the Volta Region, the NDC votes declined from 93.24 to 80.97 per cent, while votes in Ashanti Region reduced over the years from 32.87 per cent to 23.32 per cent.



Dr. Ezekiel Nortey, a Resource Person of the Bureau, said during the same period, the NPP had been doing well in the Volta Region beginning with a paltry 3.61 per cent of the votes in 1992 and increasing them to 17.38 per cent in 2016.



The Senior Lecturer in Statistics and Actuarial Science at the University of Ghana said the NPP had been consolidating their grip on the Ashanti Region, adding, that from recording 60.54 per cent of the votes in 1992, the partys share shot up to 75.98 per cent in 2016.



Assigning reasons for the NPPs performance in the Volta Region, Dr. Kwame Asah Asante, also of the Bureau, attributed it to voters in the region perceiving the party as capable of improving their economic wellbeing and voting for them in the election.



Dr. Asante, who is a Senior Lecturer in Political Science at the University said some voters in the Volta Region might have revised their long-held negative perception about the NPP giving way to an objective assessment of the party and exercising their preference in their favour.



On the NDCs continuous loss of votes in the Ashanti Region, he observed that the NPP had been consolidating their support with better performance which enabled them to win in New Edubiase, as well as doing well in their opponents enclaves in the region.

Source: GNA









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New Delhi, Sep 27 : Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Sunday reiterated the the Narendra Modi government's commitment to increase the expenditure on public health to 2.5 per cent of India's gross domestic product (GDP) by 2025.

"The Union Government is committed to increasing the public healthcare spending as a percentage of GDP from the existing 1.15 per cent to 2.5 per cent by 2025," he said in the third episode of 'Sunday Samvaad', a weekly interaction he has been holding with his social media followers every Sunday for the last three weeks.

Harsh Vardhan noted that the committed leap in the share means an actual rise of 345 per cent from the current expenditure.

He also added that the 15th Finance Commission's high-level group on health has concurred that healthcare spending must be raised substantially in the next five years in view of the present pandemic.

Similar commitments have been made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Health Minister J.P. Nadda in recent years as well.

In 2017, Nadda, now the BJP President, had said that the Central government would increase the total health expenditure to 2.5 per cent of the GDP by 2025. Similarly, Modi, while addressing the Partners' Forum in 2018, had said that the government is set to increase its spending on public health to 2.5 per cent of the GDP.

However, the share of expenditure for public health has remained stagnant at 1.15 per cent of the GDP, despite the multiple assurances, and the Modi government has faced flak for reduced and consistently low spending on healthcare for years now.

Meanwhile, Harsh Vardhan also said that the Central government had added 29,185 MBBS seats in the last five years while answering a question on the disparity of setting up AIIMS in different regions while approving merely one for the entire northeast region.

He informed that the Centre would establish new medical colleges attached with existing district and referral hospitals in Dhubri, Nagaon, North Lakhimpur, Diphu, and Kokrajhar districts in Assam, Churachandrapur in Manipur, West Garo Hills district in Meghalaya, Falkawan district in Mizoram, and Kohima and Mon in Nagaland.
In what is being projected as a productive Monsoon session in Parliament, around 25 bills were passed in the absence of the Opposition.

In what is being projected as a productive Monsoon session in Parliament, around 25 bills were passed in the absence of the Opposition.

While surging COVID 19 cases may have forced an earlier adjournment, it didn't stop the upper house from passing unopposed bills through voice notes.

According to Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, the productivity of the Lok Sabha was 167 per cent and Rajya Sabha at 100.47 per cent. Parliamentary Affairs minister Pralhad Joshi said, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha individually passed 25 Bills each. 27 Bills were passed by both the Houses of Parliament which is best ever rate of passage of Bills per day - 2.7 Bills, Joshi said.

However, the boycott from the opposition over the widely protested farm reform bills, which led to the suspension of eight MPs belonging to Congress, TMC and AAP, were just some of the contentious ones.

From the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill, 2020 to the hugely controversial labour laws including The Industrial Relations Code, 2020, Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, and The Code on Social Security, 2020 - there was much to be discussed, that well, just wasn't.

It's imperative, however, to take a closer look at The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020 and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 - and know all about it.
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Tatiana Turner, 40, was arrested and charged with attempted murder and assault

A Black Lives Matter organizer has been arrested after video showed her driving a car into a crowd of Trump supporters in southern California, injuring two.

Driver Tatiana Turner, 40, of Long Beach, was arrested and charged with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon following the incident on Saturday in the city of Yorba Linda, about 30 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles.

The chaos unfolded as about 250 people gathered, some with a group called Caravan4Justice supporting Black Lives Matter, and others to stage a nearby counter-protest supporting President Donald Trump.

Federal records show that Turner filed a trademark application for Caravan4Justice in July, and a GoFundMe campaign names her as the group's 'founder'.

Police confirmed that Turner is believed to be a member of the Caravan4Justice.

It was around 3pm, police say, when a car in the parking lot of the of the Yorba Linda Public Library at 18181 Imperial Highway accelerated into the road and struck at least two individuals.

A Black Lives Matter organizer has been arrested after video showed her driving a car into a crowd of Trump supporters in southern California, injuring two

'Oh my God!' a woman is heard screaming on video as the white Nissan Versa accelerates into the crowd, knocking the demonstrators to the pavement

Federal records show that Turner (above being arrested) filed a trademark application for Caravan4Justice in July, and a GoFundMe campaign names her as the group's 'founder'.

'Oh my God!' a woman is heard screaming on video as the white Nissan Versa accelerates into the crowd, knocking the demonstrators to the pavement and speeding away.

Furious crowd members chased the car, hitting it with flag poles, but within seconds police intervened, taking the female driver into custody.

The two injured people, a man and a woman, were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, said Carrie Braun, spokeswoman for the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

Furious crowd members chased the car, hitting it with flag poles, but within seconds police intervened, taking the female driver into custody

Deputies were on the scene to maintain peace and quickly arrested the driver

The incident occurred as members of Black Lives Matter demonstrated against police brutality and systemic racism.

Counter-protesters crossed six-lane Imperial Highway and confronted the BLM protesters, authorities said. The protesters also confronted each other in the parking lot of the Yorba Linda public library, Braun said.

A white sedan came went through the crowd in the parking lot or the exit of the parking lot at the public library, injuring two people, Braun said.

People chased the car as it tried to drive away, and it was eventually stopped and was surrounded by police, she said.

The Register reported it was not known how fast the car was going. The back windshield had been broken out, and it had a flagpole sticking out of it. The front windshield was smashed, the Register reported.

Members of Caravan4Justice are seen at a rally in June. Turner is the founder of the group, according to trademark filings and a GoFundMe campaign

Orange County Sheriff deputies keep protesters and counter protesters apart in Yorba Linda, on Saturday. Police eventually declared the event an unlawful gathering

Orange County Sheriff deputies line up as Black Lives Matter protesters and counter protesters clash in Yorba Linda. People were struck by a car and injured during the events

Braun said there were 300 people total and at some point it was declared an unlawful assembly and dispersal orders were given.

On Thursday night, a BLM protester was struck by a pickup truck during a march in Hollywood and suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Los Angeles police said Friday the preliminary investigation found that the driver was attempting to maneuver through the crowd when protesters began beating the vehicle with sticks and attempted to open the door.

The driver was attempting to drive away from the situation when he struck the protester. The driver stopped several blocks away and cooperated with officers. He was released pending the outcome of the investigation.

The investigation into Saturday's incident in Yorba Linda is ongoing. Turner is being held in the Orange County Jail, and it was unclear whether she had an attorney to speak on her behalf.
There were plenty of red MAGA hats and T-shirts on Saturday at President Donald Trumps campaign rally at Harrisburg International Airport.

But the one thing conspicuously missing from the majority of people? Face masks.

Thousands stood shoulder to shoulder, packed even beyond the immediate capacity of the private hangar, and most were without masks. Among those who had masks, many had them pulled down to their chins.

Im over it, Jackie Logsdon of Chambersburg said about the coronavirus and wearing masks, one of the major pieces of guidances from health officials. Nope, Im over it. I do believe in it, but Im over it.

The majority of people who packed the hangar area at Trump's rally at HIA Saturday wore no face mask.

Erik Wayne, who drove from New Jersey to attend the rally, wore his mask below his chin.

It just gets to the point...that..Im an old guy. It gets hard to breathe," he said. I dont believe in masks, but I got one with me.

Many of those seated on the stage directly behind Trump were wearing masks as the president spoke. They wore masks with the MAGA emblem. But many before the rally began werent wearing masks.

Those attending were able to grab free masks. The campaign staff provided hand sanitizer and said those attending would be encouraged to wear masks. Temperature checks were conducted on those entering.

Many of the people who spoke for this article said the coronavirus was no longer a concern in Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 1,029 new coronavirus cases Saturday, raising the statewide total to 155,232.

Its the first time in a week the state has reported more than 1,000 new cases in a day, a mark the state has hit a few times in September. The health department reported more than 1,100 cases on Sept. 19. By comparison, the state didnt register 1,000 new cases in day in the month of August.

On the upside, the number of coronavirus patients in hospitals (just under 450) is far lower than the peak in the spring, when about 2,800 were hospitalized.

Still, Gov. Tom Wolf has criticized Trump for holding large rallies in Pennsylvania.

The Democratic governor issued a statement Friday calling Trumps continued scheduling of large campaign rallies in Pennsylvania dangerous and wrong, and urged all attendees to think of the health and safety of their families and their communities before attending... any rally put on by the Trump campaign.

Vicki Lightcap of Pennsburg said she was confident that the likelihood that she would contract the coronavirus because she wore no face mask was very low.

Vicki Lightcap, who drove from the Allentown area, wore no mask, but said she believed in science.

In the state of Pennsylvania the percentage of people who are actually sick compared to other states is very, very small percentage, she said. There is only a small percentage that anyone would get the virus.

Lightcap chose a spot at the rally near the media area, which allowed her to turn her back to the crowd.

More from PennLive

Pa. officials react to President Trumps Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett

President Trump comes to Harrisburg area on day he announces nominee for Supreme Court

Joe Biden faults President Trumps coronavirus response ahead of HIA rally
The long descent on which Senate Democrats have taken us now eventuates in the Democrats hysteria over the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. Neither Chuck Schumer nor any other Senate Democrat is fit to carry Barretts briefcase. How have we arrived at this pass?

If we were to assign a date to the beginning of the long descent, it might be July 1, 1987. That is the date on which President Reagan nominated Robert Bork to the Supreme Court. That is also the date on which Senator Edward Kennedy attacked Bork in willfully false and disgusting terms.

Judge Bork then served on the D.C. Court of Appeals. As Steve Hayward recalls in the second volume of The Age of Reagan, Bork had been confirmed unanimously for the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in 1982, at which time the American Bar Association had given him a highly qualified rating.

President Reagan nominated Bork to the Supreme Court upon the retirement of Lewis Powell. Senator Kennedy was prepared for this moment. Anticipating the nomination of Bork or someone like him to fill Powells seat, Kennedy aide Jeffrey Blattner had written a statement denouncing the nomination. Immediately following the announcement of Borks nomination, Senator Kennedy took to the floor of the Senate to make the statement Blattner had written:

Robert Borks America is a land in which women would be forced into back-alley abortions, blacks would sit at segregated lunch counters, rogue police could break down citizens doors in midnight raids, schoolchildren could not be taught about evolution, writers and artists could be censored at the whim of the Government, and the doors of the Federal courts would be shut on the fingers of millions of citizens for whom the judiciary is  and is often the only  protector of the individual rights that are the heart of our democracy.

Alluding to Borks execution as Solicitor General of Nixons order to fire Archibald Cox, Kennedy continued:

President Reagan is still our president. But he should not be able to reach out from the muck of Irangate, reach into the muck of Watergate and impose his reactionary vision of the Constitution on the Supreme Court and the next generation of American. No justice would be better than this injustice.

Bloomberg News editor Ethan Bronner (then a reporter with the Boston Globe) told the story of Kennedys statement denouncing Bork in Battle for Justice: How the Bork Nomination Shook America. Bronner commented harshly on Kennedys statement, though Bronners comments do not exhaust the statements falsity:

Kennedys was an altogether startling statement. He had shamelessly twisted Borks world view  rogue police could break down citizens doors in midnight raids was an Orwellian reference to Borks criticism of the exclusionary rule, through which judges exclude illegally obtained evidence, and Bork had never suggested he opposed the teaching of evolution

Bronner demonstrated that the falsity of Kennedys charges against Bork derived, not from some mistake or misinterpretation, but rather from the deliberate misconduct of a powerful man for whom the ends justified the means:

Kennedy did distort Borks record, but his statement was not the act of a desperate man. This was a confident and seasoned politician, who knew how to combine passion and pragmatism in the Senate. Unlike the vast majority of those who were to oppose Bork, Kennedy believed from the beginning that the nomination would be defeated and that the loss would prove decisive in judicial politics.

As Bronner suggested, Senator Kennedys unconstrained opposition to Borks appointment has indeed had profound effects in the practice of judicial politics. As Steve put it in The Age of Reagan, the subsequent public campaign of the activist Left was stunning in its breadth, depth, and dishonesty. We saw it recur preeminently in the confirmation proceedings following the nomination of Justice Thomas, but not just there. It has become something of a template for liberal attacks on mainstream conservatives beyond the realm of judicial politics.

The tone set by Kennedy in connection with the Bork nomination lives on among Senate Democrats. We live in Edward Kennedys America not only in the consequential legislation that he sponsored and saw through the Senate, but also in the afterlife of the vulgar political sham on which Senator Kennedy relied to spark the defeat of Judge Borks confirmation.

NOTE: I adapted these comments from a previous post on the Democrats treatment of Justice Kavanaughs nomination.
Pelosi: It Doesnt Matter What Religion Amy Coney Barrett Believes In

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said on Sunday that she expects people to focus on how faithful Amy Coney Barrett would be to the U.S. Constitution, rather than the Supreme Court nominees personal religious beliefs.

It doesnt matter what her faith is, what religion she believes in. What matters is does she believe in the Constitution of the United States, said Pelosi during an interview on CNNs State of Union, when asked about Democrats criticism that Barretts Catholic faith might influence her court decisions.

I think its appropriate for people to ask her about how faithful she would be to the Constitution of the United States, whatever her faith, Pelosi told host Jake Tapper. Does she believe in the precedent on the Supreme Court that has upheld the Affordable Care Act?

A former law professor at Notre Dame University and current judge on the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Barrett was nominated by President Donald Trump to fill the Supreme Court seat left vacant by Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Barrett identifies as a faithful Catholic and had said that although she takes her religious beliefs seriously, they do not bear in discharge of her duty as a judge.

Judge Amy Coney Barrett listens during her nomination to the Supreme Court, in Washington on Sept. 26, 2020. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

During her conformation hearing in 2017 before the Senate Judiciary Committee considering her nomination to the 7th Circuit, Barrett came under a barrage of questions from Democratic senators about the role of her Catholic faith in judging. Barrett responded that she sees no conflict between having a sincerely held faith and duties as a judge.

We have many judges, both state and federal, across the country who have sincerely held religious views and still impartially and honestly discharge their obligations as a judge, Barrett said at the time. And were I confirmed as a judge, I would decide cases according to rule of law, beginning to end, and in the rare circumstance that might ever ariseI cant imagine one sitting here nowwhere I felt that I had some conscientious objection to the law, I would recuse.

Similar questions centered around Barretts religion were brought up by Democrats once again when Trump eyed the judge as his pick to replace Ginsburg on the high court.

They keep telling us that none of the things they wrote or said yesterday should infringe on their decision, but how can we be assured that they can be objective? said Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) during an interview with CNN. Why should we say you get a lifetime appointment so that you can reflect your ideological agenda in your decision making?

Popularly referred to as No Religious Test Clause, a clause within Article VI of the U.S. Constitution states that no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States, advancing religious freedom and protecting less politically powerful faiths against discrimination.
- Komi Klassou, the prime minister of Togo, has announced his resignation from office

- Klassou made this revelation in the night of Friday, September 25

- The former prime minister worked with President Faure Gnassingbe who has been in power for 38 years

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After assuming office since 2015, the prime minister of Togo, Komi Klassou, who worked in the government of President Faure Gnassingbe, has resigned from his position.

The decision which was announced in the night of Friday, September 25, has been expected since President Faure Gnassingbe won the last poll for the fourth term following a constitutional reform that permitted his re-election bid.

READ ALSO: Maria hunk Khula Budi aka Trevor excitedly asks for marriage advice weeks after wedding

Komi Klassou (Photo credit: Pinterest)

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: KTN journalist, news director dies in grisly road accident along Kajiado-Namanga road

Klassou's resignation is one of the offshoots of a political reshuffle that has been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic after President Gnassingbe's victory, Aljazeera reports.

The president is said to have dominated the African nation's political space, having been in government for 38 years with members of his family appointed to top offices.

READ ALSO: Diana Marua gifts pregnant nanny costly phone, baby clothes during last day at work

The Togolese presidency, congratulating the former prime minister, accepted his resignation expressed gratitude for his economic, political and social efforts and the encouraging results despite the health crisis around the world.

In a separate story, over a little of a month ago, Army colonel Assimi Goita announced himself as Mali's new military leader following the Tuesday, August 18, coup that was condemned by the international community.

READ ALSO: Chelsea news: Frank Lampard told to reinstate Antonio Rudiger in first team

After meeting top civil servants on Wednesday, August 19, Goita said he was the leader of the National Committee for the Salvation of the People that had seized power.

His entourage told journalists Goita had until now headed Mali's special forces based in the centre of the West African country which has been torn by jihadist and sectarian violence.

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Jim Caviezel says churches in America are at risk of being canceled, defends Christianity

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Actor Jim Caviezel is speaking out against cancel culture, saying religious leaders in America need to rise up because churches are under persecution.

Caviezel, best known for his portrayal of Jesus Christ in The Passion of the Christ, told Fox News that Christians are "being persecuting for their faith."

If Christians don't watch out, it will be canceling Christianity as well," he warned.

The actor, whose latest film Infidel is a true story about an American Christian who's kidnapped in Cairo, Egypt, and imprisoned in Iran under false spying charges, called on Christian leaders to stand up for their faith.

"A lot of our pastors, our bishops, our priests, they're laying right over. They let their churches be burned. How do we know that? Well, it's right there in the news," he said.

That's why we're in this situation right now. We can't go to churches. We can't go into our church. Why? Because they could get contaminated, right? So why are we on airplanes?"

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

Churches across the country closed their doors beginning in the spring to help curb the spread of COVID-19. With gathering restrictions still in place in many states months later, some churches have chosen to defy orders or file lawsuits, claiming discrimination against places of worship.

Caviezel insisted that keeping churches closed during the pandemic is affecting those who need it most in these times.

"I have had friends that have committed suicide. I have seven SEAL buddies that lost seven of their friends committing suicide. Would it have helped to get into a church especially during this time? Absolutely. And is it good for mental illness? Yes, it is," he stressed.

Speaking to Breitbart News Daily, Caviezel emphasized the "inalienable rights" of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" that the U.S. Constitution guarantees. But he wondered, "Why can't I go to church?"

"You know, it's not going to be some communist or Nazi that takes away your freedoms," he warned. "It's going to be you giving them away."

Noting that there is no collaboration," the actor urged all Christians "to stand up and fight back, while on "The Ben Shapiro Show."

If we are ever going to war, we should go to war with secular extremists. That is a war that needs to be fought and be won now! Christians need to start speaking the truth.

The Washington native also compared some church leaders to those who betrayed Jesus in the Bible. He likened them to Pontius Pilate and the Pharisees.

"It's a bloody shame if you can't tell the difference between a priest, a bishop or a politician. It's really sad," he lamented. But this is called lukewarmness. And Christ has a very special place for them and they know it."

Caviezel has been promoting his new film, Infidel, which draws attention to global Christian persecution. Infidel is now in theaters and topped The New Mutants last Friday, earning $530,000 in 1,724 theaters. The film has since been added to more theaters across the country.
In an interview with Ahval, famous British journalist and writer on the Caucasus Thomas de Waal expressed certainty that Azerbaijan moved in first and launched military action on the Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact.

According to him, there is no reason for Armenia to kickstart another bout of conflict with Azerbaijan.

Basically, Armenians won the war of the 1990s, they have all the territory they want, de Waal said. Their incentive is to normalize the status quo.

For various reasons, Azerbaijan calculates that military action will win it something, he added.
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Mika made a rare public appearance as he attended Valentino's Spring/Summer 2021 show during Milan Fashion Week on Sunday.

The Beirut-born musician, 37, proved safety comes first as he sported a protective face mask to the star-studded presentation.

Love Today hitmaker Mika, who was last seen on his worldwide Revelation tour earlier this year, cut a dapper figure in a sharp white suit, which he teamed with a plain T-shirt.

Out and about: Mika made a rare public appearance as he attended Valentino's Spring/Summer 2021 show during Milan Fashion Week on Sunday

The award-winning songwriter looked suave in his smart two-piece, which featured a longline blazer and matching trousers.

Adding a touch of his typically edgy style, the pop star rounded off his appearance with patent black boots.

Mika recently held a I Love Beirut benefit livestream concert following an explosion which killed over 200 people in Lebanon's capital city last month.

Better safe than sorry: The Beirut-born musician, 37, proved safety comes first as he sported a protective face mask to the star-studded presentation

Busy bee: Love Today hitmaker Mika was last seen on his worldwide Revelation tour earlier this year (pictured in February in Italy)

The event boasted performances from Kylie Minogue, Salma Hayek and Danna Paola, Rufus Wainwright, Louane, Etel Adnan, Fanny Ardant and Laura Pausini.

On the concert, songstress Kylie said in a statement: 'Mika and I have been friends for a while, so when he asked me to be part of his I Love Beirut project of course I said yes!

'The situation in Lebanon is so sad, but I hope this event will raise lots of money to support the incredible work of Save the Children and the Lebanese Red Cross and their teams working on the ground in Beirut. Im so happy to be part of it.'

Sharp: Flashing a peace sign at the cameras, the media personality cut a dapper figure in a sharp white suit, which he teamed with a plain T-shirt

Slick: The award-winning songwriter looked suave in his smart two-piece, which featured a longline blazer and matching trousers

Mika dominated the charts in the late 2000s with tracks such as Grace Kelly and Happy Ending, and released his latest album My Name Is Michael Holbrook in October 2019.

In 2012, the artist confirmed his sexuality in an interview with Instinct Magazine, revealing the tracks on his album The Origin Of Love are about his relationships with men.

The media personality told the publication: 'If you ask me am I gay, I say yeah. Are these songs about my relationship with a man? I say yeah.

'And it's only through my music that I've found the strength to come to terms with my sexuality beyond the context of just my lyrics. This is my real life.'
Madurai:

The Madras High Court bench on Monday issued notice to the Tamil Nadu Home Secretary and the DGP on a PIL seeking a judicial probe into alleged excesses by the police while dispersing jallikattu protesters at Alanganallur and other places in the district on January 23.

Issuing the notice on a petition filed by one P Kanagavel, a division bench comprising Justices A Selvam and P Kalaiarasan here directed the State Home Secretary, the DGP, the Madurai City Police Commissioner and the District Superintendent of Police to file their counter affidavits before February 15.

The petitioner alleged that the police had attacked those who were holding a peaceful protest in Alanganallur village and Tamukkam Grounds, Sellur and Periyar Bus terminus in the city in support of jallikattu.

He also claimed that several protesters were detained illegally.

He prayed for a judicial inquiry into the police action against the demonstrators, besides seeking a direction to the state government to provide proper treatment to those injured.

When the matter came up for hearing, the Additional Advocate General (AAG) opposed it, saying a case had been registered against the petitioner as well and hence the PIL was not filed in public interest.

He also claimed that 10 buses and three police vehicles were damaged in the violence allegedly by the agitators. 48 people had been arrested and remanded in judicial custody, he added.

The petitioners counsel alleged that the police themselves had set fire to vehicles with a view to creating a violent atmosphere.

On January 23, the police had used force to disperse the jallikattu protesters at Alanganallur, famous for the bull-taming sport.

A plea for a CBI probe had been made in the Madras High Courts principal seat, also alleging police excesses against the jallikattu protesters in Chennai.

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YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Famous TV star Kim Kardashian has informed millions of her followers that the Armenians in Artsakh have been subjected to Azerbaijani attacks, and that its not just clashes. She urged to call upon Baku to cease all offensive uses of force, cut off all US military aid to Azerbaijan being used against Armenians and warn Turkey to stop sending arms and fighters to Baku, ARMENPRESS reports Kardashian Twitted.

We need international observers to investigate and call for international political and diplomatic measures to prevent unnecessary escalation and tragedy. Please use: http://anca.org/alert to call on the White House and Congress to stop Azerbaijan's attack on Artsakh, she wrote, adding that they pray for the brave men and women who risk their lives to protect Artsakh and Armenia.

The Armenian side has destroyed 4 Azerbaijani helicopters, 33 tanks and combat vehicles, 27 UAVs and 2 military engineering vehicles. Azerbaijan has also suffered 200 human losses. In addition, the Defense Army units have captured 11 Azerbaijani armored vehicles.

Armenia has reported 16 casualties so far.

Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan
A large group of New York City police officers charged at protesters, diners and pedestrians in Manhattan's West Village on Saturday night, arresting 12 people and raising questions about the aggressive response.

After raiding a peaceful art protest in Washington Square Park, officers rushed the group on a nearby street around 8 p.m., NBC New York reported. The protesters at the scene had walked toward the police precinct house in the neighborhood because officers had seized their music equipment.

IMAGE: Police in New York (Molly Dillon via Twitter)

Police said in a statement that they "responded to a large disorderly group obstructing vehicular traffic in the vicinity of 10 Street and Hudson Street within the confines of the 6 Precinct."

But photos and videos from the incident appeared to show a different scene. Images captured from different angles seem to depict a small group of protesters on one side of the street and dozens of officers on the other side.

After a message played on a loudspeaker saying, "Please be advised that pedestrians are not permitted to walk in the street or roadway," the police ran toward the protesters on the opposite sidewalk, grabbing people and arresting them. Videos show some people trying to flee as police pushed them into diners eating an outdoor meal.

People who weren't part of the small protest said they ran away from the police.

Molly Dillon, a policy adviser to state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, told NBC News that she was in the neighborhood when she saw "the massive amount of police officers."

"All of the sudden, the police all at once came running across the street toward the people watching them," Dillon said. "People were not in the street. People were not chanting. People were stopped to look at the 100 or 200 NYPD gathered around milling about.

"As soon as the police started running, my friends and I ran down the sidewalk and up against the wall of the restaurant behind us next to a table of diners who allowed us in there," she said.

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Dillon added that she noticed that very few of the officers were wearing masks and that there was no social distancing.

Rebecca Fishbein, a journalist and author, said on Twitter that she was "walking down Hudson after a micro-wedding on the water, not there in a reporting capacity."

"Don't recommend running from the cops in heels," she wrote, adding that "no one was even in the street" when the police rushed at them.

"I've lived in New York for 31 years and this was the most unhinged thing I've ever seen," she said.

The police department said in a statement that "a group of roughly 150 demonstrators came to the 6th precinct and blocked traffic" and that officers took people into custody "after multiple warnings to clear the sidewalk."

Twelve people were arrested, eight of whom received summonses for disorderly conduct, police said.

Brad Hoylman, a state senator from Manhattan, said his office was in touch with police about the use of force.

"We're exhausted of seeing video after video, and hearing from constituents in person, of inexplicable escalations that undermine an already fragile trust," he wrote on Twitter.
President Donald Trump paid just $750 in federal income taxes the year he ran for president and in his first year in the White House, according to a report in The New York Times.

Trump, who has fiercely guarded his tax filings and is the only president in modern times not to make them public, paid no federal income taxes in 10 of the past 15 years.

The details of the tax filings published Sunday complicate Trumps description of himself as a shrewd and patriotic businessman, revealing instead a series of financial losses and income from abroad that could come into conflict with his responsibilities as president. The presidents financial disclosures indicated he earned at least $434.9 million in 2018, but the tax filings reported a $47.4 million loss.

The tax filings also illustrate how a reputed billionaire could pay little to nothing in taxes, while someone in the middle class could pay substantially more than him. Roughly half of Americans pay no income taxes, primarily because of how low their incomes are. But IRS figures indicate that the average tax filer paid roughly $12,200 in 2017, about 16 times more than what the president paid.

The disclosure, which the Times said comes from tax return data it obtained extending over two decades, comes at a pivotal moment ahead of the first presidential debate Tuesday and weeks before a divisive election against Democrat Joe Biden.

Speaking at a news conference Sunday at the White House, Trump dismissed the report as fake news and maintained he has paid taxes, though he gave no specifics. He also vowed that information about his taxes will all be revealed, but he offered no timeline for the disclosure and made similar promises during the 2016 campaign on which he never followed through.

In fact, the president has fielded court challenges against those seeking access to his returns, including the U.S. House, which is suing to get Trumps tax returns as part of congressional oversight.

During his first two years as president, Trump received $73 million from foreign operations, which in addition to his golf properties in Scotland and Ireland included $3 million from the Philippines, $2.3 million from India and $1 million from Turkey, among other nations. The president in 2017 paid $145,400 in taxes in India and $156,824 in the Philippines, compared to just $750 in U.S. income taxes. The Times said the tax records did not reveal any unreported connections to Russia.

Trump found multiple ways to reduce his tax bills. He has taken tax deductions on personal expenses such as housing, aircraft and $70,000 to style his hair while he filmed The Apprentice. Losses in the property businesses solely owned and managed by Trump appear to have offset income from his stake in The Apprentice and other entities with multiple owners.

During the first two years of his presidency, Trump relied on business tax credits to reduce his tax obligations. The Times said $9.7 million worth of business investment credits that were submitted after Trump requested an extension to file his taxes allowed him to offset his obligations and pay just $750 each in 2016 and 2017.

Income tax payments help finance the military and domestic programs.

Trump, starting in 2010, claimed and received an income tax refund that totaled $72.9 million, which the Times said was at the core of an ongoing audit by the IRS. The Times said a ruling against Trump could cost him $100 million or more.

The president could also face mounting financial pressure in the years ahead. The tax records show hes carrying a total of $421 million in loans and debt that are primarily due within four years. Most of that debt comes from the Doral golf resort in Florida ($125 million) and Trumps Washington hotel ($160 million), two properties that the Times said are struggling financially.

Richard Neal, D-Mass., the chair of the House Ways and Means Committee who has tried unsuccessfully to obtain Trumps tax records, said the Times report makes it even more essential for his committee to get the documents.

It appears that the President has gamed the tax code to his advantage and used legal fights to delay or avoid paying what he owes, Neal wrote in a statement. Now, Donald Trump is the boss of the agency he considers an adversary. It is essential that the IRSs presidential audit program remain free of interference.

A lawyer for the Trump Organization, Alan Garten, and a spokesperson for the Trump Organization did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press on the report.

Garten told the Times that most, if not all, of the facts appear to be inaccurate.

He said in a statement to the news organization that the president has paid tens of millions of dollars in personal taxes to the federal government, including paying millions in personal taxes since announcing his candidacy in 2015.

The New York Times said it declined to provide Garten with the tax filings in order to protect its sources, but it said its sources had legal access to the records.

During his first general election debate against Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016, Clinton said that perhaps Trump wasnt releasing his tax returns because he had paid nothing in federal taxes.

Trump interrupted her to say, That makes me smart.
The time has come to fully leave our colonial past behind, the Governor General said in the throne speech delivered on behalf of the Prime Minister to open Parliament and that called for new head of state.

This is the ultimate statement of confidence in who we are and what we are capable of achieving, she added.

It was a powerful statement about a nation that feels its time to remove the Queen as its head of state and to move away from a monarchical system that sees its symbolic leader living an ocean away.

It wasnt Gov. Gen. Julie Payette who spoke those words to Canadians on Wednesday while reading the speech from the throne in Ottawa on behalf of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Instead, it was Gov. Gen. Sandra Mason of Barbados, who last week was reading the throne speech written by Prime Minister Mia Mottley.

Barbadians want a Barbadian head of state, the speech read. The government plans to complete the process in time for the Caribbean islands 55th anniversary of independence from Britain in November, 2021.

The speech raises an important question for Canadians: If Barbados can do it, why cant we?

In the 21st century, it is unthinkable Canada, a multicultural nation that champions diversity, is still beholden to a queen or king living in England. Add to that the fact that under the monarchy system no Canadian will ever be our next head of state, nor will any Catholic, Jew, Muslim or anyone from countless other ethnic and religious backgrounds.

And just as the time is right in Barbados, the timing here is also good, with polls consistently showing most Canadians favouring a dignified cutting of our ties to the monarchy, the final relic of our colonial past.

In Barbados, the move away from the monarchy has been gaining support for decades. The island, which has about 300,000 people, gained its independence from Britain in 1966. But its very first prime minister, Errol Barrow, declared at the time that Barbados would not be found loitering on colonial premises after closing time.

Barbados will become the latest in a long line of nations ending formal ties with Britain. Indeed, 16 countries have done just that since Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in 1953.

Besides Canada and Barbados, the only countries outside the United Kingdom that still have the Queen as their head of state are Australia, New Zealand, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu.

Diehard monarchists and constitutionalists in Canada will argue that its imperative we have the Queen as our head of state or we will become a republic just like the U.S., where the president also is head of state.

But such arguments are predictable, meaningless obstructionism.

Most former British colonies dropped their ties to the monarchy long ago without any problems. Most have a prime minister, who heads the elected government, and a head of state who performs largely ceremonial duties.

We could select a head of state in several ways. We could do as India does, for example, and have members of Parliament and provincial legislatures elect the head of state. Or we could follow Irelands example and have the head of state directly elected by all voters.

And if we dont want to call the head of state by the title president, then we could simply pick another name.

We could start the process with a national referendum that asks the simple question: Should Canada sever ties with the British monarchy? If a simple majority vote Yes, then the formal process to do just that can begin. It might take two years, including gaining the formality of each province agreeing to the necessary constitutional amendments.

Obviously, Canada faces more critical issues right now, starting with the COVID-19 pandemic and the economy. But with the Queens reign nearing an end, the time to start looking to replace the monarchy is now.

If Barbados can do it while also having to deal with a pandemic, then Canada can do it too.
Washington: The Trump administration has placed new restrictions on exports to Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp, China's most advanced maker of computer chips, a measure that could deepen the technology conflict between China and the United States.

In a letter on Friday, the Department of Commerce told US companies in the chip industry that they must first acquire a license to sell technology to SMIC and its subsidiaries. The department said it was taking the action after a review in which it determined that the Chinese company "may pose an unacceptable risk of diversion to a military end use in the People's Republic of China".

Employees put on clean suits at Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC), in Shanghai, China, which has been targeted by US authorities. Credit:Bloomberg

The measure, which could cut SMIC off from US software and other technology it needs to make its products, comes as the Trump administration takes a harsher stance against Chinese technology companies that it has deemed a national security threat. The administration has clamped down on shipments to the Chinese tech giant Huawei, restricted exports to dozens of other Chinese companies by placing them on a blacklist this year and moved to ban the Chinese-owned social media services WeChat and TikTok.

A spokesperson for the Bureau of Industry and Security, a division of the Commerce Department, said that the bureau could not comment on specific licensing issues, but that it was "constantly monitoring and assessing any potential threats to US national security and foreign policy interests" and would "take appropriate action as warranted".
WESTFIELD  It was six-years ago that American Legion Chapter 373 in Baldwinville took their first ride to the Holyoke Soldiers Home, said Paul Lyons, vice president for American Legion Riders Chapter 373 and senior vice commander, during a check presentation at Stanley Park Saturday.

Lyons and his chapter decided at that point it would be an annual event to find a way to help the veterans of the home. The first year the group toured the facility and interacted with the residents even to the point of showing their motorcycles.

With present budget cuts from all directions, the group was committed to staging an annual fundraising motorcycle ride with the purpose of helping the Holyoke Soldiers Home veterans.

With the assistance of Stanley Park Executive Director Robert C. McKean, a veteran, the American Legion Riders group along with others made the trek to Westfield Saturday to present McKean with a $1,800 donation to purchase honor bricks for Veterans' Park located in Stanley Park.

Stanley Park Board of Director President Angela T. Derouin said the Veterans' Park was the brainchild of McKean who joined the park in 2009. McKean referred to the bricks as honor bricks because the veterans should be recognized now, not only when they pass on.

Proceeds from Saturdays donation will be applied to a special account which will be only used for the honor bricks. There are 12 bricks per block which surround the perimeter of Veterans' Park. Some of the American Legion Chapters that donated were, Post 373, Post 443, Athol 102, and the 142 American Legion Riders, Chicopee 275 and 414 Dudley Gendron, and many individuals.

Anyone wishing to donate should mail checks to Stanley Park of Westfield, 400 Western Ave., Westfield, Mass. 01085. Please memo the check Holyoke Soldiers Home Honor Bricks fund.
After retirement from the army, my father took up farming at Village Shahpur, on the Pinjore-Nalagarh Road, in Haryana. After every wheat harvest, my mother used to cart the wheat herself on the tractor to the Chandigarh mandi. She used to wait for hours, sitting in the tractor, in the hot sun at the mercy of the 'Arthiyas' at the Mandi to purchase the wheat.

It was harassment of the highest degree; the arthiyas would always blackmail the farmers. These arthiyas had converted the mandis into dens of monopoly. The mechanism which was created to protect the farmers ended up throttling them. Not much effort was made in developing any infrastructure for collection and the farmers were always at the receiving end.

With the passing of the momentous Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, the position will now change in favour of the farmers who will be no longer be at the mercy of the middle-men and arthiyas.

The Modi government is on the path of transforming farmers into entrepreneurs with better incomes and quality of life. These reforms will greatly benefit farmers, processors and also the consumers. The reforms lay down stringent safeguards to protect the farmers from any blackmail or malpractices and will ensure competition and more efficiency in the market system and also give the freedom of choice to the farmers to sell their produce any-where in the country, since the country will now be one market.

There will be competition to arthiyas who will now be in no position to fleece the farmers, who will now have several avenues to sell their produce. There will be backward linkages with the food processing industry. Farmers will now be able to plan their investments in the shape of contracts with companies for contract farming, providing crop advisories and inputs with an assured buy back at assured prices.

The Modi Government had already enforced a Rs 6,685 crore scheme for creation of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO) and recently created a 1 lakh crore Agricultural Infrastructure Fund. Farmer Producer Organizations will give bargaining powers to farmers and capacitate them to reap the economies of scale.

The Agricultural Infrastructure Fund will enable them to invest in farm infrastructure and acquire better equipment for achieving better yields. The Government will also assist in promotion and provision of technology and advice as per the market demand to achieve better quality, quantity and profitability. With a large number of farmers registered under each FPO, farmers can enter in agreements with leading companies for better terms and conditions and, consequently, better incomes.

The agricultural reforms,coupled with analyzing market trends and demands, will empower the farmers to shift to growing crops and fruits with increasing demand in lieu of or in addition to what they are already producing -- a great step to achieve an Atamanirbhar agriculture.

The farmers will also get an opportunity to link-up with agri-businesses who will procure directly from the farmers and be able to run their operations effectively, eliminate system inefficiencies and reduce costs which will further result in higher farmer income as also a concomitant development of agri-businesses.

Greater diversification and innovation in business models like farmer management services, digital market places, warehousing and quality centers will attract investment and improve productivity, reduce costs and post-harvest wastages. Japan had, decades ago, treated agriculture like industry. Now we too shall be able to do likewise as market reforms will attract private capital inflow to give a fillip to the rural economy as also sectors like logistics service providers, warehouses operations and processing.

Infusing technology in agriculture will lead to the much needed metamorphosis in Indian agriculture. Hence, using international best practices, relevant to us, India will emerge as a key factor in global food supply chains and a food export reservoir of the world in the future - the success of PM Modi's vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Even though just 6 to 8 per cent of farmers in India benefit from the government minimum support price operations, the Prime Minister has reassured farmers that government purchase of their produce coupled with the Minimum Support Price mechanism will continue.

The government has finally unshackled the clique of people exploiting the farmers.It is therefore clear that the so-called farmer agitations have been driven by vested interests; the gullible farmers are being misled by unholy alliances to agitate against these landmark reforms which are meant to benefit them and propel them into a new era of agricultural development.

In fact, it is only after these historic reforms come into play will the lives of the farmers see a new sunrise of modernization and prosperity in a New India.

(The writer is a retired Director General, I.T.B.P. His views are personal.)
A zoo keeper has been savagely mauled by a 31-stone gorilla that she raised from its birth.

The woman, 46, was left with two broken arms and chest and head injuries after the attack at the Madrid Zoo this morning.

Malabo, a 29-year-old male gorilla, managed to break through three doors to get to the indoor facilities of the zoo while the zookeeper was getting on with the usual breakfast routine.

The zookeeper was stabilised by paramedics at the scene before being rushed to the Madrid Clinical Hospital in a serious condition. The Municipal Police of Madrid have taken over the investigation as it is classified as a work accident.

A statement just issued by the zoo said: 'Given the event that occurred this morning with a gorilla keeper from the Madrid Zoo, we share our official note and our wishes for a speedy recovery for this worker.

The woman, 46, was left with two broken arms and chest and head injuries after the attack at the Madrid Zoo this morning. Pictured: Malabo the gorilla who attacked her

Malabo, a 29-year-old male gorilla, managed to break through three doors to get to the indoor facilities of the zoo while the zookeeper was getting on with the usual breakfast routine. Pictured: Emergency services at the scene

'The events took place this morning, around 10am when a keeper with 19 years of experience at the zoo accessed the indoor facilities for the usual breakfast routine, cleaning and preparing the facilities.

'Upon entering a bounded area with a triple door, the caretaker met Malabo, a 29-year-old male gorilla, who had accessed it.

'The reasons why the animal was able to access the area are being investigated internally. However, the judicial investigation will determine the exact details.

'It should be noted that this interior area is for driving, with no exit to the public area and in this sense, the emergency protocol was quickly activated, notifying the Samur emergncy team and the municipal police.

The zookeeper was stabilised by paramedics at the scene before being rushed to the Madrid Clinical Hospital in a serious condition

The Municipal Police of Madrid have taken over the investigation as it is classified as a work accident

'The zoo team managed to remove the animal and later, the veterinary team anaesthetised the animal with a tranquilliser dart, which was transferred to its interior bedroom and at the moment, it is calm.'

'Note that Malabo has been raised by his caregivers since he was born with a protective behaviour towards the group and close to his caregivers. At this time, the caregiver has a reserved prognosis and the first thing is to wish her speedy recovery.'

'Today, the gorilla facilities will remain closed so that both Malabo and the rest of the group are calm.'
Portland, Ore.

Members of the right-wing Proud Boys and their supporters arrived in a Portland, Ore., park Saturday as leftist activists prepared their own counter rallies, raising the temperature of a city already on edge as officials pleaded for the ralliers to refrain from violence.

Gov. Kate Brown declared a state of emergency in advance of the arrival of the Proud Boys, an all-male group whose members  many of whom support President Donald Trump  often engage in provocations, threats or fighting with opponents at their events. Brown's declaration cleared the way for a major law enforcement presence in hopes of keeping the dueling groups apart, but there were fears that people traveling to the park with violent intentions would nonetheless find a way to sow chaos.

Downtown Portland has been rocked by protests this summer, first over the police killings of Black people and later over the Trump administration's move to send federal agents to the city in an attempt to quell the demonstrations. And demonstrations across the United States kicked up again last week after a grand jury in Kentucky decided not to indict either of the two Louisville police officers who shot Breonna Taylor, a Black emergency room technician.

In New York, hundreds of demonstrators held a sit-in for more than an hour on the Brooklyn Bridge, where many took a knee in honor of Taylor. People also took to the streets in Oakland, Calif.; Seattle; Boston; and Albuquerque, N.M., where a motorist reportedly tried to drive a car through the crowd, though no one was reported injured.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

In Philadelphia on Saturday, dozens of Proud Boys marched through downtown, followed by officers on bikes. Some carried American flags and Trump 2020 flags while chanting derogatory comments about antifa.

In Portland, the Proud Boys have described the event Saturday in the city's Delta Park as a rally to "end domestic terrorism" but many in Portland saw it as a thinly veiled excuse by the right-wing group to brawl with their ideological opposites. Among the roughly 200 Proud Boys members who were gathered Saturday, hours before the main event, some were carrying guns. Others had bulletproof vests and tactical gear.
A pair of art-related events, the Magic Mural Tour and Parking Lot Picasso, came to downtown Rochester for Art Month on Saturday.

September is Art Month in downtown Rochester, sponsored by Genesys Credit Union.

Both events were open to the public, where artists of all ages could compete and express themselves, and the public could enjoy their artwork.

These events were also hosted in conjunction with Rochester Downtown Development Authoritys (DDAs) Taste of Fall, which runs through Monday, October 19.

Over 20 participating downtown businesses will have special fall-inspired entrees, drinks and desserts, with information about the event available at the Downtown Collaboration Studio or at downtownrochestermi.com.

For example, the DDA announced on Facebook on Saturday its Taste of Fall Flavor of the Day, a malty, German-style, Oktoberfest lager with low to moderate hop bitterness, medium body and and orangish-amber coloring from Rochester Mills Beer Company.

And, on Sunday, the announced Flavor of the Day was a pumpkin crumble, with a white chocolate center, glaze drizzle and homemade whipped cream, from Tonias Victorian Rose Tea Room & More.

The Magic Mural Tour, which runs September 8-30, features artwork by 14 different local artists, which are displayed outside and scattered throughout town.

A map of the different artworks is available on the DDAs website where the event is announced, and includes locations such as the Royal Park Hotel, the DDAs office, Paint Creek Center for the Arts (PCCA), a downtown Rochester nonprofit art center and gallery, and several stores along Main Street.

The DDA, in conjunction with PCCA, is also hosting a Peoples Choice Contest on Facebook to pick the best mural. Other artwork is also being included in different categories.

It has posted pictures of each mural and the photo with the most likes will be crowned the Peoples Choice Winner for this year, with the contest running Wednesday, September 23, thru Monday, September 28.

Titles for the artworks include Rochester Is, by Michelle Tessoff, and Home Sweet Home, by Amie Mommersteeg.

The downtown murals are a product of the downtown association or Rochester (DDA) and they made September Art Month, Nicole Bush, PCCA Education Coordinator, in charge of programs and social media, said.

They have come up with Taste of (Fall) where even the restaurants can participate and the (Magic) Mural Tour is part of that.

Hosted by PCCA and also part of Art Month, Parking Lot Picasso is a chalk-drawing event where artists filled a maximum of 40 parking spaces of the Rochester Grain Elevator (formerly the Griggs Brothers Grain Elevator) parking lot, on the corner of University and East Streets, with their chalk drawings.

Participants were asked to submit their chalk parking space design online on the PCCAs website by September 16, to be approved by September 21.

PCCA then assigned each participant a parking space and provided them with chalk to complete their designs, with artists having to pick up their supplies from the PCCA before the event to decorate their spots within the selected time frame.

Artists then decorated their parking spot on the mornings of Friday and Saturday, September 25 and 26.

Due to the pandemic, participants were required to bring and wear face masks, despite the event being outdoors, while within six feet of any individuals outside of their households.

Parking Lot Picasso is a project to bring some community art and put joy into local peoples lives. And, it gives them ownership of their city, Bush said.

Each chalked parking space was entered into the DDAs and PCCAs Peoples Choice Contest on Facebook, with voting ending Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

There are first, second and third place prizes, which include award ribbons and free PCCA workshops.

Vanessa Wacek, a Troy resident, participated in Saturdays Paint Creek Picasso event.

When asked how she got involved in the event, Waceks mom said she got an email about it.

Shes (Waceks) taking classes at Paint Creek and we got an email about it, Waceks mom said. Were very excited.

For more information on Art Month, the Taste of Fall and the Magic Mural Tour, visit the DDAs website, go to events and click on Whats Happening, or see the DDAs Facebook page.

Or, for more information on the PCCA and Parking Lot Picasso, visit the PCCAs website or find them on social media on Facebook or Twitter at @PaintCreekArts.

See photos of the event and read more here:

Pair of art-related events come to Rochester for Art Month, in photos

Taste of Fall, mural tours taking place during Art Month in downtown Rochester

Humans and their pets invited to family-friendly event in Rochester Hills

Rochester resident joins Marsh & McLennan Agency as VP of Health and Benefits
Jammu, Sep 27 : A major infiltration bid was foiled on Sunday by the Border Security Force (BSF) on the international border (IB) in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir.

BSF sources said movement of a group of five terrorists was noticed on the Pakistani side of the international border in Samba by alert troopers during last night.

"During the night, the group of 5 heavily armed terrorists tried to enter into the Indian territory, but they were engaged by alert BSF troops immediately after they came close taking advantage of Sarkanda growth.

"They started firing at the BSF troops the moment they were challenged while the post of Pakistan rangers also gave covering fires to the intruders. Faced with coordinated effective firing from BSF troopers the terrorists fled," BSF sources said.

The BSF said with this it has foiled another possible infiltration bid of armed terrorists from Pakistan side well supported by Pakistan Rangers.

This is second attempt of infiltration through the Samba sector by the terrorist group after 14 to 15 foiled attempts in September.
As the nation continues to protest the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, you might be wondering how often these kinds of tragic and deadly police encounters occur.

Heres the sad truth: Nobody knows. In fact, much about our criminal justice system remains shrouded in secrecy. If lawmakers are going to get serious about reforming police departments, then we need to begin a transparent process of collecting and publishing data on policing.

There are well over 17,000 police agencies across the United States, and yet we have little information on such simple questions as:

How often does someone die in police custody, and what was the cause of death?

When police misconduct is implicated, what type of investigation occurred, who was investigated, and what were the results?

When officers use force, what reasons were given to justify the conduct?

What training and tactics do police employ?

Scholars who attempt to document these basic facts about police agencies are often frustrated to no end. Jonathan Mummolo of Princeton  who has written some of the best work on how to detect racial bias in policing  found that he could barely get off the ground when he wanted to study the effects of militarized policing.

I sent hundreds of open records requests to local agencies in search of data on militarization, but learned that many agencies purge records that are more than five or 10 years old, or dont track the activity of their militarized units at all, Mummolo wrote in The Atlantic in 2018. When they do, they often track it poorly, refuse to share it, or release heavily redacted records that are of little use, citing exceptions to open records laws which, quite unhelpfully, vary by state.

Even the FBIs National Use-of-Force Data Collection, which was just launched last year, fails to provide an accurate picture. Police agency participation is voluntary and explicitly disallows the collection of final disposition information about use-of-force incidents. Such voluntary and low-quality programs make it far too easy for police departments to avoid accountability for how they investigate their own officers.

To be sure, there are a few major police departments nationwide that have been relatively open and transparent. Denver, for example, has an open data set on all officer uses of firearms since 2015.

Still, it is amazing how far some police departments and police unions will go to prevent anyone from knowing the truth.

In Chicago, for example, citizens filed a lawsuit in 2007 asking for freedom of information access to the misconduct records of the Chicago Police Department. The department doggedly fought the lawsuit for seven years, until an Illinois appellate court finally said the records had to be released.

The citys two major police unions followed up with another lawsuit in 2014 asking to ban the release of misconduct records that were more than four years old, on the theory that such records would be embarrassing to the policemen involved. Finally, in 2016, an Illinois appeals court ruled that the records had to be released.

The result was the Citizens Police Data Project, which catalogs and maps all of the misconduct complaints in Chicago. The complaint data has already yielded scholarly research that is relevant to understanding the use of force and social contagion in policing.

It shouldnt take some 10 years and multiple legal battles just to get access to such essential information about how a key government agency works.

There has to be a better way.

Fortunately, the new Justice in Policing Act of 2020  recently introduced in Congress  would be a good start. For one, it would require law enforcement agencies to create a national police misconduct registry intended to track complaints and discipline nationwide, so that agencies would be better able to screen out bad apples from other jurisdictions. For another, the act would require states to report on police shootings, deaths and uses of force, including a wide range of details on the civilians involved, the circumstances and context, and whether officers first tried to de-escalate the situation..

That said, the act could be substantially strengthened. For example, it is well-known that official police reports can omit key details about misconduct, and a federal reporting requirement should include penalties when official reports are contradicted by video evidence. For another example, the act does nothing to ensure that all of the data will be made available to university researchers and watchdog groups. And while misbehaving police officers may be entitled to the same privacy as any other individual, the act should insulate data collection efforts from lawsuits by police unions that aim to stifle accountability for bad behavior.

The same could be said of the Sandra Bland Act that was enacted in 2017 here in Texas. Among other things, that act requires Texas law enforcement agencies to track and report data on all traffic stops, including racial and ethnic information on who was stopped and whether the person was injured by the officer using physical force. A good start, in theory, but the reality has fallen short. As the Houston Chronicle reported in June, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement somehow left out data on the drivers race, making it impossible to measure anything about racial profiling. To quote the Chronicle: After two decades and three separate laws, efforts to identify which of the states nearly 2,000 law enforcement agencies have glaring racial disparities in their policing have largely failed, yielding only a patchwork of numbers with widely varying degrees of usefulness. After the Chronicle story, the state asked for the data with the drivers race.

The brutality inflicted on George Floyd should never happen to anyone. But without good data, we have little idea of how many George Floyds have been victimized by police officers. Demanding systematic, transparent, and audited data is a step toward holding police accountable for protecting the lives and well-being of all Americans.

Buck is the vice president of research at Arnold Ventures, a Houston-based philanthropy.
The coronavirus pandemic has now claimed more than 1 million lives around the globe, according to the latest official death tolls, with more than 33 million cases.

The grim milestone was passed in the early hours of Tuesday morning. On Monday evening the UK announced a further 13 deaths.

In total, 1,000,555 people have died according to John Hopkins University, which calculates the totals from sources including governments.

Since the first-known cases emerged at a Wuhan wet market in December 2019, the pattern of life has been drastically altered the world over.

Within six months, Covid-19 had taken at least 500,000 lives and infected 10 million people. It has taken just half that time for the known death toll to double.

The virus has now spread to 210 countries and territories, infecting at least 32 million people.

However, the true number of deaths and infections are likely higher due to a lack of sufficient testing and reporting in many countries.

Europe, which emerged as an early epicentre of the virus is now battling a second resurgence as the continent enters the winter months, with governments and citizens grappling with the prospect of renewed curbs on personal freedoms.

And with populists at the helm in US and Brazil, where both Donald Trump and Jair Bolsonaro have sought to publicly play down the seriousness of the virus and resisted mitigation efforts that could hamper the economy, the Americas remain the hardest hit, having quickly seen their death tolls soar once the virus took hold.

Soon after, India emerged as a further hotspot, and continues to record new daily caseloads in the tens of thousands, with more than 95,500 deaths recorded as of Monday evening.

Meanwhile, the impact on the economy has little to no precedent, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in April describing the resulting global recession as a crisis like no other.

But while the abrupt plunges into the red cut an alarming trajectory, many economists were buoyed by the promise of a relatively sharp rise once lockdowns and curfews were lifted.

However, the IMF - which has poured $90bn in funding to nations since the crisis began - warned that the recovery was taking longer than expected, and that it could take some countries years to return to states of growth.

Yet following an unprecedented concentration of scientific efforts worldwide, our ability to adapt to and combat the virus grow ever stronger.

The viruss genetic makeup was quickly sequenced, allowing for successful tests to be quickly developed and creating a groundwork for vaccine creation.

As contact-tracing systems around the world grow increasingly advanced, and work on creating faster, more accurate tests continues, trials are also underway on promising treatment methods, such as the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone and convalescent blood plasma.

And of some 200 inoculations being developed globally, eight are in the final phase of clinical trials. The UKs top advisors have suggested a vaccine could be widely available by autumn 2021.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Defense Ministry spokesperson Artsrun Hovhannisyan is reporting that Artsakh has shot down one more attacking Azerbaijani UAV.

Hovhannisyan said Azerbaijani has deployed all its 300 and larger caliber multiple rocket launchers in its arsenal in the attack on Artsakh.

In the early morning of September 27, the Azerbaijani military launched a massive attack on Artsakh using air force, missiles and tanks. The Azerbaijani artillery strikes targeted civilian settlements, including Stepanakert city, which resulted in several civilians being killed. Schools were also bombed.

The Artsakh Armed Forces have shot down helicopters, UAVs and destroyed tanks and other armored vehicles of the Azeri military.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum confirmed the attack on a convoy of government officials by suspected Boko Haram which led to the death of many security personnel.

At least 15 security personnel, comprising soldiers, police officers and operatives of the Civilian-JTF were killed in an ambush while on escort duty to officials of the state government as they headed towards Baga town.

Governor Zulum was billed to officially return the people of Baga to their communities nearly three years after Boko Haram sacked them.

The governors spokesman, Isa Gusau, in a statement explained what happened.

He said three separate convoys, one of the governor, the second, that of a government committee, and the third, a security escort team, were arranged for the trip.

Mr Gusau explained the security team was attacked long after the others had arrived Baga. Mr Gusau said his boss was saddened by the loss of lives.

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United Nations, Sep 27 : India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's United Nations General Assembly speech on September 26 stands out among the few this year at the virtual talkfest which offered up ideas and approaches as complements to soothe the collective anxiety of a global quarantined audience.

With 150 words tucked into the middle of a 21-minute speech, Modi ripped into the core paradox of the idea of the United Nations as a cross country collaboration ninja.

Modi asked aloud what commoners on New York's streets wonder when the annual gridlock and mass migration of diplomats drives them nuts each September. "So, what exactly does the UNGA do?" "Where is the United Nations in this giant fight against the pandemic? Where is its effective response?" Modi asked, on behalf of 1.3 billion Indians and then proceeded to tell the world how India solves hard problems.

Modi's pitch shone a light on India's problem-solver avatar amidst a mass of bickering nations reciting speeches that are at best substitutes for each other. In the time of the greatest public health emergency the world has known, Modi's talk delivered the goods for the pandemic-weary.

In a UNGA resonating with desperate pleas for a coronavirus vaccine delivery strategy, the only worthwhile complements (beyond masks and social distancing) are therapeutics, and a vaccine. In that order.

India spoke to both issues, in stark contrast to the contradictions of the UN platform which is falling well short of a truly global response to a crisis unlike any other in its 75 year history.

"Your Excellency, even during these very difficult times of the raging pandemic, the pharmaceutical industry of India has sent essential medicines to more than 150 countries as the largest vaccine producing nation in the world," Modi said, serving notice of India's superpower during an ongoing catastrophe.

"I want to give one more assurance to the global community today. India's vaccine production and delivery capacity will be used to help all humanity in fighting this crisis in India and in our neighbourhood. We are moving ahead with phase three of the clinical trials. India will also help all the countries in enhancing their cold chain and storage capacities for the delivery of the vaccines." India's address reflected both the questions at the heart of the 2020 UNGA and some answers, which have been elusive.

While UN leaders continue to drum up the notion of multilateralism, the nature of the coronavirus pandemic simplifies that construct to its core: If a vaccine proves effective in one country, it will spread.

The UN Secretary General framed this year's virtual gathering as a "global conversation" but what we're getting from the UNGA video stream is an endless talk shop filled with pre-recorded content that are mostly substitute avatars of each other.

It doesn't really matter who is saying what because this year, the virus has made the problem definition very clear. At other times, countries could get away with vague assurances during a geopolitical stand-up at the UNGA. Not any longer.

Adding to the mix is the 100 per cent virtual format of this year's UNGA. Real time content is not walled off, the audience needs no lanyards and complicated entry passes to witness arguments at the UN Security Council, the UN's most powerful body. Modi turned a mirror to the cracks within, twice in the same week.

India has long sought a permanent seat on the Security Council and Modi bookended his two appearances at the UN this week tearing into UN's "outdated" structures.

"For how long will India be kept out of the decision-making structures of the United Nations?" Modi asked. India starts a term as a non-permanent member in January.

For his part, the UN Secretary General himself is pinning the international community's failure on what he describes as a "lack of global preparedness, cooperation, unity and solidarity".

The COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access Facility or COVAX is a grouping of more than 150 countries pooling resources for the distribution of a future vaccine. Their target is to make two billion doses to inoculate 20 per cent of the world's population. The US is staying away from the effort, led by the World Health Organization. Beijing and Moscow are absent too.

Guterres has tried hard to project the primary achievement of the UN as the absence of military confrontation between major powers.

He said that if the world responds to even more catastrophic challenges with the same disunity and disarray, "I fear the worst." The virus has altered more than just the format of the UNGA. It is calling into question the absence of the much-hyped UN clout at a perilous moment.
BERLIN - Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is recovering from the suspected assassination attempt last month faster than expected, one of his aides said Sunday.

Navalny, who collapsed on a plane from Siberia to Moscow on Aug. 20 and spent nearly three weeks in a coma, was discharged last week from the Berlin hospital where he was being treated. His doctors said that based on Navalnys progress a complete recovery is possible.

He is doing much better, I would say unexpectedly better, Leonid Volkov, Navalnys chief of staff, told German broadcaster RTL. I think the recovery is really faster than expected, and of course this is good news that makes us very happy.

Navalny, a longtime foe of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is still receiving outpatient treatment and remains under close protection, Volkov said.

I personally dont think that another attack can happen in Berlin, but we can see that the personal security has a different opinion, he said. He is guarded quite heavily.

Germany authorities have said Navalny was poisoned with a powerful nerve agent and called on Russia to investigate the attack that occurred on its territory.

The presence of the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok in Navalnys samples was corroborated by labs in France and Sweden. But Russia has resisted international pressure to launch a criminal investigation, saying its own tests found no trace of poisonous substances in the opposition leaders system.

The poisoning had so many negative consequences for the Kremlin, said Volkov, adding that in his opinion the attempted assassination couldnt have occurred without Putins approval.

Navalny has said that he intends to return to Russia to resume his work.

He understands the risks quite well, and we are supposed to think somehow how he can continue living in Russia, Volkov told RTL. It will not be so easy and many things will change, for sure, to reduce the probability of a second attack.

Read more about:
A church sign partially burned overnight in Cleburne County, and an investigation is underway, according to the country sheriffs office.

(Theres) significant damage to one side of the sign as well as a little damage to the landscaping, said Deputy Patrick Nolan.

The sign at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, near Hollis, read Come worship with us." It was burned overnight in a suspected arson. The Sheriffs office received a call about the fire around 1 a.m.

According to Nolan, there have been no recent issues with arson in the area, and the church has seen no problems.

Theres not been any reports at this church of any issues or anything going on, he said.

The Alabama Fire Marshalls Office is assisting with the investigation.

They will be able to help us a little bit better understand the fire and what the potential cause and origin is, he said.
YORK, Pa., Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WellSpan Health, an integrated health system that serves the communities of central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland and Air Methods, a leading air medical service in the U.S., have jointly launched a new medical helicopter service. The initiative is aimed at improving access to emergency air transport services for the most critically injured or sick patients.

The new helicopter, called WellFlight, is branded with WellSpans logo and trademark blue and gold colors. It primarily operates in Adams, Franklin, and York counties. WellFlight operates with seasoned pilots and a licensed medical flight nurse and paramedic from Air Methods on board, keeping high-quality care and patient safety the top priority.

As a trusted partner in our community, and when seconds count, WellFlight will be able to transport patients to and from our acute care hospitals, including our Level 1 Regional Resource Trauma Center at WellSpan York Hospital, explained Victoria Diamond, senior vice president for the central region of WellSpan Health and president, WellSpan York Hospital. Our community deserves the very best, and with WellFlight, we know we can continue the tradition of keeping our patients a healthy step ahead.

We are excited to bring our commitment to professional emergency air medical services to the region by partnering with WellSpan Health, explained Aidan OConnor, Jr., Air Methods director of sales, northeast region. Our organization has the experience to seamlessly integrate this service into the network of WellSpan hospitals to provide a lasting impact for these communities. Our aircraft, pilots, and medical flight crews make it possible for residents to get access to the care they need as quickly as possible. This has a tremendous impact in rural areas, where a ground ambulance can take more than hour to reach a patient.

To learn more about WellSpan Healths six acute care hospital emergency departments, visit https://www.wellspan.org/offices-locations/emergency-departments.

Story continues

To learn more about Air Methods, visit www.airmethods.com.

###

About WellSpan Health

WellSpan Health is an integrated health system that serves the communities of central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland. The organization includes a clinically integrated network of approximately 2,600 physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs), including more than 1,600 employed physicians and APPs; a regional behavioral health organization; a home care organization; eight respected hospitals; approximately 20,000 employees; and more than 200 patient care locations. WellSpan is a charitable, mission-driven organization, committed to exceptional care for all, lifelong wellness and healthy communities. Visit www.WellSpan.org.

About Air Methods

Air Methods (www.airmethods.com) is the leading air medical service, delivering lifesaving care to more than 70,000 people every year. With nearly 40 years of air medical experience, Air Methods is the preferred partner for hospitals and one of the largest community-based providers of air medical services. United Rotorcraft is the Companys products division specializing in the design and manufacture of aeromedical and aerospace technology. Air Methods fleet of owned, leased or maintained aircraft features more than 450 helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.

Media Contact:

Ryan Coyle

Manager, WellSpan Communications

(908) 319-2450

RCoyle@WellSpan.org

Doug Flanders

Director of Communications

Air Methods

Doug.Flanders@airmethods.com

CONTACT: Matt Pera Amendola Communications for Air Methods (219) 628-0258 mpera@acmarketingpr.com




The rally was being held in support of dissident republicans held in Maghaberry Prison (PA)

Ulster Unionist Doug Beattie has criticised a protest outside Maghaberry Prison after a police officer was injured during disturbances.

Police arrested four men aged in their 20s at a demonstration being held outside Maghaberry Prison on Saturday.

They were arrested on suspicion of a number of public order offences.

One police officer was injured during the rally which was being held in support of dissident republicans.

Expand Close Ulster Unionist Doug Beattie criticised a protest outside Maghaberry Prison (PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Ulster Unionist Doug Beattie criticised a protest outside Maghaberry Prison (PA)

Mr Beattie, the Ulster Unionists spokesman for justice, condemned the scenes.

The MLA said: Yesterday supporters of dissident republican prisoners took it upon themselves to hold a protest outside Maghaberry Prison and as a result of disturbances which broke out, a police officer was injured.

This entire situation is an exercise in futility.

The bottom line is that anyone who still supports the failed and flawed concept of physical-force republicanism has nothing positive to offer anyone and is on a road to nowhere.

All this ideology ever did was fill the jails and fill the graveyards, destroying lives and communities in the process.

I would like to wish the injured officer a speedy recovery and would urge the authorities to be very mindful what kind of protests they facilitate near our prisons in future, not least in the midst of the current pandemic.
A group of some of Britian's most prominent literary figures have signed a letter in support of JK Rowling after she received death threats on social media under the hashtag #RIPJKRowling.

A collection of over 50 actors, writers, playwrights, journalists joined together to pen a letter in response to 'hate speech' directed against Rowling.

Signatories of the letter include Booker winner Ian McEwan, actor Griff Rhys Jones, actress Frances Barber and playwright Sir Tom Stoppard.

Prominent literary figures signed a letter in 'solidarity' with Harry Potter author JK Rowling, 55, after the hashtag #RIPJKRowling trended on social media, declaring her dead

In the letter, which was triggered in response to the hashtag #RIPJKRowling trending at number one on Twitter, they said Rowling is a victim of 'an insidious, authoritarian and misogynistic trend in social media'.

The letter wrote the hashtag declaring her dead on social media was 'just the latest example of hate speech directed against her'.

The Harry Potter author, 55, was subjected to bitter attacks from transgender activists following the publication of her latest novel, Troubled Blood.

The novel is published under Rowling's pseudonym Robert Galbraith and features a 'transvestite serial killer', which sparked furious backlash online a day before the book's release on September 15.

Booker winner Ian McEwan (left) and actor Griff Rhys Jones (right) were among some of the signatories of the letter in response to 'hate speech' directed against Rowling

Transgender activists rushed to Twitter to declare Rowling 'dead', sending the hashtag #RIPJKRowling trending at number one in the UK.

At the time, Piers Morgan wrote on Twitter: 'The fact #RIPJKRowling is trending says all you need to know about the woke brigade - they're nastier and more viciously intolerant than anyone they preach about.'

The latest abuse directed at Rowling comes after a drawn-out social media campaign against the author following her outspoken views on transgender matters.

The letter written in 'solidarity' with Rowling was published in the Sunday Times today and was signed by 58 signatories including fellow authors and other literary figures.

The letter read: 'JK Rowling has been subjected to an onslaught of abuse that highlights an insidious, authoritarian and misogynistic trend in social media.' It was also signed by playwright Sir Tom Stoppard (left) and actress Frances Barber (right)

Under the title, We Stand With JK Against Hate, it read: 'JK Rowling has been subjected to an onslaught of abuse that highlights an insidious, authoritarian and misogynistic trend in social media.

'Rowling has consistently shown herself to be an honourable and compassionate person, and the appalling hashtag #RIPJKRowling is just the latest example of hate speech directed against her and other women that Twitter and other platforms enable and implicitly endorse.

'We are signing this letter in the hope that, if more people stand up against the targeting of women online, we might at least make it less acceptable to engage in it or profit from it.

'We wish JK Rowling well and stand in solidarity with her.'

Despite the controversy, Troubled Blood sold 64,633 copies in its first five days, nearly doubling the sales of its predecessor in the series over the same period.
Particularly poignant to me was her long and deep friendship with Justice Antonin Scalia, my own mentor. Justices Scalia and Ginsburg disagreed fiercely in print without rancor in person. Their ability to maintain a warm and rich friendship despite their differences even inspired an opera. These two great Americans demonstrated that arguments, even about matters of great consequence, need not destroy affection.

In both my personal and professional relationships, I strive to meet that standard. I was lucky enough to clerk for Justice Scalia. And given his incalculable influence on my life, I am very moved to have members of the Scalia family here today, including his dear wife, Maureen. I clerked for Justice Scalia more than 20 years ago, but the lessons I learned still resonate. His judicial philosophy is mine, too. A judge must apply the law as written. Judges are not policymakers, and they must be resolute in setting aside any policy views they might hold.

The president has asked me to become the ninth justice, and as it happens I am used to being in a group of nine  my family. Our family includes me; my husband, Jesse; Emma; Vivian; Tess; John Peter; Liam; Juliet; and Benjamin. Vivian and John Peter, as the president said, were born in Haiti, and they came to us five years apart, when they were very young. And the most revealing fact about Benjamin, our youngest, is that his brothers and sisters unreservedly identity him as their favorite sibling.

Our children obviously make our life very full. While I am a judge, Im better known back home as a room parent, car pool driver and birthday party planner. When schools went remote last spring, I tried on another hat. Jesse and I became co-principals of the Barrett e-learning academy. And yes, the list of enrolled students was a very long one. Our children are my greatest joy, even though they deprive me of any reasonable amount of sleep.

I could not manage this very full life without the unwavering support of my husband, Jesse. At the start of our marriage, I imagined that we would run our household as partners. As it has turned out, Jesse does far more than his share of the work. To my chagrin, I learned at dinner recently that my children consider him to be the better cook. For 21 years, Jesse has asked me every single morning what he can do for me that day. And though I almost always say, Nothing, he still finds ways to take things off my plate. And thats not because he has a lot of free time. He has a busy law practice. It is because he is a superb and generous husband, and I am very fortunate.
Inside Hook

The hairstyles and clothing hearkened back to the late 1960s, but the facemasks were very 2020. When you look at photographs of the recent reshoots for The Many Saints of Newark, David Chases return to the world of The Sopranos, you could be forgiven for feeling a bit of cognitive dissonance. On the plus side, however, theres also the matter of The Many Saints of Newark growing closer to its release date  March 21 of next year  which is not a bad thing at all.



An article by Amy Kuperinsky at NJ.com explores the reshoots to date and speculates about what they might mean for the film as a whole. The reshoots have involved scenes shot at Holstens Brookdale Confectionery  the location of The Sopranos contentious final scene  as well as in Newark, leading to questions of how the film will deal with Newarks 1967 civil unrest.
LinkedIn has introduced a visual redesign, new features to the messaging option, and an enhanced search experience which will be slowly introduced to members over the next few months in a move to improve member experience.



In its first major visual redesign in five years, LinkedIn has created a cleaner and more modern look with a focus on community. A warmer colour palette with blue and green accents to signal action and selection have been added as well as new illustrations to reflect the human world of work and more rounded shapes for a softer, friendlier experience.



The intuitive new design optimizes space, size, and typographic structure while adding more whitespace while reducing divider lines and decorative icons ensures a simplified look and feel. New illustrations have been incorporated, portraying a wide range of professional fields and industries to bring to life LinkedIns vibrant community and diverse perspectives.



With a 25% increase in messages sent on the platform since last year, LinkedIn has also added new ways to connect through messages. These feature updates include reactions to message through emojis, and the ability to kick off a video meeting directly in a message thread using Microsoft Teams, BlueJeans by Verizon, or Zoom directly from LinkedIn messages.



LinkedIn has also added the ability to edit or delete sent messages and made it easier to manage messages. In-line message warnings have been added to help identify inappropriate, inflammatory, harassing or hateful content quickly.



A blended search experience has also been introduced to make it easier and faster to find everything available on LinkedIn. This will facilitate searches and yield organized results with jobs, people, courses, groups, events and content in one result.



LinkedIn has also added keyword filters for people (previously available only on web) to the mobile app, as well as filters for company by location, industry and company size to all platforms. Personalised insights to the search results have also been added to spot more relevant results faster.



As part of these updates, LinkedIn will also be making LinkedIn Stories available in the U.S. and Canada, and globally in the coming weeks, a feature tested in the UAE earlier this year.



The announcement follows the launches of new tools to help people connect virtually and stay informed over the past few months. It also shares how we continue to see engagement on LinkedIn hit new highs with a 50 percent increase in people sharing, and more than 1 million hours of learning consumed every week.  TradeArabia News Service
Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

Popular Ghanaian show hostess and business executive, Deloris Frimpong-Manso, has opened up on some challenges she faced in the past.

According to her, she often dreamed of becoming a big radio presenter in Accra during her time at Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region.

She added that she often had no choice but to sleep on an empty stomach when she moved to Tema in the Greater Accra Region.

READ ALSO: Okyeame Kwame drops first-ever photo of senior brother; Ghanaians react

Per a report by zionfelix.net, Deloris, popularly known as Delay, added that it is important to keep dreaming.

Taking to social media, she noted that Ive always been a bit too ambitious, and have never been afraid to dream big. I used to live in Nkawkaw and will dream of being a big-time radio presenter in Accra!

I used to sleep on an empty stomach in Tema and dream of running some huge business. I havent stopped dreaming. Ive been dreaming a lot lately! Sometimes, all you have is a dream. KEEP DREAMING! DREAMS COME TRUE! #beinspired.

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that when Delay first dreamed of starting a business, she had major setbacks while dealing with homelessness.

In spite of the financial challenges, she just kept moving forward. The entrepreneur, television and radio show host, producer, public speaker and women's advocate, began her broadcasting career as a presenter with Life FM in Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region of Ghana at the age of 17 in 1999.

Delay later moved to Top Radio in 2005 in the capital, Accra, where she worked until 2007 and was later hired by the newly established Oman FM in 2007, where she worked until 2016.

While she was working with Oman FM, Delay started her own television program, the Delay Show in 2008 on TV3.

In 2011, she wrote and produced the household television series, Afia Schwarzenegger.

As the owner of Maxgringo Productions, she introduced television series Cocoa Brown, a story that mirrored her truth.

The prominent Ghanaian on-screen personality has fast become an inspiration despite her early struggle with homelessness.

READ ALSO: Strongman's daughter shows serious swag levels in new photo

Use the comments section below to share your views on this story. Do you have a story to share or you have information for us? Get featured on YEN.com.gh. Message us on Facebook or Instagram

Source: YEN.com.gh
Avery Jones was on the verge of dropping out of Sharpstown High School. There were just too many distractions. He had too many friends there  friends hed known since middle school or from playing sports, but friends that were becoming a bad influence.

It was me constantly talking to them, leaving campus and getting into trouble, Jones says. Gradewise and workwise, I was doing good. But I was hanging around kids who werent on the right track. I was trying to follow them and be a cool kid.

Jones mom knew her son needed a new learning environment or hed never graduate. She was looking for alternative options online when Marvin Pierres name appeared in her Facebook feed.

In 2017, Pierre founded 8 Million Stories to help disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline. His alternative education program primarily serves male youths, ages 16-19, whove disconnected from traditional school, dropped out or dont have enough credits to earn their diploma.

Jones met the criteria.

When a parent is seeking another option for their kids because theyre not succeeding in traditional school, were such a relief, Pierre says. Whether this kid just got kicked out for fighting or that kid just got out of jail, we arent fazed. These arent bad kids  their actions are essentially a cry for help.

The name of his school derives from the title of a song by A Tribe Called Quest. Lyrics at the end of the song play, Help me out, yall, help me out now. Which is exactly what Pierre aspires to do.

A native New Yorker, he attended Prep Tabor Academy, a former all-boys school in Massachusetts, which has since become a co-educational institution.

Any environment where youre the only minority student is a hard adjustment, socially, he recalls. So the staff connected me with Dr. (Sam) McFadden, one of the few African Americans in the town.

McFadden, the head radiologist at a local hospital, became his mentor and something of a surrogate father figure. Their relationship had a profound effect on Pierres trajectory. He told me, Marvin, I know youre going to be really successful in life. But no matter how much you accomplish, dont forget to reach back and pull up another person.

That sage advice came into play in 2008 when Pierre  who worked for Goldman Sachs on Wall Street at the time  was laid off during the recession.

A friend who is a teacher asked him to speak with the young boys in her classroom. Much like Pierres childhood, her students didnt have many male figures in their lives to look up to.

She thought I could motivate them to do well because we came from a similar background, he said. I was walking around her classroom and stumbled across a board that suggested a fifth-grade reading level, but the highest student I saw ranked was a three.

He was reminded of McFadden in that moment. He passed away on my first day at Goldman. He saw potential in me when I didnt see potential in myself. And I thought, What better way to keep his legacy alive?

Pierre, 37, moved to Houston with the goal of opening an all-boys school six years ago. He says that the region refers 12,000 young people to the juvenile justice system annually. And many of those kids struggle to reintegrate into their communities post-incarceration.

To learn how the area system works, Pierre accepted an assistant principal position with KIPP Polaris Academy for Boys.

It really allowed me to have an impact here locally, he says.

By 2017, he was ready to strike out on his own. 8 Million Stories operates inside Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church on Houstons southwest side. Pierre wanted a location in the heart of a community where youths were the most disconnected from positive role models, and therefore likely to be affected by the school-to-prison pipeline.

His program follows the Houston ISD calendar and operates 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. For admittance, he looks for young people who are resilient, display a commitment to the process and are up for a challenge.

He often accepts referrals from government agencies, though his preference is for kids who self-elect. We dont want them to feel like theyre forced to participate. They fill out an application, which gives us an opportunity to assess fit on both ends.

I want a student who is responsible, shows up every day and gives 100 percent, Pierre says. Its not a quick turnaround. Theyve got to do the personal development.

Jones can attest.

One thing about 8 Million Stories is they dont play. If you just want to go there, sit around and talk, its not going to work, he says. But they motivate you. Say youre having trouble with an assignment, the teachers will pull you to the side and tell you why its important. They make you feel like youve got this.

Thats the advantage of the programs 1:12 teacher-to-student ratio, Pierre says. It helps educators address each students academic challenges. In a traditional school setting, theyre one of 2,000. And what many of our kids need so much is a place to call home.

In the past, hes admitted roughly 150 students per school year. Because of COVID-19, 8 Million Stories reduced enrollment to 40 for the fall semester and will play spring by ear.

Jones, now 19, is one of the students who will return as a fellow. He spent the end of summer helping Pierre and fellow alumni set up and paint the classroom space at Good Hope.

Since weve already taken the (GED) test, I know how stressful and hard it can be. I can help explain it in a way that the students can understand, he says. Well also be talking to investors, telling them what 8 Million Stories has done for us.

At the moment, sustainable funding is Pierres biggest hurdle.

Theres so much more we can offer our students, but being a young organization, we just dont have the capital, he says. How do we create a financial cushion when were still in the startup phase? We receive grants from foundations and are trying to create innovative ways to subsidize our costs.

Thats where Jones and other 8 Million Stories graduates come in. Theyre a walking testament of job readiness, leadership skills and ability to work in a team environment that the program affords young Houston men  given the right support.

They see something in you, Jones says. Before this lockdown, I was really looking at getting into construction and applying to building school.

His voice changes as he recalls a recent conversation with his top choice: a training facility in Tulsa, Okla. The once-distracted teenager has grown into a confident young man  and hes never been more focused.

amber.elliott@chron.com
Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo (L), France Prime Minister Jean Castex, and Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin (R) arrive on the scene after a knife attack near the former offices of satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, on Sept. 25, 2020 in Paris. (Lewis Joly/AP Photo)

France Vows to Protect Its Jewish Community After Stabbing

PARISFrances interior minister promised Sunday to protect Frances Jewish community from extremists after a double stabbing in Paris blamed on Islamic terrorism.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin visited a synagogue Sunday ahead of the evening start of Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, and said more than 7,000 police and soldiers are protecting Jewish services this weekend. France has Europes largest Jewish community.

I came to assure  members of Frances Jewish community of the protection of the state, Darmanin told reporters. Because we know that Jews are particularly targeted by Islamist attacks and we should obviously protect them.

Darmanin defended authorities handling of a double stabbing Friday outside the former offices of the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, saying intelligence services have prevented 32 potential terrorist attacks over the past three years.

Coordinated Islamic terrorist attacks on Charlie Hebdos Paris newsroom and a kosher supermarket in January 2015 killed 17 people, and Fridays stabbing came as the trial into those attacks is under way.

The suspected assailant in Fridays attack told investigators that he was targeting Charlie Hebdo after it recently republished caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad, according to a judicial official. Two people were wounded and several suspects are in custody.

One suspect arrested after Fridays stabbing was later releasedand his lawyer says that he had tried to stop the assailant and should be considered a hero instead.

Lawyer Lucie Simon told France-Info that her client, a 33-year-old French resident from Algeria identified only as Youssef, chased the attacker. Simon said the assailant threatened Youssef with a kitchen cleaver, so Youssef fled and told policewho promptly arrested him.
All of our goals will be just as important after were past this period as they were when we were planning. We will need these spaces, said Michelle Jeske, the executive director of the Denver Public Library and the current president of the Public Library Association, a division of the American Library Association. The pandemic-induced recession could prompt greater need for physical locations, she added, as people come in for help with job searches or filing for unemployment benefits.
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE) Chairman Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, a candidate for the mayoralty of Bucharest, said on Sunday, after going to the polls, that he had voted "to consolidate democracy."

"The vote I cast today is a vote for consolidating democracy so that Romanians no longer have to vote permanently between two major parties that pass the power between them," Tariceanu said.

He added that he also voted because the people of Bucharest experienced "a feeling of frustration", because there was no direct electoral debate in which the main candidates presented their proposals for solving the big problems facing the city.

"I am referring to heating, traffic, among other things, and the proposals regarding the modernization and perspective development of the city in the next 20 years. I hope that the citizens have learned the necessary lessons and will vote accordingly," Tariceanu said.

He remarked that at the polling station where he is assigned, at the "Mihai Eminescu" Seniors Club, "the voting conditions are ok", there is no crowd.

Tariceanu came to the polls with his wife.
Three staff at the restaurant Regulars Bar on King St. West have tested positive for COVID-19, according to Toronto Public Health.

The period for the potential exposure for those visiting the bar, 668 King St. W., is between Sept. 13 and Sept. 22, according to TPHs news release issued Sunday. According to TPH, about 600 people may have visited during that span.

TPH said it has followed up with individuals that have been in close contacts with three employees that tested positive and have been asked to self-isolate for 14 days and get tested. Individuals that have visited Regulars Bar during Sept. 13 and Sept. 22 are considered as low risk, said TPH, but should monitor themselves for symptoms for 14 days after their visit.

Meanwhile, Reyna on King, a restaurant on King Street East, announced via Instagram Sunday that a staffer had tested positive for COVID-19. The employee last worked on Wednesday, Sept. 24. In the post, the restaurant said it will be closing down its doors until further notice and has since cancelled all reservations for the next couple of days.

On Saturday, the city of Toronto said it had shut down three King Street restaurants after COVID-19 violations.

Those restaurants include MARBL, Mexican eatery Caza Mezcal, and sprawling craft-beer purveyor King Taps.

Libaan Osman is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Reach him via email: losman@thestar.ca
BUNKER HILL  Local schools will receive nearly $2 million in grants to improve students access to remote learning technology, according to state Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill.

Many school districts have employed a remote or hybrid learning model to protect staff and students during the pandemic, Manar said. These funds can help provide every child with the resources they need to stay engaged in their education during this difficult time.
Pennsylvania ex-church administrator who stole $1.2 million indicted on federal tax charges

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A former Pennsylvania church employee has been indicted on federal tax fraud charges related to the theft of more than $1 million from the congregation.

David Reiter, a former administrator at Westminster Presbyterian Church of Upper St. Clair, a congregation located near Pittsburgh, was previously sentenced for stealing around $1.2 million from the church.

The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania announced a 16-count indictment against the 51-year-old Reiter on Tuesday.

The Indictment alleges that Reiter failed to pay over employment taxes and filed false personal income tax returns relating to the embezzlement, which materially underreported his personal income, stated the Department of Justice.

If found guilty, Reiter faces a possible sentence of no more than five years in prison for each of the first 11 counts and no more than three years for each of the counts 12 through 16, and a $250,000 fine or a fine not more than the greater of twice the gross pecuniary gain to any person or twice the pecuniary loss to any person other than the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci will prosecute the case. The Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the indictment.

A resident of South Park, Reiter had worked for Westminster Presbyterian from 2001 to 2018, during which time he stole approximately $1.2 million from the church for personal use.

These personal expenditures included vacations, tickets to Pittsburgh Pirates games, scrapbooking supplies, as well as paying for medical expenses and other bills.

Reiter reportedly hid his criminal activities by impersonating audit firm employees and falsifying the accounting data, according to a story by Triblive.com last year.

According to Westminster Presbyterians Lead Pastor Jim Gilchrist, Reiter met with him in November 2018 and confessed to the thefts, expressing remorse for his illegal actions.

In February of last year, Reiter was charged with forgery, receiving stolen property, and theft; his wife, Connie, was charged with two counts of receiving stolen property.

Last October, Reiter pleaded guilty before Allegheny County Judge Jeffrey A. Manning to charges including theft, receiving stolen property, forgery, and tampering with records.

In January, he was sentenced to 10 to 20 years of imprisonment and was ordered by the court to make restitution to Westminster Presbyterian.

Our church continues to rebuild our financial structures in the wake of Mr. Reiters actions, stated the church in January, as reported by Triblive.com.

Actions have consequences, and we are grateful to Judge Manning for administering appropriate consequences for Mr. Reiters actions."
The 7th Silk Road International Film Festival, under the guidance of China Film Administration, will be held from Oct. 11 to 16 in Xian, capital city of northwest Chinas Shaanxi province.

Co-sponsored by Shaanxi Provincial Peoples Government and Fujian Provincial Peoples Government with the theme Silk Road Links the World, Film Connects Cultures, the festival will feature six major events including film screening, film forum and film market.

More than 500 films will be screened online and in cinemas. Of the 102 films to be screened in cinemas, over 70 percent are from countries and regions along the Belt and Road.

Zhang Jiayi, a famous Chinese star from Shaanxi, has become the image ambassador of this years festival. More than 100 famous guests in the Chinese movie circle, including director Lu Chuan, director and actor Xu Zheng, and actress Yan Ni, will attend various activities. Representatives from countries including Italy, Japan, Singapore, Pakistan and Germany will attend the film festival via video link or recording.

As an important part of the festival, the film forum will be held from Oct. 12 to 16 to bring influential directors, producers and experts from countries and regions along the Belt and Road together.

Film carnivals will also be held during the festival in scenic areas near a famous commercial street in Xian to present a cultural feast to local citizens and tourists.
Hitachi Cable America (HCA) a leading manufacturer of Premise, Fiber Optic and Specialty cables is pleased to announce the addition of Thomas Stone as Director of Sales, Premise and Fiber, Performance Cable Systems and Materials Division effective June 29th, 2020.

We are thrilled to welcome Tom to the HCA family. He has a proven track record in forging customer relationships and leading national sales teams. His extensive experience in the electrical industry combined with an enthusiastic sales approach is what our business needs as we work through these challenging times. Tom is a welcome addition to the team.  Tom Artinian, Executive Vice President

Stone joins the organization with over 18 years experience servicing the electrical and wire & cable industries as both a distributor and a manufacturer. Stone has a proven track record in leading complex sales organizations with a focus on growth and execution of business strategies. As Director of Sales for Premise and Fiber, Stone will be working closely with the leadership team to execute company growth objectives with a focus on customer intimacy for Hitachi Cable Americas Performance Cable Systems and Materials Division located in Manchester, New Hampshire.

I am extremely grateful to be working at an organization as prestigious as Hitachi. Not only are they forward thinking and innovative in the products they manufacture, but their treatment of their employees and relationship with the community is second to none. It is a true honor to be a part of this magnificent team.  Thomas Stone, Director of Sales, Premise and Fiber.

Originally from Detroit, Stone is married and living in the Philadelphia area.

About Hitachi Cable America, Manchester Facility:

The Manchester facility of the Performance Cable Systems & Materials Division of Hitachi Cable America Inc. is located in Manchester, New Hampshire. The facility manufactures a complete line of high-performance copper and fiber optic cables for the communication industry and related markets. Products include category copper communication cables, fiber optic cables, industrial Ethernet cables, wireless cables, aerospace cables as well as round and flat electronic cables.

To learn more about Hitachi Cable America, Inc. and the Performance Cables Systems & Materials Division, please visit our website at http://www.hca.hitachi-cable.com. Hitachi Cable America, Inc. is a unit of Hitachi Metals, Ltd..

Inquiries:

Stephen L. Porach, PE, RCDD

Director of Marketing

900 Holt Avenue

Manchester, NH 03109
San Francisco, Sep 27 : Facebook is making an extra push to convince Apple to let iPhone users choose their own preferred messaging app, an effort that can open an option to make its own Messenger app one of the default messaging tools on iPhones.

According to a report in The Information, Facebook executives have sharply ramped up their criticism of Apple in recent months.

Encouraged by Apple making software changes and relaxing App Store rules, the social networking giant now wants Apple to do the same for messaging apps.

"We feel people should be able to choose different messaging apps and the default on their phone," Stan Chudnovsky, Facebook's vice president in charge of Messenger app was quoted as saying in the report on Saturday.

"Generally, everything is moving this direction anyway." Facebook has asked Apple over the years to consider opening up default messaging but it "never agreed".

Google's Android mobile operating system already lets users choose their default messaging app.

With iOS 14 and iPadOS 14, Apple has introduced an option to change default apps for browsing the Internet and handling email.

But messages are still stuck on Apple's built-in software.

"The main guess is that messaging drives hardware sales," Chudnovsky said.

Facebook recently acknowledged that Apple's upcoming iOS 14 may lead to over 50 per cent decline in its Audience Network advertising business.

Following this, Apple postponed the full enforcement of privacy practices in iOS 14 software release.

In a friendly gesture, Apple has also temporarily waived its customary 30 per cent App Store fee on in-app purchases for paid online events by small businesses on Facebook.

The social networking giant said last week that online event fees will be processed through Facebook Pay without Apple collecting its 30 per cent cut.

This Apple waiver will last until December 31 and will not apply to gaming creators.

Despite Apple reversing its decision, Facebook appeared not very happy.

"Apple has agreed to provide a brief, three-month respite after which struggling businesses will have to, yet again, pay Apple the full 30% App Store tax," a Facebook spokesperson told TechCrunch.

Earlier this month, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that the iPhone maker needs to be scrutinised.

In an interview with Axios, Zuckerberg said that people should be looking into the "unilateral control" that Apple has over "what gets on phones, in terms of apps." Apple had also rejected Facebook Gaming app on the App Store, as it was a direct threat to the livestream gaming service Apple Arcade.

According to Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, the company managed to launch an iOS version of its gaming app after it was "forced to make a concession to bring it to the App Store".
As jacaranda trees begin to bloom, University of Queensland grounds manager Shane Biddell has warned students about a superstition on campus.

"My wife, who was a UQ student, told me the myth she heard was that if you were hit by a falling jacaranda [blossom], you would fail your exam," he said.

Jacaranda blooms make a striking display against sandstone at the University of Queensland's St Lucia campus.

"I warn students now and tell them don't get hit, otherwise you'll fail your exam. But some tell me, no, it's the opposite  if you get hit, you'll ace it."

Mr Biddell, who has worked at the St Lucia campus for 25 years, said despite the superstition changing since the 1990s to a more positive one, he believed his wife  "that's the one I'm sticking with."
D/code  Indias first curated luxury living show unravels yet another exciting chapter. Charting a new course in the history of design shows in India, D/code is all set to capture the digital realm with Casamia Presents D/code Design Biennale 2020 starting from September 30th to October 6th, 2020. This edition to be curated by renowned interior designer Shantanu Garg and will witness the congregation of some of the most prolific names in the worlds of art, design and architecture on a virtual platform, to be exhibited right where you are, in your living rooms. Keeping in mind the current scenario, the global architecture and design community is, along with many other sectors, facing unprecedented challenges. DDB endeavours to be a platform that will bring together the culture and commerce of our industry, and explore how it can adapt and respond to extraordinary circumstances.





Casamia Presents D/code Design Biennale 2020! The virtual show will witness brands collaborating with creative and innovative minds across the globe. The festival will showcase installations (3D format), Digital Art and AR/AI  based art, essentially, art and design that is not curtailed or bound by the medium or format. Joining D/code on this journey is global luxury lifestyle brand Casamia, which comes on board as presenting sponsor for this one-of-a-kind show. World leaders for innovation in wood and glass coatings, ICA Pidilite joins us as our colour partner! ( Stay tuned for an exciting colour workshop to be hosted online exclusively by them! ) Joining the illustrious list are; A-Class Marble, Orvi, Attitudes, Jaipur Rugs, Lutron and our lighting partner, Emery Studio. We have onboard over 100+ architectural designers with 67 unique brand collaborations. The virtual show will also showcase a spectacular line-up of online events, which will encompass myriad aspects like brand collaborations, art installations, power talks & webinars. Stay tuned!







Speaking on the first edition of D/code Design Biennale 2020, Editor in Chief, Ronitaa Italia says, Over the last three years since its launch, D/code has come to be known for its impetus-driven approach to the business of design. Earlier this year, in the third edition, some of the biggest names in the industry came together for the launch of the Jaipur chapter to be curated by designer Shantanu Garg. In the phase-wise unravelling of the Jaipur chapter, we're really excited to bring to you D/code Design Biennale, virtual art and design festival that will be presented to you right here in the comfort of your living rooms. A beautiful reflection of our tumultuous times, DDB will bring together some of the most prolific names in the worlds of art, design and architecture. In the pure spirit of D/code, we're looking forward to bringing the industry together once again on a platform that promises to reach out to a larger, more diverse audience.







Shantanu Garg, Curator of D/code Jaipur Edition adds, Considering the global scenario and the much-anticipated trade shift towards India, the D/code Design Biennale would focus on interpreting Indian designers, global/indigenous brands and the glory that their collaboration can render. This will evoke new trends and set the benchmark in the design industry in terms of a collaborative effort. The design biennale will celebrate the spirit of Indian design fraternity and make it visible to wider audiences nationally and internationally."



Register now for free, and we'll save you a seat to view groundbreaking installations by the biggest brands and the most prolific names in the worlds of art, design, and architecture.






The Narcotics Control Bureau has seized the cell phones of actors Deepika Padukone, Sara Ali Khan and Shraddha Kapoor, an official has said. The actors were questioned by the NCB on Saturday for hours in connection to the Bollywood drug nexus case.

The phones of Rakul Preet Singh, Simone Khambatta and Jaya Saha were also seized, an NCB official told ANI.

The NCB also arrested Dharma Productions executive producer Kshitij Ravi Prasad. The agency has so far arrested at least 18 persons in these cases. While Sara Ali Khan and Shraddha Kapoor were questioned at the NCBs zonal office at Ballard Estate, Padukone was questioned at a guest house in Colaba, an official of the central agency said.

Also read: Poonam Pandeys husband Sam Bombay posts pic from their wedding after domestic violence controversy

Shraddha Kapoor reached the NCB office around 12 pm and left after six hours, while Sara Ali Khan reached around 1 pm and left around 5.30 pm.

Deepika was confronted with her manager Karishma Prakash during questioning, sources said. The statements of Karishma Prakash, Sara Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone and Shraddha Kapoor have been recorded. Kshitij Prasad has been placed under arrested after questioning. No fresh summon has been issued today. We have arrested more than 18 people, Mutha Ashok Jain, Deputy DG, South-Western Region of NCB said on Saturday.

The NCB had launched an investigation into the drugs case after it received official communication from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which was investigating the money trail related to actor Sushant Singh Rajputs death case. In the investigation, many revelations surfaced including various chats related to drug consumption, procurement, usage and transportation.

(With PTI inputs)

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Deacon is a 45-year-old financial adviser who lives in the Gay Village.

He says he is perfectionistic, hard working, humourless and that he is well-dressed at all times, in custom-made shirts and suits. His friends would say he is taciturn, solitary, introverted, smart.

For fun, Deacon likes to read mystery novels, work out, watch movies and travel.

Before the virus, I regularly visited art galleries and museums in Europe and the U.S., he says. Deacon has been single for three years and describes his dating life as an arid desert.

I met Ross on a gay dating site. We decided to meet after exchanging several emails. Both of our profiles focused on a desire to share time and experiences. Life can be lonely. A simple meal, shared, becomes gourmet. A glass of cheap vinho tinto turns into a Chateau Lafite when drunk with a person one loves. What Ross wrote on his profile clicked with me and my needs.

We agreed to meet on a quiet patio away from the Village. I arrived before Ross. When he arrived, I recognized him from his online photo. He struck me as older than his photo, with a friendly face and a ready smile. He was about my height, on the stout side, with short grey hair. He was wearing a jacket that was about a size too small. He sat down, and mirroring my thoughts, said I guess both our online photos are a bit out of date   We laughed. I guess everyone lies a little, I said.

I quickly concluded that Ross was real, sincere and was very much himself. There was no need to perform or try to impress one another, as people often do when meeting for the first time. With Ross, what you see is what you get. It was a comfortable feeling.

Ross was polite and listened attentively. He was curious about my tastes and interests, and he seemed engrossed by my travels and my views on modern art. Ross and I clearly grew up in different worlds: he said he had never visited an art gallery or museum, and had never heard of Manet, Degas or Braque. He was not formally educated, and has led a somewhat insular life, but he is not a stupid man. He was cultured and informed about his home country and its politics. I viewed him as a rough-cut diamond.

I learned that Ross is a skilled cook, a craft he learned as a child in the kitchen with his mother. He rhymed off the preparation of classic French dishes: Boeuf bourguignon, coq au vin  It made me hungry just to listen.

The hours passed. His candour impressed me. I surprised myself by talking as much as he did, about my life, my work, my dog. There was no barrier between us. Ross was decent, uncomplicated, honest. We were two lonely, middle-aged men, connecting over a few beers. It was simple.

I have more resources than Ross. Money provides autonomy and control, but it rarely increases empathy or compassion. Very few people I know are charitable with their own money, unless it is tax-deductible. Observe who gives spare change to people on Torontos street corners. The well-to-do pass by, avoiding eye contact. Its guys like Ross who stop, share a hello and drop a loonie in the paper cup. Spending time with Ross was a good antidote to my daily exposure to wealthy clients, and even to myself.

I could see Ross fitting into my life. I only have two close friends, and they accept me and would accept him, no matter what. I am secure in my career and in control of my life. I have finally reached a stage where I am fairly comfortable, and accepting of who and what I am.

It was getting late. I knew my dog would be getting restless at home. I paid for the drinks and walked Ross to the subway entrance. We hugged briefly and said goodnight. He walked away and reached the top of the escalator. I waited. I saw him turn and see me, still waiting. He flashed a smile and we both waved. We knew then that we would meet again. Im planning to visit the Art Gallery of Ontario with him soon, and a dinner featuring boeuf bourguignon.

Deacon rates his date (out of 10): 8

Want to be a dating diarist? Email datingdiariescontact@gmail.com
By Trend

It is impossible to understand Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyans statement made at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly on the inadmissibility of the use of force and coercion in the international arena and that Armenia is allegedly a supporter of peace in the UN, Member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Head of the Turkey-Azerbaijan inter-parliamentary friendship group Shamil Ayrim told Trend.

"I do not think that Pashiyanians statement is sincere," Ayrim added.

"Firstly, Pashinyan should be brought to his senses," member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly added. "Is it not Armenia that has been holding Azerbaijani lands under occupation for 30 years?! That is, Pashinyan is trying to behave as if Armenia is not an occupying country. Looking at Pashinyan's behavior and actions after he was appointed prime minister, it is clear that he is pursuing a policy that is far from peace and stability in the region."

"When the whole world was fighting against the coronavirus, Armenia held the so-called "presidential election" in occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region, which the world community, including the OSCE Minsk Group and the EU, did not recognize," Ayrim said.

"Moreover, Armenia held the so-called "inauguration" in Shusha city," member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly said. "And after that, how can one believe in Pashinyan's appeals for peace, which he voiced at the UN?! How can one explain the killing of Azerbaijani servicemen and civilians during the attempted attack by the Armenian armed forces in the direction of Azerbaijans Tovuz district in July this year?! And he dares to speak about the inadmissibility of the use of force and violence in the UN?!"

Ayrim stressed that of course, the Azerbaijani armed forces gave a worthy rebuff to these provocations.

"In all his speeches, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev states that the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be resolved in accordance with the well-known UN Security Councils resolutions," member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly said. "That is, first Armenia must withdraw its armed forces from the occupied Azerbaijani territories. Unfortunately, the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group, which is a mediator in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, was unsuccessful."

Ayrim stressed that Armenia is playing a dangerous game and it is illegally resettling the Armenians from Syria, Iraq and Lebanon to the occupied Azerbaijani territories to change the demographic situation in Nagorno-Karabakh region.

"According to the latest information, members of a terrorist organization and mercenaries, including members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), are being resettled to the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven adjacent districts and Armenia is preparing these murderers for war with Azerbaijan," member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly said.

"The abovementioned aspects testify to Pashinyan's insincerity, and it is obvious that he, together with his patrons, is preparing for a war with Azerbaijan."
Five new imported cases of COVID-19 were detected on September 27, raising the national count to 1,074, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

The new patients arrived in Tan Son Nhat airport in HCM City on a flight from France on September 25 and were quarantined in the southern province of Binh Duong immediately after arrival.

Five new imported cases of COVID-19 were detected on September 27

Among all the cases, 691 are domestically infected cases, including 551 recorded since the new outbreak began on July 25.

As of 6pm on September 27, a total 999 COVID-19 patients had been treated successfully. The fatalities remained at 35.

Among patients under treatment, there is no longer any critical case, while three have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 once, four twice and 12 thrice.

A total 16,829 people are being quarantined nationwide.

VNA
Three persons, including a seven-year-old boy, were killed while seven others seriously injured on Sunday evening when their van collided head-on with a bus in Uttar Pradeshs Kannauj district, police said. After colliding with the van, the bus fell in a roadside ditch. Eighteen passengers of the bus received minor injuries, the police said.

According to Kotwali police station SHO, Vikas Rai, the accident took place on the GT Road at Jalalpur village of the district. The seven people, who were seriously injured, were in the van, police said.

Among the deceased, one was Ayush, the son of a man named Sonu, who was returning with his family members to Kanpur from Farrukhabad after attending the last rites of his brother-in-law.

The vans driver Ajit Kumar (30) and Shakuntala (35) also died in the incident, police said.

Three of the seriously injured, whose condition was critical, were referred to the Medical College and Hospital in Tirwa.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the loss of lives, and directed that the injured persons should get adequate treatment, a statement issued by the UP government said on Sunday.
As we head into October 2020, everyone is talking about election security from various perspectives.Back in June, this blog explained how election security has become a top issue . Since that time, the focus and political posturing by governments, the media, cybersecurity pros and both political parties has only increased, with a special scrutiny on voting by mail.But taking a big step back and putting the November 2020 presidential election aside for a moment (which is hard to do, I know), some experts are already looking around the world for the answer to the simple questions: How can we do secure voting better? Where is the best model to follow? Can we bring elections into the 21st century?Back in early 2019,published an article entitled " What the U.S. Can Learn About Electronic Voting From This Tiny Eastern European Nation ." Heres how it opens: On Sunday, when citizens of the tiny Baltic nation of Estonia go out to vote for their next parliament, many of their compatriots will have already voted  from the comfort of their own homes."Thats because Estonia is the world leader in electronic voting. Since 2005, Estonians have been able to cast their ballots from a computer with an Internet connection anywhere in the world. The government says 30 percent of Estonias population of 1.3 million people use the system, and that its simplicity helps save the country a total of 11,000 working days each election year.Meanwhile,recently added this piece to the dialog: " What Estonia could teach us about internet voting in a post-pandemic world ." The article explains that while the United States grapples with controversy over electronic voting machines and mail-in ballots, Estonia has created a remote voting system that could address many of the concerns about elections in a post-coronavirus world."Refined over more than 15 years, Estonias i-Voting system allows citizens to vote from home on their computer using a government-issued smart card. The system is currently used by 46.7% of the population, a figure that has steadily risen over the years.Back in 2017, I interviewed Joseph Carson for this blog on security metrics and failing security grades. Fast-forward more than three years, and Carson is still with Thycotic as their chief security scientist (CSS) and advisory CISO. His background is beyond impressive in the global security industry, and he is a sought-after expert on numerous cybersecurity topics at global events.I have been on several event panels with Joseph, and we always have a fun and fascinating conversation. He is very smart, with great stories and an ability to make complicated technology topics easy to understand. He is also a wonderful person whom I can talk to for hours on most tech, security and organization-culture issues.So when the time came to think about voting in Estonia, there was no one better to talk to than Joseph Carson, because he currently lives there.Recently I appeared on Mike Gruen (from Cybrary) and Joseph Carsons 401 Access Denied podcast, and we discussed U.S. Election Security. You can see that episode here and gain a sense of the personalities and issues:Regardless of your political viewpoint, I urge you to get involved in helping to educate others on the election processes in your jurisdiction. Learn whats allowed and what voting alternatives are available to stay safe during this pandemic.Most of all, please take the time to vote in whatever manner works best for you. It is a privilege to have free and open elections.
India's mustard seeds production is likely to rise while import of edible oil may reduce on account of the government's decision to ban blending of mustard oil with any other cooking oil with effect from October 1, according to leading industry players.

Adani Wilmar, which sells cooking oil under Fortune brand, and Mother Dairy that markets edible oils under Dhara brand, hailed the decision, saying it will benefit both farmers and consumers. "This is a good decision. Consumers will get pure mustard oil now. Mustard oil is being blended with rice bran, soybean and palm oil," Adani Wilmar Deputy CEO Angshu Mallick told PTI.

Now, an additional 5 lakh tonnes of mustard oil will be required to replace the other oils that were used for blending purpose, he said. "To produce 5 lakh tonnes of mustard oil, we will require 12-15 lakh tonnes of extra mustard seeds," Mallick said.

The decision will encourage farmers of Rajasthan and other states to increase the area of coverage under mustard seeds, he said, adding that this would enhance farmers' income.

The country's production of mustard seeds, which is grown in Rabi (winter season), stood at 91.16 lakh tonnes in 2019-20 crop year (July-June). India's overall vegetable oil imports could decline to around 134-135 lakh tonne in the 2019-20 oil year (November-October) from 149.1 lakh tonne in the previous year on lower demand because of Covid-19 pandemic.

Mallick suggested that the food regulator will have to remain vigilant for ensuring compliance of this decision and stop blending illegally.

A Mother Dairy spokesperson said: "This is certainly a positive development and in the best interest of consumers, farmers, as well as ethical mustard oil players as consumers across large mustard oil markets such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, were misled with blended oil being sold in the name of pure mustard oil." Mother Dairy has always advocated for pure mustard oil, offering the right taste and aroma. By blending mustard oil, it disturbs the taste and properties of the oil, the spokesperson said.

"In addition, with mustard being an indigenous crop, this restriction will also help the farmers in getting remunerative prices," the spokesperson said.

Recently, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) wrote a letter to the commissioner of food safety of all states and Union Territories, directing that "blending of mustard oil with any other edible oil in India has been prohibited with effect from October 1, 2020".

The edible oil manufacturers or processors, who have the license for production of blended edible vegetable oil with mustard oil, have been directed to sell their existing stocks of mustard oil/mustard seeds or any other edible oil as unblended cooking oils, the letter said. All such licensees have been asked to modify their FSSAI licenses.

As per the FSSAI regulations, the blending of two edible oils is permitted, provided the proportion by weight of any edible vegetable oil used in the blending process is not less than 20 per cent.

However, FSSAI said, "Now the government of India after due deliberations has directed FSSAI to prohibit blending in mustard oil and to facilitate manufacture and sale of pure mustard oil for domestic consumption in the public interest".

The FSSAI said a draft regulation in this regard has been prepared but it will take some time to finalise the rules after taking stakeholders comment.

"Meanwhile, to implement the said direction of the government of India, it has been decided to operationalise these regulations with effect from October 1, 2020. No manufacturing of blended edible vegetable oil with mustard oil as an ingredient shall be allowed with effect from this date," the FSSAI said.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: A bold step forward on Indian education is simply not there and it is a big lacuna, said Nobel laureate Amartya Sen. He was talking on the New Education Policy 2020 at a discussion hosted by Pratichi Trust on Saturday.

Countries which were ambitious about development understood the point of efficiency (of education) and its relation to public schooling, he said. The need for a network for public schools was recognised by 18th century Europe, then Japan, Korea, Taiwan and later on China, he added.

Anitha Rampal, educationist, questioned what children will be pushed to which vocation as vocation remains tied to caste. She also cautioned on centralizing of education that the policy envisages as the Centre would decide the curriculum.

Dr Ganesh Devy, founder of Adivasi Academy, pointed to a para of the policy where it explains what the orientation is  ancient eternal. This is a phrase used to translate the word Sanathan... where teachers are at the centre ... and the policy does not give prominence to the culture of questioning, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 21:28:23|Editor: huaxia

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MOSCOW, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to halt any armed conflict along the contact line of the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

To ease heightened tensions in Transcaucasia, Lavrov held separate phone talks with Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, Azeri Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

Expressing serious concern about the conflicts along the contact line of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, Lavrov urged an early ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan, according to press releases by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Russia will continue to undertake mediation efforts to stabilize the situation, he said.

Earlier in the day, the ministry issued a statement calling on the parties to immediately cease fire and start negotiations.

The Armenian Defense Ministry said Sunday that it has shot down two Azerbaijani helicopters and three drones.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry said it is currently launching a counter-offensive in the region.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have been at loggerheads over the mountainous region of Nagorno-Karabakh since 1988. Peace talks have been held since 1994 when a ceasefire was reached, but there have been occasional minor clashes along the border. Enditem
Joaquin Phoenix has reportedly welcomed his first child with fiancee Rooney Mara, a baby boy named after his late brother River Phoenix.

Director Victor Kossakovsky spilled the beans at the 2020 Zurich Film Festival after a screening of the film Gunda, on which Joaquin served as executive producer.

He slipped in the news during a Q&A over the weekend, after he was asked how he got the new dad involved in the film: 'He just got a baby by the way... A beautiful son called River.'

Joaquin, 45, and Rooney, 35, have not officially announced the birth of their firstborn, but they never confirmed their pregnancy in the first place.

Baby makes three! Joaquin Phoenix has reportedly welcomed his first child with fiancee Rooney Mara, a baby boy named after his late brother River Phoenix (pictured in February, 2020)

He comes from a family of actors, including sisters Rain, 47, Liberty, 44, Summer, 41, and his late brother River, who tragically died of a drug overdose in October of 1993, at the age of 23.

River died at the peak of his career, with memorable roles in Stand By Me (1986), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), and Gus Van Sant's My Own Private Idaho (1991) already under his belt.

Joaquin recently opened up about River's legacy in a rare interview with Anderson Cooper for 60 Minutes.

The Joker actor said: 'We were so removed from kind of the entertainment world. We didn't watch entertainment shows. We didn't have the entertainment magazines in our house.

 Viktor Kossakovsky , Gunda: He just had a baby Boy who's Called River. ( about Joaquin) pic.twitter.com/WuUISnuTsZ  Max California's Lover (@Paula_FlorV) September 27, 2020

Leading man: River died at the peak of his career, with memorable roles in Stand By Me (1986), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), and Gus Van Sant's My Own Private Idaho (1991) already under his belt

Cat's out the bag: Director Victor Kossakovsky spilled the beans at the 2020 Zurich Film Festival: 'He just got baby by the way... A beautiful son called River' (pictured in January, 2019)

Not confirmed: Joaquin, 45, and Rooney, 35, have not officially announced the birth of their firstborn, but they never confirmed their pregnancy in the first place (pictured in May, 2017)

Baby bump: A source told Page Six in May that the couple was approximately six months along, soon before she revealed her baby bump during outings (pictured in August, 202)

New mom: The Carol actress was most recently spotted last week, sporting a denim jacket and white t-shirt, sans baby bump (pictured in September, 2020)

'I mean, River was a really substantial actor and movie star, and we didn't really know it. And so during that time in which you're most vulnerable, there are helicopters flying over. There are people that are trying to sneak onto your land. Certainly, for me, it felt like it impeded on the mourning process, right?'

He also told Cooper how River showing him the film Raging Bull made him want to be an actor: 'I think it just awakened something in me. And I could suddenly see it through his eyes.

'There's a part in Raging Bull where De Niro meets a girl in between a chain-link fence. And he, you know, shakes her pinky and it's like this just beautiful little detail, it's this wonderful moment. And I think that in some ways is what I'm always looking for.'

Joaquin added: 'I feel like in virtually every movie that I made, there was a connection to River in some way. And I think that we've all felt his presence and guidance in our lives in numerous ways.'

Brotherly love: Joaquin comes from a family of actors, including his late brother River, who tragically died of a drug overdose in October of 1993, at the age of 23 (pictured in 1985)

Undying legacy: Joaquin recently opened up about River's legacy in a rare interview: 'I feel like in virtually every movie that I made, there was a connection to River in some way. And I think that we've all felt his presence and guidance in our lives in numerous ways' (pictured in March, 1989)

A source told Page Six in May that he and Rooney were approximately six months along, soon before she revealed her baby bump during outings.

The Carol actress was most recently spotted last week, sporting a denim jacket and white t-shirt, sans baby bump.

Rooney began dating her Her (2013) costar in late 2016, and they later starred together in Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot and Mary Magdalene, both of which premiered in 2018.

He told Vanity Fair last October that he thought she 'despised' him the first time they met: 'Shes the only girl I ever looked up on the internet. We were just friends, email friends. Id never done that. Never looked up a girl online.

The animal rights advocates live in the Hollywood Hills with their two dogs Soda and Oskar, and their engagement was confirmed last July, a few months after she was first spotted wearing her engagement ring.

Famous family: Rooney also comes from a famous family, her sister Kate Mara, 37, starring in Fantastic Four (2015), House of Cards (2013-2014) and Pose (2018) (pictured in October, 2019)

Moms together: Kate welcomed her own firstborn, a daughter (whose name has not been revealed), last May with husband Jamie Bell, 34 (pictured in July, 2019)

A source previously told Us Weekly in July of 2018 that the couple was 'so in love' but wouldn't get married: 'Theyre never going to get married because they think marriage is too mainstream.

The insider added: 'Joaquin transforms all his girlfriends into being holistic, vegan, spiritual and into saving the world.'

Rooney also comes from a famous family, her sister Kate Mara, 37, starring in Fantastic Four (2015), House of Cards (2013-2014) and Pose (2018).

Kate welcomed her own firstborn, a daughter (whose name has not been revealed), last May with husband Jamie Bell, 34, who also shares a son, seven, with ex-wife Evan Rachel Wood, 33.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- President Donald Trump nominated Amy Coney Barret to Supreme Court, Saturday evening.

After Justice Ginsburgs death, Trump made it clear he would nominate a woman for the seat, and later described Barrett as a woman of remarkable intellect and character."

Currently, Barrett, 48, is a federal appellate judge on the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago, according to PBS.

Barrett was born in Metairie, Louisiana, located outside of New Orleans, according to NPR Politics.

She attended Rhodes College, in Tennessee, before attending Notre Dame Law School, in Indiana. Barrett worked as a clerk for the late conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, NPR reports.

Barrett worked in private practice and taught for 15 years as a law professor at Notre Dame, PBS reports.

Barrett married a former prosecutor, Jessee Barrett, and has seven children. The couple adopted two children from Haiti; one who was told she could never walk or talk, according to CNN Politics, but have defeated the odds. The youngest son, Benjamin, has Down-Syndrome.

The family lives in South Bend, about an hour away from Chicago, where she works as a federal judge.

In her time as a federal judge, she has covered topics from guns and sexual assault on campus, to health care and abortion rights.

Barrett was a member of Faculty for Life, an anti-abortion group. She and her husband are members of People of Praise, which is a Christian group that refers to women leaders as handmaids.

However, CNN Politics reports Barrett never lets her faith cloud her judgment of her judicial decisions.

A colleague of Barrett from Notre Dame Law School, Stephen Yelderman, told PBS, She understands what it means to be a judge, what it means to apply the law. Shell follow the law and take the law where it leads her, even if she doesnt always like what the result turns out to be.

If confirmed, Barrett would be the first mother of school-age children to sit on the bench, according to Trump. She would also be the sixth Catholic justice, as well as the youngest justice on the bench, PBS reports.
By Joseph Sipalan

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said on Wednesday he has secured a 'formidable' majority from lawmakers to oust Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and form a new government, heralding a fresh bout of political drama in the Southeast Asian country.

The power struggle comes at a difficult time for the multi-ethnic nation, as its export driven economy has been badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic. The Malaysian ringgit and stocks fell after Anwar's comments.

Anwar now has to convince Malaysia's king, Sultan Abdullah, that he has the numbers to form a government, but as yet no major political party has come out in his support.

The king could instead choose to call for elections on Muhyiddin's advice to end months of political volatility.

Muhyiddin, whose seven-month-old coalition has survived on a razor-thin majority, dismissed Anwar's claims as a "mere allegation", telling him to prove his majority through a constitutional process.

"Until proven otherwise, the Perikatan Nasional government remains steadfast and I am the rightful prime minister," Muhyiddin said in a statement referring to his ruling coalition.

Muhyiddin also unveiled an additional economic stimulus package worth 10 billion ringgit ($2.41 billion).

The six major political parties supporting Muhyiddin dismissed Anwar's claim as "cheap publicity" and said in a joint statement that they were firmly behind Muhyiddin, who emerged as leader after the resignation of the previous prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad.

If Anwar finally succeeds in winning power it would mark the culmination of a 22-year long struggle, during which he spent almost 10 years in jail.

"We have a strong, formidable majority. I'm not talking about four, five, six (seats), I'm talking about much more than that," Anwar told reporters. "With these numbers, Muhyiddin has fallen as PM."

Story continues

Anwar said he commanded support from close to two-thirds of the legislature's 222 lawmakers, without giving actual numbers or disclosing who had pledged support.

He also said he has the support of some lawmakers from Muhyiddin's coalition and that he was open to working with the premier.

Mahathir, whose past feud with Anwar charted the course of Malaysian politics over the past 20 years, said he will "wait to see if this is another episode of making claims that cannot be substantiated," the Edge newspaper reported.

NEXT STEPS

Anwar's next step would be to meet with the king, Sultan Abdullah. The king plays a largely ceremonial role in Malaysia but he could appoint a prime minister who in his view is likely to command a majority in parliament. He could also dissolve parliament and trigger elections on the premier's advice.

Anwar and the palace said he was scheduled to meet with the king on Tuesday but it had to be cancelled as the king was unwell and had to be taken to a hospital.

Analysts said elections were more likely to end the political uncertainty.

"If Anwar has the numbers, snap polls will be very likely," said Adib Zalkapli, director at political consultancy BowerGroupAsia.

Muhyiddin came to power in March after securing a majority with the support of UMNO, which was defeated in the 2018 election. His opponents have accused him of grabbing power by shifting alliances instead of earning it at the ballot box.

Anwar, 73, has had a tumultuous political career. At first a rising star of Malaysian politics and UMNO, he was jailed for sodomy and corruption after being fired as deputy prime minister by Mahathir in 1998.

He was again jailed on sodomy charges in 2015, when Najib Razak was prime minister.

Anwar has described all the charges brought against him as a plot to destroy his political career. He was granted a royal pardon in 2018, as part of the deal with Mahathir for him to succeed the premiership, after the two had forged an alliance to defeat Najib in the 2018 election.

(Reporting by Joseph Sipalan; Additional reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Writing by Ed Davies and A. Ananthalakshmi; Editing by Martin Petty & Simon Cameron-Moore)
COLONIE  A second individual at the North Colonie school district has tested positive for COVID-19, school officials said Friday.

The student is in the district's remote elementary program and has not been in any school buildings since March.

Anyone who has been in close contact with the student outside of school will be contacted by the local health department to discuss how long to self-isolate, district officials said.

New York schools are required to submit a daily report to the state of any confirmed cases of COVID-19 linked to a school.

The COVID-19 Report Card is available to the public on the state Health Department website and includes daily case statistics from schools throughout the state.

"While the dashboard is an important tool for identifying trends regionally and statewide, please know that any information regarding COVID-19 in North Colonie schools will be shared with you directly and will not be delayed by these additional reporting requirements," Superintendent D. Joseph Corr said in a memo to families.

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.

District officials also sought to clarify the dashboard, which indicates the number of lab-reported positives based on residential address" is just an estimate and does not reflect the number of confirmed cases in the school. The dashboard indicates that there are three positive cases of people within the district.

Two weeks ago, the district announced that a staff member who had been in the Shaker High School building but did not have contact with students had also contracted the disease.

"We continue to work closely with the local health departments and we will follow their guidance," Corr said.
Midland native Christi Craddick has a lot on her plate as she assumes the chairmanship of the Railroad Commission.

Marking her third time as chairman since she was first elected to the agency in 2012, Craddick was unanimously named chair by her fellow commissioners, Wayne Christian and Ryan Sitton.

The agencys budget is her first focus, she told the Reporter-Telegram in a phone interview. The upcoming Texas legislative session that begins in January will address a significant budget shortfall that is a result of the pandemic, and Craddick said the agency has already included a 5 percent budget cut in its request submitted last week.

Consistency is important for us long-term as an agency, she said, pointing out that the commission is the only state agency that follows the economic ups and downs of the industry it oversees.

That affects not only the commission but the state treasury because the states oil and gas industry makes significant contributions in terms of severance taxes, sales taxes and lease and royalty payments.

Craddick said that during the legislative session, she expects to spend time at the capital going in and explaining to legislators why were important and why we need a consistent budget. We have a good story to tell.

She is pleased that there are fewer staff members eligible to retire than in 2014-2015 because she wants to keep good, quality staff.

It took us five years to get back to full staff  we had to find people, train people. Its important to keep qualified people.

Getting funding to continue upgrading the agencys information technology is also high on her list.

The well-plugging program will also continue to be important, Craddick said. She said that for the fiscal year that ended Aug. 31, the commission plugged 1,477 orphan wells, exceeding the target of 1,400 set by Texas legislators. The agency also exceeded its goals in fiscal years 2017, 2018 and 2019. The commission also remediated 230 sites during the most recent fiscal year. She said her goal in the next budget cycle is to continue exceeding goals set by the Legislature. She predicted the number of orphaned wells to be plugged will only increase because of the current downturn in the industry as financially troubled operators abandon their wells.

Flaring will also be an issue for the agency, and Craddick said she and her fellow commissioners will be looking at new data sheets for Statewide Rule 32 for when operators request authority to flare or vent gas. The public comment period on the proposed new data sheets ended recently, and Craddick said the agency will be looking at those comments and responding.

Induced seismicity will also be a topic. Craddick said both flaring and seismicity will improve as the industry embraces technological advances and the commission receives improved data to better understand the causes and issues related to both.

Craddick and Christian will be welcoming a new commissioner the first of January as current commissioner Ryan Sitton was defeated in the primary by Republican Jim Wright. Wright faces off against Democrat Chrysta Castaneda. Craddick said she supports Wright, hoping a conservative commissioner who understands the oil and gas industry joins the agency.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

Trend:

On Sept. 27, as a result of Armenian shelling, five members of one family in the Azerbaijani village of Gashalti, Naftalan region, i.e. the head of the Gurbanov family Elbrus and four members of his family were killed, Trend reports citing the General Prosecutor's Office of Azerbaijan.

A criminal case was initiated under Art. 120.2.1, 120.2.4, 120.2.7 and 120. 2.12 and 100.2 and other articles of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan. Currently, the necessary investigative and operational measures are continuing.

On September 27, at about 06:00, the armed forces of Armenia, committing large-scale provocations, have subjected to intensive shelling from large-caliber weapons, mortars, and artillery mounts of various calibers of the positions of the Azerbaijan Army along the entire length of the front and Azerbaijani human settlements located in the frontline zone.

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.
Kims apology was seen as an attempt to soothe anti-North sentiment in South Korea that could make it difficult for him to win concessions in any negotiations. Kim is currently struggling to overcome worsening economic woes caused by U.S.-led sanctions over his nuclear program and the pandemic that forced his country to close its border with China, its biggest trading partner.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 22:29:09|Editor: huaxia

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LIVINGSTONE, Zambia, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- In 2019, about one million tourists visited the Victoria Falls in Livingstone, Zambia. Now, only a handful of locals view the Mosi oa Tunya (Smoke that Thunders), as it is locally named.

The Livingstone Tourism Association has warned that if the situation continues, the tour operators in Zambia's tourist capital, may be forced to shut down their operations.

In 2019, the tourism industry contributed some seven percent of Zambia's gross domestic product (GDP) and about 7.2 percent of total employment. International tourists spent some 849 million U.S. dollars, representing about 10 percent of Zambia's total exports, according to government statistics.

Between January and June 2020, only about 14,000 tourists were recorded at the Victoria Falls by local authorities.

In an interview with Xinhua, Livingstone Tourism Association Chairperson Rodney Sikumba, painted a gloomy picture for the city.

He said although local tourists visited the city, they did not have the purchasing power needed to sustain the 257 tourism businesses. He warned that most of his members faced bankruptcy.

"We can attract the locals, but then they will find that the pricing is prohibitive," Simumba observed.

He said there was need to re-invent local tourism as operators had to reduce pricing to loss-making margins for them to accommodate domestic tourists.

"From the way things are, its very difficult for me an operator to reduce my pricing by 30 percent on account of trying to attract domestic tourists. That in itself, we are robbed of the very little profit we trying to make," Said Simumba.

He, however, is hopeful that a silver lining would come once COVID-19 is defeated.

Apart from the Victoria Falls, Livingstone is also known for its colourful local crafts, which is part of the city's prized possessions.

Most of the crafts that are sold to tourists as souvenirs are carved in Mukuni Village which is part of the Falls area.

Mukuni Crafts Association Chairperson, Joseph Sitali, described the current situation as a disaster.

He said his over 200 members are failing to make sales as locals rarely bought curios.

Sitali said his members are considering taking their business online but have no knowledge of e-commerce. Enditem
She's enjoyed some renewed attention in the spotlight thanks to her frank and candid new YouTube documentary.

And Paris Hilton looked like she was enjoying the limelight on Saturday night, rocking a sexy LBD as she arrived to dinner with her boyfriend Carter Reum in Malibu, California.

Hilton, 39, looked to be wearing a black tube minidress with white side detailing for the evening outing, worn under a cropped black leather biker jacket.

A twinkle and a wave: Paris Hilton looked like she was enjoying the limelight on Saturday night, rocking a sexy LBD as she arrived to dinner with her boyfriend Carter Reum in Malibu

The Simple Life star accented her look with a black scalloped choker, and charming sheer jewel-encrusted biker gloves.

Paris wore heeled black ankle boots, giving an extra lift to her petite 5ft8in frame.

The hotel heiress let her blond hair hang down loose, and did not appear to have a face mask at hand in spite of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Sexy strut: Hilton looked to be wearing a black tube minidress with white side detailing for the evening outing, worn under a cropped black leather biker jacket

Something to smile about: The Simple Life star accented her look with a black scalloped choker, and charming sheer jewel-encrusted biker gloves

She smiled and waved to the cameras as she made her way from her ride into the restaurant.

The sometimes DJ carried a black purse as she strutted along, her shapely legs the focus as she was bathed in the flashbulbs of the cameras.

Earlier this month, Paris released her official documentary on YouTube, entitled This Is Paris.

Statuesque: Paris wore heeled black ankle boots, giving an extra lift to her petite 5ft8in frame

Making eye contact: The hotel heiress let her blond hair hang down loose, and did not appear to have a face mask at hand in spite of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic

Thousand-watt smile: Paris smiled and waved to the cameras as she made her way from her ride into the restaurant

The nearly two-hour film has been viewed just under 11.5 million times in the two weeks since its debut.

Originally premiering in April at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York, the doc is notable in that it shows an untold part of Paris's upbringing.

In the film, Hilton discloses that she suffered traumatic abuse at the hands of employees at a strict boarding school where she spent part of her childhood.

The star told Drew Barrymore this past Monday during the latter's new talk show that she now has 'trust issues' after her parents allowed her to be taken to a boarding school for troubled teens where she was beaten and put in solitary confinement.

Relaxed: Paris appeared to be in good spirits as she stepped out at the restaurant

Safety first: Paris wore a dazzling silver mask and matching gloves amid the coronavirus crisis

Busy schedule: Earlier this month, Paris released her official documentary on YouTube, entitled This Is Paris

In the movie, Paris shared that at age 16 while living in New York City two men took her out of her bedroom in the middle of the night as her parents cried.

The fragrance mogul said she was beaten, drugged and placed in solitary confinement without a blanket or food.

'All it did was give me trust issues, PTSD. I didnt deserve to go there,' said the CEO.

'My mom and dad were just very strict and sheltered when I lived in LA,' shared the friend of Kim Kardashian. 'I wasnt allowed to go on dates, couldnt wear makeup, couldnt go to a school dance. They just didnt want me to grow up.'

Success story: The nearly two-hour film has been viewed just under 11.5 million times in the two weeks since its debut (Paris pictured with her beau Carter Reum)

Looking sharp: Carter put on a dapper display in a black jacket and matching top
Sitting down to write this week's Domestic column began like so many others in the last eight years have begun: with my asking Himself for one of his recipes. His frangipane. I WhatsApped him and his reply came in about 30 seconds. As the adage goes: get yourself a man who can lay his hands on a classic tart-filling recipe in under a minute.

A snapshot of a page from my first-ever cooking notebook appeared in our thread. On the spattered and dog-eared page, recipes for shortcrust pastry and a frangipane filling are succinctly detailed.

This notebook was begun in 2008 in New Zealand when I was a short-order cook in a busy brasserie and Himself was a pastry chef in a wonderful restaurant. The notebook is covered in recipes and jottings, prep lists and veg orders, all in my spidery scrawl. It also contains Himself's neat block capitals and the handwriting of several other cooks from back in the day. I often handed the notebook to people I worked with to get their best recipes.

Now the notebook is a diary of that life. Hectic days in the kitchens, learning and spoofing my way up the ladder, from dishy to commis to second and finally first chef, confidently commanding the pass.

A year later, the notebook came with me to France and a new kitchen with new chefs to learn and thieve from. 'Mel's flatbreads' are still in regular rotation in my own kitchen, as is 'Monica's fig jam'.

By the time I landed back to a Dublin stove in Maisha Lenehan's wonderful Bibi's Cafe, I was on to a new notebook and, soon after, this very column.

Eventually, I stopped starting new notebooks as the Domestic became a living diary not only of my cooking, but of my life. There's been an ever-growing cast of extremely tolerant characters, from my friends, 'The Bitch Herd'; to my mother, 'Herself'; and, in recent years, Baby I, Baby II and Baby III.

The column spawned a book, Recipes for a Nervous Breakdown, and it even appears as torn pages tucked in the books and notebooks of many readers - I often get messages from people making dinner from an ancient copy of LIFE and it brings me joy. The Domestic is eight years old, which is a good age for a column. I am proud and grateful to have this wonderful record of food, life and love from the first eight years of my marriage. And now I can finally, safely say that my marriage - which is exactly the same age as the Domestic - survived being the subject of a weekly column, thanks entirely to Himself being such a good sport and never, ever reading it.

Blackberry Bakewell tart

Serves 8-12

You will need:

375g shortcrust pastry

Uncooked rice for blind baking

350g butter

350g sugar

350g ground almonds

3 eggs

About 6 generous

tablespoons blackberry jam

60g fresh blackberries, halved

1 Preheat the oven to 200C, 400F, Gas 6. Carefully line a loose-bottomed tart tin with the shortcrust pastry, and prick the base of the pastry with a fork. Gently place a sheet of baking paper over the pastry, fill it with some uncooked rice and bake it in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Lift out the baking paper and the rice (discard or save to reuse for blind baking), return the pastry to the oven for a further five minutes until it is golden and biscuity. Turn the oven down to 150C, 300F, Gas 2.

2 Next, make the almond filling. In a bowl, beat the butter and the sugar until the mixture is pale and creamy, then add the ground almonds. Next, add the eggs, incorporating each one fully before adding the next.

3 Spread the base of the pastry with the blackberry jam, then spoon in the almond filling and smooth it out with the back of a spoon. Scatter the halved blackberries over the top and lightly press them into the filling. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes.
A Texas city has issued a disaster declaration and warned residents not to use tap water after a brain-eating amoeba was found to have infected the water supply.

Authorities in Lake Jackson were alerted to the problem on 8 September, when a six-year-old boy died after ingesting naegleria fowleri, either from the hose at his home, or at an outdoor play area.

Test samples from both sites and from a city centre fire hydrant, sent to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), showed the presence of the encephalitis-inducing organism.

The city of Lake Jackson, county of Brazoria, Texas, is facing significant threats to life, health and property due to contaminated drinking water, the citys mayor said in its emergency request to state governor Greg Abbott.

I have determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that an effective response is beyond the capability of the city to control, mayor Bob Sipple added.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

He asked for the state to issue directives allowing for the establishment of curfews, and control over peoples movements and the sale and use of alcohol, weapons and explosives, among other powers.

Officials warned residents in eight locations surrounding the city not to use tap water for any reason except to flush toilets on Friday, but lifted the warning for everywhere but Lake Jackson on Saturday.

Late on Saturday night, Texan environmental authorities updated the guidance for Lake Jackson residents again, informing them that they could use tap water once again for cooking and washing, but must boil it beforehand.

The amoeba has a 97 per cent fatality rate when ingested via the nose, however it cannot survive in stomach acid, therefore posing no risk if swallowed, according to the CDC.

In the updated notice issued by city officials, residents were warned to avoid the multiple ways in which the contaminated tap water could fatally enter their nose, such as: Do not allow water to go up your nose or sniff water into your nose when bathing, showering, washing your face, or swimming.

Residents were also told not to allow children to play unsupervised with hoses and sprinklers.

If ingested, symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, headaches and a stiff neck. Most people die within a week.

City officials sought to assure residents that its water system has historically been in compliance with all state and federal requirements, citing the CDC as saying it was an anomaly for there to be both naegerlia fowleri and high levels of chlorine in a water system.

Attempting to head off concerns about a bunch of chemicals [being] dumped into the water system, they cited CDC guidance as saying that the water utility may raise disinfectant levels and flush the system to get rid of Naegleria  the water may have a strong chemical taste or smell, but your water utility will be working to make sure it still meets drinking water standards.

As the citys 27,500 residents grappled with the news of their potentially fatal water supply, a memorial was held for six-year-old Josiah McIntyre.

He was an active little boy," ABC reported his mother, Maria Castillo, as saying. He was a really good big brother. He just loved and cared about a lot of people.

I'm angry and upset and sad and heartbroken, Ms Castillo added. It really means a lot to me because we want to know as a family for peace of mind. I know it doesn't bring him back. The fact that we know how he got it, how he contracted it, gives us peace of mind.
CLEVELAND -- Give President Donald Trump his due. When it comes to separating Republican officeholders from their spines, the man has no peer.

Win or lose on Nov. 3, never has a president with as many repulsive personal and professional qualities been able to reduce high officeholders within his party to a quivering mass of cowardice.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod in Cairo on Sunday, and the pair discussed ways to boost bilateral relations, especially economic ties.

The Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement that during the meeting Shoukry praised the current high-level cooperation between Egypt and Demark in the fields of renewable energy, logistics, maritime transportation and biodiversity.

The volume of Danish investments in Egypt amounts to about $1 billion dollars, the statement said.

The two officials also discussed illegal migration to Europe, and Kofod praised the efforts made by Egypt to halt this practice.

They also discussed the latest developments in regional issues, including Libya and the peace process in the Middle East.

The two ministers also discussed the need for continuing efforts to confront radical thought and terrorism.

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The United Nations marked its 75th anniversary Monday with its chief urging leaders of an increasingly polarized, go-it-alone world to work together and preserve the organization's most important success since its founding: avoiding a military confrontation between the major global powers.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' appeal for a revival of multilateralism ' the foundation of the United Nations ' was echoed by leaders of countries large and small, rich and poor.

But despite largely positive speeches, it was clear that challenges lie ahead in collaborating to beat back the coronavirus pandemic, end numerous smaller conflicts from the Middle East to Africa, and achieve U.N. goals to eradicate extreme poverty and preserve the environment by a 2030 target.

'Today, we have a surplus of multilateral challenges and a deficit of multilateral solutions,' the U.N. chief said, stressing that COVID-19 has 'laid bare the world's fragilities,' which can only be addressed together.

'Climate calamity looms, biodiversity is collapsing, poverty is rising, hatred is spreading, geopolitical tensions are escalating, nuclear weapons remain on hair-trigger alert,' Guterres said.

Appealing for a new multilateralism that draws on civil society, cities, businesses, local authorities and young people, Guterres said 'no one wants a world government ' but we must work together to improve world governance.'

The United Nations marked its actual 75th anniversary ' the charter's signing in San Francisco on June 26, 1945 ' at an event scaled down because of the pandemic.

Monday's mainly virtual official commemoration wasn't a celebration but a sobering assessment of the state of the world, the impact of the 193-member world body over seven decades and the struggles ahead. Some leaders appeared in native dress and in unusual settings, adding some color to prerecorded speeches.

As a sign of the commemoration's importance, heads of government like Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron spoke. U.S. President Donald Trump was first on the list of 182 speakers, but he didn't offer remarks.

In a snub to the United Nations, the United States instead was represented by its acting deputy U.N. ambassador, Cherith Norman Chalet. The White House had no immediate comment.

'In many ways, the United Nations has proven to be a successful experiment,' Chalet said. But for too long, she added, it has resisted 'meaningful reform,' lacked transparency and been 'too vulnerable to the agenda of autocratic regimes and dictatorships.'

'New threats require new agility from the U.N.,' she said, citing theft of intellectual property and efforts to 'undermine internet freedom.'

China's Xi urged U.N. members to recommit to multilateralism and 'work to promote a community with a shared future for mankind.'

'Unilateralism is a dead end,' he said. 'No country has the right to dominate global affairs, control the destiny of others or keep advantages in development all to itself. Even less should one be allowed to do whatever it likes and be the hegemon, bully or boss of the world.'

Macron said the United Nations has remained true to its promises made three-quarters of a century ago: 'To save future generations from the scourge of war, to assert human rights and the equality of nations, and to promote social progress in greater freedom.'

But he warned that 'our common home is in disarray, just like our world.'

'Faced with the health emergency, faced with the climate challenge, faced with the decline in rights," Macron said, 'it is here and now that we have to act, with those who want to and with those who can, by exploiting all possible spaces for cooperation.'

Guterres and many others said the founding of the United Nations in 1945 and the commitment to cooperation after two world wars and the Holocaust produced results.

'Never in modern history have we gone so many years without a military confrontation between the major powers,' the secretary-general said. 'This is a major achievement of which member states can be proud ' and which we must all strive to preserve.'

Guterres cited other major U.N. victories over 75 years: peace treaties, decolonization, setting human rights standards, the end of apartheid in South Africa, eradication of diseases, a reduction in hunger, development of international law and landmark pacts to protect the environment.

But 25 years after world leaders adopted a platform to achieve equality for women, he said 'gender inequality remains the greatest single challenge to human rights around the world.'

German Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed that 'the United Nations can be only as effective as its members are united' and urged new efforts 'to do everything in our power' to find common responses and end 'the most intractable security issues,' including conflicts in Libya and Syria.

Guyana's President Irfaan Mohamed Ali, the head of what's called the Group of 77 and China ' the main U.N. bloc of developing countries that now has 134 member states ' said the commemoration 'must send a strong and positive signal to the peoples of the world of our commitment to multilateralism and our resolve to strive for peace, justice and development.'

Echoing broader global concerns, the president of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang, said, 'There is no justification for the huge economic gap between rich and poor countries today.'

Similarly, Seychelles President Danny Faure warned that issues like climate change know no borders.

'I assure you that the smallest, poorest and weakest of nations can contribute ideas as innovative ... as the biggest, wealthiest and most powerful countries,' Faure said.

Diplomats from the 193 U.N. member nations managed to agree after sometimes difficult negotiations on a declaration to mark the U.N.'s anniversary, which was adopted Monday. It recalls the body's successes and failures and vows to build a post-pandemic world that is more equal, works together and protects the planet.

Richard Gowan, U.N. director for the Crisis Group, a Brussels-based think tank, said the declaration was weakened by the U.S. opposing strong language on climate change and Britain and others objecting to China trying to insert language including its hallmark phrase, 'win-win.'

President Xi used it Monday in speaking about 'Cold War mentality,' declaring 'what we need to do is to replace conflict with dialogue, coercion with consultation and zero-sum with win-win.'

Gowan said the dispute over the declaration was minor but 'captures the real question that has emerged over the U.N. in 2020, exacerbated by COVID, which is: How is this organization going to navigate an era of U.S.-China tension''

Amid those questions, the U.N. released results of 'a global conversation' it launched in January, using surveys, polls and gatherings to determine what all kinds of people thought about the future.

Guterres said the U.N.'s 75th anniversary is an ideal time to realize goals that were expressed, including speeding up the transition to zero carbon emissions, ensuring universal health coverage and ending racial injustice.

'We face our own 1945 moment,' he said. 'We must meet that moment. We must show unity like never before to overcome today's emergency, get the world moving and working and prospering again.'

___

Cara Anna contributed to this report from Johannesburg and Angela Charlton from Paris.

___

Longtime international correspondent Edith M. Lederer has been chief U.N. correspondent for The Associated Press since 1998. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EdithLedererAP
BENGALURU : Karnataka Congress leader and state Legislative Assembly member Dinesh Gundu Rao on Sunday tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Rao confirmed about his health on Twitter and said that he will quarantine himself for the next 10 days.

In a tweet, Rao said, "I have tested Corona positive today. Therefore will be quarantining myself for 10 days."

The former state Congress President has also urged the people, who have come in contact with him to get themselves tested for the deadly virus.

"I request all my primary contacts to get themselves checked and take necessary precautions," he wrote on Twitter.

Rao attended the Karnataka Legislative Assembly monsoon session

Rao is asymptomatic and said that he will recover soon because of the good wishes from every one.

Dinesh Gundu Rao has attended the monsoon session of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, which began on 21 September, till late last night.

The Congress leader was recently appointed as AICC in-charge of Tamil Nadu, Goa and Puducherry.

Earlier, Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister JC Madhuswamy had said that all MLAs will be tested for COVID-19 on every fifth day of the functioning of the monsoon session.

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A man said he expected a $5,000 payment for smuggling crystal meth to Austin, according to an arrest affidavit filed on Thursday.

Sergio Nefy Juantos-Roman was arrested and charged with importation of a controlled substance.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Long-haul carrier Qatar Airways on Sunday reported revenue losses of $1.9 billion for the past year, blaming the coronavirus pandemic, its liquidation of shares in Air Italy and the ongoing boycott of Doha by four Arab nations for the drop.

The energy-rich nation of Qatar itself needed to bail out the state-owned airline at the end of its financial year on March 31 with $2 billion to keep the airline operating, its annual report acknowledged. The carrier also blamed new accounting rules for further adding to losses for the past fiscal year.

If not for the exceptional circumstances of fiscal year 2020, our results would have been better than the year before, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al-Baker said in a statement. The airline carried 32.3 million passengers in the last fiscal year, compared to 29.4 million the year prior.

But Qatar Airways finds itself in the same position of competing Gulf long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad, slashing thousands of jobs while trying to expand its network as travel restrictions lift worldwide. Thats as demand for flights remains low over fears about the virus, which has wreaked havoc on international travel. The airline listed having over 50,000 employees on its payroll in the report.

Qatar Airways, which operates some 250 aircraft out of Dohas recently build Hamad International Airport, follows the model of other Gulf carriers by providing a link between East and West from its location on the Arabian Peninsula. But the lessened demand saw the carrier ground its double-decker Airbus A380s as it is not commercially or environmentally justifiable to operate such a large aircraft in the current market, the airline said in a statement.

The coronavirus pandemic halted global aviation for months, which only has begun to pick back up. Qatar also has been targeted by Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in a boycott since June 2017. That boycott continues today, despite efforts by other Gulf Arab nations and the U.S. to reconcile the countries involved in the political dispute.

Al-Baker said since the pandemic, Qatar Airways has flown over 2 million passengers and carried over 250,000 tons of medicine and aid to areas impacted by the coronavirus.

I have every confidence that the Qatar Airways Group will emerge stronger from this difficult period and continue to innovate and set the standards that our competitors can only hope to emulate, he said.

Further hurting the airline was the February collapse of Air Italy, a regional carrier it held a 49% ownership stake in at its launch in 2018. Air Italy had been trying to rename and become a national carrier with flights across Europe. Qatar Airways in its financials said it likely would lose nearly $400 million alone on Air Italy.

Qatar Airways also restated its losses for the previous year in the financial report Sunday, putting it at close to $1.3 billion as opposed to the $639 million it earlier reported. It lost $69 million in 2018.

___

Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.
A man who lost his surfboard while riding the waves of Hawaii has revealed that his beloved board has resurfaced more than 5,000 miles away in the Philippines.

Doug Falter, a photographer and surfer, lost his board in Waimea Bay, Oahu, Hawaii in February 2018 during a day out in the water.

'After catching so many waves I finally wiped out on one and my @lylecarlsonsurfboards board floated away after the leash came off my ankle at around 6:00 pm,' he said recalling losing his board on February 3.

'Having never heard from anyone I figured it was lost at sea,' Falter added.

But a couple weeks ago he was dumbstruck to discover the surfboard manufacturer shared a post about a man finding the very same board more than 5,200 miles away in the Philippines.

Surfer and photographer Doug Falter lost his beloved surfboard (left in October 2015) while riding the swells in Hawaii in February 2018. It resurfaced six months later in August 2018 in the Philippines where Giovanne Branzuela purchased it from a local fisherman. Branzuela pictured right at Sarangani Island in the Philippines in 2020. The board turned from a pale blue to a yellow color in the long journey across the Pacific Ocean

The board traveled more than 5,200 miles from Hawaii to the Philippines

The new owner was Giovanne Branzuela, a 38-year-old primary school teacher in the southern Philippines, who bought the board for $40 from a local fisherman, who found it in August 2018  six months after it vanished from Falters sight.

Branzuela purchased the board to learn how to surf and contacted Hawaii-based board-shaper Lyle Carson as his name was etched on the board. Carson then told Falter about the incredible discovery.

The board had turned from a pale blue to a yellowish hue in its long voyage across the Pacific Ocean.

Giovanne Branzuela pictured posing with Falter's board that traveled across the ocean

'It was my first big wave surfboard custom shaped for myself. I surfed it on the biggest days I've ever surfed in my life,' Falter said to AFP on his board.

'This is 5,200 miles away! Apparently he bought it from a fisherman to learn how to surf. As bummed as I was when I lost it, now I am happy to know my board fell into the hands of someone wanting to learn the sport,' Falter shared on Facebook.

'It turned out its a surfboard from Hawaii. I couldnt believe it myself. Its been my dream to learn to surf and ride the big waves here,' Branzuela said to AFP.

'For now I can use his surfboard. I told him I will take good care of it,' he added.

Falter said if it werent for travel restrictions he would have visited Branzuela.

Falter shared this notice when he first lost his board asking for help locating it

Falter shared this Facebook post on August 16 announcing his beloved board was found

'I could teach him how to surf and hopefully a few of his 144 students,' he said.

Now hes raising money to send out some surfboards, surf gear and books and magazines for Branzuelas students to learn English.

'It's an excuse for me to go to the Philippines and visit and basically complete the story. I think it would be a great ending to ... teach him how to surf,' Falter added.
Around 90% of U.S. adults are at risk of contracting COVID-19, according to a new study from Stanford University.

The study was published Friday in the medical journal The Lancet.

Using data from dialysis centers across the nation, researchers found that fewer than 10% of adults had antibodies against COVID-19 by the end of July  which means that herd immunity remains out of reach, the study concluded.

Herd immunity occurs when a significant part of the population becomes immune to an infectious disease.

Those figures match a forthcoming study by the Centers of Disease Control, which should be published in the next week or so, according to CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield.

The preliminary results in the first round show that a majority of our nation, more than 90% of the population, remains susceptible, Redfield told lawmakers this week during a Senate hearing.

For the Stanford University study, which was funded by Ascend Clinical Laboratories, researchers studied 28,503 patients who received dialysis in July 2020. They found that 8% of those sampled had COVID-19 antibodies, or 9.3% when standardized to the general adult population in the U.S.

Study co-author Julie Parsonnet said in a statement that the study clearly confirms that despite high rates of COVID-19 in the United States, the number of people with antibodies is still low and we havent come close to achieving herd immunity.

The study also shows that low-income neighborhoods and areas with high numbers of racial minorities showed higher infection rates than white communities.

We were able to determine  with a high level of precision  differences in seroprevalence among patient groups within and across regions of the United States, providing a very rich picture of the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak that can hopefully help inform strategies to curb the epidemic moving forward by targeting vulnerable populations, Shichi Anand, the studys lead author, said in a statement.

Public health efforts to limit the spread of the virus need to especially target racial and ethnic minority and densely populated communities, the researchers concluded.

By Muri Assuncao, New York Daily News (TNS)

More:

China pushes emergency coronavirus vaccine despite safety concerns

Joe Biden faults President Trumps coronavirus response ahead of HIA rally

Virus cases rise in US heartland, home to anti-mask feelings
Bangalore, 26 September 2020: In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, Aster RV Hospital has helped 8-year-old Prerna receive a lifesaving liver transplant through their affordable liver transplant initiative for children.

Hailing from Madhya Pradesh, Prerna was diagnosed to have acute chronic liver failure due to auto-immune liver disease and needed a liver transplant for long-term survival. As the Covid-19 pandemic struck, her mother who is a single parent was distraught not only with the diagnosis of a serious illness but also with the potential financial cost of this transplant operation.

In March 2020, Prerna started to develop jaundice (yellow colouring of her eyes) and was also having fluid accumulation in her abdomen. We consulted several doctors and the Gastroenterologist here in Madhya Pradesh diagnosed acute on chronic liver failure and suggested that we go for a liver transplant to save Prernas life. Coming from a middle-class background, I was under a lot of stress about arranging the surgery for her and additionally the pandemic added to our worries. Our friends and family came across the affordable liver transplant initiative at Aster RV Hospital and we connected with them for help, said Prernas mother.

The family reached out to the team at Aster RV Hospital and a discussion followed between Dr Rajiv Lochan, Lead HPB and Liver Transplant Surgeon, Aster RV Hospital and the doctor looking after Prerna in Nagpur. After ensuring that she could safely travel down to Bangalore, the family made the arduous flight and road journey over 1500 kms during the lockdown and reached the hospital.

Prerna was assessed and indeed an immediate liver transplant operation was necessary for her. In children who are seriously ill, the best option is for a close relative to donate a small portion of their liver, and her mother came forward to be a living liver donor. She was found to be a suitable match for her child and 40% portion of the mothers left side of liver was given to Prerna, said Dr. Arvind Seshadri, Consultant Liver Transplant Surgeon at Aster RV Hospital.

ACLF is a serious life-threatening illness and a liver transplant is necessary to save the life of the patient. Early referral is key and this is what happened in Prernas case. In addition, the family took the initiative and travelled all the way down to us and we were able to treat her successfully with a complex living donor liver transplant, said Dr. Apurva Pande, Consultant Hepatologist and Liver Transplant Physician, Aster RV Hospital.

The family contributed close to 5 lakhs for the transplant and pre-operative preparations and tests. Her crowd-funding campaign raised close to 15 lakhs and she secured nearly 1.5 lakhs as CSR sponsorship. In keeping with the policy of ILCs affordable Transplant program at Aster, the excess money raised will be utilised towards another needy childs treatment.

The child had a minor rejection in the post-operative period which was managed with the adjustment of her immunity suppressive medicines. She was discharged following 4 weeks in hospital and is on regular follow-up. We are glad to see Prerna and her mother healthy and happy. Cross subsidy, leveraging the potential of crowdfunding, CSR mandates from companies, and a desire to secure the future of our nation underpin this Affordable transplant initiative. This Initiative has helped us transplant/treat close to 95 children under this programme, with the family paying between 3-5 lakhs only, further explained Dr. Rajiv Lochan.

Prerna is doing extremely well and has returned back to her native place to her family and friends but continues to be under the joint care of her local doctor and the Aster RV Integrated Liver Care Team.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 24, 2020, the Chairperson of both the World Peace Prize Awarding Council and the World Peace Prize Religious Leaders Title Awarding Council Suzi Leggett announced the ultimate resolution of the two Councils at the Holy Miracles Temple of the World Buddhism Association Headquarters: "The return of the conferment decree and the Pope of Buddhism Scepter by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is not effectible. The title, status, and authority of the Pope of Buddhism belong only to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, and cannot be exercised by anyone else."

Chairperson Suzi Leggett of World Peace Prize Awarding Council and the World Peace Prize Religious Leaders Title Awarding Council announcing the joint resolution that return of the Pope of Buddhism Scepter by His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha was unacceptable. Chairperson Suzi Leggett handed the Pope of Buddhism Scepter to Venerable Mozhi Rinpoche, representative of World Buddhism Association Headquarters, for the Scepter to be returned to His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III.

In 2018, after extensive vetting, the World Peace Prize Awarding Council and the World Peace Prize Religious Leaders Title Awarding Council officially conferred the title of Pope of Buddhism to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. The conferment decree and the Pope of Buddhism Scepter was signed and presented by the then Chairperson of the two Councils Han Min Su. Nonetheless, to everyone's surprise, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III was totally unmoved by the noble status and tremendous honor that came with the Pope of Buddhism title, and did not accept the conferment. H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III said: "Within the field of Buddhism, there are Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. There are titles of Dharma kings, rinpoches, Dharma masters, eminent monastics, greatly virtuous persons, and Holy Gurus. There is no need for a Pope. I am a humble cultivator. I am not able to take on such a heavy responsibility."



When the World Buddhism Association Headquarters presented the conferment decree and the Pope of Buddhism Scepter that they received to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, His Holiness the Buddha saw that there was a seated statuette of Namo Shakyamuni Buddha on the Scepter and immediately raised the Scepter above His own head to show respect to Namo Shakyamuni Buddha, the Lord of Buddhism of the saha world. No one would have anticipated that H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III actually returned the conferment decree and Pope Scepter directly to the two Councils.

In today's announcement, Chairperson Suzi Leggett said: "Over the past several decades, the World Peace Prize Awarding Council has presented the World Peace Prize to President Ronald Reagan, Hon. Mahatma Gandhi, H.E. Yitzhak Rabin, and presidents and prime ministers of other nations. There has never been a precedence of retraction. All determinations made and implemented by our Councils are very solemn, serious, and absolutely cannot be changedThe return of the conferment decree and Scepter of the Pope of Buddhism by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is deemed not effectible. The title, status, and authority of the Pope of Buddhism belong only to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, and cannot be exercised by anyone else. This is a permanent and unalterable determination!" Despite the fact that H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III still would not accept the conferment, Chairperson Leggett once again presented to the World Buddhism Association Headquarters the conferment decree and Pope Scepter that H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III previously returned.



Venerable Mozhi Rinpoche represented the World Buddhism Association Headquarters to receive the conferment decree and Pope Scepter signifying the conferment of the title of Pope of Buddhism by the two Councils to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. He said, "The World Buddhism Association Headquarters considers the decision made by the two Councils to be remarkably proper and sagacious. Ever since Namo Shakyamuni Buddha entered parinirvana, there has not been a supreme leader who has the authority to guide all Buddhists the same way that the Buddha did. However, the authoritative position of the Pope of Buddhism certainly is not a role that a leader of a single Buddhist sect would have the attributes to fulfill; rather, the Pope must be a leader who has authority over the entirety of Buddhism, namely, a Buddha. Namo H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III holds the perfect teachings of Buddhism and meets the criteria used by all Buddhist sects to recognize a Buddha. His inherent nature is that of a Buddha, His unsurpassed, complete, and perfect enlightenment is that of a Buddha, and His state of virtue is that of a Buddha. Just based the accomplishment of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III in Lifting the Pestle onto the Platform, surpassing His own base weight standard by 59 levels, no one can possibly match such a record. H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III also has perfect mastery of Exoteric and Esoteric Buddhism, perfect accomplishments in the Five Vidyas, and so forth, all of which truly are attributes of the perfect enlightenment of a Buddha. No other Buddhist Holy Guru in this world possesses such qualities.



"Just by the facts that H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III vowed to benefit living beings purely on a voluntary basis and does not accept any offerings throughout His entire life, and that He possesses perfect wisdom and unimpeded accomplishments, no other Holy Guru can be of comparison. Only Namo H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III can take on this immensely noble, holy, and heavy responsibility of the Pope of Buddhism, to properly guide Buddhists onto the correct path of learning Buddhism. Therefore, on behalf of Buddhists, the World Buddhism Association Headquarters thanks the World Peace Prize Awarding Council and the World Peace Prize Religious Leaders Title Awarding Council for having made the ultimate decision."



Below is the statement announced by Suzi Leggett, the Chairperson of the World Peace Prize Awarding Council and World Peace Prize Religious Leaders Title Awarding Council:



The Conferment of the Pope of Buddhism to His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III is Unchangeable, The Return of the Conferment Decree is Deemed Not Effectible



The field of Buddhism in today's world is rather chaotic, there needs to be a preeminent Buddhist leader of authority to lead and correctly point Buddhists to the right direction. All Buddhists know that other than a Buddha, no great Bodhisattva, great Dharma king, great lama, or great Dharma master is qualified to hold the title and status of authority to be the world's highest leader of Buddhism. In particular, the entire field of Buddhism has now been infiltrated by many fake rinpoches and fake Dharma masters who are not true Buddhists. As a result, Buddhism all over the world has fallen into a state of chaos and confusion.



Within the traditions and formal systems of Buddhism, there are several dozen sects, such as Esoteric, Exoteric, Zen, Pure Land, Mahayana, Theravada, and so forth. Regardless of how high the status of a Dharma king or a great master of any school may be, such a person can only lead their own school. Besides, each school of the sectarian system has also been infiltrated by a great number of fake rinpoches and fake Dharma masters. These people are amateurs who do not understand Buddhist teachings in the Sutras; yet they feign to be greatly virtuous people or eminent monastics. Thereupon, gradually and inconspicuously, evil and non-Buddhists teachings have been mixed into authentic Buddhism founded by Shakyamuni Buddha. This is mainly because there is currently no preeminent leader in the entirety of Buddhism. There is no supreme leader of authority to take hold of true Buddhist teachings and true Buddha Dharma.



Since a Dharma king, patriarch, or great master of any school can only lead their own school, none of them is eligible, either in virtue or realization power, to be the authoritative leader of the entirety of Buddhism. Only a Buddha can be the King of the entirety of Buddhism and the authority in all Buddhist teachings and principles, in the same way the God in Christianity has authority over the entirety of Catholicism. Ever since Buddhist history in this world began with Shakyamuni Buddha, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is the only Buddha who has truly been recognized by all major sects of Buddhism. A total of more than 100 documents of recognitions, corroborations, and congratulations have been formally issued by Buddhist leaders, Dharma kings, regent Dharma kings and great rinpoches of all major sects. Such a feat of recognition has never been achieved by anyone else in the history of Buddhism.



In particular, the Pope of Buddhism H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is the first person in Buddhism to possess substantive holy realization power of a Buddha and perfectly flawless accomplishments at the pinnacle of the Five Vidyas. His selfless state of virtue is revered by all. His Holiness the Pope of Buddhism is also the one and only who possesses the inherent nature and physical constitution of a Buddha that no other eminent Buddhist monastic or virtuous person in this world has so perfectly attained.



After the Chairpersons of the World Peace Prize Awarding Council Han Min Su and myself, as well as the World Peace Prize Religious Leaders Title Awarding Council spent two years vigorously examining all evidences in great detail, we have formally made the ultimate, permanent, and irreversible determination that on January 31, 2018, the conferment decree and the Scepter of the Pope of Buddhism were to be presented to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. That date signified the official ascent of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III to the authoritative throne of the Pope of Buddhism.



The World Peace Prize Awarding Council and the World Peace Prize Religious Leaders Title Awarding Council had officially conferred the title of the Pope of Buddhism to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III in January 2018. However, at that time, the Pope of Buddhism H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III refused to accept the conferment decree and the Pope Scepter, stating His reasons being: "Within the field of Buddhism, there are Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. There are titles of Dharma kings, rinpoches, Dharma masters, eminent monastics, greatly virtuous persons, and Holy Gurus. There is no need for a Pope. I am a humble cultivator. I am not able to take on such a heavy responsibility." In light of this, the World Buddhism Association Headquarters took the liberty to accept the conferment decree and the Pope Scepter for H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.



However, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III returned the conferment decree and Pope Scepter to the World Peace Prize Awarding Council and the World Peace Prize Religious Leaders Title Awarding Council. The two Councils deem the return of the conferment decree and Scepter to be unjustifiable. The conferring of the title of Pope of Buddhism was a determination reached by both Councils after serious and solemn vetting, and the conferment has already been implemented. Under no circumstances can we be so lacking in rigorousness to accept the return of the conferment. This decision has been made by the two Councils. This is not a decision for H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III to make on his own.



Over the past several decades, the World Peace Prize Awarding Council has presented the World Peace Prize to President Ronald Reagan, Hon. Mahatma Gandhi, and H.E. Yitzhak Rabin, and presidents and prime ministers of other nations. There has never been a precedence of retraction. All determinations made and implemented by our Councils are very solemn, serious, and absolutely cannot be changed. Therefore, the World Peace Prize Awarding Council and the World Peace Prize Religious Leaders Title Awarding Council hereby issue our ultimate statement regarding this matter as follows: The return of the conferment decree and Scepter of the Pope of Buddhism by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is deemed not effectible. The title, status, and authority of the Pope of Buddhism belong only to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, and cannot be exercised by anyone else. This is a permanent and unalterable determination!



We wish that under the Pope of Buddhism H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, true Buddhism will greatly flourish, and the world will be greatly benefitted!

SOURCE World Peace Prize Awarding Council

Related Links

worldpeaceprize.org


With just one month left for the plan to wind up, the Narendra Modi government has so far spent just 56% of the funds on a special initiative to provide employment to migrant workers who returned home during the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic and the lockdown enforced to prevent its spread.

The Garib Kalyan Rozgar Abhiyan was launched on June 20 by Prime Minister Modi from Bihars Telihar village. Under the scheme, works worth Rs 50,000 crore were to be provided to the migrant workers for 125 days  a little more than four months. An analysis of government data shows that at the end of 95 days, only Rs 28,138 crore has been spent.

Official data also shows that 300.69 million days of work  in other words, just about 10% of the total Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) mandays for this year  have been generated through the special intervention.

Also read| Covid-19 to flood: Tracing issues that may impact Bihar polls

As millions of migrant workers started returning home after the lockdown was enforced on March 25 amid a jobs crunch in the big cities, the government devised the Rozgar Abhiyan to provide jobs to skilled and unskilled workers. The Centre announced that a focused campaign will run in mission mode for 125 days across 116 districts in six states.

In 125 days, nearly 25 schemes will be brought together to reach saturation. These will include Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna, Gram Sadak Yojna, Jal Jeevan Yojna, PM Gram Sadak Yojna, etc, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said.

As the programme enters its last month, Indian Railways emerged as the top employer, generating one in every 3 mandays under the scheme.

The Indian Railways has generated 10,66,246 mandays of work till 25 September 2020 under Garib Kalyan Rozgar Abhiyaan in 6 States viz. Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, the ministry stated on Sunday.

Also read| Data on migrant deaths being collected from states: Govt to Parliament

Construction of rural houses has driven maximum number of projects with 377,000 units, followed by 121,000 water conservation and water harvesting works and 92,158 projects of laying fiber optic cables under Bharat Net.

Former rural development secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra is not worried about the slow pace of expenditure. If you see, for the last few months, the demand for jobs under MGNREGS has dipped. Since a large number of programmes under the this rozgar scheme comes under MGNREGS, the demand under this programme must have slowed down.

But I think the government must continue with the scheme beyond its stipulated 125 days as more people are expected to demand work after the agricultural season is over, said Mohapatra.

The government didnt earmark any extra funds, but front-loaded 25 existing schemes to back the project that aimed to boost livelihood opportunities in rural India and also create durable infrastructure along with boosting employment opportunities.

The programme has covered 116 districts across Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Odisha. All these districts received more than 25,000 migrant workers each who returned home during the lockdown.

We are pooling resources from these 25 projects. There are some works which may get affected by monsoon such as laying of roads. But we want to front load the money allotted for these for those 116 districts and ensure that all those workers in these districts are given employment, said Sitharaman.

Some experts, however, said the trend did not necessarily mean the workers were back to gainful employment in cities.

If the government is unable to spend its money quickly, its is definitely a problem. It basically means people are seeking jobs but there is a problem the way money is being spent or allocated in projects. I dont agree with the argument that migrant labourers are returning to cities in large numbers and therefore the demand for this Rozgar Yojna has slumped. Remember, the first quarter GDP [gross domestic product] was minus 23.9%, so where is the revival? said Himanshu, associate professor with Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

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Minister of Defense of Armenia Davit Tonoyan has issued the following message:

Dear compatriots,

Early this morning, in gross violation of the norms of international humanitarian law and the logic of the process of peaceful negotiations for the settlement of the conflict, the Azerbaijani armed forces launched an offensive along the entire length of the Karabakhi-Azerbaijani forces through the use of missiles and aircraft, targeting the military posts of the Defense Army and the peaceful settlements of Artsakh. Thus, the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan bears full responsibility for the consequences of the military operations.

At this moment, with resolute counterattack, the Defense Army of Artsakh is suspending all attempts of the enemy to advance and is making the enemy suffer dire casualties.

As the guarantor of the security of Artsakh, the Armed Forces of Armenia are ready to provide any assistance to ensure security of the population of Artsakh.

It is already clear that the Azerbaijani authorities have not learned lessons from the inglorious defeats of the past and have, once again, overestimated their potential, and I am certain they will be strictly punished for that.

This venture will cause dire consequences for the enemy. Our response will be as coarse as ever. The Armenian army possesses all the necessary resources to crush the enemy encroaching against our homeland once again.

Dear compatriots, friends-in-combat,

All the victories of our past have been shaped through unity. I am certain that, at this crucial moment, we will meet our objective through unity and with honor, giving a lesson to the enemy who only understands the language of force.
A judge hitting gavel with paper at wooden table. (Photo: Shutterstock)

A on Sunday sent freelance journalist Rajeev Sharma, arrested in an espionage case under the Official Secrets Act, to judicial custody, his lawyer said.

The judge also sent two co-accused in the case - a Chinese woman and a Nepaleseman - to judicial custody after they were produced before him, Sharma's advocate Adish Aggarwala said.

While producing them before the judge on Sunday night, the investigating officer told the court that the accused were not required for further custodial interrogation, the lawyer said.

The Delhi Police Special Cell had said that Sharma, arrested on September 14, was "found to be in possession of some defence-related classified documents".

It said that the other two accused were paying Sharma large amounts of money routed through shell companies.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Washington/Hong Kong, Sep 27 : The US Treasury Department has announced that under the sanctions imposed over the controversial national security law imposed by Beijing on Hong Kong, no American can enter into transactions with targeted officials of the city and mainland China, it was reported on Sunday.

The sanctions were imposed last month by the Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control the city's Chief Executive Carrie Lam and 10 other current and former local and mainland officials, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) newspaper reported.

The move blocked the individuals' US-based assets and prohibited American citizens and businesses from dealing with them in general.

In a statement posted on its webpage on Saturday, the department specified that its citizens were prohibited from transactions with the named officials.

Regarding the US' move, a city government spokesman said it would not comment on the particulars of the order.

"The statement is for Americans... The Hong Kong government has said that the so-called sanctions were groundless. It was the US that was violently interfering with our internal affairs," the SCMP newspaper quoted the spokesman as saying.

"The city officials affected will not be intimidated. They will continue to perform their duties in safeguarding national security," he added.
KYIV, Ukraine - Over 360 more people have been detained in Belarus during protests against the countrys authoritarian president, who was unexpectedly sworn in to his sixth term in office after an election the opposition says was rigged.

Thousands of Belarusians took to the streets of the capital of Minsk and other cities on Wednesday evening to protest President Alexander Lukashenkos morning inauguration, which took place without advance public notice.

Police fiercely dispersed the crowds of protesters; in Minsk, officers used truncheons and water cannons, leaving dozens injured. Belarus Interior Ministry said Thursday that 364 people were detained, including 252 in the capital. The vast majority remained in custody, awaiting court hearings.

Anti-government rallies continued Thursday morning despite the previous nights crackdown. Hundreds of people in Minsk formed human chains of solidarity in different parts of the city and obstructed vehicle traffic by driving slowly or stopping altogether, honking in protest.

Lukashenkos inauguration before an audience of government officials, lawmakers and other dignitaries hadnt been announced in advance and came as a surprise for many after nearly seven weeks of mass protests against his disputed reelection.

Many European officials refused to recognize Lukashenko as the countrys legitimate president. Opposition leaders dismissed the ceremony as a farce.

The oppositions Coordination Council, which several leading activists formed to push for a transition of power, said Thursday that the secret inauguration of Alexander Lukashenko brought thousands of peaceful citizens onto the streets of our countrys cities.

Lukashenko on Thursday 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.

You know, 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.

Lukashenko, a 66-year-old former state farm director, has run Belarus, an ex-Soviet nation of 9.5 million, with an iron fist for 26 years. Official results of the countrys Aug. 9 presidential election had given him 80% of the vote, with his strongest opponent, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, getting 10% support. But both opposition members and some poll workers say the vote was rigged.

Tsikhanouskaya has not accepted the outcome of the election as valid, and neither have the thousands of her supporters who have been demanding Lukashenkos resignation at daily rallies all over the country for nearly seven weeks in a row.

The United States and the European Union condemned the election as neither free nor fair and criticized the violent police crackdown on post-election protests in Belarus. The EU has been pondering sanctions against the Belarusian leadership, but failed to agree on imposing them this week.

U.K. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said Thursday that Britain would prepare targeted sanctions against those responsible for human rights abuses in Belarus.

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 days of protests, police used tear gas, truncheons and rubber bullets to disperse crowds. Several protesters died, many were injured and nearly 7,000 were detained.

Amid international outrage over the violent suppression of the protests, Belarusian authorities switched to prosecuting top activists. Many members of the Coordination Council have been arrested or forced to leave the country.

The response to street demonstrators intensified again this week, with police detaining hundreds and injuring many.

The countrys prosecutor general, Andrei Shved, threatened protesters Thursday with significant fines and said authorities were seeking to adopt stricter punishments for parents who are involving children in protest actions.

Prosecutors in Minsk have already handed 140 warnings to families that took children to anti-government rallies.

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Daria Litvinova in Moscow contributed to this report.

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Follow APs coverage of the anti-government protests in Belarus at https://apnews.com/hub/belarus

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 18:03:53|Editor: huaxia

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SANAA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- A woman and a girl were killed on Sunday when artillery shelling hit residential homes in the south of Yemen's Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, medics told Xinhua.

Three other women were wounded in the district of al-Hawak during the exchange of fire between the government forces and the Houthi rebels, they said.

Hodeidah has seen a shaky cease-fire between the government and the Houthi rebels since both sides reached a UN-sponsored truce agreement in Stockholm in December 2018.

The port city is under the control of the Houthi rebels, while the government forces have advanced to the southern districts.

Yemen has been mired in civil war since late 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized control of much of the country's north and forced the internationally-recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa. Enditem
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) urges qualified individuals to claim their $1,200 stimulus checks by Oct.15. IRS also set deadlines for the application.

The IRS urges qualified individuals in the country to claim their stimulus checks by Oct.15. It is estimated that around nine million individuals are still about to receive the stimulus checks but did not have it because they thought they are not qualified.

Last week, the IRS issued a news release urging nearly nine million individuals to sign up and claim their $1,200 checks. In fact, the IRS sent mails to these individuals in an attempt to reach them. These are people either did not realize that they can claim stimulus checks or did not know the process of claiming it.

The IRS clarified that it does not matter if you are unemployed, did not earn any income at all, homeless, and did not file any tax for years. What is important right now is that you are still eligible for $1,200 stimulus checks under the CARES Act.

Those who are qualified should use the IRS Non-Filers Tool by Oct.15 to claim your stimulus checks. There were confusions during the first round of the application in claiming stimulus checks during the first round. It led to nearly nine million individuals who did not receive the stimulus checks.

The IRS added that the stimulus checks are also intended for those who have low-income, no-income, unemployed, and those who have become homeless. If you have not yet received your stimulus checks and you fall under the categories mentioned above, then you have to register now.

The IRS also asserted and clarified that there is absolutely no requirement that you must earn an income or pay taxes in order to get a stimulus check. According to the IRS, U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and qualifying resident aliens who meet the following guidelines are eligible for stimulus checks:

You have a valid social security number,

You cannot be claimed as a dependent of another taxpayer, and

You have an adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less if single; $112,500 or less if the head of household; $150,000 or less if married filing a joint return.

Reduced payments are available for those who earn more than the above amounts but still earn less than $99,000 per year or less for individuals, $136,500 per year or less for the head of household, and $198,000 per year or less for married filing jointly.

To make sure that the nearly nine million qualified individuals, who are about to receive their stimulus checks, will receive the payments, the IRS developed the Non-Filers Tool in partnership with the Free File Alliance. The tool is available in both English and Spanish to guide more people in filing their claims most especially Latinos and Hispanics.

Typically, people who earn less than $12,200 or less are not required to file taxes and married couples who earned less than $12,400 are not required to file as well. However, they still qualify to receive stimulus checks up to $2,400. Here is some important information that you should know:

Use the Non-Filers tool to register for a stimulus check if you earned $12,200 or less as an individual or $24,400 or less as a married couple.

Use the Non-Filers tool to register for a stimulus check even if you didn't earn any income at all.

Use the Non-Filers tool to register for a stimulus check even if you are homeless.

Use the Non-Filers tool to get a stimulus check even if you have been unemployed for a long time or have never worked at all.

Make sure that you file your claim by Oct.15 to receive your stimulus checks. If you fail to claim it, you will still receive it next year as a credit when you file your income tax return.

Check these out!
Visuals from rescue operation

Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], September 27 (ANI): The Coast Guard has rescued 12 crew members from the sinking cargo vessel MSV Krishna Sudama in the Arabian Sea, about 18 kilometers from Okha on the coast of Gujarat, officials said on Sunday.

At about 9 pm on September 26, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) at Okha received information about flooding on board the cargo vessel, about 10 nautical miles off Okha, ICG said.

The vessel, which set sail from Mudra in Gujarat on the morning of September 26 was on its to Djibouti and carrying 905-tonne cargo comprising rice and sugar.

The 12 rescued persons have been safely brought to Okha, ICG said in a statement.

"Upon receiving information a search and rescue was immediately commenced wherein Coast Guard Ship C-411 sailed from Okha, C-161 was diverted from off Mundra, and MV Southern Robin in the vicinity of the area was diverted to render assistance," it said.

Coast Guard ship C-411 arrived in the approximate position indicated by southern robin and undertook an extensive search in the area. After a thorough search C-411 located the craft carrying 12 crew who had abandoned MSV Krishna Sudama which was sinking due to flooding.

Coast Guard Ship C-411 undertook valiant operation rescuing all 12 crew under challenging circumstances owing to night hours, floating dangerous debris, and unfavorable weather conditions," ICG said

The Coast Guard Ship C-161 is maintaining in the area to monitor and combat any probable oil pollution incident which might result from leakage of fuel from the sunken dhow, it said. (ANI)


By PTI

JAUNPUR: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said those opposing the Centre's agriculture-related Bills are 'anti-farmer'.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to double the income of farmers and the Bills have been passed with this aim in mind, he said addressing BJP workers at a school auditorium here.

The CM said the legislations will free farmers from the grip of middlemen and provide them with an option to sell their produce as per their choice.

The opposition is misleading people but they will not be allowed to succeed, he said, terming those opposing the Bills as 'anti-farmer'.

Those who have been with people in the most difficult times will be in power, he said, claiming that in the past six months, the government has distributed free foodgrain 12 times so that no one faces hunger.

Referring to the upcoming bypolls in the state, he said there will not be any big rallies or public meetings.

So, every BJP worker and office-bearer will have to take the responsibility of every booth.

If you win a booth, you will win an election, he said, exhorting party workers to win the Malhani assembly seat for the BJP.

Bypolls to eight Assembly seats in the Uttar Pradesh are likely to be held soon.
Remember the art director who pranked netizens with his super long password for free WiFi? He is back and this time with another free gift. We dont want to give any spoilers but his present comes with a catch.

Shared from the personal Instagram profile of art director, Pablo Rochat, the post has a picture and a video. The clip shows an electric pole on a sidewalk with a paper stuck on it. The information written on the paper describes the username and password for a free Netflix account. Its, however, the way it is written adds on to the hilarity of the whole situation.

Check out the post to see it yourself:

Shared on September 13, the post has garnered over 85,400 likes along with many amused reactions from netizens. While some couldnt stop laughing at the hilarious prank, others wanted to know if the password actually works.

Heres how netizens reacted:

Okay but did it work, asked an Instagram user. Lol! So cruel, commented another. If anyone figures this out be a lamb and copy paste it here lol, said a third.

Can someone waste an hour of their life just to see if it works? wrote a fourth.

Would you try out this free Netflix password?

Also Read | Man shares password for free WiFi but there is a hilarious catch. Watch

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New Canaan Police will crack down on distracted driving Oct. 1-15.

The high-visibility enforcement campaign is supported by a grant from the Connecticut Department of Transportation.

During the enforcement wave, members of the New Canaan Police will be on patrol using both marked and unmarked police vehicles to look for distracted driving behaviors. Tickets will be written.

The goal of this enforcement effort is to ensure compliance with the traffic laws and provide for safer passage along the roads within New Canaan for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians, Lt. Jason Ferraro, public information officer, said.
Pilots' unions urge U.S. regulator to improve cockpit procedures for Boeing 737 MAX FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: An inside view of the Icelandair Boeing 737 MAX training simulator in the TRU Flight Training Iceland in Reykjavik

By Eric M. Johnson, Allison Lampert and Tracy Rucinski

SEATTLE/MONTREAL/CHICAGO (Reuters) - The U.S. aviation regulator should require new cockpit procedures for Boeing Co's <BA.N> 737 MAX to help pilots disable an erroneous stall alert that could be a serious distraction during mid-flight emergencies, major pilots unions said on Monday.

The proposal about an erroneous "stick shaker" alert is among recommendations the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and the Allied Pilots Association submitted during a 45-day public comment period for proposed 737 MAX design and operating changes laid out last month by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Monday was the deadline for comments.

The 737 MAX changes could pave the way for the FAA to lift a ban on the jet, potentially before year-end. The 737 MAX was grounded worldwide 18 months ago after crashes killed 346 people in Ethiopia and Indonesia.

In both crashes, pilots grappled with Boeing's flawed MCAS flight control system, which repeatedly forced down the jet's nose, and multiple audio and visual warnings that included the rapid and noisy rattling of their control column known as "stick shaker" and excess speed.

The proposals, which include recommendations for pilots during emergency situations, came during a U.S.-led gathering of regulators in the UK for a training review of the MAX.

While the FAA is in charge of certifying the MAX, other regulators like Transport Canada and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) could add different training requirements as part of their validation of the aircraft.

ALPA proposed steps that would allow flight crews to identify and pull a circuit breaker to stop the stick shaker after they confirm an alert is erroneous, echoing an earlier recommendation by Transport Canada.

Separately, the Allied Pilots Association, which represents American Airlines' pilots, also asked on Monday for a checklist to disable erroneous stick shaker activation as well as an overspeed warning.

Story continues

The union said the FAA should condense a checklist for dealing with a loss of control called runaway stabilizer to help pilots "more rapidly isolate the problem."

Among other comments, the National Transportation Safety Board has called the FAA's proposed changes "positive progress," while crash victims' families have said Boeing's changes to MCAS do not address the jet's underlying aerodynamic problem.

Meanwhile, Boeing whistleblower Curtis Ewbank has urged additional protections, while the British Airlines Pilots Association has called for Boeing to add a third "angle of attack" sensor to the jet.

(Reporting by Allison Lampert in Montreal and Tracy Rucinski in Chicago; Writing by Eric M. Johnson; Editing by David Gregorio and Tom Brown)
A New Hampshire man allegedly shot his wife's lover dead before forcing her to decapitate the body after he found out about her affair.

Britany Barron, 31, told New Hampshire state police that her husband, Armando Barron, 30, ordered her to kill Jonathan Amerault, 25, after he discovered the two were lovers when he went through her phone last weekend.

According to the Keene Sentinel, Armando assaulted Amerault beginning the night of September 19 and into the morning of September 20.

He is then accused of ordering his wife to cut Amerault's wrists, which she did, while they were inside the victim's Subaru Impreza.

Armando Barron (left), 30 allegedly killed his wife's lover before forcing her to decapitate him after he found out about her affair. Britany Barron (right) says she was also assaulted by her husband

Britany told New Hampshire state police that her husband ordered her to kill Jonathan Amerault (pictured), 25, after he discovered the two were lovers when he went through her phone on last weekend

According to investigators, Britany claimed that Armando told her to shoot her lover, but when she refused he shot the victim three times.

'When she did not shoot him, Armando removed the gun from her hand,' an affidavit, obtained by the Sentinel, reads.

Two of the shots struck Amerault in the chest and one struck him in the head.

According to a press release from State Police, Amerault, who was employed by medical supply company Teleflex Medical OEM, was reported missing last Monday morning after he didn't show up for work.

Amerault's friends and family said they hadn't heard from him since the evening of September 19.

According to the Sentinel, police announced the discovery of a body two days after he was reported missing.

Britany, who also worked at Teleflex, reportedly called the company on Monday and told her employers she would not be coming in and that she would be quitting. She told investigators that her husband also assaulted her, leaving her with two black eyes and injuries to her nose.

To dispose of the body, Armando allegedly ordered his wife to drive to Errol with Amerault's body in the vehicle.

While disposing of the body, Britany (right) claimed that Armando made her decapitate Amerault (left)

Armando was charged with capital murder in Amerault's death and for assaulting his wife. Britany has been charged with falsifying evidence. The both pleaded not guilty

Once there, Armando is said to have stopped at a store to purchase tarps, lighter fluid, household cleaner and a shovel, according to the Sentinel.

They then went into the woods and made camp. That's when Armando made Britany cut off Amerault's head, according to the affidavit.

She removed the victim's head and it was buried separately.

Armando later made Britany send messages to loved ones and friends, saying that she would be moving to New Mexico where he sister lives, authorities said.

Police were notified of the body on Tuesday after hunters reported the Barrons to the state's Fish and Game department for violating the no-camping policy in the area.

While investigating the area, officers spotted what appeared to be a body wrapped in a tarp in a nearby brook.

Armando was arrested on Wednesday while driving with his nine-year-old daughter.

He was charged with capital murder in Amerault's death and for assaulting his wife. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and is being detained.

Britany has been charged with falsifying evidence, claiming that she mutilated and concealed Amerault's body and tried to clean his car, according to the affidavit.

She has pleaded not guilty and ordered to be held without bail.
PARIS (Reuters) - Japan's Kei Nishikori surrendered two sets 6-1 but still managed to battle past Britain's Dan Evans on Sunday and into the second round of the French Open.

The 30-year-old, playing only his fifth match of the season after a recovery from elbow surgery sidelined him early in the year and then a positive COVID-19 test ruled him out of the U.S. Open, won 1-6 6-1 7-6(3) 1-6 6-4.

"I kind of knew what was the problem in the first set," Nishikori told reporters. "I think I was rushing too much.

"I was a little more patient from the second set. Things started working well for me. It was raining heavy. It was not the usual situation but from the second set, I start playing better. But there were many ups and downs."

Evans, the 32nd seed, looked on course for his first ever French Open win as he romped through the opening set but Nishikori polished off the second set in equally quick time.

Nishikori led 5-2 in the third set only to be dragged into a tiebreaker, which he won, but again lapsed as Evans hit back to take the match into a deciding set.

A topsy-turvy match saw three-times French Open quarter-finalist Nishikori seize control to lead 3-0 but again Evans reeled off the next three games and had a break point in the seventh that he could not convert.

That proved crucial as Nishikori produced a couple of stunning points to break the Evans serve at 4-5 and seal the victory, only his second of the year.

The world number 35, who has now won 24 of his 30 five-set matches in Grand Slam tournaments, will take on Italy's Stefano Travaglia in the second round.

(Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Ed Osmond and Ian Chadband)
New Delhi, Sep 27 : In line with its ambitious plan to make India a toy hub and self-reliant in the segment, the Union government is likely to go a step forward and impose further non-tariff barriers on toy imports.

Official sources told IANS that the licence regime for toy imports may start in a phased manner, starting March next year or early FY22. This will be a follow up of quality control order issued for the industry recently.

The first priority for the government in its bid to make India "Aatmanirbhar" or self reliant in the toy sector, however, is to make the domestic industry achieve high quality standards, people in the know said.

So, although further non-tariff barriers are on the anvil, the Centre does not want to rush in before the quality control order of the government comes into effect in January and the industry is well in compliance with the norms. Earlier this month, the timeline was extended for the domestic toy manufacturers to comply with the new standards till January 1.

In a recent meeting, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal took stock of developments on this front along with the required action plan for the future, sources said.

The ministry has identified toys among several categories of non-essential imports, where restrictions could be considered. In recent months, the Commerce Ministry has resorted to the use of import restrictions instead of free imports to boost domestic manufacturing.

In December, the government raised the import duty on toys by 200 per cent to 60 per cent from earlier 20 per cent. This, however, had limited impact on putting a check on unrestricted imports. India has been importing toys of an average value of about $285 million for last three years. But total imports in the category including electronic parts, is to the tune of over $650 million.

Noting that the global toy industry is worth over Rs 7 lakh crore but that India's share is very small in the sector, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his monthly radio broadcast 'Mann Ki Baat' last month gave a clarion call to be "vocal for local toys", stressing on the need for making the country a toy hub.

The Prime Minister said that the toy industry is very diverse and some of the regions in India are being developed as toy clusters to make the nation a toy hub.

This is a fresh push for the industry after Modi in one of his addresses to the nation during the nationwide lockdown stressed on 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' or a self reliant India and asked Indians to be 'vocal for local' products.

Industry players, although hailing the view of boosting the domestic toy industry, are of the view that curbing imports would severely impact the market as the domestic players only supply around 15 per cent of the total demand in the country.

They have time and again called for government support to augment production capacity.

The government, however, plans to expand the scope of the production-linked incentive (PLI) to toys along with other sectors to garner investments in the segment, which if successful will boost the manufacturing capacity in the country.

The global toy industry size is estimated at $100 billion and India has a market size of $1.75 billion in 2019, including both formal and informal sectors. India reported a 15.9 per cent growth rate from 2011 to 2018.

Among other issues facing the sector, the manufacturers lack technical expertise and capability for manufacturing electronic toys, although there is availability of raw material for local manufacturing.

(Subhash Narayan can be contacted at subhash.n@ians.in and Rituraj Baruah can be reached at rituraj.b@ians.in)
Right off the bat, if youre in this article, you should know exactly what Im talking about. However, if youre a new parent, or recently found out youre going to be one, you might not be aware of how it works. The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a payment on the 20th of each month to Canadian parents. But theres much more to it than that.

While there are other programs that say one thing and dish out another, I can say that CCB is relatively generous. If you have a child that is under six, you can receive a maximum of $6,765 per year for that child. If you have a child thats between six and 17, you can receive a maximum of $5,708 for that child.

The average Canadian family receive about $6,800 in annual benefits from CCB. Thats about $567 in monthly tax-free payments coming your way. On top of that, youll also likely receive payments from your provincial or territorial government as well.

But what about after 17?

So, youve gotten used to these monthly payments. You may have used these payments to invest in your childs future. But once your child reaches 17, they dont suddenly become a different person. Theyre still your child, and youll want to help support them.

If youre a new parent, you can start this straight away. Simply start putting those payments towards your childs future by investing in a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA). These are tax-free payments from the government, so put them to work the best way you can. While a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) is also a great idea, especially as you receive 20% back from the government to a limit of $2,500 per year, its limited to education. Some children may not go to university or college but need help with a mortgage or starting a business or starting a family of their own.

What that might look like

Lets say you decide to invest in a strong, stable company like Royal Bank of Canada (TSX:RY)(NYSE:RY). Royal Bank has decades, more than a century, really, of growth to look back on. The company has expanded globally, but continues to expand into emerging markets. So, you can look forward to steady growth in the future as well. On top of that, the company has been able to come out of recessions and economic downturns relatively strong in the past. So, this should bode well for future downfalls down the line.

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The company currently has a 10-year CAGR of 10.32%, with a five-year return of 61%. Its dividend yield sits at 4.53%, with a CAGR for the last decade of 8% as of writing.

So, first of all, lets say you invest that average $6,800 each year in a TFSA into Royal Bank. You then reinvest those payments over the next 17 years. By the time your child is ready for school, those annual payments should have grown to a whopping $500,366.27 with dividends reinvested.

Foolish takeaway

This is all by just investing in one stock for 17 years. If you were to then leave those funds alone, reinvesting dividends for decades more, your child could be set for life. After all, they have their whole life ahead of them! With a company like Royal Bank, you can be fairly certain even in 70 years the bank should be around. Now your child is likely a multi-millionaire, all because you invested your CCB payments.

The post CRA to Parents: Heres How Much Youre Going to Get From CCB appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

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Fool contributor Amy Legate-Wolfe owns shares of ROYAL BANK OF CANADA.

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
Amanda had a two-year call history with the domestic violence unit of a B.C. police department and a detailed diary with photos documenting injuries to her and her son.

She also had a letter from the B.C. government's Crime Victim Assistance Program quoting correspondence from police, which said "her file is deemed highest risk, as it has a substantial likelihood of grievous bodily harm or death."

Police recommended charges, but Crown prosecutors said there wasn't enough evidence. They encouraged her to seek protection through family court.

But when she appeared before a judge to stop her former partner from getting unsupervised access to their young son, Amanda said she learned the hard way that talking about abuse can backfire.

"I wasn't given more than a couple of minutes to say anything about the abuse. I think I got maybe to the end of the sentence where I said 'historical domestic violence.' And the judge at the time rolled his eyes and scoffed at me and sat there very silent," she said.

Manjula Dufresne/CBC

"And at the end of that, I was told by the judge that he believes that I'm alienating my child from his father and I would lose custody of my child if I kept going down that path." Then her lawyer told her not to mention it again, she said.

Amanda is not the woman's real name. CBC News is not identifying her because her case is before the courts.

It would not be the first time in Amanda's journey through the court system that she would be accused of parental alienation.

Her story is not unique.

Critics warn concept is misused

Parental alienation is a concept that is increasingly used in family law. It refers to the process of one parent turning a child against the other and actively seeking to undermine the relationship in the context of a hostile separation.

But some legal advocates are warning the concept is being weaponized as a way to prevent survivors of domestic violence from talking about it in child custody cases.

Story continues

"What we're seeing in practice is that parental alienation claims are being brought by parents who've been accused of family violence," said Kim Hawkins, executive director of the Rise Women's Legal Centre in Vancouver.

"Once that kicks in, any kind of protective behaviours that she engages in, any further disclosures of violence, even including any further disclosures of violence by the children, can then be used to support claims of alienation."

Rise researchers, for a forthcoming report, interviewed 160 women in 25 B.C. communities who were domestic violence survivors and had been involved with the family court system. Slightly more than half (56 per cent) said they had been accused of parental alienation. The same proportion said they had been advised by lawyers not to talk about the abuse.

Martin Diotte/CBC

An alienation finding can, in the most extreme cases, result in children being removed from the care of that parent, Hawkins said.

"Conversely, if they don't raise [domestic violence], then the court will make decisions about the care of their children without knowing about the need of protection," she said. "Either way, they're placing their children at greater risk. And women were very aware of this dilemma and were very concerned about disclosing violence for that reason."

Dilemma for courts

According to Nicholas Bala, a professor of family law at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont., there are an increasing number of what are called high-conflict separations in Canada, many of which involve situations where children are refusing or reluctant to see one parent.

"Some of those cases are clearly ones of alienation, clearly cases where one parent, a favourite parent, is manipulating or pressuring the child into rejecting the other parent," Bala said. "But there are also cases of realistic estrangement, cases where a child has a legitimate and genuine fear of a parent and doesn't want to see them. And distinguishing these two situations can be very challenging for the courts."

Submitted by Nicholas Bala

Alienation is a form of emotional abuse that should be taken seriously by the courts, Bala said.

"I think it's a very important, useful concept. And judges are aware of that and use it."

Severe consequences

Canadian research suggests the consequences can be severe for parents when judges make findings of alienation.

University of New Brunswick professor Linda Neilson analyzed 357 family court cases in which parental alienation was claimed or found by a Canadian court between 2008 and 2018. Close to half of them also involved allegations of domestic violence  and in more than three-quarters of those cases, the parental alienation claim was made by the alleged perpetrator of domestic violence.

Neilson found while judges were equally likely to make findings of alienation against mothers and fathers, the consequences of an alienation finding were significantly worse for women. Mothers were twice as likely as fathers to lose primary custody or some degree of access to their children when findings of alienation were made against them.

'They were looking at removing the children'

Charlene Bradford knows this all too well.

The Smithers, B.C., woman, who testified in court she was subjected to physical and verbal abuse, was accused of alienating her two boys against their father in a court-ordered psychological report.

"They were looking at removing the children ... and I would have limited access," she said.

Submitted by Charlene Bradford

Her lawyer quit because he didn't feel capable of defending against an alienation finding, she said. Hundreds of thousands in debt from previous legal proceedings, Bradford, with the help of friends and family, prepared to represent herself in court to get the finding overturned.

She was eventually successful, with a B.C. judge ruling in 2017 there were problems with the report.

But the two years living in limbo took a psychological and emotional toll.

"It was completely horrifying knowing that I could lose them, one hundred per cent," she said. "And they would just be gone  just because the person said I had done these things."

Education needed

Advocates including Hawkins have long-standing concerns about the psychological reports, such as the one in Bradford's case, that are given a lot of weight by B.C. courts in determining custody arrangements.

B.C. has relatively few standards around how these reports  which are sometimes the source of alienation findings  are admitted as evidence and around training for the people who write them, Hawkins said.

B.C. Attorney General David Eby said in a recent interview that may be about to change.

MIke McArthur/CBC

"I'm concerned that maybe this is an area where we need to expand that training in order to be able to provide more supports and ensure that the people who are interacting with victims of violence have that background to be able to do it properly," he said.

The issue, however, is not confined to B.C.

'I was getting abused all over again'

Melanie, who lives in Ontario, is in the process of working out a parenting arrangement for her young son with her ex-husband.

CBC News is not revealing Melanie's identity because her case is before the courts and due to safety concerns.

Her ex, she said, was physically and emotionally abusive, especially when he was using drugs or alcohol, which made her concerned about him having unsupervised visits with their son.

She raised this with a lawyer from Ontario's Office of the Children's Lawyer, who investigated.

"It was very frustrating," Melanie said, "because her conclusion was that she had noticed I had used two different words describing one incident and so concluded that I was perhaps being dramatic or that I was overexaggerating."

Shortly after, a judge granted unsupervised access to her ex.

Melanie said that on several occasions when she tried to tell her ex their son didn't want to visit, he would accuse her of parental alienation.

Mark Bochsler/CBC News

"When the child is, like, crying this much and doesn't even want to talk like a FaceTime call, you know, throwing things, screaming  and I have to just facilitate these visits. I don't feel like I'm doing my job as a parent."

"In many ways, it reminds me of being in the relationship  the whole situation of an abusive relationship is that it's meant to kind of throw you off your radar or your instincts."

That sentiment was echoed by Amanda, thousands of kilometres away in B.C., who spoke of feeling humiliated in the courtroom after exposing intimate details of what happened to her and her child.

"It stripped me of any kind of strength that I had or courage that I had and put me back into that weak position that I was in when I was in the heart of a very abusive relationship. I was right back there," she said.

"Instead of being put in a place of strength and feeling supported, I was getting abused all over again. And this time it was legal. And this time my ex was able to sit in the chair opposite me and watch it happen."
When Troy Burner was a teenager in the late 1980s, he worked as a radiology aide at George Washington University Hospital. He also occasionally peddled crack cocaine on D.C.'s streets.

The sporadic drug dealing, Burner said, put him under suspicion among D.C. police and made him an enemy of competing drug dealers. He said it also positioned him for a wrongful arrest and conviction in the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Michael "Bate" Wilson when Burner was 17.

After nearly 25 years in prison, Burner gained his freedom in 2018. But he never stopped fighting to clear his name.

D.C. Superior Court Judge Robert Rigsby weighed Burner's petition for actual innocence and this spring reversed Burner's conviction, saying it had been based on a "rickety" account from a purported witness who later said he'd made up the story. The judge stopped short of a full exoneration but concluded that it was "more likely than not" that Burner was innocent. Last month, prosecutors said they would not retry the case and dropped the charges.

Burner, 48, watched the virtual court hearing in August from his computer. When heard that the charges were dismissed, tears filled his eyes. The murder case was gone.

"It was a surreal moment. It's been a long journey from the beginning. Even though I worked the way I worked to get to this point and I expected this to happen," Burner said, then paused. "Just the finality of it all. I can't really explain how I feel. I have so many emotions."

Seth A. Rosenthal, Burner's pro bono attorney, said his client's case exemplified one frequent problem in wrongful convictions - reliance on a witness seeking favor for cooperation. In Burner's case, thekey eyewitnesswas a three-time felon who, at the time, was charged in a different murder case.

"It demonstrates the real problems with cases that rest exclusively with cooperator testimony and how flawed those cases are," Rosenthal said. "In these innocence cases, you often see incentivized testimonies that turn out to be false."

Though federal prosecutors dismissed charges against Burner, they do not consider him exonerated. "Mr. Burner has not shown that he was actually innocent," said Shelia Miller, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office.

Wilson was killed on April 21, 1990, a year when the District had more than 470 homicides. The case went unsolved for nearly three years. Then in 1993, a man named Antoine Payton was arrested in a different murder. After being questioned by detectives, Payton told authorities he had information about Wilson's killing.

Using court transcripts and detectives' notes, Burner's attorney revealed how Payton began telling a series of varying narratives that culminated with his testifying that he saw Burner with two friends when they shot Wilson.

Payton initially told authorities he did not see the shooting and only heard about it from friends, according to the documents. But as Payton continued to meet with detectives, his story changed. He told authorities that just after 9 p.m. that April night, he was sitting inside his parked car and he saw two men he recognized run after and shoot at Wilson and his friend in Northeast D.C.

Three men, all friends of Burner's, were charged.

Prosecutors alleged that two of them, Nathaniel Harrod and Louis McCoy, were the gunmen. They said a third man, Francois Bracmort, was a drug dealer who wasn't on the scene but ordered the killing after he heard on the street that Wilson intended to rob him.

Burner said detectives questioned him.

"It was a situation where I wasn't guilty and detectives came to me and told me from off the top, 'We know you didn't have anything to do with this, but we need you to help us with the others,' " Burner said. "I didn't know anything about the shooting, and they didn't believe me."

Later, when Payton testified before a grand jury, he said he saw three, not two, assailants. For the first time, he implicated Burner in the murder. Payton again said he was in his parked car, but this timehe placed himself closer to the location of the shooting. He told the jurors that Burner was among the group he saw kill Wilson and that he remembered seeing Burner become frozen in place when the shooting began. Burner was arrested a day later.

As the trial got underway, Payton again changed his account, this time telling jurors he was standing outside his car when the shooting began. He said he saw Burner standing behind Wilson, who began to back away when others began firing.

Payton was the only witness who testified to seeing three men. Two other witnesses testified that they sawtwo attackers. The man who was with Wilson and was injured testified he did not remember how many people chased them.

The trial lasted one week. Today, murder trials with multiple defendants often take several weeks. Prosecutors argued that three of the men, on orders from the fourth, chased Wilson and his friend and that two of the assailants fired, striking Wilson six times in the back. They alleged that Burner had a gun that night but did not fire it. They argued that he instead positioned himself to block Wilson from running away.

Judge John H. Suda, who conducted the trial, denied a request by Burner's attorney that he be tried separately from his co-defendants. Burner thinks the jury viewed the evidence collectively against all four, as opposed to each individually.

The jury found Burner and his co-defendants guilty of first-degree murder and related charges.

"The only thing at the time in my mind was I didn't do anything. I don't know anything," he said. "This was unfamiliar territory for me. I was being naive now, looking back, I know. But, unfortunately, I was a believer in the truth would set you free."

Decades later, over prosecutors' objection, a judge in 2018 ordered Burner released from prison as part of the District's Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act (IRAA). The 2016 law allows for early release of inmates who were juveniles at the time of their crimes, spent at least 20 years behind bars and have shown evidence of reform while incarcerated.

Of the 52 former inmates released since the law was enacted, Burner is the only one who maintained his innocence, according to the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth.

Back in the community, Burner kept focusing on his case and petitioned the court to declare him innocent.

Two of his co-defendants, Harrod and McCoy, submitted statements from prison. Both men said Burner was not with them when they killed Wilson.

Two childhood friends told the court they were with Burner playing dice when the killing occurred.

Perhaps most important, Payton, the government's supposed eyewitness against Burner, submitted a sworn statement in which he admitted that his testimony had been fabricated and that he was not at the scene of the shooting.

Payton admitted that his account was pieced together from details he heard in the neighborhood and what the federal prosecutor shared with him during his questioning.

Payton also admitted to implicating Burner because Burner had refused to give him a false alibi after an earlier arrest.

"I thought it would make for better testimony and help me more in my own murder case. I knew that the prosecutor was going to go directly to the judge after trial and tell him that I had cooperated, so I told the prosecutor what I thought he wanted to hear. I also testified falsely against Troy because, at the time, I thought Troy could help me out in my case, but had refused to do so," Payton said, according to court documents.

Payton, who initially was charged with first-degree murder, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He also was recently was released from prison.

Holding anger toward Payton would be pointless, Burner says. "I realized long ago, I couldn't waste any of my time being angry, being vindictive or giving any of that too much thought. I understand those emotions, if you allow them, will take control."

These days, Burner focuses on helping inmates. Last year, he graduated from Georgetown University's Prison and Justice Initiative, a program for formerly incarcerated students. He also works with the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project on cases of prisoners who maintain they were wrongly convicted. And he works with the organization Changing Perceptions in helping other IRAA grantees adjust to life outside prison.

Burner's name has been added to the National Registry of Exonerations database, which includes more than 2,670 exoneration cases since 1989. The database is compiled by the Newkirk Center for Science & Society at the University of California at Irvine, the University of Michigan Law School and the Michigan State University College of Law.

"My objective is to devote my time to the people that supported me and who were waiting for me. My mother, my brother, family and friends," Burner said. "I have had a vast support system. A lot of them were very integral to my ability to persevere through these circumstances."
Bhubaneswar: Ahead of the monsoon session of the Odisha Assembly, a BJD MLA on Sunday supported the opposition's allegation of COVID-19 "mismanagement" in the state, raising eyebrows in the ruling party. Umashankar Samantaray, the legislator of Satyabadi seat in Puri district, said the opposition parties' allegation of mismanagement of the COVID-19 situation in Odisha is "not totally wrong".

"I agree with the opposition's allegations that the number of ICU beds in the state is not sufficient to cope with the rise in the number of coronavirus patients. As a result, critical patients are being deprived of treatment. "We need to increase the number of ICU beds and set up more COVID-19 hospitals to ensure proper treatment of the patients," Samantaray told reporters.

He said the issue will be raised in the monsoon session of the Assembly scheduled to commence from September29. Congress leader Taraprasad Bahinipati, who has been critical of the state government's management of the COVID-19situation, thanked the BJD MLA for his statement.

"The Satyabadi MLA is honest and therefore he told the truth. His statement may land him in trouble and he may lose the ticket in the next election. I condemn the Odisha government for its failure in managing the COVID-19 situation in the state," Bahinipati said. BJP MLA from Sambalpur and former minister Jaynarayan Mishra also accused the state government officials of getting indulged in corruption in the name of COVID-19 management.

"The government has totally failed to manage the pandemic situation. It is hiding the actual number of deaths taking place due to coronavirus. Patients are not getting proper treatment at COVID-19 hospitals. The state government is indulged in massive corruption and it is the biggest scam of the century," Mishra said. There is no toilet facility for COVID-19 patients housed in quarantine centres at the panchayat level, he said.

Mishra alleged that private hospitals are charging exorbitant rates of Rs 50,000 per day from the patients. "Where is the 5T policy of the state government now? I had earlier said in the Assembly that 5T is a farce and it is proved now," he said.

The 5T policy of the state government stands for Transparency, Teamwork, Technology and Time for Transformation. The BJD, however, is yet to officially react to Samantaray's statement.
Volkswagen completed the corporate equivalent of probation after a court-appointed monitor said Monday that the carmaker had fulfilled the conditions of a 2017 plea bargain stemming from its use of illegal software to evade emissions regulations.

The final report by Larry Thompson, a former United States prosecutor appointed to enforce Volkswagens promise to reform its corporate culture, noted that the German automaker had adopted measures like making it easier for employees to report wrongdoing. It is a major milestone for the company as it tries to recover from one of the biggest scandals in automotive history, one that has cost it well over $30 billion and severely damaged its reputation.

Volkswagen, the worlds largest carmaker, pleaded guilty in 2017 to conspiring to defraud the U.S. government and violate the Clean Air Act. The company had rigged its diesel-powered cars to meet air-quality standards while being tested, but they exceeded those standards in regular driving.

As part of the plea agreement with the Justice Department, Volkswagen agreed to cooperate with a court-appointed monitor whose job was to ensure that the company reformed its compliance systems and corporate culture so that similar wrongdoing would not happen again.
Egypt will resume direct flights to Oman, Jordan, Rwanda, Uganda and South Africa starting October observing tough safety and hygiene measures, according to the country's flag carrier

Egypt will resume direct flights to Oman, Jordan, Rwanda, Uganda and South Africa starting October, the country's flag carrier EgyptAir said on Sunday amid tough safety and hygiene measures due to teh coronavirus pandemic.

EgyptAir has resumed flights to 47 destinations after a four-month hiatus, including the five newly announced destinations, the company said.

EgyptAir will operate two weekly flights to both Muscat and Amman. Kigali will receive a single flight per week starting 8 October while Johannesburg will receive three weekly flights starting 9 October.

The flag carrier offered special discount on tickets for these trips during the first week of resumption.

Egypt has required travellers arriving in the country starting 1 September to present a negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) lab test result certificate for the novel coronavirus.

Visitors at any of four airports in the Red Sea governorate and South Sinai can take a coronavirus test upon arrival.

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Donald Trump praised a supporter who confronted a protester at a rally in battleground Pennsylvania, saying the heckler is going home to his parents to get in trouble while the loyalist who shut him down is the kind of guy I want working for me.

As the heckler was being isolated and presumably escorted out, the president smirked and the large Middletown, Pennsylvania, crowd loudly chanted, USA! USA!

The president trails Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in the Keystone State by 4.3 per cent, according to an average of polls tabulated by RealClearPolitics. But Mr Trump and his campaign aides say their polling, like in 2016, shows a far closer race there.

Mr Trump had not been on stage but for a few minutes when the fracas broke out.

He was lauding his third Supreme Court nominee, federal Judge Amy Coney Barrett, when the crowd began yelling and pointing to his left.

Mr Trump watched the apparent silencing of his critic before sending the audience into loud cheers with his reaction.

That guy, hes going home to his parents now. Hes going to be in big trouble," Mr Trump said with a chuckle.

He just opened his mouth and we had that gentleman in the beautiful blue, he said, referring to US police being associated with that colour.

Are you in law enforcement? Mr Trump said to the silencer, before mocking the heckler: He hadnt gotten the first word out.

The president revelled in his supporter stepping in.

Thats the kind of guy I want working for me, Mr Trump said to cheers.

Thats called natural instinct, he said as it started to rain. "Some people have it but most people don't.
Beginning in the 1950s, Lillian Brown made dozens, if not hundreds, of visits to the White House. In some ways, she was closer to more presidents than any other adviser.

For each visit, Brown brought a small bag, which she called her kit, packed with creams, powders, brushes, pads and tissues  and a spare necktie and pair of black socks. With a deft hand and an encouraging voice, she became one of Washington's first TV makeup artists and image consultants, helping journalists, congressional leaders, first ladies and no fewer than nine presidents put their best face forward.

Brown, a onetime country schoolteacher who began producing television programs in the 1950s and taught speech and elocution until she was 95, died Sept. 13 at her home in McLean, Va. She was 106.

The cause was a stroke, said one of her daughters, the Rev. Carla Gorrell.

Brown got her start in television in 1953, when she volunteered to produce education programs for the public school system in Arlington, Va. Knowing nothing about the medium, she produced a series on the churches of the presidents and another on Virginia mansions.

She was also the host of a weekly educational series for children, "Do You Wonder?" which was produced at the same studio as CBS News's "Face the Nation" in the mid-1950s. The producers of "Face the Nation" noticed Brown's guests, including men, always wore makeup when appearing on camera. They asked if she would touch up guests on "Face the Nation," at $19 a show. The first person she worked with was House Speaker Sam Rayburn, D-Texas.

"I said, 'Mr. Sam, if you let me powder your nose, I will not relieve you of your manhood,'" Brown recalled in a speech years later. "Once he recovered, he said, 'Well, you just go ahead, honey.'"

Brown was not a cosmetologist. She learned the importance of television makeup by looking through cameras and viewing monitors: One of the first things she observed was that someone like Rayburn needed a dusting of powder to keep his bald head from gleaming under the studio lights.

In 1956, Brown joined George Washington University's public relations office as director of radio and television. Among other duties, she developed one of the first college courses presented for credit on television  a class in Russian, for which 3,000 people were registered.

 Washington Post

Gun incident at rally under investigation

Police are investigating a confrontation in which a man pointed a gun toward protesters outside a campaign rally for a Republican candidate for a U.S. Senate seat in Delaware.

Lauren Witzke, the Republican challenger to Sen. Chris Coons, a Democrat, said she saw a video of Thursday's incident and denounced the behavior of the armed man, whom she identified as one of her supporters.

"Firearms should only ever be used to defend life and property," she said Friday in a post on her campaign's Facebook page. "I denounce this behavior completely, and will support law enforcement as they work to resolve the situation."

Delaware State Police Cpl. Jason Hatchell told the News Journal that troopers monitoring the rally were about a block away when the incident occurred outside the state Republican Party's headquarters.

"In this particular case, once troopers were notified of the incident, they responded to contact the suspect, but he had fled the area," Hatchell said. The incident remains under investigation, he said.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Protest organizer Kristina Kelly said police were slow to react.

"I have never in my lifetime been met with violence and especially with guns being pointed at me for voicing my opinion," Kelly said.

 Associated Press

Bollywood star asked about drugs

A top Bollywood star, Deepika Padukone, was questioned Saturday by India's narcotics agency that is probing the movie industry's links with drug peddlers and cartels, officials said.

She arrived at the Narcotics Control Board's office in Mumbai after receiving summons earlier this week while on a shooting stint in the western beach resort of Goa. Media reports say no drugs have been seized from her.

The board said in a statement that it started the Bollywood drug probe after the death of young actor Sushant Singh Rajput, whose body was found at his Mumbai residence in June. An investigation is ongoing.

According to the local media, Padukone was reportedly being questioned on whether she procured banned drugs for consumption following interception of phone messages making queries with local contacts. She is one of more than a dozen people working with the Hindi movie industry who have been questioned by the board in the past two weeks.

 Associated Press
Virgin Hyperloop (VH0, the category leader in hyperloop technology, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with India's Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) to study a viable hyperloop corridor from the airport to city centre.

BIAL is the operator of the award-winning Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (KIAB/ BLR Airport).

The MoU was exchanged virtually between Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of Virgin Hyperloop, and T M Vijay Bhaskar, IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka and Chairman of the Board of Directors at BIAL, in the presence of Kapil Mohan, IAS, Principal Secretary, Infrastructure Development Department, Government of Karnataka.

"Beyond just the transit of passengers, airports are crucial conduits for goods, especially time-sensitive deliveries. A hyperloop-connected airport would dramatically improve the delivery of cargo and create an ultra-efficient supply chain," said Bin Sulayem. "We are honoured to partner with Bangalore International Airport Limited to explore how hyperloop can become a part of the solution to tackle congestion and support economic growth in the region."

The pre-feasibility study, which focuses on technical, economic and route feasibility, is expected to be completed in 2 phases of six months each. With speeds of up to 1,080 km/h, hyperloop could transport thousands of passengers per hour from BLR Airport to the city centre in under 10 minutes, compared to more than 45 minutes by road, according to the preliminary analysis.

Meanwhile, Virgin Hyperloop continues to be active in the Gulf region. Saudi Arabia is leading the world with a first-of-its-kind national hyperloop study to evaluate how a hyperloop carrying both passenger and cargo could spark economic benefits, create jobs and develop high-tech skills. The study, commissioned by Saudi Minister of Transport Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, will lay the groundwork for a network of hyperloop routes to be considered across Saudi Arabia.

Virgin Hyperloop also announced a partnership with Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) to support the development of hyperloop technology and sustainable transportation through advanced AI research. - TradeArabia News Service
President Muhammadu Buhari has come under fire for allegedly authorizing the use of the Presidential Jet for the wedding of one of his aides...

President Muhammadu Buhari has come under fire for allegedly authorizing the use of the Presidential Jet for the wedding of one of his aides, Bashir Ahmad.

Reno Omokri, in s statement to newsmen on Saturday called on the President to refund the National Treasury the cost of using the Presidential Jet for his PAs wedding.

President Buharis assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmad wedded in Katsina on Friday and the Presidential Jet was said to have been used to ferry him and others in the Presidential Villa to the venue.

The Presidency is said to have denied using the jet to ferry Bashir, saying that it only flew the Presidents representatives, but Omokri insists the excuse is flawed and shows that after five years in office, Buhari still does not understand statecraft.

Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan noted that a Presidential jet is not the property of the President but of the nation, for use in the ferrying him (the President) to and fro his official functions.

The former Presidential aide recalled that a similar incident happened in South Africa when on September 12, 2020, it was discovered that President Cyril Ramaphosa had allowed his Minister of Defence, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, to travel with South Africas Presidential Jet for an official meeting of the African National Congress.

According to him, Once this came to light, the Julius Malema led Economic Freedom Fighters pressure group, insisted that the President and his party must reimburse the national treasury for the cost of the trip, as well as suspend the Defence Minister.

In less than 48 hours, the ANC capitulated and reimbursed the national treasury, and the fate of the Defence Minister is hanging in the balance.

Also, the Office of the Public Protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, is investigating the ANC and the government over the incident. That is how it should be.

It is a significant breach of his fiduciary duties for General Buhari to give out the Presidential jet to his representatives to his Personal Assistant, Bashir Ahmeds wedding in Katsina on Friday, September 27, 2020. This is a private event that has no bearing on Nigeria.

And the excuse given by the Presidency that the jet did not ferry Bashir, but only flew the Presidents representatives is flawed and shows that after five years in office, General Buhari still does not understand statecraft.

If this had occurred in the United Kingdom, it could have caused the government to fall. I understand that standards have slipped in Nigeria since 2015, but we must at least pretend to be a civilised nation.

The Buhari administration keeps complaining that times are hard, but they are living large at our expense and Nigerians should not take this lying low from a government that just increased fuel price and power tariff.

The wedding of your subordinates is a private affair. It is not an official function.

I, therefore, call on General Buhari to reimburse the national treasury for the cost of fuelling the Presidential jet to Katsina for Bashir Ahmads wedding, as well as the cost of paying the crew.

I also call on the President to suspend all public officials involved in this abuse of office. Failure to do so is proof positive that the President is not in charge of his government and his anti-corruption war is, in reality, an anti-opposition war.
Belarus foreign minister has warned Western nations against imposing sanctions over the countrys disputed presidential election and crackdown on protesters.

With the European Union and Britain contemplating sanctions, Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei told the virtual UN General Assembly meeting of world leaders that interference in our internal affairs, sanctions and other restrictions on Belarus will have the opposite effect and are harmful for absolutely everyone.

We call on our partners to demonstrate wisdom, restraint and impartiality, he said in a pre-recorded speech for the UN session held online because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Makeis speech was played hours after the latest in a series of large protests in Belarus over the August 9 re-election of President Alexander Lukashenko, which his opponents say was rigged.

The authoritarian leader further angered opponents this week by taking the oath of office for a new term in an unexpected and secretive ceremony.

The demonstrations are by far the largest and most persistent in Belarus since its independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991.

Hundreds of thousands of Belarusians have been protesting daily since the August 9 presidential election (TUT.by/AP)

Mr Makeis remarks to the international community, which included saying the people made their choice in the election, could fuel further protests on Sunday.

The rallies are typically largest on Sundays, sometimes drawing crowds of up to 200,000 people.

In the first three days of demonstrations in August, police used tear gas, truncheons and rubber bullets to disperse crowds.

Several protesters died, many were injured and around 6,000 were detained.

Amid international outrage over the crackdown, Belarusian authorities switched to prosecuting top activists.

Many members of the Coordination Council, a group that the opposition formed to push for a transition of power, have been arrested or forced to leave the country.

Last week, the UNs Human Rights Council passed a resolution calling for an investigation into possible human rights violations by Mr Lukashenkos government, with a report to come by the end of the year.

The United States and the European Union have questioned the election and criticised the police actions toward peaceful protesters.

The EU is pondering sanctions for top Belarusian officials, but it failed to agree on imposing them this week and plans to continue discussions in the coming week.

Meanwhile, Britain said on Thursday it was working on sanctions and also was in discussions with the US and Canada.

Substantial demonstrations are expected to take place on Sunday (TUT.by/AP)

EU Council President Charles Michel told the General Assembly on Friday in his own video speech that repression and intimidation must stop and those responsible must be held accountable.

We stand with the Belarusian people who must be free, without any external coercion, to choose their own future, Mr Michel said, calling for inclusive national dialogue facilitated by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Mr Lukashenko has bristled at suggestions of starting a dialogue with the opposition and has cast the protests as part of a Western plot to isolate Russia, Belarus main sponsor and ally.

Mr Makei said the situation in Belarus indeed has become complex, but he dismissed Western countries complaints as meddling statements brimming with cynicism.

In actual fact, they are nothing but attempts to bring chaos and anarchy to our country to make Belarus lose many years of development.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 26)  On National Seafarers Day, migrant workers groups teamed up with repatriated seafarers and their families to remind the government of their concerns in light of the pandemic and the recent incident involving a capsized livestock ship in Japan where majority of its Filipino crew is still reported missing.

Migrante International teamed up with various organizations to launch what it called a National Day of Action to uphold the rights and welfare of Filipino seafarers.

Participants from all over the world joined calls for the government to give priority to seafarers concerns amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, stopping labor export, and to pass the Makabayan blocs House Bill 6588, or the Magna Carta for Seafarers Rights.

Ang hamon natin ngayon ay palakasin pa ang kolektibong boses at pagkilos ng mga seafarers at kanilang mga pamilya para itaguyod at isulong ang kanilang karapatan, Joanna Concepcion, Migrante International chairperson, said during the online forum.

[Translation: The challenge now is to strengthen the collective voice and action of seafarers and their families to further the quest for their rights.]

Also present in the forum were various seafarers and their families, who shared experiences and thanked Migrante and other groups for their support.

Liberty Seneres, wife of Aristotle Sabillena  one of over 30 Filipino seafarers still believed to be missing after the Gulf Livestock I capsized in the East China Sea, appealed for prayers and support.

Hanggang ngayon po, hindi pa po kami nakakampante na mga pamilya ng 40 missing crew na hanggang ngayon po ay naghahanap kami ng imbestigasyon at kasagutan ukol sa pangyayari, Seneres said.

[Translation: Until now, the families of all 40 missing crew members (of the Gulf Livestock I) are not yet complacent. Were still seeking out an investigation and the answers about the incident.]

The Japanese Coast Guard had earlier downgraded its search efforts for the missing seafarers to regular patrols, while Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said China, South Korea, and Taiwan agreed to the Philippines request for help.

Every last Sunday of September is declared National Seafarers Day, by virtue of Presidential Decree 1094 signed by then-President Fidel V. Ramos in 1997.
Here are todays leading news stories:

Society

-- Vietnams COVID-19 tally remains at 1,069, with 999 having recovered and 35 deaths as of Sunday morning. The country has not documented any community transmission for 25 days.

-- A 42-year-old man was wounded, while his two children, aged ten and three, were killed after his motorcycle collided with a truck in the northern city of Hai Phong on Saturday afternoon.

-- A total of 33 people, including 20 men and 13 women, tested positive for narcotics after police raided a karaoke shop in Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City at 1:00 am on Saturday.

-- The Peoples Court in the central city of Da Nang on Saturday sentenced a 25-year-old man to death for murdering his father-in-law following an argument in June.

-- Three children, aged seven, eight, and ten, drowned after accidentally falling into a reservoir used to supply water for a coffee plantation in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong on Saturday afternoon.

-- Officers in Da Nang confirmed on Saturday they had arrested a 52-year-old Viet Kieu woman for allegedly committing land fraud and appropriating approximately VND23 billion (US$990,800).

Business

-- Construction started on two wind power projects worth a combined $86.1 million in Vinh Chau Town in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang on Saturday.

-- An inauguration ceremony was held for the first phase of Long An International Port, which covers 147 hectares and costs $430 million in Tan Lap Commune, Can Giuoc District, located in the Mekong Delta province of Long An on Saturday.

Sports

-- Vietnamese grandmaster Le Quang Liem lost to his American opponent So Wesley in the semifinals of the 2020 Banter Series chess tournament, which was organized virtually early on Sunday morning.

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Dr. Mustafa Hirji isnt surprised by the number of COVID-19 cases that have been connected to Niagara schools.

Late Sunday afternoon, Niagara Catholic District School Board said in a news release that an individual at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Elementary School in Niagara Falls has tested positive for COVID-19.

As a result, students and staff were exposed to the coronavirus while this individual was infectious, the board said.

On Saturday, the board said a case had been confirmed with an individual at Canadian Martyrs Catholic Elementary School in St. Catharines.

In the same release, the board said an individual at Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School is another confirmed case  but there is no risk of exposure to students and staff.

This makes six confirmed cases tied to schools since classes started earlier this month, including three cases at Eastdale Secondary School in Welland, which is considered the site of one of five active outbreaks in the region.

One in seven Niagara residents are associated with a school in some way through a student or staff member, Niagara Regions acting medical officer of health said in an interview Sunday.

The fact that we have cases in Niagara, in the community in general, I think its pretty much inevitable well see some cases in schools, said Hirji, calling the school-related cases in Niagara minimal.

The case at Holy Cross should not be a concern because the person carrying the virus was never in the school while able to spread infection, he said.

The school community isnt really affected by it, he added.

There were 77 active cases in Niagara Sunday afternoon.

On Saturday, there were 14 new confirmations and on Sunday another 24.

Thats a big jump from what weve seen in the last couple of weeks, said Hirji, adding the average spike during that time had been four new cases per day.

He said its a result of people being social.

These cases have many more contacts to whom they can spread infection, said Hirji, noting 17 of the new cases since Saturday are tied to outbreaks at a high school, a long-term care home, retirement home and in a workplace setting.

The Toronto area has been seeing high numbers, but so have regions such as Halton and Hamilton closer to Niagara.

Its concerning that is a trend we may see picking up here as well now, Hirji said.

People aged 20 to 40 have been an area of focus in the province recently, but Hirji said the cases revealed over the weekend span most age groups.

On Oct. 12, Niagarans will be enjoying Thanksgiving.

Hirji said he is very worried about the holiday as it is a prime opportunity to spread the virus.

Large parties with extended family should be done with a virtual component  not several people at crowded dinner tables, he said.

Its really something people should be celebrating as a nuclear family.

A total of 1,048 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Niagara since the start of the pandemic, 907 of them resolved. At least 64 people have died.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg was diminutive in stature, but huge in persona. She spoke quietly, yet with a marvelous sense of humour. Her love of opera was legendary. In one interview, she quipped that she would have been a great diva. In retrospect, she was prescient.

Her death, which has created a vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court, has intersected dramatically with the Nov. 3 presidential vote and down-ballot campaigns. Powerful forces of brutal, partisan politics have been unleashed in a country already polarized by an authoritarian president who dismisses issues of discrimination, racism, civil rights, affordable health care and the ravages of climate change.

Although there is little time between now and the vote, Donald Trump and his Senate henchmen are rushing to fill Ginsburgs judicial void in an effort to consolidate their conservative ideology. Hypocrisy wins: they refused to grant Barack Obama a similar courtesy in 2016, arguing that it was too close to the election.

If Trump is successful, his power as president combined with a friendly majority on the nations highest court will create a juggernaut of conservatism which could roll back decades of progressive law reform, while creating chilling concerns about the health of American democracy.

Should Joe Biden win, Trump has already indicated that he will not guarantee a peaceful transition of power. Even his Senate allies found these comments too much. They passed a non-binding unanimous resolution reaffirming a commitment to a peaceful transition. A wanton disregard for the wishes of the people in a democracy is terrifying.

Although Ginsburgs public funeral is over, her story will not stop there. Her influential words reached beyond her countrys borders and beyond generational divides, seamlessly transforming the jurist to celebrity through layers of pop culture, childrens books and movies.

Her dogged pursuit of justice for those who were ignored or humiliated because of sexual preference, racial inequality or gender discrimination will also outlast the insanity of the Trump regime. She believed that you must speak your mind  even if your voice shakes.

If her voice ever shook, she kept it well-hidden as she overcame obstacle after obstacle to change the lives of women and law. American woman who have a credit card, sign a mortgage or have a bank account without a male co-signer owe it all to Ginsburg, who argued brilliantly for gender equality rights as a litigator for the Womens Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Association, long before she ever reached the Supreme Court.

She juggled motherhood and a career before it was accepted. When she and her adored husband, Marty, were at Harvard Law School, he developed cancer and could not attend school because of treatments. As depicted in the movie On the Basis of Sex, she took both their law classes while raising their daughter. The Ginsburgs later had a son. Her lived experience led her to note that women will only have true equality when men share with them the responsibility of bringing up the next generation.

Discrimination and rejection were also part of her DNA. While searching for a job in the sixties, she encountered three closed doors. She was a woman, a mother and a Jew. During her nomination hearings, she commented that race discrimination was immediately perceived as evil, odious and intolerable while laws discriminating against women were often justified as protection.

Canadian women also felt the sting of her death, leading to an outstanding testimonial in Canadas Supreme Court this past week.

During the hearings of an important constitutional appeal regarding the right of the federal government to enact the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, which ensures national carbon pricing, a submission from National Women and the Law ( NAWL) was dedicated to Ginsburg. Nathalie Chalifour, co-counsel, said that they wanted to honor her legacy, given her importance as a tireless champion for womens equality.

Since NAWLs intervention argued for an equality lens to the division of powers analysis, stating that climate change will disproportionately affect women  especially those who already live with intersecting forms of discrimination  it is not too presumptuous to believe the argument may well have met with Ginsburgs approval.

We owe her so much. Donald Trump can try to erase what she stood for. But Ginsburgs words are indelible. They will live on, long after he has gone.

Correction  Sept. 30, 2020: This column was edited to correct the date of the U.S. election on Nov. 3.
Having friends at work has a positive impact on your wellbeing and your performance. Photo: Getty

Having friends at work is important. Not only do you have someone to grab lunch with to break up a long day, it also has a positive impact on your wellbeing and your performance.

Research suggests people who have a best friend at work are not only more likely to be happier and healthier, they are also seven times more likely to be engaged in their job. Whats more, employees who report having friends at work have higher levels of productivity, retention, and job satisfaction than those who dont.

The way we are working is changing due to COVID-19, however. Although workplaces began to open towards the end of the summer, the government has once again asked people to work from home where possible.

READ MORE: Why things get lost in translation over Zoom  and how to fix it

If youre already close with your colleagues, its easy just to WhatsApp, message on social media or chat on Google Hangouts when working remotely. But it can be more intimidating if you dont know your co-workers as well.

Turning work relationships into friendships

To look at how friendships bloom between workers, Beth S Schinoff of Boston College, and Arizona State Universitys Blake E Ashforth and Kevin G Corley studied a global technology firm with a largely remote workforce. Over 18 months, they interviewed 64 workers with varying levels of experience several times for a total of 114 interviews. Those interviewed worked remotely at least half of the time. The researchers also observed interactions between co-workers when they did meet face-to-face.

When working remotely, the researchers found it was far harder for people to build friendships at work, which had a knock-on effect on their performance, too. The increasing use of technology and rise of virtual work has fundamentally changed how employees interact with each other, the researchers wrote.

READ MORE: What are 'interpersonal skills' and why do employers look out for them?

No longer can employees reliably predict when and where their coworkers will work, transforming the very ways in which coworker relationships unfold over time. This is perhaps especially true for coworker multiplex relationships, which fuse a coworker relationship with a friendship relationship and strongly affect job satisfaction and turnover intention.

Story continues

So how do you make work friends when working from home?

Dont be afraid to connect virtually

Working from home comes with many perks, but it can be lonely. When were working in an office, its far easier to have impromptu chats with colleagues in the shared kitchen, or to get together for after-work drinks. Often, its these meetings in non-work settings in which we get to know our colleagues personally.

Loneliness is often brushed aside as a problem in the workplace, but its something many workers struggle with. So although it might feel a little awkward to message a colleague you dont know that well, the chances are theyll appreciate the contact. Ask how they are doing, talk about weekend plans and find out how they are coping with remote working. If you know your co-worker a bit better, they may be up for a virtual coffee break over Zoom.

It can also help to share some common ground with your co-workers too. Signal who you are and what you enjoy doing and give a little bit of information about yourself, which will make you seem more approachable.

Create an online water cooler

Its also important for employers to encourage home-workers to engage with one another too. Schinoff, Ashforth and Corley suggest setting up a conference call with 15 minutes to spare at the beginning to create an online water cooler where people can catch up with each other.

READ MORE: What is reverse mentoring and can it work for businesses?

Adding extra time onto a meeting might not go down too well with some people, but setting aside a few minutes to chat to the people around you can make a big difference if youre feeling isolated.

Organise after-hour activities

The pub might be out-of-bounds for many people, but its still possible to get together virtually. Game nights and online happy hours can be a good shout for people to get to know each other outside of a work setting, even if youre still on your laptop.

If youre self-employed or work alone, you may not have colleagues to offer advice and support when you need it. However, there are plenty of groups on social media for freelancers and alike, which often organise networking events both in person and online. Facebook is particularly useful for finding others in your profession.
The Australian government is committing $7.6 (US$5.3) million to assist parents of stillborn babies dealing with the personal, social and financial impact after the loss of a child.

Eligible families who experience a stillbirth or the death of a child under 12 months of age will receive up to $3,606 in support payments.

Families and Social Services Minister Anne Ruston said this would help provide additional financial support to about 900 families each year.

The loss of a child is truly devastating and we understand that no amount of money could ever deal with the grief these families experience, Ruston said.

The Stillborn Baby Payment and Bereavement Payment provided through Family Tax Benefit are there to support families cope with expenses after the tragic death of an infant.

She said by introducing a single rate of Stillborn Baby Payment it addresses inconsistences in levels of support provided through the social security system to better recognise all bereavements.

It also provides families who have received a lower rate of the Newborn Supplement for the birth of their second or subsequent child up to $1,139 if their child tragically passes away before their first birthday.

By Colin Brinsden
(Natural News) The blazing wildfires that have crept along the US west coast are the result of climate change and global warming, or so leftists and mainstream media would have people believe. Since lightning storms sparked fires across California last month, leftist groups have grown louder than before in blaming so-called climate change.

Mainstream media has also churned out article upon article about global fires being on the rise, with large swaths of forests in different parts of the world going up in flames at a historic pace. But these claims couldnt be further from the truth. Recent scientific data shows just how little climate change has to do with the wildfires.

In particular, there has been a significant 25 percent decrease in global fires from 2003 to 2019, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Using its Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), NASA has monitored thousands of burning fires around the globe.

Data from MODIS also revealed that despite the vast quantities of carbon that wildfires produce, the fires do not add carbon to the atmosphere in the long term. This is because the regrowth of vegetation or the creation of charcoal is able to recapture all of that released carbon and clean the air in just a few months.

Since NASA began collecting measurements, climate researchers like James Randerson with the University of California, Irvine (UCI) also noted that there has been a great decrease in the total number of square kilometers burned around the world on an annual basis thanks to economic growth and development.

This is because changes in human settlement patterns and agriculture have led people to use more machines than fire to clear forests of dead trees and prepare land for farming. Less land is also being converted into agriculture because farmers are now beginning to grow more food on less land thanks to urbanization.

In all, the MODIS data show that although the recent wildfires have caused significant damage to both humans and the environment, wildfires have been far worse in the past, not quite in line with the narrative of global warming and climate change that leftists and mainstream media have been pandering to millions of people.

The human element in wildfires

What with the hassle of locking up leftist arsonists and investing resources in proper forest management, its no wonder alarmists and leftist politicians are quick to point their fingers at climate change.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, for instance, has stated that he has no patience for climate change deniers. It is a point of view that is inconsistent with the facts that California residents have seen for themselves. Peoples own experiences tell stories differently from those of climate change deniers.

Newsoms barbed statement came as California entered September still in flames, with large fire complexes traveling up north to Oregon and Washington and wreaking destructive havoc there. Experts noted that the Democratic politicians statement appeared to be a retort to critics, including President Donald Trump.

Just last week, Trump said in a briefing during his visit to California that improper forest management was to blame for the states wildfire crisis. When trees fall down, their trunks become matchsticks that can explode, he said.

Meanwhile, officials from the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), which has been sounding the alarm on possible statewide power shortages since the fires started, were quick to slam legislators insistence on plans to cut off carbon-based fuels.

Furthermore, local and federal law enforcement agencies in California, Oregon and Washington have been reporting scores of arrests linked to arson and BLM amid the ongoing wildfire crisis. In fact, it was not two weeks ago when Washington police arrested a longtime BLM rioter and charged him with reckless burning.

Local and state police in Oregon also arrested a man last week for lighting a large fire in a residential area. His fire was confirmed to have contributed to the deadliest and most destructive fire that burned through Oregon. (Related: Regular attendee of anti-police demonstrations in Seattle arrested for arson.)

In all, irrefutable scientific data, government negligence and arson arrests provide more than enough evidence that the recent wildfires are far from being the direct and sole consequence of global warming and climate change.

Learn more about the climate change hoax at FakeScience.news.

Sources include:

WattsUpWithThat.com

EarthObservatory.NASA.gov

Politico.com

USAToday.com

EENews.com

KING5.com

ABCNews.Go.com
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

Trend:

We are on the right path, we are defending ourselves, we do not lay claim to anyone else's lands, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said during a meeting of the Security Council, Trend reports.

Army building is always the top priority of my activity. Both the military and the Azerbaijani people know this. I have always said that we will do whatever is necessary for our army. We have created a powerful and strong-willed army. All our armed forces meet modern standards and carry out combat missions with dignity, conscience and courage. Today, our various armed units are involved in the counter-offensive, and the counter-offensive is going well under the leadership of a single team. There is full coordination between all armed forces. I am confident that this counter-offensive will continue to be successful, the head of state said.

By giving this information to the people of Azerbaijan, I want to say once again that we are on the right path. We are defending ourselves. We do not lay claim to anyone else's lands, Azerbaijani armed forces have no targets on anyone else's lands, in the territory of Armenia. But we will defend ourselves on our own land and liberate our occupied lands from occupiers, Azerbaijani president said.
The Cathoolic Primate of All Ireland, has called for a Family Rosary Crusade against Covid-19 during the month of October.

Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh issued the appeal to the faithful.

I invite families all over Ireland to pray the Rosary together at home each day for Gods protection during this time of Coronavirus.

These past six months have reminded us of the importance of the domestic Church  the Church of the sitting room and kitchen  the Church that meets every time a family stands or kneels down, or sits down to pray together," Archbishop Martin said.

It has also helped us realise how important is the vocation of parents to be the primary teachers and leaders of their children in faith and prayer.

That is why I am calling for a Family Rosary Crusade against Covid-19 during October  encouraging you to pray the Rosary, or even a decade of the Rosary, each day during the month of October. Pray for your own family and loved ones and for all those whose health or livelihood is being seriously impacted by the coronavirus crisis.

Archbishop Eamon is also inviting families to spread the word online. He said, Using the #FamilyRosaryCrusade or #OctoberFamilyRosary hashtags please feel free to share a picture or a short sound clip of your family saying a Hail Mary, Our Father or Glory Be! on social media.

Archbishop Eamons inspiration for the Rosary Crusade came from a visit to the Missionaries of Charity in Armagh who reminded him of what Mother Teresa, St Teresa of Calcutta, once said: Cling to the Rosary as the creeper clings to the tree  for without Our Lady we cannot stand.
Count Mark Cuban among those who believe that Americans are in desperate need of a second stimulus payment during the coronavirus pandemic.

Republicans and Democrats agree that the country needs another package to stimulate the economy with an estimated 13 million unemployed. What they cant agree on are the fine points of a deal that would make that happen.

But, Cuban, the billionaire owner of the Dallas Mavericks and member of ABCS Shark Tank, cast, says a deal should get done that would give every American $1,000. And, hes not just talking about a one-time payment.

Cuban recently told CNBC we need it as much now as we did back then, referencing the first round of stimulus payments that went out in March.

Those without (help) are struggling badly, he told CNBC. We need to get them help.

But even those who have help should get a payment, according to Cuban, as he called for all households, regardless of income, to get a $1,000 stimulus payment every two weeks for two months.

CNBC said Cuban proposed the same idea in May.

But the check would come with a stipulation. Cuban suggests a shopping spree of sorts, saying that families should have to spend the money with 10 days of receiving it or lose it. He told CNBC that approach would be beneficial because it would promote spending and help businesses stay open.

I dont care what they spend it on, CNBC said Cuban said in a previous radio interview. It could be candy, it could be rent, it could be their mortgage, it could be anything they deem necessary or that they want.

He said without the mandate Americans may save the cash, and his plan is designed to stimulate the economy and push money into stream every two weeks.

Once businesses start having demand, even if theyre closed and working online, then there is a reason for them to be able to bring back employees and retain those employees if demand is sustained, he said.
WASHINGTONThis week, Donald Trumps re-election campaign posted a video on Facebook. The radical left are laying the groundwork to steal this election from my father, the presidents son Donald Trump Jr. said in the video. Their plan is to add millions of fraudulent ballots that can cancel your vote and overturn the election.

Its a message the president himself has been repeating, over and over, for months. The election, he says, is going to be fraudulent. And the proof will be that Joe Biden gets the most votes. The only way theyre going to win is by a rigged election, he said last month.

Independent elections experts and media fact checkers have repeatedly pointed out that there is absolutely no evidence that mail ballots lead to mass fraud, nor that any kind of widespread voter fraud takes place in the U.S., nor that the Democrats or anyone else are planning it this time.

But when Trump tweeted this week that the election might lead to MAYHEM, many experts feared he might be right  and that with his claims about mail ballots he might be laying the groundwork to cause that mayhem himself.

A growing list of experts are sounding the alarm about their concern that Trump might try to steal the election. The portrait emerging of what might happen if he tries, against the backdrop of an antiquated electoral system and a polarized, heavily armed populace, is a chaotic mess. The worst-case scenarios threaten potential violence and leave Americas democratic system in shambles. Even the scenarios of relative peace seem likely to leave much of the public poisoned on the result.

In his recent book, Will He Go: Trump and the Looming Election Meltdown of 2020, Lawrence Douglas considered the alarming possibility that Trump will refuse to accept defeat if he loses. He asked a series of experts to rank the threat Trump poses to an orderly succession of power. Most of the experts I consulted soberly gave it a nine on the proverbial one to 10 scale, he writes. A former senior adviser to President Obama reflected for a moment, then gave a different answer: Do we have an 11?

I called Douglas, a professor of law at Amherst College in Massachusetts, to discuss the prospects. I think its pretty likely that we could see things go pretty sideways, he said.

Polls show that  in large part because of Trumps rhetoric  only a small minority of Trump voters plan to vote by mail, while a majority of Biden voters do. Which means that on election night, when most of the in-person ballots have been counted but tens of millions of mail ballots have not (it can commonly take days or weeks to count mail ballots), Trump may appear to have an electoral college lead, or close to one.

I think the danger is that Trump will turn any lead he enjoys on November 3 into a claim that hes been re-elected, Douglas says. And that in the following days and weeks, as his lead evaporates and turns into lets say, a lead for Biden, hell try to discredit that by arguing that all the ballots, all mail-in ballots, which lead to his ultimate defeat, that they cant be counted, because theyve all been infected by fraud, and theyre all corrupt.

Douglas says Trump has telegraphed his intention to do that by relentlessly attacking the integrity of mail-in ballots  though of course he has cast them himself in recent elections. Whats more, Trump has refused to say hell respect the election vote.

On Wednesday, he was asked if hed commit to making sure that there is a peaceful transferal of power after the election, to which Trump responded, Well, were going to have to see what happens. You know that. Ive been complaining very strongly about the ballots. He then said there wont be a transfer, frankly; therell be a continuation.

Meanwhile, Trump campaign and Republican Party officials confirmed to the Atlantic this week that they are preparing a strategy to contest the counting of mail-in ballots. One Trump legal adviser acknowledged that any change in the count after election night will be challenged as being inaccurate, fraudulent. The Pennsylvania Republican Partys chairman told the Atlantic reporter his party has been having discussions about legislators directly appointing electoral college voters to override the publics vote if the mail ballot counting takes too long or there are claims of fraud.

Determining what may happen in a contested election before the winner is sworn in is not as easy as you might think. The anachronistic electoral college system has state governments deciding who won their state and politicians in Congress refereeing the vote, with the incumbent vice-president presiding, using rules that become very unclear if results are disputed.

People think of our electoral system is perhaps a little odd or anachronistic, but ultimately pretty stable, Douglas says. In fact, I think what really has kind of spared us these electoral disasters in the past has largely been luck. And the character of people seeking higher office.

One of the defining character traits of the current occupant of the highest office his unwillingness to accept defeat of any kind. (Trump has baselessly claimed the 2016 election that he won was fraudulent because he did not win the popular vote.) So what kind of electoral disaster ensues if Biden wins a close election and Trump disputes the result?

Douglas considers that question in his book, and finds defects in the constitutional and legislative design are likely to enable a defiant Trump and his supporters to push the nation toward complete electoral meltdown.

A Loyola University Chicago Law Journal paper by Edward Foley outlined scenarios including a full-fledged constitutional crisis with Nancy Pelosi making a credible claim to the presidency, the military unclear on who to hand the nuclear codes to, and the Supreme Court being forced to weigh in.

A bipartisan group of 100 political experts in the Transition Integrity Project held a series of war games to try to see where Trump refusing to concede led and, in addition to legal and procedural chaos, found The potential for violent conflict is high, particularly since Trump encourages his supporters to take up arms.

Indeed, if the results are disputed, it seems likely that Democratic supporters would take to the streets in mass protest, equally likely that Trumps still-sitting administration might meet those protests with a strong police and military reaction as it has done with civil rights protests, and also likely that Trump supporters might show up armed, as some have already done at civil rights protests.

Its very likely that youre going to have these tens of millions of Trump supporters firmly believing that, in a sense, the Democrats have staged a coup. And if thats what they believe, then their acts of even violence could be packaged as defending our democracy instead of attacking it, Douglas said, envisioning a scenario in which Trump did leave office but claimed widespread fraud.

Pandemonium in government. Violence in the streets. None of this is certain to happen. Its hard to say even how likely it is. But that it is conceivable at all, in the worlds oldest constitutional democracy, is astounding.

Im very worried, says Suzanne Mettler, a professor of American Institutions at Cornell University, and the co-author, with Robert C. Lieberman, of Four Threats: The Recurring Crises of American Democracy.

She and Lieberman began asking a few years ago how concerned they should be about the state of American democracy. And we really felt like we didnt even have a language for thinking about that, because as scholars of American politics, we dont tend to think about our democracy in a really fundamental way being endangered. Its more like, you know, how robust is democracy?

Yet looking at U.S. history, they found four conditions in the past had threatened the integrity of the U.S. system: political polarization, conflicts over race, high and rising economic inequality, and centralization of power in the presidency. We found that, in fact, American democracy has been fragile.

Today, for the first time ever, we face all four threats at once, Mettler says. And its a really combustible situation.

Mettler and Liebermans book concluded the U.S. was in danger of succumbing to competitive authoritarianism  a form that maintains many of the visible hallmarks of a democracy. That was before coronavirus came along and made mail-in balloting both a dominant form of electoral participation and a Trump boogeyman.

Rule of law has also been being undermined in various ways by the Trump administration  as if its Trumps personal law firm, Mettler says. She recalls Russian interference in the election that happened in 2016 and continues to happen, and notes the politicization of the Supreme Court going into hyperdrive after the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Others have noted the apparent election-year kneecapping of the postal service, and the use of Homeland Security officers to violently clash with protesters, and Trumps efforts to recruit tens of thousand of people to act as poll watchers that many fear would intimidate voters.

All of it, Mettler says, further undermines confidence in the systems integrity.

Electoral advocates point out that for years, Republicans have been engaging in efforts to essentially suppress the vote among key demographics likely to vote Democratic, such as through voter ID laws and purging of voter rolls.

I think, really the sort of extraordinary thing about this election year is not so much new problems, but rather the bright, unavoidable spotlight that COVID has shined on the challenges that voters, and particularly voters of colour, have faced for many, many years, says Hannah Fried of All Voting is Local, an organization that tries to expand the right to vote for every American by providing information and advocating for laws that make it easier for Americans to have their votes counted.

Asked how, in this unusual election year, they are trying to prevent worst-case scenarios, Fried says they are working to communicate to people how to vote in ways that will ensure their votes will be counted  including with absentee ballots, which have more complications that can cause them to be excluded.

That kind of information, and encouraging voters to vote early, are two of the ways that we can most avoid some of the more likely post-election scenarios that were talking about. The more people who vote early, the more people who know how to vote valid, that will be counted without any kind of question.

Douglas said that in his view the most likely way to avoid the potential for constitutional mischief and the chaos they might entail, at this point, is if the result is decisive. In his book, he  as well as the others I wrote about earlier who studied the worst-case scenarios, Foley and the Transition Integrity Project  concludes the actual best way to avoid it would be reforming the system to avoid the ambiguity that allows the worst-case possibilities, but the window for such action for this election is closed.

But even if the fears of such scenarios prove unfounded  even if a decisive result is clear early on, even if Trump legitimately wins the electoral college, even if the loser of the election concedes as every former losing presidential candidate has ultimately done in the past  the climate is likely to poison the results in the minds of many voters.

Five years ago, if you did a public-opinion poll, you would find that the vast majority of Americans of either party had high confidence that we had free and fair elections in the United States and high confidence in the legitimacy of elections. And that has quickly changed, Mettler says. An NBC poll last month showed 55 per cent of respondents saying they were not confident the elections will be conducted fairly.

The rhetoric from Trump undermining elections has convinced his supporters they are liable to be corrupt, and combined with some of his actions in office they have convinced his opponents that he is trying to rig the election. Whatever the result, a fair number of voters are likely to question its legitimacy.

If the root fear is that this election could undermine American democracy, the loss of faith among citizens might mean those fears have already been realized.

One of the most dangerous legacies of this whole election, regardless how it breaks out, is, you have an incumbent president whos been telling the American people that the electoral system is unreliable, Douglas says.

And thats an incredibly dangerous game to play. You know, a constitutional democracy presupposes that people have confidence in the trustworthiness of its electoral system. And you cant really have constitutional democracy exist without that bedrock of faith.

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A change in the weather pattern this week will not only bring an area of wet weather into the Northeast, but also usher cooler air into the region.

A dry pattern has remained in place across much of the Northeast for most of September, and much longer for some locations.

Into Monday, "portions of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island were in an extreme drought, while much of New England to central Pennsylvania were in severe drought," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Ryan Adamson.

The storm bringing in the wet weather will originate in the center of the country. A huge dip in the jet stream will send that rain to the Eastern Seaboard as well as deliver a drastic cooldown in the Midwest.

With the jet stream diving so far south, this storm will be able to tap into some tropical moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf Stream off the Atlantic Coast of the Southeast.

Rain will progress slowly from west to east into Tuesday night, with rain likely to continue across eastern New England on Wednesday.

"The heaviest rain, which could occur in two areas, is likely to bring an average of 2-4 inches with locally higher amounts," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.

One swath of drenching rain set up over the Appalachians, while a second batch was developing along the Interstate 95 corridor in the mid-Atlantic on Tuesday afternoon.

Forecasters say motorists should anticipate travel delays, and people with outdoor plans may need to have indoor alternatives planned through the middle of the week.

In addition to the downpours, thunderstorms that erupt along and ahead of the leading edge of cooler air can be locally gusty.

"The greatest risk of thunderstorms with isolated damaging winds gusts will generally be just east of New York City later Tuesday night to early Wednesday," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Dombek.

Any wind that accompanies the wet weather could also lead to additional early leaf drop, affecting the foliage later this fall. Motorists and pedestrians are advised use caution in wooded areas where leaves are coming down. The rain can make paved surfaces rather slippery.

Story continues

CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP

Several rounds of rain could be beneficial to parts of the region, helping ease some of the drought distress. However, rainfall is likely to be heavy enough for flooding to become a concern.

"Any urban area in the I-95 zone from the Carolinas to Maine could be susceptible to flooding in this pattern, while the greatest risk of small stream flooding will be in areas where heavy rain has occurred in recent weeks, such as from North Carolina to eastern Virginia," Sosnowski said.

"The ground in New England should draw in most of the rainfall like a sponge," Sosnowski added.

A second round of rain may develop over part of the mid-Atlantic and central Appalachians areas late Thursday, then lift northeastward during Friday.

Across the mid-Atlantic and southern Appalachians, some rivers are just now starting to recede following the heavy, tropical rainfall from Beta. Additional rainfall could cause water levels to rise or slow the rate of recession.

As the wet weather pulls northward into Canada, a new air mass will move into the Northeast in its place. This air mass will bring much cooler air. After the steady rain moves away, spotty showers are forecast, mainly around the Great Lakes and the Appalachians.

"As the calendar turns to October on Thursday, locations like the Adirondacks of upstate New York as well as some high ground in northwestern Pennsylvania and the Laurel Highlands may not make it out of the 50s F," Adamson said.

By Friday, afternoon high temperatures in the 50s will be even more widespread across the interior Northeast, while places east of the Appalachians remain in the 60s.

Although a drastic change from the warmth experienced early this week, temperatures are expected to be right around normal or a few degrees lower than normal for this time of year.

"The core of the coldest air will remain in the Midwest late this week, but temperatures only in the 60s are forecast to extend as far south as Raleigh and Atlanta," added Adamson.

Chilly air and mostly dry conditions are likely to stick around in the Northeast into the weekend.

Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
A bikie leader who was deported from Australia is now living the high life in a luxurious Thai mansion with his glamorous wife.

Josef Armani Heart, once known as Joe Edwards, was sent back to New Zealand after his gang tried to start up a new chapter of the notorious Mongols Mob in Perth in 2017.

The heavily-tattooed bikie boss now uses Instagram to boast about the new palatial home he shares with his wife and daughter near the beach destination Phuket.

Josef Armani Heart, once known as Joe Edwards, is pictured with his glamorous wife, both from new Zealand

The heavily tattooed bikie boss now uses Instagram to boast about the new palatial abode he shares with his wife and daughter near the beach destination Phuket

A social media video captioned 'our new home' shows off the hilltop mansion's infinity pool, sea views, spa bath, spacious living areas and lavish master bedroom.

Other images feature a fit-looking Heart at the beach, by the pool or at the gym wearing designer labels including Armani, Gucci and Polo Ralph Lauren.

Another video shows an extravagant day out with his friends and young family on a deluxe yacht.

Other images feature a fit-looking Heart at the beach, by the pool or at the gym wearing designer labels including Armani, Gucci and Polo Ralph Lauren

Pictured: Josef Armani Heart when he was Joe Edwards - the mob boss who was deported from Australia

Pictured: A gold-plated Harley Davidson motorbike Josef Armani Heart posted on Insatgram

A social media user congratulated the gang leader and said 'owning a house but in another country coming from the hood is inspiring'.

Heart replied: 'Mob life my brother.'

Mongrel Mob has dominated New Zealand's criminal scene since they sprouted up in 1962, with its members often distinguishing themselves with facial tattoos and wearing red.

Members of New Zealand's Mongrel Mob attempted to establish Australian chapters in 2017

Several Mongrel Mob chapters remained in Western Australia despite the deportations in 2017

The gang began recruiting members for Australian chapters in Perth, Melbourne, the Gold Coast and Darwin from 2017 - the year Heart was caught at Perth Airport trying to bring gang uniforms into Western Australia.

He was one of five gang members booted out of the state.

His visa was cancelled on 'character grounds' and he was put on a plane home to New Zealand, before flying to Thailand to start a new life.
At the United Nations General Assembly, Latin American leaders appealed to the international community to allow them free access to the COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday, September 26. At the UN meeting, the leaders urged major powers to share their research and other relevant information with Latin American nations for the sake of global health and well-being.

Read: UK Announces New COVID Measures, $13k Fine On Violating Rules Amid Second Wave

COVID-19 vaccine must be global public good: Argentine President

Latin America has suffered greatly with the COVID-19 pandemic. It is one of the most severely affected continents with Brazil having reported over 4.5 million positive cases and a death toll of nearly 150,000. As per reports, Latin America has almost nine million cases in total. On top of that, the lockdown restrictions as well as the impact on trade, the economies of Latin American countries have also been negatively impacted.

Argentine President Alberto Fernandez during his address to the UN General Assembly is reported to have said that the COVID-19 vaccine must be made a global public good, adding that no one can survive the pandemic alone in these trying times. So far, only 11 potential COVID-19 vaccines have reached the final trial phases with many leading world powers backing one or multiple vaccines.

Read: 'US Isolating Itself From International Community': China Spokesperson Over UN Resolution

African leaders appeal for aid from the UN

Earlier on Thursday, African Nations appeal to world leaders for financial assistance to overcome the struggle of the COVID-19 pandemic at the United Nations General Assembly. As per reports, Africa's 54 countries have estimated that the continent would need $100 billion every year for the next 3 years in order to survive the pandemic.

African leaders during their address pointed out that western countries had spent trillion in an effort to revive their own economies. As per reports, almost all African speakers emphasised multilateralism in their UNGA speech. African leaders also appealed for debt cancellation so that those resources could be focused elsewhere in an effort to survive the pandemic.

(Image Credits: AP)

Read: Africa Seeks Financial Aid From UN Leaders To Overcome Struggles Of COVID-19 Pandemic

Read: Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari Urges UN To Ensure COVID-19 Vaccine For All
New York (United Nations) 25 September 2020 (SPS)- The Vice President of Zierra Leone, Mr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, reiterated his countrys commitment to UN efforts aimed at total elimination of colonialism, in his countrys speech before the UN General Assembly Today.

Sierra Leone reiterates its commitment to multilateral efforts geared toward the total elimination of colonialism in all its forms and manifestation, and supports the adopted decade plan of action, he stressed.

He further considered that if we are to remain true to the fundamental principles of the United Nations that is fit for purpose, then it becomes absolutely necessary to relegate the chapter of colonialism to history within the period 2021- 2030, adding that the global paradigm of engagement, partnership, multilateralism, and mutual respect for the aspirations and views of all peoples must prevail.

On the same vein, he considered that while isolationist sentiments, geopolitical tensions, and economic uncertainties are escalating, the multilateral rules-based system is severely being tested. The UN Charter remains the foundation for that multilateral system, international cooperation, and global peace and security. It provides the framework for maintaining peace and security, upholding human rights and dignity, promoting sustainable development and international cooperation to tackle both longstanding and emerging challenges.

In view of this, Sierra Leone reaffirms its firm commitment to multilateralism as embodied in the Charter of the United Nations. We are, in this regard, committed to promoting international cooperation to address present and emerging challenges that confront our world, including our collective engagement in the prevention of conflict as well as advancing durable peaceful settlement of conflicts and disputes, he emphasized. (SPS)

090/500/60 (SPS)
On November 3, US voters will elect members of congress, governors, state legislators and a raft of other state and local political office holders - but they will not elect the next US president.

Instead, the votes cast on November 3 will determine the make-up of the US electoral college. On December 14 the college will vote for the next president and the next vice-president of the US.

The framers of the US constitution did not favour electing the US president by a popular vote of the people because of a concern about large states dominating small ones and because they had mixed feelings about democracy. They feared that, left to their own devices, voters could elect a demagogue.

They also did not want Congress electing the president because it would interfere with the balance between the different branches of government. To resolve the conundrum, a committee was appointed. It produced the idea of an electoral college.

The current electoral college consists of 538 electors. To be elected president a candidate must receive at least 270 college votes.

If no candidate receives an absolute majority or if there is a deadlock in the college, a contingent election for president is held in the House of Representatives where each state delegation has one vote. A similar election for vice-president is held in the Senate.

States are allocated one member of the electoral college per senator and one per member of the House of Representatives. Following the presidential election, the state delegations on the electoral college are, with the exceptions of Maine and Nebraska, allocated to the political parties on a 'winner take all' basis.

If, for example, Joe Biden wins California, the state's 55 electoral college places are allocated to the Democrats. If Donald Trump holds Texas, its 38 places in the college go to the Republicans.

The political parties decide on the electors they send to the college. The electors pledge to vote for their party's candidate for president and vice-president - however, electors can go rogue and cast a 'deviant' vote for any person they wish.

Bizarrely, there are no constitutional or federal provisions dealing such 'faithless' electors.

Between 1900 and 2012 college electors cast only nine deviant votes. That changed dramatically in 2016. Four of Washington State's 12 Democratic party electors refused to vote for Hillary Clinton. Three voted for Colin Powell and the fourth voted for Faith Spotted Eagle, a Sioux elder and environmental campaigner. The four were subsequently each fined $1,000, which they appealed. In July the US Supreme Court upheld the Washington State's right to impose fines. Clinton also lost an elector from Hawaii who voted for Bernie Sanders.

Two of the Republican electors from Texas broke ranks and voted against Trump. One of the two, Christopher Suprun, explained in the New York Times that he would not vote as pledged because Donald Trump was "not qualified for the office", citing Trump's tweets, his lack of foreign policy experience, demeanour, the advisers he used - Steve Bannon and General Michael Flynn were name-checked - and because of concerns about Trump possibly receiving gifts or payments from foreign governments.

The outcome of the electoral college vote in December 2016 gave Donald Trump 304 votes to Hillary Clinton's 227, the fifth time in US history that a presidential candidate won the electoral college while losing the popular vote.

There have been numerous unsuccessful attempts to get rid of the electoral college over the years. In the absence of reform at federal level, 33 states and Washington DC have enacted legislation relating to the electoral college.

Remarkably only five of the states impose a penalty on faithless electors. Fourteen states - accounting for less than 23pc of the total college vote - have provisions that allow for the cancellation of a deviant vote and replacement of the faithless elector.

Oddly the legislation in 19 states and Washington DC allows the deviant votes to be counted as cast. The remaining states have no legislation to deal with faithless voters.

Going into the electoral college vote in 2016 Donald Trump had, on paper, 306 votes. A major campaign was launched to persuade Republican electors to break their party pledge and vote against Trump.

Republican electors were offered pro bono legal aid to assist them to break their voting pledges. Full-page advertisements were run in newspapers. Hollywood personalities made a video appealing to Republican electors to vote for anyone but Trump. Anti-Trump rallies were mounted in a number of states to coincide with the electoral college vote.

Time magazine ran an opinion piece arguing that the electoral college was created to stop "Demagogues Like Trump". A petition requesting the college to elect Hillary Clinton received almost 5m signatures.

When the votes cast on November 3 are tallied, if Trump is ahead in pledged college votes it is highly likely that a similar campaign will be mounted to get Republican electors to switch votes. In a close-run election only a handful of faithless electors could deny Trump a second term.

Delays in certifying election results because of disputes about mail-in votes - a distinct possibility - could also trigger chaos. Election results must be lodged by December 8.

The lack of clear-cut results in critical battleground states such as Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin where the state legislatures are Republican and the governors are Democrat could produce a situation where Republican electors backing Trump are certified by the state legislatures while the governor seeks to certify a pro-Biden Democratic state - resulting in a full-blown constitutional crisis. Reports in the Forbes and The Atlantic magazines last week suggest that the Trump campaign is actively working on such a strategy for November.

James A Michener, the author who served as a Democratic elector for Pennsylvania, described the US electoral college as "a time bomb lodged near the heart of the nation".

This year the time bomb could explode, causing chaos in the US and raising questions as to the political legitimacy of an administration taking office in such controversial circumstances for US allies.

Dick Roche is a former Fianna Fail politician and minister
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das has said Dhaka and New Delhi are partners in development and that the cooperation transcends mere transactions and is built on trust and mutual respect.

She also said that India looked forward to the joint commemorations of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation War and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two neighbouring countries.

The envoy made the remarks while addressing a webinar titled, "Remembering Mahatma Gandhi", on Thursday organized by the High Commission of India as part of the commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

October 2 would mark the finale of the two-year long commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary.

The seminar was attended by Noakhali MP HM Ibrahim; President of Gandhi Ashram Trust, Bangladesh Swadesh Roy; Chairman, Mahatma Gandhi Smarak Sadan, Syed Abul Maksud; Naba Kumar Raha, Director of Gandhi Ashram Trust, Noakhali; Professor Aminul Islam, Gandhi Ashram, Atrai, Naogaon; Hilol Sarkar, Gandhi Ashram, Jamalpur and Md. Fazlul Haq of Gandhi Ashram, Dohar.

Ganguly said the Gandhi Ashrams in Noakhali, Jamalpur, Atrai and Dohar are the torch bearers of the Gandhian principles in Bangladesh.

She paid tributes to both Gandhi and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The High Commissioner said that she was pleased to speak with participants from all Gandhi Ashrams in Bangladesh on a common platform.

She urged them to work together to preserve this shared history of India and Bangladesh and to build on this cherished bond of friendship.

--IANS

sumi/ksk/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NEW YORK  Loyalists to NXIVM leader Keith Raniere are enlisting Amanda Knox, who was convicted but ultimately exonerated of a 2007 murder in Italy, in an attempt to turn the tables on the federal prosecutors who went after the man they call Vanguard.

In a court filing Saturday, prosecutors said that about 10 members of NXIVM  including one holding a video camera  dropped off petitions at the U.S. Attorneys office in Brooklyn on Friday, demanding Ranieres prosecutors answer a set of questions. His petition  framed as an affidavit  demands that prosecutors answer whether they tampered with evidence, suborned perjury, threatened witnesses and more.

Calling it an effort to hold prosecutors and judges accountable, the NXIVM members additionally plan to launch a podcast, hold a $35,000 Innocence Challenge and gather signatures on a petition that was already signed by supporters such as Knox, an American exchange student targeted by Italian authorities for the murder of her roommate in a case that attracted international attention.

Its absurd in so many ways that I dont know where to begin, attorney Neil Glazer, who represents victims of NXIVM in a civil suit filed earlier this year, told the Times Union in an email on Sunday. Ive never seen anything like this bizarre document in all my years of legal practice."

"This is nothing more than a publicity stunt, orchestrated by Raniere to throw up smoke and mirrors and to peddle conspiracy theories to keep his remaining disciples in the fold, Glazer added.

Knox's signature was included among the initial group of brave journalists and advocates who have agreed to support this important initiative," Raniere's supporters posted on their website.

Reached Sunday via email, Knox confirmed her support of the initiative.

"I was contacted by some former members of NXIVM who claim that Mr. Raniere has been wrongfully convicted, and that the story being told in the media is wrong," Knox told the Times Union. "I personally do not know enough about the case to make any judgments about whether his conviction is wrongful or not.

"These supporters of Mr. Raniere asked me to sign a petition asking the prosecutors in the case to affirm some principles of prosecutorial conduct that any prosecutor should be able to affirm, such as not engaging in perjury, not tampering with evidence, and not threatening witnesses," Knox added. "I signed the petition because violation of these practices would constitute prosecutorial misconduct, regardless of Mr. Raniere's guilt or innocence."

Also listed as signatories of the petition were Valentino Dixon, a Buffalo man who spent 27 years in prison for a murder he did not commit; Diana Davison, who runs the Lighthouse Project, a Canadian nonprofit offering free assistance to the wrongfully accused; and Walter Pavlo, an author and speaker on white-collar crime who runs a group called 500 Pearl Street, the address of a federal courthouse in Manhattan.

Earlier: NXIVM members dancing for Raniere outside federal prison

Lawyers for NXIVM's Clare Bronfman say she's being treated unfairly due to wealth

Raniere, facing possible life sentence, wants judge to know 'he's being watched'

Complete Times Union coverage of NXIVM

"I was aware of the case against Mr. Raniere and his NXIVM organization when I signed the petition," Davison told the Times Union. "Regardless of who an accused is, the duty of a prosecutor to conduct a fair trial remains the same. In cases such as this, where the evidence is seen to be overwhelming, there is no justification for a prosecutor to mislead the court or misrepresent the evidence, if that is what happened. If Mr. Raniere's trial was handled fairly then there should be no controversy and the prosecutors should have no trouble signing the affidavit presented. If there was any prosecutorial misconduct then the public should demand to know why the trial was compromised."

Davison said the public's dislike for a defendant should create an extra duty of care.

"My signature on the petition is not an endorsement of Mr. Raniere and I take no position on his guilt or innocence. I have no hesitation in signing any petition which seeks to safeguard the integrity of the legal system," she said.

Emails detailed in court documents show the effort is the brainchild of Raniere, the purported self-help guru convicted in June 2019 of all charges against him, including sex trafficking, forced labor conspiracy and racketeering charges that includes underlying acts of possessing child pornography, identity theft, extortion and fraud.

Prosecutors have asked Senior U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis, who presided over Ranieres trial, to sentence the 60-year-old former Halfmoon man to life in prison.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

These efforts appear to be directed by the defendant Keith Raniere, as reflected in the enclosed correspondence from defendant Keith Raniere through his prison email account, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tanya Hajjar and Mark Lesko told the judge, who will sentence Raniere on Oct. 27.

The effort includes many of the same Raniere disciples who, in a show of support for him and other inmates amid the COVID-19 pandemic, began dancing this summer outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where Raniere is being held.

They now say they are part of a new group, Make Justice Blind, which they described as a partnership between their group and the media. The group's team is comprised entirely of longtime members of NXIVM, including actress Nicki Clyne and Michele Hatchett, two members of Ranieres secret master/slave group in which women were branded on their pelvic areas with Ranieres initials. Also on board are NXIVM member Eduardo Ansunsolo, who attended Raniere's trial; Marc Elliot, a longtime NXIVM member and motivational speaker who credits Raniere with helping him overcome Tourette syndrome; and Suneel Chakravorty, who attended Ranieres trial and has been in contact with the jailed Raniere.

Raniere wrote the most recent documents himself, as evidenced in a petition he sent to Chakravorty on June 16. Chakravorty then emailed the petitions to acting U.S. Attorney Seth DuCharme, his predecessor, Richard Donoghue, and the prosecutors on Ranieres case, who include Hajjar, Lesko and Moira Kim Penza, the lead prosecutor at Ranieres trial; Penza is now in private practice.

At the same time the 10 NXIVM devotees dropped off their package of questions at the U.S. Attorneys office, another member of the group tried to drop off the same package at Penzas private law office, prosecutors said. Penza declined comment on Sunday.

Will you support public accountability? Chakravorty stated in the subject line of the Sept. 25 email.

The affidavit contains 8 simple statements that we would like you all to review and respond to, either affirming or denying each point, regarding your conduct, and that of your office, in the case of USA v. Keith Raniere.  Please honor this demand for public accountability to the people you serve and respond to the affidavit no later than 5PM ET on Wednesday, September 30. Also please confirm receipt of this email.

Potential witnesses for the defense were threatened, corrupted, and coerced along with the prosecution's tampering with vital evidence," Raniere's petition alleges. "After all of this, the prosecution made inaccurate and inflammatory statements to the press, to justify, cover, and praise their actions. Prosecutors and judges should no longer be able to hide and shelter corruption, political agenda, and prejudicial injustice.

Glazer said these latest documents are a stunt that has no basis in the prosecutorial process. These Raniere devotees allude to this questionnaire being some new kind of procedure they want to introduce into the system. If so, they have to actually work within the many mechanisms in our democratic system of governance to incorporate the change, rather than just show up en masse at the U.S. Attorneys Office and demand that prosecutors sign or initial this ridiculous document, which has no basis in the law. They cannot just appear at an office with some loopy form and insist that the prosecutors place their initials and signatures on it. 

On Wednesday, Clare Bronfman, a longtime NXIVM executive and an heiress to the Seagrams liquor fortune, will be sentenced by Garaufis for her guilty plea in 2019 to conspiracy to conceal and harbor illegal aliens for financial gain, and fraudulent use of identification. Her lawyer has asked for three years probation; the prosecution has asked for a five-year sentence.

Under federal sentencing guidelines, she faces 21 to 27 months behind bars. The judge is considering an "above guidelines" sentence.
Everyone loves a good mystery, and when it involves what could be the most expensive car in the world, this one is irresistible. The famous Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic Coupe from the 1930s is regarded as a masterpiece of automotive design. Four were made and, according to legend, the only black version disappeared around 1940, when Bugatti shipped their cars and goods from Molsheim, France, to the companys secondary factory in Bordeaux to keep them safe from the Nazis. Everything else arrived safely, but not that special Atlantic. Dubbed La Voiture Noire (The Black Car), this spectacular car is an unsolved mystery in automotive history. This car, chassis no. 57453, has never been found. Experts estimate that the car would be worth upwards of $100 million if it was ever discovered, making it the most valuable car on the planet.

Bugatti La Voiture Noir  Jacob&Co

In 2019, Bugatti created a one-off tribute to this fascinating automobile, reusing the name La Voiture Noire and selling it for more than 11 million Euro (pre-tax). To honor this new hyper sportscar and the legend of the original, Jacob & Co. is introducing the one-off Twin Turbo Furious Bugatti La Montre Noire. Encased in 18K black gold and set with natural black baguette-cut sapphires, resulting in a unique all-black aesthetic, this timepiece channels the spirit of both remarkable cars, combining the grand complication of the Twin Turbo Furious with the singular history of La Voiture Noire. Dynamic and supremely comfortable, the Twin Turbo Furious Bugatti La Montre Noire matches Bugattis performance and excellence standards, while also fulfilling the Bugatti promise of versatility.

Bugatti La Voiture Noire  Jacob&Co

Unique Gem-Setting

The 18K black gold case is invisibly set with 344 natural black sapphires. Even the black gold and black titanium deployant buckle is set with these beautiful gemstones. Setting the black sapphires into the ergonomic, shaped case is no mean task, but one that Jacob & Co.s expert gem setters are more than up to. These shimmering shards of the night sky underscore this unique timepieces tribute to the greatest automotive mystery of all time.

Twin Turbo Furious Bugatti La Montre Noire  Jacob&co

Furiously Complicated

In the world of watchmaking, the presence of a tourbillon in a watchs movement places the piece among the elite. Jacob & Co.s Twin Turbo Furious La Montre Noire sets itself apart from this rarified group, incorporating two accelerated triple-axis tourbillons into its striking design. The tourbillons work to compensate for the effects of gravity on the precision of the movement. Even the case of the Twin Turbo Furious Bugatti La Montre Noire is super complicated - the case alone is comprised of 88 parts. The grand complication movement is made up of 832 individual parts, incredible to consider that many parts coming together, and amazing to see in action.

A Decimal Minute Repeater

Minute repeaters are the most prized complications by collectors and they are among the most difficult complications for watchmakers to conceive. Nevertheless, Jacob & Co. sought to push the boundaries of what was considered technically feasible when bringing the Twin Turbo Furious to life. Most minute repeaters conform to the hours, quarter hours and minutes standard, but the Twin Turbo Furious Bugatti La Montre Noire chimes on demand in ten-minute intervals after the hours and before the minutes, a decimal repeater that is very rare in high watchmaking. In fact, you can count the number of manufacturers presenting decimal minute repeaters on one hand and have a few fingers left.

Twin Turbo La Montre Noire  Jacob&Co

Planetary Gear Power Reserve

The power reserve is displayed on the dial side at six oclock. Thanks to an ingenious planetary system comprising a differential gear mechanism, the hand points to a full power reserve on the left, then moves to the right as the 48 hours of reserve winds down. The watch is wound through the crank placed on the crown at three oclock.

A Monopusher Chronograph Function with Reference Time

With the Twin Turbo Furious Bugatti La Montre Noire, Jacob & Co. goes even further by adding a very specific monopusher chronograph function. Embodying the brands determination to always seek new solutions or to create never-before-seen functions, the chronograph is equipped with a reference time indicator. Inspired by the pit boards in motor racing, the reference time display is located in the center of the dial, indicating the difference in seconds in comparison to a reference time. The original La Voiture Noire is the most perplexing automotive enigma in history. The new piece unique Twin Turbo Furious Bugatti La Montre Noire honors this legendary and mysterious car in a modern, grand complication timepiece.

Bugatti La Voiture Noire  Jacob&Co

About the Partnership

In 2019, Bugatti and Jacob & Co. signed a multi-year partnership to create unique, never-before-seen timepieces. These watches are true to the spirit of both companies, while taking watchmaking to impossible heights. To inaugurate this partnership led by performance, two timepieces were created. These watches, based on the Twin Turbo Furious and the Epic X Chrono, were directly inspired by the unique design and spirit of Bugatti

hypercars. This year, Jacob & Co. and Bugatti are introducing new watches in the Twin Turbo Furious collection, and the Bugatti Chiron, a completely new line.
The Illinois Supreme Court unanimously has ruled that parents involved in civil unions have the same step-parenting rights as married individuals and that those rights continue even after the death of their spouse.

This is a great decision, not only for the LGBTQ community but for all couples who decided to enter into a civil union, John Knight of the ACLU of Illinois said in a statement after the ruling. The court clearly recognized that when the Illinois General Assembly passed the Civil Union Act, it intended to extend to civil union partners all the rights and responsibilities of marriage, including those of a stepparent.

The case actually did not involve an LGBTQ couple. It involved a woman, Kris Fulkerson, whose partner, Matthew Sharpe, died in 2017. Sharpe had a child  identified in court documents only as A.S. Sharpe  with his ex-wife, Crystal Westmoreland, before their 2013 divorce.

Sharpe and Westmoreland shared equal parenting time, but A.S. continued to live with Sharpe at their home in the Metro East with Fulkerson and her three children. After Sharpe died, Westmoreland took custody of A.S. and stopped allowing the child to visit Fulkerson or her other children.

Fulkerson filed a petition seeking visitation rights and an allocation of parental responsibilities. Westmoreland then asked the circuit court to certify two questions for an appellate court to decide: Whether a party to a civil union has standing to request visitation with her deceased partners child as a stepparent, and whether that party has standing to request parental responsibilities.

Under Illinois law, the court noted, stepparents are allowed to seek visitation rights and parental responsibilities when their spouse dies. The court also noted that only three other classes of non-parents are allowed to seek visitation rights  grandparents, great-grandparents and siblings.

The question before the court, however, was whether someone who is not married to the birth parent, but instead is part of a civil union, qualifies as a stepparent.

In 2011, the General Assembly passed the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act, known more simply as the Civil Union Act, as a way to confer most of the rights of marriage to couples who were not legally married. That was prior to the U.S. Supreme Court legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide.

That law states: A party to a civil union is entitled to the same legal obligations, responsibilities, protections, and benefits as are afforded or recognized by the law of Illinois to spouses, whether they derive from statute, administrative rule, policy, common law, or any other source of civil or criminal law.

An appeals court panel answered no to both of those questions, but in a unanimous opinion Thursday, the Illinois Supreme Court reversed those decisions.

We find that, in enacting the Civil Union Act, the General Assembly intended to create an alternative to marriage that was equal in all respects, Justice Rita Garman wrote for the court. This intent was not limited to partners rights as to each other.

I am so pleased by the courts ruling. This was not just a court case. It was about my family, Fulkerson said in a statement issued through the ACLU. When my partner and I entered into a civil union seven years ago, we understood that our civil union would give us all the same rights and responsibilities as a marriage. I became a stepparent to a child who became an important part of my life and the life of my entire family. We forged a strong relationship as a family, one that did not end  legally or emotionally  at the death of my partner.

The case now goes back to circuit court for a judge to decide how much visitation and parental responsibility Fulkerson will have.
The former boss of the Richmond Tigers has died in a tragic accident on his macadamia farm in northern New South Wales.

Richard Doggett, 72, was found dead on his property at Numulgi, near Lismore, on Friday.

Mr Doggett's former club posted a touching tribute on social media.

'Richmond is mourning the passing of 1980 premiership General Manager Richard Doggett,' it read.

Richard Doggett, 72, was killed in a freak accident on his property at Numulgi, near Lismore, on Friday

The former boss of Richmond AFL club has died in a tragic accident on his macadamia farm in northern New South Wales

'We send our deepest sympathy to Richard's family and friends.'

Mr Doggett died just days before the club was set to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 1980 Grand Final victory.

He spent two periods as the club's general manager, during 1979-1980 and again in 1986-1988.

'He also served as the Club's Treasurer in 1979-80,' Richmond FC wrote.

Mr Doggett then became an executive at Conrad Jupiters Casino on the Gold Coast before moving to Numulgi 13 years ago.

Since then he has been heavily involved in the Macadamia nut industry.

He had been growing macadamia nuts on his property and was also the chairman of the Australian Macadamia Society.

'It's certainly a lot cheaper to buy a macadamia farm than to get a house in Sydney at the moment, so come on up. We want to see you,' he told the ABC in 2015.

Richmond FC posted a touching tribute to Mr Doggett on social media: 'Richmond is mourning the passing of 1980 premiership General Manager Richard Doggett'

Mr Doggett died just days before the club is set to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 1980 Grand Final victory

In the 1970s, he worked at Wrest Point and was the driving force behind the first Staff association and staff Magazine INTERWREST.

He then took on a position with the Southern Tasmanian Australian Rules association as Marketing Manager where he doubled the crowds in his first year.

His success there is what attracted Richmond FC to him - and he worked in marketing and as the club secretary before becoming director.

Friend Mick Caban wrote on Facebook that he 'had the honour of calling Richard my friend for over 45 years'.

'Richard had a special gift of making people feel that they were special,' he wrote.

Mr Doggett's social media pages are littered with photos of himself and his wife travelling the world and enjoying nights out together.

A NSW Police spokesperson said a report is being prepared for the coroner but the death is not being treated as suspicious.

Friend Mick Caban wrote on Facebook that he 'had the honour of calling Richard my friend for over 45 years'
Coca-Cola Amatil fears its secret bottled water source in the NSW Southern Highlands is under threat from a major sand mine proposed for neighbouring land.

The beverages giant  which manufactures popular brands Mount Franklin and Pump  is alarmed at the quarry's potential to pollute its pristine water source and stress water supplies in the area.

There are fears springs that supply the country's most popular bottled water brands are in jeopardy. Credit:Virginia Star

In a submission to the NSW Department of Planning, Coca-Cola Amatil expressed concern that more than nine million cubic metres of fill would need to be sourced from thousands of sites across NSW to fill the void left by the quarry at Sutton Forest.

This could lead to "potential future contamination of the regional aquifer given the contents of future fill", the company warned.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 16:38:43|Editor: huaxia

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GABORONE, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Botswana will allow local holidaymakers to travel within zones during the coming Independence Day holiday in an effort to boost local tourism that has been heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, official said on Saturday.

Travelers will be required to produce their booking confirmations at zonal checkpoints with law enforcement authorities, according to Kereng Masupu, the coordinator of the Presidential Task Force for COVID-19 in Botswana.

The move came a day after an announcement was made Friday that those who travel within the country will need to apply for permits, and all current active permits have been revoked and those who require permits can re-apply online.

Malaki Tshipayagae, director of Health Services, said the decision was prompted by the rising number of cases and a potential surge in light of the upcoming holiday.

However, the Friday announcement met with widespread criticism from locals who had already made bookings to travel in the coming week.

Botswana introduced travel zones in early March to restrict movement of people as the virus started spreading. Since then, travellers must apply for a permit to move between zones.

Botswana's COVID-19 situation has deteriorated in recent weeks with a spike in the number of confirmed cases.

As of Sept. 20, the country had recorded a total of 2,921 cases with 16 related deaths. Enditem
If a research scholar were to conduct a study on the social and political discourse in todays India during the Covid-19 pandemic about 100 years from now, she would unearth many surprises. If she were to watch the videos from the archives of different news channels, she might not be faulted for thinking that the biggest problem India faced in the latter half of 2020 was the issue of some film stars ostensibly using drugs or other intoxicants. The enormous problems the country faces as a result of the pandemic in the form of unemployment, the plight of migrant workers, the encroachment by Chinas Peoples Liberation Army into Indian territory, the economic downturn, the lack of health care systems will probably feature as a footnote.

It is clear that our TV channels are either incapable of or uninterested in providing a healthy balance of different kinds of news, especially during a crisis of this magnitude.

I am by no means underplaying the problems of drug addiction or alcoholism among sections of the younger generation. It is well-known that the drug menace has taken on epic proportions in some areas. This goes far beyond Indias borders and is an intractable problem in many countries and this has been going on for several decades. Former United States (US) President Ronald Reagan, who came to power on a nationalistic platform, made a heroic effort to tackle the drug problem in his country. In fact, he declared war on drugs  his wife launched the campaign with the famous slogan just say no. The US set up a special task force with the sole aim of killing Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar. At that time, the US spent as much by way of resources to eliminate him as it did for Communist revolutionary Che Guevara. Che was the spirit behind the revolution in several Latin American countries. Many people find comparisons between the charismatic Che and Escobar unacceptable, but to US policymakers, both were deemed undesirables.

Did the illegal drug trade in the US end with the death of Escobar? The drug lord was a visible symbol of the malaise. His death did nothing to halt the flow of drugs flowing from various South American countries to other parts of the world including the US. The US in assisting in the hunt and finally the killing of Escobar treated the symptoms of the deadly disease, it was not able to stamp it out. So in Escobars death, one cog in the wheel was removed but the problem remained. Escobar was an easy target because he lived the high life. He liked to flaunt his ill-gotten wealth, graced various magazine covers and became something of a Robin Hood in his country. Unlike other old-fashioned drug lords who lived under the radar, Escobar began to entertain ambitions of becoming the president of his country. Given his high profile, his death made headlines across the world. That was what the US wanted. It wanted a part in bringing down a notorious drug baron.

There are many here who feel that the film stars who are being targeted are the victims of politics. But let us not forget that film stars are in many ways role models for our young generation. In my younger days, depending on their looks or style, many young women were referred to by the names of various stars like Sadhana, Nutan, Meena Kumari, Hema Malini or Rekha. And fearless young men were referred to as Dharmendra and the more agile ones, Dev Anand.

My point is that actors and actresses have an impact on young people. So, it is little surprise that the habits of the stars are also emulated. A few months ago, a video went viral showing several popular stars in various states of intoxication at a party. Officers of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) may have been overzealous in calling in several stars for interrogation, but any action against such drug consumption should be supported. The coronavirus pandemic will eventually go away, drugs will not.

The overload of news on various platforms has begun to blunt our memories. This is why we forget that the Punjab election in 2017 was fought on the issue of drug addiction. The Aam Aadmi Party raised this issue initially, but Congress leader, Amarinder Singh ran with it. Today he is the chief minister of Punjab. The seriousness of this problem can be discerned from the figures presented in the Lok Sabha on June 25 last year  47,344 cases of drug trafficking were registered in 2017. The maximum number of 12,439 cases was reported from Punjab, 8,440 from Kerala and 6,693 from Uttar Pradesh.

But according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Maharashtra had the highest number of cases of drug abuse in the same year. There, 96% of the 14,634 cases was related to personal drug use. This was followed by Punjab.

And if Maharashtra is on top of the list with regard to cases of personal drug use, then what NCB is doing in Mumbai is the right step. But it will only be effective if the NCB officials enlarge the scope of their operations. There must be a sustained campaign against drugs across the country.

Shashi Shekhar is editor-in-chief, Hindustan

The views expressed are personal
By Trend

According to the information received, 12 OSA anti-aircraft missile systems of the Armenian air defense units were destroyed in various directions of the frontline, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

"A combat helicopter of the Air Force of Azerbaijan was shot down in the Terter direction, the crew members are alive. The blitz counter-offensive operation of our troops continues," the ministry said.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
The regional governors office of Gegharkunik Province of Armenia has made the following announcement:

Dear residents of Gegharkunik Province,

Azerbaijan has launched an offence against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). The Defense Army is thwarting the adversarys attacks.

I am certain that each of you strongly supports the Defense Army, the Ministry of Defense of Armenia and the Armed Forces of Armenia and the operations of our strong boys and men.

The situation on the border of Gegharkunik Province is under control.

I ask and urge everyone to not panic and follow only the official news.

Long live our Homeland, long live our powerful and victorious army.

We will win.
Former Toshiba memory unit Kioxia Holdings, the world's second-largest maker of NAND flash memory chips behind Samsung Electronics, will postpone plans for an initial public offering, Nikkei learned on Sunday.

Tighter U.S. restrictions on China's Huawei Technologies, a Kioxia client, had clouded the outlook for the Japanese company. Investors had also expressed skepticism at the smaller-than-expected size of new shares to be issued -- just over $800 million, according to the initial prospectus -- saying it is a far cry from what is needed to fund its investment plans.

Kioxia, formerly Toshiba Memory Holdings, was planning to announce its offering price on Monday. If the shares had debuted on Oct. 6 on the Tokyo Stock Exchange as scheduled, the company was expected to list at a valuation of 1.5 trillion yen ($14 billion) and would have been Japan's largest IPO this year.

Sources familiar with the matter told Nikkei that the company would not give up its IPO and will try rescheduling it around the end of this year or the beginning of 2021.

But one industry source told the Nikkei Asian Review that "Huawei concerns will hardly be solved in the next three to four months," and questioned whether conditions for an IPO will improve by then.

Flash memory used in smartphones makes up around 40% of Kioxia's sales. The U.S. Department of Commerce's tighter restrictions on Huawei came into force on Sept. 15, and Kioxia has been unable to count on its business with the Chinese company since then. Huawei accounts for less than 10% of Kioxia's sales.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 18:42:04|Editor: huaxia

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LOS ANGELES, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- A veteran lawyer from an international law firm said on Saturday that the Trump administration's ban on TikTok and the related series of lawsuits would discourage foreign companies from investing and operating in the United States.

"I believe the actions of the Trump administration in the TikTok case and some other matters may raise concerns among foreign tech companies about the openness of the U.S. markets and the traditional presumption that decisions would be made in an even-handed manner under the rule of law, " Dan Roules, managing partner of the Shanghai Office of Squire Patton Boggs, told Xinhua.

Squire Patton Boggs, headquartered in Cleveland of Ohio, is one of the 30 largest law firms in the world and has 45 offices in 20 countries and regions. Roules is a business lawyer with over 20 years of work experience focusing on helping Chinese companies understand and cope with legal, political, and other issues while investing abroad.

"Journalists and lawyers would write and talk about the potential negative implications of these actions," he said, adding that the negative effects would only show up slowly in future for foreign companies that are not Chinese, if more similar measures were implied by the authority.

He warned the emerging trend of Tech Nationalism behind TikTok's case would not be stopped easily in the internet industry, since "the exercise of national sovereignty over local aspects of the internet has been evolving for several years and has its proponents in various countries."

"What has changed significantly, however, is that under President Trump, the U.S. leadership in promoting a global internet first faded, and now has become a force for active decoupling," Roules said, adding such challenges are likely to continue regardless of the outcome of the approaching U.S. elections.

He noted that facing challenge of global internet decoupling, the Chinese government is trying to create a comfortable environment for foreign investors and tech companies.

"China's government has shown remarkable restraint throughout the trade and diplomatic tensions so far," he said. "So far, none of our U.S. clients have complained to our lawyers in China that they have been targeted by authorities in the PRC because of the rising tensions, and several have noted how welcoming local officials here continue to be toward U.S. companies."

Citing concerns about alleged Chinese government spying on data of U.S. users, Trump threatened in August to ban the video-sharing social networking platform TikTok in the United States.

TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance then sued Trump, saying his administration's action was without any prior outreach to the company that would give it a chance to respond to the accusations, a clear violation of the U.S. Constitution and the firm's right to due process.

Trump's ban on TikTok was originally to take effect on Sept. 20, but has been extended to Nov. 12 as the administration asked the company to sell itself to a U.S. entity as a way-out.

To keep TikTok's operations in the United States and protect the users' rights, ByteDance reached an agreement on Sept. 19 with U.S. companies Oracle and Walmart.

On the same day, hours after Trump approved the deal, TikTok voiced hope in a statement that the agreement would "resolve the security concerns of the U.S. administration and settle questions around TikTok's future in the U.S." Enditem
(Natural News) Washington State Patrol Troopers arrested a man Thursday afternoon for allegedly starting a brush fire nearby a state road, according to KIRO 7 News.

Trooper Ryan Burke said on Twitter that the man set the grass on fire at State Route (SR) 512 and SR 7. Someone in the area called 911 to report the incident and the suspect was arrested after a short foot chase.

He has since been transported to jail, added Burke. This is the second time state troopers arrested a suspected arsonist this week as destructive wildfires from California creep through parts of Washington.

Suspected arsonist in Pierce County

The first suspect had allegedly set the grass on fire Wednesday afternoon in the median of SR 167 near Puyallup in Pierce County, said Burke in another tweet.

Officials maintain it was intentional, but the suspect, identified as Jeffrey Acord, claimed he had nothing to do with it. He even started a Facebook live video while being arrested. It now has over 155,000 views.

It looks like a fire literally just started, he said in the video. He also claimed to have just been walking along the road looking for a camera that fell out of his backpack the day before while riding his motorcycle.

However, an off-duty Fife police officer who saw him near the fire thought that his presence there was suspicious. He was still arrested and booked on a charge of second-degree reckless burning.

Captain Jason Visnaw of the Puyallup Police Department, which assisted in making the arrest, said that the officers had probable reason to believe the suspect had started the fire.

The fire itself had burned about an acre and a half before responders from Central Pierce Fire & Rescue put it out. Visnaw expressed grave concerns that the deliberate fires could affect surrounding communities.

The suspect posted bail the night he was booked. However, he was arrested again that same night after local police caught him on surveillance breaking into a gas station not far from the jail.

Officials open probe into origins of Oregon fires

Oregon, another west coast state battling raging wildfires, has received similar reports of suspected arson cases. (Related: Wildfires in the West could be coordinated arson attacks, says federal law enforcement.)

In particular, arson investigators have started a probe into the suspicious origins of a devastating wildfire, dubbed the Almeda fire, that began in Ashland. It burned about 600 homes and claimed two lives.

The remains of the victims have been found among burned ruins, said Rich Tyler, a spokesman for the state fire marshal. More bodies are expected to be recovered as search teams comb through more ruined houses.

Of the arson probe, Tyler explained that every fire is investigated for the possibility of arson so that officials could either determine it is or rule it out. However, detectives from the state fire marshals office and investigators of the Almeda fire treated the blaze as suspicious.

We have good reason to believe that there was a human element to it, said Ashland police chief Tighe OMeara. The team is going to pursue it as a criminal investigation until proven otherwise, he added.

Fire officials strained to put out online misinformation, too

In the midst of these alleged arson cases, numerous claims on social media that antifascist activists had set the fires on the west coast are cropping up.

Federal law enforcement agencies said these claims were unfounded. Firefighters and responders themselves have had to counter these rumors, pleading for people to check the information before sharing it.

The rumors began after Portland police took to Twitter about fire risks, asking groups to demonstrate in a peaceful manner and without the use of fire.

However, several politicians and social media personalities had interpreted the tweet as confirmation that activist groups are starting the fires. Soon, at least half a dozen Facebook pages have shared the rumor.

We are inundated with questions about things that are FAKE stories, the Jackson countys sheriffs office posted on Facebook on Thursday. Rumors make the job of protecting the community more difficult.

The sheriffs office in Douglas County, Oregon, also issued a similar statement after being overrun with requests for information and inquiries on arson rumors.

Were not seeing any indications of a mass politically influenced arson campaign, a spokeswoman for the Oregon Department of Forestry told the New York Times.

Read the latest updates about the ongoing wildfire crisis in the U.S. at ClimateScienceNews.com.

Sources include:

KIRO7.com

KING5.com

MercuryNews.com

NYTimes.com
New Delhi, Sep 27 : If you are among those who are thrilled to once again see food delivery boys all around, or plan to visit a restaurant and does not get reservation or have to fight for one -- as Covid-19 caseloads surge by nearly one lakh a day in India -- mind you that this situation does not add up.

Why are people risking lives to satisfy their palate as India readies to become the top country with infected cases very soon (it crossed 60 lakh cases on Sunday), surpassing the US? Is there an explanation to why the online food delivery market has recovered to (and even grown beyond) pre-Covid levels in a number of large pockets in the country?

The answer is simple: To a large population, the coronavirus fear is now over, as they scramble to start living their weekend lives the way they used to be in the pre-Covid era.

Plus, top fine-dining restaurants and five-star hotels -- from Marriott International to Grand Hyatt -- are now taking orders for gourmet food with curated menus and innovative packaging via online delivery platforms like Swiggy and Zomato, delivering themselves from kitchen to your home.

Delhi and Mumbai are nearing full recovery (95 per cent of pre-Covid) while metros such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai are a tad behind the curve (nearly 80 per cent of pre-Covid), according to a new Zomato report.

"Some cities such as Kolkata, Patna, Jamshedpur, Ranchi, and Siliguri have recovered completely and have exceeded pre-Covid levels," said Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal.

In Delhi-NCR, affluent residential areas like DLF Phase 1 and 5 have recovered to 1.5 times of pre-Covid levels.

In South Delhi, average order value rose by 65 per cent between February and September 2020. Food delivery business in South Delhi is back to 110 per cent of pre-Covid levels.

Connaught Place bounced back to pre-Covid levels and some micro-localities within Central Delhi are at two times of pre-Covid levels, Zomato said last week.

According to Prabhu Ram, Head- Industry Intelligence Group (IIG), CMR, the Covid-19 pandemic has contributed to a rapid shift in consumer behaviour, and giving rise to an all-new 'neo normal' consumer.

"After months of being socially isolated and with an urge to break free, consumers are slowly pivoting from being overly-cautious to experimenting with online food delivery," Ram told IANS.

"With more gourmet cuisine now available for home order from premium restaurants and five-star hotels, consumers now have an irresistible palette of choices," he added.

According to Zomato, the ongoing IPL-13 season and the subsequent festival season will help rest of the metros and smaller cities to make a full recovery soon and resume growing over pre-Covid levels.

"With more premium restaurants, -- restaurants where a meal for two may cost Rs 1,500 and above, now opening up to online delivery -- a larger number of affluent consumers are embracing online ordering," Goyal informed.

Overall spends on such premium restaurants have grown by over 25 per cent over pre-Covid levels.

As customers spend more time with their families, group ordering has become more relevant than ever.

Witnessing the trend, Swiggy recently launched Health Hub, a dedicated healthy food discovery destination on its main app.

With heightened health consciousness, increasing awareness around eating right, and a growing demand for food among urban Indians, Swiggy worked with nutritionists and top restaurants in the country to enable curation of special health menus and dishes by restaurants.

Consumers have the ability to choose from gluten-free, high-protein, low-carb, organic, vegan, and keto meals across soups, salads, wraps and desserts.

"There is a visible demand for healthy food choices by consumers and restaurants are seeking opportunities to innovate and stay relevant to these market changes," said Vivek Sunder, COO, Swiggy.

"With the launch of Health Hub, we expect this trend of ordering healthy dishes to grow and more than double over the next 6 months".

The food delivery marketing around being "contactless" has also appealed to the Indian consumers.

"This shift in consumer behaviour is equally matched by an outreach from online food delivery platforms, vouching for safety, hygiene and all precautionary measures, including contactless deliveries," Ram said.

(Nishant Arora can be reached at nishant.a@ians.in)
Kauala Lumpur, Sep 27 : Malaysia's ruling coalition has won a crucial snap election in the state of Sabah, the media reported.

In Saturday's election, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) claimed victory after unofficially winning 38 seats, reports The Star Malaysia newspaper.

The GRS comprises Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's Perikatan Nasional (PN), Barisan Nasional and Parti Bersatu Sabah.

It is an informal coalition and contested under three separate logos.

The GRS has also announced that it will name its candidate for Sabah Chief Minister on Sunday, amid intense negotiation.

Before the election, Muhyiddin had said that a win in Sabah, a previously opposition-held state, could pave the way for early national polls aimed at ending uncertainty over the stability of his ruling alliance, which has a two-seat majority in Parliament.

A former Home Affairs Minister Muhyiddin was officially sworn in as Malaysia's eighth Prime Minister on March 1 after forming an alliance with opposition parties following the shock resignation of his predecessor, Mahathir Mohamad.

Muhyiddin was removed from the post of Deputy Prime Minister in 2015 when he fell out with then-leader Najib Razak over the handling of the 1MDB corruption scandal, which the latter is currently on trial for.

He later joined Mahathir's Bersatu, which ousted Najib, his United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party and the Barisan Nasional coalition from power in the March 2018 elections.

In a twist, Muhyiddin had again linked up with UMNO to rise to power.
DGP Bhupendra Singh said in a statement on Sunday night that police had to use force and opened fire on Saturday evening, in which two persons were killed and as many injured. The injured are out of danger, he added.

Two persons were killed and two others were injured on Saturday as police opened fire on protesters agitating over the recruitment of government school teachers in Rajasthan's Dungarpur district, a top police official said on Sunday, as per PTI.

Violence erupted in the region on Thursday when candidates of the teachers' recruitment examination-2018 blocked the Udaipur-Ahmedabad highway, pelted stones at police, damaged several properties and torched vehicles demanding that 1,167 vacant posts of general quota be filled with Scheduled Tribes (ST) candidates.

Director-General of Police (DGP) Bhupendra Singh said in a statement on Sunday night that police had to use force and opened fire on Saturday evening, in which two persons were killed and as many injured, reported PTI.

The injured are out of danger, he added.

On Saturday, police had said that one person died in the firing but it was not clear whether the death occurred in police firing or firing by the protestors.

Singh further said that two companies of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and six companies of the Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC) have been deployed in the area and 24 cases have been lodged in Dungarpur and Udaipur districts in connection with the violence.

The protesters torched over 25 vehicles, ransacked several shops, hotels and a petrol pump, a police official said earlier on Sunday. There were also reports of protesters entering residential areas.

The highway which was blocked by the protesters was cleared on Sunday, following a meeting between a delegation of the protesters and Tribal Area Development Minister Arjun Singh Bamniya, other public representatives and officials.

"The situation by and large remained peaceful today. The highway in Dungarpur is clear for traffic movement now," Inspector General of Police (Udaipur range) Binita Thakur said on Sunday.

However, incidents of stone-pelting took place in Rishabhdev and Jhadol area of adjoining -Udaipur district, Thakur said, adding that police forces were trying to control the situation in those areas as well.

The police control room said that stones and other obstacles on the highway in Dungarpur are being removed to facilitate the resumption of traffic movement.

Several torched vehicles, stones and boulders are there on a 20 kilometre stretch of the highway.

Former Udaipur MP Raghuveer Meena said that the situation was under control in Dungarpur after the meeting and traffic would resume from Monday.

"Traffic will resume on the highway by tomorrow. After the meeting, which was held in a positive manner today, we conducted a march on the highway to review the situation. Now the things are under control in Dungarpur," he said.

The meeting in Kherwara Panchayat was attended by public representatives, including sitting and former MPs and MLAs of various parties, senior police and district administration officials, community leaders and members of the delegation of the agitators.

"We have appealed to the protesters to stop the violence and restore peace. There was general consensus on this in the meeting. All public representatives of the area were present in the meeting," Bamniya told reporters.

The state government had sent DG (crime) ML Lather, Additional DG of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Dinesh MN and Jaipur police commissioner Anand Srivastava to Dungarpur on Saturday night after the situation worsened.

Dinesh MN, who also conducted a march on the highway with other officers on Sunday, said the situation was peaceful and no violence had taken place on Sunday.

In Jaipur, DGP Singh reviewed the situation and took feedback from senior officials. "Two companies of the RAF were deployed in the area today. Three senior police officers were sent to Dungarpur Saturday night and the situation at present is peaceful," he said.

Chief minister Ashok Gehlot too reviewed the situation and held discussions with the officials.

BJP attacks Congress govt

Meanwhile, the BJP lashed out at the Congress government in the state, saying it had made no efforts to resolve the situation. BJP spokesperson and Lok Sabha MP Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore accused the Congress government of all-round failure, alleging that the government was either unaware or made no communication even though the agitation was going on for several days.

Rathore said the Congress had made promises like unemployment allowance and jobs during the 2018 Assembly polls but did not bring any new vacancies except those created by the previous BJP government.

He asked the state government to reach out to unemployed protesters to defuse the crisis and said those who have infiltrated their protests and creating violence should be unmasked.

With inputs from PTI
Washington

Ahead of the first debate-stage matchup between President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger Joe Biden, each campaign is promising a stark contrast in policy, personality and preparation.

Trump has decided to skip any formal preparation. And while Biden's team believes the significance of the debate may be exaggerated, the Democratic nominee has been aggressively preparing to take on the president.

Biden's campaign has been holding mock debate sessions featuring Bob Bauer, a senior Biden adviser and former White House general counsel, playing the role of Trump, according to a person with direct knowledge of the preparations who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal strategy.

"I'm sure the president will throw everything he can at (Biden). My guess is that they're preparing for that  bombarding him with insults and weird digressions," said Jay Carney, a former aide to Biden and President Barack Obama.

"I think it's an important moment  I think it's really important for President Trump, because the direction of this election has been pretty stable for a long time now, and he needs to shake it up as any candidate would who's behind," Carney added. "The question is, can that work?"

Trump and Biden are scheduled to meet on the debate stage for the first time Tuesday night at Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. The 90-minute event moderated by Fox News host Chris Wallace is the first of three scheduled presidential debates. Vice President Mike Pence and California Sen. Kamala Harris, Biden's running mate, will also debate in October.

For some, the debates represent the most important moments in the 2020 campaign's closing days, a rare opportunity for millions of voters to compare the candidates' policies and personalities side-by-side on prime-time television. Trump has been trailing Biden in the polls for the entire year, a reality that gives the president an urgent incentive to change the direction of the contest on national television if he can.

Others, including those close to Biden's campaign, do not expect the debates to fundamentally change the race no matter what happens, given voters' daily struggles with the pandemic and the economy. They also point to high-profile debates in past elections thought to be game-changing moments at the time but that ultimately had little lasting effect.

Those with knowledge of Biden's preparations suggest he will not take the fight to Trump if he can avoid it. But on Saturday, at least, he was on the attack when he discussed his strategy on MSNBC.

"I'm prepared to go out and make my case as to why I think he's failed and why I think the answers I have to proceed will help the American people, the American economy and make us safer internationally," Biden said, arguing that Trump won't persuade voters with broadsides because "the people know the president is a liar."

He also compared Trump to Adolf Hitler's propaganda minister, Joseph Goebbels, saying, "He's sort of like Goebbels. You say the lie long enough, keep repeating, repeating, repeating, it becomes common knowledge."

Biden said he doesn't expect Trump to articulate a detailed vision for a second term.

"He doesn't know how to debate the facts, because he's not that smart," Biden continued. "He doesn't know that many facts. He doesn't know much about foreign policy. He doesn't know much about domestic policy. He doesn't know much about the detail."

While Biden has said he will try to be a fact checker of sorts on stage, the Democrat is being advised to avoid direct confrontations and instead redirect the conversation to more familiar campaign themes of unity and issues that matter most to voters: the economy, health care and the pandemic.

"Arguing over facts, litigating whether what he's saying is accurate, that is not winning to Biden," said Jen Psaki, a former Obama aide who is close to Biden's team. "This is an opportunity to speak directly to the American people. His objective should be to speak directly to them, but not be pulled in by Trump. That is hard."

Trump has not been doing any formal preparation, according to aides and allies who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

No set has been constructed and aides refused to say whether anyone is playing Biden. Trump, instead, has maintained that the best preparation is doing his day job  particularly his frequent and often contentious interactions with reporters. White House aides also scheduled an ABC town hall earlier this month to expose Trump to real voter questions for the first time in months in preparation for the second debate.

Privately some aides and allies are worried that Trump's lack of formal preparation will lead him to fall into the same hubris trap as other incumbents in their first general election debate. Obama, for example, famously struggled in his first matchup against Mitt Romney in 2012.

But other Trump backers are confident that the president is ready to handle any tough questions or pushback from Biden.

"The debates matter," said Lara Trump, a senior adviser to the campaign and the president's daughter-in-law. "Donald Trump certainly did a great job on the debates (in 2016) and I think this will be no different."

Lara Trump also seemed to simultaneously raise and lower expectations for Biden.

"Joe Biden spent a lot of time in his basement to study up. He's been in this game for 47 years. I assume he'll do OK," she said. "Quite frankly, the bar has been lowered so much for Joe Biden that if he stays awake for the whole thing it's like maybe he won."

The mixed messages were in line with those of Trump's allies who spent much of the year raising questions about Biden's physical and mental strength, while in recent days trying to cast him as a strong and experienced debater facing a relative neophyte in Trump.

A former reality show star, the president is keenly aware of the power and pitfalls of live television. Aides say he is acutely mindful of the power of "moments" to define how a debate is perceived and that he intends to make his share of them happen.

It remains to be seen how aggressively Trump attacks Biden. He has warned apocalyptically about the consequences of a Biden victory and is never one to shy away from a fight. He is also an avowed "counterpuncher" and will surely respond to any attacks by Biden in kind.

Terry McAuliffe, the former Virginia governor and onetime national Democratic chairman, said Biden must: draw a straight line from Trump's personal deficiencies to his handling of the pandemic, its economic fallout, the national reckoning on race and then explain why a Biden presidency would be different.

"Trump's just looking for a Hail Mary here," McAuliffe said. "He knows he's in trouble."
President Donald Trumps nomination of Amy Coney Barrett is poised to give the Supreme Court its most conservative female justice in history but is unlikely to accomplish the one thing that could help seal his re-election -- a new surge of support from women, a segment of the electorate his campaign has struggled to attract.

Trump on Saturday named Barrett to replace the liberal jurist and feminist icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg, fulfilling his pledge to nominate a woman.

The difference between the two womens views couldnt be more stark: Ginsburg was a champion of preserving a womans right to an abortion, while Barrett says abortion is always immoral and has already ruled as a circuit court judge to restrict the procedure.

If the Senate confirms Barrett, which is likely given its Republican majority, the pick keeps the courts gender balance at six men and three women. Barrett would be the only woman on the courts conservative wing.

The move poses a risk for Trump. Since Sandra Day OConnor became the first woman on the court almost 40 years ago, the reaction to Barretts appointment and polling data suggests women are looking at a nominees potential rulings and judicial record as much or more than her gender.

Conservative women who oppose abortion rights are already in Trumps camp, but they are a small minority of women voters. Surveys show that very few women, if any, are going to switch their support from Democratic nominee Joe Biden based on Trumps choice of a female jurist. Instead, there are signs it could actually drive Democrats to polls.

Republican activists say their voters are eager to hear Barretts voice from the bench. Barretts appointment energizes the very same voters, the women voters, that are faithful Catholics and evangelical and encourages them to once again return Donald Trump to the White House, said Penny Nance, president of Concerned Women for America.

But with the election just more than a month away, Trumps campaign was hoping a female nominee could attract some new women voters, especially in the suburbs.

For Donald Trump to win, he needs to close that gap with women, said Sarah Longwell, a Republican strategist who founded Republican Voters Against Trump. The White House seems to think nominating a woman will help them with women voters, she said.

What they dont realize is that it may actually backfire on them because a lot of these suburban women that they need actually wont like the idea of somebody who is very far right ideologically taking Ruth Bader Ginsburgs seat on the Supreme Court.

Most women dont support Trump. A national poll by Quinnipiac University released Wednesday showed 58% of women backed Biden, while 38% backed Trump -- a 20-point gap that amounted for the entirety of Bidens overall lead. Among men, Trump and Biden were essentially tied at 47% to 46%.

Even in Republican states whose voters largely support Trump, its women who cut into his lead. Biden leads Trump among women by 10 points in Georgia, 14 points in Iowa and 8 points in Texas, all states where Trump leads overall, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll released last week.

Ginsburgs death just sharpens that divide, given that most women say they dont believe Trump should fill her seat at all.

A CNN poll found 65% of women believe the winner of the November election should fill the seat, compared to just 52% of men. Women were also more likely to say that Trumps appointments have changed the court for the worse.

Democrats and progressive groups have seen a surge of donations since Ginsburgs death and will portray the nomination as a threat to abortion rights, the Affordable Care Act and LGBTQ rights.

The Supreme Court vacancy is more motivating for Democrats, said Nancy Zdunkewicz, a Democratic pollster with Change Research.

The conventional wisdom that the politics of Supreme Court vacancies are more motivating for conservatives -- this is not what we see in the data, she said. Its not in the data, not even kind of. Its looking more important for suburban white college-educated women who are liberal.

Polls have shown that 70% of women oppose overturning Roe v. Wade, a number that has steadily risen over the years.

Biden is capitalizing on those numbers, warning that allowing Trump to pick Ginsburgs replacement threatens not only the Affordable Care Act, but womens health, widely seen to mean abortion rights.

I think Amy Coney Barrett, her record is going to be a big driver of Democratic engagement in this election -- and so is the interest in protecting Ruth Bader Ginsburgs legacy, said Shaunna Thomas, cofounder of UltraViolet, a feminist advocacy group.

Ginsburg became the nations second female Supreme Court justice when President Bill Clinton appointed her in 1993. She was the courts only woman from 2006, when OConnor retired, to 2009, when Justice Sonia Sotomayor joined the court. Justice Elena Kagan was confirmed a year later.

Barretts confirmation would guarantee that the court will have at least three female justices for the foreseeable future. The court could get a fourth if Biden wins and keeps his promise to nominate a Black woman if he gets the opportunity.

Until now the biggest skeptics of reproductive rights on the court have all been men. In 2014 when the court ruled 5-4 that companies can refuse on religious grounds to offer their workers the free birth control promised under the Affordable Care Act, five men were in the majority and all three female justices dissented.

Now Barrett is likely to join the conservative bloc on the court, comprised of Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, all Republican appointees. She will be a new face for originalism, which focuses on the original meaning of the Constitutions words and casts doubt on Roe v. Wade.

Im excited about having a constitutionalist, originalist woman on the court, said Carrie Severino, president of the Judicial Crisis Network, which backs Trumps judicial nominees. This will be our first originalist woman, and it illustrates the breadth and diversity of opinions among women in the law, and I think thats a great thing for Americans to see.

Barrett, a Catholic mother of seven, wrote in a 1998 law review article that abortion and euthanasia take away innocent life and that abortion is always immoral.

Barrett could be just as valuable a role model to young women as Ginsburg was and that serves a broader purpose than Trumps re-election, Nance said.

There was a lot being said about Ruth Bader Ginsburg being a role model for women and I would agree with that -- but I would say theres never been a conservative woman justice. So we are very eager for there to be a role model for our daughters, Nance said.
Isher Judge Ahluwalia , 74, arguably India's most famous trade and development economist, who was till recently serving as the chairperson of the Delhi based think-tank ICRIER died on Saturday. She was suffering from brain cancer.

Ahluwalia is survived by her husband Montek Singh Ahluwalia, former deputy chairman of the Planning Commission and their two sons. Ahluwalia recently published her memoir "Breaking Through", a testament of a career that broke many glass ceilings.

After starting her career at the International Monetary Fund, Ahluwalia returned to India where she authored two landmark booksIndustrial Growth in India: Stagnation since the Mid-Sixties and Productivity and Growth in Indian Manufacturing. She was a professor at the Centre for Policy Research, and then director, and later chairperson, of ICRIER. Over the last decade and a half, she has built ICRIER into a leading global think tank.

Yamini Aiyar who is currently heading CPR tweeted: She was the first female scholar at CPR in the 1980s and paved the path for generations of us. Proud to be leading an institution that was once her home.

Ahluwalia has served as Chair of the Board of the International Food Policy Research Institute and the Chair of the High-Powered Committee on Urban Infrastructure Services set up by the Government of India in 2008. In later part of her life, she has written extensively on challenges relating to sustainable urbanization with special focus on delivery of clean drinking water and solid waste management.

She is a graduate of Presidency College and Delhi School of Economics, and received her PhD from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr Ahluwalia is also a recipient of the Padma Bhushan.

Former finance minister P Chidambaram tweeted: "Deeply saddened and shaken by the passing away of Dr Isher Ahluwalia, a close friend for nearly 25 years. She was a distinguished economist whose life, work and contribution to economics are beautifully captured in her recently published autobiography, a must read for every student of economics."

Former union minister and Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said: "Isher Ahluwalia who just passed away, was one of Indias distinguished economists, a MIT PhD, and author of an influential book Industrial Growth in India. She built up ICRIER, a fine economic think tank. She had her own distinctive identity apart from being Monteks wife."

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How this ISIS operative from Mangaluru lured her victims and converted them to Islam

NIA arrests 10th operative of Kerala, Bengal Al-Qaeda module

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Sep 27: The National Investigation Agency has arrested the tenth person who was part of the Al-Qaeda module operating in Kerala and West Bengal.

The NIA has arrested Samim Ansari from Murshidabad in Bengal. He will be proceed before the special NIA court in Delhi, NIA sources told OneIndia.

Last week, the NIA had arrested nine operatives from Bengal and Kerala. Raids were conducted at several locations in Ernakulam (Kerala) and Murshidabad (West Bengal) following which the terrorists of the Pakistan sponsored module of the Al-Qaeda were arrested.

TN based ISIS terrorist convicted by Special NIA Court

The NIA had information of an inter-state module of the terror group, whose operatives were active in various locations in India, including Kerala and West Bengal. The NIA said that the group was planning on carrying out attacks in various parts of the country. They had planned on killing people and also targeting vital installations.

NIA has arrested 06 (six) terrorists from West-Bengal and 03 (three) terrorists from Kerala in the early morning raids conducted today. Large quantity of incriminating materials including digital devices, documents, jihadi literature, sharp weapons, country-made firearms, a locally fabricated body armour, articles and literature used for making home-made explosive devices have been seized from their possession.

As per preliminary investigation, these individuals were radicalised by Pakistan-based Al-Qaeda terrorists on social media and were motivated to undertake attacks at multiple places including the National Capital Region.

For this purpose, the module was actively indulging in fund raising and a few members of gang were planning to travel to New Delhi to procure arms and ammunition. These arrests have pre-empted possible terrorist attacks in various parts of the country, the NIA further said.

List of arrested persons:

Samim Ansari, currently a resident of Murshidabad

Murshid Hasan, currently a resident of Ernakulam, Kerala.

Iyakub Biswas, currently a resident of Ernakulam, Kerala.

Mosaraf Hossen, currently a resident of Ernakulam, Kerala.

Najmus Sakib, a resident of Murshidabad, West Bengal.

Abu Sufiyan, a resident of Murshidabad, West Bengal .

Mainul Mondal, a resident of Murshidabad West Bengal.

Leu Yean Ahmed, a resident of Murshidabad, West Bengal .

 Al Mamun Kamal, a resident of Murshidabad, West Bengal.

Atitur Rehman, a resident of Murshidabad, West Bengal.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Sunday, September 27, 2020, 8:50 [IST]
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

Trend:

Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan Sabina Aliyeva made a statement in protest against another gross violation of the ceasefire regime by the Armenian armed forces against Azerbaijan, which resulted in casualties, Trend reports.

On September 27, 2020, at around 06:00 am, the Armenian Armed Forces, grossly violating the ceasefire regime, intensively shelled the positions of the Azerbaijani Army in the direction of Gapanli village of Tartar district, Chiragli and Orta Garavand villages of Aghdam district, Alkhanli, Shukurbeyli villages of Fuzuli district and JojugMarjanli village of Jabrayil district with large-caliber weapons, mortars and artillery of various calibers, the statement said.

As a result of the shelling, civilians and servicemen have been killed and wounded, and numerous houses and civilian objects were severely damaged, the statement said.

Armenias deliberate targeting of civilians again is a gross violation of international law norms, including international humanitarian law and the relevant provisions of the Geneva Conventions, the statement said.

This is to be condemned by international organizations and peace-loving states that Armenia, which fails to fulfill the UN Security Council Resolutions #822, #853, #874, and #884, and ignores the resolutions of the UN General Assembly of 2006 and 2008 On the situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, the appeals addressed by the UN, the World Health Organization and other influential international organizations in connection with the current COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the norms and principles of international law, continues to commit acts of aggression and occupation in order to create a more dangerous situation in the region by grossly violating fundamental human rights, including the right to life. The Armenian aggression must be stopped, the statement said.

I call on international organizations and the world community to make appropriate efforts, to take the necessary decisive steps and carry out urgent measures to liberate the UN-recognized territories of our republic, give a proper legal assessment to the crimes committed by Armenia in Azerbaijani lands and prevent violations of international law, as well as to restore the fundamental rights and freedoms of our compatriots violated as a result of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the statement said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 03:32:20|Editor: huaxia

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Video: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sept. 26, 2020 calls for nations to act together in fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic and striving for vaccines. (Xinhua)

"Unless we unite and turn our fire against our common foe, we know that everyone will lose," said Prime Minister Boris Johnson. He also proposed a plan to create a global approach to health security, including a global network of research hubs, a global pandemic early warning system and an emergency response.

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday called for nations to act together in fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic and striving for vaccines.

"Unless we unite and turn our fire against our common foe, we know that everyone will lose," said Johnson, addressing the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

He called for the international community to make concerted efforts and act together "now," instead of waging separate campaigns, to avoid the outcome of prolonging the calamity.

"Now is the time," said the British prime minister. "Let's heal the world."

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street to attend Prime Minister's Questions at the House of Commons, in London, Britain, on Sept. 16, 2020. (Photo by Tim Ireland/Xinhua)

Meanwhile, he appealed for international cooperation in the effort to develop a vaccine.

"The health of every country depends on the whole world having access to a safe and effective vaccine, wherever a breakthrough might occur," Johnson said.

"But even as we strive for a vaccine, we must never cut corners, slim down the trials or sacrifice safety to speed," he told the assembly.

The British prime minister noted it is important for the international community to learn from the COVID-19 crisis, look ahead and think about how to stop a pandemic from happening again.

People sit on the lawn at Potters Fields Park in front of Tower Bridge in London, Britain, on Sept. 14, 2020. (Photo by Tim Ireland/Xinhua)

"I don't think there is any reason for fatalism," even though "the dangers can never be wholly eliminated," he said, emphasizing that "human ingenuity and expertise can reduce the risk."

In his statement, Johnson also proposed a plan to create a global approach to health security, including a global network of research hubs, a global pandemic early warning system and an emergency response.

He underscored the importance of securing supply chains in the midst of a pandemic, urging every country to lift the export controls wherever possible - and agree not to revive them - and cancel any tariffs on the vital tools of the global struggle.

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." 
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Ramsey Orta, 29, the man who recorded Eric Garners death, was charged in Brooklyn Federal Court in a gun possession case, reported the N.Y. Daily News.

The report says Orta was hit with felon in possession of a weapon charges in a complaint filed in Brooklyn Federal Court.

Police allegedly stopped Orta as he was driving his BMW in Brooklyn on Wednesday on Roebling St. and S. 2nd St. Police allegedly found him with loose marijuana on his lap, the report says.

After a search, police allegedly uncovered a Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm caliber pistol with 12 bullets in it, the criminal complaint says.

This is not the first time Orta found himself on the wrong side of the law.

According to Advance reports, Orta pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance to satisfy a drug case stemming from Jan. 3, 2015, in which he admitted to selling heroin to an undercover police officer.

He also pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal possession of a weapon to satisfy a case from Aug. 2, 2014.

Orta entered the pleas in 2016 and was sentenced to four years in prison.

GARNERS DEATH

Eric Garner, 43, was arrested for selling loose cigarettes in Tompkinsville. His final words, I cant breathe, have become a mantra of the Black Lives Matter movement. Garner uttered those words repeatedly while placed in a chokehold by NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo.

A Staten Island grand jury declined to indict Pantaleo on criminal charges in 2014, prompting the Department of Justice to launch a civil rights investigation into the incident. After five years, two presidential administrations and four attorneys general, Attorney General William Barr decided not to pursue federal charges against Pantaleo on the eve of the fifth anniversary of his death.

SUMMARY INQUIRY ORDERED

A New York Supreme Court judge ordered a summary inquiry into Eric Garners case on Thursday, about a year after his family had filed a petition to bring Mayor Bill de Blasio, former NYPD Commissioner James ONeill and FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro in front of a judge to answer questions on unresolved factual issues regarding the Staten Island mans death.

The petition was filed last year under New York City Charter Section 1109, which allows at least five citizens who are taxpayers in New York to file a request to bring any city employee before a judge to answer allegations of misconduct.

Although the arrest and death of Eric Garner has received considerable attention in the press over the past six years, many facts relating to his arrest and death, and the investigations and any disciplinary actions taken in response to his death, have not been disclosed to the public or the family of Mr. Garner, Judge Joan Madden wrote in the opinion. In this regard, the court notes that the purpose of section 1109 is to bring transparency to the actions of public officials.

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LONDON, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Britain welcomes China's recent announcement of becoming carbon neutral before 2060, British Environment Secretary George Eustice said on Thursday.

"The UK welcomes China's announcement this week on achieving carbon neutrality before 2060 and enhancing its own NDC (nationally determined contribution) -- so we look forward to hearing more and to working together," Eustice said.

"And we must also put our words into action -- and in this area the UK is keen to play its part, both at home and around the world," Eustice said in a statement during an online ministerial round-table meeting on biodiversity jointly held by China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment and Foreign Ministry on Thursday.

Eustice agreed that Britain and China should work together as incoming presidents for "ambitious, integrated outcomes" at the United Nations (UN) Biodiversity Conference COP15 to be held in the city of Kunming in southwestern China and the UN climate conference COP26 in city of Glasgow, Scotland next year, according to the statement released by the British Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

"At next year's conferences in Kunming and Glasgow, we have the opportunity to bring the world together to commit to reversing biodiversity loss, and to make protecting and conserving nature part of tackling climate change and poverty too," Eustice said.

Earlier this week, Britain's envoy for COP26, John Murton, said China's emissions promise could help the world avoid climate catastrophe.

"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 (degree Celsius) -- and as close to 1.5C (degree Celsius) -- if China hadn't made this sort of commitment," Murton told Sky News.

Murton said China's pledge is a "positive thing" for the COP26 conference as it could persuade other nations to make similar targets.

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.
One person was killed and at least five were injured in violence that broke out in Udaipurs Kherwara town on Saturday evening as protesters against vacant seats for teachers recruitment went on a rampage, damaging properties and torching vehicles in the area while the police fired rubber bullets to control the situation, officials said.

The Rajasthan government has sought Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel from the Centre to handle the situation after three days of protests in southern parts of the desert state.

Violence erupted across districts on Thursday when the candidates of teachers recruitment examination-2018 blocked the Udaipur-Ahmedabad highway, pelted stones at the police, damaged properties and torched vehicles demanding filling of 1,167 general vacant posts with Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates. The violence continued on Friday and incidents occurred on Saturday as well.

The state government on Saturday rushed three senior police personnel  director-general of police (DGP) (crime) ML Lathar; Jaipur police commissioner Anand Shrivastwa; and additional director-general of police (ADG), anti-corruption bureau (ACB), Dinesh MN  to Udaipur to bring the situation under control.

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot also appealed the protesters to maintain calm, and end the demonstration, saying his administration is ready to meet all the legitimate demands, according to a statement. Governor Kalraj Mishra spoke to Gehlot on phone in Jaipur and called principal secretary (home) Abhay Kumar and ADG (law and order) Saurabh Srivastava at Raj Bhawan, directing them to control the situation, it said.

On direction of the chief minister, former Udaipur MP Raghuveer Meena and other public representatives of Dungarpur district met a delegation of agitating candidates to resolve the matter on Saturday.We have appealed the agitators to end the violence while assuring them that the government will do what is legitimate to meet their demand. The meeting was held in a positive manner, Meena told news agency PTI.

Internet services were suspended in four districts -- Dungarpur, Udaipur, Banswara and Pratapgarh -- of southern Rajasthan on Saturday and Section 144 (prohibition of gathering of five or more persons) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) was imposed.

Police said one of the protesters, identified as Tarun Ahari, succumbed to his injuries. It is unclear how Ahari was injured in the protest.

At least six trucks, five buses, four police vehicles, nine cars, nine tempos and a motorcycle have been torched in the region over the last three days. Over 1,000 rubber bullets were fired by the police to bring the situation under control.

Demonstrators have also continued protesting at NH-8 . Between Friday midnight and Saturday night, eight trucks were torched in the Kakra Doongri area on NH-8. Protesters also vandalised over a dozen shops.

(With inputs from PTI)
On Aug. 28, a grieving mother wrote the hardest post she ever had to write on Facebook, sharing the details of her 9-year-old sons tragic death during a boating trip.

He was only 9 years old, she said. Most people dont really know what happened and we hadnt been fully willing to publicly share until we had autopsy answers.

Frees son, Andrew, passed away on June 6, 2020, from what news outlets called a tragic drowning after Andrew slipped off the familys boat and into the water.

But Free and her family knew there was more to it than that, and they waited to share the details of their sons sudden death until a full autopsy had been performed.

His brothers were treated that night at St. Francis for Acute Carbon Monoxide poisoning, Free wrote. Andrew has been swimming since he was 2 years oldhe was a STRONG swimmerand yet, he didnt even struggle.

As Free suspected, the autopsy revealed that Andrews death had been caused by open-air carbon monoxide levels, a phenomenon caused by prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) emissions from a ride-on vehicle, even while fresh air is moving near the face of the rider. It has been known to impact four-wheeler and tractor drivers, as well as motorboat riders.

His COHb was 72 percent, Free wrote on Facebook. His so-called drowning was secondary to the fact that he would have never lived at that level. What does this mean? It means that Andrew was not going to live regardless of what happened next  All of this information was confirmed by a doctor friend and by the Tulsa County Medical Examiners office. 

In her Facebook post, Oklahoma resident Cassandra Free made a heart-wrenching plea for people to make her post go viral so parents could be aware of the dangers of allowing children to ride on the back of a motorboat.

(Illustration  Sarah Moldenhauer/Shutterstock)

We couldve lost all three of our children that night, Free said. I do not want anyone else to ever experience what I am going through. Im begging youplease share this!

Parents readily complied, and it didnt take long for the post to spread like wildfire.

Soon, the story caught the eye of Jenny Rapson, writer for Her View From Home, who felt compelled to help spread the word.

Moms, Rapson writes, if you are like me, you had NO idea this kind of carbon monoxide poisoning is even possible.

Free pointed out in her post that boat manufacturers and the CDC are aware of this not-so-uncommon danger but make little to no effort to educate the public.

I know that boat manufacturers do know of the dangers and theyre not being proactive to help people stay safe, Free asserted. The CDC researches it, but no one has asked that boats be subject to annual exhaust inspections.

In fact, Free is not wrong. The CDC website refers to open-air exhaust poisoning as a common cause of reported unintentional fatal poisonings in the United States.

This heartbreaking story should serve as a warning to parents and recreational enthusiasts all over the country.

Open-air carbon monoxide poisoning can impact anyone with prolonged exposure to recreational vehicle exhaust. However, children who ride at the back of a boat or near an exhaust pipe are at higher risk.

You guys, this breaks my heart into a MILLION pieces, Rapson wrote on the Her View From Home blog. If you use motorized watercraft or ATVs, please be aware of this danger. Keep your little ones on parts of the boat that are farther from the engine, especially in calm waters. And please, please share this information with anyone you know who does.

Each year, unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning kills more than 400 people in the United States. Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, dizziness, fatigue and lethargy, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can be prevented by using a CO detector and taking frequent breaks from potential exposure. If you suspect that you or a loved one has symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, call 911 and move the person to fresher air immediately if safe.

Free says shes lucky that her other two sons walked away from the incident unharmed but adds that the idea that there was anything fortunate about this tragedy still leaves a bad taste in her mouth.

She adds: Ive been assured that my baby was so far gone that he did not cry out for me in his mind as he died. He went to sleep and that was it.

We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc
The governor of California has done a great service in the global mission to curb the endless cycle of climate-triggered catastrophes, and its time for the governor of New Jersey to follow Gavin Newsoms bold example.

Our Left Coast brethren is trying to change the transportation landscape, issuing an order that requires all new cars and light trucks sold in California to be zero-emission vehicles in 2035. Only 8% of that states vehicles are electrics or plug-in hybrids, so its going to be a dramatic shift in market and culture.

But this is what leaders do, when each wildfire season is more ferocious than the last, when dozens of blazes torch communities and cloak major cities in a sick haze, when going cold turkey on fossil fuels is the best chance you have at reducing the gases that cook the planet and ignite those fires.

Gov. Murphy should take the hint on the urgency for a cleaner transportation sector  especially now, when so few elected officials show interest in sustaining the planet. Yet so far, he has taken half-measures, and the most glaring example of this is the rollout of NJ Transits electric bus fleet.

Actually, there is no such thing, and thats the problem.

The NJ Transit fleet consists of more than 2,000 diesel buses  traveling 1 billion passenger miles a year  and zero electrics. If you wonder why transportation belches 42 percent of our states greenhouse gases  with noxious impacts on our cities, where asthma rates among kids are soaring  thats the place to start.

Weve heard excuses since Murphy took office. They cost too much? Up front, that is true, but they cost far less to run and maintain than diesels. No infrastructure in place? It shouldnt have taken three years just to hire someone to build the first charging facility in Camden. Electrics are unreliable? The MTA disagrees: It launched its pilot program three years ago, and was so captivated it has 500 electrics funded in its 2020-2024 capital plan. Ditto the Port Authority, which will have an all-electric shuttle fleet at the airports by next month.

Next month, Newark #airport shuttle buses will all be green and clean https://t.co/gKNyImlUm1  Larry Higgs (@CommutingLarry) September 25, 2020

These are the excuses weve heard from Gov. Murphys transportation people over the last few years, and its time he called them in for a chat about alternate strategies. Purchasing 268 more diesels, as NJ Transit did last year, should not be part of it. Using Turnpike Authority toll hikes for highway expansions  rather than, say, electric buses  should not be part of it.

Our congressional delegation is doing its part, procuring grants for EVs and upgraded depots. But NJ Transits five-year capital plan is depressing: The agency commits only $15 million toward purchasing electric buses through 2026, even though NJTs stated goal is to have an all-electric fleet by 2040.

Yes, the governor has done positive things to clean up the transportation sector, such as offering the highest rebates for EV purchases in the nation, and funding more charging ports.

But NJ Transit will not even launch its EV pilot program  eight buses in Camden, still unpurchased  until next year. As CEO Kevin Corbett admitted last year, We were a little late to the party.

That party is in full swing, but its in California. Time to catch up.

This Editorial has been updated to correct NJ Transits stated timetable for an all-electric bus fleet.

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Ancient Egypt is the Destination in Playsons Solar King Slot

Published September 27, 2020 by Mike P

Fresh from Playson is the brand-new Solar King slot that carries a 2,221x maximum win, free spins, and the special Flaming Frame feature.

Solar King is the newest video slot to release in Playsons Solar series, following in the footsteps of Solar Queen and Solar Temple. As with Solar Queen, the theme is Ancient Egypt and users can play a mobile-compatible slot that offers 95.45% return to player (RTP), high volatility, and a selection of special features.

How to Play

Functionally, the slot shall operate with five reels and four rows that can utilise 20 paylines to provide winnings from matching symbols. Several creatures from Ancient Egyptian mythology have been used as symbols next to a handful of playing cards. Special symbols have also been integrated for unlocking the bonus features.

Standing tall above all symbols in the base game is the pharaoh, who can fill an entire reel. The pharaoh is the most valuable symbol in the entire Solar King slot and should be integral if players are to trigger the maximum winnings of 2,221x. To wager on Solar King, players can stake a minimum of 0.20 up to the highest level of 100.00.

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A tourist could face up to two years in prison over his negative online reviews of a Thai island hotel.

The Sea View Resort on Koh Chang claims American Wesley Barnes launched a barrage of complaints against them after his stay, forcing them to take legal action in a country renowned for strict criminal defamation laws.

Sea View Resort & Spa, Kah Chang, Thailand.

Barnes, who works in Thailand, penned multiple reviews on different sites, the hotel alleges. In one posted in July, he claimed to have encountered "unfriendly staff" who "act like they don't want anyone here".

Another post, which accused the hotel of "modern day slavery", was removed by TripAdvisor for violating its guidelines.
(Newser)  A 40-year-old woman faces an attempted murder charge after witnesses said she drove a car into clashing protesters during a California demonstration Saturday. A man and a woman were seriously injuredthe womans' legs were brokenand officials said they're expected to survive, ABC reports. Tatiana Turner of Long Beach was arrested and jailed after police and demonstrators chased the car down. She also faces a charge of assault with a deadly weapon. Officials said Turner attended the event with Caravan for Justice, which advocates for an end to police violence.

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The attack happened outside the Yorba Linda Public Library in Orange County, per the Register. Supporters of President Trump and of Black Lives Matter had squared off Saturday afternoon, with one side shouting "USA!" and the other "Black Lives Matter!" A half-hour into the protest and counterprotest, the sheriff's department declared it an unlawful assembly, based on reports of weapons and fighting in the crowd of about 250. (Video shows a Seattle police officer riding his bicycle over a man's head at a Breonna Taylor protest.)
While media headlines focus on the extraordinary challenges of these times, we might easily inadvertently overlook the distinctive challenges we share as Connecticut residents. Working to engineer a promising path for Connecticut at large, while delivering our voice in Hartford is hard work  addressed effectively  by Terrie Wood, our state Representative.

A common sense, collaborative leader who is recognized for her interest in listening and understanding, Terrie brings promise relative to the interests we share in legislation and policy devised in Hartford. Below the current headlines, Terrie brings an undaunted sense of purpose in forging a course that will restore an affordable outlook for our residents and for our businesses.
Spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia Shushan Stepanyan took to her Facebook to report that the Armed Forces of Armenia have shot down Azerbaijans UAV in the northeastern direction.

As reported earlier, according to spokesperson of the President of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Vahram Poghosyan, the enemy started shelling actively along the entire length of the line of contact. The enemy is also shelling peaceful settlements, including the capital Stepanakert. In her turn, spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia Shushan Stepanyan stated that the Armenian side has shot down two helicopters and three UAVs of the adversary. The battles continue.

Commander of the Defense Army of Artsakh Jalal Harutyunyan made a call for battle, stating that, currently, the subdivisions of the Defense Army are successfully disrupting the adversarys plans by making the adversary suffer a large number of casualties.
There are now eight cases of COVID-19 connected to schools in Niagara since students returned to class.

Late Sunday afternoon, Niagara Catholic District School Board said in a news release that an individual at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Elementary School in Niagara Falls has tested positive for COVID-19.

As a result, students and staff were exposed to the coronavirus while this individual was infectious, the board said.

Saturday evening, the board issued a news release to say an individual at Canadian Martyrs Catholic Elementary School in St. Catharines tested positive.

The person, unknown if they are staff or a student, is in self isolation, said the board.

Staff from the school are working with Niagara Region Public Health and will fully comply with all requirements, the board added.

The schools principal has issued a letter to parents, it said.

In the same release, the board confirmed a case of COVID-19 has been connected to Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School.

According to the Catholic board, it has been determined there is no risk of exposure to the Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School community.

The individual in this case is also self-isolating at the direction of public health, the board said.

RELATED STORIES Niagara Region Third confirmed virus case found at Eastdale secondary in Welland

Three cases of the virus have been confirmed with individuals at Eastdale Secondary School in Welland, the most recent one announced by District School Board of Niagara Friday.

The first case at the east Welland high school was confirmed Sept. 18 and the second two days later.

Mary Ward Catholic Elementary School in Niagara Falls was the first school in Niagara to report an individual being infected with COVID-19, announced by Niagara Catholic on Sept. 17. Then on Wednesday, DSBN reported a case had been identified at William H. Merritt Public School on Linwell Road in St. Catharines.
A 52-year-old woman died when the motorcycle she was riding on collided with a guardrail Saturday evening in East Allen Township, state police said.

Pennsylvania State Police in Bethlehem said the 11:34 p.m. accident happened as Oscar Balloveras, 51, of Garfield, New Jersey was operating a motorcycle along Route 248 east at Snyders Church Road and slid on the wet roadway. The bike lost control at a curve, striking the guardrail on the southbound shoulder, according to police.

Both Oscar and his passenger, Patricia Balloveras, 52, of Garfield, New Jersey ended up on the southbound shoulder and the bike came to final rest along Route 248 -- about 150 feet east from the point of impact, police said.

Patricia Balloveras died after suffering blunt trauma neck injuries in the accident, Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek said. Both were wearing helmets at the time of the accident. Police said Oscar and Patricia were a married couple.

Route 248 was closed for several hours as authorities investigated the accident.

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.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
Internet retailer PulseTV.com is opening its second Masks and More Outlet less than 60 days after opening its first brick and mortar store at Orland Park Crossing. This store has over 100 styles of decorative, protective masks as well as disposable masks for both adults and kids, all at steeply discounted prices. Along with all types of PPE, every Masks and More Outlet carries discounted As Seen On TV products featured on its parent company, PulseTV.coms website.

PulseTV Co-founder of PulseTV and Masks and More Outlet, Anisa Ali said,

We have been overwhelmed with the reception our store has received. People drive from as far as Schaumburg and Chicago to buy our masks (including those hard to find masks for the hearing impaired) and PPE. Once inside the store, theyre also picking up dozens of other products we sell on our website.

The first Mask and More Outlet opened on August 1st and within 3 weeks the company started scouting for new locations. This new Tinley Park location is right in the center of the Tinley Downs Plaza at 7911 W. 171st. Street, less than a mile from the sprawling warehouse also located in Tinley Park. After a successful launch of the flagship pop up store, expansion was a natural evolution. Tom Zegar, the second of three co-founders offered:

We have been an online retailer since 1999 and a brick and mortar store was never part of our plan. Offering designer masks and PPE priced at well below normal retail was a gamble on top of also adding dozens of other cool items having nothing to do with PPE. Whether this pays off or not remains to be seen. We are hopeful that each community we place a Masks and More Outlet welcomes us with the same enthusiasm as our first Orland Park store.

Tinley Park was a natural fit for expansion with the corporate office of Masks and More Outlets parent company PulseTV also based just blocks away in Tinley Park. All three co-founders have extensive roots in the south suburbs of Chicago. Anisa Ali offered,

My brother and third co-founder grew up in Tinley Park and went to Tinley Park High School. We have a great relationship with the village, fire and police departments. We began manufacturing hand sanitizer right in Tinley Park this past March under the private label name Purifize which is now sold all over the country.

One of the key features of the pop up PPE store is offering huge discounts off prices offered even on its own website. People can also get what they want exactly when they need it. The grand opening for Tinley Park is scheduled for Sept. 26th. Will this second location lead to additional stores? Tom Zegar continued,

We wish we had a crystal ball, but if our second location is self sufficient and Tinley Park residents respond as Orland Park folks did, we will continue. We are actively scouting retail locations in Homewood, Frankfort, Mokena and New Lenox with even more possibilities outside Illinois in Arizona, Connecticut and Florida too!

PulseTV.com is a North American online retailer that has been marketing exclusively online since 1998. For more information or to set up an interview, contact: Mary Kolacki, Communications Director M.Kolacki@PulseTV.com or call 708- 478-4500 ext. 109.
Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan held phone talks with President of France Emmanuel Macron, as reported the Office of the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister informed that Azerbaijan had launched military operations along the entire length of the line of contact with Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) today and expressed deep concern over the created situation and further escalation.

Pashinyan particularly emphasized that Azerbaijan is making provocations in order to launch military operations in the direction of the state border with the Republic of Armenia as well. He also asked his interlocutor to pay special attention to Turkeys strictly biased and aggressive stance and the need to suspend that countrys possible interference.

President Macron expressed deep concern over the created situation and considered further deepening of the tension inadmissible. He deemed it necessary to take all measures to stop the hostilities and ease the tension and attached importance to the intensification of efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship in order to reestablish peace in the region.
SHANGHAI, CHINA - JUNE 14: Japanese actress Yuko Takeuchi attends the screening of TV series 'Miss Sherlock' during the 24th Shanghai TV Festival on June 14, 2018 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Visual China Group via Getty Images/Visual China Group via Getty Images)

Japanese actress Yuko Takeuchi, 40, has been found dead at her home in Tokyo, according to various Japanese news sources.

According to The Japan Times, The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department have launched an investigation and suspect that Takeuchi committed suicide.

The actress was found hanging at home by her husband and actor, Taiki Nakabayashi, 35, and was later confirmed dead at the local hospital. No suicide note has been found, according to Nippon news.

Takeuchi picked up numerous best actress and best-supporting actress awards for her work in Hayabusa, 1,778 Stories of Me and My Wife, and Golden Slumbers. She also starred as the female Japanese Sherlock in HBOs Miss Sherlock (read our interview with her) and had a brief role in 1998 horror film Ringu.

Singapore

If you are struggling with thoughts or feelings about suicide, contact SOS on 1800 221 4444 (24hrs). If you have concerns about mental health issues, contact Emergency Helpline (IMH) on 6389 2222 (24hrs). For more information and help dealing with mental health issues, go to https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/559/findhelp_servicesformentalhealthsupport.

Malaysia

If you are struggling with thoughts or feelings about suicide, contact Lifeline on (+603) 4265 7995 (24hrs). If you have concerns about mental health issues, contact the Malaysian Mental Health Association on (+603) 7782 5499. For more information and help dealing with mental health issues, contact the Befrienders on (+603) 79568144 or (+603) 7956 8145; or go to https://www.befrienders.org.my/

Philippines

If you are struggling with thoughts or feelings about suicide, contact Lifeline on (02) 8969191 or 0917 854 9191. If you have concerns about mental health issues, contact the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) Crisis Hotline on 0917 899 8727 (USAP) and 989 8727 (USAP). For more information and help dealing with mental health issues, go to the National Center for Mental Health at http://ncmh.gov.ph/.

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Hana Kimura, pro wrestler and Terrace House cast member, dies at 22

Taiwanese actor Alien Huang dies at 36, may have suffered heart attack
MBABANE  In a quest to improve its shares in the SACU, Lesotho has imposed a moratorium on the issuance of import permits for used motor vehicles coming from outside SACU countries.

This is a similar move to what Eswatini did through a legal notice dated August 18, 2020, issued by government through the Ministry of Finance.

In the notice, which is cited as the Used Motor Vehicle Import Permit Specification Notice of 2020, Government was communicating that a used motor vehicle requiring a permit shall not be older than seven years at the date of its purchase.

Government also communicated that a levy of 6 per cent on Free-on-Board value shall only be imposed on every imported used motor vehicle that is four years to seven years old.

In the memorandum dated September 15, Lesotho Government informed stakeholders that it had decided to impose a memorandum on the issuance of import permits for used motor vehicles, coming from outside SACU countries.

Further, it informed stakeholders that government had also decided to impose a memorandum on the issuance of new traders licence for motor dealers.

The memorandum is effective from Tuesday, September 15, 2020 until further notice. Please inform relevant offices accordingly, read the letter in part.

An economist said both countries were taking a step in the right direction as there was a strong need for them to increase their SACU revenues by ensuring that imports were within the SACU trade area.

However, she stated that the move was disadvantaging the average men who could only afford a cheap car.

Initially, the rationale for import cars was to enable the average liSwati to own a car but that has a disadvantage on the other side as it was increasing the countrys imports outside of SACU, contracting its receipts from the union.

She said government needed to develop a programme that would still enable the average liSwati to own a car.

It is a good intervention from these countries but we need to have a discussion with South Africa as they have a vibrant automotive industry and they assemble cars. We need an alternative that will give an option to the citizens to still afford a car at cheaper prices, she said.

The Ministry of Finance through its mouthpiece, Setsabile Dlamini, previously explained to this publication that the country wanted to enhance its shares of SACU revenues. She said the more imports from within SACU, the more revenue the country gets in terms of SACU receipts.

Worth mentioning is that the country is positioned 149 in the importation of vehicles according to the worlds top exports, which reported that the country in the 2018/19 period saw a decline of imports by 0.7 per cent as the vehicles imported were valued at E785 858 696.

It is also worth mentioning that Members of Parliament are not on the same page with government on restricting the models of vehicles import car dealerships sell.

Hosea MP Bacede Mabuza was quoted by this publication saying If government claims not to be getting money from SACU, it should support the people who are bringing varying amounts through payments of tax.
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By Associated Press

KYIV: About 100,000 demonstrators marched in the Belarusian capital calling for the authoritarian presidents ouster, some wearing cardboard crowns to ridicule him, on Sunday as the protests that have rocked the country marked their 50th consecutive day.

Protests also took place in nine other cities, underlining the wide extent of dismay and anger with President Alexander Lukashenko, who has stifled opposition and independent news media during 26 years in power.

The protest wave began after the Aug. 9 presidential election that officials said gave Lukashenko a sixth term in office with a crushing 80% of the vote. The opposition and some poll workers say the results were manipulated.

Lukashenko has defied calls for him to step down and many prominent members of a council formed with the aim of arranging a transfer of power have been arrested or have fled the country. The protests have persisted despite the daily detentions of demonstrators.

The Interior Ministry said about 200 demonstrators were arrested throughout the country Sunday. Police and troops blocked off the center of the city with armored vehicles and water cannons.

Luksahenko stepped up his defiance this week by unexpectedly taking the oath of office for a new term in an unannounced ceremony, leading many to mock him as harboring royal-like pretensions.

Some of the estimated 100,000 people who braved rain and strong winds to march in a two-kilometer-long (over a mile-long) column wore crowns made of cardboard and bore placards calling him the naked king.

Lukashenko's main election opponent, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, praised protesters' determination and urged them not to let their energies flag.

Today is the 50th day of our protest and the Belarusian people have again come out on the streets, she said in a statement from Lithuania, where she went into exile after the election. We have come to stop this regime and we will do this peacefully.

Democracy is the power of the people. The entire people are stronger than one man, she said.

Western countries have widely denounced the dubious election and the crackdown on protesters. The European Union and the United States are considering sanctions against Belarusian officials.

Lukashenko slapped back sharply at Emmanuel Macron on Sunday after the French president said in a newspaper interview that Lukashenko must leave power.

I want to say that the president of France himself, following his own logic, should have resigned two years ago  when yellow vests had first begun going out in the streets of Paris, Lukashenko said, referring to the French protest movement.

Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei on Saturday told the U.N. General Assembly that these expressions of concern are "nothing but attempts to bring chaos and anarchy to our country.
Fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan broke out Sunday around the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the Armenian Defense Ministry said two Azerbaijani helicopters were shot down.

Ministry spokeswoman Shushan Stepanyan also said Armenian forces hit three Azerbaijani tanks.

Nagorno-Karabakh is an ethnically Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan that has been out of Azerbaijans control since the end of a war in 1994.

Both sides have heavy military presence along a demilitarized zone separating the region from the rest of Azerbaijan.

Stepanyan said the fighting Sunday began with an Azerbaijani attack, but Azerbaijan said the Armenian side attacked and that Azerbaijan launched a counteroffensive.

The news was harshly received in Turkey.

Turkeys ruling party spokesman Omer Celik tweeted: We vehemently condemn Armenias attack on Azerbaijan. Armenia has once against committed a provocation, ignoring law. He promised Turkey would stand by Azerbaijan and said, Armenia is playing with fire and endangering regional peace. Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin also took to Twitter, condemning Armenia.

Armenia has violated the ceasefire by attacking civilian settlements ... the international community must immediately say stop to this dangerous provocation.

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Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong

Since the enforcement of the EVFTA, many agricultural producers have made inroads into the European Union. What leads to their success in accessing the new market?

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) last week worked with the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai to start export shipments of coffee and fresh passion fruit to the EU, and teamed up with Ben Tre province in the Mekong Delta to accelerate shipments of fruit to this market after accessing the tariff incentives from the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

Earlier, the south-central province of Ninh Thuan celebrated the first shrimp exports that are eligible for EVFTA benefits. These positive outcomes followed the agricultural sectors thorough preparations for the deal.

The signing of the EVFTA brings many advantages. Firstly, it helps beef up exports to this important market in product categories where Vietnam holds an advantage such as shrimp, coffee, fruits, and rice.

Secondly, through the deal, we can get access to cutting-edge processing technology from the EU by attracting foreign direct investment.

Thirdly, local businesses can improve management expertise via cooperating with European counterparts on management training for mutual development.

To access these advantages, right from the start, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, businesses, and farmers have been actively preparing to meet the EUs conditions, while restructuring production to create links from input material preparation to deep processing and consumption. This has helped local agricultural businesses to avail themselves of the EVFTA benefits after the deal came into power. Preliminary statistics show that one month after the EVFTA came into force in August, Vietnams export value to the EU surged by 15-17 per cent on-month.

Alongside support from state bodies, businesses play a key role in capitalising on EVFTA opportunities. How do you assess the role of pioneering businesses in promoting Vietnamese agricultural exports in the EU?

Clearly, businesses are the nucleus of the production chain by not only applying science and technology but also streamlining trade and exports.

It is crucial to provide the support businesses need, including small businesses, foreign-invested ones, and particularly those in rural and remote areas. This will help the creation of smooth links with farmers to establish close chains for modern agriculture and ensure the success of the agricultural sector.

What are the most important measures to help Vietnamese businesses conquer the EU market?

Restructuring production to ensure compliance with food safety and origin of goods rules is of great importance, as without it, the tremendous opportunities from the EVFTA would stay out of reach.

The MARD will continue working closely with businesses and encouraging firms to concentrate on product categories where Vietnam holds an advantage like fruit and vegetables, seafood, and cash crops. We will also push up chain-based production with a close eye on product quality and will ensure that businesses have the necessary skills to succeed in their new environment.

More radical and sustainable solutions are needed in the long haul to promote chain-based production and tighten links with farmers to establish closed production chains from input material preparation to processing and sale.

The EU has significance far beyond a simple export market. Successful exportation to this market will attest to the production capacity of Vietnamese farmers and will be a clear indicator that Made in Vietnam goods have the capacity to pass any market gate.

Could the agricultural sector leverage EU exports to counter the impacts of COVID-19 and reach the $41 billion export target for this year?

Like other sectors, the agricultural sector is doing its utmost to achieve our dual targets for 2020: ensuring pandemic containment and reaching the set goals, including the export target. Right from outset of 2020 we have made great efforts to ensure businesses can maximise their benefits from policy incentives and what we have achieved so far is significant.

Besides inclusion programmes (the national target programme on new rural development and agricultural restructuring programme), the sector will deploy a raft of other promotion activities. For instance, in the rest of the year, about 10-12 major projects would be kicked off, mainly focusing on agricultural processing.

With the determination of the agricultural sector as a whole, we believe we can reach the full-year projections.
A story that reinforced harmful stereotypes about Black and Latino Angelenos appeared on the front page on July 12, 1981. (Los Angeles Times)

The headline was stripped across the top of the front page, Marauders From Inner City Prey on L.A.s Suburbs. The story, published by The Times on July 12, 1981, described a permanent underclass in the citys ghettos and barrios, fueling a crime wave that was spilling over from South Los Angeles into prosperous  and largely white  communities in Pasadena, Palos Verdes, Beverly Hills and elsewhere.

The article, the first of a two-part series, purported to be an ambitious look at a major social problem, and it cited a lack of education and jobs as underlying causes of inner-city distress. But it also reinforced pernicious stereotypes that Black and Latino Angelenos were thieves, rapists and killers. It sensationalized and pathologized the struggles of poor families and painted residents of South L.A. with a broad brush. It quoted police and prosecutors unskeptically and implied that more aggressive policing and harsher judicial sentencing were the only effective responses to crime.

The story lacked nuance and context, neglecting decades of government policies that had led to housing and school segregation and to the creation of ghettos and barrios, which were then provided with inferior public services. And it failed to give any real sense that the vast majority of the areas residents were ordinary, law-abiding citizens, just trying to raise families and get by.

The series drew prompt and deserved criticism that highlighted an insidious problem that has marred the work of the Los Angeles Times for much of its history: While the paper has done groundbreaking and important work highlighting the issues faced by communities of color, it has also often displayed at best a blind spot, at worst an outright hostility, for the citys nonwhite population, one both rooted and reflected in a shortage of Indigenous, Black, Latino, Asian and other people of color in its newsroom.

Prompted by a pandemic, an economic crisis and a national debate over policing  all of which have spotlighted racial disparities in the United States  our nation now faces a long-delayed reckoning with systemic racism. We would be remiss, in the autumn of 2020, a season of grief and introspection, if we did not take part in that self-examination. This editorial is one part of that process.

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A comprehensive and balanced history of Los Angeles journalism  a peoples history that tells the story of The Times from the perspective of its employees and its readers  has yet to be written. But a deep look at the papers pages over time tells part of that story.

Under Harrison Gray Otis, who controlled The Times from 1882 until his death in 1917, the newspaper stood for the raw exercise of industrialists' and landowners' power over Los Angeles.

For at least its first 80 years, the Los Angeles Times was an institution deeply rooted in white supremacy and committed to promoting the interests of the citys industrialists and landowners. No one embodied this aggressive, conservative ideology more than Harrison Gray Otis, the walrus-mustachioed Civil War veteran who controlled The Times from 1882 until his death in 1917.



The modern notion that journalisms core precepts include uncovering hard truths and exposing inequity would have been foreign to Otis and other press barons of the last Gilded Age. Far from a mission of comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable, his newspaper stood for the raw exercise of power, and he used it to further a naked agenda of score settling, regional boosterism, economic aggrandizement and union busting.

Otis was a Lincoln Republican who had fought on the side of the Union and opposed slavery. But his Times was a newspaper aimed at the mostly Protestant white settlers who migrated to California from the Midwest and the Plains in the decades after it was seized from Mexico in 1848 and admitted to the Union in 1850.

Again and again, The Times sought to shape and dominate the region instead of merely chronicling it. Using a trade group known as the Merchants and Manufacturers Assn., Otis spearheaded a campaign to prevent and impede unionization. He weighed in on the side of San Pedro over Santa Monica in an epic 1890s battle over where to locate a federally funded deepwater port. His family meddled in the politics of Mexico, where they owned a huge ranch, in an attempt to preserve their land rights. He was part of a powerful syndicate that pushed for the acquisition of water rights from farmers in the Owens Valley in 1913  a decision fictionalized in Roman Polanskis 1974 film Chinatown  and the annexation of the San Fernando Valley in 1915.

And in all of his crusades, he enlisted the powerful voice of his newspaper.

During the early 20th century, as control passed from Otis to his son-in-law Harry Chandler and his heirs, The Times promoted the citys explosive growth. But even as Dust Bowl migration, the World War II arms industry and a vast movement of Black Americans escaping Jim Crow segregation transformed the city, the newspaper remained nearly entirely white in its staff, its readership and its outlook.

A tragic example of why that was a problem was the newspapers support for wartime incarceration of Japanese Americans, one of the most egregious violations of civil liberties in our nations history. (The Times apologized in 2017 for that editorial position.)

Heres another example: In 1943, sailors on leave from wartime service rampaged lawlessly in downtown Los Angeles, attacking young Mexican Americans fitted in so-called zoot suits  long coats and wide trousers pegged at the ankle. The Times largely ignored the context  the social and economic upheaval brought about by wartime mobilization and the racist trope of threatened white womanhood  and blamed the victims instead of their assailants. When First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt suggested that the rioting might have grown out of racial discrimination toward Mexican Americans, The Times vehemently denied that was possible, asserting in an editorial, We like Mexicans and we think they like us.

After the war ended, The Times became an uncritical mouthpiece for Washington as it covered the Eisenhower administrations Operation Wetback, which used military-style tactics to deport Mexican migrants  some of them U.S. citizens  who had been invited north to perform agricultural labor during the war.

Coverage of the so-called Zoot Suit Riots and a congressional investigation into Japanese Americans appear in the June 7, 1943, edition of the Los Angeles Times. The newspaper blamed the zoot suit-wearing Mexican American victims of attacks by servicemen and supported the wartime incarceration of Japanese Americans. (Los Angeles Times)

The most enlightened of the Chandlers was Otis, fourth and last of the patriarchs who controlled The Times for its first century. The Times standards and reputation improved under his tenure as publisher, from 1960 to 1980. He plowed what were then vast profits into the hiring of hundreds of journalists and reoriented the paper in a more politically neutral direction. Famously, Chandler authorized the publication, in 1961, of an investigation into the anti-communist John Birch Society, whose members included far-right white supremacists  and members of Chandlers extended family (though he also presided over the paper's 1964 presidential endorsement of Barry Goldwater, who strongly opposed the 1964 Civil Rights Act).

By the standards of his time, Chandler was a moderate, if not always consistent. He endorsed most goals of the civil rights movement and in 1965, during the Watts uprising, served as an informal mediator between Black protesters and the Police Department. In 1969, The Times endorsed the historic mayoral candidacy of Councilman Tom Bradley, a grandson of slaves who in 1973 would go on to defeat Mayor Sam Yorty, the divisive white incumbent.

But even as The Times moved in a more progressive direction, its newsroom did not come close to representing the citys demographics. The Times won a Pulitzer Prize for its coverage of the August 1965 civil unrest in Watts, yet the reporters and editors on the story were nearly all white. A 24-year-old Black advertising messenger, Robert Richardson, covered the disturbances, driving to the scene and phoning in his reports. Named a reporter trainee after the riots, he was given next to no support and left the paper the next year.

"The View From Watts, an in-depth series The Times published in October 1965, chronicled pent-up frustrations in the Black community, and an accompanying editorial recommended summer jobs, improved police-community relations, stronger school nutrition programs and similar reforms. But the project too often took a patronizing view of Black Angelenos, most egregiously in a piece called "Police Brutality: State of Mind?" that used selective examples and unexamined quotes from police officers to heavily imply that police brutality was a thing of the past.

The Kerner Commission, impaneled to study the root causes of 1967 uprisings in Detroit, Newark, N.J., and other cities, was prophetic in calling for the hiring of Black journalists. The scarcity of Negroes in responsible news jobs intensifies the difficulties of communicating the reality of the contemporary American city to white newspaper and television audiences, the panel found. That was certainly true at The Times.

It was not just that The Times saw fit to hire white men almost exclusively for its newsroom; the stories it told were largely for and about white people, which meant Angelenos werent getting an accurate account of their city, region and state at a time of rapid change.

Typical of the papers attitude was a 1978 interview in which Otis Chandler airily dismissed Black and Latino readers: Its not their kind of newspaper. Its too big, its too stuffy. If you will, its too complicated.

Chandler later stepped back from that, saying the paper was looking for readers in the broad middle class and upper classes regardless of race or ethnicity. We are not a paper that's sought after in the lower-class areas, he said.

Around that time, in 1979, The Times was slow to cover the shooting of Eula Love, a 39-year-old Black homemaker who was shot to death by Los Angeles police officers in her South L.A. frontyard in a dispute over an unpaid gas bill. L.A.s afternoon daily, the Herald Examiner, played the story big, and Black residents were outraged at what they saw as an egregious example of police abuse. After being hammered by other media outlets for underplaying the story, including in an Esquire article headlined Mr. Otis Regrets, The Times ran a long story by media writer David Shaw about how it had muffed the story, and top editors began rethinking how the paper covered the LAPD.

Eula Love was shot and killed Jan. 3, 1979, by Los Angeles police officers in her frontyard. The Times' coverage of the killing was lacking.

As has often been the case in history, progress came from the bottom up. After the marauders series, Black reporters met with Editor William F. Thomas to register their objections. And in February 1982, a pioneering group of Latino journalists, gathering for pizza and beer in Downey, began conceiving of a staff-led effort to tell a rich and deep narrative of their growing community. We keep seeing the same damn stories in the paper: about crime, gangs, illegal immigration, Frank O. Sotomayor, one of the editors on the series, recalls his co-editor, George Ramos, saying. We want to tell our stories.

The result was a landmark series, published in 1983, about Latinos and how they were reshaping Southern California. Latino journalists initiated and carried out the project, and presented the Latino community in all its complexity, featuring gang members and wealthy entrepreneurs, priests, police officers, university students and politicians. It examined issues that impeded Latino progress and celebrated improvements. The project was recognized with the 1984 Pulitzer Prize for public service, the highest honor in American journalism. The same year, The Times parent company, Times-Mirror, established a Minority Editorial Training Program, or MetPro, which continues to this day.

Yet The Times remained a lonely place for journalists of color. In December 1990, Shaw, The Times' media critic, wrote a series lamenting the dearth of diversity in journalism. He wrote of his own newspaper: The Times is widely regarded  particularly by blacks, inside the paper and out  as having one of the poorest records for minority advancement of any major paper in the country.

The police beating of Rodney G. King in 1991, and the unrest that followed the subsequent acquittal of the four LAPD officers charged with assaulting him, exposed once again why that mattered. With 63 people dead, the 1992 uprising was far deadlier than the earlier Watts riots, in which 34 people died.

The Times was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for its coverage of the disturbances, just as it was after Watts. But in later years academics argued that The Times overemphasized the role of Black Angelenos in the riots (half of those arrested by the LAPD were Latino) and sensationalized Black-Korean conflict (a Korean-born shopkeeper, Soon Ja Du, had killed a Black teenager, Latasha Harlins, the previous year inside her familys grocery store).

Within The Times, newsroom tensions burst into the open. When the riot spread and it became apparent that a number of white reporters could not gain access to the scene, minority reporters from the suburbs were shipped into the danger zone, Dean Takahashi, then a young business reporter and one of few Asian Americans on staff, wrote in a May 1992 article for Editor & Publisher that drew national attention. A black colleague of mine mockingly called it the Los Angeles Times busing program.

As it had a decade earlier, The Times made some commitments to improvements. It hired several journalists of color and established a zoned section known as City Times to cover neighborhoods of South Los Angeles and East Los Angeles that had long been neglected  the hole in the doughnut, as editors said at the time. The effort lasted for only three years, folding in 1995.

But even as the editorial staff pushed for broader and better coverage of the citys diverse communities, the newspaper was being torn by political divisions within the extended Chandler family that still owned the paper, some of whom felt The Times had leaned too far leftward. In 1994, the top business executive, Publisher Richard T. Schlosberg III, directed the editorial board to endorse Gov. Pete Wilson, a Republican, in his bid for reelection.

Wilson was the chief proponent of Proposition 187, an initiative on the same ballot that would decide his reelection. The measure sought to bar undocumented immigrants from access to state-funded healthcare and education. Staff members, especially Latinos, were disgusted. Under normal circumstances, I would quietly accept that decision and move on. This time I cannot, Deputy Editorial Page Editor Frank del Olmo wrote in a dissent that ran in the paper. Because this is not just another political campaign. And the Wilson endorsement is not  as a senior colleague whom I respect tried to convince me  just another endorsement.

He continued: For me, a Mexican American born and reared in California and a journalist here for more than 20 years, this campaign is unprecedented in the harm it does  permanent damage, I fear  to an ethnic community I care deeply about and a state I love.

Frank del Olmo was the first Latino editor on the masthead of the Los Angeles Times. The newspaper's 1994 endorsement of Gov. Pete Wilson, who was pushing Proposition 187, drew his vehement dissent in the pages of The Times. (Los Angeles Times)

The summer after voters adopted Proposition 187 (it was later struck down by the courts), Janet Clayton was named editorial page editor, a Black woman and the first person of color to occupy that role. During her nine-year tenure, the opinion pages of The Times evolved to reflect an optimistic, progressive and inclusive political vision. The section won two Pulitzer Prizes, one in 2002 for a series on mentally ill people living on the streets, and the other in 2004 for a series on entrenched problems in California state government.

Halfway through Claytons tenure, The Times and its sister papers were sold to the Chicago-based Tribune Co. The new owners brought in two nationally esteemed journalists  John S. Carroll, who had overseen newspapers in Baltimore and Lexington, Ky., as editor, and Dean Baquet, the national editor at the New York Times, as managing editor.

With Baquet overseeing the day-to-day operations of the newsroom, Clayton overseeing the opinion pages (before moving to the Metro section) and art director Joseph Hutchinson serving as deputy managing editor for design, the newspaper for a time had three Black editors on its masthead. Del Olmo was the first Latino on the masthead, and the Mexican-born writer Andres Martinez was later the second, as editorial page editor.

That diversity  a high point  proved short-lived. Del Olmo, 55, died of cardiac arrest after collapsing in his office at The Times in 2004; Baquet, who succeeded Carroll as top editor, was fired in 2006 after refusing to make more cuts; Clayton, Hutchinson and Martinez all left in 2007.

Since Baquets departure, The Times has seen a flurry of top editors and business executives come and go. One of them  Davan Maharaj, who joined The Times in 1989 as an intern and oversaw the newsroom from 2011 to 2017  was of Indian ancestry and an immigrant from Trinidad.

Maharaj, the first Asian American to lead The Times, presided over a depleted newsroom that had spent four years in federal bankruptcy protection, ending in 2012. Newsroom diversity improved, but the staff was shaken by multiple rounds of buyouts. Nonetheless, it continued to do outstanding work, including a Pulitzer-winning expose of corruption in the city of Bell, a story co-written and uncovered by a Guatemalan-born journalist, Ruben Vives.

By the time The Times was sold in 2018, to the physician and pharmaceutical inventor Patrick Soon-Shiong, the paper was down to about 400 journalists, less than half of the 940 when Baquet left.



Los Angeles Times owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, left, addresses staffers in 2018 shortly after his purchase of the paper. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Where does The Times go from here?

An organization should not be defined by its failures, but it must acknowledge them if it is to hope for a better future.

The brutal death of a Black man, George Floyd, on May 25 while in the custody of police in Minneapolis shocked the world. It also prompted news organizations like The Times to reflect on how they cover, frame and promote stories at a time when the 24/7 news cycle moves faster than ever. Amid nationwide demonstrations over racial injustice, members of the Los Angeles Times Guild established caucuses for Black and Latino employees. The caucuses have called for improvements in coverage, hiring and career development, a public apology for The Times poor record on race, and equal pay. They have insisted, rightly, on reframing and recentering our coverage of communities of color.

The Times in 2020 has new owners, new leaders, a new labor union representing its journalists and a new headquarters in El Segundo. But the shadows of the past loom over our institution.

Newspapers are described as a first rough draft of history. But in truth, the first rough draft written by this newspaper  and those across the country  has been woefully incomplete.

On behalf of this institution, we apologize for The Times history of racism. We owe it to our readers to do better, and we vow to do so. A region as diverse and complex and fascinating as Southern California deserves a newspaper that reflects its communities. Today, 38% of the journalists on our staff are people of color. We know that is not nearly good enough, in a county that is 48% Latino and in a state where Latinos are the largest ethnic group. We know that this acknowledgment must be accompanied by a real commitment to change, a humility of spirit and an openness of mind and heart.

The Times will redouble and refocus its efforts to become an inclusive and inspiring voice of California  a sentinel that employs investigative and accountability reporting to help protect our fragile democracy and chronicles the stories of the Golden State, including stories that historically were neglected by the mainstream press. Being careful stewards of this new company, privately owned but operated for the benefit of the public, is our first obligation. But that stewardship will also require bold and decisive change. If we are to survive as a business, it will be by tapping into a digital, multicultural, multigenerational audience in a way The Times has never fully done.

We make this pledge in recognition of the many journalists who battled over the decades to make The Times a more inclusive workplace and a newspaper that reflected the real Los Angeles in its pages. As we reorient this institution firmly and fully around the multiethnic, interfaith and dazzlingly complex tapestry that is Southern California, we honor their contributions.

For the record:

10:18 AM, Sep. 28, 2020: An earlier version of this story identified Dean Takahashi as a Metro reporter in 1992. He was a business reporter.



This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The 16-year-old legal battle of Birlas and Lodhas for the control of assets and companies of late MP Birla turned complex as the managements of MP Birla group companies fight to bring back Harsh Vardhan Lodha as chairman, challenging the recent order of the single bench of Calcutta High Court. However, the Administrative Pendente Lite (APL) committee, which was appointed by the court to protect and preserve the estate of late Priyamvada Devi Birla - the wife of late MP Birla, opposes Lodha's appointment in any MP Birla group companies.

A week back, Lodha and M P Birla group's cable companies, namely Universal Cables, Vindhya Telelinks and Birla Cable filed appeals before a division bench, challenging the single bench order that restrained Lodha from holding any office in any of the entities of the group during pendency of the Testamentary Suit over the assets of the M P Birla group.

"Lodha has already captured the managment, appointing his people at crucial positions. That is the reason why the companies fight for his reinstatement," said sources in Birla group.

Single bench's verdict seems to have ignored shareholders' democracy and their right to elect by majority of their votes a person as a director of a company, said Birla Corporation spokesperson. "Shareholders have elected Harsh Vardhan Lodha as a director of Birla Corporation with an overwhelming majority of 98 per cent. Lodha being otherwise not disqualified from holding the office of director, there is no reason why the verdict of shareholders will not be respected."

The appeals have been admitted for hearing in the division bench of the High Court of Chief Justice TBN Radhakrishnan and Justice Shampa Sarkar. The division bench's order will be critical for both the parties as it will give advantage to the winner while battling the same finally in the Supreme Court, said legal experts.

Birla Corporation, which is in cement and jute manufacturing, has Rs 4,800 crore market capitalisation.

The Court appointed APL Committee, which voted against Lodha, comprises three members - Justice Mohit Shah, AC Chakrabortti, a chartered accountant, and Mahendra Kumar Sharma, former vice-chairman of Hindustan Unilever and ex-chairman of ICICI Bank. Justice was appointed by the Court, while Chakrabortti is a nominee of Birlas and Sharma a nominee of Lodha.

Lodha claimed in his petition that the estate is a minority shareholder even after considering its indirect holding through investment companies, in all four manufacturing firms within the larger promoter group.

The appeal is likely to be heard by the division bench of the High Court from this week. The single bench also restrained the Lodhas from drawing any benefit personally from out of the assets of the estate of Priyamvada Devi. Justice Shahidullah Munshi restrained Lodhas from interfering with the decisions of the Court-appointed APL committee and any decision which might be taken by it in future by majority if the same directly or indirectly relates to the estate of the deceased.

The Court is also hearing a probate application by Lodha, whose late father R S Lodha claimed that Priyamvada Devi Birla bequeathed her estate, comprising the M P Birla Group, to him through a will. Birlas challenged the probate application. MP Birla was the grand uncle to Kumar Mangalam Birla of Aditya Birla group.

Priyamvada Birla had allegedly bequeathed her estate to Kolkata-based chartered accountant RS Lodha after her death in 2004. The drama began a few days after her death when Lodha went to the Birla family residential complex in Kolkata, to read the contents of the will, which is allegedly written in 1999. It was shocking for Birlas and they decided to fight the legal battle. MP Birla and Priyamvada had no children. So, Birlas expected charitable trusts to inherit the wealth. When Lodhas fight the do or die battle, it is a battle of pride for Birla.

Also read: Calcutta HC orders ouster of Harsh Vardhan Lodha from MP Birla group companies
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is expected to convene a Security Council meeting and then the government will discuss the potential declaration of martial law and partial mobilization, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said.

Soon a Security Council session will take place and then the government will discuss the issue of declaring martial law and partial mobilization. Be ready to defend our sacred fatherland. Proud, triumphant people, Pashinyan said.

In the early morning of September 27, the Azerbaijani military launched a massive attack on Artsakh using air force, missiles and tanks. The Azerbaijani artillery strikes targeted civilian settlements, including Stepanakert city, which resulted in several civilians being killed.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Christian college to slash tuition to lowest in 20 years to reduce students financial burdens

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At a time when high college sticker prices might be keeping potential students away, a Christian college in western New York is cutting its tuition costs to the lowest its been in 20 years.

Houghton College, a Christian liberal arts school founded over 137 years ago by a dedicated Christian farmer and located about an hour-and-a-half drive from Rochester, announced this week that it will reset tuition for the 2021-2022 school year to make pricing more transparent, affordable and straightforward.

Starting next fall, the schools tuition rate will be $15,900 before financial aid awards. According to the school, the new pricing model represents a 53% decrease in published tuition costs for students enrolled in the on-campus residential undergraduate program compared to the current academic year.

In a statement, the institution stressed that the move demonstrates that a high-quality, Christian education is a real possibility for students from all backgrounds and circumstances. It also said its new tuition model is straight forward and offers clear information about what their college education is going to cost.

This price reset makes Houghton College the best-priced Christian college in the nation, the colleges statement explained, citing the most recent tuition survey done by the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities, to which the school is a member.

In addition, Houghton is offering one of the lowest tuition rates of any college in the Western New York region.

Houghton College President Shirley Mullen, who also chairs CCCUs board of directors, said the move makes a Houghton education truly a possibility for todays learners who would not otherwise have considered the opportunity.

In this moment, we are taking a very deliberate step to make our pricing more transparent, Mullen, a former history professor, explained. We are also making certain that, in the process, a Houghton education will actually be more affordable, not simply appear to be more affordable.

She said the decision allows the school to reclaim the original mission of our college to provide a high-quality, deeply-Christian education for students who are not being served as readily by other institutions of higher education.

[Willard J. Houghton] founded this institution that we now know as Houghton College with the idea of reaching the young people who were not already being reached, she said in a video announcement. He had a vision of the fact that education was a key part of enabling young men and women to develop their God-given potential and to make a difference in the world.

Houghton is ranked as a top-10 performing college in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for social mobility, which is defined as colleges that graduate large proportions of disadvantaged students awarded with Pell Grants.

The majority of Pell Grant recipients are students who come from families with adjusted gross family incomes under $50,000.

Houghtons tuition and fees for the current academic year are listed at $34,466 with the additional cost of room and board listed at $9,856 by U.S. News & World Report.

However, the average net cost of the university after need-based aid and scholarship funds are discounted is about $27,520. But for families with incomes between $30,001 and $48,000, the average annual cost for students at Houghton is around $17,749 for the 2020-2021 school year.

According to a fact sheet, the new tuition rate itself will be $15,900, while room and board will still cost about $9,856 for the 2021-2022 school year. Additionally, students will have to pay $546 in fees for a total cost for the year of about $26,302.

According to a CCCU report, the mean tuition costs for the 2017-2018 school year were $34,740 for private four-year schools, $27,466 for CCCU schools, and $ 9,970 for public four-year schools.

In its statement, the college noted that a lower tuition rate means that federal and state financial aid will cover a greater percentage of the students annual bill and will enable students to incur less student loan debt and fewer out-of-pocket expenses.

Any annual percentage tuition increases will be based on the reset rate, the college vowed in the statement.

The stories of students struggling with the new economic realities of COVID-19 hastened the colleges efforts to help alleviate some of their burdens, Jason Towers, Houghtons chief officer of enrollment and marketing, said.

At the same time, Houghton will reinforce our historical mission to train and equip underserved students through an excellent Christian college education so that they can impact the world for Christ.

Through the generosity of its alumni and supporters, over $41 million has been raised for student scholarships, enabling Houghton College to make more scholarship funds available to students in need.

In the fall of 2019, the college had a total enrollment of 969 students, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Across the nation, Christian colleges are making changes amid a decline in enrollment for evangelical institutions. Over 62 institutions that participated in the 2019 Annual Financial Aid Survey of CCCU Institutions, more than half of those surveyed, reported a decline in traditional undergraduate enrollment.

Over half of enrollment at surveyed institutions now consists of undergraduate degree completion and graduate programs, including some seminaries. The survey also found that the median unfunded discount rate at the surveyed CCCU institutions increased over the last decade from 29.6% in 2007-2008 to 43.3% in 2017-2018.

As CCCU communications specialist Morgan Feddes Satre stated last year, the increasing unfunded discount rate is not a good sign in light of growing operational expenses but is a trend reflective of higher education broadly.
Arun Jaitley framed bill on Art 370 nullification that can withstand legal challenge, says his wife

Jaitley statue at Kotla: Angry Bedi asks DDCA to remove his name from stands, quits membership

After Arun Jaitley, none in BJP understands psyche of Punjab: Naresh Gujral

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Sep 27: A day after the SAD announced to quit the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) over the farm bills issue, party leader Naresh Gujral said on Sunday that after Arun Jaitley''s demise no one in the BJP understands the psyche of Punjab.

Gujral, who is the Shiromani Akali Dal''s Rajya Sabha MP, hoped the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre will show "some sensitivity" in dealing with the situation in Punjab.

On Saturday, SAD president Sukhbir Badal announced that the party is pulling out of the alliance with the BJP to protest against the farm bills.

Gujral said the decision to break the alliance was taken based on the feedback from party cadre. Being a cadre-based party, the SAD respects their wishes, he said.

About the long association with the BJP, he said, "Unfortunately, after Arun ji''s (former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley) death, there is no one in BJP who understands the psyche of Punjab."

Underlining that all sections of people in Punjab are extremely angry over the farm bills issue, Gujral said, "I hope that even at this late stage the Centre would show some sensitivity in dealing with the Punjab situation before it gets out of hand."

President Ram Nath Kovind gives assent to farm bills

Another senior Akali leader Balwinder Singh Bhunder said the alliance between the SAD and BJP continued for four decades, but the equation has now changed.

"We came together to fight against the atrocities of the Congress. The Akali Dal was always consulted on issues of farmers and Punjab. But now BJP didn''t listen to our concerns about Punjab and issues related to farmers," he said.

Bhunder further said unlike Atal Bihari Vajpayee''s rule, allies have not been given much importance in the current NDA dispensation.

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Story first published: Sunday, September 27, 2020, 19:48 [IST]
Every revolution only creates opportunities for a few countries to make a breakthrough to become developed countries, and for a few universities to become top-tier schools, said Ministser of Information and Communication Nguyen Manh Hung.

At a meeting with students, lecturers and managerial officers from the Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology (PTIT), Hung encouraged creativity and innovation, saying that opportunities can only be embraced by a few pioneers.

Ministser of Information and Communication Nguyen Manh Hung

How to make a breakthrough

According to the minister, when talking about breakthroughs in tertiary education, one can use the phrase do the opposite thing.

Do the opposite thing means doing things differently from predecessors. This will create opportunities for successors.

The 4.0 industrial revolution is associated with creative destruction, which means destroying the old things and creating new things.

Those who have a magnificent past may not have the courage to destroy it. Meanwhile, those who have nothing or have little seem to have more opportunities.

Previously, universities concentrated on selecting the best students to train. But now, many universities focus on controlling the quality of graduates, while letting students themselves determine their studies.

Previously, universities only evaluated themselves. But nowadays, they have to compare themselves with other schools.

Therefore, issuing sets of criteria and comparing and assessing universities have special significance, which helps universities realize what they are weak at and find solutions to raise their ranking.

Previously, students studied first and worked later, and had to have textbooks when going to class. Now, they often do first and study later, while they go to lecture halls to learn what is not found in textbooks. Universities can use many 'unofficial' teachers to give lectures.

Previously, students would ask teachers if they did not know something. Now, they need to learn about things to know what to ask.

Every revolution only creates opportunities for a few countries to make a breakthrough to become developed countries, and for a few universities to become top-tier schools, Ministser of Information and Communication Nguyen Manh Hung.

Previously, universities focused on guiding students how to solve questions. But now, they teach how to find problems, which is more interesting.

Previously, teachers were those who taught students. Now, they act as trainers, while students are the major implementors and many are good instructors.

In the past, competing meant doing the same as others and trying to do better than others, though it was difficult to do this. Nowadays, competing means doing something differently, and it is the difference which distinguishes someone from others.

In the past, universities strived to become MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), the leading US technology university, and it was a difficult task. But nowadays, they don't need to be MIT, and they use new technologies to do, teach and study differently.

There are still enterprises which need MIT graduates and employ them. But there will be enterprises which want non-MIT graduates, and they will find workers among PTIT graduates.

However, when doing things differently from MIT, one needs to do it in an excellent way.

Great opportunities to take lead in digital technology

Hung pointed out that PTIT has a great advantage: it belongs to a ministry of digital technology with 50,000 digital technology firms, with millions of workers and annual revenue of $100 billion.

The three firms in the schools council, namely Viettel, VNPT (Vietnam Post and Telecommunication) and CMC, are the leading technology firms in Vietnam.

The university has a great opportunity to become the leading university in scientific research. A goal should be set that at least 25 percent of revenue of the institute is from research works.

Professors and associate professors of the institute must conduct research and spend at least 25 percent of their time on research.

Miniature digital country to serve national digital transformation

Hung urged PTIT to become the leading university in Vietnam in training in digital technology to serve national digital transformation.

It needs to build digital platforms so that at least 70 percent of instructional content is posted on platforms. Teachers will focus on creating added value on the platform, or in other words, teachers will stand on the platform to teach.

This is an open platform, integrated with the elite and updated regularly.

One of the first things that needs to be done is turning the institute into a miniature digital country, where all the teachers and students activities will be carried out in the digital environment. Each teacher and student will have one digital identification number.

Regarding retraining and advanced training, demand is as high as demand for tertiary education. PTIT needs to set up a divison to satisfy demand. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) personalized for learners is one of the solutions.

If looking at the problem from this angle, the institute will be like a technology firm rather than a traditional school which focuses solely on teaching.

Sharing resources with enterprises

Most medium and large scale enterprises have their own training units with good facilities and equipment for practice. By cooperating with enterprises, universities will have facilities for teaching, and will not need to spend big money.

Thanh Hung

MIC enhances network security The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) has launched the Review and remove malware nationwide in 2020 campaign to enhance the country's network security.
Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, Volta Regional Minister has said the Regional Coordination Council (VRCC)is convinced that majority of the people of the region detest the activities of the Western Togoland Restoration Front, another secessionist gathering in the region.



The group at the dawn of Friday embarked on roadblocks at segments of the Ho-Accra Road at Juapong and Abutia junction, Aflao-Accra road blocked at Vume and Tefle as well as Mepe-Aveyime road.



The blockage caused nuisance to many road users of the aforementioned roads, but the swift intervention by the Military cum Police reinforcement doused the sticky security situation.



A statement signed by Dr Letsa and copied to the Ghana News Agency, on the aftermath of the security situation in the region, said at the close of the day, some 31 separatist members were arrested and airlifted to Accra for interrogation.



He said three out of the four members of the group sustained gunshot wounds as a result of the exchanges and were currently on admission at a hospital.



Dr Letsa, who doubles as the Chair of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) expressed gratitude to the people of the region and the media fraternity for their unflinching support as state security worked to ensure the safety of residents of the region.



"The Council believes it can continue to count on the support and cooperation of traditional authority in dealing appropriately with the group."



He appealed to the Chiefs, Opinion leaders and the generality of the people to volunteer information on the activities of the secessionist groups as security was a shared responsibility.



He gave the assurance that the safety and security of the people and all residents and those intending to come into the region was safeguarded.



He said the members of the separatist group earlier ransacked the offices of the District Chief Executive and Coordinating Director of the North Tongu Assembly as well as fleeing with a Nissan hardbody pickup belonging to the Assembly.



Additionally, he said the Mepe and Aveyime Police Stations were attacked, weapons stolen and the Divisional Police Commander and his driver sustaining gunshot wounds and were receiving medical attention in Accra.







Source: GNA









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New Delhi: The Finance Ministry is likely to provide capital support from the 20,000 crore fund approved by Parliament in recently concluded session to some Public Sector Banks (PSBs) in the third quarter itself.

Parliament approved 20,000 crore for PSB capital infusion as part of the first batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2020-21 which sought additional spending of a record 2.35 lakh crore primarily to meet expenses for combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

The fund infusion would be for meeting regulatory capital requirements if the need arises in October-December quarter, sources said.

The second quarter result will give an idea as to which bank may require regulatory capital and accordingly recapitalisation bonds would be issued to them, sources said.

Besides, state-owned banks already have shareholders' approval for raising capital through a mix of equity and bonds during the current fiscal.

It is to be noted that the government refrained from committing any capital in the Budget 2020-21 for PSBs, hoping that lenders will raise funds from the market depending on the requirement.

In 2019-20, the government infused 70,000 crore into PSBs to boost credit for a strong impetus to the economy.

In the last financial year, Punjab National Bank got 16,091 crore, Union Bank of India received 11,768 crore while Canara Bank and Indian Bank got 6,571 crore and 2,534 crore, respectively.

Allahabad Bank received 2,153 crore, United Bank of India got 1,666 crore and Andhra Bank received 200 crore. These three lenders have been merged with various PSBs.

Besides, Bank of Baroda got a capital infusion of 7,000 crore, Indian Overseas Bank received 4,360 crore and UCO Bank got 2,142 crore. Punjab & Sind Bank received 787 crore and Central Bank of India got 3,353 crore.

In addition, LIC-controlled IDBI Bank received additional capital of 4,557 crore.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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Dozens dead as world leaders urge halt to Azerbaijan-Armenia clashes Armenian volunteers ready to go to the frontline in Nagorny Karabakh gathered in Yerevan on Sunday

At least 24 people have died after deadly clashes between arch foes Armenia and Azerbaijan, as the latest violence in the decades-long territorial dispute sparked international calls Sunday to halt the fighting.

The worst skirmishes since 2016 have raised the spectre of a fresh war between the ex-Soviet rivals, locked since the early 1990s in a stalemate over the Armenia-backed breakaway region of Nagorny Karabakh.

Seventeen Armenian separatist fighters were killed and more than 100 wounded in the fighting, Karabakh President Arayik Harutyunyan said, conceding that his forces had "lost positions".

Both sides also reported civilian casualties.

"We are tired of Azerbaijan's threats, we will fight to the death to resolve the problem once and for all," Artak Bagdasaryan, 36, told AFP in Yerevan, adding that he was waiting to be conscripted into the army.

Karabakh separatists said one Armenian woman and a child were killed, while Baku said that an Azerbaijani family of five died in shelling launched by Armenian separatists.

Azerbaijan claimed it captured a strategic mountain in Karabakh that helps control transport links between Yerevan and the enclave.

Armenian defence ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan in turn said Karabakh rebel forces killed "some 200 Azerbaijani troops and destroyed 30 enemy artillery units and 20 drones".

- 'Full-scale war' -

Fighting between Muslim Azerbaijan and majority-Christian Armenia threatened to embroil regional players Russia and Turkey, with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan calling on global powers to prevent Ankara's involvement.

"We are on the brink of a full-scale war in the South Caucasus," Pashinyan warned.

France, Germany, Italy, and the European Union swiftly urged an "immediate ceasefire", while Pope Francis prayed for peace.

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his "deep concern" on Sunday, and "strongly called for an immediate end to hostilities".

Story continues

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was also "extremely concerned" and urged the sides to stop fighting and return to talks.

The US State Department said it had contacted the two countries and called on them to "use the existing direct communication links between them to avoid further escalation".

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the military flareup with Pashinyan and called for "an end to hostilities".

But Azerbaijan's ally Turkey blamed Yerevan for the flare-up and promised Baku its "full support".

"The Turkish people will support our Azerbaijani brothers with all our means as always," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan tweeted.

Karabakh President Harutyunyan said Turkey was providing mercenaries and warplanes to the fight, suggesting, "the war has already... (gone) beyond the limits of a Karabakh-Azerbaijan conflict."

Azerbaijan accused Armenian forces of violating a ceasefire, saying it had launched a counter-offensive to "ensure the safety of the population", using tanks, artillery missiles, combat aviation and drones.

- Curfew, martial law -

In a televised address to the nation earlier Sunday, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev vowed victory over Armenian forces.

"Our cause is just and we will win," he said, echoing a famous quote from Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin's address at the outbreak of World War II in Russia.

"Karabakh is Azerbaijan."

Both Armenia and Karabakh declared martial law and military mobilisation. Azerbaijan imposed military rule and a curfew in large cities.

Armenia said that Azerbaijan attacked civilian settlements in Nagorny Karabakh including the main city Stepanakert.

Azerbaijan's foreign ministry said there were reports of dead and wounded. "Extensive damage has been inflicted on many homes and civilian infrastructure," it said.

Ethnic Armenian separatists seized the Nagorny Karabakh region from Baku in a 1990s war that claimed 30,000 lives.

Talks to resolve one of the worst conflicts to emerge from the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union have been largely stalled since a 1994 ceasefire agreement.

France, Russia and the United States have mediated peace efforts as the "Minsk Group" but the last big push for a peace deal collapsed in 2010.

- Frontline bombing -

"We are a step away from a large-scale war," Olesya Vartanyan of the International Crisis Group told AFP.

"One of the main reasons for the current escalation is a lack of any proactive international mediation... for weeks."

On Sunday morning, Azerbaijan started bombing along Karabakh's frontline including civilian targets and in Stepanakert, Karabakh's presidency said.

The rebel defence ministry said its troops shot down four Azerbaijani helicopters and 15 drones, while Baku denied the claim.

In July, heavy clashes along the two countries' shared border -- hundreds of kilometres from Karabakh -- claimed the lives of at least 17 soldiers from both sides.

During the worst recent Karabakh clashes in April 2016, around 110 people were killed.

bur-im/jbr/har/rbu/qan
But while her Catholicism is well known, Barretts connection to a small Christian group called the People of Praise  which suggests that men are the heads of their community  has raised some eyebrows. President Donald Trump walks with Judge Amy Coney Barrett to a news conference to announce Barrett as his nominee to the Supreme Court. Credit:AP According to its website, the group was founded in 1971 in South Bend, Indiana, and has about 1700 members in 22 cities across the US, Canada and the Caribbean. Members make a covenant commitment, which is a lifelong promise of love and service to fellow community members and must contribute 5 per cent of their gross income to the group. Community members agree to serve one another wholeheartedly, no matter the type of need: spiritual, material or financial, the group says.

Barrett was not grilled about her links to People of Praise in her previous Senate hearings. However, given the high-stakes confirmation ahead, her affiliation to the group could end up being a heated topic of discussion this time around. Shes eminently qualified for the job. At the age of 48, Barrett will be the youngest justice on the Supreme Court, and will also be the first mother of school-aged children to serve on its bench. Her record is impressive: graduating with honours from Rhodes College in Tennessee; graduating with the highest distinction from Notre Dame Law School; joining the faculty in 2002; working as a federal court judge for the past three years. US Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia. Credit:AP

Two decades ago, Barrett also clerked for Justice Antonin Scalia, the arch-conservative who became one of Ruth Bader Ginsburgs closest and most unlikely friends on the bench. Scalia died in 2016, and in a move now exposed for its blatant hypocrisy, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to allow Barack Obama to nominate judge Merrick Garland as his replacement because it was too close to Novembers election. Barrett was reportedly Scalias favourite clerk, and has followed in his footsteps as a textualist judge: someone who interprets the law based on its plain meaning at the time in which it was written. Loading Trump was said to have been particularly impressed with Barrett last year when he was considering who should replace Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. Brett Kavanaugh ended up getting the gig, but according to Axios, the President told confidants at the time: "I'm saving her for Ginsburg."

Her confirmation will almost certainly reignite Americas bitter debate over abortion rights. Theres little doubt that Barretts appointment will give conservatives a chance to revisit Roe v Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling granting women a constitutional right to access abortion. With Barrett on the bench, the right will have at least five out of nine votes, or six if you add Chief Justice John Roberts, who is also a conservative but is not always guaranteed to vote with his bloc. What is less clear, however, is how exactly the new Supreme Court justice might approach any push to wind back the law. In 2016, for instance, Barrett suggested that while the right to an abortion under Roe v Wade was unlikely to change in the future, it could come down to how states restrict access. Abortion rights activists protest at the US Supreme Court during the March for Life in Washington. Credit:AP

I think the question of whether people can get very late-term abortions, you know, how many restrictions can be put on clinics, I think that would change, she said, during a talk at Jacksonsville University. Barrett also expressed similar sentiments in 2013 at an event marking the 40th anniversary of Roe v Wade. The fundamental element, that the woman has a right to choose abortion, will probably stand, she said at the time. The controversy right now is about funding. Its a question of whether abortions will be publicly or privately funded. She's no stranger to contentious elections.

Two decades ago, Barrett was an associate at law firm Baker Botts where she worked on another fiercely contested litigation following the 2000 election between George Bush and Al Gore. The November 7 poll of that year was quite a ride: TV networks first called the key state of Florida for Gore, then for Bush, before all sides accepted the results were too close to call. Thats when the Supreme Court stepped in. In the end, the court determined Bush had won Floridas electoral college votes  a decision that, in turn, handed him enough votes to win the election. According to Senate files, Barrett worked for the Republicans on the Bush v Gore case, providing research and briefing assistance.
by BAZ BAMIGBOYE, Daily Mail

A few months ago she had eyes only for one man.

Kate Winslet spoke in interviews of the strength of her relationship with husband Jim Threapleton, the 'glorious-looking boy with blue eyes' who is father to her baby daughter Mia.

The actress was talking in much the same vein in New York on Sunday evening. Except that the 'good man' in her arms this time was not Mr Threapleton but her new love, Sam Mendes.

With her divorce from Mr Threapleton going through, Miss Winslet, 26, chose the world premiere of her film Iris to go public with Mr Mendes.

'We're very happy, unbelievably happy,' she cooed, as the couple kissed and cuddled at the post-premiere party.

Both she and Mr Mendes - the 35-year-old British theatre director who won an Oscar for his first film, American Beauty - were keen to stress that their relationship began after Miss Winslet's marriage break-up in early September.

'He's a good man,' she said, nodding towards Mr Mendes, who was chatting to friends across the room.

'You can say I said that with a very large smile on my face.'

She added: 'It's one of those unexplainable things that we're together.'

They met when Mr Mendes invited the Titanic star to work on productions of Twelfth Night and Uncle Vanya at the theatre he runs in London's Donmar Warehouse next autumn.

Miss Winslet turned down the offer but not the man who made it.

The couple chose Sunday's screening for their 'coming out' two weeks after their relationship became public knowledge, saying they no longer wanted to look as if they were 'in hiding'.

'It had to happen sometime and someplace,' said Miss Winslet.

She travelled to New York from Austin, Texas, where she is filming The Life of David Gale with Kevin Spacey. Mr Mendes flew in from London especially.

Miss Winslet, who wore a red, low-cut Dolce and Gabbana dress with black silk evening coat, could not conceal her delight at having him by her side.

She planted a loving kiss on his cheek as they posed outside the Paris Theatre before the screening and held his hand as they walked down the red carpet.

Miss Winslet's 14-month-old daughter was being cared for by her father, who spent the last week visiting her in Austin.

The 27-year-old assistant director, who took Mia on several outings wearing a papoose, returned to London yesterday.

'It wasn't fair to her to put her through two long journeys across the country in less than 24 hours so Mia stayed in Texas,' said her mother.

'I have to be back there first thing Monday morning so it would have meant a lot of disturbance.'

She added: 'Jim and I have both strived to ensure that Mia' s interests come first in everything.

'By the time I finish my role on The Life of David Gale I will have worked 11 weeks in one year. The rest of the time I've been Mum.

'Mia's a little actress and she's beautiful.

'She's talking, she's got four teeth and she's all over the place. My priority is that once filming has ended I get back to England with her for a big family Christmas.'

Once the holiday season is over, however, Miss Winslet will be busy promoting Iris, which is being tipped for Academy Award success next spring.

The movie is based on Oxford professor John Bayley's book about his wife Dame Iris Murdoch, the novelist.

Directed by Richard Eyre and co-starring Dame Judi Dench, Jim Broadbent and Hugh Bonneville, it uses flashbacks and flashes forward to recreate the couple's courtship and eventual marriage.

Miss Winslet plays the young Iris, with Dame Judi portraying the authoress in later life as she struggled with Alzheimer's disease.

Mr Broadbent and Mr Bonneville play the older and younger Bayley.

'You see Kate when Iris was younger and me as Iris in her prime and after,' Dame Judi said after the screening. 'The film's really a great love story about how John Bayley coped and looked after her and how they tried to communicate.

'Words were so important to Iris and suddenly she was robbed of the very thing she craved and lived for. She was reduced to watching the Teletubbies.'

The film won a rare standing ovation at its first screening, confirming its Oscar potential.

'On Sunday night people are usually up and out of their seats to get the first cab,' said producer Harvey Weinstein. 'But this audience stayed and cheered.'

'I don't think I've ever seen people here give a screening a standing ovation,' added Sir Ian McKellen. 'They don't do that polite stuff in New York if they don't mean it.'

Sir Ian, who is appearing on Broadway with fellow Briton Helen Mirren, was one of many celebrity guests at the screening and party, which was held at Fred's on Madison Avenue.
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The executive director of Waitrose has slammed panic buyers saying their actions 'inevitably mean someone else will go without'.

Panic buying across the UK has resumed amid fears of a second wave of coronavirus and another lockdown with shoppers reporting queuing for 20 minutes to enter shops before similar further delays at checkouts.

And online customers found it near-impossible to get delivery slots from Asda, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury's and Tesco - some didn't have free slots for up to two weeks.

Restrictions on items which vanished most quickly during the country's first lockdown, such as flour and eggs, have been put in place.

However, shops have insisted that bare shelves once filled with toilet paper and pasta will be quickly restocked.

One indignant customer wrote on Twitter: 'Brilliant job @Morrisons Thamsmead. No queues outside the store.

David Dowle added: 'But aisles are packed inside. No social distancing, and queues 40 deep at the tills! Place is mobbed, and still people are being allowed to come in!'

The executive director of Waitrose has slammed panic buyers saying their actions 'inevitably means someone else will go without'. Pictured: Empty shelves at a Sainsbury's in Wandsworth

Panic buying across the UK has resumed amid fears of a second wave of coronavirus and another lockdown with shoppers reporting queuing for 20 minutes to enter shops before similar further delays at checkouts. Pictured: Empty shelves at a Sainsbury's in Wandsworth

And online customers found it near-impossible to get delivery slots from Asda, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury's and Tesco - some didn't have free slots for up to two weeks. Pictured: Empty shelves at a Tesco in Cambridge

And restrictions on items which vanished most quickly during the country's first lockdown, such as flour and eggs, have been put in place. Pictured: Empty shelves in the Asda Superstore in Barnes Hill, Birmingham

However, shops have insisted that bare shelves once filled with toilet paper and pasta would be quickly restocked. Pictured: A sign limiting three items per customer is displayed in a supermarket in Manchester

An Asda in east London had its shelves stripped bare of essentials like toilet paper

The same Asda also had barely any fresh produce in the fruit and vegetable aisles

The executive director of Waitrose, James Bailey, told The Sunday Times that there was 'enough food to go round'.

He added: 'But if one person fills their house will all the packs of pasta they can get their hands on, it inevitably means somebody else will go without. They could be the most vulnerable or key workers.'

It comes after Tesco became the latest supermarket to impose rationing on food and household goods.

In a bid to avoid the bulk buying which left shop shelves across the UK almost bare in March, the supermarket giant will limit items such as flour, dried pasta, toilet roll and anti-bacterial wipes to three per customer.

It comes after Morrisons on Thursday announced rationing would be introduced on certain items in its stores up and down the country.

The restrictions come as supermarket chiefs look to avoid a over repeat of the stockpiling panic seen in stores at the start of the pandemic in March.

Pictures from supermarkets across the UK have already shown empty or rapidly emptying toilet roll shelves, just days after the government announced tighter restrictions in a bid to stave off a second coronavirus wave.

Pictures from supermarkets across the UK have already shown empty or rapidly emptying shelves, just days after the government announced tighter restrictions in a bid to stave off a second coronavirus wave. Pictured: An east London Asda

It comes after Tesco became the latest supermarket to impose rationing on food and household goods. In a bid to avoid the bulk buying which left shop shelves across the UK almost bare in March, the supermarket giant will limit items such as flour, dried pasta, toilet roll and anti-bacterial wipes to three per customer

Empty shelves littered with a few rolls of toilet paper in the Asda Superstore in Barnes Hill, Birmingham

A sign limiting three items per customer is displayed in a supermarket on Saturday in Manchester

Tesco (pictured: a nearly empty toilet roll shelf at Tesco in Cambridge) has become the latest supermarket to impose rationing on food and household goods, as panic buying returns to the UK amid fears of a second wave of coronavirus

In a bid to avoid the bulk buying which left shop shelves across the UK almost bare in March, the supermarket giant will limit items such as flour, dried pasta, toilet roll (pictured: A sign at Tesco in Cambridge limiting toilet roll to one per customer)

More than a quarter of the UK population are living under extra coronavirus restrictions with new measures on socialising coming into force in parts of the country this weekend.

A ban on households mixing in each other's homes came into effect at midnight on Saturday in Wigan, Stockport, Blackpool and Leeds. Cardiff and Swansea locked down from 6pm on Friday, taking the number of people under stricter rules to 17million.

A Tesco spokesperson said: 'We have good availability, with plenty of stock to go round, and we would encourage our customers to shop as normal.

'To ensure that everyone can keep buying what they need, we have introduced bulk-buy limits on a small number of products.

'To help our customers shop safely, we will also have colleagues at the entrances of our larger stores to remind customers about the safety measures we have in place, including the legal requirement to wear a face covering.'

On Thursday, bosses at Morrisons 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.

More than a quarter of the UK population are living under extra coronavirus restrictions with new measures on socialising coming into force in parts of the country this weekend. Pictured: An east London Asda

Toilet roll shelves in an Asda in east London have been stripped bare today

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: 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

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 include a call to work from home where possible.

The new restrictions could last for up to six months.

Ahead of Friday's announcement, Tesco supermarkets 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.

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

The superstore has also but limits on flour, dried pasta, baby wipes and anti-bacterial wipes. There are additional limits for a small number of products online, such as rice and canned veg.

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.

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 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.'

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

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.

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

Shares in online retailer Ocado have jumped over the past week due to 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.'

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.

Costco wholesale stores across the UK saw a surge in shoppers this week, leading to long queues (pictured: Costco store, Leeds)

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

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.

A Tesco spokesman said: 'We have good availability, with plenty of stock to go round, and we would encourage our customers to shop as normal. To ensure that everyone can keep buying what they need, we have introduced bulk-buy limits on a small number of products.'

Asda is not applying any restrictions on customer purchases.

More voters are now worried about the impact of the coronavirus crisis on the economy than over the health of the nation, a Mail on Sunday poll shows

By Glen Owen for The Mail on Sunday

Voters are now more worried about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy than they are over the collective health of the nation, a Mail on Sunday poll has found.

The Deltapoll survey suggests that a majority of people  51 per cent  think the impact on the economy is the greatest problem facing the UK over the next year, compared to 42 per cent who worry about the effects on health.

When asked about the impact over the next five years, the gap widens, with 66 per cent citing the economy and just 28 per cent mentioning health.

The Deltapoll survey suggests that a majority of people  51 per cent  think the impact on the economy is the greatest problem facing the UK over the next year

And an overwhelming 89 per cent are concerned about the impact of Covid restrictions, such as the 10pm curfew on business, with just 8 per cent saying they are unconcerned.

The results suggest there is growing support for the position of Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who has argued in Cabinet against doves such as Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove who want more stringent restrictions. Mr Sunaks ratings continue to soar, with an approval rating of plus 37. Boris Johnson, by contrast, receives a rating of minus 17. Tory strategists will also be alarmed by the scores for Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who is given a score of plus 19 when people are asked how well or badly he is performing.

In total, 48 per cent of people think the Government is doing the wrong thing over Covid while 38 per cent think it is doing the right thing.

The results suggest there is growing support for the position of Chancellor Rishi Sunak

Worrying, nearly one in five people  19 per cent  say they will not take a Covid vaccine if it becomes available.

The poll puts the Conservatives on 42 per cent, four points ahead of Labour.

Deltapoll co-founder Joe Twyman said: Six months after the coronavirus lockdown first began, public support for Boris Johnson and his Governments approach has diminished.

It is clear from Deltapolls results the impact the Covid-19 restrictions will have on the British economy both nationally and locally are key concerns. The Prime Minister must hope that the Jobs Support Scheme and similar initiatives go some way to address peoples fears or the decline in support for the Governments position is likely to continue.

Deltapoll interviewed 1,583 British adults online on September 24 and 25. The data have been weighted to be representative of the British adult population as a whole.
BEIRUT, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The first batch of 20 Chinese peacekeepers to Lebanon arrived in Beirut on Sunday for the UN mission to clean up and reconstruct the Lebanese capital after huge explosions swept through its port in early August.

The second batch of 21 peacekeepers from China's 19th batch of peacekeeping multi-functional engineer detachment will arrive in Beirut on Tuesday.

Before arrival, the Chinese peacekeeping forces had been to Beirut three times for mission surveys, while preparing measures for the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the mission under the command of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the Chinese peacekeepers are mainly responsible for the cleanup of materials in the port, the office building of the Lebanese Foreign Ministry and the urban streets, as well as the removal of damaged warehouses.

Du Jia, commander of the 19th batch of Chinese peacekeeping forces to Lebanon, said Chinese officers and soldiers will work with their counterparts at UNIFIL to play an important role in promoting the reconstruction of the area of the port and helping restore the order of local production.

Two huge explosions rocked Port of Beirut on Aug. 4, destroying a large part of the capital city and leaving 300,000 people homeless.
Anti-government protesters prepare to start a car-based demonstration from a parking lot in Mapo District, Seoul. Yonhap





By Kim Se-jeong







In response to the rising public criticism after the Aug. 15 rallies, some anti-government protesters have chosen an alternative way to make their voices heard  while staying in their cars.







On Saturday, almost 45 cars  nine each in five groups  cruised around Seoul bearing anti-government messages.







One banner bore the slogan "Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae out." Protesters also criticized Moon Jae-in and his government's pro-China, anti-U.S. foreign policies and acts of corruption by close aides of the President.







Five groups drove on different routes  Mapo Resevoir Parking Lot to Seocho Fire Office, Sadang Public Parking Lot to Seoul Express Bus Terminal, Dobongsan Station on lines 1 and 7 to Sinseoldong Station on lines 1, 2 and the Ui LRT, Sinseoldong Station to Wangsimni Station on lines 2, 5, the Gyeongui-Jungang Line and the Bundang Line, and Gubeundari Station on Line 5 to Gangdong Bus Garage.







The drivers were members of a conservative group that gathered at Gwanghwamun in August. The group said they will carry out another in-car protest on Oct. 3.







"In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we needed to think creatively about how to get our message out," Seo Kyeong-seok, the conservative group's leader, was quoted as saying by the Joongang Ilbo. "Instead of traditional gatherings where mass crowds come together at one place, we're encouraging people to partake in small gatherings across Korea."







Seo made a quick mathematical assessment of the planned Oct. 3 demonstration, "If nine cars participate in each district of Seoul, the protest will see more than 200 cars."







The group still needs permission to hold the in-car protest and the police have so far refused.







"If we don't get permission, we'll file an administrative suit," Seo said.







Asked if the car-based protest will still be held despite the negative public sentiment against such acts, Seo said, "People didn't like the physical gatherings because the virus spread through participants. But with cars, people do not have to worry about infections. It will only be one person in each car. Also, we don't see that nine cars in each district will create heavy traffic in the city."







The government stands firm to prevent any form of anti-government gatherings on Oct. 3.







Last week, the commissioner of the National Police Agency, Kim Chang-yong, said no gatherings on Oct. 3 will be allowed. He also said law enforcement will screen for downtown-bound protesters at different spots  Seoul city limits, Han river bridges and various inner-city checkpoints  on Oct. 3 to prevent protesters from making it to the city center.







Political protests are not illegal under the Constitution, but the government with the police at their command have attempted to ban them citing public health concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic.







The country experienced a spike in coronavirus cases directly connected to political rallies that took place on Aug. 15.


: WangLimin (), : Chinese

 : NYS WCB Case# G2029240: A Brief Account of the Sept. 24, 2020 Visit to NYCMNO

: Limin Wang,Workers' Comp Case G2029240,New York City Medical & Neurological Offices,NYS WCB

: BBS  (Sat Sep 26 22:34:14 2020, )



NYS WCB Case# G2029240: A Brief Account of the Sept. 24, 2020 Visit to

NYCMNO



by Limin Wang



Sept. 26, 2020, Saturday



During the Sept 24, 2020, 3:30 pm visit, the front desk woman of New York

City Medical & Neurological Offices asked me whether I had visited a

PSYCHIATRIST, and so was asked by the woman RN Hyesim Moon in lieu of the

appointmented-with Dr. Mehrdad Golzad. When I asked what a psychiatrist

could do, although I have psychiatric issues since being the victim of this

series of premeditated and coordinated murder-attempts. The front desk woman

even said yeah when I asked her whether she thought psychiatrist like

insurance IME Dr. Robert S. April would be helpful to any psychiatric issues.



The RAW DATA I asked for was only giving some numbers and a figure on

Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential (VEMP), and a few numbers in their

statements about the Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP). Other than

these scarce "data/figure" on VEMP and CDP, nothing else about RAW DATA/

FIGURES or Processed DATA/FIGURES on many other claimed computerized tests

done on March 05, 2018, and the EEG&EKG test done on March 15, 2018.



Dr. Mehrdad Golzad, as often, didn't show up for the appointments. The

personnel functioning as a doctor often would not allow me to describe my

whole set of symptoms. If such personnel are not as openly nasty as Ms.

Rivky Jaffe, they will almost always say this or that is normal to

themselves or tell me not to learn any medicine knowledge from real

independent sources. For example, Ms. Hyesim Moon answered that my

hyperventilation absolutely obvious when I put my mask on is normal to her.

A never-disclosed lady doctor "corrected" me by saying tetraplegia is

complete paralysis. When I rebuted her that tetraplegia is not a none or

complete situation, instead, it can also be anywhere between the two ends,

she still disagreed. Of course, the whole system, including IME Dr. Robert S

. April, would repeat the misinformation to the victim/patient. Also, the

whole system attempts to stretch the COVID-19 to me, and Ms. Moon on Sept.

24, 2020 asked me whether I am having COVID-19. Of course I am not a victim

of the COVID-19 scam.



Also, the recent NYCMNO's electronic measurements of my Blood Pressure &

Pulse are DUBIOUS, because the electronic measurements at other places are

usually significantly lower in the systolic pressure and pulse rate.



On the Sept. 24, 2020 visit, I answered their multiple rounds of questioning

why I cancelled the Aug. 07, 2020 appointment with their newly-attained

OPOMETRIST, not an ophathalmologist: I am afraid they would on one hand

claim everything is normal on a "medical report" while on the other hand

wouldn't give me any RAW DATA or real data, and I will have more dispute

with another "professional".



At the end time to make the next appointment, Ms. Moon was saying FOUR

MONTHS, although I had just told her that my sequelae, although with some

change in pattern, have generally deteriorated and broadened. I mentioned

about the 90-day rule of NYS WCB about continuing treatment, then Ms. Moon

said THREE MONTHS. The front desk woman, another FD one, suggested Dec. 29,

or Jan. 02. I told her that would be more than 90 days although she claimed

it is EXACTLY THREE MONTHS. I told that it would be around holidays and I

don't want any possibly good days to be ruined by medical visits like such.

Eventually, the follow-up appointment is made for Dec. 22, 2020.



Although what I had revealed about NYCMNO may look bad enough, NYCMNO is

actually still better than many other "medical professionals" or "medical

services" I have encountered.



Any one who claims to proclaim the U.S.A. system can have any interest in

reading such reality stories happened in the real America? When I said it

would become a big issue, I mean I have a dream around the whole globe and

down the possible history, there would be someones facing and dealing with

such realities within the grip of a superpower.

--

 :WWW  mitbbs.com [FROM: 2604:2000:b808:]


A man fled to Dubai after sending talaqnama to his second wife by post following which police were on the chase to get him back to India and take necessary action on an FIR lodged by the victim in Jugsalai police station (PS) in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand late Saturday evening, police said on Sunday.

An FIR has been lodged against Hasibulah Khan under sections 498A, 504 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 3/4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act and section 4 of the Muslim Women (Protection of rights on marriage) Act-2019 in Jugslai PS late last evening. We had gone to his house in Jakirnagar under Mango Police Station but his brother told us that he had left for Dubai a couple of days ago. His second wife, Rashida Begum, had stated in her complaint that he was to leave India on Sunday. We are taking necessary steps to call him back to India and further investigation is on, Alok Ranjan, deputy superintendent of police (DSP), Law and Order, said.

The prompt action came after Mahila Vikash Manch (MVM) leader Nishat Khatoon tweeted Rashidas plight tagging Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, Jharkhand police DIG Kolhan and East Singhbhum DC. Jharkhand police immediately forwarded the matter to Jamshedpur SSP Dr Tamil Vanan who formed a team headed by DSP (law and order).

Also read: Will hug CM if I have Covid-19: BJPs new national secy from Bengal

I have also tweeted the matter, copy of FIR and passport and other details to Emirate Steel - where Hasibullah works in Abu Dhabi-, Indian embassy in UAE, UAE government and Union Ministry of External Affairs, Delhi, seeking prompt and necessary action to get him back. MVM has also filed a detailed complaint with the Jamshedpur SSP. As per Supreme Courts order and central law, talaq by post, WhatsApp or on telephone, et cetera., have been banned and is now illegal, Nishat Khatoon, MVM president said.

Rashida, on the other hand, has accused her husband Hasibullah of sending talaqnama by post on September 18 without meeting and discussing it with her. He didnt even give me talaq in person and yet just sent a talaqnama to my parental house in Mahato Para under Jugsalai PS by post on September 18, Rashida alleged in her complaint to DIG Kolhan and Jugsalai PS OC last evening. HT has a copy of her complaint.

She has also accused Hasibullah of hiding his first marriage, torturing and threatening her to get Rs 5 lakh from her parents.

I was married as per Muslim rituals to Hasibullah Khan from Jakirnagar (Mango) on November 16, 2018. I came to know that he was already married after he took me to Abu Dhabi six months after marriage. When I started questioning him on this he started manhandling and torturing me and threatened to give talaq, demanding Rs 5 lakh, Rashida alleged.

She further alleged that she was branded omnious and was not allowed to enter the house after her mother-in-law died of Covid-19 on August 10 this year, She was driven out of the house on August 14 by Hasibullah and his elder brother Sifulah Khan, she said. Nishant said the first wife, Nauseen, had separated from Hasibullah after taking Khula.

Hasibullah, on the other hand, accused his second wife of breach of trust and lying in his talaqnama sent by post. Our marriage was on the condition of her bearing me a child as my first wife was not able to bear a child. After six month in Abu Dhabi, I had brought her back here. 10-15 days after I went to Abu Dhabi again, she told me that she was pregnant. I had sent Rs 25,000 and Rs 65, 000 to my mother for her treatment, Hasibullahs talaqnama read.

After nine months, when my mother asked about the date of delivery, she said that she had delivered a stillborn baby. She even refused to show me medical documents for this though. Later when documents were checked, she gave the excuse that she had a tumour in her stomach, breaching all my trust. Hence, I have given her talaq and she is no more my wife, Hasibullah said in the talaqnama.

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Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden boards a plane at New Castle Airport in Delaware on Sept. 21. (Associated Press)

To the editor: Earl Ofari Hutchinson writes that Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden must better address the needs of Black communities if he wants their votes.

Hutchinson mentions President Trump's strategy of accusing Democrats of playing "plantation politics." To that, I say the GOP and President Trump are offering "genocidal politics."

Trump's response to a pandemic that has affected the Black community hard, his downplaying of the role of slavery in shaping this country, and his dismissal of racism as no big deal tell you all you need to know about the direction of the GOP under this president.

Since we have two choices, I'll pick the one that offers the opposite of this hate.

Lynette Kelsey, Riverside

..

To the editor: It is not Biden's  or any candidate's  task to dangle a carrot before voters to convince them to turn out. Voting in the United States is a privilege and a duty.

Candidates should offer compelling reasons to win voters' support, but the alternative should not be voters' unwillingness to exercise their franchise, especially in an election as critical to the survival of our democracy as this one.

President Obama's campaign promises that won Black support  jobs, a higher minimum wage, improved education and healthcare, financial reforms and repealing tax cuts for the rich  have been shared by other Democratic candidates.

It is cynical to suggest that Black voters might sit out this election if Biden cannot convince them that the election process means something to them. They know that it does. Biden's task is to convince all voters that he is prepared and determined to work hard for the benefit of all Americans.

Our task is to vote.

Ann Carter, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: Hutchinson says Biden should have gone to Kenosha, Wis., "immediately" instead of two days after Trump visited.

Biden is not president and therefore has no official role. By inserting himself there at the height of the trouble, Biden would have required security resources better devoted to addressing Kenosha's immediate concerns, and it might have appeared he was rushing to where he wasn't required to be in order to perform for the news cameras.

Story continues

To Hutchinson's larger point, I've got two positive reasons for Black voters to turn out for Biden: Voting is critical for the preservation of our democracy, and Biden is by far the better candidate.

Is that enough?

Jeff Vaughn, Encino





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Nikol Pashinyan, the Armenian prime minister, declared a state of emergency and mobilized the countrys male population. The enemy has started an attack, he wrote on Facebook. He said, This aggression was preplanned.

Mr. Pashinyan said the military of the Karabakh region, which claims to be an independent state but is mostly unrecognized, had repelled an attack. In a televised address, Mr. Pashinyan said civilians had suffered but did not specify how many. In Karabakh, the authorities said fighting had killed 16 of their soldiers and wounded about 100 more.

Azerbaijan said it was responding to cross-border artillery shelling. Its Ministry of Defense then issued a statement saying it had begun a counterattack with tanks, helicopters and rocket artillery.

In a statement carried by Russian news agencies, Azerbaijan said the military operation had destroyed troops, military objects and equipment of the Armenian armed forces near the border as well as deeper inside the country. It said it destroyed 12 short-range antiaircraft installations in Armenia.

Azerbaijans state news agency, Azertac, carried a statement by President Ilham Aliyev airing grievances against Armenia, including an accusation that Armenia was settling members of its diaspora in the disputed Karabakh region.

It is as a result of Armenias hypocritical, unconstructive and false policy that the negotiations have actually stopped for a settlement to the long-running conflict, it said. They are deliberately provoking us, and they will see the bitter consequences.

In past flare-ups, both sides have exaggerated their successes and the scale of their enemies violations of cease-fire agreements, though the potential for a wider war has always been clear. The Karabakh region maintains a system to call up nearly its entire male population as minutemen, and this mobilization was announced Sunday morning. Azerbaijan said 14 of its civilians had been killed or wounded.
In 1981, the United States and Iran signed an accord paving the way for the release of 52 Americans held hostage for more than 14 months, and 
Advocates for the elderly are warning of a hidden toll of abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic, as health fears and financial pressures converge to trap older Australians with perpetrators - often sons and daughters - leaving them at risk of exploitation and homelessness.

Seniors Rights Victoria manager Jenny Blakey said people hit with job losses and reduced work hours were moving into their elderly relatives' homes and promising to care for them, but instead racking up bills in the older person's name or pressuring them to guarantee loans.

"It becomes exploitative, rather than a choice," she said.

Older people are being exploited by relatives during the pandemic, advocates warn. Credit:iStock

NSW Seniors Rights Service chief executive Russell Westacott said money problems linked to the pandemic were leaving older Australians vulnerable to being taken advantage of by family members, with financial exploitation the most common form of elder abuse.
A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. None of these are legit, even though they were shared widely on social media. The Associated Press checked them out reports of tweets supposedly from Donald Trump and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Here are the facts:

CLAIM: The late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg tweeted on the day she died that she had information that would lead to the arrest of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

THE FACTS: The tweet was fabricated. Ginsburg did not have a personal Twitter account. The day after the 87-year-old Ginsburg died of complications from pancreatic cancer, an image of a tweet she allegedly sent on the day of her death began circulating on Instagram.

I have information that will lead to the arrest of Hillary Clinton, read the tweet, allegedly sent by the account @RBGOfficial on Friday, Sept. 18, at 8 p.m.

The image on Instagram was liked by more than 2,600 people and viewed more than 63,000 times. But the late justice did not maintain a personal Twitter account.

The account @RBGofficial, created in 2013, now displays the name jorge. The profile photo is an image of a guitar and does not show Ginsburg.

CLAIM: In April 2016, before he was elected president, Donald Trump tweeted that President Barack Obama should wait until he leaves office to pick a Supreme Court justice. The tweet also said if Obama didnt wait, he should be fired.

THE FACTS: This tweet is fabricated. It does not appear in the Trump Twitter Archive, which tracks every tweet Trump sends, nor does it appear in an archive of deleted Trump tweets assembled by the nonprofit news outlet ProPublica.

An image made to look like a 2016 tweet from President Donald Trump circulated online this week amid calls to delay filling the opening left by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg until the next president can make the nomination.

In 2016, Republicans refused to vote on Obamas choice to to fill the opening left by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia because it was an election year.

The fake Trump tweet dated April 3, 2016, stated Obama should wait until he leaves office to pick another Justice! If he doesnt, he should be fired!

The timing of the tweet doesnt make sense. Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland to the high court in March 2016, according to reporting by The Associated Press.

By April, when this fake tweet was allegedly sent, it was already up to the Senate to decide whether to consider Obamas nominee.

Trump announced his nominee to replace Ginsburg on Saturday.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

Trend:

The Azerbaijani president addressed people and informed about the goals of the provocation and the act of Armenias aggression, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Head of the Department for Foreign Policy Affairs of Azerbaijans Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev said, Trend reports.

The president emphasized the fascist essence of this provocation, in connection with which the Azerbaijani lands have been under occupation for more than 30 years, assistant to the president added.

"Since this morning, the Armenians have once again demonstrated their fascist essence by opening fire on civilians, Hajiyev said. To suppress this provocation, counter-offensive measures are being taken, the fire of the Armenian armed forces is successfully suppressed and the Armenian armed forces are thrown back.

The public will be informed in detail about these events, assistant to the president added. The Azerbaijani army is carrying out its valiant mission to suppress this provocation and liberate our lands. The Azerbaijani people united around the supreme commander and this plunges Armenia into horror."

The Armenian armed forces committed a large-scale provocation, subjecting the positions of the Azerbaijani army along the entire front line and the Azerbaijani settlements located in the front-line zone to intensive shelling from large-caliber weapons, mortars, and artillery installations of various calibers in the front-line zone on Sept. 27 at 06:00 (GMT+4).

To suppress the combat activity of the Armenian armed forces and ensure the safety of the civilians, the command of the Azerbaijani Army decided to launch a counter-offensive operation of Azerbaijani troops along the entire front.
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's biggest airline ANA Holdings <9202.T> is considering issuing 200 billion yen ($1.9 billion) in shares to bolster its finances as the downturn in air travel drags on, the Nikkei newspaper reported.

"We do not comment on speculative information. The story is factually wrong," ANA said in an email.

Like other airlines, ANA has had to slash flights as countries imposed travel restrictions to halt the spread of the coronavirus.

So far the carrier has relied on loans from its banks and government financial aid to cope with the slump.

In the three months to June 30, ANA posted a loss of 159 billion yen and said it did not expect a full recovery in demand for international flights until at least 2023.

With a full year loss likely to be around 600 billion yen ANA will need additional funds to ensure it has enough capital for its operations, the Nikkei reported.

The company may opt for a share offer because banks, with which it is negotiating to borrow an additional 400 billion yen, may be more reluctant to lend to it in the future, while a recent gain in stock prices in Tokyo has made a share offering more attractive, the newspaper said.

(Reporting by Tim Kelly and Maki Shiraki; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged fire for nearly 30 minutes after the Border Security Force (BSF) picked up suspicious movement along the International Border in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Sunday.

No one was injured in the firing which started around 11.45 pm on Saturday in Mangu Chak Border Outpost (BOP) area of Ghagwal sector, the officials said.

They said BSF troops deployed at BOP Mangu Chak observed movement of three to four persons near Pakistani post Pir Bunker and opened fire after they were seen moving towards this side under the cover of darkness.

Pakistani Rangers retaliated and the exchange of small arms firing between the two sides continued for about half-an-hour, the officials said, adding the suspiciously moving persons returned to Pakistani side amid the firing.

A BSF official confirmed the incident and said a massive search operation was launched early this morning to sanitise the area.

The search operation is on but no incriminating material has been recovered so far, the official said.

There has been spurt in airdropping of weapons by drones and smuggling of narcotics along the IB and Line of Control (LoC) amid frequent ceasefire violations in over the past few weeks.

(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| 2020-09-28 05:10:05|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The National Center for Disease Control of Libya on Sunday reported 536 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country so far to exceed 32,000.

The center said in a statement that it received a total of 2,512 suspected samples, of which 536 were tested positive.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in Libya currently is 32,364, including 18,128 recoveries and 520 deaths, the center confirmed.

Libyan authorities have taken a series of precautionary measures against the pandemic since the first case was announced in March, including closing the country's borders, shutting down schools and mosques, banning public gatherings and imposing a curfew.

China donated medical aid to Libya in June to help the country's pandemic battle, 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
Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo has announced plans to build the capital's first statue of a black woman who fought for the liberation of slaves on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe. On Saturday, the city hall inaugurated a park in honour of the woman.

"Paris is honouring Solitude, a Guadeloupean figure in the resistance against slavery by dedicating a park to her," Hidalgo said Saturday via Twitter as she inaugurated a park in Paris named after the iconic figure.

"Soon, a statue of this heroine -- the very first of a black woman in Paris -- will be erected there (in the park). A strong symbol to never forget her fight," she added.

The woman, Solitude, was a key figure in the resistance movement against slavery in Guadeloupe and was executed for her role at just 30.

Fighting slavery

She was the daughter of a black slave and a white French sailor, who according to some accounts had raped her mother, and was born into slavery in the plantations of Guadeloupe in 1772.

When her mother fled the plantation where she was enslaved, Solitude was left all alone with her enslavers.

She won her freedom after the French Revolution, but then Napoleon Bonaparte reinstated slavery in French colonies and Solitude joined Guadeloupe's resistance movement, according to city hall.

Dying for freedom

Live free or die were Solitude's last words when she was executed for her involvement in the slave rebellion, at the time heavily pregnant.

She gave birth on 28 November, 1802, and was hanged the next day.

"Solitude is the first black woman honoured for herself and for her action in a Paris public space," Jacques Martial, deputy mayor of Paris in charge of overseas territories issues, told AFP.

"A defender of the values of the Republic, a committed woman, she fought for the freedom of all, against the reestablishment of slavery in Guadeloupe. She paid for that fight with her life", he added.

Colonialism debate

Story continues

The debate on France's colonial past has been revived by protests against racism and police brutality in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement that rocked the United States in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd.

Anti-racism activists in July tore down a statue of Napoleon's empress Josephine in the overseas French territory of Martinique.

There have also been calls for the removal of the statue outside France's National Assembly in Paris of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, the man behind the "Code Noir" decree that defined the conditions of slavery in the French colonies.

But President Emmanuel Macron warned in June that France would not take down statues or names of controversial figures, saying it would "lucidly look at our history and our memory together."
All participants in funeral prayers are required to wear facemasks and adhere to social distancing

Egypt is allowing the holding of funeral prayers in mosques' open-air courtyards nationwide starting Monday under strict safety measures, six months after the shutdown of funeral services in the country due to the coronavirus pandemic, Religious Endowments Minister Mohamed Mokhtar Gomaa said in a statement.

Gomaa said that the safety measures, which were approved by the coronavirus management committee at the cabinet, include limiting funeral prayers to no more than 15 minutes.

All participants in funeral prayers are required to wear facemasks and adhere to social distancing, Gomaa said.

Washing rooms will be closed to participants.

If the funeral prayer is held in a mosques open-air courtyard, a plastic cloth must be placed under the deceaseds coffin.

The funeral prayer can also be held at graveyards or any open courtyard if nearby mosques do not have an open-air space.

Gomaa said that the decision to resume funeral prayers will be under continuous assessment to monitor citizens commitment to preventive measures.

The return of the prayers comes nearly a week after Egypt eased more lockdown measures, including allowing open-air weddings starting 21 September.

Worshippers returned to Egypts major mosques for Friday prayers on 28 August for the first time since the pandemic started.

Egypt has moved towards a gradual reopening of its economy since late June, lifting some of its anti-virus restrictions, including lifting a nighttime curfew, reopening restaurants and places of worship, and resuming regular international flights as part of a plan to coexist with the virus.

Authorities have said that lockdown measures would be reviewed periodically before they decide to gradually relax them further, warning that "strict measures" would be imposed if citizens failed to adhere to the rules.

Egypt has repeatedly urged caution to avoid a second wave of the pandemic, particularly with the advent of autumn.

Egypt currently has an infection tally of 102,015 confirmed coronavirus cases, including 5,770 deaths since the first case was discovered on 14 February.

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A baby cow named Ruby Sue is sporting her new wheels, custom-made by New Hampshire company Walkin' Pets.

Born with her back legs fused together, she was taken in by the Safe in Austin animal rescue ranch.


HE was among the pioneers of reformation and rehabilitation of prisoners in the country as opposed to punishment that hardened them and made them dangerous to society.

Under his leadership, he showed that inmates can learn life skills in prison that could generate income for the country and themselves when they get released, through establishment of prison farms and other vocational activities.

He oversaw the countrys prison system shooting to be included among the best in terms of inmate welfare in the world.

Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) Commissioner-General, Retired Major-General Paradzai Zimondi has concluded his 22-year service to the institution by conducting a tour to facilities around the country bidding farewell to his subordinates.

President Mnangagwa approved his retirement at the end of next month and his replacement, Commissioner-General Moses Chihobvu, who has been acting in the position since Rtd Maj-Gen Zimondi has been on leave pending his retirement, has big boots to fill.

Rtd Maj-Gen Zimondi, who joined the then Zimbabwe Prison Services in 1998 after being retired from the Zimbabwe National Army, says he is happy he leaves the ZPCS with strong emphasis on the correctional aspect in the rehabilitation of inmates.

The self-effacing champion of inmate reform is on a nationwide tour to bid farewell to his juniors, attributing his long service in the prison system to their support.

On Thursday he visited Anju Prison in Umguza, Matabeleland North where the provincial ZPCS leadership hosted him and said goodbyes.

Prior to his visit to the Anju Prison, his brainchild, he paid a courtesy call to Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Richard Moyo.

Minister Moyo saluted Rtd Maj-Gen Zimondi for changing the face of prisons, through engaging in commercial projects such as farming.

You were instrumental in coming up with income generation projects for the Matabeleland North Province prison institutions especially the Binga Kapenta Fishing Project and the Lupane Aquaculture projects which were launched in 2017 and 2018 respectively. Apart from generating income within prison establishments, these projects offer alternative nutritional requirements to both the staff and inmate population within the provinces prisons, said Minister Moyo.

Addressing the ZPCS officers, Rtd Maj-Gen Zimondi said he was leaving the organisation a proud and satisfied man.

Reflecting on his tenure at the helm of Zimbabwe Prison Services as it was named prior to the 2013 Constitution, Rtd Maj-Gen Zimondi says there is a lot of achievement that the organisation made under his leadership.

The soft-spoken ZPCS boss does not want to claim credit for what has been achieved, attributing success to team work.

The most important of our achievements as an organisation, because we work collectively is the issue of changing punitive system to that of the rehabilitation on inmates. We no longer treat our offenders as prisoners who are supposed to be punished, for us now is to correct them. That is why our institution was changed from ZPS to ZPCS. The correctional aspect is the major achievement that has come during my tenure of officer as Comm Gen of ZPCS, said Rtd Maj-Gen Zimondi.

He said he oversaw the growth of ZPCS from 10 000 staff members to an expected 22 000, following a recent Government approval.

Rtd Maj-Gen Zimondi said when he joined the system it had only four regions managing the prisons system but it has since been decentralised with each province managing its affairs.

The outgoing boss said under his leadership, ZPCS is ranked among top prisons in Africa by the International Community of the Red Cross for upholding human rights for inmates.

A lot of projects in partnership with various stakeholders came into being during my time in office. And I think those projects are for the sake of complementing Governments efforts and making sure that the conditions of service for our officers also improves. We have been collaborating with other prisons in the region and beyond the region, said Rtd Maj-Gen Zimondi.

The organisation is recognised in Sadc and beyond, we have been going to other countries to share with them our experience in the management of the prisons. We have been to Botswana, Zambia, Eswatini, sharing with them our experience in managing the prisons including the rehabilitation aspect. Those are some of the achievements that I would like to think about.

He said the public and the media is free to visit the prison system as opposed to listening to narratives by naysayers.

Rtd Maj-Gen Zimondi encouraged income generation projects and Anju has become a farming champion in Matabeleland North, while in Hwange ZPCS is involved brick moulding.

Khami Prisons, on the outskirts of Bulawayo, is doing wonders with agricultural produce that is feeding inmates and even selling surplus and donating food to health institutions.

The income generating projects have reduced the prisons reliance on Treasury for their day-to-day running.

The Rtd Maj-Gen set up a staff benefit fund, to enable members to build houses, saying relying on Government housing scheme was unsustainable and could leave officers destitute upon retirement.

He is introducing the Comm Gen Goodwill Fund to assist widows and orphans left by prison officers through providing them with food hampers as well as school fee payments for the children.

He said some of the challenges that ZPCS has experienced is providing food and medication to prisoners, itself a reflection of the countrys underperforming economy.

What happens in prisons is a reflection of what happens in the society. There is shortage of food in prison and there is shortage of food outside. Its an issue that the nation has got to tackle, not the prisons. The prison administration does not work in isolation of the community in which they serve. They have to tackle all the problems with the rest of stakeholders who are the community. So, this is why we work with communities as nothing cant be done without the involvement of our communities and I think we have achieved that, he said.

The outgoing ZPCS boss said the organisation has adopted an open policy which has contributed in some of the partnerships they are enjoying in the management of inmates.

He said one of his regrets is that he did not promote a lot of women to senior positions and hoped that the incoming ZPCS boss would address that.

Rtd Maj-Gen Zimondi challenged ZPCS officers to be disciplined, hardworking and aim to prevent corruption while encouraging them to work hard.

As a parting shot, he said to develop the country communities should shun the donor dependency syndrome which has led to unproductivity.

A lot of people say commercial farmers were the ones who ensured that there was food security in the country. But this is not true. Our communal farmers were significantly contributing to the food security in the country. But now the dependency on donors has affected productivity. Lets shun the donor syndrome and work to develop the country. You have to ask yourself why someone would ride a plane to come and donate to you, he said. Herald
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.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 19:38:31|Editor: huaxia

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ISLAMABAD, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation in Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah is scheduled to pay a visit to Pakistan from Monday for talks on bilateral matters and the Afghan peace process, a senior Afghan diplomat said on Sunday.

Abdul Rahim Qatra, charge d'affaires of the Afghan embassy in Islamabad told Xinhua that Abdullah will hold meetings with Pakistan's top leaders on a wide range of issues during his visit.

"I am confident that the visit will further cement bilateral relations," Qatra said.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan had extended an invitation to Abdullah for a visit in a telephonic conversation late August.

Abdullah's entourage is expected to comprise of around 60 people including his deputies, ministers, members of the reconciliation council and senior officials, according to a list of the delegation members available to Xinhua. Enditem
Marco Chiesa, SSVP President, takes part in the day's vote - PETER SCHNEIDER /Keystone

Swiss voters overwhelmingly rejected a Eurosceptic partys attempt to restrict immigration from the EU in a referendum yesterday (on Sunday) seen as a key test of attitudes towards foreigners.

The Swiss Peoples Party (SVP) called the referendum on scrapping a mutual free movement agreement with the EU.

Echoing some of the arguments for Brexit, the Right-wing populist party pushed to take back control of immigration, which it said had become uncontrolled and excessive.

Switzerlands population of about 8.2 million includes some 1.4 million EU citizens. About half a million Swiss nationals live in the EU.

The SVP, Switzerlands largest parliamentary party, proposed to give Swiss nationals preferential access to jobs and welfare benefits over citizens of the 27-nation bloc that surrounds the prosperous Alpine country, which is not an EU member-state.

Its proposal was defeated 63 per cent to 37 per cent, according to projections by the SRF broadcaster, based on partial results. The initiative was opposed by the government, business leaders and all other political parties out of fear that it would jeopardise Switzerlands close ties with the EU.

The SVP had painted a bleak picture of older Swiss workers being replaced by younger immigrants. It blamed foreigners, who make up a quarter of the countrys population, for rising housing costs and overcrowded schools and public transport.

Marco Chiesa, SSVP President, speaks to journalists in Rothrist - PETER SCHNEIDER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock /Shutterstock

Opponents of restricting EU immigration argued that the move would have deprived businesses of skilled workers and undermined agreements granting Switzerland privileged access to the EU single market.

Switzerland frequently holds referenda under its system of direct democracy and the government would have been forced to withdraw from the free movement pact had a majority voted in favour of curbs.

A guillotine clause would have toppled a number of the countrys other agreements with the EU in sectors including land and air transport, trade and scientific research.

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Celine Amaudruz, a leading SVP MP, said: Its the guillotine clause that won. Citizens were scared. We were alone against everyone. The party, she said, would continue its campaign to ensure that we dont enter the European Union little by little.

Like Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein, Switzerland belongs to the European Free Trade Association, and is the EUs fourth largest trading partner after the US, China and the UK.

The Swiss government still has to face its biggest foreign policy headache: stalled negotiations for a treaty aimed at cementing ties with the EU. Critics say it infringes on Switzerlands sovereignty.
Tory rebels vowed to defeat Boris Johnson in the Commons this week to stop him from wielding 'draconian' Covid-19 restriction powers 'without scrutiny'.

More than 50 MPs have signed an amendment laid down by Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the Conservative backbench 1922 committee, demanding votes before any future curbs on British 'liberty' are brought in.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats are set to back the amendment, saying it is wrong that new laws are being brought in under emergency powers passed at the start of the pandemic.

Tory rebels vowed to defeat Boris Johnson (pictured) in the Commons this week to stop him from wielding 'draconian' Covid-19 restriction powers 'without scrutiny'

The prospect of defeat comes amid rumours of a growing rift between Mr Johnson and his Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, over the economic impact of coronavirus restrictions.

Yesterday, employers' group the Confederation of British Industry called upon the Prime Minister to reopen the economy 'as quickly as we can'.

It comes amid growing anger over Mr Johnson's continued use of emergency powers to get restrictive Covid-19 laws through the Commons.

Former Commons Speaker John Bercow warned him against sidelining Parliament by pushing through laws without a vote or debate.

And Tory MP Steve Baker, who plans to rebel against Mr Johnson if the current Speaker chooses Sir Graham's amendment for a Commons vote, said Britons were no longer living like free people due to the restrictions.

More than 50 MPs have signed an amendment laid down by Sir Graham Brady (pictured), chairman of the Conservative backbench 1922 committee

'We are in an environment where you really can't know whether you're a criminal or not with this much law coming into force and changing so fast, and that is why I've said this is not a fit environment for free people,' he said.

'How do people think that liberty dies? It dies like this with government exercising draconian powers, without parliamentary scrutiny in advance.'

The ex-minister told Sky News's Sophy Ridge On Sunday: 'MPs should be sharing in the dreadful burden of decision in these circumstances and not just retrospectively being asked to approve what the Government has done.'

He said there were 'plenty' of MPs who would back the amendment, and that he thought it would be selected by Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle.

But Downing Street is equally adamant that the vote will not be called, leaving rebels with only the nuclear option of voting against the Government's Covid-19 legislation, something they do not think the rebels will do.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has written to MPs urging them not to vote for Sir Graham's amendment if it is called, however.

Tory MP Steve Baker (pictured), who plans to rebel against Mr Johnson said Britons were no longer living like free people due to the restrictions

He wrote: 'I believe that the case for keeping these provisions remains strong... they are absolutely necessary to enable governments across the UK to mount an effective response.'

Labour said it is likely to back the amendment if called, shadow culture secretary Jo Stevens said.

'We have some sympathy with the amendment that Graham Brady has tabled but we want to see something that sets out what our amendment sets out, which is more transparency and publishing the data,' she told Sky News.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey also signalled he would vote for it.

Mr Bercow told BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend: 'Parliament has been unavoidably constrained by Covid-19 but it should not now avoidably constrain or hamper itself.

'Debate, scrutiny and votes are the lifeblood of a pluralist system.'

On Saturday, about 15,000 demonstrators turned up to an anti-lockdown protest in central London.
Clashes erupted between Armenia and Azerbaijan on Sunday over the volatile Nagorno-Karabakh region, reigniting concern about instability in the South Caucasus, a corridor for pipelines transporting oil and gas to world markets.

Both sides, which fought a war in the 1990s, reported fatalities. Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, a breakaway region that is inside Azerbaijan but is run by ethnic Armenians, declared martial law and mobilised their male populations.

Armenia said Azerbaijan had carried out an air and artillery attack on Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan said it had responded to Armenian shelling and that it had seized control of up to seven villages, but Nagorno-Karabakh denied this.

The clashes prompted a flurry of diplomacy to prevent a new flare-up of a decades-old conflict between majority Christian Armenia and mainly Muslim Azerbaijan, with Russia calling for an immediate ceasefire and Pope Francis leading calls for talks.

Pipelines shipping Caspian oil and natural gas from Azerbaijan to the world pass close to Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia also warned about security risks in the South Caucasus in July after Azerbaijan threatened to attack Armenias nuclear power plant as possible retaliation.

Nagorno-Karabakh broke away from Azerbaijan in a conflict that broke out as the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.

Though a ceasefire was agreed in 1994, after thousands of people were killed and many more displaced, Azerbaijan and Armenia frequently accuse each other of attacks around Nagorno-Karabakh and along the separate Azeri-Armenian frontier.

In Sundays clashes, Armenian right activists said an ethnic Armenian woman and child had been killed. Azerbaijan said an unspecified number of its civilians had been killed. Nagorno-Karabakh denied a report that 10 of its military were killed.

Armenia said Azeri forces had attacked civilian targets including Nagorno-Karabakhs capital, Stepanakert, and promised a proportionate response.

We stay strong next to our army to protect our motherland from Azeri invasion, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan wrote on Twitter.

Azerbaijan denied an Armenian defence ministry statement saying Azeri helicopters and tanks had been destroyed, and accused Armenian forces of launching deliberate and targeted attacks along the front line.

We defend our territory, our cause is right! Azerbaijans president, Ilham Aliyev, said in an address to the nation.

International diplomacy

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, whose country has mediated between former Soviet republics Armenia and Azerbaijan, spoke by phone to the Armenian, Azeri and Turkish foreign ministers.

Turkey said Armenia must immediately cease what it said was hostility towards Azerbaijan that will throw the region into fire, and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Twitter that Ankara would continue to show solidarity with Azerbaijan.

Erdogan urged the Armenian people to take hold of their future against their leadership that is dragging them to catastrophe and those using it like puppets.

France also urged the sides to end hostilities and immediately restart dialogue. The pope appealed to Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve their differences through negotiations, saying he was praying for peace.

At least 200 people were killed in a flare-of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in April 2016. There are frequent skirmishes and at least 16 were reported killed in clashes in July.
The market snapped six-day losing streak and rebounded sharply to close above 11,000 on the Nifty with more than 2 percent gains on September 25, the first day of October series. The reports of likely stimulus package from government ahead of festive season lifted sentiment.

The BSE Sensex surged 835.06 points or 2.28 percent to 37,388.66, driven by rally across sectors.

The Nifty50 climbed 244.80 points or 2.27 percent to 11,050.30 and formed bullish candle on the daily charts, but lost 4 percent for the week and witnessed bearish candle formation on the weekly scale.

"The larger up move as per the positive sequence of higher tops and bottoms has been broken recently and Nifty shifted into a downward corrective action by the way of lower tops and bottoms in the last couple of weeks. Hence, last Thursday's low of 10,790 could be considered as a new lower bottom of the sequence and Friday's upmove could be a considered as a part of new lower top. Hence, further upside can't be ruled out by early next week before showing another round of weakness from the highs," Nagaraj Shetti, Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities told Moneycontrol.

Any upside bounce up to 11,350-11,400 could be a sell on rise opportunity in the market and the expected decline from the highs could retest the lower 10,800 levels in the near term, he said, adding immediate support is placed at 10,900.

The broader markets too participated in the run, with the Nifty Midcap and Smallcap indices rising nearly 3 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 10,912.46, followed by 10,774.73. If the index moves up, the key resistance levels to watch out for are 11,130.26 and 11,210.33.

Nifty Bank

The Bank Nifty also rallied 525.50 points or 2.57 percent to close at 20,982.35 and formed bullish candle on the daily charts on September 25. The important pivot level, which will act as crucial support for the index, is placed at 20,587.23, followed by 20,192.17. On the upside, key resistance levels are placed at 21,220.84 and 21,459.37.

Call option data

Maximum Call open interest of 15.78 lakh contracts was seen at 11,500 strike, which will act as crucial resistance in the October series.

This is followed by 11,000 strike, which holds 12.12 lakh contracts, and 11,300 strike, which has accumulated 9.25 lakh contracts.

Call writing was seen at 11,300 strike, which added 74,775 contracts, followed by 10,800, which added 68,175 contracts, and 11,500 strike, which added 61,350 contracts.

Call unwinding was seen at 11,000 strike, which shed 24,975 contracts, followed by 10,500 strike, which shed 825 contracts.

Put option data

Maximum Put open interest of 33.13 lakh contracts was seen at 10,500 strike, which will act as crucial support in the October series.

This is followed by 11,000 strike, which holds 17.63 lakh contracts, and 10,800 strike, which has accumulated 16.02 lakh contracts.

Put writing was seen at 10,500 strike, which added 2.77 lakh contracts, followed by 10,600 strike, which added 2.53 lakh contracts and 10,800 strike which added 1.77 lakh contracts.

Put unwinding was witnessed at 11,200 strike, which shed 25,200 contracts, followed by 11,400 strike which shed 14,550 contracts and 11,600 strike which shed 4,950 contracts.

Stocks with a high delivery percentage

A high delivery percentage suggests that investors are showing interest in these stocks.

90 stocks saw long build-up

Based on the open interest future percentage, here are the top 10 stocks in which long build-up was seen.

1 stock saw long unwinding

Based on the open interest future percentage, here is the 1 stock in which long unwinding was seen.

2 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 2 stocks in which short build-up was seen.

44 stocks witnessed short-covering

A decrease in open interest, along with an increase in price, mostly indicates a short-covering. Based on the open interest future percentage, here are top 10 stocks in which short-covering was seen.

Bulk deals

Eris Lifesciences: Kuwait Investment Authority A/C Kuwait Investment Authority Fund 225 acquired 14,54,175 shares in company at Rs 540 per share. However, Himanshu Jayantbhai Shah sold 18 lakh shares at Rs 540.05 per share on the NSE.

(For more bulk deals, click here)

Analysts/Board Meetings

Symphony: Company's officials will hold conference call with ENAM Securities on September 28.

Advanced Enzyme Technologies: Company's officials to attend virtual meet on September 29-30 for interaction with Motilal Oswal 2nd Annual India Ideation Conference.

IRB Infrastructure: Company's officials to attend virtual meet on September 28-30 for interaction with Motilal Oswal 2nd Annual India Ideation Conference.

Orient Electric: Company's officials to attend virtual meet on September 28 for interaction with Motilal Oswal 2nd Annual India Ideation Conference.

Tata Motors: Company's officials will hold conference call with Fidelity International on October 1.

Tata Steel: Company's officials will hold conference call with Pinpoint Asset Management on September 29.

ISGEC Heavy Engineering: Company's officials will hold virtual conference call with analysts on September 29.

Arihant Capital Markets: Board will hold a meeting on October 3 to make investment in other company upto 49% of share capital and disinvestment/sale of wholly owned subsidiary company.

Manappuram Finance: Company is considering various options for raising funds in October.

ICICI Bank: Board on October 31 to consider unaudited financial results for the quarter and half-year ending September 2020.

Stocks in the news

NALCO: Company signed MoU with Numaligarh refinery for long-term supply of CP coke.

JSW Energy: Subsidiary JSW Solar received Letter of Award for total blended wind capacity of 810 MW, from Solar Energy Corporation.

Central Bank of India: Bank closed its QIP by raising Rs 255 crore, set issue price at Rs 15.38 per share.

NCL Industries: The JV deal with China's Qingdao Xinguangzheng Steel Structure Company terminated as current state of bilateral relations between India & China is not conducive for the JV.

Thomas Cook: Board approved withdrawal of buyback of shares due to undergone substantial deterioration on account of the pandemic, global lockdowns.

Sequent Scientific: Company completed sale of investments held in Strides Pharma Science.

Grasim Industries: LIC increased stake in company to 11.86% from 9.83% earlier.

Fund flow

FII and DII data

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) net sold shares worth Rs 2,080.21 crore, whereas domestic institutional investors (DIIs) net bought shares worth Rs 2,070.63 crore in the Indian equity market on September 25, as per provisional data available on the NSE.

Stock under F&O ban on NSE

Not a single stock is under the F&O ban for September 28. Securities in the ban period under the F&O segment include companies in which the security has crossed 95 percent of the market-wide position limit.
Interior designer Gauri Khan, revealed in a new interview that husband, actor Shah Rukh Khan himself cooked food for the entire family during the lockdown. She added that they were very scared to order food from online due to the rising Covid cases.

Talking to NDTV, she said,During this lockdown, we were initially scared to even order any food from outside. So ghar ka khana is made by Shah Rukh himself and we are enjoying it. He loves cooking and I enjoy eating.

She also gave an update on what her kids were upto during their lockdown. Her eldest son Aryan completed his filmmaking degree from the University of South Carolina. She added that he was watching a lot of movies at home. Their daughter Suhana is attending her New York University online classes. Talking about AbRam Gauri said, AbRam is back to school.. something very new. It was initially quite hard on the kids..at his age. But he is coping well. Spending a lot of time with the family and all of us together.

Gauri will be making her debut as an author with a coffee table book titled My Life In Design, to be published by Penguin Random House India. The book will chronicle her journey as a designer.

Shah Rukh, on the other hand, was last seennin Aanand L Rais 2018 film Zero. He has not announced a new film yet.
The 33-year-old Covid19 patient who went missing after her stay in the jumbo hospital in Shivajinagar, Pune, was found in Pirangut on Saturday.

The woman has been identified as Priya Gaikwad who lives with her parents in Pune. She was admitted to the facility on August 29 and was discharged on September 5. However, the family was not informed about the discharge, according to her mother. The parents alleged that it was the responsibility of the hospital to inform them about the release. Instead, they had met with misinformation about the discharge date of the woman.

We had spread the information and description about her. A friend of a distant family member was passing through the ghats in Pirangut when they came across her while she was along the road. Now, how she reached the spot and her whereabouts for the past two weeks is a part of our investigation, said police sub-inspector Anil Binawade of Shivajinagar police station.

One man found her in Pirangut. He is not a relative. We are yet to speak with him at length to understand how he found her. She has also been with the police ever since she was brought back. We are yet to speak with her at length too, said Rupali Kamble, cousin sister of Priya Gaikwad.

A missing persons case had been registered at Shivajinagar police station.
SEOUL, South Korea  The pandemic has made us all face decisions weve never had to make. For me, one of them was to decide if it was safe enough to visit my parents here or not see them at all this year. But as the weeks extended to months, I decided it was a risk worth taking.

Many countries have strict restrictions on American visitors, with many requiring them to spend two weeks in quarantine. South Korea was no exception: I was told I would be required to download an app at the airport and self-quarantine for two weeks on arrival.

But that was just the beginning. It wasn't until I arrived that I realized the extent of the governments program to contain the virus.

At Kennedy Airports international terminal in New York, normally filled with lines of people heading to destinations across the world, all was silent. Check-in counters were empty and the floors looked as though they had been polished minutes ago.

The check-in assistant was friendly and the process was seamless until she handed me a piece of paper I needed to sign acknowledging that I would in quarantine for 14 days at a government facility on arrival. I explained to the airline agent that I had planned on staying with my parents.

The agent informed me that without proof my parents live in Seoul, I would be shuttled straight to the government facility from the airport in Korea. I called my parents in a panic, though it was 2 a.m. there. Luckily they had the required forms lying around from a few years back. They sent me a screenshot of the document, which I hoped would be enough when I landed.

Image: Covid-19 Testing Safety Booth in Seoul (SeongJoon Cho / Bloomberg via Getty Images file)

LANDING IN KOREA

Korean Air, like many other U.S. airlines, had spaced out seats throughout the plane to adhere to social distancing protocols. While on the plane, I was handed four pages of forms to fill out, which included three different travel declaration forms and an arrival card, rather than the usual single form.

By the time I landed at Incheon Airport, everything felt sterile. Video walls once lined with Welcome to Korea advertisements were replaced by videos of dancing sharks advising people how to keep clean and safe during the pandemic. It appeared I had traveled on the only plane that had arrived at the terminal.

Story continues

The first desk we passed while going through the terminal, which we would normally bypass, had a mounted heat sensor camera. I was stopped and asked a few questions and had my temperature checked.

I gave my U.S. cellphone number, but was told I needed to provide a Korean one. I crossed off mine and replaced it with my moms cell number. They were meticulous in examining the details I had jotted down on all my forms.

At the next checkpoint, I was told to download the Korean governments Covid-19 app, titled Self-Quarantine Safety Protection. It had a tracking device and I would need to record my temperature and any symptoms twice daily. The assistant hovered over me and watched me as I installed the app on my iPhone just to make sure I had enabled alerts and that the app was running at all times.

Download the NBC News app for full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

At the third checkpoint, I handed over my passport and travel documents before another clerk confirmed my app was indeed downloaded properly. They then called the Korean number I had jotted down earlier to confirm it worked.

I was then handed another three pages of forms to fill out, before staffers at two further checkpoints verified the information. This is how its determined whether travelers need to quarantine. Failure to comply could result in up to a year in prison or up to 10 million won (nearly $9,000) in fines, per the Korean Disease Control and Prevention Agency.

The last checkpoint before baggage claim was, among other things, to verify my parents information so that I could stay with them. Because of the documents I hastily gathered right before my flight, with just a screenshot of a piece of paper from years ago, I would be exempt from quarantine. If the information couldnt be verified, I would be taken straight from the airport to a hotel and ordered not to leave for two weeks.

Finally, I thought I was on the other side. I was jet-lagged and I wanted to see my parents and go home. But there would be one more line. Visitors are normally required to travel into Seoul by a government-certified taxi or shuttle bus.

But my parents would be driving me home, which meant surrendering yet more information, this time providing my fathers cell number and our home address.

STAYING IN KOREA

The next morning, I was required to take a Covid-19 test. Whether you are a foreigner or a Korean citizen, the tests are walk-ins and theyre free. As I waited for my turn, I overheard a group of men say they had received an alert about a case at a wedding they had attended. It was incredible seeing this contact tracing weve all become so familiar with happening in real time.

Later that night, my mom received a text from the local agency to say my test was negative. I would also be assigned a case agent who would be my contact during my stay.

A bag arrived from the local authority the next day that contained a thermometer, a pack of disposable masks, two types of hand sanitizers and a garbage bag. For the two weeks of my quarantine, I would need to discard any of my garbage in the government-mandated bag. I was told it would be collected at the end of my stay.

On day seven of the quarantine, my mom received yet another call from my appointed Covid-19 contact. They wanted to speak with me. I was asked to confirm that I was, in fact, me, before asking some questions and offering mental health services if I required one.

Whenever a new case emerged in a neighboring town, my iPhone would ping with a new notification, the same noise phones make when there is an Amber Alert in the U.S. I would get two or three of these alerts almost every day.

Image: Incheon Airport (SeongJoon Cho / Bloomberg via Getty Images file)

LEAVING KOREA

The day before my flight back to the U.S., my local contact wanted to confirm my flight details. She also reminded us that I would need to take those government-designated taxis to the airport, despite having been able to ride along with my parents when I had landed. The taxis were meticulously sterilized after each ride.

Being able to walk around an airport felt freeing after two weeks stuck inside. Life was back to normal  people sat and ate at tables, which had been roped off so wed be socially distanced. We shared elevators. Stores were open but foot traffic was low.

LANDING BACK HOME

Its hard to imagine the U.S. being able to implement all the measures used in South Korea. Americans have been reluctant to set aside their privacy and freedom to requirements of safety and control. South Korean culture is more conservative, a view shared more widely in Asian cultures with emphasis around respecting the elderly that perhaps trickles down to how people view authority.

On my plane home, I received one pamphlet from the CDC. Stop the Spread of Covid-19: Do your part. For 14 days after your trip, stay home. Monitor your health.

With that, I landed back at JFK. No paperwork, no app, no temperature checks. I took an Uber which I booked from my iPhone, and went home.
A few blocks away, Graham launched thousands on a prayer walk with seven stops between the Lincoln Memorial and the U.S. Capitol. People prayed at the World War II Memorial for the military and police, at the Washington Monument for solutions to the pandemic and the end of abortion, and at the National Museum of African American History and Culture for respect and reconciliation between the races  among other stops.
Shortly after President Donald Trump nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett for the U.S. Supreme Court, Michigan Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters said will not vote for her.

Stabenow and Peters, both Democrats, released separate statements hitting Barrett on her opposition to the Affordable Care Act and saying the court vacancy should not be filled before the Nov. 3 election. Early voting has already begun in Michigan.

In her statement, Stabenow invoked the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died at age 87 from pancreatic cancer complications on Friday, Sept. 18. Ginsburgs reported final request was to have her replacement chosen by a new president.

The people of Michigan have the right to cast their votes and decide the future of their health care as well as the future of our country," Stabenow said in her statement. "I will honor their right as well as the legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by opposing this nominee.

Peters stressed that the Supreme Court could vote to scrap the Affordable Care Act the middle of a pandemic when a case regarding the acts future comes before the court in January.

Michiganders have already started voting and with Election Day 38 days away  they deserve to have a say in who nominates and confirms the next Supreme Court justice," Peters said. "As I have said before, I do not support the Senate moving forward on a Supreme Court nomination until after Inauguration Day. I will vote against confirming Judge Amy Coney Barrett to a lifetime appointment on our nations highest court.

John James, Peters' Republican opponent in the Nov. 3 election, spokes highly of Barrett on Twitter Saturday night.

Partisanship should take a backseat to the Constitution, James said. Amy Coney Barrett is an accomplished and well-respected legal mind with an objectively brilliant career. I wish her a respectful and dignified hearing.

Michigan Republican Party Chairman Laura Cox said she was thrilled" by Barretts nomination.

Amy Coney Barrett has a proven track record of protecting our Constitution, honoring the sanctity of life, and fighting for the rule of law, Cox said. "Americas future is a brighter one with Amy Coney Barrett serving as the next associate justice on the United States Supreme Court.

U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, a conservative West Michigan Republican, also praised Trumps choice.

President Trump has made an excellent decision in nominating Amy Coney Barrett for the Supreme Court, Huizenga said in a tweet. Judge Barrett is a skilled jurist with an exceptional record. I hope the Senate acts in a timely manner to confirm this highly qualified nominee.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, encouraged voters to galvanize at the ballot box around opposition to Trumps pick.

The president and Republicans across the country have proven time and again that they dont share our values, Whitmer said. We must hold them accountable. Register to vote, request an absentee ballot, and return it quickly.

Lavora Barnes, chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, called Trumps nominee another attempt to use the Supreme Court to force through a dangerous agenda that was rejected by Congress and rejected by the American people."

Read more:

President Donald Trump nominates Amy Coney Barrett to Supreme Court

Michigan Democrats push John James to clarify stance on Supreme Court vacancy

Trump filling vacancy now could erode trust in Supreme Court, says Michigan AG
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Republican Jim Jordan has served Ohios 4th Congressional District for nearly seven terms, and has been overwhelmingly elected each time. In 2014 and again in 2018, he won the endorsement of this editorial board.

So it is not without pause that we endorse his Democratic opponent, Shannon M. Freshour, 46, of Marysville, this time around. A litigation paralegal with a masters degree in American government from Johns Hopkins University, Freshour is untested politically and lacks the debate polish of Jordan. But her positions are solid and well-informed, and her calm demeanor is a welcome change from the incumbent.

Jordans combative, take-no-prisoners approach in Congress and particularly in committee hearings; his unyielding, unquestioning partisan support of President Donald Trump; and his refusal to consider alternate points of view are all antithetical to what we believe we need from our representatives in Congress. We cannot support his presence there any longer.

This is not to dismiss the fire and passion with which Jordan, 56, of Urbana, has represented this area in Congress since 2007 -- a district that, after the 2010 Census, was gerrymandered into a far more geographically expansive district. It begins in the farm country that surrounds the manufacturing centers of Marysville, Urbana, Bellefontaine and Marion, then goose-necks up through Crawford, Seneca and Sandusky counties before ending in a twist to the east that encompasses liberal Oberlin in Lorain County.

However, both now and in its earlier configurations, the district also has elected an unbroken string of Republican congressmen since 1937. Jordan, a fabled local wrestling champion who won four state titles at Graham High School in St. Paris, Ohio, has been rewarded with more than 60% majorities each time he stood for reelection. His office has provided, by his count, more than 40,000 constituent responses per year.

Also in this race is Libertarian Steve Perkins, 44, an educator who lives outside the district in Pataskala, a little burg about 20 miles east of Columbus,. He is a well-spoken advocate of the Libertarian philosophy, but it is Freshour who has the best chance of denying Jordan an eighth term.

Despite this being her first run for political office, Freshour offers a judicious, reasonable alternative to Jordan, promising to reinstitute comity in this seat and to work to improve access to health care and education, and to repair the federal safety net for people in need of assistance in her district and beyond.

Although she has worked in recent years as a civil litigation paralegal, Freshour is devoting herself to the campaign full-time, having prevailed in the Democrat primary against two opponents. As her inspiration, she points to her mother, who escaped an abusive marriage to raise her children as a single mom. Freshour says federal safety-net and early-education programs like Head Start were critical in both her personal success and in keeping the family together.

Freshour understands that she faces an uphill battle against an opponent who has a formidable name-recognition and money advantage in a district that gave President Trump 64% of its vote four years ago. But she says that her approach to the role government should play in peoples lives is resonating with constituents who are struggling through the current economic downturn.

If Jordan prevails again, we would hope he would take a cue from his colleague to the north. U.S. Rep. Anthony Gonzalez of Rocky River, another Republican former athlete, has been notably effective in his first term as congressman for the 16th Congressional District through his calm, low-key, bipartisan approach.

Shannon M. Freshour is the voters' best choice in the 4th Congressional District. We urge her election on the Nov. 3 ballot. Early voting begins Oct. 6.

The three candidates for Ohios 4th Congressional District -- the incumbent U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, an Urbana Republican; litigation paralegal Shannon M. Freshour, a Marysville Democrat; and educator Steve Perkins, a Pataskala Libertarian -- were interviewed by the editorial board of The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020, as part of the boards endorsement process. Listen to audio of this interview below.

About our editorials: Editorials express the view of the editorial board of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer -- the senior leadership and editorial-writing staff. As is traditional, editorials are unsigned and intended to be seen as the voice of the news organization.

Have something to say about this topic?

* Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication.

* Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this endorsement editorial to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com.

Other resources for voters:

League of Women Voters vote411.org voters' guide.
Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo has announced plans to build the capital's first statue of a black woman who fought for the liberation of slaves on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe. On Saturday, the city hall inaugurated a park in honour of the woman.

"Paris is honouring Solitude, a Guadeloupean figure in the resistance against slavery by dedicating a park to her," Hidalgo said Saturday via Twitter as she inaugurated a park in Paris named after the iconic figure.

"Soon, a statue of this heroine -- the very first of a black woman in Paris -- will be erected there (in the park). A strong symbol to never forget her fight," she added.

The woman, Solitude, was a key figure in the resistance movement against slavery in Guadeloupe and was executed for her role at just 30.

Fighting slavery

She was the daughter of a black slave and a white French sailor, who according to some accounts had raped her mother, and was born into slavery in the plantations of Guadeloupe in 1772.

When her mother fled the plantation where she was enslaved, Solitude was left all alone with her enslavers.

She won her freedom after the French Revolution, but then Napoleon Bonaparte reinstated slavery in French colonies and Solitude joined Guadeloupe's resistance movement, according to city hall.

Dying for freedom

Live free or die were Solitude's last words when she was executed for her involvement in the slave rebellion, at the time heavily pregnant.

She gave birth on 28 November, 1802, and was hanged the next day.

"Solitude is the first black woman honoured for herself and for her action in a Paris public space," Jacques Martial, deputy mayor of Paris in charge of overseas territories issues, told AFP.

"A defender of the values of the Republic, a committed woman, she fought for the freedom of all, against the reestablishment of slavery in Guadeloupe. She paid for that fight with her life", he added.

Colonialism debate

The debate on France's colonial past has been revived by protests against racism and police brutality in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement that rocked the United States in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd.

Anti-racism activists in July tore down a statue of Napoleon's empress Josephine in the overseas French territory of Martinique.

There have also been calls for the removal of the statue outside France's National Assembly in Paris of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, the man behind the "Code Noir" decree that defined the conditions of slavery in the French colonies.

But President Emmanuel Macron warned in June that France would not take down statues or names of controversial figures, saying it would "lucidly look at our history and our memory together."
The command staff of the Azerbaijani Army decided to launch a counter-offensive operation along the entire front to suppress the combat activity of the armed forces of Armenia and ensure the safety of the civilian population, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported today

We officially announce that the Azerbaijan Army does not target the civilian population, civilian facilities, and civilian infrastructure, the message said. Unlike the occupying country Armenia, during military operations, Azerbaijan complies with the requirements of the regulation of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions, the ministry said.

The Armenian army deliberately places its firing points inside and near human settlements, the message said. The Azerbaijani Army makes calls for the civilian population in the occupied territories to stay away from military facilities.

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Former Bachelor Matt Agnew has embraced a more relaxed approach to personal grooming during lockdown in Melbourne.

And on Sunday, the 33-year-old unveiled his latest transformation.

Taking to Instagram, Matt showed himself in an Adidas tracksuit along with a Tamagotchi round his neck, reminiscent of 1990s Japanese street style.

'I'm a cool dad': Former Bachelor Matt Agnew, 33, (pictured) wore an Adidas tracksuit and a Tamagotchi round his neck for a photo shoot on Sunday

As a sign of the times, Matt wore a black face mask. He also wore a beanie and pristine white lace-up sneakers.

'I'm not like a regular tamagotchi dad. I'm a cool tamagotchi dad,' Matt wrote under the post, appearing to reference the 2004 film, Mean Girls.

Earlier this month, Matt shocked fans with his new look with the usually clean-shaven reality star sporting a five o'clock shadow in a selfie shared to Instagram.

Low-maintenance: Matt sported a five o'clock shadow in this selfie shared to Instagram earlier this month as he raised awareness of mental health charity R U OK?

Fans of The Bachelor would be forgiven for not recognising Matt without his signature 'geeky' glasses, clean-cut look and sharp tuxedo.

The data scientist nonetheless looked handsome with stubble and a grey beanie as he drew attention to a worthwhile cause.

Matt's followers remarked on his changing appearance in the comments section of another recent Instagram photo.

Dreamy: Matt sported a more familiar look in this photo shared just a few weeks ago

'Gezzzz, you have changed. You don't look the same,' one wrote, while another added: 'You look different today.'

However, those familiar with Matt's journey over the past few years will know that he has always preferred a more laid-back style.

He liked to keep things casual during his pre-Bachelor days as a university academic, with photos from that period showing him looking quite ordinary compared to the Mills & Boon-esque leading man he was portrayed as on TV.

Back in the day: Those familiar with Matt's journey over the past few years will know that he has always preferred a more relaxed style. He liked to keep things casual during his pre-Bachelor days as a university academic, as demonstrated by this photo from 2016

Matt chose 28-year-old chemical engineer Chelsie McLeod as his winner on The Bachelor last year, but their relationship didn't last.

The couple confirmed their split two months after the finale air date, and Chelsie later hinted it wasn't her decision to end things.

One of Matt's contestants, Elly Miles, is the new Bachelorette. She will be joined on her journey by her sister, Becky.
Andre de Ruyter knew well the adversity he faced at South Africa's power monopoly -- a state-owned wreck hollowed out by corruption that struggles to keep the lights on, pay its bills and play ball with a unionized workforce.

"I don't think I was under any illusion that this wasn't going to be a very challenging job," De Ruyter said in an interview nine months into his tenure as chief executive officer of Eskom Holdings.

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

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

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

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

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

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

President Cyril Ramaphosa's solution is to split Eskom into generation, transmission and distribution businesses, without cutting jobs. De Ruyter's task is to carry that out.

"We can't carry on doing things like we've always done," he said. "You'd have to be oblivious to what's going on in the economy and the negative impact that loadshedding has on the economy."

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

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

Eskom's troubles reflect South Africa's decline over the past decade. Ambitious plans to build new generation capacity also failed, resulting in massive cost overruns and equipment that doesn't work properly.

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

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

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

That helps explain why De Ruyter is getting into the weeds. He responds to customer complaints personally by email. "People are frustrated," he said.Touring the warehouse of one coal-fired station, he noticed three stories of shelving crowded with actuators, a component for its plants, and asked how many are actually used in a year. "It turns out that we've been buying these things without regard to the real need," he said.

Yet, with a fleet of power stations prone to breakdowns, Eskom lacks what's needed for repairs and maintenance. There's up to $100 million of parts at each of over a dozen sites, "but when you look for the critical spares, we don't have them," De Ruyter said.

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

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

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

Equipment and software don't fight back -- unlike the people De Ruyter needs to get with his program.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

De Ruyter says it's not enough to keep Eskom operating. Besides cutting the debt load and moving away from coal, he has his eye on creating a clean energy industry in South Africa.In Mpumalanga province, the heart of coal country, the black rocks travel on conveyers that stretch for miles to power stations. Some Eskom plants are within a short enough distance to the only natural gas pipeline from Mozambique that they could be repurposed to use the fuel. De Ruyter has had regular discussions with the World Bank as well as French and German development banks about how such a transition could allow better financing terms.

The proposal calls for a major leap of faith by labor, which must sign off. "We need to as a country understand the very legitimate fears of people who have jobs that are afraid of losing those jobs," he said.There are encouraging signs. Moody's Investors Service says green bonds, whose proceeds finance environmental social projects, could exceed $200 billion in 2020.

After nine months, De Ruyter is nearing the average term for Eskom CEOs over the last decade. "I find it personally very rewarding to see things improve and maybe that improvement is not visible outside, but gradually you can sense it." he said. "It's a big elephant. One bite at a time."
When Charles Hughes and Richard Solomon began making plans in 2018 to open their own gay bar in New Yorks historic Harlem neighborhood, they had no idea a pandemic would shut them down before they even opened.

The first thing we thought was, Oh, my gosh, were going to be out of business before we started this business, Hughes, 39, told NBC News.

But a global health crisis is not the only headwind their bar, Lambda Lounge, and the few remaining Black-owned gay bars in the United States are facing. Long before anyone had heard of Covid-19, these LGBTQ social spaces were dwindling across the country.

Charles Hughes, left, and Richard Solomon, owners of Lambda Lounge, one of two Black-owned gay bars remaining in NYC. (Lemon Brands)

For more than two decades, gay bars, especially those owned by people of color, have been disappearing. Historically, these spaces were where the LGBTQ community gathered to find romance, make long-lasting friendships and engage in community activism. Throughout the 1980s, there were more than 1,500 such bars, a number that has declined steeply since the late 90s, with fewer than 1,000 existing today, according to a study published last year by Oberlin College and Conservatory professor Greggor Mattson.

The closures have had a disproportionate impact on bars catering to women and people of color: Between 2007 and 2019, LGBTQ bar listings dropped by an estimated 37 percent, and those serving people of color plummeted by almost 60 percent, according to the study. Though the reasons are not entirely clear, experts suspect the overall decline in gay bars is related to decades of skyrocketing rents and gentrification, which have disproportionately impacted small, Black-owned businesses; the emergence of online dating sites and apps; and circuit parties that rotate among venues, which have become increasingly popular among younger crowds.

According to online listings, there are more than 60 LGBTQ bars across the five boroughs of New York City, one of the metropolitan areas hardest hit by the pandemic, and many of these spaces are struggling to stay open. Of the citys dozens of remaining gay bars, just two  Lambda Lounge and Alibi Lounge, both in Harlem  are known to be Black owned. Club Langston in Brooklyn closed last year after nearly two decades in business.

Story continues

Since it opened in 2015, Alibi Lounge has become a sanctuary for LGBTQ people of color. In March, under city mandates, owner Alexi Minko was forced to temporarily shutter his bar and soon began to run out of money. A former lawyer who had poured his life savings into his business, Minko frantically applied for emergency aid through the governments overwhelmed Paycheck Protection Program application, whose website he said continuously crashed.

Owner Alexi Minko in his bar, Alibi Lounge, in Harlem. (Courtesy Alibi Lounge)

Desperate for assistance, Minko reluctantly set up an online fundraising campaign for his bar. He was on the brink of ending his lease, he said, when donations suddenly surged. In only a matter of weeks, the campaign raised $165,000. While Minko eventually received a small loan through the governments emergency relief program, he said the donations absolutely saved my business, as well as the idea that its possible for a Black gay man to open his own bar.

My fear if Alibi had gone down is to instill in the young mind that, Oh, why bother? Were Black and gay, its just going to fail anyway, said Minko, who has since reopened his bar outside at limited capacity in compliance with New York Citys rules.

Earlier this month, Alibi Lounge was one of 10 LGBTQ-owned businesses to be awarded funding through the Queer to Stay program, a small business initiative from Showtime and the Human Rights Campaign, a national LGBTQ advocacy group.

Access to mainstream capital

While the total economic fallout from the pandemic wont be known for some time, August data from the business listing site Yelp found that more than 2,800 businesses had permanently closed since March in New York City alone, and a report published last month from the Partnership for New York City, a nonprofit business group, said as many as a third of the citys 230,000 small businesses that populate neighborhood commercial corridors may never reopen.

The national picture is also grim, especially for Black business owners: A report released in August by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found the number of Black-owned businesses declined more than 40 percent across the U.S. between February and April, while white-owned businesses declined 17 percent.

In June, the Small Business Administration released a list of 661,218 organizations that received loans of $150,000 or more. It received racial and ethnic backgrounds from just 94,501 owners. Of those, 1,827 Black-owned businesses received loans.

Most of these business owners rely on personal finance and credit, and often lack relationships with banks, according to Cy Richardson, senior vice president for economics and housing programs at the National Urban League, a nonprofit that advocates for economic and social justice for Black Americans.

Broadly, the notion of access to mainstream capital, that's where the racial wealth gap is really exacerbated, he said.

Those at the intersection of the Black and the LGBTQ communities have been particularly hit hard amid the pandemic, according to a survey released last month by the Human Rights Campaign, which found Black LGBTQ respondents fared worse than both the overall Black population and the overall LGBTQ population along every economic indicator measured.

Envy of the wider gay community

Scholars who study LGBTQ nightlife say the loss of Black-owned gay bars would be devastating. Historically, these bars have been havens for people of color, who have experienced discrimination in white-owned bars for generations, according to Eric Gonzaba, an assistant professor of American Studies at California State University, Fullerton, who is writing a book about the history of gay nightlife.

Around the 1960s, gay bars began to sprout in metropolitan areas across the U.S. At the time, closeted white people didnt want to be seen entering a gay bar where someone they knew might recognize them, so owners had a tendency to open these bars in predominantly Black neighborhoods. They would then often enact racist policies  including unfair carding measures and dress codes  to keep Black people out, according to Gonzaba, who said even up until the 1990s, some white bar owners would require people of color to show three forms of government picture ID to enter.

These are places that were highly segregated for much of their history and are perfect examples of the inability for the LGBTQ rights movement to have a unified coalition into the 70s and 80s, Gonzaba explained. He said even the Stonewall Inn, the once mafia-owned New York City gay bar that has become a symbol of the LGBTQ rights movement, didnt let a lot of people of color into the doors (it has long since operated under new owners who do not engage in such discrimination). Since many gay bars in the 80s and 90s were where gay activists gathered to educate the community about HIV and AIDS, he said lifesaving information about the virus often didnt reach the Black community.

Fed up, the Black LGBTQ community began to form its own house parties and unique social clubs in cities with large Black populations. Washington, D.C., alone boasted about 20 bars, nightclubs, coffeehouses and social gatherings that catered to a Black LGBTQ clientele, according to the Rainbow History Project, though its unclear if all were Black-owned and operated. Black gay activist groups used these spaces to educate patrons about HIV and AIDs and to organize around issues for racial justice. Perhaps the most epic among them, the The Club House, remained a popular D.C. haunt until it shuttered in 1990.

Unlike most LGBTQ bars at the time, Black-owned bars welcomed a gender diverse crowd, including transgender and gender-nonconforming people, according to Gonzaba. He said these patrons cultivated a unique music subculture in the 1970s composed of early disco and drag, and a more sexually expressive culture began to flourish.

This is music that's founded by African American and Latinx people in inner cities, parts of Chicago and Philadelphia and Washington, and dancing becomes normalized  and this kind of style of music and this kind of style of dancing that's highly sexualized becomes the envy of the wider gay community, Gonzaba said of this early disco era that would later give rise to house and electronic dance music.

It's the ability for clubs to be places of refuge and sexual expression and sexual exploration, he said, that still lead people today to think of bars and nightlife as a place to not just have a drink but to explore different avenues of ones sexuality, and that's hugely borrowed from Black culture.

Where are all the Black-owned gay bars?

The number of Black-owned gay bars, currently and historically, is unknown, since there is no resource that specifically tracks them, and Gonzaba said many bars frequented by LGBTQ people of color have historically been white-owned. But business listings suggest there may not be many of them left.

In addition to Lambda Lounge and Alibi Lounge in New York, at least three others  Jeffery Pub in Chicago, Metro 2.0 in Jackson, Mississippi, and Jocks PHL in Philadelphia  are still in business.

In Chicago, the pandemic is threatening to shut down what might be the countrys oldest Black-owned gay bar. Jeffery Pub opened in the 1960s and has gone through multiple owners, according to the current owner, Jamal Junior. The businessman, who purchased the bar in the mid-2000s, was forced to temporarily close the pub in March under a city ordinance as the pandemic swept through the Midwest. He said the pub has not been able to reopen in compliance with city mandates because it lacks outdoor space.

Im just praying and hoping that we can survive, Junior, 46, told NBC News.

Metro 2.0 owner Temica Morton is currently trying to hold on to what might be the only Black-owned gay bar in the South. Morton, a Jackson-based LGBTQ advocate, acquired the lease to the bar in February just as the pandemic struck the U.S. She invested her entire savings into Metro 2.0, which she said has been a popular venue for LGBTQ people of color of all genders since it opened in the late 1990s. But a seesawing series of shutdown orders from state and city officials left the businesswoman in panic mode as she struggled to figure out how to keep the bar alive. The bar temporarily shut down Aug. 5, and reopened in September at limited capacity after the shutdown lifted. Morton, 44, said shes now taking it one day at a time.

Club Catch One (Jason Kirk / Newsmakers / Getty Images file)

Many Black-owned bars whose clientele was composed largely of people of color have shuttered in the past decade, including several in New York City alone, like Starlite Lounge, No Parking and Club Langston. Perhaps the most famous of the shuttered bars was Jewels Catch One, a Los Angeles venue known for its Black disco scene that operated between 1973 and 2015 under the ownership of lesbian Jewel Thais-Williams. And a decade before that, the community lost beloved bar Knob Hill in Washington, D.C., which operated between 1957 and 2004.

In 1990, after dealing with decades of discrimination at gay bars in San Francisco, where he moved in 1969, Rodney Barnette, a Vietnam War veteran, former member of the Black Panther Party and gay rights activist, opened his own bar. The New Eagle Creek Saloon, which operated under the slogan A friendly place with a funky base for every race, was forced to shut down after only three years due to rent increases that Barnette said he could not afford. But before it shuttered, he said the saloon served as a refuge for San Franciscos LGBTQ people of color. Activist groups like Lesbians and Gays of African Descent for Democratic Action (LAGADDA) gathered there to organize against racist carding policies in San Francisco and to educate the Black community about HIV prevention, he said.

Rodney Barnette on The New Eagle Creek Saloon float, San Francisco Pride Parade, 2019. (Sadie Barnette)

I call it a community center that served alcohol, that's the way I describe it, said Barnette, whose bar has been memorialized by his daughter, artist Sadie Barnette, in an exhibit commissioned by The Lab in San Francisco.

People felt good, he said of the saloon's patrons. You could walk in the bar, and know there wouldn't be any discrimination against you, that you were welcome, that everybody was welcome.

Everybody should be treated equal

By the 1990s, Black LGBTQ activists and allies had successfully fought to end racist carding policies. However, a number of recent incidents indicate that racism still plagues gay nightlife.

In 2016, fury erupted in Philadelphia after a video shared widely on social media showed the owner of a popular gay bar using the N-word. A 2017 report issued by the city's Commission on Human Rights found that women, minorities and transgender people felt unwelcome and unsafe in Philadelphia's gay neighborhood for decades. The report recommended establishments and organizations in the so-called gayborhood undergo training for racial bias and hire more diverse staff.

In 2018, a group of Atlanta drag performers, all trans women of color, collectively quit their jobs at a popular gay club, Burkharts, after its white owner made racist posts on his Facebook page.

Last year, an email from a manager at Progress Bar, a gay bar in Chicagos "gayborhood," ordered DJs to stop playing rap music at the bar. Anything vulgar, aggressive or considered mumble rap (including certain Cardi B tracks and newer Nicki Minaj) is off limits, the manager wrote in a leaked message.

In June, activists gathered in front of 941 Saloon, a Pittsburgh gay bar, to protest dress codes they said discriminated against Black people.

In July, a picture circulating on Facebook showed a bartender at Number Nine, a popular gay bar in Washington, D.C., apparently wearing a black face Covid-19 mask. The management later posted an apology, claiming the bartender didnt know the mask was racist.

Over the years, as wealth in the U.S. has become more concentrated, Gonzaba said it is not uncommon for multiple gay bars to be managed under a single owner.

These bars are owned by wealthy, white men who often have many different establishments in the cities, he explained.

Some bars, even if they dont engage in discriminatory practices within their establishment, try to cultivate loyalty among white clientele through their branding, according to Gonzaba. For example, in 2012, a leaked email from a gay bar owner in Washington, D.C., revealed that he had requested an advertisement for the bar, which displayed a Black man, be replaced with a hot white guy, stating it was more our clientele.

Barnette, who now resides in Los Angeles, said that despite progress made by activists, LGBTQ nightlife still caters predominantly to white men.

The overall gay white male community has not reformed into making it a point that everybody should be treated equal, he said.

A responsibility to queer people of color

In New York City, where Covid-19 cases have plummeted, bars and restaurants have been allowed to slowly reopen outdoors at limited capacity. Starting Sept. 30, restaurants will be allowed to reopen their indoor space at 25 percent capacity, though bar service will not be permitted.

In July, Lambda Lounge celebrated its grand opening with a nice turnout despite restrictions, according to Hughes and Solomon, 38, who set up their lounge outdoors.

It was so nice, Hughes said. We had to literally stop people coming in so we could be compliant with Covid rules.

While the couple said they did receive a small loan through the emergency relief program, they are unsure how long they will remain open without more assistance, especially as the weather cools and a possible second wave of Covid-19 could force the city to shut down bars and restaurants later this year. So far, theyve raised nearly $6,000 through a GoFundMe campaign for their lounge.

Hughes said the ongoing stress is giving him migraines, and Solomon said it has been hard to find optimism right now. Their insurance premium has already increased by $1,000 a month due to the pandemic, they said, and they are not currently bringing in enough money to cover their rent and other expenses. Still, the men vow to stay open as long as they can.

We have a responsibility to queer people of color to make sure that this place lasts, and it's extremely difficult when we run into obstacles, Solomon said, but the glass is half full.

Editors note: If you know of a Black-owned LGBTQ bar in the U.S. that does not appear in this story, please email us: nbcout@nbcuni.com.

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Judge Amy Coney Barrett, President Donald Trump's Supreme Court pick, could lead to a more right leaning court in the years to come.

Barrett has maintained a conservative voting record in various cases. So her confirmation will make compromises less likely and create some changes in key issues.

For three years, Barrett has considered a substantial sample of hundreds of cases working on the federal appeals court in Chicago. The cases were marked by the methods used by conservative giant Justice Antonin Scalia.

She worked as a clerk for Scalia from 1998 to 1999. It gave her work the care, clarity and commitment like that of Scalia, said a New York Times report.

Scalia occasionally drifted away from conservative views, as in the case on flag burning. But Barrett could have a different kind of justice.

Here are some key issues in the U.S. today and the views that Barrett holds regarding them:

Abortion

In her home state, Indiana, Barrett has considered three laws placing restrictions on abortion. In all three cases, she expressed doubts from appeals judges who struck down the laws.

Politico noted that Barrett has called abortion "immoral" in the past. She expressed openness to hollow out the landmark decision made in Roe vs. Wade, the Supreme Court ruling that granted abortion rights.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, whose seat Barrett will be replacing, was a strong supporter of reproductive freedom. She consistently casted voted against state encroachment on the landmark decision.

"The fundamental element, that the woman has a right to choose abortion, will probably stand," she said during a 2013 lecture at Notre Dame, said Associated Press.

She insisted that a judge should not impose their own personal convictions on the law.

Health Care

A week after Election Day, the Supreme Court will hear arguments to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). If Trump and Senate Republicans get Barrett in court by then, she will be on the bench to hear this case.

Barrett being on the bench could add uncertainty to the state of ACA.

She was critical of Chief Justice John Roberts in his 2012 opinion sustaining a central provision of the health care law. "Chief Justice Roberts pushed the Affordable Care Act beyond its plausible meaning to save the statute," she wrote in a 2017 law review article.

LGBTQ Rights and Sexuality

Judge Barrett's nomination also raised concerns among the LGBTQ community. They fear a reduction of their rights.

In recent years, the high court has given importance to the advancement of LGBTQ rights. Their rulings gave gay and lesbian people marriage equality. They also recently gave protection of queer and trans people from employment discrimination.

Barrett is a Midwestern Catholic and a former law professor at Notre Dame. She has not yet expressed how she would rule about LGBTQ rights.

But she has spoken and written some extensive work about her conservative views on reproduction and sexuality, said a Vox article.

Gun Rights

In 2019, Barrett said she wanted to limit the sweep of a federal law that forbids people with felony convictions from owning guns.

She said in her dissent that the law forbidding gun ownership for people with felony conviction should not apply if their crimes were nonviolent.

"History does not support the proposition that felons lose their Second Amendment rights solely because of their status as felons," she wrote. She added that the state can take away the right to bear arms only if the people were deemed dangerous.

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Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg smiles during a photo session with photographers at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington on March 3, 2006. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Amy Coney Barrett Honors Justice Ginsburg: She Has Won the Admiration of Women Across the Country

Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett paid tribute to late Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg during her speech accepting the nomination to fill the vacancy on the nations top court.

Justice Ginsburg began her career at a time when women were not welcome in the legal profession. But she not only broke glass ceilings, she smashed them. For that she has won the admiration of women across the country and indeed, all over the world, Barrett said during an event at the White House on Saturday, where President Donald Trump announced his nomination.

Barrett, 48, who is currently serving as a federal judge on the 7th Circuit Court, reflected on Ginsburgs life and how the jurist had impacted her life.

She was a woman of enormous talent and consequence, and her life of public service serves as an example to us all, Barrett said.

Particularly poignant to me [is] her long and deep friendship with Justice Antonin Scalia, my own mentor. Justices Scalia and Ginsburg disagreed fiercely in print, without rancor in person. Their ability to maintain a warm and rich, friendship, despite their differences, even inspired an opera.

These two great Americans demonstrated that arguments, even about matters of great consequence, need not destroy affection. In both my personal and professional relationships, I strive to meet that standard, she added.

Judge Amy Coney Barrett speaks after being nominated to the Supreme Court by President Donald Trump, at the White House in Washington on Sept. 26, 2020. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

Barrett clerked at the late Justice Antonin Scalia, who died in 2016, between 1998 and 1999. She said that although she had clerked for Scalia more than 20 years ago, the lessons she learned during that time still resonate with her.

His judicial philosophy is mine too. A judge must apply the law as written, judges are not policymakers, and they must be resolute in setting aside any policy views they might hold, she said.

Barrett was one of Trumps top contenders for the vacancy after he whittled down his list of 45 to five women. During his speech, the president praised Barrett as being a woman of remarkable intellect and character and eminently qualified for the job.

After earning her law degree, she clerked for Judge Laurence Silberman of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals and later Scalia. She then went on to work in law firms in Washington and Texas and became a law professor at Notre Dame Law School.

Trump appointed her to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals and she was confirmed by the Senate 55-43 in 2017.

Her nomination is expected to spark a fierce confirmation battle on Capitol Hill. With just over a month before the election, Senate Republicans are likely to fast track the process in order to get a vote on the chambers floor.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) have opposed any nomination and have said they would try to block the nomination.

Carrie Severino, president of Judicial Crisis Network, suggested it possible to confirm Barrett in a short period of time given that Ginsburg and Justice Sandra Day OConnor also had short confirmation proceedings.

Justice Ginsburg was confirmed in 42 days, Justice OConnor in 33, and both confirmations were nearly unanimous. But Democrats wont be able to bring themselves to support Judge Barrett because they are beholden to leftwing extremists who want to pack the Supreme Court and defund the police while our cities burn, Severino said in a statement.
Lili Reinhart has candidly opened up about her passion for visiting strip clubs, months after coming out as bisexual back in June.

The 24-year-old, who split with her ex-boyfriend Cole Sprouse back in January, said the strip clubs are 'like Disneyland' to her, in a candid interview with Stellar this week.

'I just came out as bisexual recently, so it's not really a surprise to anyone,' she said.

'They're like Disneyland to me!' Lili Reinhart, 24, (pictured) has revealed passion for visiting strip clubs, after coming out as bisexual back in June

The starlet said that starring in Hustlers made her 'appreciate' strip clubs even more, after she played dancer Annabelle alongside megastar Jennifer Lopez.

'My close friends and my castmates, maybe they didn't know that I was bisexual, they were probably like, 'Why does this girl like strip clubs so much?' And I'm like, 'Well, now you know!''

The Riverdale star admitted to the Los Angeles Times in August that she decided to come out so that she can publicly date whoever she wants without people asking questions.

She's a fan! The starlet said that starring in Hustlers made her 'appreciate' strip clubs even more, after she played dancer Annabelle alongside megastar Jennifer Lopez. Pictured: Keke Palmer (left) and Lili (right) in Hustlers

She said: 'I thought: 'Do I like girls? I don't know.' As I've gotten older, the answer has become 'Yes. Clearly, I do.'

'I think I just felt at this point in time: Why not? If suddenly I started dating a girl publicly, I didn't want people to be, like, 'What the?''

'Not that I would even owe anyone an explanation. Because I don't.'

Candid: The Riverdale star recently said she has known 'full well' that she is bisexual from a 'young age' and insists her sexuality has been 'no secret' for her close friends all her life, despite only announcing it publicly recently

The Riverdale star recently said she has known 'full well' that she is bisexual from a 'young age' and insists her sexuality has been 'no secret' for her close friends all her life, despite only announcing it publicly recently.

Lili came out in a post on her Instagram Story, in which she showed her support for a protest taking place in West Hollywood for members of the LGBTQ community who are in support of Black Lives Matter.

Promoting the event, she wrote: 'Although I've never announced it publicly before, I am a proud bisexual woman. And I will be joining this protest today.'
The attentive reader might have come across numerous articles about Mexicos numerous discoveries in the past months. Heavily indebted, mired in a myriad of corruption cases and facing the prospects of terminal (albeit gradual) output decline  Mexico in general and PEMEX in particular needs positive market stories that it can embrace as its narrative, a version of its future that does not necessarily mean to obsolescence. Yet upon closer inspection, much of the articulated narrative might seem rather counterintuitive. If anything, Mexicos future seems to be tilting towards natural gas and light sweet crude, moreover, its future would be tangibly hit should foreign drillers be limited in their possibilities.

The pre-election pledges of President Lopez Obrador to increase Mexican crude production to 2.6mbpd by 2024 have so far remained a pipe dream, seemingly everything contributed to the opposite recently. On the other hand, participating in the OPEC+ cuts has cooled the narrative of Mexicos continuously decline, now PEMEXs production has been stagnating at 1.67mbpd (the average of Q2 2020 volumes) despite recurring bad weather conditions like the Cristobal and Amanda tropical storms that have brought about a series of field shut-ins. Interestingly, Mexico remains a participant to the OPEC+ agreement concluded in March 2020 when It promised to cut output by 100kbpd to 1.686mbpd  meaning that Mexican producers have underperformed the quota by almost 20 000 barrels per day.

Mexicos exports, however, have been experiencing a much more significant downward slide. The crux of the matter lies in AMLOs pledge to maximize domestic refinery output whilst bringing light crude imports from the United States to a halt. For this reason, PEMEX is building the 340kbpd Dos Bocas Refinery aiming to keep Mexicos flagship crude Maya at home. This in itself will decrease Mexicos exports in the post-2023 horizon, so not only are PEMEXs current export volumes jeopardized by the ongoing corona virus nightmare and the investment curtailments that it has entailed, there will most probably be no rebound for the better. This is an especially noteworthy development for US refiners as Mexicos other grades (Isthmus, Olmeca) have all but disappeared from the American market and Maya remains the only major stream.

Graph 1. Mexican Crude Exports to the United States in 2017-2020 (000 barrels per day).



Source: Thomson Reuters.

Expectedly, the COVID-19 market slump has left an indelible mark on Mexicos upstream segment, too. Of the 19 exploration wells that the National Hydrocarbon Commission (CNH) approved in Q2 2020, only 11 were drilled and just 5 resulted in discoveries. PEMEX remains the main driller in the country as 60% exploration wells and 96% of production wells were spudded by the national oil company. Concurrently to cutting exploration wells, PEMEX has cut back on using private drilling rigs  according to media reports the total number that they have renounced on stand at 76. Interestingly, Mexicos legacy fields Ku-Maloob-Zaap and Cantarell will also suffer the fate of many other offshore fields.

Graph 2. Operating oil wells in Mexico in 2017-2020.



Source: CNH.

New discoveries might provide some momentum for Mexico in general, despite their relatively low number is Q2 2020 (a mere 3 fields were certified by CNH). Ironically, the two larger finds  Polok with estimated crude reserves of 187MMbbls and Chinwol with 88MMbls  were drilled by Repsol and its partners (PTTEP, Petronas and Wintershall Dea) in Mexicos deepwater block 29 which was previously undrilled and untapped. PEMEX has had one discovery which despite wielding crude of remarkable quality (43 API for a shallow-water Tabasco find is really noteworthy) is only assessed at 32MMbbls of recoverable reserves. On the other hand, it has to be noted that PEMEXs recent Ixachi gas/condensate discovery remains Mexicos hottest gas prospect as the NOC pushes forward with its plan to drill a total of 47 wells at the site, with a view to swiftly bring gas output to a plateau level of 639 MMCf/day (6.6 BCm per year).

Related: Worlds No.1 Oil Trader Sees Crude Inventories Shrinking This Year

Mexicos oil industry continues to be torn apart by the ongoing PEMEX court hearings whereby the former CEO of PEMEX Emilio Lozoya accused Enrique Pena Nieto (President of Mexico in 2012-2018) and his government of using the Mexican national oil company as a tool for the surreptitious bribing of national MPs. Initially an investigation into the dealings of Lozoya himself, focusing primarily on his dealings with Brazils Odebrecht, the case has grown into a national soap opera with implications for most of Mexicos top officials in the Pena Nieto administration, coming in very timely for President Lopez Obrador who might use it concurrently as a national distraction amid an ever-worsening coronavirus pandemic and as proof that his long-standing opposition to Mexicos 2014 energy reform has always been spot on.

Unfortunately for Mexico, the AMLO administration has found no other way out of the current quagmire than to seek a strengthening of PEMEX. Concurrently to the Lozoya case and the issue of structural corruption within PEMEX, President Lopez Obrador might trigger another long-running dispute: having flaunted the possibility of revising Mexicos 2014 energy reform both legislatively and constitutionally. Looking at PEMEXs current profitability numbers (in H1 2020 the Mexican NOC has generated a whopping $26 billion loss, of which $24 billion was booked in the first quarter) it seems rather disingenuous to claim that the state tightening its ties to PEMEX has reversed the crash course that the NOC remains at. To provide just one illustration of PEMEXs woes - Its total financial debt tally already stands at $107 billion.

All things considered, one thing is almost certain: against all the difficulties and challenges PEMEX has been and will potentially face, it would be a miracle if AMLOs vows of resurrecting crude production work out. The government seems to understand this, otherwise it wouldnt have already introduced several amendments into Mexicos 2021 budget proposal. The 2021 production target stands at 1.86mbpd whilst the 2024 main AMLO objective was lowered from 2.6mbpd to 2.28mbpd. In this context, the COVID-19 pandemic might serve a very useful explanation as to why Mexico underperformed, once again, its ambitious objectives and if politically expedient just pass over the profound structural issues that will continue to hamper its oil prospects.

By Viktor Katona for Oilprice.com

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MINSK -- Belarusian police have made hundreds of arrests and fired tear gas and stun grenades during nationwide protests as a groundswell of opposition to Alyaksandr Lukashenka continued for the 50th consecutive day.

Belarus's Interior Ministry said more than 350 people were detained during the demonstrations, bringing the total number of arrests over the weekend to about 500.

More than 12,000 people have been detained since the protests began last month, according to human rights group Vyasna.



In the capital, Minsk, an estimated 100,000 people flooded the streets on September 27 waving red-and-white opposition flags in the latest show of popular discontent since Lukashenka was declared winner of the August 9 presidential election, which the opposition and Western countries say was rigged.



People shouted "fascist" and "shame" as they decried Lukashenka and his government's uncompromising response to the protests and opposition demands.

Some Minsk demonstrators began dispersing after 6 p.m. when it started to rain. But many people remained on Independence Avenue occupying half of the roadway, with some people inside slow-moving vehicles.

Elsewhere, riot police wearing balaclavas attacked people in the eastern city of Homel with tear gas and fired shots in the air as they made arrests and dispersed protests.

A spokesman for the Homel Regional Executive Committee's Main Department of Internal Affairs said "technical devices" were used to cause a loud explosion and a flash of light and tear gas was used "because some people behaved inappropriately," RFE/RL's Belarus Service reported.

Demonstrators were also detained in another major city, Hrodna, where security forces also used tear gas against demonstrators.

Rallies were also reported in Mahilyou and Lida. Security forces in Mahilyou used a stun grenade after several dozen people tried to march in two columns through the central streets of the city. Eyewitnesses said security forces beat protesters with truncheons and detained people in a minibus.

The human rights group Vyasna said it was aware of 380 people detained around the country during the September 27 rallies. About 150 were arrested during protests the day before.

The protests came after Lukashenka, in power since 1994, was inaugurated on September 23 in a secretive ceremony that prompted European Union members and the United States to issue statements that they did not recognize his legitimacy.

Protesters staged the events as an "inauguration of the people" in support of Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the exiled opposition candidate, who is now in Lithuania.

Tsikhanouskaya, who joined the presidential race at the last moment after her husbands own bid was ended after he was jailed, claims she won the election with 60 to 70 percent of the vote.

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.

She called for Belarusians to demonstrate on September 27 for the goal of new, honest elections and, as a result, an official, lawful inauguration.

"Today is the 50th day of our protests," she said in a video address. "We've come out to stop this regime, and we are doing this peacefully."

The protests came a day after security forces in Minsk detained more than 100 protesters during a womens march.

Hundreds of thousands of Belarusians have taken to the streets for seven weeks, calling for Lukashenka to step down and new elections to be held.

Lukashenka has directed a brutal crackdown in response to protests, including thousands of arrests, beatings, and other mistreatment of peaceful protesters, and the expulsions of foreign journalists.

He has denied accusations that the presidential election was rigged.

Meanwhile, most figures in the opposition's Coordination Council, a body established to facilitate dialogue and a peaceful transfer of power, have been forced into exile or detained.

In Lithuania, leading writers, artists, and scientists on September 27 appealed to French President Emmanuel Macron to support protesters in Belarus. Macron begins a two-day visit to Lithuania and Latvia on September 28.

"Men and women of Belarus are subjected to inhuman torture. And this is happening in 21st century Europe!," said a poster designed as an open letter to Macron and signed by more than 40 leading Lithuanian cultural figures.

"We trust that you, who represents France, where human rights were born, will also hear the painful cry of the Belarusian people for their freedom," the appeal says.

With reporting by AFP and dpa
U.S. Sen. Cory Booker criticized Republican lawmakers Sunday over plans to quickly approve President Donald Trumps latest pick for the U.S. Supreme Court only weeks ahead of Election Day.

Booker joined the chorus of Democratic lawmakers who say its hypocritical for Republicans who prevented a former President Barack Obama nominee from getting a vote in the Senate nearly nine months ahead of a presidential election to vote on Trumps nominee right before or after Nov. 3.

This is really a stunning moment in American history, Booker said on Meet the Press.

This is too short, he said. "We clearly see the Republicans have shown the height of hypocrisy.

WATCH: Senator @CoryBooker says "you can't say one thing and then do another" to Republicans pushing for a SCOTUS confirmation. #MTP



Sen. Booker: "We clearly see the Republicans have shown the height of hypocrisy." pic.twitter.com/BGYbQg8sN3  Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) September 27, 2020

Trump has chosen Judge Amy Coney Barrett to replace the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who recently died at age 87 from pancreatic cancer.

GOP leadership in the U.S. Senate has already said they would hold a vote on the new appointee before Trump could take up a second term or be ousted by Democratic nominee former Vice President Joe Biden.

Democrats have called foul over Republicans' refusal to give Obamas nominee in 2016, Merrick Garland, a hearing after the former president named him as a replacement for former Justice Antonin Scalia, who died earlier in the year ahead of the last presidential election.

Booker is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Barrett has been a federal judge in Indiana since 2017, when Trump nominated her to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Lindsey Graham says his panel will hold four days of confirmation hearings the week of Oct. 12.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com.
Calling both the central and state government as 'anti-farmer', AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala on Sunday alleged that they have launched a "diabolical attack" on the lives and livelihoods of farmers.

Terming amendments to APMC and land reforms acts passed by the Karnataka assembly on Saturday as "black laws", he accused the government of selling the interests of farmers to a handful of corporates and builder lobbies.

"Both the Modi (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) and Yediyurappa (Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa) governments are anti-farmer governments. They have launched a diabolical attack on the lives and livelihoods of farmers in Karnataka, as also the rest of the country," he said.

Surjewala was referring to the amended APMC and land reforms Act in Karnataka and the three contentious farms bills passed by Parliament, against which farmers have launched a stir in Punjab, while those in Haryana would do so from September 28 to 31.

Speaking to reporters here, he said under the leadership of Congress President Sonia Gandhi and former President Rahul Gandhi, and D K Shivakumar in Karnataka, the party is committed to decisively defeat the 'anti-farmer' forces.

"They are selling the interests of farmers to a handful of corporates and builder lobbies, as is apparent from the black laws passed in the assembly. We will support the farmers endeavour in every manner and will stand in solidarity with farmers in Karnataka and India," he added.

Despite stiff resistance from the opposition, especially Congress, the B S Yediyurappa government succeeded in getting the Karnataka Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation and Development) (Amendment) Bill and the Karnataka Land Reforms (Second Amendment) Bill passed in the Assembly on Saturday.

Farmers organisations have also opposed both legislations, and have called a state wide bandh on Monday against it. While the amendments to land reform act liberalises farmland ownership, the APMC amendment bill curtails the powers of local Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees (APMC) and private individuals can start agricultural trading, if they hold a Permanent Account Number (PAN). Earlier, State congress president D K Shivakumar said they support the farmers' agitation.

"Since Congress is a national party, our AICC General Secretary (Surjewala) will discuss with us and announce what is to be done in the state," he said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

Trend:

The Armenian armed forces committed large-scale military provocations on the frontline today, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Commander-in-Chief of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev has addressed the nation in this regard.

"Armenian armed forces fired on our settlements, as well as our military positions, from several directions this morning, using various types of weaponry, including heavy artillery," the president said. "As a result of the enemy fire, there are casualties among the civilian population and our servicemen. Some people have been wounded."

"May God rest our martyrs in peace! Their blood will not remain unavenged," the president said. "The Azerbaijani Army is currently firing on Armenia's military positions, and as a result of these strikes, many units of the enemy's military equipment have been destroyed. This is another manifestation of Armenian fascism."
The Prince of Wales led tributes to fallen officers on National Police Memorial Day (Niall Carson/PA)

The shooting of a police sergeant in a south London custody centre is the latest heartbreaking evidence of the daily risks officers face, the Prince of Wales has said.

Leading tributes to fallen officers on National Police Memorial Day (NPMD), Charles said such deaths are losses we can never replace, sacrifices we can never repay.

The annual service, held virtually this year due to the pandemic, came just days after the killing of Metropolitan Police Sergeant Matt Ratana who was shot by a handcuffed suspect.

Addressing the memorial in a video message, Charles said: The dreadful incident in Croydon on Friday is the latest heartbreaking evidence of the risks faced by our officers daily.

I can only say to all the families, friends and colleagues of fallen officers that you and your loved ones will always have a very special place in the heart of our nation Prince of Wales

I would like to send my deepest sympathy to the families of each of these officers who have given their lives.

These are losses we can never replace, sacrifices we can never repay, but of which, as a society, we can only strive to be worthy.

Expand Close Matt Ratana (Metropolitan Police/PA) PA / Facebook

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Investigations into Sgt Ratanas death are ongoing and tributes have poured in from friends and colleagues.

His local rugby club in East Grinstead gathered to remember him on Sunday morning, pausing in silence to reflect on the life of someone described by club bosses as an inspiring and much-loved figure.

He is the eighth police officer in the UK to be shot dead in the last 20 years.

Expand Close Players and club officials following a minutes silence at East Grinstead rugby club (Gareth Fuller/PA) PA / Facebook

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Ex-policing minister Mike Penning said poor attitudes towards officers started with politicians, who he accused of hampering and undermining normal police officers.

This lack of respect comes from the top, for me. It filters down from senior management and our politicians, he wrote in The Sun.

Simply, they are not backing officers.

Sundays service, led by the National Police Chaplain, the Rev Canon David Wilbraham, featured pre-recorded messages from families who have lost loved ones.

Lissie Harper, widow of PC Andrew Harper @ThamesVP lights the candle for fallen officers in England - we will remember them #NPMD20 pic.twitter.com/JfO4KbZxKl  Police Federation (@PFEW_HQ) September 27, 2020

The messages were filmed under lockdown restrictions, and candles were lit in remembrance of the deceased officers in each of the UK nations.

Lissie Harper, wife of Pc Andrew Harper of Thames Valley Police, who died in August 2019 aged 28, lit the candle for England.

Rebecca Davies, daughter of Pc Terry Davies of Gwent Police, who died in August 1990 aged 34, lit the flame for Wales.

Louie Johnston, son of Reserve Constable David Johnston of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, who died in June 1997 aged 30, lit the candle for Northern Ireland.

Chief Constable Iain Livingstone lit a candle in Scotland.

Rebecca Davies, daughter of PC Terry Davies @gwentpolice lights the candle for fallen officers in Wales - we will remember them #NPMD20 pic.twitter.com/brtNxvf7aJ  Police Federation (@PFEW_HQ) September 27, 2020

A rendition of I Vow To Thee My Country by The British Police Symphony Orchestra was played after more than 60 musicians recorded contributions from their homes across the UK.

Charles said officers have met the invisible threat of coronavirus with visible courage and commitment and provided a calm reassurance that has been so essential to our communities day and night.

Speaking directly to the bereaved and serving officers, he said: I can only say to all the families, friends and colleagues of fallen officers  and to every serving officer throughout the United Kingdom  that you and your loved ones will always have a very special place in the heart of our nation.

Earlier Met Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Home Secretary Priti Patel laid wreaths at the National Police Memorial in central London as part of the commemorations.

All three stood for a minute of silence to remember officers who had lost their lives while on duty.

Expand Close London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Met Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick and Home Secretary Priti Patel at the National Police Memorial in London (Stefan Rousseau/PA) PA / Facebook

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson, also in a video message for the service, paid tribute to the fallen officers who represent the very best of us.

They laid down their lives to prevent us from coming to harm and for that we owe them a huge debt, he said.

The dedication and selflessness that they showed in serving their communities will never be forgotten.

He pledged to ensure the police have the powers and the tools they need to keep themselves and the public safe.

Also in a video message Ms Patel said the annual commemoration means that the sacrifice made by Sgt Ratana and all brave officers who have left us before their time will never be forgotten by the policing family.

The Rev Wilbraham said he was immensely proud that a solution had been found to allow the service to go ahead and that he stood in virtual solidarity with the affected families.

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John Apter, national chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: Policing comes with a huge amount of risk and this is at the forefront of our minds, even more so following the devastating news on Friday when our colleague in the Metropolitan Police was killed.

National Police Memorial Day ensures that police officers who gave their all are never forgotten.
BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The agreement on the fate of video-sharing app TikTok recently reached between ByteDance and relevant U.S. companies is no more than another calculated step in Washington's brazen plan to plunder the Chinese firm.

Compared with an outright ban by the White House, the agreement may seem like a step back for Washington. Yet it would be naive to believe that it would lead to a happy-ever-after ending. As a matter of fact, some U.S. politicians have already vowed that TikTok must be fully controlled by American companies, or they will refuse to ratify the agreement.

From the very start, the ultimate purpose of the U.S. administration has never been to do a transnational commercial matchmaking, but to take full control of the Chinese tech firm, including its management, equities and core technologies.

Washington's roadmap to swallow TikTok has become increasingly clear. It first accused the social media platform of endangering America's national security, a totally baseless charge. Then it threatened to ban it with executive orders, and forced the company to sell itself to U.S. buyers.

For the moment, the potential deal may offer some hope that TikTok can continue operating in the United States, yet that is exactly what those predatory Washington politicians have intended. They have been good at manipulating those investors who are desperate to minimize losses and willing to sacrifice fairness for a deal, even though a ruinous one.

The biggest disgrace of the deal is its nature of inequality. According to media reports, the agreement imposes mandatory arrangements on the company's human resources, thus ByteDance is very likely to be reduced to a bystander in the possible new company.

Besides, ByteDance's partners may take the opportunity of scrutiny to obtain TikTok's entire source code and its updates, according to a CNN report.

While it is still too early to tell where this deal will lead to at the moment, what ByteDance is weathering in the United States is tantamount to a warning for all companies which seek to adventure there.

The United States will have no mercy when it comes to clamping down on competitive non-U.S. companies. To achieve its technological hegemony, Washington has never hesitated to openly violate the principles of market economy and fair competition which the United States has always flaunted.

If Washington can have its way this time, then it would surely use the same formula to plunder more foreign companies and their technologies, putting the legitimate rights of more countries and enterprises in grave danger.

The only viable path for companies to better protect their interests is to resolutely rise up against Washington's modern-day piracy. Blind appeasement will only encourage the United States to go even further in its naked bullying.
Twenty students in Auburn were potentially exposed to a bus monitor who tested positive for COVID, according to a letter and email sent to parents Friday from Auburn Public Schools Superintendent Casey Handfield.

The Auburn Public Schools students were in the presence of the bus monitor during their morning and afternoon bus rides between Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, according to the letter.

At the end of the day on September 18th, the bus monitor was removed after complaining of COVID-19 symptoms and placed into quarantine for 14 days, Handfield wrote.

The bus monitor had a negative COVID test on Sept. 19 but then tested positive on Sept. 23, Handfield said. School officials learned about the positive test results Thursday evening.

After consultation with the Auburn Board of Health and Inspectional Services, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, our district nurse leader, and in accordance with our medical protocol, the impacted staff, students, and siblings have been asked to quarantine out of an abundance of caution for their safety and follow-up with their medical providers, the letter said.

Town and school health officials will remain in contact with those people and students during the quarantine and until they are cleared to return to school.

The classrooms in the impacted buildings  Swanson Road Intermediate School and Auburn High School  are being deep-cleaned and will be ready before students return, school officials said

We are also meeting with the bus company today (Friday) to review protocols put in place related to the safe transport of our students related to COVID-19, Handfield wrote.

A MassLive reporter reached out to the superintendents office Friday but was told Handfield would not comment.

In the letter, Handfield urged families to continue to take precautions during the coronavirus pandemic.

We are not immune to this illness, but we need to keep working together to contain it, and ultimately defeat it, he wrote.

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The Oakland As reinstated utility man Chad Pinder from the injured list today, the team announced. Right-hander James Kaprielian has been optioned.

Pinder returns to give manager Bob Melvin flexibility in terms of his in-game substitutions. Pinder can play all over the field, including third base where the As are without star Matt Chapman. Jake Lamb figures to continue to get the majority of playing time at the hot corner, but Pinder should serve an important role on the roster. He could be used as a defensive replacement at third, but he could also see some starting time, specifically against southpaws. Vimael Machin and Tommy La Stella have also seen some time at third since Chapman went down. La Stella starts most days at designated hitter or second base, however. Machin doesnt bring much power to the table, but he puts the ball in play, with a tendency to go the other way and hit the ball on the ground. The 26-year-old rookie is the least likely of the collective to see significant playing time in the postseason.

Pinder should see an at-bat in todays season finale, but he wont play the field. Still, Melvin expects Pinder to be able to start in the postseason against left-handers, per Martin Gallegos of MLB.com (via Twitter). Oakland will enter the playoffs as either the #2 or #3 seed after winning the AL West. Theyll need to win today and see the Twins lose in order to jump into the #2 spot. A loss or a Twins win will result in the #3 seed for the As. If they finish as the #3 seed, theyll get the Astros in the first round. In that scenario, Pinder could start a potential game two or three if the Astros go to Framber Valdez to start one of those games.

As the #2 seed, their most-likely opponent would be the Cleveland Indians, who dont have a left-handed starter set to go in the first round. The Chicago White Sox could also fall to the #7 seed if they lose and the Indians win. Both the White Sox and Indians have some big-time lefties working out of the bullpen, so even if Pinder doesnt get his name in the starting lineup, he still will have the potential to make an impact, regardless of their first-round opponent.

Kaprielian made just two appearances for the As this season. The 26-year-old allowed 3 earned runs in 3 2/3 innings, his first taste of big-league action. The former Yankee farmhand came to Oakland as part of the Sonny Gray deal at the deadline in 2017.
I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move, Robert Louis Stevenson wrote in Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes. Sadly, in the past few months the virus has jinxed our ability to move. Not all itineraries are lost, though. India has created air bubbles with a few countries to continue our great affair to move.

Before moving, pay heed to wisdom. Check the latest COVID-19 updates of the destination country. Countries are adjusting travel restrictions/permissions according to the status of the contagion. Listen to Ministry of Civil Aviations suggestion that before making flight reservations to air-bubble countries, the passengers must confirm that they would be allowed entry into the destination country.

Heres a quick look at countries that Indians can travel to as per the current official air transport bubble. If you want to stay within the country, Sikkim, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands are picturesque not-so-explored options.

Nepal: After more than six months of lockdown, Nepal is opening its doors to international travellers from October 17, 2020. Other than regular sight-seeing trips, trekking and mountaineering in groups has also been permitted by the countrys Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If Nepal is on your must-go list, hurry. Because during the initial resumption of tourism, the number of tourists entering the country will be restricted to 3,000.

Who is allowed: Any Indian national carrying a RT-PCR negative test result done no more than 72 hours before departure.

Flight: Delhi-Kathmandu return flight ticket costs roughly Rs 13,000

Packages: Per person 3-night package including meals, transfer, flights, accommodation, sight-seeing: Hotel Fairfield By Marriott (Rs 8,499), Hotel Radisson (non-casino, Rs 13, 899), Shangri La (non-casino Rs 10,599)

Tip: Indian currency (denomination of Rs 100 and less) is valid in Nepal. In larger cities like Kathmandu and Pokhra, Indian currency is widely acceptable but if you are plan to trek to remote areas, carry Nepalese Rupee.

Maldives: Maldives, a pretty archipelago sitting smug in the Indian Ocean, reopened its borders on July 15 after a hiatus of 110 days. According to the countrys Ministry of Tourism directive, all tourists and short-term visitors will have to present a Negative PCR certificate on arrival. Movement within the islands have also been eased a little - tourists can now split their holidays between two resorts which was not allowed earlier.

Who is allowed: Any Indian national with a mandatory COVID-19 negative certificate. Flights: Delhi-Male economy flights start at Rs 15,500.

Packages: Hello Maldives (Starting at Rs.39,990 per person on twin sharing; includes return fare, 3-night stay in a Deluxe room, airport transfers); Elegant stay in Coco Bodu Hithi (Starting at Rs.74,990 per person on double sharing; includes 3 nights in Island villa, breakfast/dinner, return airport transfers)

Tip: Indian nationals are granted free visa on arrival with 30-day validity.

The United States of America:

Before booking, the official website of Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/from-other-countries.html) for latest entry directives.

Who is allowed: Any Indian national holding any type of valid US visa.

Flights: Delhi-New York cheapest return flight starts at Rs 59,000; fastest flights start at Rs 96,000. Delhi-San Francisco cheapest return flight starts at Rs 66,519, fastest flight costs Rs 98,918

Packages: USA East Coast with Chicago (6 nights, Rs 205,000); USA West Coast (Rs 220,805), USA East Coast & West Coast (12 nights, Rs 320,670). Various other packages are available on www.kesari.in

Canada:

For entry permissions, check www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/travel-restrictions-exemptions.html

Who is allowed: Indian nationals with valid visas eligible to enter Canada. Seamen holding Indian passports would be allowed subject to clearance from the Ministry of Shipping

Flights: Delhi-Toronto cheapest flight starts at Rs 98,636

Packages: Best of Canada (13 nights, Rs 384,070). You can also combine Canada + US East Coast trip for 11 nights at Rs 302,603. Various other packages are available on www.kesari.in

The United Kingdom:

Before planning a sojourn, check https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control for details on entry permissions. There are different entry rules and regulations depending on whether you are travelling to England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Who is allowed: Any Indian national holding any type of valid UK visa and destined for the UK only.

Flights: Delhi-London cheapest flight starts at Rs 54,000.

Packages: Per person rates including meals, accommodation, sight-seeing transfer: Simply London (3 nights, Rs 41,990), Best of UK and Ireland (7 nights, Rs 56,990), Gems of Scotland (5 nights, Rs 64,490).

Qatar:

For details on entry permissions, visit www.gco.gov.qa/en/travel/

Who is allowed: Any Indian national holding any type of valid Qatar visa and destined for Qatar only

Flight: Non-stop Qatar Airways New Delhi-Doha flight starts at Rs 38,585. Passengers travelling with Qatar Airways up to December 31, 2020, can now change their travel plans free of charge by altering their booking dates or opting to receive a travel voucher up to three days prior to departure.

Packages: Including meal, transfer, accommodation, sight-seeing: Qatar Explorer (3 nights, Rs 26,096), Amazing Qatar (4 nights, Rs 33,745), Qatar Retail Therapy (3 nights, Rs 34,545), Romantic Holiday in Qatar (5 nights, Rs 45,840)

Sikkim: If you are looking for a getaway within India, Sikkim is an ideal option. According to an official communique, the countrys second-smallest state is scheduled to open its doors to interstate travellers on October 10 and no pre-registration will be required. From October 1, the Sikkim border with West Bengal will also open for unrestricted road travel and the odd-even road rationing rule will also be lifted.

Flight: The nearest airport to Gangtok is Bagdogra Airport (125 kms). Taxi fare from Bagdogra to Gangtok would be around Rs 2,800. Delhi-Bagdogra economy return flight costs roughly Rs 7,500

Packages: Per person 3 night packages including meals, transfer, flights, accommodation, sight-seeing are: Alluring Gangtok (Rs 14,499), Delightful Darjeeling & Gangtok (4 nights Rs 27,999), Shangri La (non-casino Rs 10,599)

Andaman & Nicobar Islands: According to www.yatra.com, tourists are allowed in Andaman & Nicobar Islands but inter-island transfers are restricted as ferries are not operating. Covid-19 negative certificate is required.

Flight: Delhi-Port Blair economy return flight costs roughly Rs 25,000 per person.

Packages: Per person holiday packages including flights, hotel, sight-seeing, meals: Andaman Crazy Deal (4n/5d, Rs 28,799), Andaman Youth Special Backpackers (5n/6d, Rs 41,999), Exotic Anadman (5n/6d, Rs 45,999).

Good to know:

Air bubbles: Check the official website of the Ministry of Civil Aviation

https://www.civilaviation.gov.in/en/about-air-transport-bubbles

Packages: Flight/accommodation packages can be found at www.yatra.com, www.makemytrip.com, www.sotc.in, www.kesari.in

Preeti Verma Lal is a Goa-based freelance writer/photographer.
The BJP leader said his meeting with Raut was an interview for the Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' and asserted that the MVA government in Maharashtra 'would collapse due to its own inaction'

Mumbai: Former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has no intention of joining hands with the Shiv Sena or to bring down the Uddhav Thackeray-led state government.

Talking to reporters in Mumbai, Fadnavis claimed people of the state are "unhappy" with the performance of the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government and it "would collapse due to its own inactions".

The senior BJP leader also said his meeting with Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Saturday, which prompted speculation in political circles, was regarding an interview for the Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

The Shiv Sena snapped ties with the BJP last year after the Maharashtra Assembly polls over the issue of sharing the chief ministerial post. The Uddhav Thackeray-led party then joined hands with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress to form the MVA government in the state.

"We have no intention of joining hands with the Shiv Sena or to bring down the government. When it falls on its own, we will see," said Fadnavis, who is the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly.

"My meeting with Raut had no political connotations. He asked me for an interview to 'Saamana', to which I agreed. But, I had put my conditions- like the interview should be unedited and I should get to put my own camera during the interview. So we met to discuss its nitty-gritties," he said.

Meanwhile, Raut, who also spoke to reporters separately, said he and Fadnavis are not enemies and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was aware of the meeting which was pre-planned to discuss the interview schedule.

However, Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam criticised Raut, alleging that he was in a hurry to grab headlines. "When that happens, political careers end. This is not my ill-wish for Raut, but a reality," the former Mumbai Congress chief told news agency PTI.

Nirupam, who has been sulking since his removal from the post of Mumbai Congress chief ahead of the Lok Sabha polls last year, said if the party is serious about opposing the new farm bills passed by Parliament, it should first ask the ruling Shiv Sena in Maharashtra to spell out its stand.

The Congress and the NCP say they will not allow the implementation of the new laws in Maharashtra, while Chief Minister Thackeray hasn't uttered a word on it, he said.

"The Shiv Sena supported the farm bills in the Lok Sabha, while it staged a walkout from the RajyaSabha when other Opposition parties were demanding a vote on it," Nirupam said, adding that farmers in Maharashtra are confused (over the state government's stand).
The central government will celebrate the fourth anniversary of 2016s surgical strikes against terrorist camps in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir by the Indian army on September 28.

The strike on the night of September 27-28 in 2016 was in response to an attack by Pakistan-based terrorists on an army base in Kashmirs Uri on September 18 in which 19 soldiers were killed.

Here is all you need to know about Surgical Strike Day:

 The terrorists from Pakistan launched a deadly attack on a military base in Jammu and Kashmirs Uri, killing 19 Indian soldiers on September 18, 2016.

 The army responded by conducting surgical strikes against terror pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

 The attack was carried out under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, defence minister Manohar Parrikar and National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval. India will neither forgive nor forget, PM Modi had declared less than a week after the Uri attack.

 The armys build-up for the strikes began on September 24. The special forces squads set out for the mission armed with night-vision devices, Tavor 21 and AK-47 assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenades, shoulder-fired missiles, Heckler and Koch pistols, high explosive grenades and plastic explosives. The teams were 30-strong each and had specific targets.

 The plan was such that teams with distant targets left early on September 27 evening so that all strikes would be coordinated. The instructions were that all teams would engage the terrorists simultaneously so that none could rescue another.

 Civilians living close to border in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab were evacuated started at 10 pm on September 27, before Indian soldiers went across.

 Sentries at the launchpads were neutralised by snipers before the troops went in and finished the job.

 All teams returned to their bases by 9 am on September 28. One Indian army soldier lost his life in the operation.

 Army said Indian soldiers razed six launchpads to the ground and gunned down 45 terrorists at various locations.

 In 2018, two years after the attack, the government decided to celebrate September 28 as Surgical Strike Day.
DOJ warns San Franciscos mayor that 1-person limit on church attendance is unconstitutional

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The Justice Department has warned San Francisco Mayor London Breed that the citys limitations on indoor worship to one congregant at a time in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is contrary to the Constitution and the nations best tradition of religious freedom.

In response to the city's policy of only allowing one person at a time to enter houses of worship, the Justice Department said in its letter to Breed that the city could not limit places of worship to a single congregant while allowing multiple patrons in other indoor settings including gyms, tattoo parlors, hair salons, massage studios, and daycares.

The limitation is draconian, out of step with the treatment afforded other similar indoor activities in San Francisco, wholly at odds with this Nations traditional understanding of religious liberty, and may violate the First Amendment to the Constitution, wrote Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Eric Dreiband and U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California David Anderson.

The letter pointed out that there is no pandemic exception to the Constitution.

Individual rights, including the protections in the Bill of Rights, are always operative and restrain government action. Thus, even in times of emergency, when reasonable, narrowly-tailored, and temporary restrictions may lawfully limit our liberty, the First Amendment and federal statutory law continue to prohibit discrimination against religious institutions and religious believers.

Dreiband and Anderson added, Government may not discriminate against religious gatherings compared to other nonreligious gatherings that have the same effect on the governments public health interest, absent compelling reasons.

San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera responded to the DOJs letter by calling it lobbing careless legal threats.

Herrera added in a statement to KPIX that San Francisco was opening at the speed of safety and that the city planned to allow larger gatherings at churches beyond what is described in the federal governments letter.

Its consistent with San Franciscos careful approach and follows closely behind what the state of California allows, Herrera said.

Herrera said the plan would be implemented Wednesday, allowing indoor religious services at 25% capacity up to 50 people, and outdoor services up to 100 people, with safety protocols.

Last Sunday, three eucharistic processions originating at Catholic parishes throughout the city converged at city hall as protesters participated in the Free the Mass event. From there, attendees marched to the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, where Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone led outdoor mass. Were very tired of being discriminated against because weve proven scientifically we can worship safely inside the church, he said.

Cordileones discrimination claim was in response to the city's lockdown restrictions limiting outdoor worship services to 50 people and only one person at a time for an indoor prayer but no service. Similar limits were not placed on secular businesses such as grocery and retail stores. Cordileone and others accused San Francisco officials of violating citizens' 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.

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.
The information spread by Armenia about allegedly shooting down of 3 tanks, 2 helicopters and 3 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) of the Azerbaijani Army is false and disinformation, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry has reported.

We pointed out that our units have complete advantage over the Armenian armed forces in the front, the message said.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
This is why investing in other materials and designs should be a priority for everybody, and this is exactly what a company called Concept ar is trying to do right now.Called ar Gloves, their new product is essentially a new idea that could bring us the worlds first self-cleaning gloves if the crowdfunding campaign posted on Indiegogo is successful.Just like their name suggests, the gloves can kill any virus or bacteria on their surface thanks to a patented treatment called ViralOff and based on a strong biocide.Cleaning the gloves is pretty easy and convenient. Just put them into a dedicated bag where this biocide can do its magic and after two hours, you should be ready to wear them again without the need for any kind of washing.The latest treatment technology from the Swedish company Polygiene. Applied to textiles, including face masks, ViralOff has been certified by ISO 18184:2019 and ATCC VR-1679 (H3N2) tests. The active ingredient is a biocide, based on the reaction mass of titanium dioxide and silver chloride. After every use just put the ar Gloves in the bag and they will self-clean in 2 hours, the parent company explains in a post on Indiegogo The gloves are made from a fabric material that features a water repellent coating, and not only theyre touchscreen-friendly, which means that you can continue using your smartphone while wearing them, but they also come with some personalization options, including various colors for the logo.The inventor of the gloves highlights several scenarios where they can be useful, and one of them concerns drivers who stop at a gas station and need to touch the pump that so many other people touched before them. Furthermore, the gloves can also protect the hands of those using scooter sharing services like Lime or simply when taking a cab or grabbing a parking ticket.If the crowdfunding campaign is successful, the gloves should start shipping in November. For Indiegogo users, the super early bird perk guarantees one pair of ar Gloves for just $19.
Williams & Williams Law Group Managing Attorney Saharie Reed gave the following statement for the entire Firm:

The Williams & Williams Law Group, PLLC mourns the death of their Founder Mr. Jason Williams on September 14, 2020 at 105 years young. He represented Black Lives Matter long before the movement ever started. He was a leader and a teacher for so many of those who have passed through his law firm and will be dearly missed by all or us and those who knew him as a co-worker or client.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the Williams family for their loss and the loss of a true hero. Being an African American lawyer in the late 1930s, he stood tall and shined a light on the path for other African Americans who embarked on the path of the legal industry. As a young black lawyer, he was blessed to worked side-by-side with the late United States Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights era.

Mr. Williams worked in the Public Defenders Office becoming a State Prosecutor and then a Federal Prosecutor. He established his own one-man law firm which grew to a 60-person firm over the course of a few years, growing to be one of the most successful law firms in south Dallas. Mr. Williams will be greatly missed and the star which shined so bright will grow dim but never go out. His legacy will continue to live through young lawyers he trained and are still performing law today.

Williams & Williams Law Group, PLLC also mourns the death of our beloved Rita. A Nixon who died on August 16, 2020. Ms. Nixon worked 30 years for the US Federal Government and became a Private Investigator and Paralegal for the Williams & Williams Law Group, PLLC for over 7 years. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and sister plus a very dear and close friend of Mr. Williams for decades. Ms. Nixon was an extraordinary women with a great knowledge of life and law. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

It is unfortunate at the time of our mourning Mr. Williams and Ms. Nixon, we also have the passing of another great legal mind, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. With our hearts already heavy with the passing of our founder Jason Williams and dear friend Rita Nixon, our hearts go out to the family of United States Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, a very unique person and remarkable woman. Justice Ginsberg was real fighter for individual rights and a top intellect when it came to the law.

Just as Federal Prosecutor Jason Williams, one of the first Black Federal Prosecutors, Justice Ginsberg, the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court, broke countless barriers throughout her long legal career serving as an example for woman worldwide being a woman who broke the barriers. We are all so grateful for her service to our great nation and being a role model for all women around the world.

About the Williams & Williams Law Firm, PLLC

The Williams & Williams Law Group, PLLC was formed in 1958 as The Williams Law Group. The firm represented many African Americans in the south Dallas area and expanded to serve those around the nation. In 2017, it became the Williams & Williams Law Group, PLLC as Mr. Jason Williams transferred the Firm to those he trusted to continue his long earned reputation. The Williams & Williams Law Group, PLLC is located at 1425 N Dallas Ave, Suite 201 Lancaster Texas 75134, phone 214-396-5485.
L awyers for TikTok have pleaded with a US federal judge to delay the Trump administrations ban of the popular video sharing app.

The ban to offer TikTok on app stores is set to take effect later on Sunday.

But the lawyers argue the move would infringe on First Amendment rights and do irreparable harm to the business.

The 90-minute hearing came after US President Donald Trump declared this summer that TikTok was a threat to national security and that it either sold its US operations to American companies or the app would be barred from the country.

Donald Trump declared this summer that TikTok was a threat to national security / AP

TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, is scrambling to firm up a deal tentatively struck a week ago in which it would partner with tech company Oracle and retailer Walmart and that would get the blessing of the Chinese and American governments. In the meantime, it is fighting to keep the app available in the US.

The ban on new downloads of TikTok, which has about 100 million users in the US, was delayed once by the government. A more comprehensive ban is scheduled for November, about a week after the presidential election.

Judge Carl Nichols of the US district court for the District of Columbia said he would make a decision by late on Sunday, leaving TikToks fate hanging.

In arguments to Judge Nichols, TikTok lawyer John Hall said that the program was more than an app but rather was a modern-day version of a town square.

If that prohibition goes into effect at midnight, the consequences immediately are grave, Mr Hall said.

It would be no different than the government locking the doors to a public forum, roping off that town square at a time when a free exchange of ideas was necessary heading into a polarised election.

TikTok lawyers also argued that a ban on the app would stop tens of thousands of potential viewers and content creators every month and would also hurt its ability to hire new talent.

In addition, Mr Hall argued that a ban would prevent existing users from automatically receiving security updates, eroding national security.

Justice Department lawyer Daniel Schwei sought to undercut TikTok lawyers arguments, saying that Chinese companies were not purely private and were subject to intrusive laws compelling their co-operation with intelligence agencies.

The Justice Department has also argued that economic regulations of this nature generally were not subject to First Amendment scrutiny.

Lawyers are battling the TikTok ban in the US / AP

Plaintiffs could not claim a First Amendment right in hosting TikTok itself as a platform for other peoples speech because merely hosting a platform was not an exercise of the First Amendment, the Justice Department contended.

This is the most immediate national security threat, Mr Schwei argued.

It is a threat today. It is a risk today and therefore it deserves to be addressed today even while other things are ongoing and playing out.

Mr Schwei also argued that TikTok lawyers had failed to prove it would suffer irreparable business harm.

The Justice Department laid out its objections to TikToks motion for a temporary injunction in a brief under seal, but it was unsealed in redacted form to protect confidential business information.

Mr Trump set the process in motion with executive orders in August that declared TikTok and another Chinese app, WeChat, threats to national security.

TikTok is seen on the side of the company's new office space at the C3 campus in Culver City, in the westside of Los Angeles / AFP via Getty Images

The White House said the video service was a security risk because the personal information of its millions of US users could be handed over to Chinese authorities.

Mr Trump has said he would approve a proposed deal in which Oracle and Walmart could initially own a combined 20% of a new US entity, TikTok Global. The president also said he could retract his approval if Oracle did not have total control.

The two sides of the TikTok deal have also appeared at odds over the corporate structure of TikTok Global. ByteDance said last week it would still own 80% of the US entity after a financing round. Meanwhile, Oracle put out a statement saying that Americans will be the majority and ByteDance will have no ownership in TikTok Global.

Chinese media have criticised the deal as bullying and extortion, suggesting that the Chinese government is not happy with the arrangement.

ByteDance said on Thursday it had applied for a Chinese technology export license after Beijing tightened control over exports last month in an effort to gain leverage over Washingtons attempt to force an outright sale of TikTok to US owners.

Chinas foreign ministry has said the government will take necessary measures to safeguard its companies but gave no indication what steps it could take to affect TikToks fate in the United States.

TikTok is suing the US government over Mr Trumps August 6 executive order, saying it was unlawful. So were resulting Commerce Department prohibitions that aim to kick TikTok out of US app stores and, in November, essentially shut it down in the US, it claimed.

The Chinese firm said the president did not have the authority to take these actions under the national security law he cited; that the ban violated TikToks First Amendment speech rights and Fifth Amendment due process rights; and that there was no authority for the restrictions because they were not based on a national emergency.
Mike Cannon-Brookes sure has had a change of heart. Or that's what it looked like on Thursday night in Double Bay as the tech billionaire enjoyed a quiet drink in a very public place with Wentworth MP Dave Sharma. The pair were spotted in deep conversation on a pavement table outside the fashionable bibo wine bar on Bay Street.

Mike Cannon-Brookes and Dave Sharma. Credit:Louie Douvis, Peter Braig

Cannon-Brookes, who is backing a $22 billion solar project in the Northern Territory, supported Sharma's opponent Kerryn Phelps during the 2019 federal election. Awkward.

Electoral donation disclosures revealed Atlassian founder donated $50,000 to a climate-focused campaign backing Phelps during her 2019 attempt to retain the seat of Wentworth against Sharma. Known as Climate200, the not-for-profit was set up in April 2019 by Victorian-based renewable energy investor and advocate Simon Holmes a Court, and provided almost $350,000 in funding to independents including Phelps, Zali Steggall and Victorian candidates Helen Haines and Oliver Yates, campaigning against the Liberal Party.

Cannon-Brookes also picked a side in the 2018 Wentworth by-election, using his favourite mouthpiece - Twitter - to rail against the Liberals on climate and energy issues.
CHENGDU, CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / September 27, 2020 / The grand opening of Rheem China's R&D Center and Innovation Learning Center (ILC) was held in Chengdu on Sep 22 and 23. Yang Jinhua (Director of the Traffic Administration Bureau in Xindu), Wu Qian (GM of The American Chamber of Commerce in Southwest China) and all Rheem China executives and employees attended the ceremony, along with nearly 200 distributors from all over the country.

At the beginning of the event, Steve Li (General Manager of Rheem China) expressed his warm welcome and gratitude to all the guests and distributors, and he shared with them his happiness for the grand opening. He also stressed his firm confidence in the future development of Rheem China.

The launch ceremony kicked off with great momentum. Steve Li, Yang Jinhua, Wen Yong (R&D DGM of Rheem China), other valued guests, and Rheem China executives pressed their handprints together onto an interactive screen, bringing the whole ceremony to its climax.

In a tree planting activity called "Together, Make It Happen", Steve Li invited distinguished distributors to plant the trees of cooperation and express their wish to "take root and grow together with Rheem China".

Afterwards, all distributors visited the exhibit hall, the ILC, the R&D Center, and the manufacturing center. As they experienced firsthand the cultural concept of the Rheem brand, its advanced equipment, and its innovative technologies, they looked forward to growing together with Rheem China in the future.

Rheem is a unique company

At the distributors' conference, Rich Bendure (President of Rheem's global water business) joined the meeting via video to share his personal greetings, and he also commented on the Rheem Brand and strategy. "Rheem is a unique company. Rheem is quickly approaching its 100 year anniversary in 2025. We are a privately held company, owned by the fourth generation of the founder's family, and employs over 10,000 employees around the world. We have no financial debt. Rheem globally is in two main businesses, water heating and HVAC. We are one of the largest producers in the world and manufacturing over 6M units per year. We are also the only water heating company that is represented in a significant way across every continent in Asia, Australasia, Europe, Latin America, and North America. We have 11 water business units, 10 R&D centers, and 14 manufacturing centers across all of these geographies. If we are present in all these markets, we can choose the best technologies to share and leverage to each of our businesses."

Story continues

Rheem is a value-driven company. Our values represent the operating principles that guide our conduct with employees, customers, society, and shareholders.

China is a very important market for Rheem

Rich emphasized that "China is a very important market for several reasons. It is large, there is a strong and growing expectation from the end users for quality and value, and there is an opportunity for innovation."

"We've invested the most in Rheem China over the past year than we have in the past decade. All of this even in a pandemic that resulted in a market contraction. Investments across the board in R&D, Manufacturing, Marketing, and Sales. And we continue to invest in 2021 for this new chapter of Rheem China. My expectations are high that we will listen even more to the market, the customer, and our partners. That our offerings and our service will be improved. That we will tell our story in a way that resonates and remains true to our philosophy, history, and our brands."

Later, Steve Li shared his insights into the current situation of the Chinese market. He then talked about Rheem's China Strategy, consisting of Invest to Grow, Innovate to Lead, and Deliver on Commitments, for cultivating the company's development in the Chinese market. In addition, Steve Li introduced its China Transformation Plan for sustaining growth in 4 dimensions: channels, products, operations, and organization.

New product releases

"The company was founded on the principle of innovation, and today it continues to be our growth engine," said Rich. With the opening of its R&D Center, Rheem China will create its core competitiveness through all-round innovation. The company will strengthen local products manufacturing and design, as well as enhance R&D capability in China. Through product innovation, Rheem China will pursue market segments including combi boilers, residential heat pumps, and commercial water heaters.

Taking this opportunity, Rheem China also held a meeting for new product releases. The R&D team launched upgraded technologies for electric water heaters, heat pump water heaters, residential gas water heaters, and commercial water heaters. Among 16 new products with high efficiency were the Triton Plus commercial outdoor condensing gas storage water heater, the Xclusive residential condensing gas combi boiler, and the Emax instant electric water heater. All the distributors were very excited about the new products and impressed by the powerful R&D ability and innovative technology of Rheem China.

"Your success should be our success."

"Your success should be our success," Rich said. "And a customer only opens their wallet when he feels that there is superior value - how they define it - in the solutions, products, and support that we bring." Rheem established its ILC in China to offer professional training courses that will help dealers, partners, and staff to deeply understand the company's products and services, as well as to ensure the value of Rheem solutions is understood.

In addition, Steve Li also expressed what he expected from distributors: that they will support the development of exclusive customers and focus on the construction of retail outlets. That they trust our brand, with an emphasis on selling premium products. That they take care of the customer experience. That they value talent and strengthen our organization. At last, Steve Li called for joint efforts to work together for a better future.

"As we have grown, and our success has helped others, in turn our channel partners and dealers have awarded us more share. We have pushed each other for higher expectations and performance, and at the same time done that in an environment of trust," said Rich. The distributors at the scene said that they feel at home in Rheem China and they were impressed by the brand new factory and the innovative technology. The distributors were confident about the future and indicated that they would continue to expand channels and increase store investments in order to bring Rheem products to the market.

Steve Li believes that with great investment from the Rheem group, the full support of our partners, and the joint effort of our teams, the future of Rheem China will be brilliant.

Contact:

Rheem China

Zeng Jia

zengjia@rheemchina.com

4008869119

www.rheemchina.com

SOURCE: Rheem China





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/607951/Rheem-China-Hosts-a-Grand-Opening-for-Its-RD-Center-and-Innovation-Learning-Center




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The All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) has sought Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) 'urgent intervention' into the affairs of Thrissur-based private lender Dhanlaxmi Bank before it runs into problems.

AIBEA General Secretary CH Venkatachalam, in a letter to RBI, alleged that top management had "brought serious problems and created a virtual mess in the name of modernising" the bank, Business Standard reported.

In the letter, Venkatachalam said the 93-year-old institution had faced performance-based losses of over Rs 850 crore between 2008 and 2012, but made strides after RBI intervention mandated a change in the top management and strengthening of its capital base. It recorded its highest ever profit of Rs 65 crore in FY20.

He raised concerns with regards to changes in the top management at the start of 2020 and in recent months, alleging: The bank is again heading in the wrong direction. Instead of consolidating gains and strengthening the bank, we observe that efforts are on to change the business profile, which are bound to land the bank into difficulties.

The letter points out that 'a lot' of branches were opened in north India, but soon closed many after problems arose due to inadequate control and supervision.

....but we learn that attempts are again being made to open more branches in the northern states, while the bank has inadequate infrastructure to manage business in those areas. Similarly, the cost to income ratio in this bank is already high, and it goes without saying that there is imperative need and necessity to improve the ratio substantially. We are sure that the RBI would also be of the same view in this regard, he said.

Venkatachalam also expressed concern on contractual appointments of a large number of sales and senior executives on a cost to company basis at a much higher remuneration. He said the bank cannot bear and afford the financial burden at this juncture and will land in a catastrophe.

If the RBI does not effectively intervene in the affairs of Dhanlaxmi Bank now, it will once again run into problems. People have slowly regained their confidence in the bank, and any reversal of the same would be suicidal for the financial institution, he noted, requesting urgent intervention.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

Trend:

Azerbaijan has no military targets in Armenia, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev said in his address to the people, Trend reports.

Armenia's military provocations against Azerbaijan have become regular of late," the president said. "In July, our servicemen and a civilian were killed as a result of artillery fire in the direction of Tovuz on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. It is no secret that the first fire, including artillery fire, was opened by Armenia, and the first victims were Azerbaijani servicemen."

"Azerbaijan gave a fitting rebuff to the enemy and they could not move an inch forward," the president said. "The enemy was stopped and the territorial integrity of our country was protected. As a result of the crushing blows, the Armenian side was forced to accept a bitter defeat. I have said this and I want to say again that if we had wanted, we could have conducted military battles on the territory of Armenia. However, we do not have military targets in Armenia, and this being the case, a ceasefire was introduced a few days later.
Just when we thought 2020 had dealt us enough surprises along came another.

Theres always an October Surprise in the closing days of a presidential campaign. This year it came in September.

The untimely death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the resulting vacancy on the high court threw a gigantic and unanticipated factor into the presidential campaign.

Justice Ginsburg was held in high regard, even among those who opposed her opinions. Her personal friendship with fellow associate justice, Antonin Scalia, with whom she rarely agreed, was legendary.

In a time when theres purposeful division and conflict over just about every social and political issue, justices Scalia and Ginsburg showed us a better way. They not only had deep respect for each other, they had true affection. They made sure that their differences remained philosophical and not personal.

Ironically both justices passed away during the last days of a presidents term and during a presidential election. Both occurrences set up pitched battles for the vacancy their passing created.

Democrats cant get over what happened the last time when the presidents nomination failed to get to the Senate floor for a vote. As a result, they are now screaming hypocrisy as Republicans prepare to move on President Trumps nomination.

Lets be clear. Theres no corner on the market when it comes to alleged hypocrisy. Take the inflammatory rhetoric of four years ago, reverse the sides, and youll hear exactly the same things now.

After all, it was Joe Biden who passionately told us, The president has the constitutional duty to nominate and the Senate has a constitutional obligation to provide advice and consent. That was in 2016.

The Constitution is clear. Article II, Section 2, Clause 2, the Appointments Clause, says that the president shall make the nomination.

There are emotional and political appeals for the president to pass on his constitutional responsibility. They miss the mark. Even the purported deathbed wish of Justice Ginsburg fails the test.

Seats on the Supreme Court arent owned by the justices that occupy them. They have no discretion in how they are filled. The seats belong to the people of the United States and the Constitution, which all senators swear to uphold. That governs the nomination and confirmation process.

By the time this column is being read, President Trump will have announced his nomination of the next Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

The president has already said that his choice will be a woman. The heavy betting has fallen to two, Judge Amy Coney Barrett of the Seventh Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals and Judge Barbara Lagoa of the Eleventh Circuit. Both are highly respected jurists who have recently been vetted and confirmed by the Senate.

That wont stop the harshest attacks imaginable from coming their way.

Already Senate Democrats are ginning up all sorts of scenarios to make mischief with the system in order to derail whomever the president nominates. It doesnt matter whom he sends up, they are going to do everything within their power to defeat her.

Theres one big problem with their strategy: They dont have the votes.

Ultimately thats what this all boils down to. The confirmation process was designed by our founders as a political process. It allows for an additional check on the power of the federal judiciary and its lifetime appointments.

Some of the history of that process bears repeating. This isnt the first time that a president has been called upon to nominate a justice at the close of a term. Its occurred at least 19 times previously, including when President Adams nominated John Marshall after he had already lost his re-election.

The confirmation process has not always been the long and dragged out affair that Senate Democrats would like. The Senate nominated one of Franklin Roosevelts nominations in just four hours, obviously without so much as a hearing.

Ruth Bader Ginsburgs nomination and subsequent confirmation took only 42 days and resulted in only three negative votes. Sandra Day OConnor, named by president Ronald Reagan as the first woman on the Supreme Court, had her unanimous confirmation 33 days after Reagan named her.

Theres clearly time to act on President Trumps nomination. Sadly, some Democrats are saying theyll refuse to even meet with whomever President Trump nominates. So much for open minds and a fair process. Others are already attacking Judge Barrett over her Catholic faith, thereby defying the Constitution itself.

The stakes are obvious. The Supreme Court continues to make some of the most consequential and controversial public policy decisions. They affect every aspect of our lives.

President Trump will nominate a jurist who believes the Constitution says what its intended to say, not what some politicians wish it says. His nominee will get the confirmation she deserves.

Charlie Gerow is a Republican strategist and CEO of Quantum Communications. He and Democrat Mark Singel write opposite each other each week on PennLive. They can also be seen each Sunday morning at 8:30 on CBS-21s Face the State.
- William Ruto has accused Raila Odinga of being intolerant of people with alternative or divergent views concerning the BBI process

- He has set out minimums, which include political sensitivity and championing of hustler's economic rights before he can wade into the BBI debate

- Earlier, Raila had accused Ruto of being an impediment to constitutional change through the BBI and thriving in politics of "corruption and deceit"

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Deputy President William Ruto has hit back at ODM leader Raila Odinga after the Opposition leader accused him of being a roadblock to constitutional amendments through the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).

In a strongly-worded statement on Saturday, September 26, Ruto accused Raila of being a "lord of tribalism and poverty and beneficiary of political violence" and listed several demands that he said should be fulfilled before the country could walk the BBI path.

READ ALSO: 7 people succumb to COVID-19 as 164 test positive

Deputy President William Ruto interacting with his supporters. Photo: William Ruto.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: You are the DP: Netizens ask Ruto what he's done for Kenya after poetic Kajiado speech

BBI to benefit just a few

According to Ruto, the push for constitutional amendments was a selfish venture aimed at benefiting only a few people while leaving "hustlers" exposed to the cruelty of the prevailing economic times.

The DP, who has been marshalling the hustlers narrative, claimed the Opposition leader and his allies had thrown in the towel after hustlers (low-income earners) refused to be configured with BBI politics.

READ ALSO: "Kumbe kwa ground vitu ni different", Wakenya washtuka kuona picha za Seneta Sakaja

"The lords of tribalism and poverty who are masters or beneficiaries of political violence are very mad at the unbowed hustler's movement. Why? The hustlers have refused the tribe configuration and instead, they want a conversation on their individual hustles which are tribeless. Tribe has been hijacked by tribal chiefs to benefit themselves and their families to the detriment of hustlers and their children. And enough is enough.

The hustlers, as a minimum, want a nee conversation. Not about anyone's tribe but about the hustles of each one of us. Not about power but about empowerment. Not about positions for the mighty but about jobs for the ordinary. Surely, that is not too much to ask! Is it? But instead, known ethnic chieftains, with no respect for rule of law or democratic election outcomes, complete with track records of chaos and anarchy, are at it again. This time with the BBI. Threatening confrontation with anyone with an alternative or contrary opinion to theirs," the DP wrote.

DP Ruto during a political rally. Photo: William Ruto.

Source: Facebook

Raila's salvo

Ruto's remarks came after Raila hinted that the BBI report was "around the corner" but was quick to go for the DP's jugular terming him as a "voice of impunity that thrives in corruption and outright lies".

"The BBI report is around the corner. The forces that have always opposed change; the voices of impunity that thrive on corruption and outright lies, have already lined up against the report. We must stop them from dragging the country into anarchy," said Raila.

READ ALSO: West Brom vs Chelsea: Abraham's late strike saved Blues from 2nd straight defeat

ODM leader Raila Odinga. Photo: ODM Party.

Source: Facebook

Winner takes it all

The BBI report, which according to President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila is expected to heal Kenya from the scars of the winner takes it all system, is yet to be presented to the head of state for approval after its completion about four months ago.

If approved for adoption, the report may see Kenyan head to the ballot for a referendum that will pave the way for it to be enacted in law.

In his argument, the DP poked holes in the ability of the BBI to solve economic problems facing the youth stating that it will only benefit five people and their families.

Deep state and system

He once again pulled the "deep state and system" card but this time round became lyrical and informed Raila that even if he was banking on godfathers to clinch power in 2022, the hustler movement is going against him with "God the father".

"Are you telling us that the creation of five lofty positions for the mighty by BBI is more urgent than the implementation of the Housing Programme that would create 2.5 million jobs for ordinary Kenyans! Really? Hata kama ni madharau (Even if it is contempt).

"You also pride in godfathers. But we are the people, the hustler nation, and we have God the father. Please let's have a decent conversation. That is all we are asking. We don't want contempt, abuse, blackmail and threats," the DP stated.

READ ALSO: Quickfix Plumbers Nairobi: Firm responding to plumbing emergencies within 45 minutes

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My car broke my family - Kenneth Saota | Tuko TV.

Source: TUKO.co.ke
One of Britain's first gay fathers has welcomed his second daughter, with his eldest daughter's ex-boyfriend via surrogate today.

Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, 50, who is originally from Manchester, is engaged to his bisexual assistant Scott Hutchison, 25, who previously dated his 20-year-old daughter, Saffron, for several months.

The couple announced earlier this year they were expecting a baby together in October, but this morning revealed that their baby daughter has come a month early.

Barrie revealed they feel 'totally blessed' that their daughter Valentina Willow Drewitt-Barlow has arrived, sharing an adorable video of the newborn to his Instagram.

One of Britain's first gay fathers, Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, 50, has welcomed his second daughter Valentina Willow Drewitt-Barlow (pictured) with his eldest daughter's ex-boyfriend via surrogate today

She's here! Barrie, originally from Manchester but living in Florida, is engaged to his bisexual assistant Scott Hutchison (left), 25, who previously dated his 20-year-old daughter, Saffron, for several months. The couple will co-parent Valentina Willow

Barrie and his former partner Tony, 55, hit headlines in 1999 when they became the first same sex couple to be formally registered as parents.

Speaking of his latest parental joy, Barrie penned: 'Welcome to the world our beautiful daughter - Valentina Willow Drewitt-Barlow x our girl is almost a month early but she is perfect. We feel totally blessed x I love you Scott x'.

The post racked up nearly 600 likes in just four hours, with friends and family hailing the newborn 'beautiful' and wishing 'all the best' for the couple.

Last month, Barrie proposed to his daughter's ex-boyfriend - while on holiday with them both.

The romantic moment took place on a motor yacht near the Croatian island Hvar.

Barrie had decorated the boat with candles and rose petals as well as laying out a bottle of champagne.

Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, 50 (right) and his assistant Scott Hutchison, 25 (left) revealed they are engaged last month

Barrie (left) proposed to Scott (centre), his PA of seven years, while on holiday with daughter Saffron (right), who previously dated Scott for several months

Barrie followed up the post by sharing pictures of himself posing with both Saffron and Scott, hailing his daughter 'his everything'

Barrie followed up the post by sharing pictures of himself posing with both Saffron and Scott, hailing his daughter 'his everything'.

Barrie and his former partner Tony, 55, hit headlines in 1999 when they became the first same sex couple to be formally registered as parents. Their surrogate gave birth to twins Aspen and Saffron.

The fathers, who are worth 40million and live in a 6million 10-bedroom mansion in Florida, went on to have three more children.

Barrie has said Scott, his PA of seven years, became a 'shoulder to cry on' when former partner Tony, who is now in remission, was in hospital during cancer treatment in 2018

The couple previously announced they were expecting triplets, but in April shared a scan photo revealing just the one baby girl is on the way

The pair, who made their millions through ventures including a surrogacy agency and medical research firm, became civil partners in 2006 and married in 2014.

But Barrie previously told how they 'slid into a platonic relationship' after Tony was diagnosed with cancer in 2006.

He said Scott, his PA of seven years, became a 'shoulder to cry on' when Tony, who is now in remission, was in hospital during treatment in 2018.

Last year, Barrie announced that Tony remained his 'true love' but they had ended their 32-year relationship.

Meanwhile Saffron has said she is 'not bothered' by her father and ex's relationship, provided they are happy together.

In 1999, Barrie and Tony hit the headlines when a surrogate gave birth to twins Aspen and Saffron (pictured)

From left: Tony, Barrie, Saffron and Scott live together in their 6million Florida mansion

Earlier this year Barrie revealed he was expecting a baby girl with his daughter's ex-boyfriend via surrogate, with Barrie's ex Tony agreeing to be the baby's godfather.

Their surrogate, Marie, is from San Francisco and has previously worked with the couple for their agency, the British Surrogacy Centre.

The couple transferred three blastocysts (embryos) - two girls fertilised by Scott and one girl fertilised by Barrie.

All three men and the Drewitt-Barlow's children still live together in their Florida mansion, which has separate wings.
A student follows along remotely with their regular school teacher's online live lesson at STAR Eco Station Tutoring & Enrichment Center in Culver City, Calif., on Sept. 10, 2020. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)

OC Officials Plan for Potential COVID Outbreaks at Local Schools

Orange County officials are preparing for potential outbreaks of COVID-19 in area schools as they gradually reopen for in-person learning in the coming weeks.

Dr. Matthew Zahn, medical director of the communicable disease control division at the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA), said on a Sept. 24 media call that investigators are responding within 24 hours to any reports of a positive case of COVID, at both schools and elsewhere, and making sure that those involved are aware of all the recommended actions.

That means any person, child, or adult who has a case, we are reaching out to and identifying any contacts they have, Zahn said.

If they have a school contact, then we will identify whether theres a risk or a contact at that school. And if there is, then we will reach out to the school immediately.

If a school experiences two or more cases within a two-week period of time in a specific social groupfor example, within the same classroomthats an even greater concern. But it wouldnt qualify as an actual outbreak unless the transmission of the virus happens directly at the school, Zahn said.

According to state guidelines, if 5 percent or more of a schools population is infected within two weeks, the school will need to close back down for at least another two weeks.

Dr. Margaret Bredehoft, the OCHCAs deputy director of public health services, said each school district is required by the state to develop its own plan for dealing with smaller outbreaks.

It will be up to the school to decide how much information to provide to the public about COVID-19 cases at the school, Bredehoft said. County officials will act only as advisers.

The schools are working with their counsel to make a determination of what they will post and not post [publicly], she said during the call.

We are just partners to help them make a decision, but we do not make the decisions for the school.

Zahn said his team will make sure anyone directly affected by a positive case in a school setting is made aware of it. However, its important to understand that the risk of COVID-19 is not isolated to only schools or classrooms, he said.

I think people need to understand that theres a low-level risk of COVID in our community, and thats going to be ongoing, he said.

Dr. David Nunez, medical director of community and nursing services for OCHCA, said each schools individual plan is subject to changeand everyone is encouraged to provide feedback and make suggestions to the school for improvement.

Nunez said its very important for anyone with symptoms to be in contact with their health care provider to make arrangements to get tested.

Its incredibly important that everyone in the community is aware of the range of symptoms that can present with COVID-19 and to be aware of potential exposure to cases, he said.

K12 schools in Orange County were allowed to open up for in-person learning on Sept. 22, two weeks after the county moved up from the purple to the red tier in the states monitoring list.

County officials will make an announcement next week regarding whether Orange County qualifies to move up to the orange tier, the next level in the states monitoring system.

This would allow retail businesses and shopping malls to operate at full capacity, with common areas closed, while restaurants, museums, movie theaters, and churches could transition from 25 percent to 50 percent capacity.
US President Donald Trump on Saturday nominated Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court to fill the vacancy left by the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, setting up a bitter political fight over her confirmation.

Trump announced his nomination at a White House event, calling Barrett one of our nations most brilliant and gifted legal minds.

Barrett is 48 and will be the youngest justice on the court if confirmed. She has been a judge on the seventh circuit court of appeals since 2017, also as a Trump nominee.

Barretts confirmation, which is likely to go through, will give conservatives a 6-3 majority on the Supreme Court that will last a long time and will ensure President Trump an enduring legacy. Barrett will be the third justice he would have sent to the top court, tilting the ideological balance of the bench.

Though Democrats do not have the numbers to stop the confirmation, they will put up a fight that will play out in the final weeks leading up to the presidential election.

Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee for president, called for the US senate to not act on Trumps nomination until after the American people select their next president and the next Congress.

Biden also pointed to Barretts opposition to the Affordable Care Act, the Obama-era health insurance plan that Trump and Republicans have been trying to overturn.

Barretts judicial philosophy was molded by her mentor late Justice Antonin Scalia as she acknowledged in her speech accepting the nomination: A judge must apply the law as written. Judges are not policymakers, and they must be resolute in setting aside any policy views they might hold.

Barrett, who is a devout catholic and mother of seven children, including two adopted from Haiti, is considered to be anti-abortion, pro-gun and, as Biden pointed out, anti-Obamacare. Critics also say she is anti-immigrant and has supported President Trumps wealth test for immigrants.

Republicans control the senate with a 53-47 majority are expected to fast-track the confirmation. Democrats cannot stop it unless they can peel away four Republican senators, and that appears unlikely. But they can use the confirmation hearing to score points, making it a bruising affair.
Exasperated Australians in heart-wrenching binds have vented emotional pleas for the government to urgently lift the cap on overseas arrivals.

A Senate committee scrutinising the federal government's coronavirus response has heard from citizens suffering intense hardship due to travel bans.

Canberra woman Gina De Ruyter, 24, moved to the Philippines late last year to set up an animal shelter.

When the pandemic hit, she began working out how to ensure the 40 animals were cared for when she returned to Australia.

She then broke her leg in two places, but the initial surgery hasn't healed.

"It's been badly infected for two months, just weeping pus all the time," Ms De Ruyter told the committee on Thursday.

"My leg has swollen up again with pus, but the doctor can't do anything anymore because all the hospitals are filling up with coronavirus patients."

The young Canberran is booked on a Friday flight but like so many Australians, fears ticket cancellations that have prevented homecomings.

Peta Stoyanovich's husband Luke and mother-in-law Stanika are stranded in Serbia.

Mr Stoyanovich received an exemption to travel after his father died in July, with the intention of bringing his 79-year-old mother home.

But three attempts to return to Melbourne have been thwarted and their accommodation finishes on September 30.

They've been split up on separate flights but there's no confidence the mother and son will board the plane.

Peta Stoyanovich is worried her grieving mother-in-law will face airports, transit, hotel quarantine and taxis alone.

"It's complete madness. It's absolute madness," she said through tears.

Mrs Stoyanovich said she was shattered by the loss of confidence in Australia looking after its citizens abroad who had been left at the mercy of airlines.

"Do your bloody job, for God's sake."

She said the support available to Australians overseas was disgusting, while the planned weekly rise in the cap on overseas arrivals to 6000 was insulting.

"The cap has abandoned my family and it's abandoned our citizens," Mrs Stoyanovich said.

"They are not stranded - they are abandoned by the government."

On her emotional state, she said: "An overwhelming sense of hopelessness just engulfs me."

Deanne Vowels, husband Paul and their five children travelled to the UK for a family reunion two days before the travel ban was imposed in March.

The Newcastle family have run out of money and are worried about defaulting on their mortgage after having five flights home cancelled.

"It just feels like a long-term boyfriend cheating on me. I've given my life to Australia and in my time of need they have dumped me," Mrs Vowels said.

The family was told to upgrade to business class, which would have cost $120,000, and government officials suggested setting up a crowdfunding website.

There are 26,700 Australians overseas who want to return home, with 4000 considered vulnerable.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade defended its actions in trying to bring Australians home, arguing the caps were due to state hotel quarantine capacity.

"Over the last six months our people have done everything possible to find pathways home for Australians. Helping Australians get home is our foremost priority," DFAT secretary Frances Adamson said.

Meanwhile, Victoria recorded just 12 new coronavirus cases and two deaths on Thursday, taking the national toll to 861.

Queensland will allow gatherings of up to 30 people after two weeks without community transmission.

NSW will further ease restrictions on weddings, community sport and school activities after three days without community spread.
The Social Security Act was signed into law in 1935, during an era when most women didnt work outside of the home and most husbands were the sole breadwinners. Section 402(g) of the SSA stated that survivor benefits were granted to widows only, not widowers. Ginsburgs argument was two-fold: That men could be sole caregivers, too, and that a wifes Social Security benefits in effect were being devalued, thereby creating gender inequality.

The guy who appointed Ginsburg to the Supreme Court in 1993, former President Bill Clinton, called her disarmingly straightforward.

Ryan Park, who served as RBGs law clerk, wrote a first-person essay headlined, What Ruth Bader Ginsburg Taught Me About Being a Stay-at-Home Dad, published in The Atlantic magazine five years ago. Referring to RBG as The Boss, he noted her magnanimous side: all six cases she argued before the Supreme Court included male plaintiffs.
President Donald Trump - Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Donald Trump paid just $750 (587) in federal income taxes in 2016, the year he won the US presidency, according to a bombshell investigation by The New York Times.

The US president paid the same amount again in 2017, his first year in the White House, according to the paper, which obtained details of his tax return data.

The paper also claimed that Mr Trump paid zero federal income taxes in 11 of the 18 years it was able to scrutinise, partly because of losses made in his businesses.

The report comes after years of Mr Trump defying recent political precedent by refusing to publish his tax returns, citing an on-going audit to justify keeping them secret.

It dropped less than two days before Mr Trump faces Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, at the much-anticipated first head-to-head debate of the election campaign.

The tiny alleged federal income tax payments were the most politically explosive aspect of The New York Timess lengthy investigation, which it published on Sunday evening online.

According to the reporting, Mr Trump was able to minimise his tax bill because of the losses being seen in some of his businesses, including his much-touted golf courses.

Trump says 'fake news'

A string of other claims were made in what the paper called the most detailed look yet inside the presidents business empire, which it said was made up of 500 different entities.

Democratic politicians jumped on the report that Mr Trump had paid little in federal income taxes in recent years - a stark contrast to other contemporary presidents.

Mr Trumps two most recent predecessors, Barack Obama and George W Bush, each regularly paid more than $100,000 a year in federal income taxes while in office.

During a press briefing on Sunday night, Mr Trump dismissed the claim he paid just a few hundreds dollars in federal income taxes, saying: Its totally fake news. Made up. Fake.

Story continues

The president said he had paid a lot in state income taxes. He declined to name how much federal income tax he paid or to release his tax returns, again citing the on-going audit.

Alan Garten, Mr Trumps lawyer, questioned the papers findings in a statement, saying: Most, if not all, of the facts appear to be inaccurate.

He added: Over the past decade, President Trump has paid tens of millions of dollars in personal taxes to the federal government, including paying millions in personal taxes since announcing his candidacy in 2015.

Two decades of tax data

The New York Times noted that personal taxes was a wider term than federal income taxes and said it could theoretically include things like Social Security, Medicare and taxes for his household employees.

Mr Trumps tax returns have been some of the most sought-after documents in American politics. Mr Trump said back in 2014 he would love to release them if he ran for president but six years on they remain unpublished.

The New York Times said it obtained tax-return data stretching over a period of more than two decades, though not including Mr Trumps personal returns for 2018 or 2019.

It said all of the information had been provided by sources with legal access to it and that more revelations were to come. The paper did not publish any raw financial documents.

While Mr Trump sought to portray himself as a stellar businessman, the information he provided to the Internal Revenue Service [IRS] tells a different tale, according to the paper.

It says that Mr Trumps finances are in trouble, with some of his businesses losing millions of dollars. There are also substantial debts which he has personally guaranteed.

The paper also alleges that Mr Trump is still embroiled in an auditing dispute with the IRS dating back a decade over a $72.9 million tax refund he received.

Should that battle be lost, it claims, Mr Trump could face a further $100 million tax bill.

$70,000 'on hair styling'

According to The New York Times, Mr Trumps career as a TV celebrity was lucrative with the show The Apprentice and sponsorship deals earning him almost $430 million.

However many of Mr Trumps businesses including his golf courses and hotels - which have been handed over to his family during his presidency - have run at a substantial loss.

Mr Trumps three European golf courses - two in Scotland and one in Ireland - have reported a combined $63.6 million in losses, according to the paper.

Other parts of the New York Times investigation describe how Mr Trump allegedly wrote off some eye-catching business expenses on his taxes.

Donald Trump at a rally in Jacksonville, Florida - Joe Raedle/Getty Images

They included more than $70,000 paid to style his hair during The Apprentice and $95,000 paid to a hair and makeup artist favoured by Ivanka Trump, his daughter, according to the paper.

The paper also says that between 2010 and 2018 Mr Trump wrote off some $26 million in unexplained consulting fees as a business expense across his projects.

The New York Times describes its reporting as a road map of revelations. It was immediately picked up by other US media outlets as well as US politicians and pundits.

Political impact

It was published less than 48 hours before Mr Trump meets Mr Biden in a 90-minute debate in Cleveland, Ohio, dubbed the most critical day in the election campaign remaining.

With the November 3 election less than six weeks away, there was much discussion about how voters would react to the claim Mr Trump paid so little in federal income taxes for a decade.

The race is being run before a backdrop of huge economic turmoil, with more than 50 million Americans having filed for unemployment this year amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Trump is more trusted to rebuild the economy than Mr Biden, according to polls, meaning anything that undermines his business credentials could be politically damaging.

However pollsters have long noted the stability in the presidential race, with many voters having made up their minds and the polls moving little despite the turbulent events of the last six months, meaning it remains unclear how the report will impact the campaign.

Richard Neal, the Democratic congressman who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, said: It appears that the president has gamed the tax code to his advantage and used legal fights to delay or avoid paying what he owes.

Mr Biden did not immediately comment. The Biden campaign released an attack advert comparing Mr Trump's alleged payments in federal income taxes to those paid on average by sections of the US workforce.
Bir Lehlou (Saharawi Republic) 27 September 2020 (SPS)- Saharawi government condemned in a press release issued Today, the Moroccan Prime Ministers falsehoods and fabrications before the 75th UN General Assembly, calling on the UN Security Council to assume its responsibilities in the decolonization of Western Sahara.

Following is the complete text of the Press Release, of which SPS received a copy:

Government of the Sahrawi Republic (SADR)

PRESS RELEASE

Bir Lehlou

The Government of the Sahrawi Republic (SADR) has taken note of the pre-recorded statement made yesterday by the head of government of the Moroccan occupying state during the General Debate of the UN General Assembly. The statement added nothing new in terms of both form and content, and it simply echoed the same worn-out discourse with a strong tone of intransigence and defiance of international legality and the resolutions of the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) coupled with the continued espousal of the policy of occupation and expansionism.

The Government of the Sahrawi Republic (SADR) condemns in the strongest terms the falsehoods and fabrications contained in the statement of the head of government of the Moroccan occupying state whose main objective is to mislead the international community about the legal nature of the Western Sahara question through a selective and reductive reading of Security Council resolutions, and to delude public opinion with some perceptions and illusions that exist only in the imagination of the Moroccan expansionist regime. The Government of the Sahrawi Republic (SADR) also strongly condemns the misrepresentations contained in the Moroccan statement regarding the Saharawi-Moroccan conflict, which represent another example of the ploy of blaming others to which the Moroccan regime always resorts in order to hide its failures and its inherent inferiority complex and to continue diverting the attention of its public opinion from the regimes deep-rooted structural crisis.

The Western Sahara question is a decolonisation issue on the agenda of the United Nations General Assembly since 1963, which recognises the inalienable right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination and independence in accordance with UN General Assembly resolution 1514 (XIX) containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. To enable the Sahrawi people to exercise their legitimate right to self-determination and independence through a free, fair and impartial referendum, the UN Security Council established, under its authority, the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) in April 1991 based on the acceptance by the two parties to the conflict, the Frente POLISARIO and Morocco, of the Settlement Plan elaborated jointly by the United Nations and the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).

The international community bears witness to the many obstacles put by the Moroccan occupying regime in the way of the implementation of the UN-OAU Settlement Plan since the beginning and then its rejection of the self-determination referendum and its subsequent desperate attempts to propose some stillborn solutions. Morocco has done all this because it fears the free choice of the Sahrawi people, and thus it seeks to prevent our people from having the last word and confirming their legitimate national choice, which was announced to the whole world on 27 February 1976 by proclaiming the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) as the embodiment of the aspiration of our people for freedom and full independence.

The time has come for the Moroccan regime to realise that italong with its supporterscannot turn the wheel of history backwards. The Sahrawi Republic (SADR) is an irreversible national, regional and international reality. The Moroccan occupying state was forced to to sit along with the SADR under the same roof of the African Union after Morocco signed and ratified the AU Constitutive Act, without any reservations, thus placing on record its official recognition of the AUs fundamental principles including respect for the borders existing on achievement of independence and the prohibition of the use of force or threat to use force among Member States of the Union. The statement of the Moroccan regime therefore is nothing but a discordant note that cannot eclipse the resounding statements made by several Heads of State and Government during the General Assembly General Debate who expressed their strong and unwavering support for the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination and independence and called on the United Nations and the Security Council to exert more efforts to end the Moroccan illegal occupation of parts of Western Sahara.

The intransigence of the Moroccan occupying regime manifest in its statement before the UN General Assembly proves once again that the regime is still unwilling to abide by the resolutions of the United Nations and the African Union on the need to find a peaceful, just and lasting solution to the decolonisation question of Western Sahara, the last colony in Africa. The persistence of the Moroccan regime in rejecting a peaceful solution is a serious threat to the efforts deployed of the United Nations and represents a blatant defiance of the authority of the Security Council, which must assume its full responsibility for the maintenance of peace and security in the region. In this context, the Government of the Sahrawi Republic (SADR) recalls that the Moroccan occupying state would not have dared to persist in its intransigence and defiance of international legality without the explicit support it receives from some international parties, notably France, which also bear responsibility for the consequences of the reckless actions of the Moroccan regime that could increase tension and instability in the whole region. (SPS)

090/500/60 (SPS)
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer harshly criticized President Donald Trumps nominee to the Supreme Court, saying Judge Amy Coney Barrett could tear down everything late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg built during her tenure. In a statement Saturday, Schumer focused on the consequences of Barretts confirmation on health care.

Any senator who votes to confirm Trumps nominee would be voting to strike down the Affordable Care Act and eliminate protections for millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions, Schumer said. With his nomination, Trump has once again put Americans healthcare in the crosshairs., he added. Schumer also warned that Barretts confirmation would cement the courts far-right majority and could also turn back the clock on womens rights and a womans right to choose, workers rights, voting rights, civil rights, LGBTQ rights, environmental protections and more.

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The American people should make no mistake:



A vote by any Senator for Judge Amy Coney Barrett is a vote to eliminate health care for millions in the middle the COVID-19 pandemic.



Democrats are fighting for Americans' health care.  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) September 26, 2020

Highlighting the unprecedented nature of the vacancy, Schumer said that Trump and Republican senators are shamelessly rushing to fill Justice Ginsburgs seat less than 40 days before a presidential election. And in the process theyre not only ignoring Ginsburgs dying wish  that she not be replaced until a new president is installed but also seeking to replace her with someone who could tear down everything that she built. Schumer added: This reprehensible power grab is a cynical attack on the legitimacy of the Court.

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I will oppose the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett, as I would any nominee proposed as part of this illegitimate sham process, barely one month before an election as Americans are already casting their votes. Americans deserve a voice in this hugely consequential decision.  Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) September 26, 2020

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Some Democrats have already made clear they will take no part in the confirmation process. Two of the 10 Democrats on the Senate Judiciary CommitteeSens. Mazie Hirono (Hawaii) and Richard Blumenthal (Connecticut)said they wont be sitting down with Barrett. I will refuse to treat this process as legitimate & will not meet with Judge Amy Coney Barrett, Blumenthal said at the end of a Twitter thread in which he explains why he will oppose her confirmation. Hirono also wrote a thread explaining her opposition and a spokesman for the senator confirmed she wont be meeting with the nominee. Whatever she has to say to me, she should say it under oath, Hirono had said earlier this week. Sen. Dick Durbin, the Democratic whip who is also a member of the Judiciary Committee, said he will be meeting with Barrett because it is not only respectful, but its important.

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I will not support the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court for the following reasons:  Senator Mazie Hirono (@maziehirono) September 26, 2020

In his statement opposing the nomination, Sen. Patrick Leahy (Vermont) points out that Ginsburg hasnt even been laid to rest yet.
Gerald Marie, who was president of Elite for 25 years, allegedly raped two models, aged 17 and 20, in the 1980s and 1990s

The former boss of one of the biggest modelling agencies in the world has been accused of rape and sexual assault in France.

Gerald Marie, who was president of Elite for 25 years, allegedly raped two models, aged 17 and 20, in the 1980s and 1990s.

Carre Otis, 51, and Jill Dodd, 60, said they are speaking out to encourage others to come forward and protect young women in the industry.

Prosecutors in Paris are currently reviewing legal documents containing their allegations.

Another woman, Ebba Karlsson, 51, claims the 70-year-old sexually assaulted her at his office in Paris in the same period.

Marie, who is now the chairman of Paris-based Oui Management, denies the claims against him.

He told the Sunday Times: 'It would not be appropriate for me to comment at this time on the allegations of historic wrongdoing being made against me, other than to make it clear that I categorically deny them.'

Letters sent to the Tribunal Judiciaire in Paris show BBC journalist Lisa Brinkworth also claimed she was assaulted by Marie when she was undercover there in 1998.

The group of women have asked Paris prosecutors to look into their allegations but no criminal proceedings have yet been launched.

Model agency boss Gerald Marie with his ex-wife Linda Evangelista. Prosecutors in Paris are currently reviewing legal documents containing rape allegations against Marie

Carre Otis (left), 51, and Jill Dodd (right), 60, said they are speaking out to encourage others to come forward and protect young women in the industry

Lawyer Anne-Claire Le Jeune, who also represented a group of women who claimed they were abused by former French modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel, submitted the documents this week.

Brunel, 74, denied these claims but is being investigated by French prosecutors over allegations he supplied women for billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Ms Otis, who was married to actor Mickey Rourke, started at Elite in Paris when she was just 17.

She claimed she did not feel comfortable speaking out when the alleged rape took place, but will no long stay quiet about 'intolerable acts by men in power who seem to be able to act in all impunity'.

The San Francisco-born model first broke cover in 2011, where she made the claims in her explosive memoir.

In the book, she describes first befriending Marie - who was then engaged to supermodel Linda Evangelista - from whom she rented a room in his Paris home in the Eighties.

A struggling young model, Ms Otis paid rent from her earnings and slept in Mr Marie's daughter's room.

After chancing upon her boss' cocaine stash in the bathroom, the two developed an 'age-inappropriate' bond over snorting the class-A drug, which she was told was 'the secret to model weight management.'

'It was secretive, but it felt strangely safe. I liked the way Gerald would laugh with me when we snorted lines together. I liked the way he teased me gently,' she wrote.

Another woman, Ebba Karlsson (left), 51, claims the 70-year-old sexually assaulted her at his office in Paris in the same period. Letters sent to the Tribunal Judiciaire in Paris show BBC journalist Lisa Brinkworth (right) also claimed she was assaulted by Marie when she was undercover there in 1998

The one-time face of Calvin Klein-turned plus-size model described how drug-taking with the older man gave her a sense of security.

'And even as young as I was, I could figure out how my relationship with Gerald mirrored my dynamic with my dad. I had kept the secret of my father's alcoholism. Now I was keeping another older man's secret.'

But it was one evening, after a particularly bad casting, that her confidante - more than 25 years her senior - shattered the bond of trust.

Pictured: Gerald Marie and his ex-wife Linda Evangelista

'Gerald stood above me, ripping the covers from the bed. Before I could react, his sticky body was on me and those disgusting wet ringlets of his were falling on my face,' she wrote.

'The smell of him made me want to vomit... Gerald seemed all too expert at getting what he wanted, and in the tangle of my naked legs and pleas and cries his hand found my mouth and clamped down, trying to silence me. '

She goes on to describe, in sickening detail, the ordeal; the 'vicious penetration,' 'violation,' and 'horrific feeling' leaving her sick and frightened.

'I remember nausea welling up,' she recalled. 'Then the involuntary gagging that began as he stood, looked down at me, then turned and stumbled out of the room. '

Ms Otis says that she did not find it hard naming the claimed perpetrator and has questioned whether her friendship with Marie, renting his room and becoming his drugs partner had perhaps led him to believe the relationship was something more than platonic.

Ms Dodd also claims she was raped by the former modelling agency boss, but while she was 20 and at Paris Planning - where Marie was booking director - in 1980.

Meanwhile Swedish model Karlsson claims she was 'traumatised' after the alleged sexual assault, which she said forced her to return home.
Yummy Corporation, which claims to be the largest cloud kitchen management company in Indonesia, has raised $12 million in Series B funding, led by SoftBank Ventures Asia. Co-founder and chief executive officer Mario Suntanu told TechCrunch that the capital will be used to expand into more major cities and on developing its tech platform, including data analytics.

Other participants in the round included returning investors Intudo Ventures and Sovereigns Capital, and new backers Vectr Ventures, AppWorks, Quest Ventures, Coca-Cola Amatil X and Palm Drive Capital . The Series B brings Yummy Corporation's total raised so far to $19.5 million.

Launched in June 2019, Yummy Corporations network of cloud kitchens, called Yummykitchen, now includes more than 70 HACCP-certified facilities in Jakarta, Bandung and Medan. It partners with more than 50 food and beverage (F&B) companies, including major brands like Ismaya Group and Sour Sally Group.

During COVID-19 movement restrictions, Suntanu said Yummykitchen's business showed "healthy growth" as people, confined mostly to their homes, ordered food for delivery. Funding will be used to get more partners, especially brands that want to digitize their operations and expand deliveries to cope with the continuing impact of COVID-19.

The number of cloud kitchens in Southeast Asia has grown quickly over the past year, driven by demand for food deliveries that began increasing even before the pandemic. But for F&B brands that rely on deliveries for a good part of their revenue, running their own kitchens and staff can be cost-prohibitive. Sharing cloud kitchens with other businesses can help increase their margins.

Other cloud kitchen startups serving Indonesia include Hangry and Everplate, but these companies and Yummy Corporation are all up against two major players: "super apps" Grab and Gojek, which both operate large networks of cloud kitchens that have the advantage of being integrated with their on-demand delivery services.

Suntanu said Yummy's main edge compared to other cloud kitchens is that it also offers fully managed location and kitchen operation services, in addition to kitchen facilities. This means Yummy's partners, including restaurants and F&B brands, dont need to hire their own teams. Instead, food preparation and delivery is handled by Yummy's workers. The company also provides its clients with a data analytics platform to help them with targeted ad campaigns and making their listings more visible on food delivery apps.

In a statement, Harris Yang, Southeast Asia associate at SoftBank Ventures Asia, said the firm invested in Yummy because "given the companys strong expertise in the F&B industry and unique value proposition to brands, we believe that Yummy will continue to be the leader in this space. We are excited to support the team and help them scale their business in this emerging sector."
Azerbaijan and Armenian forces engaged in fierce clashes Sunday when a decades-long conflict over disputed land erupted into renewed war involving tanks, artillery and aircraft.

Russia and international organizations including NATO, the European Union and the OSCE called on both sides to halt fighting over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Turkey backed its ally Azerbaijan and said it was ready to offer assistance.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan declared martial law and ordered a general mobilization, after accusing Azerbaijan of preplanned aggression. Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, who also announced martial law, said in a state TV address that Armenian forces were occupying Azerbaijans territory and well put an end to this occupation.

Conflict has broken out repeatedly since Armenians took control of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding districts from Azerbaijan in a war after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. Hundreds died in 2016 before Russia pressured both sides to resume a ceasefire it first brokered in 1994. Armenia and Azerbaijan clashed again across their state border in July.

The confrontation has the potential to drag in Russia and Turkey, adding to geostrategic tensions between them over proxy conflicts in Syria and Libya. Russia has a mutual-defence pact with Armenia and a military base in the republic, while Azerbaijan hosted large-scale joint military exercises with Turkish forces last month.

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed serious concern about the renewal of large-scale military conflict and called for a halt to hostilities in a phone call with Pashinyan, according to a Kremlin statement.

Turkey stands by its Azeri brothers with all its means, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Twitter after he spoke with Aliyev.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed the fighting with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu, the Foreign Ministry in Moscow said in a statement. Lavrov also spoke separately by phone with the Armenian and Azeri foreign ministers, emphasizing the need for an immediate ceasefire, the ministry said.

A BP Plc-operated oil pipeline runs less than 50 kilometres from the conflict zone and carries as much as 1.2 million barrels daily from Baku to Turkeys Ceyhan. While it hasnt been targeted in previous conflicts, the pipeline may be vulnerable to any shift in the fighting between Armenian and Azeri forces.

Despite decades of mediation by the U.S., France and Russia, the two sides have never signed a peace agreement. Armenia says the right of the internationally unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic to self-determination should be respected, while Azerbaijan says its territorial integrity must be upheld.

This time, Azerbaijan said it began a counterattack after accusing Armenians of firing on its military positions and civilian settlements near Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia said Azerbaijan started bombarding along the contact line separating the two forces and shelled civilians including in the regions capital, Stepanakert.

Armenia should seriously discuss recognition of Nagorno-Karabakhs independence as a response to the renewed conflict, Pashinyan told lawmakers in parliament.

While it provides military and financial support to Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia has held back from recognizing the territorys independence through decades of talks led by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to try to negotiate a settlement of the conflict.

NATO concerned

The OSCE called for a ceasefire and the resumption of negotiations. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization said it was deeply concerned by the fighting in a statement.

Pope Francis also called on the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve the crisis not through the use of force and arms but through the means of dialogue and negotiation in an address from the Vatican Sunday.

The Azeri army is using tanks, artillery, missile systems and aircraft against Armenian positions near the front line and deeper into Armenian-held territory, the Defence Ministry in Baku said in a website statement. As many as 12 Armenian anti-aircraft systems have been destroyed and one Azeri helicopter was shot down, it said.

Armenian forces hit four Azeri helicopters, 10 tanks and about 15 drones, Armenian Defence Ministry spokeswoman Shushan Stepanyan said.

At least 16 Armenian serviceman have died and more than 100 were wounded in the fighting, Nagorno-Karabakh Deputy Defence Minister Artur Sargsyan said in a livestream broadcast.

The conflict comes after tensions between the two sides rose sharply last week, when Aliyev alleged that Armenia was massing forces near Nagorno-Karabakh for a new war. Armenia dismissed the claim as groundless and accused Aliyev of preparing for a war.

The fighting is a war against our independence, freedom and dignity, Pashinyan said in a televised address to the nation. The Armenian people are ready for that war.

Azeri forces are fighting on our soil, and have no claim to anyones land, Aliyev said in his speech. Well win because our cause is just.

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Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone was interrogated yesterday for over 5 hours by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officials. Padukone, who cried three times during questioning, was asked by the officials not to play the "emotional card".

The officials told her to clearly tell the truth, said sources in the NCB office. Padukone accepted that she had sent those messages to her then-manager Karishma Prakash from a WhatsApp group but refused consumption or supply of any narcotics substance to anyone else. The actor used words like - maal, hash, weed - in her chat.

NCB quizzed Deepika Padukone, her former manager Karishma Prakash, Rakul Preet Singh, and fashion designer Simone Khambatta in connection with the drugs case related to the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput and has seized their mobile phones. The agency collected their phones as the alleged "drug" chats were made using the same phones, the source said.

On Saturday, NCB also questioned Shraddha Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan for several hours at its Ballard Estate office. Padukone was questioned at the Evelyn Guest House in Colaba, Mumbai, where the NCB's Special Investigation Team (SIT) has set up a base.

The names of Deepika Padukone and Shraddha Kapoor were found in WhatsApp chats on Jaya Saha's phone. Saha was Sushant Singh Rajput's talent manager and a top executive of talent firm Kwan. She has also been questioned by the NCB.

The NCB officials are working on finding more drug peddlers after questioning Bollywood actresses Deepika Padukone, and Sara Ali Khan, Shraddha Kapoor. The NCB's Deputy Director-General said no new summons has been issued on Saturday.

The NCB has registered a case on the request of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) after it found alleged chats of Deepika with her former manager in 2017 discussing drugs. The phones of Rakul and Khambatta were seized as both of them are close friends of Sushant's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty.

Rhea Chakraborty was arrested earlier this month after three days of questioning. The NCB has also arrested Rhea Chakraborty's brother Showik and 17 others in connection with the case.

Also Read: Farmers playing major role in building 'Aatma Nirbhar Bharat': PM Modi at Mann Ki Baat

Also Read: Serum Institute shares, applauds PM Modi's vision: Adar Poonawalla on India's vaccine offer to world

Also Read: Ex-minister, BJP leader Jaswant Singh passes away at 82; PM expresses condolences
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has mocked the former President John Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto promise of facilitating the establishment of morgues in accordance with Islamic customs and practices.

He said the Akufo-Addo government since assumption of office has contributed immensely to improving the lives of people in Zongo communities.

Speaking at the conference of the national council of Fulani chiefs, Dr Bawumia says people in Zongo communities deserve education and not mortuaries.

We are going to build a model senior high school in the Zongo community in every region, so we will start with 16 model SHSs so that our children will have an opportunity to attend those schools. That will be the start for next year. Our policy is not one Zongo, one mortuary, we are not thinking of mortuary. We are thinking of schools  we want to develop our Zongos with schools and not mortuary.

The NDC stated in its 2020 manifesto that it will construct the mortuaries in accordance with Islamic customs and practices and collaborate with the Ministry for Health to set up focal teams responsible for procedures that comply with Islamic customs in all state morgues.

But the announcement has been met with varied positions within the political discourse.

According to the NDC, its promise to facilitate the establishment of morgues across Zongo communities was a demand by residents during the party's consultation ahead of the compilation of its manifesto.

The party says key Islamic leaders and scholars have already endorsed the need for separate morgues for their people.

---citinewsroom
By Express News Service

TUMAKURU: Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut, who has courted controversies lately over the drug abuse case and her remarks equating Mumbai to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, now finds herself in the middle another row over the protests by farmers who are opposing the farm Bills.

Advocate-turned-farmer Ramesh Naik L, who was practising in the Karnataka High Court, has lodged a private complaint against Kangana Ranaut at the Tumakuru JMFC court on Friday over her tweet targeting farmers. Ramesh hails from Kadaranahalli tanda here.

I am also a farmer and I am pained by her remarks equating farmers to terrorists. Hence, I lodged the complaint, he said.

The actress, had on September 21, tweeted from the Twitter handle @KanganaTeam saying, People who spread misinformation and rumours about CAA that caused riots are the same people who are now spreading misinformations about Farmers bill and causing terror in the nation, they are terrorists. You very well know what I said but simply like to spread misinformation (sic).

Ramesh claimed that the local police did not accept his complaint and hence, he moved the court. He has sought action against the actress for criminal offences punishable under various IPC sections.
What does the baby deficit mean for Australias bottom line? Source: Getty

Australia is under threat of a population slump as the number of newborn babies is predicted to plummet thanks to the Covid-19 recession.

Australias Centre for Population has published new research, by professor Peter MacDonald, on our nations fertility rate which predicts there will be a deficit of 280,000 babies by 2024.

The downward trend in fertility puts extra pressure on Treasurer Josh Frydenburg in the lead up to the budget next week with the deepest recession since the 1930s expecting to show a budget deficit in excess of $85 billion.

The fertility rate will serve to highlight and exacerbate a structural problem which is already evident in the Budget.

The Covid-19 effect on Australias fertility rate

Thanks to the pandemic, the already declining fertility rate looks set to accelerate in the near-term.

According to the report, around 56,000 fewer babies will be born in each of the next five years than predicted in last years federal budget.

The fertility rate, which was expected to increase to 1.9 babies per woman over the next five years, from 1.8 in 2018, is now expected to drop to 1.6 babies per woman - the lowest level on record.

The outbreak of COVID19, as well as the measures taken to limit its spread, is expected to affect fertility by producing uncertainty among young people that leads to them deferring when they have children, MacDonald explained in the report.

He added that some households are also likely to defer children if one or both parents lose their eligibility for parental leave payments through COVIDrelated unemployment.

In addition to economic uncertainty and Covid-19 lockdowns, border closures, which have brought overseas migration to a sudden halt, have also contributed to a couples decision to to call off or delay the decision to have children.

What does the baby deficit mean for Australias bottom line?

Story continues

Sarah Hunter, chief economist from BIS Oxford Economics, said that the downturn would not have an immediate impact on the budget but would have long-term implications such as reducing the size of the labor force.

"It ultimately reduces how big the economy can be," she told SMH.

"This is going to have a material impact over the longer term."

The lower fertility rate will also have a severe impact on the delayed intergenerational report that maps out the long-term health of the budget. When released in 2015, it was based on a forecast fertility rate of 1.9 until 2050.

Australias baby deficit - is our government doing enough?

After Australia hit the lowest-fertility rate on record of 1.7 babies in 2001, a new campaign was introduced to boost the birth rate.

In the 2002 budget, delivered by then-Treasurer Peter Costello, new parents were given a $2,500 baby bonus.

At the time, Costello encouraged families to "have one for mum, one for dad and one for the country" as part of his campaign to boost the birth rate.

The scheme contributed to an increase in the fertility rate to 2.02 babies per woman in 2008, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data.

Fast forward to 2020, and the budget due to be handed down next week is expected to show the lowest population growth in more than a century.

But in July, Frydenberg said that the best way to boost the fertility rate was to make people more confident about the nation's economic future.

"People should feel encouraged about the future and the more children that we have across the country, together with our migration will build our population growth and that will be good for the economy," he told the National Press Club.

But if governments want Aussies to procreate for the good of the economy, they need to be prepared to help them.

Labor's home affairs spokeswoman Kristina Keneally, who raised concerns about the forecast fertility rate last year, told the SMH the government would have to use the budget to find a way to encourage more births.

The July budget foreshadowed a drop in the fertility rate "due to weaker economic conditions and outlook", meaning the Morrison recession is not putting people in the mood, she said.

If the government wants parents to procreate, Josh Frydenberg and Scott Morrison must create a plan for jobs and economic growth.

For more Yahoo Finance stories on the 2020 Federal Budget, visit here.

Make your money work with Yahoo Finances daily newsletter. Sign up here and stay on top of the latest money, economy, property and work news.

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United Nations (UN) Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka speaks during a press briefing at the UN headquarters in New York, March 5, 2020. [Xinhua/Li Muzi]

China has created opportunities for women and girls in terms of employment and education, says Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua)  UN undersecretary-general and executive director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, has lauded China's achievements in promoting women's rights, and encouraged the country to do even more.

China has created opportunities for women and girls in terms of employment and education, said Mlambo-Ngcuka in an exclusive written interview prior to a high-level UN meeting on the 25th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing.

Since 2012, China has lifted approximately 41 million women out of poverty by creating opportunities for income generation and jobs, she said.

Major progress has been made in education parity for girls and young women, with 99.9 percent of primary-school-age girls enrolled in schools, and women accounting for over half of the higher education receivers, while taking up 52.5 percent of the regular undergraduate and associate bachelor students, she said.

"Women account for 40 percent of the labor force, and we see them actively taking part in innovative industries, with 55 percent of new Internet businesses being founded by women."

An employee works at a silk reeling factory in Lingyun County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, April 17, 2020. Over the past five years, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region have conducted a series of poverty alleviation projects, such as accelerating the construction of transportation infrastructure in poor areas, carrying out a drinking water project, relocating over 710,000 impoverished people from inhospitable areas and improving the quality of education. [Xinhua/Zhou Hua]

As across the world, where women have led the way in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese women have been at the national front line as medical workers, as well as those leading logistical chain management, community workers promoting risk awareness and prevention of COVID-19, caretakers of the elderly and children at home, or developing vaccines and leading large-scale public health response, said Mlambo-Ngcuka.

However, as with many global players, China still faces challenges that need to be addressed, she said.

Under the difficult circumstances posed by the pandemic, China can play a crucial role to continue supporting women's leadership and participation in the recovery process, to ensure that women's needs and concerns are reflected in the relevant policies such as employment, social protection, food security and social infrastructure.

China also has a major role to play to promote the equal sharing of unpaid care work and to increase investment in the expansion of care services to help reduce and redistribute unpaid care work, and to serve as a powerful policy lever for creating decent employment for women and the conditions for inclusive growth.

Another key step China can take is to harness innovation and technology for women, especially rural and young women. This will support their access to online jobs, markets and digital platforms and cultivate an ecosystem of new women-run businesses, as in rural areas, women account for about 70 percent of the total agricultural labor force, she said.

Li Juan and her family are seen in pear orchard in Tangzhai Village of Tangzhai Town in Dangshan County, east China's Anhui Province, Oct. 23, 2019. Li Juan, 30, holding a stylus in her mouth, communicates with clients and deliverymen and updates the information on her online store through mobile phone. All these are the mainly works Li Juan does as a manager of an e-commerce. [Xinhua/Zhang Duan]

Mlambo-Ngcuka said China has been a strong partner of UN Women at the global level.

As the host of the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, on the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Conference, China co-hosted with UN Women the Global Leaders' Meeting on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment, which was attended by some 80 heads of state and government, who made concrete commitments to advance women's rights, she noted.

Exactly 25 years after the Beijing conference, the significance of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted is undimmed. The outcome of the Beijing conference remains the most comprehensive and transformative global agenda for the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, she said.

"UN Women stands ready to support the government of China in continuing to bring women's needs, contribution and leadership to the forefront of recovery and longer-term development efforts, with the growing support of partners including the All-China Women Federation," she said.

UN Women is the key UN body for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

(Source: Xinhua)
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- United Way Worldwide today announced its one hundred thousandth delivery of food boxes and household supplies to vulnerable populations throughout 175 U.S. communities through the Ride United Last-Mile Delivery initiative. This milestone delivery also represents one million meals being delivered to those who are in need. The United Way Ride United Last-Mile home delivery program launched in April in response to the COVID-19 crisis to deliver food and supplies to vulnerable populations in communities across the U.S.

United Way's partnership with DoorDash and generous funding from donors including The Rockefeller Foundation and Safeway Stores' Nourishing Neighbors program enabled these delivery services from local food banks, food pantries, and other distribution points to older adults, low-income families, and those who can't leave home, providing meals to those in need. The most common client profiles are:

Female, senior citizens, living alone

High risk, immuno-compromised, populations that are vulnerable to contracting COVID-19, and must quarantine, yet who are food insecure and need access charitable food

People who have lost jobs/wages, are without transportation or childcare and who need charitable food

"The last mile represents the final hurdle in getting food to people who have had to remain at home during COVID-19, either because of health considerations or lack of public transit or childcare," said Suzanne McCormick, U.S. President, United Way Worldwide. "United Ways and the 211 network have convened local agencies, food banks and grocery partners to identify available food for people who can't travel and arrange for deliveries by DoorDash 'Dashers'. We are grateful to the more than 80 local community partners that have been part of this incredible collaboration."

The more than 175 communities served include:

Los Angeles, CA

Orange County, CA

San Diego, CA

New Haven, Connecticut

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Central Florida

Northeast Florida

New Orleans, LA

Central Maryland

Minneapolis, MN

Lincoln, NE

New York City , NY

, NY Westchester and Putnam Counties, NY

and Counties, NY Akron, OH

Eugene, OR

Sioux Falls, SD

Chattanooga, TN

Houston, TX

Salt Lake City, UT

Seattle, WA

Last-Mile Delivery Program Highlights, as reported by 211 Operators, below:

Last-Mile Delivery Program Highlight: Akron, OH

"A client just called to say how much she appreciates the food boxes that have been dropped off at her home. She and her husband are both disabled and struggling to provide for their grandson. She says both the box of food and the delivery people, who always have a smiles on their faces, are true blessings. It means so much to her to be able to give her grandson some fruit juice when otherwise he would not be able have this treat. She just want to make sure we all knew how much our help means to them!"

Last-Mile Delivery Program Highlight: New Orleans, LA

"Ms. Williams has been displaced since Hurricane Katrina and moves from one family member's home to another. She is currently staying with her nephew's family and is thankful that the meal deliveries allow her to provide a little help to her hosts that are ensuring she has shelter during this time."

Last-Mile Delivery Program Highlight: Chattanooga, TN

"If it were not for DoorDash, UW, and Hamilton County Schools, I would struggle to make ends meet with meals for my five children. Not having transportation makes it impossible to get to the food sites, but thankfully, with this service, I am able to take care of my children.".

Last-Mile Delivery Program Highlight: Seattle, WA

Teri received our boxes with an almost empty cupboard. With the groceries delivery from DoorDash, Teri's cupboard became almost completely full. With the added food, she was excited to invite her daughter over for a mealsomething she'd been avoiding doing since she didn't have food to share.

Those interested in supporting Ride United or learning more can visit UnitedWay.org/RideUnited. Those who need help finding available local resources, including food, can call 211 or visit 211.org for more information.

About United Way

United Way fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community. Supported by 2.9 million volunteers, 8.1 million donors worldwide and $4.8 billion raised, United Way is the world's largest privately funded nonprofit. We're engaged in nearly 1,800 communities across more than 40 countries and territories worldwide to create sustainable solutions to the challenges facing our communities. United Way partners include global, national and local businesses, nonprofits, government, civic and faith-based organizations, along with educators, labor leaders, health providers, senior citizens, students and more. For more information about United Way, please visit UnitedWay.org. Follow us on Twitter: @UnitedWay and #LiveUnited.

About 211

211 is a vital service leveraged by millions of people across North America. Every day, clients contact 211 to access free and confidential crisis and emergency counseling, disaster assistance, food, health care and insurance assistance, stable housing and utilities payment assistance, employment services, veteran services and childcare and family services. Last year, 211 responded to over 12 million requests for assistance across the United States. The service is available to over 95% of the U.S. population, including in Puerto Rico and Washington, DC, and is also available in most of Canada. Individuals in need or who are looking for information for someone else can call 211 from a cell phone or landline or visit www.211.org for more contact options.

Contact:

United Way Worldwide

Southerlyn Reisig

Director of Public Relations

[email protected]

SOURCE United Way Worldwide

Related Links

www.unitedway.org


A penalty of Rs 1 lakh each has been imposed on two private hospitals in Navi Mumbai for allegedly violating the COVID-19 protocols and treating patients without authorisation, an official said on Sunday.

Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) spokesperson Mahendra Konde said Criti Care ICU & Super Speciality Hospital in Airoli and Global 5 Health Care (Kunnure Hospital) in Vashi were issued show-cause notices on September 19, but they did not reply to it in the specified period.

Taking serious note of it, NMMC Commissioner Abhijit Bhangar imposed a penalty of Rs 1 lakh each on the hospitals in an order issued on Friday, he said.

Bhangar in his order said the hospitals were admitting and treating COVID-19 patients without authorisation.

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

Hence, the civic body concluded that there was sufficient ground to initiate action against them for alleged violation of the Acts and guidelines concerned, the commissioner said.

The hospitals have been directed not to admit any Covid-19 patient till further orders, and those currently undergoing treatment there should be treated as per protocols and guidelines of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Maharashtra government, the order said.

They should also charge patients as per the government directives, it said, adding that the medical facilties may apply for permission to treat Covid-19 patients in due course.

They have also been asked to strictly comply with the directions, failing which they will face action under provisions of the Epidemic Diseases Act and the Maharashtra Covid-19 Regulations, 2020, the order said.

The NMMC had earlier also taken action against a hospital in Vashi and shut it for a specified period for violating the official guidelines, but no fine was imposed on it, officials said.

Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here
Naegleria fowleri, a brain-eating amoeba, was found in the water supply of Brazosport Water Authority customers in Texas on Friday evening, forcing the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to issue a water advisory and tell those customers to not to use any of their water.

According to CNN, the Do Not Use Water Advisory was initially issued for residents of Lake Jackson, Freeport, Angleton, Brazoria, Richwood, Oyster Creek, Clute, and Rosenberg, Texas, and also for the Dow Chemical plant in Freeport and the Clemens and Wayne Scott Texas Department of Criminal Justice corrections facilities. The warning has since been lifted for all cities listed except for Lake Jackson residents.

In fact, Lake Jackson officials have now issued a disaster declaration and residents are still being urged to not use their water until the Brazosport Water Authority has completed a thorough flush of its water system. On Sept. 8, a six-year-old boy was hospitalized with the amoeba, which is how state health officials became aware of the problem. A statement from Lake Jackson confirmed that the boy's problem was traced back to either a water fountain "splash pad" in front of the Lake Jackson Civic Center, or through water emitted from a hose at the boy's home.

The CDC then got involved and tested the water supply immediately, sending the results to the TCEQ. The Texas agency then required that the Brazosport Water Authority issue the Do Not Use water advisory. Residents have since been receiving a free case of water from the city in the interim.

According to the CDC, the Naegleria fowleri is rare and fatal. Out of the 145 people who were infected from 1962 to 2018, only four survived.
NEW YORK, Sept. 27, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Fastly, Inc. (Fastly or the Company) (NYSE: FSLY) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court for the Northern District of California, and docketed under 20-cv-06454, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons other than Defendants who purchased or otherwise, acquired Fastly securities between May 6, 2020, and August 5, 2020, inclusive (the Class Period) and were damaged thereby, seeking to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act), and SEC Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder (the Class).



If you are a shareholder who purchased Fastly securities during the class period, you have until October 26, 2020, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com . To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

Fastly is the provider of an edge cloud platform. Fastlys edge cloud platform purportedly enables customers to create great digital experiences quickly, securely, and reliably by processing, serving, and securing [its] customers applications as close to their end-users as possible.

The complaint alleges that during the Class Period, Defendants knowingly and/or recklessly made false and/or misleading statements about the Companys business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose: (i) that Fastlys largest customer was ByteDance, operator of TikTok, which was known to have serious security risks and was under intense scrutiny by U.S. officials; (ii) that there was a material risk that Fastlys business would be adversely impacted should any adverse actions be taken against ByteDance or TikTok by the U.S. government; and (iii) that, as a result, Defendants positive statements about the Companys business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

On August 5, 2020, after market close, Fastly held its second quarter (Q2) 2020 earnings conference call. During the call, Defendants disclosed that ByteDance, the Chinese company that operates the wildly popular mobile app TikTok, was Fastlys largest customer in Q2 2020 and that TikTok represented about 12% of Fastlys revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2020.

This news shocked the market, as TikTok had been under heavy scrutiny by U.S. officials and others since at least late 2019 due to fears that the data it collects from its users could be accessed by the Chinese government. Indeed, on July 31, 2020, President Trump announced a plan to ban TikTok in the U.S. over national security concerns. As Fastlys Chief Executive Officer (CEO) admitted on the Q2 2020 earnings call, any ban of the TikTok app by the US would create uncertainty around our ability to support this customer[,] and the loss of this customers traffic would have an impact on our business.

On this news, Fastlys share price fell $19.28 per share, or approximately 17.7% from the previous trading days closing price of $108.92 per share, to close at $89.64 per share on August 6, 2020. Fastlys shares continued to decline on August 6, 2020, when President Trump issued an executive order effectively banning TikTok, declining another $10.31 per share from the closing price on August 6, 2020, or approximately 11.5%, to close at $79.33 per share on August 7, 2020.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com .

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

rswilloughby@pomlaw.com

888-476-6529 ext. 7980
Omans largest cement manufacturer, Raysut Cement Company (RCC), today (September 27) announced a significant corporate revamp bringing on board young leaders from within the organisation to new roles at key positions of the top management.

In a statement, the Muscat Securities Market (MSM)-listed company said bringing new leaders to steer the company has been done at a time of crucial regional and global expansion of Raysut into new and diverse markets of Eastern Europe, East Africa and Asia, which necessitates strong and competent young managers who can complement the companys vision to be one of the leading global cement players.

We are confident that the new young leaders will bring in fresh perspectives to Raysuts growth and help catalyse the companys target to raise output to 10 million tonnes by 2022 and to eventually scale it up to 20 million tonnes in the near future, RCC CEO Joey Ghose, said.

As part of the management restructuring, Salim Ahmed Alawi Al-Ibrahim has been promoted as Acting Deputy Group CEO, who will now support and complement the leadership of Raysuts Group CEO, Joey Ghose. Salim has been with Raysut since 2014 and has been contributing significantly to the company in his earlier role in the sales department.

Mohammed Ahmed Aideed has been promoted as the Acting GM of Raysut. Mohammed, armed with over 10 years of experience in sales and marketing, has been working with Raysut since 2009, starting his career as a sales representative and moving up to managerial positions subsequently. Prior to the current role, Mohammed had held senior positions such as Head of Marketing and Business Intelligence, Acting CEO and Head of Business Support.

The two young professionals are taking on the new mantles at a time when Raysut has already expanded its footprints into new markets and they will have a robust role to play in this dynamic business scenario, added Ghose.--TradeArabia News Service
mfanukhona@times.co.sz

MBABANE  Government approved and appreciated the now much talked about prefabricated building technology.

This was after a local company styled Mar & Dar Swazi GRC, had introduced the technology to a Cabinet retreat that was held in Piggs Peak in 2014.

The meeting was understandably chaired by deceased former Prime Minister, Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini.

It has been established that ministers who served between 2013 and 2018 were of the view that the technology, which they had seen overseas, was ideal for the local market.

After testing and approving it, the Eswatini Standards Authority (SWASA) also issued a Swaziland (Eswatini) national standard for the quality of the product.

According to information sourced by the Times SUNDAY, the issued standard dealt with the classification of glassfibre reinforced concrete. The classification conformed to the needs of the design process of glassfibre reinforced concrete components, which Cabinet also liked and appreciated most when the product was displayed for public view at the Eswatini International Trade Fair.

On February 9, 2017, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, wrote to Mar & Dar Swazi GRC (Pty) Ltd that the Building Appeal Tribunal has approved the companys application based on information supplied to it (Tribunal).

The Ministry of Public Works and Transport has also inspected buildings done by the company such that it advised the chief fire officer in a letter that it carried out a final inspection of the Big Bend Satellite Fire Station on December 28, 2017, and declared the project practically complete.

Acting Principal Building Engineer in the Ministry of Public Works and Transport Tony Qwabe listed eight benefits for GRC or GFRC, which are as follows 

Highly durable and safe;

Design freedom since GRC is able to be moulded into almost any shape and colour;

Requires very low maintenance;

Installation is quick and cost-effective;

Weather and fire resistant;

Economical;

Energy efficient;

It can be dismantled and moved to desired site.

Mar & Dar also constructed the Mankayane Fire Station, which the Ministry of Public Works and Transport certified the completion to its satisfaction, and issued a certificate of practical completion.

100-bed hospital for E29m

The company, which has built a 100-bed hospital in 20 weeks at a cost of E29 million, directly employs 50 emaSwati, and indirect employment, benefits about 60 people.

Mohamed Al-Raies, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company, said it was untrue that there was political pressure to offer his entity a tender to construct 15 houses at King Mswati III International Airport at Sikhuphe.

He said the houses, after completion, were misused by some Asians who occupied them in groups. Al-Raies said he was not aware of any pressure exerted by Pastor Lindiwe Dlamini, the ex-Minister of Public Works and Transport, that the tender be given to his company.

He said two SWACAA officials were flown to Egypt to see how good GRC is, and they spent three nights in a hotel made of the building technology.

He said the advice given to SWACAA by the officers was that technology is good because of its quality.

Whatever happened to those houses is not the responsibility of the company. The houses were commissioned to SWACAA in good condition but its unfortunate that doors, window frames and geysers have been removed from some houses, he said.

He said his company resolved that it could renovate one house to demonstrate that the houses were of good quality, and this was meant to clear the companys name and the name of the product.

The companys director mentioned that Mar & Dar would cater for expenses for the one house it was going to renovate or construct.

no unfair competition

Asked about reports that he reduced the costs for construction to prices that were unfavourable to his competitors in the industry, he said he would never charge his clients E200 million for a structure he could set up at a cost of E20 million.

With GRC posing a threat to the competition, there is a feeling that certain elements within the industry were all out to ruin the product.

Dvokodvweni MP Mduduzi Magagula, who once criticised the company for the Sikhuphe houses, said his investigation proved that he might have been harsh to this investment.

He told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that he recently met officials from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and directors of Mar & Dar wherein he was assured that the houses could be renovated and brought back to standard.

MP Magagula told the Phila Buthelezi-led PAC that the company was not responsible for the current state of the houses.

In fact, he pointed out that the firm had long shown an interest in renovating the houses and bringing them back to standard. That was to happen in case the owners allowed it to undertake the project.

This is a registered company that operates in accordance with the laws of the country. They are far more affordable than others, he said before the PAC.

He said he had been told that the company made price quotations for the construction of the Lubombo Referral Hospital, which were far less than what other contractors had submitted to the Tender Committee.

He said the company emerged as the lowest bidder at the price of E29 million, which included plumbing works and wiring.

mps change tune

The Dvokodvweni MP then said the company was also willing to build one house just to prove that its technology was not to blame for the current state of the Sikhuphe houses.

Manzini MP Busisiwe Mavimbela concurred with her colleague, pointing out that she had also been enlightened on the good work done by Mar & Dar Swazi GRC. She said the companys prices were affordable.

MP Mavimbela mentioned the fact that the structures built with the prefabricated technology could last for over 50 years was also another reason enough to give the company a chance to serve the local market.

Khangeziwe Mabuza, the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, said the issue could be best tackled at PAC level where it was last discussed.

She referred enquiries to MP Phila Buthelezi, who did not answer his phone when he was called yesterday afternoon.

One of the ex-ministers who were part of the Cabinet retreat in 2014 confirmed that the product was embraced because of its quality and long durability.

As you are aware that ex-ministers are not supposed to comment on government matters but Im aware of the matter, and I dont understand why theres hullabaloo over it, he said.

The ex-minister said he had anticipated that Mar & Dar Swazi GRC (Pty) Ltd would be attacked for its technology because emaSwati thought bricks were the only building material.

The former politician said the construction industry was becoming dirty and rude to any form of competition. He felt it had been politicised to an extent that it was no longer easy to run a construction company in Eswatini.

The ex-minister urged emaSwati to adapt to new technology in line with His Majestys vision that Eswatini should be a first world country.






The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department have launched an investigation to determine the cause of Yuko Takeuchi' death.

Japanese actor Yuko Takeuchi, 40, was found dead at her home in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward. Her death was confirmed at the hospital.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department have launched an investigation to determine the cause of death, and suspect that she may have taken her own life. However, no suicide note has been found.

Takeuchi was found in her bedroom by husband Taiki Nakabayashi around 2 am, writes Japan Times.

"It came all of a sudden, and we are all stunned and saddened by the news," said her talent agency Stardust Promotion, in a statement.

If her cause of death is confirmed, it would follow the recent cases of suicide by actress Ashina Sei earlier this month, actor Miura Harumi in July and reality TV star Kimura Hana in May. BBC notes that Japan has the highest rate of suicides in the word, but there has been a reduction ever since preventative measures were introduced.

Takeuchi was born in 1980 and went on to pursue a career in acting with the 1996 drama Cyborg. She then starred in NHK's (Japan's national broadcaster) drama Asuka in 1999 and TBS's Love and Life in the White in 2001, according to Variety.

She stepped into films with the 1998 hit Japanese horror film Ring, followed by Innocent World.

The actor played the female version of sleuth Sherlock Holmes in 2018 HBO-Hulu series Miss Sherlock. The show was broadcast internationally in 18 countries.

Takeuchi also won multiple Japanese Academy Awards over the years, most recently for the 2014 film Cape Nostalgia.

Her last big screen release was The Confidence Man JP: Princess in July.

*

A collection of Suicide prevention helpline numbers are available here. Please reach out if you or anyone you know is in need of support. The All-India helpline number is: 022 2754 6669
Former Union Minister Jaswant Singh passed away on Sunday morning due to a cardiac arrest. He was being treated at the Army Hospital for Sepsis with Multiorgan Dysfunction Syndrome and effects of Severe Head Injury old (Optd).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday mourned the demise of former Union Minister Jaswant Singh. The Prime Minister remembered the role played by Singh, which included his stints as the External Affairs and Finance Minister during the tenure of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

His tweet read that Jaswant Singh Ji served the nation diligently, first as a soldier and later during his long association with politics. He added that during Atal Jis Government, he handled crucial portfolios and left a strong mark in the worlds of finance, defence and external affairs, he was saddened by his demise.

Also read: BJPs oldest ally Shiromani Akali Dal quits NDA over farm bills

Also read: NDA no longer envisioned by Vajpayee Ji, Badal sahab: Harsimrat as SAD quits NDA

He added in a second tweet that Jaswant Singh Ji would be remembered for his unique perspective on matters of politics and society, he also contributed to the strengthening of the BJP. He said that he would always remember their interactions. He extended his condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti.

The Prime Minister also said he has spoken to Jaswant Singhs son and Congress leader Manvendra Singh and expressed condolences on the unfortunate demise of the leader. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh too paid tributes to the departed leader and remembered his service to the nation and the BJP.

Rajnath Singhs tweet read that Shri Jaswant Singh ji would be remembered for his intellectual capabilities and a stellar record in service to the nation. He added that he also played a key role in strengthening the BJP in Rajasthan. Singh extended his condolences to his family and supporters in the sad hour.  Om Shanti.

A veteran BJP leader, Jaswant Singh, had first served in the Indian Army before joining politics. He served as a member of both the Houses of the Parliament and held several important positions in the NDA Cabinet.

Also read: PM Modi addresses UN General Assembly, makes strong pitch for Indias inclusion in UNs Security Council
In-person learning in Hudson County is off to a smooth start.

Of the two public school districts and three Catholic high schools that reopened with in-person learning, only one student has tested positive for COVID-19 since the school year began. Systems put in place to protect students and staff appear to be working, administrators say.

Theres a sense of hesitant relief among school officials that the mask policies, temperature check-systems and rotational learning schedules they established over the summer have been successful thus far.

Were more than satisfied with the first couple weeks, but we do realize that we have to absolutely maintain our vigilance, said St. Peters Prep Vice President James Horan. We cant let up.

Public schools in Secaucus and Hoboken, as well as St. Peters Prep, St. Dominic Academy, and Hudson Catholic all currently have in-person learning. Neighboring districts, like Jersey City, and Bayonne, have already committed to remain fully remote until at least November.

At St. Peters Prep, a senior went home with a fever on the first day of orientation and tested positive for COVID-19, Horan said. He spent the day in a single room with the same group of students and two teachers, the vice president said. Those teachers and students quarantined at home for two weeks and none tested positive for the virus.

All of them, including the student who had the virus, are now back at school, Horan said.

Leading up to opening day, some administrators said they were confident they had put in as many precautions as they could, but only time would tell how successful they would prove to be.

Everything has gone smoother than we even anticipated, Hudson Catholic Principal Terence Matthews said.

While 90% of the St. Peters Prep student population has returned for in-person learning, fewer Hudson Catholic students have chosen to report to the building, opting instead for completely remote learning.

Matthews said about 55% of the student population is back in the classroom. With its hybrid schedule, which rotates groups between in-person and remote learning, that means just under 150 students are in the building on a given day, Matthews said.

Under normal circumstances, the school can accommodate 625 students. Its current enrollment is 537.

Many public school districts that remain closed originally planned to have hybrid learning. But in Jersey City, for example, that would have meant dividing the in-person learning population into thirds rather than halves to ensure proper social distancing in schools that tend to be crowded.

Students have been abiding by new rules, such as requirements to wear masks all day, administrators said.

Secaucus High School math teacher Dylan Caruso said students are so cautious that one asked whether to leave the classroom to blow their nose.

I have not seen a single student with their mask down, he said.

Simply being able to interact with his students, whether those in front of him or those logged on digitally, has been a huge improvement from the districts system in the spring, Caruso said.

It feels great to come in on a Monday and talk about the Giants and what they did or didnt do the day before, he said. Its kind of nice to have that classroom feeling back even if there are only six students physically in the classroom.

Parents are also feeling a surreal sense of relief as they send their children to school in Hoboken, one mother said.

The schools there welcomed parents into the buildings before students returned Monday so they could preview the new safety measures, said Vera Sirota, who has a daughter in fourth grade and another in pre-K.

That gesture meant a lot, she said, and made her even more comfortable with sending her children back.

As the first week has progressed, shes never seen her children so happy, Sirota said.

I think were all just pinching ourselves that we actually made it to this, she said. We made it through our first week and successfully.
Pakistan's military said Sunday that Indian troops opened fire across the border in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, killing one soldier.

In a statement, it said Pakistani troops responded by targeting the Indian posts where the fire originated, causing ``substantial damage'' on the Indian side but gave no details.

The Indian army said its troops ``befittingly'' responded to Pakistani firing and shelling along the Line of Control on Saturday in southern Rajouri district. It reported no damage or casualties.

India and Pakistan routinely accused each other of unprovoked attacks along the tense Kashmir frontier in violation of a 2003 cease-fire agreement. Pakistan says India has violated the truce more than 2,000 times this year alone.

Kashmir is split between the nuclear-armed rivals and both claim it in its entirety. They have fought two wars over Kashmir since their independence from British colonial rule in 1947.

Tensions soared in February 2019, when a suicide bombing killed 40 Indian troops in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir, and India retaliated with airstrikes inside Pakistani territory. Pakistan shot down one of the warplanes in Kashmir and captured a pilot who was quickly released. India said the strikes targeted Pakistan-based militants responsible for the suicide bombing

Relations have been further strained since August last year, when India revoked the Muslim-majority region's decades-old semi-autonomous status, touching off anger on both sides of the frontier. Since then, troops have frequently traded fire, leaving dozens of civilians and soldiers dead on both sides.

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ALBANY  The State University of New York on Friday announced system-wide sanctions for violators of COVID-19 safety protocols.

Student violators now face immediate academic and housing suspension, as well as possible dismissal, and student organizations in non-compliance face a permanent campus ban, SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras said in his announcement of the new guidelines.

I have spoken with our SUNY campus leadership and they know both what is at risk as well as their role in preventing new COVID-19 cases by enforcing health and safety protocols, Malatras said. Intentional or otherwise, there continues to be some individuals violating these critical measures on campuses, increasing the chances of spreading the coronavirus and shutting down on-campus activity."

The policy, which was drafted in consultation with campuses across the system, is intended to help SUNY campuses protect the public health and ensure the schools can remain open during the pandemic. The rules include the usual prohibitions against campus gatherings larger than 50 and consequences for violations of the mask mandate or quarantine order.

It also includes sanctions against students who do not participate in the system-wide COVID-19 surveillance testing program. Students who miss two appointments to provide a saliva sample or fail to fill out daily health screening forms for three consecutive days could face suspension or other disciplinary action.

Campuses are required to begin communicating the new policy to students, which becomes effective on campuses no later than Oct. 1, 2020 and remains in place until further action by the SUNY chancellor.

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.

This policy is part of SUNYs three-pronged approach to address the COVID-19 crisis to keep campuses open including: SUNY-wide testing, uniform data transparency, and uniform enforcement, Maltatras said.

"We want all of our students to have fun and enjoy campus life, but we must do so safely. While a vast majority of our students are complying with the rules, we cannot let a few people ruin it for everyone," Malatras said. "It is my hope that all students will comply, and campuses will not need to impose any sanctions.
Mr George Amoh, the Executive Secretary of the National Peace Council, Sunday, urged the citizenry to remain calm and support the security agencies in their efforts to deal with the illegal activities of the pro separatists Homeland Study Group Foundation.



He advised political activists to desist from commenting on the development with partisan interests and allow security officials to handle the situation professionally.



Speaking in an interview with the GNA, he said the security agencies were in control of the situation, hence there was no need to blame them for the September 25 attacks.



At about 0200 hours, on Friday, elements of the Group attacked the Aveyime and Mepe police stations and mounted road blocks on the JuapongAccra and SogakopeAccra main roads, disrupting the daily routine of the citizenry.



One person is confirmed dead and three persons, including a police officer, injured, in fire exchanges between security agencies and the pro secessionists, an official Joint Police/Military statement has said.



Some 31 persons have also been arrested to aid investigations into the matter.



Mr Amoh said the national interest should reign paramount when dealing with such complex matters or debating them.



He, therefore, commended the President of the National House of Chiefs, Togbe Afede XIV, for what he called, his refreshing" comments, which condemned the activities of the secessionists and called for support for the security agencies.



Mr Amoh said the disturbances could derail the March for peace and development" and encouraged the populace to support the security services to maintain law and order across the country.



This is a big threat to our sovereignty and I think we do not need interference from our political actors now as we get closer to the December polls," said.



"We should all give utmost support to the security agencies and volunteer information to them, Mr Amoh said.



He also asked the media to be circumspect and conflict sensitive in their reports and commentary in order not to throw the country into chaos.



Mr Amoh said Ghana cherished its peace and national cohesion and underscored the need for all to work towards safeguarding the nations unity.



We have come very far as one people and should not allow such elements to destroy our peace, national cohesion and development, he said.



Togbe Afede in his statement said, This is not something that any of us should condone.



This is something that we should all support the government to ensure it is nipped in the bud.



He urged all to support the Government to contain the situation ...That our country will remain the peaceful nation that it has always been. That it will remain the country that we take a lot of pride in.



Meanwhile, Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa, Volta Regional Minister, who is also Chairman of the Regional Security Council told the GNA on Sunday that, The Region is calm. People are going about their daily activities.



He expressed gratitude to the media houses who were supporting the efforts of the State, especially the security agencies, to ensure the safety of all.



We are enjoying massive support from majority of people in the Region, especially chiefs, and we are happy that the situation is under the control of the security agencies, he said.



Dr. Letsa said REGSEC and the various District Security Councils were working around the clock to ensure law and order.



Meanwhile, the joint statement from the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and the Ghana Police Service (GPS), which was copied to the Ghana News Agency, said the 31 members of the Group who were arrested had since been brought to Accra for interrogation.



It assured the public that activities of the Group had been brought under control.



On May 9, 2019, some of the leaders of the Group were arrested for planning to declare independence, some of whom face prosecution.



The Group represent the movement for secession and independence of Western Togoland from Ghana, which became part of country following a plebiscite in 1957.



According to a United Nations online source, the Group was founded in 1994 by Mr Charles Kormi Kudzordzi as a platform to discuss their interests and objectives.



Before the plebiscite, Western Togoland, was a United Nations (UN) Trust Territory under administration of Great Britain.



During the period of decolonisation in Africa, the UN called for a plebiscite on the future of Western Togoland - whether it would become independent or join in a union with the Gold Coast, which had just gained its independence.



Western Togoland decided to join the new Ghana in the plebiscite, organised by Great Britain, after which it was incorporated into the new State of Ghana.

Source: GNA









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Vineet Upadhyay By

Express News Service

DEHRADUN: Over 4.25 lakh Nepali residents have arrived in Uttarakhand state in India in last two months for employment opportunities according to a report.

Interestingly, half of these people have arrived in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand. The officials also added that this number is likely to increase more in upcoming months.

A district official on the condition of anonymity said, "A report of home ministry of Nepal has reveled these facts. We are also keeping a close eye on the situation. In normal times, this is a very usual practice of workers crossing the border for work."

Reason behind so much migrant workforce from the neighboring country is said to be unavailability of work opportunities.

Nepal continues to take decisions irking India over Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura adding these territories to its political map and school syllabus.

Meanwhile, resorting to Chinese ways of information warfare and war of perception, multiple accounts have appeared on various social media platforms advocating of taking back Nepalese land which include Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura along with areas expanding upto Dehradun.

These pages garnering between 35-45000 likes are using map of Nepal before Sugauli treaty in 1816 to gain followers and convince that India is the one that has occupied Nepalese land.

Said to be run by the support of ruling Nepal Communist Party, United Nepal National Front claim parts of Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Himachal, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar as part of Nepal.

Last month, mayor of Bhimdutt Municipal Corporation of Kanchanpur district of Nepal claimed that parts of Champawat district in Uttarakhand belonged to Nepal. The claims were rubbished by Indian authorities.

Earlier, this year Nepals cabinet endorsed a new political map showing Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura under its territory.

The ruling Nepal Communist Party lawmakers had also tabled a special resolution in Parliament demanding return of Nepals territory in Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulekh.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Quick Credit and Investment Micro Credit Limited, Romeo Rich-love Seshie has won the Banking and Finance category at this year's 40 under 40 awards 2020.

Romeo before his appointment as the CEO was the Deputy Managing Director of the company.

Under his leadership, he's led a transition from branches to branchless institution operating remotely across the country with a customer base of over 50,000 and successfully employed over 400 call centre executives during the pandemic.

Speaking on his award, Romeo noted that We have been in the business for years, providing jobs for hundreds, livelihood for mothers, impacted lives through our collateral-free loan, been compliant with the regulator and still standing tall even in the midst of the pandemic. This award is a sign of recognition of efforts invested and I feel special about it."

He expressed appreciation to his mentor and the Board Chairman of Quick Credit and Investment Micro Investment Limited, for his unflinching support. "To my Board Chairman Mr. Richard Nii-Armah Quaye, who also won the investment category and the overall; no doubt at all, its simply a delight to work under your feet. I am thankful for believing in me and mentoring me," he said.

"I dedicate this award to my hard-working staff especially my field officers, for their dedication and selflessness. This is what has brought the company this far. The bigger journey is ahead and we are ready, he added.

He thanked Xodus Communications for identifying and appreciating his brand as one outstanding and worthy of this award.

Mr. Seshie is an astute Finance Management personnel, motivated Professional Accountant, Auditor and Financial Analyst with over 10 years experience.

He has played a key role in preparing senior management strategic plans, providing financial analysis and leadership designs, spearheaded and implemented balanced and sound strategies while ensuring financial stability.

Romeo is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountant Ghana (ICAG).

He holds Masters degree in Finance from Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) and has a degree in Accounting and Information Systems from Regent University College of Science and Technology.

He is a Certified Credit Administrator from National Banking College, Accra, and also a Certified Tally Accounting Software Administrators from I.P.M.C. Currently, Romeo is a Finalist at the Chartered Institute of Taxation, Ghana, and also a Finalist at the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)-UK. Romeo enrolled at Central University, Ghana to pursue LLB in 2018. He went to Keta Business Secondary School at Keta in the Volta Region.

The 40 under 40 awards, held at the Kempinski hotel over the weekend, is aimed at celebrating and honouring the nation's accomplished young business leaders under the age 40. Entrepreneurs, CEOs, Co-founders, and COOs are the prime focus for these awards.

Quick Credit, is a micro-credit institution that gives loans to small and medium businesses with no collateral across country. The company won the Innovation in Financial Inclusion Loan Service Provider at the European Global Business and Finance Award 2020.
New York: Why the coronavirus affects children much less severely than adults has become an enduring mystery of the pandemic. The vast majority of children do not get sick; when they do, they usually recover.

The first study to compare the immune response in children with that in adults suggests a reason for children's relative good fortune. In children, a branch of the immune system that evolved to protect against unfamiliar pathogens rapidly destroys the coronavirus before it wreaks damage on their bodies, according to the research, published this week in Science Translational Medicine.

Research has cast a light on the ways that children's bodies are able to suppress the coronavirus. Credit:Getty

"The bottom line is, yes, children do respond differently immunologically to this virus, and it seems to be protecting the kids," said Dr Betsy Herold, a paediatric infectious disease expert at Albert Einstein College of Medicine who led the study.

In adults, the immune response is much more muted, she and her colleagues found.
Sushant Singh Rajputs death case has unearthed several controversies in B-town. After Rhea Chakraborty and her brother, Showiks arrest, several big names from the industry have been pulled in for probe. Yesterday, Deepika Padukone, Sara Ali Khan and Rakul Preet were interrogated by the Narcotics Control Bureau after several chats surfaced where the actors were talking about consumption of marijuana.

Latest reports on the interrogation state that the NCB has seized the actors phones for forensic examination. It also stated that the notice of this investigation is not the use of drugs by the individual but to get to the bottom of the supply and procurement chain in the industry.

Furthermore, the report revealed that both Deepika and Sara denied consumption of marijuana. Though Deepika reportedly admitted to having a conversation about it with her manager Karishma Prakash, she said that was the end of the matter. Sara on the other hand revealed that she was close to Sushant and would sometimes visit him at his farmhouse. She also spoke of a trip she took with the actor to Thailand and some details of parties Sushant would throw at his farmhouse.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-26 18:49:18|Editor: huaxia

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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)

"... By shifting responsibilities, or 'lying, cheating, stealing,' one will not solve any problem, but only drift further down the wrong direction," said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, in his response to Kelly Craft, the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations.

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Driven by pure self-interests, the United States has once again spread its "political virus" in front of the international community, exposing its desperate blame-shifting intrigues amid its epidemic crisis.

What Kelly Craft, the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations, said at a summit-level debate of the UN Security Council was nothing fresh but parroting previous China-smearing rhetoric by other Washington politicians. Her accusations are as groundless as they are brazen.

Washington cannot expect to beat the novel coronavirus through such practices. On the contrary, by stoking confrontation and division, the United States has seriously disrupted the international community's joint efforts to fight the pandemic.

Since the onset of the pandemic, the United States, with the world's most advanced medical technologies and system, has largely failed to contain the pathogen, as the country is tragically leading the world in terms of both COVID-19 caseload and death toll, leaving its global image tarnished.

Security fences are set up outside the White House as U.S. President Donald Trump plans to deliver his Republican National Convention (RNC) acceptance speech at the White House, in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Aug. 27, 2020. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)

To shift blame for their hellish pandemic response, those politicians have left no stone unturned to smear China and the World Health Organization (WHO). Washington's overbearing bullying has prompted the world to see clearly their political scheme behind the trick of blame-shifting.

The timeline of China's response to COVID-19 outbreak is clear. The Chinese people have stood together and made huge efforts and sacrifices in combatting the disease. China's contribution to the global battle against the pandemic has been widely recognized by the international community, including the United Nations and the WHO.

"The United States should understand that blaming others will not solve its own problems. All countries have their problems along the way of development. And these problems should first and foremost be solved through one's own efforts. By shifting responsibilities, or 'lying, cheating, stealing,' one will not solve any problem, but only drift further down the wrong direction," said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, in his response to Craft.

Photo taken on Sept. 14, 2020 shows the outside view of the United Nations headquarters in New York, the United States. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

As a major country in the world, the United States should set a good example for the 193 members in the UN family. However, its behavior is utterly rejectable.

It is the United States that has time and again undermined the international order by departing from international institutions and treaties at will.

It is also the United States that has stirred up unilateralism and exceptionalism at a time when the global community faces so many threats and challenges that need to be tackled together.

As the world marks the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, those U.S. politicians should seriously revisit the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and thoroughly reflect on the fundamental reasons why the law of the jungle was universally rejected by the international community after World War II.

Those U.S. politicians should stop their self-designed "political show" and instead shoulder due responsibilities for the world. 
MALTA  The town supervisor said he will be discussing safety on the Zim Smith Trail with town board members after a woman was sexually assaulted while jogging on the trail Saturday afternoon.

The woman had stopped to stretch while jogging around 3:48 p.m. when she was grabbed from behind by a stranger at the midway point on the Malta portion of the trail, according to the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office. Sexual contact was forced upon her, and her face was injured during the attack, the sheriff's office said.

Captain Daniel P. Morley said the suspect ran off, but there were enough people in the immediate area for them to search and help sheriff's deputies find him. The victim was treated at the scene by emergency responders.

Tyler J. Gaston, 26, of Clifton Park was charged with first-degree sexual abuse and second-degree assault.

"This heinous attack goes against the very fiber of who we are as a community," Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo said in a statement. "We are extremely hopeful the victim makes a full recovery and that the suspect is held accountable for his actions to the fullest extent of the law."

Zurlo also thanked members of the public who provided "invaluable assistance" in the investigation. "I want to personally thank each and every one of our citizens who helped our law enforcement officials bring this case to a swift conclusion."

Zim Smith Trail is a 9-mile multi-use trail that connects Ballston Spa to Coon's Crossing in Halfmoon, and runs through Ballston, Malta, Clifton Park and Round Lake.

Morley of the sheriff's office said he was not aware of any other attacks happening on the trail in recent years - only instances of cars being broken into.

"It's extremely rare and I was very disturbed to hear that this morning," Malta Town Supervisor Darren O'Connor said Sunday. He said it has made him think about what could be done to make the trail safer. However, he noted the attack happened during the day when there were many other people on the trail.

"It makes me wonder what in the heck was going through this characters mind? This was inexplicable," O'Connor said.

He noted that up until this incident, the trail has been extremely safe. "I just hope this doesnt dissuade people from using it," O'Connor said.

O'Connor said he and the town board will be discussing the incident. "(The sheriff's and State Police) do a great job, but they cant be every where all the time," the supervisor said. "I thought about cameras. But they're hard to maintain and monitor. Well have to be thinking about this."

Gaston, the suspect in the case, was arraigned remotely in Stillwater Town Court, and sent to the Saratoga County Jail to await further court proceedings.
You are here: Business

Profits of China's major industrial firms totaled 612.81 billion yuan (about 90 billion U.S. dollars) in August, increasing by 19.1 percent year on year, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed Sunday.



The growth narrowed 0.5 percentage points from July.

In the first eight months of the year, the profits of major industrial firms declined 4.4 percent to 3.72 trillion yuan, narrowing 3.7 percentage points from the January-July period.

Profits of state-controlled industrial firms dropped 17 percent from one year earlier to 950.94 billion yuan, while those of private ones shrank 3.3 percent year on year to 1.07 trillion yuan.

During the January-August period, profits of the mining industry slumped 38.1 percent, and manufacturing industry profits decreased by 1 percent.

Profits in 16 of the 41 surveyed industrial sectors rose compared with the same period last year, while 25 sectors saw their profits fall, according to the NBS.

Major industrial companies refer to those with an annual business turnover of at least 20 million yuan.
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Homicide investigators in Berkeley are confirming their investigation Saturday evening of a fatal shooting that took place today at a home in a Berkeley Hills neighborhood.

There are few details as of early Saturday evening. Berkeley police said the shooting took place at about 4 p.m.
Mackenzie Guild, 15, was helping tow a vehicle on her family's property when the snatch rope hit her in the chest and killed her

A schoolgirl has died in a tragic accident at her family farm that left her younger sister horrifically injured.

Mackenzie Guild, 15, and her sister Charlie, 11, were sitting in the tray of a ute that was towing a bogged car at their family's cattle property Niall Station, 170km north of Charters Towers in northern Queensland.

The girls were helping move the vehicle at about 10pm Friday when the snatch rope between the two cars snapped and hit Mackenzie in the chest.

Mackenzie died at the scene while Charlie was airlifted to Townsville University Hospital where she remains in a stable condition, The Townsville Bulletin reports.

The accident has devastated the close-knit town of Charters Towers and the girls' school at Columba Catholic College.

Principal Candi Dempster said the loss was 'heartbreaking' and sent 'shockwaves' through the school community.

'Mackenzie had a sense of hope, positivity and a "have a go nature" at every opportunity presented to her,' Ms Dempster said.

Both Mackenzie and her family were heavily involved in the school community, with her twin sister Courtney and older sister Georgia also boarding students at the college.

Charlie was also due to join them when she begins year seven in 2021.

Ms Dempster has been in contact with Mackenzie's parents, Alisha and James Guild, to pay her respects.

'Alisha is just a very capable, bubbly woman who is being very stoic for her family in knowing that Mackenzie touched the lives of so many,' Ms Dempster said.

Ms Dempster said the parents are showing 'incredible strength' during this traumatic time and said Mackenzie shared the same 'indomitable spirit' as her mother.

The accident has devastated the close-knit town of Charters Towers and the girls' school at Columba Catholic College. Pictured far left: Mackenzie, 15

Mackenzie Guild was sitting in the tray of a ute that was towing a bogged vehicle at their family's cattle property Niall Station (pictured) when she was killed

The accident has devastated the close-knit town of Charters Towers and the girls' school at Columba Catholic College (pictured)

'She was so comfortable in her own skin. She's one of those characters that actually lights up the room,' the principal said.

Ms Dempster said while the accident has been heartbreaking, the school was grateful for knowing Mackenzie.

Grief support is being offered for school staff, student and parents through the college's pastoral care team and parish priest.

Columba Catholic College plans to honour Mackenzie in a service involving her sisters, friends and parents when school resumes for term four.
West Midlands Police were called to several incidents on Saturday night. (PA)

Police arrested a teenager for assaulting a police officer as they sent over 500 people home from illegal gatherings across the West Midlands on Saturday night.

West Midlands Police tweeted that they received 18 calls to breaches of pandemic laws, mainly due to house parties, between 10pm and midnight.

The force said 550 people were moved on from 20 separate gatherings across the region where they were in breach of the governments rule of six restrictions.

Eight venues will have their licences reviewed following the incidents, they added.

Weve arrested a teenager for assaulting a police officer after we were called to a house party with 20-30 people in #Oscott



Its simple - stay at home, stay safe.  West Midlands Police (@WMPolice) September 26, 2020

Weve arrested a teenager for assaulting a police officer after we were called to a house party with 20-30 people in #Oscott. Its simple - stay at home, stay safe, the force tweeted.

Weve directed around 550 people to leave premises at over 20 locations across the force tonight where #Covid regulations were being breached.

Read more: Police 'shut down' anti-lockdown demonstration in London over lack of social distancing

Eight premises will receive a visit from licensing officials for a licence review. No fines have been issued but we will if we have to.

At around midnight, officers shut down a pub in Birmingham that was hosting a wedding party with about 60 guests, some two hours after it should have closed due to the new coronavirus restrictions.

On Friday evening, police said they moved on about 450 people who were part of big gatherings, while another 250 were forced to leave an event at a hotel in the city.

Watch: MPs to vote on 'rule of six' before government imposes more COVID restrictions

Story continues

West Midlands Police said it was inundated with calls in the first week of the rule of six restrictions, with 525 reports of breaches between September 15 and 20  nearly 90 a day.

It comes after government ministers, including home secretary Priti Patel, urged people to report their neighbours if they saw them flouting lockdown restrictions.

The 'rule of six', which started on September 14, has reduced the number of people who can gather together from 30 to six.

Davis Jamieson, the region's police and crime commissioner, said: "Some people will choose to ignore the new measures and they should know that West Midlands Police will be on hand to remind them of their responsibilities in the first instance, but if they continue to flout the rules then officers wont hesitate to act if lives are being put at risk.

"I would urge people to follow the rules to ensure we can get the virus under control."

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Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.

Your arrangements will take care of all: Adar Poonawalla praises PM Modis vaccine vision

The CEO of the Pune-based pharma company thanks PM Modi for his leadership, a day after his UNGA speech where he said India is committed to help the global community. Read more

On Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi focuses on storytelling; hails passage of farm bills

PM Modi started the Mann Ki Baat address with highlighting the art of storytelling. He said that the coronavirus disease pandemic has served in fostering bonding among family members, bringing them even closer. Read more

Perfect boss and mentor: Omar Abdullah condoles demise of former Union minister Jaswant Singh

Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, recalled the memories he has of working with former Union minister Jaswant Singh, who died of prolonged illness on Sunday and called him the perfect boss and mentor. Read more

IPL 2020: Dinesh Karthik names three KKR players he would give to get Rabada, Iyer and Ashwin from Delhi Capitals

Ill give you a hypothetical scenario. In the movie Pandavar Bhoomi, theres one family. So you have to the opportunity to adopt three and give me three to adopt, Ashwin told Karthik in a Youtube show called Hello Dubaiaah hosted by the former. Read more

Lenovo ThinkBook Plus review: Brownie points for the attempt

A well-built and a robust product, the ThinkBook Plus definitely changes the definition of a clamshell laptop. Read more

Maintenance of vehicle documents, e-challans through IT portal from October 1

Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has said that use of IT services and electronic monitoring will result in better enforcement of traffic rules in the country. Read more

Amid IPL 2020 and crazy heat of Dubai, Preity Zinta misses ski trip and this throwback picture is proof

Currently in Dubai to support her team Kings XI Punjab at the Indian Premier League 2020, Preity Zinta set fans relating with her travel nostalgia as she shared throwback picture from her ski trip. Read more
Donald Trump, a self-proclaimed billionaire, paid only $750 in federal income taxes in the year he was elected US president, according to a stunning New York Times investigation that could shake up the presidential election.

Related: Trump says overturning Roe v Wade 'possible' with Barrett on supreme court

Trump taxes show chronic losses and years of tax avoidance, was the banner headline on the papers website on Sunday. The presidents tax returns have long been the holy grail of American political reporting.

The president paid $750 in federal income taxes the year he won the presidency, the paper reported, adding that in his first year in the White House, he paid another $750.

He had paid no income taxes at all in 10 of the previous 15 years  largely because he reported losing much more money than he made.

In all, the paper said, Trump paid no federal income taxes in 11 of 18 years its reporters examined. Many of his businesses, including his golf courses, report significant financial losses  which have helped him to lower his taxes.

The Times also said the documents it had obtained comprise information that Mr Trump has disclosed to the IRS, not the findings of an independent financial examination. They report that Mr Trump owns hundreds of millions of dollars in valuable assets, but they do not reveal his true wealth. Nor do they reveal any previously unreported connections to Russia.

The paper said it would not publish the documents, in order to protect its source.

At a White House press briefing on Sunday, Trump made wild allegations about plots against him and about Biden, who he will debate for the first time on Tuesday. Eventually, he dismissed the Times report as totally fake news.

He said: We went through the same stories, you could have asked me the same questions four years ago, I had to litigate this and talk about it.

Totally fake news, no. Actually I paid tax. And youll see that as soon as my tax returns  its under audit, theyve been under audit for a long time. The [Internal Revenue Service] does not treat me well  they treat me very badly. You have people in the IRS  they treat me very badly.

Story continues

The president added: The New York Times tried it, the same thing, they want to create a little bit of a story. Theyre doing anything they can. Thats the least of it. The stories that I read are so fake, theyre so phony.

Pressed on why a billionaire only paid a few hundred dollars in the year he won the presidency, Trump insisted: First of all I paid a lot, and I paid a lot of state income taxes too. The New York state charges a lot and I paid a lot of money in state. Itll all be revealed. Its going to come out but after the audit.

The revelations threaten to damage Trumps repeated claim to be a successful businessman and therefore a capable steward of the US economy.

The Times also said he has used questionable measures to reduce his tax bill. He faced a possible hit of more than $100m if he lost a decade-long audit battle with the IRS over the legitimacy of a $72.9m tax refund that he claimed, and received, after declaring huge losses.

It promised more stories in the coming weeks, adding: The tax returns that Mr Trump has long fought to keep private tell a story fundamentally different from the one he has sold to the American public.

Trump will face Joe Biden at the polls on 3 November. He has long resisted demands by political opponents and the media to release decades of tax information. He is the first president since the 1970s to keep his tax returns concealed.

The Times reported on Trump family tax affairs in late 2018, winning a Pulitzer Prize.

Even while declaring losses, he has managed to enjoy a lavish lifestyle by taking tax deductions on what most people would consider personal expenses, including residences, aircraft and $70,000 in hairstyling for television, the Times reported on Sunday.

Ivanka Trump, while working as an employee of the Trump Organization, appears to have received consulting fees that also helped reduce the familys tax bill.

The paper added: Over the past two decades, Mr Trump has paid about $400m less in combined federal income taxes than a very wealthy person who paid the average for that group each year.

Alan Garten, a lawyer for the Trump Organization, told the Times that most, if not all, of the facts appear to be inaccurate.

He said: Over the past decade, President Trump has paid tens of millions of dollars in personal taxes to the federal government, including paying millions in personal taxes since announcing his candidacy in 2015.

Related: Only a fool would write off Trump. But theres a reason hes so desperate | Michael A Cohen

The newspaper pointed out that personal taxes appeared to cover other federal taxes, including social security and Medicare.

The report prompted instant criticism. Ryan Thomas, a spokesperson for the progressive advocacy organisation Stand Up America, said: Four years ago, Donald Trump broke decades of precedent when he refused to release his tax returns to the public. At each turn since, hes attempted to shield his financial records from the public  even as congressional and criminal investigators look into how hes profited off the presidency and his decades of fraudulent tax schemes.

Weve demanded Trumps tax returns for years because the American people deserve to know what hes paying  and the answer appears to be very little. A man who uses dubious tax schemes to avoid paying taxes or lies to the public about his finances has no place in the Oval Office.

This is just one more reason why we must vote to evict him.

 The headline on this article was amended on 28 September 2020 to remove a suggestion that the New York Times had published the actual tax returns.
El-Aaiun (Occupied Territories), 27 September 2020 (SPS) - Amnesty International has demanded, for the second time in less than a month, that the Moroccan occupation authorities immediately drop the "unjustified" charges against journalist Brahim Amrikli.



"The Moroccan authorities must immediately drop the unjustified charges against citizen journalist Brahim Amrikli," the Organization said in a statement, considering that "the circumstances of Ibrahim Amrikli's arrest, interrogation and indictment suggest that he was targeted for his work as a committed journalist and human rights activist."



Member of the Nushatta Foundation established in 2013, a Saharawi youth organization that monitors the human rights situation in Western Sahara, Brahim Amrikli has covered demonstrations and also worked on documentaries, such as a report on the Bou Craa phosphate mine in Western Sahara, Amnesty International recalled.



The prosecutor at the Moroccan court of first instance in occupied El-Aaiun accused, on May 17, Saharawi journalist Amrikli violating the regulations relating to the state of health emergency, under the decree-law on health emergency adopted in March 2020, and "insulting public officials", under article 263 of the Penal Code.



At its first hearing on 7 September, the Court of First Instance of El-Aaiun decided to postpone the trial until 28 September, next Monday.



Amnesty responds to Morocco, reminds it of its grim human rights record



Amnesty said Brahim was arrested by four policemen in the occupied town of El-Aaiun, who forced him into a police vehicle, on the pretext of violating the imposed state of emergency due to the spread of the "Coronavirus".



The journalist was arrested "while he had a travel permit with him" and "had even suffered ill-treatment while being detained at the police headquarters".



Amnesty International's report also referred to the case of the arrest of Saharawi journalist Essabi Yahdih, founder of the Algargarat media organ, on 1 July 2020 in the occupied city of El-Aaiun, confirming that he too had been arrested for his media activities.



The Moroccan occupier systematically harasses Sahrawi journalists, imposes a blockade on the entire region and even prohibits delegations from going there. (SPS)



062/SPS/T
The command staff of the Azerbaijan Army decided to launch a counter-offensive operation of Azerbaijani troops along the entire front to suppress the combat activity of the armed forces of Armenia and ensure the safety of the civilian population, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported today

"The military personnel and tank units, with the support of units of the Rocket and Artillery Troops, frontline aviation, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), determining a large number of manpower (military personnel), military facilities, and military equipment of the Armenian armed forces located in the forward line and in the depths of the enemy's defense, have destroyed them," the ministry said.

"According to the information received, 12 OSA anti-aircraft missile systems of the Armenian air defense units were destroyed in various directions. A combat helicopter of the Air Force of Azerbaijan was shot down in the Terter direction, the crew members are alive. The blitz counter-offensive operation of our troops continues," the ministry said.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 14:08:21|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Prime ministers and foreign ministers on Saturday vowed to uphold the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations and resist unilateralism through their pre-recorded speeches addressed to the ongoing General Debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly.

"It is important for all of us to reaffirm our conviction to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations which is the cornerstone of International law. This remains timeless, universal and an indispensable foundation for a more peaceful, prosperous, and just world," Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth said.

"It is also important that the institutions that we have collectively created operate independently and their rulings are respected by all countries irrespective of their size and power," he added.

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that the COVID-19 pandemic has indeed aggravated existing global challenges and reinforced the indispensability of multilateralism.

"On this 75th anniversary of the United Nations, our commitment to multilateralism as embodied in the UN Charter remains unflinching," she said. "At the national level, despite numerous challenges, we are committed to upholding the values of multilateralism and working towards building a 'Sonar Bangla' free of poverty and exploitation based on democratic principles with full enjoyment of human rights, as envisioned by the Father of our Nation."

Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Minnis told the virtual summit that his country will make "unwavering commitment" to the United Nations and always uphold the UN Charter principles "on which the organization was founded."

"The trend of unilateralism and the exertion of force against weak countries is on the rise, undermining international order and multilateralism," said Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen.

He said that voices of reason are stifled by the arbitrary practice of unilateral sanctions and other coercive political, economic and financial measures, because the strongest countries uphold their interests above everything else.

The prime minister underscored that "there is an abusive use of the right of interference, which has taken on such a proportion that it undermines one of the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, the right of peoples to self-determination and the national sovereignty."

"The damages on the current international order are causes for great concern. In addition, the possibility of a so-called new cold war has also become a significant concern because this small country, once caught in the midst of the cold war conflict, ideological rift and nationalist fanatism, paid a very high price," said Hun Sen.

"Thus, we must outright reject any attempt to allow tragic history to repeat itself," he added.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said that unilateral coercive measures imposed by some countries clearly violate international law. "The humanitarian exemptions they repeatedly invoke do not exist on the ground. These are false claims intended to cover their inhumanity and save face."

"We call on all affected countries and those that reject such measures to close ranks against them and alleviate their impact on our peoples. This should happen through cooperation, coordination, and concrete political, economic, and commercial means," he said.

Noting that the world is facing a period of prolonged turmoil, Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said that the multilateral system is confronted by nationalism, xenophobia, the rejection of free trade and global economic integration, and the bifurcation of technology and supply chains.

"COVID-19 has in fact accelerated and intensified these pre-existing trends. Protectionism and unilateral action will ultimately be self-defeating," he said. Enditem
mfanukhona@times.co.sz

MBABANE  The project site where a Strategic Oil Reserve Facility was to be built at Phuzumoya is now full of thick vegetation.

It is now a grazing land.

However, it has been established that government, as at March 31, 2019, had spent a sum of E54.89 million on the project, which was suspended three years ago.

Despite its suspension, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy continued to spend taxpayers money on the project.

This has been evidenced by governments engagement of a Taiwanese company to review and update designs for the storage facility.

The company styled CTCI Corporation was paid E14.5 million for this job. It must be said that Kantey & Templer (Pty) Ltd had spent E5 million on the designs, which have been reviewed at a cost of E14.5 million.

reviewed and updated

The reviewed and updated designs were submitted to the ministry last year. Senator Peter Ndumiso Bhembe, the Minister of Natural Resources and Energy, allowed this publication to view them at the office of the director of energy, Thabile Nkosi.

It could not be ascertained how and where the ministry spent the E54 million but money was utilised for tarring a two-kilometre road leading to the project site.

Another project, which is a sorry sight, is the Sicunusa-Nhlangano road where about E700 million was spent, which Auditor General Timothy Matsebula described in his report as a grazing land. The project is incomplete as well.

Sikelela Dlamini, the Secretary General of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), said it was possible that the expensive designs produced by the Taiwanese company would gather dust at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy.

He said it was probable that government would need to review the designs again by the time it was ready to commence the project.

Dlamini complained that the country failed to set priorities for its development initiatives.

Government doesnt prioritise its projects. In fact, government comes up with good projects but doesnt involve the people, hence the projects do not have the representation of the masses, he said.

The secretary general said it was a reality that people were not briefed on the significance of the Strategic Oil Reserve project.

Perhaps, if you were to ask them about the strategic oil reserve, they wont give you an answer because they dont know anything about it, he said.

Dlamini further said people might be more interested in the improvement of agriculture than the strategic oil depot that was to carry 80 million litres of fuel.

Investigations by this publication unearthed that one of the financiers felt it would not be able to offer two loans to Eswatini to undertake the projects simultaneously.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy has two main projects in the pipeline thermal power and strategic oil reserve depot or facility.

At the moment, sources allege government does not have a financier for the oil depot project.

As a result, it has been established that government has opted to start with the thermal power project, meaning the four designs produced at the cost of E14.5 million will not be implemented anytime soon.

different phases

Each of the four designs produced by CTCI Corporation addressed different phases of the project. Kantey & Templer (Pty) Ltd, which was awarded the tender for the construction of the strategic oil depot about six years ago, spent E5 million on designs, which the Taiwanese company has since reviewed and updated.

The Times SUNDAY reported last year that Bertram Stewart, the then Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, blocked the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy from diverting E15 million for a water project to the Strategic Oil Reserve facility.

Stewart, now the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Training, blocked the diversion of the money through a memorandum dated August 8, 2018.

This newspaper can now reveal that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy finally paid for the designs, which are presently kept at the Director of Energys office. It could not be ascertained if the money was sourced from the Water Fund or elsewhere but CTCI Corporation was engaged last year for the project.

rehabilitation

Audited statements indicate that a sum of E9 175 914.90 was paid to CTCI Corporation on March 14, 2019 for phase one of the project, which entailed rehabilitation of DWA Laboratory (review and update of existing preliminary designs and detailed estimates).

On March 28, 2019, payment of E432 240.62 was made for the same project (review and update of existing preliminary designs and detailed estimates).

On March 14, 2019, a sum of E3 890 165.62 was also released to the Taiwanese company.

The Eswatini National Petroleum Company, which was not established by any Act of Parliament just like all public enterprises, received a subvention of E1 million for the same project.

In his report for the financial year ended March 31, 2019, the auditor general had observed that capital expenditure amounting to E127.55 million was not captured into the Government Accounting System, and was neither accounted for by the accountant general.

expenditures were omitted

Timothy Matsebula, the Auditor General, observed that these capital project expenditures were omitted from financial statements for the financial year 2018/2019. As such, he said the statement of detailed capital expenditure did not reflect a true picture of all funds received and disbursed in the financial year under review.

Thabile Nkosi, the Director of Energy, said CTCI produced four detailed reports, which addressed four different phases of the project, hence the payment of the varied amounts of money.

new designs

Peter Bhembe, the Minister of Natural Resources and Energy, said his ministry received the new designs last year. He said his ministry was still looking for a company to construct the facility in line with the designs prepared by the Taiwanese company.

The minister conceded that Taiwan felt it could not offer loans to Eswatini for two projects, with his ministry, therefore, opting to start with the thermal power project.

He said the designs for the thermal power project, which seeks to address energy self-sufficiency by 2025, would be done by Taiwanese experts at their cost.

Bhembe pointed out that the Strategic Oil Reserve would be constructed in phases.

The actual cost for the project will definitely be reduced from the current estimated cost of E3.2 billion, he said.

Initially, the projects cost was E900 million.

This newspaper reported two months ago that a sum of E10 million was almost allocated to the Eswatini National Petroleum Company. Members of Parliament stopped the allocation of the money to the company.

The company wanted to channel the money to the construction of the Strategic Oil Reserve.

The House of Assemblys Portfolio Committee for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy is said to have stopped the allocation on the basis that the company was illegal because there was no Act of Parliament or gazetted Order establishing it.

now known

The company is now known as Eswatini National Petroleum Company (ENPC). The company, whose directors included the former Minister of Natural Resources and Energy, Princess Tsandzile and Thembinkosi Mamba, the former Principal Secretary, was formed in 2012.

Two years later, government engaged Kantey & Templer Eswatini in 2014 to construct the facility at Phuzumoya in the Lubombo Region. However, the BOOT (Build Own Operate and Transfer) agreement, which could have helped Kantey & Templer to access loans for the construction of the facility, was signed on April 5, 2017.

Other directors of the ENPC are Thabile Nkosi, the Director of Energy in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy, Thabiso Masina, the current Director of the Deeds Office. The Deeds Office is under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy.

The directorship also includes Joseph Themba Shilubane, Themba Mngadi and Armstrong Dumisa Dlamini.

A document in our possession indicated that Princess Tsandzile and Mamba (Thembinkosi) resigned from the company on August 9, 2018. Asked about the existence and objective of the company, Princess Tsandzile expressed shock that her name was registered as a director.

I dont know anything about this company. I have to check the documents to ascertain how my name was included, she was quoted by this newspaper.

The former minister pointed out that it was the first time she heard of a company styled Swaziland National Petroleum Company.

It is not clear where the company is based as Auditor General (AG) Timothy Matsebula also claimed he did not know it.

However, Matsebula found that the same company was given a subvention of E1 million. It claims to be a category A public enterprise.

I have to investigate the matter. Is it a government company? I dont know it, Matsebula had said.

infancy stage

Busangani Mkhaliphi, the Director of Public Enterprises Unit (PEU) under the Ministry of Finance, said she was aware of the company, and assumed it was at its infancy stage.

She said she had seen its financial statement. Asked why she entertained its financial statement, she said it uses public funds. She then referred enquiries to Nkosi, the Director of Energy.

Former Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy Winnie Stewart claimed the Petroleum Bill had since been gazetted and the ministry was undertaking consultations with the Parliament Portfolio Committees.

She said the ministry noted the Times SUNDAYs questions, kindly requesting that the finalising of the Bill be respected. She then clarified that the Swaziland National Petroleum Company is the same as Eswatini National Petroleum Company. She mentioned that the company exists and was incorporated through the laws of the country in 2012.
Remains of 117 Chinese soldiers killed in Korean War returned

EditorLi Jiayao Time2020-09-28 01:01:02

Chinese soldiers wait to receive coffins containing remains of Chinese soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War from South Korea during a repatriation ceremony at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea, Sept. 27, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Jingqiang)

SHENYANG, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The remains of 117 Chinese soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War were returned to China on Sunday from the Republic of Korea (ROK).

Escorted by two Chinese fighter jets, an air force plane carrying the remains and belongings of the fallen soldiers landed at the Taoxian international airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, at 11:18 a.m.

It is the seventh such repatriation following a handover agreement signed by the two countries.

The remains were casketed in the ROK on Saturday at a ceremony held at a provisional morgue of the 17th army division of the ROK in Incheon, west of the capital Seoul.

Personal seals of three martyrs -- Ma Shixian, Lin Shuishi and Ding Zuxi -- were found in the belongings, providing clues for confirming the identities of the heroes and finding their relatives.

The remains will be buried in a martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, with a burial ceremony due to be held Monday. The remains of 599 soldiers sent back from the ROK have been buried there between 2014 and 2019.

The Chinese People's Volunteers fought with the army of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the Korean War against the ROK army and U.S.-led UN forces between 1950 and 1953.
Mayor Ron Nirenberg, Judge Nelson Wolff and former Mayor Julian Castro joined local leaders Saturday for a virtual forum about encouraging residents to vote Nov. 3 for SA: Ready to Work, an economic recovery training program.

More than 40 community and business leaders, including former Mayor Henry Cisneros and his wife, former Councilwoman Mary Alice Cisneros, attended the 30-minute digital meeting about the Proposition B proposal.

The ballot initiative proposes a four-year program for 40,000 residents to receive training for future in-demand jobs. The program would be funded by an existing 1/8th cent sales tax that currently goes toward the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program and the Greenway Trails system.

Ana Margarita Cha Guzman, chairwoman of the San Antonio Housing Authority board of commissioners, moderated the meeting. Guzman said more than 154,000 San Antonio residents have applied for unemployment since the pandemic began in March. She said 68,000 of area unemployment claimants earned less than $22,000 per year.

Proposition B will get San Antonians back to work, she said. Because the city is working with industry to ensure the training that the community will get, will get them jobs.

Nirenberg said an estimated one quarter of jobs lost amid the pandemic might never come back.

We have an opportunity to educate and train up to 40,000 displaced workers over the next four years, he said. When you place that on top of the work that the city and the county are doing together on a recovery resiliency program, 50,000 or more San Antonians could be on their way to a stable, future career.

On ExpressNews.com: Now college freshmen, Alamo Heights grads are entrepreneurs

He said targeted industries include manufacturing, logistics, personal services, bio-science, health care, cybersecurity, construction and trade.

Wolff said cities that develop and train a good workforce will prosper in the future. He said the program is an opportunity to provide training to a talented workforce.

Former Secretary of State of Texas Rolando Pablos said he believes the program will bring economic prosperity to the city.

CEOs want to know that San Antonio is ready for them when they land here, he said. They want to know that they have a pool of qualified candidates and San Antonio will be able to provide that in the long term.

Castro said as secretary of Housing and Urban Development and as a democratic presidential candidate he saw that the communities that thrive in the 21st century are the communities that invest in themselves.

On ExpressNews.com: The doctor warned her mom not to fly. But since when did her mom take advice?

Through this initiative, we have the chance for so many people that have wonderful potential to earn more money, he said, and help us to attract and create even better opportunities for more San Antonians in the years to come.

Henry Cisneros said the measure was not for poor people alone.

Were not doing something somehow for the quote, underclass, he said. This is for the economy of our city as a whole. A city cannot function if there is not a strong economic floor, a middle class, and weve been missing that for a good part of our history.

Vincent T. Davis is a reporter in the Greater San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Vincent, become a subscriber. vtdavis@express-news.net | Twitter: @vincentdavis
Do you struggle to adjust to Daylight Saving Time - DST? You are not alone.

The biannual routine of changing your clock by one hour can induce yawns - both physical and metaphorical - and negatively impacts on accident rates, according to research from the University of Auckland.

The paper, Accident rates and the impact of daylight saving time transitions, published in Accident Analysis & Prevention, is the first study to consider multiple accident categories (Road, Work, Falls and Home & Community), in the southern hemisphere.

It found the start of DST is associated with significantly higher numbers of road accidents, particularly the first two days - Sunday increased by 16 per cent and Monday increased by 12 per cent.

For each of the four subsequent weekdays, Tuesday to Friday, the rate increased by 6 per cent.

As the Sunday when DST starts is only 23 hours long, the average accident rate is higher by 23 per cent.

Evidence that accident rates for Falls and Home & Community decline prior to the start of DST suggest behavioural adaption from anticipating change.

While Work accidents show limited impact from DST changes, in general they exhibit a significant decline over the course of the week, with Friday 13 per cent lower than Monday.

The increase in road accident rates is likely due to sleep deprivation and/or less ambient light during morning commute times.

The shift of just one hour in the bodys daily wake and sleep cycle can disrupt sleep, resulting in feelings of drowsiness.

Waking late after DST introduction may also lead to rushing to work and/or a lack of alertness.

With data provided by the Accident Compensation Corporation, Professor David Robb from the Faculty of Business and Economics, alongside Thomas Barnes, now working in London, evaluated data from a total of 12.6 million accident claims in New Zealand during 2005-2016, including the days before and after the start of DST.

The study found an increased road accident rate at the start of DST in spring, but no significant effect at the end of DST in autumn.

The research has implications for accident rate prediction, and staffing and resourcing decisions in organisations such as healthcare facilities and emergency services.

Dr Robb believes that in quantifying the impact of DST on accident rates in New Zealand, the work should encourage organisations and individuals to contemplate appropriate preparedness and mitigation measures, and perhaps society to reconsider whether the benefits of DST exceed the costs.

New Zealand enacted DST in 1927, 11 years after the first adoption in several European countries. Today DST is employed in one third of the worlds countries, impacting about 20 per cent of the worlds population. Last year the European parliament voted to scrap DST from 2021.

An interesting potential application relates to travel  as moving to an adjacent easterly (westerly) time zone is equivalent to putting clocks forward (backward) by one hour in Spring (Autumn). This could be a fruitful area of research if policies could exploit any anticipated effects. As the average accident claim cost exceeds NZ$2000, any reductions in accident rates could prove beneficial both socially and financially.

The researchers suggest a need for more studies on work-related accidents following DST. In the meantime, people are urged to prioritise sleep in the days leading up to the start of DST and take extra care, particularly while driving during the first few days after DST begins at 2am on Sunday September 27.








Photo provided

Great Rivers Bank president and CEO Bob Garner (center left) presents a $15,000 check to Jerry Corton (center right), treasurer for the New Philadelphia Association. The bank received from Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago a grant intended to address racial equity disparities and support communities hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Great Rivers awarded its grant to the association, which is dedicated to preserving the site of New Philadelphia, a racially diverse community established in the early 1800s just outside Barry. The associations plan is to preserve New Philadelphia as a national place for present and future generations to gain greater understanding of our westward migration, our racial and cultural diversity, and our quest for freedom. The New Philadelphia Association is a worthy recipient of these funds as it provides a history of racial diversity in rural Illinois, Garner said. This community is an inspiration that people with different cultural and ethnic backgrounds can live and work together. Great Rivers Bank is a full-service financial institution with branches in Barry, Pittsfield and Liberty. Others on hand for the check presentation included Great Rivers Bank Senior Vice President John Harris (third from right) and New Philadelphia representatives Linda Bradshaw (from left), Kay Iftner, Becky Winner, Carol McCartney, Marynel Corton, Phil Bradshaw and David Iftner.
New Delhi: A new law that provides for inclusion of Kashmiri, Dogri and Hindi in the list of official languages in Jammu and Kashmir, in addition to Urdu and English, has been notified after President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent.

The Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill, 2020, was passed by Parliament in the recently concluded Monsoon Session.

The Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act, 2020, received assent of the President on September 26, according to a gazette notification.

Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy had said in Parliament that it was a long-standing demand of the people of Jammu and Kashmir that the language they speak should be included in the list of official languages.

He had pointed out that around 74 per cent people in the Union Territory spoke the Kashmiri and Dogri languages. Reddy had said that according to the 2011 census, only 0.16 per cent of the population of Jammu and Kashmir spoke Urdu, while 2.3 per cent spoke Hindi.

The government would also take steps to encourage other local languages like Punjabi, Gurjari and Pahari in the region, he had said.

Union Minister of State for the PMO, Jitendra Singh, had said the government has accepted the long pending demand of the region for the inclusion of Dogri, Hindi and Kashmiri as officials languages in Jammu and Kashmir.

"It is not only a fulfilment of a long-pending public demand of the region but also in keeping with the spirit of equality which was ushered in after August 5 last year," he had said.

The central government in August last year abrogated Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the state into union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is currently under the President's rule.
As Ive been watching all the commotion of possible election chaos in November, and the various wild scenarios being played out involving military coups, or the ascension of Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the presidency on January 20 if the election is somehow not settled by then. Ive been pondering one possibility that Im surprised has drawn little attention. And it is quite relevant to the demands some Democrats apparently want to make that Amy Coney Barrett pledge to recuse herself from any election-related case that might reach the Supreme Court, as it did in 2000.

So lets play this out. Never mind the problems of counting ballots and having disputed slates of electors from one or more states. Suppose instead the electoral college ended in a 269-269 tie (or some other tie, if disputed electors are rejected by Congress). This is possible from the various swing states in play this election. In the case of a tie, the Constitution specifies that the selection of the President is decided by the House of Representatives, each state having one vote. Right now this favors Republicans, as they control more state delegations to the House than Democrats do (26 to 23 with one tied), even though Democrats have an overall majority of total members. I expect the next House will be about the same as now, with Republicans controlling more state delegations.

That means Trump wins, right? Not so fast. Look closer at the key clause in Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution:

But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by States, the representation from each state having one vote; A quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. [Emphasis added.]

If I understand this clause correctly, Democrats might be able to prevent the House from having a quorum to select the President by not showing up. [NB: It is not entirely clear what member or members from two thirds of the states means in practice: it could mean, for example, that if just one GOP House member from New York turned up, it would qualify that state toward a quorum, in which case Democrats cant prevent a quorum.] And since Trumps term in office expires at noon on January 20, then Speaker Pelosi would become president under the terms of the Presidential Succession Act of 1947.

Advantage Democrats? Not so fast. Lets keep going in Article II, Section 1:

In case of the removal of the President from office, or of his death, resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by law provide for the case of removal, death, resignation or inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what officer shall then act as President, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the disability be removed, or a President shall be elected. [Emphasis added.]

Thus arises the serious constitutional question, rooted in the principle of the separation of powers, of whether the Speaker of the House is an officer under the Constitution. Elsewhere in the Constitution it is stipulated that members of Congress may not serve in any executive branch position. In other words, the placement of the Speaker in the line of succession in the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 is arguably unconstitutional. And while the terms of the President and Vice President expire at noon on January 20, that is not necessarily the case with cabinet members, whose terms of office are not specified or limited. Behold: President Mike Pompeo, since the Secretary of State is next in the executive branch line of succession.

One could imagine the Supreme Court having to decide this disputed question. And it wouldnt do for the Supreme Court to deadlock 4-4 on such a vital issue. And note that such a case wouldnt be deciding the election or any aspect of the vote count, but merely the constitutionality of a statute governing succession.

Im not the first person to wonder about this remote but not impossible scenario. Harvard Laws Jack Goldsmith and one of his students, Ben Miller-Gootnick, wrote about this issue several months ago on LawFare:

[T]here is a powerful (though not airtight) argument that the Succession Acts placement of the speaker in the line of presidential succession (and after her, the president pro tempore of the Senate) is contrary to the Constitutions Succession Clause. That clause states that only an Officer may succeed and act as president. Most of the pertinent commentary maintains that the term Officer here does not include members of Congress. If that is right, Pelosi could not constitutionally act as President, even though the statute says she can. But who would decide the controversy? Imagine that Pelosi declares herself acting president after Trump and Pence become incapacitated. And imagine that, at the same time, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (the executive officer next in line under the statute) declares himself acting president on the basis of a legal opinion from Attorney General William Barr proclaiming legislative succession to the presidency unconstitutional. How would the matter be resolved? The answer . . . is unclear. . . [T]he matter is genuinely contested and there is a powerful argument that legislative succession is unconstitutional.

Theres a lot more background in the whole article, including the irony that it was some liberal law professors, back when Newt Gingrich was Speaker, who disputed his place in the line of succession on separation of powers grounds. Like election-year Supreme Court appointments, we can expect a lot of people to switch places on this issue if it comes to pass.
By PTI

MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena on Sunday said it appreciates the Shiromani Akali Dal's decision to quit the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the interest of farmers.

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut also said the Shiromani Akali Dal's (SAD) decision to part ways with the NDA was a sad development.

The SAD, which announced its decision to snap ties with the NDA on Saturday night, is the third major party to walk out of the BJP-led coalition in last couple of years after the Shiv Sena and the TDP.

Last year, the Shiv Sena parted ways with the NDA after its tussle with the BJP over the issue of sharing the chief ministerial post in Maharashtra on a rotational basis.

"Shivsena appreciates Akali Dal's decision to break it's ties with NDA in the interest of farmers," Sena's chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut tweeted.

Earlier, talking to reporters here, Raut said the Shiv Sena and the SAD were "pillars of the NDA".

"Both the parties stood by the BJP through thick and thin, while others joined when they smelt power. The Shiv Sena was forced to quit the NDA last year while the Shiromani AkaliDal quit over farm bills. We felt sad over the development," the Rajya Sabha member said. The Shiv Sena and the Shiromani Akali Dal were the "NDA's pillars" which are no longer there," he said.

The present dispensation at the Centre cannot be called NDA.

"This is a different alliance," Raut said.

The BJP has a comfortable majority on its own in the Lok Sabha.

SAD on Saturday said the decision to quit the NDA was taken because of the Centre's stubborn refusal to give statutory legislative guarantees to protect assured marketing of farmers crops on MSP and its continued insensitivity to Punjabi and Sikh issues like excluding the Punjabi language as the official language in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Narenda Modi government has maintained that the MSP (minimum support price) system will stay, and has accused the opposition of misleading farmers on the issue.
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Linkedin Delphine Touitou and Julie Jammot (Agence France-Presse) Washington  Sun, September 27, 2020 14:07 482 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4780475 2 Science & Tech Bytedance,TikTok Free

Known for its short-form videos popular with teens, TikTok has become a global social media sensation, and at the same time has found itself at the heart of a geopolitical war between the United States and China.

US President Donald Trump has called the app a national security risk, claiming that TikTok and its Chinese parent ByteDance could access user data and deliver it to Chinese intelligence services.

Trump's executive order would prohibit new downloads of TikTok from Sunday night and would ban usage from Nov. 12 unless a deal to restructure its ownership comes to fruition.

700 million users

TikTok has seen some two billion downloads and its user base is estimated at 700 million, making it one of the biggest players in the social media space.

It is known for its user-generated short videos of 15 to 60 seconds, many featuring dancing, parodies or comments on the news. Filters and special effects can be added.

The coronavirus pandemic has helped TikTok expand its user base beyond young smartphone users, as new kinds of content are added and popular "influencers" join the platform.

Created in 2016 as Muscal.ly, the app was acquired by ByteDance in 2017 and rebranded as the global version of the Chinese app known as Douyin.

According to the company, TikTok has 100 million users in the United States alone, with 50 million logging on every day. Before July, when reports of a ban began to circulate, TikTok was adding some 400,000 US users every day.

Spy threat?

While its quirky videos seem innocuous, TikTok has drawn scrutiny over potential security threats.

Republican Senator Marco Rubio called in 2019 for an investigation in TikTok's links to Chinese authorities, and in 2020 the Defense Department told all its personnel to remove the app.

TikTok has denied ties to the Chinese government and claims its servers are inaccessible to Beijing.

"We store all US user data in the United States, with backup redundancy in Singapore," TikTok said in a recent statement.

"TikTok's data centers are located entirely outside of China."

But a White House executive order in August claimed TikTok "automatically captures vast swaths of information from its users," and that this "threatens to allow the Chinese Communist Party access to Americans' personal and proprietary information."

This, according to the White House, could allow China to "track the locations of federal employees and contractors, build dossiers of personal information for blackmail, and conduct corporate espionage."

Making a deal

Trump has sought to take TikTok out of Chinese control, and has given his blessing to a deal that would make Silicon Valley giant Oracle the data partner for the application.

It remained unclear if Beijing would approve the deal, terms of which remained somewhat murky.

One of the key details is what would happen to the TikTok recommendation algorithm seen as the key to its success. The system uses machine learning to determine user preferences and deliver videos to keep people engaged, without too much repetition.

China last month issued new rules that would prevent the export of algorithms and artificial intelligence technologies.

ByteDance has claimed it would maintain control of the algorithm while Oracle would merely be able to inspect the data and source code for security flaws. Trump has said he would not accept any deal that leaves the Chinese in control of TikTok.

Topics : Bytedance TikTok
In a few days, India will be completing the fourth phase of the unlocking process that began in June but several cities, towns, districts are yet to come out of restrictions. In fact, some are voluntarily going back the lockdown road to arrest the spread of Covid-19. Unlock 4 in India commenced on September 1 and will be over by September 30 as all previous phases of the unlocking continued for a month.

The Centre is not in favour of lockdown at this point of time when it is focussing on allowing more activities to boost the economy. In its Unlock 4 guidelines, the ministry of home affairs specified that there will be no local restrictions in areas which are not containment zones  without Centres permission.

In a recent meeting with the chief ministers of seven states that are contributing maximum to the countrys Covid-19 tally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged the CMs to reassess local lockdowns and instead identify micro-containment zones so that the economic movement doesnt get stymied.

However, several administrations are choosing lockdowns instead of relaxations as people are flouting social distancing norms and the number of cases, on the other hand, is on the rise.

Also Read: Fear of Covid-19 second wave in Maharashtra, says Uddhav Thackeray

Raipur

A total of 10 districts of Chattisgarh, including Raipur, are under complete lockdown from September 21 to September 28. Local administrations have taken the decision. Seven municipal corporation areas in Bilaspur are under lockdown from September 22 morning till September 28 midnight. Some areas are under lockdown till September 30.

Jodhpur

The district administration has imposed a three-day lockdown in Jodhpur from September 25 10pm to September 28 5am. The decision was taken in view of the rising number of cases. People are not following the guidelines such as wearing mask and social distancing. Till the time a vaccine is developed, wearing mask and distancing is the only precaution, said a district administrative official.

The state government had earlier imposed CrPC Section 144, which prohibits the assembly of four or more people, in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Ajmer, Alwar, Bhilwara, Bikaner, Udaipur, Sikar, Pali and Nagaur.

Narsinghpur in Madhya Pradesh

Traders associations and people have voluntarily decided to declare a one-week Janata curfew in Narsinghpur, a town located near Bhopal.

Also Read: What are local lockdowns and micro-containment zones?

As the number of Covid-19 cases is rising and the Centre has reservation against lockdowns, local administrations are relying on spontaneous curfews where traders and locals take part voluntarily. Several district collectors in Nagpur, Sangli, Kolhapur, Jalgaon, Raigad, Aurangabad among others announced Janata curfews in Maharashtra. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has also expressed apprehension over a second wave of Covid-19 in the state.
New Delhi: Daughter's Day - the special day to celebrate the angels in your life - is today. Yay! It's Daughter's Day (September 27). It is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of September. The special occasion is for all the daughters, who make life worth living and spread joy wherever they go.

Daughter's Day was primarily celebrated to create awareness against female infanticide in India. Parents all across the world celebrate this day with great joy as daughters are the best gift anybody can ever get.

Bollywood celebs such as Amitabh Bachchan and Ajay Devgn have already sent out their best wishes to their daughters and it's time for others to do so.

Take a look:

And, now, on this special day, here are some of the best messages that you can send to your daughters and make their day memorable:

* A daughter is the best thing that can happen to anyone and we feel proud to be your parents.

* A daughter is a mother's treasure and a father's joy, wish you a very happy Daughter's Day, my darling.

* Thanks for coming into our lives, your smile gives me joy, your existence gives meaning to my life.

* Angels are often disguised as daughters and I am glad God sent you to be mine.

* A daughter is God's way of saying may you have a happy life ahead.

* Dear Daughter, thank you for completing my life.

* Roses are red, Sky is blue, Oh my daughter I am blessed to have you.

* Thanks for being the sunshine, dear daughter. A very happy Daughter's Day to you.

* May you be blessed with the best of everything because you, my daughter, deserve every bit of it.

* Daughters hold our hands for a little while but hold our hearts forever.

Here's wishing our readers a very happy Daughter's Day.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 27/9/2020 (482 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

INCIDENT 1041

When: April 17, 2020

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Where: First block of Valhalla Drive

A male broke into an apartment building and left the building with three mountain bikes.

INCIDENT 1042

When: May 3, 2020

Where: 700 block of Sherbrook Street

A female was seen shoplifting at a department store. When store security attempted to stop her, she pulled out a knife and threatened the guard. She fled on foot.
With 303 seats in a House of 540 members, and only 37.36 per cent of the popular vote, the BJP can rush through bills with lightning speed, pummelling any effort at debate. How does this happen? After all 237 members on the opposition benches is not a negligible number.

The BJPs impatience with the Constitution is obvious but blame also lies with the Gandhi trio on two counts: Neither have they been able to pull together a coalition with any punch, nor have they moved out of the way so that others can.

The salience given to the Gandhis by the media keeps them in the public eye as wishful thinkers with a determination to revive the Congress. This comes across as a massive roadblock in the way of any opposition unity. They know that such a revival is impossible but harping on the belief serves a purpose: It obstructs opposition unity and sustains their relevance to no useful end. The media is content with the simplicity of the Tweedledum versus Tweedledee narrative.

In recent times, a story that has wafted out of the Gandhi enclosure is one of differences between them. Sonia Gandhi, with reliable retainers like Ahmed Patel is averse to rocking any boat. Status quo, uncomfortable though it be, is about the best she sees for the brood in the given circumstances. Her listless politics is also a function of her indifferent health.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadras status quoism derives from her personal anxieties, family problems and an inability to cope with responsibilities. Ask Kishori Lal Sharma, appointed years ago to nurse the family burroughs of Rae Bareli and Amethi, and he will guardedly spill the beans. The poor fellows Stan Hardy (as in Laurel and Hardy) moustache greyed waiting for Priyanka to address the Congress volunteers. But Priyanka, like Godot, never showed up.

Rahul Gandhi, meanwhile, is being more assertive about beliefs he has long held and which approximate to the line Rajiv Gandhi enunciated at the 1985 Congress Centenary in Mumbai chastising the power brokers. Is Rahul Gandhi looking for that kind of a platform?

In 1969, when his grandmother, Indira Gandhi, split the Congress away from the power brokers, the regional satraps, the capitalists were, in a sense exposed. They eventually joined up with the RSS, Socialists in the Bihar movement of 1974 under the leadership of arch-Gandhian Jayaprakash Narayan.

The 1969 split had a Left-Right dimension to it because it was in the context of the Cold War. In the post Cold War world Inequality has emerged as the principal affliction of democracies where peoples demands are dismissed as populism. Crony capitalism thrives but no political party is allowed to find its feet if it intends to harness the discontent of the people who have borne the brunt of, say, the extended lockdown in India. There is a huge Left-of-Centre space for the Opposition to occupy. It does not have to be terribly ideological. All it has to do is to make available to the people social benefits such as health, education, housing, et cetera. Surely Rahul is aware of this opening.

Politics these days is at a standstill because of the lockdown, of course, but also because of what I call the Eulalie syndrome. This light-hearted diversion comes from Wodehouse. The resourceful Jeeves has come to the assistance of his master, Bertie Wooster, at a particularly challenging moment. Roderick Spode, the Earl of Sidcup, has become a permanent social menace in a country house which is Berties favourite haunt. How to cut down Spodes bombast? That is Berties challenge. Jeeves provides the panacea. Bertie has to sneak upto Spode and whisper, I know all about Eulalie. Bertie follows Jeeves advice. The result is electric. Spode becomes white as a sheet and collapses in the chair like a deflated balloon. It turns out that before Spode began to float in Londons high society, he owned a store called Eulalie which sold lingerie known for its bras with bold designs. Eulalie, then, is harmless blackmail. But the blackmail which has become the staple in contemporary politics is brutal.

After the BJPs stunning victory in UP in 2017, the opposition, armed with data on electoral fraud, sought Sonia Gandhis permission to hold a press conference. She refused to get involved in controversies. Likewise, she backed away from snoopgate which had both Modi and Amit Shah in difficulties.

Take a look at Lucknow. Jockeying has begun for the 10 Rajya Sabha seats from UP. Conventional wisdom concedes eight to the BJP and one to the SP. One would have expected the opposition to jointly keep the BJP out on the solitary remaining seat. But individual party leaders are in an almighty state of funk just in case the Enforcement Directorate comes knocking at their door.

Even though the opposition has a comfortable majority in the UP Upper House, the BJP rammed through nearly a hundred bills without any vote. A petrified Akhilesh Yadav is hiding behind columns to avoid political leaders who are pressing him to approach the Supreme Court. What if Yogi Adityanath sets the dogs on him? In fact, Lucknow would appear to have been a rehearsal for the real show in Parliament.

In uniformed cities like New Delhi these examples of the ruling partys impunity, away from the medias critical glare, enhance an impression of the BJPs invincibility. Forgotten are dismal economic figures and a simple catalogue: the party is not in power in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Odisha, West Bengal, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Delhi. Just as your eye settles on these facts, India Today thrusts before you its poll results: Modis approval ratings are 78 per cent. Like the Priest in Kurosawas Rashomon, you walk away nodding your head, What is the truth? The climax, of course, is the audacity of ramming through bills in Parliament. Slowly what is being brought into focus is a need for a new Constitution.
Notably, his memo came a day after the company settled a lawsuit wherein the shareholders allegedly accused the board of mishandling the sexual harassment allegations against its executives.

Alphabet Inc CEO Sundar Pichai penned down a memo for the employees where he affirmed that the company would not go back in time.I hope these commitments will serve as a strong signal to all of you that we are not going back in time, Pichai wrote in the memo seen by CNBC.

Its very important to me that we hold ourselves to the highest possible standard as a workplace on issues of misconduct, and provide care and support to people who report it...Ive been working closely with our teams and our board to ensure that we are doing this, the Google CEO added in the memo, the publication reported.

Notably, his memo came a day after the company settled a lawsuit wherein the shareholders allegedly accused the board of mishandling the sexual harassment allegations against its executives. As a part of the settlement, the company will not be providing a severance package to anyone who is terminated for any form of misconduct.

In addition to that, Google will channel $310 million toward diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and programs focused on increasing access to computer science education and careers; continuing to build a more representative workforce; fostering a respectful, equitable and inclusive workplace culture; and helping businesses from underrepresented groups to succeed in the digital economy and tech industry.

Additionally, all companies under the Alphabet Inc umbrella will take an annual review of their own individual policies and practices to ensure they are consistent with Alphabets guiding principles.

Together, Sundar, the DEI Advisory Council, and the Board will uphold Alphabets unwavering commitment to prohibit and respond effectively to complaints of sexual harassment, discrimination, and retaliation and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, Google wrote in a blog post after the settlement.
What do you get when a family science professor from Auburn University and social work professor from the University of Alabama team up to write a column together about issues facing military service members and veterans (SM/Vs) and their families in our state? Some friendly banter, a little bit of nerdy talk about social science research, and a whole lot of give-a-darn for those who have served and those who currently serve in our military, especially those here in Alabama.

We hope to put our game day differences aside  at least until late November  to bring awareness to the well-being of SM/Vs and their families, dispel myths that surround military service, highlight resources that are available across our state to serve SM/Vs and their families, and advocate for the needs of SM/Vs and their families.

You may be thinking to yourself, isnt the military and the VA taking care of these needs? or This doesnt really concern me. Ive never been connected to the military. Well, fair points. Yes, the military and the VA are positioned to provide for the physical and mental health of SM/V, but did you know that a large percentage of veterans are not enrolled in VA care at all? Besides, the best care comes when military and civilian communities team up to enhance awareness and provide comprehensive care. This requires individuals and organizations  health care and mental health providers, policy makers, researchers, and outreach organizations, among others  share experiences and recognize areas that our state is doing well in serving SM/Vs, and areas that need attention and development.

So how are we going to do this? We plan to highlight personal and family stories from across our state, integrate new findings and best practices from research, and call on you to notice how the military and veteran-related issues we discuss are, in fact, community issues.

Join us in a thought experiment: think of an airman. Review the airman closely in your mind. Review the uniform. Review the attitude and demeanor. Imagine that airmans story.

What did that airman look like? Was the airman male? Was he white? Was he tall?

One of the most important realities we can be awakened to is that military SM/Vs today look much different than they did even 50 years ago.

It might surprise you to learn that it wasnt until the late 1940s that the military began the process of racial desegregation for basic training. That process wasnt complete until 1957.

To provide a little context, Alabama schools did not begin desegregation until 1963. Thus, efforts by the military to end racial discrimination and promote opportunities for all people were both relatively recent in our history and simultaneously progressive with regard to the progress of the rest of the county. To gain more insight into military and Alabama history, we kick off this series with a new voice in our great state: Col. Eries Mentzer.

Col. Mentzer took command of the 42nd Air Base Wing at Maxwell Air Force Base in August and is the first Black woman to serve as Commander of the 42nd ABW. Like so many other important events that have taken place during this global pandemic, the change of command ceremony was live streamed. And, in her address, Col. Mentzer highlighted the intersection of Alabama history and U.S. history  for example, the Wright Brothers and Civil Rights Movement  the needs of service members  decent health care and housing, spouse employment, education for military kids, and child care  and the integral role of the military family.

She also paused to note the importance of racial and gender inclusion in the military. Col. Mentzer reflects on the change that is possible when we empower, encourage, and include others. In fact, she has witnessed and experienced this change firsthand in the Maxwell/Gunter/Montgomery community. As a child, Col. Mentzers father attended Air University, headquartered at Maxwell AFB.

Mentzer, in her address, recalled attending previous change-of-command ceremonies and not seeing anyone like me at this level (of leadership in the military).

I did not even think it was possible, Mentzer said in August. "In fact, for most of my career, the portraits of leaders past and the images of leaders present made me doubt that someone like me could get an opportunity like this (to lead the 42nd ABW).

So, to all those young Brown girls out there and everyone out there aspiring to be more than they see possible: It is (possible). But you may have to be the change that you want to see. And the path to change can be hard.

Mentzer also noted that her leadership and the actions of the command team would be characterized by empowerment, encouragement, and inclusion.

What SM/Vs look like today, in October 2020, is in many ways a reflection of the rest of America today: young, old, male, female, racially heterogeneous, of all different faiths and creeds  many with a similar set of struggles that many of us face.

We heard Col. Mentzer say that many of the issues that our communities across Alabama are struggling with  affordable and safe housing, availability and access to health care services, education for our children, employment opportunities, racial and economic inequities, and, of course, COVID  are also issues that service members and the military are wrestling with. Further, she underscored the fact that we are better positioned to make meaningful change by working together. Our intent is for you to leave this article today thinking about how to engage our nations SM/Vs, and, through them, consider many of the issues pressing our communities. In the process, it might surprise you to discover that your local business owner, community leader, the person fixing your car, or the quiet neighbor who lives two blocks away might have served in the military. You might discover that acting out of a deep neighborly love to serve those who have borne the battle will in turn reduce the struggle of someone in your community.

Find this and future installments at Mission Alabama

Dr. Mallory Lucier-Greer is an associate professor of Human Development and Family Science in the Auburn University College of Human Sciences, where she is the principal investigator of Military REACH, a national initiative to mobilize military family research into practical applications.

Dr. David L. Albright is a professor and Hill Crest Foundation Endowed Chair in Mental Health Research at the University of Alabama School of Social Work, where he directs the Office for Military Families and Veterans and is principal investigator for Vital Alabama.
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GENEVA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese diplomat on Friday deplored and rejected the accusations of a British official made earlier at the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council session, saying that the Hong Kong and Xinjiang related issues are not human rights issues in any definition.

Liu Yuyin, spokesperson for the Chinese Mission to UN at Geneva, said that the essence of the issues is China's determination to safeguard its sovereignty, security and unity, uphold rule of law, and ensure that people live in peace and contentment.

"On Sept. 25, the Minister of State of the UK made wanton accusations against China on Hong Kong and Xinjiang related issues at the Human Rights Council, abusing the platform of the Human Rights Council to spread disinformation and distort history. The UK side fully exposed its arrogance, bias and ignorance. China deplores and categorically rejects the accusations," Liu said.

According to the Chinese diplomat, since the outbreak of "Fugitive Offenders Law" incident in Hong Kong in June last year, radical separatist forces, with the support of certain external forces, have become increasingly rampant in escalating violent and terrorist activities in Hong Kong.

These acts challenged the bottom line of the "one country, two systems" principle and posed a serious threat to China's national security. The legal system and enforcement mechanism for safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) that China has established and improved are designed to plug the legal loopholes, safeguard national security and sovereignty, as well as ensure prosperity and stability in the HKSAR, he said.

He added that it reflects the will of all Chinese people including Hong Kong compatriots.

"The National Security Law for Hong Kong brings to justice only a very small number of criminal offenders who severely endanger national security. It protects the rights and freedoms of the vast majority of Hong Kong citizens who abide by law," he said.

"Desperately frustrated and outraged since the enactment of the National Security Law for Hong Kong, certain external forces went all out to attack and discredit China. They did so only because they could no longer use Hong Kong as a bridgehead to engage in activities that undermine China's national security as unscrupulously as they did before," he added.

As for China's Xinjiang region, the Chinese diplomat said that Xinjiang has been plagued by ethnic separatism, violent terrorism, and religious extremism. Thousands of terrorist attacks took place in the 1990s that severely threatened human rights of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang.

"To reverse the situation, the local government of Xinjiang carried out a series of anti-terrorism and de-radicalization measures in accordance with law. These measures restored security in Xinjiang and enabled people of various ethnic groups to enjoy fully human rights in a safe environment," Liu said.

According to him, since the end of 2018, more than 1,000 diplomats, officials of international organizations, journalists, and religious personages from over 90 countries have visited Xinjiang and seen a region of stability, prosperity and development where people of various ethnic groups live in happiness.

"Certain western countries and politicians have fabricated too many lies about Xinjiang. They maliciously slandered China and pepped up anti-China separatists in an attempt to drag Xinjiang into instability and insecurity and deny the right of local people to a peaceful and happy life. This is something that no one in China will ever accept," he said.

Noting that China is willing to have dialogues with other countries on human rights issues on the basis of mutual respect, Liu said that China firmly opposes unwarranted accusations against others by using disinformation for political purposes.

"We urge the UK side to stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs and interfering in domestic affairs of others," Liu said.
The Paggi Resource Center is expanding its service in Houston  just when its needed the most.

You could say this is perfect timing, David Burkley said.

Burkley serves as national director of resident services for Rainbow Housing Corp., the nonprofit behind Paggi and other service-enriched housing programs across the country.

For years, the Paggi Resource Center has offered programs and resources to improve financial stability and economic mobility for the tenants of Houstons Haverstock Hill, an affordable housing complex near Aldine. During COVID-19, Burkley said, needs are magnified for families living in poverty.

Service-based jobs were the first ones affected, he said. All the employers that you can go to with a GED, they swiftly closed their doors. We saw an increased need for financial aid overnight.

The children at Haverstock lost their classrooms, school lunches and afterschool programs. In response, Paggi Resource Center beefed up its WiFi and invited children to come in, log on and keep learning. In addition, Rainbow reached out to partners including the Houston Food Bank and Kidz Grub to provide meals.

We knew that for the community we serve, closing was not an option, Burkley said. We did the work to see how we could still help. This community cannot survive the pandemic if there isnt someone picking up the pieces.

How to help To see Rainbow Housing's project wish list, volunteer or make a donation, visit rainbowhousing.org. See More Collapse

Donations came in, and resources became available to residents. Paggi developed creative ways to check on clients and offered virtual learning. Rainbow already had developed hours of job-training videos, which have proved an asset during COVID-19.

Burkleys office sits in the 4,000-square-foot Paggi Resource Center, located at Haverstock Hill. The center also houses a computer lab, vocational training space, youth-enrichment areas and a kitchen. Typically, Paggi served about 400 residents each month.

Soon, Burkley expects to see more new faces. Thats because Paggi is now a resource to the entire city  after earning the EnVision Center designation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development this month.

This HUD designation will open our doors  and all citizens of Houston can come to us, Burkley said.

EnVision Centers are hubs in the community that offer resources and support aimed to help residents succeed. Opening this first EnVision Center in Houston provides a sense of hope in the city, Burkley said.

We need this, he said. People need to know theres a possibility to move forward in life. 2020 has taken so much from us. This HUD designation allows us to take something back.

The Paggi Resource Center is the fifth EnVision Center in the state, said Michael Burley, HUDs regional administrator for Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. EnVision Centers are designed to build economic empowerment and educational advancement, as well as provide programs that enhance health, wellness, character and leadership of clients.

HUD is partnering with organizations that are already doing great things, Burley said. Together, we can offer a path out of poverty. Thats our common goal, to lift folks up, give them a hand up, so they can be self-sufficient.

Flynann Janisse, executive director of Rainbow, said the EnVision designation assures that Paggi is on the right path.

Its a very validating moment to have your work recognized by the best affordable housing organization out there  and to have them want to walk beside you, she said.

Rainbow is increasing staffing at Paggi. Were anticipating that we need to be prepared to serve a greater capacity, she said.

The Paggi Resource Center currently serves about 700 units of Section 8 housing at Haverstock Hill, with a population of about 2,500. Rainbow has spent the past three years expanding its digital offerings, including opening a national call center and online classes in skill building, earning a GED and learning English as a second language.

Burkley, a north Houston resident, began working with Rainbow seven years ago, starting as service coordinator at Paggi. He also serves as pastor at The Ship church. He was drawn to the nonprofit because of the assistance it offers Haverstock residents.

This is in my wheelhouse, serving people, Burkley said. Our daily focus is closing the gap.

Lindsay Peyton is a Houston-based writer.
Queensland's police service is set to be bolstered by an additional 2025 personnel, of which more than half will be frontline officers, Queensland's Premier announced on Sunday.

Annastacia Palaszczuk said the $624 million five-year investment would include 1450 new frontline officers, of which about 150 will be posted in each of the state's regions.

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll described the announcement as "extraordinary, historic". Credit:Michelle Smith

"It's a huge number, and I'm so proud that we're funding this. It's fully funded, it's police right across Queensland  the largest number that we have seen in 30 years," she said.

The staff increase follows recommendations from Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll, who said it was an "extraordinary, historic" announcement.
The Seattle City Council will vote next week on a bill to pass a minimum wage standard and tip protection for Uber and Lyft drivers in the city after the legislation was unanimously approved by the Finance and Housing Committee on Thursday.

The bill states that companies must compensate drivers at a "minimum per minute and per mile rate for each minute of time and each mile travelled while transporting a passenger." The per minute rate is based on the Seattle Municipal Code's minimum wage for employers, while the per mile rate is meant to cover any additional expenses drivers may incur while offering their services, according to the fiscal note.

The complicated compensation formula also includes a "utilization rate" that will remain constant for three years, addressing concerns that the wage standard will create an incentive for companies to limit the amount of drivers on the app at one time.

"Thus, the minimum compensation standard would pay drivers for all the time spent on the TNC app in available platform time, dispatch platform time, and passenger platform time," wrote Council staff in their briefing.

The legislation also sets a tip protection, requiring the companies to pay all passenger tips paid to drivers. The companies would not be allowed to count tips towards minimum pay requirements.

The wage standard, which was transmitted to the Council by Mayor Jenny Durkan, follows the "Fare Share" plan meant to better regulate large transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft and establish rules for compensation. That plan was signed into law in Nov. 2019.

In August, Durkan claimed that setting a minimum wage for rideshare drivers would increase their average earnings by 30% and address economic inequities, as many drivers are from low income backgrounds or communities of color.

"By paying Uber and Lyft drivers a fair wage, we will help build economic resilience in many of our immigrant and refugee communities and lift up workers who have been too often marginalized," Durkan said.

If passed by the full Council next week, the minimum wage would go into effect starting Jan. 1 2021.

One rideshare coalition that represents 2,000 gig economy workers in the city expressed their opposition to the minimum wage standard, saying that it will threaten jobs and limit driver flexibility.

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.

Members of the group expressed concerns that the proposal is similar to legislation passed in New York City which has resulted in increased prices and decreased ride activity.

"We would like to see the city of Seattle not just copycat New York, which is an entirely different market than the city of Seattle," said Michael Wolfe, the executive director of Drive Forward. "[Seattle] should be innovative, they should be thinking of new ways to address these issues."

The vote comes as other measures to increase earnings for Seattle's gig workers are paying off. Earlier this week, major food delivery companies Doordash and Postmates paid over $350,000 to Seattle gig workers as part of a hazard pay mandate passed by the council during the COVID-19 pandemic.

RELATED:
The legacy of the former Belchertown State School is exceptionally complicated, but preserving its memory is imperative, says the author of a new book, Belchertown State School.

First and foremost is respecting all those who were residents at the state school. Its also important to remember that, despite the ample news coverage and horror stories that came out of the state school, there were far more staff who were caring and worked to make life at the state school as pleasant as possible for the residents, says author Katherine M. Anderson, of Agawam.

From a historical perspective its also important that all sides of the state schools history be represented and that an appropriate interpretation be provided, she adds.

While the state school did become a snake pit, it was started with the best of intentions and served as a home to many residents who would otherwise have been cast out on their own, Anderson says. The key is to recognize the part the historical time period played in the development  and eventual demise  of the entire state school system.

In the first decade of the 20th century, Massachusetts established itself as a leader in the education of individuals with disabilities. The third state school for the feebleminded was built in Belchertown.

Opened in 1915, it eventually encompassed almost 900 acres of land and was the largest employer in town. For nearly 60 years, the state school educated individuals with disabilities who were otherwise excluded from public education, training the residents to become independent members of their families and of society.

The model was a success until reports of abuse and neglect began to surface, culminating in the landmark 1972 federal class-action lawsuit against the state, in the case of Ricci vs. Greenblatt, which led to the state schools closure.

Whenever there is a large number of people under the care of others with an obvious imbalance of power, abuse and neglect are nearly impossible to avoid, Anderson says.

5 Belchertown State School

As more residents were committed to Belchertown, the school became overpopulated while being woefully underfunded and improperly staffed, she says. The buildings were filthy, crumbling masses with rodent infestations. There was a distinct lack of privacy in all aspects of the residents' lives such as no dividers in the restrooms, no shower stalls. There werent even seats on the toilets.

When advocate, University of Massachusetts professor and parent Benjamin Ricci brought his lawsuit against the state, the complaint was more than 40 pages of human rights violations that resulted in mistreatment, illness and even death, she notes. Like the state hospitals for the insane, the state schools were relying on medications and physical control to maintain daily routine. Education was no longer a priority, nor was returning residents to their homes, Anderson says.

As an educator, Anderson feels the most important lesson to learn is not to repeat this dismal history: We have come a long way in integrating individuals with disabilities into public education  as well as the workforce  but we still have a long way to go. Isolating and warehousing individuals with disabilities is absolutely never the answer.

Anderson sees that great strides have been made in preserving the dignity of individuals with disabilities. Public education has brought special education classrooms out of the basement and has worked hard to mainstream students with their typically developing peers, she says. Independent living opportunities as well as employment opportunities are far more readily available, and there are a number of agencies who work tirelessly to assist individuals in navigating housing, employment, higher education, etc.

Anderson, special education coordinator at Springfield Honors Academy, is a 20-year veteran in special education, who began her career in residential treatment facilities where a number of her coworkers worked at Belchertown. She also has an interest in abandoned buildings and had the opportunity to explore and extensively photograph the state school over a number of years.

The history of the state school is the history of special education, she says. The growth and eventual downfall of Belchertown informs everything we do today as special educators, and its a very important part of human history in general.

The school closed in 1992 when Anderson was 12.

She did research for Belchertown State School by reading other books about it and speaking with people who were associated with it. The book is the product of nearly 13 years of interviews, document collection and digging through archives that began when she wrote her first nonfiction book, Behind the Walls, in 2006, a collected history of asylums and state schools in New England.

The majority of the photos in the book were collected by the late Don LaBrecque, a regional trainer for the state Department of Developmental Services. He was passionate about the history of state schools and collected everything he could from photos and video to oral histories and as much documentation on the history as possible, says Anderson. The book is dedicated to him.

Some of the images are from the Stone House Museum in Belchertown and the University of Massachusetts archives.

This is Andersons third book in the Images of America series published by Arcadia Publishing. A fourth focuses on the history of Worcester State Hospital and is due out next year. She also has written a history of state schools in Massachusetts for Fonthill Media and has a book on the history of reform schools in Massachusetts due out with them next year.

The president of the Belchertown State School Friends Association, she has written two historic novels, one set at Northampton State Hospital that was the winner of the 2017 Reader Views Regional Fiction Award.

Belchertown State School retails for $21.99. It has 128 pages and is a paperback. It is available in area book stores and on Amazon as well as from the Arcadia website, arcadiapublishing.com. For more information on Belchertown State School Friends Association, go to bssfriends.org.
The Thunder Bay Museum will be hosting a travelling quilt exhibit starting Jan. 31. The exhibit, titled Threads of Hope, explores hope, longing and desire for the future of the world. Fibre Art Network artists express world issues through their work in the exhibit. Each artwork is connected 
The explosive sound of an Israeli Merkava IV tank firing reverberated from behind a hillside, a cloud of dust marking where the shell had been fired from. The shell flew across a field of shrubs and landed in the distance. Then another tank targeted the same location. The symphony of firing continued for ten minutes before the tanks, followed by Namer armored personnel carriers and a menagerie of vehicles from Israels 7th Armored Brigades engineers, proceeded towards where they had been firing.

The tank fire had been the closing salvos of a multi-day drill to keep Israels armored units and infantry at their highest level of readiness for the next conflict. That conflict could come in the Gaza Strip against Hamas, or against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. As the exercise was taking place in the Golan Heights, not far from the border with Syria and Lebanon, the terrain looked like what Israel would confront in a battle with Hezbollah. The mock village that the tanks and infantry from Israels storied Golani brigade assaulted this month also looked like the kind of challenge Israel would face against Hezbollah. The village, a series of metal sea containers, included mock Katyusha rocket launchers and cutouts of enemy fighters hiding amid the rocks and trees.

The exercise, which includes tanks and infantry operating together, is part of a series of drills Israel is putting its units through to keep them ready for night and day fighting, as well as keep them used to fighting together on the battlefield. In the 2006 war with Hezbollah, one of the problems Israel faced was communications failures between various armored and infantry and other units. Today the IDFs focus is on landing a knockout blow against enemies by leveraging Israels technology and intelligence to move faster and strike at key threats. This is made possible by Israels investment in new technologies, such as looping in lower-level commanders to real-time intelligence from Israels army headquarters. Its all part of what Israel calls Momentum, a multi-year plan to concentrate on the latest abilities of F-35s and air-defense and other systems that Israels defense companies have put in the field. That means more drones, better communications technology, and the brute force that traditional tanks and their 120mm guns bring to the battle.

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Israels older commanders are veterans of the wars in Gaza and against Hezbollah in 2006. Theyve seen the challenges that Israel faced in previous wars. Israel suffered from years of terror attacks between 2000 and 2004, and the army became used to fighting a counterinsurgency war. However, Hezbollah presented a different challenge with its arsenal of rockets and bunker systems throughout southern Lebanon. Today Hezbollah has increased that arsenal to some 150,000 missiles and rockets. Technology such as precision-guided munitions from Iran has been transferred to make the terrorist group into a terror army.

To face a terror army such as Hezbollah means stopping its rockets through air defense, such as Israels Iron Dome, a system that was developed with U.S. support and has intercepted thousands of rockets. It also means the potential of another ground war, like the one Israel faced in Gaza in 2014 or Lebanon in 2006.

The exercise in the Golan included soldiers dismounting from their armored personnel carriers and moving through a fake village backed by the tanks. In some ways this is the same type of exercise that could have been done decades ago. What changes everything is technology: new sights for rifles, better ability to identify friendly forces in the field, and commanders in the tanks having access to more information about what threats are in front of them. Closer coordination with artillery and air-force units and working faster with infantry is all about being able to get to an objective faster with close fire support for the soldiers going into the fields to root out the enemy.

The Israeli innovations that are transforming this battlefield also have global ramifications. For instance, the Iron Dome system, which provides an umbrella of defense against rocket fire, is now being tested and considered for wider use by the U.S. Army. U.S. Oshkosh trucks came to Israel in August to load the Iron Dome batteries and get used to driving around with them. In addition, the Trophy defense system that Israeli tanks carry is also used on the Abrams tank. This defense-technology knitting together of Washington and Jerusalem makes sense as the two countries face similar threats on the modern battlefield. For example, U.S. forces in Iraq have come under rocket fire from Iranian-backed militias, the same kinds of rockets that Israel faces in Gaza and Lebanon. When the next war comes, Israels rapid maneuver and attempt to overmatch its enemies quickly, precisely, and decisively will be watched from abroad to see if these years of drills have made the difference that Israels commanders hope they have.

More from National Review
French authorities detain 7 people as they investigate what they view as an act of terrorism.

By Stefan J. Bos

Police, special security forces, and rescue workers rushed to a familiar location. A man armed with a meat cleaver wounded two people outside the former Paris offices of satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo.



Here, 12 people were killed in 2015 after the magazine published cartoons about the Prophet Muhammad and Islam.



The man and a woman confirmed injured on Friday afternoon worked for a documentary film company. They were reportedly attacked during a smoke break outside.



The main suspect was identified as an 18-year-old man of Pakistani origin. Police detained him near the scene. But officials said six others were also in custody now and being questioned.

Act of terror

Friday's attack is being treated as a terrorist incident, explained Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin. "Manifestly, it's an act of Islamist terrorism. Obviously, there is little doubt. It's a new bloody attack against our country, against journalists, against this society," he told French television.



The interior minister also said the assailant arrived in France three years ago as an unaccompanied minor, apparently from Pakistan.



Officials revealed that the suspected assailant had already been detained a month ago for carrying a screwdriver. But he was not on police radar for Islamic radicalization.



Prosecutors say an investigation has been opened into an "attempted murder in relation to a terrorist enterprise."



After uncertainty, French Prime Minister Jean Castex said the lives of the two wounded workers' lives were not in danger. He offered the government's solidarity with their families and colleagues.



But in the neighborhood, people are stunned. They say they were reliving the nightmare of the newsroom massacre five years ago. Magazine Charlie Hebdo strongly condemned the stabbings, which came after it republished.



Tragic episode

It said on social media: "This tragic episode shows us once again that fanaticism, intolerance, the origins of which will be revealed by the investigation, are still present in French society. It added, "There is no question of ceding anything."



This month, Charlie Hebdo republished the same cartoons about the Prophet Muhammad and Islam that prompted the magazine's deadly attack in 2015.



Its publication coincided with the start of the long-awaited terrorism trial of people accused as accomplices in the attack.



The court procedure comes in a deeply scarred nation by what many called a horrific act of brutality.


BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25

By Klavdiya Romakayeva - Trend:

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases for September 25 in Uzbekistan increased to 54,181, Trend reports with reference to the statistics of the Uzbek Ministry of Health.

To date, 50,441 patients have fully recovered in the country, while 448 have died.

At the moment, 3,292 patients are treated in medical institutions in Uzbekistan following the standards.

From October 1, all border crossing points in Uzbekistan will be open for road, rail, and air transport.

Under the instructions of the President of Uzbekistan, unlimited movement of vehicles, as well as local air and rail travel in Uzbekistan, was resumed since August 15, 2020. Also, from August 17, 2020, Tashkent resumed public transportation.

The activities of preschool educational organizations and general education schools in a traditional and remote form is allowed from September 2020 following 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
As we get used to living with a pandemic, much of what we enjoy in this city, that enriches our lives and entertains us, is at risk of disappearing.

If we don't act fast, the places where you found love, saw the best gig of your life and watched actors, musicians and artists perform before they were global stars will be gone.

Live performance venues are about to go to the wall.

We now have a choice. We can choose to keep Sydney's rich cultural life, or we can let it silently disappear if urgent calls for SOS go unanswered.

The bulk of cultural activity on any given night is presented and produced in independently owned, and non-subsidised venues. NSW has just one Sydney Opera House, but there are hundreds of small live music venues, theatres, bars or larger commercial venues across the state.They are the lifeblood of the industry, and the ecosystem that drives the development and presentation of world-class art.
Army personnel officials have unveiled a new plan to build diversity across the force, on the heels of a White House order that bans certain types of diversity training in the Defense Department.

The Army People Strategy: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Annex lays out the service's plan to promote diversity through 2025 in an attempt to adapt to the country's shifting demographics.

The document replaces the Army's 2011 Diversity Roadmaps by setting multiple goals and objectives to ensure the service recruits and retains soldiers with "different experiences, values, and backgrounds, but also invests in the development and employment of our soldiers and civilians."

The new DEI annex comes just two days after President Donald Trump issued an executive order that bans the Pentagon from using diversity training programs that might suggest an ideology that a specific group in society is viewed as the oppressors and that "racial and sexual identities are more important than our common status as human beings and Americans."

Read Next: To Boost Morale, the Air Force Just Opened Its First On-Base Tattoo Parlor

Casey Wardynski, assistant secretary of the Army for Manpower & Reserve Affairs, told reporters Thursday that such an approach -- putting one group ahead of another group -- would be at odds with the U.S. Constitutions 14th Amendment.

The Army depends on a culture that is very clear about "how we plan to treat our people and how we expect them to treat each other and ... through that culture, we build the cohesion to accomplish our mission," Wardynski said.

While the Army has increased in diversity, it's currently reflective of demographics in the job market across America, according to the document.

The Army officer corps is not as diverse as the enlisted corps in the same way as civilians who receive "wages grade or general schedule grades pay" are more diverse than individuals who make up the civilian senior executive population, it adds.

The new annex uses U.S. Census Bureau projections to show how the country will become more diverse by 2060. In 2019, the white demographic made up 60.4% of the population. The Hispanic demographic made up 18.3%; the Black demographic, 13.4%; and the Asian demographic, 5.9%, according to the document.

By 2060, the Hispanic demographic is projected to grow to 28.6%, the Black demographic will shrink slightly to 13%, and the Asian demographic will grow to 9.1%, it adds.

While the white demographic is projected to decrease to 43.6%, it will still be the largest demographic pool that the Army draws from as it tries to fill increasingly high-tech jobs to work on artificial intelligence and autonomous systems that will make up a large portion of the service's modernization effort.

Army officials say they have already taken steps to offer opportunities to diverse sections of the youth population to excel in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, programs in Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps.

"We are in 10% of high schools in America; we are actually creating a STEM JROTC curriculum focused initially on cyber security and [computer] coding to build a bench of interest in those fields in a very diverse group of high schools across our country" Wardynski said.

The Army has also changed the way it assigns officers to specific career branches at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and at Army Cadet Command, he added.

"It used to be, you picked your branch based on your standing in your class, which was really industrial ... and we had problems getting the talent in the branches we wanted, where we thought it would fit best," he said.

Engineering students at West Point tend to have a lower standing in their class based on grade point average, compared to cadets who major in law, Wardynski said.

"Now, the branches look at many, many attributes, over 20, to identify talent that they ought to have in their branches [and] market them to the graduation cadets at West Point and ROTC," he said. "The graduating cadets market their attributes to the branches to be selected, and we get a talent match, much as you would find in industry."

The service's effort to increase diversity across the force really gained momentum in 2008 with the establishment of the Army Diversity Task Force. That led to the 2011 Army Diversity Roadmaps and the 2019 launch of the Equity and Inclusion Agency, officials said.

In late June, Army leaders launched Project Inclusion, an effort to eliminate bias in the ranks, beginning with removing official photos from promotion board packages.

The new DEI annex sets goals for increasing leader accountability for fostering diversity at all levels of the Army. Those include developing procedures to increase awareness of diversity and inclusion, as well as measuring the overall effectiveness of the effort, the document states.

The annex will also develop new DEI training and education programs for each career stage for Army personnel and civilians, from entry-level to senior positions of command, according to the document.

In the past, Army officials have talked about diversity in a very "one-dimensional way," said Anselm Beach, deputy assistant secretary of the Army for Equity and Inclusion

"We have talked about it through a very visual kind of construct, and with the Army People Strategy: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Annex, what we are actually doing is moving away from that visual construct," Beach said. "I think we are on the right path; as we learn more, we pivot and we change and we become better."

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

Related: Trump Bans DoD Diversity Training That Suggests US Is Racist
After 27 years on the U.S. Supreme Court, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a brilliant jurist and beloved role model, has died. This devastating news was deeply felt by current and former judges across America, including by us, women who have served the state of Oregon as judges. From her inspiration over these many decades, each of us has drawn courage and strength to overcome challenges in pursuing a legal career and to answer the call to the bench.

Justice Ginsburg was a remarkable leader and steadfast advocate for womens rights  and equal rights for all  and in her measured but zealous and persistent manner, she paved the way for all of us who followed. She demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the rule of law, engaged in tireless efforts to achieve justice and exhibited grace and civility in all these endeavors. These traits enabled her to see the humanity in all and work amicably with others despite differing views of applicable law. Her written and spoken words were approachable in a way that made the law accessible to all.

Justice Ginsburgs integrity and openness contributed to public confidence in the justice system, and she was very generous with her time as a speaker. It is difficult to accept her death. But on behalf of 99 current and former women judges of the Oregon Supreme Court, Oregon Court of Appeals, circuit court from counties around the state and the U.S. District Court of Oregon, we will go forward by striving to live up to the legacy Justice Ginsburg has left to guide us.

Nan Waller and Martha Walters

Waller is a Multnomah County circuit judge. Walters is chief justice of the Oregon Supreme Court.

Also signing this letter are: Marci Adkisson, Cheryl Albrecht, Ann Aiken, Beth Allen, Robyn Aoyagi, Sheryl Bachart, Amy Baggio, Beth Bagley, Cynthia Beaman, Leslie Bottomly, Alta Brady, Audrey Broyles, Marcia Buckley, Frances Burge, Claudia Burton, Cathleen B. Callahan, Suzanne Chanti, Jennifer Chapman, Rita Cobb, Laura Cromwell, Kathleen Dailey, Mary Deits, Joan Demarest, Rebecca Duncan, Cynthia Easterday, Alycia Edgeworth Kersey, Allison Emerson, Bethany Flint, Meagan Flynn, Julie Frantz, Jenefer Grant, Lisa Greif, Rebecca Guptill, Erika Hadlock, Annette Hillman, Lauren Holland, Amy Holmes Hehn, Megan Jacquot, Mary James, Andrea Janney, Kathleen Johnson, Nely Johnson, Jacqueline Kamins, Heather Karabeika, Rachel Kittson-MaQatish, Paula Kurshner, Erin Lagesen, Virginia Linder, Ann Lininger, Morgan Long, Valeri Love, Angela Lucero, Judith Matarazzo, Cindee Matyas, Jean Maurer, Sarah McGlaughlin, Pat McGuire, Dawn McIntosh, Karrie McIntyre, Heidi Moawad, Jodie Mooney, Lynn Nakamoto, Adrienne Nelson, Susie Norby, Darleen Ortega, Roxanne Osborne, Karen Ostrye, Cheryl Pellegrini, Tracy Prall, Kathleen Proctor, Clara Rigmaiden, Beth Roberts, Leslie Roberts, Illisa Rooke-Ley, Ellen Rosenblum, Shelley Russell, Kamala Shugar, Anne Marie Simmons, Kelly Skye, Merri Souther Wyatt, Janet Stauffer, Kathie Steele, Diana Stuart, Susan Svetkey, Alycia Sykora, Eva Temple, Xiomara Torres, Mari Trevino, Susan Tripp, Debra Velure, Kathryn Villa-Smith, Daina Vitolins, Debra Vogt, Katharine von Ter Stegge, Ulanda Watkins, Katherine Weber, Janelle Wipper
September 27 was the 50th straight day of daily anti-government rallies in Belarus, which started on the disputed presidential election day on August 9. Security forces were seen detaining people as a large crowd of protesters marched in the streets of the capital, Minsk, urging the authoritarian Alyaksandr Lukashenka to resign.
President Donald Trump's economic adviser Larry Kudlow is interviewed outside the White House in Washington on April 6, 2018. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

Trump Administration Doesnt Want $2.5 Trillion Stimulus Plan: Kudlow

White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said that there have been discussions about the next stimulus plan, but he stipulated that the Trump administration doesnt want a Democratic proposal worth $2.5 trillion.

Kudlow, the head of the National Economic Council, told reporters on Friday that theres a lot of conversations, which is good, but there is no agreement yet.

Id like to say we are making great progress, but I cant yet, Kudlow later said. I cant get ahead of that curve, its not happening.

Kudlow said the White House wants more funding for education, including equipment for testing and infrastructure needs, as well as more small business loans that were authorized under the Payment Protection Program, or PPP.

Kudlow said that President Donald Trump is still in favor of stimulus checks to Americans.

As Democrats work on proposals to attempt to pass in the House, Kudlow said that the Trump administration doesnt want a $2.5 trillion or $3 trillion measure, adding that a large stimulus package isnt necessary.

(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)

He noted a recent downturn in unemployment numbers in recent months. Millions of Americans lost work due to shutdowns initiated by governors and mayors to combat the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic.

The trend line is down unmistakably, he stated. There is a lot of fraud in those numbers coming out of Californiaby their own Labor Department people.

Last week, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) confirmed that leaders of his caucus are discussing a package that is around $2.4 trillion. They said that an ideal solution would be a deal with the White House, coming weeks after the two parties reached an impasse over aid to certain provisions.

I dont have an expectation at this point in time [for a vote] because our focus is we want to get a deal or an agreement with Mnuchin and the Senate because we want a bill passed and signed so thats what our focus is, trying to get an agreement before we go home, Hoyer told news outlets on Sept. 24.

Were really focused on trying to get a negotiated dealthe reason being that a message bill is one thing, but we want to get something signed so people get money, he added.

In recent days, some Democrats have grown anxious about the lack of new relief measures to deal with economic damage caused by the CCP virus. Earlier in September, a group of moderate Democrats and Republicans in the House introduced a $1.5 trillion deal that includes stimulus payments, some unemployment benefits, and $500 billion for state and local governments. Hoyer and other Democrats rejected their proposal.
S Korea seeks joint probe with DPRK regarding killing of official

Seoul, Sep 27 (UNI) The South Korean government on Sunday called on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to conduct a joint probe into the killing of a South Korean civilian near the inter-Korean sea boundary.

Deputy Director of the National Security Office Suh Choo-suk at the Blue House (executive office and official residence of the Republic of Korea's head of state) told a press briefing that South Korea has called on the DPRK to jointly investigate and rapidly reveal the entire truth of the incident.


Travellers from and the UK were primary sources of COVID-19 importations into India, according to an analytical study done by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mandi.

According to the research, which has been published in the Journal of Travel Medicine, COVID-19 got induced into Indian states mainly due to international travels.

The study has also found that infected cases from Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh played less role in spreading the disease outside their communities. Whereas infected people in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, and Karnataka played a significant role in the local transmission, and some of them caused interstate transfer too.

"We tracked the spread of COVID-19 and its diffusion from the global to national level and identified a few super spreaders who played a central role in the transmission of the disease in India. The COVID-19 spread in phase one was traced using the travelling history of the patients, and it was found that most of the transmissions were local," Sarita Azad, Assistant Professor, IIT Mandi, told PTI.

"The research team has used the travel history of infected patients from January to April as the primary data source and a social network was created depicting the spread in the early phase of the pandemic. The research found that the maximum numbers of connections were established from (144) and the UK ( 64), she added.

Azad explained that statistical metrics calculated from the data revealed that and the UK played a crucial role in spreading the disease in Indian states and were the primary sources of COVID-19 importations into India.

"Dubai's eigenvector centrality was the highest that made it the most influential node. The statistical metrics calculated from the data revealed that Dubai and the UK played a crucial role in spreading the disease in Indian states and were the primary sources of COVID-19 importations into India.

"Based on the modularity class, different clusters were shown to form across Indian states, which demonstrated the formation of a multi-layered social network structure. A significant increase in confirmed cases was reported in states like Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh during the first phase of the nationwide lockdown, which spanned from March 25 to April 14," she said.

"The modularity class of states such as Tamil Nadu, Delhi, and Andhra Pradesh was low. Hence, it is likely that infected cases from these states played less of a role in spreading the disease outside their communities. Whereas states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, and Karnataka played a significant role in the local transmission, and some of them caused interstate transfer too," she added.

Azad, who conducted the analytical study, along with her student Sushma Devi, said, "When a pandemic like COVID-19 subsides, a good research work serves as a record for the future. In this work, we have used real time data and demonstrated how the disease got diffused from the global to national level from January 30 to April 6. This will be an important contribution to understanding the disease transmission in India during the early phase of the pandemic."



India's COVID-19 caseload neared 60 lakh with 88,600 fresh infections being reported on Sunday, while the number of people having recuperated from the disease crossed 49 lakh pushing the national recovery rate to 82.46 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry.

The total cases mounted to 59,92,532, while the death toll climbed to 94,503 with 1,124 people succumbing to the disease in a span of 24 hours, data updated at 8 am showed.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
When columnist Sandy Banks started at The Times, Otis Chandler, left, was the publisher. Just a year earlier, in 1978, Chandler had said Black Angelenos didn't read The Times because "it's too complicated."

I sidled into journalism fresh out of college in 1976, with a job at a weekly newspaper devoted to covering Clevelands Black community. We were Negroes in its pages back then. I wrestled with our elderly Black publisher over that, but he wouldnt give in. Negro was a respectable label for a generation accustomed to settling for colored.

When I moved to Los Angeles three years later and joined The Times, I felt liberated from that kind of old-fashioned thinking. Id gone from being one of only two Black reporters on the staff of Clevelands afternoon daily to being part of a diverse group of young reporters, hired to staff new sections covering Los Angeles multicultural suburbs.

Id grown up in Cleveland, a city where the races were separated by the Cuyahoga River  white people on the west side, Black people on the east. I arrived here at 24, never having known anyone who wasnt Black or white. The polyglot dynamic I encountered both fascinated and bewildered me.

Hunting for an apartment near my office in Van Nuys required me to calibrate the new racial dynamics. One landlord whod spoken to me eagerly on the phone slammed her door in our face when my husband and I showed up Black. A few blocks away, another tried to entice us to move in by declaring proudly that we dont rent to Mexicans, as if that was a selling point.

That process signaled just how complicated navigating my new city might be. Where exactly did Black people fit in Los Angeles racial hierarchy? What would I need to know to cover this region? How sensitive to racial issues would The Times management and reporters be?

I asked myself those questions again and again during my decades at The Times.

On my first Saturday shift in Metro  a testing ground for young reporters hoping for promotion  I had to write a two-paragraph brief about a man killed in a robbery in East Los Angeles. I took the info from an LAPD officer over the phone, then typed up my story, in which I identified the victim as Hose rather than Jose. Thats how unfamiliar Spanish was to me. The editor that day was Mexican American; he was appalled at my ignorance.

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That was one mistake I wouldnt make again. But there would always be landmines ready to explode in this diverse and divided city, whose liberal outlook today is at odds with its fractured history.

I realized in the early 1980s, from my perch living in and writing about the San Fernando Valley, that the Los Angeles Times didnt seem to know or care much about the Los Angeles south of the 10 Freeway. All I could glean from reading our coverage was that Watts was a scary place, awash in poverty, crime and degeneracy.

But when Id drive down from Van Nuys to take my measure of South L.A., the community I saw didnt look dangerous to me. Its people, its rhythms and its routines felt comfortably familiar: the small pastel-colored houses with neat frontyards, the smell of meat on backyard grills, the narrow streets clogged with the raucous play of neighborhood kids.

Unlike in the Valley, no one was ever too busy to talk to a friendly reporter. Id return home from my forays with homemade peach cobbler and armfuls of tropical flowers that homeowners yanked from their yards in Watts to be planted in mine in Van Nuys.

When I moved up to the papers Metro staff a few years later, I was eager to share that perspective with readers. And in the process, I saw firsthand how stereotypes can develop and infiltrate a newsroom, stigmatizing entire communities.

I remember writing about a food giveaway by a charity in South L.A. in the mid-1980s. One of our most experienced photographers was supposed to meet me outside a local church, where hundreds of residents, almost all of them Black, were lined up on the sidewalk. I was 30 minutes into interviewing them, and the photographer still hadnt shown up.

I found a pay phone, called the newsroom and found out the photographer had been there the whole time  circling the block in his car, afraid to get out, convinced that a riot was about to erupt.

He was a white journalist whod covered the Watts riots more than 15 years earlier. That experience apparently still haunted him. Where I saw an orderly crowd of seniors and families, he saw a volatile mob to be.

How, I wondered, could two people viewing the same scene interpret it so differently? Was our vision circumscribed by the color of our skin? Or was the newsroom polluted with racism?

Over time I have learned that both of those things can be true.



A graphic in the July 12, 1981, edition of The Times portrayed the "ghettos and barrios" of L.A. as "jumping off places for marauders." (Los Angeles Times)

Less than two years into my tenure at The Times, the newspapers facade of racial objectivity cracked in a very public way.

"Marauders From Inner City Prey on L.A.s Suburbs, screamed the headline of a front-page story in the summer of 1981. The article warned readers that dangerous bands of young men desperate for money are marauding out of Los Angeles ghettos and barrios to prey upon the suburban middle and upper classes, sometimes with senseless savagery. With overheated language, hoary stereotypes and dog-whistle innuendo, it suggested that ghetto families were breeding super-predators, intent on robbing and raping their way through the citys good white neighborhoods.

A note to readers that accompanied the "marauders" article proclaimed it an insightful investigation of an emerging phenomenon in America: the permanent underclass.

Permanent underclass. That characterization particularly stung. In a country built on the lore of bootstrap success, were we to be stranded on the lowest rung of society for all time?

I was one of a dozen or so Black journalists at The Times back then. We were angry, disappointed and shocked by the articles incendiary tone. There were so few stories in The Times about everyday life in Black Los Angeles; this felt like an outrage to us.

And that outrage registered among journalists across the country. The National Assn. of Black Journalists would later deem the piece the most objectionable news story of the year; reckless  preposterous  unpardonable journalism.

Most of us had grown up in middle- or working-class neighborhoods, but lives like ours rarely showed up in The Times. This outsize focus on a communitys criminal fringe seemed crafted to mislead and inflame. We wanted to address that, so we asked to meet with Times Editor William F. Thomas.

Thomas was cordial and unruffled when we met. I remember him going around the table, asking each of us to introduce ourselves and tell him where in the paper we worked. I realized that most of us were ciphers to him.

Still, he listened patiently to our concerns: No Black journalists had been involved in the project; most of us had been toiling in small suburban bureaus for years; Metro reporters rarely ventured into South L.A.

Almost 40 years have passed, and my memories beyond that are vague. When I called former colleagues this summer to see what they recalled, we all remembered little about the editors response. Wed tried to explain why it was important to have Black reporters and editors involved in coverage about Black life in L.A., but Thomas seemed nonplussed.

That showed me they had no context, no experience with African Americans, recalled Pamela Moreland, who in 1981 was the only Black reporter in The Times business section. Without a Black person in the room when the story was conceived, reported, written and edited, there was no one to say lets balance this or lets rethink that.

Looking back, nothing much changed after our audience with the boss. For a time, the uproar over the story  in the community and the newsroom  did spur efforts to broaden coverage of South Los Angeles. But attention soon flagged. On the rare times I crossed paths with Thomas after that, he called me Pamela.



The Times front page on April 30, 1992, after four Los Angeles police officers were acquitted in the videotaped beating of Rodney King. (Los Angeles Times)

In the decades following the "marauder" piece, the racial evolution of the Los Angeles Times took shape in fits and starts, stumbles and recoveries.

We made a decades-long commitment to diversity with the creation in 1984 of an internship and apprentice program known as MetPro, which launched the careers of hundreds of journalists of color, who are now doing important work across the country. We won Pulitzer Prizes for a series exploring the lives of Latinos in Los Angeles in 1983 and for our coverage of the Los Angeles uprising in 1992.

But we still have blind spots and potholes in our path. We have not yet developed a culture where inclusivity  in our coverage and in our newsroom  feels natural and authentic.

The racial crisis engulfing the nation is shining a light once again on The Times shortcomings, and the fix wont be quick or easy or comfortable.

I know that because weve been at this juncture before, in the spring of 1992. During the chaotic weeks after a Simi Valley jury acquitted LAPD officers involved in the beating of Rodney King, rage erupted in the streets, and racial tensions splintered our newsroom.

Its hard to cover a crisis when youre in crisis yourself. Were feeling that pressure now, just as we felt it 28 years ago.

Back then, young reporters of color had been summoned from suburban bureaus and dispatched to hot spots in Koreatown and South Los Angeles. They worked long hours in dangerous conditions, absorbing the energy and anger of the streets.

But when they made it back to the newsroom, they were often ordered to hand their notes over to a rewrite team  made up primarily of white men  that would cobble together the versions of the uprising that readers would see.

Those young folks, whose presence made our papers diversity stats look good, realized then that they were not deemed valuable enough for much beyond legwork. Cannon fodder is how they described themselves, as resentment built and exhaustion set in.

In response, the newsroom held a town hall session to talk the tensions out. There were tears, shouting, pleas, apologies, angry diatribes. I remember feeling drained by the intensity but heartened by our willingness to honestly discuss our grievances  then plunge back into covering a city that was violently airing its own grievances in the streets.

The former Los Angeles Times building with Los Angeles City Hall in the background. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

I realize now that I learned a lot during my newspapers journey. Ive risen through the ranks, in part because Ive learned to trust my voice. The process of grappling with demons can be empowering.

Still, its not always easy to be a reporter of color when your default audience and the institutional perspective are perceived to be white.

Its hard on the psyche to be perpetually reminded that some people wont ever respect you, yet your job is to try to understand and tell their stories, too.

That burden feels especially acute right now, given the turmoil of these last few months. I was surprised by how strongly my emotions surfaced when I reread the "marauders" piece recently, for the first time since the 1980s. Heartache hit me harder than anger this time around.

The story had been written by journalists I admired and edited by people whose judgment I was expected to trust. Yet none of them had been bothered by the caricatures theyd created: the archetypes of evil, the vile stereotypes, the dark-skinned marauders driven by greed, evil and lust.

The drumbeat of war allusions  marauders, invasions, predators, prey  agitated me. The repetition of the N-word, in quotes coaxed from hoodlums, assaulted my sensibilities. Even the tone-deaf acknowledgment by a character in the story that Many of the people in Watts are good citizens set me on edge.

It took me a few tries to make it through the piece. When I took a break, Id leave the printout on my dresser, and my heart would race from anxiety whenever I glanced at it.

It reminded me how undervalued the Black community has been, how naive and hopeful I was back then.

This is not the same newspaper I joined in 1979. Were wiser, more diverse and better connected to readers. Im proud of this new generation of newsroom firebrands, who arent willing to sit quietly on the sidelines.

But were also facing industrywide challenges, including dire economic realities and the formidable task of bridging differences within our own community related to race, gender, generation, sexuality and ethnicity.

Still, we recognize our responsibilities. Were not giving up; were raising the bar. We know were at an inflection point, in our nation and in our newsroom.

The power dynamic is shifting. And the status quo, which has elevated some but ignored too many others, is not acceptable anymore.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
DETROIT - Officers arrested a male suspect Sunday in connection with a shooting of two people, including a 4-year-old girl, police said.

Devontae Lamar Berrien of Detroit was taken into custody after an argument the night of Sep. 26 escalated into a shooting, said the Detroit Police Department.

Berrien argued with someone in the area of Belleterre Avenue and Burlingame Street in west Detroit around 7 p.m. Saturday and then fired multiple shots, some of which struck the girl and the man, police said.

Both victims were transported to a local hospital and were in serious condition, police said. Berrien fled the scene before police apprehended him later Saturday night, police said.

No further details were immediately available. The case was still under investigation.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the Detroit Police Department at 313-596-1000 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-Speak-Up.

Read more from MLive:

Police seek help finding suspect in homicide outside Michigan haunted house

Stabbing outside funeral home in Saginaw Township leaves two men hospitalized

Man shot and killed by Dearborn officer while assaulting woman with knife, police say

Wild scene outside Bay City bar ends in two arrests

Driver hospitalized after car slams into truck in downtown Grand Rapids

Infant severely injured in Wyoming crash
The Peoples National Convention (PNC) says it will meet the Electoral Commissions (ECs) October 9, deadline for filing of nominations although it is yet to elect its flag bearer.

The party has also given an assurance that it has the capacity to raise the GHC 100,000 filing fees for presidential aspirants announced by the EC.



According to the National Chairman of the PNC, Mr Bernard Mornah, the party had already commenced processes to secure the necessary signatories and endorsements ahead of its national delegates congress.



In an interview after the PNCs Greater Accra Regional Congress held at Nima in Accra last Thursday, Mr Mornah said the delay in electing a presidential candidate would not have any bearing on the partys ability to meet the ECs requirements.



We are confident that before the October 9 deadline, we would have compiled our full forms ready to submit to the EC. Fortunately, the EC has given us our passcode as a political party and we have printed the presidential forms.



We are gathering the necessary signatories and endorsements across the country so whoever becomes the presidential candidate, all that will be required is to simply fill the persons names and other credentials and also that of the running mate, he said.



Filing fee



On the issue of filing fees, Mr Mornah said the party would mobilise resources to pay for that of presidential aspirants and also support its parliamentary candidates although he believed the amount for presidential aspirants is unreasonable.



Obviously, the EC has become an anathema to multi-party democracy. It is using money to determine who is fit to rule this country. The PNC will get the GHC100,000 even though we think our elections should not be based on who has money and who does not. We shall contribute to raise the money and also to support our parliamentary candidates, he said.

Congress rescheduled



The PNC has rescheduled its national delegates congress for Wednesday, September 30, 2020 to elect national executive members and a flag bearer.

A total of 31 aspirants are battling for 13 positions.



Three persons - Reverend Samuel Adjei-Debrah, Asaki Samson Awingobit, and David Apasara  are contesting the flag bearer position.



Mr Mornah said processes were far advanced, and assured that the exercise would take off successfully across the country.





On Thursday, September 24, 2020, the PNC acclaimed new executive to steer the affairs of the Greater Accra Regional wing of the party for the next four years.



They are Bala Sakifu Maikankan (Chairman), Seebaway Nuredeen (Vice Chairman), Siba Salifu Shakibu ( Secretary), Narrita Mary Legah (Deputy Secretary), Ali Awudu (Organiser), David Gordor (Deputy Organiser), Dora Nyako Bonney (Womens Organiser), and Memunatu Musah (Deputy Womens Organiser).



The rest are Alhassan Abubakari Zeba (Treasurer), Dora Ahegbegbu (Deputy Treasurer), Mohammed Sadick Labaran( Youth Organiser), ( Abdulahi Yahaya Amin (Deputy Youth Organiser), Ann Logah (Communication Secretary), and Ibrahim Bonkano (Deputy Communication Secretary).

Source: Graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYC Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza are facing calls to abdicate control of the nation's largest district after a union representing principals declared a unanimous vote of 'no confidence' in their handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

The stunning vote from the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators, which represents more than 6,400 education leaders in the Big Apple, came two days before schools are set to resume in-person learning for students in grades K through 8 on Tuesday.

The union ripped into de Blasio and Carranza's 'failure to lead New York City through a safe and successful reopening of schools' and demanded that they hand over control of the district to state officials.

'CSA calls on Mayor de Blasio to cede mayoral control of the Department of Education for the remainder of this health crisis and for Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Carranza to seek the immediate intervention of the New York State Education Department,' the union said in a statement.

Mayor Bill de Blasio (left) and NYC Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza (right) are facing calls to abdicate control of the nation's largest district after a union representing principals declared a unanimous vote of 'no confidence' in their handling of the coronavirus pandemic

The stunning vote from the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators, which represents more than 6,400 education leaders in the Big Apple, came two days before schools are set to resume in-person learning for students in grades K through 8 on Tuesday. Pictured: Children are greeted on their first day of pre-school in Queens on September 21

CSA President Mark Cannizzaro explained the action during a conference call with reporters on Sunday afternoon, noting that it marked the first time the union has called for such a drastic state intervention in city schools.

'All summer long, we've been running into roadblock after roadblock, with changing guidance, confusing guidance - often no guidance,' Cannizzaro said.

'During this health crisis, school leaders have lost trust and faith in Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Carranza to support them in their immense efforts and provide them with the guidance and staffing they need.

'Quite simply, we believe the City and DOE need help from the State Department, and we hope that the mayor soon realizes why this is necessary.'

CSA President Mark Cannizzaro (pictured) explained the action during a conference call with reporters on Sunday afternoon

Cannizzaro stopped short of threatening a strike for principals and administrators, citing the importance of their leadership during reopenings.

'We're right now in the middle of a pandemic. Our kids need us,' he said. 'I feel it would be a disingenuous type of move [to strike].

'It would be basically saying: "We're not going to try to make this better for the kids."'

He continued: 'School leaders want school buildings reopened and have been tirelessly planning to welcome back students since the end of last school year.

'They must now look staff, parents, and children in the eye and say they have done all they can to provide a safe and quality educational experience, but given the limited resources provided them, this is becoming increasingly difficult.'

Cannizzaro said holding the confidence vote was one of the hardest decisions he's made in his 35 years in education, but said that union members felt it was necessary to force action by the mayor's office and the New York City Department of Education.

DOE Press Secretary Miranda Barbot released a statement shortly after Cannizzaro's announcement, saying: 'For the past six months, we've worked with our labor partners to navigate completely uncharted waters and accomplish our shared goal of serving students this fall.

'We'll continue this work to guarantee a safe, health and successful opening for all. This week, more kids will be safely sitting in New York City classrooms than in any other major American city - a testament to city leadership and our educators' commitment to their students, and the importance of in-person education.'

'All summer long, we've been running into roadblock after roadblock, with changing guidance, confusing guidance - often no guidance,' Cannizzaro said. Pictured: A teacher at Ung Wing School PS 124 wears a coronavirus mask as she teaches remotely from her classroom

New York City's road to reopening schools has been plagued by controversy as de Blasio and the DOE have repeatedly backtracked on plans amid criticism from parents and educators who say the district is unprepared to bring students back into the classroom.

All schools were set to resume in-person classes on September 10, before de Blasio pushed back the reopening timeline until September 21.

Then four days before the new reopening date, de Blasio changed his mind again and switched to a phased reopening. Under that plan, preschools opened on September 21, followed by kindergarten through fifth grade schools on September 29 and then middle and high schools on October 1.

De Blasio said he and the DOE chose to switch to a phased reopening because the city needed more time to prepare buildings, recruit more teachers and address other concerns raised by union leaders.

The news was immediately met with backlash as parents and administrators accused the mayor and Carranza of ignoring union leaders' concerns until the last minute.

On Sunday, Cannizzaro assured that principals will be ready on the dates their schools are expected to reopen.

'The frustration and the difficulty is immense, [but] we are still 100 percent supportive of trying to open our schools in the best possible way we can, our principals will be there on Tuesday,' he said.

'Our teachers we know will be there on Tuesday, and we're going to do everything we can to make the children's experience the best it possibly can and then the same thing will happen again on Thursday when our high school folks come in with district 75 in Pre-K and 3-K teams have already been in the entire week last week, and they've done what they could to make the best possible experience for their children as well.'

New York City's road to reopening schools has been plagued by controversy as de Blasio and the DOE have repeatedly backtracked on plans amid criticism from parents and educators who say the district is unprepared to bring students back into the classroom. Pictured: Protesters call for de Blasio to cancel in person classes outside a school in Queens on September 17

At least 150 employees in the NYC public school district have already tested positive for coronavirus in the three weeks since teachers arrived back on campus to prepare classrooms, according to the New York Post.

The city's Department of Education has refused to disclose the total number of teachers and administrators who have been quarantined for 14 days since returning to school buildings on September 8, but the Post came up with its estimate based on reports from teachers themselves.

At IS 51 Edwin Markham in Staten Island, about 70 staffers have been forced to quarantine until October 1, a source told the outlet.

'It was a s**t show,' the source said. 'No one is running the school.'

The DOE had previously admitted that 50 IS 51 staffers had been told to isolate, and blamed the outbreak on employees 'disregarding social distancing protocol'.

Principal Nicholas Mele condemned that assertion as 'completely untrue' in a statement on Friday.

'We followed all appropriate social distancing and meeting guidelines,' Mele wrote.
The chief executive of one of Sydney's biggest councils has told staff he is intending to resign amid widespread talk of a fraught relationship between him and the mayor.

Inner West Council chief executive Michael Deegan, a former Labor staffer and one-time head of Infrastructure Australia, emailed the council's 1600 employees last Monday to say he was seeking union advice about negotiating to end his contract.

Inner West Council CEO Michael Deegan has foreshadowed his resignation. Credit:Andrew Quilty

It comes as Liberal MLC Scott Farlow launched a scathing attack, in the NSW upper house, on Mr Deegan as being hand-picked by federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese and Labor mayor Darcy Byrne, with whom he now shares an icy relationship.

Neither Cr Byrne nor Mr Deegan would comment when contacted by the Herald on Thursday, but multiple local government sources say the pair haven't spoken in months.
The COVID-19 pandemic could provide a good opportunity for the Vietnamese fisheries sector to increase its share in oversea markets, especially with foreign rivals engulfed by lockdowns or other forms of restrictions, experts have said.

A processing line of frozen shrimp at Thuan Phuoc Seafood and Trading Corporation. Photo: VNA



Braving certain difficulties, fishery exports had shown signs of recovery with export orders rising more than 10 percent recently, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).



State management agencies and seafood exporters both predict better business prospects in the last three months as the demand for fishery products post-pandemic in both domestic and overseas markets will increase sharply.



Ngo Tuong Lan, deputy secretary general of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), said COVID-19 was an opportunity for the domestic fishery industry to adapt and develop.



Vietnams rivals such as India, Indonesia and Ecuador are under lockdown and quarantines to combat the pandemic, which has driven their production and exports down by 30-50 percent.



This is a great opportunity for Vietnamese seafood exporters to increase their market shares, Lan told a recent conference on promoting seafood production and consumption.



Particularly, the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) will open doors to the EU, along with a recovery in other important markets like China, Japan and the United States.



Under the EVFTA, about 220 fishery products will enjoy tariff lines ranging from zero to 22 percent, most of the high tax lines of 6-22 percent will be reduced to zero percent immediately after the agreement takes effect and the remaining tax lines will be phased out after 3-7 years.

According to Lan, tra (pangasisu) fish  one of Vietnams staples  faced many difficulties, with production output and exports declining by nearly 30 percent, so solution were needed to recover exports. Meanwhile, shrimp had maintained stable production and shown signs of rebound.



The five main export markets for Vietnamese shrimp are the US, Japan, China, the EU and the Republic of Korea. The US and the RoK had continued to maintain positive growth of 32 percent and 8.5 percent, respectively.



Earlier this month, 12 Vietnamese enterprises were given permission to re-export some seafood products to the Saudi Arabia market after nearly three years of a temporary suspension order.



However, in order to take advantage of new opportunities, MARDs specialised agencies recommended both farmers and exporters improve quality and ensure food safety in all stages from farming to seafood exploitation and processing.



The National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department has updated and sent out the new regulations, quality control systems and food safety for products that meet the requirements of importing markets such as the EU, China and the RoK.



Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien said in anticipation of the free trade deal, Vietnamese fishery enterprises had made necessary preparations to meet the requirements of the EVFTA.



He added that Vietnam was also mobilising the entire political system to address the problem of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in order to have the EUs yellow card removed.



The countrys fishery exports reached 5.6 billion USD by mid-September, while the industry is striving for total export turnover of 8.9 billion USD this year. VNA
Former union minister and ex-BJP leader Jaswant Singh passed away aged 82 on Sunday. Leading tributes for the party veteran, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembered his service to the nation as a soldier and later as a Union minister.

Jaswant Singh Ji served our nation diligently, first as a soldier and later during his long association with politics. During Atal Jis Government, he handled crucial portfolios and left a strong mark in the worlds of finance, defence and external affairs. Saddened by his demise, Modi tweeted.

Jaswant Singh Ji will be remembered for his unique perspective on matters of politics and society. He also contributed to the strengthening of the BJP. I will always remember our interactions. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti, he added.

Spoke to Shri Manvendra Singh and expressed condolences on the unfortunate demise of Shri Jaswant Singh Ji. True to his nature, Jaswant Ji fought his illness with immense courage for the last six years.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 27, 2020

Singh, a former army officer, had been ill after a fall at his home in August 2014 and was admitted to the Army Research and Referral Hospital. He had been in and out of the hospital and was admitted again in June this year.

It is with profound grief that we inform about the sad demise of Honble Major Jaswant Singh (Retd), former Cabinet Minister of Government of India at 0655 hours on 27 September 2020. He was admitted on 25 Jun 2020 and being treated for Sepsis with Multiorgan Dysfunction Syndrome and effects of Severe Head Injury old (Optd) had a Cardiac arrest this morning," the hospital said in a statement.

Despite the best efforts of the attending team of specialists to resuscitate him, he could not be revived and passed away, it added.

Singh, considered close to Vajpayee and veteran leader L K Advani, held defence, finance and external affairs portfolios in the Vajpayee government. He had fought the 2014 Lok Sabha election as an independent candidate after the BJP did not give him ticket, but lost.

Announcing the former defence ministers demise on Twitter, incumbent Rajnath Singh remembered him as a distinguished minister and parliamentarian.

Deeply pained by the passing away of veteran BJP leader & former Minister, Shri Jaswant Singh ji. He served the nation in several capacities including the charge of Raksha Mantri. He distinguished himself as an effective Minister and Parliamentarian, Rajnath tweeted.

Shri Jaswant Singh ji would be remembered for his intellectual capabilities and a stellar record in service to the nation. He also played a key role in strengthening the BJP in Rajasthan. Condolences to his family and supporters in this sad hour. Om Shanti, he added.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, too, expressed condolence. V sad to hear about the demise of Sh Jaswant Singh ji. He worked for the country all his life, whether inside the govt or outside. May his soul rest in peace (sic), he tweeted.
A man from California has submitted a proposal to rename Mount Rushmore, in a bid to recognize the Native American people of South Dakota.

The anonymous man is seeking to change the name of the mountain to Igmu Tanka Paha - a Lakota Sioux name meaning Cougar Mountain.

His bid came after Barack Obama in 2015 officially renamed Mount McKinley as Denali - ending a controversy that had raged for over 100 years.

Yet the current proposal, made in July, seems highly unlikely to gain traction.

A proposal has been submitted to rename Mount Rushmore with a Lakota Sioux term

The Board on Geographic Names, which decides any renaming, is usually conservative and would only respond in the case of overwhelming public support.

Dusty Johnson is working to preserve the original name of the South Dakota site

Furthermore, the bid has already been blocked by a South Dakotan congressman, Dusty Johnson, who introduced a bill to Congress that would protect the existing name. The Board will not vote on a name change that is currently being debated by Congress - even if Congress never formally votes on the bill.

'The overwhelming number of South Dakotans, probably well above 90 per cent, want to keep Mount Rushmore the way it is,' Johnson said.

Jennifer Runyon, a senior researcher with the board, told TribLive that any name change was highly unlikely.

She further explained that the national memorial of Mount Rushmore could never have its name changed; only the mountain on which it sits.

'We had to remind him, fair enough, you want to propose a change to Mt. Rushmore,' she said.

'We're not talking about the national (memorial).'

Construction begins on the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota in 1929

Sculptor Gutzon Borglum is seen working on a draft for the Mount Rushmore design

Workers are seen chiseling the head of Jefferson in around 1940

The mountain and the memorial are named after Charles E. Rushmore, a New York attorney who came to South Dakota in 1894.

The Lakota name Igmu Tanka Paha means Cougar Mountain, while an alternative Lakota name, Tunkasila Sakpe Paha, means Six Grandfathers Mountain because of the summit's six prominent outcrops.

It is also known, the Board says, as Butcher's Hill and Slaughterhouse Mountain.

Johnson previously submitted another bill designed to protect the monument, amid a re-evaluation of historic figures.

George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt are all carved on to the side of the mountain - and Donald Trump has even joked that he should be carved there too.

Johnson said the four ex-presidents were not perfect men, but he believes the monument stands for the nation's highest ideals.

'We do see quite a push nationally, and all over, to do things like take down statues, sometimes with violence and sometimes with a more deliberate process,' he said.

'Mount Rushmore does represent our country's attempts to get better.

'It is focused on equality, and what brings our country together rather than what divides us.'
President Donald Trump nominated Amy Coney Barrett on Saturday to serve on the United States Supreme Court. We all have had the privilege of being Judge Barretts students. While we hold a variety of views regarding how best to interpret statutes and the Constitution, we all agree on this: The nation could not ask for a more qualified candidate than the professor we have come to know and revere.

Barrett is the paragon of a professor. She subjects all her students ideas, no matter what interpretive principles they espouse, to rigorous scrutiny. In this way, she has taught us all to think more critically and engage more deeply with the strengths and weaknesses of our own burgeoning legal philosophies.

When one of us suggested that judges should rely on dictionary definitions to interpret statutory text, a common tool of textualist interpretation, Barrett queried why we should think of dictionaries as objective tools. She took the time to explain at length the subjective process of selecting and the ordering of the particular chosen definitions for each entry.

Law isn't merely an abstract debate

Barrett also commands her students to treat each other with the utmost respect when engaging in classroom debate. When discussing constitutional law, emotions can run high as law students figure out how to think about and discuss issues of great importance to themselves and to our country. As a professor, Barrett quietly showed us through her example the importance of challenging ideas rather than attacking people, as well as the necessity of setting personal beliefs aside when evaluating the answer to a legal question.

Supreme Court: I've known Amy Coney Barrett for over 20 years. Her intellect and heart are unrivaled.

Moreover, she takes the time to explicitly remind her students that canonical Supreme Court cases must not be reduced to purely academic exercises, lest we forget that they affect  sometimes radically  the livelihoods of the very human beings before the court.

Story continues

In this May 19, 2018 file photo, Amy Coney Barrett, United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit judge, speaks during the University of Notre Dame's Law School commencement ceremony at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind.

Many first-year law students study the Erie doctrine, a very technical set of rules regarding the source of law that courts apply in certain cases. Far fewer students, however, learn that the plaintiff in that case came to the court seeking redress after a horrendous accident, could no longer find employment as a laborer, and in part as a result of the courts decision, died in poverty. This background was something that Barrett made sure that we learned about and appreciated.

A living example of integrity, virtue

Perhaps most importantly, Barrett has taught us how to become women of integrity and virtue. She treats every person with whom she interacts with the utmost respect, kindness, and warmth  an example we saw played out in the classroom, in office hours when we came to her for counsel, and in her family home as we shared a meal.

Her genuine interest in the personal lives of her students outside the classroom, and the seamless way that she modeled for all of us the integration of her professional and family life, reinforces that there is more to life than the pursuit of professional accolades.

USA TODAY Editorial Board: After Donald Trump nominates Amy Coney Barrett, Senate now must ask these questions

We all learned from Barrett to ask first how we are called to serve rather than simply climbing the career ladder. And we learned that we should pursue excellence as individuals, in everything that we do, rather than worry about the expectations of others. This critical lesson was encapsulated in the graduation speech that she delivered to many of us when our class selected her as professor of the year in 2016. Comparison is the thief of joy, she observed (quoting Teddy Roosevelt), Each of us is a unique, unrepeatable combination of strengths and weaknesses, joys and sorrows. And, she charged us that day  as she had modeled for us every day, Throughout all of it, your joys will be so much sweeter and your burdens so much lighter if you embrace them as your own.

Amy Coney Barrett is a woman of both profound intellect and depth of heart. We are better women, friends, and lawyers for having known and learned from her. She has enriched the lives of all who have come to know her at Notre Dame Law School, and we can only hope that the entire country also will be given the benefit of her example and service.

Alyson M. Cox is a member of Notre Dame Law School class of 2021. Mary K. Mangan graduated from Notre Dame Law School in 2016. Megan L. McKeown graduated from Notre Dame Law School in 2016. Sara A. McQuillen graduated from Notre Dame Law School in 2017. Audrey A. Moeller graduated from Notre Dame Law School in 2016. Laura E. Wolk graduated from Notre Dame Law School in 2016.

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Amy Coney Barrett students: She's fair, tough and immensely qualified
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday insisted that any nation that develops a Covid-19 vaccine share it universally, warning that history will be a "severe judge" if not.

Morrison made the strongly worded appeal at the United Nations as the United States, a historic ally of Australia, resists global efforts to collaborate on a vaccine.

"When it comes to a vaccine, Australia's view is very clear -- whoever finds the vaccine must share it," Morrison said in a message to the virtual UN General Assembly recorded in front of the iconic Sydney Opera House.

"This is a global responsibility and it's a moral responsibility for a vaccine to be shared far and wide," he said.

"Some might see short-term advantage or even profit, but I assure you, to anyone who may think along those lines -- humanity will have a very long memory and be a very, very severe judge."

A staff member works during a media tour of a new factory in Beijing built to produce a Covid-19 vaccine at Sinovac, one of 11 Chinese companies approved to carry out clinical trials /  AFP

Morrison vowed that Australia will share a vaccine if it discovers it and promised support for Covax, the UN initiative that aims to have two billion doses of a vaccine ready for universal distribution by late 2021.

The United States, China and Russia -- which, to wide skepticism, has already unveiled its own vaccine -- have shunned Covax.

President Donald Trump's administration has given notice that the United States will pull out of the World Health Organization, calling it biased toward China, and has refused to promise to share Covid research, fearing theft of intellectual property from US pharmaceutical companies.

In a sharp difference from Trump, Morrison credited the efforts of the WHO in containing Covid-19.

But Australia has joined the United States in pushing for an investigation into the origins of the coronavirus, news of which was initially suppressed when cases surfaced in China late last year.

"We must do all we can to understand what happened for no other purpose than to prevent it from happening again," Morrison said.

Australia's call for an investigation has contributed to a sharp deterioration in relations with China, whose ties have also soured dramatically with the United States.

Australia, with its geographic isolation and strict measures, has enjoyed more success than most Western countries in containing Covid-19.

Morrison has advocated mandatory vaccinations once a vaccine is available.

- 'Global public good' -

Leaders from developing and middle-income nations also called for the sharing of vaccines as they took the virtual rostrum at the annual UN summit.

"I urge that Covid-19 vaccines and medicines be considered as global public goods that can be accessible to all," said Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, whose address ignored mounting pro-democracy protests seeking his resignation.

Argentine President Alberto Fernandez also called for a Covid vaccine to be "a global public good."

"With the pandemic, as with poverty, nobody will be saved on their own," Fernandez said.

A doctor takes samples from a man with Covid-19 symptoms at the Doctor Alberto Antranik Eurnekian Public Hospital on the outskirt of Buenos Aires in August 2020 /  AFP/File

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera, referring to US-China rivalry, urged major powers to end "permanent confrontation" and "lead the fight against this pandemic and global recession," including through working together on a vaccine.

And Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno said of Covax: "Only through this can we have vaccines and technologies free of patents that can be distributed justly with special attention to the most vulnerable."

Latin America has suffered an especially heavy blow from Covid-19 with nearly nine million cases and more than 330,000 deaths, one third of the global total, according to an AFP tally based on official data.
With coronavirus cases in India reaching almost 6 million and deaths crossing 94,000 as on Sunday morning, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said that the findings of the soon to be released second sero survey indicated that India was still far from achieving any kind of herd immunity.

The health minister also said that the public healthcare expenditure as a percentage of GDP would increase from 1.15 to 2.5 per cent by 2025. It will mean an actual increase of 345 per cent over the current share in this short period of time, he said. Warning against complacency, Vardhan ...
Jaswant Singh, a founding member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) who served as the external affairs, defence and finance minster at different points of time in the government of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1998-2004), passed away on Sunday after a prolonged illness. He was 82.

Tributes for Singh, an army officer-turned-politician, poured in from top the brass of the BJP, with whose leadership he had a bitter falling-out in 2014 when he was denied a party ticket to contest the Lok Sabha election from Barmer in Rajasthan. He contested the election, which was his last, as an independent candidate and lost. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote in a post on Twitter that Singh served the nation diligently, first as a soldier and later during his long innings in public life. During Atal Jis Government, he handled crucial portfolios and left a strong mark in the worlds of finance, defence and external affairs. Saddened by his demise, the PM wrote.

Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi and former PM Manmohan Singh penned letters to former MP Manvendra Singh expressing grief over the demise of his father Jaswant Singh.

A former Major in the Indian Army, Singhs four-decade-long political journey traversed through highs and the lows. His stature in the party, his scholarship and erudition as a parliamentarian secured him a position in the Vajpayee cabinet despite the reservations the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the ideological fount of the BJP, harboured about him. In 1998, the Sangh put up stiff resistance to two Vajpayee picks -- Brijesh Misra as the National Security Advisor, and Singh as the possible finance minister. Eventually, Singh was given the defence portfolio.

A nine-time member of Parliament, elected four times to the Lok Sabha and five times to the Rajya Sabha, he was the minister for external affairs minister when an Indian Airlines flight headed to New Delhi from Kathmandu was hijacked to the Afghan city of Kandahar on December 24, 1999. Singh had to escort Maulana Masood Azhar and two other terrorists to Kandahar to secure the release of the passengers and crew who had been held hostage. After India conducted the nuclear tests in 1998 and the US imposed sanctions on India, Singh was the lead negotiator for talks with the then US deputy secretary of state, Strobe Talbott. The two-year-long negotiations paved the way for the visit in March 2000 of then US President Bill Clinton, which was considered a turning point in India-US relations. He was first expelled from the party in 2009 when the BJP parliamentary board, following an uproar, took a dim view of his book Jinnah - India, Partition, Independence.

When he was expelled from the party, he did criticise the BJP for turning sycophantic, but rejoined the party after 10 months of being out in the cold. He faced a second expulsion in 2014 for six years, when he chose to defy party orders and challenged the BJPs decision to not field him as its candidate from Barmer.

The deftness and political acumen he showed as the leader of the party in Rajya Sabha helped him forge connections with the opposition leaders and was counted as the moderate face of the Vajpayee-era BJP. Supporting his candidature for the Vice Presidents post, the then AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa with whom he shared a rapport had said there were two reasons for backing Singh. The first being her personal regard for Singh and the second being the association that goes back 28 years.

Singh, who was a leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha and chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, which oversees government spending, was upset by the party sidelining him, yet chose not to join the political adversaries of the BJP.

In May 2014, when he was constantly asked about his political future outside the BJP, he said the Samajwadi Party was very kind and that he had received calls from Mulayam Singh and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, but he was not looking forward to joining any other party.

Veteran BJP leader L K Advani described Jaswant Singh as a dear friend, and said he was an outstanding parliamentarian, astute diplomat,and above all, a patriot.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-26 22:52:31|Editor: huaxia

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A staff member transports medical supplies donated by the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee in Havana, Cuba, May 6, 2020. (Photo by Joaquin Hernandez/Xinhua)

The expert said many Cuban and Chinese people have benefited from academic exchanges throughout six decades, and have become pillars of the strong bilateral cooperation.

by Yosley Carrero

HAVANA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Bilateral relations between China and Cuba will continue to be reinforced for a brilliant future, a Cuban expert has said.

"The two countries share common goals and principles such as solidarity and mutual respect," said Jose Luis Robaina, a senior researcher at Havana's Center for the Study of International Politics.

Robaina made the comment to Xinhua during a recent interview, which came ahead of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Cuba to be marked on Sept. 28.

"The friendship between the two governments and peoples have stood the test of time thanks to the excellent links that unite the Communist Party of China and the Communist Party of Cuba," he said.

In September 1960, the leader of the Cuban socialist revolution Fidel Castro received approval from a cheering crowd of nearly 1 million people at Havana's Revolution Square, who welcomed the decision to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, according to the expert.

Some weeks after this unique moment in the history of the Cuban diplomacy, he said, the two countries formally started to pave the way for a longstanding and unwavering relationship.

In addition, the spirit of comradeship has accompanied the relationship between Chinese and Cuban leaders over the past six decades, including visits at the highest level, he said.

Robaina, 74, studied Chinese history at Peking University between 1963 and 1966, worked as a correspondent in Beijing for Cuba's Prensa Latina news agency between 1980 and 1989, and served as a diplomat in the Cuban embassy in China between 2001 and 2004.

"Cuba was the first country in the western hemisphere to establish diplomatic relations with China, which has become the island's second biggest trade partner," he said.

The expert said many Cuban and Chinese people have benefited from academic exchanges throughout six decades, and have become pillars of the strong bilateral cooperation.

While hundreds of Cubans have visited China for training courses in different areas such as aviation, oil extraction, and public transport, he said, Chinese students have learned Spanish in the Caribbean nation.

"No other country provides Cuba with more technical assistance than China, which has contributed to helping the island improve public transport and develop projects related to the use of renewable sources of energy, just to mention some examples," he said.

The two countries have strengthened relations during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the Chinese government, companies and social organizations have been sending medical supplies to Cuba, and experts from both sides have been sharing scientific data about the deadly disease.

"Cuba and China have successfully managed the health emergency, using similar protocols and providing medical assistance to the world as part of the global response to the novel coronavirus," he said.

The participation of Cuba in China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, he said, will boost economic integration between Caribbean nations and create a more dynamic business environment for the region.

Robaina said that the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly has confirmed China and Cuba have to continue working together in promoting multilateralism and international cooperation, while building socialism for the wellbeing and improvement of livelihood of their peoples. 
New York's LaGuardia Airport requires all passengers wear a face covering while inside its terminals. Thomas Pallini/Business Insider

Aviation rating firm Skytrax is adding a new category to its list, the COVID-19 airport rating.

Airports are being judged on how they are combating the pandemic within their doors with ratings for social distancing enforcement, temperature checks, and cleanliness of public areas.

Only four airports in Europe have been rated so far but the program aims to expand into Asia, Africa, the Middle East, North America, and South America in the near future.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Skytrax earlier this year revealed its ranking for the top 100 best airports in the world, a highly competitive list that the firm complies in addition to its airline ratings. But global events have forced a new category for its prestigious ratings, the COVID-19 Airport Rating.

Concerns of contracting the virus while traveling have prompted nearly every airport to implement new safety measures as they begin to welcome back travelers. And with flying schedules slashed in the immediate wake of the pandemic, airports are also fighting to be among the first to receive back their airline partners by ensuring that their airports are safe for passengers.

The global rating endeavor will see Skytrax survey over 100 international airports and issue stars on a scale from zero to five. Categories include social distancing enforcement, temperature checks, and cleanliness of public areas.

European airports are the first to be tested, with Skytrax already issuing ratings for some airports in the UK, Spain, France, and Italy, where the virus hit among the hardest on the continent.

Airports in Asia and the Middle East will begin testing in October while North American and South American airports will be tested from December 2020. African airports will see Skytrax ratings beginning in January 2021, with the firm not listing when Australian and Oceanic airports will be judged.

Here's which airports are doing the best at combatting the novel coronavirus, so far.

Story continues

London's Heathrow Airport  three stars

London's Heathrow Airport. Gordon Bell/Shutterstock.com

London's primary international gateway is among the lowest-rated airports in Skytrax's current ranking with only three stars. According to the rating firm, "Airports achieving 3-Star have Best Practice systems for cleanliness but do not apply the necessary cleaning and hygiene protocols on a regular or consistent basis."

On a scale of zero to five stars for each category, Heathrow Airport only earned one five-star rating for requiring visitors to wear face coverings. The next highest rating was two four and a half rating for enhanced terminal airflow and filtering and face mask usage enforced.

The lowest ratings given to the airport were two three-star ratings for personal protective equipment compliance among security screening staff and monitoring capacity in shops and eateries.

Skytrax also rated Heathrow Airport as the 12th best airport in the world during its most recent 2020 ranking.

MalagaCosta del Sol Airport  three stars

MalagaCosta del Sol Airport Tupungato.Shutterstock.com

Malaga Airport in southern Spain earned a three-star rating from Skytrax. The only five-star rating the airport received was for requiring that visitors wear face coverings.

The next highest were four four-star ratings for enhanced terminal airflow and filtering, hand sanitizer availability, hand sanitizer prominence and utility, and temperature checks. The firm also noted that the airport has no COVID-19 testing facilities of personal protective equipment vending machines.

The airport falls short, according to Skytrax, in providing COVID-19 informational signage, enforcing terminal access rules, enforcing social distancing, cleaning and monitoring washrooms, and cleaning and monitoring food and beverage areas. Each of those categories earned less than three stars.

Nice Cote d'Azur Airport  three stars

Nice Cote d'Azur Airport EQRoy/Shutterstock.com

The gateway to the French Riviera and Monaco only achieved three stars from Skytrax in managing the coronavirus pandemic within its doors. Skytrax only issued one five-star rating in its breakdown for the airport requiring face masks to be worn by passengers.

The next highest was a four-star rating for enhanced terminal airflow and filtering, with the firm noting that the airport has no COVID-19 testing facilities or personal protective equipment vending machines. The airport didn't earn lower than three stars in any category.

Rome-Fiumicino International Airport  five stars

Rome-Fiumicino International Airport bellena/Shutterstock.com

The largest airport in Rome is currently among the best airports in the world for handling the coronavirus pandemic with a five-star award from Skytrax. According to the rating firm, "Airports achieving 5-Star deliver many Best Practice systems of cleanliness and hygiene monitoring, and most importantly, these protocols are adhered to consistently."

Skytrax gave the airport five stars in the following categories:

Terminal access rules enforced

Temperature checks

Customer face masks required

Hand sanitizer availability

Social distancing markings & signage

Social distancing seat markings

Enhanced terminal airflow & filtering

Shop/Food & Beverage capacity monitoring

The only category where Skytrax gave the airport less than four stars was in the COVID-19 testing availability category where the airport received zero stars.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Leader of USR PLUS (Save Romania Union - Liberty, Unity, Solidarity Party) Dan Barna on Sunday stated in Sibiu that he voted for new people in politics and encouraged Romanians to go to the polls because the health protection measures are observed.

"I voted for a Romania that is changing, a Romania that, both in Sibiu and in the whole country, is starting to respect the citizen, to respect public money, a Romania that needs to breathe, a new political class. We need new people in politics. So I voted for this future that we need so much and which, after 30 years, has become a reality in many parts of the country that we are only talking about," said Dan Barna, after the vote.

Barna said he was satisfied with the organization of the elections and recommended that Romanians go to the polls with confidence.

"The vote worked very well. I thank all those involved in the electoral process, delegates, people, members of the polling stations because I know it is not easy, everyone has fears and doubts. And I want to tell all of you who are now watching TV and did not come to the polls yet, that it is a safe process, a process in which, if the rules are followed, the risks are minimal, the pen was with disinfectant, gloves, touches are non-existent, so we have to come to the polls because today we decide the next four years in every commune, in every city and in every county," Dan Barna added.

Barna was accompanied in the polling station by MEP Nicolae Stefanuta and the USR PLUS candidates for the presidency of the Sibiu County Council (Adrian Echert) and for the office of mayor of Sibiu (Raul Apostoiu).
Armenia on Sunday declared martial law and total military mobilisation as Baku and Yerevan reported civilian casualties in heavy fighting along the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Taking to Facebook, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan wrote: "The government has decided to declare martial law and a total mobilisation."

Tensions rose between Armenia and Azerbaijan on 27 September following clashes, in which Yerevan said Azeri forces shelled the region of Nagorno-Karabakh and Baku accused Armenian forces of shelling Azeri military and civilian positions.

Meanwhile, the Armenian Defense Ministry said two Azerbaijani helicopters were shot down.

Azerbaijan, Armenia on war footing

Ministry spokeswoman Shushan Stepanyan said Armenian forces hit three Azerbaijani tanks. The number of casualties is yet to be confirmed.

Nagorno-Karabakh is an ethnic Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan that has been out of Azerbaijans control since the end of a war in 1994. Both sides have heavy military presence along a demilitarized zone separating the region from the rest of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan's defense ministry denied the claim that its helicopters and tanks had been hit. But President Ilham Aliyev said in a televised address to the nation that there are losses among the Azerbaijani forces and the civilian population as a result of the Armenian bombardment."

Stepanyan said the fighting Sunday began with an Azerbaijani attack, but Azerbaijan said the Armenian side attacked and that Azerbaijan launched a counteroffensive.

The news was harshly received in Turkey, a close ally of Azerbaijan.

Turkey vows support to Azerbaijan with 'all our means'

Turkey today vowed complete support for Baku and called on Armenia to give up its "aggression" after heavy fighting erupted in Azerbaijan's breakaway region of Nagorny Karabakh.

"We will support our Azerbaijani brothers with all our means in their fight to protect their territorial integrity," Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said in a statement.

Turkeys ruling party spokesman Omer Celik also tweeted saying: We vehemently condemn Armenias attack on Azerbaijan. Armenia has once against committed a provocation, ignoring law." He promised Turkey would stand by Azerbaijan and said, Armenia is playing with fire and endangering regional peace."

Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin also took to Twitter to condemn Armenia. Armenia has violated the ceasefire by attacking civilian settlements ... the international community must immediately say stop to this dangerous provocation."

Mostly mountainous Nagorno-Karabakh  a region some 4,400 square kilometers (1,700 square miles) or about the size of the U.S. state of Delaware  lies 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the Armenian border. Local soldiers backed by Armenia also occupy some Azerbaijani territory outside the region.

International efforts to settle the conflict have stalled and fighting sporadically breaks out. In July, one of the most severe outbreaks of fighting in years left 16 people from both sides dead.

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Gov. Gavin Newsoms highly publicized executive order banning the sale of new gas-burning cars and trucks in 2035 may be more bark than bite.

Its not enforceable, said Assemblyman Jim Frazier, a fellow Democrat who chairs the Assembly Transportation Committee. He can make his agencies go for it, but its not law.

Other lawmakers echoed  privately  Fraizers assessment.

Newsom spokesman Nathan Click said the executive order directs the California Air Resources Board to ban sales of gas-powered vehicles by 2035.

And CARB has very broad regulatory power in this space, Click said.

CARB spokesman Dave Clegern said the governor is providing direction, but said any regulations and plans will be developed with input from the Legislature, as well as the usual public rule-making process.

The air board would also need to vote to approve any proposed regulations, Clegern said.

Whatever the outcome, Newsoms headline-grabbing move appears intended as an end run around lawmakers, who have been reluctant to pass a hard ban.

Frazier also tapped the brakes on a similar ban proposed by Assemblyman Phil Ting in 2018.

It had the same problem as the governors ban. There is no plan for the charging infrastructure that will be needed to make all-electric cars practical, Frazier said. I already have friends getting rid of their Teslas because they arent convenient.

Campos returns: San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin has made a decidedly political choice for his new chief of staff, bringing in fellow progressive and former Supervisor David Campos, who is also chairman of the Democratic County Central Committee.

As DCCC chair, Campos oversees fundraising for the local Democratic Party and the endorsement processes for local races, including ballot measures and those for mayor, Board of Supervisors and district attorney.

Campos said one of his goals will be to help Boudin bring together the citys various communities to support the call for criminal justice reform.

How Campos will balance the two roles remains to be seen, but former Ethics Commission President Peter Keane  himself a former chief assistant public defender  said the mix of political and prosecutorial roles could pose a problem.

David will probably make a very good chief of staff, but doing both is not a good idea, Keane said. It doesnt raise any direct conflict of interest, but he could find himself dealing with things that could have the appearance of improprieties, because the DCCC takes positions on candidates and people who Chesa might be in rivalry with.

To which Campos replied, The office has strict ethical guidelines and procedures that must be followed, and which I will follow as I have throughout my legal and professional career.

Janie Har / Associated Press

One thing is for sure, Campos isnt taking the job for money.

The job comes with a $50,000 pay cut from his $290,000-a-year job as Santa Clara County deputy executive.

On the other hand, coupled with his stint as a high-profile supervisor and the administrative experience he picked up in Santa Clara County, the move could make Campos an attractive progressive candidate should City Attorney Dennis Herrera decide to move on.

Campos is scheduled to start his new position on Oct. 19.

Staying power: San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera says his expanded stay-away orders for suspected drug dealers are no silver bullet for ending the open dealing in the Tenderloin.

And in fact, a review of records shows that 26 of the 28 people in Herreras sights had already been issued a stay-away order. But that didnt stop them from returning, over and over, to set up shop at their favorite corners. And chances are a $6,000 fine for violating the order wont stop them either.

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.

However, the new orders  which take the form of lawsuits and prohibit the 28 from even entering the Tenderloin  could make it easier for police to make more serious arrests.

Heres how it works.

A suspect with prior arrests can be picked up on sight and charged with a misdemeanor if he is within the 50 square blocks covered by the order. When the cops make an arrest for violating the order, they can search and seize any drugs and money the suspect has on him and at the same time hit him with a more serious charge of possession for sale.

Its quick, less costly and takes less time than running undercover operations. At the very least, each stop could mean fewer drugs and less money on the street.

The move, however, is not without controversy  past city injunctions against gangs were criticized for racially profiling minorities, and this latest attempt to clean up the Tenderloin could face the same outcry.

And while Herrera said the proposed injunctions are carefully crafted to safeguard a defendants due process and only targeted out-of-town drug dealers without regard to demographics or membership in any group, 24 of the 28 suspected dealers have Hispanic surnames.

Public Defender Mano Raju is already taking aim.

One-sided fact-gathering leads to injustice, further traumatization of those who are human trafficking victims, further litigation and wasted resources, Raju said in response to the injunction announcement.

Whatever the case, Mayor London Breed, who says the situation in the Tenderloin has never been worse, is ready to give it a try.

San Francisco has become the place to go to sell drugs, Breed said at Thursdays announcement of the plan. And that has got to stop.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Phil Matier appears Sundays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KGO-TV morning and evening news and can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call 415-777-8815, or email pmatier@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @philmatier
SANDUSKY, Ohio - The parade of boats was decked out in flags and banners screaming support for President Donald Trump, led by a barge that had been used in previous summers for bikini-tops-optional parties on Sandusky Bay but was now laden with 10 cannons and a crane holding up a 22-by-15-foot American flag. It flapped in the wind as the cannons fired.

There were motorcycles and pickup trucks on the shore, and an antique military plane in the sky. Trump flags seemed to far outnumber American ones; at least one Confederate flag flew among them. The dozen or so men firing the cannons wore red hats embroidered with Trump's name and praise for the president. They shouted strings of excited obscenities as they marveled at the hundreds of boats behind them.

"There are still people coming to get into the parade!" exclaimed Shaun Bickley, 54, the barge owner who organized the parade and would later change into a black tank top with "Trump 2020" and an expletive written around an American-flag skull. "Man, do you see all of these people?"

"Act like we're being fired on!" yelled Jeff Karr, 59, who dropped out of high school to join the Ohio National Guard and spent 36 years in the military, including the Army Reserve, with two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. Another volley of explosions sounded.

Blue-collar men such as Bickley, Karr and their buddies on the barge are the core of Trump's base of support, and their enthusiasm for the president has only deepened since they first voted for him, even as Trump has driven away some voters, especially college graduates and women. As illustrated by the masculinity-oozing boat parade, the Trump Party is largely a party of men - especially White men without college degrees and especially those over the age of 40.

A majority of White men have long sided with Republican presidential nominees, and they voted for Trump at about the same rates as in previous years, according to exit polls - but Trump won the votes of White men without college degrees by the highest rate in at least 36 years, or as long as comparable exit polling has existed. Four years into a tumultuous presidency, these men consistently give the president his highest approval ratings, and polls show they're happier with the economy and the direction of the country than White women or voters of color.

Their connection with Trump is cultural and emotional as much as political, closely intertwined with their lives and identities. His enemies are their enemies, his grievances are their grievances. They live by the rules he lives by: that concepts like White male privilege or structural racism and sexism are to be scoffed at, that the working-class, Christians and Trump supporters have been victimized, that it's OK to be moved to tears by a love for the country and its president but that liberals are crybabies and snowflakes. They pride themselves on being self-made, and see Trump, whose life has been nothing like their own, as a once-in-a-lifetime leader.

Bickley, who owns two marinas and a shoreline construction company, gets frustrated by the suggestion that White men such as him were born more powerful, or with advantages.

"There's 8 billion of us on the planet. There's only 780 million White people. ... So I'm personally really tired of hearing that I'm a majority, that I'm a superpower White privilege kid," Bickley said. "My mom and dad had nothing. ... I have been working my whole life.

"Now, here I am, 54, and I've got a lot of stuff. ... Somebody says: 'Look at all of this stuff you have, you must have been privileged.' Oh really? Really? I've been working since I was 10."

Bickley says that while he's now "on the top of the food chain," he remembers the years he spent as a lowly worker, making other people millions of dollars. He thinks Trump has that same mentality. Trump's strategy for winning re-election relies on finding more White men who support him but didn't vote in 2016, as well as pulling in more votes from Black and Latino men.

"The people who love Trump can't be swayed by anything," Bickley said. "If you love Trump, you're all in. There's nobody on the fence. You're in."

Those on the barge on the Saturday before Labor Day are labeled as "White working-class men" by journalists, political strategists and university researchers - people in professions that some of these Ohio men don't consider real work, as they define it: the sort that's physical and might get your hands dirty. That's the work most of them have been doing since they were children and will continue to do until they die.

Many have done well for themselves without a college diploma, and they're living a version of the American Dream that involves owning a boat and a truck to haul it.

Bickley has deep experience organizing large events on the water. For many summers, he hosted the Sandusky Bay Barge Party, which featured live music and bikini-clad women dancing around stripper poles. Bickley likes to circulate a video compilation of women's jiggling bodies from these parties, set to an off-color song.

He lost his enthusiasm for it in 2015 when his father - a Navy veteran, former police officer and Democrat - died. He started paying attention to the Republican presidential primary and gleefully watched as Trump trounced established politicians - especially former Florida governor Jeb Bush.

"So in typical Bickley fashion, I started liking Trump a lot," he said.

For much of his life, Bickley was an independent, although he mostly voted for Republicans, even during the decade that he worked at a quarry and was involved with a union. He's staunchly conservative on nearly all issues except for those related to the environment, on which he's aligned with liberals, worried about factory pollution and the health of the nation's waterways. This is one area where he says he hasn't studied Trump's record.

Bickley loves that Trump puts "America first," especially when that offends the educated elites. He supports building a wall along the southern border and forcing immigrants who arrive legally to learn English. And he agrees with Trump "constantly backing our men and women in blue," although he says he has had a few run-ins with law enforcement himself.

Someone on Facebook recently suggested that Trump hasn't accomplished much and Bickley responded, in part: "46 days away to your absolute pain. Perhaps you could stick a red hot fork in your eye. Or better yet, cut off your little buddy in despair."

Even as Bickley's businesses have prospered, he still considers himself blue-collar. He recently added an image of Trump's profile to the window of the back seat of his white SUV, so that it looks like he is chauffeuring the president around town.

"Sometimes my wife will be like: 'More attention? You just need more attention, Shaun?' " he said of his wife of 31 years.

There was something about Trump that transcended both political parties - which is also a big reason Karr voted for him after voting for Obama in 2008 and Ron Paul in 2012.

Karr retired from the Army a few years ago, disgusted with most politicians, military leaders, government contractors and federal workers who he said put their pursuit of wealth and power above all else, including keeping their word. For years, he has struggled with serious digestive issues that he believes were caused by burn pits in the Middle East, and he was frustrated by Veterans Affairs doctors who seemed unable to accurately diagnose him or ease his pain.

Sometimes, he said, he feels like the United States has become a nation of victims, even when they're not - a feeling that has become especially strong amid protests over racial inequality.

"These guys that say: 'We didn't get a chance,' " he said. "No, you didn't take a chance."

Karr says that racism should not be tolerated, but that he doesn't think the nation's problems are as bad as the media claims. Slavery was terrible, Karr said, "but that was then and this is now, and we can't go in a negative direction."

Trump and Biden have squabbled over who could best serve blue-collar workers, but Bickley and Karr rolled their eyes at the notion that Biden understands them. As they see it, Biden has spent his entire career in elective office with a generous salary, posh benefits and opportunities to become wealthy. Trump's right to call him weak, they said. Although Trump was born into a wealthy family, they see him as someone who knows how to build a business and understands the pressure of trying to make payroll.

Bickley said he feels bad that Biden's son Beau died of cancer. As a father of three, he can't imagine the pain of losing a child. But he's taken aback that Biden has used that pain "as a political crutch." He assumes campaign staffers suggested doing so.

"He should have punched them in the mouth and said: 'No, we're not going there. That's painful,' " Bickley said.

Amy Grubbe, the chairwoman of the Democratic Party for Erie County, where Sandusky is located, says her volunteers don't even bother trying to win over the men who voted for Trump in 2016.

"People tend to go down with the ship. ... That hardcore group, they're going to be flying Trump flags at their funerals 30 years from now," said Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan, whose eastern Ohio district is heavily blue collar. While Ryan said he is confident Biden will win Ohio, he has little hope of converting Trump's strongest supporters. "They're all in with him, and there's no way to change their minds."

The issues Trump has chosen to highlight are, like his cultural positions, attractive to his White male supporters. His focus on law and order, seen by many as a way to scare some suburban women and seniors into voting for him, has also excited and rallied the men who already love him and are willing to follow him anywhere, including into an actual battle.

"We'll grab my AR and head for Washington and join the police force if they think they're going to riot and destroy Washington - not under my watch. I will die shoulder-to-shoulder with the cops," said Karr, the veteran who has three grown sons. "There ain't no way I am going to accept lawlessness in this country."

He and Bickley say Trump is right to refuse to accept any blame for the coronavirus and the nation's resulting economic problems. Yes, people are getting sick, they said, but they do not believe the death toll is really as high as some claim.

Bickley and Karr blame the pandemic on China and credit Trump for blocking many foreign travelers from China and other countries. Bickley says he spent thousands of dollars stocking up on food and protective gear. When Trump touted the lifesaving potential of hydroxychloroquine, Bickley ordered 90 pills online, along with a bunch of Z-Paks and some zinc pills, also touted by the president. Although federal health officials have strongly warned against using the medications to treat covid-19, especially without the oversight of doctors, Bickley is confident that they work.

"I'm not letting anybody on my team die," he said.

Karr nodded and added: "He's a friend who cares."

"I'm a friend who can get (stuff)," Bickley said with a laugh.

In July, Bickley's 32-year-old son-in-law became sick and tested positive for the coronavirus. Soon his 27-year-old daughter was also sick. Bickley offered them the medication, but they declined, suggesting that it was "quack science." The two quickly recovered, he said.

At the boat parade, those on the barge wore headphones or earplugs to protect their hearing against the cannon blasts, but they did not wear masks.

Two weeks after the parade, Bickley was invited by the Trump campaign to sit in the bleachers directly behind the president as he spoke at a rally in Swanton, Ohio, just outside of Toledo. He brought along Karr and some others and wore jeans with rhinestones on the pockets and ostrich skin boots. Because they would be in view of television cameras, the campaign asked the group to put on masks. Most of the thousands who gathered outside did not.

As Trump took the stage and marveled at the sprawling crowd before him, Bickley and Karr did the same. Trump assured the crowd that polls showing a tight race in Ohio were "fake," which is exactly what Bickley and Karr have been telling people. Trump debated aloud if he should nominate a woman to the Supreme Court or a man, as he did with his first two nominations - the sort of joke that Bickley and Karr say the media always takes too seriously.

"I don't want to make the men too angry," Trump said as the crowd laughed. "It will be a woman. Is that OK? I don't want to have a problem with men."

Trump gave himself credit for saving millions of lives and tens of millions of jobs amid the pandemic. He promised to continue to build up the military, the power of which he said he's not afraid to use on American soil. He told the crowd that he is "the only thing standing between you and chaos," and he warned "suburban men and husbands" that if Biden is elected, "you're not going to have your dream very much longer."

Trump left the stage to the recorded sounds of the Village People telling men everywhere that "there's no need to feel down ... there's no need to be unhappy."

Bickley said afterward that the sound system near their group wasn't working properly, so they couldn't always understand what Trump was saying. But they applauded anyway.

"We could see what he saw. We could feel what he felt. We could see the laughter and the joy and the excitement," Bickley said of their front-row seats. "So the couple times I couldn't hear him, that was OK, I knew I was supposed to clap. I don't know what I was clapping about, but I clapped."

- - -

The Washington Post's Scott Clement contributed to this report.
Last year, she described her romance with writer Rye Dag Holmboe has 'a bit of unexpected magic in [her] life', following her split from filmmaker Tim Burton.

And Helena Bonham Carter looked happier than ever on Saturday, when she and her 32-year-old beau were spotted enjoying a a relaxed stroll in London.

The Crown star wrapped up in a black quilted coat and multi-coloured scarf as the pair walked their beloved dogs through the streets of Hampstead.

Relaxed stroll: Helena Bonham Carter and her boyfriend Rye Dag Holmboe were spotted walking their dogs in Hampstead, north London, on Saturday

Wearing her russet locks in voluminous tousled curls, the celebrated actress opted to go makeup-free for her outing, letting her natural good looks shine through.

Meanwhile, her handsome partner helped take control of the dog leashes as he walked beside her in a midnight blue longline coat over a pair of faded jeans.

After meeting the writer, Helena gushed in late 2019 that their romance has been 'a bit of unexpected magic in my life'.

Wrap: The Crown star wrapped up in a black quilted coat and multi-coloured scarf for the walk

Unexpected magic: After meeting the writer, Helena gushed in late 2019 that their romance has been 'a bit of unexpected magic in my life'

Helena shares son Billy, 16, and 12-year-old daughter Nell with her ex Tim Burton, 62.

The Cinderella star had a famously unconventional 13-year relationship with director Tim, which ended in 2014.

On finally moving on from Tim, the Enid star  who previously dated Irish actor Kenneth Branagh between 1994 and 1999  admitted she grew tired of 'grieving' their relationship, and now leads a 'happy' life with her new boyfriend.

Speaking to Harper's Bazaar UK, the thespian shared: 'You break up, you grieve, you get bored of grieving. And then you finally move on.

World of curls: Wearing her russet locks in voluminous tousled curls, the celebrated actress opted to go makeup-free for her outing, letting her natural good looks shine through

Chatting away: The pair chatted away as they made their way through the bustling city streets

'I'm very happy with someone else. It's been a bit of unexpected magic in my life.'

On the professional front, it was recently revealed that Lesley Manville, 64, will replace Helena in the fifth and sixth series of Netflix drama The Crown, in which she stars as the Queen's free-spirited sister Princess Margaret.

Imelda Staunton will also join the cast. She has been cast as Queen Elizabeth II in the hit show, taking over from Olivia Colman.

Lesley is believed to have been producers' first choice for the role, and is set to play the Queen's younger sister during one of the 'darkest periods of her life'.

Treats: The British screen star carried shopping bags filled with treats during their relaxed walk

Children: Helena shares son Billy, 16, and 12-year-old daughter Nell with her ex Tim Burton, 62

Confirming the news in a statement, she said: 'I could not be happier to be playing Princess Margaret. The baton is being passed on from two formidable actresses and I really don't want to let the side down.

'Furthermore, to play siblings with my dear friend Imelda Staunton will be nothing short of a complete joy.'

The role has been played by Helena for season three and upcoming season four, and was taken on by Vanessa Kirby in season one and two.

Season four of The Crown is set to return to screens on Sunday, November 15th on Netflix.

Staying warm: Helena's handsome partner helped take control of the dog leashes as he walked beside her in a midnight blue longline coat over a pair of faded jeans

Adorable: Their adorable pooches stayed on leashes as they were walked through Hampstead
Many agricultural by-products, such as banana peels, straw, water hyacinth stalks, areca sheaths and bagasse, are valuable and can be reused instead of thrown away.

* In rural areas, areca spathe was used to make fans in the past. But after electric fans appeared, it became useless. Very few areca trees are grown now, because only old women chew betel and people use betel and areca as betrothal gifts.

The products made of areca spathe

However, when people all over the world are trying to reduce plastic waste, areca sheaths are now beibg used again as environmentaly friendly products.

Nguyen Van Tuyen from Quang Ngai province is famous for his products made of areca sheaths. In October 2019, he decided to make cups from areca sheaths.

Areca sheaths are cleaned, dried, pressed by heat and sterilized to make cups, plates, spoons and trays. Every month, Tuyen sells 50,000-60,000 products from areca sheaths, priced at VND1,000-3,000 each, bringing profit of VND100 million. The products are for domestic consumption and export.

* Water hyacinth stalks, which are usually thrown away or used as food for animals, can be made into valuable handicrafts by craftsmen in Kim Son district in Ninh Binh province, or in Phu Xuyen district in Hanoi.

Many agricultural by-products, such as banana peels, straw, water hyacinth stalks, areca sheaths and bagasse, are valuable and can be reused instead of thrown away.

After harvesting, artisans cut off the roots and leaves and then dry the stalks to be used as materials for weaving export items. The products created from water hyacinths are very diverse, from carpets, baskets, newspaper shelves, baskets and paper trays, to flower pots and living room chairs.

They are not only favored in Vietnam, but also in Asian, American and European markets.

*In the past, straw was used to feed cattle or burned after rice harvesting. But now, merchants go directly to the fields to collect straw, because it is now very useful: used to make feed for animals, mushroom embryos and paper. Straw is also used to make handicrafts for interior decoration.

Plaiting dry straw to create animal toys has been done in communes of Kim Son district (Ninh Binh) for years. The main material to make straw animals is dried aromatic rice stalks. These straws are plaited into animals with interesting shapes. In Japan, they are sacred animals for worship.

* Many enterprises in Dong Thap and An Giang can process rice husks into firewood for export.

A company in Dong Thap presses rice husk into bullets and sells for VND1,000 per kilogram. It exports 10,000 tons of rice husk-made firewood to South Korea and Europe.

*Corncobs are no longer thrown away, but collected for export to South Korea and Europe.

South Korea began importing corncobs from Vietnam in 2016. They are used as animal feed or to grow mushrooms. Japan imports 250,000 tons of corncob a year for animal feed. The by-product is also used to make activated carbon.

* Banana stalks in Vietnam have typically been used for feeding pigs, or have been discarded. But the banana fiber market has been developing for 15-20 years.

The largest banana fiber exporters in the world such as the Philippines, India, China earn billions of dollars each year.

Banana fiber is lighter than bamboo fiber and has high water resistance and a long life span, so it can be used to make a variety of products such as handicrafts, paper of different kinds and materials in the automobile industry.

A cooperative in Phu Xuyen district in Hanoi presses banana stalks into fibers for export.

* In Ben Tre, people earn millions of dong each month by selling coir. Export companies each year provide hundreds of thousands of tons at the price of $170-350 USD per ton.

*Bagasse is exported to South Korea and Japan at the prices of $120-250 per ton.

Hanh Nguyen

VN farm produce prices plummet amid oversupply, impact of Covid-19 Booth avocado, the specialty of Dak Lak province, is now selling at VND10,000-20,000 per kilogram, and the price of passion fruit has also fallen dramatically.
bongSENse BHPian



Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Calcutta Posts: 41 Thanked: 276 Times

Imports & Exotics spotted in Malaysia!



A summary of the whole trip:



Places visited: Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi and Sepang



I took this trip with my family and since we have relatives at KL, we crashed there for a week and explored the place. Places we visited in and around the city: Batu Caves, Petronas Twin Towers, Genting Highlands (visited the world's largest hotel-Resorts World Genting), Bukit-Bintang (Pavilion KL), Putrajaya, and Johor Bahru. Thereafter, we headed to Langkawi where we stayed a couple of nights at The Frangipani Resorts and visited The Langkawi Sky Bridge. Following which we came back to Sepang and lazed around at the Avani Sepang Gold Coast Resort before returning to KL for our departure to India.



Since this thread is majorly dedicated to pictures of cars and bikes spotted at Malaysia, I am not delving deeper into the trip details, but in case someone needs more information, I'd be glad to help out.



Disclaimer: This is going to be a longish thread (albeit pictorial), but I hope it is enjoyable!





Starting with my uncle's Mazda CX 9:









The humble Nissan Sunny which went abroad and now calls itself Nissan Almera!









This Audi Q7 owner probably hates chrome more than anything in the world; he even blacked out the rings!









An Audi TT with weird matt-silver ears!









This Bentley Continental GT was always parked a few places away from my uncle's spot:

















While dining on the first evening, spotted this hot Nissan GTR parked across the street! You can also spot the Toyota Vellfire and our very popular VW Jetta in this frame:









A little close-up:









From the front:









This classic Lamborghini Gallardo was parked beside a Range Rover Evoque; Seems like the owner wanted to have the best of both worlds!









Lexus LX: Sigh, the ugly grill of a Lexus! I can't stop comparing it with the angry face of Lord Sauron from Lord of the Rings!!









The mammoth Mercedes Benz ML 300 AMG:







The chunky tail:









Absolutely loved the matt green wrap on this Mercedes GLA:













Sheer elegance of the 3 pointed star:









Found this Mercedes Limousine parked on the first floor of the condo; I wonder how the owner manages to drive in and out of the sideways with such a long car (the Mazda CX 9 seemed like a tight fit to me)









Ah, you beauty! The W124:









A sweet Porsche Boxster S, with a Mini Cooper for company:







Side Profile:







From the back:









Then there were the more traditional Volvos; this one is a humble XC40:









Followed by its wicked-looking elder sibling, the XC90:









To lesser wheels now: spotted this BMW in Langkawi:









This Harley was also parked in the adjacent spot; probably belonged to the same bikers' gang:









The HD Iron 883 looked quite commonplace notwithstanding the off-beat colour it wore:









The Suzuki Boulevard:









The BMW R Nine T Scrambler:









This was one wacky looking set of wheels; must surely leave behind a couple of frowning faces in the morning with these dual exhausts!



Hello guys! I have been meaning to score my first thread in Team-BHP and what better way to do this than penning down a whole repository of some tasteful automotive snaps taken by me during a trip to Malaysia back in October 2016.Places visited:I took this trip with my family and since we have relatives at KL, we crashed there for a week and explored the place. Places we visited in and around the city: Batu Caves, Petronas Twin Towers, Genting Highlands (visited the world's largest hotel-), Bukit-Bintang (Pavilion KL), Putrajaya, and Johor Bahru. Thereafter, we headed to Langkawi where we stayed a couple of nights at The Frangipani Resorts and visited The Langkawi Sky Bridge. Following which we came back to Sepang and lazed around at the Avani Sepang Gold Coast Resort before returning to KL for our departure to India.Since this thread is majorly dedicated to pictures of cars and bikes spotted at Malaysia, I am not delving deeper into the trip details, but in case someone needs more information, I'd be glad to help out.Starting with my uncle'sThe humble Nissan Sunny which went abroad and now calls itselfThisowner probably hates chrome more than anything in the world; he even blacked out the rings!Anwith weird matt-silver ears!Thiswas always parked a few places away from my uncle's spot:While dining on the first evening, spotted this hotparked across the street! You can also spot theand our very popularin this frame:A little close-up:From the front:This classicwas parked beside a; Seems like the owner wanted to have the best of both worlds!: Sigh, the ugly grill of a Lexus! I can't stop comparing it with the angry face of Lord Sauron from Lord of the Rings!!The mammothThe chunky tail:Absolutely loved the matt green wrap on thisSheer elegance of the 3 pointed star:Found thisparked on the first floor of the condo; I wonder how the owner manages to drive in and out of the sideways with such a long car (the Mazda CX 9 seemed like a tight fit to me)Ah, you beauty! TheA sweet, with afor company:Side Profile:From the back:Then there were the more traditional; this one is a humbleFollowed by its wicked-looking elder sibling, theTo lesser wheels now: spotted thisin Langkawi:Thiswas also parked in the adjacent spot; probably belonged to the same bikers' gang:Thelooked quite commonplace notwithstanding the off-beat colour it wore:TheTheThis was one wacky looking set of wheels; must surely leave behind a couple of frowning faces in the morning with these dual exhausts! Last edited by Aditya : 21st September 2020 at 21:16 . Reason: As requested
27.09.2020 LISTEN

The election of MMDCEs does not require the amendment of Article 55(3) of the constitution. Article 55(3) and 248 (1) and (2) prohibit partisan grassroots politics. Article 55(3) is an entrenched provision, it therefore requires a referendum for its amendment. It is in harmony with 248 (1) and (2), they both prohibit partisan grassroots politics.

MMDCEs can be elected without the amendment of Article 55(3) if the elections do not take a partisan form. Article 243 should be the focus if the ruling party still makes it a manifesto item to be executed. This Article outlines the nature of appointment, functions and revocation of the appointment and powers of the MMDCEs. In dealing with this issue, the aspects of the Article of the constitution that concern appointment and revocation of the appointments of the MMDCEs or their removal in office need amendment.

The grounds for the election of MMDCEs to be made partisan are practically untenable. The net negative effects of this election taking a partisan form will be very deep on the countrys democracy. Monetisation of campaigns and other political processes and procedures, that have engulfed national elections, will be transferred to the grassroots. This will not help in building a clean society as both the local and national levels will be corrupted.

The New Patriotic Party desires to modernise grassroots democracy by allowing for the election of MMDCEs. If this is allowed to take a partisan form, it will inhibit development at the MMDAs. Meanwhile, development actually takes place at the MMDAs. It should, therefore, not be the ultimate policy objective or a manifesto item of the party to politicise the Assemblies.

The agents at the Assemblies, in reality, are supporters of political parties: the ruling party should not take the initiative of making such an election partisan even if the agents at the Assemblies are faithfuls of different parties. The MMDAs are development agencies that need the collaboration of all the people to properly function and grow organically.

Partisan political elections will create political patriotism, and tensions where individuals will have the preference to work for their parties rather than the Assemblies and the state at large. Even if the elections at the grassroots are implicitly partisan, it does not call for the election of MMDCEs to take a partisan form.

The election of MMDCEs by the local communities is believed, by local government experts, to have the solutions to advance local democracy and development of the grassroots. This is because, MMDCEs will account to the local authorities rather than the government. This will compel the MMDCEs to pursue programs and projects that actually affect the communities positively. Appointed MMDCEs render accountability upwardly, to the central government.

Making the election of MMDCEs partisan will worsen the marginalisation of many communities. It is believed that partisan national elections have the negative effects of marginalising communities in terms of development. Communities that support parties in opposition are likely to be marginalised with regard to infrastructure development and distribution of social amenities.

Partisan local elections will have similar negative effects on the development of the local communities. The political parties will use such elections to victimise communities that vote against them. The distribution of resources and infrastructure will be based on votes received by a political party. Presently, some communities are marginalised because they are known for supporting a particular political party.

There is the likelihood that political parties that win the election at the grassroots will sabotage the implementation of government policies. It cannot be denied that there are constant conflicts between the ruling political party and the main opposition party in the implementation of policies. The tendency that MMDCEs from different political background will sabotage the implementation of policies of the government in power is very great.

A national cohesion is needed for developing the communities that make the state. It is therefore very clear and imperative that the levels of our politics will not permit such a situation (national cohesion) to exist if a partisan system is adopted. The political parties, therefore, need to sensitise their followers to recognise the importance of a national consensus or unity in development.

With several impediments with the execution of the agenda of the party and its Presidential candidate, there is the need to consider alternatives which will embrace the ideas and efforts of everyone concerned with development. The new alternative should have elements of national cohesion.

In connection with this, I suggest the ruling party develops the courage to have a system that opens the way to suitable candidates to contest and shuts the way to political participation. After all, the local level elections are won by the same parties, though implicitly contested. People interested in leading the Assemblies should be given the opportunity to contest for such positions by making the election an open one, without a partisan form. Parties may need to train their followers to shelve politics and divisions after such elections.

The roles of the Assemblies in nation-building are key that elections that affect their competent functioning should not be partisan. Let us choose an alternative that will incorporate the efforts and ideas of everyone. An amendment of Article 243 will help achieve this goal.

Emmanuel Kwabena Wucharey

Economics Tutor, An Advocate and A religion Enthusiast.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High near 35F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 24F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph.
The scalable AI platform with cloud services integrates clients' existing data to enhance operational efficiency

SINGAPORE, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the Asia-Pacific crowd analytics market for buildings, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Japan-based Flow Solutions, Inc. with the 2020 Asia-Pacific Crowd Analytics for Buildings Entrepreneurial Company of the Year award. Flow Solutions empowers its clients with a competitive edge by integrating retail data analytics, simple-to-use platforms, and exemplary customer ownership experience tools. Flow, the company's proprietary platform, has disrupted brick-and-mortar businesses' operational decision-making models, in particular, those pertinent to retail environments such as malls and mixed-use buildings. The AI and machine learning-powered platform collects data on customer behavior and analyzes the information to propose actionable recommendations to retail management.

The company stands out for enabling change management that addresses marketing gaps. After carefully assessing a retail owner's needs, the analytics system visualizes the cause of a store's low sales among specific products and proposes the best action to attract consumers. Flow has supported sales improvements for over 800 stores in the form of efficient store operation and performance by predicting scenario-based outcomes, recommending a more effective store layout, and measuring the effects of clients' marketing initiatives.

"Leading the retail and buildings application sectors, Flow Solutions has expanded its portfolio to address clients' occupancy and congestion as well as energy efficiency trends," said Melvin Leong, director of Industrial Practice at Frost & Sullivan. "Flow helps optimize a building's occupancy traffic and uphold safety amid the current COVID-19 pandemic. Its advanced crowd analytics is embedded with AI and is IoT-enabled, making the company a leader in technology best practices, industry convergence, and entrepreneurship in the competitive analytics and buildings industry."

Although an emerging company, Flow Solutions has proven its brand reliability through partnerships with major IoT players such as Fortinet, Cisco, and Aruba Networks. Currently, the company is expanding its reach into Australia and entering non-retail segments; impressively, IBM is one of its earliest customers. Beyond enriching its strong portfolio of retail solutions, these growth initiatives will provide crowd and visitor management tools for corporate office buildings.

"Flow Solutions integrates customer training tools, such as eLearning modules, into the platform. It supports clients' continual learning and data use via e-mail reports, online seminars, and follow-up meetings," noted Leong. "Moreover, Flow Solutions customizes its solution by working closely with clients' marketing teams on site and continually monitoring the entire crowd tracking and analysis process. As part of its superior ownership experience, the company has established a reputation for providing stable and highly usable data, logical solutions, and a simple end-user interface."

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has demonstrated excellence in devising and implementing a robust growth strategy. The recipient has shown strength in product and technology innovation, customer value leadership, and rapid response to market needs. Frost & Sullivan analysts compare the emerging players in the industry and recognize the best practices that are position them for future growth excellence.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About Frost & Sullivan

For over five decades, Frost & Sullivan has become world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion .

Contact:

Kala Mani.S.

P: +607-5603656

E: kala.manis@frost.com

About Flow Solutions

Flow was founded with the mission of making buildings smarter and better for the people who use them. From offices and universities, malls and retail shops, Flow is focused on delivering disruptive technologies to build safer, more productive and profitable spaces. Contact us: Get Started

Contact:
New York, Sep 27 : United States President Donald Trump has nominated conservative Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the supreme court to take the place of the liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg and tilt its ideological balance to the right ahead of the elections.

With 38 days left for the election and bitter fight looming in the Senate that must approve her appointment, Trump announced her nomination on Saturday calling her "a woman of unparalleled achievement, towering intellect, sterling credentials and unyielding loyalty to the Constitution".

Accepting the nomination in the company of her seven children, two them of African descent from Haiti, Barrett said she would strictly adhere to the written constitution.

"A judge must apply the law as written. Judges are not policymakers, and they must be resolute in setting aside any policy views they may hold," she said.

Barrett was a law professor before Trump appointed her a judge of the court of appeals based in Chicago with jurisdiction over three states.

The Senate is likely to approve her appointment to the nation's highest court because the Republicans have a slim majority and a key party senator, Mitt Romney, who has opposed Trump on many issues has said that he would back bringing her nomination to the senate even though it is close to the elections.

Democrats have opposed Trump appointing a justice so close to the election and cite the refusal of the Republicans to allow a nominee of Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, even getting a Senate consideration in his final year.

They say that Ginsburg dying wish was that the next president should nominate her successor. Trump has questioned it.

Democratic vice-presidential nominee Kamala Harris, who is a member of the Senate and must vote on the nomination in the middle of her campaign, tweeted within minutes of Trump's announcement, "I strongly oppose Judge Barrett's nomination." Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, has now reversed his 2016 stance and is now pushing ahead with the nomination.

One of the reasons for the concern over Barrett's nomination is that the court may have to decide on the results of the upcoming election as it did in 2000 in the electoral dispute between Democrat Al Gore and Republican George W. Bush, handing a decision that favoured Bush.

Democrats also fear that the current ideological balance of the court which had four liberals and five conservatives - although some crossed ideological lines in some cases - would now move firmly conservative giving that side a six-member edge.

Supreme court justices are appointed for life and Barrett could have a long stint as she is only 48.

Several key issues like abortion, the right to have guns, health care and immigration could be decided by the supreme court.

Harris said in her tweet, "Trump's hand-picked successor to Justice Ginsburg's seat makes it clear: they intend to destroy the Affordable (health) Care Act & overturn Roe (legalising abortion). This selection would move the court further right for a generation & harm millions of Americans." Barrett is opposed by many women's groups because they fear that she may overturn the judgment that legalised abortion around the country and the Democrats are hoping that this prospect would lead to an upsurge of women's support for the party's presidential candidate Joe Biden.

Addressing the ideological lines in the court, Romney said, "I recognize that we may have a court which has more of a conservative bent than it's had over the last few decades. But my liberal friends have over many decades gotten very used to the idea of having a liberal court." Barett's appointment will also roil the communal politics of the US.

Barrett is a devout Catholic and if confirmed, she will be joining a nine-member bench on which five judges are Catholic and two are Jewish. The majority of Americans are Protestant Christians, but the only justice who is Protestant, Neil Gorsuch, was raised Catholic before beginning to attend an Episcopalian church.

What concerns Democrats is that as a devout Catholic she may oppose abortion rights in keeping with her religion.

During the senate hearings for her confirmation as an appeals court judge, Senator Diane Feinstein remarked in a reference to Barrett's religion, "The dogma lives loudly within you." Biden is a Catholic, but supports abortion rights, and Trump is counting on Barrett to increase his support among Catholics and balance out Biden's religious base.

Barrett also conforms to Trump's anti-elitist populism, as she will be the only justice on the supreme court without an Ivy League degree if she is confirmed.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

Trend:

The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement in connection with the aggravation of the situation in the zone of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Trend reports referring to the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"In accordance with the available information, the situation in the zone of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has sharply deteriorated," the message said. "There is intensive shelling along the contact line from both sides. There is the information about the casualties. We call on the sides to immediately cease the fire and start negotiations to stabilize the situation."

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.
PARIS  It was a Friday afternoon, time for last-minute Shabbat shopping, and the Hyper Cacher  a kosher supermarket on the eastern edge of Paris  was busy.

Yohan Cohen, 20, an employee, was working in the aisles. Philippe Braham, 45, was running errands from a list made by his wife. Yoav Hattab, 21, was looking for a bottle of wine. And Francois-Michel Saada, 63, was about to drop in for some bread.

Hours later, on Jan. 9, 2015, all four were dead.

They were killed by Amedy Coulibaly, a heavily armed Islamist extremist who took 17 other people hostage in the supermarket and claimed he had carried out the attack in the name of the Islamic State.

You are the two things I hate the most in the world, Mr. Coulibaly told the hostages after bursting in, according to witnesses. You are Jewish and French.
Doug Strock, 60, is vice president of Global Language Translations and Consulting (GLTaC), located on North Saginaw Road in Midland. The business is owned and was founded by Hei-Kyong King. GLTaC provides technical translation services to clients in a variety of industries: chemicals, environment, health and safety (EHS), pharmaceuticals, legal/regulatory, medical devices, mechanical engineering, automotive, and the military. They have eight employees.

Strock is a graduate of Waterford Township High School, the United States Military Academy at West Point, and he earned an MBA at Oklahoma City University. The major retired from active duty at the age of 60. His posts included Germany, Korea and Iraq from 2004-05 with the Michigan Army National Guard unit (1462nd Transportation) from Howell. They supplied the Marines outside of Fallujah. Strock said, I know what a duck in the shooting gallery feels like now. Strock has two children and two grandchildren.

1. When did this business open?

It started inside of Dow Corning, providing all of their translation needs. Everybody working there was a contractor and that contracting company went bankrupt. Hei-Kyong asked all the people who were contracting if they were willing to work for her so we all started doing that. She had been translating the main frame system in Korean for two years starting in 1993. Ive been involved since the very beginning in 1996, full-time in 2001, serving as vice-president.

2. What inspired you to get involved in this business?

I was transitioning off of active duty in 1992 out of Fort Hood, Texas. I was looking to get back to Michigan. I made some contacts, ended up in Dow Cornings law department. I met James Mentele, who was introduced to me as their Godfather of computing. They needed someone who knew Korean. I told I them I knew someone in Florida (Hei-Kyong), a Korean with an accounting background.

3. What makes Midland a great place to own a business?

One of things that has made Midland a very good base is the dedicated fiber optic access from where we are. Theres a variety of interpreting talent to help. They have to have the right background, what we do is fairly demanding, requires a special skill set. We translate medical, safety data sheets (SDS), military, parts lists for companies, patents, a lot for the chemical industry. Bit of irony, we are not a key provider for Dow, but we provide services to clients all over the world. We provide services to most of the players in the MSDS world. These clients of our clients generate about a million data sheets per year so our phrasing is in a lot of those sheets.

4. What are some ways your business is active in the community?

Weve sponsored a variety of local events, used to sponsor People to People. We support and donate to different causes at different times. We are exempt from the COVID lockdown restrictions. We are part of the Fragrance Creators Network-we translate SDS sheets. Those fragrances are part of hand sanitizers, disinfectants, cleaning agents. We dont do the authoring, we do the translation. Our tag line is: Lives depends on our translations. Whether its safety related, the military, it has to be done correctly.

5. What are some local businesses you work with that help make your business a success?

We work with a big variety of businesses in the Tri-City area. AM/PM helped us with rebranding and marketing. Weve done some translation for them. AGP, Dow Corning, Dow Chemical, now just Dow. Weve also done work for some individuals. A translator did some homework for a person who kept a diary during their travels to Lithuania. The family said the translation brought the journal to life. We often have to research regulations in different parts of the world. We find errors and discrepancies, that adds a lot of value to the client. Some of our competitors have done things not according to the regulations, some shipments get delayed because the SDS isnt correct. It has to be correct in case theres an accident, truck overturns, etc. Our work is being reviewed every day by our clients but also by their clients. We constantly have to defend what we do. We try to be the ones with the best reference.

6. Other thoughts?

We have a very good core staff in Midland. We have hundreds of translators all over the world. We screen them carefully. We make sure they have the right skills to do the work. Our clients also refer us to new clients, even if its just a 50-word job. If theres a need, we can do the job. We are ISO-certified as well. We take pride in what we do.
Mali's military junta has picked Moctar Ouane to lead a transition government

Mali's interim president Bah Ndaw on Sunday named former Malian foreign minister Moctar Ouane as prime minister, opening the way for the country's neighbours to lift sanctions imposed after its August military coup.

A civilian premier was the precondition for ECOWAS to lift sanctions it imposed two days after the August 18 coup removing president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, which the junta claims inflicted no casualties.

Ndaw himself is a former colonel and defence minister, and was sworn in before Mali's supreme court on Friday with military junta chief Assimi Goita as his deputy.

The junta has promised to return the country to civilian rule after a transition period lasting up to 18 months.

Members of Ouane's government will be unveiled on Tuesday, an officer from the junta told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The new PM, aged 64, served as foreign minister between 2004 and 2011 during Amadou Toumani Toure's presidency.

Since 2016 he has served as peace and security representative for the West African Monetary Union (WAMU).

Ouane is originally from Bidi in central Mali, the region most affected by jihadist attacks and inter-ethnic violence that have racked the country for years.

Before the coup, former president Keita had faced months of protests over his failure to end the violence or to drag the country out of a grinding economic and institutional crisis.

ECOWAS had on Friday said that it would lift its sanctions against Mali only "when a civilian prime minister is appointed".

Fearing a lasting power grab by the military, the bloc also demanded that the vice-president, whose remit includes defence and security issues, cannot under any circumstances replace the president.

It also insisted that the junta be dissolved, and has called for people arrested since the coup including former prime minister Boubou Cisse to be released.

Interim president Ndaw tried to reassure ECOWAS at his swearing-in ceremony on Friday, expressing "Malians' determination to carry out a stable, peaceful and successful transition under the agreed conditions and timetable."

"I will never be happier than when handing over to the future elected president, without question elected and elected cleanly," he added, saying a transition plan hammered out in three days of talks this month would be his "prayerbook".

So far the plan's exact contents have not been made public.
Ghanaian Brooklyn Ambassador Jerry Kwabena Adinkra together with some eighty people have been honored in Brooklyn in the USA by Borough President Eric Adams in their fight against the deadly Coronavirus.



They were presented with certificates and were described as heroes for their immense contribution in the early stage of the outbreak to help curb the situation.



Jerry Kwabena Adinkra with his group, Ghanaian/African Heritage Affairs Committee embarked on wear your mask campaign and distributed over thousands of masks to some selected areas.



Speaking at the ceremony, Brooklyn Borough President Adams said, "I am very -proud to recognize the contributions of these heroes, whose generous efforts directly contributed to the safety and well-being of Brooklyn's residents and institutions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,"



"At a time when so many are intent on dividing us, these people show us the power of unity, especially when navigating periods of crisis." He added



Other recipients below



 Randy Peers: The president of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, who launched the Brooklyn Recovery Fund.



 Ghanaian - American heritage Committee of Brooklyn NY, distribution of mask, PPES, door to door wear mask campaign, giving foodstuffs,



 Javier Munoz: A Broadway star from "Hamilton" and Brooklyn native who started an initiative called Broadway Relief Project, which gathered out-of-work costume and set designers to manufacture personal protective equipment.



 Chilis On Wheels: Delivers healthy plant-based groceries to those in need.



 Association of Nigerian Physicians: Helped with pro-government testing with patients mostly new to the United States.



 Federation of Indian Associations: Distributed more than 3,000 meals to first responders and 1,000 face shields made by children.



 Flatbush Food Coop: Provided healthy food and safety needs.



 IQRA Mosque: Did more than 150 burials in a five-week period, including retrieving bodies from homes and hospitals and reciting prayers.



 Just A Kid With A Dream Foundation: Held online women's empowerment events providing diapers, baby supplies wipes, and books to those in need.



 Winnie Greco: Helped gathers more than 176,000 masks, 24,000 gloves, 943 sets of protective clothing and more for Brooklyn.



 Muslims Giving Back: Provided free halal food to insecure and homeless members of the community.



 Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District: Provided food and essentials to NYCHA residents.



 Prospect Cleaning Services: Hired more than 50 people who were recently laid off to help with cleaning for the MTA.



 Foodtown: One of the first to offer express lanes for first responders.



 Yemeni Women's Association: All-volunteer effort to help translate pertinent information from English to Arabic.



 Leah Pavlov: A 12-year-old girl who used her own money to pack lunches for health care workers.









Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
The republic is in greater self-generated danger than at any time since the 1870s, Richard Primus, a professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School, told me, saying that Trump values nothing more than his own power and will do anything that he can get away with.

I spoke with Primus, fittingly enough, as he drove home to Michigan from Washington, where he was paying tribute to Ginsburg, for whom he was a clerk two decades ago.

If you had told Barack Obama or George W. Bush that you can be re-elected at the cost that American democracy will be permanently disfigured  and in the future America will be a failed republic  I dont think either would have taken the deal. But Trump? I dont think the survival of the republic particularly means anything to Donald Trump.

What gave Primus that idea? Was it when federal officers used tear gas on protesters to clear a path for a presidential photo op? Was it when Trump floated the idea of postponing the election, just one of his many efforts to undermine Americans confidence in their own system of government?

Or was it when he had his name lit up in fireworks above the White House as the climax of his partys convention? Was it on Monday, when his attorney general, Bill Barr, threatened to withhold federal funds from cities that the president considers anarchist? That gem fit snugly with Trumps talk of blue America as a blight on red America, his claim that the pandemic would be peachy if he could just lop off that rotten fruit.
Declaration of the Secretary General of the Organization of American States, Luis Almagro, regarding the recent military attacks of Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh:

The General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (GS/OAS) strongly condemns the recent military aggression of Azerbaijan that took place in Nagorno-Karabakh, which directly ignores calls from the United Nations to achieve peaceful solutions to conflicts, as well as to promote long-lasting peace and stability.

Moreover, we call on Azerbaijan to immediately cease hostilities, especially those directed towards civilians. As we have mentioned before, the practice of attacking civilians as military targets must be banished and constitutes a complete violation of most basic rules governing armed conflict.

The GS/OAS reiterates the need to rescue and reactivate the negotiation process led by the authorities of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Minsk Group (OSCE Minsk Group), and highlights that this conflict can only be solved through a negotiation process based on international law and the principles established in the Helsinki Accords of 1975.

Equally important, we call on foreign powers to abstain from intervening in the armed conflict with the purpose of escalating the crisis.

We express our full support for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and extend our sincere condolences to the victims of the violent clashes between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces.
By Trend

The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement in connection with the aggravation of the situation in the zone of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Trend reports referring to the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"In accordance with the available information, the situation in the zone of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has sharply deteriorated," the message said. "There is intensive shelling along the contact line from both sides. There is the information about the casualties. We call on the sides to immediately cease the fire and start negotiations to stabilize the situation."

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
Jihadist fighters linked to the Islamic State group on Friday, September 25, killed 15 security personnel in an ambush on the convoy of th...









Jihadist fighters linked to the Islamic State group on Friday, September 25, killed 15 security personnel in an ambush on the convoy of the Borno State governor, Babagana Umara Zulum.

According to the Agence France Presse (AFP), eight policemen, three soldiers, and four members of a government-backed militia were killed in the attack which occurred near the town of Baga on the shores of Lake Chad.





It was gathered that the insurgents opened fire with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades as the convoy was passing through a village close to the headquarters of the Multinational Joint Task Force, a military coalition of troops from Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon.





Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno, had inaugurated a 23-member committee for the relocation of internally displaced persons from Baga communities to their ancestral homes in Kukawa local government area (LGA) of the state.

Zulum had said the relocation was sequel to a letter sent to Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff, demanding immediate resettlement of all IDPs from Baga, beginning September 26, 2020.

He had charged the committee to ensure the safe return of the IDPs, adding that the government was doing everything possible to support them.

Baga is a fishing community located on the fringes of Lake Chad which has been deserted for over two years due to activities of insurgents.

Several attacks have been perpetrated on the region by Boko Haram insurgents, leading to the loss of lives and properties.

The incident comes less than one week after D.C. Bako, commander of the 25 task force brigade, was killed by insurgents.
LOS ANGELES - A Los Angeles Police Department officer suffered minor injuries during an altercation in a police station with a man who wrestled away the officers gun, fired it and then ran when another officer shot at him, authorities said.

The suspect, who was not wounded, got into a vehicle and drove off, police said. Officers stopped him a short distance away and he was arrested.

The injured officer was hospitalized with what Chief Michel Moore described as bumps and bruises.

He is resting and will be ok, Moore tweeted early Sunday.

The incident inside the Harbor Station in the Sen Pedro area of Los Angeles unfolded late Saturday night. The suspect walked into the lobby and an officer came out to talk with him.

It escalated into some type of altercation, Moore said at a news conference outside the hospital where the officer was being treated. During that altercation, it appears at this very early stage that the officers weapon was taken from him and rounds were fired by the individual at the officer.

Assistant Police Chief Horace Frank told the Los Angeles Times the watch commander at the station heard noises and saw that the suspect had taken the officers gun and was hitting him. The watch commander then fired at the suspect, Frank said.

The suspect was not identified. Moore said he was about 29 years old.

The incident came two weeks after two Los Angeles Sheriffs Department deputies were ambushed as they sat in their police vehicle in Compton, about 15 miles (24 kilometres) north of San Pedro. The officers suffered serious gunshot wounds but both have been released from the hospital. The gunman has not been arrested.
Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday urged President Ram Nath Kovind to not sign the agriculture reform bills that were recently cleared in the Rajya Sabha, saying the Centre is misleading farmers of the country.

We urge the President not to sign the farm bills that were passed in Parliament in an unconstitutional manner. We also demand that the NDA government takes back these black legislations and ensure one nation, one market and one price, Bhupesh Baghel said, according to news agency ANI.

The Congress leader also slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet ministers for misleading farmers. PM Modi, his cabinet colleagues and BJP leaders are saying that farmers can now sell their agriculture produce anywhere. I want to ask them: when were farmers not allowed to sell their produces as per their wish? Theyre misleading farmers, the chief minister said.

On September 20, the Rajya Sabha passed the two key farm bills - Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020. During the agriculture reform bills debate, the upper house witnessed ruckus as several opposition parties raised a strong objection.

PM Modi on Sunday once again hailed the passage of the bills on his Mann Ki Baat radio programme, saying it has empowered the countrys farmers.

One who is grounded stays firm even during the biggest storms. During these tough times of corona, our farm sector, our farmers are a living example of this. Even during this crisis, our agricultural sector has again shown its prowess. Our farmers, farm sector, villages, are the foundation of Atmanirbhar Bharat. If they are strong, the foundation of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) will be strong, PM Modi said.
People watch a screen showing a file image of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Sept. 25, 2020. AP



North Korea's apology over its recent fatal shooting of a South Korean government official is a "helpful step," the U.S. State Department said Friday, while reaffirming its support for Seoul's condemnation and demand for a full explanation.



The reaction came shortly after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said he felt "very sorry" in a message sent to the South.



"We understand that the DPRK has conveyed an explanation and apology to the ROK. This is a helpful step," a spokesman from the U.S. Department of State told Yonhap News Agency, while speaking on condition of anonymity.



DPRK stands for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.



The apology over the incident by the North's highest leadership is exceedingly rare,



Previously a North Korean soldier shot and killed a female South Korean tourist at the Mount Kumgang Resort in the North in 2008, but it has yet to offer any apology.



In the message, sent Friday (KST), the North Korean leader said this week's shooting incident near the de facto inter-Korean maritime border should not have occurred and that he was sorry to have "disappointed" the South Korean president and the people of South Korea.



He also offered an account of the incident that took place Tuesday when North Korean coastal guards shot and killed a 47-year-old South Korean, affiliated with the maritime ministry, who was drifting in the North's waters, according to the National Intelligence Service here.




WASHINGTON - Thousands of Christians gathered on the National Mall in Washington on Saturday, waving U.S. flags, kneeling in small prayer circles alongside monuments, singing and listening to speakers who called on the nation to come together and heal.

Two groups - one organized by New Jersey-based pastor and popular author Jonathan Cahn, the other led by Evangelist Franklin Graham - emphasized slightly different objectives but came with a shared focus central to many millions of Christian conservatives: repairing a country they say is in the midst of a spiritual crisis.

"We came to pray and heal," said Diane Hildner, an elementary school teacher in Leesburg. "We want people to be happy again and not worried or afraid, not be afraid of retribution for saying your views. We know our nation is in trouble, so we stand here to pray to our God to heal our nation."

They had come on the day President Donald Trump announced his nomination of Amy Coney Barrett, a devout conservative, to the Supreme Court. While there were many on the mall wearing pro-Trump hats or shirts, several people interviewed pulled back from explicit partisanship, instead focusing on division and change in a country they say has become intolerant of the views of conservatives.

Hildner had come with a friend, another Loudoun County teacher. She said they feel less free to express their religious views, especially in the past six months. She said she felt anxiety putting up a U.S. flag or posting a bumper stickerfor a conservative candidate. She lamented that comments she viewed as benign could easily become politically and emotionally loaded.

Others were more explicit in saying why they had come out to march and pray. Several people said they saw a troubled nation, and that trouble stems from abortion, violent protests, communism and a turning away from God.

Cahn, the New Jersey pastor, called the march he organized the Return, a 24-hour time of prayer. He told the crowd that God had created the biblical Israel, but its inhabitants had turned away from their divine purposes. Then 400 years ago, he said, America was created "for the glory of God and the advancement of the faith."

If you want to hear a "politically correct message, you came to the wrong sacred assembly," Cahn said to loud cheers from a crowd that filled a half-block of the grassy mall. He boomed about what he sees as the communist threat to America.

A few blocks away, Graham launched thousands on a prayer walk with seven stops between the Lincoln Memorial and the U.S. Capitol. People prayed at the World War II Memorial for the military and police, at the Washington Monument for solutions to the pandemic and the end of abortion, and at the National Museum of African American History and Culture for respect and reconciliation between the races - among other stops.

Graham, son of the late evangelist Billy Graham, said in a promotional video that the march was appropriate because it coincided with Trump's selection of a Supreme Court justice and that the president needed prayer because "it's maybe the most critical time in recent history."

"There are those that would like to tear this nation apart, to keep a conservative justice off the bench. The president said he was going to appoint conservatives," Graham said. "He's keeping his word; he's kept his promise. We now need to just pray that God would watch over and protect him."

Graham and Cahn are both supporters of Trump. In August, Graham announced his gathering, while Cahn began promoting his back in March.

Hildner and her friend, Denise Reheuser, said neither had ever come to D.C. for a rally or march but felt called by God when they saw an ad for Graham's prayer walk.

Laura Guilfo, a Medicaid program manager, and Carla Augustus, a retiree, flew from Baton Rouge for the event. Guilfo had heard an ad on conservative Christian radio and made a plane reservation almost immediately.

The women said the country needs prayer and its supernatural powers to fight off an enemy who "is coming to divide it," Guilfo said. The division, the women said, was being manufactured by the mainstream media.

"The country isn't as divided as they say," she said, gesturing to the thousands milling peacefully near the Washington Monument, where flags were at half-staff for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and near the White House, where Trump was about to announce his replacement at a news conference. "The evidence is all around you."

The women, both Black, saw the summer's focus on systemic racism as part of an evil plan to divide. There is no race, they said, and there can be racial prejudice from every group against another - it's not particular to White people against Black people.

"We look at it from a Christian worldview, not a secular worldview. Evil is now good, and good has become evil," Guilfo said, as her friend nodded. "There is no 'social justice.' There's just justice."

Ann Nelson, a 58-year-old nurse, began to cry as she spoke about why she and her friend traveled from South Carolina. The women had just listened to Graham speak and then knelt at the base of the Washington Monument in prayer.

"People don't want to be divided," Nelson said, almost overwhelmed as they spoke about wanting to end abortion, racism and violence against "people who have suffered unjustly."

Nelson and her friend, Lana Shaw, who runs a homeless ministry, said they decided to come to the District of Columbia. three weeks ago and feel an intense spiritual urgency. Riots and racial violence are the country reaping the fact that it hasn't faced its demons, Shaw said.

"Politics will never get us to unity. It's only Jesus."
Gupteshwar Pandey, former Bihar DGP. (Image: Twitter/@ips_gupteshwar)

Former Bihar director general of police Gupteshwar Pandey, who took voluntary retirement from service (VRS) on September 22, will join Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) on September 27, news agency ANI has reported.

The development comes a day after Pandey met Kumar, lending credence to talk that the IPS officer's sudden decision to take VRS was propelled by his intention to join politics.

Pandey, however, said he had walked down to the JD(U) state headquarter to "thank" Kumar for the trust he reposed in him.

A 1987 batch IPS officer, Pandey was in the news in recent weeks as he was involved in the investigation into actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death in Mumbai.

Pandey's comment, while he was still the DGP, that actor Rhea Chakraborty, Rajput's girlfriend who has been accused by his father of abetting actor's suicide, did not have "aukaat (standing )" to comment on Kumar had also invited criticism on social media.

He had also stoutly defended the Nitish government when it came under attack from the Shiv Sena-led government in Maharashtra over Bihar Police's probe into Rajput's death.

Pandey had on September 23 told ANI he had not taken a decision to take the political plunge nor had he joined a party.

This is not the first time that Pandey has taken premature retirement to join politics. In 2009, he had applied for VRS to contest the Lok Sabha election but the state government did not accept his application and reinstated him.

Pandey may be considered for the Valmiki Nagar Lok Sabha seat where a bypoll has been necessitated following the death of Baidyanath Mahto, a JD(U) leader.

Beginning October 28, Bihar will be voting for a new assembly in three phases, with results expected on November 10.
China held a high-profile ceremony on Sunday to receive the remains of more than 100 soldiers killed in the Korean war, as Beijing continues to push its nationalist campaign amid deteriorating relations with the United States.

A PLA Air Force Y-20 transport aircraft carrying the remains of 117 service personnel arrived at Shenyang Taoxian International Airport in the capital of northeast Chinas Liaoning province about 11.20am after leaving Incheon International Airport in Seoul, South Korea earlier in the day.

A delegation from the Peoples Liberation Army and veterans of the war were at the airport to meet the plane, and after being unloaded, the wooden coffins containing the remains  each of which was draped with a national flag  were driven to a local cemetery escorted 45 by police motorcycle outriders.

Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China.

According to state broadcaster CGTN, which provided live coverage of the handover ceremonies in Incheon and Shenyang, two Chinese J-11B fighters were sent to escort the Y-20 after it entered Chinese airspace.

A delegation from the PLA and veterans of the Korean war were at the airport to meet the plane carrying the remains. Photo: AP

Li Jingxian, a deputy director at the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, told CGTN it was the first time China had used a home-grown Y-20 aircraft to repatriate the remains of its soldiers from South Korea, saying that doing so better reflected the national image.

The repatriation of remains from South Korea was the seventh since 2014. Beijing says that 360,000 members of the Chinese Peoples Volunteer Army were either killed or wounded in the war, though unofficial sources say the actual figure is probably much higher.

Beijing says 360,000 members of the Chinese Peoples Volunteer Army were killed in the war though others say the death toll was much higher. Photo: Handout

The Korean war, which ran from 1950-53 and led to the division of the Korean peninsula, is one of the deadliest in history, with 5 million people killed, more than half of them civilians.

According to South Koreas Yonhap news agency, the remains of 103 Chinese soldiers were excavated last year from Arrowhead Ridge, a battleground inside the demilitarised zone between North and South Korea. Other remains have been found across South Korea.

Story continues

Sundays repatriation ceremony came as Beijing is stepping up its efforts to boost nationalism amid escalating tensions with the US on multiple fronts, including trade, technology, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Sundays repatriation of remains from South Korea was the seventh since 2014. Photo: EPA-EFE

Beijing has announced a series of high-profile events to mark the 70th anniversary of the PLA entering the war to resist US aggression and aid Korea as it is known in China and which is the only time the two countries have come face to face on the battlefield.

Last week, the Memorial Hall of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea reopened in Dandong, a northeast China city on the border with North Korea, after a hiatus of six years, and a set of commemorative postage stamps will be issued next month.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attend a gathering in Beijing on October 25 to mark the date on which the nations soldiers launched their first attack against the US-led United Nations coalition forces.

A film, Jin Gang Chuan, which tells the story of Chinese combat engineers building bridges during the Korean war is set for cinema release the same day.

More from South China Morning Post:

This article China stages solemn ceremony to welcome home remains of 117 soldiers killed in Korean war first appeared on South China Morning Post

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TDT | Manama

Participation of students in the Bahrain University of Bahrain (UoB) Blackboard e-Educational platform exceeded 90 per cent in the first week of study at the English Language Centre. The attendance, UoB said, was 91 per cent for first-level students and 95pc among second-level students.

The language centre is also organising an induction day this Monday, where UoB will take them on a virtual tour of the centre through the (Stream Live) application on the University of Bahrain website. The virtual tour aims at familiarising students with the introductory programme, the academic courses on offer and the services the centre provides The programmes offered by the Distance English Language Center includes 13 academic hours for the English language, three hours for information technology, or three hours for mathematics per semester.

Dr. Ghada Ahmed Jassim, Director of the Universitys English Language Center, pointed out that the center has taken steps in preparation for students enrollment for the first semester of the academic year 2020/2021.
Chennai, Sep 27 : Political leaders in Tamil Nadu on Sunday condoled the death of former Union Minister Jaswant Singh.

In his message, Governor Banwarilal Purohit said: "I am saddened to know about the demise of Jaswant Singh. He had handled the finance, external aand defence portfolios with full dedication and left a strong mark." Purohit said the former Army officer was an experienced and humble political leader.

Chief Minister K Palaniswami tweeted: "Very sad to hear about the death of Jaswant Singhji. He was a valiant soldier, an able administrator. We fondly recollect his association with our beloved Amma. May his soul rest in peace. Heartfelt condolences." DMK President MK Stalin said: "Deeply saddened to hear about the passing of former Union Minister and veteran politician Jaswant Singh. On behalf of the DMK, I express my sincere condolences. My thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time."
Beauty assistant: Alice Robertson

...with my pick of the freshest super-hydrators

Ive been inspired to look at complexion boosters this week for the simple reason that three products  all of them designed for the face  have stood out to me amid new launches. Id like to introduce you to them.

First, on the skincare front is the new capsule offering from Elizabeth Arden: this time the focus is on hydrating hyaluronic acid (HA). Though as the formula also has ceramides, this is a bit of a double whammy in terms of skin help: moisture and plumpness come from the HA and those ceramides help to build skin health and strength while also sealing in moisture.

If youre an aficionado and looking for information about different molecular weights of the HA then Im afraid you wont find it here (often hyaluronic serums use larger and smaller weights: the smaller can penetrate deeper and moisturise from within; the larger stays mainly on the surface of the skin and evaporates faster). This version is not about that but rather has a far smaller than normal size (500 times smaller, to be precise) so it can penetrate four times deeper for extra and longer-lasting hydration (regular readers may remember that this was also the approach taken by Dior for its Capture Totale Cell Energy Super Potent Serum which I wrote about a few months ago). The capsule is biodegradable and the product is free from added fragrance. You can use it both morning and night (but I go for mornings) and it should be applied before moisturiser (though I find this is often enough on its own and works well as a primer). Elizabeth Arden New York Hyaluronic Acid Ceramide Capsules Hydra-Plumping Serum (45 for 30 capsules, elizabetharden.co.uk).

Morphes new Hint Hint Skin Tint (16, uk.morphe.com) is essentially a water-based foundation but of the sheerest nature  it can build from a super-light to medium coverage. I really rate it and it gives a healthy glowy finish plus it feels invisible on the skin. It comes in 20 shades, which isnt loads but I find that the watery consistency makes the shades less specific and easily blendable. Also, on the website, they explain the best shades for different undertones which makes it easier to find the right one for you.

Lastly, LOreal Paris True Match Eye-Cream in a Concealer (9.99, nationwide). This is a very creamy textured concealer as it is indeed part skincare cream. I like this, not because it may help with any fine lines, but because that added moisturisation element helps the eye area to stay not just feeling but looking more hydrated. It also keeps make-up staying fresher for longer. Available in eight shades.

@edwinaingschambers

Elizabeth Arden New York Hyaluronic Acid Ceramide Capsules Hydra-Plumping Serum (45 for 30 capsules, elizabetharden.co.uk ), Morphes new Hint Hint Skin Tint (16, uk.morphe.com ), LOreal Paris True Match Eye-Cream in a Concealer (9.99, nationwide)

New body creams that wont break the bank

Vitamin C Brightening Body Lotion and Retinol Smoothing Body Lotion, both 9.99

And on to body care. It isnt a new idea to make your body creams work as hard as the products that you put on your face, but new brand The Solution is really making a selling point out of this. Its going big on talking about active ingredients  and doing it all for just 9.99 for 200ml. Think of this as a bit like cult facial skincare brand The Ordinary but for a body range.

So theres Vitamin C Brightening Body Lotion (fairly self-explanatory but great for radiance); a Retinol Smoothing Body Lotion to help with dark spots, evening skintone and firming; a Salicylic Acid Clear Skin Body Gel to help with body breakouts; Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Body Lotion (does what it says) and Collagen Perfecting Body Cream to help with dryness and elasticity. Its been created by the Teddington-based parent beauty company Brand Architekts, which also owns labels such as Superfacialist and is all about making great everyday products at affordable prices.

Available at Superdrug.
I had a dispiriting exchange with a reader last week that underscores a disturbing reality among todays news consumers.

The reader emailed after reading an article in Wednesday mornings newspaper. I am continually disappointed in the slanted reporting of The Oregonian, she wrote. The headline today Idaho family at heart of deadly pro Trump rally for a Washington Post article is factually incorrect. The rally did not go through the area where the killing occurred. This article and headline attempts to specifically tie the murder and the rally.

I answer a lot of reader questions about what appears in The Oregonian and on OregonLive, and I am happy to do so  especially when we can have a civil conversation. I like to think we can all agree on the facts. But in this fractured time, I too frequently hear those facts roundly rejected.

A major survey released last month helps explain whats going on.

The Knight Foundation, with Gallup, released results of its American Views 2020 survey, which found deep pessimism and partisan entrenchment about news media in the United States. This follows on a similar survey from two years ago.

The poll on Trust, Media and Democracy included more than 20,000 U.S. adults and, to this lifelong journalist, the results were sobering.

Not only do many Americans see bias in the media, they believe news organizations actively support the partisan divide, the Knight Foundation said in a summary of its findings.

Party affiliation remains the key predictor of attitudes about the news media, the summary said. Republicans express more negative sentiments on every aspect of media performance compared to Democrats and independents.

That lines up with my inbox and voice mail. I hear much more frequently from conservative readers who complain they see bias in our coverage (almost always our coverage of national political issues).

Lets hear more from my emailer:

My concern is that with the all desperate attempts by The Oregonian to paint Republicans and Trump supporters as bad that what you are really doing is marginalizing The Oregonians reporting, she wrote.

To recap the issue at hand, a caravan of Donald Trump supporters planned to stay on highways and freeways but diverted into downtown. The caravan of cars and pickup trucks proceeded through downtown Portland from east to west. After the caravan had left the area, a man who identified as an antifascist shot and killed a Patriot Prayer supporter who had taken part in the pro-Trump rally.

I responded to our reader several times, explaining a substantial part of the caravan did break off and go through downtown. When she protested further, I sent her links to videos of the event. She still pushed back on my narrative.

Here are a few more highlights (lowlights?) from the survey results:

--A majority of Americans see a great deal or a fair amount of political bias in the news they consume.

--Almost half say the media bears 'a great deal' of blame for political division in the U.S.

--A whopping 54% believe reporters misrepresent the facts. Even more discouraging, 28% think reporters make up the facts.

I heard this from another reader, who pointed out a few errors in our coronavirus reporting.

Human errors almost always produce random results, he wrote. Your errors all seem to be one-sided, i.e. making the COVID-19 pandemic seem worse than it is.

After a data feed error overstated cases of coronavirus, he wrote again: It is still interesting that all your glitches seem to favor more bad news. Ive yet to see one of your glitches that shows things better than they are.

I know with certainty the errors were not the result in any way of bias, but my correspondent was unswayed. He remained suspicious and that troubled me.

Our credibility is everything to us, and we are committed to getting it right. But levels of distrust in the news media are high.

Some of the problem lies at the feet of our social media bubbles. We tend to find our like-minded communities online, whether on Facebook or Twitter, and what we read reinforces our beliefs.

The survey found that about 40% of Americans pay attention only to one or two trusted sources, while a third rely on a variety of sources to find areas of agreement.

There is some good news from the survey. The vast majority of Americans, 84%, believe the news media is vital to democracy.

And more Americans are following local news. A third of Americans say they follow local news very closely, an increase from 25% two years ago. The survey was taken before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and protests calling for racial justice so that number likely is even higher today.

The Knight Foundation notes the perils: "The low levels of public trust in the nations polarized media environment have left open the possibility for dangerous false narratives to take root in all segments of society during these emergent crises.

At a time when factual, trustworthy information is especially critical to public health and the future of our democracy, the striking trends documented in these pages are cause for concern.

I couldnt agree more.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 25)  Malacanang dismissed the idea of postponing the 2022 polls because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement on Friday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the Constitution is clear in requiring a national election every three years, done on the second Monday of May. The next general elections must be held on May 9, 2022, ahead of the end of President Rodrigo Duterte's six-year term by June 30 of that year.

The national election is still two years away and we still have sufficient time to prepare, Roque said. He said the country can learn from the United States, which is holding presidential polls in November. The US has recorded nearly seven million coronavirus infections  more than any country in the world.

We must not use the existing global health crisis as a ground to cancel and reschedule the elections as this would not sit well with the public, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement on Friday.

During the Commission on Elections budget hearing at the House of Representatives on Thursday, Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo asked the poll commissioner if there are plans to propose the postponement since the risk of infection will be high when the public goes out to vote.

Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas said this has not been considered since election is a constitutional mandate. He said only the President and Congress can decide to delay the polls, which can be done by law.

Senate President Vicente Tito Sotto III and other lawmakers strongly oppposed any possible attempt to reschedule the elections, saying it runs counter to provisions of the Constitution. Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said the only accepted reasons for the postponement of local polls include violence, terrorism, and the destruction of election paraphernalia.

READ: Call to postpone 2022 polls won't extend term of elected officials - Drilon

Comelec said it is looking into a longer voting period, as long as three days, to limit mass gatherings should the coronavirus last until 2022.
New Delhi: Delhi on Sunday reported 42 COVID-19 deaths taking the total number of fatalities to 5,235, while as many as 3,292 new cases of the infection pushes the tally to 2,71,114.

This is the second day consecutive when the city has reported more than 40 coronavirus deaths.

On Saturday, authorities had reported 46 fatalities, which was the highest in a day since July 16, when the city had reported 58 deaths.

The cumulative COVID-19 case count rose to 2,71,114 on Sunday with 3,292 more people contracting the viral disease. The 42 fatalities pushed the death toll to 5,235.

The capital reported 3,372 cases on Saturday, 3,827 on Friday, 3,834 on Thursday, 3,714 on Wednesday, and 3,816 on Tuesday.

Of the total cases reported in Delhi so far, 2,36,651 have either recovered, been discharged or migrated out.

As many as 51,416 tests were conducted on Saturday to detect COVID-19 infection, of which 11,414 were RTPCR/CBNAAT/TrueNat tests and 40,002 rapid antigen tests.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday appealed to all Resident Welfare Associations in Delhi to spread awarness in their localities of the measures to be taken to prevent dengue.

As part of Delhi government's '10 Hafte 10 Baje 10 Minute Har Ravivaar Dengue Par Vaar' campaign, Kejriwal inspected his house for signs of stagnant water at 10 am for 10 minutes, draining and replacing accumulated water from various spots at his home and surroundings.

"I appeal to all the RWAs to talk to people in their societies as well and motivate them to join this campaign. We have to defeat dengue together," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 18:06:06|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

LAGOS, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian military confirmed on Sunday the death toll from the extremist group Boko Haram's ambush on a government officials' convoy in Borno state on Friday has risen to 18.

Military spokesperson John Enenche said in a statement that 18 people including four soldiers, 10 policemen, and four civilians were killed during the Boko Haram ambush.

The victims met their untimely death when their vehicles which were in pursuit of Boko Haram terrorists, ran into several Improvised Explosive Devices(IED) planted in the routes and exploded, said Enenche.

He said troops on hot pursuit of the insurgents successfully recovered three vehicles in a nearby village, adding the army has deployed more IED and bomb disposal teams and equipment to the region to prevent future incidents of such nature.

The officials were on their way to Baga town in the state where hundreds of returning Internally Displaced Persons were to be received. Enditem
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Member of the European Parliament Loucas Fourlas has expressed his full support to the people of Artsakh who appeared under an attack by the Azerbaijani forces.

The MEP is asking the European Union for immediate action.

Full support to the Armenian people who are being attacked in Nagorno Karabakh by Azeri forces. As Chairman of the Armenia-European Parliament Friendship Committee, I am sending an urgent letter to the European Commission informing of the situation. I ask the EU for immediate action, the MEP said on Twitter.

On September 27 early morning the Azerbaijani military has launched a massive cross-border artillery attack on Artsakh, including on civilian settlements. Peaceful settlements are also under bombardment, including the capital city of Stepanakert.

The Azerbaijani side suffered losses in its military equipment.

Dozens of civilians in Artsakh were wounded as a result of the Azerbaijani attack. A woman and a child were killed in the Azerbaijani attack.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Let me start this conversation in this manner, don't ask me what took me where I am going, or who was responsible for my small research on how to steal meat from the pot.

1. Enter the kitchen, look left and right if somebody is coming. Our leaders make us look like we are all in this together; we are all looking left and right, waiting our turn to steal

2. Check the position of the spoon on how you found it so you will not make any mistake while leaving. Our leaders look for our vulnerability, they know us, infact they are aware of where our mumu spoons have been placed.

3. Open the pot gently. Don't let the cover drop or make any sound oh. This is an act and art, ability to maneuver the populace seamlessly.

4. Count the meat inside if it is up to 5 or more. The lesser the meat, the more likely for them to detect a missing piece. Take one if it is more but if it is less than 5, just bite them. As in, use your teeth to slim shape them. Bite small from all the lumps of meat so that if they count it, it will still be the same number then cover the pot slowly. Have you gone to an APC or PDP meeting, you will get this drift, infact, if you look at the Edo drama, you will know how our leaders have stolen our meat and we are there rejoicing when it is the same difference.

5. While eating the stolen piece, let your ears be at alert to hear footsteps oh. Don't let the soup stain your cloth or touch anything in the kitchen. If it does, quickly rush and wash that shirt to remove any traces to you. Our leaders have become experts, we even praise them with the stains, as long as the stain is against the others, they do not need to wash anything off.

6. After eating it, wash your hand with soap and smell it 5 times to know if it still smells soup, soup. In 60 years the smell of the soup has become the signature of the thieving leader, so they dont care.

In a few days Nigerians would be celebrating 60 years of independence or dependent independence. Depending on which side of the horoscope you are looking at. And its no surprise that again the forces that be are again interested in influencing the 2023 election. Whats different this time around is the chessboard of perceived citizen participation, and youth involvement: the actors, their preferred outcomes, and their preferred mechanisms of influence may have changed or will change, till then.

So let us look at the presidency, how do you get the meat?

The person must be a citizen of Nigeria by birth; The dude must have attained the age of thirty five years; a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party; he must have been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent. A person who meets the above qualifications is still disqualified from holding the office of the president if: he has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a country other than Nigeria (except in such cases as may be prescribed by the National Assembly) or made a declaration of allegiance to such other country; have been elected to such office at any two previous elections; under the law in any part of Nigeria.

Adjudged to be a lunatic or otherwise declared to be of unsound mind; is under a sentence of death imposed by any competent court of law or tribunal in Nigeria or a sentence of imprisonment or fine for any offence involving dishonesty or fraud or for any other offence, imposed on the person by any court or tribunal or substituted by a competent authority for any other sentence imposed on him by such a court of tribunal; within a period of less than ten years before the date of the election to the office of President he had been convicted and sentenced for an offence involving dishonesty or they have been found guilty of the contravention of the Code of Conduct; an undischarged bankrupt, having been adjudged or otherwise declared bankrupt under any law in force in Nigeria or any other country; being a person employed in the civil or public service of the Federation or of any State, they have not resigned, withdrawn or retired from the employment at least thirty days before the date of the election; or a member of any secret society;

A person who has been indicted for embezzlement or fraud by a Judicial Commission of Inquiry or an Administrative Panel of Inquiry or a Tribunal set up under the Tribunals of Inquiry Act, a Tribunals of Inquiry law or any other law by the federal or state government which indictment has been accepted by the federal or state government respectively; or has presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

When last did we get a leader that did not run foul of these laid down rules, I took the pain to go through the above constitutional requirement, and if it pleases you my dear reader, let us go back to how to steal meat from a pot.

7. Blow hot air from your mouth to perceive if it smells soup. Don't worry about that, just go to the container of garri, take some garri and chew it or chew garlic to kill the odour.

8. Now leave the kitchen like a saint. I have left out number 7 and it is the number that has left us where we are; underdeveloped 60 years after. Forget all that we have more schools, more these and that, the fact is that our leaders have failed us.

Nigeria has experienced military coups, a civil war and very poor economic development, and its population is more impoverished today than at independence. Behind this lies the oil curse. The ruling elite has captured the rents generated from oil for personal enrichment and power purposes. Nigerias elite formation has three distinct characteristics. It is based on a fusion of elites, with the military establishment dominating, through power diversification (with the conversion of political power into economic power as the most important), and it is enriched through economic extraction (where the usurpation of the countrys oil wealth is pivotal).

The excessive centralization of power, authoritarianism, and the pervasiveness of patronage and rent-seeking cultures have developed a political or ruling class. Oil resources have given this class the incentive to control the state apparatus (and thus the income), and the means to retain control of the state. The main beneficiaries, and thus the main constituent components of the oil-rich elite, are the big men (the inner circle of the ruling elite), the military establishment, and politicians.

Since formal democratization at the turn of the century, various reforms have been half-heartedly attempted. Despite the nomination of economic reformers to prominent positions, the vested interests of the political class have not been challenged. With few reformers, like his predecessor, Mr. Buhari's use of power politics and patronage (in particular to win the 2015 elections) demonstrates that his government is not a particularly reformist administration.

So to be a leader, in Nigeria, you need to follow the rules on how to steal a piece of meat, and you will come out a saint. Nigeria is partly where she is as a nation because of how her leadership emerges, the value, and systems that dictate who gets what. Our leadership emerges stealthily because almost all the time, the big boss is less educated that the small boss, when one boss is Christian, the other boss must be Muslim.

Our leaders say the people asked for them, but the first meat they steal is ours. Our leaders blame the meat for being in the pot. They do not care about how pieces of meat in the pot, they go about a gluttonous frenzy forgetting that we collectively own the pot.

In leadership it is turn by turn, and not merit by merit, each leader demonizes the one before, never there to partake in preparing the soup pot, but every ready to mess the condiments up, it is 60 years and we are yet to get the right leadership trajectory, when will we all stop stealing from the potOnly time will tell
Real Housewives of Sydney star Lisa Oldfield has announced her split from boyfriend James Laws by uploading a dramatic Instagram video of herself flushing a ring down the toilet.

In the now-deleted clip, the 45-year-old filmed herself holding the diamond ring - a gift from John - over the toilet bowl before dropping it in and pressing the flush button.

'Should have had him #spayed along with the dog,' the raven-haired reality star fumed in her caption.

It's OVER: Real Housewives of Sydney star Lisa Oldfield alluded to an acrimonious split from her boyfriend, James Laws, after nearly a year and a half of dating. Both are pictured

Lisa debuted her romance with James, who she lovingly called 'Jimbo', in March 2019, following the end of her 18-year marriage to politician, David Oldfield.

At the time, James gushed to The Daily Telegraph about his 'whip-smart, gorgeous, funny and easy-going' new girlfriend, Lisa.

In August 2019, a smitten Lisa confessed that she wanted to marry James

Boy bye: In a now-deleted Instagram clip shared on Saturday, the reality star dramatically flushed a ring - which had been gifted to her by James - down the toilet

'Should have had him #spayed along with the dog': The video shows Lisa dropping a dazzling diamond ring into the toilet before flushing

She told the Kyle and Jackie O Show that she thinks they will marry in 2020. 'I reckon we'll be married by the end of next year,' Lisa said.

She added: 'He's the real deal. He's a super nice guy, supportive, so amazing with my boys.'

In January, the pair fuelled engagement rumours after Lisa flaunted a stunning ring on her wedding finger on social media.

Romance: Lisa debuted her romance with James, who she lovingly called 'Jimbo', in March 2019, following the end of her 18-year marriage to politician, David Oldfield

However, she confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that the ring was a birthday present from John, not an engagement ring.

The tech entrepreneur was previously married to David Oldfield, who co-founded Australia's One Nation party with Pauline Hanson.

The political party has been criticised for its nationalist policies and anti-immigration stance.

'Reckon we'll be married by the end of next year': In August 2019, a smitten Lisa confessed that she wanted to marry James

Lisa officially split from David early last year, after 18 years together.

She rose to mainstream fame in 2017, when she joined the cast of reality show The Real Housewives of Sydney.

The mother-of-two was known for her vicious arguments with her co-stars, including Krissy Marsh and Victoria Rees, as well as her unorthodox parenting methods.
A specialist in infectious diseases has warned that people could suffer from the impact of having Covid-19 for years, with many experiencing prolonged symptoms.

Professor Sam McConkey, associate professor and head of the Department of International Health and Tropical Medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), said some patients continue to have significant dysfunction of the lungs, heart or brain up to three or six months later.

Those recovering from Covid-19 have reported feeling faster heart rates than usual, others suffer panic attacks, while some say they cannot walk as far and some have reported having brain fog and difficulty concentrating.

Read More

Professor McConkey, who is also a consultant in general medicine, tropical medicine and infectious diseases at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, said patients are anxious about the future.

The professor and his colleagues at Beaumont Hospital are leading a wide-ranging study into the impact of coronavirus on patients.

Around 200 people previously diagnosed with Covid-19 are being assessed.

Those involved in the study include respiratory specialists, heart specialists, specialists in haematology, intensive care doctors, as well as psychiatrists and psychologists.

The study is expected to last another five months.

Professor McConkey said: We started with the sickest ones who were in Beaumont intensive care and those sick enough to need hospitalisation. We have got a team of staff who are calling them on the phone with a checklist and asking them about their symptoms.

If the patients identify they have any ongoing symptoms, we get them in for a chest X-ray and they go through a full suite of diagnostic tests and a psychological assessment.

Some people are having a lot of anxiety and depression and psychological symptoms after Covid-19, especially those who were in ICU.

The study is still ongoing so there are no results, though there are clearly some people who had Covid-19 who do have significant dysfunction of the lungs, heart or brain three or six months later.

The professor said that although the long-term outcome of Covid-19 remains unclear, there is a possibility some patients may have symptoms for years.

Some people are feeling physical symptoms where they just cant walk more than 100 yards and they are anxious as they want to know what is the future and fear they wont get better, he added.

They are very rightly concerned about their physical function. Theres a worry that this seems to exist as a feature.

We are still in the investigation stage, it looks like its not just the same as COPD or pulmonary fibrosis and that its something different.

Thats my anecdotal experience of meeting people who have had Covid-19.

Read More

There are also concerns about the psychological impact on young people admitted to hospital with Covid-19, particularly those admitted to ICU.

There are people who never really realised in their life, up to that point, that human life and human existence has a finite end and that one of the few things all of us can be completely certain about is that we will die, he added.

Being confronted with that through a potentially fatal disease is really shocking for some people as they have not worked through that before.
The Armenian armed forces committed large-scale military provocations on the frontline today, Azerbaijani President and Commander-in-Chief of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev addressed the nation in this regard this morning.

"Armenian armed forces fired on our settlements, as well as our military positions, from several directions this morning, using various types of weaponry, including heavy artillery," the president said. "As a result of the enemy fire, there are casualties among the civilian population and our servicemen. Some people have been wounded."

"The Azerbaijani Army is currently firing on Armenia's military positions, and as a result of these strikes, many units of the enemy's military equipment have been destroyed. This is another manifestation of Armenian fascism."

The president further said that Armenia plans to occupy Azerbaijani lands and does not conceal that. "Their military-political leadership tried to threaten Azerbaijan with a new occupation, a new policy of occupation for new territories  this is the policy of Armenias military-political leadership today,

Another reason is to distract the population from the very serious social and economic problems in Armenia and portray Azerbaijan as an enemy. Yet another reason is that Armenia is doing everything possible to disrupt the negotiations, and I can say that it has succeeded in doing that. It is as a result of Armenia's hypocritical, unconstructive and false policy that the negotiations have actually stopped and this provocation is aimed at these goals," Aliyev said.

The president also said that Azerbaijan has no military targets in Armenia.

Armenia's military provocations against Azerbaijan have become regular of late. In July, our servicemen and a civilian were killed as a result of artillery fire in the direction of Tovuz on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. It is no secret that the first fire, including artillery fire, was opened by Armenia, and the first victims were Azerbaijani servicemen. Azerbaijan gave a fitting rebuff to the enemy and they could not move an inch forward. The enemy was stopped and the territorial integrity of our country was protected. As a result of the crushing blows, the Armenian side was forced to accept a bitter defeat. I have said this and I want to say again that if we had wanted, we could have conducted military battles on the territory of Armenia. However, we do not have military targets in Armenia, and this being the case, a ceasefire was introduced a few days later.

Armenian armed forced opened fire on our settlements, as well as our military positions, from several directions this morning, using various types of weaponry, including heavy artillery. As a result of the enemy fire, there are casualties among the civilian population and our servicemen. Some people have been wounded. May God rest our martyrs in peace! Their blood will not remain unavenged," said the statement.

"The Azerbaijani army is currently firing at the enemy's military positions, and as a result of these strikes, many units of the enemy's military equipment have been destroyed," the statement said.

The statement also said that this recent provocation is another manifestation of Armenian fascism.

The president also stressed that Armenia plans to occupy Azerbaijani lands and does not hide it.

"Their military-political leadership tried to threaten Azerbaijan with a new occupation, a new policy of occupation for new territories  this is the policy of Armenias military-political leadership today, President Aliyev said.

Another reason is to distract the population from the very serious social and economic problems in Armenia and portray Azerbaijan as an enemy," said the president.

"Yet another reason is that Armenia is doing everything possible to disrupt the negotiations, and I can say that it has succeeded in doing so. It is as a result of Armenia's hypocritical, unconstructive and false policy that the negotiations have actually stopped, President Aliyev said.

Armenia has received their punishment this time again and will continue to receive it, Aliyev said.

In July, Azerbaijan gave a fitting response to the enemy, preserved its territorial integrity, and once again showed that anyone speaking to Azerbaijan in the language of threats will regret doing that. Unfortunately, this was not a lesson for them. However, after July provocation, I said that this bitter defeat by Armenia should be a lesson for them. In August, Armenia launched yet another military provocation. This time a sabotage group was sent to Azerbaijan. The head of the sabotage group was detained by the Azerbaijani military and is currently giving evidence. His statements clearly show that this sabotage group came to Azerbaijan with a plan to commit acts of terror. Another military provocation against the civilian population and our servicemen was committed by Armenia today and, as I said, they have received their punishment this time again and will continue to receive it, the head of state said.

"We are on the right path, ours is the cause of justice, we will win, Karabakh is ours, Karabakh is Azerbaijan."

Azerbaijan has not resorted to any provocation. Azerbaijan simply defends its interests, supports its position, and pursues its policy openly. We have repeatedly stated that Nagorno-Karabakh is the historical and ancient land of Azerbaijan, and this is true. When the prime minister of Armenia says that Karabakh is Armenia, it is a lie. When I say that Karabakh is Azerbaijan, it is true.

The whole world recognizes Nagorno-Karabakh as an integral part of Azerbaijan. Historical justice is on our side. Because it is our native land, our ancestral land. International law is on our side. All international organizations recognize the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. All countries recognize the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Decisions and resolutions adopted within international organizations explicitly state that Nagorno-Karabakh belongs to Azerbaijan.

Four UN Security Council resolutions call for an immediate, full, and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian forces from the occupied territories. These resolutions have been on paper for almost 30 years. Negotiations within the Minsk Group have been going on for almost 30 years and, as a result, Armenia has paralyzed the negotiations by regularly committing military provocations.

Besides the United Nations, all other leading international organizations support our rightful position. The Non-Aligned Movement is the second largest international institution after the United Nations, and it is currently chaired by Azerbaijan. It has adopted a fair resolution on the conflict. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation has adopted fair resolutions. The decisions of the OSCE and the resolutions of the European Parliament support our position. Our position is based on international law and justice.

We are fighting on our own land. Today, the Azerbaijani Army is dealing crushing blows to the enemy on Azerbaijani soil. Today, the Azerbaijani Army protects the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan on its territory. What are Armenian soldiers doing in our lands?! What is the Armenian army doing in our lands?! It is no secret that 90 percent of the personnel in the Nagorno-Karabakh army are Armenian citizens. Armenia is an occupying state, this occupation must and will end. We are on the right path! Ours is the cause of justice! We will win! Karabakh is ours! Karabakh is Azerbaijan! the head of state said.

The president stressed that Azerbaijan will never negotiate with the puppet junta regime.

Armenia's provocations are also reflected in the statements made by the Armenian leadership. A year ago, the Armenian prime minister said in the occupied territories, in Khankandi, that Karabakh is Armenia, full stop. First of all, it is a lie, Karabakh is Azerbaijan, and I have repeatedly expressed my views on this issue. Karabakh is Azerbaijan, an exclamation mark! Secondly, this provocative statement was in fact a major blow to the negotiations. If the prime minister of Armenia says that Karabakh is Armenia, then what kind of talks can there be?! At the same time, the Armenian leadership has been repeatedly stating for two years that Azerbaijan should negotiate not with Armenia, but with the so-called Nagorno-Karabakh republic. This is a big blow to the negotiation process. First of all, Azerbaijan will never negotiate with the puppet junta regime. Secondly, attempts to change the format of talks show once again that Armenia's main goal is to disrupt the talks and maintain the status quo. However, the heads of state of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs have repeatedly stated that the status quo is unacceptable, which means that the occupation must end, the head of state said.

President Ilham Aliyev noted that Armenia's provocations against us do not end at that.

Armenia's provocations against us do not end at that. Recently, the swearing-in ceremony of the head of the so-called criminal junta was held in Shusha, an ancient city of our ancient Azerbaijan. Isn't this a provocation? This is an insult to us. They thought that we would put up with this insult. They are deliberately provoking us and they will see the bitter consequences. Recently, a decision was made by the so-called parliament of the Nagorno-Karabakh republic to settle people in the ancient Azerbaijani city of Shusha. This is another provocation. Recently, the prime minister of Armenia announced that voluntary military units would be established, bringing together tens of thousands of people. Why is this necessary? Who will they fight against? This was part of the preparations for today's provocation against Azerbaijan. I have said several times, including from the UN platform recently, that Armenia is preparing for a new war, and Armenia must and will be stopped, the head of state said.

Recently, a decision was made by the so-called parliament of the Nagorno-Karabakh republic to settle people in the ancient Azerbaijani city of Shusha, Aliyev noted.

This is another provocation. Recently, the prime minister of Armenia announced that voluntary military units would be established, bringing together tens of thousands of people. Why is this necessary? Who will they fight against? This was part of the preparations for today's provocation against Azerbaijan. I have said several times, including from the UN platform recently, that Armenia is preparing for a new war, and Armenia must and will be stopped, the head of state said.

Armenia is pursuing a policy of illegal settlement in the occupied territories. Several Lebanese Armenian families have recently been resettled to Nagorno-Karabakh, including Shusha, an ancient city in Azerbaijan. This is a war crime. This is completely contrary to the Geneva Convention. Armenia will be held accountable for this crime. This is another provocation against us. Settlement in the occupied territories is a crime, and this policy has been pursued by Armenia for many years. The fact is that the country's population is declining due to the difficult economic, political, and social situation in Armenia. Armenia is experiencing a demographic crisis and does not have the human resources to deploy its people in the occupied territories. That is why they hope for Armenians living abroad. This policy is currently underway, the Azerbaijani president said.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Support: Steve Hare also wants backing for small business owners

Steve Hare, the boss of one of Britain's largest technology companies, takes a deep breath as he prepares to answer one of the great conundrums about his sector: how can the UK create its first trillion dollar tech giant?

The chief executive of SAGE, the FTSE100 business software company, responds to the bold plan being dreamt up behind the scenes by Dominic Cummings, the Prime Minister's chief adviser, to create Britain's own tech behemoth with a question of his own.

'Does it need to be a trillion dollars?' asks Hare in his first newspaper profile interview since being promoted to the top job two years ago. It's a fair question. Sage is worth around 8billion and is the UK's largest listed technology company, worth a similar amount to another FTSE100 software firm Aveva.

And, of course, there's Arm, the Cambridge-based computer chip designer which is being sold to America's Nvidia for $40billion (31billion) and is probably the UK's most valuable tech asset.

Hare, 59, says: 'I'd like to see more providers of technology and scale is important. But does it need to be a trillion dollars? You just need scale. Our market cap is about 7billion or 8billion. It would be good to have companies that were up at 50billion or 100billion, but I think the way you do that is you make it attractive to invest. That's how technology companies are built. They're built through investment. We spend 17 or 18 per cent of our revenue on R&D [research and development]. These are intensive investments.'

He says attractive tax breaks such as R&D tax credits have worked well in recent years, allowing tech companies to plough money in and reap the rewards in the years to come.

'You can use the tax system to help incentivise longer-term investments because some of these investments do take a long time to pay off,' Hare argues.

There are other things too though that need fixing before Britain can think about building a 50billion company, let alone a trillion dollar one, he says. The main problem is there is only so much tech brainpower to go around.

'We need to produce more engineering graduates, more technical graduates. There aren't enough technically qualified graduates. We have a lot of engineers in the UK but it's hard work finding that talent,' he explains. 'Secondly, if there isn't enough talent you need to make frictionless movement across borders. Regardless of your views on immigration, we need to be able to move talent freely across borders to move them to the place they need to be.

'So to increase investment in the UK this is all about people  you need the talent. If you haven't got the talent you can't invest.'

Should the Government block the takeover of Arm, seen as a key British tech asset because its chips are used in most smartphones, to help create the trillion dollar company as some have suggested?

'I'm not a big fan of government intervention in these types of things unless it really is a question of national interest,' he says with a shake of the head.

Hare is talking over video from his home in his native Yorkshire as the nation continues to grapple with fresh coronavirus restrictions. He says Sage has managed to work from home and will continue to do so, but is experimenting with a phased return to work at its office in Poland.

His first chief executive role has proven to be a baptism of fire. Hare is a technology veteran, having worked his way up through Marconi, the telecoms company, where he became chief financial officer before taking on the same role at two other British tech companies Spectris and Invensys.

There was also a stint at private equity outfit Apax Partners before he moved to Sage. He got the top job in 2018 after the company sacked former chief executive Stephen Kelly.

Though Hare wants the Government to lay the groundwork now for the future of the UK tech sector, he is by no means oblivious to the turmoil going on at businesses up and down the country, with so many reeling from the pandemic and in need of urgent support. Many of them are Sage customers and use its software to manage their accounts or finances.

And Hare says the Government must back small and medium-sized businesses, which he says will be crucial to the recovery.

'After the financial crisis, over 70 per cent of the jobs were created by SMEs. We need an SME-led recovery. They just need confidence to invest through what will be a tricky time,' he says.

Hare thinks Chancellor Rishi Sunak's plans to keep the economy running were a 'missed opportunity' and says the Government should be encouraging business to embrace technology now or face more problems down the line as firms struggle to adapt.

'Where government can help is we need to give small and medium business owners the confidence to invest through what is undoubtedly an uncertain period. You can be optimistic about the long term but you need to be given the confidence to invest in the short term,' he says.

He also wants businesses to think about expanding globally and urges the Government to make it 'as easy and frictionless as possible'.

'For the UK to be successful from an economic perspective we need to be a player on the world stage and we need to invest for the long term. Anything that governments can do to help businesses take that longer-term view can only be a good thing,' he says.

'Obviously there are short-term measures which are very important. But I don't run Sage for the next quarter  I run Sage looking at where we want to be in 2025 or 2030 and what foundations do I need to lay now to ensure in five years' time we're flourishing.

'Because the decisions you make now are critical from a technology perspective.'
New Delhi, Sep 27 : In a bid to corner the Jannayak Janta Party, Haryana Congress President Kumari Selja on Sunday dared it to leave the alliance partner BJP in the state to protest against the three agriculture-related Bills even as the opposition party announced protests by PCCs on Monday.

"The JJP led by Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala should quit the alliance in Haryana if he is serious on the farmer issues. The soul of Devi Lalji (Chautala's great-grandfather) must be crying on the farmers' plight," she said while addressing a press conference virtually.

Her statement comes in the wake of BJP's oldest ally Shiromani Akali Dal leaving it in protest over the Bills.

Congress leader KC Venugopal said: "As an extension of our concerted opposition to these anti-farmer Bills, the PCCs will hold protests on September 28. Pradesh Congress Committee Presidents, CLP leaders (CMs in Congress-ruled states) along with all MPs, MLAs, ex-Ministers, ex-MPs will walk from respective PCC offices or designated points like Mahatma Gandhi's statues in different state Capitals to the Raj Bhavans and submit to the Governors memorandums addressed to the President of India on these Bills." Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar alleged that the BJP had adopted diversionary tactics to shift focus away from farmer issues and misusing the Narcotics Control Bureau for the purpose.

The Congress claimed that the marginal farmers would be affected the most by the proposed laws. "If the government is so serious about the MSPs, why is it not putting it on the statute? They are only talking about the MSP due to Bihar Assembly elections as the Bihar model to scrap the MSP has failed." The party reiterated its allegation that the Bills intended to scrap the Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism and abolish Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act, which would render a big blow to farmers who contributed immensely to the Indian economy even during COVID pandemic.
Bengaluru, Sep 27 : Karnataka's Congress legislator Dinesh Gundu Rao tested coronavirus positive and was sent in home isolation, an official said on Sunday.

"Rao's swab sample result, which came earlier in the day, was positive. He is presently in isolation at his home in the city," party spokesman Ravi Gowda told IANS.

Rao, 50, is a fifth-time legislator from Gandhinagar segment in Bengaluru central suburb.

"I have tested crona positive today. Therefore, will be quarantining myself for 10 days. I request all my primary contacts to get checked and take precautions," Rao tweeted.

Rao attended the truncated 6-day Monsoon Session of the Assembly at Vidhana Soudha in the city centre till Saturday night.

"Rao attended the Assembly session from September 21, after he tested negative in mandatory corona test he took along with other lawmakers on September 18 and was well till yesterday (Saturday)," Gowda recalled.

Rao was the party's state unit President till March and is the party's Tamil Nadu unit incharge. He was a Minister in the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in 2015-16.

"Rao visited Chennai on September 25 and met the party's Tami Nadu unit members and DMK President MK Stalin before returning to the city on Saturday morning," Gowda added.

As about 60 legislators and scores of legislature Secretariat staff tested positive, the 8-day session was curtailed to 6 days and adjourned sine die on Saturday night.

Those infected include Deputy Chief Ministers Govind Karjol and CN Ashwath Narayan, Home Minister Basavarj Bommai, Food and Civil Supplies Minister K Gopalaiah, Urban Development Minister Byrathi Basavaraj, and Animal Husbandry Minister Prabhu Chauhan.
TANZANIA, Tanzania - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to help the world produce and deliver potential coronavirus vaccines while making no mention Saturday of the heavy toll the pandemic has taken on his own country, where the enormous population has suffered among the highest numbers of cases and deaths in the world.

Modis remarks to the U.N. General Assembly  pre-recorded because the gathering is virtual this year  also said nothing about growing tensions with neighbouring Pakistan, whose prime minister, Imran Khan, devoted much of his speech Friday to assailing India, leading to a sharp exchange between the two countries diplomats in the Assembly hall. Nor did Modi discuss Indias dispute with China over the border region of Ladakh, where a months-long standoff has seen the deadliest violence between the two sides in decades.

Instead, Modi cast India as a country that treats the whole world as one family, emphasized the countrys push for a bigger role at the U.N., and touted domestic initiatives in areas from technology to sewage sanitation. And he promised that the countrys robust pharmaceutical industry would be an international asset in the pandemic.

Indias vaccine production and delivery capacity will be used to help all humanity in fighting this crisis, Modi said, adding that his country would also help others boost their capacity to provide cold storage for the potential inoculations.

India, the worlds second-most populous country, has reported over 93,000 deaths from COVID-19, fewer only than the U.S. and Brazil, according to figures collected by Johns Hopkins University. India also is behind only the U.S. in number of cases, with 5.9 million reported so far. However, Indias daily number of new cases has been declining, with recoveries exceeding reported new cases this week.

Modi said the U.N. hadnt done enough in the virus fight  where is its effective response? Saying the world body has fallen short on other issues over its 75 years, he used the anniversary to press for change.

For how long will India be kept out of the decision-making structures of the United Nations? asked Modi, whose country has long sought a permanent seat on the Security Council, the U.N.s most powerful body. India starts a term as a non-permanent member in January.

He made no reference to Indias increasingly heated relations with neighbours China and Pakistan.

India and Pakistan split control over Kashmir, a Muslim-majority Himalayan area claimed by both. The nuclear-armed neighbours have fought two wars over the territory.

India accuses Pakistan of arming and training insurgents fighting for Kashmirs independence from India. Pakistan denies the charge and says it offers only diplomatic and moral support to the rebels.

The tension hit a new turning point in August 2019, when Modis Hindu nationalist-led government stripped the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir and the neighbouring Jammu district of their semi-autonomy, removed inherited protections on land and jobs and cracked down on security and communications. An internet and social media blackout lasted until March.

Residents of the Indian-controlled area say security forces have arrested thousands of young men, raided peoples homes, inflicted beatings and electric shocks, and threatened to take away and marry their female relatives. Thousands of protesters have been wounded by shotgun pellets over the past five years. U.N.-appointed independent human rights experts have called the situation alarming.

Khan, in his pre-recorded speech shown Friday, urged the international community to investigate and prosecute the Indian civil and military personnel involved in state terrorism and serious crimes against humanity, and he called India a state sponsor of anti-Muslim hatred and prejudice.

India on Friday said Khan was spreading lies, misinformation, warmongering and malice as the two countries traded barbed remarks in the Assembly hall, where rules allow nations to respond to one anothers speeches.

Meanwhile, India and China have been squaring off in Ladakh, a region abutting Kashmir. A 1962 border war spilled into Ladakh and ended in an uneasy truce. The two countries have agreed not to attack each other with firearms, but troops guarding the border have brawled at times.

A new standoff began in May and escalated in June into a clash in which soldiers used clubs, stones and their fists. Twenty Indian soldiers were killed and dozens of others were injured. China is believed to have also suffered casualties but has not provided any details.

The rivals have since amassed tens of thousands of soldiers, backed by artilleries, tanks and fighter jets, in Ladakh.

In recent weeks, India and China have accused each other of sending soldiers into each others territory in an area near glacial Pangong Lake and have firing warning shots for the first time in 45 years, raising the spectre of a full-scale military conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations with the worlds largest populations.

Their foreign ministers met Sept. 10 and agreed that their troops should disengage from the tense border standoff, maintain proper distance and ease tensions. But they did not set a timeline for disengagement.

Neither Modi nor Chinese President Xi Jinping mentioned it in their speeches to the assembly this week.

___

This story has been amended to correct that thousands of people in the Indian-controlled region of Kashmir have been wounded over the past five years, not the past year.
With the issuance of the ground-breaking Law on Public-Private Partnership Investment, private groups have voiced expectations for future guiding decrees, requesting to extend the risk-sharing mechanism to completed and ongoing projects.

The new PPP law promises to boost investment in infrastructure projects, photo Le Toan

Do Van Nam, representing a group of public-private partnership (PPP) experts, said at a webinar last week that there are some long-standing issues in the guiding decrees that should be addressed.

Lending and bank support should also be part of future decrees. There need to be specific regulations on loans to facilitate future PPP developments, Nam recommended. Banks hesitate to offer loans for these projects, some even refuse them straightaway.

Going into the issue of special concern  retroactive risk-sharing arrangements  Tran Van The, deputy chairman of the Board of Directors at Deo Ca Group, said, We have worked on a number of key national projects when there was no legal framework on the risk-sharing mechanism. We are suffering losses at some projects, which reduces our loan repayment capacity. He suggested that there should be transitional provisions to enable them to enjoy the mechanism.

Vaibhav Saxena, attorney at Vietnam International Law Firm, quoted that the current investment law and the new Law on Investment 2020, which will take effect on January 1, 2021, provide favourable investment incentives and ensure security for the investors from changes in law circumstances, where if a new law provides less favourable investment incentives than those currently enjoyed by the investor, the investor can switch to the new incentives for the remaining duration of their original arrangements for the investment project.

Previously, PPP regime followed the investment law as the apex law to drive investment activities in Vietnam. However, the new law on PPP investment is now a comprehensive legislation to cover PPP related investment activities in Vietnam.

The old investors having contracts signed may follow the Law on Investment which allows them to access new policy benefits, and the PPP law provides an option for the same. The Vietnamese government is working on this matter and the regulations guiding the new PPP law are expected to have clearer guidelines, Saxena told VIR.

Under Article 101 of the new PPP law, the National Assembly assigns the government to give specific guidance on transitional provisions. As current rules dictate, risk-sharing allocation should be set out in the feasibility study. Thus, projects which had their investment plans approved without risk-sharing arrangements will face challenges in enjoying such a mechanism. This forces investors who require such an arrangement to redo their investment plans.

Retroactive risk-sharing arrangements should be carefully considered on a case-by-case basis while taking into account the state budget, cautioned Vu Quynh Le, deputy director of the Ministry of Planning and Investments Public Procurement Agency.

Under these rules, the eastern cluster of the North-South Expressway, which has five PPP sections, and many other projects cannot add risk-sharing allocations unless they redo the entire investment process  and hundreds of private firms are seeking for retroactive access to risk-sharing.

Despite this, it is worthy to note that risk-sharing mechanism, including minimum-revenue risk sharing, is one of the major changes in the new PPP law, showing a significant effort to improve the appeal of this investment mode amid budgetary constraints.

Available from early 2021, the new revenue-risk sharing mechanism will be restricted to only certain projects to ensure bankability.

For years, revenue-risk allocation in PPP initiatives has been a controversial topic because of their high risk of losses and the lack of a completed legal framework. Thus far, the power sector has been the most successful at attracting foreign investment in build-operate-transfer (BOT) projects, while others have seen failures.

Some BOT initiatives have hit the rocks for several years, including Dau Giay-Phan Thiet Expressway, Van Don-Mong Cai, and Trung Luong-My Thuan expressways. VIR

Tung Anh
Royal London and rival financial services firm LV= are in talks about a 500m tie-up.

The potential deal could see the pair combine their life insurance, pensions and asset management divisions.

Tie-up talks: The potential deal could see the pair combine their life insurance, pensions and asset management divisions

It would mean that LV=, better known as Liverpool Victoria, would end its 177-year run as an independent business.

The two companies could form a 'mutuals champion' boasting some 10m UK customers, sources told Sky News.

Royal London is Britain's largest mutual insurer.

Private equity firm Bain Capital is seen as a potential rival bidder for LV=, which is thought to be worth between 500m and 1billion.
- Boobay and Super Tekla made rounds online because of their intense exchange of arguments

- It happened during the recent episode of their show where Vickie Rushton and Jason Abalos served as guests

- The viral incident began when the former Wowowin host suddenly entered the studio while a taping was being conducted

- At the end of the video, it was revealed that the exchange of arguments was just a prank

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Boobay and Super Tekla were able to shock a lot of social media users because of their video where they were seen getting involved in a serious exchange of arguments.

KAMI learned that the said incident happened during the recent episode of The Boobay and Tekla Show. Vickie Rushton and Jason Abalos were the guests during that time.

Vickie Rushton and Jason Abalos (Photo from Vickie's Instagram account)

Source: Instagram

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The viral moment began when the former Wowowin co-host arrived late at their scheduled taping. He was immediately called out by Boobay while interviewing their guests.

Super Tekla then stated that it was unnecessary to make it a big deal since the director can cut the scene anytime. He also said that Vickie and her boyfriend did not complain about it.

A video of the said incident was uploaded on Facebook. However, a longer version of it which revealed the truth was posted on YouTube later on.

It appeared that the shows hosts were just trying to prank the beauty queen and Jason. Vickie looked really shocked because of what she witnessed.

Ayaw ko kasi sa mga confrontation na yan Takot ako sa ganyan, the Filipino model quipped.

Gusto kong awatin. Makikisali ba ako o tahimik na lang? Ewan ko! Nanginginig ako she added.

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Watch the video below:

Boobay and Tekla are two of the most popular and acclaimed comedians in the Philippines. Their comedy show continues to improve in terms of TV ratings.

A few months ago, the former Wowowin host asked help from Willie regarding the medical condition of his son. He appealed to the veteran actor amid their alleged issue.

Tekla also uploaded his last conversation with fellow comedian Kim Idol who passed away on July 13.

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Source: KAMI.com.gh
A worker dries cocoons at a factory of Tongyixin, a silk producing company in Napo County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [China Daily/Zhang Yi]

Picking mulberry leaves to feed silkworms is part of the daily routine for Huang Jianhua and his wife in Napo County in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Selling cocoons to a silk factory has increased the annual income of Huang's family by 55,000 yuan ($7,330).

People in the county have been encouraged to raise silkworms to increase incomes in the past three years as the adequate rain and sunlight in the area are suitable for planting mulberry on a large scale.

The mulberry plantations in the county reached 8,600 hectares this year, involving about 15,500 households, including 5,363 poor households, official data show.

Li Guanli, director of the industry and information technology bureau of the county, said the silkworm industry has been built into a pillar industry for poverty alleviation.

Tongyixin, a silk producing company from Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, launched a factory in the county in 2017. With an investment of 300 million yuan, it can produce 500 metric tons of raw silk every year.

"We purchase farmers' cocoons to help them increase incomes. After the factory was established, farmers became more confident in planting mulberry and raising silkworms," said Liu Jianyun, general manager of the company.

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, the market price of silkworm cocoons fell this year, but the company purchased cocoons from farmers at the protective price required by government, Liu said.

Between January and August, the company purchased 1.88 million kilograms of silkworm cocoons from farmers, worth 73.5 million yuan, according to her.

By August, the company had received 20.9 million yuan of supporting funds from the local government for launching the industry, including for land use and training employees from poor families, according to Liu.

In the future, the company plans to build a digital printing line to make silk products to increase the added value of the industry and lift local farmers out of poverty, Liu said.

As of September, the factory had recruited 407 locals, including 113 poor people. With further expansion, it can offer 400 more jobs.

Wu Xiaoxing, a local villager, used to take care of her children at home and her husband went to cities to earn a living for the whole family. Since March last year, she has worked at the silk factory for a monthly salary of 3,000 yuan.

"It's a high income in the county. It only takes me five minutes to walk from home to the workplace," she said.

(Source: China Daily)
Hurricane Sally, which battered Alabamas southern coastal cities earlier this month, exacerbated the lack of attention paid to the census as people were more occupied with their own personal safety and wellbeing.

Census workers, who have been trained to wear PPE and practice social distancing, have been authorized to go door-to-door in Alabama for the last few weeks to enumerate citizens who have not already self-responded to the census.

Boswell assures citizens that census-takers will only ask basic information about people living in the household, like name and birth dates. They will not ask about Social Security numbers or financial information.

We still have time to pull the numbers up if people will get enthusiastic and realize whats at stake, Boswell said. Its nothing new.

The census started in the U.S. in 1790 and has occurred every 10 years since. Before that, in other kingdoms and jurisdictions around the world, country leaders have had different ways of counting their populations for over a thousand years.
EDWARDSVILLE  Every year since 2015, citizens have aimed to raise awareness of pediatric cancer by participating in Paint The Town Gold.

The campaign first started when former Edwardsville High School student Todd Schultz wanted District 7 to help spread awareness after he was diagnosed with leukemia. Now, the campaign is a unique way to bring students and a city together.

We are in a friendly competition with Lincoln [Middle School] with who can raise the most, Liberty Middle School counselor and FIT/GO supervisor Kaitlyn Talley said. The losing schools principal has to wear the other schools spirit wear for a whole week.

Right now, Liberty has a goal of raising $2,000 and is only a couple hundred dollars away from that mark as of Friday. Talley said events like donut sales, social nights at City Scoops Creamery and others help edge Liberty closer and closer. The competition is all month long and ends Sept. 30.

According to principal Allen Duncan, this is the first solid year Liberty has participated in the campaign.

We have done little things here and there and would raise a few hundred each year but we never really dove into it, he said. I wanted this to be a big year and raise a lot, but with everything going on we cant do a lot of the things we wanted to.

Duncan said he is mindful of Lincolns inspiration in the competition.

Todd went to Lincoln so they always go big, he said. I dont know, we might not win but itll be fun either way and for a good reason.

Lincoln hasnt publically set a goal, but is hoping for the best.

The goal is to raise as much as we possibly can for this incredible cause, Lincoln Middle School counselor and FIT/GO supervisor Mark Tschudy said. We dont want to put any limit but we hope to do well.

To raise funds, Tschudy said students have hosted trivia night, the cross country team held a walk-a-thon and more.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus played both the Vice President and President on the hit HBO political comedy series Veep for seven seasons.

So it makes perfect sense that the leading lady and longtime Democratic Party supporter would be the one to announce a virtual Veep reunion as a fundraiser to help the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris presidential ticket win the crucial state of Wisconsin in the November 3 elections.

'Im SO excited to announce that we're doing a #VeepReunion on Oct 4 to benefit the Wisconsin Democratic Party,' the 11-time Emmy Award-winner shared on Instagram and Twitter on Saturday.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus announced a virtual Veep reunion as a fundraiser in support of the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris presidential ticket win the crucial state of Wisconsin

The acclaimed actress and producer also revealed some of the cast and crew involved in the one-time special that includes co-stars Anna Chlumsky, Reid Scott, Sam Richardson, Tony Hale, Clea DuVall, Matt Walsh and executive producer and showrunner David Mandel.

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'All roads to the White House go through the great state of Wisconsin,' the legendary Seinfeld star began with an upbeat and enthusiastic tone to her voice in the video.

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She then proceeded to lay out the importance of such states as Wisconsin by declaring,'Trump can't win re-election if he doesn't win Wisconsin.'

Democrat supporter: 'All roads to the White House go through the great state of Wisconsin,' the Seinfeld star in a video she posted on Instagram and Twitter

The one-time special will includes co-stars Anna Chlumsky, Reid Scott, Sam Richardson, Tony Hale, Clea DuVall, Matt Walsh and executive producer and showrunner David Mandel; Walsh, Timothy Simons, Chlumsky and Scott are pictured from an episode of Veep

'So the Democratic Party Of Wisconsin has built an unprecedented voter mobilization operation and they need resources in these final days to deliver Wisconsin to Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Harris,' she explained before adding, 'The future of democracy is on the line, people.'

The 59-year-old star also promised there will be some special guests during the special and asked for people 'donate any amount that's possible for you.'

With a big beaming smile on her face, the New York City native ended the video with a rallying call to 'come join us and be part of winning Wisconsin, taking down Trump, and electing Joe Biden.'

Bonafide hit: Veep won won 17 Primetime Emmy Awards during its run from 2012-2019, which included six consecutive Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series awards for Louis-Dreyfus; Tony Hale is pictured with the actress, who played VP and President Selina Meyer

In August, Louis-Dreyfus emceed the final night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, where former Vice President Biden accepted the party's nomination for president.

Created by Armando Iannucci, Veep won 17 Primetime Emmy Awards during its run from 2012-2019, which included six consecutive Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series awards for Louis-Dreyfus.

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The virtual reunion will be live-streamed on Sunday, October 4, at 6 p.m. CT/7 p.m. ET.

Vital: The actress declared, 'Trump can't win re-election if he doesn't win Wisconsin'
President Trump and his allies have continued to baselessly rail against Dominion Voting Systems, whose machines will be used tomorrow in the Georgia runoff elections that will determine which party controls the U.S. Senate.

Axios Re:Cap speaks with Dominion founder and CEO John Poulos about the controversies, the death threats and the "imminent" lawsuit his company plans to file.

Full transcript

Dan Primack: We're joined now by John Poulos, the founder and CEO of Dominion Voting Systems. So John, take me back a little bit. What was the moment when you realized that Dominion was going from a vendor in the election to a flashpoint, a public flashpoint in the election?

John Poulos: Well there, I think that there were a couple events, but it really hit the flash  the flashpoint was that press conference in Washington, D.C., at the White House, where Sidney Powell and others went in front of the national media and made some crazy false allegations directly about Dominion.

DP: When that happened, what was your internal monologue while you're either watching this or somebody is telling you that it happened.

JP: It was completely surreal. So I was watching it live. I had seen it being advertised. And I just couldn't believe what I was hearing. There were things being said about me personally, about the company I founded, that is so demonstrably false. And you know, there's 18 years of records of where Dominion was founded, why it was founded. And the level of falsity was  just reached the level that I had not previously thought would ever be possible.

DP: You know as CEO, you've got the public facing, which is what you're doing with me. But you also obviously have a lot of employees. Did you start getting questions internally from people saying, Hey, is some of this stuff, right? Or was there any kind of internal dialogue like that from the people who work for you?

JP: Well, there's certainly a lot of dialogue internally, and we were having company-wide conference calls very regularly. So, the first question: No. I mean, all of our employees know exactly where we came from and know all of our history and know everything about all of the checks and balances that exist in the U.S. election system, frankly, that was created after the fallout of the 2000 presidential election. The system has come such a long way. Really, the employee questions were all around what are we going to do about it and when are we going to start standing up for ourselves and rebutting a lot of these claims.

DP: Can you, for the layperson, just explain a little bit: Are all Dominion Systems the same? In other words, if I vote in Georgia, am I using the same sort of system as if I'm, say, in Michigan in a county where you guys work, or are they really county-specific kind of customized hardware and software?

JP: There are different flavors of variations of how different states choose to deploy our systems, but the fundamental tabulation technology is the same across states. So if you look at the case of Georgia, it's a good example. So we have two pieces of technology. One is all based around helping voters create a paper ballot. There's a lot of reasons why they do this. Some states do it by just a traditional pen and hand marked. Other states want a universal paper ballot that can be created regardless of a voter's ability, both language ability or physical ability. But the end of that process is a paper ballot that the voter is holding and touching and can look at the candidates that are written on that piece of paper.

The second piece of technology that we provide is all around the tabulation of those paper ballots. So it's a scanning technology that tabulates all of the contests and candidates that the voters vote for.

DP: One of the things you guys have said in some of your rebuttals is that while these are kind of technologically advanced machines, they are, to a certain extent, what we would consider dumb machines, right? In the sense of they're not connected to the web.

JP: Yeah, absolutely. And there's a good reason for that. So if you look at the last 20 years of evolution of elections in the United States, we had gone from a system where there were mechanical systems for a [unclear] with electronic voting where fundamentally the transaction between the voter and the cast record  what we call the cast record  was electronic and there was no piece of paper as the fundamental transaction.

There were a lot of issues that stemmed from the 2000 election on that and the lack of transparency. So the end result of that was a creation of a bipartisan federal commission that worked to create the definitive standards for national voting systems and election technologies.

That has been updated and continually is updated. It's several thousand pages with very strict instructions and requirements of what an election system must do and be capable of producing. That process also led to the creation of third-party accredited test labs. Professional test labs are able to test third-party tabulation equipment like from Dominion and do a complete and exhaustive test. These tests the first time through can easily take a vendor, uh, years to go through.

Once that independent test lab creates a thorough report, which by the way is publicly available on the EAC website, the EAC moves or does not move to certify, and the system becomes certified. Most states, it's a bit different in every state, have a similar certification process by which after that federal exhaustive federal certification process, certain states then will repeat and do variants of their own testing.

DP: Going back a little bit, you talked about the Sidney Powell press conference. And last month, you guys, Dominion, sent cease and desist letters to, among others, Fox News, OANN, to Powell. Are you planning to file actual lawsuits for defamation?

JP: Yes.

DP: Against who?

JP: Our focus right now is on Sidney Powell. And there's a very good reason for that. She is by far, in our opinion, the most egregious and prolific purveyor of the falsities against Dominion. Her statements have caused real damage. They're demonstrably false. Um, in our opinion, it's extremely easy to verify that we were not created in Venezuela.

That's just one of the many of the crazy allegations made against us. And we were originally quiet and we sat back as a company because our hope was that all of these claims would be filed in a process in court where procedure and evidence is important. And it's become clear to us that there is absolutely no interest to reveal this evidence.

And because we know it doesn't exist and there's no effort to actually put it in front of a court proceeding so that these allegations and all of the evidence can follow a proper process and be litigated right to the end. And because of that, that's why we're filing.

DP: When do you expect to actually file?



JP: It's imminent. So we're going to file when the lawyers are ready. But it's imminent.

DP: Why not also file against, for example, Fox News. OAN Newsmax. I know they all published or aired rather that little kind of two-minute fact check, but why not file against them as well?

JP: Well, let me be clear. The damage has been done. And in some cases, some media outlets are continuing to promote this damaging type of false narrative. I also want to be clear that we're looking at everybody, that not just every actor that has made these types of false allegations about us and also the news media outlets that have allowed these allegations to be amplified unfettered and unchecked. And we've got a pretty substantial legal team looking at that. And as I said, our priority is Sidney Powell, but, uh, the legal team is going to be thorough and exhaustive.

DP: Do you find yourself a little bit on this between a rock and a hard place in the sense of just hypothetically, if you, for example, wanted to sue President Trump, who has said stuff about Dominion, including at the call that got leaked yesterday, that because of what you guys do and because of who your clients are, and that you have to, you know, pitch to states that are controlled by Republicans and controlled by Democrats, secretary of states, etc., that if you're viewed as, for example, suing Donald Trump, it could make it much harder for Dominion in the future to get business from a so-called red state?



JP: Absolutely. So we do business in red states and blue states. Our customers are from both sides of the aisle and in many cases bipartisan. The sanctity of the electoral process and the concerns that come and that arise in every election to us is a very important part of the process.

This is not the first time that losing candidates have asked questions around what happened with an election in terms of process and how tabulation worked. And we feel that's a very important part of the process. This is something different, however. This is spreading false information that's knowingly false with malicious intent. This is not asking how do I know all the ballots were counted. We have recounts for that. We have audits for that. These questions have been answered over and over and over. In a normal election protest, these claims are filed in an appropriate court of law where process and procedure is followed so that concerns can be heard and prosecuted properly. This is something completely different.

DP: You said you're looking at everybody. Is a lawsuit against President Trump still possible?

JP: Look at the end of the day, it's our legal team that's taking the lead on in terms of where and who.

DP: They are, but you're the one who's going to have to make the, you'd have to make the call on whether that goes through or not.

JP: Of course. We will have to make a call before we make any filing. Right now, the only thing that I can commit to is a complaint that we will file against Sidney Powell.

DP: John, why do you think that, as you said, losing candidates have complained about elections and election processes for years, because that's kind of what losing candidates do. Why do you think, though, kind of these rampant conspiracy theories, you know, the Hugo Chavez piece of this, why do you think that has taken root with the American public or at least a significant portion of the American public?

JP: Certainly, I have to think that it's taken root because they have been repeated over and over and over on various news networks by most prominently by Sidney Powell. And stated with, with complete certainty with claims that something, to the effect of, you know, we have the evidence and we will be releasing it tomorrow. That evidence wasn't released because it doesn't exist. We were not founded in Venezuela. We had nothing to do with Venezuela. We've never run an election in Venezuela.

We are a U.S. company. Prior to that, we were a Canadian company. I founded the company in Canada. These allegations that votes were somehow taken outside the county are nonsensical, let alone outside the country. The votes that voters cast are on paper ballots in Michigan, in Georgia, in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin. And, as always, those machines that count the balance and the actual paper balance that were created by voters that were cast by voters are in the possession and the custody of local election officials in front of bipartisan poll watchers.

DP: So when President Trump yesterday makes the comment, or two days ago, technically, makes the comment that Dominion employees came in and took inner parts of the machine out and replace them, you say, what?

JP: Yeah, it's completely false. The equipment has been in the custody of officials in Georgia since they were, since it was delivered in sometime in 2019. And not to mention that a lot of this equipment is actually being used right now in the runoff election. So we have the president being given information by people like Sidney Powell that is 100% false.

DP: Final question for you, John. The company has talked about you, certain employees receiving death threats. Can you talk a little bit about how this has impacted your life, your employees' lives? And if those sorts of threats have persisted?



JP: It's affected us all, and it's something that we're very angry about. It was completely unnecessary. Certainly we're not, it's not limited to us. Our customers are also experiencing the same thing. And for this to happen when our only job is to help people vote and to provide a very transparent tally that can be verified through hand count and recounts as has been done hundreds of times across the country, including three times in Georgia, is completely unnecessary.

In the most extreme case, we have an employee that hasn't been able to return to his house since before the November election. He still has people driving in front of his house, and his life has been completely uprooted.

DP: John, thank you so much for taking the time today.

JP: Thank you very much.
New Delhi, Sep 27 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart from Denmark Mette Frederiksen will hold a virtual bilateral Summit on Monday to take the relationships between the two nations to a new height.

India- Denmark bilateral relations are marked by regular high level exchanges and are based on historical links, common democratic traditions and shared desire for regional, as well as international peace and stability, the ministry of external affairs said.

The bilateral trade in goods and services between India and Denmark has grown by 30.49 per cent from
Lights and lasers during the Liffey Lights Midnight Moment Matinee at the Custom House.

New Years Eve celebrations to ring in 2021 in Dublin have been cancelled, Failte Ireland have confirmed.

The tourism body said in a statement that the decision was made with Dublin City Council due to public health guidance.

In line with the Governments current Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021 Plan, Failte Ireland, in conjunction with Dublin City Council and their event partners, has taken the decision to cancel the New Years Festival (NYF) in Dublin, the statement read.

Failte Ireland stated that approximately 110,000 people took part in the festival across three days, with the fireworks display in particular a popular element of the festival, attracting up to 80,000 attendees.

Given these numbers it is clear that the event would not fall within current Government and public health guidance and it would not be appropriate to encourage people to congregate in these numbers, the statement continued.

The news will come as another blow to the tourism and hospitality sectors in Dublin that have been decimated during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Failte Irelands focus is now on working with Government, industry bodies and tourism businesses on the ground to support them to survive and recover in the months ahead.

"As part of this, Failte Ireland has, in collaboration with local authorities, public bodies and industry, established a Destination Recovery Taskforce in Dublin that brings together tourism stakeholders from across the region to form a co-ordinated and sustained collective response to the crisis.

The Destination Recovery Taskforce is looking at ways to bring life back into Dublin City in a controlled manner that meets public health guidelines while helping businesses to survive and is exploring opportunities to drive footfall in Dublin during the winter months, the spokesperson concluded.
Brisbane, Sep 27 : Australia women came out with yet another incredible performance, both with bat and ball, as they defeated New Zealand by eight wickets in the second T20I on Sunday, thereby securing the three-match series.

Australia first bundled New Zealand for 128 in 19.2 overs, with the innings punctuated by another contentious White Ferns dismissal and then chased down the target with more than three overs to spare.

Right-arm medium pacer Delissa Kimmince (3/21) and leg-spinner Georgia Wareham (3/26) were pick of the bowlers for the hosts who were asked to bowl first by Kiwis skipper Sophie Devine on a wearing Allan Border Field pitch.

However, apart from Suzie Bates (22) and Amy Satterthwaite (30), none of the New Zealand batters could stay long at the crease and struggled to score runs.

Chasing the target, Alyssa Healy -- who earlier in the first innings went past MS Dhoni to take over record for maximum dismissals in T20Is -- gave a solid start to the Aussies along with Beth Mooney. The pair added 51 runs in 4.3 overs before Healy got out after scoring 33 runs off just 17 balls, which included five 4s and a six. Soon Mooney also went back to the pavilion after contributing with 24 runs.

However, skipper Meg Lanning (26*) and Rachel Haynes (40*) didn't allow any further wickets to fall and saw the hosts go across the line in 16.4 overs.

Australia, who had won the first match by 17 runs on Saturday, will now aim for a clean sweep when they take on the visitors in the final T20I at the same venue on Wednesday, before competing in a three-match ODI series.

Brief scores: New Zealand 128 all out (Amy Satterthwaite 30; Delissa Kimmince 3/21) lost to Australia 129/2 (Rachel Haynes 40*; Amelia Kerr 1/19) by eight wickets.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has begun mobilizing its resources and lobbying lawmakers and businesses across Washington to put Judge Amy Coney Barrett on the Supreme Court, with plans to launch a multi-step effort this week, sources familiar with the plans tell Axios.

The big picture: The effort comes as the traditionally conservative-leaning Chamber has faced weeks of intense backlash for its decision to endorse 23 vulnerable House Democratic freshmen in November. The criticism reached a fever pitch last week, culminating in a call from President Trump himself.

What we're hearing: Similar to their previous pushes to help confirm Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, the Chamber plans to roll out a detailed campaign in support of Barrett, including:
By PTI

SRINAGAR: A false cavity under an Indian toilet or planting a steel box beneath a seasonal nullah or taking refuge in man-made cavities is a new trend emerging among terror groups in Jammu and Kashmir to play hide-and-seek with security forces after their stay with the local population turned out to be a high risk.

Police and Army officials feel that mounting pressure has forced the terror groups and their sympathisers to look for alternative hiding places after several encounters with security forces led to several casualties in the militant rank and file.

"Underground bunkers and false cavities are not a new phenomenon but of late we have had several such examples in south Kashmir. In one case, terrorists were hiding inside a septic tank of an Indian toilet," says Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbagh Singh.

Giving details about the incident, an official from the Army team, which detected the false cavity in March this year in the Watrigaam area of Anantnag, said that they noticed fresh white cement around an Indian toilet inside a house where an intelligence input suggested about the presence of terrorists.

"The broken tiles and newly applied white cement gave away the secret despite the presence of human excreta on the toilet seat to divert us. We started digging and received a fire from beneath. This resulted in the death of four Lashker-e-Taiba terrorists," the officer recalled about the operation in March this year.

A similar incident, according to Army officials, occurred in the Lassipura area on the Pulwama-Shopian border in south Kashmir in 2019 when a house was searched at least six times and finally the septic tank was dug only to discover two terrorists hiding beneath.

"We have seen false walls in kitchen, bedrooms, drawing rooms in many hideouts of terrorists especially in south Kashmir," DGP Singh, who was flanked by Inspector General of Police (Kashmir range) Vijay Kumar and Deputy Inspector General (South) A K Goel, told PTI recently.

Army officials have also been using drones to locate terrorist hideouts and underground bunkers, which included one below a seasonal stream where the terrorist group led by Zubair Wani had placed a steel box beneath the surface to escape the dragnet of security forces.

While Wani was killed in an encounter in June this year, the telltale signs led the Army team to the underground bunker beneath the Rambi Ara.

Colonel A K Singh, heading the 44 Rashtriya Rifles, the Army's counter-insurgent unit which has earned a distinction of having maximum kills of terrorists as well as surrenders or apprehensions, had said earlier that this trend had been witnessed of late in twin districts of Pulwama and Shopian with the latter having a majority of them in view of dense apple orchards and jungles.

The shocker was a hideout in the middle of the Rambi Ara, known for fluctuating water levels and often affected by flash floods, that led Col Singh and his team members back to the drawing board as for the Army, it was not the statistics of the number of kills but a worrisome trend indicating that terrorists were now well-entrenched inside the underground bunkers.

Another novel hide-and-seek strategy was witnessed in Labipora in Shopian where terrorists had covered an iron box on the banks of a river and kept a small pipe for breathing while hiding underground.
The killings took place in Seleved, northern Cameroon, where soldiers are fighting Boko Haram jihadists who also target civilians

Four Cameroonian soldiers were sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison for the execution-style killings of two women and their children, one of them a baby, in a region where the army is fighting jihadists.

A fifth soldier received a two-year sentence.

A video broadcast on social media in July 2018 showed soldiers shooting two kneeling, blindfolded women as well as a baby on one of their backs and a girl.

The government initially denied the army's involvement, dismissing the video as "fake news".

But after Amnesty International provided credible evidence, the authorities announced that the seven soldiers seen in the video had been arrested and would be prosecuted.

Two were later acquitted.

The killings took place in 2015 in Zeleved, in Cameroon's Far North region where troops have been deployed to fight Boko Haram jihadists carrying out cross-border attacks from Nigeria.

The military court in the capital Yaounde finally handed down the murder verdict and sentences after repeated adjournments of the trial.

The seven soldiers had pleaded not guilty nearly a year ago.

- 'Acting on orders' -

Three soldiers -- Ciriaque Hilaire Bytlaya, Jean Tchanga and Barnabas Donossou -- were found guilty of murder on Monday, while their captain Etienne Fabassou was found guilty of being complicit in murder. They were all sentenced to a decade in prison.

A fifth soldier, Ghislain Ntienche, was sentenced to two years in prison for a violation in the same case.

During the investigation, the soldiers claimed they acted on orders from Fabassou, their superior officer, according to a lawyer involved in the case.

The captain had contested that version of events, claiming he told the soldiers to hand over the two children and their mothers, accused of ties to Boko Haram, to the police, the same lawyer said.

On Monday, Fabassou's lawyer said that he planned to appeal, arguing that the investigation has not been carried out properly.

International human rights organisations regularly denounce abuses and crimes committed against civilians by security forces in Cameroon.

Three soldiers were charged with murder in June over a massacre earlier this year in western Cameroon, where security forces are fighting anglophone separatists.

The UN said at least 23 civilians had died, 15 of them children and two of them pregnant women.
MORRISONVILLE  State Rep. Avery Bourne, R-Morrisonville, has been named a Friend of Agriculture by the Activator Program of the Illinois Farm Bureau.

Bourne received a 100% score for votes taken in 2019-2020 that affect the agriculture industry in Illinois. Members of the Christian County Farm Bureau presented the award to Bourne.
(Photo : Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) The new Apple Watch Series 3 on display at Apple Regent Street on September 22, 2017 in London, England. Apple have today launched their new mobile phone the iPhone 8 and 8 plus in the UK today ahead of the iPhone X's release in November. (Photo : Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) An Apple employee assists a customer with the new Apple Watch Series 3 at the Fifth Avenue Apple Store, September 22, 2017 in New York City. The new iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, as well as the updated Apple Watch and Apple TV, go on sale today.

Have you recently experiencing unique technical issues on your newly-upgraded Apple Watch Series 3? If yes, you are not alone. Apparently, some users on different Apple customer feedback sites were all complaining about the same set of problems like random reboots, poor performance, and others. Here's why it is happening.

Find out why it's better to not upgrade to watchOS 7

Here's bad news to all Apple Watch Series 3 users. It seems like the recent upgrade to the fitness watch, watchOS 7, is not working as it is supposed to be.

Originally, the watchOS 7 upgrade is meant to enhance sleep tracking support, no longer limits watch face complications, or even has a pandemic-friendly tool that set time for your hand-washing movement for at least 20 seconds.

A lot of Apple Watch owners can't wait for the next upgrade, but not all good things come with the software.

In fact, 9to5Mac reported that a series of complaints were recently posted on Apple's support forums regarding the watch upgrade.

Common complaints on the upgrade are random reboots, poor performance, bad battery, and more.

"This has been the buggiest upgrade I have ever seen"

So far, the good feedback for the new upgrade is not coming as expected. Several Apple Watch Series 3 owners blame watchOS 7 over the issues they have had been experiencing since the time they upgraded on the software.

Others even call watchOS 7 as the 'buggiest upgrade' he had ever seen from Apple.

"My series 3 completed an auto update overnight to Watch OS7. Today it has shut itself down at least 3 times, locked itself while on my wrist about 4 times, failed to load complications on multiple faces (weather, activity rings, date etc), disconnected from my phone at least twice."

"It has also dropped to less than 50% battery in about 8 hours, normally it is still in the 80's. Is anyone else having these issues? This has been the buggiest upgrade I have seen," said one comment.

Another comment called to upgrade the 'worst Watch OS release.'

Here's another problem

Apple has not yet released any statements regarding the bad feedback on the new upgrade.

It has also not yet offered any solutions to the complaints, despite the fact that the comments were posted last week.

Unfortunately, these owners have to face another bad news that those upgraded Apple Watch Series 3 cannot be downgrade back to watchOS 6.

Have you been experiencing these problems too?

ALSO READ: No More Apple Watch Series 5: Could This Hint the Launch of the Watch 6 Soon?

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Jamie Pancho

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
LONDON, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Morgan Stanley has hiked the chance of China being added to one of the world's top government bond indexes later this week to 90% after the country made some additional improvements to its market practices and plumbing.

FTSE Russell, which runs the World Government Bond Index (WGBI), a benchmark for an estimated $2 trillion in cash, is due to announce a decision during its annual index review scheduled for September 24.

Morgan Stanley last week put the chance of China's inclusion at 60%-70% but raised it on Tuesday after Beijing allowed more flexible settlement of trades, including scrapping the need for Japanese investors to make paper submissions in the widely-used Bond Connect system.

"This is a material improvement to bond access, in our view, and increases the chances of WGBI inclusion on September 24 significantly," the bank's strategist Min Dai said.

Inclusion would give China a 5.7% weight in the high-profile WGBI based on current estimates, just behind Germany at 6% and compared to 33.8% for the United States and 16.7%, 8.2% and 7.3% for Japan, France and Italy respectively.

The actual inclusion will happen in September 2021 with a 20-month phase-in. Morgan Stanley estimates it could help funnel $60-$90 billion of investment money into the country in the next few years and $3 trillion over the next decade. (Reporting by Marc Jones, Editing by William Maclean)
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on Sunday that the neighbours in South Asia should have "better cooperation" for benefit of their own people as outgoing Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Riva Ganguly Das made a farewell call on her. "We always think that better cooperation with the neighbouring countries is firstly needed for the development of the people of the region," Hasina's press secretary Ihsanul Karim quoted her as telling Das during the meeting at the prime minister's official residence Ganobhaban.

"Our foreign policy is friendship to all and malice towards none," Hasina said as issues of bilateral interests came up during their discussion. The Indian envoy handed over a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to his Bangladeshi counterpart greeting on her birth anniversary and also presented a bouquet to her on his behalf.

"Please accept my warm wishes and hearty congratulations on your birthday Your (Hasina) visionary leadership has helped Bangladesh achieve immense social and economic transformation, and equally your contributions to our bilateral relations have been extremely impressive," Modi's letter read. During the meeting, the Indian envoy reiterated the importance of Bangladesh in the "Neighborhood First" policy of India and "recounted the progress made in the bilateral relations under the visionary leadership" of the two prime ministers, said a press release issued by the Indian mission here.

It said that the golden jubilee celebration of 1971 Liberation War and the fiftieth anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations in the next year also figured in their meeting. The Indian envoy presented a collection of rare footage of the visit of Hasina's father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to India in 1972 to her.

She thanked Das for her contribution to strengthening India-Bangladesh relations. Hasina said the neighbouring countries could use Bangladesh's Chattogram, Sylhet and Syedpur Airports for their convenience.

Karim said the COVID-19 situation and the Rohingya crisis also came up for discussion. Das' call on came as officials said Bangladesh foreign minister AK Abdul Momen was set to join with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Tuesday through virtual platform.

Momen recently described bilateral ties with New Delhi "rock solid".
The coronavirus pandemic has forced millions of the worlds poorest children to halt their educations and go to work to help support their families, as schools have closed and parents incomes have fallen or vanished.

The children do work that is arduous, dirty and often dangerous: hauling bricks or gravel, scavenging for recyclables, begging or chopping weeds on plantations. Much of their employment is illegal.

It is a catastrophic shift for some of the worlds most vulnerable people, undoing years of gains for education and against child labor, and undermining their prospects of climbing out of poverty. Countless promising students have had their educations cut short, and it remains unclear when schools will reopen. But even when they do, many of the children are unlikely to go back to the classroom.

Here are some key findings of a New York Times report on conditions for these poor children.

The work is often dangerous and illegal.

Former pupils have been forced into heavy manual labor on construction or demolition sites, picking through garbage, doing sex work, mining for sand or working in factories making cigarettes or fireworks.
The Denu District Police Command has arrested a 28-year old Korshie Atitso and on a lookout for three other accomplices for robbery and causing harm at a house located in Kpogedi, in the Ketu South Municipality.



The arrest followed calls from the community that the suspect and his gang attacked a house at dawn ostensibly to steal motorbikes parked there, ending up inflicting gunshot wounds on a victim and making away with a sum of GH250.00 and phones.



ASP Joseph Nakoja, Denu District Commander speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) said his officers moved to the scene to make the arrest after one Mr Tahiru Amadu called at 0130 hours on September 24, to inform the Police that some four robbers on a motorbike attacked a house in the Zongo community.



He said Police gathered that the suspect fired warning shots demanding occupants of the compound house to surrender keys to their motorbikes and the ensuing noise attracted neighbours to the scene.



The community mobilised and came to the house in an attempt to stop the robbery. The suspect then aimed at and shot at Mr Zibor Ahmed, whose arm the bullet hit and got a bullet lodged in his left thigh.



The neighbours who surrounded the suspect, pounced on him and disarmed him. While this was happening, his three accomplices who stole phones and GH250.00 from about four tenants, managed to escape on their motorbike, the District Commander narrated.



ASP Nakoja said Police retrieved Taurus Ultra-Lite 38 Special Revolver pistol, nine live and four spent 9.07mm ammunition and a machete from the suspect and said the Command would conduct further investigations to apprehend the other accomplices.



The victim has since been on admission at a private hospital in Denu responding to treatment

Source: GNA









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On a warm July day, Ron and Jill Carson sat in a former one-room schoolhouse in Pennington Gap, Va., that until 1965 was the only primary school in town for Black children. The first seven years of Mr. Carsons education took place in that building, which was built by his great-great-grandmother in 1939.

Many years after it quit serving as a schoolhouse, and with the building still in the family, the Carsons reimagined the space and converted it to the Appalachian African-American Cultural Center. Its walls are covered with old grainy photographs of Black Appalachians and lined with bookshelves of African-American literature.

In the corner are two chairs taken from the balcony of the towns old movie theater. Mr. Carson remembers climbing up the fire escape to reach the seats when he was a young child because, at the time, he wasnt allowed through the front door.

Mr. Carson, who is a retired black lung disease benefits counselor, and Ms. Carson, a retired community organizer and financial manager who now serves as the vice-mayor of the town, run the center. They continue to collect oral histories from Black residents in rural Appalachia and they regularly lead seminars about racism, white privilege and oppression.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 16:52:11|Editor: huaxia

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Tibetan antelopes have returned to their natural habitats successively after giving birth in the area of Zonag Lake in the heart of northwest China's Hoh Xil Nature Reserve, local administration said. Zonag Lake is known as the "delivery room" for Tibetan antelopes from Sanjiangyuan in Qinghai Province, Qiangtang in Tibet Autonomous Region and Altun Mountains in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Every year, pregnant Tibetan antelopes migrate to Hoh Xil between the end of May and early June to give birth and leave with their offspring around late July. These Tibetan antelopes traversed a section of the Qinghai-Tibet highway in Hoh Xil on their way back. This year, 5,952 Tibetan antelopes have crossed the highway to return, up by 1,092 year-on-year.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh strongly condemns the act of aggression committed by Azerbaijan on 27 September 2020 against our Republic, the Parliament of Artsakh told Armenpress.

The Artsakh Parliament issued a statement which says:

The large-scale offensive of Azerbaijan, during which civilians were also attacked, both in the capital Stepanakert and in the border settlements, is a cruel crime and entails international criminal responsibility for the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan.

We consider the armed attack of Azerbaijan to be another link in the chain of mass and systematic attacks against the population of the Republic of Artsakh, carried out by Azerbaijan throughout the conflict, both in times of peace and war, which is qualified by international law as a crime against humanity.

We are convinced that in conditions of persistent violations of fundamental rights of the citizens of Artsakh, including the right to life, an equivalent and adequate response of the international community to the criminal actions of Azerbaijan will be the international recognition of the de facto independence of Artsakh, which will help establish long-term peace in the region.

By integrating the Republic of Artsakh into international processes, direct dialogue with the authorities of the Republic and activating international mechanisms for the protection of human rights of the citizens of Artsakh, the international community will demonstrate its rejection of the aggressive, illegitimate and criminal actions of Azerbaijan to resolve the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict. The National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh appeals to the parliaments of progressive countries of the world with a call to raise their voice in defence of the Artsakh people's rights to freedom and independence, to use all their authority to end the Azerbaijani aggression and prevent massive bloodshed".
Master Sgt. Cedric King in the Sergeant King | Joe Biden for President 2020 ad. (Screengrab via YouTube)

Joe Bidens presidential campaign launched a new television and digital advertisement Thursday morning that chastises President Trump for allegedly disparaging members of the U.S. military.

The minute-long ad is titled Sergeant King. It features Black veteran Cedric King, an Army master sergeant who lost both his legs after stepping on an explosive while on active duty.

The ad comes weeks after a story in the Atlantic alleged that Trump has referred to American war dead as losers and suckers. Trump has said he never made those remarks.

I gave two legs for this country. I got friends that never came back home, says King in the ad. The guys that had their caskets draped with our nations colors  those are the real heroes. And you mean to tell me you call them suckers, losers? With all due respect, I think you missed it on this one.

The new ad will hit the airwaves in Arizona, Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Wisconsin.

After a record-breaking joint fundraising haul with the Democratic National Committee, the Biden campaign ponied up $280 million for fall paid ad reservations. Earlier in September, the Biden campaign announced a $47 million cross-platform ad campaign geared toward members of the military and their families as a segment of its spending.

According to the campaign, the team spent $65 million last week across broadcast and digital media.

Recent polling by the Military Times shows Biden with a 4-point lead over Trump among active-duty troops. Bidens son Beau Biden, an Iraq War vet, died of cancer in 2015.

Joe Biden with members of the military in the Sergeant King | Joe Biden for President 2020 ad. (Screengrab via YouTube)

The ad comes hot on the heels of Cindy McCain, widow of the late veteran and 2008 Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain, announcing her full-throated endorsement of Biden. Trump and Sen. McCain were often at odds, and the president has continued to criticize the Arizona lawmaker after his death in 2018.

My husband John lived by a code: country first. We are Republicans, yes, but Americans foremost. Theres only one candidate in this race who stands up for our values as a nation, and that is @JoeBiden, Cindy McCain said Wednesday on Twitter.

Story continues

King strikes a similar tone in the new ad.

A public servant is the greatest servant. We need someone in that White House that understands what it means to serve. I know Joe Biden understands the sacrifices that troops make. And thats the guy that I want leading this country.

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:
Headmistress of Queens Girls' Senior High School (SHS) at Anhwiaso in the Western North Region, Mrs. Francisca Biney, has appealed to the central government and other stakeholders to come to the aid of her school.

According to her, the lack of a fence wall around the only female SHS in the region, teachers and headmistress bungalows was making it difficult for them to run the school.

She said the school authorities have always had to trek to the school campus from their respective homes, especially in the night, at least seven times daily, to ensure that the students do not go wayward.

Mrs Biney made this known while speaking on the sidelines of a third disinfection exercise in her school. The exercise was part of a nationwide disinfection exercise in both basic and senior high schools (SHSs) in the country.

It was an exercise put together by the Ministry of Education (MoE), Ghana Education Service (GES), and spearheaded by Zoomlion Ghana Limited.

"The school has a lot of challenges. We don't have enough classrooms. There is no staff living on campus here. Even the headmistress stays outside the school. We don't have a library, sickbay, we don't have enough dormitories," she lamented.

"A girls' school which doesn't have a fence wall. You see the challenges that we will be facing? We don't have a canteen and we need all these things to start school again. So we are appealing to the government or whoever can come to our aid to help us," the headmistress explained.

According to her, "Because there is no wall around the school, at least you face some challenges, but if there is a fence wall, you will be able to control them by closing the gate and other things but this time there is no wall so anything can happen.

"Even in the night you have to troop in here. Most of the teachers and even headmistress we visit here seven times in a day, so it has not been easy for us all," she lamented.

Chirano Community Day

At Chirano, the Senior House Master of Chirano Community Day SHS, Cherubin Adotey, also lauded the exercise and said he was hopeful, the disinfection will allay the fears of the students to return to school on October 5.

Like other schools heads, he appealed to the government for support in areas of boarding facilities and speedy completion of the e-Block.

"When the initial disinfection exercise was conducted and they heard of it, most of them were able to come to school or came to school in their numbers.

According to her, "with the re-opening of schools next week, if they should hear of it that another disinfection exercise has been done, I'm sure they will come to school in their numbers. So it helps allay the fears of the students about the pandemic.

Concerning that challenge of the school, she said: "The main challenge is about the completion of the e-Block but God being so good the contractor is also on-site and we are hoping that by next three or four months it would be completed

Also, the Chirano Community ICT/library Centre, the Bekwai SHS among other schools were all disinfected. The exercise is expected to last for 10 days.

Gratitude to Zoomlion, the government

Heads of the various schools expressed their gratitude to the government and Zoomlion for the exercise.

According to them, the previous exercise had been very effective and with the third phase, it would inspire the students to return to school in a safe environment.

"What I will say is that we thank them (Zoomlion) so much for the exercise for what is being done previously and now and they have come to help us.

"We also assure you that al the protocols would be observed when the students come back to school," Mrs. Biney assured.
(Newser)  Thousands of people packed the National Mall in downtown Washington on Saturday to pray and show their support for President Trump, the AP reports. The march, which stretched from the Lincoln Memorial to the US Capitol, was held just hours before Trump was set to announce he was nominating a conservative judge for the Supreme Court. Few in the crowd wore masks. Some sported red caps with the words "Let's Make America Godly Again," a play on Trump's signature MAGA caps.

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Vice President Mike Pence, speaking from the steps of the memorial, said he came to extend Trumps "greetings and gratitude" and asked them to pray for the new Supreme Court nominee. The march was organized by the Rev. Franklin Graham, a prominent conservative evangelical and Trump supporter. Many in the crowd appeared to be students of Liberty University in Virginia. (See who Trump nominated for the court and how liberal commentators reacted.)
Lindsey Graham; Susan Collins

Lindsey Graham and Susan Collins Photo illustration by Salon/Getty Images

This November, we have an opportunity to harness your energy and momentum into political power and not just defeat Trump, but also flip the Senate. Here are six key races you should be paying attention to.

https://youtu.be/60PQfYzEoyc

1. The first is North Carolina Republican senator Thom Tillis, notable for his "olympic gold" flip-flops. He voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, then offered a loophole-filled replacement that excluded many with preexisting conditions. In 2014 Tillis took the position that climate change was "not a fact" and later urged Trump to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord, before begrudgingly acknowledging the realities of climate change in 2018. And in 2019, although briefly opposing Trump's emergency border wall declaration, he almost immediately caved to pressure.

But Tillis' real legacy is the restrictive 2013 voter suppression law he helped pass as Speaker of the North Carolina House. The federal judge who struck down the egregious law said its provisions "targeted African Americans with almost surgical precision."

Enter Democrat Cal Cunningham, who unlike his opponent, is taking no money from corporate PACs. Cunningham is a veteran who supports overturning the Supreme Court's disastrous Citizens United decision, restoring the Voting Rights Act, and advancing other policies that would expand access to the ballot box.

2. Maine Senator Susan Collins, a self-proclaimed moderate whose unpopularity has made her especially vulnerable, once said that Trump was unworthy of the presidency. Unfortunately, she spent the last four years enabling his worst behavior. Collins voted to confirm Trump's judges, including Brett Kavanaugh, and voted to acquit Trump in the impeachment trial, saying he had "learned his lesson" through the process alone. Rubbish.

Collins' opponent is Sara Gideon, speaker of the House in Maine. As Speaker, Gideon pushed Maine to adopt ambitious climate legislation, anti-poverty initiatives, and ranked choice voting. And unlike Collins, Gideon supports comprehensive democracy reforms to ensure politicians are accountable to the people, not billionaire donors.

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Another Collins term would be six more years of cowardly appeasement, no matter the cost to our democracy.

3. Down in South Carolina, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham is also vulnerable. Graham once said he'd "rather lose without Donald Trump than try to win with him." But after refusing to vote for him in 2016, Graham spent the last four years becoming one of Trump's most reliable enablers. Graham also introduced legislation to end birthright citizenship, lobbied for heavy restrictions on reproductive rights, and vigorously defended Brett Kavanaugh. Earlier this year, he said that pandemic relief benefits would only be renewed over his dead body.

His opponent, Democrat Jaime Harrison, has brought the race into a dead heat with his bold vision for a "New South." Harrison's platform centers on expanding access to healthcare, enacting paid family and sick leave, and investing in climate resistant infrastructure.

Graham once said that if the Republicans nominated Trump the party would "get destroyed," and "deserve it." We should heed his words, and help Jaime Harrison replace him in the Senate.

4. Let's turn to Montana's Senate race. The incumbent, Republican Steve Daines, has defended Trump's racist tweets, thanked him for tear-gassing peaceful protestors, and parroted his push to reopen the country during the pandemic as early as May.

Daine's challenger is former Democratic Governor Steve Bullock. Bullock is proof that Democratic policies can actually gain support in supposedly red states because they benefit people, not the wealthy and corporations. During his two terms, he oversaw the expansion of Medicaid, prevented the passage of union-busting laws, and vetoed two extreme bills that restricted access to abortions.The choice here, once again, is a no-brainer.

5. In Iowa, like Montana, is a state full of surprises. After the state voted for Obama twice, Republican Joni Ernst won her Senate seat in 2014. Her win was a boon for her corporate backers, but has been a disaster for everyone else.

Ernst, a staunch Trump ally, holds a slew of fringe opinions. She pushed anti-abortion laws that would have outlawed most contraception, shared her belief that states can nullify federal laws, and has hinted that she wants to privatize or fundamentally alter social security "behind closed doors."

Her opponent, Democrat Theresa Greenfield, is a firm supporter of a strong social safety net because she knows its importance firsthand. Union and Social Security survivor benefits helped her rebuild her life after the tragic death of her spouse. With the crippling impact of coronavirus at the forefront of Americans' minds, Greenfield would be a much needed advocate in the Senate.

6. In Arizona, incumbent Senate Republican Martha McSally is facing Democrat Mark Kelly. Two months after being defeated by Democrat Kyrsten SINema for Arizona's other Senate seat, McSally was appointed to fill John McCain's seat following his death. Since then, she's used that seat to praise Trump and confirm industry lobbyists to agencies like the EPA, and keep cities from receiving additional funds to fight COVID-19. As she voted to block coronavirus relief funds, McSally even had the audacity to ask supporters to "fast a meal" to help support her campaign.

Mark Kelly, a former astronaut and husband of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, became a gun-control activist following the attempt on her life in 2011. His support of universal background checks and crucial policies on the climate crisis, reproductive health, and wealth inequality make him the clear choice.

These are just a few of the important Senate races happening this year.

In addition, the entire House of Representatives will be on the ballot, along with 86 state legislative chambers and thousands of local seats.

Winning the White House is absolutely crucial, but it's just one piece of the fight to save our democracy and push a people's agenda. Securing victories in state legislatures is essential to stopping the GOP's plans to entrench minority rule through gerrymandered congressional districts and restrictive voting laws  and it's often state-level policies that have the biggest impact on our everyday lives. Even small changes to the makeup of a body like the Texas Board of Education, which determines textbook content for much of the country, will make a huge difference.

Plus, every school board member, state representative, and congressperson you elect can be pushed to enact policies that benefit the people, not just corporate donors.

This is how you build a movement that lasts.

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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.
People can be exposed to neutron radiation in the nuclear industry (power plants, fuel manufacture and reprocessing plants), in research laboratories, in the medical field or in the environment. Appropriate, correctly calibrated equipment is therefore necessary to monitor them.

IRSNs CEZANE and AMANDE facilities at Cadarache produce all the reference neutron field types recommended by international standards (ISO 8529 and ISO 12789) for calibrating neutron measuring instruments. It is the responsibility of the Microirradiation, Neutron Metrology and Dosimetry Laboratory (LMDN) to guarantee the production of national reference standards for fluence, i.e. the number of neutrons per unit area, and the derived dosimetric values. These facilities are used to test and perform different types of calibration of neutron measuring equipment. Routine calibration is done at the CEZANE facility using the Van Gogh irradiator which has two sources: one made of americium-beryllium (241AmBe), and the other of californium (252Cf). In the CEZANE facility it is also possible to perform calibration in a realistic field, i.e. one with similar characteristics to the neutron fields encountered in the workplace. This is done using the T400 accelerator associated with the CANEL device, which can generate a fission neutron spectrum moderated using elements representative of the shielding used in the nuclear industry. Finally, the AMANDE facility can perform a third type of calibration, which consists of determining how instrument response varies as a function of neutron energy, by producing monoenergetic neutron beams with an energy of between 2 keV and 20 MeV.




Leader of Pro Romania Victor Ponta voiced hope on Sunday that in December when the parliamentary elections are scheduled to take place, the people will be healthy while adding that "as things stand, the elections are more important than health."

"I am glad that people are coming to the polls. I, as every time lately, have not voted against anyone, I have voted for something, and I think that after so much hatred and scandal, as it has been in the past month, the next four years are going to be pretty bad. But let's hope that we will be in good health and that, instead of dealing with the elections, we will be dealing with health, education, and what is important to people. There will be no problems in Bucharest. Actually, there will be no problems in Bucharest, Cluj, Timisoara and Iasi. But there are 18,600 polling stations in the country, in poor towns, in rural towns, in villages, where conditions are different from those downtown Bucharest, so I am afraid that we did risk at this point. But let's hope that this year will end well, and let's hope that in December, when the parliamentary elections are scheduled to take place, we will be in good health for, as things stand, elections seem to be more important than our health, and that's not a good thing. It's a bad thing," Ponta said at the polls.

In this context, he pointed out that in localities with small budgets the whole electoral process "is very dangerous."

"In Bucharest (...) people have all their need. But if you had voted in a smaller locality, with a smaller budget, with smaller resources, it is really very dangerous there. And I sincerely hope that those who cast that vote that is more important than their own health, I hope that they weren't wrong because otherwise, we all pay," added Victor Ponta.

The Pro Romania leader voted at the "Maria Rosetti" Secondary School in Bucharest.
Ontario Provincial Police were on the scene Sunday in Wasaga Beach where hundreds of modified cars descended this weekend for stunt driving, racing and more.

Dangerous driving, lack of physical distancing and disregard for public gathering limits led the OPP to start turning motorists away from the beach town on Saturday night.

The town saw a large influx of car enthusiasts starting Friday for what police called an unsanctioned car rally.

Late on Saturday, OPP officers set up at the entrances to town and began turning away motorists who were not Wasaga Beach residents.

There was an overall disregard of any kind of rules at all, so they made the decision in the interest of public safety to shut down the town, for lack of a better word, said OPP Sgt. Jason Folz. Its just a matter of time before somebody gets injured or killed based on these kind of driving behaviours.

Folz said there was a lack of physical distancing and complete disregard for the limits on outdoor social gatherings (25 people), which were implemented to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

I get the sense that certainly some of the local residents were frustrated with the number of people and the lack of respect for rules and dangerous driving behaviour, he said.

OPP were assisted by a helicopter, which Folz said was used to track people fleeing from police, monitor gatherings and collect evidence. Police from York Region and Peel Region also assisted.

Based on information the town is aware of, this pop-up event is unacceptable for a number of reasons, said Mayor Nina Bifolchi. In other communities where it has taken place the OPP have advised of laws being broken and disrespect shown towards local businesses and residents.

Folz said information on the number of tickets and charges handed out over the weekend was not available yet but some vehicles were seized and tickets were issued under the Highway Traffic Act and the Reopening Ontario Act, which limits outdoor gathering sizes.

Its very concerning for all police agencies involved, Folz said. Were trying to eliminate that culture where people think they can drive anywhere they want just because they bring lots of numbers of people to block roads and do whatever they please.

Folz says the car takeover in Wasaga Beach, Ont., continued early Sunday.

The event follows on the heels of a car rally in Ancaster drawing hundreds of people just last Saturday.

People gathered for the impromptu car show at a Cineplex parking lot, according to Hamilton police Staff Sgt. Steve Ley, who said people brought at least 100 cars to the lot.

Videos posted to Snapchat showed hundreds of cars and dozens of customized trucks and people could be seen gathering in groups and walking through the lot, looking at vehicles. The event even garnered an ice cream truck and vehicles carried on trailers, as seen in the videos.

Premier Doug Ford condemned the Ancaster event, calling it reckless behaviour that was totally unacceptable during the pandemic.

While Ontario has made incredible progress in the fight against COVID-19, we cannot take that progress for granted, said Ford.

With files from The Canadian Press
There were days early in the COVID-19 pandemic that Dr. Funmi Falade had to remind herself to breathe.

Falade is medical director of critical care services at St. Vincents Medical Center in Bridgeport. As such, she and her team found themselves handling the stream of patients that flowed into the hospital at the peak of the pandemic.

It often got overwhelming, Falade said. She remembers the first time the hospital lost a young patient to COVID (though she wouldnt give the patients age, due to privacy concerns). Falade said the patient had declined sharply overnight, and it soon became clear nothing could be done to save him.

There was a moment when we all just stopped, she said. Everybody had to take a moment for this young man. We just sat there with him as his life slowly faded away.

There were multiple moments like that in the early days of the pandemic, Falade said. And, though Connecticut is a better place now, it pains her that the United States is still struggling to contain the virus. The country recently passed the sad milestone of 200,000 COVID-19 deaths.

Two-hundred thousand lives is a lot of lives for a world leader, Falade said. It breaks your heart to see this happen.

She didnt want to discuss the political aspects of how COVID has been handled nationwide, but said she dearly hopes the United States can move off the path its on.

I am hopeful that we can, as a nation, come together to make sure we stem this loss of life in a meaningful way, Falade said.

Even before St. Vincents saw a single COVID patient, Falade said she knew something terrifying was coming. She and her colleagues had already watched the virus snake through China, Italy and nearby New York.

We had a lot of fear surrounding how to handle these patients, because there were so many unknowns, she said. Health care workers, all of us, are always ready to dive in, but thats because we know what we are doing.

However, Falade said, when COVID-19 started to escalate in Connecticut, most health workers were armed only with adrenaline, good will and a very small amount of information.

When the virus hit the state, Falade  like health care workers do  greeted it with everything she had. But, when that young patient was lost, it felt like (our) best was just not enough.

It was a frightening time for her and others in critical care. At the peak of Connecticuts surge, St. Vincents had four ICUs, when it usually has only one, Falade said. All the patient beds were full, and many patients were acutely ill.

Some would succumb to COVID-19, but Falade said many didnt. There were multiple moments when a patient would come to and he would ask for a sandwich like nothing had happened, she said.

The past six months have been a roller coaster, Falade said. The experience was a huge learning one but also very humbling, she said. I think for me as a person who spent a lot of years training to take care of very sick people, it humbles you to see that there is so much more out there to learn; it made me very thankful to be able to help people.

She cautioned that the pandemic is far from over, even in Connecticut, where hospitals such as St. Vincents no longer face the overflowing beds they did months ago. Though shes hopeful that the state wont go back to where it was, she said shes taking nothing for granted.

I will say this  it is important that we be prepared to surge (again), she said. COVID has been unique in its epidemiology and a little less predictable than we would like.
The phalanx of Chinese participating troops marches past the reviewing stand during the military parade held in the closing ceremony of the Kavkaz-2020 Strategic Exercise at the Kapustin Yar Range in Russia on September 26, 2020.

ASTRAKHAN REGION, Russia, Sept. 27 -- The closing ceremony of "Kavkaz-2020" strategic exercise was held at the Kapustin Yar Range at 10 a.m. on September 26, local time.

Russian Deputy Defense Minister. Lt. Gen. Yunus-Bek Evkurov, as well as commanders of participating troops from different countries addressed the ceremony. Army General Alexander Dvornikov, commander of the Russian Southern Military District, announced the closing of the exercise.

Lt. Gen. Liu Xiaowu, deputy commander of Chinese PLA Western Theater Command and commanding officer of the Chinese participating troops, delivered a speech at the closing ceremony.

He said that this exercise fully demonstrated the staunch determination of participating countries to jointly maintain regional security and stability, and showed the combat capability of multinational forces to jointly respond to multiple security threats. In particular, the participating troops from different countries cooperated closely and fought side by side, successfully completed the drill tasks and forged a deep fighting friendship, Lt. Gen. Liu noted.

He believed that the normalization of such strategic-level drills will help further enhance political and strategic mutual trust, deepen military exchanges and cooperation, and enhance the interoperability among multinational forces.

At the closing ceremony, the outstanding servicemen with flying colors in the exercise were awarded medals. Ten Chinese soldiers won the medals. The closing ceremony ended with a military parade. The Chinese participating troops will return to China in two echelons from September 27.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu came to the Kapustin Yar Range on September 25 to observe the exercise involving actual troops featuring joint combat groups formed by multinational forces carrying out joint fire-power attacks on mock terrorists.

The "Kavkaz-2020" strategic exercise is the largest-scale international joint military exercise hosted by the Russian military this year.
President Donald Trump will nominate Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court on Saturday, NBC News has learned. After that begins the battle over her confirmation.

Trump has repeatedly pressed for a vote ahead of Election Day, which this year is Nov. 3. Trump has said that he wants a full court in case the election is contested, which lawyers warn looks increasingly likely, given the onslaught of Covid-19 related voting litigation.

Looking at recent history, a confirmation ahead of Election Day looks possible, if speedy. There are just 39 days until the last voters head to the polls.

Going back to the administration of President Gerald Ford, only two justices have been successfully confirmed in such a short period, Justices John Paul Stevens and Sandra Day O'Connor. O'Connor, the more recent of the two, was confirmed nearly 30 years ago, and both of those justices were confirmed unanimously. That situation is unlikely this year.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has said the Senate has plenty of time. During a speech from the Senate floor on Monday, McConnell said that Stevens' whole confirmation process, which took just 19 days, "could have been played out twice between now and Nov. 3, with time to spare."

That is true. But no justice currently on the court was confirmed so quickly. As the Supreme Court has increasingly been seen as a political prize, fights over its members have grown more contentious  and longer. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was dogged by allegations of sexual misconduct that he denied, took 88 days to confirm, despite Republican control of the Senate.

Still, McConnell appears to have cleared his first hurdle. After Ginsburg's death on Friday at 87, it was reported that the liberal justice issued a statement in her final days expressing her wish not to be replaced until after the election is held. In the following days, two GOP senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, both came out against a pre-election vote.

But other moderate Republicans declined to follow them. After Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah said that he supported holding a vote, it appeared that McConnell had the votes he needed. Republicans hold 53 of the 100 seats in the Senate.

If McConnell does not manage to pull off a vote before Election Day, a vote by the end of the year appears to be well within reach. Going back to 1975, it has taken about 67 days on average for an associate justice to be confirmed after being nominated. Sixty-seven days from Saturday is Dec. 2.
SOHC

When it comes to the worlds raddest modified rides, the moto magicians over at Unikat Motorworks mean business. The reputed workshop is based in Wroclaw, Poland and its ambitious mastermind goes by the name of Grzegorz Korczak. Over the years, his talented crew never ceased to amaze the two-wheeler realm with their surreal works of mechanical art.As you navigate through Unikat's portfolio, youll run into several drool-worthy pieces of machinery thatll have just about any rider lost for words, such as a unique Moto Guzzi V7, an otherworldly KTM Duke 640 and one handsome Kawasaki ZR550. In the past, weve also explored their accomplishments on an ominous BMW K1100LT , which houses a Superdukes fierce headlight unit.One things for sure, each and every one of these bad boys does a spectacular job at looking the business! To be frank, it goes without saying their outstanding ventures managed to capture the custom scenes full attention. The firms remarkable creations earned them a reputation as a force to be reckoned with, ultimately leading to an array of tasty collaborations.For instance, their magnificent Triumph T100 body kit is one such exploit. The manufacturers Polish branch teamed up with Unikat to develop a stunning visual enhancement package thatll leave you wanting for nothing. To give you a clear demonstration of these folks superior level of craftmanship and sheer dedication, well be taking a minute to examine this delicious undertaking a little closer.Let me tell you, the stock T100 is definitely no toy. It is brought to life by a menacing four-strokeparallel-twin powerplant, with four valves per cylinder head and a respectable compression ratio of 10.5:1. The liquid-cooled leviathan prides itself with a two-into-two stainless-steel exhaust system and a colossal displacement of 900cc. At approximately 5,900 rpm, this nasty animal is capable of generating up to 55 hp, along with 59 pound-feet (80 Nm) of fierce torque output at 3,200 revs. Power travels to a chain final drive via a five-speed gearbox.Up front, suspension duties are handled by 41 mm (1.61 inches) KYB forks, joined by fully-adjustable dual shocks on the opposite end. Braking power is supplied by a 310 mm (12.2 inches) floating rotor and a Nissin two-piston caliper at the front, coupled with a single 255 mm (10 inches) disc and a two-piston floating caliper at the rear.Now, Unikats staggering kit hosts a blend of hand-crafted components and aftermarket modules, including clip-on handlebars, a new front fender and a neat subframe that supports T100s majestic leather saddle.Furthermore, you will find a Monza-style flip-up filler cap, LED turn signals and 18-inch Takasago Excel wheels, hugged by Bridgestone tires. The team went as far as installing chromed reverse megaphone mufflers and tweaking the bikes triple clamp to match the desired aesthetic.Lastly, their customers are given the option to have this machines fuel tank and side panels finished in a color that'll suit their individual preferences. In this fashion, each of these creatures will stand out as a genuine one-off entity.If youre digging this masterpiece as much as I am, then you may want to consider paying Unikat a visit on their Instagram and Facebook profiles. Oh, and while youre at it, show them some damn love for their praise-worthy efforts, will you?
The Associated Press checks out some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. This one is bogus, even though it was shared widely on social media. Here are the facts:

CLAIM: My family came to Jamaica from India to exploit the black African slaves we bought like cattle. Now I pretend to be African American to exploit them for votes, says a caption with a 2017 photo of Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

THE FACTS: Harris did not make that statement, and there is no evidence anyone in her family went from India to Jamaica to benefit from the slave trade, as social media posts falsely suggest.

Her father, Donald Harris, is Jamaican, and they both identify as Black. Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was born and raised in India.

Harris' parents met at the University of California, Berkeley, in the 1960s as graduate students. In 2018, Donald Harris, a Stanford University emeritus professor of economics, detailed his familys history in Jamaica in an essay in Jamaica Global Online.

In the essay, which has been updated since first published, there is no mention of having Indian ancestry, and he makes clear his family has been in Jamaica for generations. The elder Harris did write that his paternal grandmother descended from a slave owner.

That part of his essay has been distorted repeatedly in recent months to fuel misleading claims on social media about the Harris familys connections to slavery in Jamaica.

One of the most recent false claims has a photo of Kamala Harris with text falsely asserting that Harris said her family moved to Jamaica from India to engage in the slave trade. There is no evidence to support this or that Harris said it.

The photo in the meme was taken by the AP during a June 2017 Senate hearing when Harris was questioning former Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

The post, which has circulated on Facebook since 2019, received tens of thousands of likes on Twitter, where it was being shared this week.

In Donald Harris' 2018 essay, he wrote, My roots go back, within my lifetime, to my paternal grandmother Miss Chrishy (nee Christiana Brown, descendant of Hamilton Brown who is on record as plantation and slave owner and founder of Browns Town).

The AP was not able to independently confirm Donald Harris' connection to Hamilton Brown, who was born in Ireland.

Caitlin Rosenthal, a University of California, Berkeley history professor, told the AP in an email that while it is clear that Hamilton Brown was a major slave owner, what is much less clear is how he fits into Kamala Harriss family tree.

Rosenthal added, What is most likely is that she is descended from both enslaved people and from slave owners, just like most African Americans today. Sasha Turner, a Jamaican professor of history at Johns Hopkins University, told the AP it is not surprising for Black Jamaicans to find out someone in their bloodline was a white slave holder, since rape was part of the everyday experience of slavery.

But social media posts in recent months have tried to use Donald Harris' essay to undermine Kamala Harris' Black identity and allege without evidence that she is a beneficiary of slavery.

This is really just a matter of twisting the facts, Turner said. Its very disconcerting and quite disappointing that a history of such brutality, of such terror, is also being used in this way to terrorize.
The UN special envoy for West Africa wrapped up a weeklong visit to Ivory Coast on Sunday urging a "peaceful and inclusive" presidential election in the country next month against a backdrop of high tensions.

Mohamed Ibn Chambas also hailed the release from detention of around a dozen supporters of former prime minister Guillaume Soro on Wednesday as a "welcome gesture" ahead of the election set for October 31.

The visit was aimed at underscoring the UN's support for "a peaceful, inclusive, transparent and credible presidential election," a statement said.

Ghanaian diplomat Chambas "reiterated his call to all political actors to uphold their commitment to the organisation of a peaceful and inclusive election, and respect of human rights," it said.

Chambas met with President Alassane Ouattara, his three challengers, electoral officials and civil society representatives during his mission to the former French colony.

Tensions are running high, with Ouattara set to defy a constitutional limit of two terms. The 78-year-old and his supporters argue that a 2016 constitutional tweak reset the clock on his time in office.

Violent protests against Ouattara's candidacy left around 15 dead last month, reviving memories of a post-election conflict nearly a decade ago that claimed more than 3,000 lives.

Soro, who today lives in France, was among dozens of applicants who were barred from contesting the election.

His exclusion was on the grounds of a 20-year sentence in absentia for alleged embezzlement of public funds, handed down in April.
Twenty-five kilos of ganja plants grown on the Ujjani hillock near Doddaballapur have been seized in the city. RT Nagar police arrested a gang of three suspected ganja peddlers after tracking them for 15 days.

Police had learnt about the gangs activities after arresting a suspected drug consumer named Karthik, 22, in Sultanpalya earlier this month.

Karthik reportedly told the police about the main ganja supplier, one Budensab, 59, of Hindupur.

A team led by Reena Suvarna, Assistant Commissioner of Police (JC Nagar), subsequently arrested Budensab and two of his associates Chandrappa, 40, of Kolar, and Marappa, 56, of Chikkaballapur. Chandrappa and Marappa are small-time farmers.

Budensab used to smuggle dried ganja from Visakhapatnam and supply it to Chandrappa and Marappa. Police have seized five kilos of dried ganja.

The gang would also harvest ganja plants grown in and around Ujjani, Kolar and Chikkaballapur.

It would usually do a recce during the day and pluck the plants at night. The plants would be cut into pieces, dried and sold to select consumers in Bengaluru, said a police officer.

Last week, Chandrappa and Marappa had brought the ganja plants and left it to dry at Onion Ground in RT Nagar when the police seized the contraband.
Locals blocked traffic for some time on the Dindigul highway in protest and dispersed only after police assured them that action would be taken

Tiruchirappalli: A statue of reformist leader EV Ramasamy "Periyar" was found smeared with saffron dye on Sunday by unidentified miscreants, drawing strong responses from political leaders in Tamil Nadu.

A slipper was also found near the statue at Samathuvapuram colony in Inamkulathur early on Sunday morning, police said, adding, a case has been registered for defacing and vandalising the statue.

Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam condemned the vandalism and assured that stringent legal action would be taken against those involved.

Political leaders, including DMK chief MK Stalin slammed the incident, the second such one in the state in recent months, after a statue of the rational leader was found daubed in saffron paint in Coimbatore.

Locals blocked traffic for some time on the Dindigul highway, protesting against the vandalism and dispersed after police assured them that action would be taken. Panneerselvam lashed out at the incident, and hailed the leader's struggle for ensuring social justice.

"Stringent legal action will be taken against those anti-social elements involved in the incident," he said in a tweet.

Stalin slammed the defacing of the statue of the Dravidian stalwart and said people will "boycott" such persons. Periyar was not the leader of just a movement  Dravidar Kazhagam  but that of Tamils, he said.

"When are they going to realise that people will further boycott them if they repeatedly do the same mistake," he said in a Facebook post without naming anyone.

There have been repeated instances of Periyar statues being vandalised or desecrated in the recent past in the state.

"Periyar is not the leader of just a movement. He is the leader of the Tamil race. Those who do such things thinking they are insulting him are insulting themselves," he said and strongly condemned the incident.

PMK leader S Ramadoss hit out at the defacing of the statue and demanded "strong action" against those involved.

MDMK founder and Rajya Sabha MP Vaiko, AMMK leader and Independent MLA TTV Dhinakaran and VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan, MP, also criticised the latest episode of targeting Periyar's statue and demanded that such elements be dealt with strictly.

Meanwhile, DMK leader and party's Lok Sabha MP Kanimozhi used the incident to take a dig at the BJP's state unit, referring to its chief L Murugan's recent statement that the saffron party had no hesitation to extend greetings on Periyar's birth anniversary on 17 September.

She asked if this was the "respect they show" to the leader, remarks which drew strong response from Murugan, who said there were "political intentions" behind her words, saying a police enquiry was on into the incident.

Murugan had earlier hailed the contributions of Periyar to social justice and said he had no hesitation in extending BJP's greetings on the occasion of the late leader's 142nd birth anniversary recently.

"We extend our greetings to everyone. There is no second opinion that Periyar slogged for social justice. We have no hesitation in extending our greetings to him," he had said in response to a question on his party accusing the DMK of not greeting the people on "Ganesh Chaturthi" and why he has not extended his "greetings" on the late leader's anniversary.

On Sunday, recalling Murugan's statement, Kanimozhi asked in a tweet "is this the respect they show to Periyar?," while referring to today's defacement.

"Is Periyar your answer to NEET, New Education Policy and farmers' protest?," she asked.

Hitting out at Kanimozhi, Murugan said while police were probing the incident, her remarks had "political intentions." "This is condemnable," he said in a statement. He further wondered if the defacement incident was "planned" since she has made such remarks even as the matter was under enquiry.

Describing the vandalism as "indecent", he said whoever was behind it should be taken to task. "Saffron is holy. It denotes an all encompassing sacrifice. It is not fair to relate it with a wrong thought," he added.

EV Ramasamy, fondly addressed by supporters and followers in the reverential term 'Periyar', led a popular self-respect movement in the state based on rationalist principles and is the founder of DMK's parent organisation, Dravidar Kazhagam.
Amid rising specualtions that something is cooking between Shiv Sena and BJP in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday (September 27) said that he met former Maharashtra CM and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday to discuss certain issues.

Raut said that Fadnavis is a former CM of Maharashtra and it is not a crime to meet him. "He is a former CM. Also, he's the leader of opposition in Maharashtra & #BiharPolls-in charge of BJP. There can be ideological differences but we are not enemies. CM was aware about our meeting," Raut said.

It is to be noted that the Shiv Sena MP met Fadnavis at a five-star hotel in Mumbai and the secret meeting between the two leaders lasted for around 2 hours.

BJP Maharashtra spokesperson Keshav Upadhye, however, tweeted that the meeting between two senior leaders was not political in nature. He added that the former Maharashtra CM met Raut - Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana's executive editor for an interview.

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Upadhye asserted that, during the meeting, Fadnavis told Raut to air the interview unedited. The BJP leader said that the date for the interview has been been fixed and Raut and Fadnavis are now discussing the format of the interview. It is expected that Fadnavis would sit for the interview wiith Raut after the Bihar polls are completed by November. Notably, Fadnavis is the BJP incharge for Bihar Assembly poll. Fadnavis will become only the second non-Shiv Sena leader after NCP supremo Sharad Pawar to be interviewed by Saamana.

Meanwhile, the political circles in Mumbai is abuzz with rumors that Shiv Sena is planning to snap its ties with the Congress and the NCP and it may soon join hands with its former allies BJP.
SOEs reform in Sri Lanka: An enhancement proposal By Prasanna Athukorala Feature View(s): View(s):

The performance and future of Sri Lankas state owned enterprises (SOEs) continues to be a subject of public conversation. The State Enterprises Management Policy described in the SLPP Manifesto (Chapter 2, page 08) for instance, pledges to develop State Enterprises and to make them profitable and further to ensure that all State Enterprises are free from political interference. Both the acknowledgement of the shortcomings and the intention to effect reforms are welcome.

However, the burning question is, will the reforms be meaningful enough? This article will attempt to explore ways to ensure the required reforms are effective, permanent and become a landmark turning point in the management of public finances. The proposals outlined below build on the State Enterprises Management Policy of the SLPP Manifesto and seek to enhance them further. The writer proposes that a new legal entity, encompassing global best practice methods be established. This move will accomplish several key objectives effectively and permanently.

Problem setting

First, let us separate the operational problems of the SOEs from their symptoms. Financial underperformance is often seen as the primary problem of the SOEs. It is not. Financial underperformance is a symptom of the problem. The underlying problem is the lack of robust and responsible corporate governance. Just like a competent physician would try to cure an illness rather than the symptom, the government must address the lack of good corporate governance practices in SOEs rather than trying to fix the symptoms. This distinction is critical to recognise before we formulate solutions. Lack of transparency in senior appointments and terminations, empowerment, disclosure standards, procedures to manage conflicts of interest and corruption, are just a few corporate governance shortcomings that are obvious.

Secondly, successive governments have not seen their ownership interest in SOEs through investment lenses. Boards and senior management of SOEs have not operated within an investment culture and mindset that continually requires the generation of returns that exceed cost of capital. There have been no mechanisms to incentivise senior management nor to penalise underperformance.

Proposed solutions

First, if the Rajapaksa government wants to solve the underlying root cause of the problems of SOEs, then it is best that all Acts of Parliament that established the SOEs be repealed and be re-incorporated under the Companies Act. This would place the SOEs under a new governance regime immediately. For example, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation should be transferred from the Ceylon Petroleum Corporations Act (No.28 of 1961) and be incorporated under the Companies Act with a suitable legal name. The defining characteristic of this proposal is to establish a distinct legal structure where the government can retain ownership through a sovereign share class while ensuring a minimum level of good governance required under the Companies Act. Leaving SOEs to operate under Acts of Parliament is the ideal recipe for the continuation of direct political interference and consequent financial underperformance.

Sri Lankan Airlines is the only high-profile entity incorporated under the Companies Act. Admittedly, incorporation under the Companies Act alone is not sufficient to solve all governance problems. But it is a good place to start. Will there be direct political interference even after incorporating under the Companies Act?

Second, if the government wants to free State Enterprises from political interference (as promised in the manifesto), then it is proposed that the responsibility for managing all SOEs be transferred out of the various ministries to a newly established Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), wholly owned by the government. The new holding company, the Sovereign Wealth Fund, must be established under the Companies Act with full state ownership and a constitutional amendment as described below.

The SWF will become the holding company of SOEs and be responsible for introducing an investment culture and mindset and overseeing SOE performance. Thus, the SWF would set the objectives, identify constraints, have the authority to appoint and replace the senior management teams of each SOE. Each SOE would then be answerable to a single professionally run entity and effectively quarantine themselves from direct political interference. Minimising indirect political interference will require multiple other measures, which are outside the scope of this article.

Under this proposal, it would be the responsibility of the SWF to conduct a skills audit, advertise the senior managerial roles on-line, transparently call for applications from incumbents and new candidates, assess aptitude, skill, competence, honesty, integrity and trustworthiness before appointing them. On-line advertisements in prominent journals will ensure talented Sri Lankan candidates are sought from around the world. Transparency of this process is vital if the government wants to keep its pledge of non-interference promised in the SLPP Manifesto. There is no doubt that political interference will compromise the quality of those recruited and the quality of the outcomes.

The excellence of the senior appointments to the SWF, will signal the governments intentions and be reflective of its credibility. The 225 MPs, ministers, donors, friends, family and so on will not be able to appoint, terminate nor directly influence the senior management of SOEs nor lobby to gain an unfair advantage in awarding contracts. This is how Singapore transformed their SOEs nearly 45 years ago.

This transfer would relieve ministries of the task of managing business enterprises and allow them to focus on policy formulation, regulation and the provision of services.

Third, if the government wants to make the reforms permanent and provide policy stability, then it is proposed it should amend the Constitution of Sri Lanka similar to amendments adopted in the Constitution of Singapore in 1974. Temasek Holdings Pvt Ltd is a Singaporean holding company, wholly owned by the Singapore Minister for Finance Incorporation Act (Chapter 183). Please see https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/MFIA1959. Incorporated in June 1974 as a commercial investment company by Prime Minister Lee Kwan Yew, Temasek owns and manages Singapores SOEs under the key theme of transforming the Singaporean economy. Subsidiaries of Temasek include Singapore Airlines, Development Bank of Singapore, Singapore Telecomm, ST Engineering and Capita Land etc.

Temasek was also designated a Fifth Schedule entity under the Singapore Constitution, which imposed certain safeguards to protect the Singapore governments interests. For example, the President of Singapore has the right to appoint, terminate and renew Temaseks Board of Directors and requires the Presidents approval to conduct certain transactions. Most importantly, however, in other respects Temasek operates as an independent commercial investment holding company. Please see Part II ofhttps://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/CONS1963#Sc5-

Fourth, if the government wants to achieve Singapore-like performance outcomes, then the following appointments to the Board of Directors and the senior management team of the SWF should be made.

The board of directors of the SWF should consist of the Secretary to the President (Chairman), Secretary to Treasury (1), Director-General Public Enterprises of the Department of Treasury (1), Commissioner-General Inland Revenue (1) and representatives from the trade union movements (3), Auditor-Generals Department (1), Employees Trust Fund (1), the private sector (2) and the CEO of the new SWF (1). The Central Bank should also send an observer to board meetings.

The Sri Lankan public, the investment and lender communities, sovereign rating agencies, the World Bank, IMF and the ADB will keenly await the signals the government sends.

Fifth, the SWF will need to employ multiple additional approaches to enhance the governance practices in SOEs. For example, there must be a strong separation of duties between the owners and the management of an SOE. The chairman and the board of directors of an SOE should represent the interests of the owners, i.e., the Sovereign Wealth Fund (not the government under this proposal). The SWF as the new owner would now delegate authority to the SOE board. As such, the SOE board should consist of non-executive directors, (with the obvious exception of the CEO should he/she be a director) in that their role is one of oversight and governance, not carrying out day to day management or implementation.

The management team of each SOE should be led by a chief executive officer (CEO) and a suite of executives responsible for setting the direction of the SOE, implementation, finances, human resources and such day to day activities. Incorporation under the Companies Act will require this separation. Under current Acts of Parliament, the chairman has usually functioned as the de-facto CEO making a mockery of corporate governance.

It is important to highlight that the state should NOT make the mistake of attempting to formulate strategies to make SOEs profitable. If they have confidence in the senior appointments, then they should leave it to the senior managers of each SOE to turnaround financial performance. That is NOT the role of government. The government, however, will need to get involved in introducing policies and regulatory framework with respect to coherent pricing, capital infusion and so on.

Sixth, to ensure checks and balances, parliamentary oversight of the SWF should be through a body similar to the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) with representation from the government, the Opposition as well as eminent non-parliamentarians with subject expertise nominated by the political parties depending on the industry of the SOE. The scope and objectives of COPE should be revisited in light of this proposal. The primary focus should be on overseeing the governance, financial performance of the key SOEs and the aggregate financial performance of the SWF.

Lastly, in the medium term, if the government wishes to broaden and deepen local capital markets, newly issued common class stock stakes can be sold to the long-term institutional investors like the Employees Trust Fund and to SOE employees, while retaining but diluting sovereign class ownership. A listing on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) will help take SOE transparency to an even higher level through compliance with the CSEs disclosure requirements. The writer hopes that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Minister Nivard Cabraal, will consider these proposals in order to deliver on the political pledges made to achieve SOE reforms that will be effective and permanent.

(The writer has managed Global Equities portfolios in Sydney and in New York for large institutional investors since 1995 and is a keen advocate of higher standards in corporate governance. He is based in Sydney, Australia and is contactable on Prasanna.Athukorala@icloud.com)
Coalition TDs are piling pressure on ministers to reverse cuts to Covid payments as details of fresh unrest at the Cabinet table can be revealed this weekend.

Two senior Fianna Fail TDs, Willie O'Dea and Barry Cowen, have written separately to Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath, calling on him to restore the full 350 pandemic unemployment payment (PUP). Pressure is also coming from the Greens, with influential TD Neasa Hourigan saying PUP should "absolutely" be restored to its full rate as more areas face public health restrictions.

With more than 150,000 people receiving the Covid payment, the Coalition is reviewing its future ahead of the Budget on October 13. Two government sources said the new top rate of 300 could be maintained beyond February 1 next year when it is due to be cut to 250.

It comes as the Sunday Independent can reveal that Green deputy leader Catherine Martin rebuked colleagues at Tuesday's Cabinet meeting over the decision to approve 10 new advisers for junior ministers on the same day that thousands of unemployed people received reduced pandemic payments. "She was quite cross. It is self-evident it was a terrible idea," said a source of the Culture Minister's views. "She said that looks really bad, it's not the time for it."

A spokesperson for Ms Martin declined to comment.

It can also be revealed that:

The 'stay and spend' tax back scheme, due to launch this week, is set to be reviewed as restrictions will prevent many from 'staycationing'.

A taskforce examining the future of the tourism industry is likely to recommend a VAT cut for the sector and rapid testing at Irish airports to kickstart overseas tourism.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe is examining how to get employees back into the workplace next year amid mounting concern over empty office space across Dublin.

Ms Martin's surprise intervention took place at the same Cabinet meeting where Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys fired a warning over recent interventions by Fianna Fail TDs calling for the restoration of the full pandemic payment.

"She said it's harder to manage these situations when government TDs are out in the media calling for reversal of government policy," a Cabinet source said.

Ms Humphreys's allies played down her remarks, saying they were not intended as a rebuke to Fianna Fail deputies but an observation that decisions on Covid-related spending need to be taken as a Government rather than talking about them in the media.

The future of PUP is set to become one of the key budget battlegrounds, with growing pressure from within Fianna Fail and the Greens for the payment to be restored. The PUP has been cut to between 203 and 300, depending on people's pre-crisis incomes, with the reduced payments hitting redundant workers' bank accounts this week.

In a letter to Mr McGrath, seen by the Sunday Independent, Mr Cowen has also criticised the failure to implement a number of health measures that they as Fianna Fail's "chief negotiators" agreed with Fine Gael in last year's Budget.

"We agreed a reduction in prescription charges; changes to the medical card thresholds; an extension of free GP care; [and the] introduction of free dental care for under-6s. All were due to be enacted from July onwards. None of these have happened."

Urging Mr McGrath to find the funding for these measures, the former agriculture minister adds: "This is a poor reflection of Fianna Fail if we fail to deliver on commitments you and I negotiated."

In a separate letter to the Public Expenditure Minister, Mr O'Dea said: "You will be aware of the importance of maintaining an identity for Fianna Fail in this Government. An obvious way to do so would be to insist on retaining the Covid payments at their previous level at least until the country begins to emerge from this current pandemic."

Another senior Fianna Fail TD Jim O'Callaghan said: "If we're going to close down businesses and people are going to lose their jobs, then we have to ensure we provide financial support for those people and businesses."

Ms Hourigan, who chairs the Budget Oversight Committee, told this newspaper: "Absolutely it should be restored to 350. We can see from the tax take and levels of savings that there are a certain cohort that haven't been negatively affected by Covid, who are actually surviving quite well financially speaking. However, there is a definite group of people on lower incomes or precarious jobs who are really struggling."

Mr McGrath told the Cabinet last week that the Government will spend an estimated 9bn on Covid-19 next year - the lion's share of which will go on health and welfare.

The Government is also examining what a source described as the "tricky issue" of the estimated 30,000 third- level students continuing to receive PUP even as they return to college and university this autumn.

There are fears any move to remove payments from students will lead to a backlash from the USI and others.

The Department of Social Protection said it does not have a record of the number of students on PUP that intend to return to education for the forthcoming academic year.

"People in receipt of PUP must continue to satisfy the conditions for the scheme to maintain continued payment," a spokesperson said.

"Any decisions in relation to PUP, other than those outlined in the July Stimulus Package, are a matter for the Government and may be made in the context of the upcoming Budget."

The Stay and Spend tax back scheme is also set to be reviewed as part of the Budget process.

The scheme, which offers a tax credit of up to 125 and is designed to drive sales in the hospitality sector, was launched less than four weeks ago and comes into effect from this Thursday.

"There is just a feeling it needs to be looked at, given [the] rapid changes of the pandemic," a government source said. Around 270m has been set aside to meet the costs of the scheme, but sources admit this may not be used up.

With the tourism and hospitality sector damaged by the Covid crisis, Tourism Minister Catherine Martin is expected to raise a cut in VAT for the industry in Budget talks.

A cut to the 13.5pc rate is expected to be recommended by the Government's own Tourism Recovery Taskforce, which will also call for rapid testing at Irish airports to allow for the resumption of some overseas tourism as well as an enhanced adaptation fund for businesses to help them set up for outdoor dining during the winter.

Ms Martin is also pushing a live events package after a positive response to a 5m pilot scheme which helps to de-risk the costs of new productions which may subsequently be cancelled due to Covid.

Meanwhile, Mr Donohoe is privately concerned about the amount of empty office space across Dublin and elsewhere as employees are encouraged to work from home.

Last week he said he was hopeful that across 2021 workers can be supported to return to offices, even on a part-time basis.

Meanwhile, Children's Minister Roderic O'Gorman is pushing for a dedicated fund to pay for taking in unaccompanied minors from migrant camps.

It costs around 150,000 to provide supports for each unaccompanied minor arriving into the State.

Mr O'Gorman also wants more funding to address budget overspends by Tusla which spent 27m more than planned this year, primarily providing private residential services for children in care. Significant cuts to the cost of childcare are not envisaged in this Budget, with reviews of the sector not due until next year.
Airports in Atlantic Canada are hopeful a brief mention in this week's throne speech could signal federal support is on the way as the latest numbers illustrate a dire situation for the industry in the region.

The Atlantic Canada Airports Association, which represents 11 airports in the region, reported this week that passenger levels remain a fraction of what they were before the onset of COVID-19 and subsequent travel restrictions in the Atlantic bubble.

Karl Moore, an airline industry expert and professor at McGill University, said the long-term outlook doesn't look good, either, with global aviation organizations forecasting a return to regular traffic in 2024.

The situation could jeopardize the long-term future of some airline routes to the East Coast, he said

CBC

"There's no point flying down, spending the money, polluting the air if there's no one on the flight," Moore said.

"If people are unable or unwilling to travel because of government restrictions or health or whatever reasons they have, that means those flights aren't going to be flown because it's not going to make sense economically."

Derek Stanford, the Atlantic Canada Airports Association president and CEO of the Saint John Airport, said airport officials have been lobbying the federal government for financial assistance as the recovery timeline continues to be pushed back.

"While we are critical infrastructure, we certainly aren't treated that way," Stanford said.

The Saint John Airport is down to a single passenger flight per day, to Montreal, and he said there are few options to cut costs and remain compliant with aviation standards and open for essential services, such as medevac flights. The airport has already laid off 40 per cent of its workforce and scrapped capital project plans.

Now, after the "toughest months ever," he wants to see government intervention.

"You can have uber strict border policies, but it doesn't mean you can have airports operating at full capacity. It's not the post office," he said. "We're not a utility that's always there, always on."

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Submitted by Derrick Stanford

The federal Liberal government's throne speech said Ottawa will work to support regional routes, many of which have been suspended in Atlantic Canada.

"It is essential that Canadians have access to reliable and affordable regional air services," the speech said. "This is an issue of equity, of jobs, and of economic development."

What that support will look like is unclear at the moment, but Stanford's association has pitched solutions such as federal grants or forgivable loans, expanding assistance programs for other infrastructure to airports, or waiving the rent fees airports pay to the government.

He said the situation for the industry is unsustainable, with airports facing multimillion-dollar losses this year and left relying on cash reserves and lines of credit to remain afloat.

Airlines also keen for help

Moore said airlines are also looking to Ottawa. They need to see an increase in traffic demand so they can at least break even or they need some kind of financial aid package.

Otherwise, he said, it doesn't make economic sense to fly to Atlantic Canada. Earlier this year, Air Canada suspended indefinitely 14 routes in the region and closed its stations at the Bathurst and Wabush, N.L., airports.

"It's something where it does put at risk, to some degree, the future of airline travel between Atlantic Canada and the rest of the country and, indeed, globally," Moore said.

Moore said the restrictions around the Atlantic bubble, which require non-essential travellers to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival, pose an extra barrier for the industry in the region.

He travelled to teach in Iceland during the pandemic and was told he couldn't meet more than 10 people for the first five days of his trip. He was, however, permitted to drive around and sightsee.

"It's an opportunity that is absolutely causing economic difficulties in Atlantic Canada  but, then again, it might be the best thing to do from a health-care viewpoint," Moore said.

With cases climbing in other provinces this week, new cases in each Atlantic province remain in the single digits in the past seven days.

The Atlantic Canada Airports Association projected in a release this week that its 11 airports will see a drop of 5.5 million passengers this year compared with 2019, resulting in a net loss of $76 million across the region.

"Summer results are in," executive director Monette Pasher said in the release. "What is normally a period in which airports depend to boost revenues for the entire year saw passenger traffic down 89 per cent and 87 per cent respectively in July and August in comparison to 2019."

A new route

Bernard LeBlanc, CEO of the Greater Moncton Romeo LeBlanc International Airport, said the airport saw a slight bump in passengers during the summer months after losing 98 per cent of traffic in the spring.

However, he said Monton is nowhere close to normal levels  the airport is running four flights daily compared with the usual 15 to 20  and further growth is limited.

"With the travel restrictions in New Brunswick and Atlantic Canada, it's very limited how much more growth we could see or how airline capacity we see coming in because it's very restricted in terms of who can travel and who's required to quarantine if they travel," LeBlanc said.

Part of that recent growth can be attributed to the new PAL Airlines route between Moncton and St. John's, a route that hadn't been active since 2006.

LeBlanc said the airline and airport saw an opportunity after Air Canada cancelled all routes between Halifax and airports in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, meaning the only option to fly to St. John's was driving through Halifax or detouring through Toronto or Montreal.

Ian Bonnell/CBC News

That bit of positivity is shrouded in an uncertain future for the airport, which is facing a $7-million loss this year, LeBlanc said.

The airport is not a designated international airport during the pandemic and will miss out on the roughly 50,000 passengers who travel from Monton to sunny, southern destinations annually  a service that likely won't resume until 2024, he said.

"As we get deeper and deeper into this pandemic, if things don't improve, if things don't change, if the revenue streams don't start, the only way you can reduce more is to do less," LeBlanc said.

"So doing less could be, 'Do we need two runways when we can only afford one runway? Do we need four taxiways or could we operate with two? Do we need to [use] all our parking lots or just a portion of that?'

"I think what could happen if things don't get better or worse down the line, we will have to look at reducing the level of activity that we do in line with what the requirements are."
Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images

In 2012, the political scientist Ross Baker spent a sabbatical brushing up on his congressional knowledge by spending time in the office of Harry Reid, the then Democratic majority leader in the US Senate. Baker vividly remembers Reid telling him a story about Mitch McConnell, his opposite number in the Republican party.

Reid told me he couldnt get McConnell to go to the White House with him, Baker recalled. McConnell would say, I dont want to go to that place. Reid specifically told me, Mitch hates to go there.

For Baker, the distinguished professor of political science at Rutgers University, that exchange about McConnells resistance to even visiting Barack Obama in the White House provided a telling insight into how rigid in its partisanship the modern Republican party under his leadership had become. It resonated with McConnells comment two years previously, that the single most important thing we have to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.

Related: US supreme court vacancy upends Senate races with just weeks to go

Such a visceral determination to oust a sitting president was not in the spirit of the Senate as it had historically been conceived. The worlds greatest deliberative body, as the now fraying cliche goes, was meant to rise above party political point-scoring.

The Senate was once the place where problems got solved, where senators were able to converse across party lines, Baker told the Guardian. It was the place for the grown-ups. They thought of themselves as special. Well, theyre not special any more.

Just how far from special the US Senate has become has been exposed this week in the wake of Ruth Bader Ginsburgs death. McConnell lost no time in pressing ahead with a ruthless overturning of a precedent that he himself had invented in 2016.

In that year, the majority leader refused to hold hearings on Obamas nomination of Merrick Garland to the US supreme court on grounds that it was a presidential election year and that the people should decide by choosing the next incumbent of the White House. Yet this year McConnell has had no hesitation in applying the opposite rationale  that Donald Trump, not the people, should decide Ginsburgs successor  even though the election is less than two months away.

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The gambit is all but assured to go ahead after leading Republican senators signaled their willingness to fall in line. It would secure a 6-3 conservative stranglehold on the nations top court that could imperil core constitutional rights, including a womans right to an abortion under Roe v Wade.

McConnells less than subtle volte-face has been widely condemned as rank hypocrisy. But for Sabeel Rahman, president of the advocacy group Demos Action, it is far more serious than that.

This is a brazen power grab by the far right of the conservative party. They are shameless about using the exact opposite argument of the one they used last time because they want to control the courts for a generation, Rahman said.

The US Capitol building is seen from the Russell Senate Office Building. Photograph: Sarah Silbiger/Reuters

The move rankles all the more deeply among progressives and Democratic supporters given the profoundly uneven representation in the US Senate. Under the chambers reductionist formula, each state in the Union is awarded two seats  irrespective of population.

As a result, a single Californian voter has one-fortieth the representative power of a voter from Montana, given that California (population 40m) has the same number of Senate seats as Montana (population 1m). The polite justification for this discrepancy has been that the Founding Fathers wanted to give minority views and smaller states a voice.

But realpolitik came into it too, in the form of a compromise needed to persuade the southern slave-owning states to join the fledgling nation. What the world wanted from the US  cotton for the spinning mills of Manchester and Leeds  came from the south. So the slave states had to be bribed, Baker said.

Those inauspicious beginnings are reflected in the composition of the Senate, which over its 231 years has had a woeful record on diversity. In all those years, there have been almost 2,000 senators, of whom a paltry 10 have been African American (the current tally is three  the Democrats Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, and the Republican Tim Scott).

Baker had a striking way of looking at the Senate through the lens of gerrymandering, the tactic widely used by Republicans to draw district boundaries for the House of Representatives and state assemblies in such a way as to artificially increase white voters electoral power. The modern Senate is like one great gerrymander because of the vastly inflated representation it gives to white voters, he said.

With the advent of the industrial revolution and the urbanization that followed, the perversity of the slavery-soiled two-seats-per-state rule has become exacerbated. A few Democratic-controlled highly urbanized states with dense and diverse populations now have the same Senate representation as many increasingly depopulated predominantly white and Republican rural states.

David Birdsell, dean of Baruch Colleges Marxe School of Public and International Affairs, estimates that by 2040, Senators representing 70% of the American population will hold only 30% of the seats in the Senate. As a result, the original vision for the body has become increasingly distorted.

Yes, the founders intended to protect minority opinions, Birdsell said. But they did not intend to create a dictatorship of the minority that prevents the majority from moving forward with sensible policies that benefit everybody.

Related: The US supreme court has become a threat to democracy. Here's how we fix it | Sabeel Rahman

The widening electoral deficit has a direct impact on the composition of the US supreme court  as we are now witnessing. The last justice of the court to be nominated by Trump, Brett Kavanaugh, was confirmed by the Senate in a vote of 50 to 48.

All but one of those 50 senators were Republican, many from smaller states with largely white electorates. Between them, they represented a mere 44% of the American people.

The same pattern is likely to play out in the current storm over Ginsburgs replacement. A president elected through the electoral college by a minority of the American people (Trump attracted 3m fewer votes than Hillary Clinton in 2016) will nominate a justice who will be confirmed by Republican senators representing a minority of the American people.

The outcome will be a US supreme court whose 6-3 majority of staunch conservative justices will reflect a minority of public opinion on many of the key issues facing the country  from the climate crisis to abortion to racial justice.

This is a measure of how anti-democratic American democracy is right now, Rahman said. The central pillars of our democratic infrastructure are increasingly controlled by the right wing of a minority party that is overriding the urgent needs of most Americans. This is unsustainable  if this continues, we dont get to call ourselves a democracy.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky does not know the specific date of the meeting of advisers to the leaders of the Normandy format countries but assures that it is being prepared.

"I don't know when the meeting [of advisers] will take place. I have information that it is being prepared in the near future," Zelensky said at a joint press conference with President of Slovakia Zuzana Caputova in Bratislava, answering a question from an Ukrinform correspondent.

At the same time, he stressed that the meeting of advisers should be efficient, after which it would be possible to hold a meeting of the Normandy format countries leaders.

"I don't know when the leaders' meeting will take place, so I won't lie, but I know that the efficient meeting of advisers should be followed by the next meeting - the meeting of the leaders," the President said.

As reported, President Volodymyr Zelensky makes a state visit to Slovakia on Thursday.

A preliminary meeting of advisers to the leaders of the Normandy format countries took place in Berlin on September 11. Last week, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky expressed hope that the next meeting of advisers would take place within ten days, after which a summit of leaders would be possible.

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Still a punching bag?

Despite all that, his candidacy was saved by his most ardent supporters  older Black women who paid him back for his loyalty to former President Barack Obama by voting overwhelmingly for him in the South Carolina primary. Now his handlers are desperately trying to change him from a punching bag to a contender.

Incredibly, although Trump is the title holder and a fearsome attacker, while Biden seems a diffident wannabe, it is Biden who leads in most polls. But wait! Theres evidence the polls are tightening as Biden sits on his stool while Trump shadow boxes in his corner. It could be a two-month slugfest of innuendo feints, fake news jabs and Twitter punches from Trump while Biden responds with bobbing and weaving.

Trump will be hurling mighty upper cuts and body blows. Biden will be desperately parrying, hoping not to be pinned against the ropes, while praying his opponent doesnt land a knockout punch. In such a scenario, if Trump fails to amass an insurmountable lead in the early rounds, he might become so tired that even a bloodied, punch-drunk Biden could step in and land a winning tap. Of such stuff are dreams made.
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'.
Nearly eight years after Superstorm Sandy hit the East Coast, I recall standing on the steps of the Our Lady of Grace rectory in Hoboken as water converged from Fourth and Fifth streets and met in the center of Willow Avenue.

I worried what would happen to our cathedral-sized church if it was inundated with rising sewer water. But while seven of our parish building basements were destroyed by floodwater, the church was spared. Back in 1870 when work on the church began, the German architects and engineers constructed a drainage system that enabled flood-prone, low-lying Hobokens mother church to be spared by a once-in-a-hundred-year storm.

As the Catholic church marks the fifth anniversary of Laudato Si, Pope Francis' landmark encyclical on the environment, the world struggles to move fast enough to adjust to climate change that will bring rising waters to coastlines all over the world -- and especially to Hoboken, Jersey City and what has been called New Jerseys Gold Coast. Last spring, Francis announced a year-long commemoration to undertake ambitious actions to address the mounting environmental perils facing the planet and its people.

I renew my urgent call to respond to the ecological crisis, the pope said at the time.

The popes encyclical embraces ideas; applying them is what people of faith are asked to do. And one way is to vote for candidates who accept climate change is a reality and advocate incremental ways to fight it.

And this is no more urgent than in Hoboken, which has overbuilt in what was primarily swamp land that had once allowed floodwaters to disperse without damage to property. No more.

All the hard surfaces prevent the water from draining, Giuliano Giudici, a licensed civil engineer and Stevens Tech graduate who also grew up in Hoboken, said. The water has no place to go.

I remember an aerial photo of all the northwest land where Academy Bus parks its buses and they were submerged by Sandy.

Giudici became immersed in flood control when he was an engineer for Jersey City and oversaw massive infrastructure change in their sewer pipes that increased the capacity to hold water by 15 times the old pipes. He also said Jersey City changed its infrastructure first at the shore line -- Newport and then the old Colgate area -- and then proceeded inland, whereas Hoboken did the opposite, working first in the western flood-prone neighborhoods. Giudici said this was the wrong approach.

The perils are imminent.

An estimated 150 million people are living on land that will be inundated by 2050, according to a report from Climate Central last year.

Pulitzer Prize winner Gilbert M. Gaul calls repeated development on shorelines disaster capitalism.

Jeff Goodell documented the urgency in his book The Water Will Come. He used Miami as a perfect example of repeated coastal building damage even though they green light more massive structures and expect the federal government to repeatedly bail them out. Hes also not big on sea walls, especially the one being proposed for Hoboken.

In some cases, walls just make water problems worse, he wrote.

Residents of high-rises pushed back against former Mayor Dawn Zimmers multibillion-dollar Big U-like barrier along the waterfront because it blocked their views of Manhattan. Redirecting the wall behind the buildings would leave 35 of them exposed to rising waters and storm surges, Goodell wrote.

Giudici also scoffs at the Hoboken wall concept because it would have to enclose 100 percent of an area and not just only at the tip or the water will get inside. He also believes that the high-rise buildings right on the shore line shade the river and prevent nutrients from the sun getting to aquatic life. This illustrates how overbuilding adversely affects the sea creatures.

Francis wrote: Certain places need greater protection because of their immense importance for the global ecosystems, or because they represent water reserves and this safeguard other forms of life.

Next Sunday is the Feast of St. Francis, patron saint of the environment, and Pope Francis calls on his namesake: We are all creatures and everything in creation is related; all is related. I would dare say, everything is in harmony.

He made a connection between the pandemic and public health.

The neglect of creation and social injustices influence each other: we can say that there is no ecology without equality and there is no equality without ecology.

Giudici proposed a solution that his Stevens days may have inspired. Col. John Stevens bought William Bayards farm at Hoebuck, which is now the city of Hoboken, in the 18th century. Stevens built his estate at Castle Point, on land that would later become the site of Stevens Institute of Technology. Today, Castle Point is the highest point of Hoboken with breathtaking views of Manhattan and the Hoboken waterfront.

Giudici proposed the one surefire solution to Hobokens flooding is to make all of a Hoboken a castle with a moat around it. Kind of like a Venice on the Hudson, a much more ambitious solution than the quaint planters reclaiming parking spaces all around town.

The Rev. Alexander Santora is the pastor of Our Lady of Grace and St. Joseph, 400 Willow Ave., Hoboken, NJ 07030. Email: padrealex@yahoo.com; Twitter: @padrehoboken.

Prayer for the earth and the poor

Loving God, Creator of Heaven, Earth, and all therein contained. Open our minds and touch our hearts so that we can be part of Creation, your gift.

Be present to those in need in these difficult times, especially the poorest and most vulnerable. Help us to show creative solidarity as we confront the consequences of the global pandemic. Make us courageous in embracing the changes required to seek the common good. Now more than ever, may we all feel interconnected and interdependent.

Enable us to succeed in listening and responding o the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor. May their current sufferings become the birth-pangs of a more fraternal and sustainable world.

We pray through Christ our Lord, under the loving gaze of Mary Help of Christians,

Amen.

To learn more ...

On Care for Our Common Home, by Pope Francis; Paulist Press, 2015. $9.95.

The Geography of Risk: Epic Storms, Rising Seas, and the Cost of Americas Coasts, by Gilbert M. Gaul; Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2019. $28

The Water Will Come: Rising Seas, Sinking Cities, and the Remaking of the Civilized World, by Jeff Goodell; Little, Brown and Company, 2017. $28.
Mumbai, Sep 27 : The Shiv Sena on Sunday welcomed the Shiromani Akali Dal's (SAD) decision to quit the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance to protest against the three agriculture-related Bills.

The SAD is the second party -- and among the BJP's oldest allies -- after the Shiv Sena to have parted ways with the BJP in the past one year.

"Both parties (Shiv Sena and SAD) stood by the BJP through thick and thin while others joined hands when they smelt power. Shiv Sena was forced to quit the NDA last year while Akali Dal has now quit over the farm Bills. We felt sad over the development," Shiv Sena chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut said.

In October 2019, after the results of the Maharashtra Assembly polls were announced, Shiv Sena had broken ranks with the BJP as the latter, which won more seats, refused to concede the post of Chief Minister.

The Sena also bitterly accused BJP leaders of betraying it on the issue after promising to give the post of CM.

"Shiv Sena and SAD were pillars of the NDA which are no longer there and the present dispensation cannot be called NDA anymore," Raut added.

"This is a different kind of alliance. The Shiv Shiv appreciates Shiromani Akali Dal's decision to break ties with the NDA in the interest of farmers," Raut tweeted.
The proscribed secessionist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has denied being responsible for the recent attacks on security operatives in South East.

This followed reports of attacks on the operatives in some parts of the southeast by unidentified persons during which some of them were dispossessed of their service firearms.

The attacks reportedly began shortly after the recent clash between the groups members and security agents in Enugu.

At least, two secret service officers and some members of the group died during the clash which occurred when security agents tried to break up a meeting of the group in a primary school in the city.

Shortly after that, there were reports of attacks on security agents in various parts of the southeast with the group suspected of orchestrating the attacks to retaliate the killing of its members.

In a statement by the IPOB spokesperson, Emma Powerful, the organisation described the allegation of carrying out the attacks as false and propaganda.

It said the allegation was an attempt to discredit IPOB before the international community and wondered how members of an unarmed organisation would attack armed security personnel and escape unhurt.

We are not armed and have no plans to pick up arms. But should we decide to go into arms struggle which is not an option on the table, it will not be a secret affair. We wont depend on arms collected from any security agent to defend Biafra. That is childish and an insult to IPOB, it said.

Their latest lie is the allegation that IPOB is responsible for the purported attacks on security operatives in South East and South-South. We find it amusing how these unscrupulous elements without any contact address would think they can come to limelight via untenable allegations against a globally recognized peaceful group like IPOB.

We knew when and how the DSS recruited them to launch verbal attack against IPOB and its Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. But we want to inform them that IPOB is properly rooted and cannot be moved by false allegation and propaganda.

These irritants have sustained their unwarranted attacks on IPOB through fabricated and blatant lies, and cheap propaganda to impress their pay masters, the DSS.

Assuming but not conceding to this blatant falsehood: How can an unarmed man attack a fully armed security agent and escape unhurt? Doesnt it sound funny? What a shameful allegation! We know their aim: to discredit IPOB before the international community which is now interested in the matters we have raised concerning the atrocities perpetrated in Nigeria.

Ordinarily we wouldnt have bothered to dignify these detractors with a response as we have since known their stock in trade, but for the sake of the gullible ones and some innocent minds. There is no iota of truth in this fictitious claim. IPOB is not responsible for any attack against any security agent, Mr Powerful said.

The group warned those peddling such lies against IPOB to desist forthwith or be ready for the consequences of their blackmail against innocent people.

Unfortunately for them, the era of propaganda and cheap blackmail is gone. Frivolous and concocted allegations designed by DSS and government of Nigeria to blackmail IPOB can no longer stand. The world now knows better. IPOBs non-violent ideology about the Biafra project is well known and cannot change. But the inalienable right of the oppressed to defend himself against the oppressor is not illegitimate.

We are not armed and have no plans to pick up arms. But should we decide to go into arms struggle which is not an option on the table, it will not be a secret affair. We wont depend on arms collected from any security agent to defend Biafra. That is childish and an insult to IPOB.

All we need is Biafra, our own country which has been in existence before Britain created Nigeria and unequally lumped us together with these murderous Fulani that value cows above human lives. Marriage isnt by force. We are tired of this bondage and want a referendum to determine our fate. Simple!

We are monitoring and taking records of every single attack on our people and how Nigeria government and her security agencies abduct IPOB members and use chemicals and acid to murder many of our people in their custody to conceal evidence while those inconsequential and unreasonable groups claim to be Igbo group wont see the barbaric massacre of our people. Nigeria government and her security operatives as well as Biafra traitors and saboteurs in Biafraland and elsewhere must understand that IPOB cannot be decimated contrary to their erroneous calculations, and wishful thinking.

Meanwhile, the Abia State Government said it has received information of two separate attacks launched by yet to be identified persons against security agents in the state.

The government, however, did not mention which security agencies were involved or the exact location of the attacks. Rather, it confirmed that the security agents were dispossessed of their service arms during the attacks.

The Commissioner for Information, John Kalu, who confirmed the attacks in a statement, said the state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has directed security agencies in the state to ensure that perpetrators of the attacks are apprehended immediately and the arms recovered.

We also wish to strongly advise individuals and corporate organisations in the state to maintain high level of vigilance and take necessary measures to protect themselves, their customers and establishments, to complement the efforts of government and security agents

Parents and guardians are also advised to warn and monitor their children/wards to ensure they do not engage in criminal activities as the long arm of the law will surely catch up with anyone involved in criminal activities, he said

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Mr Kalu urged residents to go about their normal duties as the government has activated all necessary security protocols to protect lives and property of all citizens and residents.

However, all suspicious movements and persons should be promptly reported to the Abia State Police Command via this number; 0803 541 5405, he added
I was older when I moved to the United States, so you always go back to your roots, Sergio said. Im pretty proud of my heritage, absolutely.

Sergio and Suzannas parents still live in Mexico, and the Guerreros would visit often up until the coronavirus pandemic hit in March. Susannas father died recently, and that was difficult on the family.

The hardest thing was we cant travel, so we couldnt go to see him when he passed, so that was kind of hard on our family, Sergio said. I guess its the price you pay for being here.

Technology has made staying in touch with family easier than when they first came to the United States.

You can FaceTime, you can do anything, Sergio said. Back then, when we moved to the United States, the only way to communicate was by phone. Where my parents live, we grew up in a rural community, so they didnt even have phone service in their house back then, so it was kind of hard. Theyd have to travel. Wed have to set up arrangements for them to call us. Nowadays, its a lot easier.

Sergio said he loves working for the schools, and it makes him happy that everything he does is for the kids.
Wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, science without humanity, knowledge without character, politics without principle, commerce without morality, worship without sacrifice.  Mahatma Gandhis s seven deadly sins.

I am increasingly, by the day, becoming convinced and sadly disillusioned that as a country, unless and until we rise above being slaves to some of the above (or more) quoted human frailties, we will continue to struggle in attaining or experiencing national prosperity, maintaining any tangible, cohesive, social fabric, as well as live under a peaceful political hegemony. In my opinion, as well as that of a growing number of our compatriots, a lot of whom I interact or correspond with, it is relentlessly becoming clearer, that is, judging from the plethora of problems we incessantly face in the country, it is a fallacy to delude ourselves, falsely thinking that there is real peace in our country.

system

If any semblance of peace still exists (as some in our society, especially those who benefit from the system of governance tell anyone who cares to give the man ear, claim it does) it is at the least, superficial and illusionary. Beneath the veneer of outward signs of peace, lies an increasingly growing resentment and frustration from the populace at how we are governed.

What exactly constitutes peace in a country? Within what framework is a peaceful country described? What qualities should any country exhibit in order to be classified as peaceful? Before I continue with the theme of this article, may I share with the reader, extracts from an article which was written by Margaret P. Clark, Womens International League for Peace and Freedom, titled What makes for a peaceful nation.

It is sourced from https://wilpfact.wordpress.com/2013/10/03/what-makes-for-a-peaceful-nation/amp/ : The Pillars of Peace is a new conceptual framework for understanding and describing the factors that create peaceful societies. Developed by the Institute for Economics and Peace, it was launched September 10 at the United Nations in Geneva. The discussion used the report as a basis to explore a new approach for increasing resilience and wellbeing and the necessity for positive peace to be included on the post-2015 development agenda. According to the article, This framework defines national characteristics that are most closely associated with peace and has been derived from a process of statistical analysis.

The Pillars of Peace provides a framework for assessing the positive peace factors that create peaceful societies. The Pillars of Peace is an eight-part taxonomy as follows:

1. A well-functioning government: Based on several factors, from how governments are elected and the political culture they engender, to the quality of the public services they deliver and their political stability. Strong relationships across a number of these indicators and sub-indicators demonstrate the interdependent nature of the various governance indicators. These measures are consistently linked to peace.

2. Sound business environment: The strength of economic conditions as well as the formal institutions that support the operation of the private sector determine the soundness of the business environment. Business competitiveness and economic freedom are both associated with the most peaceful countries, as is the presence of regulatory systems that are conducive to business operation.

3. Equitable distribution of resources: This refers to income distribution but more importantly to whether there is equity and access to resources such as education and health. The UNs Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI) correlates with the GPI and even more strongly with the GPIs internal peace measure.

4. Acceptance of the rights of others: This category is designed to include both the formal laws that guarantee basic human rights and freedoms as well as the informal social and cultural norms that relate to behaviours of citizens.

These factors can be seen as proxies for tolerance between different ethnic, linguistic, religious, and socio-economic groups within a country. A commitment to human rights and freedom are key characteristics of peaceful countries, a claim supported by very strong correlations with several indexes measuring human rights. Also important are societal attitudes towards fellow citizens, minorities, ethnic groups, genders and foreigners.

5. Good relations with neighbours: This refers to the relations between individuals and communities as well as to cross-border relations. Countries with positive external relations are more peaceful and tend to be more politically stable, have better functioning governments, are regionally integrated and have low levels of organised internal conflict.

6. Free flow of information: This captures the extent to which citizens can gain access to information, whether the media is free and independent, as well as how well-informed citizens are and the extent of their engagement in the political process. Peaceful countries tend to have free and independent media which disseminates information in a way that leads to greater openness and helps individuals and civil society work together. This leads to better decision- making and rational responses in times of crisis.

7. High levels of human capital: Abroad human capital base increases the pool of human capital which in turn improves economic productivity, enables political participation, and increases social capital.

Education in many ways is a fundamental building block through which societies can build resilience and develop mechanisms to learn and adapt. Mean years of schooling is closely associated with the most peaceful countries, however tertiary levels of education and the percentage of government spending dedicated to education is not statistically as important.

8. Low levels of corruption: In societies with high corruption, resources are inefficiently allocated, often leading to a lack of funding for essential services. The resulting inequality can lead to civil unrest and in extreme situations can be the catalyst for more violence. Low corruption, by contrast, can enhance confidence and trust in institutions, which in turn helps to create informal institutions that enhance peace. Now deaxr reader, after reading through and comparing what the above states, can one safely describe our country as peaceful? I leave that to the reader to decide.

Some people erroneously describe the absence of war or conflict in a country, as a sign that there is peace in that particular country. As can be seen from the above extracts from the website, there is more to a country being classified as peaceful, than meets the eye. If one has been resident in our for country for a number of years, it starkly evident that in order to be classified as a peaceful country, there is ample evidence supporting a need for change of mindset and the introduction of a type of governance that will subscribe to the eight Pillars of Peace. As things stand, we are woefully off the mark! One thing well-known about emaSwati, is their uncanny, baffling and often taken advantage of, ability of suffering in silence (kubindvwa kubonwa with emaSwati). The bad guys have committed a plethora of unforgivable escapades, knowing very well that not a whimper of determined resistance, outcry or any enough is enough stance, would be forthcoming from the hapless citizens. Sad, is it not? We cannot call ourselves a peaceful country when we have adopted negative tenets like greed, abuse of power by politicians and institutions that should - constitutionally and morally - uphold the rule of law. Deeply rooted in our hearts is relentless hate and despise for our less privileged, fellow compatriots. Those of our people who still have their morals intact, who condemn corrupt practices that have become the new norm and Swati way of life are called names, harassed and despised.

opinions

We - lately - persistently suffer from lack of tolerance, especially for differing opinions; some of our leaders have become conceited and suffer from consequential attitudes. There (allegedly) now exists opposing factions even in respected institutions like Parliament which, ethically, should be working together for the common good of taking our nation to greater heights. Such and more negative practices that we have adopted are dangerously and relentlessly taking the country down the road to perdition and destruction. Kwentekani? What has gone wrong with our society, ye maSwati akitsi? Why are we destroying this once beautiful country, which had so much potential? Why have we stooped to such base, appalling, low levels of human character? What happened to the famous, Swati, spirit of Ubuntu? I weep when I observe how even the church has (with the exception of a few, handful of the older traditional churches, which still uphold tenets of true Christianity) joined the moral decay bandwagon, shamefully participating in worldly and carnal pleasures, desecrating the very foundations of true Christianity our Lord Christ so diligently taught, preached and laid the foundations for us to follow.
The Interior Ministry of Libya's UN-backed government on Saturday said that 22 illegal immigrants have been rescued and three bodies were recovered off Libya's western coast, Trend reports citing Xinhua.

The immigrants were rescued by two fishing bulldozers from a wrecked boat that carried 35 illegal immigrants off the coast of the western city of Al-Khoms, the ministry said in a statement.

"The necessary measures were taken and the immigrants were handed over to the anti-illegal immigration department," the statement said.

Following the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been plagued by insecurity and chaos that prompts thousands of illegal immigrants to attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea toward Europe from the country.

According to the International Organization for Migration, thousands of illegal migrants have been rescued and returned to Libya in 2020.
On Sunday, Iraqs military reported another attack. Officials said a convoy of trucks driven by Iraqis was targeted in the central province of Babil. Were terrified, said one Iraqi who works with the U.S. coalition, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he feared being targeted by the militias. What do they want us to say? That its worth serving the U.S. mission with our lives? They dont even pay us very much.
A clip of Danny Dyer discussing Oswald Mosley has gone viral, after it aired in a documentary the actor presented on late playwright Harold Pinter.

The Sky Arts programme, Danny Dyer on Harold Pinter, follows Dyer in a retrospective of his friendship with Pinter as a young actor.

During the documentary, Dyer examines Pinters childhood as a young Jewish boy living in the East End of London during the Thirties, surrounded by Nazi sentiments and Oswald Mosleys blackshirts.

These surroundings helped inspire Pinter to become an anti-fascist campaigner, who regularly joined marches and demonstrations.

It was a segment on the Battle of Cable Street  the clash between the Metropolitan police, Mosleys British Union of Fascists, and anti-fascist protestors on 4 October 1936  that has particularly captured viewers attention.

My East End was full of love, Dyer began, but it sounds like young Harold lived with hate.

He continued: Everyone down here knows about the Cable Street riot in 1936, when Oswald Mosley and his blackshirts  not a boyband, but a bunch of fascist slags  came goosestepping down the street.

Dyer then showed a photo of Mosley, referring to him as a melt.

He explained that, us EastEnders, we wont stand for terrorism".

Everybody came together and they gave the Nazis a good kicking, he said.

After the clip was shared on social media, Dyers name began to trend on Twitter, as fans called for him to be commissioned as a presenter for future documentaries.

Petition for someone to commission a documentary about working-class histories presented by Danny Dyer, one viewer tweeted.

Danny Dyer calling Oswald Mosley a melt is what I didn't know I had always wanted to see, another said.

Danny Dyer on Harold Pinter received largely positive reviews from critics.
(Newser)  President Trump celebrated the nomination of his third Supreme Court justice on Saturday night with a raucous campaign rally in Harrisburg, Pa., that he launched by mentioning Judge Amy Coney Barrett beneath a screen that read "fill that seat." CBS News notes that's the latest chant to circulate at the president's reelection rallies in the wake of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death, and that rally-goers Saturday night seemed to approve of the selection of Barrett. Touting Barrett's academic record, Trump crowed that, "Thats a little better than Joe Biden, wouldnt you say? She should be running for president," per PennLive. "Most important of all, she will defend your God-given rights and freedoms," Trump said.

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Pennsylvania looms large in the November election, with PennLive noting that the president has visited five times this month, including holding two rallies within the week, while Biden has also spent considerable time in the Keystone state. Trump won the state in 2016 by just 44,000 votes, and current polls show it in similar tossup territory, with Biden slightly ahead. One critic of Trump's rally: Gov. Tom Wolf, who slammed "his decision to bring thousands of people together in a tight space in the midst of a global pandemic caused by an airborne virus is flat out wrong. No matter what party you support, all Americans should be very concerned that the president has put headlines and publicity above the health and safety of our families and communities" PennLive notes that many attendees weren't wearing masks. (Read more Amy Coney Barrett stories.)
A disaster has been declared in a Texan city after a brain-eating amoeba was found in their local water supply - tested after a six-year-old boy died.

Josiah McIntyre died on September 8 after playing in the water in Lake Jackson.

Officials believe the amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, either entered his body at a splash pad in the city, or from a hose in the family home.

The amoeba is usually fatal if it enters via the nose, with 90 to 95 per cent of people who are infected dying.

In August Tanner Lake Wall, 13, died following a family vacation to a North Florida campground equipped with a water park and lake.

In July, the Florida Department of Health announced that another case was reported in Hillsborough County.

Josiah McIntyre, aged six, died on September 8 after playing in water near his home

McIntyre is believed to have come into contact with water at a splash pad or from a hose

Eight locations on Friday were told not to use the water; on Saturday, all but Lake Jackson were given the all-clear. Lake Jackson's 27,000 residents are being told to use bottled water

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says people cannot get infected by swallowing contaminated water, and it cannot be passed from person to person.

Those infected with Naegleria fowleri have symptoms including fever, nausea and vomiting, as well as a stiff neck and headaches. Most die within a week.

Infections are rare in the United States, with 34 deaths recorded between 2009-18.

'The notification to us at that time was that he has played at one of play fountains and he may have also played with a water hose at the home,' said Modesto Mundo, the city manager.

He told KCENTV that the city of 27,000 people, 50 miles south of Houston on the Gulf of Mexico, shut down the splash pad immediately after the boy's death.

Lake Jackson on Saturday remained under a Do Not Use Water Advisory

Initial test results came back negative, and so on September 17 officials discussed a second set of tests with the Center for Disease Control, the Brazoria County health department and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

Tropical Storm Beta slowed their efforts, but on September 22 multiple tests were carried out in Lake Jackson, and on September 25 they were confirmed to be positive for the amoeba at three of the 11 sites in the city.

Those positive samples included water from the Lake Jackson Civic Center Splash Pad, the family's home hose bib and a dead end fire hydrant close to the splash pad in downtown.

TCEQ investigators took samples from water sources across Lake Jackson

This photomicrograph of a brain tissue specimen depicts the cytoarchitectural changes associated with a free-living amebic infection, which may have been caused by either a Naegleria fowleri, or an Acanthamoeba sp

'We're surprised just as everybody that the tests came back for the system,' Mundo said.

WHAT IS A BRAIN-EATING AMOEBA? Naegleria fowleri is commonly referred to as the 'brain-eating amoeba' as it can cause a rare and devastating infection of the brain called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). But the infection is very rare, and according to the CDC, there have been about 35 cases reported in the U.S. in the last decade. The single-celled organism is commonly found in warm freshwater, such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs, as well as in soil. It usually infects people when contaminated water enters the body through the nose. Once the amoeba enters the nose, it travels to the brain where it causes PAM, which is usually fatal. Infection typically occurs when people go swimming or diving in warm freshwater places, like lakes and rivers. In very rare instances, Naegleria infections may also occur when contaminated water from other sources (such as inadequately chlorinated swimming pool water or heated and contaminated tap water) enters the nose. You cannot get infected from swallowing water contaminated with Naegleria. Advertisement

'But now that it's been detected in three separate spots that's where the questions come up: is it in the system?'

Mundo said 50 per cent of the city's water comes from the Brazoria Water Authority and the other half comes from wells.

Lake Jackson has closed off its water system. TCEQ is now working with the city to get them off the BWA and go completely to well water.

Mundo said the goal is to see if there is contamination in their system, or whether it is spread across the region.

On Friday eight communities, including Lake Jackson, were told not to drink the water.

Those listed, in addition to Lake Jackson, were Freeport, Angleton, Brazoria, Richwood, Oyster Creek, Clute, and Rosenberg.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice also sent water tanker trucks to two prison facilities - TDCJ Clemens and TDCJ Wayne Scott - which were impacted.

The tanker trucks were used to provide water for showers at the two prison facilities.

Bottled water was taken into the prisons on 18-wheelers loaded with pallets.

Mundo said the problem seems to be localized, and on Saturday residents of seven towns in the region were allowed to use the water again.

Lake Jackson, however, remained under a 'Do Not Use' order.

Mundo said that TCEQ is testing the system now for chlorine residual, and will consider adding a high dose of chlorine to the system for around 60 days.

'The water may be able to be used, but at this stage, we have not been told that yet,' he said.

'That's what TCEQ is working with us to see if we can get a super chlorinated level that makes it in their mind safe to drink.'

Cases of bottled water are being distributed to local residents.

Naegleria fowleri is found around the world. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the majority of infections in the US have been caused by contaminated freshwater in southern states.

An infection was previously confirmed in the US state of Florida earlier this year. At the time, health officials there urged locals to avoid nasal contact with water from taps and other sources.
Amid massive protests by thousands of farmers in different parts of India against the farm bills passed by Parliament recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (September 27) tried to allay the fears of the farmers and hailed them for the role played by farmers towards building an aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).

Addressing the 69th edition of his monthly radio broadcast, PM Modi said, During this pandemic farmers have suffered but they did not give up. I get letters from farmers who tell me how technologies are changing Farmers are playing a major role in the efforts to build an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

"In Lucknow 'Irada farmer producers' that frees farmers from mediators and gives them independence to sell their crop on their own price. Agriculture requires more commercially viable technologies to make it more profitable. Our efforts should aim for welfare of the poorest in the country," he added.

Live TV

The prime minister said that the farmers suffered a lot during the COVID-19 lockdown but they did not give up and used the power given to them by the government to sell their vegetables and fruits anywhere they want to earn money. "During the Covid-19 pandemic, farmers have suffered a lot, however, they have not given up. Farmers are earning 10-12 lakh per care every year by growing vegetables..sweet corn, cucumber. They have the power to sell it to whoever they want (from anywhere they are getting better price)," PM Modi said.

PM Modi also talked about the tradition of story-telling in the Indian culture and said, "History of stories is as ancient as the human civilization itself. 'Where there is a soul, there is a story'.... In India, there has been a rich tradition of storytelling. We're proud to be denizens of land that nurtured tradition of Hitopadesha and Panch Tantra," he says.
He is the eldest child of actor Jude Law and designer Sadie Frost.

And Rafferty Law certainly seemed to have inherited his parents' good looks as he was seen arriving at the Valentino show at Milan Fashion Week on Sunday.

The actor, 23, put on a brooding display as he clenched his jaw for the camera and dressed in only blacks and greys.

Stylish: Rafferty Law certainly seemed to have inherited his parents' good looks (Jude pictured right in September 2019) as he arrived at the Valentino show at Milan Fashion Week on Sunday

Rafferty wore smart black cuttaway trousers, which he matched with a dark V-neck sweater and grey Valentino trench coat.

He had a set of polished black trainers on his feet, while he accessorised with a chunky golden chain necklace from Missoma's upcoming men's collection, which is due for release on November 4.

The London-based performer slicked his chestnut curls back across his head, and sported stubble on his cheeks.

The rising star is currently waiting the upcoming release of his feature film Twist, a modern-day adaptation of Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist, which was due to come out this year.

Movie star looks: Rafferty slicked back his hair and clenched his jaw for the cameras

Throwback: He seemed eerily similar to his dad during his younger days (pictured above with Rafferty's mum Sadie Frost in 1996)

Safety first: The London-based performer was seen to don a face mask as a result of the ongoing pandemic

Rafferty is keen to show off his abilities, explaining in an interview earlier this year with Wonderland magazine: 'The script and the cast blew me away. I was like, "The pressure is on. I really need to put in the time."'

Reflecting on forging an acting career in the shadow of his famous parents, he added: 'I think there have been advantages and disadvantages to it.'

'I've always focused on pursuing the things I love and proving to people that I'm hardworking.

His father's son: Although still coming to fashion events, Rafferty is set to kick start his movie career this year

Multi-talented: Rafferty is also the frontman for 'modern-day street punk' band Outer Stella Overdrive

'I'm just really excited for Twist to come out. I want it to speak for itself. And the same with my music.'

Rafferty is also the frontman for 'modern-day street punk' band Outer Stella Overdrive, who are releasing their first EP this year.

As well as his hard work and multiple talents Rafferty wants to be known for 'kindness' too, a quality he respects in his mother Sadie, 54.

Out and about: Mika made a rare public appearance as he also attended the presentation

'She goes out of her way to reach out to people [and] she's always encouraged me to find my own path,' he gushed.

Jude, 47, and Sadie divorced in 2003, after six years of marriage.

In her autobiography Crazy Days, Sadie blamed depression that 'weaved a dance of destruction' through her adult life on the breakdown of their marriage.

Jude is now married to psychologist Phillipa Coan, 32, who he recently welcomed his sixth child with.

Better safe than sorry: The Beirut-born musician, 37, proved safety comes first as he sported a protective face mask to the star-studded presentation

Sharp: Flashing a peace sign at the cameras, the media personality cut a dapper figure in a sharp white suit, which he teamed with a plain T-shirt
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 22:35:20|Editor: huaxia

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JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the salary of the Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula would be docked for three months over ANC's September trip to Zimbabwea, it was announced.

This comes after Mapisa-Nqakula gave an ANC delegation including Secretary General Ace Magashule a lift to Zimbabwe on an airforce jet. The delegation used the opportunity to meet with Zimbabwe's ruling party Zanu-PF over political issues happening there.

The president said "it was an error of judgment" to use a state aircraft to deliver a political message to another country.

"The President has further sanctioned the Minister by imposing a salary sacrifice on the Minister's salary for three months, starting from 1 November 2020," acting president's spokesman Tyrone Seale said in a statement.

The amount would be paid to the Solidarity Fund set up to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ramaphosa has also informed the minister to direct the ANC to repay the costs of the flight to Harare and report to him once that has been completed. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 09:52:52|Editor: huaxia

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SANTIAGO, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chilean Deputy Health Minister Paula Daza on Saturday expressed her government's concern about the increase in the country's daily COVID-19 cases in recent days.

"We have seen an increase in the number of cases in the last two days, which we have to look at with great caution," the official told local press, adding that the rise could be due to citizens not taking proper precautions during last week's national holidays.

Arturo Zuniga, the health ministry's deputy minister for aid networks, urged Chileans to follow recommendations from the World Health Organization.

"We must learn to live with this coronavirus, learn to use masks permanently, wash our hands frequently throughout the day and practice physical isolation," he said.

The ministry reported 64 more deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing the death toll from COVID-19 to 12,591. Enditem
This is Naked Capitalism fundraising week. 904 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, thanking our guest writers

How to drive investment into sustainable infrastructure World Economic Forum

Investment in Fossil Fuels Yields Much Less Returns Than the Green Sector FAIR

Why we need water futures MarketWatch (dk). Paging Michael Burry.

EY, WeWork, and another connection Francine McKenna, The Dig

Ex-eBay workers to plead guilty to sending spiders to Massachusetts bloggers CBS

When coffee makers are demanding a ransom, you know IoT is screwed Ars Technica

Amazons Bizarre Home Drone Flies Around Inside Your House Wired. No.

Google parent agrees to $310M misconduct lawsuit settlement Seattle Times. Sexual miscount by executives. No drinking of blood, apparently, except metaphorically.

#COVID19

Covid-19: Do many people have pre-existing immunity? British Medical Journal. A stream of studies that have documented SARS-CoV-2 reactive T cells in people without exposure to the virus are raising questions about just how new the pandemic virus really is, with many implications. At least six studies have reported T cell reactivity against SARS-CoV-2 in 20% to 50% of people with no known exposure to the virus. Though these studies are small and do not yet provide precise estimates of pre-existing immunological responses to SARS-CoV-2, they are hard to dismiss, with several being published in Cell and Nature. Susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Children and Adolescents Compared With Adults JAMA. Findings: In this systematic review and meta-analysis including 32 studies, children and adolescents younger than 20 years had 44% lower odds of secondary infection with SARS-CoV-2 compared with adults 20 years and older; this finding was most marked in those younger than 10 to 14 years. Data were insufficient to conclude whether transmission of SARS-CoV-2 by children is lower than by adults. Cloth Masks to reduce COVID19 transmission christina j williamson. Well worth a read, whether you make your own masks or not. The bottom line: A good mask needs to work well in three ways: filtration  double layered tight weave, high thread count fabrics are best, and additional filter materials sandwiched between fabric can make it even better fit  it needs to properly cover both nose and mouth, and to fully seal around the face) breathability  if you cant breathe through it at the rate you need to for your level of activity, it is more likely to leak and you are more likely to take it off or create a by-pass Also  obvious when you think about it  if your glasses fog up, you dont have a mask problem; you have a fit problem. * * * I moved to Canada right before the pandemic began. When COVID struck, I found a community Globe and Mail The Virus Sent Droves to a Small Town. Suddenly, Its Not So Small. NYT (Re Silc). As for [Anna] White, she has found herself wondering how all these remote workers  many in tech or finance  will change the social fabric. The other night, at the Red Fox Inn, a bar in Winhall, she approached a couple she had seen around town, asking them, simply, Covid refugees? The answer was yes.'

China?

Malaysia will not follow US sanctions against 24 Chinese companies, says ambassador Straits Times

Vietnams Struggles in the S. China Sea: Challenges and Opportunities The Maritime Executive

India

Syraqistan

Brexit

UK/EU

New Cold War

RussiaGate

Justice Dept. disclosures cast fresh doubt on Trump-Russia investigation WaPo. The lead: The Justice Department has released a pair of documents casting fresh doubt on the judgment of senior law enforcement officials who investigated possible links between Russia and the Trump campaign in 2016, showing that one of the FBI case agents thought prosecutors were out to get Trump and that a key source of allegations against the president had been previously investigated as a possible Russian asset. Oh. New Documents Further Unveil Obamas Anti-Trump Campaign Moon of Alabama

2020

Supreme Court Battle

Democrats in Disarray

California NAACP president aids corporate prop campaigns  collects $1.2 million and counting Cal Matters. I wonder if shell get as much press as Rachel Dolezal

Our Famously Free Press

Four years ago, Trump survived Access Hollywood  and a media myth of indestructibility was born Margaret Sullivan, WaPo FOX is free; NYT and WaPo are paywalled: But, you shitlib lanyards are so sure you're the cats ass, you think you can charge for propaganda that the other guy is giving away for free and then you turn around and ask "why are we losing the war for the hearts of minds of middle America"  you're stupid. Very stupid.  Donald Trump is a fascist & so are his supporters (@NatSecReporter) September 26, 2020

Protests and Riots

How a Pledge to Dismantle the Minneapolis Police Collapsed NYT

Class Warfare

Find Yourself a Tailor. Its Not Fancy, Its Freeing NYT

Agricultural Time During a Pandemic Sierra (DG).

Urban design explained: the signs, the symbols, the mysterious objects, and why LED panels have replaced the glow of neon South China Morning Post

Antidote du Jour (via):

Bonus antidote:

A pair of Octopus cyanea on a date among the dunes pic.twitter.com/m1UkYeO91L  Keishu Asada (@CephWarden) September 25, 2020

See yesterday Link and Antidote du Jour here.
London, Sep 27 : About 1,700 Manchester Metropolitan Univesity students have been asked to self-isolate after 127 pupils tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to media reports.

In a statement on Saturday, the Manchester City Council said that the restrictions affect students in accommodation blocks at Birley campus and Cambridge Halls after "127 students have tested positive with a number of others symptomatic or self-isolating", the BBC reported.

Meanwhile, a university spokesman said disciplinary action will be taken against any breaches.

Students across Manchester have been urged to attend virtual freshers' events and avoid big parties.

Meanwhile, the order has left students confused as some of them had no warning of a lockdown and are now trapped in halls of residence.

Joe Barnes, who recently started at the Manchester Metropolitan University, told the BBC on Saturday that self-isolation had "left the morale of my flat really low".

Student Megan Tingy said that "we haven't received any emails from university about this (self-isolation order) and they seem to be holding us in against our will".

Trisha Kakooza, another student, said that "we had eight hours to go get food to last us for two weeks".

Most parts of Greater Manchester have been subject to stricter restrictions since July after a spike in coronavirus cases, the BBC reported.

The rate has also doubled in the city of Manchester to 1,026 positive tests in the week up to September 22, compared to 515 cases in the previous week.

The lockdown comes as students in Scotland were told not to go to pubs, parties or restaurants this weekend in an effort to stem the spread of the virus.
The injured have been rushed to hospital.

Three Ukrainian soldiers have been wounded in a blast of an improvised explosive device near the village of Orikhove in Donbas, eastern Ukraine.

This was reported by the press center of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) Headquarters on Facebook on Sunday morning.

Read alsoDonbas war update: Russian proxies violate truce twice on Sept 25

The injured have been rushed to hospital, it said.

In the past 24 hours, three violations of the ceasefire by Russia-controlled formations were recorded in the JFO zone as of September 27.

There were no combat losses and injuries amid enemy attacks on the Ukrainian military.

What is more, the JFO HQ said, servicemen and rescuers of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine had extinguished a fire on a five-hectare site not far from the village of Mayorsk.

Since Sunday midnight, Russia-led forces have already violated the ceasefire one time; no Ukrainian army casualties have been reported since then.

More related news reports:
The Mullen Fire has grown to an estimated 80,000 acres  more than twice the size reported Friday night  as of Saturday afternoon, Gov. Mark Gordon tweeted.

Strong winds helped to spread the swelling wildfire in southern Wyoming as authorities ordered new evacuations and closures. Gordon said there had not yet been any confirmed structure losses.

In a community Q&A held virtually Saturday evening, Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team officials said the fire was at 69,138 acres according to their most recent perimeter map but that the fire had grown substantially since then. No firefighters have yet been injured.

All bets are off with this fire, Operations Section Chief Chris Zoller said. People ask all the time, Is Laramie safe? Yes, I believe Laramie is safe. But will this fire travel out into the prairie and sage brush? Definitely. You put 70 mph behind any kind of fire, its going to eat anything that it can and continue to move across that landscape.

Officials said that firefighters are prioritizing protecting infrastructure.

Zoller said officials didnt have enough manpower yet to begin evaluating specific subdivisions. He did say conditions looked good over the next few days for the town of Centennial to avoid the fire, though it is not out of the woods yet, he said.

He said the recent growth has stretched the fire teams resources extremely thin.

Officials said they expect the fire to be a long-term problem, calling to mind the Beaver Creek Fire in 2016 and the Ryan Fire in 2018.

Were, unfortunately, going to have to prepare for this Mullen Fire to be a similar situation, Forest Supervisor Russ Bacon said.

A mandatory full evacuation is in place for areas near Sheep Mountain to Lake Hattie Reservoir and north of Highway 230, the National Weather Service in Cheyenne tweeted Saturday afternoon. Evacuees should take Highway 230 and travel east or take Big Hollow Road to Highway 130 and go east. The Albany County Sheriffs Office announced evacuations Saturday for those on Highway 11 along Sheep Mountain, from Fox Creek Road north to Hecht Creek, as well as the Wold, Beehive, Graham, Mountain Home and adjacent areas.

The fire had reached almost 36,000 acres on Friday amid winds that reached speeds of 50 mph, according to a Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team statement.

Conditions have limited aircraft use in the area, and high winds and poor visibility are expected to limit aerial operations again today, Gordon said in his tweet.

More than 450 personnel have been assigned to the fire, the governor said, including air tankers, two Super Scooper aircraft and six helicopters.

State resources, including Wyoming State Forestry Division and local emergency managers have provided critical assistance and support as well, he tweeted. ... This remains an extremely dangerous situation.

Gordon said that Woods Landing and Jelm are still the areas of critical concern, and evacuations are in place for everything from Albany south to Fox Park.

Rep. Liz Cheney also tweeted Saturday afternoon that the fire was estimated to be 80,000 acres.

The national fire database InciWeb had not yet updated its acreage Saturday as of 6 p.m.

Temperatures in the area are expected to fall Sunday, and humidity is expected to rise as well. However, more dry, warm and windy weather is forecast for next week, with the humidity potentially dropping back into the teens on Tuesday.

Across Wyomings southern border, the Larimer County Sheriffs Office issued a voluntary evacuation order Saturday for the northwest part of the county.

Zoller, the operations section chief, said he didnt expect the fire to connect with the Cameron Peak fire burning in northern Colorado.

That would be quite a big fire, he said. but Im not going to rule anything out of possibility. I dont think it will get out there, but 70 mph winds is a lot of winds.

The winds pushed the fire to the east and forced authorities to suspend aerial firefighting operations on Friday afternoon. Powerful winds continued overnight Friday, causing extreme fire behavior, the statement read. By Saturday morning, the fires front was one mile north of Fox Park, extending east to just south of Lake Owen.

The subdivisions of Keystone and Lake Creek were impacted by the fire, the statement said. Firefighters were able to access areas after the flaming front passed and continued to perform structure protection actions.

No information about damage was available. Fire officials said crews were aggressively working to protect structures.

Powerful winds continued to blow on Saturday, causing the blaze to spread again. Meanwhile, hazy conditions were reported in Laramie and Cheyenne due to the smoke plume, and smoke has reportedly spread to Colorado and Nebraska.

On Friday, authorities expanded an already sizable closure on the Medicine Bow National Forest west of Laramie. The Albany County Emergency Management Agency and Albany County Sheriffs Office, meanwhile, announced evacuations in the Foxborough community, the Woods Landing Corridor and Fox Park to Albany south through the valley to Fox Creek Road, including areas west of Highway 11.

Officials had earlier ordered evacuations of the Lake Creek, Rambler, Rob Roy and Keystone communities.

The fire was 2% contained as of Saturday morning. Authorities suspect humans caused it.

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Joshua Wolfson Editor Joshua Wolfson joined the Star-Tribune in 2007, covering crime and health before taking over the arts section in 2013. He also served as managing editor before being named editor in June 2017. He lives in Casper with his wife and their two kids. Follow Joshua Wolfson 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
Hundreds of people have staged a protest in Kyrgyzstans capital Bishkek after a leaked video appeared to show a prominent politician suggesting that the former Soviet republic should reconsider its independence.



The demonstration on September 27 came as the Central Asian nation prepares for parliamentary elections on October 4.



In the leaked video, Marat Amankulov, leader of the pro-government Birimdik party, appears to say that the past 30 years of independence shows that Kyrgyzstan must go back home."



He added that the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union (EES), which includes post-Soviet states Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, should become a single country.



Protesters on September 27 called on election authorities to bar Amankulov and his party from running in the elections.



Waving national flags, the protesters chanted: "Don't be a slave!"



The remarks were purportedly made by Amankulov during a meeting with Russian politicians earlier this year.



In a statement issued after the video was widely circulated on social media, Amankulov described the leak as a provocation and said his remarks had been taken out of context.



Independence is the greatest achievement of our people. Preserving and strengthening the statehood of Kyrgyzstan is the sacred duty of every citizen, he said.



Amankulovs Birimdik party is among 16 registered for the parliamentary elections.

With reporting by Eurasianet
Following the closure of schools due to the COVID-19, Government has come up with an idea to hold "Radio Pathashala" to teach students of Class 1 to 8 in the state.

According to School Program Authority, this syllabus-based student Educational Programme "Radio Pathashala" is going to be broadcast on All India Radio from September 28, every week from Monday to Friday between 10 am to 10:15 am to facilitate the continuous learning of students.

Bhupendra S Poonia, State Project Director, School Program Authority has asked all District Officers, all District Project Coordinators, all Block Education Officers to intimate all Headmasters and CRCCs to widely disseminate among the students and parents to listen to the programme.

The Programme will be broadcast from all Radio Stations at the same time and will also be uploaded on DIKSHA platform.

(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.)
Tom Ridge, a former Republican governor of Pennsylvania and first U.S. secretary of Homeland Security, plans to vote for Trumps Democratic opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden, he announced on social media Sunday morning.

This also will be the first time Ridge has ever voted Democratic in a U.S. presidential election, he told The Philadelphia Inquirer in an opinion column.

Its time to put country over party. Its time to dismiss Donald Trump, he posted on Twitter.

Its time to put country over party. Its time to dismiss Donald Trump.



Why Im voting for @JoeBiden on November 3rd. https://t.co/rM9MnwjZhr  Gov. Tom Ridge (@RidgeGlobal) September 27, 2020

Ridge told The Inquirer in the piece published Sunday he actually considers it a point of personal pride to be recognized as being among the first Republicans to reject Donald Trump. It wasnt the first time hes dismissed Trump either. He goes on to say in December 2015 he told NBCs Chuck Todd he could never support Trump.

I said then that he was an embarrassment to the Republican Party and our country, Ridge stated. I said he belittles, demeans, and ridicules people who disagree with him, and that Ive never thought that loud, obnoxious, and simpleminded solutions to complex problems are the kind of qualities we want in a president. I believe that earned me my first of several Trump tweets of indignation.

Ridge compared the coronavirus pandemic to his time leading the Department of Homeland Security following the 9/11 terror attacks. He credited U.S. President George W. Bush in then unifying the country while comparing Trump as incapable and significantly falling short. The current president, he stated, could have traveled to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in February and talked plainly about the challenge Mother Nature intended to throw at Americans and how it could be faced with all the fortitude and resources we could bring to bear.

Perhaps I have more trust in Americans being able to handle the truth than the president, Ridge stated.

In supporting Biden, Ridge also stated the former vice president has the experience and empathy necessary to help Americans navigate not only the pandemic, but also other issues that have fractured the nation, including social injustice, income inequality and immigration reform.

Ridge currently serves as the chairman of Ridge Global, which provides clients with solutions to cyber security, international security and risk management issues. After 9/11, he became the first assistant to the President for Homeland Security and in January 2003, became the first Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. President George W. Bush stated in Ridges online bio he had the strength, experience, personal commitment and authority to accomplish this critical mission.

During his DHS tenure, Ridge worked with more than 180,000 employees from a combined 22 agencies to create an agency that facilitated the flow of people and goods; instituted layered security at air, land and seaports; developed a unified national response and recovery plan; protected critical infrastructure; integrated new technology; and improved information sharing worldwide, according to his website.

Ridge was twice elected governor of Pennsylvania. He served as the states 43rd governor from 1995 to 2001 and prior, was one of the first Vietnam combat veterans elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, in which he served six terms.

Ridge isnt the first Pennsylvania Republican lawmaker to endorse Biden.

Former U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent in an August opinion piece for CNN stated he was voting for Biden. He also didnt back Trump in 2016, then stating he was casting his vote for independent candidate Evan McMullin, a former CIA operations officer.

Dent labeled Trump a threat to the rule of law and functional democracy and not representative of the Republican Party that he knows.

Donald Trump is not a conservative: He is an illiberal populist and nativist whose chaotic approach and managerial malfeasance have undermined the functioning of government, Dent wrote on cnn.com.

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.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
By Clifford Kulwin

Sunday night, we Jews begin our annual observance of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. We fast, pray, and spend much of the day in our virtual synagogues.

Forgiveness for our sins is the days key theme, but an additional focus is Yizkor, a remembrance of those who have died. We offer prayers for loved ones we personally have lost but there is also a Martyrology, a liturgy devoted to those, from centuries ago to the present, who died for the Sanctification of Gods name.

Martyrs, in Judaism, are not angels. They do not become saints. They are individual Jews who were killed simply because they were Jewish. We honor their memories. Through the liturgy of the day we keep them in our hearts.

Two thousand years ago, the emperor Hadrian imposed drastic punishments for those who practiced and, especially, taught, Judaism. The main passage we read, Eleh Ezkereh, describes in graphic detail the torture and death of 10 rabbis at the hands of the Roman Empire.

Rabbi Hanania was wrapped in a Torah scroll and burned alive. The Romans killed Rabbi Akiva by tearing the skin from his body, slowly, to prolong the agony. The other rabbis suffered similar fates. When we Jews think of martyrs, when we think of those who are persecuted, these are names and stories that come to mind.

I was, therefore, startled to come across this recent statement by the Elders of Grace Community Church, an enormous Los Angeles megachurch.

This is by no means the first time in church history that Christians have had to deal with government overreach or hostile rulers. Persecution of the church by government authorities has been the norm, not the exception, throughout church history.

The California megachurch has welcomed its thousands of congregants to worship inside, defying official government directives. The Huffington Post noted that John MacArthur, the churchs nationally known senior pastor, has been painting the governments efforts to restrict the churchs large gatherings as a form of persecution  similar to the persecution that Christian martyrs have faced over the centuries.

MacArthur is not unusual. Countless other Evangelical clergy have made similar comments, like Tony Spell, pastor of the Life Tabernacle Church in Baton Rouge, who, because he would have had to wear a mask, refused to enter a courthouse Tuesday to plead not guilty to charges of violating emergency COVID-19 orders from Gov. John Bel Edwards.

In April, by the way, Spell proclaimed This is the proudest day of my life, to be persecuted for my faith. He had just been arrested for driving a bus backward into a protestor outside his church.

If certain fundamentalist Christians  or anyone else for that matter  wishes to ignore the science and put themselves and their families at risk, well, more power to them. Its a free country. But they have to face the consequences when those chickens come home to roost. When they start screaming religious persecution, I become annoyed.

The 10 rabbis of Roman times, the Spanish Jews tortured by the Inquisition and the European Jews burned by the Nazis, they were persecuted.

Egypts Coptic Christians have suffered for centuries in the predominantly Muslim society. Their history is filled with incidents like the one in 2018 when at least eight Copts were shot and killed in an attack on a bus bringing pilgrims to a holy site.

The United Nations calls the small Muslim tribe of Rohingya one of the most persecuted peoples in the world. Anti-Muslim feeling runs hot among Myanmars Buddhist majority. One Canadian study estimates 25,000 Rohingya have been killed since 2017.

The California-based Open Doors monitors the plight of persecuted Christians around the world. Its annual report notes that nearly 3,000 Christians were killed because of their faith last year; a similar number was jailed without due process. Open Doors defines Christian persecution as any hostility experienced as a result of identification with Jesus Christ. It is a large organization whose efforts are truly global. As near as I can tell, neither Pastor MacArthur nor Pastor Bell would qualify as one of the martyrs.

Why? Because religious persecution is opposition to the religion itself and thats not the issue here. The authorities are concerned with public health, not religion. Maybe someone who shouts religious persecution! seems courageous, or even heroic. Theyre not.

(Weirdly, those who fight common-sense practices are themselves persecutors. By not using masks, observing social distancing or employing other scientifically valid measures, they endanger the rest of us. Perversely, they would have it appear that the practice of their religion demands it.)

Freedom House estimates that over a quarter of the worlds population lives in countries that are not free. The corrupt use of so serious a word as persecution is beyond petty; it is an insult to those whose suffering is real, deep and painful. Whose lives and livelihood are in genuine danger.

This Yom Kippur, I will recall the 10 rabbis and other Jewish victims of persecution. I will think about the multitudes who today suffer from many types of persecution. I will pray for peace in the world and an end to this pandemic.

And I will pray that some among us think just a little more deeply about what God really wants of them.

Clifford Kulwin is Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Bnai Abraham in Livingston.

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Kourtney Kardashian enjoyed a laid-back lunch outing at the Malibu hotspot Nobu on Sunday.

While dining with pals at the trendy eatery, the 41-year-old reality's eldest child expertly stole the spotlight in a fun sweatsuit, which was designed after a bag of Flamin' Hot Cheetos.

While her preteen paired his bold look with a pair of light blue slides, the Poosh founder donned a reserved all-white ensemble and nude stilettos on Saturday.

Fun style: Kourtney Kardashian's ten-year-old son Mason expertly stole the spotlight in a daring sweatsuit, which was designed after a bag of Flamin' Hot Cheetos

While blocking out the California rays under a pair of retro sunglasses, she styled her oversized sweatshirt and fitted trousers with a matching handbag.

In addition to a few other school aged children accompanying Mason, Kardashian appeared to be enjoying a day with Addison Rae, 19, and Harry Hudson, 27.

As they exited the restaurant, the mother-of-three chatted away with her son and his friends, while sporting a white CDC-recommended face mask.

Big group: In addition to a few other school aged children accompanying the oldest Kardashian grandchild, Kardashian appeared to be enjoying a day with Addison Rae and Harry Hudson

Staying safe: As they exited the restaurant, the mother-of-three chatted away with her son's friends, while sporting a white CDC-recommended face mask

The tight-knit duo also shared a sweet embrace, before their car arrived at the valet.

During the meal, Rae shared a Boomerang video of her pal at the legendary celebrity haunt.

In the brief recording, the E! star can be seen playing with her sunglasses and pursing her lips with a pair of chopsticks and a delicious entree in front of her.

Making her presence known at the meal, Kourtney's 19-year-old BFF, Addison Rae, shared a Boomerang video of her pal at the legendary celebrity haunt

Riding the waves: Kourtney sharred a selfie of herself in a skintight blue wetsuit and a pair of black sunglasses

Surf's up! Kourtney was making the most of her weekend, as she also enjoyed a surf lesson and pictures of the beach ahead of the sunset

Kourtney was making the most of her weekend, as she also enjoyed a surf lesson and posted pictures of the beach ahead of the sunset.

On Sunday, her youngest sister, Khloe, shared a black and white throwback snap of them with a cheeky caption, nodding to their 8 inch height difference.

'The luxury of standing (or squatting down) next to this Queen!!!' the Good American founder, 36, gushed of her older sibling to her more than 122 million Instagram followers.
Australian wildlife officials began disposing of hundreds of dead whales on Saturday following one of the largest-ever mass stranding events globally. They have officially ended rescue efforts, believing there are no more survivors.

Conservation experts and trained volunteers were able to save 108 of the approximately 470 long-finned pilot whales spotted on a remote sandbank in Tasmania's Macquarie Harbour on Monday. Rescuers have spent the last five days performing dangerous rescue missions amid unpredictable conditions to save as many animals as they could.

Marine Conservation Program wildlife biologist Dr. Kris Carlyon said in a statement that rescuers did a terrific job saving the whales. "We only had one whale restrand overnight, which is a good result given 20 whales were released yesterday," Carlyon said.

Rescuers attempt to save a whale on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania on September 25, 2020. / Credit: MELL CHUN/AFP via Getty Images

"Every whale saved is an incredible outcome given the complicated conditions and is testament to the tireless and skilful work that the response team are undertaking," Peter Gutwein, Tasmania's premier, said in a statement. "At times like these, Tasmanians come together to respond as quickly and compassionately as possible."

Rob Buck, Incident Controller and Parks and Wildlife Service manager, said officials have so far disposed of 15 whales at sea in order to test the disposal method. He expects it to take several days to complete the task depending on the wind, tide and other conditions.

The bodies of the whales are being separated into pods and enclosed with water booms, in an attempt to keep them in one place, isolated from sharks and other marine life.

"Collection and disposal is being undertaken with the assistance of aquaculture companies whose equipment and expertise on the harbour is essential for a timely and effective outcome," Buck said.

In total, rescuers saved 108 of 470 beached long-finned pilot whales in Tasmania's Macquarie Harbour. / Credit: Matthew Newton for the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment

"We know it's hard for people to watch from afar and thank the community for allowing our teams to focus on the critical work required for the response," Buck said.

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Officials expect the highly social whales that were rescued to eventually "regroup" and recover from the traumatic event.

While mass whale strandings occur relatively often in Tasmania, such a large group has not been seen in the area for more than a decade. The causes remain unknown  however, some researchers have suggested the whales may have gone off track after feeding close to the shoreline or by following one or two whales that strayed.

Officials said it's possible that whales will be found in surrounding areas in the coming days, and asked locals to report sightings.

Angelina Jolie donates to 6-year-olds lemonade stand raising money for Yemen

Jackie Robinson, George Shuba, and the "handshake of the century"

Far-right group Proud Boys rally in Portland, Oregon
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

In the beginning of the week, Microsoft announced something that, at first blush, sounds so cool, until you start to break it down.

A dedicated video device for Teams meetings, a whopping 85 inches for display in a conference room or hospital corridor, so large everyone could see it, and be seen.

No longer would we have to fiddle around with the laptop or phone. Just gather in front of the TV and click the touchscreen.

But at a price tag of $21,999, gosh, that's just a little bit north of our budgets, wouldn't you say?

So you've got to love Amazon's answer, which came later in the week. A dedicated 10-inch unit, for $250, the Echo Show 10, which lets you go through Alexa to connect to Zoom, Skype or Alexa-to-Alexa direct calls.

Again, no fiddling. This time, just use Alexa, your Zoom calendar and voice computing to connect.

Or better yet, plug a webcam to the TV via the $119 Fire TV Cube device and do it on the big screen TV of your choice. Maybe not 85 inches, but many of us have good 50 to 60 inches or larger in the living room. If not, Best Buy would be happy to sell you a 50-inch TCL, Samsung or Amazon-branded Toshiba TV in the $300 range.

The Amazon solutions are both listed as coming soon, but if you have a Facebook Portal video chat device, you can use the dedicated unit to connect now to Zoom. The update started rolling out Friday.

The Portals start at $129, and are available in three sizes: with 8-inch, 10-inch or 15.6-inch screens. An edition that connects to the TV, Portal TV, is not supported for the Zoom calls.

The smart displays were originally marketed as places for video chat first, then using the video screen to look up recipes on YouTube, operate your smart home and best of all, as economical and easy to mount digital photo frames.

Those features are still sound, but add in the dedicated Zoom device, and the kids who are stuck at home taking school on their laptops can have one unit just displaying the teacher and lessons. This would leave the students hands freer for schoolwork and notetaking on the laptop.

For those who are taking meetings all day, the same issue applies. Isn't it hard to take notes when your laptop screen is filled with speaker video windows? Plus, this way, you wouldn't have to worry about webcam placement. After all, it's best to be at eye level, which most people ignore, and not have the webcam looking up at their chins and noses. That requires stacking the laptop atop a bunch of books, which gives you a better look, but makes it really hard to type.

So the savvy speaker or student would have to constantly move the books around. That dedicated device on the desk would solve the issue, living atop the books that could just stay there and not have to be moved around.

Meanwhile, that's not all folks. On Wednesday, Google holds its annual fall hardware product event, where it's expected to unveil a new top of the line smartphone, the Pixel 5, an updated streaming device, Chromecast and a new take on the Nest Home Hub video display unit.

Last year's Nest didn't work with Zoom or initially with Google's Meet, the video chat service Google heavily touts as a Zoom alternative. (It does now, but setup is highly convoluted. You ask Google to set up a meeting, then need to click the touchscreen to confirm. Google generates a code to send to your guests, which it sends to your phone, via the Assistant app. You open your phone, copy the invite, and text or e-mail the invite. Got that?)

Meanwhile, Google has already said it will begin accepting calls from Zoom on Nest Hubs before the end of the year, so expect more action and hopefully improved usability.

Finally, we began this edition by talking about that crazy Microsoft TV/PC.

What if you want to put Zoom calls on your TV now, without having to wait for Amazon's Fire TV Cube update?

TVs with built-in webcams are rare, and besides, how would you connect to Zoom without a computer?

Exactly.

To get Zoom on the TV, all you need is a laptop, an HDMI cable, adapter to plug it into your laptop and webcam, and you're in business.

Connect the HDMI cable from the TV to laptop, plug in the webcam and position it well (so it doesn't look up your nose) change your HDMI settings on the TV to bring in the laptop, and you've got a Zoom call on the big screen. You'll just need to operate it from your laptop. Without spending $21,199!

(c)2020 U.S. Today

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The more than 170 cases in Maine's largest COVID-19 outbreak, spread out across several counties and multiple locations, have been connected by more than the virus. They've also been connected by avoidable failures.



The Big Moose Inn, Maplecrest nursing home and York County Jail are linked by glaring and consequential failures to follow government rules and guidance. And some of those failures, given the nature of COVID-19, seem to have led to fatal consequences.



It began with an Aug. 7 wedding reception that the state says exceeded Maine's 50-person limit for indoor gatherings where guests failed to wear face coverings or social distance. But those failures to follow state rules at the wedding reception didn't automatically guarantee that seven people would die, six of them from Maplecrest.



There were additional failures at the Madison nursing home that helped the virus spread among staff and residents. Based on the findings of a state inspector who visited the facility, the first Maplecrest worker who tested positive for the virus was allowed to work on Aug. 11 despite reporting several symptoms associated with COVID-19.



That worker, a certified nursing assistant, recorded having a sore throat, cough and chills that caused muscle aches not related to exercise. According to Maplecrest's own protocols, the inspector found, an employee showing at least two of those symptoms should leave work. But in this case, the employee reportedly didn't tell supervisors, and they didn't review the screening log where she reported her symptoms.



It's not clear if this employee is the same employee believed to have introduced the virus to the facility after catching it from a parent, who in turn caught it from another child who attended the Millinocket wedding. But it is clear that Maplecrest should have done a better job following its own protocols and federal guidance for screening workers. The Maine Department of Health and Human Services has said that those failures "contributed" to the facility's outbreak, and has required Maplecrest to develop a corrective plan and address deficiencies by Oct. 1.



The simplest and most apparent correction to make, it would seem, is to follow their own protocols and the state and federal rules already in place. If it wasn't already obvious before, the failures at various stages in Maine's largest outbreak should be a stark reminder that these rules and guidelines exist for a reason.\



During a regular Thursday press conference, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Nirav Shah also indicated that there were failures at Maplecrest involving mask wearing, and emphasized that there are lessons to be learned in difficult situations like this outbreak.



"In this situation, I think one of the clearest examples of that is... that they themselves weren't abiding their own protocols with respect to mask wearing," Shah said. "That's concerning, and I think it's a cautionary [tale] for health care facilities across the state  across the country."



This is a lesson that should extend further than health care facilities. The York County Jail, another facility linked in Maine's largest COVID-19 outbreak, reportedly failed to follow guidelines that prisoners and staff wear face coverings. At least 86 people connected to the jail have been infected; one of the first to test positive was a jail worker who attended the Millinocket wedding.



"The CDC guidance was clear for correctional settings ... that all staff should be masked up, as should all offenders," Maine Department of Corrections Commissioner Randall Liberty said, as reported by the BDN in September. "It's critically important, because in a correctional setting, as in a nursing facility, it is challenging to maintain proper social distancing because of the co-location of the offenders and the staff."



There are still certain things we don't know for sure about Maine's largest COVID-19 outbreak and the situations at each of the locations it has impacted. But there are some things we know about this outbreak and about the virus in general.



We know that COVID-19 presents a higher risk for older adults and those with serious underlying health conditions. We know that congregate living and long-term care settings can present particular complications and risks. We know the virus has claimed over 200,000 American lives.



We know that wearing masks, keeping our distance and practicing good hygiene techniques like frequent and thorough hand washing can all help reduce the spread of the virus. And know that when businesses, nursing homes, jails or other entities don't follow the public health rules and recommendations, the consequences can be deadly.





This editorial appeared at the Bangor Daily News and was distributed by Tribune Content Agency.


(Newser)  Voters in Switzerland on Sunday strongly rejected a nationalist party's proposal to limit the number of European Union citizens allowed to live and work in their country. Public broadcaster SRF reported, based on a partial count, that the measure was rejected by 61.3% of voters, with 38.7% in favor. A large majority of the country's 26 cantons, or states, also rejected the plan proposed by the Swiss People's Party to give preferential access to jobs, social protection, and benefits to people from Switzerland over those from the 27-nation bloc that surrounds it, the AP reports. The government had warned that the measure could have further strained the rich Alpines countrys deep and lucrative ties to the EU, of which it isnt a member. It could also lead to reciprocal disadvantages for millions of Swiss citizens if they want to live or work in the EU. Roughly 1.4 million EU citizens live in the country of about 8.6 million; around 500,000 Swiss live in EU countries.

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In a similar referendum in 2014, the Swiss narrowly voted in favor of limiting access of EU citizens to live and work in Switzerland. But lawmakers refused to fully implement the referendum, fearing an impact on Swiss society and businesses, prompting the Peoples Party to get the issue back on the ballot this year. Since the last vote, Switzerland has witnessed the turmoil that Britain's 2016 referendum to leave the European Union has caused, especially for EU citizens in the UK and Britons living on the continent. Britain left the EU in January, but is in a transition period until the end of the year, with prospects for a deal on future relations between London and Brussels still uncertain. Voter Yann Grote in Geneva said he didn't approve of further limiting freedom of movement. "Its not a time to isolate Switzerland, he said. Fellow voter Elisabeth Lopes said her parents were immigrants. "If Switzerland had to withdraw or reduce these agreements" with the EU, she said, "I think we would be the real losers."

(Read more European Union stories.)
PNL (National Liberal Party) leader Ludovic Orban claims that in Bucharest, on the day of the local elections, the City Hall broadcasts advertising materials "by using the citizens' money" and asks the media not to broadcast the City Hall's videos, as they are of an electoral nature."

"I have seen with sadness and even revolt how, on the election day, from the taxes paid by the citizens, the Capital City Hall broadcasts advertising materials, despite the decision of the Municipal Electoral Bureau. We cannot make a decision ourselves in this respect, this is a decision that the National Audiovisual Council must make. (...) The budget of the Capital City Hall is fueled by the taxes paid by the citizens. By using the citizens' money the City Hall carries out a campaign for the incumbent PSD (Social Democratic Party) mayor, and this is not normal, it is not natural. I call on the media not to broadcast these clips because they are obviously of an electoral nature and can constitute a form of influencing the voters that is neither legal nor correct," Ludovic Orban stated on Sunday, at the MAI headquarters.
Restaurants and bars in Marseille are set to close for a week as French ministers launch scattered new coronavirus restrictions in a bid to stem a rising tide of infections.

Hospitality businesses in the Mediterranean-coastal city will close for seven days from tonight.

It comes after health authorities reported 14,000 new infections across France on Saturday - amid a mass testing effort.

Meanwhile hospitals in the Paris and Marseille regions will put scheduled operations on hold to free up space for a growing number of Covid-19 patients.

At least 10 per cent of French intensive care beds are now occupied with COVID patients.

Restaurants and bars in Marseille are set to close for a week as French ministers launch scattered new coronavirus restrictions in a bid to stem a rising tide of infections. Pictured: A man enjoys a final beer before bars and restaurants close

Hospitality businesses in the Mediterranean-coastal city will close for seven days from tonight. Pictured: A restaurant owner packs away chairs in Marseille

Marseille restaurant and bar owners and local officials have protested against the closure order, which was announced on Wednesday. Pictured: Stacked-up chairs and bars and restaurants close in Marseille

Hospitals temporarily suspended such operations when the virus swept over France in March and April, creating backlogs that still persist six months later.

However, the country's Health Minister Olivier Veran urged that French hospitals are far from saturation.

Today, Mr Veran also insisted that the country was planning no new lockdowns.

Two Nobel Prize-winning economists proposed in Le Monde newspaper this weekend that France should lockdown its population for the first three weeks of December, to allow families to get together safely for end-of-year holidays and to 'save Christmas'.

The country's Health Minister Olivier Veran (pictured) urged that French hospitals are far from saturation

But speaking on French free-to-air channel LCI television, Mr Veran said 'we do not want to confine the country again. Several countries around us made other choices. We don't want this'.

He urged the French to make an effort to slow the spread of the virus across the country, which has 31,700 virus-related deaths - the third-highest toll in Europe after Britain and Italy.

Meanwhile, in Marseille restaurant and bar owners and local officials have protested against the closure order coming in tonight, after the announcement was made on Wednesday.

They have accused the central government in Paris of singling out their rival Mediterranean city for punishment.

Marseille Mayor Michele Rubirola said that she had not been consulted about the decision to enforce a second lockdown in the area - which left her 'astonished and angry'.

'The Marseille town hall was not consulted. Nothing in the health situation justifies these announcements,' she wrote on Twitter.

She added: 'I won't allow the people of Marseille to become the victims of political decisions that no-one understands.'

Benoit Payan, Marseille's first deputy mayor, also criticised the restrictions and asked the French government for a 10-day reprieve to show that the city's own measures were working.

He said: 'Once again our territory is being sanctioned, punished, singled out. Our city has been put in virtual confinement without anyone having been consulted.

Restaurant owners have accused the central government in Paris of singling out their rival Mediterranean city for punishment. Pictured: One restaurant owner packs up her restaurant ahead of the closure

Marseille Mayor Michele Rubirola said that she had not been consulted about the decision to enforce a second lockdown in the area - which left her 'astonished and angry'. Pictured: Diners eat out for a final time for a week ahead of the new rules

'The statements [from the government] are irrational. Marseille deserves better than being beaten down, or of serving as an example.'

Renaud Muselier, president of the regional council that includes Marseille, added that the closures amounted to a 'collective punishment'.

He took to Twitter and said: 'This decision is unilateral, ill-conceived and unfair.'

But Mr Veran responded to the criticism by stating that the measures had been put in place to protect public health.

He also claimed that city officials were given notice of the announcement in advance.

The government is imposing milder restrictions on Paris and several other cities, with gyms shut down, public gatherings of more than 10 people banned and bars ordered to close at 10pm starting on Monday night.

It comes as France has been hit by a second wave of coronavirus sweeping across the country.

It recorded 16,096 new cases on Thursday which blew away the previous record of 13,498 set on Sunday which now brings France's total to nearly half a million infections.

While the true number of infections was likely higher in the first wave - limited testing meant the high-water mark in the spring was only 7,578 cases - the latest rise has brought an uptick in deaths while more than 1,000 people are in intensive care for the first time since June.

France's total number of infections is now 497,237 in the second-largest outbreak in Western Europe, behind Spain.

That total has doubled in the last month as a summer lull gave way to a resurgent spread of the virus in August and September.

Britain's top scientific advisers have pointed to the rebound in France and Spain as a sign of things to come if the UK does not bring its own resurgence under control.

While deaths are well below the peak of March and April, France is now seeing dozens of hospital deaths per day compared to only a handful in late July and early August.

Hundreds of people are being admitted to hospital with Covid-19 every day, with more than 6,000 patients currently on coronavirus wards.

Of the current hospital patients, more than half are aged 70 or over, with more than 2,000 of them in their 80s or 90s.

More than 1,000 people are in intensive care for the first time since early June, although capacity has doubled to around 10,000 since before the pandemic.
New Delhi: On the occasion of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's birthday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote her a birthday message while Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das personally handed Hasina a rare footage of her father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's visit to India in the year 1972.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had visited India in March 1972 immediately after Bangladesh gained independence by going to war with Pakistan in 1971. Rahman also known as Bangladesh's father of the nation had during the visit signed the Indo Bangla treaty of friendship, cooperation and peace.

Meanwhile, PM Modi in his letter lauded PM Hasina's policies. He said, "Your visionary leadership has helped Bangladesh achieve immense social and economic transformation and equally your contribution to our bilateral relations has been extremely impressive."

Ties between the two countries has grown from strength to strength with fast-paced and positive developments in the last few years. Both the nations are saying that the ties are currently witnessing a "shonali adhyay" or "Golden age".

The India-Bangladesh Joint Consultative Commission will meet virtually on September 29 with Bangladesh being represented by its Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen and India by External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar.
With the arrest of three persons, the Shimlapuri police on Sunday solved the 1.5 lakh robbery case in which a building contractor got looted at gunpoint on September 22.

The accused were identified as Sunil Kumar, 25, Lakesh, 22, and Yuvraj, 22 of the Shimlapuri area. According to police, all accused are drug addicts and needed money to acquire drugs. Accused Sunil Kumar even has a criminal case registered against him.

ASI Ajmer Singh, who is investigating the case, said that the police arrested the accused from the Shimlapuri area, following a tip-off.

The ASI added that victim Abhimanyu Kumar Mehta, 35, of Chimney road, Shimlapuri, was robbed of 1.5 lakh on the night of September 22. Abhimanyu was returning home from a construction site of a cycle factory building in Jaspal Bangar village at around 11.30pm on his bike when the accused intercepted his way, flashed a gun, and threatened to kill him. They robbed him of Rs 1.5 lakh and fled.

No cash and weapon used in the crime have been recovered. The police will produce the accused before the court on Monday.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-26 04:31:46|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- UN Undersecretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix on Friday expressed the hope that a new peace agreement between the government and armed groups would usher in a new era in Sudan's Darfur region.

But he warned that much work remains to be done.

The initialing of a peace agreement on Aug. 31 in Juba, South Sudan, between the transitional government of Sudan and the Sudan Revolutionary Front, as wells as the Sudan Liberation Army-Minni Minnawi is an important milestone in the often-troubled history of Darfur, signifying hope for a more peaceful and prosperous future, Lacroix told the Security Council.

He commended the parties for their commitment to peace, as well as South Sudan for its critical role in mediating the agreement.

"As we meet here today, we are only just over a week away from the scheduled signing ceremony, and the start of a new era for Darfur," he said in his briefing.

However, much work remains to ensure that the goodwill shown in the negotiating process is translated into lasting and sustainable change on the ground, he said.

Key players, including the Sudan Liberation Army of Abdul Wahid (SLA/AW), are yet to join the process. The agreements, still a patchwork of documents negotiated on different tracks, are yet to be woven together into a single, unfractured vision of the future of Sudan. With continued armed clashes and protests in Darfur that signals the anxiety of Darfuri constituencies on the decisions being made in Khartoum and Juba, the international community must work together to bring all stakeholders on board and work toward preventing a relapse into conflict, said Lacroix.

Furthermore, the implementation phase will be just as crucial as the drafting of the agreement itself. This includes, as one of the key provisions of the security arrangements for Darfur, the creation of a 12,000-person joint security force within 90 days of the agreement's signing, made up of 6,000 members from Sudanese security forces and 6,000 from the signatory armed groups, he said.

As forces are deployed and resources are mobilized in support of the implementation, it is essential to ensure that local Darfuri communities feel ownership of the agreement and fully participate in the implementation, he said.

Financing, too, will be a key challenge. Therefore, managing expectations of what the international community can deliver at the current international context will be critical, he said.

The Darfur armed movements have suggested that implementation will require 13 billion U.S. dollars over a 10-year period, and the Sudanese government indicated that it will commit 7.5 billion dollars, he noted. "As the parties work to make the vision of the agreement into a reality, we in the international community have a responsibility to support them." Enditem
Donald Trump again pressured debate organizers on Sunday to administer a drug test before the first face-off with Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee continues to surge in polls just two days ahead of the event.

Trump insisted that the Democratic nominee could only perform well at the debate if he takes narcotics.

'I will be strongly demanding a Drug Test of Sleepy Joe Biden prior to, or after, the Debate on Tuesday night,' the president tweeted Sunday morning.

'Naturally, I will agree to take one also,' Trump continued. 'His Debate performances have been record setting UNEVEN, to put it mildly. Only drugs could have caused this discrepancy???'

Trump and Biden will participate in three in-person debates ahead of the November election  the first, moderated by Fox News' Chris Wallace, is taking place Tuesday in Cleveland, Ohio.

A new ABC News/Washington Post poll released Sunday shows Biden with a 10-point lead against Trump. The 54 per cent to 44 per cent margin matches the last poll taken in mid-August.

President Donald Trump doubled down on his demand that Joe Biden take a drug test before the first presidential debate on Tuesday

Trump and Biden will face-off in their first in-person debate on Tuesday in Cleveland, Ohio

When considering voters who say they will cast their ballot for a libertarian or Green Party candidate, Biden's lead slips to a 6 per cent margin of 49 per cent to 43 per cent.

When it comes to both enthusiasm for his candidacy and the economy, however, Trump dominates.

Trump leads Biden by 20 per cent among likely voters who say they have 'strong enthusiasm' for their preferred candidate. Fifty-nine per cent of those polled who do not support Trump say his reelection would be a 'crisis' for the country.

On the other hand-, 50 per cent of those not backing Biden say his election would cause a crisis in the U.S.

The economy, one of the six issues that will be discussed during Tuesday's debate, is in Trump's favor.

Last month only 31 per cent of Americans said the U.S. economy was in good shape, compared to the 40 per cent who say it's in good shape now in the poll taken September 21-24.

One in four voters say the economy is their top issue in the 2020 election and of those voters a whopping 62 per cent favor Trump to Biden.

At the debate Tuesday Trump and Biden will also be asked to discuss their government records, the Supreme Court, the coronavirus pandemic, race and violence and election integrity.

Although Trump has conceded Biden may perform better at the debates due to his near-debate of experience in Washington, he also claims the 'low energy' candidate could only do well if medicated.

Trump said last month of Biden's previous debate performances against then-primary competitor Bernie Sanders: 'Nobody thought that he was even going to win. Because his debate performances were so bad. Frankly, his best performance was against Bernie.'

Trump made the comments during an interview with the Washington Examiner.

'We're going to call for a drug test, by the way, because his best performance was against Bernie,' Trump continued.

He added: 'It wasn't that he was Winston Churchill because he wasn't, but it was a normal, boring debate. You know, nothing amazing happened. And we are going to call for a drug test because there's no way  you can't do that.'

Biden participated in 11 debates during the primary season, as plans for the 12th debate were never finalized in the midst of the evolving coronavirus pandemic.

This is not the first time Trump has accused his competitors of being on drugs.

After the second presidential debate in October 2016, he claimed that Hillary Clinton did better because she had taken drugs.

'I think we should take a drug test prior to the debate. We should take a drug test prior because I don't know what's going on with her,' Trump said at the time  and no drug tests were administered during those debates.

Trump's two other debates against Biden will take place October 15 in Miami, Florida and October 22 in Nashville, Tennessee. They will be moderated by C-SPAN's Steve Scully and NBC's Kristen Welker, respectively.
Tens of thousands of tests on Australia's deepest road tunnel are under way, as engineers seek to complete electrical systems for the delayed $3 billion NorthConnex, which is slated to open almost a year behind schedule.

Tolling giant Transurban has revealed the intricate technical work still carrying on some 90 metres beneath Sydney's Hills District, with more than 50,000 software, and equipment tests dragging out the long-anticipated opening.

Mechanical and electrical manager Charles Giuttari inside the NorthConnex tunnel. Credit:Peter Rae

First scheduled to open in late 2019, the project was pushed back to the third quarter of 2020, which it will almost certainly exceed.

While all civil works are complete, NorthConnex mechanical and electrical manager Charles Giuttari said the team was still some weeks away from being able to open to the public.
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I've been living in a (rental) house for two years, in a neighborhood in runescape gold which the Mrs and I (mid 20s middle class white people) are distinct minorities. My former roommate went out of his way to talk to the neighbors, but I'm not that outgoing. I don't avoid people, of course; I wave if I see someone as I'm arriving/leaving.We've had very few problems, considering the city (Philadelphia) and the neighborhood: the house was broken into a few weeks after we moved in (the police said it was kids), and my car window was broken for the change in my cupholder.

Trade turnover touches US$100 billion in first quarter Vietnam total trade turnover amounted to US$100 billion between January and March 19, according to Vietnam Customs. Recently released statistics from the General Department of Vietnam Customs show that the country raked in US$10.95 billion during the first half of March, with many export staples enjoying a sharp increase in value. The figure helped to lift the country total turnover of exports to US$47.05 billion by March 15, an on year rise of 5.4 per cent.

Acts of racism occur everyday in this nation. What sets it apart, like the Trayvon matter, is the official sanctioning of racism. Denial of racism and discrimination is a inherent part of this nations racial history. CenturyLink Is Accused of Running a Wells Fargo Like Scheme. Join The WHIR in Chicago June XSS Just One Part of Broad Application Threat Landscape: Forum Join Now Featured New Posts FAQ Rules Forum Actions Mark Forums Read Quick Links Today's Posts My Posts View Site Leaders Helpdesk Memberships Web Hosting News Find A Host Advanced Search. Forum Web Hosting Main Forums Reseller Hosting How much money can I make as a reseller?.

Trading counters at Agribank Securities Co (Agriseco). Vietnamese shares moved up slightly on Wednesday amid worries about the uncertainty of global markets. The benchmark VN Index on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange gained 0.26 per cent to close at 967.12 points.

At Imagination Generation, we understand that children learn best through play. Not only do plastic coated cards last longer than standard cards, but they wipe clean in the event of sticky fingers and minor messes. And after play, cleaning up is just as easy.

G. Ballard criticism and in the study of Romantic legacies. In addition to the traditional 'high Romantic' aesthetic and ideology of Romanticism, Ballard is seen to draw upon Gothic, decadent and symbolist strands of Romanticism. I find it odd how a Hispanic Gentleman is now stepping up say it was HE who rescued the Girls. Charles Ramsey has said all along he wasnt alone when he went to help the Girls. This alludes to the fact the Hispanic Gentleman was there as well.

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A month after Israel and UAE signed the US-brokered peace deal at the White House, the United Arab Emirates said that the motive behind the agreement was not to counter Iran. A top UAE official said on Friday, September 25, however, noted that Irans policies over the three decades have raised concerns among the Arab nations that prompted them to look at their relationship with Israel wit fresh eyes.

As per reports, UAEs minister of state for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash acknowledged that it might not have been Irans intention but still, certain actions had an impact in the Gulf nations. In a virtual briefing on the sidelines of the remote 75-anniversary gathering of world leaders at United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Gargrash refrained from commenting if other Arab countries would follow both UAE and Bahrain in establishing a relationship with Israel. However, he advised Israel to look at these potential ties very transactionally and not tactically to build long-term relations.

The only thing I want to say is the more strategic the Israelis look at these relationships, the more doors will open to them, Gargash said. If they look at it very `transactionally, I think that it is not going to send a very good omen for normalizing relations with many of the Arab countries.

Gargash added that the UAEs message to Israel is to look at these opportunities and build strategically, and think long term rather than short term.

Read - UAE Crown Prince Bin Zayed In Talks With US Over Transferring Of Turkey Base: Report

Read - Abu Dhabi, UAE's Conservative Capital, Ends Alcohol Licenses

Israel-UAE are negotiating normal bilateral relations

Gargash also informed that currently UAE and Israel are negotiating normal bilateral relations. He even said that the Arab nation has proposed several agreements to Israelis ranging from protecting investments and double taxation to visa exemptions and air services. However, the UAE is currently awaiting a reply on the same.

Were waiting for them to come back to us, because it is essential for a relationship to be built on these solid bases, Gargash said.

However, he noted how UAE still stands in support of the two-state solution and an end to Israeli occupation in the Israel-Palestinian issue. Gargash even said that he disagrees with Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus government in political matters acknowledged having open channels for negotiations.

But we need to open channels of communications because the Arab experience of having no communication with Israel has not really yielded any results, Gargash said.

Read - COVID-19: 91 Indians Return To MP From UAE In Special Flight

Read - Moroccans Protest In Rabat Over UAE, Bahrain's Normalisation Of Ties With Israel

Inputs/Image: AP
LAPD Chief Michel Moore speaks to the press after an officer was attacked inside the Harbor Island Station in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 26, 2020. (Courtesy of KABC)

LAPD Officer Attacked Inside Police Station: Officials

A suspect was in custody Saturday night after a Los Angeles police officer was injured in an attack at the departments Harbor Station in San Pedro, California, officials said.

The officer was hit in the head and is expected to survive, the department said.

The officer involved in this incident was transported to a local hospital and is receiving medical attention for non-life-threatening injuries, the police department wrote on Twitter. The suspect involved in this incident is in custody. This is preliminary information, as this is an active and ongoing investigation.

Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore wrote that the officer suffered bumps and bruises but was not shot, adding that he spoke to the officer, who was not named.

He is resting and will be ok  Harbor units responding pursued suspect and took him into custody, Moore wrote on Twitter.

The suspect in the case was identified as a male who is 29 years old. Authorities told local news outlets in a press conference that the suspect walked into the stations lobby before an officer went to talk to him.

Spoke with officer at hospital. He is resting and will be ok. Bumps and bruises. He was not shot. Harbor units responding pursued suspect and took him into custody.  Chief Michel Moore (@LAPDChiefMoore) September 27, 2020

Thats when it escalated into some type of altercation, Moore said. During that altercation, it appears at this very early stage that the officers weapon was taken from him and rounds were fired by the individual at the officer.

Assistant Police Chief Horace Frank told The Los Angeles Times that the watch commander saw the suspect hitting the officer before trying to grab his gun. The watch commander then fired his weapon at the suspect, who fled and drove away.

Mayor Eric Garcetti wrote on Twitter that he is sending my best wishes for a quick and full recovery to our @LAPDHQ officer injured in an incident at the Harbor Station tonight.

The officer is in stable condition and were closely monitoring the situation, he wrote.

The incidents came about two weeks after two Los Angeles County Sheriffs deputies were shot in an ambush attack in Compton. A suspect in the case has yet to be apprehended.

Meanwhile, the attacks on officers come in the midst of a monthslong effort to defund the police in the wake of George Floyds death in Minneapolis. The mans death triggered a resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, Antifa-related incidents, and a wave of anti-police animus.
A possible love triangle may have sparked an alleged stabbing, with the accused knifeman told to be quiet during court while mumbling to himself.

Daniel John Gorshenin, 35, was arrested after Rohan Sirbadhoo was allegedly stabbed in his stomach at a home at Collaroy on Sydney's northern beaches.

Police allege the pair got into a fight with a woman at 2.30pm onSaturday when Mr Sirbadhoo, 35, was injured.

He was flown to Royal North Shore Hospital where he underwent surgery and is in a stable condition, The Daily Telegraph reports.

Daniel John Gorshenin (pictured), 35, was arrested after Rohan Sirbadhoo was allegedly stabbed in his stomach at a home at Collaroy on Sydney's Northern Beaches

Meanwhile, Gorshenin was arrested at a home in Davidson and was charged with reckless wounding to cause actual bodily harm.

Gorshenin appeared at Parramatta Bail Court via video link from Surry Hills police station on Sunday where he was seen muttering to himself 'this is crazy, crazy, crazy man' and 'the victim? what the f**k'.

Magistrate Andrew George had to tell the 35-year-old to be quiet.

'Do you want bail? You'll keep quiet, if I hear any more profanity  you will be refused bail  you are charged with a very serious offence,' he warned.

Police are investigating whether a possible love triangle triggered the alleged stabbing as the woman is believed to have known both men.

But Mr Sirbadhoo and Gorshenin were not known to each other, the court heard.

Gorshenin's defence lawyer pushed for him to be released on bail, stating he acted in self-defence.

Gorshenin appeared at Parramatta Bail Court (pictured) via video link from Surry Hills police station on Sunday where he was seen muttering to himself 'this is crazy, crazy, crazy man' and 'the victim? what the f**k'

She also said if the 35-year-old is held in custody the matter may not be resolved for a long time due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The magistrate granted bail but dubbed the self-defence line as 'lame'.

'I really can't see that being seen as an excuse in the circumstances,' Mr George said.

Under his bail conditions, Gorshenin is subject to an 8pm to 5am house curfew.

He must report to Bondi Police Station daily and cannot enter or go within 1km of the northern beaches unless attending court.

He is also forbidden from contacting the victim or any other witnesses in the mater.

Gorshenin is due to face Manly Local Court on October 8.
A Delhi court has questioned the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) why it had not questioned its ex-CBI directors Ranjit Sinha, AP Singh and Alok Verma in connection with a bribery case registered in February 2017 against millionaire meat exporter Moin Qureshi.

In the first information report (FIR), the CBI had alleged that Qureshi, apart from his day job of a meat exporter, also worked as a middleman for certain public servants and was helped by Singh, who retired as CBI chief in 2012.

CBI special court judge Sanjeev Aggarwal posed a set of questions to the agency seeking to know from it as to why CBI is dragging its feet in a case involving the roles of two of its Ex-Directors, which may lead to an inference that it is not very keen to pursue investigations with respect to them .

.it is apparent that in fact in this case, role of two of its ex-Directors is under scanner i.e. AP Singh and Ranjit Sinha along with alleged middleman Moin Akhtar Qureshi, which needs upfront i.e. frank and honest investigations, the judge said on September 26 in an order seen by HT.

The image of CBI as a premier investigating agency is redoubtable, said the judge, adding that at the same time, it has to rise to occasion to investigate the allegations against two of its ex-bosses. When any institution or organisation finds itself at a crossroads, it has to take the right path, he said.

The court also sought to know from the agency why it did not bring investigations in the case to a logical end by using tried and tested methods of investigation like searches and custodial interrogation of potential suspects.

It asked the CBI as to whether the alleged role played by Verma in stalling the investigation had been investigated.

The judge asked the agency whether in the absence of a definitive timeline, investigations will go on for indefinite period of time, so that FIR may die its own death, as reply to all the questions in this regard are most ambivalent and evasive.

The courts poser came after the agency replied to nine questions posed by the CBI judge on an earlier occasion when he had frowned at the snails pace of investigation in the case. It had sought to know about the details of the witnesses questioned and whether an arrest had been proposed with respect to the suspects.

In its reply, the CBI told the court on September 26 that so far 544 documents had been collected and 63 (including three named as accused) witnesses had been examined. It said that the previous investigating officer Devinder Kumar, deputy superintendent of police, had submitted a proposal to arrest Moin Akhtar Qureshi, Pradeep Koneru, Aditya Sharma and Sathish Babu Sana.

During the pendency of the arrest proposal, a case was registered against former CBI special director Rakesh Asthana and the proposal could not be processed. On the final timeline for the completion of investigation in the case, the agency said the documents collected were voluminous and a number of prospective witnesses are yet to be examined.

The case against Asthana was part of a feud he was engaged in with Alok Verma, which led to the exit of the two top officers of the CBI from the agency.

The investigation of the case may, therefore, take substantial time. Hence, at this stage, proposing of a definitive timeline would neither be feasible not conducive for thorough and impartial investigation in the present case. However, all efforts shall be made to conclude the investigation of the case at the earliest, the agency said.

The matter would be now heard on October 27.
We notice that our conservative friends continue to gloat about a campaign milestone they achieved this weekend in support of Prez Trump.

To wit . . .

AMID WORSENING CORONAVIRUS, ECONOMIC DEVASTATION AND HISTORIC VIOLENCE . . . PREZ TRUMP SUPPORTERS TOUT KANSAS CITY PARADE SUCCESS!!!



To be fair, there really were an unprecedented of trucks on local streets with American flags and Prez Trump insignias.

Still . . .



In much the same way that BLM protesters rioting and destroying the Plaza didn't do much to advance social justice. It's unclear how trucks blowing exhaust helped make America great.



Nevertheless . . . TKC wouldn't dare deny a political victory even if it won't influence Jackson County remaining blue whilst both Missouri and Kansas go red and send their electoral votes to Prez Trump.



Accordingly and even if a very big percentage of parade party people were from out of town. Let's not forget that they exceeded their goals with THOUSANDS OF SUPPORTERS SHOWING THE PREZ LOVE THIS WEEKEND and did so without any large scale violence.

More links for context . . .



KMBC Reports Redux Plans: Trump supporters planning 5 car parades in Kansas City leading up to election

Action 41 News Confirms Scuffles: KCPD - 7 arrests made during Trump ride-along

Fox4 Shares Crowd Count: Over 5,000 supporters hold rally in Kansas City for President Trump

Accordingly, and because this moment of glory deserves to be chronicled in great detail . . . We're sharing some of the best scenes from the parade that local media has overlooked.

And so . . .We share this view of from our part of the world this weekend as culture war and partisan slap fights dominated the discourse but still didn't really change anything.



You decide . . .
Pro-Life Judge Amy Coney Barrett Tapped by Trump as Ginsburg Replacement

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Operation Rescue

Sept. 26, 2020

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- In an effort to return the U.S. Supreme Court to its proper Constitutional role of interpreting the law, President Donald Trump has nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court for the seat formerly occupied by leftist Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.



The Supreme Court has been controlled by an activist liberal majority for decades, and has had a penchant for usurping the power of the Legislative Branch by creating new laws with its decisions.



With Barrett's confirmation to the Court anticipated before Election Day, November 3, 2020, all that is expected to change as the balance of the Court shifts to a solid conservative majority that reflects a pro-life point of view for the first time since abortion was decriminalized nationally in 1973.



"This is the moment we have been waiting for," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "We expect that with Barrett's confirmation, we are on the cusp of returning sanity to the Supreme Court, and with it, a healthy respect for innocent human life that has been missing since the wrongly-decided Roe v. Wade decision over four decades ago."



Barrett, 48, is the mother of seven children, one of which has Down syndrome, and two that were adopted from Haiti. She is also Catholic, and has made pro-life statements on the record.



She has impeccable legal credentials. Barrett graduated first in her class in 1997 from Notre Dame Law School where she was also inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. She clerked for Judge Laurence Silberman of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and for the great conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. She taught law at George Washington University Law School and at her alma mater, Notre Dame, before serving on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.



"We at Operation Rescue give our unwavering support to the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the U. S. Supreme Court. We hope that Democrats will not launch another spurious attack on her as they did so shamefully with Justice Brett Kavanaugh. It is our prayer that the vacancy in the Court can be promptly filled without the rancor," said Newman. "However, we are ready for a fight, and fully intend to defend President Trump and his nominee, no matter what slings and arrows might be launched their way."



About Operation Rescue Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the U.S. Its goal is to expose abortion abuses, demand enforcement, save innocent lives, and build an Abortion-Free America. Click here to support Operation Rescue.

SOURCE Operation Rescue

CONTACT:

Troy Newman, President, 316-683-6790 ext. 111

Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Vice President, 316-516-3034,

Both at info.operationrescue@gmail.com

Related Links

OperationRescue.org

AbortionDocs.org

Abortion911.com


It was for the United States as well as everyone in it said the Rev. Curtis White as he offered prayers "from the White House to our house," during Saturday's day of prayer at the Iredell County Hall of Justice.

Along with a few dozen others, White led a prayer which he hopes leads to positive change in the United States and around the world.

"To get people praying that God would move again in our country. To help us and bless us that we could see unity among everybody," White said.

The pastor at Tabernacle Baptist Church on Lippard Farm Road organized the event in conjunction with a simultaneous Day of Prayer in Alexander County. White said a national and global day of prayer taking place in Washington helped inspire the idea.

It was a nondenominational and nonpolitical day of prayer White said, as the prayer he led was a general call for healing and grace for the country as a whole.

"It's about a love for our country, that includes everybody," White said. "Everybody needs help and prayer. That's what we want to do, get folks together to unite, pray, and lay everything else aside, everything, and come and pray."
THESSALONIKI, Greece: Greek police said Sunday they have arrested three men of Pakistani origin for keeping seven people, including an Afghan family of four, whom they had helped cross into Greece, hostage and demanding money to release them.

Police raids in two places outside the northern city of Thessaloniki on Friday freed the captives and led to the arrests of the traffickers, police said.

The Afghan family the 66-year-old father, the 42-year-old mother and their two children, a boy and a girl, ages 14 and 16 had crossed over from Turkey about a week ago. The traffickers kept them hostage, separating the parents from the children, and demanding 6,000 euros ($7,000) to release them, police said.

The traffickers had been in contact with an older son of the Afghan couple, who lives in the U.K., for the transfer of money. It was he who tipped off the authorities.

When police raided the place where the children were kept, they also found the three captive Pakistanis, whom they didnt know about beforehand. The traffickers were demanding a ransom of 2,000 euros ($2,320) from their three compatriots. Police also arrested two of the traffickers, ages 31 and 36. The third trafficker, a 19-year-old, was arrested when the parents were freed, police said.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
Just like most of us during this pandemic, Google is also celebrating its birthday through a video call.

Its Googles 22nd birthday today! Google officially debuted on September 8, 1998, but the company has been celebrating its birthday on September 27. To mark the occasion, theres a special Google Doodle for the search engines 22nd birthday.

The Google Doodle for Googles 22nd birthday features the logo G sitting in front of a laptop doing a video call. The birthday celebration video call is with the rest of the letters - OOGLE. Theres also a piece of cake and presents in the Google Doodle. The representation of the Doodle is quite appropriate for the current situation where most people have celebrated and still are through video calls.

Google Doodle (Google)

If you tap on the Doodle from the Google homepage, it will open to a Search results page for well, Google. You can also share the Google Doodle on Facebook, Twitter and via email. Theres also a copy button for the link so its easier to share it anywhere. As with every Doodle, this one too has a page with a short description about the celebration.

Google was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin in 1998 when they were both Ph.D. students at Stanford University. As for the word Google, it comes from the mathematical term googol.

While walking in the woods of New Jersey, American mathematician Edward Kasner asked his young nephew Milton Sirotta to help him choose a name for a mind-boggling number: a 1 followed by 100 zeros. Miltons reply? A googol! The term gained widespread visibility twenty years later with its inclusion in a 1940 book Kasner co-authored called Mathematics and the Imagination, Google explained in its Doodle page.
T he Government is "undermining the rule of law" by not involving MPs in decision-making on coronavirus restrictions, a Conservative rebel has said.

Steve Baker is among at least 40 backbench Conservative MPs calling for Parliament to debate and vote on proposed new laws, after the "draconian" restrictions brought in this year.

Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 committee of Conservative backbenchers, has tabled an amendment to the Coronavirus Act  which will be reviewed on Wednesday  trying to give parliament more oversight on new restrictions.

In a bid to appease the rebels, the Government has offered MPs a chance to debate and vote on the rule of six next month  but the rebels are continuing to press for votes before all new measures come into force.

1922 Committee Chairman Sir Graham Brady / Getty Images

Mr Baker told Sky News Sophy Ridge on Sunday: MPs should be sharing in the dreadful burden of decision in these circumstances and not just retrospectively being asked to approve what the Government has done

How do people think that liberty dies? It dies like this with Government exercising draconian powers, without parliamentary scrutiny in advance, undermining the rule of law by having a shifting blanket of rules that no-one can understand.

Mr Baker said he thinks the amendment will be selected for debate by speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, and that it has plenty of support in the Commons.

Influential senior Conservative MPs including former party leader Iain Duncan Smith, former Brexit Secretary David Davis, Damian Green, who was effectively deputy Prime Minister under Theresa May, liaison committee chairman Sir Bernard Jenkin and Sir Bob Neill are all said to back the amendment.

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

Labour has also said it is "sympathetic" to the amendment and the DUP plan to support it, meaning that if 40 Tories rebel, Mr Johnson could lose the vote despite his 80-strong Commons majority.

A senior Government source said: The Government is doing everything it reasonably can to engage Parliament in the Covid process, whilst also ensuring it has the ability to react swiftly in order to suppress the virus.

This week the Prime Minister, Chancellor and Health Secretary all made statements to the House of Commons and took questions. MPs have also received briefings from Government scientists on the data which is informing our decisions.

Next week there will be a Covid debate in Government time which the Health Secretary will open. And he will also be in the House on Wednesday to debate the renewal of the Coronavirus Act.

We will also be bringing the Statutory Instrument on the rule of six to the floor of the House so that MPs can vote on it.

We understand MPs and their constituents are deeply concerned about the virus and that is why we are seeking to involve them in the process as much as possible.

With additional reporting by PA
The people from Ladakh called off their protests on Sunday against the local body elections after the Centre assured them that all the issues related to language, demography, ethnicity and jobs from the region will be taken care of.

The Centre has said it is open to include Ladakh in Sixth Schedule of Constitution, which will give the autonomous districts and council a certain degree of autonomy in framing laws to protect the interests of indigenous people.

The government of India is open to discuss protection available under Sixth Schedule of Constitution of India while looking into issues related to people from Ladakh, Union minister Kiren Rijiju said.

After 15 days of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, we will begin the process to consider their demand, he added.

A delegation led by MoS G Kishan Reddy will visit Ladakh to discuss the matter further. After the governments assurance, the leaders from the region have agreed to withdraw their protests against the upcoming Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) elections.

The delegation has agreed to withdraw its call for the boycott of the ensuing election. The delegation was assured by home minister that government of India is committed to safeguard the interest of the people of Ladakh, Rijiju said.

The LAHDC elections are set to take place on October 16. Prominent leaders and monks from the region were boycotting the polls demanding constitutional safeguards for indigenous inhabitants by including the region in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

The leaders had argued that without any Constitutional safeguard, the identity of the Ladakh region will be severely under threat from outsiders.
One of the wettest-ever monsoons for Mumbai can be expected to withdraw between October 9 and 15 from the state, according to the weather department.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD), in June this year, revised the date of southwest monsoons withdrawal from Mumbai by nine days. The new withdrawal date is October 9 against the previous one, predicted for September 29. This means the monsoon will linger a bit more than its normal schedule.

Withdrawal from Rajasthan and surrounding areas of northwest India is expected by September 28 onwards. Going by the visible trend, a sharp decline in rain activity over central India can be expected from October second week onwards, and withdrawal over Mumbai first and (then) rest of Maharashtra can probably be expected by mid-October, said Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director-general, IMD.

KS Hosalikar, deputy director-general, western region, IMD said, As per our extended rainfall forecast till October 22, there is significant rainfall reduction expected between October 9 and 15, indicative of monsoon withdrawal symptoms. There is a possibility of withdrawal starting around that time.

Independent meteorologists said larger global weather factors were responsible for the marginally late withdrawal over the west coast and central India such as La Nina conditions - a phenomenon when the western Pacific Ocean warms up creating a low pressure area near Australia pulling winds from the Indian Ocean strengthening equatorial dynamics keeping southwest monsoon circulation active.

Unseasonal showers during the first week of October can lead to crop damages along interior Maharashtra that farmers need to be wary about, said professor Sridhar Balasubramanian, department of mechanical engineering and IDP climate studies, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra has recorded 18% excess rain so far this monsoon. Among weather stations along the Konkan coast, Mumbai suburbs have witnessed the second wettest monsoon ever with 3,681.4 mm rain between June 1 and September 27.

Also Read: Things will get worse before it gets better. It might be the music industry next: Sukhwinder Singh on drug probe

Mumbai suburbs have recorded 70% excess rain so far this season-- over 1,507.2 mm more rain than the Santacruz weather station generally receives over four months (June-September).

Similarly, all stations along Konkan have recorded excess rain with south Mumbai receiving 61% additional rain, Sindhudurg 54%, Ratangiri 25%, Thane 20%, Raigad 17%, and Palghar 14%.

Also Read: Bombay HC refuses to interfere with final-year University of Mumbai exams

In other parts of the state, central Maharashtra received 32% excess rain with Ahmednagar recording a large excess of 82%. Marathwada, which had witnessed deficient rain in 2017 and 2018, received 31% excess rain this season. Across Maharashtra, only two districts have witnessed deficient rain  Akola (26% deficient) and Yavatmal (23% deficient)  both in Vidarbha district.

The monsoon withdrawal date for other prominent Maharashtra cities ranges between October 6 and October 11.

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Former trade union leader Ingrid Stitt will take the vacancy in Premier Daniel Andrews cabinet created by Saturdays dramatic resignation of health minister Jenny Mikakos from Parliament.

Labor could also have its first Indigenous woman in the State Parliament as soon as mid-October as the race takes shape to replace Ms Mikakos in the upper house. Two Indigenous women  AFL executive Sheena Watt and Labor staffer Prue Stewart  are among the contenders vying to be appointed.

Jenny Mikakos leaves her northern suburbs home on Sunday. Credit:Nine News

The departure of Ms Mikakos and the promotion of Martin Foley to Health Minister means Mr Andrews must reshuffle his cabinet line-up in the coming weeks. Ms Stitt's ministerial role is yet to be decided and Mr Foley's Mental Health, Equality and Creative Industries portfolios remain up for grabs.

The Premier was giving nothing away about his plans for his new ministry at his Sunday press conference, including the futures of Jobs Minister Martin Pakula and Police Minister Lisa Neville, whose roles were among those examined at the hotel quarantine inquiry.
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President Donald Trump paid just $750 in federal income taxes the year he ran for president and in his first year in the White House, according to a report Sunday in The New York Times.

Trump, who has fiercely guarded his tax filings and is the only president in modern times not to make them public, paid no federal income taxes in 10 of the past 15 years. He campaigned for office as a billionaire real estate mogul and successful businessman.

Speaking at a news conference at the White House, Trump dismissed the report as fake news and said he has paid taxes, though he gave no specifics.

The disclosure, which the Times said comes from tax return data it obtained extending over two decades, comes at a pivotal moment ahead of the first presidential debate Tuesday and weeks before a divisive election against Democrat Joe Biden.

The president vowed that information about his taxes will all be revealed. But he offered no timeline for the disclosure and made similar promises during the 2016 campaign on which he never followed through.

In fact, the president has fielded court challenges against those seeking access to his returns, including the U.S. House, which is suing for access to Trump's tax returns as part of congressional oversight.

A lawyer for the Trump Organization, Alan Garten, and a spokesperson for the Trump Organization did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press on the report.

Garten told the Times that most, if not all, of the facts appear to be inaccurate.

He said in a statement to the news organization that the president "has paid tens of millions of dollars in personal taxes to the federal government, including paying millions in personal taxes since announcing his candidacy in 2015.

During his first general election debate against Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016, Clinton said that perhaps Trump wasn't releasing his tax returns because he had paid nothing in federal taxes.

Trump interrupted her to say, "That makes me smart.
UN General Assembly In this image made from UNTV video, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, president of the Philippines, speaks in a pre-recorded message which was played during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020, at UN headquarters. The U.N.'s first virtual meeting of world leaders started Tuesday with pre-recorded speeches from some of the planet's biggest powers, kept at home by the coronavirus pandemic that will likely be a dominant theme at their video gathering this year. (UNTV via AP)

MANILA, Philippines (AP)  The Philippine president got rare praises Wednesday from his key critics for invoking before the United Nations a 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated Chinas vast territorial claims in the South China Sea, in a surprise move that will likely pique Beijing.

President Rodrigo Duterte made one of his strongest defenses of the Philippine victory in the arbitration case in his first address before the annual U.N. General Assembly where world leaders spoke mostly in prerecorded videos due to the pandemic. China has long refused to bring the issue to any international arena.

Duterte, who has nurtured close ties with China since taking office in mid-2016, has long been criticized for refusing to immediately and forcefully demand Chinese compliance with the ruling by a U.N.-backed tribunal. It found Chinas claims on virtually the entire South China Sea on historical grounds inconsistent with international maritime law.

China refused to take part in the arbitration, which was initiated by Dutertes predecessor, and has dismissed the ruling as a sham. Beijing prefers direct negotiations with each of its rival claimant states and has vehemently refused to have the long-raging disputes internationalized for fears the United States and its allies would find a way to intervene.

Duterte welcomed the increasing number of countries that have expressed support for the ruling, which he said stood for the triumph of reason over rashness, of law over disorder, of amity over ambition.

The award is now part of international law, beyond compromise and beyond the reach of passing governments to dilute, diminish or abandon, Duterte said, without naming China. We firmly reject attempts to undermine it.

Chinese officials did not immediately issue any reaction.

Albert del Rosario, a former Philippine foreign secretary who brought the disputes with China to international arbitration, said he was heartened by Dutertes move. By underscoring the decision before the annual U.N. gathering of world leaders, Duterte has acted more faithfully to our constitution, which mandates him and our military to secure our countrys sovereignty and protect our lands and seas, del Rosario said.

Story continues

He urged the Duterte administration to secure the backing of more countries so the ruling could be raised more emphatically in next years U.N. General Assembly.

Antonio Carpio, a retired Philippine Supreme Court justice who helped in the arbitration case, commended Duterte and hoped that this is the policy that the Duterte administration will implement across all levels in protecting Philippine maritime rights and seeking international support to enforce the ruling.

Mr. Rodrigo Dutertes 360-degree turn ... is a big victory for international law and Philippine sovereignty against his own defeatist policy on China, former human rights chief Etta Rosales said, adding the president succumbed to pressure for him to uphold international law.

Duterte also defended his deadly anti-drug crackdown and played down criticism from human rights advocates in his speech. He has previously harshly criticized the U.N. for raising alarm over his campaign against illegal drugs and threatened to withdraw the Philippines from the world body, which he says his government now values for its role in fighting the global coronavirus pandemic.
There are three images on Stratfords borough crest representing sites significant to the areas history.

The first, from left to right, is the White Horse Tavern, built in 1746 but gone by 1965. Then, theres the Whitman Oak, a centuries-old tree that died long ago, named for the poet Walt Whitman, who spent summers on a local farm where he composed many of his works. And then there is a brick home built in 1844 by Ephraim Tomlinson, whose great great-grandfather Joseph had settled in the area 158 years earlier, in that same corner of what would only later become Camden County.
By Trend

Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) should have a clear position in resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, famous Arab author and analyst Kamal al-Halbawi told Trend.

Commenting on the recent developments within the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Halbawi noted importance of maintaining Azerbaijans territorial independence.

We are with Azerbaijan heart and soul in its rights and territorial independence. And defend it. We are against any aggression against it from any side, and the OIC should have a clear position and a good endeavor to support Azerbaijan against any aggression against it, he said.

On September 27, at about 06:00, the armed forces of Armenia, committing large-scale provocations, have subjected to intensive shelling from large-caliber weapons, mortars, and artillery mounts of various calibers of the positions of the Azerbaijan Army along the entire length of the front and Azerbaijani human settlements located in the frontline zone.

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
(Photo : Photo by Feng Li/Getty Images) A paramilitary policeman guards in front of an emblem of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at Tiananmen Square on June 28, 2011 in Beijing, China. This year's celebrations will mark the 90th anniversary of the founding of the CPC. (Photo : Photo Illustration by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) In this photo illustration, the TikTok app is displayed on an Apple iPhone on August 7, 2020 in Washington, DC. On Thursday evening, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that bans any transactions between the parent company of TikTok, ByteDance, and U.S. citizens due to national security reasons. The president signed a separate executive order banning transactions with China-based tech company Tencent, which owns the app WeChat. Both orders are set to take effect in 45 days.

ByteDance CEO Zhang Yiming has recently called by the U.S. government lawyers a 'mouthpiece' of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This was quoted according to the recent legal filing in the Department of Justice over the possible U.S. ban on the company's app, TikTok.

Is TikTok related to the Chinese Communist Party?

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is the founding and governing party of the People's Republic of China. Interestingly, a lot of negative things are attached to this organization, especially amid pandemic.

And now, it recently adds the name of ByteDance CEO Zhang Yiming. In the recent DOF filing of US government lawyers on the TikTok ban hearing, the Trump administration called the chief the 'mouthpiece' of the CCP.

It alleges that Zhang has a profound connection or 'commitment' to the organization, making it dangerous for each Americans' safety and security using their video-sharing app.

It also explains that the CEO already had public announcements showing he was 'committed to promoting' the CCP.

On Aug. 8, Tech Times quoted The Epoch Times wherein they reportedly found leaked documents saying over 130 ByteDance employees were also members of the Communist party--most of them were high-ranking officials.

James Carafano, vice president of The Heritage Foundation's Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy, also told in the report that these claims could be true.

"It's a Chinese-owned company," he said. "You have no confidence in the software. You have no confidence in their handling of data. And you have no confidence that they're independent of Chinese direction."

On the other hand, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) clarified that there were still 'no evidence' proving these CCP allegations.

What will happen to TikTok now?

As you all know, TikTok and the U.S. government have been in a huge controversy together.

Upon President Trump signing executive order of Chinese ban apps, the video-sharing app was given a schedule to make up on their country's investments.

However, TikTok's team has not yet declared loss on the subject and continued to file charges against the U.S.

The U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols has scheduled a hearing for 9:30 a.m. Sunday to decide whether the Trump administration's ban will take effect.

ALSO READ: TikTok Bans Users Who Share Video of a "Man with a Beard" Who Took Suicide While on Facebook Live

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Jamie Pancho

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Washington has ordered US companies to seek permission before selling their technologies to Chinese semiconductor giant SMIC, its latest salvo in the battle for technological dominance over Beijing, the Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.

The Department of Commerce "has told US computer-chip companies that they must obtain licenses before exporting certain technology to China's largest manufacturer of semiconductors," according to the business daily.

The new rules were announced in a letter to the industry Friday, which says that "exports to Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. or its subsidiaries risk being used for Chinese military activities," the report continued.

The newspaper said the administration of US President Donald Trump has "grown more concerned about Beijing's practice of leaning on private companies to advance its military aims."

The Commerce Department would not comment on the matter specifically, but a spokesperson with its Bureau of Industry and Security said they are "constantly monitoring and assessing any potential threats to US national security and foreign policy interests" and "will take appropriate action as warranted."

The report comes as the White House says it will not back down from a plan to ban new US downloads of TikTok, the popular Chinese-owned video-sharing app, over what it says are national security concerns, setting up a court showdown ahead of a Sunday deadline.

For years China and the United States have been scrapping for tech dominance.

SMIC is key to Beijing's ambition to someday achieve semiconductor self-reliance. Analysts say China's dependence on foreignincluding US-madechips hinders that national goal.

The issue was brought into stark relief earlier this year by the US campaign to hobble Chinese telecom giant Huawei, which Washington fears could allow China's security state to tap into global telecoms networks.

The US Commerce Department in May announced plans to cut off Huawei's access to global semiconductor supplies, which the company said would threaten its "survival."

Explore further Chinese chipmaker denies military ties as US steps up feud

 2020 AFP
Irish Republican prisoners in Portlaoise Prison have started a two-week hunger strike in support of a Palestinian doctor they claim is being housed in appalling conditions at Maghaberry Prison in Co Antrim.

Dr Issam Hijjawi, who is an outspoken activist for Palestinian rights and lives in Edinburgh, was arrested last month over his attendance of a meeting of alleged members of the New IRA in Omagh.

He was taken into custody as part of a police investigation into the activities of the New IRA and charged with an offence of preparatory acts of terrorism.

The 62-year-old is the tenth person to be charged in the PSNI/MI5 investigation 'Operation Arbacia'.

He was arrested at Heathrow airport as he attempted to leave the UK and transported to Belfast to be questioned at Musgrave PSNI station.

His house in the Blackhall area of Edinburgh was also searched by officers from Police Scotland. Dr Hijjawi, whose family come from the the occupied West Bank, is the chair of the Association of Palestinian Communities in Scotland.

Read More Cork now one of four counties under lockdown consideration

In a statement, the Irish Republican Prisoner Welfare Association (IRPWA) said that affiliated prisoners in Portlaoise on the wings E3 and E4, Roe House in Maghaberry Prison and Hydebank Prison are on hunger strike.

The Association said: At present due to Covid-19 restrictions prisoners upon entry to Maghaberry Prison are placed in a two week isolation/solitary confinement. Dr Hijjawi and his comrades have completed this arduous isolation and are now housed in the Republican landings.

However, they pointed out that due to a medical condition Dr Hijjawi was taken for a hospital MRI scan and has once again been placed in isolation for a further two weeks.

They (prison authorities) have forcefully and punitively isolated Issam for another two weeks in the filthy and dilapidated conditions that exist in Foyle House.

Issam has multiple medical conditions and has now embarked on a hunger strike. We feel that to put (him) in isolation is both vindictive and a continuation of the concerted, petty targeting that he has endured since entering Maghaberry Prison.

The Association called on prison management to show common sense and transfer Dr Hijjawi back to Roe House where he needs to be safely and humanely cared for.

Police authorities allege he attended one of the two meetings which were bugged by MI5, along with a number of leading members of the group Saoradh, who it is also alleged are members of the New IRA.

He also travelled, sometime in 2018 to Lebanon, and its capital Beirut, with leading Tyrone republican Kevin Barry Murphy.

Dr Hijjawi, who is represented by Phoenix Law, says he attended the meeting to give an update and political analysis on the current situation in Palestine.

The Belfast based law firm represents seven of the 10 people arrested as part of the MI5 sting.

Independent councillor and former Dublin Lord Mayor Christy Burke, who took part in a protest outside Kilmainham Gaol said that Dr Hijjawi was being housed in Dickensian type accommodation and that he needs to urgently be relocated back into the main prison on humanitarian grounds due to his ill health.

In the 1970s, Cllr Burke served two terms in Portlaoise Prison on IRA membership charges.
A man was killed in firing during the violent protest in Rajasthan's Dungarpur where tensions escalated further on Saturday evening forcing the state government to rush three senior police officers to the district to control the situation.

IMAGE: Vehicle torched during a protest demanding recruitment of reserved category candidates on vacant unreserved positions for teachers from the year 2018, in Kakari Dungri village of Dungarpur district, on Friday. Photograph: PTI Photo

Earlier in the day, candidates of a teacher recruitment exam confronted police and indulged in arson while a delegation of theirs met Tribal Area Development Minister Arjun Singh Bamniya in Udaipur.

While the meeting was going on, the protesters confronted the police again in the evening following which police opened fire to control the situation.

However, police said it was not confirmed whether the man was killed in police firing or was hit by one of the bullets fired by the agitators.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot chaired a high-level review meeting in the evening and held discussions with education minister Govind Singh Dotasra and senior police officers.

To restore the law and order situation, DG (crime) M L Lather, ADG ACB Dinesh M N, Jaipur police commissioner Anand Srivastava and other senior officers have been sent to Dungarpur by helicopter at night, an official release said.

The chief minister once again appealed to the agitators to end the violence and said the government is ready to meet all the legitimate demands of any section of the society, the release said.

Governor Kalraj Mishra spoke to Gehlot on phone in Jaipur and called principal secretary (home) Abhay Kumar and ADG (law and order) Saurabh Srivastava at Raj Bhawan and directed them to control the situation, it said.

Meanwhile, the agitators pelted stones at police, torched a few other vehicles and continued to hold control over nearly 25 km stretch of the highway.

On direction of the chief minister, Bamniya, former Udaipur MP Raghuveer Meena and other public representatives of Dungarpur district met a delegation of agitating candidates to resolve the matter.

The meeting lasted for nearly three hours at the residence of Meena in Parsad, Udaipur, which is nearly 60 km from the violence hit area.

"We have appealed to the agitators to end the violence while assuring them that the government will do what is legitimate to meet their demand. The meeting was held in a positive manner," Meena told PTI.

Bamniya, Bhartiya Tribal Party (BTP) MLAs Rajkumar Roat and Ramprasad, Congress MLA Ganesh Ghogra, former MP Tarachand Bhagora, some advocates and members of the delegation of the agitating candidates were present in the meeting.

"The protest was initially held by the candidates but we have reports that police and administration officials targeted local villagers and arrested them which intensified the violence and now it has become villagers versus police and administration there," Roat said.

He said that the government's priority is to control the situation first.

After the meeting, Roat and Meena left for Kherwara in Dungarpur to convince the agitators.

Meanwhile, fresh incidents of stone pelting and arson occurred on the highway while few more vehicles were torched on Saturday, police control room said.

Violence erupted on Thursday when the candidates of teachers recruitment examination-2018 blocked the Udaipur-Ahmedabad highway, pelted stones at police, damaged several properties and torched vehicles demanding filling of 1,167 general vacant posts with ST candidates.

The violence continued on Friday and incidents occurred on Saturday as well.

IG Udaipur range Binita Thakur said that additional police forces have been deployed in the area and efforts are being made to restore the situation.

Another police officer said that nearly 25 km of the highway is blocked.

"The highway is blocked from Ratanpur to Khariwara. Once the situation is under complete control, traffic will be resumed on the highway," he said.

The candidates have torched nearly 25 vehicles including buses, vandalised a petrol pump, hotel and other properties since Thursday.

The vehicle of SP Dungarpur was also torched on Thursday.

35 policemen including additional SP and deputy SP were injured in the stone pelting incident on Thursday.

The police have so far arrested 30 people in connection with the violence while mobile internet services have been suspended in the affected area in view of the tension.

Gehlot had on Friday appealed to the agitators to stop the violence and also held discussion with public representatives of Dungarpur with regard to the situation.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- President Donald Trump today announced Judge Amy Coney Barrett as his nominee to the nation's highest court.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, who attended the White House announcement on the Court, released the following statement:

"Once again, President Trump is following through on his promise and has selected a nominee who has a proven, originalist track record. Judge Amy Barrett is a highly qualified nominee who is committed to the Constitution and understands that a judge's role is not to legislate from the bench.

"Senate Democrats have already made clear there will be a fight over the nominee regardless of who it is, so the president is making the fight worth it.

"Thanks to President Trump, we now have the opportunity after many decades to finally return lawmaking back to the legislatures that are elected by the people. The Left, failing to win in the court of public opinion and in legislatures, has increasingly relied on the courts to rewrite laws to suit their purposes. However, the reality is sinking in among Senate Democrats that the era of legislating from the Supreme Court bench may soon be over. That's why the president's judicial nominees face smears and attacks on their faith.

"Senate Democrat Dianne Feinstein once infamously told Judge Barrett that the 'dogma lives loudly within you'  more than insinuating that it is somehow impossible to serve both God and country. Implying Barrett's religious beliefs somehow disqualifies her for the job is a violation of Article VI of the Constitution.

"We are putting Senate Democrats on notice should they return to their religious test playbook. Should you use Judge Barrett's faith as a club to attack her nomination, she will not stand alone. Millions of Americans will stand with her. In fact, 'Remember the dogma' like 'Remember the Alamo' may become an enduring battle cry for religious liberty," concluded Perkins.

SOURCE Family Research Council

Related Links

http://www.frc.org


Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov has discussed the situation in the zone of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with his Armenian counterpart Zohrab Mnatsakanyan.

According to the press release of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lavrov has expressed serious concern about the ongoing large-scale military operations on the line of contact and the news about victims and injured persons. The Russian foreign minister underscored the need for an immediate end to the military operations and stated that Russia, along with the other OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, will continue its mediation efforts for stabilization of the situation.

The press release also states that a conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Bayramov will be held soon.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Lithuania Linas Linkevicius says he closely follows the worrying developments taking place between Armenia and Artsakh.

Monitoring worrying developments between Armenia and Azerbaijan very closely. I strongly call for deescalation. Peaceful solution is the only possible solution, the Lithuanian FM said on Twitter.

On September 27 early morning the Azerbaijani military has launched a massive cross-border artillery attack on Artsakh, including on civilian settlements. Peaceful settlements are also under bombardment, including the capital city of Stepanakert.

The Azerbaijani side suffered losses in its military equipment.

Dozens of civilians in Artsakh were wounded as a result of the Azerbaijani attack. A woman and a child were killed in the Azerbaijani attack.

Reporting by Anna Grigoryan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
A middle-aged man, Idowu Moses, on Saturday sustained gunshot injury following a clash between men of the Nigerian Customs Service and smugglers in Oja Odan, in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Moses, who is the Chairman of the Nigerian Association of Panel Beaters, Oja Odan branch, was hit by a stray bullet allegedly shot by a customs officer who was chasing smugglers in the area.

He was rushed to a hospital for medical attention.

Sources said some operatives of the NCS were in Oja Odan in about three patrol vehicles.

The sources said residents of the community could not identify what really led to the shootings by the Customs personnel.

We didnt know what happened. We just heard gunshots from the Customs officers and we saw Idowu on the floor. This was not the first time things like this was happening. We are tired, an eyewitness recounted.

It was said that the NCS officers fled the community immediately they discovered somebody was hit by their bullet.

It was gathered that Idowu went into a coma as he was shot in the head.

The bullet entered his head. We rushed him to the hospital immediately. They told us to go and remove the bullet. We took him somewhere to remove the bullet and we took him back to the hospital after that. We are just praying he doesnt die. He is presently in a coma, a source said anonymously.

Reacting to the incident, a member of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon Wahab Haruna Egungbohun condemned the indiscriminate shooting of innocent souls in Yewa area of the state by men of the Nigeria Customs Service.

He frowned at the unprofessional act of Nigeria Customs saying that they are only mandated by the law to arrest and arraign smugglers in their pursuit to protect national integrity.

He added that it is not part of their duty to pursue smugglers to the town and start shooting, stressing that innocent souls are most times killed while shooting in the name of chasing smugglers.

Egungbohun, therefore, appealed to the Federal and State governments to as a matter of urgency take a look at the way men of the Nigeria Customs discharge their duty, reiterating that its becoming unbearable for people again as the community can no longer continue to be losing innocent souls in the hands of customs every day.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
By Jennifer Moses

If you get to be old enough, which is the age I am, you have time to read all the stuff you were either too busy or too frantic to read when you could still do things like stay up past 10. In my case, Im devouring the work of turn-of-the-century Austria and Germany, whose writers wrote about a world that no longer exists.

The picture that emerges is of a largely cheerful and optimistic bourgeoise Europe that paid little attention to national boundaries, languages or customs in favor of what was emerging to be a pan-European modernist movement that swept through the arts, uniting poets, musicians, prose writers, essayists, journalists, artists, auteurs, actors and dramatists, not just in fellow-feeling, but in a certainty that peace was endlessly sustainable. Then, the Great War came along.

And heres the rub. The whole mass disaster was predicated on a delusion. Despite the complexities of its history and the thousands of pages devoted to its causes, at the bottom of what was at stake was little more than a land grab. The bigger countries (like Germany and Russia) wanted more acreage and didnt care about Belgium wanting to remain Belgium or Algeria wanting out of European domination altogether.

Territorial expansion, imperialism  it all amounted to your land should be my land. Local populaces pumped up by marching bands and military parades, and fed propaganda from the co-opted press, were on board. Those who questioned the wisdom of the impending fratricide were demonized as being enemies of the state, unpatriotic, cowardly and so forth. Everyone thought the whole business would be over in a month.

The bloodbath that ensued took the lives of 40 million. Then came the Spanish Flu. Then came Hitler.

As Stefan Zweig writes in The World of Yesterday, an individual swept up in nationalistic fervor was transformed from being an isolated person and incorporated into the mass his unnoticed person had been giving meaning. Zweig continues, describing the wild frenzy into which alcohol, the old magic of flags and patriotic sloganswhich for the moment gave a wild and almost rapturous impetus to the greatest crime of our time.

Its become commonplace to compare Trumps instincts and playbook to Hitlers: the demonization of the press; the encouragement of thugs and thuggery; the disdain for facts, science and expertise; cozying up to dictators; dehumanizing minorities; lying as a matter of course. Who can argue? But Im arguing a different argument  or at least a different European bloodbath. If Trump is playing by Hitlers playbook  which he is  he doesnt seem capable of genocide, or even the occasional murder. A better analogy for the fracturing of American society during the reign of Trump is how the lead up to the Great War played among the people.

And thats because, as Stefan Zweig and others of his generation explicate, a populace of haves and have nots where the many have grown fat on bourgeoise comfort, and all are unfamiliar with war, is bored. Complacent, too. Nothing like a little thuggery in the name of patriotism to get the old blood pumping again. Nothing like a skirmish or two to beef up ones animal vitality. Nothing like belonging to a mass movement  even if its a mass movement intent on defending a white supremacist order that in itself was a murderous lie  to make the clerk, the cobbler acknowledge the unknown power which had lifted them out of their everyday existence.

America of 2020 doesnt have much in the way of clerks and cobblers, but we have plenty of low-wage, low-prestige drudgery to go around  and in the absence of those communal bonds once fostered by unions, church-attendance, neighborhood associations, and fraternal organizations, what do you have but a bottomless pit? Light a match, fill it with adrenaline and watch the amygdala go into ecstasies of rage.

Here in lush, suburban New Jersey (where I live) its hard to fathom the depth of fantastical thinking combined with the depth of resentment that is blinding hundreds of thousands  even millions  of our fellow citizens to line up behind a president running on little other than promises of restoring the nation to a place where white men were in charge.

What were witnessing, when we witness parades of armed and angry men and women flying Trump flags and shooting pepper spray from their pick-up trucks is mass psychosis  the same kind of mass psychosis experienced by the Chinese under Mao, the Germans under Hitler, and the bored if cheerful citizens of the old German and Austro-Hungarian empires who believed in a nationalist fairy tale.

Will we wake up on time to avert a blood bath?

Jennifer Moses is the author of seven books of fiction and non-fiction, with numbers six and seven to be published in 2020. She lives in Montclair.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-27 22:17:54|Editor: huaxia

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LANZHOU, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- With no wiring or power supply, solar LED street lamps are undoubtedly a great fit for lighting, especially in developing countries.

Such street lamps, requiring almost no maintenance and easy to install, have been installed in Indonesia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and other developing countries.

The lamps have been developed by the International Solar Energy Center for Technology Promotion and Transfer (ISEC) under the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, located in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu Province.

Established in 2005 on the basis of the Gansu Natural Energy Research Institute, ISEC has not only developed various solar energy products but also carried out international cooperation and trained talent in the field for developing countries, helping them share the benefits of renewable energy development.

"The advanced technologies and management in the domain that I and my colleagues have learned at the center will lay a solid foundation in the future development of renewable energy in our own country," said Lyes Arbia, an official with Algeria's energy ministry.

After years of development, China has become one of the world's most important producers and users of renewable energy, which could not be achieved without the help of the UN and relevant organizations.

In the early 1980s, Gansu Natural Energy Research Institute, with the support and assistance of the United Nations Development Programme, set up a demonstration base for solar heating and cooling technologies that covered more than 80,000 square meters.

"A 10-kW solar photovoltaic power station at the base has been in operation for more than 30 years," said Zhou Jianping, head of the institute, which has over 160 scientific research achievements and important international influence on the application and training of renewable energies such as solar energy.

In collaboration with ISEC, the institute has completed the construction of solar energy projects for civil use in Nepal and other developing countries. It has also organized more than 80 sessions of international training on renewable energy technologies, training over 1,900 technicians and government officials from more than 130 countries since the 1990s.

The international exchanges and cooperation in renewable energy will be expanded as more countries have developed goals and policies in the field. "China will work with other countries to promote energy conservation and low-carbon emissions using its advantages in clean energy technologies and products," Zhou said. Enditem
Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in a meeting with elected heads of Russian regions, via video link outside Moscow

By Tom Balmforth and Anton Kolodyazhnyy

MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin called on Friday for an agreement between Russia and the United States to guarantee not to engage in cyber-meddling in each other's elections.

In a statement ahead of the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 3, Putin called for a reset between Russia and the United States and said he wanted an agreement between the two countries to prevent incidents in cyberspace.

"(I propose)... exchanging guarantees of non-interference in each other's internal affairs, including electoral processes, including using information and communication technologies and high-tech methods," he said.

Moscow's relations with Washington are at post-Cold War lows as the election looms.

U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election with the aim of tilting it in Donald Trump's favour, including by hacking into the campaign of his rival Hillary Clinton. Moscow denies that charge.

Trump is currently campaigning for re-election against Democrat Joe Biden.

"One of the main strategic challenges of our time is the risk of a large-scale confrontation in the digital sphere," Putin said in the Kremlin statement.

"We would like to once again appeal to the United States with a proposal to approve a comprehensive program of practical measures to reset our relations in the use of information and communication technologies (ICT)."

He proposed the two countries reach an agreement to prevent major cyberspace incidents, something he compared to a 1972 U.S.-Soviet treaty reached at the height of the Cold War to prevent incidents at sea and in the air from escalating.

He also called for the two countries to fully restore communication lines between their respective agencies to discuss key international information on security issues.

Russia has denied it is attempting to interfere in the 2020 U.S. campaign, despite evidence to the contrary.

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Microsoft <MSFT.O> said two weeks ago that hackers linked to Russia, China and Iran were trying to spy on people tied to both Trump and Biden. Russia and China dismissed the allegations.

Reuters reported on Sept. 9 that Microsoft had alerted one of Biden's main election campaign advisory firms that it had been targeted by suspected Russian state-backed hackers. The Kremlin called the report "nonsense".

(Additional reporting by Anton Kolodyazhnyy; writing by Tom Balmforth; editing by Mark Trevelyan and Hugh Lawson)
WhatsApp Expiring Media Feature Spotted In Latest Beta Version News oi-Abhinaya Prabhu

WhatsApp beta for Android with the version number 2.20.201.6 has been released. This new version shows the presence of a new feature dubbed Expiring Media. As the name suggests, this feature is likely to make media files disappear once they are viewed. Previously, this feature was spotted on the beta version 2.20.201.1.

WhatsApp Expiring Media Feature

The WhatsApp feature tracker WABetaInfo shared the screenshots from version 2.20.201.6 beta showing that the messaging app will inform recipients about the feature via a pop-up message. This pop-up reads, "The media will disappear once you leave this chat". Notably, the message will appear when a media file has been shared via this new feature. It can be done by pressing the dedicated button next to the add media shortcut.

One of the shared screenshots shows that once the recipient exists a chat, the app will notify saying "View once photo expired". Also, there will be a button to enable the Expiring Media feature, which will activate the View Once media files.

When To Expect?

The latest beta version of WhatsApp 2.20.201.6 has references to this new Expiring Media feature and it is yet to be rolled out to all users. Given the progress that we have seen in the past, we can expect the new WhatsApp feature to be rolled out to the beta testers sometime soon. Also, the end-users are expected to get this feature after the successful beta testing though a specific time frame remains unknown.

For the uninitiated, the references to the Expiring Messaging feature was spotted clearly in the WhatsApp 2.20.197.10 beta for Android last month and this is yet to be rolled out to the beta testers. Already, Instagram lets users send a disappearing photo or video via direct messages. With a huge user base across the world, we can expect WhatsApp to take this experience of sending disappearing media files and messages to the next level.

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Jackie Dodd, a Trump supporter in Georgia, says voters always get spun up around election time. (Jenny Jarvie / Los Angeles Times)

When Jim Jackson looks ahead to November, he cringes at what he sees: a defeated President Trump refusing to leave the White House and his supporters waging war to keep him there.

"The militias and the white supremacists ... they're going to put out the call to arms," said Jackson, 73, who lives in the conservative-leaning suburbs of Milwaukee and voted Republican for 52 years, but not for Trump. "That's my worst nightmare."

Jeanine Davis shares his concern, though for different reasons.

At the pier in Huntington Beach, Jeanine Davis said she worried about possible violence from Democrats if Trump is reelected. (Melissa Gomez / Los Angeles Times)

Seated near the Huntington Beach Pier, wearing a red "Keep America Great" hat, the Trump supporter suggested Democrats will do whatever it takes to elect Joe Biden, and riot if they fail. "It's going to be like war amongst citizens," said Davis, an executive recruiter in her 50s.

Candidates often say a presidential contest is the most important ever, telling voters to act as though their life depended on it and the country's future was at stake. Dozens of conversations with voters across the nation  from the West Coast to the Upper Midwest to the East  suggest that, this time, many people really believe it.

Punished by pandemic, buckled by economic hardship and riven by relentless partisanship, America is facing an election unlike any in modern times, a vote shadowed by menace and fringed with paranoia  much of it fed by the occupant of the Oval Office, who incessantly acts to undermine confidence in the result.

"He's essentially trying to pull off a coup," said Frank Dudek, a 70-year-old retiree, after casting his ballot at an early vote center in Arlington, Va., just outside the nation's capital.

Some voters worry about frayed family ties. Others see the whole country unraveling. A significant number consider threats and violence a reasonable way to solve partisan differences.

"You have all these things  the pandemic, the protests, the counterprotests, the Black vs. white, the right against the left," said Allison Trammell, 60, an Atlanta social worker who supports Biden. "It's almost like everything is coming up at the same time and there's no equilibrium. There's no middle ground."

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What is more, many are acting on their fears, anticipating all manner of chaos, up to and including armed insurrection. Theyre flooding gun stores and shooting ranges, stockpiling ammunition and provisioning for a postelection dystopia.

Ashley Avis, a 36-year-old nurse, was recently out with her father and 2-year-old son in Pinellas Park, Fla., buying plywood to board up their windows in case of civil unrest. She also plans to secure an alternative water supply, lest the public works around Tampa Bay are taken out of commission.

"We're hoping for the best," said the Trump supporter. "We're preparing for the worst."

Across the country, in a working-class neighborhood on Las Vegas' east side, Michael Martinez said he, too, planned to lay in extra food and water "just in case there's a disruption in our food delivery systems and whatnot."

"I wouldn't put it past some people" if Trump loses, said Martinez, 69, a retired union carpenter and Biden supporter. "That's the way they'll try to disrupt the economy, try to disrupt the way we live now."

Not everyone sees election day as the dawn of a coming apocalypse.

Dave Gorrasi is not sure if he will vote for Trump or Biden, or neither. (James Rainey / Los Angeles Times)

Dave Gorrasi, who owns Blue Hook Aquatics just outside Cincinnati, says he believes the talk of widespread upheaval is a device both sides are using to gin up support.

"I think there is going to be less trouble once the election's done because then we can go back to normalcy," said the 41-year-old political independent, who is still undecided.

Jackie Dodd, a financial loan officer from Mableton, Ga., suggested people always get agitated around election time and doesn't see the political climate getting any worse after Nov. 3.

"We got violence now," the 60-year-old Trump supporter said during a cigarette break outside her Atlanta office. She pointed toward the shuttered Centennial Olympic Park, where mostly peaceful protesters converged over the summer after George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police.

Months after the CNN headquarters was vandalized and police cruisers set ablaze, some downtown storefronts are still boarded up out of concern.

"Look at what happened four years ago," Dodd said. "It's not different. Any election, someone is going to be disagreeing."

As starkly as the country is divided, a poll for the Democracy Fund Voter Study Group, a collection of experts across the political spectrum, found the overwhelming majority of Americans believe there is no place for violence in the country's political system.

(The quietude of recent decades is a relatively recent phenomenon. Violence around elections was not uncommon in the 19th century, and lynchings, to keep Black voters away from the polls, continued well into the 20th century, Bowdoin College scholar Jeffrey Selinger points out.)

Still, 16% of those surveyed in late 2019 said the use of violence to advance political goals would be "a little" justified. The number, essentially equal among Democrats and Republicans, grew to 21% when respondents were asked to consider the possibility of losing the 2020 election. That amounts to millions of Americans who would condone the use of force, even if they don't personally act out.

Given the country's hothouse atmosphere, some who renounce violence worry about those who won't.

Shad DeLacy of Kenosha, Wis., right, with his employer Lewis Aceto, does not plan to vote in November. (Tyrone Beason / Los Angeles Times)

"If Trump gets reelected or if Biden wins, who can say what will happen?" said Shad DeLacy, 43, a political independent who runs a menswear boutique on the main business strip in Kenosha, Wis. He gestured at buildings across the street, boarded up as a precaution after days of unrest following the August shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, by a white police officer.

"This surprised me. This isn't who we are in Kenosha," DeLacy said. "So I can't even fathom how it will be if the wrong person gets elected. I can't put my faith in humanity right now."

He has no intention of voting in November.

Many of those who do plan to vote worry about the integrity of the election and the fairness of the process, undercutting their faith in the outcome. Partisans on both sides found cause to question the integrity of the other.

Mary Copps, 74, a retired occupational therapist who plans to vote for Trump, said she has received several applications for absentee ballots at her home in Mequon, a predominantly white suburb north of Milwaukee. Wisconsin verifies that ballots are sent only to registered voters, but still Copps was dubious, echoing the president's attacks on the legitimacy of voting by mail.

"I suppose I could fill them out with ... who knows," she said. "Multiple names?"

Sarah McCabe, who is in her 50s, has long believed presidential elections were unfair because they were decided by the electoral college rather than the popular vote, which gives disproportionate weight to more conservative, less populated states. But the Biden supporter is particularly worried about this election and the COVID-19 pandemic that has many Democrats preferring to vote absentee.

"I am concerned about the slowing down of the mail and ... the potential of challenging absentee ballots," McCabe said as she waited outside a hair salon in downtown Holland, Mich., while her daughter was getting a cut. "I'm especially astounded that we have to be concerned about our post office. They took our mail-sorting machines in Grand Rapids. Of course this is being done to benefit the president."

Some are going beyond merely fretting.

In a new research paper, UC Riverside economists Bree Lang and Matthew Lang found a record 3.9 million firearm background checks were completed after protests swept the country following the police killing of Floyd. There was no statistical difference in the surge between Republican- and Democratic-leaning states.

A separate trade group study found the highest increase in gun sales was among Black Americans, which rose nearly 60% during the first six months of the year.

Aldrin Eusebio, 30, a gun owner waiting in line outside Turner's Outdoorsman in Pasadena, said he wanted "to protect myself and my family with the rioting and everything that's been going on. They are already saying if Trump wins, they're not going to accept it."

"It's been 3 years of dealing with this fake 'Russia collusion' story and 3 years of fake news," said the medical technician who plans to vote for Trump's reelection in November. "So I am just worried about what will happen if he wins again. They'll come up with some ... excuse" to try to eject him from the White House, he said.

Even some with no fear of violence worry how  and whether  the country will come together after being so fiercely wrenched apart. In certain instances, it's personal.

McCabe, a clerical worker at a physician's office, comes from what she described as "a blended family." One sister, like her, supports Biden. Their other sister backs Trump.

McCabe said she's dreading Thanksgiving.

Barabak reported from Las Vegas and Jarvie from Atlanta. Times staff writers Tyrone Beason in Kenosha, Wis., Brian Contreras in Arlington, Va., Michael Finnegan in Pinellas Park, Fla., Melissa Gomez in Huntington Beach, Arit John in Santa Clarita, Melanie Mason in Waukesha, Wis., Seema Mehta in Holland, Mich., and James Rainey in Cincinnati contributed to this report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
FILE PHOTO: A woman holds a small bottle labeled with a "Vaccine COVID-19" sticker and a medical syringe 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 said, adding that about 2,000 participants had signed up through a U.S.-based advocacy group, 1Day Sooner. (https://on.ft.com/2G5o0jP)

The studies will be government funded, the FT reported, 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 UK government and 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.

"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 <AZN.L>, and French firm Sanofi <SASY.PA> 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 and Alistair Smout in London, Matthias Blamont in Paris, and Ludwig Burger in Frankfurt; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli and Elaine Hardcastle)
By the order of the Minister of Defense of Armenia, the first company of volunteers of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun political party under the subordination of the Ministry of Defense is leaving for the frontline, as reported Chairman of the ARF-D Supreme Body Simon Simonyan, who added that the volunteers will leave Yerevan for Artsakh to perform their duties.

Earlier, member of the ARF-D, former head of the special battalion of Shushi, Colonel Artashes Mkhitaryan had declared that hundreds of volunteers of the Volunteer Movement (established after the Four-Day Artsakh War in April 2016) are ready to go to the frontline and stand with Armenian soldiers and officers in case of need.

Today, the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan launched a large-scale offensive against the military posts of the Defense Army of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), that is, along the entire length of the line of contact. The military attack of the Azerbaijani army was accompanied by shelling and air strikes, including shelling and air strikes targeted at civilians and civilian objects.

Armenia and Artsakh have declared martial law and general mobilization.

Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan has called on the personnel attached to troops to show up to their respective military registration offices.